Book Review: The Gentleman Jewel Thief by Jessica Peterson

The Gentleman Jewel Thief by Jessica Peterson 
Publication date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Penguin
 Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

~~Reviewed by Ezrah~~

The Gentleman Jewel Thief by Jessica Peterson is the first book in the new series: The Hope Diamond Trilogy and I was very disappointed.  As much as I wanted to finish this book, I just couldn't.  The premise was promising:  bored gentleman steals a diamond just for the heck of it and gets attracted to the woman wearing the diamond who had a vested interest in the diamonds loss.  Very interesting, right?  Wrong!

I really had problems with the whole story.  I did not like the hero, William at all.  His reason for stealing the diamond was just too superficial for me to understand.  His actions towards the heroine, Lady Violet were just selfish bordering on "jerky" (if there is such a word)!  He also abducted Violet at the start for his own selfish reasons and did nothing to redeem himself in my opinion.  This is one of the reasons I couldn't continue reading. 

This quote showed the hero's lack of thought to the lady's reputation that did not sit well with me.

Again Harclay cleared his throat.  "Yes, yes of course.  Just working outwore in my house you might stay the night most comfortably."

"Spend the night!" she cried, the look of horror on her face so extreme it made Harclay laugh.  "But you can't be serious!  I may dance the waltz, Lord Harclay, and have a taste for stiff punch, but I do have a care for my reputation.  If it is discovered I stayed unchaperoned at your house, I'll be ruined, and so will my family, my cousin Sophia-"

I usually don't have any problems with abductions (hero abducting the heroine without a care for society and resulting to the ruination of the heroine) but this did not set well with me.  I think it was because I had a hard time connecting with the hero to begin with.  

I actually liked Lady Violet.  As far as I've read, she showed her strength and determination to help solve her family's financial problems (which William almost ruined).  I really wanted Violet to have her own HEA but not with William.  By the 10th Chapter, I had just about had it.  I could not force myself to continue reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating:

 

Saturday Discussion: Slumpbusters; Breaking Reader's Block

We've all been there.  Novels, novels everywhere, and not a one to read. At some point, it happens to every reader, no matter how large their library or varied their tastes. There we are, happily turning pages or scrolling through our e-readers, not a care in the world, engulfed by a great romance novel, breathless with anticipation. Will our lovers beat the impossible odds? Well, of course, it's a romance, but still, the antagonist is a match for them, history may not be on their side, there's a war brewing, technology has run amok, there's an evil ex lurking in the wings or any one of a thousand other obstacles. Maybe the fate of an entire series rests in this one volume. Finally, finally, we get to the end, give a happy sigh or triumphant fistpump at the lovers reaching their HEA at last, but then it's time to pick a new book, and nothing seems right. 

There's no worse feeling for an avid reader than staring at an empty bookshelf, except a towering TBR of much-anticipated reads that now seem as appetizing as wet cardboard. Sure, we wanted these books when we bought, downloaded, or checked them out, and we still want to read them...someday. Not today, though, and there's the problem. It's an itch we can't scratch, that restless, edgy feeling.

This is different from merely not knowing what to read next, and sometimes, we're spoiled for choice. This is the restless pacing of a caged tiger, wanting to tear into another great book, only nothing appeals? Contemporary? Nah, live that every day. Historical? Too old-timey. Paranormal? Too outlandish. Category? Too short. Romantic suspense? Too scary. We sort through our keeper stacks, setting aside favorite after favorite with a resounding "meh." The dread creeps in. Have we lost that loving feeling? Is the love affair with romance gone for good? That wouldn't be good at all, so what's a reader to do?

Some readers turn to old favorites, knowing that will rekindle the flame. Sometimes, a reading slump means it's time to turn to magazines for a bit, focus perhaps on pictures rather than words. For some, a break from reading is in order.  Watch TV, go to the movies, take a walk, take some pictures, try a craft, play with kids or pets, spend time with significant other. The urge to read will come back as suddenly as it left, and there's no sense rushing it. For others, this challenge becomes personal. There is something interesting in that stack, and these determined readers are going to find it, no matter how long it takes. Some take to the Internet to get recommendations or accept readers' challenges. Others jump ship for a bit and happily devour another genre until the next tempting romance comes along. Some brave souls may even try to reboot their reading mojo by reading a book they know they'll hate, because after that, anything is going to look good. 

