THE WICKED WALLFLOWER
Maya Rodale
Avon Publishing
ISBN# 978-0-06-223114-7
November 2013
Historical Romance

A fun read about two people who make the most of a situation neither had anticipated. When Lady Emma Avery, London's most boring and least likely to do anything, suddenly finds herself engaged to the Duke of Ashbrooke by accident, she figures her future as anything but a laughing stock is finished. Yet, she is surprised to discover that the Duke actually accepts this and gets her to agree to play along. For Lady Emma, though, she wants to be engaged to the man she loves, Benedict, who for the past several years has failed to come up to scratch. He needs an heiress and Lady Emma is definitely not one of those. The Duke, Blake, has a proposition for her: pretend to be engaged so that he can attend his aunt's famous Fortune Games - a yearly event that has the winner declared her sole heir - if she happens to pass away that year. This year might be the last and the winner will take all. If Emma agrees and they win, Blake will split the money - she can have her winnings and perhaps Benedict can marry her after all! She agrees. Blake, even though he starts out using Emma as a means to an end, finds himself slowly drawn to her. He can't possible fall in love with her, but what if he does? How can he compete for her heart when it's already engaged elsewhere?

Enjoyable banter, especially with Blake's feisty old aunt, keep this romance lively and quick. Blake did some self-studying and changed during this book, which was great to read. Emma, however, was the only weak link, as she continually fought against her feelings for Blake, even to the point of ....well, don't want to give away any spoilers, but suffice to say she rather got on my nerves. All in all, a lovely book, minus the heroine (at times).

Rating: 4
Reviewed by: Jennifer Jones

WAIT FOR YOU
Wait For You series, Book #1
J. Lynn
William Morrow
ISBN # 0062294776
September 2013
Contemporary Romance

Avery Morgansten hates being late for class, while racing up the staircase she barrels through the double doors only to run into a brick wall.  Well the wall, wasn't a wall after all but a hunky guy with a deep voice and a great smile who he introduces himself as Cam.  Later arriving at her apartment, Avery realizes her neighbors across the hall are having a party.  She is even more surprised to find out that Cam is her neighbor.  Later while checking through her email, Avery finds a suspicious email with her name on it containing three threatening lines.  Avery is concerned about how " they" found her, the only people who knew her cell phone number and email are her parents and cousin.

 When Avery was fourteen she attended a party where she was abused by an older boy.  Trying to cope, she knew suicide was never the answer, it was a lesson Avery learned all on her own.  Avery is trying to move on with her life having moved away from her hometown, into her own apartment and making new friends.  Avery is ok with Cam being just a friend, after all he is charming harmless flirt, someone who likes to hand out cookies to pretty girls.  Avery is very attracted to Cam and he makes sure he seeks her out but she is afraid once he knows her dark secret he won't have anything to do with her.  Will she be able to open her heart, and put her trust in him?

WAIT FOR YOU is a contemporary romance.  There are so many  things that I loved about this book, first off the romance wasn't hurried, it was a gradual build up between Avery and Cam.  Second Cam was patient, sweet, and so very loving. The author has created a very tender love story.  The heroine must over come a rape and learn to trust not only herself, but those around her.  Most of all, she has to learn to live and love again.  This is a story you won't want to miss!

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Reviewed by  Gloria Gehres

Rated  4

The Submissive Trilogy, Book #3
Tara Sue Me
New American Library
ISBN # 0451466241
October 2013
Ultimate Romance

Before I start on my review of THE TRAINING, I would like to summarize the books THE SUBMISSIVE and THE DOMINANT. THE SUBMISSIVE is a look into the world of BDSM. We meet Abby King, a young woman who has fantasys of being a submissive and has led her put in her application to millionaire, CEO, Nathaniel West. The story is a look from Abby's point of view. In THE DOMINANT, readers will get the same story, only now you get Nathaniel's thoughts and feelings, his struggles of not wanting to lose control, and what drives him.


THE TRAINING - Abby is excited to go to Nathaniel's house,  he has even given her keys to his home.  They are finally working out their issues but she doesn't feel complete until Nathaniel returns her collar to her.  They have agreed to a more traditional relationship Sunday thru Thursday, but Friday and Saturday are reserved for their dominant/submissive sides that they both need.  Abby knows the best gift she could give to Nathaniel is absolute trust and obedience but doubts continuously creep into her mind. She considers that Nathaniel has a housekeeper who does the cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping.  He can even cook for himself, so why is she really here? Is the relationship only about sex? 

