Book Review: Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel by Samantha Grace

This is a light historical romance with the tables turned on a carefree bachelor.

Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel

by Samantha Grace

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402258313
• ISBN-13: 978-1402258312

Genre: Historical Romance

 My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

 Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 2012

HE'LL NEVER SETTLE FOR ONE WOMAN...

Debonair bachelor Lord Andrew Forest lives for pleasure and offers no apologies. But he receives a dose of his own medicine when his family's entrancing houseguest beds him, then disappears without so much as a by-your-leave. He'd like to teach the little vixen a thing or two about how to love and man...if he can find her..

AND SHE WON'T SETTLE FOR HEARTBREAK...

After the dashing man of her dreams is revealed as a lying scoundrel, heiress Lana Hilary is ready to seek a match with a respectable gentleman-if only they weren't so dreadfully boring. Unable to rein in her bold nature for long, Lana flirts with trouble and finds herself entangled with exactly the type of man she's vowed to avoid.

Review: I thought the blurb premise would make this a fun read.  It is light and fun but it didn’t quite meet my expectations.

Lana is a young heiress in her second season.  Her Mother is insisting that she find a suitable husband before she ends up “on the shelf.”  Lana doesn’t have the best self esteem as she perceives that her mother has always made negative comments about her fly away, bright red hair and her white skin that burns and freckles too easily.  Because Lana is an heiress she has had to avoid men who are clearly fortune hunters. Even if she doesn’t expect to marry for love, she longs to be cared for just for herself and not her wealth.  She discovers that she has an attraction to the wrong sort of men, or actually just one man - Lord Andrew.

Lord Andrew is clearly a scoundrel as Lana can tell when he rescues her from falling out of a tree to escape an overly eager, dull suitor. Andrew steals a quick kiss before they are interrupted by a widow who has come out for a rendevous. Lana’s beloved brother, Jake, also warns her away from Andrew whom he knows from the gambling halls and other places men visit.

Lana tries to stay away but Andrew is enchanted by her and continues his pursuit until he has captured her complete attention. When Andrew would back off, it is Lana that turns the tables on him by walking into a seduction and then walking away. 

There are several wrong assumptions and misunderstandings that create conflict, although some of these are predictable. There is also a sinister threat and a kidnaping that adds some needed action and excitement. 

The heroine and hero seemed a bit immature which may be understandable because they are rather young. Unfortunately I never totally warmed to them. Lana is young but trying to be worldly. She knows better than to become involved with a scoundrel but she decides to toss aside her good reputation for just the chance to be with him. Andrew is very charming and more so when he realizes that he is beyond the stage of finding pleasure in the night life and chasing skirts.  I really like the portion when he recognizes that he could have a ‘home’ with Lana.

It may have bothered me too that I didn’t see that the title truly fit the story.  This is an easy read and is my first experience with this author.  I think she has potential to improve on a nice, but slightly weak, beginning to this series. I am still interested in reading Jake's story in the next book.

A favorite passage: Andrew thinking to himself:

He had never believed himself capable of love, yet here he stood in a house he wished to make a  home for the one woman who had captured his heart.

Location 2587.

I received this book from Sourcebooks through NetGalley to read and review.
I will add this to my New Author and ARC challenges.
Please don't miss the interesting author interview and giveaway in the next post!

Book Review: Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey

This story has likeable characters, family involvement and a second chance romance.

Exclusively Yours (The Kowalskis) 
by Shannon Stacey

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books; Reissue edition (December 20, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373776780
• ISBN-13: 978-0373776788

    Genre: Contemporary Romance
    My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
When Keri Daniels's boss finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.

Joe's never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he's intrigued to hear Keri's back in town—and looking for him. He proposes an outrageous plan—for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping trip, Keri can ask one question.

The chemistry between Joe and Keri is as potent as the bug spray, but Joe's sister is out to avenge his broken heart, and Keri hasn't ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever?

Review:
Keri and Joe were best friends and first loves in high school. Joe was sure they would go to college, marry and settle down in their home town. Keri realized in her senior year that she didn’t want to be like her mother: so and so’s wife, so and so’s mother. She wanted her own name to be recognized. As soon as they graduated she lit out of town to California to make her way as a news journalist where she could see her name in print.

Joe was left behind with no explanation and a broken heart. He buried himself in a bottle and only stopped when his drunken belligerence brought injury to one of his own family.  But during those dark hours he found wicked characters and dark plots that made him a famous horror author.

Twenty years later Keri is sent to get an exclusive interview with Joe. He makes a bargain with her - she must come along on the annual family camping vacation for two weeks. He’ll answer one question for every day she stays and participates under Joe’s “rules.” Keri reluctantly agrees since she has to get the scoop or lose her job.

Keri must face the full Kowalski family. Joe’s mother is convinced the two were always meant to be together. His sister Tara was one of Keri’s good friends until they suffered a falling out. She is suffering through a separation from her husband and is more than willing to take her anger out on Keri. Tara is intent on avenging Joe’s broken heart and making sure that Keri has no chance to hurt them all again.  Joe’s younger brother Kevin, although a couple of years younger, is all grown up and handsome and has a way with the ladies. He wouldn’t mind having some time with Keri if Joe would let him get near her.  Joe’s other brother, Mike, and his wife, Lisa, are busy with three lively boys and disagreeing on whether they should have another child. The kids are popping up unexpectedly taking pictures, splashing Keri at the pool or getting sticky marshmallow on her.

