Review: Lumina by Georgia Fox

Lumina by Georgia Fox

Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Rating: 4

 

Blurb

Isabelle is about to have her virginity auctioned off to the highest bidder. Only stern, sensible Salvatore, her cruel aunt’s solicitor, can rescue her. While he’s been her tutor, she’s fallen deeply in love. But Salvatore has dark secrets that keep him from temptation. Their futures seem destined to be apart.

Her pride wounded by his rejection, and trust broken by a shocking discovery, Isabelle tries to forget him. Determined never to endanger her heart again, she finds another man to satisfy her sexual needs.
Until a surprise inheritance brings her back to Salvatore.

Now named “Lumina”, she wants two things from him – the cock he once denied her. And vengeance.
Salvatore, now a free man, has other ideas. He bitterly regretted losing her before and he’ll do anything to keep her this time, even sharing her with other lovers.
Until she’s ready to commit herself solely to him.


Lia's Review
 
Lumina, by Georgia Fox, is the story of a woman’s transformation from a naïve little girl to a wanton hussy.

Isabelle was ripped away from everything she knew and thrown into a world as different from hers as night from day. While living with her mother and siblings, Isabelle was exposed to a poor country girl’s life of hard work, no fortune, but the belief of true love. But when her wealthy aunt takes her on as her newest ‘project’, Isabelle is now fortunate to live the life of riches, education, and culture. There is only one price; no true love. Her aunt wants to auction off her virginity to the highest bidder. After all, only a man of money could be worth this girl, even if she didn’t love him. Devastated, Isabelle sets out to rebel against her aunt and make her own decisions, and her own mistakes.

I instantly liked Isabelle. She was smart and passionate. Behind the naïve girl, there was a strong, brave woman wanting to emerge, and as the story progressed, we saw the transformation in her, as well as the events that led her to it.

Salvatore was a flawed hero. I loved his imperfections and hypocrisy, and hated it at the same time. He was a hero who sinned and needed redemption. Although he redeemed himself in this readers eyes.

The story as a whole flowed wonderfully, with the words painting vivid pictures. There were no dragging moments, no dullness. I was pulled in from page one and not let go until the final page. It was a truly great read and I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good story along with hot sex.

5 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Enraptured by Jayne Fresina

Enraptured by Jayne Fresina

Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Rating: 4

Blurb

A Private Collection

Harry Blackwood has a rule never to sleep with a woman younger than thirty. But he’s also never been to a ball uninvited, stripped naked over tea in a quiet parlor, stepped inside a male bordello, been spanked by anyone other than his father, or become emotionally involved in another person’s life. And within a few hours, all that will change.

Christina Deveraux is nineteen, untamable as a hellcat and determined to enjoy Harry Blackwood’s abundant favors the moment he drops his trousers in her front parlor. As for his silly rules— she’s never met a rule she couldn’t break. After all, it is only sex, it’s her trade now she’s been left to manage her mother’s house of sin, and she has enough theory advice from a set of explicit diaries.

Now she wants to put text into practice. And Harry just happens to be the perfect study mate.


Ren's Review

Christina Devereaux, at the tender age of nineteen, is the owner of a bordello, passed down to her by her mother. Instead of throwing up her hands in horror and leaving the town under a cloud of shame, she boldly forges ahead with the detemination to make it the most sought-after establishment in town. Ms. Devereaux isn't peddling female flesh either. This lady has a stable of handsome studs that are strictly for the enjoyment of the dissatisfied wives among the town's elite. Christina is a regular firecracker with a curious and insatiable mind of her own.

Harry Blackwood, older and stodgy, has his own ideas of what he likes in a woman. He doesn't like them young and he definitely doesn't like them interrupting his routine. He lives by a strict set of rule and nothing or no one will change them. When he arrives with the intention of delivering a portrait his father had painted of her mother, he finds himself doing things that he would never have considered, not even in his wildest dreams.
Harry and Christina had me laughing so loud. Their chemistry is immediate, their verbal smackdowns refreshing and the sheer madness of their antics are truly hilarious. For all of their bantering, you can tell that Harry and Christina geniuinely like each other. Oh and the sexy-sexy between them is just as HOT. I would suggest reading these scenes with either the fan turned up high or the air conditioner on full-blast.

