I absolutely LOVED this first book in the Charles Lennox series
598344
I absolutely LOVED this first book in the Charles Lennox series. The author really recreates the era of mid-19th century London. The characters are well-developed. and the mystery is completely entertaining. The basic decency and kindness of the main character reminds my a bit of Alexander McCall Smith from "The Number One Ladies Detective" Series.
  I have read all of Charles Finch's other books and also enjoyed them immensely.  Great author!
844266
I have not had time to read since I had my son, and I am so happy this was my first book back in the world of reading! Fortuitous Awakening is brilliant, fast-paced, full of mystery and drama with just enough romance to be sweet but not ooey gooey! The characters are relatable and I got wrapped up in their world. I can't wait for book two!!
1051579
This is the first book in the Kilogre Fire series and what a great start for this series.  It will be hard to top this one!  And OMG, I want to call Lani Lynn Vale a few mean words for making me cry so early in this book!  But she did have me laughing a few chapters later with talk of Styrofoam, kids, and a leaf blower.

I absolutely love Tai and Mia.  The beginning is so heartbreaking, especially for Mia.

The thing I really love the most about Lanis books is how easy it is to connect and lover her characters.  She will have you sad and then laughing again.

And of course the sayings at the beginning of each chapter are awesome!

I didn't choose the thick - thigh life; the thick  thigh life chose me.

If you stroke my beard, I cannot be held responsible for the pregnancy that will follow.

I am definitely looking forward to reading more of this series!
896327
An Artful Seduction is the first in the new Infamous Somertons Series.  I really enjoyed this book.  A plot that moves at a great pace,  a rich story with wonderful main characters and interesting secondary characters that will surely appear in the upcoming books in this series.

Tina's writing is a pleasure to read, the dialogue is crisp, her descriptive writing takes you into the heart of story and the love scenes are amazing and hot!!!  Grayson and Eliza are from two different worlds that collide in the world of Art and change their lives forever.

This was wonderful book with mystery, intrigue and mostly love.  I cannot wait to read the next one in the series.
4577276
The Revolution of Ivy was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and I am so excited to be a part of a Blog Tour to celebrate the books release. I absolutely loved the first book in this young adult duology, and was anxious to see how Ivys story would end. This book begins just where The Book of Ivy ends, with Ivy waking up beyond the fence after being put out of Westfall. I did have some issues remembering the details of the first book, but thankfully was able to jump right back into the story rather quickly. That being said, I definitely see a reread of this series in the future!

As with the first book, The Revolution of Ivy is exceptionally well-written. Ivy is an excellent first-person narrator. She speaks in a dreamlike manner, but she is always easy to follow. I also really liked the addition of new characters Caleb and Ash. They were added to the story seamlessly, and were developed well throughout the book. The pacing of the novel was well done, too  Engel knows when to share details, and when to jump forward.

That being said, I did find the story to be a bit predictable, especially to a reader who is no stranger to the dystopian genre. There were definitely some big plot twists and unexpected scenes, so I deducted a half star from my rating for the touch of predictability. There were also a few moments in the book that I didn't find fully convincing, so I decided to settle on a solid four star rating for that reason.

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed The Revolution of Ivy. I cannot give much away in this review, as the story is so action-packed even the slightest hint of the plot will give a lot away in advance. The story is very emotional in more ways than one, and I can really connect with Ivy and feel for her in terms of what she experiences. I don't necessarily agree with all of Ivys choices, but I still absolutely loved how this duology concluded.

Overall, I highly recommend picking up The Revolution of Ivy if you read The Book of Ivy. This duology is really incredible, and I am looking forward to the next book Engel writes. I know I will be reading this series again in the future. Ive fallen in love with these characters, and will need to return to them throughout my reading life!
4276301
This was a breathtaking first book of a series that did a wonderful job at introducing the main characters and piquing my interest.

Julia has a gift to read minds. She can tell what a person is feeling and if they are lying or telling the truth. She received this gift after her mother disappeared. They found her car at the bottom of a lake, but never found the body. Julia lives with her father and her brother, Luke. Dad travels a lot for business, so Luke and Julia are left alone often to fend for themselves. After her mother disappeared, Julie's Aunt Jo had helped to raise them and considers them her children too. But, Aunt Jo has recently gotten married and Julia is not real fond of Aunt Jo's husband. So when Aunt Jo comes for a visit one evening all alone, Julia decides to leave work early and see if she can catch up with her family to enjoy some quality time with her aunt. Julia is almost home when her cars runs out of gas and forces her to pull on the side of the road and her cell battery has died too. With being left with so few options, Julia decides to cut through the woods to her house. Suddenly, she senses another person's presence and what happens next will alter the rest of her life!

There were so many details that I really enjoyed about this book. Such as the relationship between Julie and Luke. They had your typical brother/sister arguments, but you could tell that Luke really cares for his sister and would do anything for her. I, of course, loved Nicholas. He is definitely one to swoon over.

