Blog Tour: The Secrets of Mia Danvers by Robyn DeHart (Review + Giveaway)

I'm so, so pleased to welcome Robyn DeHart to Love Saves the World. Robyn is currently promoting her new book, The Secrets of Mia Danvers, the first book in her Dangerous Liaisons series.

Robyn DeHart will be giving away winner's choice of the following:

Amazon Paperwhite or

Nook Glow or

$120 Gift Card for Amazon or Barnes & Noble

To visit Robyn's other stops, click here.

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About the book --

Blurb:

A lone witness finds her protector...

Since losing her sight in a childhood accident, Mia Danvers has resided in a small cottage on the vast Carrington estate. Thought to be dead, Mia lives a life of virtual seclusion -- until one night, while walking home, she happens upon a horrendous crime.

Alex Foster, Eighth Duke of Carrington, lives according to society’s expectations for him. He’s never met the woman who lives in the cottage at the edge of his property. But when she arrives at his door in the pouring rain terrified and claiming she has witnessed a murder, she seizes his attention.

Mia is determined to help the authorities track down the culprit, even though the only person willing to accept her aid is the handsome, arrogant duke. Working closely together proves difficult as Mia’s beauty and independence tempts Alex to ignore convention and follow his desire. But what neither of them know is that this murderer has struck before in Whitechapel, taunting the British press only to vanish—a ruthless killer who knows that Mia is the only living witness to his crime ...

Purchase links:

Kindle

Nook

iTunes

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My review:

Thought to be dead, Mia Danvers, the youngest daughter of an earl, has lived quietly with her companion on the edge of the Duke of Carrington's estate. When she was brought to the cottage by her mother nine years ago, she was told never to be a burden or a bother to the duke's family -- and Mia has abided by these rules.

Until Mia witnesses a gruesome murder on the Carrington estates and Mia has no choice but to approach the duke for help.

Alex was never supposed to be the Duke but his brother's untimely death has forced Alex into the forefront, taking on the responsibilities of the dukedom and as head of the Carrington family. The first thing he must do is abate the scandal surrounding his brother's death -- and to do so, Alex must marry well -- and the perfect wife has already been chosen for him.

When Mia arrives at his doorstep, he is surprised to discover that his family's unwanted/overstaying guest isn't mad as his mother had said she was and is in fact, one of the most breathtakingly beautiful and clear-minded people Alex has ever met in his life, but the news Mia brings is unwelcome, threatening to bring an even bigger scandal that would truly ruin the Carrington name.

A servant of the Carrington household is found murdered, her body cut open. Is this the work of Jack the Ripper? But he has been quiet lately and Mayfair is worlds away from Whitechapel. When more women turn up dead and, when Alex's brother, Drew, becomes the prime suspect, Alex does everything he can, including trusting Mia, to protect his family.

There are two reasons why this book is unputdownable: (1)Robyn deHart's spin on the Jack the Ripper mythos and (2) the love story between Mia and Alex.

Robyn DeHart has written about mysteries in her Ladies' Amateur Sleuth Society series and I remember reading that series and enjoying deHart's gift for weaving in romance with investigations and detective work. With her new series, deHart is taking on mysteries once again -- but, not just any mystery, she has decided to frame her new series with one of the greatest mysteries of the 19th century: Jack the Ripper.

DeHart contributes to the body of Jack the Ripper fiction by writing about new murders that happened during the lull in Jack the Ripper's killing spree in 1889. It's also interesting that she has moved the setting of the murders to Mayfair.

In fiction, the Ripper is a captivating character and DeHart gives him a very sinister persona and voice.

The Ripper was waiting.

He picked up his pace, the girl looked behind her shoulder at him, then turned back to the front and sped up. He would catch her. She was a petite little thing and her stride would have nothing on his. He proved that very thing when he caught up with her in three long steps.

"Where are you going so quickly?" he asked.
- p. 184

Here's what we know about DeHart's Jack the Ripper:
1. He is either a gentleman or a lord, definitely someone who belongs in aristocratic circles and moves around easily in society.
2. He smokes and he whistles.
3. He is angry that there are witnesses (Mia is one of them) and vows to silence them.

Will Robyn DeHart eventually name her suspect? How will she resolve the Jack the Ripper mystery? I'm definitely following this series to find out. ^_^

Then there is the love story between Alex and Mia.

What begins between Alex and Mia is something of an anti-love story. Neither one wants to be involved in the other but there is an undeniable chemistry between them.

Alex is set to marry his older brother's intended, Juliet, who is a very a good match from a very proper family. It is a marriage that will secure the Carrington name and keep them out of the scandal sheets. Before Alex met Mia, he was already in the midst of courting Juliet and was very close to making a formal offer.

Mia is happy with her life as it is, though she would wish she had more money to pay Rachel. When she approached Alex, all she wanted to do was to report the incident and inform him that she would cooperate with the investigation. I love how Mia bristles when Alex kept calling her back to the main house for further questions because she had expected to work with the authorities and not with Alex, but because of Drew is the main suspect, Alex has no choice but to follow the same leads, hoping they would lead to a different person.

I also love that Mia wasn't dazzled by Alex's title or wealth. She never dreamed to be whisked off from her simple life and made queen of the universe. It is very telling that, even when she had moved to Alex's house, she never once requested for better clothes for herself and continued to wear her very drab, very itchy woolen gowns. I consider her an anti-Cinderella -- she doesn't need Prince Charming to whisk her away and give her a better life because she is perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

"I have to keep you out of harm's way," he argued.

"No, you don't." Though she longed for him to continue to do so. Did that make her weak? Ultimately she knew that if he did pawn her off on her sisters, it was likely she'd never be near him again. And that, for reasons she didn't care to examine, scared the hell out of her.

"If I don't, who will?" he countered.

"I will. I've lived on my own, with nothing but the assistance of Rachel and we've managed quite nicely without you or my sisters." She stepped over to where she knew he still sat. Without another thought she reached out and jammed her finger into his solid chest. Whether she craved his protection or not, she'd be damned if he'd treat her as some sort of invalid. "What gives you the right to think you can order me about? Simply because you've inherited some prestigious title and now everyone around is to bow to your every whim? Well, let me tell you one thing, Alex Foster, your title means nothing to me. I'm not impressed by who you are, and I'm most certainly not intimidated. As far as I'm concerned, you're no different than any other man on the street. Well, with the exception that you want to control my life." She stopped talking long enough to realize she was actually winded.
- pp. 144-145

Mia's blindness isn't a disability but an ability for Mia, who is very efficient in navigating the world. Because of her blindness, she was able to get to know the man and not the duke. (And she was not impressed with the duke but she is very, very impressed with Alex, the man.)

