Book Review and Giveaway: R Is for Rebel: ...and Royalty, Relatives, Reality, and Running from love... (Unruly Royals) by Megan Mulry

This is a sassy, nicely written British style romance. 

R Is for Rebel: ...and Royalty, Relatives, Reality, and Running from love... (Unruly Royals)
by Megan Mulry

• Series: Unruly Royals
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (February 4, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-1402270031

Genre:  Contemporary Romance, British
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 4, 2014
Being royal isn't all it's cracked up to be...
Abigail Heyworth, youngest daughter of the 18th Duke of Northrop, is not your typical British royal—she'll take a recycling drive over a charity ball any day. She can't stand hats and heels. Abby's not getting much sympathy, of course, because everyone thinks the life of royalty is so charmed.

But to Abigail, keeping up appearances is unbearable, while running away doesn't seem to work either. Just when she feels like she's getting whiplash from swinging between flat-out rebellion to miserable capitulation, Abigail meets an all-American self-made millionaire who challenges her on every level.

It may turn out that what Abigail is searching for kind of resembles the American Dream...

Review:
Abigail is a mid-twenties modern day daughter of a Duke and considered British Royalty. She hasn’t flaunted her wealth at all but in fact has been a rebel to her family life-style, enjoying a long term relationship with her beloved friend, Tully. The two of them set off on good deed adventures, living with tribes and communes along the way. Even Abby’s own family members are not sure if their relationship was real or one of rebellion to spite her cold and proper mother.

Now Abby and Tully have parted ways and Abby decides it is time for her to find a meaningful purpose - job or career - for her life. As she contemplates that dilemma, and the fears it brings, she also realizes that for the first time she is attracted to a man. Not just any man, but a super powerful American fashion business entrepreneur who is surrounded by high fashion and powerful and poised women.

Eliot and Abigail have developed an easy going friendship over the past many months since they met. Eliot adores and is intrigued by Abigail=s natural enthusiasm for life. He convinces her to give them a chance and they have a wonderful visit with his parents in Idaho. They finally get together but when Abby thinks it is a quick fling, Eliot goes overboard and professes the level of his interest scaring her away.

A year later Abby is busy getting her new foundation properly established as it funds grants for worthy women’s interests. Her loving older brothers and brash sister-in-laws are worried about her especially when an engagement announcement for Eliot appears in the post. Even her stiff mother has softened finding a new love that has changed her perspective on love and motherhood. Can Abby face her fears and reach Eliot before it is too late to acknowledge their love?
I have to admit that I was turned off by the very beginning of the book. I don’t mean to be prissy or prejudiced but I don’t approve of lesbian life styles and I choose not to read about them. This is not a book about that but the beginning starts off with a lead that made it harder for me to warm to Abigail. I was also negative about the fact that she was leading a pretty purposeful life when there was much she could have been doing.

On the other hand, I liked Eliot a lot as a strong, warm, confident male character with grace and charm. I truly enjoyed the style of writing which has a very nice, real flow and a warm strength of description. There is some “British brashness” which is perfectly fitting for the characters. The supporting family members add their own spark, sass and charm to the story. The sex scenes get a bit steamy but are manageable.

Ultimately I enjoyed the love story as it ran through difficulties and then a second chance. The addition of the fiancé added some needed conflict that enriched the story. I had not read any part of the series so this works fine as a stand alone. Read past the opening passages and you will find a rather fun, charming romance.

I received this book from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

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WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after March 14, 2014.
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Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Jill Mansell

You don't want to miss this delightful read!

Don't Want to Miss a Thing

by Jill Mansell

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (November 5, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 1402283938
• ISBN-13: 978-1402283932

Genre: Romantic Comedy
My Rating 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 5, 2013

He knows all about women, or so he thought...

Dexter Yates leads a charmed existence in London, with money, looks, and girlfriends galore. Life's fantastic until Dex's sister dies and his world changes overnight. Astonishing everyone, including himself, Dex leaves the city behind, takes charge of his eight-month-old niece Delphi, moves to a beautiful Cotswolds village, and sets about working on his parenting skills. His neighbors, including cartoonist Molly Hayes, seem friendly enough—but Dex can't shake the notion that he's missing something important.

Review:
Dexter is a charmer who has done well in work and financial investments and has great success with the ladies. His is close with his sister, Laura, and is thrilled when she has a darling little girl, Delphi. But eight months later Laura dies unexpectedly having named Dex to be guardian of the infant girl. Dex may know girls but not infants and he is thrown for a loop.

In shock Dex leaves London and runs to a village where he had looked to purchase a vacation house. Dex recalls that even though many of the town folk were not so warm to an obvious outsider, the next-door neighbor, Molly, was really friendly. Molly is a cartoon artist who worked hard to get a strip that is syndicated and helps her make a living along with money she earns by teaching art classes. She is clearly warm, considerate and an encourager. She listens to Dex’s heartache and his reasons why he can’t raise his niece. She acknowledges those reasons but challenges him pointing out that if he loves Delphi he could be responsible for the child and manage to take care of her.

