IF HE'S DARING ( The Wherlockes #6) by HANNAH HOWELL

Since meeting Sir Orion Wherlocke in the previous books in the Wherlockes series, I have been fascinated with him and his imposing persona. After finally reading  Orion's story in IF HE'S DARING by Hannah Howell, I am left with a sense of peace at not having to worry about this man anymore and if he would ever get his HEA.

Since discovering he has yet another son, Sir Orion Wherlocke is resigned to taking a more active roll in the raising of his offspring. When suddenly, his youngest, Giles has been apparently kidnapped when the carriage he was in was commandeered by a desperate lady, Orion springs into action to regain his son. 

The widowed Lady Catrin Gryffin de Warrene is frantic to save her son, who has just been abducted by his own uncle, who plans to thwart the heir from gaining his title be any nefarious means necessary. Frantic, Lady Catrin steals a carriage, leaving her name with the butler, assuring the butler she will return the carriage or it will be replaced. During her pursuit of her brother-in-law's carriage, she soon realizes she is not alone. When she finds Giles Wherlocke in the carriage, and who his father is, Catrin is sure there will be retribution, but she must find her son. The street-smart young Giles is in no way worried by this abduction, and in fact begins to help Lady Catrin.

Once Orion catches up to Catrin and his son, Orion see that there is so much more going on with this protective mother, and her son is not an ordinary young boy, for he has the gift of being able to communicate with the dead. Orion feels the boy, and even his pretty mother, must be related in some way to either branch of the Wherlocke/Vaughn bloodlines, and if that's the case, the boy must be protected. The more her learns about Lady Catrin, the more he is bewitched by her and the thoughts of no longer leading a solitary life appeal to him. 

Catrin has never come across a force such as Orion Wherlocke , but she welcomes his help and his attentions. Both Catrin and Orion know that their lives are forever changed by their meeting, now they must join forces to go up against the truly evil Morris de Warrene if they have any hope of leading a normal lives again. 

IF HE'S DARING by Hannah Howell is a great addition to the Wherlockes series. The saga of the Wherlocke/Vaughn clan never gets old and each story is in fact a revelation. Orion has always been a strong character, but here we see another side of him, the soft and caring side that falls hard for Catrin. The Lady Catrin may have been married and given birth to a son, she is amazingly innocent and that innocence is what ultimately sparks the romance between she and Orion.. Watching this wonderful and protective mother come into her own is a great part of this tale. Orion's putting himslef out there to Catrin and her son, as well as becoming closer to his own sons is icing on the cake in IF HE'S DARING by Hannah Howell. A pleasure to read, as usual.

~KIMBERLY~

GUEST REVIEW OF ~~~An Heiress For His Empire By Lucy Monroe~~~

Debutante Madison Archer becomes involved in a scandal that brings about a major change in her life. Her friend Perry Timwater makes claims about their relationship and lifestyle that is purely fictious.  She needs to clear up this misunderstanding and soon. After all, how can she be into all the things the press is accusing her of when she is still a virgin? Maddie becomes worried that her "secret" double life of a volunteer teacher's aide will be exposed as a result of the scandal. She loves working with children. Maddie is called to her father Jeremy Archer's office. Her father owns Archer International Holdings. She believes her father is calling her in to discuss the scandal with her. Maddie's relationship has been strained with her father since her mother's death. Instead, Maddie is blindsided when her father totally dismisses the scandal and tells her that it is time for her to settle down and choose one of the men in the boardroom as her husband. Needless to say, Maddie is shocked.

Viktor Beck has worked for Jeremy Archer for the last ten years. He is one of the men Maddie can choose from as a husband. She has been in love with Viktor since she was a young girl. As a matter of fact, Victor has proposed to her several times over the years. She always turned him down. Now, here was her chance. Viktor had always planned to take over Jeremy's position as head of AIH including marrying Madison. He must marry Madison and produce an heir in order to take over the company. . Can Viktor convince Maddie to marry him to help him gain control of AIH? Will Maddie admit to herself how she really feels about Viktor and still realize  her own dreams? Read An Heiress For His Empire and find out.

This was a great story. I loved Vik's and Maddie's relationship and how it grew throughout the story. Her secondary characters were also interesting. Lucy Monroe's writing is strong and her ability to tell a story keeps the reader looking for more. I can't wait for her next book which will tell the story of Maddie's best friend Romi and Maxwell Black. I recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a female lead who is not a pushover and a male lead who learns to compromise to get what he wants. I give this story five moons.

~JANET RODMAN~

GUEST REVIEW OF ~~~ ALL BETS ARE ON by CYNTHIA COOKE

Derek Wescott is the ruler of the Eighth Level of Hell. When he is not punishing sinners who commit white collar crimes, he is running his car dealership with his three minions. Derek has been grouchy and his minions feel that if her gets laid, he will be calmer. Unbeknownst to Derek, the minions set him up on an online dating site. The minions accept a date with the "mousy looking" Jaclyn for coffee the next day. Before Derek goes, they make a bet with Derek to see if he can get Jaclyn into bed within forty eight hours.. Whoever wins, will have to wash and wax every car in the showroom.