Nathaniel has anticipated they would have odd moments they would still need to work out.  He feels confident that as long as they can keep talking their relationship will stay strong.  He wants to make sure he takes things slow but he still wants to give Abby everything she needs as her dominant and while Nathaniel struggles to re-establish their connection, he is at a loss exactly how to do it. 

THE TRAINING is a Erotic Romance and the third installment of the submissive trilogy. Readers will see how much Abby and Nathaniel have grown. Trust, understanding, and love all play a part in making sure lines are not crossed and things don't get out of hand.  When I started this book I thought it was going to be the training of Abby.  But I quickly realized, THE TRAINING was for Nathaniel's benefit as well.  As Abby finally lets go of doubt, Nathaniel knows he has finally found someone he can share his life and goals with.  THE TRAINING gives us an interesting look into BDSM world but this story is not for the faint of heart.

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Reviewed by  Gloria Gehres
Rated  3

READY TO DIE: Lisa Jackson

READY TO DIE

A Selena Alvarez/Regan Pescoli Novel, Book 5

Lisa Jackson

Zebra Fiction (Paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-4201-1851-3

August 2013

Fiction

The latest novel by Lisa Jackson pits Alvarez and Pescoli against a cold-blooded killer and among his victims is Sheriff Dan Grayson.  It is the holidays and just when everything begins to settle down after the last case, the next gruesome murders are taking place springing Alvarez and Pescoli into action, this time much too close to home.  Sheriff Grayson preparing to meet with Regan Pescoli, at his cabin, is downed by a single shot.  Seeing Dan fall, Regan calls in for help and begins a visual canvass of the area surrounding the scene and hunt is on for the perpetrator.  In the midst of identifying several suspects, another gruesome murder is discovered which shifts the case in an entirely different direction. 

READY TO DIE is another hit for Lisa Jackson with several twists that will compel you to keep reading way past bedtime.  With the stressors of trying to find the shooter(s) Serena and Regan are individually dealing with personal issues coupled with Christmas makes solving this case even more stressful.  Dan’s brothers and sister-in-law are all at their wits end and the past inevitably becomes the present and old wounds resurface.  Power plays are being made to take the sheriff’s position should he not survive and the undersheriff is front and center.  I could not put this book down, a must read for fans of romantic suspense, mysteries and of Lisa Jackson!  Cannot wait until the next one…

Reviewed by Monica Solomon

Rating: 4

Amanda Scott's Latest Medieval Scotland Romance!

THE KNIGHT'S TEMPTRESS

Lairds of the Loch #2

Amanda Scott

Grand Central Publishing

ISBN 978-1-455-51434-2

August 2013

Historical Romance

When Lady Lachina MacFarlan and her companion Lady Elizabeth Galbraith are kidnapped by the rebels who have seized Dumbarton fortress, Sir Ian Colquhoun rescues them and escorts them home. Sir Ian has been commanded by the King to recapture Dumbarton as soon as possilbe. When Lady Lachina's vile captor tries to blackmail her father for her hand in marriage and is refused, he threatens to ruin her reputation with lies that he and his men violated her while she was in his captivity. Sir Ian comes to the rescue again and nobly offers to marry the lovely Lina immediately to save her from such villainous perfidy. Marriage was not on Sir Ian's list of things to accomplish, but with Lina as his lady wife, he finds love with his stubborn, 

beautiful lady wife...but when Sir Ian meets up with his nemesis, will he survive to love again and to serve his King?

THE KNIGHT'S TEMPTRESS is an exciting amd well-written entry in the Lairds of the Loch series set in the early fifteenth century. If you love medieval Scotland, the land of lochs and mists and clans and kilts and its seesaw of domestic and foreign politics, then you will love this book. Ms. Scott brings it all vividly to life in this marriage of convenience story with two well-matched and passionate protagonists as hero and heroine. With excellent primary and secondary characters, adventure and suspense, sensuality, and a bit of the paranormal, THE KNIGHT'S TEMPTRESS is sure to please historical romance fans. It stands alone, but readers will will not want to miss the first book in the series, THE LAIRD'S CHOICE.

Reviewed by Debora Hosey

4