Giveaway and 3 mini-reviews

I had a super busy week this week between teaching and self-publishing. For those of you follow me regularly - I am going to be saying that a lot, "Self-publishing" because I am still so stinkin' happy about it! (Go to the next post to enter in a contest to win an ebook copy of it) My point in all this busy-ness - I read three book and am doing a mini - review for each. 




Wildfire by Norah Hess

After the Yankees kill her sweetheart and imprison her brother, beautiful Serena boldly faces the future as the wagon trains roll west. Her bitterness leads her to resent the handsome Yankee wagon master. But soon, her heart betrays her will as they unleash their wildest passions.

I had read this one before - found it as I was rummaging for a book - and decided to read it again. Some quick things I liked about: Serena is headstrong and proud, I like anything to do with the Oregon Trail (firmly believes it stems from the really old version of the game - you know the green and black screen. Anyone remember that?) and because of the trail - the situations Serena finds herself in - like raids, getting lost, terrible storm, having to cook when she had no idea - and as always - romance - I love Josh Quade.

I kissed an Earl by Julie Anne Long

Violet Redmond's family and fortune might be formidable and her beauty and wit matchless—but her infamous flare for mischief keeps all but the most lionhearted suitors at bay. Only Violet knows what will assuage her restlessness: a man who doesn't bore her to tears, and a clue to the fate of her missing brother. She never dreamed she'd find both with a man whose own pedigree is far from impeccable.

"Savage" is what the women of the ton whisper about the newly styled Earl of Ardmay—albeit with shivers of pleasure. Born an English bastard, raised on the high seas, he's on a mission to capture a notorious pirate for vengeance. But while Violet's belief in her brother's innocence maddens him, her courage awes him . . . and her sensuality finally undoes him. Now the man who once lost everything and the girl who has everything to lose are bound by a passion that could either end in betrayal . . . or become everything they ever dreamed.

In every romance novel, the main couple always ends up together. I like the continuity of it. However, in this novel, there was a point when the Earl and Violet were in a sense breaking up at the end, for what reasons, I will not tell you - but I felt so bad for the couple - like my heart hurt - that's how could the tone and mood were at that point. Plus there's an awesome kiss scene on the deck of a boat. And hello - hot cover.


The Perils of Pleasure by Julie Anne Long
A rescued rogue . . .

Scandal has rocked the city of London. Colin Eversea, a handsome, reckless unapologetic rogue is sentenced to hang for murder and, inconveniently for him, the only witness to the crime disappears. Then again, throughout history, the Everseas have always managed to cheat fate in style: Colin is snatched from the gallows by a beautiful, clever mercenary.

A captivating captor. . .

Cool-headed, daring Madeleine Greenway is immune to Colin's vaunted charm. Her mission is not to rescue Colin but to kidnap him, and to be paid handsomely for it. But when it becomes clear that whoever wants Colin alive wants Madeleine dead, the two become uneasy allies in a deadly race for truth. Together, they'll face great danger—and a passion neither can resist.



I liked this one because of the romance aspect. I did not like the plot line of this book. It did not keep my attention and I had to stop myself from leafing through it to get to the Colin and Madeline scenes. This one is the first in the series and I kissed an Earl is the fourth (?) and I liked the fourth so I am going to continue to read more of it.