Mrs. Pandos wrote a great novel about vampires that gives just enough of a twist to make it unique. Highly recommended series and I am really excited to read the next book The Sapphire Talisman.
3366287
3.5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

What a great start to a new regency/historical/highlander romance series by Christy English. How to Seduce a Scot is the first book of The Broadswords and Ballrooms series (love the playful title to book and series) and over all I was impressed enough to come back for more.

Catherine Middlebrook is on the marriage market. With hopes of landing a husband that can save her penniless family, she is some what perplexed when she finds herself attracted to her new friends brother Alex. Alex would never do however as his is a barbarian Scots who has no decorum or sense of polite English anything within. Growing up proper, Catherine must find a reliable proper Englishman with lots of money.

Alexander Waters is doomed to escort his sisters coming out and attend all these frilly pretentious balls. Having no desire to find a wife himself, he is surprised to find himself drawn to the very thing he abhors. Alex is rough around the edges and while he is capable of charming polite society when it serves, he must admit this polite little friend of his sisters has a fire within her that once ignited will burn hot. Now he must convince her to ditch her expectations and realize that a little flame is so much better than a bucket of plain old water.

Ok, so this novel took a little to get into. It was a slow start, but once things got going, it was an engaging read. Catherine and Alex are so different yet both hold some passion within that seems to come out whenever they are close. I love that despite Catherine being courted by Mr Snoozefest (although to be truthful, he is kind .. just boring), Alex still would casually pursue her. Drove me nuts that Catherine pushed Alex away so much though. Honestly, what snagged me in this book was the humour between our main characters. Some of the one liners and playful interactions really was endearing and I absolutely love that. I do wish there was more heat to love scenes and that our highlander was a little more rugged, but that is personal preference and I did enjoy the gentlemen aspect as opposed to the barbarian .. it is .. lets say  refreshing.

A great historical romance for those looking for a tamer romance, and a sweet story. I will absolutely read the next book in this series!

HAPPY READING! :)
289432
The Emperor's Edge is the first book in the series and it a wonderful start to a story filled with adventure and extreme peril.  Amaranthe, our quirky yet lovable heroine, is sent on a mission that could very well mean her death only to discover something that is far more deadly.  We meet the mysterious and infamous assassin Sicarius.  Lindsay carries us away with her imagery and the depth of her characters.  I absolutely love Amaranthe and I am so happy to finally read a book that has a strong female lead character.  She is smart, even if a bit impulsive.  Her banter with Sicarius, even if mostly one sided, is funny and makes me constantly laugh out loud.  I found myself unable to put the book down until I had read every last word and then was hungry for more.
1499858
A fantastic first book by this author! I am floored by the beautiful characters, the captivating backstory of the heroine, and the surprisingly gentle nature of the hero. I almost didn't read this book, based on some of the reviews on Goodreads. However, I reminded myself that I rarely agree with reviews and should let this book have its day with me. So I did. I read the whole book. And you know what? I don't think I read the same book as those other reviewers. I loved it, and I think you would love it too!

Alexander Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke, is on a mission of revenge. After finding out his sister killed herself rather than remain pregnant with a bastard child, he swore to get even with the man who forced her hand. And what better way to do it than to ruin him financially and steal his betrothed? But when he sees her standing in the ballroom at her betrothal ball, a note from her fiance breaking the betrothal clutched in her hand, he sees a kindred spirit and vows to save her from the humiliation he has caused her. They soon find themselves engaged and then married. Lady Claire Cavensham is used to such bad luck. After all, she has gone through four broken betrothals now, all as the result of a curse laid on her since childhood. She finds Alex an easy man to love, but when secrets come out and trust is broken, she must decide if her love for him can surpass his apparent distrust of her. It's a story of deception and lies, and it all seems to come down to the old saying - O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!

This is one of those rare moments when I love the hero way more than I do the heroine. Don't get me wrong - I like both characters very much! There is something about Alex, though, that makes me believes in fairytales again. Sure, he did some questionable things in the first few chapters, particularly in deceiving Claire. However, it quickly becomes clear that he genuinely likes her and just wants to see her happy. However, Claire frequently frustrated me, as she seemed so hung up on the few misunderstandings she had with Alex. She overreacted in a few situations, when really she should have been looking at how kind Alex was to her after they were married. What she kept assuming of him - that he doesn't trust her, that was using her, etc. - didn't match the affection, support, and understanding he showed her. He didn't even consummate the marriage right away, which in those days, said something! Especially of a man who supposedly thought so little of her. It was a bit much ado about nothing, but I still greatly enjoyed them as a couple. Her curse made her vulnerable, and that caused a lot of her insecurities. Once the curse is explained, the reader does fully understand why everything is so hard for her.

