Eine Sehnsucht im Herzen von Patricia Cabot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Eine Sehnsucht im Herzen von Patricia Cabot

 

 

 

Inhalt:

 

Historische Romantik von der New York Times Bestseller-Autorin

Der stolze Earl und die schöne Witwe …

Schottland, 1833: Nach einer kurzen Ehe verstirbt Emma Van Courts Mann und lässt sie ohne einen Cent auf der schottischen Insel Faires zurück. Die junge Frau versucht sich als kläglich bezahlte Lehrerin durchzuschlagen, doch neben den Geldsorgen sieht sie sich zahlreichen Verehrern gegenüber, da nach einer erneuten Heirat eine beachtliche Erbschaft auf sie wartet. Dabei möchte Emma eigentlich nur eins: endlich wieder Sicherheit und Frieden.
Gleichzeitig erfährt James Marbury vom Tod seines Cousins und reist sofort nach Faires, um bei Emma sein zu können. Die ist nicht gerade begeistert, den jungen Earl zu sehen und möchte ihn am liebsten wieder zurück aufs Festland schicken. Nach anfänglichen Schwierigkeiten bietet James sich als vorübergehenden Ehemann an, um Emma von ihren Verehrern zu befreien. Allerdings hegt er insgeheim schon lange Gefühle für sie und hofft, auf diese Weise endlich ihr Herz erobern zu können. Um sich selbst zu schützen, willigt Emma schließlich ein. Doch auch sie verbirgt ein Geheimnis vor James …

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 Neugierig geworden?

 Hier geht es zur Leseprobe!

 

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Ein weiterer historischer Liebesroman aus der Feder von Patricia Cabot, der mir insgesamt wirklich gut gefiel, wobei man nicht zu sehr auf historische Akuratheit pochen sollte. Es ist ein sehr unterhaltsames und fesselnd geschriebenes Buch, das mit liebenswerten Charakteren und einer spannenden Geschichte überzeugt.

Als James sich auf den Weg machte, um nach dem überraschenden Tod seines Cousins, bei dessen Witwe nach dem Rechten zu sehen und den Leichnam seines Cousins nach Hause zu überführen, ahnte er noch nicht, dass diese Fahrt seine Leben auf den Kopf stellen würde. Hoffte er es? Vielleicht.

Da Emma, die Witwe des besagten Cousins, nicht nur mit Geldsorgen zu kämpfen hat, sondern auch aufgrund einer Erbschaft ziemliche Scherereien mit unerwünschten Verehrern hat, wird es noch recht turbulent - und James bekommt vielleicht doch noch seine Chance. Oder?

Auch wenn das Ende ein wenig knapp gehalten war, gefiel mir diese kurzweilige und erfrischende Geschichte gut.

★★★★

 

 

Lady ohne Furcht und Tadel by Lisa McAbbey

  Lady ohne Furcht und Tadel by Lisa McAbbey

 Inhalt:

Abenteuer, Verschwörung - und die große Liebe

London 1754: Im Hof des "Black Swan Inn" machen sich sechs Reisende bereit für ihre Kutschfahrt nach Edinburgh. Unter ihnen die junge Samantha Fairfax - verkleidet als junger Bursche und auf der Flucht vor einer arrangierten Heirat.

In der beengten Kutsche sitzt die arme Sam ausgerechnet "Mr Rüpel" gegenüber, einem durchaus attraktiven Landschaftsarchitekten, der sich aber leider völlig ungehobelt benimmt. Ganz im Gegensatz zum eleganten französischen Comte, der immer wieder Sams Nähe sucht. Doch schon bald wird klar: Auch ihre Mitreisenden sind nicht alle die, als die sie sich ausgeben! Für die junge Frau beginnt eine abenteuerliche Fahrt mit Stationen beim Pferderennen, auf dem Jahrmarkt und auf einem Maskenball. Doch nicht nur diese Ereignisse lassen Sams Herz schneller schlagen ...

*Dieser Roman ist eine stark überarbeitete Neuausgabe und zuvor bereits unter dem Titel "Die Reise nach Edinburgh" erschienen.*

Ganz ehrlich, dieses Buch hat mich absolut gefesselt. Ich hatte einfach nur eine nette, romantische und unterhaltsame Geschichte erwartet und bekam stattdessen ein Buch, bei dem einfach alles stimmte.

Die Atmosphäre, der Zeitbezug und eine stimmige, sehr gut konstruierte und fesselnde Geschichte mit etlichen unerwarteten Wendungen und einem wunderbaren Happy End, trugen dazu bei, dass ich meinen Reader die ganze Zeit kaum aus der Hand legen mochte. Die absolut liebenswerten Charaktere, deren Schicksal man gerne und mit Interesse und viel Anteilnahme verfolgt, eroberten mein Herz im Sturm und ich musste einfach wissen, wie es ihnen ergeht.

