Secrets for Seducing a Royal Bodyguard by Vanessa Kelly

The Basics:
Secrets for Seducing a Royal Bodyguard by Vanessa Kelly
Zebra
Book One of Renegade Royals
Historical Romance
Published Jan 7, 2014
Amazon.ca Kobo.com 

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review is my entry for the 2014 Key Words Reading Challenge hosted by Bookmark to Blog.

Blurb:

In this witty, sensual new series, Vanessa Kelly introduces the Renegade Royals, illegitimate sons of the Royal Princes who are finding their rightful places in society…

Accomplished spy Aden St. George prefers to stay away from the frivolous ton, especially after the way his mother was used by the Prince Regent. But his latest mission compels him to guard unconventional, vibrant Lady Vivien Shaw. Rescuing her from kidnappers was easy. Resisting her beauty is not. Duty demands he keep an eye on her—and naturally, his lips soon follow. For someone who views entanglements as a weakness, this is pure, delicious folly…

Though grateful for Aden’s help, Vivien has secrets she must keep hidden. Yet with her abductors still at large, she needs Aden’s protection almost as much as she craves his touch…

Why I picked up this book:

Historical romance, beautiful big dress, a spy who can't resist a beautiful woman with secrets? I'm in.

My thoughts:

This book was as much fun to read as I hoped it would be. Now, it wasn't without flaw, but they were relatively inconsequential to my reading experience. As it was, I had a really hard time putting the book down to take care of those pesky obligations like feeding myself and my children, sleeping and what not. 

Aden's a spy coming off a tragic end to his last mission. Determined to be as emotionless as possible to protect himself from making errors, he finds himself unable to resist the charms of the beautiful and lovely-on-the-inside Vivien. For her part, Vivien has reason not to put much faith in men, but Aden saves her life and seems so solid and worthy....

Of course things don't go smoothly for anyone, and that's half the fun of the ride. 

The only thing that tweaked me about this book was that other than a few spots of action, I never really got a good feel for Aden working as a competent spy. Instead, he believed Vivien's misdirection over and over, and I wanted to kick him in the shins for it. The reason provided was his love for her (and I imagine his own feelings about the match), and that was believable, but.... I guess I just wanted him a little cleverer.

For her part, Vivien is a very competent young woman. She's ballsy, taking on responsibilities that should never have been hers. She's also got a kind heart, and seems a little naive - the dangers that face her seem much more threatening over the long term than I think she grasped. 

There's a few interesting supporting cast members - Dominic who obviously should have the last romance in the series as the spymaster himself falls for a wonderful woman. I haven't read the novella prequel that contains his childhood story (or I assume it is), but I might pick it up to get myself up to speed. Griffin Steele, another royal by-blow, is also of interest and his story is the next in the series. He's got enough (criminal?) quirks that his story should be especially fun to read!

I hadn't read Vanessa Kelly before this, but I'm quite glad to have 'met' her. Her writing is in line with Julia Quinn or Victoria Alexander in terms of the quality of it, and I hope to discover that she's a reliable read as well. I can always use new reliable romance authors (as I churn too quickly through the backlists of my current favourites!)

Bottom line:

A fun Regency romp, I'd recommend this one for an afternoon spent lazing with a cup of tea. I hated putting it down, and will look for the sequel, Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom, coming in April.

4 stars
For fans of Regency romance, spy romance

Reforming the Playboy by Inara Scott

The Basics:
Reforming the Playboy by Inara Scott
Entangled Publishing : Indulgence
A Passion Creek Romance
Romance
Published December 17, 2013
Amazon.ca  Kobo.com

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

Five years ago, she left without a word…

Internationally-renowned artist Max Estin is as well known for his million dollar commissions as he is his partying and clubbing. But Max is hiding a secret—for almost a year he’s been completely blocked. Unable to paint. And to unlock his art, and save his career, he’s going to need the one woman he never wanted to see again.

Now, he’s determined to make her pay…

Kira Estin never told Max exactly why she left, or what secrets forced her to return home to Passion Creek so abruptly. So when a chance reunion turns to seduction, Kira is more than a little suspicious. She knows better than to trust Max, but can’t fight the fire that he lights in her body—or her heart. But when everyone is hiding a secret, can even the hottest passion survive?

Why I picked up this book:

I like the idea of two people who were once in love coming back together again. 

