Currently Reading

Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks
This is the third book in the McCabe trilogy by Maya Banks, featuring the third and youngest brother, Caelen, and his bride, Rionna MacDonald.
I can't wait to begin reading this one. =D





 

Winging It By Deborah Cooke

This is the second installment in Deborah Cooke's Dragon Diaries series.
I can't wait to read more about Zoë and her adventures.
Thanks to Deborah Cooke for the ARC!

The Viper by Monica McCarty

Goodreads Synopsis:
The war for Scotland’s sovereignty rages on—as Robert the Bruce is crowned king and the Highland Guard, his elite fighting force of legendary warriors, battle for land . . . and love.

Prized for his snakelike stealth and deadly strikes, Lachlan “Viper” MacRuairi is a warrior to enlist but not to trust. His only loyalty is to his purse, his indifference sealed by bitter betrayal. All that changes when Lachlan is tasked to protect and deliver Bella MacDuff to the king’s coronation—and the proud, lushly sensual countess unwittingly challenges him to his greatest battle yet: to love again.Passionate and devoted, Bella has defied Britain’s king and her own husband to place the crown on Bruce’s head, and for this she pays a terrible price: Losing her daughter and her freedom to her husband’s vengeance. Imprisoned with barbaric cruelty, she vows to reclaim her child, even if it means selling her soul—and her body—to a dark, lethal warrior whose eyes glint like steel, but who makes her skin tingle and her breath race. Together they embark on a rogue mission with sinister twists and turns that threatens not only Bella’s gamble to save her daughter—but also her heart.
My Review:
The Viper, book 4 in the Highland Guard series, is definitely one of my favorite historical romance books. The story was full of intrigue, betrayal, and lots of steamy scenes.
The Viper tells the story of Isbella MacDuff and Lachlan MacRuairi, aka Viper. The beginning of the story is from Bella's point of view in captivity, but then takes us back to when Lachlan and Bella first meet and he's come to take her to Scone to crown Robert Bruce. Bella is forced to leave her daughter behind which tears her apart. She hates Lachlan for it but can do nothing. Then there's that instant attraction that both of them try to deny, but of course can't. Bella doesn't trust Lachlan especially since his reputation is pretty bad and he was rumored to have killed his wife. But as they spend more time together she begins to think that there may be more to Lachlan than meets the eye. After crowning Bruce Lachlan is tasked with escorting the ladies north, and after the ladies capture, the story jumps back to the present.
Bella and Lachlan's relationship was very well written. Bella never backed down from him, which I admired. She was a strong and courageous heroine that would have done anything to get her daughter back. Lachlan, I absolutely loved. His past story was heart breaking and full of betrayals. But his character was wonderful. He's the ultimate male hero. I loved watching the two of them fall in love, especially Lachlan. He went from a distant, cold man, to a loving, sweet, and caring one. This was a wonderfully written story with a bit of history in it to make it really interesting. I was really looking forward to Lachlan's story was not disappointed at all. I especially loved the epilogue. I think it was really sweet and I greatly enjoyed it. I am anxiously waiting for The Saint to come out next year. 

Other books in the Highland Guard series:
Book 1: The Chief
Book 2: The Hawk
Book 3: The Ranger
Book 4: The Viper

Coming Soon:
Book 5: The Saint 

Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks

Goodreads Synopsis:

A warrior is caught between family loyalty and forbidden love in book two of bestselling author Maya Banks’s sensual new trilogy featuring three indomitable Highlanders.
Fiercely loyal to his elder brother, Alaric McCabe leads his clan in the fight for their birthright. Now he is prepared to wed for duty, as well. But on his way to claim the hand of Rionna McDonald, daughter of a neighboring chieftain, he is ambushed and left for dead. Miraculously, his life is saved by the soft touch of a Highland angel, a courageous beauty who will put to the test his fealty to his clan, his honor, and his deepest desires.
An outcast from her own clan, Keeley McDonald was betrayed by those she loved and trusted. When the wounded warrior falls from his horse, she is drawn to his strong, lean body. The wicked glint in his green eyes ignites a passion that will follow them back to Alaric’s keep, where their forbidden love draws them deeper into the pleasures of the flesh. But as conspiracy and danger circle closer, Alaric must make an impossible choice: Will he betray his blood ties for the woman he loves?


