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Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Review: Love Irresistibly by Julie James
Author: Julie James
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Berkley
FBI/U.S. Attorney Series #4
ISBN: #978-0425251195
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format(s): Paperback (304 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/ NetGalley
About the book:
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HE’S USED TO GETTING WHAT HE WANTS…
A former football star and one of Chicago’s top prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cade Morgan will do anything to nail a corrupt state senator, which means he needs Brooke Parker’s help. As general counsel for a restaurant company, she can get a bug to the senator’s table at one of her five-star restaurants so the FBI can eavesdrop on him. All Cade has to do is convince Brooke to cooperate—and he’s not afraid to use a little charm, or the power of his office, to do just that.
AND WHAT HE WANTS IS HER
A savvy businesswoman, Brooke knows she needs to play ball with the U.S. Attorney’s office—even if it means working with Cade. No doubt there’s a sizzling attraction beneath all their sarcastic quips, but Brooke is determined to keep things casual. Cade agrees—until a surprising turn of events throws his life into turmoil, and he realizes that he wants more than just a good time from the one woman with whom he could fall terrifyingly, irresistibly in love...
A savvy businesswoman, Brooke knows she needs to play ball with the U.S. Attorney’s office—even if it means working with Cade. No doubt there’s a sizzling attraction beneath all their sarcastic quips, but Brooke is determined to keep things casual. Cade agrees—until a surprising turn of events throws his life into turmoil, and he realizes that he wants more than just a good time from the one woman with whom he could fall terrifyingly, irresistibly in love...
What Nima’s talking about:
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I am new to Julie James’ books, although she has earned a loyal and enthusiastic following among contemporary romance readers. Like Kathy Reichs and Jessica Scott, I appreciate authors who have professional knowledge of their characters’ world. James didn’t just plunk hunky Cade Morgan into the U.S. Attorney’s office; James is an attorney and brings her experience with the legal system to her FBI/U.S. Attorney series giving it a unique authenticity.
Love Irresistibly is book four in the series. While characters from previous books do make appearances, it is a book that can stand on its own. Don’t avoid it because it’s number four. There are a lot of things about this book that could have made it cliché, but James’ writing rises above that. Her main characters are genuinely clever people. The resulting banter is smart, something that can be difficult to achieve in dialog alone. The predominant obstacle in this novel is that these two are workaholics. Their careers are on the rise and they’re not about to slow the assent for something as distracting as a romance.
As their paths cross through their jobs, they must deal with each other. If they had met sooner, there would have been chemistry, but no romance. James has brought them together at the right time and in the right place for this love story to have its chance. They are both used to being in control with their work and all aspects of their lives. They must both let down carefully fortified walls if they are to going make it work. The forced interaction pressures them each to ask questions and examine the work/life balance of their individual lives, a dilemma with which I think many readers can identify, especially working women.
Supporting their story is a backdrop of family and friends who make this story believable. They have depth, they are inconvenient, they are supportive, and in Cade and Brooke’s business. The are not just set dressing. Like real couples, Cade and Brooke bring some legitimate baggage to the table. Not only must they deal with letting down their own walls, they must deal with the other one’s history. This, for me, raised the caliber of the story-telling—all together—irresistible.
Nima’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Review: Let it Be Me by Kate Noble
Author: Kate Noble
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Berkley
The Blue Raven #5
ISBN: #978-0425251201
Genre: Historical Romance
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/ NetGalley
About the book:
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Bridget longs to meet a gentleman who doesn't mention her beautiful sister upon shaking her hand. But since being branded a shrew after a disastrous social season, Bridget knows she's lucky to even have a man come near her. It's enough to make a lady flee the country…
So Bridget heads to Venice for music lessons with the renowned Italian composer Vincenzo Carpenini, with whom she's been corresponding. But not only is Carpenini not expecting her, he doesn't even remember her! His friend, theater owner Oliver Merrick, does, though. And one look into her tantalizing green eyes has him cursing his impulsive letter-writing, which brought her across the continent. Yet before Merrick can apologize, Carpenini has ordered her away.