My thoughts:

Up front, I have to confess that I couldn't read this one linearly: So, Kira's aunt, who was her guardian, has passed away before the book starts, and she puts Kira into this awful position wherein some very revealing drawings of her, done by her former lover Max, are going to be made public if Max and Kira don't reconnect in person to exchange the images. This premise made me SO UNCOMFORTABLE. That Kira's aunt would first, create even the possibility of the images going public, and second, have the other option be handing the images over to Kira's ex.... The whole scenario made me cringe. I have no problem with the sharing of nude and/or erotic images, but to share them with other people when the subject of them is so strongly against it.  Nope.

I ended up skipping to near the end of the book, reading the climax and conclusion, skipping earlier again, and then starting over to read through until what I'd already read and them skim through the end.

Some people read books like this all the time, which is why I decided not to pass on writing a review. My discomfort was obviously an issue, and it coloured my reading of the book.  

Okay, so moving beyond the start, which I really didn't like.... The rest of the book is okay?  The threat of the pictures is always looming, particularly as Max holds onto his desire for revenge, and then his creative issues. I had a really hard time getting on board. 

I liked Kira's efforts to help Max and the way their past together was sort of superimposed on to the events of the present. This emphasized their emotional states and made the romance more plausible.

Overall, the story itself was adequate. There's a mystery around why Kira left Max in the first place, which worked for me only when factoring in these particular characters, with their personalities and backgrounds.

Bottom line:

If the premise doesn't put you off, then this is a solid romance. I suspect many people wouldn't fixate on this detail as strongly as I did (and my focus on it reminds me of the many reviews I've read where the reviewer emphasized things that I hardly noticed when I read the book myself). So this is one review where I'll underline a few extra times the "To Each Their Own" part of this blog's title.

3 stars
For fans of contemporary romance, Inara Scott.

Wanted by J. Kenner

The Basics:

Wanted by J. Kenner
Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell
Erotica
Published Jan 7, 2014
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

Blurb:

For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Bared to You, and Release Me comes an all-new erotic series of three enigmatic and powerful men, and the striking women who can bring them to their knees.

He is everything I crave, all I desperately want—and he is everything I can’t have.

Evan Black embodies my every fantasy. He is brilliant, fierce, and devastatingly handsome. But he is also headstrong, dangerous, and burdened with secrets.

My family warned me to stay away, that I could never handle Evan’s dark dealings or scarred past. Maybe I should have listened. Maybe I should have run. But our desire is undeniable, and some temptations you just can’t fight.

And from the moment we touch—the passion between us consuming us both—I know that I will never be the same.

Wanted is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

What worked for me:

I loved this sexy novel about a woman who wants to let loose and fly and the man who understands her.

So I've written before about being at my limit for overly controlling alpha men - Evan's definitely in the alpha man camp. And he made me realize that perhaps I'm not really over alpha men so much as how they tend to be written. Because Evan was fantastic. He completely understood Angelina's need to let go of herself, to break through all the walls she forced around her true self, and simply fly on pure emotion and adrenaline.
This forms a logical basis for a relationship, one in which Evan controls the scene with the explicit goal of sending  Angelina to ever increasing heights. There seemed, to me, to be a more equal relationship between these two than I've seen in some other novels with a dominant male. Although yes, Evan did set the terms of most of their sexual encounters,  Angelina's motivation to participate, above and beyond her desire for Evan, seemed more defining in many ways. I liked that there was none of this "I take pleasure in your pain, and you'll take pleasure in pleasing me through your pain" stuff. Angelina may have enjoyed submitting, but Evan taking control was about more than that, and that is where this book really succeeded (for me).

There's also Cole and Tyler, Evan's partners and best friends, whose stories I look forward to reading. They have a role in the story that happens around the developing relationship, and I'm curious to learn more about what's really happening in their enterprises.

What didn't work for me:

Not a lot. I would have liked more insight into the dealings of the Knights, to fully flesh that aspect out - but I understand that something has to be held back for Cole and Tyler's stories.

Bottom line:

I lost sleep to finishing this book, which is the highest compliment I can pay. I was swept up in Angelina's attempts to find herself, I was touched by the way Evan provided her with a safety net so she could soar, and I will look forward to the next book in the series!

Check this one out!