Dass man dem Buch auch noch deutlich die offensichtliche Liebe der Autorin zur Geschichte und den historischen Fakten anmerkt, rundet das positive Gesamtbild noch ab. Es ist alles sehr stimmig geschrieben und wirkt insgesamt einfach authentisch.

Dies war mein erstes Buch von Lisa McAbbey, aber definitiv nicht das letzte, das nächste Buch von ihr, tummelt sich auch schon auf meinem Reader.

★★★★★

Wie Blut im Sand (Naliri-Saga 3) von Kira Gembri und Lena König

Wie Blut im Sand von Kira Gembri und Lena König

Inhalt:

Eine Feindschaft zwischen zwei Völkern.
Eine unsterbliche Liebe.
Und eine Schlacht, die alles verändert.
Das Finale der Naliri-Saga – packend, dramatisch und voller Leidenschaft!  


Ich entdeckte Kira Gembri über ihre Jugendbücher und verliebte mich dort in ihre Schreibweise und ihre gut geschriebenen Bücher. Als dann der erste Band der Naliri - Saga herauskam, der ja ein ganz anderes Genre ist, war ich doch sehr gespannt, zumal dies ja mit einer Co-Autorin zusammen geschrieben wurde.

Schon der erste Band der Reihe konnte mich begeistern, der zweite hielt die Spannung und führte auch die Geschichte unserer beiden Protagonisten weiter und nun wartete ich auf das Finale. Immerhin gab es da noch einiges, was geklärt und in Ordnung gebracht werden musste, bevor wir Liria und Thrakon so ganz gehen lassen können.

Kurz, die beiden Autorinnen haben mich von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite fesseln können. Ich habe geweint, ich habe gelacht, ich habe die Autorinnen verflucht und inständig gehofft, dass sie jetzt doch bitte noch ganz schnell eine rettende Idee....und am Ende ließ mich dieses Buch zufrieden und mit einem guten Gefühl zurück, auch wenn es vorher doch noch einmal ganz schön heftig wurde. Alles habe ich den beiden immer noch nicht verziehen, nur mal so nebenbei, aber...

Wem es im letzten Band vielleicht an Spannung und Actin gefehlt hat, nun, der dürfte hier voll auf seine Kosten kommen - und das Buch nicht freiwillig aus der Hand legen.
Ein tolles Ende für eine schöne und spannende Trilogie mit Herz und Action.

★★★★★

Leseprobe 

In meinem Inneren kämpften Nervosität, Scham und Reste von Zorn gegeneinander an, während Thrakon den Abstand zwischen uns mit einem einzigen Schritt überwand.
„Sag mir eines, naliri“, knurrte er, nur noch zwei Handbreit von mir entfernt. „Vertraust du mir?“
Ich schluckte trocken und starrte schweigend zu ihm hoch. Es kam mir so vor, als strahlte sein Körper noch viel mehr Wärme aus als die Feuerstelle.
„Vertraust du darauf, dass du die richtige Frau für mich bist?“, fuhr Thrakon fort. Ein Muskel an seiner Schläfe zuckte, und seine Brust hob und senkte sich schnell. Auf einmal sah er ernsthaft bedrohlich aus. Noch vor wenigen Monden wäre ich schreiend zurückgewichen, wenn ein Mann wie er die Hand zu meinem Gesicht erhoben hätte – jetzt aber stand ich reglos da, als seine rauen Finger mein Kinn umfassten. Sein Griff war hart, beinahe grob. „Quisem ar?“, fragte er leise, und sein Atem fuhr über mein Gesicht. „Quisem arth?“
Wem gehöre ich? Wem gehörst du?
Immer noch brachte ich keinen einzigen Ton zustande. Ein heftiges Zittern breitete sich in meinem Körper aus, während ich den rechten Arm vorstreckte und die Unterseite nach oben drehte. Das Brandmal von unserer Hochzeit war im Feuerschein gut zu erkennen.
„Ganz genau“, sagte Thrakon mit dunkler Stimme. „Und jetzt werde ich dafür sorgen, dass du das nicht wieder vergisst.“

Verführt von einem Herzensbrecher by Patricia Cabot

  Verführt von einem Herzensbrecher by Patricia Cabot

Inhalt: 

London, 1870: Lady Caroline Linford, eine junge Frau aus gutem Hause, beobachtet, wie sich ihr Verlobter mit einer anderen vergnügt. Doch Caroline fürchtet einen gesellschaftlichen Skandal, wenn sie die äußerst vorteilhafte Verlobung auflöst. Sie sieht nur einen Ausweg: ihren zukünftigen Ehemann dazu zu bringen, nur noch sie zu lieben und zu begehren.
Leider hat Caroline von der körperlichen Liebe so gar keine Ahnung und wendet sich an den berüchtigten Braden Granville, der im Ruf steht, ein Meister der Verführung zu sein. Von ihm möchte sie sich in die Kunst der Liebe einweihen lassen – so lautet zumindest ihr Plan. Allerdings hat Braden Granville nicht die geringste Absicht, Caroline zu helfen.
Doch da auch Braden von seiner Verlobten hintergangen wurde, sucht er nach Beweisen, um die Verbindung lösen zu können. Caroline ist die Einzige, die ihm dabei helfen kann und so gehen die beiden einen Handel ein. Aber die Chemie zwischen ihnen ist unwiderstehlich und es beginnt eine funkensprühende Romanze.


