My Daring Duchess (Once Upon a Rogue #4) by Julie Johnstone

  My Daring Duchess by Julie Johnstone

Blurb:

When a lady bent on ruining rogues and a duke set on revenge attempt to derail each other's plans, passion erupts into a love for the ages.

After being left brokenhearted by a duplicitous rake, Anne Adair no longer desires a husband—she wants justice. She's traded in her foolish dream of happily-ever-after for the much more sensible one of thwarting the blackhearted lords who prey on innocent debutantes. But her first mission proves rather complicated when the dashing, devilish Duke of Kilmartin comes to the aid of her target.

Simon Sedgewick, the newly titled Duke of Kilmartin, never thought he would return to England, let alone attend a ball full of simpering lords. But when his oldest friend's reputation is being smeared, and Simon discovers that the perpetrator is none other than his enemy's granddaughter, his long-festering desire for vengeance flares to life.

The moment Simon spies Miss Anne Adair across the glittering ballroom, he knows that the ravishing beauty is the perfect instrument for the retribution he thought lost to him. He does not know, however, that Anne has devised a scheme of her own. And soon, these two wary hearts will discover that the best laid plans are no match for love.
 

When the best intentions .....and so on. No matter what you do, always make sure that you have your facts right. And no matter what else - don't fall for the rake. Or maybe just a little bit. More.

A very sympathetic, not perfect but perfectly flawed heroine and a rakish duke whose revenge might just be thwarted by the charme and innocence of a certain young lady, are at the core of this story.
Having had her own heartbreak to deal with in the past, Anne Adair wants to help other debutantes to avoid the traps of the scrupellous rakes who prey on those innocents only to destroy their reputation. Simon Sedgewick, Duke of Kilmartin tries to protect his friend who is falsely accused of having ruined a young lady, an accusation and a situation he is far too familiar with due to his own past experiences.
While those two try to find out what is right and what is wrong, they also have to figure out what they really feel for each other - and whether they will let the past and the lies told in the past destroy waht they have.

Once again another charming story by Julie Johnstone that I really really enjoyed and have already read more than once since it found its way on my reader.

★★★★

Under Fire (Love Over Duty #1) by Scarlett Cole

  Under Fire by Scarlett Cole

 Blurb:

HE CAN TAKE THE HEAT.

Hot, hard-bodied Sixten Rapp is a former SEAL who’s raring to begin his brand-new civilian life. He and his Navy “brothers” start a security firm that offers the kind of services only a team of military-trained professionals can provide. But nothing prepared Six for his new client: an innocent woman on a mission to improve thousands of lives. . . unless someone takes hers first.

CAN SHE HANDLE THE FLAMES?

Dr. Louisa North knows time is against her as she tries to create a “miracle” medical treatment for a disease with no known cure, until she creates a sample so powerful that the wrong people want to use it as a chemical weapon. At first, Six is unwilling to accept Louisa as his client. But soon he realizes that the danger is real and that there’s much more to this plain-Jane scientist…including a burning passion between them that neither of them can resist. And now that an enemy is on Louisa’s trail, Six will do whatever it takes to protect her—or die trying.


What an amazing book! I really loved reading it. It was a brilliant story, captivating, thrilling and a real page-turner that kept me glued to my reader till the very last page.

I loved the chemistry between our rather shy heroine,  Dr. Loúisa North and our hero, the former seal Sixten Rapp. Those two together are one of the cases of opposites attracting each other and as a couple they are perfect. This fast-paced story kept me on my toes - and our heroes right along with me.

Interesting, strong and unique characters who know their worth, a great storyline, action and an HEA - I loved this book and I am looking forward to the next books in this series. Oh, and should I mention that this was one of the few books that I simply had to get as a print book as well?

★★★★★

 

 

Wie Regen in der Wüste von Kira Gembri und Lena König

  

Für kurze Zeit zum Einführungspreis von nur € 1,99!

Wie Regen in der Wüste von Kira Gembri und Lena König  

 
Inhalt:

Es hätte der bisher glücklichste Tag in Lirias Leben werden sollen – stattdessen erweist er sich als der schlimmste: Aus heiterem Himmel wird ihre Heimatstadt von berittenen Kriegern angegriffen, und Liria wird von einem der Männer verschleppt. Fortan muss sie beim Volk der Thokori leben, in ständiger Angst davor, wann ihr Entführer Thrakon erstmals Hand an sie legt. Doch mit der Zeit gewöhnt sich Liria immer mehr an die Bräuche des Wüstenclans, und auch Thrakon scheint ganz anders zu sein als gedacht. Bald kann Liria ihren eigenen Gefühlen nicht mehr trauen – denn hat es wirklich noch mit Furcht zu tun, wenn ihr Herz in Thrakons Nähe schneller schlägt?
Ein sinnlicher und bittersüßer Liebesroman mit fantastisch-historischem Setting.
Die Taschenbuch-Ausgabe umfasst 290 Seiten. "Wie Regen in der Wüste" ist der Auftakt einer Trilogie, die bereits im Frühjahr 2018 fortgesetzt wird! 


