Thursday, August 23, 2012

Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster (Terra's Review)

When Nowhere is Safe

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitecapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?

Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single–handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood–craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

(Terra's Thoughts)  Oh my I am sooooooo in love with this book.  An intriguing throw together of vampires and weres with blue bloods who haven't quite made it to the full change yet and a miss mash of the lower than low humans, some down on their luck and some just down right nasty.  Throw in people with some human parts, some mechanical parts and you are bound to gasp with surprise at the intensity of the lives they lead.

The story is set in the nastiest part of London where anything and everything can and will happen.  Despair cuddles with fear but if you're lucky enough and find the right protector you just might be able to stave off some of that fear for a price.  But at what price would you be willing to pay?

This is a hefty beefy story that has a lot of pre ground work introducing you to the how's and whys in order to give you the proper back story to bring you to the now and up and coming.  Action packed with love scenes that will rock your boat all in a bit of the tick tock Wizard of Oz style of Steam punk.  Oh what a ride this has been and I just can't wait to see what the next book will bring us.  I feel as though this is my dysfunctional family and it's killing me to hear from them again.

  • Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 1, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402270275
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402270277
  • A Lady and Her Magic by Tammy Falkner (Terra's Review)

    Rules Are Made to be Disobeyed...
    Sophia Thorne is new to the Regency's glittering high society, which resembles her magical homeland only insofar as both places are filled with ridiculous rules. Which means no matter where she goes, she's bound for trouble...

    And Scandals Are Meant to be Shocking...
    The Duke of Robinsworth has flaunted and shocked society for years. In a moment of fateful mischief, Robinsworth encounters the enchanting and distinctly scandalous Sophia. Between her streak of magical mischief and his penchant for scandal, they're about to take rule-breaking to a whole new level...

    (Terra's Thoughts)  This is an exceptionally wonderful fairy tale with spit and vinegar and loads of steamy scenes that will surly curl your toes.  Our author is a wonderful part of the known writing team of Lydia Dare and I have to say that I am really liking what Tammy Falkner has given up in this installment of her own.

    Sophia Thorne is a rare beauty, enchanting, delightful and very, very outspoken.  She's been schooled in the ways of the ton but is not looking forward to applying her lessons to real life with all the stringent ridiculous rules that must be adhered to or suffer the outcome of wagging tongues and scandal.  Her mission is plain and simple or so she thinks.

    The Duke of Robinsworth is a man of scorn from the ton for the allegeded death of his wife some years past but did he do it?  A man handsome as the day is long is quite reluctant to deal with gossiping rags and miserable old bitties that wag their tongues more than a pendulum on a clock.  Is there a heart in this man of stone and ice and what will he do to keep that which is his?

    The story is ripe with magic, hot with steamy scenes and paced beautifully with it's smooth writing style.  Everything meshes easily and you zip through the story without batting your eyes.  I truly found this a breath of fresh air and I do so hope that Miss Falkner will give us much much more in the coming future.

  • Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 1, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402268122
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402268120
  • Temptation in a Kilt by Victoria Roberts (Terra's Review)

    She's On Her Way to Safety

    It's a sign of Lady Rosalia Armstrong's desperation that she's seeking refuge in a place as rugged and challenging as the Scottish Highlands. She doesn't care about hardship and discomfort, if only she can become master of her own life. Laird Ciaran MacGregor, however, is completely beyond her control...

    He Redefines Dangerous...

    Ciaran MacGregor knows it's perilous to get embroiled with a fiery Lowland lass, especially one as headstrong as Rosalia. Having made a rash promise to escort her all the way to Glengarry, now he's stuck with her, even though she challenges his legendary prowess at every opportunity. When temptation reaches its peak, he'll be ready to show her how he really is...on and off the battlefield.

    (Terra's Thoughts)  A captivating Scottish romance that will keep you ensconced from the first paragraph to the last.  I enjoyed this as I do most of the Scottish romances in it's wildness of it's hero and the innocence of the heroine that is until they clash and tumble.

    Lady Rosalia Armstrong is part English, part Scottish but which part will win over.  She is lovely, strong minded, wilfull and doesn't trust anyone after all that she has been through.  Her parents want her to marry some old English Lord for the coin it will bring to them but Lady Rosalia has a difference of opinion on this account.

    Ciaran MacGregor is a handsome Laird and quite elligable for any lass with a brain in her head and eyes that can rove up and down his lucious body.  He is everything that a certain old English Lord is not and that makes his appeal so much more attractive to our adorable heroine. 

