Sunday, November 16, 2008

Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad

The past few historical romances I have read have been published from Avon. Two out of the three I really enjoyed, while one was a DNF.

Why not start out with the DNF? I have enjoyed Anne Mallory’s books in the past, and her latest release, The Bride Price, has an interesting set up with an amoral hero who is the illegitimate son of a Duke. Sebastian is so delusional and as anti-hero as you can get. He enjoys seducing the innocents and being as reckless as he can, which is the perfect way to give his father the middle finger. Sebastian joins the other bastard sons of the aristocrats, who don’t have a chance of being accepted in polite society or having a name for themselves, in a competition where the winner will be able to marry a gentlewoman, known as the bosom of the ton. If Sebastian can win, he will have a title, a massive fortune and a piece of land that was his mother’s that his father owns and holds over his head. Sebastian accepts because there is nothing more important that belonging even though he acts as if he doesn’t care.

Caroline Martin is a widow who married the wrong man, so much so, she must be ever so respectful so she is not the topic of rumors. She is a friend and confidant to Sarah, the bosom of the ton. She is so disgusted by what Sarah’s father, the Earl of Cheevers is doing. But Caroline can not be too vocal because she relies on the Earl for her livelihood. Caroline is also quite the artist and Sebastian comes upon her as she is drawing a cottage that is on the property Sebastian wants so badly. Out of the blue, one thing leads to another and before Caroline can find out his name, Sebastian as given her the best orgasm of her life on the garden bench. From that moment on Sebastian will find a way to seduce Caroline and even places a bet that he can do so.

I do love an amoral hero, but Sebastian was more of a whiny brat if anything. Caroline feels she must take the moral high road because of the way she eloped with her deceased husband, and because of that she must gain her respectability back. She acts like she can’t stand Sebastian because of who he is and the way he treats people, but when it comes to sex, she opens her arms to him and let’s Sebastian do all types of naughty unrespectable things to her. The chemistry between these two were so lacking and I wanted to tell Sebastian to grow up and get over his issues he has with his daddy.

Half-way through I wanted to close this book, which I did, and The Bride Price was given the unfortunate label of being a DNF book.

All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks may have a very unappealing title along with a cover that looks like the Batman signal in the sky, but this was an enjoyable read. Her vampire men are beyond sexy and the majority of her heroes are highlanders in kilts! This latest tale is about Ian MacPhie. Ian was changed into a vampire when he was barely a teenager, and because of it, he always looks like a young boy. Dating for him was impossible and since he has taken a drug called Stay-Awake for twelve days, Ian has aged to look finally look like a grown man. Now he wants to find a woman to spend his immortal life with. He is looking for female vampire companionship, and soon he is forced to put a single ad placed in a paper. And because of that, he soons has more than enough women problems. There is a rumor going around that Ian is a virgin, and soon all these vamp women want to be his first. Ian does have sexual experience, but has never had the long lasting relationship he has always longed for. He doesn’t want to date any human women, but unfortunately he can’t help but fall for Toni, a new security guard who watches over Ian and his other fellow vampires during the day. At first these two bicker back and forth, but then their feelings change to love.

Kerrelyn’s books make me laugh because her characters are adorable and the situations they find themselves in are hilarious. Plus, her sex scenes are very steamy. There is one such scene where Ian and Toni are intimate and Ian wants to kiss and suck on her, but not on her neck or for her blood, but another place altogether. So very scandalous and hot I say!

All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire gets 3 ½ stars out of 5 stars

To Sin With a Stranger by Kathryn Caskie does not come out till December. This is the first book in her Seven Deadly Sins series that is something to look forward to. Kathryn has come up with a great idea about seven siblings from Scotland, known as the Seven Deadly Sins. The Sinclairs have been banished from their father as punishment for all their unruly behavior. They must make their way, on their own, without any help from him. They all have an allowance and must figure out a way to keep food on the table and a shelter over their heads. This first book is about the heir and eldest sibling, Sinclair, who is cursed with greed. Sinclair is a pretty alright fellow and feels he is responsible for everything that has befallen his younger brothers and sisters. He will try his best to make sure they are all taken care of, even if he has to start wagering and becoming a boxer and fighter to make ends meet.

Sinclair makes the acquaintance of Miss Isobel Carrington who is a do-gooder. She wants to help the poor unfortunate widows and children of soldiers who go off to war and don’t return. When Sinclair and Isobel meet, it is not under the best of circumstances. Soon Sinclair knows a way to make his fortune and that is to make a wager that he can get Isobel to marry him. Soon all of London is in on the bet and even Isobel will use this wager to help in her cause. Both Sinclair and Isobel join forces with each get what they want. Not only do they become friends, but as in most romances of this ilk, they become lovers.

To Sin With a Stranger is a bit of an unconventional story. The Sinclair siblings all care for one another other and are there to help each other out. I can’t wait to read the future novels of the Sinclair clan.

3 ½ stars out of 5 stars.

Katiebabs (KB)

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