2 Quick Reviews: For Her Spy Only by Robyn DeHart & Love's Justice by Joan Avery

I recently got these two books from Entangled Publishing. Both are being released on July 21

For Her Spy Only
Author: Robyn DeHart
Publication: Entangled Scandalous (July 21, 2014

Description: England, 1814

When Winifred is rescued from her snow-stranded carriage by the notorious and reclusive Alistair, Marquess of Coventry, she is instantly drawn to him. Jilted by her betrothed and socially ruined by untrue rumors, Winifred is tired of paying for crimes she didn't commit and decides to play the seductress London society claims she is. Thinking a night of passion shouldn't leave any lasting effects, she instead finds her heart marked forever.

Six years later, Alistair is working for the Regent as a spy. A search for Napoleon's English supporters leads him to the beguiling Winifred, recently widowed with a young son. He hasn't forgotten how the unconventional beauty warmed his bed, and the heat between them rekindles immediately. The spymaster is determined to uncover all of plucky Winifred's secrets. Especially the one regarding her son...

My Thoughts: This was a novella. It told a very nice story in the hidden baby trope. Winifred is traveling and has carriage issues. She is rescued by the reclusive Marquess of Coventry. Since she has had a reputation irreparably damaged by her ex-fiance, and, since she finds the Marquess attractive, she invites him to "ravish" her. The man isn't a fool; he agrees.

Fast forward six years, Winifred is the widow of an elderly mapmaker who married her when she found herself pregnant. The Marquess, who is a government agent who breaks codes, needs the maps to solve a cipher. He wants to resume the affair; she is afraid he will find out about his son.

Of special interest is the both the father and the son have/had a learning disability that keeps/kept them from speaking. Winifred's son has his mother's loving support; the Marquess did not have the same support. In fact, his first wife killed herself when she found herself pregnant, fearing the baby would be like the father.

There is a happy ending since Winifred has always loved the Marquess despite his differences. The story had a fast-moving plot, engaging characters, and crisp dialogue. Fans of historical romance will enjoy this one.

Love's Justice
Author: Joan Avery
Publication: Entangled Scandalous (July 21, 2014

Description: London, 1879

American heiress Victoria Wentworth has spent her life blithely ignoring her father's wishes... until he enters her into an unwanted marriage contract with a despicable man. She has two choices: marry the bounder or fight the archaic English laws in court. Her only hope is Hugh Worth, the Earl Montgomery and Lord Chancellor of the Exchequer: her judge and jury. Society paints him as stern and subdued, yet fair. Society didn't warn her that beneath his somber facade beats a passionate heart and soul.

Hugh finds himself irresistibly, inexplicably, drawn to the spirited American, despite himself and his better judgment. As the inconvenient heiress takes on the fight against the very foundation of his life and career, another battle wages in his once cold heart. Everything about her is inappropriate, illogical, and unexpected. Yet, she is a woman he could admire. A woman of intelligence and beliefs that challenge the existing world.

But she is forbidden.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this romance that was as much about women's rights as it was a romance. Victoria Wentworth is a beautiful American heiress whose father has betrothed her to a dissolute and disgusting English aristocrat - Lord Stanford. A proponent of women's rights, Victoria refuses to marry him leading the jilted fiance to sue her. If she loses, she will be penniless.

The hero of the romance is Hugh Worth, Earl Montgomery and Lord Chancellor of the Exchequer. He is the judge in the case. Since they are of the same social class, Hugh, Victoria, and Lord Stanford keep meeting socially. Hugh is attracted to Victoria but any relationship would be a huge conflict of interest. He also knows Lord Stanford and dislikes him. Victoria is also attracted to Hugh and repelled by Stanford. Stanford has ample opportunities to demonstrate his villainy through the story including an attempted rape.

What was particularly interesting to me in this story was that it focused on three different women's relationships. Victoria has a friend who married a British aristocrat. The friend is satisfied with the relationship but doesn't know that her husband is addicted to gambling and has gambled away the money she brought to the marriage. The second relationship is between Lord and Lady Percy who are happy in their marriage. Finally, Victoria's relationship with Lord Stanford. The book clearly demonstrated the injustice when a woman was little more than property to a man.

I liked Hugh as a character. He was conflicted about any sort of relationship with Victoria. He had a difficult childhood as the son of an abusive father who ruined his family's reputation. Hugh has been determined to restore the family's reputation but his relationship with Victoria could jeopardize that.

Both romances were engaging and entertaining. I recommend them.