Jaclyn Reynolds lives with her dog Rufus and runs a nonprofit organization/shelter to provide daycare services for people trying to get back on their feet. Jaclyn's friend Trish thinks she is working too hard and has neglected her social life. Together they look at the dating site and choose Derek, send a response and they arrange to meet for coffee. Jaclyn has issues with handsome men due to the fact that her mother abandoned her for a handsome man when she was younger. She didn't want to go out with Derek because "he was too handsome." Derek makes a bet with her that she will sleep with him after the fundraiser. Jaclyn needs the money for her foundation, so she agrees to the bet convinced that she can resist Derek. Jaclyn loses the bet, with consequences.

Just as Derek begins to have feelings for Jaclyn, Marlena, Derek's mother gives him another assignment. It seems that someone is embezzling money from Jaclyn's foundation and he is to shut down the foundation and punish the sinners. Can Derek save Jaclyn from punishment and prevent her foundation from closing? Can he accept what he feels for her, tell her who he really is? Will Jaclyn get over her distrust of handsome men and admit her feelings for Derek. Can they save the foundation?

I enjoyed this story. Derek thought Jaclyn was a sure thing and was really surprised when he had to actually work for it. Using a series of bets, he eventually won Jaklyn's attention. He also had to work hard to win her trust too. Jaklyn also had to let go of her insecurities and open her heart to the possibility of love. During this process, both characters finally figure out what is important to them both. The secondary characters were well written. The minions were funny, Derek's mother and sister were the bitches you would expect demons to be, her friend misguided by a man and two surprises make this a great read. I recommend this story by author Cynthia Cooke. I give it five stars.

~JANET RODMAN~

The Rancher Takes a Wife (Montana Brides #1) by Leslea Tash

She knew it was wrong, but he was so insistent. He swore to her that her would leave his wife and he wanted to marry her, but when the stock market crashed in 1929 and he decided that jumping out a window and ending his life was better than facing his family and the woman he had been keeping on the side, Chastity was left bereft.

After the death of her step-mother, a step-sibling and subsequently her father of a broken heart, Chastity was left with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her three remaining siblings would need to be clothed and fed, and she couldn't do that without a proper job and a place for them to live. Chastity had left the country living of upstate New York for a teaching college in New York City. Struggling to fit in, she was befriended by a few women who were not quite ladies. Then she allowed the  wealthy older man, Henry, to woo her into believing he would take care of her, but tragedy strikes leaving her frantically searching for Henry.

When Carl Ward finds the lovely but distressed, Chastity on the street in New York, he offers to help her find her friend. He has come from Montana to seek out his sister, Jessica, who ran away from the ranch to the big city to become a star. Instead, Jessica fell into drugs and when Carl finally finds her, it's a fight to get her to go home. Chastity helps Carl get her back to their swanky hotel, she then helps clean Jessica up. When a snide Jessica awakens and insults Chastity, she runs off, but not before promising Carl a visit before he returns to Montana. 

The next day, after a scuffle with Henry's widow that leads to her being evicted from her apartment, the last thing she needs is Carl Ward to show up and see what's going on. Out of the kindness of his heart, he helps Chastity out with  her landlord so she can go back to school. He even offers her the job as his town's school teacher once she graduates, leaving her confused if not curious.

Once Chastity finishes school, she unknowingly was placed by her superiors in college to go to Montana and become the town of Wedlock's teacher. With no other options, Chastity sets out to Wedlock and to see the handsome rancher that made her journey possible, Once there in the thick of things with Jessica as her nemesis and Carl trying to ease her way, Chastity begins to pick up the pieces of her former life and go on for herself and her siblings well-being. If only Jessica would just leave her alone. Telling anymore would give too much away, so I suggest you pick up THE RANCHER TAKE A WIFE (Montana Brides #1) by Leslea Tash.

First I need to say that the 20's and 30's are my least favorite time period. I normally run the other way when asked to read anything dealing with this era, but after reading THE RANCHER TAKES A WIFE by Leslea Tash, I was so pleasantly surprised that I have added her subsequent books to my reading pile. Chastity's being thought of as the fallen woman because of her acquaintance with some ladies of questionable morals, while annoying me, fueled my eagerness to read on. Carl Ward is a dream hero, so protective, so honorable and understanding, the man is almost too good to be true, but then again, it is fiction after-all, and what a fictional character he is. Ms. Tash is a very good writer. I am not a fan of stories told in the first person, but this fit and the author's narrative kept me intrigued until the very end. These two seemingly different people from very different worlds, comet together to make a very pleasing story.

~KIMBERLY~

Guest Reviewer.. MARGIE HAGER... FINDING JULIA by DESIREE HOLT

Sometimes life is not fair. For Julia Patterson, meeting Luke Buchanan opened the door to a new life and made her alive as a woman. In his arms, she learned for the first time how real passion and emotion could enrich her existence. He claimed her body with the pleasure of erotic sex and her heart with unrestricted love.