My Review:
The second installment in the McCabe trilogy does not disappoint. Alaric is a caring and gentle hero that just stole my heart away. Keeley was so fun to read about. She could definitely take care of herself and I loved the way she stood up to others. Keeley and Alaric's relationship was pretty much forbidden since Alaric was supposed to marry Rionna McDonald. Alaric and Keeley both knew what they had to do and it was heart-wrenching to see two people who are so perfect for each other and so in love give up their happily ever after for the sake of their clan. The ending, though, couldn't have been better. I loved every second of this story. It was sweet, romantic and emotional. This book, for me, surpassed the first book in the trilogy. I can not wait for Caelen and Rionna's story.

McCabe Trilogy:

Book 1, August 30, 2011

Book 2, September 27, 2011

Book 3, October 25, 2011

                                

What I'm Reading

I'm finally reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. I don't know what took me so long to pick this series up! I love it.  
So far I've finished Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, Lover Unbound, and Lover Unleashed.
I started out reading Vishous's book, Lover Unbound, and Lover Unleashed, and fell in love with them. Yeah, didn't read them in order at first, but now I am. Ms. Ward got herself a new fan!


Today is also the release date for The Viper by Monica McCarty! The Viper is the fourth book in Ms. McCarty's Highland Guard series. If you love romance, history, and a strong sexy highlander, or islander, pick this series up.
I bought my copy today and can't wait to get started. I waited almost a year for this one to come out. I'm planning to finish the BDB series before beginning this one, though.





Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout also comes out today! Didn't get my copy yet, but definitely going to soon. Gods, daimons, a kick-a** heroine and a hot guy. Come one, what's not to love?






I have so many books to read, and barely any time to read them. This is very rare for me. I usually don't have anything to read at all. Hopefully I'll finish them all by this weekend! =D

Book Review: Lucky in Love

4 Stars

 Lucky in Love
Author: Cari Hislop
Edition: E-Book




Synopsis from Goodreads

A Regency Romance. Lord Warenne accepts a wager to court a desperate old maid he's never seen and have his marriage proposal rejected in front of witnesses. He knows he'll win; he's lucky. But sometimes good luck is really bad luck wearing a tawdry wig and lots of face paint. Fate flips its coin. Lord Warenne finds his world upside down when he realises that sometimes to win is to lose.

Edmund, Lord Warenne, makes a wager with his pal, Doodle concerning Doodle's cousin, an old 31-year-old maid named Priscilla. If Edmund proposes to her and she refuses, he wins Doodle's lucky snuff box. If she actually agrees, Edmund's stuck with her. So Edmund pays Priscilla a visit, making sure she WILL refuse him by getting all dirty and stinky. When Priscilla meets Lord Warenne, she's disgusted. He has the manners of a pig and stinks so bad she can't even come near him without wanting to gag. Yet she feels this teenie tiny attraction to him. Edmund's plan works out, but he actually ends up kind of liking her and gets this feeling that maybe he should take her with him after all. But when she refuses yet again, he leaves. Later they run into each other again when Priscilla and her cousin Catherine are shopping and he asks for her hand again, and she refuses, again. But then things start to get interesting as another man, a particular duke with a grudge against Edmund, sets his sights on Priscilla. And so begins Edmund's race to win Priscilla's heart before it's too late.

I bought this book from the Reader Store because it was free. I had my doubts about this book, but actually ended up liking it quite a bit.I really liked the heroine, Priscilla, or Penny as Warenne calls her. She's hilarious. However, I felt sorry for her as to how others, like her family, treated her. They told her she was a curse, bad luck, and they didn't want her, especially because she was an old maid. Her cousin Catherine specifically got on my nerves. I disliked her, a lot. The hero in the story, Warenne/Edmund, was wickedly charming at the beginning. But he sort of lost it towards the middle/end. He was really sweet though. By the way, did I mention that the hero is 26 and the heroine is 31. That's something different, well for me at least. I think the book would have had more potential if it was an actual full length book instead of only a hundred and something pages. But overall I enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers who aren't too picky (becasue some of the writing is kind of mediocre) and like a good quick read.