Dex’s life-style hasn’t exactly set him up to be recommended as a parent choice but he is determined to convince the social workers he can and will change. He decides to move to the village where he is sure he will find help in the better environment for raising a child. When he returns Molly instantly falls in love...with Delphi. But she has to resist falling for Dex too.

Molly apparently is the first woman to reject Dex’s advances but she feels she must out of self-preservation. That doesn’t make it easier to watch him start dating an attractive, outgoing pediatrician, especially since the match seems to please the locals.

As Dex struggles with parenting and Molly tries to protect her heart, there are other family dramas and relationships breaking down and being renewed in the village. Dex and Molly are the primary characters but the secondary characters also enrich the village life and the story.

I found the book delightful, easy to read and hard to put down. Dex may not be the most likeable character as a footloose, easy going playboy but he does have charm and he does mature. Molly is a dear from the get go and you can feel her conflicted passions. Ms. Mansell imbues the characters with natural emotions of doubt, insecurity, reluctance to be rejected, and desire to be loved and find the right person to love. I could feel the angst of the characters and that kept me pulled into the story wanting good things to happen in the end. Which it does and it is a wonderful journey getting there so you don’t miss the important things!

I received this ARC from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for ARC Copy.

ENTRY FORM HERE

Don't forget to fill in the form for entry! 

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.  

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest; OR tell me about another book by this author that you enjoyed; OR comment on the review.

* This contest is open to U.S. address only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on December 6, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after December 6, 2013.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review: Girl v Earl by Phillipa Ashley

This story has wonderful settings for a saucy and emotional romance.
Girl vs. Earl
by Phillipa Ashley

• File Size: 482 KB
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00C0XU6UY

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

US edition Published March 26th 2013
When Miranda finds herself fighting for her home, her job and her heart, sleeping with the enemy may not be the best tactic...

With no family of her own, Miranda Marshall has developed a healthy respect - some would say obsession - with other people's histories. As property manager of a spectacular island castle in Cornwall, she's made St Merryn's Mount one of the UK's most popular heritage attractions. While she may have the castle running like clockwork, Miranda hasn't bargained on its sexy owner returning to claim his birthright.

Dark, handsome and with a rakish reputation,  Jago, the Earl of St Merryn, not only looks like a pirate but is intent on flogging the Mount to a soulless leisure corporation. Miranda faces the battle of her life as she tries to persuade him to face up to his past and continue the St Merryn dynasty. But Jago has his own reasons for jumping ship and when he throws down the gauntlet to Miranda, she's forced to delve into painful memories she'd much rather keep hidden . . .

(Previously published in the UK and Commonwealth by Hachette Digital as Miranda’s Mount)

Review:
Miranda had a difficult childhood with a young, unstable mother. She left home at a young age and managed to work her way through University. She always loved history and was thrilled to land a job at St Merryn's Mount, eventually working her way up to manager. She is fiercely devoted to the property and it’s people who have become her stability and her people.

Dark, handsome Jago St Merryn has roamed the world and allowed his mother, Lady St Merryn, to oversee the home--or rather castle--management. He suddenly returns home and tells Miranda, in confidence, of his plans to sell the property to a leisure investment corporation. Miranda is distressed at the thought of losing her “home” and the impact it will have on the other workers and estate families. But she is appalled to find herself sexually drawn to Jago even though she doesn’t like what he is doing and she realizes that any relationship is professionally inappropriate and personally a move toward heartbreak.

Meanwhile, a local heartthrob, Theo, has shown interest in Miranda. He and Jago have clear animosity and, although Theo is well respected in the community, it appears that he may be using Miranda to spite Jago.  Miranda is caught between the alleged 'nice guy' who doesn’t stir her senses as much as the alleged 'bad boy' she can’t have.

Miranda and Jago each have painful pasts that they are running from. I really liked how Ms. Ashley slowly revealed their secrets and developed their characters. The romantic triangle with Theo was a little puzzling as his ‘courtship’ was so slow to get started. I suppose that is fitting with it’s ultimate purpose and result, but it didn’t quite fit with the ‘really nice-guy’ image that was being projected for him.

The castle operations and Cornish seaside make for interesting and beautiful backdrops to the characters’ conflicts and emotional struggles. I enjoyed the visual images of the castle, the harbor, ocean and beach scenes – I’d love to visit!  The dialogue is saucy with plenty of British attitude, sexual fantasy and frivolity to make this lively even as it deals with overcoming emotional issues resulting from abandonment and loss.

I have enjoyed Ms. Ashley's light romances from earlier reads. This one seems to have more emotional depth but still has the likeable characters and wonderful settings.  This is a nice blend of fun and emotional romance. I recommend this to readers who enjoy flirty, British style romance especially with the addition of emotional challenges to overcome.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miranda’s reaction to Jago:

She’d melted like a bloody snowflake on a bonfire. Location 839

A description I liked:

The evening sun shone through the great cleft in the rock, the late rays dappling the green pool with sun sparkles. Location 3178.

I received this title from the Author for an honest review.

Phillipa shared with me:

St Michael's Mount is a real place by the way - an amazing place that inspired the book.
http://www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk/

Take a peek - gorgeous!

Find Phillipa at:
www.phillipa-ashley.com
Twitter @PhillipaAshley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phillipa-Ashley/133611746664705