Little does either man know that they will soon be embroiled in a wager that will require the beautiful Miss Forrester's help—or that there'll be far more at stake in this gamble than money…
What Ang is talking about:
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If I had to describe this book in one word it would be Lyrical. Written like a lovely sonata, I found it to be moving and emotional, much like the music it centers around. I could feel and almost hear the musicality of the story in the descriptions, dialogue and flow of the story.
I live in a house full of music with a son who's life's blood is music, so I immediately understood Bridget's pull to the piano--her need to play and the escape the music offered her. My one fear is that those who don't know or love music the way I do might find the terms distracting or feel like the terminology weighs the story down. I also occasionally felt as if the side story involving Carpenini occasionally took over the main storyline--distracting from Bridget and Oliver.
But despite its failing or maybe because of them, I throughly enjoyed my visit to Venice. I felt the themes and the emotions, both main and underlying, blended beautifully; waxing and waning in all the right places, allowing the humor and hurt to come together to form a beautiful whole.
Ang’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Review: Fever by Maya Banks
Author: Maya Banks
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Breathless Trilogy #2
ISBN: 978-0425267066
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Format(s): paperback (416 pages), e-book
Book Source: Publisher / NetGalley
About the book:
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Jace, Ash, and Gabe: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Jace, it’s a woman whose allure takes him completely by surprise...
Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They’re powerful, they’re imposing, they’re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything—including their women.
When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he’s never experienced before: jealousy, and a powerful obsession that threatens him, overwhelms him—and excites him beyond control.
Jace isn’t sharing Bethany—with anyone. He’s determined to be the only man in her life, and it’s jeopardizing a lifelong friendship with Ash. Bethany will be his and his alone. Even if it means turning his back on his best friend.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Maya Banks certainly left me Breathless whilst reading the second title in that trilogy! LOL. Couldn't resist... but, seriously. Fever certainly ratchets up the heat index with the turn of each page.
When we left the Breathless hunks, Gabe had proposed to Mia, Jace's sister. Jace & Ash were OK with the idea, and neither were threatening beat his ass any longer. We pick up the story, rather seamlessly, at Gabe and Mia's engagement party. The focus has shifted from Gabe and Mia to Jace and Ash, as well as the beauty in their sights for the night. I have to say, I was really surprised that we had a menage at the beginning. Yeah. Starts hot, stays hot! HEAT INDEX: 4 out of 5. (I need to blush to issue a 5!)
I knew that this story was about either Jace or Ash after reading the first chapter at the end of Rush. It was obvious from the beginning that Jace would be our focus, however. I'm not quite sure what drew me to Jace as a hero. It could be his intent focus, his selflessness, or his compulsion to 'possess' Bethany. Over time, I think that as we grow and we have to control so much in our environment, it's important to have someone that will simply take over and make sure that everything is 'taken care of'. Don't think I'm talking about a D/s lifestyle being the be-all, end-all for everyone. I think that, at times, everyone needs someone to call the shots so they don't have to in SOME aspect of their lives, in a controlled manner. I'm not sure, but Jace feels like he's more THAT type of person than the complete Dom. While he SAYS he wants to dictate every minute of her day, it doesn't seem to me that he really wants to completely control Bethany. He wants her safe. He wants her taken care of. He wants her to be happy. Rarely were we shown that Jace dictated what Bethany should wear, or activities she was to attend. We weren't privy to the concept that Bethany was less than amenable to anything that Jace suggested, and we learned through the course of the book that Bethany was not an over-all sub. Jace was constantly trying to please Bethany without completely compromising his own perspectives on life. He did things FOR HER HAPPINESS that he never would have considered, previously.
I do think, however, that Jace wins the award for biggest transformation in this book. He changed from someone that resisted making connections with people – except for Gabe, Mia, and Ash – to being completely enamored with Bethany. His connection to Bethany caused him to grow as a character, for me. He was no longer the dude that wanted to kick the shit out of one of his best friends because he fell in love with his little sister. He had transformed into the person that KNEW what it was like to be so wrapped up in another human being that he understood the changes in his friend and sister. Jace seems to be the 'love at first sight' kind-of dude in this book. Realistic or not, Jace does fall for her from square-one.
