Tuesday 30 December 2014

Bewitching Blurbs




 

Hi everyone.

This week on Bewitching Blurbs I decided to be a little self indulgent and list some of my favourite books. Some are new, other not so but I’ve read them in the past year and they’ve stayed with me.


Do you have a favourite book of the year?

 





The Winter Bride

By Anne Gracie

Damaris Chance’s unhappy past has turned her off the idea of marriage forever. But her guardian, Lady Beatrice Davenham, convinces her to make her coming out anyway—and have a season of carefree, uncomplicated fun.

When Damaris finds herself trapped in a compromising situation with the handsome rake Freddy Monkton-Coombes, she has no choice but to agree to wed him—as long as it’s in name only. Her new husband seems to accept her terms, but Freddy has a plan of his own: to seduce his reluctant winter bride.

Will Damaris’s secrets destroy her chance at true happiness? Or can Freddy help her cast off the shackles of the past, and yield to delicious temptation?


 This is the second book in the Chance Sisters series. I love this series but The Winter Bride would have to be my favourite so far. I have to admit that I may have a little crush on a certain Freddy Monkton-Coombes. He’s an interesting character and I especially like his  downright horror of marriage and muffins. For some reason, which I still haven’t quite worked out there were moments when Freddy reminded me of Ernest and Algernon (The Importance of Being Ernest) – perhaps it was his witty banter. I thought the story was delightful and if you love historical fiction this should be at the top of your TBR pile

 
 

A Marquess for Christmas

By Christi Caldwell

Lady Patrina Tidemore gave up on the ridiculous notion of true love after having her heart shattered and her trust destroyed by a black-hearted cad. Used as a pawn in a game of revenge against her brother, Patrina returns to London from a failed elopement with a tattered reputation and little hope for a respectable match. The only peace she finds is in her solitude on the cold winter days at Hyde Park. And even that is yanked from her by two little hellions who just happen to have a devastatingly handsome, but coldly aloof father, the Marquess of Beaufort. Something about the lord stirs the dreams she’d once carried for an honorable gentleman’s love.

Weston Aldridge, the 4th Marquess of Beaufort was deceived and betrayed by his late wife. In her faithlessness, he’s come to view women as self-serving, indulgent creatures. Except, after a series of chance encounters with Patrina, he comes to appreciate how uniquely different she is than all women he’s ever known.

At the Christmastide season, a time of hope and new beginnings, Patrina and Weston, unexpectedly learn true love in one another. However, as Patrina’s scandalous past threatens their future and the happiness of his children, they are both left to determine if love is enough.



 

Perhaps I’m overly sentimental but there’s something very satisfying about getting a second chance at love at Christmas.  I thought the story was sweet and heart-warming.

 

Play

By Kylie Scott

The drummer in a wildly successful rock band, Mal’s never had trouble with the ladies. It doesn’t hurt that he’s sexy as hell with a wicked sense of humor. But as much as Mal loves his ladies, romance and happily-ever-after just isn’t in his set of cards.

Mal Ericson, drummer for the world famous rock band Stage Dive, needs to clean up his image fast - at least for a little while. Having a good girl on his arm should do the job just fine. But he didn't count on exactly how much fun he could have being with the one right girl


Anne Rollins has money problems. Big ones. But being paid to play the pretend girlfriend to a demented drummer was never going to be a good idea. No matter how hot he is. She's had her sights set on her male bestie, Reece, for years. And now that she's supposedly taken, he's finally paying attention. If only the chemistry between her and her rock star would stop hitting new heights.

http://www.amazon.com/Play-Stage-Dive-Kylie-Scott-ebook/dp/B00J7AWJR6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1419894432&sr=1-1&keywords=play+kylie+scott+kindle


Ah, wicked sexy rock stars... sigh.

I’m addicted to the Stage Dive series but Play is my favourite. There’s something about this manic drummer which makes him impossible to forget.
 


The Cousin From Fiji

By Norman Lindsay

Set in Ballarat in the 1890’s, The Cousin From Fiji is a comedy of country-town amours and eccentricities. Ella Bellairs is the 18 year old visiting ‘cousin’ from Fiji. She is impatient to taste life, as is her beautiful widowed mother, Cecelia. Ella and her mother are forced to return ‘home’ after the death of Ella’s father to their overbearing, restrictive and straitlaced relations, the Domkins. Ella and Cecelia try to adjust but love and the promise of a better life threatens to entice them from the oppressive household and the tyrannical Grandma Domkins who keeps locking herself in the dumpty.



 
I picked up this book and reread it after many years. To tell you the truth, I had forgotten just how much fun it was. I love it. Unfortunately finding a copy may be a little difficult. I think that the best bet would be a secondhand bookshop or ebay.


