The Accidental Princess by Michelle Willingham

A good, Victorian romance

4 stars

All her life Lady Hannah Chesterfield has followed the rules and knows that she must marry a man of good breeding and social standing. But that doesn’t stop her from being intrigued by the wicked, dashing Lieutenant Michael Thorpe and the delicious feelings he provokes in her.

Michael knows that he can never have Lady Hannah for his own, but it doesn’t stop him from desiring her. But when scandal breaks, the pair find themselves thrown together on a journey to find the secret of Michael’s birth. If this ordinary man is really now a prince – can he convince Hannah to be his royal bride?

I have read a couple of Michelle Willingham’s Viking novels but never any of her Victorian ones so I didn’t know what to expect when I started this, especially since I’ve been a bit hit or miss with M&B Historicals in the past.

This seems to be the second book in a series that started with The Accidental Countess and An Accidental Seduction. The characters from those books only made an appearance so the book stands nicely alone.

This book started a little slow but after a couple of chapters it really got going. Hannah seemed to epitomise the true Victorian girl with her morals and innocence and I loved the way she evolved throughout the book. Michael was also a good character – I love a brooding man! Together they had good, if not explosive chemistry, and interesting interactions.

The plot really kept my attention and was far-fetched but not so ridiculous that you couldn’t get behind it. I felt it really flowed and once I got into the book I really enjoyed it.

If you’re looking for a page-turning historical romance with interesting characters then I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this book. 4 stars.

Make Me Yours by Betina Krahn

Entertaining Blaze historical romance

4 Stars

Widow, Mariah Eller was only trying to make sure her inn didn’t get trashed when she found herself catching the attention of the Prince of Wales. Unfortunately for Mariah, she much prefers the prince’s best friend, Jack St. Lawrence.

The attraction is mutual but Jack is completely loyal to the prince and since he knows the prince only gets involved with married women, he figures Mariah is safe. That is until the prince demands Jack find Mariah a husband.

But as Mariah and Jack try to fight their attraction toward each other Jack begins to realise that he has found the perfect husband for Mariah. Himself.

This is a new Blaze historical with this particular book being set in England in 1887.

I love a tortured, broody hero and Jack was certainly that. But, one of the things I love best is that we get a glimpse into the emotions the hero feels and that was something that I felt was a little lacking in this story. Mariah was a fun character with a definite wit and sparkle about her but again, I would have liked a little more emotion from her. Together the pair had great chemistry and the sex scenes were nicely hot.

The writing style was fast paced and I loved the dialogue between the characters, especially Mariah and Jack. The descriptive got a little flowery in places for my liking but it was brief and not very often so it didn’t overly bother me.

I have to give this book 4 stars as, despite its faults, it was a readable book that I didn’t want to put down. I love the fact that Blaze are now offering historical romances in their range and this definitely won’t be the last one that I read.

The Tutor by Hope Tarr

Romance with no spark

2 Stars

Lady Beatrice Lindsey has just become engaged to a very respectable, if somewhat dull man. She knows that if she wants to have any sort of joy in her marriage bed then she’s going to have to be the one to take the lead. If only she knew what to do.

Sexy rogue, Ralph Sylvester, knows that Bea is too far above his station to bother about him. But when she requests that he teaches her the basics of love-making he can’t help but agree. But he has one condition – for the next seven days and seven nights Bea must submit to him and no pleasure will be off-limits. But what happens when the week is over?

Set in Scotland in 1891, this is the follow on from a trilogy of books by Hope Tarr (Vanquished, Enslaved and Untamed) – a fact I wasn’t aware of when I bought the book. Although I suppose this book can stand alone, I think those people who have read the previous books (or at the least Untamed) will have had a much better understanding of the characters and back stories. As it was, I felt I had started to read in the middle of a story and my lack of knowledge about the characters made them lack chemistry and depth.

Although the story was primarily set in Scotland, luckily only one character was written with a “Scottish accent” which was a blessing because the accent bore no resemblance to the way anyone in any part of Scotland actually speaks and was entirely too cringe-worthy to be taken seriously.

When I read a Blaze novel I’m looking for a blend of romance, love and steamy sex. This one had the sex in spades but it didn’t achieve the other two to any satisfying degree which, in my opinion, made the sex a little too emotionless and sordid.

The whole story lacked depth and, while the writing was fairly engaging, it felt that we never really got to know the characters, making them hard to know and root for. Both Bea and Ralph could have been really engaging but it was never pulled off.

I really was looking forward to this story but in the end I was left extremely disappointed. I’m not sure if it was because it was a sequel and I hadn’t read the previous books but the book just didn’t have any spark for me. 2 stars.

Just Wicked Enough by Lorraine Heath

Tender and sweet Victorian romance

5 Stars

In desperate need of money, Michael Treymayne, Marquess of Falconridge takes the only option open to him and auctions himself, and his title, to the highest bidder.

Headstrong, independent and alluring American Kate Rose was the last person that Michael would have picked as his bride and now he is stuck with her as his wife. Unfortunately for Michael, Kate only wants one thing from the marriage. Love.

Michael is just as stubborn as Kate and as the pair battle to see who will gain the upper hand in their marriage, they both realise that perhaps they are a match after all.

This book is set in 1888 and starts off roughly where the first book in the Rogues and Roses series (A Duke of Her Own) left off. Despite this, there is no real reason to read the books in order as this book stands alone quite nicely.

I just love a man who is strong and brave yet so vulnerable and lonely on the inside. Michael deserves love more than most heroes and it was lovely to see him find happiness with Kate. The book had some lovely, tender moments and some great chemistry between Kate and Michael despite having few love scenes.