So, dear readers, here's your chance to share your slump stories. How did your slump come about, and how did you get out of it? Who knows, the comment you leave may be a lifeline to a reader in a slump of their own. 

Book Review: The Captive (Captive Hearts #1) by Grace Burrowes

The Captive (Captive Hearts #1) by Grace Burrowes
Publication date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

~~Reviewed by Bonnie~~

Grace Burrowes wowed me with this first book of her new trilogy. I always expect great things when I read one of her books, but this one surpassed my expectations. This book had a slightly different feel to it than her previous books to me, maybe a little edgier or darker. This may be because of the torture Christian suffered - and he DID suffer. (ouch!)

Christian eventually is released, barely recognizable, unable to eat more than enough to stay alive, and suffering mentally. During his imprisonment, his wife and young son died. He is approached almost immediately by Gilly, his late wife's cousin, who has been looking after his young daughter, and she urges him to come back to his country estate. It's apparent that his daughter is suffering greatly, as well, and desperately needs him.

Christian convinces Gilly to stay, to help. The love that slowly develops between them is so touching, and seeing him gradually healing is amazing. Gilly is perfect for him, but their happy ever after is not so easy. Gilly has wounds of her own that haven't healed, they're just hidden. And there is still something preventing his daughter from speaking. And Christian still feels he has to find his torturer and kill him, and that may cost him Gilly. And someone appears to want Gilly dead..

This book was SO well written. The timing of events was perfect, the romance was perfect (and HOT)

and the resolution was perfect. I loved seeing St. Just (The Soldier) play a significant role in this story. Now I can't wait to see if Grace Burrowes can make me fall in love with "The Traitor" in the next installment in this series, because I haven't forgiven him yet. I couldn't put this book down, and I recommend it most highly.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating:

Book Review: To Marry a Scottish Laird by Lynsay Sands

To Marry a Scottish Laird by Lynsay Sands
Publication date: June 24, 2014
Series: An English Bride in Scotland #2 
Publisher: Avon
Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

~~Reviewed by Lisa~~

Joan Chatres is a literate village healer and midwife. She is smart, brave and looks great in men’s braies. As a 20 year old midwife she has seen enough of the bad side of birthing to decide that children are not in her future- it frightens her too much. She is on a deathbed quest for her mother to deliver a scroll to Lord and Lady MacKay.

Campbell “Cam” Sinclair is the family and clan’s heir, but because of his past he no longer takes that duty, or anything else, seriously. He has been offering his sword as a mercenary because of his feelings of guilt. He is smart, has a sense of humor and a deep sense of chivalry, loyalty and integrity.

They meet when Joan is being attacked. She is traveling dressed as a young man and Cam comes to her aid. In the process of rescuing her Cam is injured. As a healer, and the reason Cam is injured, Joan rescues him back and nurses him through a fever and he offers to take her safely to her destination. Cam discovers she is not a he and is intrigued about the reason for her disguise. The time they spend slowly traveling together is one of discovery, long talks, laughter, and attraction.  The completion of her quest finds her in greatly improved circumstances and married to Cam. Her new circumstances create issues that require the gentleness and care that cam brings to the story.

Ms Sands writes deep, rich characters and keeps the pace moving so you do not realize you have stayed up all night reading. Her sense of humor is charming. She has created a journey from attraction, to love and the embracing of a HEA that is well done.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating:

Throwback Thursday: Historical Romance Edition #34

Happy Thursday, everyone!  Zeee here from I Heart Romance hosting this weeks' Throwback Thursday:  Historical Romance Edition, a feature started by Buried Under Romance and Love Saves the World.

What is Throwback Thursday?
Traditionally, Throwback Thursday celebrates nostalgia, asking participants to post a personal photo or an image from their past -- usually from 5 to 10 years ago. There are a lot of book blogs that also do a book-related Throwback Thursday. 

The Historical Romance Edition:
Since Tin of Love Saves the World and I are unapologetic lovers of historical romances, we've decided to focus on our beloved genre.

Here are our rules:
1. It must be posted on a Thursday.