Ich lese sehr viele historische Liebesromane, wobei ich sagen muss, dass ich mich hier erst einmal ein wenig umstellen musste. Wer Meg Cabots Stil kennt, wird ihn auch hier wiedererkennen und seine Freude an diesem Buch haben, wer allerdings historische Korrektheit erwartet, wird enttäuscht werden. Ich musste für mich sortieren, dass es ein modernes Buch ist, das in der Vergangenheit spielt, dann konnte ich es richtig genießen.
Die oftmals kurzweiligen, unterhaltsamen Dialoge und die markanten, gut ausgearbeiteten Charaktere tragen sehr dazu bei, dass man dieses Buch nicht gerne aus der Hand legt, wenn man einmal mit dem Lesen angefangen hat.
Man fiebert mit den Protagonisten mit, schimpft und regt sich über die garstigen Widersacher auf und so vergeht dann die eine oder andere Stunde - bis zur allerletzten Seite.
Die Szenen zwischen den Protagonisten hätten manches Mal noch ein wenig mehr knistern können, hier stimmte zwar die Chemie, aber es hätte gerne ein wenig mehr davon da sein dürfen. Natürlich sind einige der Szenen darauf ausgelegt, ein wenig Verlegenheit und Unsicherheit anstelle von rasender Leidenschaft zu enthalten, aber wie gesagt, ein Fünkchen mehr hätte es sein dürfen.
Trotzdem fesselte mich das Buch und hat mich gut unterhalten, so dass ich auf jeden Fall auch noch andere Bücher von Patricia Cabot gerne lesen werde.

★★★★

Someone with such a vivid imagination....#jigsaw #tribute #EdnahWalters #EBWalters

#EdnahWalters

...could never be limited to one genre! 

As E.B Walters she gave us the  six books about the

*Fitzgerald Family* 

 

 

Bride for Keeps (Big Sky Brides) by Nicole Helm

  Bride for Keeps (Big Sky Brides) by Nicole Helm

Blurb:

They all said it wouldn’t last….

Sierra McArthur never could have imagined they were right, but ever since her husband’s world was rocked by a family secret, it’s clear that their happily ever after isn’t to be. But one last night of passion with her husband creates a lasting consequence neither of them planned on….

Or is it?

Carter McArthur doesn’t want a divorce. But he doesn’t know how to fix all the mistakes he’s made in the wake of his family’s betrayal. But when a surprise pregnancy gives them one last chance at forever, Carter is determined to make her understand, she’s not his bride by accident. She’s his bride for keeps.


When your "not supposed to be" is the one right thing in your life and you are in danger of losing it forever, it certainly makes you think about many things and reconsider your choices and your values. And if you find that this is the one thing worth fighting for, well, don't give up on it!

Sierra was Carter's "not supposed to be" and even though she is everything that is good in his life, those two have lost their way. When Sierra learns that her husband has hidden some pretty important news from her instead of sharing his fears and his concerns with her, she gives up and runs. His family never accepted her and with Carter becoming more and more distant and withdrawn, it seems that their fairy tale ended. Only Carter will not accept that things are over and when all seems lost, he finally starts to fight for their love and their marriage.

I absolutely didn't like Carter's parents, so I just hoped that they wouldn't win...it took Carter and Sierra long enough to get their act together and to start fighting. I loved to see them find out what love and marriage are about, that it is not just fun and roses but sometimes also hard work and hurt - and the willingness to keep trying.
It was good to see them bond with those around them who supported them and helped them find their way back to each other.

I'm a bit torn though because even though I loved Carter and Sierra and read this book in one sitting, I was sometimes annoyed when Sierra once again stressed that she wasn't worthy of him and that it would be better for their marriage to end and that it would just hurt. When she finally accepted that ....well, read for yourself!

★★★★

 

 

Cowboy, Cross My Heart (Heart of Texas #2) by Donna Grant #Cowboy,crossMyHeart

Cowboy, Cross My Heart by Donna Grant

Blurb: 

New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant takes you deep inside the Texas rodeo scene, where danger and desire ride side by side. . .

