Book Review: A Most Scandalous Proposal by Ashlyn Macnamara

I really enjoyed the male heroes in this story.
A Most Scandalous Proposal 
by Ashlyn Macnamara

• File Size: 1116 KB
• Print Length: 354 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0345534743
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (February 26, 2013)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00957T76W

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 26, 2013
In Ashlyn Macnamara’s stunning romance debut—perfect for fans of Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Sabrina Jeffries—two childhood friends in Regency England discover love with the most unlikely of partners: each other.
“A tale of high-stakes scandal and heartfelt passion . . . a most delicious treat!”—New York Times bestselling author Tessa Dare
After watching her beloved sister, Sophia, pine over the ton’s golden boy for years, Miss Julia St. Claire has foresworn love and put herself firmly on the shelf. Unfortunately, her social-climbing mother and debt-ridden father have other ideas, and jump at the chance to marry Julia off to the newly named Earl of Clivesden . . . the man of Sophia’s dreams.
Since resigning his cavalry commission, Benedict Revelstoke has spent his time in London avoiding the marriage mart. But when he discovers that the Earl of Clivesden has his sights set on Julia, Benedict tries to protect his childhood best friend from the man’s advances—only to discover that more than friendship is driving his desire to defend her. He surprises them both with the force of his feelings, but when Julia refuses him, and her father announces her betrothal, Benedict fears he’s lost her forever—until Julia approaches him with a shocking scheme that will ruin her for all respectable society and lead them into an exquisite world of forbidden pleasures.
Includes a preview of Ashlyn Macnamara’s next novel, A Most Devilish Rogue.

Review:
Miss Julia is only two-and-twenty and she isn’t interested in the pain she perceives comes with love and marriage. She has watched her seemingly indifferent parents and she has seen the tears and sadness that her older sister, Sophia, has experienced while nurturing a crush on a handsome, womanizing rogue, for the past five years.

Suddenly the rogue, Ludlowe, is to inherit the title of Clivesden and he wants a beautiful, cold-hearted wife to produce children and not embroil him in emotions so he can continue his rakish ways. Julia is rumored to be just such an ‘ice queen.”  Ludlowe pursues Julia even though she makes it clear she isn’t interested in him and tries to move his attentions to her sister.

Julia’s childhood friend, Benedict, is alarmed when he sees that Ludlowe is betting that Julia will be the next Countess of Clivesden.  Benedict goes to warn Julia and soon realizes that he doesn’t want to lose her to anyone else. Before he can convince her that love and marriage have a lot to offer, entanglements occur.

Circumstances, partially contrived by Ludlowe, force Sophia into an engagement with the reclusive Earl of Highgate who has a bitter history involving Ludlowe. When the engagement is announced at a ton ball, their father also announces that Julia will wed Ludlowe. Julia is shocked and upset but that is only a mild reaction compared to the betrayal that Sophia feels and the anger she aims at Julia.

Julia feels betrayed and manipulated by her parents. She sneaks off to make a scandalous proposal to Benedict seeking a way out of the unwanted engagement. What can be done to resolve the mess that is tumbling around Sophia and Julia?

I really enjoyed this story and liked the male characters particularly. Julia is a conservative young woman trying to protect her heart because of a tragic loss she witnessed as a child. Benedict is a strong, honorable, young man who just needed a nudge to realize his feelings. Sophia is a terribly self-centered and silly young woman who has wasted five years pining for an unworthy man. I love how her new betrothed, Highgate, gently but firmly sets out to show Sophia how much he can offer her in support and affection. You actually get two romances in one story and the development of the relationships for both is warm and sensual.

The story moves along very well and I enjoyed the engaging writing style. Although it is straight romance, with no mystery or intrigue, there is good conflict that keeps it interesting. I look forward to reading more in the future from Ms. Macnamara. I recommend that historical romance fans grab this title when it releases and enjoy.

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

Sophia enjoys learning from tender kisses:

The tenderness of gentle nips pressed to her skin tugged at her heart and demanded she return in kind, softness for softness, heat for heat.  Location 2746.

Benedict wants to touch Julia’s passion:

Within the next hour, he planned to cure her of that reserve. He wanted to touch her at such a depth that she could no longer hold her passion in check. Location 4018.

I received this ebook from Random House Digital through NetGalley for an honest review.

Book Review: Into the Dark by Stacy Green

This is a solid suspense with an unusual, obsessed stalker.

