Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

Poughkeepsie

Poughkeepsie #1

Debra Anastasia

Contemporary Romance

Published in 2011

H/h - Blake Hartt/Livia McHugh

Setting: Poughkeepsie, NY, Present time.

Read in Jan, 2012.

My rating:

                                                                   [spoiler alert]

I knew Poughkeepsie would be a tough book for me to review when I was about halfway into it. Mostly because I felt that I need to talk about a lot of things but it’s simply not possible. I enjoyed the book a lot; loved many parts of it but was equally grossed out by a few things. I loved the multiple-voiced narratives, with most of its characters (main or secondary) having their own stories to tell. I’ve honestly never read a book like this in a long while. It was long, yes, but thankfully not boring. Debra Anastasia’s writing took a little time to grow on me but when it did, I couldn’t put it down or didn’t want to when I had other things happening in my life.

The Devil You Know by Saskia Walker

The Devil You Know (novella)

A free installment

Saskia Walker

Contemporary Romance/Erotica (with very light bondage)

Published in 2011

H/h - Mike Racine/Leonie Carlton

Setting: Australia, present time.

Read in Jan, 2012.

My rating:

                                             

                                                        [spoiler alert]

This free novella by Saskia Walker was ok by my standard. The Devil You Know is about 20 pages of quickie, as Leonie and Mark’s relationship can be best described before she ran from him.

The Beast by Alianne Donnelly

The Beast (novella)

The Beast #1

A free installment

Alianne Donnelly

Historical Romance/Fantasy/Fairytale

Published in 2011

H/h - Lord Bastien (The Beast)/Lysette

Setting: Unsure, maybe Regency?

Read in Jan, 2012.

My rating:

                                                        [spoiler alert]

Another free novella, another winner. I totally loved it! The Beast was my 1st Alianne Donnelly book and I can only say WOW! In a free short story like this (of about 52 pages with 18 short chapters), the author gave me much more than I could’ve hoped for. It had a plot, a great storytelling. It was full of intense scenes filled with emotion. I really enjoyed the whole gothic atmosphere of it. The sexual tension between Bastien and Lysette was so great and I was frustrated in the end that there wasn’t any love scene. In this book, I’m complaining about it. This should’ve been a full-length novel with loads of love scenes! Just sayin’... lol

My Ruthless Prince by Gaelen Foley

My Ruthless Prince

Inferno Club #4

Gaelen Foley

Historical Romance

Published in 2011 (ARC review)

H/h - Drake Parry, the Earl of Westwood/Emily Harper

Setting: Bavaria/London, 1816.

Read in Jan, 2012.

My rating:

                                                          [spoiler alert]

In my review of My Wicked Marquess, I said that I wanted to know more about Drake. The story of his torture in the hands of the Promethean Council instantly found a place with me. I know how great GF is when she’s writing a tortured hero, I highly recommend Lord of Ice to anyone who wants read a book with a tortured hero. Because of that, I might’ve expected something great from Drake’s book. Sadly, the book gave me a mixed read; some I liked, some just meh. As a series, Inferno Club has been a downer for me. As I read book after book, I wanted the old Gaelen Foley back because I adored her writing style and everything that went with it. Not this series. Anyway, I’ll try to give a brief of the story and my opinions to why I wasn’t really impressed.

The Beast in the Mirror by Lauralynn Elliott

The Beast in the Mirror (novella)

A free installment

Lauralynn Elliott

Contemporary Romance/Fairytale

Published in 2011

H/h - Christopher/Rose

Setting: Present time.

Read in Jan, 2012.

My rating:

                                                    [spoiler alert]

Another twist of the classic “Beauty and the Beast” tale and in another contemporary is how it’s told. After reading Skye Warren’s novella Beauty Touched the Beast, I thought to give this a try. This book is also a free novella but very short, about 9 pages or so and no love scenes. I know. Bummer, that was!

Pride & Passion by Charlotte Featherstone

Pride & Passion

the Brethren Guardians #2

Charlotte Featherstone

Historical Romance

Published in 2011

H/h - Adrian York, The Duke of Sussex/Lady Lucy Ashton

Setting: London, 1875.

Read in Jan, 2012.

My rating:

                                                    [spoiler alert]

This book in CF’s Brethren Guardians series was much better than book #1, where the h Isabella drove me bonkers. Lucy was succeeding in doing that too... almost that is. Many a times, I was tempted to slap her or shake her to see reasons. How could she think that a handsome Duke, who wants her so much, isn’t good enough for her? Sometimes she would go a bit overboard with her rebellions and since Adrian was so sweet, passionate and a veritable gentleman, I felt pissed that she would not consider giving him a little benefit of doubt. Fortunately, she didn’t drag those for long like Isabella. Anyway, I’ll try to put my thoughts about their relationship and also what’s going on in the BG business with the other two guardians along with the notorious Orpheus himself.

Sever Years to Sin by Sylvia Day

Seven Years to Sin

Sylvia Day

Historical Romance/Erotica

Published in 2011

H/h - Alistair Caulfield/Lady Jessica Sinclair

Setting: London, Regency era.

Read in Jan, 2012.

My rating:

                                                            [spoiler alert]

TBH, for the half of the book I was skeptical because I wasn’t sure of Alistair at first and Jessica wasn’t impressive in any sense. But the 2nd half covered that and more for me; it made me cry, sigh, laugh and mutter lucky b*tch to Jessica more than once. I was more moved by Jessica’s sister, Hester’s life story and the secret tendre between her and Michael, Jessica’s brother-in-law. SD did a fabulous job of addressing the issue of an abusive household/relationship. So, it was crazy and yet I found the plot very refreshing. I only wished for a few things to go differently. Even then, I loved it and I loved loved loved Alistair. WOW, I want him and I make no secret of that.