    The usual story unfolds where Laird saves lass that has run away but this one is a page turner for sure.  I zipped right through the book for lack of wanting to put it down.  Given a lass in distress with the hounds of hell on her heels and a muscle bound length of maleness  dressed in a kilt and you got youself some challenging steamy scenes.  I myself wouldn't mind a little tickle and tumble with this Highland Chieftan.

  • Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 4, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402270062
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402270062
  • Tuesday, August 14, 2012

    When You Give a Duke A Diamond by Shana Galen (Terra's Review)

    HE HAD A PERFECTLY ORDERLY LIFE...
    William, the sixth Duke of Pelham, enjoys his punctual. securely structured life. Orderly and predictable—that's the way he likes it. But he's in the public eye, and the scandal sheets will make up anything to sell papers. When the gossips link him to Juliette, one of the most beautiful and celebrated courtesans in London, chaos doesn't begin to describe what happens next...
    UNTIL SHE CAME ALONG...
    Juliette is nicknamed the Duchess of Dalliance, and has the cream of the nobility at her beck and call. It's seriously disruptive to have the duke who's the biggest catch on the Marriage Mart scaring her other suitors away. Then she discovers William's darkest secret and decides what he needs in his life is the kind of excitement only she can provide...

    (Terra's Thoughts)  I love, love, love this book.  Took it to North Carolina on vacation with me just in case I needed something to read and low and behold I couldn't put the darn thing down.  A wonderful romance with some skulduggery that will keep you intrigued from the first paragraph to the very last.  This is what you get when you dangle a diamond in front of a crotchety Duke.  Action, romance and see I told you so's.

    The Duke of Pelham is quite set in his ways.  He is more than handsome but also about as thick headed and set in his ways as they come.  If it's not on the his schedule then it just can't be so.  He is about to be engaged and the Lady of question is one of the top of the ton.  Or so he thinks.  Can our Duke possibly take someone at their word or will he fall victim to a possible prank?

    Juliette, the Duchess of Dalliance is one of the three Diamonds.  She is the most beautiful creature to have walked the earth but also the most confounding and truthful lady that there is to be found.  She's actually not what she seems to be and one should never ever judge a book by it's cover or pay attention to the rumors of the ton.

    I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this storyline other than say, More!  I need more!  Action packed with a thick headed man and with women of question who will no doubt give our dear Duke a run for his money.  What is to be a love less marriage of connivance is in question while a dalliance with a woman of ill repute is dangling right in front of him.  Gotta love Shana Galen's wonderfully artistic work.  I just can't wait to see what comes next.

  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 1, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402269730
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402269738


  • Timeless Desire by Gwyn Cready (Terra's Review)

    Two years after losing her husband, overworked librarian Panna Kennedy battles to distract herself from crushing grief. During a routine search within the library, Panna opens an obscure, pad-locked door and finds herself transported to the magnificent, book-filled quarters of a handsome, eighteenth-century Englishman. The man is Colonel John Bridgewater—the historic English war hero whose larger-than-life statue looms over her desk. However, the life of the dashing Bridgewater is not at all what she imagined. He's under house arrest for betraying England, and now looks upon her as a possible spy. Despite bad first impressions, Bridgewater warms to Panna. She is thrown into a whirlwind of high-stakes intrigue that sweeps her from Hadrian's Wall to a forbidding stone castle in Scotland.

    (Terra's Thoughts)  Gwyn Cready has really outdone herself on this book.  It's everything you could want from a deliciously warm romance with lots of action.  A sit on the edge of your seat page turner that I absolutely loved and hope to see more of this type of story from our author in the future.

    Panna Kennedy is ever so lonely.  Still mourning the death of her husband she is not quite sure she wants to get involved again but her friend is determined to help Panna find some semblance of happiness.  The problem is is that Panna would just as soon drool over a statue of the most handsome man she's seen in some time but what will happen when Pandora's Box opens drawing her in to meet the statue come to life?

    Colonel John Bridgewater is everything there is to make even the most ardent of women swoon with his dashing self.  Playing both sides of the fence in a war that will surely not have a winner is a dangerous game and one that the Colonel just can't help himself with being smack dab in the middle of.  Then along comes a woman and all Hell be damned.  Can John Bridgewater ride the fence and play a game of tit for tat?  We'll see!

    This is one action packed book with enough steam to melt the glue binding it together.  Luscious kisses, midnight rendezvous, dangerous missions and enough intrigue to keep all of us entertained while licking our lips ardently over the drool worthy sexy scenes.  Our author has a knack for giving us just what we want but this time she has delivered in spades.  Now I believe Gwyn Creedy is going to have to give us Aces to top this delightfully decadent treat.

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Astor + Blue Editions LLC (July 18, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1938231295
  • ISBN-13: 978-1938231292