Naomi Pierce isn't the type to let a cowboy sweep her off feet. It's not her first rodeo, after all. But when she returns to her Texas hometown, she can't help but be swept up again in the rough-and-tumble world of hard-riding, bronco-busting good-ol'-boys she loved as a girl. She might be here to photograph her Rodeo Queen best friend. But it's one fine-looking cowboy who really captures her eye...

Brice Harper is all man, all muscle, and all heart. From the moment he rides into the stadium, he can't help but notice the beautiful stranger with a camera watching him fromthe stands. It doesn't take a zoom lens to see the sparks of instant attraction. But things really heat up when he meets Naomi up-close--and he discovers that someone is stalking her friend. Brice wouldn't be any kind ofcowboy if he didn't offer to help the ladies out. But can the rough rider keep this spirited shutterbug out of danger--without risking his heart?


Oh my..., I really loved this book!
When we first met Brice Harper and his family, I fell in love with them. Now they are back - and this trip might be even more gripping and captivating and all in all amazing than the last one!
It started with a mugging...but it didn't stop there. And when Brice, Naomie and their friends start to dig, things get worse, much worse before they finally start getting better. Well, not for all of those involved things will get better...

Right from the first page on, I couldn't put the book down. it kept me glued to my reader, and I enjoyed every single page of it! I felt with our hero and our heroine and their friends, I loved how they rallied to protect their own and I really loved to see Brice fall in love. The young man has grown "a bit" and I loved to see him interact with his brother and Abby and...oh, I enjoyed learning more about Abby and Clayton and their life now.

A great sequel and I can't wait for the next book to come out!

★★★★★

In Vino Veritas by Sydney Blackburn #InVinoVeritas

Oh, just a short note:

  In Vino Veritas by Sydney Blackburn

Blurb:

 Anthony Beretta inherited the family winery at the tender age of twenty-four. It’s a struggle to keep it up, but he loves it and is determined to make it work even if it kills him. That is, if a motorcyclist doesn’t kill him first. He initially judges the man, attractive as he may be, on the basis of his appearance and apparently limited vocabulary. He soon discovers he’s wrong, but by then Oscar Kennett has already judged Anthony on his appearance.

Oscar thinks Tony Beretta is uptight and snobbish, and Tony’s speech for the charity they’re working on together reinforces that, even when he finds out Tony did it just to push his buttons. His adorable curls and sexy glasses might not be enough to change his mind, but maybe there’s more to Tony than meets the eye.


All in all this book was a wonderful pageturner, romantic and sweet. Anthony and Oscar are cute together and I loved to see them fall in love and find out more about each other. Oh, and don't forget Anthony's mother, she is really great! I was a bit annoyed by their constant efforts to push each other's buttons though because I thought that it was a bit too much. Apart from that, it was a very enjoyable story with two very likeable  characters who just can't help falling in love!

★★★★

The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo (Victorian Rebels #6) by Kerrigan Byrne #TheDukeWithTheDragonTattoo

  The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne

Blurb:

The bravest of heroes. The brashest of rebels. The boldest of lovers. These are the men who risk their hearts and their souls—for the passionate women who dare to love them…

He is known only as The Rook. A man with no name, no past, no memories. He awakens in a mass grave, a magnificent dragon tattoo on his muscled forearm the sole clue to his mysterious origins. His only hope for survival—and salvation—lies in the deep, fiery eyes of the beautiful stranger who finds him. Who nurses him back to health. And who calms the restless demons in his soul…

A LEGENDARY LOVE

Lorelei will never forget the night she rescued the broken dark angel in the woods, a devilishly handsome man who haunts her dreams to this day. Crippled as a child, she devoted herself to healing the poor tortured man. And when he left, he took a piece of her heart with him. Now, after all these years, The Rook has returned. Like a phantom, he sweeps back into her life and avenges those who wronged her. But can she trust a man who’s been branded a rebel, a thief, and a killer? And can she trust herself to resist him when he takes her in his arms?


Wow, that book took me on a ride!
When The Rook comes to claim his woman, a long time has passed - too much time? He isn't the young man he once was and Lorelai, well, not much has changed for her otherwise but it is difficult to feel the same for someone who doesn't resemble his former self anymore. Is it?
The Rook is formed by those years that separate them, he is harsh and hard, a pirate, a killer - and he has one weakness: Lorelai. Will that be enough? And will he ever find out who he really is?

I really loved Lorelai and the way she cares for those around her and how she opens her heart to those in need. Her brother being a brute of the kind that lives in your nightmares and her father being too weak to protect her, she is used to abuse and suffering but she never gives up and she never loses hope.
The Rook and her, they belong together and I loved to see them fall (back) into love while they slowly unravel the mysteries of his past - and not just those of the past!