5 stars
For fans of erotica and alpha men who aren't unbearable

Jenny: Virtuous No More, Part 1 by Nora Blackstock

The Basics:
Jenny: Virtuous No More, Part 1 by Nora Blackstock
Sunbow Press
Part 1 of the Jenny: Virtuous No More series
Erotica
Published December 10, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

Jenny was a good, devoted wife. When her marriage to husband Mark grew distant, she took matters into her own hands to find out if he still loved her. He did, but his confession, and the things he wanted her to do, were shocking. To save her marriage, Jenny embarked on a sexual journey from which there was no turning back. She would no longer be the “good girl” that everyone knew and loved.

Why I picked up this book:

I was looking for some good erotica, and I liked the implications of the blurb. I've also read a few good serial erotic novels in the last couple months, so I'm trying to keep an open mind about them.

My thoughts:

This is a very short first part of a longer series. It's about saving a sexless marriage - Jenny discovers her husband's into some particular kinks and as she shares her own fantasies, he presses her to fulfill his. This is the entire basis for the plot. Maybe there'll be more as the story develops, but I needed something a bit meatier in a first part to hook me into reading the next part. 

So, the fantasizing and sex is decent (or... appropriately indecent?). But there's not much story to pin it on. Mark is a jerk, and I wanted Jenny to divorce him and undergo her own sexual awakening as a single woman. Maybe if there'd been more tension between them, more will they-won't they, I would have been drawn in?

I did like that they take slightly risque everyday events and build on them to create a fantasy scenario - it's a good technique for erotica writers as I think it makes it easier for the reader to relate. Daydreaming and fantasizing is something I imagine most people do.

Unfortunately, that's really all there was to this book, in my opinion.

Bottom line:

This is completely about sex, with very little connection between the characters. Perhaps all the parts together work better? There really isn't enough in this first part for me. For me, disappointing overall.

Right now the first part is available for free on Amazon and Kobo, so give it a shot if you're curious!

2 stars
For fans of exhibitionism, voyeurism, wife-sharing erotica.

The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan

The Basics:
The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan
Book Three in The Brothers Sinister series
Historical Romance
Published December 17, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

Sebastian Malheur is the most dangerous sort of rake: an educated one. When he’s not scandalizing ladies in the bedchamber, he’s outraging proper society with his scientific theories. He’s desired, reviled, acclaimed, and despised—and he laughs through it all.

Violet Waterfield, the widowed Countess of Cambury, on the other hand, is entirely respectable, and she’d like to stay that way. But Violet has a secret that is beyond ruinous, one that ties her irrevocably to England’s most infamous scoundrel: Sebastian’s theories aren’t his. They’re hers.

So when Sebastian threatens to dissolve their years-long conspiracy, she’ll do anything to save their partnership...even if it means opening her vulnerable heart to the rake who could destroy it for good.

Why I picked up this book:

I'm a fan of Courtney Milan, I liked historical romance and I have a novella and novel from earlier in the series to read (though I haven't read them yet, and this breaks with my normal insistance on reading series books in order)

My thoughts:

I loved this one. My heart was breaking for Violet before the end of the first chapter, when Sebastian announces an end to presenting Violet's work. The subsequent chapters provide more information about them as individuals and why this tension exists between them even though they've been working together as friends for so long.

What really works for me about The Countess Conspiracy is that I never felt like either character was treating the other wildly unfairly. They were both motivated by good reasons and watching them try to overcome those fears and secrets and difficulties had me racing through the pages to get to the end.

I loved that these two know each other so well already that they have a secret language, that they can read each other's smiles and smirks in ways that everyone else cannot. The history between them makes Violet and Sebastian's romance all the sweeter. There's so much love and caring already between them, I enjoyed reading as they tried to navigate unexpected new relationship territory.

The tension over Violet's secret work and what would/could happen to her and her family if it was exposed had me grumbling, but not because it didn't fit with the setting or story. I liked the tie-ins to earlier books in the series (which I will now go and read),

There isn't an identifiable villain - the issues are Violet's perceived improprieties (alongside the romantic plot which dominates the book, of course), and Sebastian's efforts to convince his brother that he's a worthy guardian for his nephew. These issues were not light-hearted, but despite their gravity, I still had reason to smile while reading this. I also thought the romance was perfectly balanced with these problems.

Bottom line:

Strongly recommended. The Countess Conspiracy was very satisfying with a sweet romance, a smart heroine and a hero who would do almost anything for her.

Courtney Milan is one of my go-to authors. I find her books to be of a reliable quality. There's an equality and respect between hero and heroine - I never feel like one is at a disadvantage with the other which can sometimes be a problem with historical romance. Even with my high expectations, The Countess Conspiracy delivered.

5 stars
For fans of Courtney Milan, historical romance, clever heroines and the men who love them.

Geek with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir

The Basics:
Geek with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir
Belfry Press
Book 2 in the Cool Cats series
New Adult, Romance
Published Dec 20, 2013

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

Shy music geek Emerson Foshay breaks into a cold sweat and is rendered speechless whenever Lola Brown, the girl of his dreams, steps into his guitar shop, but once a stray cat named Sam follows him home everything changes and Emerson becomes the coolest guy in town.

Why I picked up this book:

I liked the cover and the idea of someone with a cat tattoo seemed kind of amusing.

My thoughts:

This is a novella - roughly 30K words - that features a sentient cat named Sam who can 'mindmess' with people. He usually uses his power to manipulate his environment - better food, clean litter box, etc. - but when he meets Emerson, he uses it to give the poor guy a boost of confidence around the woman he desires.

For me, the cat stuff was a little weird. The book starts narrated from Sam's perspective and I worried that the whole thing was going to be told by the cat. Fortunately it quickly switches over to Emerson and Lola, and from their perspectives the story is a fairly sweet little romance.

The conflict in the book comes from Emerson's struggle with social anxiety and Lola's caution with men after being burned by a grifter ex. I didn't love Lola - I sympathized a lot with Emerson, and thought Lola could be a wee bit more understanding. I did appreciate that Emerson does shut down and behave in a really irksome fashion, but that he also does some really sweet, romantic things of his own volition, without Sam's influence.

There was material here that I really had to suspend my disbelief for - Emerson's work, particularly his gift for Lola, seemed a little, ah, quick? And then the cat, of course.

I also wonder about the play of the title - of course my mind goes to the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and this book has zero connection to it. I'd go so far as to call it an opposite - this is a love story, a romance that shouldn't be taken too seriously.

Bottom line:

A sweet, short romance that requires a suspension of disbelief to enjoy. It had some cute moments, but overall didn't strike the right chords for me.

2.5 stars
For fans of a dash of paranormal with your romance, music and romance.

Control by Charlotte Stein

The Basics:
Control by Charlotte Stein
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Erotica
Published Jan 7, 2014
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

When Madison Morris decides to hire an assistant to help run her naughty bookshop, she gets a lot more than she bargained for. Two very different men are vying for the position...and a whole lot more.

Andy excites her into grasping control, while Gabriel shows her how freeing it can be to just let go. Soon the lines are blurring and Madison is no longer sure who's leading and who's following. In the midst of kinky threesomes and power plays, can she’ll have to finally decide what--and who--she really wants.

What worked for me:

Right off the bat, the bookstore had my heart. I want to own a 'dirty bookstore' called Wicked Words. I imagine in the current economy this wouldn't really be that feasible as far as new businesses go, but who cares! A bookstore that specializes in romance and erotica sounds like an amazing place to work, to me.

Okay, moving beyond my lust for Madison's workplace, this book is straightforward erotica. It starts off in the middle of a sexual encounter and does not let up. There's variety here - lots of sex or sexual moments that are not typical currently in mainstream erotica. Though obviously the control theme is a hot topic, this book explores both male and female dominance.

Though I hadn't previously considered myself interested in reading a female dominant story, Stein adeptly coaxed me into seeing Gabe's submission and desire to be pushed into his various sexual fantasies as extremely hot. I wasn't 'into' all of the scenes, but I did appreciate being exposed to them, and having my horizons broadened.

I also love the cheeky meta nature of having erotic novels inspire Madison's behaviour - some tongue-in-cheek encouragement?

What didn't work for me:

Though the first impression Gabe makes isn't overly favourable, by the end of the story, it's easy to see why Madison is so attracted to him. Unfortunately, Andy never quite did it for me. There was something too smarmy and smug about him to push any of my buttons. I kept picturing him as a sort of unattractive, lout of a fellow, and I'm sure that didn't help. His brand of control was so derogatory that it put me off, though it was in keeping with the book's presentation of control.

Bottom line:

I strongly recommend this to fans of erotica. I thought it was wonderfully inventive within a nearly exhausted sub-genre. I'd love to read more by this author -  Charlotte Stein is definitely on my list now!

4.5 stars
For fans of erotica, BDSM, humiliation, male submissives.