 

To Steal a Highlander’s Heart

By Samantha Holt

Alana sets eyes on Morgann for the first time in several years and what does he do? He captures her! But Alana refuses to go meekly with the sexy Highland warrior. Her kidnapping will reignite the rift that’s existed between the two clans since her father accused Morgann of theft and she doesn’t want to see her father harmed in the inevitable war that will ensue.

Unfortunately for Alana, the faeries seek to interfere with her plans to escape. The sidhe have a debt to repay and Tèile, the green faery, is determined to mend the rift between the clans for good. And that means ensuring Alana and Morgann marry.

Morgann has his own reasons for taking Alana and they are nothing to do with marriage or war. He wants to use her to reveal a secret from the past, the one that had him accused of theft. If only he didn’t find his childhood friend so attractive. When circumstances force them together, Alana’s life is threatened and war is imminent. Can Morgann reveal the truth without losing Alana? And will the faeries meddling help or hinder his cause?


 

This is a lovely medieval romance with a touch of magic. It’s the first book in the Fae Chronicles which also include To Dream of a Highlander and To Avenge her Highland Warrior. You can purchase the titles separately but I think Samantha is releasing the box set very soon.




 
The Goblin King

By Shona Husk

 Cursed by a Druid millennia ago, Roan lives a bleak existence in the Shadowlands, desperately trying to retain his soul and not succumb to the goblin horde. When a beautiful human summons him to grant a wish, he sees a glimmer of hope. But will she ever agree to be his queen?

Once upon a time...

A man was cursed to the Shadowlands, his heart replaced with a cold lump of gold. In legends he became known as The Goblin King.

For a favored few he will grant a wish. Yet, desperately clinging to his waning human soul, his one own desire remains unfulfilled: A Willing Queen.

But who would consent to move from the modern-day world into the realm of nightmares? No matter how intoxicating his touch, no matter how deep his valor, loving him is dangerous. And the one woman who might dare to try could also destroy him forever.


 

This is the first book in the Shadowlands series. The whole series is fabulous but I think this one might be my favourite. The other titles include – Kiss of the Goblin Prince and For the Love of a Goblin Warrior.

You can also get the Shadowlands prequel novella – ‘Summons’ for free –





 
 

Her Christmas Earl: A Regency Novella

by Anna Campbell

No good deed goes unpunished…

To save her hen-witted sister from scandal, Philippa Sanders ventures into a rake’s bedroom—and into his power. Now her reputation hangs by a thread and only a hurried marriage can rescue her. Is the Earl of Erskine the heartless libertine the world believes? Or will Philippa discover unexpected honor in a man notorious for his wild ways?

Blair

To save her hen-witted sister from scandal, Philippa Sanders ventures into a rake’s bedroom—and into his power. Now her reputation hangs by a thread and only a hurried marriage can rescue her. Is the Earl of Erskine the heartless libertine the world believes? Or will Philippa discover unexpected honor in a man notorious for his wild ways?

Blair Hume, the dissolute Earl of Erskine, has had his eye on the intriguing Miss Sanders since he arrived at this deadly dull house party. Now a reckless act delivers this beguiling woman into his hands as a delightful Christmas gift. Is fate offering him a fleeting Yuletide diversion? Or will this Christmas Eve encounter spark a passion that lasts a lifetime?


 

This is a beautiful novella and was the first book I kicked off my Christmas reading with this year. It’s romantic, touching and makes you smile. J

 

Lord of Scoundrels

By Loretta Chase

Tough minded Jessica Trent's sole intention is to free her nitwit brother from the destructive influence of Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain. She never expects to desire the arrogant, amoral cad. And When Dain's reciprocal passion places them in a scandously compromising, and public, position, Jessica is left with no choice but to seek satisfaction...

Damn the minx for tempting him, kissing him...and then for forcing him to salvage her reputation! Lord Dain can't wait to put the infuriating bluestocking in her place -- and in some amorous position. And if this means marriage, so be it -- though Sebastian is less than certain he can continue to remain aloof...and still his heart to the sensuous, head strong lady's considerable charms


 
Love it – that is all.

 
I’m reading the whole Travelling Matchmaker series by M.C. Beaton. The first on is Emily Goes to Exeter. They’re all get fun and I’m really enjoying them.


 

 
So there is just a handful of some of my favourite books for 2014. There’s a heap more but if I was to include them all we’d be here for days.

Thanks so much for stopping by and happy reading.

Nicóle xx




 

 



2 comments:

  1. Nicole, loved the Travelling Matchmaker books. Just lovely, fun, light reading with a nice romantic touch. So glad you're another fan. I devoured them in one gulp earlier in the year. Hey, thanks for featuring Earl! Touched!!!!

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    1. Hi Anna, thanks for stopping by. I just love the Travelling Matchmaker series, they're such fun. :)

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