Bethany, formerly homeless, was living in the lap of luxury, under the 'protection' of Jace. We learn some truths about Bethany, and while they don't 'make a difference' to Jace, I don't think they're completely forgotten. We see Bethany asserting her independence while concurrently thinking that it would be nice to have someone take care of her, as she's been on her own for pretty much her entire life. This is a totally realistic mentality, BTW. I work with kids that have been in the 'system' for a really long time. I work with the 'troubled' kids. In reality, they need to learn skills, and they need someone to give a shit long enough to help them learn these things. Bethany totally needed someone like that in her life, and it wasn't Jack (more on him later). Bethany was a totally believable character for me. She wanted to be cared for, but not in a smothering, all-encompassing way. I'm not sure whether that was expressly stated during the course of the book – in her actions and reactions – or whether it's me reading into the text, based upon my own experiences. Bethany is a pretty complex character, and I feel we could have seen more from her. Maybe there will be a wrap-up with Bethany in the next book. I felt like she wasn't fully developed, and that leaves me with a 'meh' feeling.
There were a couple major conflicts in this title, and I was comfortable with them both. The first involved Jace's relationship with Ash, and ensuring that he involvement with Bethany didn't push them apart. He had to make it OK with Ash, or his relationship with Bethany would be tainted. The other conflict involved Jack, Bethany's 'brother'. That was a hum-dinger...you'll have to read to figure out THAT situation! I was satisfied with the resolution of both, and I felt comfortable that the resolutions would be OK with the supporting characters as well as the main characters.
Overall, I felt that Fever, the second title in Maya Banks's Breathless trilogy, lived up to it's name. It raised the temperature with it's hotness, and ratcheted up the intensity of the characters. Since I read both Rush and Fever, I can't wait to read Burn (August 2013 release), and anticipate the words will cause incineration to the pages. Ash, after all, is our central character!
VampBard’s Rating:
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Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Monday, April 8, 2013
Review: Touch & Geaux by Abigail Roux
Author: Abigail Roux
Release Date: April 8, 2013
Publisher: Riptide Publishing, LLC
Cut & Run Book 7
ISBN: #978-1937551872
Genre: Romantic Suspense, GLBT, m/m romance
Format(s): Paperback (288 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds
About the book:
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After having their faces plastered across the news during a high-profile case, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have become more useful to the Bureau posing for photo ops than working undercover. Just as Zane is beginning to consider retirement a viable option, Ty receives a distress call from a friend, leading them to a city rife with echoes from the past.
New Orleans wears its history on its streets, and it’s the one place Ty’s face could get him killed. Surrounded by trouble as soon as they land, Ty and Zane are swiftly confronted with a past from which Ty can’t hide—one with a surprising connection to Zane’s.
As threats close in from all directions, both men must come to terms with the lives they’ve led and the lies they’ve told. They soon discover that not all their secrets are out yet, and nothing lasts forever.
What B is talking about:
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It takes a very special series to engender true loyalty, never mind complete dedication, among its readers, but the Cut & Run series by Abigail Roux has done just that. Following the lives and relationship of FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett, two characters that become more endearing, frustrating, and challenging with every novel, it is a series that consistently hits nearly every note just right. With the newest addition to the series, Touch & Geaux, this is more undeniably true than ever before.
In many ways that the previous novels only hinted at, Touch & Geaux is a kind of reckoning for Ty and Zane and presents them with what is certainly the most difficult test they have faced together thus far. Ty’s past, in particular, and the repercussions of his actions, makes the journey they set out on an especially brutal one. While we’ve had glimpses into Zane’s history, and how it’s shaped the man he’s become, Ty’s adult life has largely been a mystery until now. The entire story is a lesson in truth as well as faith, and serves as a reminder that anyone who’s set on too high a pedestal is bound to fall sometime. Even those we love the most.