Wer dieses Buch lesen will, weil Kira Gembri als Co-Autorin mitgewirkt hat, der muss sich dessen bewusst sein, dass dies ein ganz anderes Genre ist.

Als ich den Klappentext las, dachte ich erst, dass es ja ganz schön kitschig klingt, konnte mir allerdings nicht vorstellen, dass bei einem Buch dieser Autorinnen, am Ende ein "Groschenroman" stehen würde. Tut es auch nicht. Es ist eine dieser wunderbaren, leichten und lockeren Geschichten, bei denen man ein wenig mitschmachten und mitfiebern kann, wo viel Gefühl und viel Romantik im Spiel ist und die es dennoch schafft, nicht zu oberflächlich zu werden. Man könnte sagen - genau richtig. Allerdings, wer dieses Buch jetzt schon lesen will, muss sich wappnen: Der nächste Band ist zwar schon in Sicht, aber dies hat einen Cliffhanger. Einen richtigen, garstigen Cliffhanger. Okay, für einen Cliffhanger ging es, in sich ist es rund, aber es verlässt Liria halt an einem Punkt, an dem ich unbedingt wissen musste, wie es weitergeht. Jetzt. Sofort. Aber...Cliffhanger.

Der Weg dahin ist wunderschön und hat mich schnell in seinen Bann gezogen, aber wen Cliffhanger zu sehr frustrieren, der sollte warten, bis der nächste Band raus ist, bis er das Buch liest. Allerdings, lesen sollte man es auf jeden Fall! Die Geschichte von Liria und Thrakon ist einfühlsam und schön erzählt, dabei auch sehr fesselnd und ganz nebenbei stupst es auch zum Nachdenken über Fremde und das Fremdsein an.
Am Ende des Tages, wer ist der Fremde? Und wer ist der Wilde?
Ich kann dieses Buch auf jeden Fall wieder empfehlen!

★★★★★

 

 

Just like Breathing - Cover Reveal #JustLikeBreathing

From Author Diana Gardin comes a new STANDALONE, Contemporary Romance.

Her broken pieces are the only thing holding him together...

Arden
One moment, one twist of fate’s cruel hand--and I lost everything. My soul broke into a million pieces I didn’t know how to put back together... until him.
He dragged me through hell and brought me back. But when he saw the person behind the destruction, he hesitated.

Flash
It didn’t take more than a few seconds for the life I knew to crash and burn. With no anchor, I reached out. I didn’t expect to grab onto someone more broken than me... But when she exhaled the first breath of air into my lungs, I knew damn well I wasn’t good enough for her.
The only question was how long could I hold on?

Amazon US

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Pre-Order for only 99c

Just Like Breathing by Diana Gardin 

Release Date: March 12

Cover Designer: RBA Designs

Diana Gardin is the author of eleven sexy, emotional romance novels. She refers her heroes bossy and tattooed, and her heroines smart and sassy. Diana is obsessed with super heroes, the beach, and all things purple. When she's not writing you can find her spending time with her husband and two young children.

You want to know more about Diana Gardin?

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#CoverReveal #ComingSoon #Preorder 

#JustLikeBreathing #Romance 

#Bemybookboyfriend #DianaGardin 

Reliving Fate by Natasha Preston

 Reliving Fate by Natasha Preston

Blurb: 

Murder.
Guilt.
Obsession.

When Bella stumbles upon her dead sister’s diary, she sets out on a mission to find her sister’s killer, but it leads her to the wrong side of town.

And right into the path of Rocco, a loner, a bad boy, who is determined to keep her away. After all, you protect your own, and Bella certainly doesn’t belong with the likes of him.

But it’s hard to move on when you’re chained to the past, and Bella is intent on getting justice for her sister…even if it’s at the cost of her own life.


My first reaction when I thought about this book was to give it zero stars because the ending absolutely gutted me. Then I realized that the fact that I felt so passionately about it probably meant that it has earned many more stars than that. That's how I ended up at four. I'm still not sure whether I'll ever forgive the author.