The story captivated me right from the start and I enjoyed every page of it. There were some minor aspects that made me go for four stars instead of five though.
Considering her age and the fact that she lived with her brute of a brother all those years, Lorelai hasn't aged. Twenty years later she is still the same and she still sounds like the young girl of fourteen that she was when Ash left her. And I must admit that I felt that the fact that The Rook is so hard and that he can't feel and ....well, all that, was stressed a bit too much. Add the fact that he and his friends who finally turn up everywhere (at least it feels like that) all got up in the world and became people of consequence in one way or another, well, that was a bit too much for me.

Despite that, I really enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait to find out, hopefully, about Veronica and her groom in the next book!

★★★★

The Duke Who Lied (The 1797 Club #8)

 

The Duke Who Lied by Jess Michaels

Blurb: 

The 8th Book in the bestselling 1797 Club series by USA Today Bestseller Jess Michaels

Hugh Margolis, Duke of Brighthollow, has been keeping a secret that eats him up inside. His beloved sister was seduced and nearly ruined by a wicked man. The trauma sent her into exile and to protect her reputation, he never did anything about it. But now the ‘gentleman’ is back in Society and recently engaged to another lady.

Miss Amelia Quinton cannot believe her luck. After a whirlwind courtship, she has just become engaged and now she’s looking forward to a true love match. Only all her plans come to a screeching halt when her father announces she is now to marry the Duke of Brighthollow because he owns her father’s debts.

Amelia is horrified, for Hugh is nothing like the sweet and gentle boy she wanted to marry. Only once their vows are said, passions flare and she begins to know the man better. Little by little, both their walls come down and feelings grow. Until she finds out he lied. Will Hugh ever tell her the truth and will it even matter by the time it’s all said and done?


Ohhhh, I loved this book! I mean, I loved the other books in this series as well and every time I finish one of them, it feels as if this one is the best - till I read the next or one of the other ones again.
My heart went out to Hugh and Amelia, when both of them,  for different reasons, had to let go of their dreams of love and a loving family - only to find that sometimes love finds you unexpectedly.

Revisiting old friends and meeting new ones, I followed Amelia and Hugh's story from their rocky beginnings to their ...well, tumultuous but nonetheless happy ending.
Hugh and Amelia are both characters that I really liked. Both of them have been hurt in the past and it's not easy for them to trust considering the circumstances but never ever do they let their insecurities win and destroy what they have. Even when Amelia realizes the depth of the deception, all those lies....she is hurt, she is devastated but she is still willing to go on and make things right and even better.
And when things get really rough? Those two are so amazing and strong and courageous, you can't but love them!

Another beautiful and captivating book in a wonderful series!

★★★★★

 

 

 

 

Tossed Into Love (Fluke My Life #3) by Aurora Rose Reynolds #TossedIntoLove

   

Tossed Into Love by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Blurb: 

Can the best of enemies become the hottest of lovers? New York Times bestselling author Aurora Rose Reynolds proves that opposites can be compatible—and twice as combustible…
Libby Reed is over it. Or that’s what she tells herself. She’s lusted after one of New York’s bravest for years, but firefighter Antonio Moretti has doused her interest for the last time. As much as she wants the arrogant jerk (in a bad, bad way), they can’t even be in the same room without setting each other off…which might be a problem now that she’s volunteered to help out in his family’s restaurant.

Antonio’s been burned before. Now he knows better than to trust a pretty face and follow another pair of long, beautiful legs into heartbreak. But while Libby might rub him the wrong way, he can’t deny the heat between them. And it only burns hotter when she steps up in his time of need. The closer they get, the more he realizes he may have misjudged her. Then again, he doesn’t know the secret Libby’s keeping that could send their relationship up in flames before it’s even begun.


I was waiting rather impatiently for this next (and last) book in the Fluke My Life series, because I really really loved the stories about Fawn and Levi and, of course, Mac and Wesley. Waiting for the last book in a series is also a bit scary if you really loved the other books because if that last book turns out less than stellar, it somehow mars the beauty of the rest of the books.

The moment I started to read, any worries concerning that were forgotten. I didn't stop reading till I turned the last page. I loved every single page of it...okay, apart from those pages. I mean, those pages that I kept turning faster and faster while fearing the inevitable that was about to happen and...yes. Those pages.
Libby and Antonio were cute together, at least, once he pulled his lovely head out of his (equally) lovely behind. While still being her very own person, she reminds me a lot of Fawn in some ways and well, I think, Antonio will fit right in with the other guys.
Her mom...oh my...one might think that she relaxes a bit now that her two other girls are settled but - nope. No chance there and with her teaming up with Antonio's mother and Miss Ina - yup, things are becoming...interesting.
I laughed and giggled and I was mortified and swooned - and I really really loved this book!

★★★★★

Release Day Blitz ***HOT SEAL Target (HOT SEAL Team #6) by Lynn Raye Harris***Release Day Blitz

New Release

 HOT SEAL Target by Lynn Raye Harris

Blurb:

Navy SEAL Adam “Blade” Garrison’s assignment to infiltrate a tech billionaire’s criminal operations just got complicated. His cover: bodyguard for the man’s wife. His problem: Blade knows Quinn Halliday far too well. A sophisticated version of the chubby, shy girl Blade once knew, Quinn brings out all his protective instincts—as well as a few carnal ones that surprise him.