One thing that makes Touch & Geaux such an important step in the series is that a sort of balance of errors is achieved between Ty and Zane. Whereas before, Zane’s mistakes heavily influenced the evolution of their relationship, this time it’s Ty’s past that threatens to destroy everything they’ve fought for. With a terrible truth he’d never allowed himself to consider suddenly staring him in the face, Zane’s faith in the one person he’s ever given himself to completely is shattered, leaving him scrambling for equal footing on unfamiliar ground. Confronted with his own heartbreak and the unmovable force of Ty’s convictions, Zane falls back into old habits, eventually wanting nothing so much as for Ty to hurt as much as he does.
Although the romantic moments between Ty and Zane are some of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure to read, they are primarily a reward for the torture Ms. Roux gleefully casts on her characters and readers alike. As with the other stories in the series, Touch & Geaux is a race against time, forcing both men to use every bit of their knowledge, skill, and determination to survive. While every time Ty and Zane find themselves in danger is a nail-biting experience, Touch & Geaux takes that fear and desperation to an entirely new level, pushing them well past any reasonable breaking point.
Now about those romantic moments…
Aside from being some of the hottest, sexiest, most amazing scenes I’ve ever read, these moments show just how incredible Ty and Zane are together. What began with awkward expressions of attraction mixed with full on, want-it-right-this-instant sex has evolved into a physical need for one another that has more to do with their hearts than it does anything sexual. In Touch & Geaux, their encounters take a painful, dark turn that left me speechless, but makes it clear that vengeance and sex should never be engaged in simultaneously. Fortunately, from there the journey back to each other begins again, albeit with shaky steps and more loss, and is colored by a hard-won sweetness and devotion that made my heart absolutely ache for them both.
Ms. Roux has a real talent for bringing her characters to life, and writes the disillusioned hero to perfection, never shying away from their flaws and shortcomings, but rather showing that even heroes build lives they can’t always be proud of. Dashing in and saving the day is a fine and romantic notion, but it doesn’t address the fact that sometimes those same heroes are the only ones who remember that they’re human, and being deserving of the trust that’s placed in them is a burden in and of itself. While their actions may lead to more than a few restless nights, occasionally the ends do justify the means, and the cold, hard truth is that that’s as good as they’re ever going to get.
The Cut & Run series is one of the best I’ve ever read, in any genre, and Touch & Geaux is my favorite yet. Ms. Roux has crafted a story that pulled me in from the first page, and refused to let go until long after I’d finished reading, making the real world feel a little less true for a time while the story continued to play itself out in my imagination. Ty and Zane are among those rare characters that stay with me long after the cover has been closed, their missteps, cleverness, humor, and passion giving them life beyond the page. With only two more books planned for the series, I am both nervous and excited to know what else Ms. Roux could possibly have in store for Ty and Zane, given how far they’ve already come. Regardless, I’ll gladly see the series through to the end. It’s been one hell of a ride so far.
B’s Rating:
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Personal favorite - a must read (A+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Touch & Geaux Web Hunt
Welcome to the Touch & Geaux Web Hunt. Today we are celebrating the release of Touch & Geaux by Abigail Roux by participating in this super fun event sponsored by Riptide Publishing. For additional details about the Web Hunt, including a list of all of the participants, click HERE.
Touch & Geaux is the seventh book in the Cut & Run series by Abi Roux. The Cut & Run series is B’s favorite series. You can read her reviews of the first five books in the series, as well as Stars & Stripes, the sixth book in the series. In addition, we will run B’s review of Touch & Geaux later today, so be sure to stop back!
Here is one of B’s favorite quotes from the series, taken from last year’s Stars & Stripes:
“Call whenever you want. Mostly I’ve been in the office, trying to inflict a paper cut on myself serious enough to require medical leave.”
Zane grinned. “Mac would just tell you to suck it up.”
“Hence the many failed attempts at tripping on the rug at the entryway. The one time I managed it, I tucked and rolled and popped back up before I could think twice about it.”