The story was well spun, I really loved the characters even though I was so upset with Isabella's parents. The way they grieved wasn't healthy at all in my eyes. I know that people deal differently with loss but in this case everyone was supposed to take part in it even though it was really extreme and considering the fact that the murder happened many years ago, they were living far too much in the past. Well, there were so many more situations where I could have screamed and was so furious when it came to her parents, nope, I'm no fan of theirs. Not at all.
Rocco was an amazing character and I wanted it all for him, the girl, the white fence and everything. He is a real bad boy but he is also soft, passionate and ....well, amazing.
The search for her sister's killer is what keeps Bella going. Justice for her sister, no matter what. Even if that means risking her own life....

What bugged me the whole book long though was an inconsistency. Right at the beginning Bella finds something that made me think that the police never really looked into her sister's murder because I would have expected them to find that and to look into it even it seemed to be a simple case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Oh, and in the end I wondered about something as well, though - no spoilers.
Depsite those points, I can definitely recommend this book - just keep your mind open to the possibility of heartbreak and tissue-wringing.

★★★★

Buried Alive by Stacey Marie Brown

  Buried Alive by Stacey Marie Brown

Blurb:

Nine years after a tragic accident, Hannah “Brennley” Evans has returned home to the snowy mountains of Whistler, Canada. This is the very place that destroyed her, where her whole world ended, and the reason she now goes by Hannah Jennings.
Struggling with his own tragic past, Rhys Axton, an infamous sexy snowboarding champion, wants nothing more than to be the next Olympic hopeful. Sex, snowboarding, and working out are all he cares about, which helps shut off the demons that haunt him and the family who rejected him.
The moment Hannah walks into his room, he knows something is different about her. Drawn to her, he can’t seem to stay away from the mysterious, guarded girl. They are two heartbroken souls who both understand the darkness.
Little does he know she lives in lies and carries secrets that will bring his universe to its knees and secrets that will bury them both alive.
 

Intense doesn't cover it.
This book is intense - and so much more. First, I must admit that I had already several books by the author on my reader but never started to read them - a fact that I will definitely change as soon as possible. This book came out, I read good things about it and knowing that I'd get the chance to meet the author at a signing event next month, I just had to read it - even though I was a bit worried at the beginning because, well, honestly? The title summed up my worst nightmare and I wasn't sure how literally it was meant and how much and... Considering the fact that I will definitely read this book and others by her again, you might have guessed that it was not a problem.

Hannah Jennings, our heroine, has to deal with the reminders of a very traumatizing accident. Coming back to the place where it all took place was rather an act of desperation than of courage but when she realizes that she will have to face even more than her own fears and memories, things become really hard. And when against all odds and definitely against better knowledge she must realize that there is only one person who can finally make her feel again.

Rhys on the other hand, has his own way to deal with his issues. Having also lived through loss and neglect, he definitely has some serious issues but when he meets Hannah, he feels as if he could let loose...only to find that her past is a part of his own.
With their own issues running wild, the people around them trying to tear them apart and the media always trying to get the next story no matter who gets hurt in the process, those two have some hard times to push through but in the end, it might be worth all this heartbreak and those tears. It might....

Intense and beautiful, this is a story that you don't forget easily. This is a story about moving on and confronting your past, a story about starting to live again and to allowing yourself to be happy and it is also the wonderful love story of two people who help each other heal. It also touches some other important subjects that will make you think and ...well, I won't go into detail here because I think that that might lead to some spoilers.
Let me just say that this is an amazing book that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

 

★★★★★

 

 

 

 

 

The Bad Girl and the Baby (Cutting Loose #3) by Nina Croft

  The Bad Girl and the Baby by Nina Croft

Blurb:

Captain Matt Peterson prides himself on being able to handle anything...until he winds up as the guardian of his baby niece, Lulu. Two years and six nannies later, his well-ordered existence is in chaos. Still, he’s all Lulu has. Except, well...there is an aunt...

Darcy Butler has spent the last three years in prison for beating up her abusive brother-in-law. Her only regret is that she didn’t hurt him worse and stop him from killing her sister in a drunken car crash six months later. But now, Darcy just wants to rebuild her life. Starting with finding her sister’s child.

But Matt doesn't want an ex-con with a record for violence anywhere near Lulu. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to keep away from Darcy, himself. Despite their differences, their chemistry is combustible...and the sex is incredible! Still, it can’t possibly last. Can it?
 