I’m really starting to enjoy Lorraine Heath’s books. She always manages to deliver great emotion and romance that will make you smile. If you enjoy books by Sabrina Jeffries and Cathy Maxwell then I would recommend this book to you. 5 stars.

A Duke of Her Own by Lorraine Heath

Engaging and emotional Victorian romance

4 Stars

Lady Louisa Wentworth is 26 and impoverished – two reasons she knows means she will never marry. So she takes a position as a chaperone to a pair of American heiresses, determined to find them the most suitable husbands in London.

The Duke of Hawkhurst is far from being the suitable gentleman that Louisa hopes for her charges but he is desperate for money and decides that an American heiress is the perfect solution. Deciding on a plot to trap an heiress, Hawk finds himself in a bind when it’s Louisa that gets caught.

I have to admit that when I first started to read this story I found it quite slow. However it really picked up and turned into a really enjoyable, emotional read.

I liked that the writing made you believe the characters and really understand their changing feelings and emotions. I enjoyed both Louisa and Hawk as characters and felt the emotional connection the pair had. There weren’t very many love scenes but the book was delightfully sensual.

This is the first book in the Rogues and Roses series followed by Kate’s story in Just Wicked Enough. I’m hoping that there will be more books to the series soon.

Despite the slow start, I found this to be an emotional and romantic Victorian novel that I very much enjoyed and would recommend. 4 stars.

Santa Paws

Pleasant, canine themed anthology

3 Stars

This is a collection of 4 stories with all the couples finding love thanks to some delightful, determined canines.

Shakespeare and the Three Kings – Victoria Alexander (England, 1893)

With the death of his beloved aunt, Sir Oliver Stanhope inherits her home and her three pampered, terribly annoying Yorkshire Terriers. Luckily, before her death his aunt managed to acquire the services of a dog trainer. Unfortunately for Oliver, the dog trainer just happens to be the love of his life, an American that broke his heart ten years before.

Not very Christmassy but still a satisfying tale of redemption, forgiveness and love.

Athena’s Christmas Tail – Nina Coombs (Regency London)

When Robert, Viscount Brockton brings home his new wife, she hopes to make the best of their life together but he treats her very coldly. Aware that the pair are in love with each other yet neither can admit it, the couple’s dogs decide to do a little bit of matchmaking.

Not particularly deep, this story is still a fun tale (even with some of the story being told from the dogs’ perspective) but not at all festive.

Away In A Shelter – Annie Kimberlin (Modern Day)

Camille Campbell is a dedicated volunteer at the animal shelter when she agrees to work the shift over Christmas. Unbeknownst to her, Roger Matheson has also agreed to volunteer which does not bode well as the pair can’t stand each other. But that soon changes thanks to a timely blizzard and an adorable abandoned dog.

This was an enjoyable story that could have done with a little more time to make the ending seem less rushed.

Mr Wright’s Christmas Angel – Miriam Raftery (Los Angeles & Alaska)

A few days before Christmas, Joy Winters gets fired from her job as a doctor in a Los Angeles hospital. Feeling depressed, when a mysterious man named Kris Kringle offers her and her daughter two tickets to Alaska for a truly magical and old-fashioned Christmas, she jumps at the chance. When she arrives and promptly crashes her car, she is delighted to be rescued by the mysterious Nicholas Wright and his amazing dog.

I really adored this genuinely magical and sweetly festive story where you really root for all the characters on their way to a delightfully happy ending.

This Christmas anthology is certainly not the best that I have read as many of the stories really lacked any festive touches at all! Having said that, I did find that the last story really captured the true spirit of Christmas and it was definitely the highlight of this book for me closely followed by Victoria Alexander’s tale.

Perhaps not a book that you would go out of your way to find, this is still a good collection of wintery stories that offer a pleasant enough read. 3 stars.

The Christmas Visit

Enjoyable Christmas romance

4 stars

As the title suggests - this collection of three Mills and Boon stories all revolve around a Christmas visit which result in some lovely festive romance!

Comfort and Joy by Margaret Moore (Wales, 1860)

Griffin Branwynne, Earl of Cym Rhyss has hidden himself away from society after a terrible accident left him scarred and bitter. But then the feisty Gwendolyn Davies, matron of the local orphanage, shows up on his doorstep asking for a donation for the children and turns his quiet life upside down.

This is a very enjoyable, sweet Christmas story that really gets you in the Christmas mood with the snowstorms, candles and good cheer. The chemistry between the two main characters is engaging and their interactions are amusing and very enjoyable.

Love at First Step by Terri Brisbin (England, 1199)

While visiting friends in England for the holidays, Lord Gavin MacLeod cannot help but find the serving wench Elizabeth attractive. But she has secrets that Gavin vows to uncover at any cost.

This story was the only bad one of this anthology in my opinion. The language was false and very stilted as the author clearly attempted to have her characters talk as if from medieval times. And personally, Christmas or not, the idea of a lord and a prostitute (or anyone and a prostitute for that matter!) is not my idea of romance.

A Christmas Secret by Gail Ranstrom (Oxfordshire, 1819)

Miss Charity Wardlow was expecting a proposal from her beau while attending her friend's Christmas wedding. But when she overhears some potentially scandalous gossip, she realises she must try and get to the bottom of all the secrets of the wedding guests. But what is she to do when the roguish Scotsman Sir Andrew MacGregor is determined to find out all of her secrets?

This was an absolutely delightful story. The two main characters were wonderful and their interactions so much fun. This story was slightly more sensual than the first which was also an added bonus. A definite keeper for Christmas.

Overall, despite the terrible middle story - I would still recommend this book as the first and last stories really do make up for it. They alone are worth the price of the book and give you that warm festive feeling when you read them.