Book Review: Seduction in Death by J. D. Robb

Seduction in Death

Author: J. D. Robb

Publication: Berkley (September 1, 2001)

Description: Dante had been courting his victim in cyberspace for weeks before meeting her in person. A few sips of wine and a few hours later, she was dead. The murder weapon: a rare, usually undetectable date-rape drug with a street value of a quarter million dollars. Detective Eve Dallas is playing and replaying the clues in her mind. The candlelight, the music, the rose petals strewn across the bed—a seduction meant for his benefit, not hers. He hadn’t intended to kill her. But now that he had, he is left with only two choices: to either hole up in fear and guilt. Or start hunting again… 

My Thoughts: This episode in the In Death series is not a "whodunnit" but rather a police procedural where we watch Eve and her team gather the evidence needed to stop the murderers. The story begins when Eve is called to the case of the death of a young woman who might have jumped, or might have been pushed, from the balcony of her apartment. The death is witnessed by Dr. Louise Dimatto who Eve had met on an earlier case. Eve quickly learns that the young woman had been dosed with two unusual sex enhancement drugs. It was the amount and the combination that killed her.

We also get a look into the killer's minds. They are two rich boys who are playing a game. Their births were the result of the original experiments with the two drugs before it was learned how dangerous they were. One is a computer hacker and the other is the one who is making the drugs. Kevin is the one who accidentally killed the first girl but Lucias is the one who deliberately sets out to kill the second girl. The game escalates for them with Lucias being the leader and Kevin the tool who follows his lead. 

This case brings back some of the memories Eve has about her childhood where she was sexuallly and physcally abused by her own father which makes it a hard one for her to investigate. Roarke works with her as her civilian consultant as they try to track down the killers.

The big relationship issue in this story doesn't center on Eve and Roarke. Instead, McNab and Peabody's relationship is the focus. McNab is very jealous because he believes that Peabody's relationship with licenced companion Charles is sexual. Of course, Peabody hasn't told him that they are just good friends. When Charles and Louise meet and start a relationship, McNab is angry with Charles for hurting Peabody. They do manage to resolve their relationship issues and begin dating exclusively.

This was an enjoyable entry into this long-running series. 

Favorite Quote:

It didn't matter that they'd been together more than a year. It occurred to her that she would, very likely, have this leap of heart, this dazzling rush, every time she saw him for the rest of her life.

Eventually, it might stop embarrassing her.

I bought this one for my Kindle to read it again. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Murder in Silence by Gary Kassay

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

The book I am reading this week is Murder in Silence by Gary Kassay. I was sent this one for review from Sapphire Star Publishing. It was released on June 12. It is a thriller. Here is the description:

Two police officers have been brutally killed by having their throats ripped out, but the wound appears to have been done with surgical precision. With no witnesses, no forensic evidence, and two bizarre clues to follow, the case falls to Inspector Duke Becker, head of the high profile Special Investigations Unit, Homicide. Becker and his squad must find the killer before more cops are murdered. The case will lead Becker on a wild chase through the streets of New York City, back over 15 years into the past and to a cover-up that will rock City Hall. Along with his brash, wildly dressed young partner, Jimmy Nova, the beautiful Michelle Goldman, Augie "Doggie" Rivera, and the Mutt and Jeff team of Bobby Green and Joe Robinson, Becker will need to enlist his boyhood friend in charge of CSU, Manny Velez. Add a ruthless newswoman known to the NYPD as "Wicked Witch Wilson" and a new love interest for Becker in the gorgeous and brilliant Dr. Elizabeth Cunningham, Becker is about to embark on the most difficult and dangerous case in his 20 plus years. Will Becker and his squad be able to catch the killer before more cops die or will the killer have the last laugh?

Beginning:

The knife slid deep into the smooth flesh of the young woman again and again.

This startling beginning is mitigated by the second paragraph.

Carol Hayes pushed a mouthful of popcorn into her mouth with each downward thrust of the knife. She was sitting comfortably on the sofa with her dapple dachshund, Cuddles.

Friday 56 (Location 600):

On the walls were framed and unframed movie posters of classic movies: Gary Cooper in High Noon, Jimmy Stewart in Winchester '73, and of course John Wayne in El Dorado, just to mention a few.

I'm not to this point in the story yet. Both excerpts are about movies but nothing in the description talks about movies. This makes me curious.