I really loved this book!
Darcy was sweet and her willingness to fight for her niece and the way she tried to do the right thing was heart-warming. She is a heroine with some rough edges but she is also a very warm personality - if you are not her enemy. Obviously, she is kick-ass and can defend herself, on the other hand, she still suffers from the loss of her sister.
Matt, well, he made me mad so many times. What an a....rrogant idiot who is always stomping on Darcy's feelings and who doesn't see a good thing when it bites him in the nose.

Opposites attract and all that stuff, so the chemistry between them is something not even Matt can deny but the way he deals with it....ugh. If you could kick a fictional character's behind, he wouldn't be able to sit for ages, I was so furious.. up until the moment he finally realizes the imperfect might be just the right kind of perfect.
Well written and charming, this is a book that I'll definitely read again!

★★★★

Fury Frayed by Melissa Haag

Fury Frayed by Melissa Haag

Blurb: 

Megan’s temper lands her in Girderon Academy, an exclusive school founded in a town of misfit supernatural creatures. It’s the one place she should be able to fit in, but she can’t. Instead, she itches to punch the smug sheriff in his face, pull the hair from a pack of territorial blondes, and kiss the smile off the shy boy’s face. Unfortunately, she can’t do any of that, either, because humans are dying and all clues point to her.


With Megan’s temper flaring, time to find the real killer and clear her name is running out. As much as she wants to return to her own life, she needs to embrace who and what she is. It’s the only way to find and punish the creature responsible.


Wow, this book blew my mind! I really loved the Judgement of the Six series and its companion books, I really loved the Resurrection Chronicles that Melissa Haag wrote together with Becca Vincenza and devoured every page of it but I think, Fury Frayed has topped them all. From the very first page on I was hooked. The unique and captivating story, the amazing and wonderful characters and the great writing had me glued to my reader.

I loved the story that kept me on my toes, I was upset, I was  fascinated, I was laughing and giggling and I could have power hugged Eliana and Megan every now and then because they definitely needed it. Even more though I loved all those characters. You just have to love Eliana, sweet, tackle hugging Eliana and furious, absolutely lovable Megan, who just tries to find her way - and clear her name when everything seems to point at her when corpses turn up around her. Fenris, who desperately tries to avoid Aubrey who definitely doesn't want to be avoided and who isn't someone to suffer silently and, of course, there is Oanen. Wonderful and amazing Oanen who is always there when he is needed. Those guys are authentic and real and you just can't resist, you have to love them!

I can't wait for the next book to come out, this book is simply amazing and charming and sweet and I loved it.

★★★★★

                                                           Oh, and just for the record:

 

Her Sister's Bridegroom by Jane Bonander #HerSistersBridegroom #NetGalley

 Okay, this started nice but...

  Her Sister's Bridegroom by Jane Bonander

Blurb:

When Robbie Fleming is evicted from her Edinburgh rooming house, she fears she’ll have to live on the street. Penniless, orphaned, and on poor terms with her only relative―her fraternal twin sister, Birdie―Robbie has nobody to turn to.

But then she receives a letter from Gavin Eliot, the man she has pined for since she was a girl. Although Gavin (and every other male within miles) seemed head over heels in love with flirty and vivacious Birdie, his letter holds a surprise: He wants to marry Robbie. Thrilled by the proposal and her change of luck, Robbie accepts, landing on his doorstep with little more than the clothes on her back.

Bookish Gavin always has his head in the clouds. When Robbie shows up at his borderlands manor, he’s astonished―he realizes he’s unwittingly proposed to the wrong sister. But with Robbie in need of a home and Gavin in need of a wife, they come to an understanding. Will Robbie’s heart heal from the betrayal? And will Gavin learn to love the last woman he ever expected?


Unfortunately, this book couldn't really convince me. What initially might have been a nice story got blurred by a cacophony of mishaps, catastrophes, villainous deeds and tragedies.

No matter what happened, every time I thought about the things that could possibly go wrong - they happened and more. No matter how terrible someone behaved, no matter how unlovable someone proved himself to be - someone fell in love and married them.

Lots of drama, rather simple characters, and a story that couldn't really hold my attention in the end - unfortunately not a book that I would recommend.

★★

Destiny's End by Apryl Baker and Jonathan Yanez is out!

Destiny's End 

by 

Apryl Baker and Jonathan Yanez

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/fbe91d2e182/?

 Destiny's End 

Blurb:

War.

Rebellion.

Treachery.

Loyalty.