When they started their affair, Mia offered herself as purely an expression of her love for Alex. She never set out to entrap him into marriage and she was very realistic about her prospects.

"No one knows."* Mia's entire existence is a secret and she is willing to keep one more secret: her and Alex. I saw this as something sad but, at the same time, amazing. How utterly selfless Mia was -- but, how she balances it all with her courage. She stands up to Alex's mother (read p. 166) and to her sisters and she stood up to her affliction: rather than being defeated by blindness, she worked around it.

This is a book with substance, a book that I see myself re-reading again in the future, a book that I would highly, highly recommend without hesitation.

The Secrets of Mia Danvers is the first book in Robyn DeHart's Dangerous Liaisons series. The second book, The Temptations of Anna Jacobs, will be released in November 2013. Very, very, very excited for it. ^_^

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. Many thanks to Robyn DeHart and InterMix for the opportunity. Yes, this is an honest review.

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About the author:

A life-long love of stories and adventure, it was either become a stuntwoman for the movies or live out those adventures from the safety of her PJ's and computer. Award-winning author, Robyn DeHart chose the latter and couldn't be happier for doing so. Known for her unique plotlines and authentic characters, Robyn is a favorite among readers and reviewers. Publishers' Weekly claims her writing to be "comical and sexy" while the Chicago Tribune dubs her "wonderfully entertaining." Robyn is an award-winning author as well as being a four-time RT Bookclub Reviewers' Choice award nominee, and a three-time RomCon Reader's Crown nominee. Robyn lives in Texas with her brainy husband, two precocious little girls and two spoiled cats. You can find Robyn on-line at her website or at one of her group blogs, the Jaunty Quills or Peanut Butter on the Keyboard.

Places to find Robyn:
Site
Jaunty Quills
Peanut Butter on the Keyboard
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Goodreads

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Robyn DeHart will be giving away winner's choice of the following:

Amazon Paperwhite or

Nook Glow or

$120 Gift Card for Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Enter through Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To visit Robyn's other stops, click here.

Review: Lady Eve's Indiscretion by Grace Burrowes

Click here to buy the book on Amazon
A new Season is about to begin and there are only two unmarried Windhams left: Eve and Jenny. Eve isn't really looking forward to another round of proposals and rejection. She wants to settle down but, on her own terms. Eve wants a husband she can manage -- preferably one with heirs already so Evie can enjoy a white marriage.

Lucas Denning, Marquis of Deene isn't looking forward to the Season as well. Because of his title, he is considered one of the catches of the Season and he's tired of dodging marriage-minded mamas and misses. He finds a very good companion in Lady Eve, who saves him on several occasions from such awkward encounters.

Lucas has been friends with Eve and her family for many years -- but this is the first time that Lucas is looking at Evie and seeing something ... more.

Which is what Evie is afraid of. She wants a man who will fawn over her petiteness and appreciate the dowry and connections she brings to a marriage. She doesn't want a man wo is interested in her and her life -- for Evie hides a terrible secret from her past, which no one -- not even her own family talks about.

Two events in Evie's past has changed her life forever: A riding accident has left Evie forever wary of horses and riding -- and the other incident has left her forever wary of men. There are hints about the second incident as seen through Eve's reaction to certain sights, smells and experiences -- but she never names it. It is a shadow that rules over Eve's life and dictates what she can and cannot do.

This story is Evie's journey of healing. She is fine in body but not in spirit and hasn't been in a while -- her family doesn't know how else to help her and all they can do is give her their love and support. And stand quietly by her side through her ordeal.

This story is also a tale of two families: one seemingly whole, one seemingly broken. The Windhams are an amazingly close, congenial and very symbiotic family. There doesn't seem to be any friction or tension between the siblings or their parents. But they are not perfect -- one could see how burdened Eve feels, how badly she pretends to be "fine" for the sake of her family.

At services, Eve had volunteered to attend the children in the nursery, and this time -- this time -- she'd looked at all those boisterous, healthy children with their clean faces and broad smiles, and considered that her life would be devoid of the blessings of motherhood. For the rest of her life, while her sisters were raising up children, and her brothers were raising up children, and her cousins were raising up children, she would be ... childless.

That was infuriating too.

And now, Louisa and Jenny would hop into the gig and tool over to Kesmore's without a backward thought for their safety, their nerves, their ability to cope with a darting hare or approaching storm.

Eve loved her family, but still, there was much to be angry about.
- p. 104

Lucas, his cousin and his niece are the last of the Dennings and he is trying to repair his family by gaining custody of his sister's only child but Georgie's father is making things very difficult for Lucas, who is forced to consider less legal, more forceful means.

This is the major sub-plot: Lucas and Patrick (Georgie's father) have a difficult history together -- Lucas believes his sister was unhappy in her marriage to Patrick and Lucas was powerless to ensure his sister's happiness. Now Lucas is determined to protect his niece, Georgie -- but he and Patrick couldn't seem to agree on how to do so. I wondered how this fit into the main story and I think Burrowes wanted to show this side of Lucas. He is a man intent in protecting those he feels responsible for. It also shows both his gentle and ruthless side: Lucas isn't an idle aristocrat with nothing in his brain. He is actually quite intelligent and very, very relentless.

"Allow me to say, Hooker, that you will not be paid for all this painstaking research -- which I do appreciate, of course -- until such time as I have pleadings in my hand, suitable for submission to a court of appropriate jurisdiction. I bid you good day."

He had the satisfaction of seeing Hooker's brows crash down.

"And, Hooker? One more thing. I dipped my toe in the law at university, at least to the extend a man likely some day to serve as magistrate ought to. Those cases listed on your precious paper relate to trade agreements and civil contracts. While not a lawyer, I'm hard put to understand how custody of a girl child involves those aspects of the law."
- p. 80

Grace Burrowes writes Lucas and Eve very well. They are a wonderful pair and this is, perhaps, the first time that hero and heroine seem to be on equal ground -- but Marcus and Eve do face troubles and theirs are felt and not seen. Which leads one to reflect, would one prefer an outright villain to battle with? Or prefer to battle one's own demons?