Book Promo: A Girl Named Summer by Julie Garwood

I recently received an intriguing email from a contact at Penguin Group. Here is what it said:

Just weeks before the release of her newest book, SWEET TALK, we are rekindling the romance of #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood’s debut novel, A GIRL NAMED SUMMER, now available as an eBook for the very first time!  

As Julie – who has now published 28 bestsellers - says, “When I wrote it in 1984, I never imagined it would one day be read on an e-reader or a tablet, so I am particularly pleased to share it as an e-book.  I haven’t changed a word of it and offer it to you in the spirit of the times that it was written.” A tale for mothers to share with their daughters and for women to remember what it feels like to fall in love for the first time, personally I think it’s a timeless romance that still translates.

This ebook goes on sale June 26^th for $3.99.  

ARC Review: Dragon Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Dragon Ship
Authors: Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Publisher: Baen (September 4, 2012)

Description: Stirring space adventure from master storytellers Sharon Lee and Steve Miller – #15 in the award-winning Liaden Universe® saga. Space ships, action, adventure – all tied together with a strong dollop of romance and intrigue – make this a compelling series for a wide range of readers, from romance to military SF lovers. 

First Class courier pilot Theo Waitley was already known as a nexus of violence – and then she inherited the precarious captaincy of a mysterious self-aware ship designed to serve a long dead trader. Now she has a trade route to run for Clan Korval while she convinces the near mythic ghost ship Bechimo – and herself – that she wants to commit herself as the human side to their immensely powerful symbiosis. While her former lover battles a nano-virus that's eating him alive, she's challenged to rescue hundreds of stranded pilots and crewmen from an explosive situation in near orbit around a suddenly hostile planet. Lovers, enemies, an ex-roomie, and a jealous spaceship are all in peril as Theo wields power that no one in the universe is sure of, especially her.

My Thoughts: I just couldn't wait until September to read this story. I bought the eARC from Baen Books as soon as it was available. This was filled with excitement and intrigue but is definitely not a place for a newcomer to jump into the Liaden Universe. This is the fourth book in the Theo Waitley arc of stories and follows immediately after Ghost Ship in time.

Theo is aboard Bechimo with Clarence O'Berin and a contract from Korval to explore a potential new trading route. Shan has given Theo some possible contacts on a variety of worlds but Theo soon learns that Korval is not necessarily welcome on those worlds now. The Department of Interior is not nearly so destroyed or disorganized as Korval hoped and they seem to have a particular interest in Theo and her Old Tech ship Bechimo. This leads to a variety of problems and near escapes. Bechimo is a major character in this story. 

Theo even has to go back to Eylot to rescue pilots in peril though she has been marked there as a nexus of violence and more or less run off the planet. This causes a number of problems but does allow her to expand her crew with the addition of her old friend Kara ven'Arith who is a Second Class pilot but has tech skills that make her attractive to Bechimo.

There is also a thread which has Theo's mother Kamele taking a year's sabbatical and determining to visit the  Delm of Korval to find out the fate of her onagrata Jen Sar Kiladi who is more widely known to Liadens as Daav yos'Phelium. She proves that scholars from Delgado, especially those who had a close relationship with Jen Sar Kiladi, can be very resourceful and can rise to unexpected challenges.

We also get glimpses of things that are going on with Daav and Uncle and a few glimpses of Val Con and Miri at home on Surebleak. We even get a closer look at the Norbears especially in the person of Hevelin. All in all this was a satisfying episode that leaves one aching for the next book to find out how all these plot threads resolve.

Favorite Quote (may be different in edited copy):

"Violence is a tool. You might be violent to prove that you can be violent. Certain value in that, sometimes. Best use--you're right--is when there's a point to be made, or defended, or Necessity. Wasn't that here, was just someone's frustration."

I bought this eARC the day it was available and started reading it right away. I have also pre-ordered my finished copy already. You can get your copy here too. (If you have my level of patience and want the eARC, you can buy it here.)

2011 E-Book Challenge

The 2011 E-Book Challenge is being hosted by The Ladybug Reads this year. I am eager to participate in this challenge again because I love my Kindle.

Challenge Guidelines:


1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.


2. There are four levels:
-- Curious – Read 3 e-books.
-- Fascinated – Read 6
-- Addicted – Read 12
-- Obsessed – Read 20 e-books.


3. Any genre counts.


4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.


5. Challenge begins January 1, 2011 and lasts until December 31, 2011.


6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post about the E-Book Reading Challenge. Include the URL so that other participants can join in and read your reviews and post.

I am going to be participating at the Obsessed level again this year. And, I plan to choose what I read as the year goes along.



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