Valeria Dendali Riverthorne wanted no part of these things, but they were thrust onto her. She came to Atlantis looking for a place to call home, not to head up a rebellion. When she arrives, she and her crew are arrested on sight for aiding and abetting a known criminal, her grandfather Tobias Blood, but then Ileana, leader of the Thieves Guild, rescues them from certain death and welcomes her to the growing rebellion as the future queen.

Everyone is pushing her to be something she’s not, but she can’t abandon the people of Atlantis to the cruel ruler Kronos…or the crazed magician Hera, who has plans of her own regarding the throne. Valeria is thrown into a world that makes no sense to her and is forced to make hard choices—choices that will follow her the rest of her life.

With the help of Dragons, the lost city of Atlantis that has been cut off since the last true heir died, and some new weapons, it’s up to Valeria to save the home she’s always searched for.
But will it be too late?

Infraction (Players Game #2) by Rachel Van Dyken

When the tight end is the right end...😉 

Infraction by Rachel Van Dyken

 Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken proves that everyone scores to win. But off the field, a fumble can change the entire game.
Pro footballer Miller Quinton would do anything for his best friend and teammate—including “fake dating” his friend’s sister. What no one knows is that seven months ago in Vegas, Miller and Kinsey did a whole lot more than just kiss. Miller knows that this cheerleader is off-limits to him and any guy on the team. Still, he can’t stop himself.
Kinsey’s whole world is on the verge of crumbling. Her dad has cancer. Her overprotective brother is falling apart. Dating Miller may be a fake-out, but he’s the one guy who can make her forget about everything—including all the reasons she stayed away from football players. With each heated moment, Miller feels more like a safe place…even though he’s not safe at all.
Now temptation is testing every rule in the game of love. But how long can they go on playing when winning is a harder goal than either of them imagined?



Wow. Simply wow.
I'm not sure if I would have picked up this book if I had known that I would sob my way through two or three whole chapters but I would have so missed out on something really special. Because this book is special.

Amidst all the sad parts there is always laughter and hope, there's love that helps people to deal with the loss, that helps them to go on and there's the kind of family that is not determined by blood relations but by the way people care for each other and are there when the other one needs them This is also a story about letting go and setting free and it's about learning that even though you set somebody free it might just mean that everything changes  - and for the best.

Love, laughter, hope and new beginnings despite the loss and the sad parts, wonderful characters who have found the way to your heart before you even realized that that's where they are heading for and a story that is just right - this book is amazing!

I can't even tell who I loved most because all those characters are unique and wonderful. I loved Em and Sanchez but I also loved Miller and Kinsley and, of course, Jax and....oops, read for yourself! Oh, and don't forget Marco. He is sweet and fun and is such a ray of hope and sunshine that you just have to love him - once you've packed away your hankies.

Full of action and emotions, this book is an amazing story that you won't want to miss.

★★★★★

Live on January 22nd - Shiver by Suzanne Wright

Want so see another side

of

Suzanne Wright?

You might know her paranormal romances 
like her Phoenix series or her Mercury series but

Shiver

 is different and I think it will be definitely worth checking it out:

  

Blurb:

 

Kensey Lyons has never had ‘normal’. Instead, she has a mother who lives in her head, a stepfather who’s on death row, and the stigma that comes with being the child of an extramarital affair. Writing has always been her escape. Knowing the reception her books receive will be tainted by her personal life, Kensey secretly writes under a penname when she’s not working part-time at her godmother’s bar. Her world might not be exciting, but she likes it exactly as it is.

When she meets alarmingly compelling businessman Blake Mercier, the snap of attraction is instant. She doesn’t like it. Doesn’t want to be drawn to this man who is blatantly dangerous, carries dark secrets, and lives life by his own rules. Neither of them make a great first impression on the other, so she’s more than surprised when he begins to pursue her with a single-minded focus that is unsettling, thrilling, and infuriating. Her gut tells her to keep her distance, but Blake won’t let her run. Won’t give her space.

There’s another person who won’t give her space. Someone who has discovered the secret of her penname and who seems intent on taunting her. And as Kensey struggles to identify her persecutor, Blake is by her side, determined to keep her safe … because Blake Mercier always holds tight to what’s his. Always.