Zane laughed—the first real laugh he’d managed in days. It was hard to tell if Ty was serious or just playing with him, and that was one of the things Zane loved so much about him. Ty really was the type of guy who would ninja roll through the lobby of a government building and just keep walking as if nothing had happened.
Thanks for joining in the celebration for Touch & Geaux. Be sure to collect all of the favorite Cut & Run series quotes today to be eligible for great prizes from Riptide Publishing and Abi Roux! More details about the web hunt can be found HERE.
Finally, Riptide Publishing is sponsoring their first ever live chat, with Abi Roux, at 12:00 PM EDT on April 10. Please use this RSVP link.
Go out and keep hunting for those quotes and be sure to come back later today for B’s review of Touch & Geaux.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Saturday Conversations 04/06/2013
Today we continue The Boss Read Along at our Saturday Conversation... this will be a reoccurring chat (see schedule below). I hope you enjoy this read along!
***NEWSFLASH***
In case you haven't heard... Due to popular demand, author Abigail Barnette is offering a new chapter of The Boss EVERY FRIDAY!! We will continue to have our discussion with Abigail (aka Jenny Trout) and Vampbard here every other week. Schedule is at the end of this post!
********************
The Boss is here! Twice per month, we will have author Abigail Barnette here on the blog to discuss the latest installment of her serial contemporary erotic romance, The Boss. Ms. Barnette is providing The Boss free to her readers, with new chapters WEEKLY. If you're new to our Read-Along, go to our first post HERE and see what all the fuss is about!
This week, we're sending you to read Chapter 9 HERE and Chapter 10 HERE, then come back to this post to discuss your thoughts on The Boss, and read what others have to say. No. Don't scroll to see what they're saying first. Cheater. Go. Read. It's only about 40 pages total! We’ve included a handy SCHEDULE below so you’ll be ready for the next installment discussion. Just bookmark Abigail’s site, and then you can devour the next chapter the moment it goes LIVE!
We're excited to have Abigail here, sharing her serial, The Boss, with us.
The Boss Read-Along
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Let's start our discussion of Chapters 9 and 10 with the subdrop. What did you think about the situation, and what did you think about how Neil handled it?
Next...how 'bout the bombshell: babealicious billionaire bisexual! What are your thoughts?
Next...how 'bout the bombshell: babealicious billionaire bisexual! What are your thoughts?
Discuss amongst yourselves! Abigail and VampBard will be around to kick in their 2 cents until Tuesday!
About the Author
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The alter-ego of USA Today Bestselling Author Jenny Trout (Jennifer Armintrout), Abigail Barnette was born during a conversation with author Bronwyn Green, who encouraged Jenny to develop an elaborate fantasy persona-- complete with nom de plume-- under which to pen erotic romance. Abigail enjoys long naps in fairy-filled glades, running through corridors in tragically romantic haunted castles, and drinking goblet after goblet of spiced wine.
REVISED RELEASE SCHEDULE
Chapter #
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Release Date
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Read-Along Date
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01/15/13
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01/30/13
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02/15/13
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02/28/13
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03/08/13
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03/08/13
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03/15/13
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03/22/13
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03/29/13
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04/06/13
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04/05/13
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04/06/13
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Chapter 11
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04/12/13
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04/20/13
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Chapter 12
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04/19/13
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04/20/13
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Chapter 13
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04/26/13
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05/04/13
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Chapter 14
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05/03/13
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05/04/13
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Chapter 15
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05/10/13
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05/18/13
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Chapter 16
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05/17/13
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05/18/13
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Chapter 17
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05/24/13
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06/01/13
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Chapter 18
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05/31/13
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06/01/13
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Chapter 19
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06/07/13
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06/15/13
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Chapter 20
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06/14/13
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06/15/13
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Chapter 21
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06/21/13
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06/29/13
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Chapter 22
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06/28/13
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06/29/13
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Chapter 23
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07/05/13
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07/13/13
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Friday, April 5, 2013
Review: Sweet Madness by Heather Snow
Author: Heather Snow
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Signet
A Veiled Seduction #3
ISBN: #978-0451239679
Genre: Historical Romance
Format(s): Paperback (384 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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An Untamed Mind
Ever since her husband’s sudden and tragic death, Lady Penelope Bridgeman has committed herself to studying the maladies of the mind, particularly treating traumatized soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars. It is this expertise that brings the Marquess of Bromwich’s family to her door.