Into the Dark

by Stacy Green

• File Size: 443 KB
• Print Length: 292 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing (November 27, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00AEVPQ2M

Genre: Suspense

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: November 27, 2012

Suspense Romance

A two-hundred-mile labyrinth of dark storm drains serves as refuge for the delusional stalker who will go to any lengths to possess fragile, emotionally isolated Emilie Davis. To survive, Emilie will have to confront the secrets of her past she has kept locked away from everyone, including herself.

Emilie is a master escape artist—she’s fled a manipulative mother and a controlling ex-husband. But it’s impossible to evade a stalker who uses a bank robbery as a ruse to kidnap her. He’s still out there, hiding in the Las Vegas tunnels and dodging police. Emilie’s life careens out of control as her assailant continues his pursuit. She has nowhere to turn but to Nathan Madigan, the hostage negotiator who worked the robbery.

Nathan is haunted by his failure to protect a loved one fourteen years ago and has dedicated his life to saving others. Determined to catch the lunatic hunting Emilie, he finds himself losing his professional detachment. He fears history is about to repeat itself if he cannot protect Emilie from the Taker’s obsession.

The police close in on the Taker’s identity as Nathan and Emilie grow closer to each other and to resolving the misery of their own pasts. At the height of The Taker’s madness, his attempt to replace someone he’s lost will either kill them all or set them free.

Review:
Emilie has had pain in her past that resulted in a fragile, but determined young woman. She is a bank manager and when the bank is robbed and people taken hostage it seems strange that she is pulled aside to sit with one of the robbers. Her captor is clean, soft spoken, controlled and likes to chat about history. The other robber is dirty, smelly and frenetic.  The swat team sneaks in and brings down the anxious partner while she is forced to the basement. If she hadn’t fought, she would have been dragged into the tunnels that had been hidden under the bank. Before he escapes the man who held her makes it clear he will be back for her.

Nathan is a Swat negotiator whose life has been shaped by guilt from his past. He first talks to Emilie while trying to determine who is really in control of the hostage situation. Nathan is disappointed in himself for not figuring out sooner that the second man was focused on Emilie, not the robbery. He urge to protect Emilie grows into desire even when he knows he shouldn’t be involved with a victim.

The Taker is clearly twisted and obsessed with making Emilie his own. He is a charming manipulator who manages to get others to help him. He has laid out quite a plan through the old drainage tunnel system of Las Vegas but he is too refined to really be part of that underground world. He has missed one chance to snatch Emilie but he is patient and he won’t miss again.

I really enjoyed the suspense of the plot, the side betrayals that occur and the dark history of the tunnels. I appreciated that the childhood pains that Emilie and Nathan suffered helped create their current strengths and determinations. I wasn’t always happy with Emilie who had fortitude at some times but other times struck me as very volatile, whiny and impulsive. It was just too much when she sneaked out on her own to get a key piece of evidence.  It was clearly one of those ‘this will turn out bad’ moments.

I liked how Ms. Green pulls in the past players to make Emilie and Nathan face their damaged psyches and move on. Their romance had good chemistry and intensity. The writing is clean and fast paced. The story starts with a good hook and the suspense continues until the end. Other than the negatives for Emilie’s character and behavior I totally enjoyed the book. I would be glad to read more by Ms. Green in the future.

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

Emilie has to cope with shock and flashbacks:

She stared into the mirror and watched the tears fall. So many shed over Claire and Evan. But Emilie had locked that old pain away a long time ago. She would not allow it to resurface. Location 1424.

I received this ebook to provide an honest review as part of Partners in Crime Tour review.

This story is set in Las Vegas, NV for the 2013 Where Are You Reading Challenge. This is also a New Author for me.

Book Review and Giveaway: Waiting for Morning by Margaret Brownley

This is a lovely story with wonderful historical tidbits and inspiring lessons!
Waiting for Morning (The Brides Of Last Chance Ranch Series)
by Margaret Brownley

• File Size: 708 KB
• Print Length: 350 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1595549706
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 8, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00AE9I0EA

Genre: Historical Romance, Inspirational
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: January 8, 2013
If Molly Hatfield's purple attire doesn't blind you, her dazzling smile will. She doesn't just sing to the cattle, she puts on a whole show. If only she wasn't so stubborn about her brother's care. Or so distrustful of a certain handsome doctor...