Keri insists that she is going home after the two weeks but Joe is hopeful that their sizzling chemistry will win her over. The story is full of emotional conflict, family friction, family fun, male jostling and sensual foreplay and fantasies, a few of which become reality.  The dialogue is real and snappy and the reading is light and fun. I first read this author in the Holiday Kisses Anthology and am glad to have read more from her. I think this would be a fun series to follow.

Fun phrases:
Keri to Joe:
“If I stand in one place too long the bugs will hang an all-you-can-eat buffet sign on me.” Location 548.
Joe to Keri:
“Dirty face. Dirty thoughts. I’m a guy– it all ties together pretty naturally for me." Location 1388

I received a Kindle copy of this book from Harlequin through NetGalley.

This book is set primarily in New Hampshire and will be listed there for my Where are you Reading list.
This will be added to my ARC challenge.

Follower Love Giveaway Hop 2012! Starts at Midnight

WELCOME TO 2012 FOLLOWER LOVE GIVEAWAY HOP!

I love my followers and wish you could all win. :-)
This hop is hosted by the fabulous Kathy at I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Rachael Renee Anderson 

The hop runs from Tuesday, February 7th through Tuesday, February 14th.

My Giveaway is for ANYONE who can get books from Amazon, Indie Presses, OR Book Depository. OR if Book Depository doesn't ship to you then I will do a PayPal or other gift card for that winner.  So hopefully this really does include EVERYONE.

There will be two winners:
$15.00 towards books at The Book Depository or $15.00 Gift Certificate from the vendor of the winner's choice.

The books can be any format: ebook, hardback, paperback or even audio for a total value of $15.00.

Rule #1 - You must be a follower of my blog in some form.
Rule #2 - ENTER USING THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM!
Giveaway closes 12:01 AM Eastern on February 15.  Winners to be chosen through the Rafflecopter system.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN HOPPING!

Sunday Words of Encouragement February 5, 2012

[Continuing the message from last week based on 1 Timothy 4:1-10.]  Last week our associate Pastor was warning us against Saboteurs who might mislead believers. How do we protect ourselves from this? He recommended:
1. Stay in the word - the better you know the best manual, the less likely you will be deceived. Also, always compare the message given by any man to the word given by God.
2. Do not forsake assembling together with other followers of Christ. Together we strengthen each other.
3. Pray, especially for strength, wisdom and guidance.
4. Avoid those who are living in unrepentant sin. God is Love but enabling sin is not loving.

I didn't find a song that quite fit this message 

but this one struck me as good for any day!

A Verse for Today: 

1 Timothy 4:16

¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 

I give praise and Thanksgiving that God is richly blessing my business. I pray for his continued wisdom and guidance each day.

Sharing Beyond Books #34 Comment Giveaway February 4, 2012

Welcome once more to SBB. I hope everyone had a good first week sliding into February. I am still moving at fast speed..

Thank you to all those who commented last week.
Most of us are not fans of love triangles although they are okay if there is no infidelity, no cheating and it moves along quickly so no unnecessary pain. lag123 mentioned Stephanie Plum but I know some people have gotten tired of that trio after so many books.

It was fun to read the different 'picky habits.' Several agree with liking the toilet paper in the front but there are those who like it the other way - does that make you the "odd ones"?? Only kidding. A number of us like to do certain chores our own way. Several of you  have pet peeve's relating to your book collections. How fitting. :-)  It sounds like there might be some more "peeves" to share so I'll bring that question back in the future.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #33 comments is: #12 Jane. There are still 8 'love' books to pick from, 3 Christmas choices and 1 Summer title below. Jane please choose a book from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway or remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, the one summer book below OR pick from the ARC box and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #34 Questions

Q1. This week Emily asks:  Would you rather be a Princess in a castle in medieval times, or a millionaire in the 1800s, OR a cavewoman??

A:  Hmmm--- I'll pass on the cavewoman but it's harder to decide between a Medieval Princess or an 1800's millionaire??  I'm choosing to be an millionairess in the 1800s - a few more amenities.

Q2. Here is my question: When did you start keeping a list of books you have read??

A:  I started keeping a book list in 2001 when my children were old enough that I started reading more.  I bought a software called Readerware and used that from 2005 through 2009. Now the lists are on my blog. I also started in 2004 keeping favorite author lists to track the books I read, had to read or had to buy - no sense getting duplicates although it still happens now and then.

 List found at Century Farmhouse

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask.  Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form.  At the end of each month I will draw from the suggestions I used the month before and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions but some of you others might want to get in a question or two as we have a few people submitting most of the questions so far.  Either way - it works for me. :-)  The question list is getting low so feel free to send in a Q or 2 or 4! Remember they don't all have to be book related. I'm going to be asking some other questions soon! 

Your turn to share:

1. This week Emily asks: Would you rather be a Princess in a castle in medieval times, or a millionaire in the 1800s, OR a cavewoman??

2. When did you start keeping a list of books you have read??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 12 books available plus 2 left in the Summer titles to choose from. Also I have added the Review and ARC Box now.

The Days of Summer: A Novel

My copy is a paperback from 2006

with a different cover.

 
A Summer Affair (Calhoun Chronicles)
I love Susan Wigg's historicals!

SBB Rules: a) Must be a follower; 
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/three questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.

I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, February 3, 2012 at 10PM central.