As with all Grace Burrowes stories, there is a distinct rhythm to Lucas and Eve's courtship: they dance, they talk, they kiss and they engage in light flirtations -- lyrical and elegant are two words that I would use to describe their dialogues and encounters. Like a minuet, there is a deliberate slowness in Burrowes' pace -- and her characters get to know each other not in haste but in a very natural way. Love comes not on a high speed but on a leisurely promenade.

..."Did you enjoy our kiss, Evie?"

Evie. Only her family called her that -- and him. He said it with a particular intimate inflection her family never used though.

She sat up very straight. "Your question has no proper answer. If I say no, then I am dishonest -- I flew at you, after all, and you had to peel me off of you -- and if I say yes, then I am wicked."
- p. 23

Finally, I have also come to appreciate the thoughtful humor that I find in Burrowes' stories and I love how they come at just the right time for both the characters and the readers.

Lady Eve's Indiscretion is book 7 in the Windham Family stories (it is Book 3 in the sub-series, The Duke's Daughters). To find out more about Grace Burrowes and her books, click below:

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Blog Tour: No Gentleman is He by Carley Bauer and Lynette Willows (Excerpt + Giveaway)

Love Saves the World welcomes Carley Bauer and Lynette Willows, who are currently on a virtual book tour for their book, No Gentleman is He.

Carley and Lynette will be picking two winners at the end of the tour. Winner 1 will receive a lovely pair of colonial-era earrings (U.S. only please due to shipping constraints); Winner 2 will receive a $100 Amazon GC.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here.

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About the book:

Blurb:
Young, adventurous and widowed in a new land, Cassandra Courtney Brooks finds her dream of raising a superior breed of saddle horse slipping away with the death of her husband. Left with four horses, living in a tavern attic, and her scant savings depleting, she resolves to see her vision through to fruition by accepting the scandalous position of steward at Varina Farms.

Born in the image of his native ancestry, Colton Rolfe’s savage blood runs through his veins. Scorned by his father, Colt grew into a man of ill temperament whose only interest is the wild equine beasts on his plantation. His desire to breed his horses with the superior Thoroughbreds of the newly widowed Cassandra Brooks leads him to abandon societal rules. Colt’s growing resentment toward the Crown and his assistance to Sons of Liberty missions is complicated by the discovery that Cassandra’s father is a titled English nobleman.

Cassandra is soon forced to question the wisdom of her decision when she finds herself enamored with her employer. As fiery passion grows between them, Cassandra realizes her own spirit of independence, love of the land, and the savage man who is so much a part of it.

As the threat of war comes ever closer, wills are tested through gunfire, treachery, danger, and kidnapping. Does Colt dare trust Cassandra with Sons of Liberty secrets? More importantly, can he trust her with his heart? And will Colt ever trust Cassandra enough to love her as she longs to be loved?

Excerpt:

It was only when Colton Rolfe rode toward them from the back fields that she felt the nagging qualm at having come here at all. His figure appeared even more powerful when riding a large black horse. Despite the pastoral scene, he looked somewhat frightening. She pictured him leaping straight from the books she read as a young girl, a romantic heathen Indian but clad now in trousers, a shirt with a turn-over collar and waistcoat.

“Colt, I have brought a friend.” Jackson greeted him. “Cassandra was kind enough to stop by the house to thank us for helping the other evening.”

“I see.” Colton’s gaze roamed coolly over her.

She bravely met his dark stare. “It was kind of you to give up your evening meal to help. I greatly appreciate your efforts.”

“Efforts?” He smiled sardonically.

“Successful efforts,” she corrected, wishing she had the ease with him she did with other men.

“You understand you could have lost them both due to negligence?”

“Colt, for God’s sake,” Jackson interrupted, glaring. “The fact is, she sought help promptly.”

Cassandra tilted her head up. “I do the best I can alone, sir. I can assure you, my animals are well cared for. In fact, better than yours, I wager!”

Jackson burst into laughter when Colton’s brow rose in doubt at her challenge. “Now there’s a bet you cannot resist, Colt, old boy.”

No Gentleman Is He available for purchase at:

Smashwords

Amazon

Eros Books

Barnes and Noble

iTunes

Kobo

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About the authors:

Carley Bauer enjoys life on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. with her husband and their blue eyed feline, Noelle. After 30 years as a state contractor in a self employed capacity, she decided to try her hand at her first love, writing.
She loves being an empty nester, free to travel with her husband. Still involved with her children and grandchildren,

Carley loves big family events. Some of her other hobbies are home decor, fashion, graphic arts, and the occasional bite of the Big Apple where the excitement feeds her natural love of city life.


Find Carley at:
Email: carleybauer210@gmail.com
Facebook
Facebook Fan Page
Blog
Twitter
Pinterest
Goodreads
Tirgearr Publishing

I’m Lynette Willows. I live in rural Alberta, Canada. My debut novel, “No Gentleman Is He”, the first in the Sons of Liberty series, is co-written along with my partner in romance, Carley Bauer.

Some have mentioned I have a very interesting past. Not only was it unusual, but some would even say reckless. I’ve lived on an Indian reserve in a teepee with my young son for three months in the winter, I’ve chased storms, and worked as a social services aide on one of the most troubled and dangerous reserves in Canada, where I met great friends as well as made a few enemies.

I enjoy camping, movies, especially historical bio dramas, strange dogs, stranger cats, exclamation points, coffee mugs with stupid sayings, friends, the crazier the better, family, as long as they are crazier than I am, and I have a huge collection of shiny, outrageous earrings. Yes, I’m a magpie. I’ll only play chess with my husband because he’ll let me win.

If you’re curious about my favorite reading material, it’s very eclectic and varied. I’m extremely picky about what I read, so check out my “to read” list on Goodreads. You can also follow me and Carley, my talented, patient, and illustrious co-author at our fan page on Facebook at “Lynette Willows & Carley Bauer”. I’m also on Twitter under @LynetteWillows, as well as Pinterest, though I’m still figuring that out. You are welcome to also visit me and chat at “Lynette Willows, Author” at http://lynettewillows.blogspot.ca/.

“I have enormous respect for the reader. They are able to take symbols from a page that an author has invented, and turn them into images in their minds that create an enduring story. If that’s not artistry, I don’t know what is.”
-Lynette Willows

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Carley and Lynette will be picking two winners at the end of the tour. Winner 1 will receive a lovely pair of colonial-era earrings (U.S. only please due to shipping constraints); Winner 2 will receive a $100 Amazon GC.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here.