But Fate was laughing at Julia, just as she was about to step over the threshold into a wonderful new life. When her almost-ex-husband, Charles, was diagnosed with a fatal heart condition, her divorce was put on hold along with the rest of her life. Turning her back on Luke and the intense passion and emotion they shared was the most difficult thing she’d ever done. But Julia had a secret, one that Charles had discovered and used like a club.

Thirteen years later, when Luke walks back into her life, the passion and emotion are just as explosive as ever. Will they finally have their chance at happiness, or will Julia’s secret destroy that chance?

MARGIE'S REVIEW.....

First and foremost this story brought to mind the legendary mythical phoenix.  If ever two characters can be said to have raised from the ashes in triumph those two characters would have to be heroine, Julia Patterson and hero, Lucas Buchanan.  I so admire both of them.  They are so courageous, determined and dedicated to the ones they love.  Julia amazes by constantly doing the things she has to do in order to protect her children at great personal emotional cost.  Lucas amazes by his perserverence in loving Julia through all the bad times.

This was a very emotional read for me.  Desiree Holt always gives the reader the best evil villains.  She has truly outdone herself in this story with Julia’s cold, controlling husband, Charles and his vindictive friend, Rod McGuire.  I just hated them both and loved the strength of Julia’s character to fight against them even though she falters along the way. 

Anyone looking for a book with admirable characters, deliciously evil villains, an emotional storyline and an uplifting HEA will want to snatch up Finding Julia and start reading right away. 

~MARGIE HAGER~

SCANDAL AND THE DUCHESS (Highland Pleasures 6.5) by JENNIFER ASHLEY

As if she didn't have enough scandal following her around,  Rose Barclay, the young widowed Duchess of Southdown collides with yet another in the form of handsome Scot, Steven McBride. When the very inebriated Mr. McBride passes out, her Grace sees no other remedy but her tend the unconscious man until her awakens from his stupor.

Steven McBride tends to drink himself into a daze rather frequently. The decorated soldier seeks to forget he misery and loss of war by gambling and womanizing, but when he wakes from his drunkenness to find the lovely Rose Barclay at his side, he is stunned and pleased by her.

Rose has been thwarted at every turn by the step-son who is trying to keep what was rightfully given to her by her deceased husband. Since becoming a widow, the rumors about so-called affairs have plagued the beauty as she tries to move on from her husband's death. Her immediate attraction to handsome Scot throws her for a loop when he claims she and he are betrothed, thinking he is helping her throw off the nosy press and ton. When Steven realizes that he would prefer his ruse of a betrothal become a truth, he and Rose seek a way to get what they both want without hurting the other.

Scandal and the Duchess (MacKenzies and McBrides 6.5) by the so talented Jennifer Ashley is quite the pleasurable read. There is just something about Ms. Ashley's Scots that suck me in every time. Her  non-whiny heroines are a clincher as both Steven and Rose are a formidable pair. There hasn't been one book or novella is this series that I have not loved and place the series at the top of my list of favorites. I highly recommend Scandal and the Duchess, even for a quick read, it leaves an impression.

~KIMBERLY~

COWBOY BEHIND THE BADGE (Sweetwater Ranch #2) by Delores Fossen

When his nemesis, Laine Braddock appears in his home in the middle of the night with infant twins and a tale of murder, Tucker McKinnon knows he's in for trouble.

The Braddocks and the McKinnons, rival families since Tucker's mother stands accused of murdering Laine's father. Even though when they were younger, they shared a mutual attraction for one another, murder is definitely a deal breaker...or is it? Laine gives her side of how and why she came to have the twins, stating that before their mother died, she begged Laine to keep them safe. Tucker already knows that there is an illegal adoption ring wreaking havoc on innocent women and when he finds that Laine is involved, he puts aside his ill will to help Laine and to keep the twins safe from the aggressors who want them. 

Now Laine and Tucker have targets on their backs once they put themselves between the babies and the bad guys. Tucker's waning animosity for Laine blossoms into that attraction he once felt for her and even though both family's may hate it, that attraction isn't going anywhere. Putting their feelings in perspective while keeping these precious packages safe is paramount in Tucker's mind. As much as he wants to keep at arms length from this woman, he finds his character and his sense of honor  won't allow him to. Laine knows Tucker should hate her for all that's gone on between the families, her only hope is he out aside that hatred to help her and the twins from being hurt. 

COWBOY BEHIND THE BADGE  (Sweetwater Ranch #2) by Delores Fossen is an emotionally charged tale of  desire and intrigue. Tucker's loyalty to his family is what makes him such a honorable man. His softening and his re-awakened desire for Laine make him a force to be reckoned with and an amazing hero. I love Laine's inability to back down when by putting herself in danger by taking on care for the twins, it makes her a formidable heroine. COWBOY BEHIND THE BADGE is a wonderful follow-up in the Sweetwater Ranch series and I can't wait to read the next story by Delores Fossen, who consistently delivers in both the areas of romance and suspense have her firmly on  my TBR list.

~KIMBERLY~