Reminiscent of the Good Old Days - When Romance Books were Oh So Sexy!
339975
Annalia didn't need Courtland MacCarrick, but she wanted him!  The man was stubborn, aggressive, and deadly - and she wanted him!  Forever, Annalia hated her mother's adulterous ways, she hated her mother's uncontrolled passion - but now she understood!  Inside her heart, she understood!  For now, shamefully Annalia Llorente "lusted" for a man - the ruthless Court MacCarrick.  Quietly she wondered, why him?  Why this fierce Highlander who sold his soul for money?  Why this man who killed and maimed for gold?  Why this man?

Courtland MacCarrick admitted she had him tied in knots.  He couldn't think straight when she was near.  Yet, they could never be lovers!  Unfairly, Courtland MacCarrick carried a family curse!  He would never be free to love a woman.  He, the hardcore mercenary, could never give Lady Annalia Llorente a life!

Kresley Cole's IF YOU DARE is reminiscent of Johanna Lindsey in her heyday.  This is the stuff of romance fun - a tough, sexy hero and the little lady who brings him to his knees.  Kresley Cole's hero sprouted enough "ayes, doonas, and dinnas" to tantalize her reader forcefully.  My, my, my . . . this hero and his husky brogue created enough desirable magic to pull the reader straight into IF YOU DARE.  Moreover, Cole's heroine, Lady Annalia Elisabet Catherina Tristan Llorente, is simply wonderful.  She is loveable, sympathetic, and exquisite - the stuff of romance fantasy!  More important, as a heroine, she has that irresistible quality that makes the reader cheer for her eventual happiness.  Nicely done Kresley Cole and yes, this reader will be checking out your next entry in this robust series - IF YOU DESIRE.

Grade A

MaryGrace Meloche.
268814
Quite a fun read. The snappy dialogue reminded me of old movies from the forties, where the feisty heroine and the handsome, exasperated hero bicker constantly. Until they finally admit they love each other. The only thing that bothered me was too much "near sex" getting interrupted by crazy incidents, but I guess that drove the plot along. Both characters were well-rounded, imperfect, and believable.
The cover is perfect, and so different from a lot of romances! Bright, breezy, and happy; the story delivers exactly what the cover promises.
2023802
There were so many things to love about this book! First of all, the Gilded Age setting is fresh and fantastic. The smart and independent heroine delighted me. The billionaire hero - who made himself from nothing - who is still rough around the edges checked all the boxes for sexiness. Speaking of, the sexy times were incredibly hot. The unwanted ex-fiance was wonderfully evil. And I can't wait to see how the author turns the brother I loved to hate into the hero of the next book.
1543254
The characters are likable and the plot believable, so even hardcore romance fans will enjoy this one! A fun, sexy romp!
3659750
This story is why I love modern romance.  Seriously, I loved it.

It was sexy, snarky, funny, and had some serious moments in it too.

Made me want to get a tattoo for sure and dye the tips of my hair - well, maybe not the dye part!

The playful banter between Soraya and MBP (Mr. Big Prick - the Stuck-Up Suit!) was delicious and fun.

Loved it!
2252747
blast from the past, good quality and sexy with jeans!!!
1653382
This book was a great read, and an interesting take on an old classic!  The characters were well-thought out, and I found myself liking Prince Richard and Amira Adara.  Besides being the perfect sexy book to snuggle up to on a chilly night, I also enjoyed how well it was written.  It was clear that the author put some research into her book.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written, at times humorous, and sensual book.
860408
This was fun! Total escapist, good old standard romance with glamorous characters and settings. No unnecessary drama or angst, and plenty of steamy sex scenes. I was struck by how the characters usually did and said the right thing in times of conflict or vulnerability. It was almost like... I dunno, like they liked each other or something ;)
3035262
The author takes you back in time with her vivid images of times past, when men were men and true love exists. I love reading this book in kindle format, where I can look up words and expand my vocabulary. The author has a true gift of historical language that is no longer used this day & age, but SHOULD be! This book was exciting, daring, romantic, funny and keeps the reader guessing until the end. Great book!
1095615
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. IF you are looking for some previously unidentified way of portraying a romance novel (like the one 2-star rating obviously was), then go read something else. For those of us who enjoy romance, and ESPECIALLY for this price, this book was great! I sat down to read it one evening and was unable to tear myself away. I loved the portrayal of love in turmoil and HELLO - who couldn't sink their fingernails into a sexy, charismatic, and chivalrous pirate for goodness sake? Speaking of sinking your nails in to the male character, this author managed to build up the sexual tension in a way that the climax of the romance was deliciously sweet without being crude. I have to give this book a 5-star rating because rarely do I EVER manage to sit down and read a book cover to cover in one sitting!
1633094
There were so many things to love about this book.  The first is the age.  They're my age! You don't get that very often in a romance novel.  The characters had "lived".  Next?  They were NOT perfect. They were flawed and they were real. They were people I could be friends with in real life. It was refreshing to read.