2. It must be a historical romance novel published before October 3, 2008.

Following last weeks' Lisa Kleypas book, my pick for this week is Dreaming of You also by Lisa Kleypas, first published on January 1st 1994.

BLURB

She stood at danger's threshold—then love beckoned her in.

In the shelter of her country cottage, Sara Feilding puts pen to paper to create dreams. But curiosity has enticed the prim, well-bred gentlewoman out of her safe haven—and into Derek Craven's dangerous world.

A handsome, tough and tenacious Cockney, he rose from poverty to become lord of London's most exclusive gambling house—a struggle that has left Derek Craven fabulously wealthy, but hardened and suspicious. And now duty demands he allow Sara Fielding into his world—with her impeccable manners and her infuriating innocence. But here, in a perilous shadow-realm of ever-shifting fortunes, even a proper "mouse" can be transformed into a breathtaking enchantress—and a world-weary gambler can be shaken to his cynical core by the power of passion...and the promise of love

My Thoughts

As with most of Lisa Kleypas' books, I have re-read them multiple times and Dreaming of You is no exception.  This is one of my favorite books because I absolutely love Derek Craven!  read my full review here.  This book has also made it on one of my Top Ten Historical Romance books list.

Now, head over to Tin @ Love Saves the World and Ki Pha @ Doing Some Reading for their pick of the week.

Fellow historical romance readers are welcome to join us. Enter your link below so we can visit your TBT: HR Edition post for the week! (Then go here to copy the Link code to your blogs.)

Don't forget to leave some love! mwaaaah*

Waiting for Wednesday #32: Never Judge a Lady By Her Cover by Sarah MacLean

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week an upcoming book I can’t wait to read is…

Never Judge a Lady By Her Cover by Sarah MacLean
Publication date: November 25, 2014
Series: Rules of Scroundrels
Published: Avon
| Amazon

By day, she is Lady Georgiana, sister to a duke, ruined before her first season in the worst kind of scandal. But the truth is far more shocking—in London's darkest corners, she is Chase, the mysterious, unknown founder of the city's most legendary gaming hell. For years, her double identity has gone undiscovered . . . until now.

Brilliant, driven, handsome-as-sin Duncan West is intrigued by the beautiful, ruined woman who is somehow connected to a world of darkness and sin. He knows she is more than she seems, and he vows to uncover all of Georgiana's secrets, laying bare her past, threatening her present, and risking all she holds dear . . . including her heart.

I love Sarah MacLean's books and reviewed her previous book, No Good Duke Goes Unpunished - review here, so I really can't wait to read the conclusion of this series! :D 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for visiting my blog to see what book I'm waiting for this week! So...what book are you waiting for?

Exclusive Excerpt: Lady Windermere's Lover by Miranda Neville at Avon Books

Buried Under Romance is pleased to welcome Miranda Neville here for an exclusive...

About the Book:

 Hell hath no fury . . .

Damian, Earl of Windermere, rues the day he drunkenly gambled away his family's estate and was forced into marriage to reclaim it. Now, after hiding out from his new bride for a year, Damian is finally called home, only to discover that his modest bride has become an alluring beauty—and rumor has it that she's taken a lover. Damian vows to keep his wife from straying again, but to do so he must seduce her—and protect his heart from falling for the wife he never knew he wanted.

Lady Cynthia never aspired to be the subject of scandal.

Lady Cynthia never aspired to be the subject of scandal. But with her husband off gallivanting across Persia, what was a lady to do? Flirting shamelessly with his former best friend seemed like the perfect revenge . . . except no matter how little Damian deserves her loyalty, Cynthia can't bring herself to be unfaithful. But now that the scoundrel has returned home, Cynthia isn't about to forgive his absence so easily—even if his presence stirs something in her she'd long thought dead and buried. He might win her heart . . . if he can earn her forgiveness

Goodreads 
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18651968-lady-windermere-s-lover?from_search=true

Buy Links: 
Amazon

Book Review: The Accidental Duchess (Fairbourne Quartet #4) by Madeline Hunter

The Accidental Duchess (Fairbourne Quartet #4) by Madeline Hunter
Publication date: June 3, 2014
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

~~Reviewed by Bonnie~~

Clayton Galbraith, the Duke of Penthurst, has slowly gained back the friendship of his three comrades, who initially held him to blame for the death of their friend, Baron Lakewood, in a duel years ago.  As more facts become known to all of them, it seems that while Penthurst intended to fire wide, Lakewood intentionally  walked into the bullet.  There are things Lakewood was involved in that made him prefer death to discovery.

