A Beggar's Kingdom by Paullina Simons

Series:	End of Forever #2
Pub. Date:	July 23, 2019
Publisher:	William Morrow
Length:	656 pgs
Source:	Publisher

A Beggar's Kingdom is the second installment of Paullina Simons' End of Forever series, an epic romance saga spanning time and distance. Phew, this second book put me through the ringer! If you are looking for a happy-go-lucky romance story, this definitely is not it. But if you want to get emotionally invested in your lead character, this is the story for you. 

ARC Review: All the Way by Kristen Proby

Series:	Romancing Manhattan #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 21, 2018
Publisher:	William Morrow
Length:	288 pgs
Source:	Publisher

All the Way is the first book in Kristen Proby's new series, Romancing Manhattan. I'm still relatively new to Kristen Proby, and was happy to start this new series at the outset, as I never seem to find time to go back and read back titles.

ARC Review: If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim

Pub. Date:	Aug 7, 2018
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Length:	432 pgs
Source:	Publisher

If You Leave Me is the debut novel by Crystal Hana Kim, a poignant tale of life and survival during and following war-time. I stepped out of my comfort zone with this one, and am glad for the experience. The author's writing drew me into the story and kept me interested, and I liked her overall writing style.

The story begins about a year after the start of the 6-2-5 war between North and South Korea. Admittedly, I didn't know much about this war and found myself googling as I went along, and hitting up Wikipedia for a basic overview at the outset. Not knowing much about the countries, the motivations, or the war, I liked this aspect of the book. Not because I liked that people were suffering in a war-torn country, but because it was something different and educational for me, and opened my eyes to a little more diversity and culture.

ARC Review: Disorderly Conduct by Tessa Bailey

Series:	The Academy #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 29, 2017
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	354 pgs
Source:	Publisher

I hear people rave about Tessa Bailey all the time, and her steamy dirty-talking heroes. This is my actual first time reading her, and though this story was not for me, I did like her writing style and will be reading her again in the future. I will probably even continue with this series as I think I will like the other lead characters to come.

ARC Review: The Good Luck Sister by Jill Shalvis

Series:	Wildstone #1.5
Pub. Date:	May 1, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	144 pgs
Source:	Publisher

This is a second chance romance with a great little dog, and a novella following Lost and Found Sisters in the Wildstone series. I have not read the first book, but I felt like this one did okay as a standalone novella. 

ARC Review: Dark Challenge by Christine Feehan

Series:	Carpathians #5
Re-Release Date:	June 26, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	400 pgs
Source:	Publisher

I have been trying to get caught up on Christine Feehan's backlist for a while now... but she is so prolific that I don't think I will ever catch up. (And that's a good thing seeing as I like her writing.) I happened to be notified about the re-release of Dark Challenge, and it coincided with where I was in the Carpathians series, so I jumped at the chance for a review copy. I have been curious about Julian for a while, and I was glad to dive into his story.

ARC Review: Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

Pub. Date:	May 30, 2017
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press
Length:	480 pages
Source:	Publisher

I devour every J.D. Robb novel that comes out, but I don't often find myself grabbing the Nora Roberts books. I don't have any rhyme or reason for that, other than time and opportunity. I do have some of the Nora Roberts audiobooks lined up for a my road trip next month though, so I can at least start working on the backlog.

Come Sundown is a a modern western romance, set on a horse ranch and resort in the beautiful landscape of Montana. Between the horses and the detailed landscape, it really has me wanting to go spend some time on a dude ranch (and maybe rope me a cowboy)!

ARC Review: Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves

Series:	Blood Rose Rebellion #1
Pub. Date:	March 28, 2017
Publisher:	Knopf
Length:	416 pages
Source:	Publisher

Blood Rose Rebellion is the first installment of a series by the same name, by debut author Rosalyn Eves. This historical fantasy story features a society with magical abilities intermixed with the activities leading up to the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. The population is separated and defined by their magical abilities, with the upper echelon Luminate hoarding the magical reserves for themselves and shunning those with lesser or no magic. The Romani also play a big part in this story - separated from both the magical and mundane by prejudicial views toward the gypsy way of life.

Series Saturday ARC Review: Ruled by Elle Kennedy

Series:	Outlaws #3
Pub. Date:	Nov 1, 2016
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	368 pages
Source:	NetGalley

The Outlaws series is an uber-erotic adventure in post-apocalyptic America that pits Outlaws (free people) against the Global Council (government officials and residents). Unfortunately this third installment, Ruled, didn't tickle my fancy quite as much as the earlier books. However, it is sure to be a hit with my smutty friends who love a book with over-the-top smexytime with some danger thrown in. 

Advisory: this is a MFM/MMF menage situation with two alpha males, an alpha female, fun piercings, and lots of time between the sheets, on the ground, against the wall, on a futon, etc.

ARC Review: Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Pub. Date:	Aug. 9, 2016
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press
Length:	351 pages
Source:	Publisher

This is a fabulously freaky debut psychological thriller from B.A. Paris. It has the feel of one of my favorite series, Consequences by Aleatha Romig. However, Behind Closed Doors does not have any romance to offset the total mindfeck that this relationship causes. I started reading this at 10pm and I couldn't put it down until I finished just after 2am. I think it has put me off marriage. Single life was looking much better after reading this terrifying tale.