There is nothing Molly wouldn't do for her teenaged brother, Donny. Blaming herself for the accident that left him wheel-chair bound, Molly has dedicated her life to his care. But in 1896, gainful employment for a woman is hard to come by. So when Molly learns that an eccentric rancher in Cactus Patch, Arizona, is looking for an heiress--someone to take over management of the ranch in exchange for future ownership--she jumps at the chance to provide a real home for her brother.

If she proves to have a knack for ranching and agrees to remain single for life, the ranch can be hers. Neither stipulation worries Molly. She's resourceful and hardworking. And she gave up dreams of marriage long ago when she dedicated her life to her brother's well-being.

However, Molly didn't bank on meeting Dr. Caleb Fairbanks, the town's handsome and charismatic young doctor, whose backfiring automobile almost gets him killed when Molly thinks she's being shot at and fires back.

But it's how he is with her brother that really alarms her. Caleb sees past the wheelchair and genuinely likes Donny, but Molly fears he's putting unrealistic ideas into her brother's head. Falling in love with Caleb would threaten everything she's worked for, even her brother's future happiness. It'll take an act of congress to convince her otherwise--and maybe even a little help from above.

Other books in the Brides of Last Chance Ranch series include Dawn Comes Early and Gunpowder Tea (available October 2013).

Review:
Molly is a young woman who does what she has to do, even singing in a saloon, to take care of herself and her teen brother. Molly holds herself responsible for the accident that crippled Donny and she has determined that she will always be his family.  A fire takes almost all they have and Molly decides to go to Arizona territory to answer an ad to become an heiress of a cattle ranch. She has to prove to the demanding owner that she can handle the job and the terms will include an agreement not to marry. Molly has no problem with that as she has learned that men aren’t interested in courting a woman with a handicapped brother.  Besides, she saw the pain and heartbreak that tore her parents apart when Donny was injured. She doesn’t want to risk that pain again.

But Molly never figured on meeting a man like Doctor Caleb Fairbanks. Caleb is a progressive sort who rides Bertha, his motor buggy, and looks to the medical advances for means of helping his patients - two legged and four legged. Their first meeting is a bit hostile when she mistakes the car backfire for shooting and shoots back.  The second meeting isn’t much better when the backfire starts a stampede her way.

Caleb is dazzled by Molly’s bright beauty and has no problem seeing past Donny’s handicap to the smart boy he is. Although Molly doesn't trust his pushing, the Doc challenges Donny to stop thinking of himself as crippled and to become more independent.

I loved Caleb’s direct approach and enthusiasm. He saw injury in both Donny and Molly and set about finding a way to address the problems and seek improvement. I liked Molly’s complex character and even the stern and intractable ranch owner, Miss Walker, is a warm lovely person underneath her tough exterior. There are lessons of forgiveness and tolerance to be learned and shared, and even a blind colt can help show the hand of God at work.

The writing moves at a good pace with history, progress and God’s touch nicely woven together. Added to that is a good dose of fun humor making the package a very delightful read. I also loved learning that some of the old gospel hymns, like Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, were codes for the underground railroad groups! If you like stories with history and sweet romance I recommend this to you. I will keep Ms. Brownley in mind for future reading. I think I would enjoy reading one of her stories for my book club especially if it has wonderful reading questions like this one does.

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

Molly has created a persona to hide behind:

She feared her carefully constructed facade was in terrible danger of melting away like face paint in the sun.  Location 191

Molly learns important lessons:

Brodie said lessons could be learned from horses. Orbit taught her that God had a plan for everything–even a little blind horse and a wheelchair-bound youth. Location 3452.

I received this from Thomas Nelson for an honest review and with offer to host a giveaway.

This story is set in Arizona for my 2013 Where Are You Reading Challenge. This is a New Author for me.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY FOR PRINT COPY FROM PUBLISHER - US ONLY.

USE ENTRY FORM HERE

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is open US Only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 1, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on March 2, 2013.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Mailbox Monday February 18, 2013

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.
For FEBRUARY: the Mailbox Monday Tour host is Audra @ Unabridged Chick!

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs.  This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) but is now hosted at Mailbox Monday and through various blog hosts.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. 

I only added a few more books this week. :-)
How are your mailbox and TBR piles doing?