One person who hasn’t forgiven Penthurst, though, is Lydia Alfreton.   Lakewood was the object of her first love, though no one else knew this, including her brother, who was one of his friends.  Before their relationship progressed any further than a kiss, he was killed.  Lydia became a shadow of herself, known for her vacant stare and lifelessness.  She only appears to come alive now when she is gambling, and she gambles a lot.

Lydia is also being blackmailed.  Penthurst happens upon Lydia struggling with her blackmaileras he is attempting to abduct her. He rescues her, but in a very public forum, which will cause a huge scandal if they don’t marry.  So, a quick marriage takes place, a marriage that neither wanted.  Although there is no immediate love between Lydia and Penthurst, there is a strong attraction, and the physical side of their marriage is strong.

Penthurst is protective and honorable and easy to like.  Lydia, on the other hand, took some time for me to warm up to.  There was a coldness, even a cruelty about her at times.  But as I began to imagine the story from her point of view, I became more sympathetic as to why she acted the way she did.  Also, Madeline Hunter did an excellent job of letting us see Lydia come to realize the the truth about her first love and herself a little at a time.  We get to see her become stronger and better, and ready for the real love of her life. This is a satisfying end to the Fairbourne Quartet series, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating:

Book Review: Romancing the Runaway (The Forsters #4) by Wendy Soliman

Romancing the Runaway by Wendy Soliman
Publication date: April 28, 2014
Publisher: Carina Press
 Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

~~Reviewed by Debbie~~

Miranda Cantrell is climbing out a window to escape her guardian.  Mr. and Mrs. Peacock had been her guardians since she was fourteen.  But being locked in her room wasn’t really what her father thought would happen when he died and left them her guardians. It isn’t an easy climb and she lands wrong and hurts her ankle.  Still determined to leave, she hobbles to the stable to retrieve her beloved horse Bianca, with her dog Tobias trailing her.  She leaves behind her hideous guardian Mr. Peacock and his son, that she is being pressured

 to marry.  Miranda just turned 17 and only want to return to her beloved home, The Wildes in Cornwall.   Because she is in such a hurry, she didn’t see the roots and rabbit holes on the trail. Bianca trips and damages her leg so they are forced to seek shelter at a nearby barn, which happens to be on the estate of Gabriel Forster.  

All Gabriel wanted was to escape the trappings of marriage from the ton ladies.  As he was riding the estate, he notices a dog, heading

  to the barn.  As he searches out the barn he discovers Miranda, sick with fever from the cold, and worn out from caring for her horse.  As he too is a horse lover, he brings them back to his estate.  

As Miranda recovers, Gabriel learns the circumstances surrounding her running away.  But there is more to the story then she is revealing.  Little by little, the facts come.  Gabriel is filled with the strong urge to protect her and discover why Miranda’s guardian wants her marriage to his son.  To solve the

 mystery, Miranda and Gabriel travel to her beloved property, As they sail to Cornwall, Gabriel knows he is falling in love with Miranda, but he doesn’t want to, so he is struggling to just protect Miranda, act as her brother and quit kissing her!  

Saturday Discussion: Sub-genre-ly Speakings

Historical romances are my first and greatest genre love, the genre I prefer to write, and they make up the bulk of the books I read for pleasure even after all the time I've been reading romance. Still, romance is a wide umbrella, and there are a lot of great books out there that are slightly off my regular route.

When I first started reading romance, as a tween and young teen, my choices were limited to what I could find in the local library or a weekly flea market. Without romance-reading friends, access to romance related magazines, in those dark days before the internet, it was catch as catch can, which gave me the opportunity to discover subgenres of romance I might not have found otherwise.