ARC Review: Big Easy Temptation by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake

Series:  Perfect Gentlemen #3

Pub. Date:  May 3, 2016

Publisher:  Berkley Publising

Pages:  384

Format:  Print ARC

Source:  Berkley

*This review will contain spoilers for prior books in the series so read at your own risk!*

The Perfect Gentlemen have turned me into a heroine hater. With each successive book, I think I have found my favorite member of the group... but that's a lie. I want them all. I'm being a selfish catty bitchface because no female heroine is going to be good enough for one of these men... unless she is me, of course.  First we had Gabriel Bond, the corporate mogul. Then came Conner Sparks, secret agggeent man. Now we get the story of Dax Spencer, the handsome Naval Captain. Up next is Roman Calder, protector of POTUS. And then, we certainly can't forget Zach Hayes, leader of the free world!  But there is one Perfect Gentlemen missing - Maddox.  Mad cannot be dead! I mean, come on, his penis has its own Twitter account! There is just too much awesomeness and hilarity for him to be gone. I don't think Lexi and Shayla are cruel enough for him to really be dead, but they are being very close-mouthed about it.  What say you? Do you think he's at work behind the scenes? Is he Deep Throat? Much like Freddy, I have my own theories (as you can see from all my note tabs)!

Throwback Thursday Review: The Taming by Aleen Malcolm

Happy Thanksgiving Bambinas!

What are you thankful for this holiday? I am thankful for a great number of things... but I have to say that one not-so-serious thing I discovered I am thankful for this weeks is... ebooks!  For this Throwback Thursday, I decided to dip into my stack of vintage DTBs. The Taming by Aleen Malcolm was published in 1979, the year of my illustrious birth. I was not able to find this book in an electronic format, so I went through the trials and tribulations of reading a paperback this week.  It made me realize that I am really spoiled by ebooks! I needed a flashlight to read in bed - I don't even own a book light anymore! And I couldn't get a comfortable grip as I was laying down, and I had to hold the pages open, and hold the light.  It was just so much work! So I am super grateful for the technology that has given us ereaders and audiobooks as they make my life so much more convenient.  So now, let's get on to our throwback review!  Stay tuned after the jump for a giveaway for this vintage gem.

The Taming 
by Aleen Malcolm
Series:  Cameron #1
Pub. Date:  May 1979
Publisher:  Dell Publishing
Pages:  480
Format:  Paperback
Source:  Amazon


My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

AS WILD AS THE WHIPPING SEA WIND...

was Cameron -- beautiful, innocent, shameless; a spark of Scotland's blazing past. With the pure, unspoiled spirit of a child and the ripening womanhood of a temptress, she was an irresistible challenge to every man who met her....

AS STRONG AND PROUD AS THE SCOTTISH COAST...

was Alex -- the dashing son of a highland warrior; tormented by a tragic past, he had vowed to live only for today. Until that windswept night when the emerald-eyed, fiery-spirited Cameron charged into his world atop a rearing black stallion....

Together they crossed the Scottish isle from the raw, sea-worn cliffs and endless moors to the lavish mirrored halls of Edinburgh's high society. Together they plunged toward the inevitable moment that would rule their lives forever -- and carry their hearts to the rapturous brink of...THE TAMING

The immortal tale of a man and a woman who dared to share a dangerous love, a reckless destiny.

So I think I should point out right up front that this book does not tell the whole story of our H/h. Their love story continues over the course of the first two books in the series, then I believe it switches to the story of their children for the third book. 

Our hero for this story is Sir Alexander Sinclair, who has come back to Scotland to bury his father on native soil. His family had fled to the New World following Scotland's defeat at Culloden. Now, after the death of a Jacobite family friend, Alex has become the guardian of an out-of-control Highland brat.  Said brat becomes our heroine, Cameron Fraser.  Cameron is a wild child who has been running free (in a kilt no less) across the northern Highlands. She is the extreme antithesis of a lady. She runs around naked, rides a great beast of a horse bareback and astride, curses and throws great raging temper tantrums.

This is truly one of the old skool bodice rippers, so you expect that the story and romance will be of a darker nature. It ticks a lot of those boxes, but its definitely not the darkest I have read.  It is, however, one of the most contentious.  Good grief, to say the couple had a love-hate relationship would be the understatement of 1979. They were so far on the side of hate that they fought like demons for a good 95% of the book.  And they ran away from each other a lot.  So I would caution you not to read this book when are low on patience. I kept waiting for them to get to the grand passion or work things out, but as I was creeping to the very last pages, I realized it was not going to happen.  So I did my research and discovered the story continues.  Will I continue with it?  Yes, probably.  But not this week.  I must build up some tolerance to the drama a little first.

View all my reviews

Cameron Series

Giveaway

Do you like these vintage romance novels? Since they are in short supply these days, I have decided to pay mine forward. So I am giving away my copy of the paperback published in 1979.  I have to say that it is in great condition - its certainly held up over the years better than I have! The giveaway copy is pictured below - flashlight not included!

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