Ass of the Year

‘Twas the Night After Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

'Twas the Night After Christmas

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-Non Kink
Series-Hellions of Halstead Hall #6
Genre-Historical
Reviewed  by Kay

Lord Devonmont, Pierce Waverly is summoned home to his estranged mother because of a message he received from her companion. He thinks she is deathly ill and that is the only reason he comes to check on the mother that basically disowned him. He was raised by his cousins and their family. When he gets there, he finds her in good health and is furious. Her companion, Camilla Stewart will now face his wrath.

Camilla Stewart is a widow with a small son, Jasper. She enjoys her job and spending time with Lady Devonmont. She hates to see her ladyship so lonely for her son. She knows they’re estranged and assumes its all Pierce’s fault. She’s also dreading the confrontation she knows is coming for sending a false missive.

This book just never clicked for me. It wasn’t bad, just not great. The hero was an ass! Truly! Almost everything he said was gruff and hateful. I know he had abandonment issues but come on, he was in his thirties. He came off as spoiled. I did like the heroine and supporting characters. The heat level was sub-par and coupled with my dislike of the hero, the book never really got off the ground for me.

Taken by Kelli Maine

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Taken (Give & Take, #1)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Give&Take #1
Reviewed by Kay

Rachael DeSalvo has a chance at getting her dream job. She memorized everything she needed to know to land the job. She has the interview by webcam with the CEO and gets the job! You flash forward a little and she is out on the town celebrating with her friends. She sees a guy who looks familiar and he approaches her. He buys her a drink and then things go from fuzzy to black. She wakes up in a room she doesn’t know surrounded by things she doesn’t recognize. She does however recognize the man from the bar. She puts two and two together and realizes she was ruffied. Her captor is none other than the CEO of the company she interviewed with.

Merrick Rocha has been obsessed with Rachael since their interview and watched her from afar since she had to turn down the job. He is obviously very wealthy and used to getting what he wants. Her turning down the job she so desperately wanted intrigued him so much that he kidnapped her. He wants to possess her. Oddly enough, he also wants her help to re-do an old hotel they discussed at her interview.

Okay, first, the creep factor with the kidnapping almost did the book in for me. I have already read Captive in Dark and refused to read Truth, both of these books have similar themes in them. I tried to wrap my brain around it all the way through the book. I couldn’t grasp the love of this old hotel being the reason he kidnapped her. That being said, watching his attempts at redemption and winning her trust were entertaining. It was said in the book that she always thought he was attractive and therefore attracted to him. She battled with herself and her feelings regarding him through a lot of the book.

I won’t call this a sweet romance but they were happy by the end of the book. There was a little suspense, a lot of creepy, great love scenes once they got started and an HEA. The journey to get there was a little rough. I haven’t decided if I’ll read more of the series yet

The Warrior by Margaret Mallory

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

The Warrior (Return of the Highlanders, #3)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Return of the Highlanders #3
Reviewed by Kay

This is the final chapter in this saga, I think.  It is the story of Duncan and Moira. They grew up together in their clan. Moira’s brother is Duncan’s best friend. They had a love affair as teens but due to the different stations in life they had, once their affair was exposed, they were separated. Duncan was sent to France and Moira was married off to an Irish chieftain. Flash forward seven years and we find Duncan sent to check on Moira now that her brother is in a fight for his title. Moira’s life is not all its cracked up to be.

I don’t want to give any of the surprises away in the story so I’ll stop there. I love this series and this story. I love the trope of the brother’s best friend and the sister. There was a great deal of emotion in this story. It’s a great example of enduring love and the importance of family. I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve read everything this author has written and will continue to do so.