Review: Not Proper Enough by Carolyn Jewel

Click here to buy the book on Amazon
Fox loved Ginny from the first moment, but she fell in love with his best friend and married him. Hurt pride and a broken heart caused Fox to say things he never really meant to say -- and he ended up hurting Ginny ... and himself.

Now Ginny is a widow, out of mourning, and back in London for the Season as companion to Hester Rendell -- and Fox has another chance to make things right between them, but Ginny has not forgotten or forgiven Fox yet she cannot ignore her own body's response to his ardent attentions.

Ginny isn't in London for herself but for Hester, and when a fixture of the London Ton decides to target Hester (and Ginny) with his insults, and goes too far by making scandalous insinuations about Fox and Ginny, Fox risks his reputation (and his life) to defend her honor.

There are always two sides to the same story: for Fox, it was always about love, but the love that Fox felt was too intense, too big for him to put to words and, when he did try, the wrong words came out. He watched the love of his life marry his best friend and he tried to move on and forget her but he never did.

Years later, Fox is no longer the prideful scoundrel he once was and he has been given a second chance and he tries to prove to Ginny that he is worthy of her love: He becomes Hester's and Ginny's champion against Dinwitty Lane, who is, perhaps, the most annoying character in all of historical romancedom. (Who does nothing but provoke the characters, like an obnoxious fly.)

What is the complication to the story? Ginny. Whose side of the story shows her hurt, her embarrassment over Fox's dismissal of her years ago -- and now her bewilderment at his sudden change of heart. She's determined to protect her heart this time around -- she surrenders her body to Fox but keeps her heart closed to his declarations.

I can't help but compare Not Proper Enough to When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn and to Beguiling the Beauty by Sherry Thomas because they have similar premises -- but that is where the similarity ends. What I love about the historical romance genre is how each author takes on the challenge of making classic plot lines fresh and new. Julia Quinn focused on moving forward by letting go of the past (Francesca was still in the mourning stages), Sherry Thomas focused on the revenge aspect and Carolyn Jewel's Ginny had already finished mourning her husband and is really just trying to protect herself from further heartache.

"My dear man, I don't have dreams about you. I have nightmares."

"You wound me."

She laughed.

"What sort of man could win your heart?" She hesitated, and he cursed his clumsiness because he knew the answer. She had found the man she loced. "Someone like Robert," he said softly. "Honorable. Amiable. Intelligent. A man everyone likes. Never out of sorts. Never cross."

"Not never." She smiled -- sadly, he fancied. "But yes, rarely."

"I am sorry for your loss. You know that, I hope."

...

She sighed. "For a very long time after he died, I thought I'd never love another man."

"And now?" His heart gave a hard thump. Had Aigen pressed his suit with her while he was away?

"I know I'll never love anyone the way I loved Robert."She packed away her sewing kit, and his eyes followed the line of her cheek, the sweep of her throat. With a sideways glance at him, a careless one, she said, "I'd love another man a different way." She dropped her etui in her reticule before she looked up. "Because he would be a different man, you understand. Not Robert. Someone else, and he would be worthy of me and I worthy of him in an entirely different way."
- pp. 130 - 132

Ginny is no longer a shy, country bumpkin (remember that she is Mountjoy's sister) but is now an empowered woman. She knows what love is and she knows that what she feels for Fox isn't the same kind of love she felt for Robert -- and she isn't afraid to tell Fox so. Throughout her journey, I appreciated the conversations she had with Fox, how she tried to sound out her confusion and anger and how Fox accepted the burden of her pain.

...When he looked at her, her defiance was back.

She said, "You're not Robert." Her eyes flashed. "It doesn't matter how good you are with your cock, you'll never be Robert."

Fox released her thigh and turned her around. "No. I am not. Nor do I intend to even attempt to be him."
- p. 174

There is also a secondary plot line between Hester and the Duke of Camber. I felt the chemistry from their first meeting -- but Jewel drops their story in the middle and left me to wonder if I imagined the attraction -- more so when other men were thrown Hester's way but the author picked up their story again in the end.

That small niggle aside, this was another gratifying book from one of my favorite authors and I look forward to the next installment. ^_^

Not Proper Enough is the second book in Carolyn Jewel's Reforming the Scoundrels series. To find out more about the author and her books, click below:

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Review: Highland Surrender by Tracy Brogan

Click here to buy the book on Amazon
Fiona Sinclair and Myles Campbell are children of warring families. Tired of the bloodshed and eager for a more united Scotland, King James orders them to get married. Neither one wants the other, but they do their duty and obey the king's orders.

It is believed that Myles's father was responsible for Fiona's mother's death -- and Fiona is determined to feel nothing but hate for her new husband. But his touch ignites passion and longing in her and, as Fiona starts to live among the Campbells, her heart slowly thaws.

But, the peace between Fiona and Myles is threatened by a group of rebel Scots, determined to oust King James from the throne -- and Fiona's brothers are involved. Myles can't help but wonder if his wife is as guilty as the rest of her Sinclair family and wonders if he could trust her.

It is dizzying how deep the treachery runs within the Sinclairs and how dangerous the situation is for Fiona, whose loyalties must belong to her husband -- but she still doesn't know what happened to her mother and what role Myles's father played in her mother's gruesome death.

Is she living in a pit of vipers? Or is she the viper? Fiona is antagonistic towards Myles and his family and now she has to live with them. She treads carefully among her new relations, wondering if she could trust them ... wondering if she could trust herself and the feelings that start to surface as she lives there -- because the Campbells don't seem to be the monsters her father and brothers paint them to be. They care for their clan and respect their women. It becomes painfully clear to Fiona that her own family, the Sinclairs, might be the villains in this particular story.

The relationship of Myles and Fiona begin with fireworks -- neither one was prepared to feel such a connection with the other but it is there and it is undeniable. Myles is more open to exploring the possibilities of their marriage but he must woo Fiona into letting him in. It was, at times, frustrating to see Myles try so hard and then have Fiona reject him. Fiona really stubbornly clung on to her anger.

The timing between the two just never seemed right and when things were finally starting to warm up for them, they had to deal with Fiona's brothers and their involvement in the plot to overthrow King James. It is a devastating blow to Myles who isn't sure how Fiona is involved in it.

My favorite character in the story is Vivienne, Myles's very interesting aunt (from his mother's side). She provides humor and dynamism to the story. Which leads me to the one weak point in Tracy Brogan's storytelling: her heroine and her anger was a bit problematic for me. There were times when even I, as a reader, flinched at Fiona's venom and she was walking the fine line between heroine and not-heroine. Contrasted to Vivienne and the rest of the Campbells, Fiona's hostility felt a bit selfish and petty.

A child of her own? Her senses reeled, nearly toppling her from the saddle, and for the second time in many days, she fought to keep her breakfast. With a fist pressed hard against her belly, she sent up a silent prayer to the God who had forsaken her, begging for a barren womb.
- p. 37

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A sensation, like steam rising, thin and indistinct, built inside Fiona's chest. Cedric Campbell was wounded. She should be glad, and yet she felt nothing but morbid curiosity and the faint hope that she'd awaken from this nightmare. An odd stillness overtook her senses, as if she watched from a faraway place.

...

"Is he dead?" she asked, her voice flat.
- pp. 78 - 80

Fiona's one redeeming moment is when she offers to prove her loyalty to Miles and his family. (From Chapter 39 to the end.)

Highland Surrender is Tracy Brogan's debut historical romance novel. She has previously published Crazy Little Thing, a contemporary romance. To find out more about Tracy Brogan and her books, click below.

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I read this book as part of the Romance Reading Challenge 2013 hosted by Nadia@The Bookworm.

Blog Tour: The Reluctant Duke by Georgiana Louis (Interview + Excerpt)

Today, we welcome Georgiana Louis who is currently on tour for her book, The Reluctant Duke.

For this stop, I was able to ask Georgiana some questions about her novel, here is the complete Q&A:

LStW: Hi, Georgiana! The Reluctant Duke is your first foray into writing a romance in a historical setting. What's the best thing about using Regency England as the setting for Colin and Annabelle's story?
Georgiana: Regency London was a time of quite strict rules within society, yet it was the time that love matches became more acceptable within the gentry and aristocracy. And that's the part I love. Colin is a Duke so he really should be marrying a woman of similar birth, much like Mr. Darcy really, and although Annabelle is a lady, much like Lizzie, she is not of an equal standing.

LStW: Using three adjectives, can you describe the relationship of Colin and Annabelle?
Georgiana: Flawed, Addictive, Passionate.

LStW: What are the books on your nightstand?
Georgiana: Hmmm at the moment I have Sabrina Jeffries Beware a Scots Revenge which is a book I have read over and over. I do lots of critiquing for author friends, so I'm always reading something of theirs as well.

LStW: Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share with our readers?
Georgiana: The next three spares. Which are the sequels to this book. I personally love stories where they are written as independent books, yet they are linked via family or friends. Annabelle and Colin appear in all three of the other books.

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Thank you, Georgiana! Very excited about the rest of The Spares series!

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About the book:

Blurb:
Colin Lyre, recently inherited 10th Duke of Lincoln, has been told his whole life that he is superfluous to his family.
When he must deal with the responsibility and stress that comes with his new title, he flounders rather badly. He is determined do his ‘duty’’ and marry an ‘appropriate Duchess.’

Life throws Colin’s plans wayward when he rescues the beautiful Annabelle from a ball. She makes him realize how much better his life could be, but he doesn’t know if he truly deserves such happiness.

Annabelle wants nothing to do with the responsibility of marrying a title. She simply wants to make a suitable match with a gentleman who can support her family.

Colin is Annabelle’s perfect prince until she realizes what life as his life would be like. However, making the rational decision to stay away from one another is much harder than either of them expects.

Excerpt:

“We were so pleased you could make it, Miss Collins.” Victoria replied for them both. She was smiling warmly at Annabelle and Colin felt his teeth clenching again at the light in Victoria’s eyes.

“I heard that my friend managed to give you a small amount of assistance that night, Miss Collins. I hope you are feeling well this evening?” John dropped his voice to make sure that no other person on the balcony could hear him.

Annabelle blushed deeply but instead of avoiding the topic, her gaze held firmly to John’s face and her eyes flashed with something strange.

“He did indeed sir,” Annabelle rushed in before Colin could say anything, lifting her chin a fraction.

“Although, it was no small thing. Without Colin there that night, I’m afraid I would have been packed and on my way back to Somerset today from the horror of it all.” Annabelle lifted her chin again in a defiant manner and Colin could do nothing but stare at her. She was not afraid to thank him publicly for his rescue and she was so incredible when she was defending him.

“Colin?” John asked, one eyebrow raised in the air at his friend. Colin silently cursed, he never had given Annabelle his surname and she certainly did not know his title. Trust John to notice the use of his given name. They both knew that most people called him ‘His Grace’. No one except his mother and a few select friends called him Colin.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Annabelle soon realized her error, turned to Colin and lay a hand on his arm in an intimate gesture that neither Victoria or John missed. Colin grimaced, he had known he was going to regret joining her on the balcony.
“I do not know what else to refer to you as.” Annabelle turned wide eyes to him.

Victoria and John both burst out laughing.

Annabelle looked back at them quickly, startled.

Colin glared at them, they must have thought it an amazing joke. They had found the only woman in London who did not know every detail about him down to his shoe size.

“May I present His Grace, the Duke of Lincoln, Colin Lyre.” John announced to Annabelle with another bow and a great flourish of his right hand.

Annabelle pulled back her hand from his jacket sleeve so quickly it was painful. She took a step back from him with a wounded look in her huge violet eyes.

“I thought ... you said ... ah ... oh my,” Annabelle stuttered stumbling back towards the ballroom and without even a backwards glance, she picked up her skirts and ran from the balcony.

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About the author:

Georgiana Louis is a working chiropractor with two small children and a love for reading historical romance novels. She has been reading romance since her grandmother gave her her first mills and boon. When an idea about 4 friends in the Regency period came to her one day, she put pen to paper and fingers to keys and “The Spares” quartet was born. A new love has now been found.

Review: Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid by Maureen Driscoll

Click here to get this book on Amazon

Their story began somewhere in Belgium, in the midst of war: Ned served as a spy for the British and Jane had escaped her grandfather's guardianship to learn more about medicine. Amidst the danger, they succumb to man's very primal need for companionship -- and then went their separate ways.

Except they never forgot each other, or that one night they shared all those years ago.