Review Titles

I received three print books for review:
From Sourcebooks for May reviews:

Heart of Iron 
by Bec McMaster

AND

Undone (The Amoveo Legend)

by Sara Humphrey

I also received a print from Hachette:

I will be reading this for March. 
Thief of Shadows (Maiden Lane)
by Elizabeth Hoyt

Wins

I did have a win but book not in yet. :-)

Purchased

Purchased from Audible with two monthly credits and a $5.00 gift:

Two Graves
(UNABRIDGED)
Author: Douglas Preston,Lincoln Child

Deadlocked 

(UNABRIDGED)

Author: Charlaine Harris

 
The Ruins of Gorlan
(UNABRIDGED)
Author: John Flanagan

Free

I received more books from Free Partay and
I did download more free Kindle Titles linked through Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink and Kindle Review.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? February 18, 2013

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I had another strange business week. I started with no appointments and ended up covering court hearings every day. 

I completed reading four books and posted five reviews. There was one post with two giveaways and a Giveaway Hop. I also posted the usual Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Snapshot, Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words.

Once again I didn't get to last week. Aargh.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me too.

These were last week's posts:

• It's Monday What are You Reading? February 11, 2013.

• Mailbox Monday February 11, 2013.

• A BookTrib Valentine - Giveaway of Much Ado About Loving
  

• Book Review and Two Giveaways: Pandora's Temple by Jon Land; Thriller; my rating 4.25. Open Worldwide. Ends 2/21/13 and 2/28/13.

• Book Review: The Escape Diaries: Life and Love on the Lam by Juliet Rosetti; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.5.

• Scavenger Hunt Stop and Book Review: Goodbye to Yesterday by Wanda E. Brustetter; Amish Romance; my rating 4.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 15, 2013. Open Worldwide. Ends 2/21/13.
  

• Audible Book Review: Ever After (Hallows 11) by Kim Harrison; Fantasy; my rating 4.5.

• Saturday Snapshot (2/16/13) More Pics from Hawaii Cruise.
  

• Book Review: Jabin and the Space Pirates by Bev Allen; Science Fiction; my rating 5.0.
  

• Sharing Beyond Books #86 Comment Giveaway 2/16/13. Ends 2/22/13.

• Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop - February 17th to 24th. Ends 2/22/13.
  

• Sunday Words of Encouragement February 17, 2013.

Finished Reading:

1. Print

Goodbye to Yesterday
by Wanda E. Brunstetter
This was a nice serial read.
Review linked above.

2. eBook/Kindle

Jabin and the Space Pirates
by Bev Allen
This was a surprisingly remarkable story.
Review is linked above.

3. eBook/Kindle

Waiting for Morning (The Brides Of Last Chance Ranch Series)
by Margaret Brownley
This is a good western, inspirational historical.
Review to post this week
with giveaway from Thomson Nelson.

4. eBook/Kindle
 

A Most Scandalous Proposal 
by Ashlyn Macnamara
I started this and zipped right through it - really enjoyable.
I will post the review later this week. Read for Random House Digital.
Book Description
Publication Date: February 26, 2013
In Ashlyn Macnamara’s stunning romance debut—perfect for fans of Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Sabrina Jeffries—two childhood friends in Regency England discover love with the most unlikely of partners: each other.
“A tale of high-stakes scandal and heartfelt passion . . . a most delicious treat!”—New York Times bestselling author Tessa Dare
After watching her beloved sister, Sophia, pine over the ton’s golden boy for years, Miss Julia St. Claire has foresworn love and put herself firmly on the shelf. Unfortunately, her social-climbing mother and debt-ridden father have other ideas, and jump at the chance to marry Julia off to the newly named Earl of Clivesden . . . the man of Sophia’s dreams.
Since resigning his cavalry commission, Benedict Revelstoke has spent his time in London avoiding the marriage mart. But when he discovers that the Earl of Clivesden has his sights set on Julia, Benedict tries to protect his childhood best friend from the man’s advances—only to discover that more than friendship is driving his desire to defend her. He surprises them both with the force of his feelings, but when Julia refuses him, and her father announces her betrothal, Benedict fears he’s lost her forever—until Julia approaches him with a shocking scheme that will ruin her for all respectable society and lead them into an exquisite world of forbidden pleasures.
Includes a preview of Ashlyn Macnamara’s next novel, A Most Devilish Rogue.

Line Edits/Releases:
We are completing the last details for release of two more good books!