*Shiver*

Boy in a White Room von Karl Olsberg

Boy in a White Room von Karl Olsberg

Inhalt: 

Ein packender Thriller, in dem nichts ist, wie es zunächst scheint. Auf spannendste Weise spielt Spiegel-Bestsellerautor Karl Olsberg in diesem Jugendbuch mit den Gefahren virtueller Welten und künstlicher Intelligenz und wirft fundamentale philosophische Fragen nach Realität und Identität auf. Spannung bis zum Schluss, mit einem Twist, der den Atem raubt!
Eingesperrt, ohne Erinnerung, erwacht Manuel in einem weißen Raum. Er weiß weder, wer er ist, noch, wie er hierher kam. Sein einziger Kontakt ist eine computergenerierte Stimme namens Alice, durch die er Zugriff auf das Internet hat. Stück für Stück erschließt sich Manuel online, was mit ihm passiert ist: Bei einem Entführungsversuch wurde er lebensgefährlich verletzt. Doch wie konnte er diesen Anschlag überleben? Ist das tatsächlich die Wahrheit? Und wer ist Manuel wirklich?



Puuuuuuuh....mit dieser Rezension habe ich mich etwas schwer getan, weil ich das Buch selbst eigentlich sehr genial und interessant konstruiert fand, aber dann über das Ende stolperte, das ich persönlich als recht unbefriedigend empfand.

Aufwachen und nicht wissen, wo man ist, ist nie wirklich gut. Noch weniger gut ist es allerdings, wenn man ganz alleine in einem weißen Raum aufwacht und sich an nichts erinnert. Genau so ergeht es jedoch Manuel. Auch als schließlich Menschen da sind, mit denen er interagiert, kann er sich an nichts erinnern, zunehmend beschleicht ihn jedoch das Gefühl, dass nicht alles so ist, wie die Menschen um ihn herum ihn glauben lassen wollen.
Manuels Suche nach der Wahrheit und seinen Erinnerungen, wird dadurch erschwert, dass es ihm immer schwerer fällt, zwischen Wahrheit und Fiktion zu unterscheiden, genauer, wem er eigentlich glauben soll.

Genau wie Manuel selbst, schwankte ich immer wieder, war einen Moment überzeugt, genau zu wissen, was hier gespielt wird, um im nächsten Moment wieder alle Theorien über den Haufen zu werfen und die nächsten aufzustellen.

Insgesamt ist die Geschichte intelligent und faszinierend konstruiert, während die Charaktere zur Geschichte passend eher etwas blass und zweidimensional bleiben. Gut zu lesen und spannend geschrieben, lädt das Buch den Leser zum Mitraten und Mitfiebern ein. Auch der eine oder andere Denkanstoß zum Thema Fiktion/Virtuelle Realität und Realität, sowie den Einfluss, den die ganze Technik, die uns heute zur Verfügung steht, auf unser Leben hat, findet sich hier im Buch und regt zu interessanten Überlegungen und Diskussionen an.

Knapp vier Sterne, da ich mich mit dem Ende immer noch schwer tue, auch wenn das Buch ansonsten wirklich sehr gut ist.

★★★★

The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1) by Tessa Dare

  The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Blurb:

When girl meets Duke, their marriage breaks all the rules…

Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.

His terms are simple:
- They will be husband and wife by night only.
- No lights, no kissing.
- No questions about his battle scars.
- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.

But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:
- They will have dinner together every evening.
- With conversation.
- And unlimited teasing.
- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love…
 

Oh my ...I really really loved this book! I've read other books by Tessa Dare before and really enjoyed reading them as well but The Duchess Deal, well, that one went straight on my list of "most beloved books" because of its wit and its charm and its wonderful and absolutely amazing characters.

I giggled and chuckled and maybe even swooned and laughed out loud and I loved every single page of this book. Two wonderful people finding love and happiness under the most singular circumstances is always a nice story, at least when it is as beautifully written as this one but its wit makes it so much more. This is one of those books that you turn to when you feel a bit blue and need something sunny and warm. One of those books that draw you in, make you feel with the characters and that with each time you read it, get even more special and more precious and that never fail to make you feel right.

With all the teasing going on between the two, you feel them getting closer and falling a bit more for each other with each dumpling, cherub and whatever pet name Emma uses while their servants are plotting and scheming and trying to help, you can't help but fall in love with all of them. I finished this book yesterday but it has been lying next to my place and I found myself reading and rereading some passages and once again giggling and smiling all the time.

I was curious and had to read this book because everytime this book was mentioned somewhere, people started to tell how funny it is and how wonderful and amazing and...well, they were right. It is that good and it is that amazing and I am so looking forward to the next book in this series!