Their paths should never have crossed again, if not for Ned's brother, Liam's insistence that Ned settle his future. And so Ned travels to Bedfordshire, where his intended intended lives (there is an understanding but no engagement) -- and it also happens to be where Jane lives and serves as the village surgeon.

Their paths should never have crossed again, if not for Ned's poor sense of direction as he was going to Barrington Manor.

But fate has a way of leading lovers back to their true loves -- and so Ned finds Jane again.

There are so many questions and not so many answers for both of them. What happened to them after that one night? Did he ever try to look for her? Does she ever think of him? And who is Violet? As the pieces slowly fall into place, Ned must step up, grow up and do what he must to keep his new family together.

The beginning of the story grabs you and the situation that Ned and Jane find themselves in is not uncommon -- with death always a step behind, they develop an understanding: that this moment, this feeling, was all they would have and hold for as long as the war raged on. Then our hero and heroine are separated -- but we know that they will find their way back to each other again. The only question is, how?

And Maureen Driscoll answers it so wonderfully -- ah, the irony of Liam's edict that Ned go to Bedfordshire to sort out the long-standing agreement between the Kellingtons and the Merrimans so that Ned's future would have some direction. And, indeed, Ned found it -- direction, in the form of Jane and her daughter, Violet. Finding Jane again was the easy part -- discovering how he would fit in Jane's world and how Jane would fit into his world was the difficult part.

Then there is the added complication of Jane's grandfather and the very annoying Madeleine Merriman but Ned and Jane try their best to work things out -- with very human hesitation and uncertainty. They don't know how they can be together (or why -- they figure love out much later) but they know they need to be together if they want to overcome all the obstacles in their path.

I think I may have found a new family to love. The Kellingtons are a very interesting family: with William, the duke, as head of the family and his brothers, Ned, Arthur, Hal and sister, Lizzie. I love how Driscoll introduces them very subtly -- not overwhelming the readers with an overload of information but by tucking in thoughtful details about them in the story -- after you finish reading Ned's story, you would be interested to read more about the rest of them (I am most intrigued about Liam).

A bit of a warning: the story is a bit trope-heavy: with a secret baby, an evil rival and her family who maltreat servants, Jane's secret identity (see: first part of the book, when Jane decides to give Ned a different name, loc 150 to loc 288), etc. BUT I honestly didn't mind them. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read.

Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid is Maureen Driscoll's debut novel and the first book in her Kellington Family series. To find out more about the author and her books, click below:

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Review: The Dark Lady by Maire Claremont

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Ian Blake has a promise to keep to Lady Eva Carin and he has returned to do so -- only to discover that the lady is no longer at home but locked away in an asylum, after being driven mad by her husband's and the her son's death.

Ian could not believe what has come of his beautiful, vivacious childhood: laudanum-addicted and feral -- he doesn't believe she is mad and is determined to see her get well.

It is a treacherous road to recovery not just for Eva but also for Ian who is burdened with his best friend's death. When hired thugs from the asylum come to collect Eva and return her there -- dead or alive, Ian stops at nothing to protect her.

Mesmeric was the word that came to mind while I was reading this story and Claremont's writing evokes a very gray and hazy world -- a world of shadows and ghosts, of blood and violence. At the center of Claremont's world are her hero and heroine, caught in the consequences of choosing duty over love. Reading through the novel, I could feel the torment and the regret that swirl around Ian and Eva -- the what-ifs had they chosen a different path all those years ago.

"Eva, I have been unkind --"

She started to shake her head but stopped herself. "Yes. You have. But you have also done what you thought necessary."

He tilted his head down, his black hair dancing over his brow. "And if I did something now that I thought necessary? Would it anger you?"

The scent of spice about him as he leaned closer sent all her senses clamoring. "It would depend what it was."

He looked as if he were about to speak, but instead he wrapped his arms about her waist, pulled her to him, and took her lips in a sudden white-hot kiss.

At first, she couldn't think. She could only feel. Every part of her felt this was right. From the way his hands spanned her back to the feel of his lips over hers, teasing her, to the way he sheltered her in his strong arms.

Without hesitating, Eva grasped his shoulders, pulling him close, desperate to find something beautiful with him. Effortlessly, he swept her up, cradling her against his chest. In two short strides, he took her to the soft hay piled against the stable wall and laid her down against it.

Gazing up at him, she felt safer than she had in a lifetime.

"I've wanted this for so long," he whispered, his voice rough against her ear as he trailed his fingertips down her gown to its hem.
- pp. 196- 197

Maire Claremont's The Dark Lady doesn't read like a debut novel: it is bold and confident. This is a dark fairy tale and she's chosen quite a most unromantic theme: madness -- and decided to write a love story with it. The princess locked away in a prison and her not-so-perfect-and-not-so-charming prince has come to rescue her. While he does whisk her away, the happily-ever-after doesn't come until much later, after our princess deals with her ravaging addiction to laudanum and our prince confronts the demons that haunt him. Much like Heather Snow's Gabriel and Pen in Sweet Madness, Eva and Ian go through fire and put through the wringer -- and they emerge bloody, broken -- but also victorious.

The Dark Lady is Maire Claremont's debut novel and the first book in her Mad Passions series. To find out more about the author and her books, click below:

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Winner! For the Love of Mythology Giveaway Hop

Thank you to everyone who joined in my giveaway!

The winner on my stop of the For the Love of Mythology Giveaway Hop is

Michelle!

Congratulations!

I've already contacted Michelle and she has confirmed. ^_^

Two new ways to follow me

Hi, all!

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Find me there? @LoveSaves_Tin

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Blog Tour Stop: The Vacant Chair by Kaylea Cross (Exclusive Excerpt + Giveaway)

Today, Love Saves the World welcomes Kaylea Cross, who is currently on tour for her Civil War-based historical romance, The Vacant Chair.

Kaylea is gifting a $50 eGC to Amazon.com or B&N.com to one lucky commenter over the course of the tour.  The more stops readers leave a commenter on, the greater their chances of winning!
 
Click here to visit Kaylea's other stops.

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About the book:

Genre: Historical Romance
Tone: serious
Heat Level: hot (not erotic hot though)
Publisher: Kaylea Cross
Publishing Date: May 2013
Series, #: Not a series
Format: digital
Words: 97,000

Blurb:

The Civil War has torn Brianna Taylor’s family apart and made her a widow. Determined to ease the suffering of the wounded crowding the Union hospitals and honor the memory of the man she loved, she embarks on a career as a nurse. But then he arrives—a patient who makes her feel alive again in spite of her resolve to stay detached.