Currently reading:

1. Print

Wait Until Dark
by M.L. Buchman
I love this series and look forward to reading this.
Reviewing for Sourcebooks.
Wallace is a threat on all fronts. Their passion is explosive, but their conflicts are insurmountable. When duty calls them to a mission no one else could survive, they'll fly into the night together—ready or not.

2. ebook/Kindle
 

Into the Dark
by Stacy Green
I will be starting this tonight;
to post 2/20 for Partners in Crime Tour review.
Book Description
Publication Date: November 27, 2012
Suspense Romance
A two-hundred-mile labyrinth of dark storm drains serves as refuge for the delusional stalker who will go to any lengths to possess fragile, emotionally isolated Emilie Davis. To survive, Emilie will have to confront the secrets of her past she has kept locked away from everyone, including herself.
Emilie is a master escape artist—she’s fled a manipulative mother and a controlling ex-husband. But it’s impossible to evade a stalker who uses a bank robbery as a ruse to kidnap her. He’s still out there, hiding in the Las Vegas tunnels and dodging police. Emilie’s life careens out of control as her assailant continues his pursuit. She has nowhere to turn but to Nathan Madigan, the hostage negotiator who worked the robbery.
Nathan is haunted by his failure to protect a loved one fourteen years ago and has dedicated his life to saving others. Determined to catch the lunatic hunting Emilie, he finds himself losing his professional detachment. He fears history is about to repeat itself if he cannot protect Emilie from the Taker’s obsession.
The police close in on the Taker’s identity as Nathan and Emilie grow closer to each other and to resolving the misery of their own pasts. At the height of The Taker’s madness, his attempt to replace someone he’s lost will either kill them all or set them free.

3. Audio

Love in a Garden: What Happens After Happily Ever After
by Mia Jasper (Author, Narrator)
[Unabridged] [Audible Audio Edition]
This looked like an interesting, quick listen.
Reviewing for Ann Tucker 
through Audiobook Jukebox.
Most romance stories usually end when the couple says "I do". What really happens after happily ever after?
    Can love survive real life year after year?
    What happens when budgets, job responsibilities, and habits take center stage?
    Can love survive the misunderstandings and stress of real life?
This feel-good story will restore your faith in "Happily Ever After". If you believe that love really can conquer all - even real life - then Love in a Garden: What Happens After Happily Ever After is for you!
This is a quick story you can listen to at lunchtime.

4. Print

Lady Eve's Indiscretion
by Grace Burrowes
This is the next print to read for Sourcebooks.
Book Description
Release date: February 5, 2013
"Burrowes delivers red-hot chemistry with a masterful mix of playfulness and sensuality."—Publishers Weekly Starred Review
Lady Eve's Got The Perfect Plan
Pretty, petite Evie Windham has been more indiscreet than her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Moreland, suspect. Fearing that a wedding night would reveal her past, she's running out of excuses to dodge adoring swains. Lucas Denning, the newly titled Marquis of Deene, has reason of his own for avoiding marriage. So Evie and Deene strike a deal, each agreeing to be the other's decoy. At this rate, matrimony could be avoided indefinitely...until the two are caught in a steamy kiss that no one was supposed to see.

I continue to listen to The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. [Reading and listening on MP3.]  I am studying with the Tyndall One Year Bible this year, hoping to read daily along with my DH.

Line Edits: I'm finishing two formats and working on more conversions this week.

I am started the month with 17 titles + TBRs. Now six are read and reviewed; two more read to be reviewed and four more expected to go up this week. One or two may carry over due to the short month. Still haven't figured out a "won" book to squeeze in. 

FEBRUARY Scheduled: 

2/20 Review:  Into the Dark by Stacy Green (PIC Tour)  

Unscheduled   

Sourcebooks
      X Marks the Scot by Victoria Roberts
      Wait Until Dark by M.L. Buchman
      Lady Eve's Indiscretion by Grace Burrowes  

Random House - done

Thomas Nelson - done

NetGalley
     Fix-It and Forget-It Holiday Appetizers, Finger Foods, and Beverages by Phyllis Pellman Good
     The Midwife’s Revolt by Jodi Daynard

Audios: (more to come) 
Added Love in a Garden and expecting more next week.

From TBR Collection - TBD 
Won Book - TBD 
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords: Fatal February (Mary Magruder Katz) by Barbara Levenson

Ladies Book Club (For March  9)
   White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner