Confessions of an Improper Bride by Jennifer Haymore (Terra's Review for the Blog Tour)

Serena Donovan left London six years ago, her heart broken and her reputation ruined by devilishly handsome Jonathan Dane. Now, with her family's future in peril, she reluctantly agrees to return to England and assume her late twin's identity. The price? Marry a man she doesn't love and spend the rest of her days living a lie.

Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford, has become an incorrigible rake, drinking, gambling-and trying to forget Serena Donovan. Yet the moment he's introduced to the prim and proper "Meg", he recognizes the sensual young woman who captured his heart. Haunted by his past mistakes, he refuses to lose Serena again. But convincing her to trust him is no easy task. Claiming his lost love means exposing the truth and destroying the life Serena has sacrificed everything to rebuild. With the future of all the Donovans at stake, and their undying passion capable of triggering yet another scandal, how much will Jonathan and Serena risk for a chance at true love?

(Terra's Thoughts) Now this is a book worthy of it's luscious characters with all their secrets and baggage on board. What starts out as a major scandal in the Ton leads to emotional pain and suffering so profound that it scars our characters for what seems a lifetime. Can deception bring about a sense of peace and less guilt or will it carve out a new saga that will only intensify what was started so many years ago?

Serena and Meg Donovan are identical twins in London for their first season. The girls mother has sent them to hopefully snatch a rich husband with a magnificent title thus hoping to influence the hubbies into bringing the rest of the family home to London from the West Indies and destitution. Unfortunately the girls are young and even though they have a proper chaperon with their Aunt it's not quite enough to keep them in check.

Jonathan Dane is tall, dark and handsome but quite immature. Second son of an Earl with no hopes of inheriting the title, Jonathan is left to his own devises. Unfortunately for him he gets caught with his hands in the cookie jar so to speak and must publicly cut his conquest or be forever banned from the family and left destitute to find his own way in life as a pauper after having lived the life of Riley with carousing, gambling and drink.

Our story starts out with the girls on their way home to the West Indies disgraced and tossed out by the Ton but if that isn't bad enough there is a terrible accident that will forever scar everyone involved.

Six long years go by before the story picks up again with a much older young lady heading back to London with her sister to live a lie with a deception so cruel that it could permanently cast them out if they are caught. It would also cause severe pain to the man involved and who knows what else may happen if such a dire secret were to become known.

Not long after the return to London do our Ladies meet up with the intended victim but also with another notorious rake by the name of Jonathan Dane that will make the females quiver in fear if he should become to close and discover that which could destroy them.

Will the Ton catch wind of the dirty little secret? Is it true that some things are better left unsaid or will our characters find the courage to tell all even if it kills them?

Jennifer Haymore has given us a wonderful Cinderella story that does have more than it's share of pain but also has more than it's share of passion. A wonderfully paced story that will take you from London to Greta Green and back with a lush amount of sass, finesse and pizazz to keep you well satisfied like a cat in front of a bowl of milk. Just delicious!

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Forever; Original edition (July 26, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446573140
ISBN-13: 978-0446573146

The Cheshire Cheese Cat by Carmen Agra Deedy & Randall Wright (Terra's Review)

Skilley, an alley cat with an embarrassing secret, longs to escape his hard life dodging fishwives brooms and carriage wheels and trade his damp alley for the warmth of the Cheshire Cheese Inn. When he learns that the innkeeper is looking for a new mouser, Skilley comes up with an audacious scheme to install himself in the famous tavern. Once established in the inn, Skilley strikes a bargain with Pip, the intelligent mouse-resident, and his fellow mice. Skilley protects the mice and the mice in turn give to Skilley the delectable Cheshire cheese of the inn. Thus begins a most unlikely alliance and friendship. The cat and mouse design a plan to restore Maldwyn wounded raven and faithful guard in the service of Queen Victoria to his rightful place in The Tower, but first they must contend with a tyrannical cook, a mouse-despising barmaid, and an evil tomcat named Pinch. Will the famous author suffering from serious writer s block who visits the Cheshire Cheese pub each day be able to help?

(Terra's Thoughts)This book was so much fun. A Dicken's of a tale of a stray Tom cat who happens upon a local inn that makes the best cheese in all of England. And yes, our beloved kitty does in fact have a strange addiction to this particular cheese and will do anything to get it.

The story centers itself in the Cheshire Cheese Inn with an array of characters that are down right hilarious. You find the quirkiest bunch of throw togethers that I have had the delight of reading about. Even the most esteemed Mr. Charles Dicken's is incorporated here and his part is of a quiet, patient and intelligent observer.

I found this book absolutely refreshing for a book that tweens and teens can read without all the violence and sexual undertones of some of today's novels that are supposed to be for their age group. But don't let this turn you off if you are much, much older as I am because you will truly miss out on a lovely lighthearted read that will make you giggle as well as teach you some manners.

I really can't say enough good about this particular book but I will say this, I will be purchasing a hard copy of the book for my 9 and 11 year old granddaughters for Christmas this year. Reading is fundamental but also just fun and should be encouraged as much as possible.

To Pip and Skilley I say, Jolly good going and hope to see you in another book soon.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1561455954
ISBN-13: 978-1561455959

The King's Courtesan by Judith James (Terra's Review)

Her body is the battleground

Sensuous, beautiful and determined, Hope Matthews is a favored mistress of the king. Her many charms have helped her rise from the gutter to the king's bed. But with the new queen's impending arrival, her nights in the royal chamber— and her hopes for security—will swiftly come to an end.

His honor a distant memory

Haunted by his past, hardened by the recent civil war, Captain Robert Nichols lives only for revenge. When told he must marry the king's courtesan to provide a cover for their affair, he's faced with a new low. Both are pawns of a great man, but married to their dreams of independence, their clash is inevitable. Can these two wounded souls realize the answer to all their dreams might lie in each other's arms?

(Terra's Thoughts) This is one really hot delicious book that you won't be able to put down. Two characters aching for something they can't have and they both carry enough baggage of hurt and sorrow that your heart can't help but open up for them.

Hope Matthews comes from a poor background but as if that isn't bad enough her mother sells poor Hope to the highest bidder at the tender age of fourteen to live in a life of sexual servitatude that is sure to scar her forever. Will she find a wealthy powerful benefactor?

Hope's chances at marriage are slim to none and she knows the best she can hope for is a bit of kindness here and there if she's extremely lucky.

Robert Nichols is a man of war and that is what has ruled his life since the tender age of fifteen. Having lost his family this is his only chance at becoming a man of means. His need to hunt down certain characters for their dastardly murderous behavior sets him in places at the right time to take his revenge. But what Robert doesn't know is that a whispered word to the King will cause him enormous confusion and will upset his life and vengeful vow to the point that he may just loose his quarry.

Our couple is deviously thrown together at an innocent May Day party that starts out so enjoyable but turns out so traitorous. Locked together for life will they be able to sort through their hurts, fears and memories and possibly be able to trust each when the getting gets rough?  Hmm....this is a tale you won't want to miss just for this last sentence alone.

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN Books; 384 edition (August 23, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373775598
ISBN-13: 978-0373775590

Seduction and Scandal by Charlotte Featherstone (Terra's Review)

With the scandalous nature of her birth to live down, Isabella Fairmont dreams of a proper marriage—even if a passionless one. She saves her deepest desires for the novel she dares to pen, wherein a handsome lord with dark powers seduces her. But then her courtship with an appropriate suitor is threatened by the sudden attentions of the reclusive Earl of Black…whose pale blue eyes and brooding sensuality are exactly as she described in her book.

Isabella tries to resist the mysterious Earl of Black. Yet as he pursues her, with inexplicable knowledge of her past and kisses that consume her, Isabella fears she will succumb.

If only the earl could tell Isabella the truth. With very real, and treacherous, thieves endangering her life, Black will need to protect Isabella from the very people she trusts the most….

