December 24, 2018

Caitlin’s Favorites of 2018

by Caitlin

I read some really wonderful romances (and some romances that I did not love quite so much) in 2018. Some of them were novels that came out this year, while sometimes I caught up on an author’s backlog (Jennifer Ashley and Elizabeth Hoyt come to mind for that).

There were also a few books that got some much-deserved heat this year – like Cat Sebastian’s Unmasked by the Marquess and Talia Hibbert’s A Girl Like Her – but both of those authors made my list for different books they published this year.

For my money, the most underrated romance this year was Meredith Duran’s The Sins of Lord Lockwood. Duran’s books are all incredible, but I’m especially floored this came and went without the pomp and circumstance it deserved. A sort of retelling of Count of Monte Cristo with a heroine who needs an heir (as opposed to the hero who needs it) and a historical romance where the heroine inherits her own lands and is genuinely powerful in her own right, Lockwood was an angsty masterpiece. Lord Liam Lockwood is brooding and a little broken and very sexy when the book starts and a sweet little puppy dog during the flashbacks. He is the best of both worlds. Lady Anna Lockwood is a role model with close female friendships and the weight of the world on her shoulders. I would recommend this book to literally anyone.

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December 18, 2018

Review: Not the Duke’s Darling by Elizabeth Hoyt

Reviewed by Jen

I am such a fan of Elizabeth Hoyt. Her Maiden Lane books are among my favorite historical romances. This new series has a bit of a different feel, though I did enjoy it. The story mixes tropes with the older brother’s best friend and enemies to lovers, set against an extortion scheme, a mystery, and a secret society. There’s a lot going on here.

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December 13, 2017

Review: Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Elizabeth Hoyt

Reviewed by Jen

Elizabeth Hoyt gives us one more Maiden Lane story to love in this short holiday read. The heroine is Sarah St. John (younger sister to Godric for those of your familiar with the series.) At 27, she is a bit old to be an unmarried miss, but a house party courtesy of her mother might find her the perfect husband. Then Adam, Viscount d’Arque, shows up at the front door. His carriage has had an accident with his grandmother inside and they need a place to stay. Of course, the St. John family can’t say no even if Godric would love nothing better than to send the man packing… after all, he flirted shamelessly with Godric’s wife back in the day and the memory is still irksome. [Read more…]

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November 15, 2017

Review: Once Upon a Maiden Lane by Elizabeth Hoyt

Reviewed by Jen

I really enjoyed the last Maiden Lane novel, but noticeably absent was any sense of closure for the many characters and storylines the series covered over 12 installments. This novella does that a little. We get to catch up a little with the Makepeace families, the Caires, and the other couples who are now getting their Happy Ever Afters, but they’re all crammed in around the romance of Mary Whitsun.

You’ll remember Mary as one of the orphans Temperance took a shine to at the Foundling Home she ran with her brother Winter Makepeace. This goes all the way back to the first book, Wicked Intentions, so it’s a big fat shout out to the series’ beginnings. Mary now serves as the nanny to Temperance (now Lady Caire’s) two children. She is a servant, but also in a way, part of the family. [Read more…]

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October 18, 2017

Review: Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt

Reviewed by Jen

The Maiden Lane series has long been one of my favorites in historical romance and this 12th installment had me glued to the pages from beginning to end. I need to tell you before we get too far, though, that this book is dark—darker than anything I have read from Elizabeth Hoyt in the past. That was more than ok with me, and frankly was what I signed up for with a scarred, tortured hero whose father once ran a debauched sex club featuring rape, child abuse, and torture. But still, I’ve seen some reviews that were taken aback by this, so go in with your eyes open. [Read more…]

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December 24, 2016

Jen’s Favorites of 2016

I haven’t read quite as many books this year as I did in years past. Part of the reason is the huge life changes that came with a new job and a major move for my family. The other came with my sudden burning desire to write a book of my own.

So my reading list was shorter, but I still found some great titles in 2016! [Read more…]

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November 29, 2016

Review: Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt

duke-of-pleasureReviewed by Jen

I am such a huge fan of Elizabeth Hoyt and her Maiden Lane books. I feel like I say that every time I read one, but they’re just so good! This installment is one of my favorites, and that is thanks to a heroine unlike any of the others.

We’ve met Alf in the previous books, a street urchin who pretends to be a boy for her own protection. She procured information. She was cocky and sure. She knew how to keep herself alive. And now… she is the Ghost of St. Giles. [Read more…]

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July 19, 2016

Review: Once Upon a Moonlit Night by Elizabeth Hoyt

once upon a moonlit nightReviewed by Jen

This is a great little companion novella to Duke of Sin. It picks up the thread of what happens to Hippolyta after she escapes the clutches of the Duke of Montgomery. We saw her running away in the last book… and that is exactly what she is doing as this story begins. She’s bedraggled and covered in mud when she runs in front of Matthew’s carriage and begs for help.

Hippolyta has no idea Matthew is a newly appointed earl and he doesn’t believe her claims that she is a lady. It gives them both the freedom to act outside the bounds of propriety. It’s nothing too racy, but there’s some cute banter and sexual tension that build a bond between them in the short time they are together. Of course, the carriage ride doesn’t last forever, and the second act follows them as they return to their real lives and deal with the repercussions of their time on the run. [Read more…]

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May 30, 2016

Review: Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt

duke of sinReviewed by Jen

I always get excited when a new Elizabeth Hoyt book comes out. I adore her and her Maiden Lane series. I have to say I was very curious about how she was going to make a hero out of Val. He was quite thoroughly unlikable in all of the previous books. He has lied. He has kidnapped. He seems to have no conscience at all. He was the villain for crying out loud. But I should have never doubted. And she always does, Hoyt pulled me in and I couldn’t put this book down from the moment I started it.

What’s cool about this is that Hoyt does not try to rewrite Val’s character. He is still extremely flawed. The thing is, we just finally begin to learn how he got this way. I really didn’t think I would care about his backstory. I didn’t believe there would be any excuse for what an awful guy he is. But I was wrong. [Read more…]

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December 16, 2015

Jen’s Favorite Books of 2015

It’s hard to believe we’re leaving another great year of reading behind us. In 2015, I found it more difficult to find books that suit my taste. I don’t care to read about billionaire bachelors, rock stars, step-brothers, biker gangs, or BDSM. Take a minute and think about how many titles fell into those categories last year.  I did a lot of backlist reading to fill in the gaps.

There were some really good new releases that I did enjoy; they were just more scarce. Here’s a look at some of the 2015 releases that really satisfied. [Read more…]

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