Heat Level – Blaze

Lady Vivian Defies a Duke by Samantha Grace

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Lady Vivian Defies a Duke (Beau Monde #4)
Grade: B
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical
Series: Beau Monde Bachelor #4
Reviewed by Kate

Before he died, Luke’s father entered into secret marriage negotiations with Vivian’s brother. Wait. That came across a bit more risque than I intended. The negotiations were to betroth Luke and Vivian. For Vivian, the marriage would provide an escape from her lonely life. Due to a scandal, her only other option would be the convent. Luke wants no part of his new role as a duke and marrying would just add more responsibilities. He plans on releasing her from the contract. Once he meets Vivian, he decides he can’t send such a vibrant person to waste away in a convent. Still not willing to marry her, the only noble thing left to do is facilitate a marriage between Vivian and another suitable gentleman. But Vivian has set her sights on Luke and Luke is finding it impossible to picture her with anyone else.

The book seemed to naturally divide into two parts for me The first half centers around Luke and Vivian accepting that they want each other. The second half covers all the obstacles that stand in their way. Vivian’s quasi-scandal. A blackguard out for revenge. A cousin enamored with Luke.

Vivian was an entertaining heroine who marched to her own beat whenever she thought no one was looking. Luke, a rare soul who saw the inner beauty of Vivian, was strong and caring and well…heroic. Despite the weaker second half, I liked the story a lot. It could have used a bit more sex, but what book couldn’t? I find myself hoping to hear more about Luke’s cousin Johanna in a future book.

Ten Reasons To Stay by Sabrina Jeffries

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Ten Reasons to Stay
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Schools For Heiresses
Reviewed by Kay

This novella was previously published by Sabrina Jeffries. It will be re released on May 6, 2013.
This is the story of one of the heiresses from the school, Eliza Crenshawe. She was picked up from the school by her uncle under false pretenses. He takes her home and says he is going to marry her off to his friend.

Colin Hunt, an earl, has just arrived at his newly inherited estate. He sees a boy sneaking into his stables. This worries him because he has a lot of impressive horseflesh. He confronts the boy only to find out it’s a girl. The girl is trying to make it back to her school to escape a forced marriage.

Colin and Eliza are precious together. Eliza as she fights for her dignity, virtue and survival, all by herself. And Colin as he fights for acceptance because he’s a foreigner and he fights the demons of his past.

This is a great, short read. I loved every second of it. I’m a big fan of Sabrina Jeffries, so this just solidified that for me. It was moving, tender and hot. Three things I just adore. And when he counts the ten reasons she should stay….sigh.

Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Midnight Secrets (Wildfire, #1)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Wildfire #1
Reviewed by Kay

This is the first book in a series for Ella Grace. Ella Grace is a pen name for Christy Reece. The story starts 18 years ago with the double homicide of Beckett and Maggie Wilde.  It’s made to appear as a murder-suicide by Beckett Wilde. The couple’s identical triplet daughters, Savannah, Samantha and Sabrina are away at summer camp at the time of their parents deaths.

From there the story skips ahead 8 years to their senior year of high school. Prom night to be exact. Savannah’s date is drinking and obnoxious, so she goes outside in the parking lot to look for her sister, Samantha. What she finds is four would-be rapists.

Meanwhile, on his way home from work is Zach Tanner, local bad boy and son of the town slut. He sees the scene in the prom parking lot and steps in to rescue her. He drives her home and this begins a fragile friendship that quickly turns into first love. Both of them know Zach is going into the Army in two months. The night before he leaves for basic training he gives Savannah a promise ring and she gives him her virginity. He tells her that he’ll come by in the morning to say goodbye. He never shows up and her heart is broken.

Ten years later, Savannah is a Nashville assistant district attorney and is back in her hometown of Midnight to clear out her grandfather’s possessions after his death. Zach is now the police chief in Midnight. Savannah is soon deep into investigating her parents’ deaths after finding some letters of her grandfather’s.

It’s a good start to a new series. Good mix of romance and suspense. Good mystery also. It did drag a little bit in the middle for me though. A sweet story of first love lasting for years with doses of murder and mayhem sprinkled in.