★★★★★

 

 

 

"Pheromon - Sie riechen dich" von Rainer Wekwerth und Thariot

 "Pheromon - Sie riechen dich" von Rainer Wekwerth und Thariot

Inhalt: 

 
Stell dir vor, du bist siebzehn Jahre alt. Du stehst vor dem Spiegel und entdeckst in deinen Augen einen goldenen Schimmer, der vorher nicht da war. Aber das ist nicht alles. Plötzlich kannst du die Gefühle der Menschen riechen, brauchst keine Brille mehr und löst die schwierigsten Matheaufgaben im Kopf. Irgendwie cool.Irgendwie verstörend.Noch während du dich fragst, was mit dir los ist, beginnt ein Abenteuer ungeahnten Ausmaßes. Ein Kampf um das Schicksal der ganzen Welt – und du bist mittendrin.


Dass ich die Bücher von Rainer Wekwerth ausgesprochen gerne lese, ist, glaube ich, kein Geheimnis mehr, wenn man mal in meine ganzen Rezensionen guckt. Hier bei Pheromon machte mich natürlich allein schon die Tatsache neugierig, dass er es zusammen mit Thariot geschrieben hat. Thariot sagte mir erst mal nicht viel (sorry, falls du hier reinliest), aber das Internet erklärte mir, dass er Science Fiction, Thriller und Fantasy schreibt. Yup, das klang vielversprechend und ich war sehr gespannt, besonders, als ich dann das erste Mal dieses tolle Buch sah, dass ja ein echter Eye-Catcher ist!

Ich muss zugeben, dass ich mich erst einmal etwas schwer getan habe mit dem Erkennen, dass es sich bei der Erzählung um zwei verschiedene Zeitebenen handelt, für mich hätten die Kapitelüberschriften wohl doch etwas kontrastreicher sein müssen, damit ich die Zeitangaben richtig wahrnehme.

Wie von  Rainer Wekwerths Büchern gewohnt, lebt das Buch von Spannung und Action in einem wohlausgwogenen Verhältnis, das dafür sorgt, dass die Seiten nur so dahinfliegen. Einmal angefangen, habe ich das Buch bis zum (bitteren) Ende nur noch selten aus der Hand gelegt. Es war unwahrscheinlich spannend, mit interessanten und vielschichtigen Charakteren, mit denen man als Leser mitleidet, mitfiebert und mitbangt. Gerade die Hauptfiguren, die sich sozusagen in zwei Teams sammeln, gefallen mir ausgesprochen gut.

Das Buch wendet sich an junge Leser zwischen 14 und 17 (aber auch ältere Leser wie ich, können damit ganz offensichtlich immer noch viel anfangen), viel jünger sollten sie vermutlich auch nicht sein, da das ganze Jugendlichen-Risiko-Paket von Alkohol, Drogen und auch Gewalt zwischendurch zum Tragen kommt. Nein, natürlich ist es nicht schön, dass sowas darin vorkommt, aber ganz ehrlich, es ist auch nicht brutaler als so manches Märchen und letztlich, wenn man sich den Trend der letzten Jahre, spätestens seit den Tributen von Panem anguckt, ist der Themenbereich in den Büchern Jugendlicher auch nicht wirklich etwas Neues mehr.

Auch wenn ich den Autoren das Ende etwas übel genommen habe und es streckenweise etwas verwirrend fand, bin ich absolut gespannt auf den zweiten Band, der dann hoffentlich nicht mehr allzu lange auf sich warten lässt- Aber selbst wenn, wenn er auch nur halb so gut ist wie dieser, ist er das Warten auf jeden Fall wert! Mir hat das Buch wirklich gut gefallen und ich kann es auf jeden Fall weiterempfehlen!

★★★★

One of my favorite series finally as audio book .... #storm #phantomislanders #ednahwalters

...and what an amazing audio book it is!

Do you remember the Phantom Islanders series by Ednah Walters?

These wonderful books are now available on audio and -wow, they are so amazing!

Narrated by Erin Mallon, a very talented narrator who did also read 

"Because of Him" by Terri E. Laine and Ednah's wonderful story - this is a must have!

Storm

A sassy heroine, a legend, and a race of people in peril

Nanny to a wealthy family, 18-year old Alexandria "Lexi" Greendale sends most of what she earns home to support her disabled brother. She is determined to help him get the surgery he needs to walk again. Her dreams come to an abrupt halt when she rescues a man from drowning. How does he repay her? Captain Storm Orath abducts her, claims her as his chosen mate, and takes her to a magical island that is centuries behind times with barbaric customs.

Storm is sexy, demanding, and protective

Lexi is determined to escape; Storm will do anything to keep her. For Lexi to make it home to her family, she must fight the lure of the man and the island he controls, or stay trapped forever. Are they fated to be together? Will Lexi make it home in time to help her brother?