(Terra's Thoughts)  Oh my, this one was so delicious it was wickedly sinful.  I just could not put it down for the life of me.  A story that is written smooth as silk, two wonderfully colorful characters for our hero and heroine make for a sweet treat to be savored.  That is.........savored if you have the patience.

Isabella is a fiery passionate beauty who's one love is to pen a novel of her own and have it published.  Little does she know that what she is actually penning down each night before retiring is a fiction that will become truth in the most succulent of ways.

The Earl of Black is just that, dark and dangerous.  He has a treasure to be found but how to acquire it when a intriguing beauty happens to live where the supposed treasure is.  How to lure her away without giving himself away.  Oh and how to protect her from a member of his own family whom has no scruples and will kill to get what he wants.

The beauty of the writing style that Charotte Featherstone employs here will make you long for more within moments of finishing the last paragraphs.  Colorful and exciting will make you lust for the next book due out this December.

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN Books; Original edition (June 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373775873
ISBN-13: 978-0373775873

American Vampire by Jennifer Armintrout (Terra's Review)

Buried in the Heartland is a town that no one enters or leaves. Graf McDonald somehow becomes its first visitor in more than five years…and he was only looking for a good party. Unfortunately, Penance, Ohio, is not that place. And after having been isolated for so long, they do not like strangers at all.

Jessa's the only one to even remotely trust him, and she's desperate for the kind of protection that only a vampire like Graf can provide. Supplies are low, the locals are ornery for a sacrifice and there's a monster more powerful than Graf lurking in the woods. New men are hard to come by in this lonesome town, and this handsome stranger might be Jessa's only hope for salvation.

Even if she has to die first…

(Terra's Thoughts) I had a very hard time getting through this one. I felt the characters are just not really all that believable and the amount of whinning just about drove me crazy. A bit to far out there for me.

I have read other books by Jennifer Armintrout and liked them so this was a complete and utter surprise to say the least. I think this is about as much as I will say on the subject other than give it a try. What I like and what you like are two different things and you should not take the opinion of one person as gospel.

Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Mira (February 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778328783
ISBN-13: 978-0778328780

The Soldier by Grace Burrowes (Terra's Review)

Even in the quiet countryside he can find no peace...

His idyllic estate is falling down from neglect and nightmares of war give him no rest. Then Devlin St. Just meets his new neighbor...

Until his beautiful neighbor ignites his imagination...

With her confident manner hiding a devastating secret, his lovely neighbor commands all of his attention, and protecting Emmaline becomes Deviln's most urgent mission.

(Terra's Thoughts) Another wonderful read by Grace Burrowes that will tug on your emotions. When I noticed this a few months back I could not wait to get my grubby little hands on it as I did so love Grace's first book, "The Heir". I can tell you that it was soooooo worth the wait but now I fear I will have to wait again as book three doesn't grace our bookstores until October. (Big Sigh) Balderdash!!

Miss Emme is the perfect baker and a delightful woman in general but she can become a little grumpy when a six year old by the name of Winnie doesn't comply with the rules. Emme tries her dearest to hold to her vow of not becoming a jaded woman like her mother and Aunt were but little does she know that passion is not so easily thwarted.

Deviln St. James is Emme's new neighbor and the new Duke. Having inherited his current estate by his family to keep him out of trouble and to bestow a title on him doesn't seem to make our dear Duke all that happy. Unfortunately for him the said estate is in dire need of help and the nightmares of war are a constant in his life. Let's hope that with some TLC for the estate, Deviln's nagging demons and the little waif that keeps showing up that things will come about in due time.

I have to say I really loved this story not only for it's character's which seem to dig themselves right into your heart but also for the wonderful writing style that Grace Burrowes brings to us. Wonderfully vivid, emotional, sensitive and delicate but with a dash of temper and female hysterics makes this such a wonderful treat.

Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (June 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 140224567X
ISBN-13: 978-1402245671