Review: In the Dark With the Duke (Lost Lords of London Book 2) by Christi Caldwell

In the Dark With the Duke is the second book in Christi Caldwell's Lost Lords of London series. This wonderfully woven tale pairs Lady Lila March, who suffered greatly during the tragedy at Peterloo, and street fighter/Lost Lord, Hugh Savage. 

Both characters, deeply scarred, attempt to heal each other in unconventional ways. Both Hugh and Lila transform each other's lives in ways that only can be imagined by delving into this dark to light tale. 

In the Dark With the Duke by Christi Caldwell, is yet another triumph to her credit. A fan of darker romance, this story sated my appetite for the dark along with the build up to an perfect HEA. 

~KIMBERLY~

To Hold a Lady’s Secret by Christi Caldwell

The mistake that Lady Gillian Farendale made by attending a notorious masquerade, has finally caught up with her. Now her unfeeling parents want her to make things right, but doing that would destroy her spirit.

Gillian seeks out her childhood best friend, Colin Lockhart, one if the numerous  bastard sons of the Duke of Ravenscourt, for help. She is praying that the promise they made as children would finally be able to be fulfilled. When Colin, now a struggling private investigator in London is reunited with Gillian, things don’t exactly work out how Gillian thought they would and she is disheartened as well as desperate. 

As soon as Colin sends Gillian away, he regrets it. His past with her comes rushing back and he realizes that she still means more to him than is prudent for a Lady and a bastard.  Her desperation brings him to action and neither of their lives will ever be the same. 

Lady Gillian Farendale is one of my favorite of author Christi Caldwell’s heroines. She is matter of fact, she doesn’t blame anyone for her actions and take complete responsibility for decisions she has made, good or bad.  Despite the crime that was committed against her, she is strong and resilient and deserving of a bright future with a caring man. The one man she has been on her mind since she was a young girl getting into mischief, Colin Lockhart 

Colin Lockhart has been on his own since his banishment from the Farendale lands, caring for his sister and mother. Discovered on the streets by a brother, another bastard son, Colin picks himself up and sets out to create a new life for himself as a private investigator. He is consumed with his business and until Gillian reappears in his life, he is rather solitary in his existence, keeping a small circle of a few of the brothers and his beloved sister. He is considered to be common if not below that for being a bastard, but has more integrity, compassion and honor than any man in the ton. 

To Hold a Lady’s Secret is one of my favorite Christi Caldwell books to date. While some of the subject matter is not an easy one, the story is superb and getting to that prefect ending is just a marvel. This story is meaningful and compassionate and will stay with me for quite a while. Bravo Ms. Caldwell…

~KIMBERLY~

Marvelous May with Harlequin and DELORES FOSSEN

 Welcome to May and Harlequin's fabulous selection of reads for the month! Here's the wonderful, Delores Fossen and her May title, LUCAS... 

LUCAS

By USA Today bestselling author

Delores Fossen

A Texas Lawman will do anything to protect his son – even if it includes reuniting with the boy’s on-the-run mother…

Lucas Ryland has always had a way with the ladies. That is, until Hailey Darrow dropped him after a single night of passion. Then he discovered her unconscious body in a wrecked car with a fake ID and enough money to disappear. Unbeknown to him, the one who got away was leaving town with his baby…

Now Hailey is out of her coma, but still in danger. However, hiding her at his Silver Creek ranch ignites old passions and introduces new threats. Lucas must use every protective instinct in his arsenal to keep Hailey and their infant son safe. And to keep his body from remembering how good it felt to hold her in his arms.

LUCAS

By Delores Fossen

April 18, 2017

$5.75 U.S.; 256 pages

ISBN-978-1-335-720955

LUCAS by Delores Fossen

1)      What is your favorite part about writing LUCAS?

LUCAS is the 12^th book in the Lawmen of Silver Creek series so I really enjoyed visiting with all the cowboy heroes from the previous stories. It was like going home to a family reunion.

2)      Is there anyone who you based Lucas and Hailey off of, or who you drew your inspiration from?

I was inspired by Rayland Givens from Justified. I thought he had that edge that I wanted Lucas to have.

3)      How many books have you written? Is there one that you would consider your favorite?

LUCAS is my 88^th published Harlequin, and I’ve written 12 other books. It’s so hard to pick a favorite, but I think for now it’s BRANDED AS TROUBLE, an HQN that comes out July 1^st.

4)      When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been writing as long as I can remember, but I didn’t begin writing seriously until my kids were old enough to start to school.

5)      What is your favorite thing about writing contemporary romance?

It’s fun to “build” the ranch where my cowboy heroes and heroines live. And, of course, the best part is creating happily-ever-afters for them.

6)      What is the biggest misconception about your genre?

That the books are easy to write and all the same. They’re very different, and they’re definitely not easy. It takes a lot of work to pull a story together.

7)      What are a few of your favorite books? Do you have any recommendations?

I have SO many favorite books and authors. I love B.J. Daniels, Julie Miller and Lori Wilde. I also read Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

8)      What are your future projects are you working on?