Great debut novel for Janna MacGregor! I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Masterful storytelling and a great writing style, this author is one to watch out for.

**I received a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
2394885
Absolutely loved this book! Jude is this confident country singer until he's with Derek and his this sweet, funny, loving guy! Though they hit some bumps in the road your are guaranteed three things... laughs, love and a happy ending! This is the first book I read by Lucy Lennox and I honestly loved it! I'm frankly mad at myself for reading book 3 before book 1 and 2! When I read I either fall in love with the characters or the writing! I'm praying it's the writing as I move on to book 1 Borrowing Blue... look for that review to find out if it was characters or writing lol!
4883305
This was my first introduction to the world of the Sin City Collectors, and I loved every second of it. The characters were fantastic, the story was thrilling, flirty and flowed right off the page, drawing me in from the very first page.

Claude was a kick-ass, strong female lead, and I loved seeing her get into tiger warrior princess mode, but she also had a really soft heart and that was evident by the way she treated this particular collection. Her instincts were spot on and I was glad that she decided to dig a bit deeper instead of labeling Jason a thief outright.

This story was fun and intriguing, but it also had plenty of heart. When the truth about Jason's keystone came to light, my heart broke for him because it left him even more vulnerable to Sloan's demands on him, and couldn't wait to see justice served for what had been done to him.

I enjoyed everything about this book. It was a delight to read, and has definitely spurred my interest in the rest of the books in the SCC world. I can't wait to read more.
3751638
What a fabulous start to the series. The phrase short and sweet springs to mind. It certainly got the adrenaline going. Just like Clara the young girl in the story Isa , was totally new to magic. This is going to be one heck of a journey.
I loved it, loved it , loved it.
It was a tantalizing adrenaline ride of a story with the promise of such exciting possibilities to come. It borders on cruelty making us wait for the next one.
1718754
WOW! Just finished reading this unforgettably super hot and wonderful debut book from Lucy Lennox. I received this ARC for an honest review. Blue and Tristan are so hot my fingers are singed , and the characters all just POP of the pages. What seemed like at first glance would be a quick week fling to assuage a broken heart and bad breakup for Blue from his now ex Patrick who happens to be a guest at his sisters wedding with the "straight" Vineyard owner Tristan who he meets at the lodge bar and wants to help him make his ex jealous by pretending to be Blue's boyfriend, turns into such a intricate winding twisting week of combustible attraction, sexual identity awakening, hot as a broil oven sex and more heart than one can handle. There are so many great great characters in this story , I especially had a fondness for Aunt Tilly and Granny, and Blue's brother's Jude and Jamie. Cannot wait to read more in the next books about this crazy fun family. There were so many fantastically funny lines with the banter between Blue and Tristan that had me reading with a great big smile on my face, I absolutely loved these guys.
  I was definitely most pleasantly surprised by how well developed and how well we get to know these guys and those around them. The twist and turns kept the pace nice, and surprising .Did I mention it was also super steamy in between!! If anything this was a joy to read and deserves the 5 stars, I implore anyone to read this book, if you like hot steamy and well told stories , do not hesitate to buy this book!
4822082
I really enjoyed every book in this series, and have also loved the Wilde spin-off series. Lennox is a master at writing fun, interesting, deep characters and engaging plots with believable challenges and happy endings. I recommend this book and every other book I've read from her.
1383272
Ruth Cardello does it again! I loved this first book in a new series! Asher is an alpha billionaire who happens to be quite the pain in the, well you know where. Emily is a strong, yet vulnerable woman who is determined to make her mother's dream come true. Put the two together and the chemistry is off the charts. When tragedy strikes Emily's plans, can the couple overcome the distance that is put between them? Both characters grow tremendously and become the adults they should have been all along. Read this one and let Asher win you over! Great job by a great author who just so happens to be a great person!
667940
I absolutely loved this book! Nancy Straight has started a wonderful new series with Blood Debt, which is book one of the Touched series. Just as with Meeting Destiny, Nancy has created endearing characters, a brand new world of adventure, and once again introduces originality into the paranormal romance genre which is refreshing amidst so many overused plots today. I felt an immediate connection to Cami in the first chapter and grew to love her more as the story progressed. The book is full of interesting characters and adventure. The ending definitely left me wanting to read more! I can't wait for the next story in the series. Bravo Mrs. straight, Bravo!!!
1620750
I loved the start to this new series. Gargoyles have long been one of my favorite paranormal denizens; the mythology of gargoyle as protector lends itself so well to fantasy/romance adventures. This book had an engaging primary couple, particularly the gargoyle; he was utterly charming, as well as strong and loyal and sexy. Interesting secondary characters, which makes looking forward to the upcoming books fun...although Fallon was almost a bit too abrasive at times. Wulver was very hot and intriguing and I hope we learn more about Shadow!