Sportochick's Musings: February 2017

Monday, February 20, 2017

REVIEW Highland Vixen by Mary Wine

Sportochick's Musings ~ Unusual story line is the thing that came to mind as I read this book.

Highland Vixen

Highland Weddings #2

by Author

Find The Book At ~ Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Publisher ~ Sourcebooks Casablanca

Genres ~ Historical Romance

Fierce Highland war chief seeks comely lass for fun, frolic, and marriage

Marcus MacPherson is every inch the fearsome Highlander. He's used to men averting their eyes and women cowering before him. He thinks he'll eventually settle down with a nice, obedient bride. Instead, he gets Helen Grant... Stubborn as the day is long, fearless and dedicated to raising as much hell as possible, Helen is definitely going to challenge Marcus. And challenge him some more. And then some.

It's anyone's guess who'll win this battle of the heart...

Unusual story line is the thing that came to mind as I read this book. But it was very intriguing to me how the author works on the situation between Marcus and Helen and creates a very enthralling story with the additional characters of Brenda, young Katherine and the not so nice Morton.

While reading this book I saw how easy it would be to have a misunderstanding based on a person’s actions, words and their individual clan standards. In fact, I was intrigued with the differences between the clans and their beliefs regarding women and ownership as well as integrity.

Author Mary Wine shows with her research and writing skills her love for this era and Scotland by creating vivid images that drew me further into the plot of this story. Her descriptions allowed the reader to feel like they had fallen back into time and was an active participant.

There were times that I was upset with Helen and wished she opened herself more to what Marcus was really trying to show her and well Marcus is just a hard-headed man who couldn’t see what she was asking from him. Despite Marcus’s faux pas, I still was drawn to him and found him perfect for Helen. How the author works out this part of their relationship was handled with finesse creating moments that made me laugh out loud.

Even after finishing the book the character of Brenda keeps coming to mind and I feel a need to have a book on her with a happy resolution for this powerful woman.

I give this 4 STARS and recommend others read this book.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Mary Wine has written over twenty novels that take her readers from the pages of history to the far reaches of space. Recent winner of a 2008 EPPIE Award for erotic western romance, her book LET ME LOVE YOU was quoted “Not to be missed…” by Lora Leigh, New York Times best-selling author.

When she’s not abusing a laptop, she spends time with her sewing machines…all of them! Making historical garments is her second passion. From corsets and knickers to court dresses of Elizabeth I, the most expensive clothes she owns are hundreds of years out of date. She’s also an active student of martial arts, having earned the rank of second degree black belt.

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Sunday, February 19, 2017

5 STAR REVIEW The Duke by Kerrigan Byrne

Sportochick's Musings ~ Author Kerrigan Byrne has a beautiful way with words and emotions which pulls the reader into this deep emotion packed read.

The Duke

(Victorian Rebels #4)

by Kerrigan Byrne

Find The Book At ~ Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Publisher ~ St. Martin's Press Romance

Genres ~ Historical Romance

He is noble, notorious, and takes no prisoners...

Strong as a Viking. Handsome as Adonis. Rich as Midas. Collin "Cole" Talmage, Duke of Trewyth, is the stuff that legends are made of. He's the English Empire's golden son--until fate has its way with him. Cole's family is killed and his closest comrade betrays him on the battlefield, leaving him gravely injured. But Cole is not one to dwell on misfortune. He is a man of duty, honor--and desire. And now he's ready for the fight of his lifetime...

Imogen Pritchard is a beautiful lass who works in a hospital by day and as a serving maid at night. Years ago, when she was young and penniless, she ended up spending a scandalous night with Cole, whose tormented soul was matched only by his earth-shattering passion. Imogen entered a marriage of convenience―one that left her a wealthy widow―but she never forgot Cole. Now that her long-lost lover has turned up in her hospital, injured and with no memory of her, Imogen is torn: Is it a blessing or a curse that their past remains a secret to Cole, even as his new passion for her leaves him wanting to protect and possess her...at all costs, in The Duke, the next Victorian Rebels novel by Kerrigan Byrne.

Author Kerrigan Byrne has a beautiful way with words and emotions which pulls the reader into this deep emotion packed read. This book is filled with various chain of events that filled me with dread, sadness, excitement, tears, laughter and thankfulness. Meanwhile, mixed into the story are several interactions between Imogen and Cole that just burn up the pages.