I’m working on three new HQN books for my Wrangler’s Creek series. They’ll be out in 2018.

9)      Do you have any tips for people suffering from writer’s block?

I think it helps to make a schedule and then stick to it. That way, I know what I’m supposed to be doing every day.

10)  Do you have any advice for new writers?

Write as much as you can and experiment with various ways to do the same scene. That’s how to learn the best way to tell the story.

PLAYLIST FOR LUCAS!

·         Song Playlist: A prepared playlist of songs that embodies the book’s characters and their love story.

·         Austin - Blake Sheldon

·         Come a Little Closer - Dierks Bentley

·         Let's Be Us Again – Lonestar

·         Don’t Cry - Guns N Roses

·         Blue Ain’t Your Color - Keith Urban

·         You're The Love I Want to Be In - Jason Aldean

·         I Won’t Give Up - Jason Mraz

·         Stay - Rhianna 

SPOTLIGHT ON KAT MARTIN & AGAINST THE SKY (The Brodies of Alaska Book 2)

Hi, Kimberly!  So glad you enjoyed AGAINST THE WILD.  I think you’re going to like Nick Brodie and Samantha in AGAINST THE SKY.   I think this one has a lot of heart.  I was really happy with the book when I finished.  Big sigh, hated to see it end.  Thanks so much for having me on Romance at Random.  Love ya, kat

Please tell us a bit about Against the Sky.

AGAINST THE SKY is the second book in my Brodies of Alaska Trilogy, the 11^th novel in my Against Series.  

The hero, Nick Brodie, a former Anchorage homicide detective, is a guy with a serious case of burnout.  He wants a new life, something that doesn't include violence and death.  Unfortunately for Nick, when his neighbor, twelve-year-old Jimmy Evans, comes to him battered and beaten, claiming his father was murdered, Nick has no choice but to help him.

To make matters worse, Nick has a lady friend visiting from San Francisco.  Samantha Hollis, owner of the Perfect Pup pet grooming parlor, isn't cut out for the harsh life of Alaska.  Unwillingly swept into Jimmy's problems, she finds herself on a wild ride with Nick that leads them into passion and terrible danger. 

What is your inspiration for this series? 

The setting for the books--Alaska--was my inspiration.  Just being in such an amazing place sent my creative juices into overdrive.  I was there for a month, traveling in the back of a small pickup camper.  (2^nd trip).  Very rugged conditions--and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

How much research did you have to do?

I did a lot for all three books.  I find that writing contemporary novels takes as much research, in a different way, as an historical.  In AGAINST THE SKY, Nick comes up against the Russian mob.  The story involves drug smuggling and underage prostitution.  I can tell you, I was on some VERY interesting websites.

How many more books will be in the Brodies of Alaska series?

There are three Alaska books all together.  AGAINST THE WILD, AGAINST THE SKY, and AGAINST THE TIDE.  I really fell in love with all three of the Brodie brothers.   Nick is amazing and Rafe…well, he’s another sexy Brodie hunk. 

Do you have a favorite hero in this series? (could be past or to come)

I really love Nick Brodie.  He has so much heart.  Nick’s a former Ranger and an ex- homicide detective, tough as nails, yet he’s a sucker for home and family.  I really loved that about him.  Plus he’s six foot two with a perfect body, black hair, and incredible blue eyes.  How much better can a hero get?

Where will your fans get to see you this coming year?

One of the things I’ll be doing in 2015 is signing books on April 11 in Boonsboro, Maryland.  I’ll be at Nora Roberts’ bookstore, Turn the Page.  I think there will be five authors all together, signing for the day.  I’m traveling to Europe this summer so I won’t be at as many conferences as I usually am.  Though I will probably add some trips later.  Readers can always find me on Facebook at Katmartin/author and I’d love for them to stop by my new webpage  www.katmartin.com.

What is your favorite thing to do in your downtime?

I love to travel.  I love staying at expensive hotels and eating gourmet food.  Fortunately, I live in Montana where there are very few of those kinds of places.  I’m really looking forward to our upcoming trip to Europe where I’ll get to indulge myself.   

Thanks so much for answering these questions, Kat. Happy New Year!

Have a great 2015!  Love ya, kat

GUEST REVIEW WITH V. WALKER ~ Wicked Wolf (Redwood Pack #8) by Carrie Ann Ryan ~

Book Blurb (from the Amazon page):

The war between the Redwood Pack and the Centrals is one of wolf legend. Gina Eaton lost both of her parents when a member of their Pack betrayed them. Adopted by the Alpha of the Pack as a child, Gina grew up within the royal family to become an enforcer and protector of her den. She’s always known fate can be a tricky and deceitful entity, but when she finds the one man that could be her mate, she might throw caution to the wind and follow the path set out for her, rather than forging one of her own.

            Quinn Weston’s mate walked out on him five years ago, severing their bond in the most brutal fashion. She not only left him a shattered shadow of himself, but their newborn son as well. Now, as the lieutenant of the Talon Pack’s Alpha, he puts his whole being into two things: the safety of his Pack and his son.

            When the two Alphas put Gina and Quinn together to find a way to ensure their treaties remain strong, fate has a plan of its own. Neither knows what will come of the Pack’s alliance, let alone one between the two of them. The past paved their paths in blood and heartache, but it will take the strength of a promise and iron will to find their future.

           

Rating: 5 moons!

Review:

I’m coming into the Redwood Pack series very late, and am starting with the Wicked Wolf novella.  Given how little I know about the series and the different wolf packs and the histories of the characters, I absolutely adored this novella; I want to go back and get the rest of the books and read the series from the beginning! 

            The story of Gina and Quinn was fraught with frustration, exasperation, hope, and love.  Gina is complicated, spunky, passionate, dominant, strong, and vulnerable – my kind of heroine; I found her inner strength to be inspiring.

            Quinn is brusque, holding the world (and Gina) at arm’s length for fear of getting hurt again.  He focuses all of his energy into keeping his son healthy & his Pack safe. 

            There were several points in the story where I exclaimed in frustration, joy, and surprise.  I can tell you that my husband kept giving me looks like I was nuts.  This novella is amazing and I can’t wait to read the stories that came before, and the stores that will come after.

~V. WALKER~

KIMMIE'S BIRTHDAY MONTH OF GIVEAWAYS ~DAY 17~ CAT JOHNSON'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!!!!

I  adore Cat Johnson for so many reasons... She is so much fun to be around, she is gorgeous, she's tiny but trouble and she is super talented. I will never forget the first time Cat came over to Casa de Rocha, it was for a book club event/bachelorette party and did we have the best time ever. Today is her birthday and I am hoping she is having the most awesome time ever at AAD in Savannah, because she deserves it. Cat is also a most generous lady and always takes her of her readers. For instance, Cat is giving away an EArc of BULL (Red,Hot & Blue), which will not be out until October 29th. Thank you so much Cat!!! I can't wait to see her next week so she and I can celebrate our birthdays together! So good luck to you all and
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAT!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE MIDNIGHT BREED SERIES COMPANION by LARA ADRIAN

HAPPINESS IS: KNOWING THE MIDNIGHT BREED COMPANION BY THE ONE AND ONLY 

LARA ADRIAN

IS COMING SOON!!!!!!

Ebook Release: May 29, 2013

Trade Paperback Release: June 26, 2013

Audiobook Release: TBA

FOR THE INSIDE SCOOP, SUBSCRIBE TO LARA ADRIAN'S NEWSLETTER: http://www.laraadrian.com/home.php#quiet

Infinite Betrayal by Robyn Mackenzie and Gayle Donnelly

Mina Roarke is in mourning over the loss of her mother, her only family member. Having been brought up in the Pacific Northwest believing she had no one left but her friend Chloe she is distraught. When she finds letters written from her presumed dead father to her mother, she is stunned enough to travel to Germany to attempt to find something out about the man who took no part in her life. At Chloe's coaxing, Mina takes the journey. What she discovers on her travels rocks her very existence.

When Mathias, a very tall dark and sexy shifter of a race called the Coteri, is sent by Roderick, Mina's father and King of the secret shifter Coteri race, to protect her, sparks fly between the bodyguard and his charge.  As Roderick's trusted General,  Mathias is entrusted with protecting Mina with his own life if necessary, but protecting her means staying close to her and that proves dangerous. Aside from the Coteri being unknown to the human race, they have enemies, namely a former Coteri , Valencia and her demented son Luca, who belong to the Valta, the nemesis of the Coteri who's ultimate goal is to rule over humanity, not co-exist with it as the Coteri do.

Regardless of Coteri law forbidding a shifter to fraternize with humans, Mathias is so drawn to Mina he cannot help himself and one kiss has him ignite a fire deep inside She in turn is completely taken with him before she finds out about the Coteri and being a half breed herself. Mathias struggles with the budding relationship, knowing that his King would probably kill him for touching his daughter. Ultimately what the pair feel for each other creates fireworks and trouble taking the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotion. When Mina discovers the mystery of her birth she is confused and shaken. Will Mina comes to terms with the fact other races exist and she belongs to one? Will  the dominant Mathias succeed in his quest to shelter Mina from the danger that is very much on her tail? Once again.. you're going to have to read to find out.

I loved INFINITE BETRAYAL! The creation of this shifter race by Gayle Donnelly and Robyn Mackenzie has shaken things up. I find myself imagining all the awesome tales to come from these amazing shifters. You feel the passion that Matthias and Mina have for each other, you become part of their world. The secondary characters only add to the drama with hunky shifters Talon and Tre, who pick on each other adding a bit of laughter  and the super intelligent Isla who holds the Coteri history and knowledge dear. This story runs the gamut of emotions with the passion and desire to horror and disdain. I cannot wait for the second installment of this series hoping there are plans for several more! I highly recommend INFINITE BETRAYAL to all, it does not disappoint!

~KIMBERLY~

4 Orgasms Read (Awesome!!!)

5 Stars (Hook Line and Sinker)

Gayle Donnelly & Robyn Mackenzie on the web: http://www.donnellymackenzie.com/