The book was chalked full of intrigue and hot, 'sexy times' lol.  I've already purchased the next 2 in the series.  Highly Recommend.
721463
Loved it!

A perfect romantic getaway read for Baby Boomers, Gen X and the Millennials.

Stop the clock for a bit and immerse yourself in a 'simpler time ' - or was it really simpler? The McCarthyism witch hunts were heating up. Women were for the most part defined by stereotypical roles of 'wife and mother', spinster, or secretary.

The Sweetheart Deal by Allison Morse is a solid, more-than-satisfying romance filed with intrigue, corporate hijinks, and a heroine and hero who want more out of life and love than society allowed. The settings were written with enough detail to pull me further into this world. (On a side note - I especially enjoyed the character named George.)

I felt like I was watching a prequel to Madmen and I enjoyed every second of this book. I'm looking forward to more authentic fun reads in the future from Ms. Morse.
3137149
an older style romance, but good nonetheless.
857789
This was a fast read and sexy tale! Darius consumed and devoured Marianne in submission. He loved her completely from the start. The sex in this book right along with the romance was probably better than most present dated books now. So what it was back in 1800's. You still felt connected to the characters and felt their lust and passion!
4640162
4.0-4.25 RATING- A solid romance featuring a 39 year old heroine and a 53 year old hero. Hooray! There's definitely not enough romances featuring older characters at least with the types of books I tend to read and I was happy to spend my Sunday afternoon reading this one!

The writing was good, very readable. There wasn't any over the top drama or problems, nothing manufactured here. Just a realistic depiction of two people meeting and trying to navigate their relationship. There was some funny, some sad... a little bit of everything. We get glimpses into their past but thankfully these are just through each characters thoughts, no flashbacks littered throughout the story. I saw someone mention that there could have been more development and I agree. Because I liked the story so much it might have been nice to not have everything wrapped up so nicely and I would have loved to have spent some more time with these characters but in the end I liked it as written.

This is a new to me author and I was impressed with her story telling. Nothing complex, nothing fancy, just a nice romance which sometimes is just what I want. I definitely plan to read more from her.

Note: At the time this review was posted, this book was available to borrow through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program.
3969664
I love this blast from the past. 120 Books is doing a wonderful thing by republishing these adult novels. I really enjoyed these two, Vampire's Kiss and Gay Vampire. Not terribly smutty, but still erotic enough cause a tingle or two.

I was much too young to ever be able to purchase these first run. But now, they will make a fun little shelf of fun in my home.

Thanks again Maitland for taking on this wonderful task!
129623
This is my first book by this author and what a delight it was. Such an easy book to slide into, fun, sexy, witty, charming you name it then it was included.

The two main characters Violet and Pike are made for each other but the romance and chemistry has to flow a while before they realise it. Their families made great back up characters.

I loved the humour but also the slightly naive purity which then suddenly dives straight into the stripper world and back in a heartbeat. Pike could strip for me any day he is SO hot! Yes, there are some steamy scenes but ultimately this is a good old fashioned romance that is totally enjoyable. I read it in one sitting desperate to know what was next.

Thanks to the author and Tasty Book Tours for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.