Imogen is a female character that one can admire and wish for all good things to happen to. I love that her main strength is what draws and drives Cole away. This unconventional woman drew my attention more than most heroines I have read recently. She is kind, considerate, caring, honorable and dependable.

Cole's character was handled with extreme finesse both in who he was and who he became. I delighted in the manner that the author used to show the differences and similarities of his before and after person. The richness of his character will keep the reader’s attention trying to figure out what he will do next.

There are many secondary characters within this story and most of them are characters that could use attitude adjustments but they are perfect for this storyline and really create the drama needed to keep this book moving forward in a fast pace. I have always liked intrigue and this book has it in spades so sit down with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the ride.

For me, the authors ability to pull forth all my emotions caused this book to standout from other books and for this reason I give it 5 STARS.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

My Review of the Victorian Rebels Series:

The Highwayman (#1)

The Hunter (#2)

The Highlander (#3) ~ My Review

The Duke (#4) ~ My Review

The Scot Beds His Wife (#5) ~ My Review

If you're anything like me, the best night is one spent with a brawny highlander, a mysterious werewolf, a conflicted vampire, or a hot-headed Irishman. My stories span the spectrum of romantic fiction from historical, to paranormal, to romantic suspense. But I can always promise my readers one thing: memorable and sexy Celtic heroes who are guaranteed to heat your blood before they steal your heart. Lose yourself in the enchanted Celtic Isles, you never know who, or what, will find you...

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Monday, February 13, 2017

REVIEW Tour #GIVEAWAY The Rakehell's Seduction by Lauren Smith

Both Ambrose and Alexandra want nothing to do with falling in love, but will a “gentleman’s bet” cause the stakes to be higher than either bargained for? Find out in RAKEHELL’S SEDUCTION, book 2 in Lauren Smith’s Seduction series.

Direct link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29323/?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Synopsis:

HE’S MADE A DANGEROUS WAGER

Ambrose Worthing is no gentleman. He’s a proud cold-hearted rake who’s determined to stay a bachelor forever. He enjoys bedding a different woman every night without the risk of falling in love. When he hears about a wager over the seduction and ruination of the daughter of his father’s best friend, he knows he must intervene. Committing himself to the bet, he agrees to seduce Lady Alexandra Rockford—for her own good. He never expected the lady in question to be a beautiful, fiery creature who has passions of her own that call to his guarded heart.

SHE’S VOWED NEVER TO FALL IN LOVE AGAIN

Alexandra Rockford has sworn off men, her heart still broken from the false promises of a childhood sweetheart who left her to marry an heiress. When she stumbles into Ambrose outside of a country ball, she knows the rake is trouble. His smile, his touch, his forbidden kiss are all too tempting but being with him would ruin her. Determined to enjoy herself without falling in love, Alex can’t help but let her defenses down with the too charming rake. But when she discovers Ambrose is seducing her to win a bet, it will take everything Ambrose has to prove to her that he is worthy to love her.

Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

Add The Rakehell’s Seduction to your GOODREADS TBR pile!

The Rakehell's Seduction is a steamy exciting read. This story deals with the men in high society that love to place outrageous wagers and the fallout from one such wager. The author does a brilliant job of showing different sides to two men who have hard core rogue belief systems. Her uncanny ability to display them with somewhat softer sides without them losing the part of their character that attracted the reader to them in the beginning of the story is handled to perfection.

Incorporated into the story is the fun interaction between Ambrose and Alexandria which I found humorous. I thought Alex was outstanding in keeping Ambrose honest with her directness and no holds barred attitude.

Secondary characters Perdita, Alexandria's best friend, and Vaughn, a now enemy who used to be one of Ambrose's best friends, have some strong presences in the book leading me to believe that they will have their own story in future books to this series.

This story teaches one that things and people are not always what they appear, that anyone can change with the right incentive and if you truly love someone you will move heaven and earth to make things right. For me it also showed that sometimes justice comes in the most unusual way.

I give this 4 STARS for how it kept me absorbed in what was going on and at the same time chuckling.

About Lauren Smith:

Amazon Best-Selling Author Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets: a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

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