Experience the adventure

This fast-paced tale is magical, complicated, beautiful, and mysterious. Warning! Once you start this audiobook, you will not be able to stop it until you reach the final minute.

This is part one of a three-part upper YA and new adult serial about a woman and her journey of discovery, adventure, and an unforgettable love.

©2017 Ednah Walters (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

 

 Storm Revealed

The mystery unfolds
 
Lexi resigns herself to the primitive living and the strange customs of the islands but struggles with the fact that she will never see or help her brother again. As the people embrace her as Storm's chosen mate, Lexi slowly begins to see the magic around her. When she discovers the truth about Storm and his people, she finally understands why he abducted her and why he needs her to stay.

Twists, turns, and traitors
 
Lexi's feelings for Storm start to change, she accepts the fact that she is Storm's lass and stops trying to escape. But a happy ending will have to wait.

Someone wants Lexi dead
  
Storm has an evil twin and he will use anything and everything to get what he wants. He threatens to destroy the island and its people. Left with no choice, Lexi makes the ultimate sacrifice.

The romance and the adventure continues in the second installment of the Phantom Islanders series
This is part two of a three-part upper YA and new adult serial about a woman and her journey of discovery, adventure, and an unforgettable love.  

©2017 Ednah Walters (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Storm Unleashed

Legends Are Made When All Seems Lost
 
The magical world Lexi has come to know isn't done with her yet, and she must discover the lengths she and Storm will go to prove their love and claim each other.
Lexi has been kidnapped and transported to HyBrazil, where Storm's evil brother reigns. He plans to make her his mate after he forces her to change. He has her locked in the tower until he breaks her. But Lexi never gives up and is always looking for a way to get back to Storm.

Pirates, Pirates and More Pirates Then an Oracle
 
Lexi thinks Storm is alive, but she isn't sure. She makes a few friends, but she is always waiting for Tully to grab her. The Oracle has been doing something very dangerous to the old woman in the next cell. Who is she? And why has she been sequestered to the tower?

An Epic Finale
 
Action dominates the end of this three-part adventure and romance series, along with some huge reveals. Set aside some time after listening to the first two books in the series. You won't be able to pause the last installment!
This is part III of a three-part upper YA and new adult serial about a woman and her journey of discovery, adventure, and an unforgettable love.

©2017 Ednah Walters (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

*** 

 

Another book by Staci Hart.... #livingoutloud

Do you remember the amazing A Little Too Late by Staci Hart?

Her next book is almost here, the next book in her Austen series, 

this one inspired by Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility!

And ...  

*drumroooooollllllllll*
 

living out loud

Nice, right? Stay tuned! :-)

Lady of Steel (Medieval Ladies Series 1) by Mary Gillgannon #LadyOfSteel #NetGalley

Lady of Steel by Mary Gillgannon 

Blurb:

 

One rapturous hour sparks unforgettable passion between Lady Nicola and Fawkes de Cressy. The memory of their time together enables Fawkes to survive the horrors and perils of the Crusades and gives Nicola the hope and strength to endure a brutal marriage.

Fawkes returns to rescue the woman of his dreams and finds Nicola enmeshed in a dark web of castle intrigue. Fawkes is so altered by the hardships and cruelties of war, that Nicola fears to trust him with her secrets or her heart.

Surrounded by enemies, the battle-hardened knight and the aloof, wary woman must rebuild the bond between them. Only if they dare let the soul-stirring magic their bodies share grow into love can they escape the sinister plot that threatens to destroy them both.

 

I really enjoyed reading "The Wicked Wager" by Mary Gilgannon and on the whole, I enjoyed reading "The Lady of Steel" as well but somehow the story couldn't draw me in and it felt rushed.
There were great characters but it felt as if the bad guys were simply too bad and the good oneswere too - okay, not too good, they also had dark sides but everything tended to be extreme.
I know, of course, that those times were hard and brutal and that women had no rights but..again...but. The characters are lacking depth and are rather stereotypical: The really bad guy, the honorable good guy, committing bad deeds. things like that.
I would have wished for some communication because half of the problems might have been avoided if anybody, okay, if Lady Nichola had talked to Fawkes de Cressy. Even though I understood her hesitancy to trust him considering her former experiences with men (well, not all of them were bad, right, so ....) to a certain degree, it felt as if the story was just drawn out by it.
Apart from that, I felt as if everybody was always rushing to and fro and hither and thither and going from one place to the next like we do today. Considering that traveling was much harder and took much more time in those times, that felt a bit off.
On the whole it is a nice story that I will probably read again but I had expected more.

 ★★★