Quinn’s pride in having improved herself has turned bitter. She’s trapped in a relationship with a brutal man who views her as nothing more than a possession. Blade’s unexpected arrival makes her hope for more than a barren existence in a gilded prison. Until tragedy strikes, and Quinn realizes she’s next on the hit list.

Blade will do anything to shield Quinn from danger and keep her safe. But as they draw closer, an enemy works to flush them out. If he succeeds, he’ll put an end to Blade and Quinn’s budding happiness.

Unless Blade and his SEAL Team strike first…

**Stand Alone, No Cliffhangers, No Cheating, Happily Ever After Guaranteed!**

Another captivating pageturner in the Hot Seals series by Lynn Raye Harris. I really enioyed this story about Blade and Quinn and the action around it. It was sweet, sexy and filled with lots of action from the first page to the last! 

I loved to see Blade help Quinn, the girl he knew in High School when he defended her against some bullies. He makes her see her own worth again and helps her see that it is not about her weight but about what she feels and how she feels. 

Having dealt with my own share of weight problems, imagined or not, I felt with Quinn and loved Blade for being there for her when she is caught in a marriage with someone who is not only a criminal but also someone who tears other peoples down.Another bully in town....

I loved the love story and the action that went along with it. This book was once again a wonderful and thrilling read that made me look forward to the next installment in this amazing series!

★★★★

Wie das Leuchten des Meeres (Naliri-Saga 2) von Kira Gembri und Lena König

Wie das Leuchten des Meeres 

 von 

Kira Gembri und Lena König

Inhalt:

Liria ist überglücklich, als sie erfährt, dass Thrakon lebt und genau wie sie nach Myolis gebracht wurde. Auf der Suche nach ihm stößt sie bald auf eine ebenso dekadente wie grausame Geheimgesellschaft, und ihre erste Erleichterung verwandelt sich in Entsetzen. Wie soll sie es schaffen, Thrakon aus den Fängen der skrupellosen Adligen zu befreien? Und selbst wenn dieses Wagnis gelingt, steht den beiden noch eine gefährliche Flucht durch die Wüste bevor …
Die Novizin und der Clanführer – eine Liebe gegen alle Regeln und jede Vernunft.


Endlich ging es weiter mit der Geschichte um Liria und Thrakon. Wir verließen die beiden ja zu einem recht kritischen Zeitpunkt, der mich diese Fortsetzung sehr ungeduldig erwarten ließ.
Ganz wichtig, dies ist der zweite Band der Trilogie und er sollte unbedingt nach dem ersten Band gelesen werden. Und wer den ersten Band noch nicht gelesen hat - bitte zurück auf Los und gleich damit anfangen, ohne hier weiter zu lesen, sonst besteht doch die Gefahr, dass es zu kleien Spoilern kommt!

Okay, ich muss ja zugeben, das erste Wiedersehen mit Liria und dann auch mit Thrakon, war definitiv nicht so, wie ich es mir gewünscht hätte (auch wenn ich nach dem Überfall am Ende des ersten Bandes ja schon Schlimmes befürchtet hatte), absolut nicht. Thrakon begegnen wir an einem Ort, der nicht nur Schatten, sondern auch gleichzeitig Hölle ist. Hier sind manche Szenen für mich und meine überreiche Fantasie nicht immer ganz einfach zu verdauen gewesen, zumal ich an diesem Ort auch gleich gedanklich noch ein paar weitere Charaktere sozusagen adoptiert habe. Die Szenen selbst sind allerdings zwar hart, aber nicht übermaßig brutal geschildert, das soll also bitte nicht abschreckend wirken. Liria setzt alles daran, Thrakon aus dieser Hölle herauszuholen und mit ihm wieder zu seinem Volk zurückzugehen. Oder zu dem, was sie dort noch vorfinden....

Auch dieses Buch ist wieder mitreissend geschrieben, mit viel Wärme und einer spannenden, romantischen Geschichte. Ich freue mich schon auf den dritten Band, der im Herbst herauskommen soll!

★★★★

The Bashful Bride (Advertisements for Love #2) by Vanessa Riley

  The Bashful Bride by Vanessa Riley

Blurb:

 A friend's newspaper advertisement for a groom nets the most famous actor in London, Arthur Bex. Shy heiress Ester Croome proposes to elope with the handsome man, who she's secretly loved for two years, in order to escape an impending engagement arranged by her overbearing family.