Captain Justin Thompson understands the cost of war all too well, yet he felt compelled to fight for the Union his father died defending. Wounded at Cold Harbor and left to die at a military hospital, he owes his life to Brianna, who seems determined to guard her professional boundaries despite his best efforts to breach them. Just as he’s winning the battle for her heart, he’s forced to return to the front of a cruel war that could very well separate them forever.

Excerpt:

She couldn’t watch him suffer like this. Brianna crossed the room and laid a hand on his trembling back. He flinched and pulled away, fighting for control, but not for another second would she let him bear this alone. Her fingers wrapped around his hand. It was freezing.

He twisted away as though he couldn’t bear her touch. “Don’t. I can’t… I don’t…”

She needed to hold him. Bracing herself in case he shoved her away, she pressed against his back and slid both arms around his waist. He went rigid, sucking in a deep breath. She held on harder. A tremor rippled through him. Then another, and she realized what it meant. He was crying, and doing everything possible not to.

His devastation broke her heart. Still unsure of her welcome, she laid her cheek against his back and gave him the wordless comfort of her embrace, afraid to say anything. She curved her body around his and stayed like that until the tremors subsided. Though his breathing evened out, the tension in his muscles remained. Was he angry? She lifted her head. “Justin?”

She gasped when he whirled on her, breaking her hold and confronting her with blazing, tear-filled eyes. So much anger in his face. So much pain and guilt and grief. Hating that she’d seen him so vulnerable.

Hurting for him, Brianna raised her hand to his rough cheek, startled by the heat against her chilled fingers. He yanked it away, his grip on her fingers almost bruising. She flinched, heart pounding as she inwardly shrank from the buried rage in his eyes.

He didn’t release her. Merely stared down at her with that tortured expression that made her bleed inside.

“You should go back to bed.” His voice was hoarse, all that volatility roiling beneath the calm facade.

“I don’t want to sleep without you.” Risking more rejection, she placed her free hand over his racing heart. His skin was so hot beneath the soft cotton lawn, the muscles under it knotted with tension. Aching to comfort him, she pressed close and swallowed a gasp of surprise when her belly made contact with the unmistakable ridge of his erection. She blinked up at him, an answering wave of heat sweeping through her.

He closed his eyes. “I’m not in control of myself.”

“I can see that.” I’m here. Let me help you heal.

His lids flipped open. The heat in his sapphire gaze made the breath catch in her throat. His eyes scorched her face. She didn’t pull away.

His hands were unsteady as they burrowed into her hair, holding tight. “You should go.” It was a warning. One she had no intention of heeding.

She shivered in his grasp. “You won’t hurt me.” The words came out as a breathless whisper.

“No.” His thumb brushed over her cheek, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “But if you stay, I’m not going to be gentle.”
She swallowed at the warning, didn’t move. Backing down was not in her nature.

Justin searched her eyes, challenging her, his arousal wedged between them. “Last chance.”

She raised her chin. “I’m not leaving.” Without her permission, a fine quivering took hold of her legs.

Despite her brave stance, she cried out when he grabbed her around the waist and drove her back against the wall, pinning her there with his body. He dragged her head back by her hair and devoured her mouth, ignoring her squeak of alarm. The air slammed out of her lungs; her fingers gripped his shoulders. The desperate urgency in his kiss jolted her out of her shock. This wasn’t about anger. He needed her. Needed to find solace inside her. His body screamed it.

Softening, she kissed him back and wound her arms around his neck as she slid her tongue against his.

Justin let out a tortured moan and she pulled her head back to put some distance between them. His eyes blazed down at her, the pupils swallowing the blue of his irises. His cheeks were flushed, chest heaving as he panted. On the edge of control. As he’d warned her. “Justin—”

He smothered her protest with another ravenous kiss and shoved a hand into the neckline of her nightgown to squeeze her breast as he rubbed his hard erection between her legs. She whimpered at the sudden spike of pleasure, the twinge of fear heightening sensation.

“I want you,” he muttered raggedly against her throat, teeth nipping at the tender skin. “Now. Right here.”

Wrapping him up in her arms, Brianna gathered her courage. Though she’d never seen this rougher side of him, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. “Yes.”

Buy the book from:

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About the author:

Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards and has been nominated for both the Daphne du Maurier and the National Readers’ Choice Awards. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She and lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and two sons.

Website: http://kayleacross.com/v2/
Blog: http://kayleacross.blogspot.ca/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kayleacross
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaylea-Cross/62909709297?ref=ts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2902054.Kaylea_Cross

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Kaylea is gifting a $50 eGC to Amazon.com or B&N.com (winners choice) to one lucky commenter during the tour.

The more stops a reader leaves a comment on, the greater their chances of winning. Extra entry points can additionally be earned when a entrant ‘shares’ via the Rafflecopter widget. When friends follow the link that was shared back to the post, the sharer earns a point.

Please follow the Rafflecopter directions, as well as see full Terms and Conditions for additional information.

Click here to visit Kaylea's other stops.

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Review: The Rules of Engagement by Jillian Leigh

Click here to get this book on Amazon.
When he was in his 20s, Hugh Trevelyan didn't think he was ready to marry and so he invented a sickly, shy, retiring fiancee who conveniently lives in the country to ward off the marriage-minded and allow Hugh to enjoy all the delights London has to offer. Now in his 30s, Hugh is ready to settle down and he's found the perfect woman to do so, very perfect Lucy Meriweather -- his only problem is, he is still officially engaged. He's already broken it off but his Lucy isn't satisfied with Hugh's word and demands to meet his ex.

Hugh's in a bind and there's only one woman he can think of who can save him: his dearest childhood friend, Amelia Grant. What Hugh doesn't know is that Amelia has loved him all her life and has waited and waited and waited for Hugh to come to his senses -- but it seems he never will. So Amelia does what all friends do and goes to London to help him.

And this is how Jillian Leigh sets the stage for her own comedy of errors story, The Rules of Engagement.

I enjoyed reading Hugh and Amelia's misadventures and I loved that the whole novel hinges on dramatic irony: the heroine is crazy-in-love with the hero but he doesn't have a clue! I love how the author builds up on this with the dialogue and the encounters between them -- and as a reader, I kept waiting for that moment when Hugh would realize what he has in front of him.