Gabriel Devereaux’s unexpected and unpredictable episodes are unlike any Penelope has studied. The once proud soldier has been left shaken and withdrawn, but she manages to build a fragile trust between them. Strangely, Gabriel seems completely lucid when not in the grips of his mania, and in the calm between bouts, she is surprised by how much she is drawn to him.
Despite his own growing feelings, Gabriel knows that he is fit for no one, and is determined to keep Penelope away from his descent into madness. But even though she knows firsthand the folly of loving a broken man, Penelope cannot stop herself from trying to save him, no matter the cost.
What Una is talking about:
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Sweet Madness is the third book in the Veiled Seductions series and stands out from the previous two. Our heroine, Penelope is very different from the previous two, Liliana and Emma. Penelope is not an intellectual genius. That being said, she is just as determined and the other two and just as entertaining.
What caught my eye in the Veiled Seduction series is that the heroines are strong willed and brilliant women living in a time where those qualities are not respected or desired. I loved watching them meet their match in the heroes of the previous novels. Maybe it is also a strange pleasure, but I enjoyed the reactions of those around them as they pursued their “odd” exploits. However, Sweet Madness is very different from the first two novels. Penelope is not an intellectual. She was raised to be a society lady and did quite well in marrying a man with title and money. However, that path did not work out well for her. She finds herself after a couple years of marriage, widowed. But through the experience she strives to help others, soldiers who are suffering battle fatigue (what we now call post-traumatic stress disorder).
Gabriel was a soldier who met and loved Penelope from the first time he saw her. Unfortunately it was at his cousin’s wedding, where he was married to Penelope. However, meeting Penelope gave Gabriel the courage to try to find a slice of happiness for him and fight the darkness within. However, that did not go as planned for him either. Gabriel is secured within sanitarium, enduring treatments (more akin to torture) for his mental illness. He suffers from maniac episodes that come without warning and are appearing to escalate. Gabriel’s mother sends Penelope to him in hopes that she can cure or at least ease his illness so that he may return home.
The story of Gabriel and Penelope in Sweet Madness is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Penelope is extremely intuitive and her ability to emotionally reach out and help those suffering from mental illness is amazing. Her drive to help other is strong and overpowering. When she and Gabriel meet, it is like kismet. Following their path as they reach a happily ever after was passionate, nerve wracking, and frightening. While Gabriel faces his fears in order to overcome his battle fatigue, we learn about some real experiences of war. But within that pain he finds freedom and a chance at life in the light.
I continue to thoroughly enjoy the Veiled Seductions series. If you haven’t started it, I encourage you to do so. Sweet Madness was an excellent third book and a wonderful contrast to the previous two novels. I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series.
Una’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
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Coming Up...
Review: Making It Last by Ruthie Knox
Review: Dangerous Proposition by Jessica Lauryn
Review: Vicious Moon by Lee Roland
Review: The Thing About Weres by Leigh Evans
Review: Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews
Review: Marine with Benefits by Heather Long
About My Blog...
WELCOME to my blog! At That's What I'm Talking About, we discuss romance books and generally review the paranormal and urban fantasy genres, with some other fun topics tossed in. I hope you will stay and visit for a while!
Happy Reading!
Jen
aka Twimom227
Disclaimer
About our reviews: The reviews posted here are the writer's own honest opinion of the book, not a judgement on the subject matter or author. We read for pleasure and at the request of authors and publishers. We do not receive compensation for our reviews, other than the copy of the book to read for the review.
We try to keep posts on the blog PG-13, however the material reviewed and discussed is intended for adults (18 years and older). Please consider this if you choose to read and/or follow my blog. Thanks for stopping by!
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