Trying to outlive the shadow of his villainous uncle, Bex needs to marry quickly—to a woman of good character. And smart, beautiful Ester fits the bill. But a harrowing trip to Gretna Green and dangerous abolition rallies prove to be a more treacherous stage than either imagined. Infatuation and a mutual love for Shakespeare might not be enough to bind a couple looking to outrun the chains and secrets of family and the past.


On the whole, I enjoyed reading this book but there were some things that felt too forced, too coincidental to feel right and natural. I really liked the characters though, female characters with an inner strength and confidence, strong flawed male characters that are essentially good and trustworthy despite their faults and weaknesses. The heroine's fixation on someone she had never really met but just, well, fan-girled over Regency style was a bit irritating though, all circumstances considered.

This book is set in 1820, at a time when the British anti-slavery movement had led to the passing of a Bill for the abolition of the slave trade 15 years prior but the fight to abolish the slave trade in other countries as well was still underway. The so-called blackamoors had been a part of the English society for ages then but even those with money and power still weren't fully accepted by society in the 1800s.

This is a subject not often mentioned in historical romances so this was as unexpected as the hero's involvement with the abolitionists and the dangers he faces due to this involvement. No change ever came without sacrifices and people willing to fight for it. I loved that this book draws attention to this time and the people of color in those times and their struggles to be accepted.

All in all, this is a book that kept me entertained and interested, made me look up and google things so I enjoyed reading it despite the fact that some things weren't completely convincing.

★★★

Married by Moonlight by Heather Boyd #MarriedbyMoonlight #Netgalley

 Just a quick little review ...

 Married by Moonlight (Distinguished Rogues, #9) by Heather Boyd

 Blurb:

 Nearly twenty, Anna Beasley despairs of every finding a husband. Eligible bachelors seem to avoid the stuttering, blushing debutante in favor of her bolder, more adventurous friends. Much to the delight of her father, who’s determined to marry her off to his godson, Lord Carmichael, despite Anna’s refusal. Her lifelong nemesis, Carmichael has kissed half the young women in London.

Surely Carmichael’s friend, Lord Sorenson, newly arrived in Town, is cut from the same cloth. Anna decides to stay away from him…despite his wicked smile that makes her quiver.

Gilbert Bowen, Earl of Sorenson, had planned to live out his days as a country vicar. But when his old friend Carmichael sends a desperate plea for help, he can’t say no. There’s a murderer among the ton—and every death leads back to Carmichael. Catching a killer during the social season is difficult enough…and then Anna catches his eye. The shy beauty is a distraction he can ill afford but scarcely resist.

When the pair are caught in a compromising position, Sorenson needs little convincing to claim her, especially if it keeps Anna out of harm’s way. But with as many twists and turns as there are suspects, this case may find no one safe—especially when the killer is closer to home than they ever dreamed.


This is not the first book by Heather Boyd that I've read and it won't be the last but unfortunately, it won't be my favorite one, It is a nice story and it could be captivating but somehow it feels as if it's dragging.
The storyline is great and on the whole interesting but I caught myself looking far too often at the page number only to find that there were still quite a number of pages left.
Even though I liked the story and the characters (Anna and Gilbert were really sweet together), the fate of Anna's friends and her courtship with Gilbert couldn't draw me in and I won't read this book again, at least not very soon.

★★★

A Talent for Temptation (Sinful Suitors #4.5) by Sabrina Jeffries

  A Talent for Temptation by Sabrina Jeffries

Blurb: 

Widow Meriel Vyse is stunned speechless when someone tries to abduct her on her way to a ball. Fortunately, Quinn Raines, her secret beau, shows up to foil the attack. Unfortunately, as the two of them are struggling with her abductor, Meriel accidentally stabs Quinn with a knife.

Unbeknownst to Meriel, Quinn set up the fake abduction so he could play the hero and win her hand in marriage. But now that his plan has gone disastrously awry, can he convince her that he’s still the man for her?


A cute little novella telling us more about the woman that has captured the heart of Quinn Raines who we met in "The Pleasures of Passion". It was nice, somewhat fluffy and sweet but I was lacking some real action. This is more of a glimpse instead of a long story but I really liked it. The characters are also nice but due to the shortness of the story, they are lacking some depths. Nevertheless, this book is a nice and sweet addition to the Sinful Suitors series and if you loved the other books in this series, you will also love "A Talent for Temptation".

★★★

The Pleasures of Passion (Sinful Suitors #4) by Sabrina Jeffries

  The Pleasures of Passion by Sabrina Jeffries

Blurb:

When Niall Lindsey, the Earl of Margrave, is forced to flee after killing a man in a duel, he expects his secret love, Brilliana Trevor, to go with him, or at the very least wait for him. To his shock, she does neither and sends him off with no promise for the future. Seven years and one pardon later, Niall returns to England disillusioned and cynical. And being blackmailed by the government into working with his former love to help catch a counterfeiter connected to her father doesn’t improve his mood any. But as his role as Brilliana’s fake fiancé brings his long-buried feelings to the surface once again, he wonders who is more dangerous—the counterfeiter or the woman rapidly stealing his heart.