Traditional Regencies, once popular enough to command a section of their own in used bookstores, introduced me to authors like Mary Balogh and Barbara Hazard, and made me wish every era had those slender volumes rich in period detail. I found gothics, full of dangerous, brooding  heroes and the brave, clever heroines who were more than up to the task. I steered clear of time travels at first, not convinced I'd find enough historical story there, but curiosity and the use of some favorite but underused settings soon won out. Now that the subgenre is in a resting phase, I find myself craving more tales of love across the ages.

Category first caught my interest when Harlequin launched their first version of a historical line back in the late 80s, and I was more than happy to subscribe to that line by mail. When futuristic romance first came to the fore, I was intrigued - were these going to be like future historicals? For some of them, yes. Steampunk adds a speculative element to the good old Victorian age, and it seems like new subgenera are emerging every day. Only a few years ago, nobody had heard of New Adult, and now it's hot, hot, hot. What new sorts of stories are yet to come? I can't wait to find out.

What subgenrea do you like to read? Have you ever tried a sort of romance you thought wasn't your thing but ended up loving it? Leave a comment and let's talk.

Blog Tour: A Marquis for All Seasons by Renee Reynolds (Excerpt + Giveaway)

** GIVEAWAY Details**

• Renee will be awarding a replica of the locket and chain worn by the heroine in the book, and a copy of A Marquis For All Seasons (choice of print or ebook; print will be autographed) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (US ONLY)

About the Book:

 Lady Miranda Leighton and the Marquis of Stafford, Roman de Courtenay, have a similar problem: their families want them to find a spouse. Together they hatch the perfect scheme: they will pretend an attachment and trick their families in their pursuit of one last season of unencumbered entertainment. Yet, in each other's constant company, they find their ruse giving rise to some surprisingly very real feelings.  What happens when you set out to fool society, but only end up fooling yourselves?

Goodreads 
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21939462-a-marquis-for-all-seasons?from_search=true

Buy Links: 
Amazon

Throwback Thursday: Historical Romance Edition #33

Happy Thursday, everyone!  Zeee here from I Heart Romance hosting this weeks' Throwback Thursday:  Historical Romance Edition, a feature started by Buried Under Romance and Love Saves the World.

What is Throwback Thursday?
Traditionally, Throwback Thursday celebrates nostalgia, asking participants to post a personal photo or an image from their past -- usually from 5 to 10 years ago. There are a lot of book blogs that also do a book-related Throwback Thursday. 

The Historical Romance Edition:
Since Tin of Love Saves the World and I are unapologetic lovers of historical romances, we've decided to focus on our beloved genre.

Here are our rules:
1. It must be posted on a Thursday.

2. It must be a historical romance novel published before October 3, 2008.

My pick for this week is Stranger in my Arms by Lisa Kleypas, first published on January 1st 1998.

BLURB

"Lady Hawksworth, your husband is not dead..."

With those words, Lara's life turned upside down. Hunter, Earl of Hawksworth, had been lost at sea. Or so she'd been told. Their unhappy marriage—with its cold caresses and passionless kisses—was over. But now a powerful, virile man stood before her, telling secrets only a husband could know, and vowing she would once again be his wife in every way. While Lara couldn't deny that this man with the smoldering dark eyes resembled Hunter, he was attentive and loving in ways he never was before. Soon she desperately wanted to believe, with every beat of her heart, that this stranger was truly her husband. But had this rake reformed—or was Lara being seduced by a cunning stranger?

My Thoughts

I have read and re-read this book multiple times and it has never failed to entertain me. I love the story and to be honest, I have read this book at least once in each book cover design. Here are the covers:

My favorite cover would be the latest one (right) which is the cover of the ebook.  I also reviewed this book on my blog, so if you want to read my long review, you can check it out there!

I miss the historicals Lisa Kleypas wrote!  I know she just announced that she is going to write another historical series and I am super ecstatic!  I love Lisa Kleypas and I know a lot of her readers miss reading her historicals.  Not that I have anything against contemporaries.

Has anyone ever read a book multiple times with different covers?  Share your thoughts below!

Now, head over to Tin @ Love Saves the World and Ki Pha @ Doing Some Reading for their pick of the week.

Fellow historical romance readers are welcome to join us. Enter your link below so we can visit your TBT: HR Edition post for the week! (Then go here to copy the Link code to your blogs.)

Don't forget to leave some love! mwaaaah*