...Her gaze drifted over his face, down to his lips. Her own parted. It was as if she ... wanted ... him to kiss her.

He bent toward her, drawn by her seductive almond eyes and her mouth begging to be kissed and the reassuring fragrance of clean linen that lingered in the air and reminded him of home.

Then he froze.

What the hell was he doing?

This was his dearest friend, a lady whom he'd known since he was a pimply soprano. A lady who was worthy of better treatment than this.

Even if Amelia weren't an old friend, he was engaged to another woman, damn it. A woman he'd thought was the most delectable creature in Christendom until a moment ago.

What was wrong with him?
- loc 445 - 454

When Hugh's cousin Aubrey is added to the mix, things get even more interesting and more complicated for all parties involved: Aubrey develops a slight crush on Amelia -- causing Hugh to feel something that can only be described as jealousy.

As with all comedies of errors stories, the merry-go-round of "misdirection" and misunderstanding ensue as Hugh chases after Lucy and Lucy tries to figure out Amelia and Aubrey chases after Amelia who tries not to let her feelings for Hugh affect her as she watches him court Lucy. Jillian Leigh carefully controls the whirl of events, always keeping her focus on the hero and heroine -- always reminding the readers that these two characters share something special.

This was a very fun read: quick-paced and nicely written -- the ending (read: Hugh's epiphany) is a bit rushed but the author accomplishes her goal in getting him and Amelia together. Altogether satisfying. ^_^

My favorite character in this story, believe it or not, is Lucy -- who isn't as vapid or shallow as she believes she is. (Read: her conversation with Amelia from loc 582 - 703) ^_^

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. Many thanks to Jillian for the opportunity. Yes, this is an honest review.

Blog Tour: Climb the Highest Mountain by Rosanne Bittner (Excerpt + Giveaway)

Today, Love Saves the World welcomes Rosanne Bittner and her book, Climb the Highest Mountain.

Rosanne Bittner is giving away a complete set of her Savage Destiny series! To visit her other stops on this tour, click here.

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About the book:

Blurb:

Throughout years of struggle and determination and a love of freedom and the magnificent West, Zeke and Abigail Monroe have built an empire, bred a large family and made a name for themselves from Denver to Washington D.C. Their children are older, and each is unique in his and her looks and life choices. Some will be totally Indian at heart, some will turn away and deny their Indian blood.


Through it all Zeke and Abbie have faced trial and tribulation, Indian wars and the Civil War, and experiences that would try the heart of the truest love. But still they are together, and age has no affect on their passion and strength. This book depicts the life of true American pioneers, with characters that will live in the hearts of readers for years to come.

Excerpt:

“Zeke ...” Abbie spoke in a near whisper. “Without you there would be no life for me. With you I can bear anything that happens, but without you I am nothing.”

He leaned down and kissed her neck. “It’s the same for me,” he said softly. “I need you, Abbie.” …

Their bodies seemed to melt together naturally, in tune to one another’s needs.

“Abbie, my Abbie,” he whispered, his lips moving against her flesh, drawing out her passion. She touched his hair, breathing deeply, allowing herself to enjoy the moment fully, never knowing what tomorrow might bring. She wanted him as much today as always, and she would love him forever ...

Loved the Excerpt? Get the book on Amazon!

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About the author:

I've been writing for nearly thirty years and to date have had 57 novels published, all about the American West of the 1800's and Native Americans. I write romance, but not the typical bodice-ripping adventures. My stories are deep love stories, often family sagas told as a series. It is the hero and heroine's love that holds them together through the trials and tribulations of settling America's western frontiers. I absolutely love the Rockies, the Tetons, the Sierras, and the wide-open plains, prairies and desert land west of the Mississippi. In my books, I strive to tell the truth about the settling of the West and how it affected our American Indians, as well as the gritty depth of what our brave pioneers suffered in their search for free land and a better life.

I am a member of the Nebraska and Oklahoma Historical Societies, my local southwest Michigan historical society, Women Writing the West, Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America (treasurer) and the national RWA, and a local charity group called the Coloma Lioness Club. I help run a family business and love doing things with my three young grandsons. If you visit my web site at www.rosannebittner.com, where all my titles are listed as well as a page that lists all my many writing awards; or you can visit me on Facebook. At either site you will learn news of new books to come as well as reprints of many of my past titles soon to be published in trade paperback and as e-books! I also have an author site at Amazon.com.

Links:
Website: http://www.rosannebittner.com/
Author's Page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/F.-RosanneBittner/e/B000APXL10/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

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Rosanne Bittner is giving away a complete set of her Savage Destiny series! To visit her other stops on this tour, click here.

Enter through the Rafflecopter below:

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Review: Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley (e-novella)

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Here's what we know about our hero and heroine: Nicholas is Eleanor's step-cousin and he went away to become a soldier. They've known each other since they were children and share an easy friendship/rivalry. Eleanor now lives with her uncle and aunt, Nicholas's stepfather and mother and Eleanor's uncle wants her to get married to further his political ambitions and is threatening Eleanor using her younger, more innocent, sister. Eleanor would rather be a spinster and help her aunt Margaret and serve as her companion -- but she must sacrifice herself to protect her sister.

Nicholas arrives and realizes that Eleanor needs his help. He has always loved Eleanor but, being two years younger, he was never able to profess it. There is very little backstory and I did wish Knightley did more to add layer and texture to Nicholas and Eleanor -- I didn't feel invested enough in the two of them. But, working within the constraints of a novella, I understand that the author needed to focus on capturing the moment of Eleanor's epiphany (when she realizes what she feels for Nicholas) and she does a good job of building up on the chemistry and the sexual tension between the two.

A light breeze tugged at the loosened hair around her face, pulling the raven strands across her too-pale skin. He had the maddest desire to comb the silky strands back with his fingers and kiss her for real. Not the playful kisses he always demanded from her as payment, but a true kiss that would steal her breath and completely override the worry that turned down the edges of her cupid-bow lips.
- loc 974

Ruined by a Rake is a stand-alone novella by Erin Knightley. Flirting with Fortune, the third book in her Sealed with a Kiss series, will be released September 2013. To find out more about Erin Knightley and her books, visit her website. She's also on Facebook and on Goodreads.


Disclosure: I won this e-novella in a giveaway hosted by the author. Yes, this is an honest review.