Forced to marry another man after Niall was exiled, the now widowed Brilliana wants nothing to do with the reckless rogue who she believes abandoned her to a dreary, loveless life. So having to rely on him to save her father is the last thing she wants, much less trusts him with....But as their scheme strips away the lies and secrets of their shared past, can she let go of the old hurt and put her pride aside? Or will the pleasures of their renewed passion finally enable them both to rediscover love?

Where do I start...with my frustration at the times and society in those times and the power men when it came to the lives of the women? Or rather with my frustration that those two, our hero and our heroine could have spared themselves a lot of heartache and worries if they had ever talked about their past. I mean, really talked. Right?
Well, I might start with the gripping story and those very likable characters whose chemistry was just right - which added to my frustration when everything seemed to be too complicated and the troubles of the past felt like unsurmountable obstacles that wouldn't let them act on their feelings.

I loved to see how our hero and our heroine slowly start to open up and to trust eachother again, righting some wrongs from the past and finding happiness along the way.
Oh, and you just have to love Brilliana's aunt by marriage and her protectiveness towards Brilliana. She is a rather formidable character and I think that Niall is lucky to have her on his side. I really liked the other minor characters as well, flaws and eccentricity and all.

When circumstances force our heroine Brilliana, a young widow and her former love, Niall, the Earl of Mangrave, to work together, both of them don't exactly jump at the opportunity to renew their acquaintance. Past betrayals have left them wary, hurt and even furious but maybe this could turn into a chance for both of them to heal...

This is by far not the first book by the author that I've read and enjoyed and I'm looking forward to reading many more by her.

★★★★

Loving the Secret Billionaire (Love at Last #1): A Love at Last Novella by Adriana Anders

  Loving the Secret Billionaire by Adriana Anders

Blurb: 

Mystery man, recluse, finance guru… Virgin.
I was a shut-in for a reason. With too many secrets, too much to hide, and way too much at stake, I spent years in my mansion in the woods, never trusting a soul.
So, when a stranger showed up at my door, with her plans to save the world, I should have sent her away, like I’d always done.
But from the second she arrived, I couldn’t resist Veronica Cruz. She was all the things I’d been missing—passionate, generous, and so damned sexy.
I let her into my life, gave her everything—including my heart.
Now, the one thing she wants is the truth. The question is, will she still love me when she knows my secret?

Loving the Secret Billionaire is a sexy standalone novella in the Love at Last series, featuring a virgin hero and a slightly older woman.

Originally published in the Rogue Desire anthology, this edition has been expanded with new material.


I've read several books by Adriana Anders and loved each and every one of them but somehow "Loving the Secret Billionaire" couldn't really draw me in. The storyline was sweet and funny and I liked the characters but the story didn't feel real and things progressed too neatly, too fast, at least in my eyes.
A quick and short read about a secret billionaire who has been hiding in the woods (literally... okay, almost literally) and the woman who turns his life upside down while claiming his heart - and losing hers on the way as well.
Even though the characters themselves are likable, I'm missing the chemistry, the sparks that would make their attraction and the fast progression of their relationship more palpable. It's all very nice but...
The story is still enjoyable and nice I just don't like it as much as I liked the other books by her that I've read.

★★★

The Earl in My Bed (Rebellious Desires #2) by Stacy Reid #TheEarlInMyBed #NetGalley

  The Earl in My Bed by Stacy Reid

Blurb: 

For years, Daphne Wentworth, Countess Carrington has loved her powerful, enigmatic husband, despite the fact that they married under less than ideal circumstances. But no more. Finally at her breaking point, Daphne intends to create a scandal so big, her austere husband will have no choice but to divorce her. Except everything goes awry when he surprises her with the last thing she expected.

Sylvester Wentworth, Earl of Carrington, has returned to London for one reason—to seduce his wife. After a near-death experience, he is in need of an heir and means to make his marriage a real one. To his shock, though, his wicked, beautiful countess wants the exact opposite, and he must now do everything possible to entice his countess to stay forever.


I really enjoyed reading this book. Charming and very likable characters and a nice and convincing story about second chances, love and betrayal.

Daphne Wentworth, Countess Carrington, is done with pretending and hoping that somehow someday things between her husband and her will magically be alright. She wants to be free to find love and happiness somewhere else. Of course, this is the moment when her husband has a life-changing experience that makes him realize that despite everything he wants their marriage to become real but, well, obviously he has his work cut out for him. After having been ignored and vilified for years, Daphne doesn't actually jump to do his bidding. Not really.

Add some other obstacles (or nuisances?) in the form of family members and their likes and mutual attraction paired with the memories of being hurt in the past and you'll get an entertaining and captivating story, that I really enjoyed.

★★★★

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!

★★★★★