I love Jayne Fresina's writing. She takes the basic formula of boy meets girl and twists it up into an addictive read. Her heroines are not the typical shrieking damsels in distress that are prevelant in historical romances. Her heroes are nice (yes, NICE) sexy men that are befuddled and clueless one minute and lovesick the next. There's none of that arrogant egotistical behaviour going on. The men are likeable and funny. I can go on and on, gushing about it but the fact of the matter is this, Ms. Fresina can write. Her stories are wonderfully written, romantic, lusty, funny and brilliant. She takes the whole saucy bodice-ripping of historical romance to a new, exciting level and I just love it.

This is the third installment in this trilogy. I am sad to see it end but I tell you, the characters are so well-written and the stories flow so smoothly that you will not be forgetting them anytime soon.

If you are looking for a historical romance that it totally unexpected, I HIGHLY recommend Ms. Fresina's Private Collection series. You won't regret it.

5 Tea Cups and a Recommended Read!

      

Review: Love's Sweet Wager by Jannine Corti-Petska

Love's Sweet Wager by Jannine Corti-Petska


Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

She escapes a life of uncertainty…

After her gambler father is murdered over a card game, Rachel Garrett joins a wagon train West to be with her aunt and the fiancé she's never met. All she wants is to forget her life of performing on stage to earn the money her father gambled away and to settle down in one place. But along the trail she is helplessly drawn to a priest—forbidden fruit—and her faith is shattered.

He's running from a murder he did not commit…

With his life at stake, successful gambler Reno Hunter joins a wagon train West disguised as a priest. He is shocked to find aboard the woman he won when her father wagered her in that fateful card game, the same man Reno is accused of killing. Can he protect his identity as long as she doesn't know who he is, or will he give in to his desire for the woman and risk being apprehended by the law?


Wendy's Review

Jannine brought a book that had a little of everything and a lot of feelings and over all a great book.

Rachel Garrett began her trip on the wagon train to get to Sacramento to meet up with a fiancé her aunt chose for her after her father's murder. Rachel is a entertainer and she uses her talents a singer and dancer to help support her fathers habits of gambling.

Reno Hunter was accused of a murder he didn't commit and his brothers help him break out of jail so he could prove it. Going on the wagon train was his way of getting out of town, being on the same train as Rachel was just luck. Reno had a paper saying Rachel was his but with him being the accused murderer of her father he decided that he would lie low as a priest and allow nature to take his course.

The wagon train was hard way to journey across the prairie but with all suffering good things come out of it. Rachel and Reno start a relationship that not only has you laughing but it has you praising Rachel for being so strong but Reno is the right man for her to tame that independent streak. Through the hardships of their travel Rachel leans more on Reno then she thinks she should and worries what will happen when she reaches Sacramento to her future husband.

I love how this author wrote Love's Sweet Wager to have you right there living the lives of the wilderness.

5 Tea Cups!

      

Review: The Ever Knight by Georgia Fox

The Ever Knight by Georgia Fox

Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

The Conquerors Series, 1

A Saxon Thane’s daughter, born with mystical healing strength, must choose between two lusty Norman knights, half-brothers, each intent on claiming her for their own. One man has claimed her dowry; the other has claimed her virginity. One man is dying of a battle wound and the other has scars that can’t be seen by the naked eye. Both brothers need her healing touch. Both brothers need her.

And she needs them.

Jisella always knew that one day her Ever Knight would arrive – the soul she’s loved since time began. Yet he’s taken a long time to find her in this life and now she’s not sure which of these handsome Knights is the one for whom she’s waited.

The brothers are all too happy to compete for their lady’s favors. Perhaps there is only one fair decision. Perhaps she can have both, if they might be persuaded to share.

Be Warned: menage a trois romance, menage sex, anal sex.



Yadkny's Review

“It’s not how big it is, it’s what they do with it.”

It all started with a dare on All Hallow’s Eve…

Having been educated by imagination and supposition in the ways of sex, Jisella’s confidence on the subject was called into question. The challenge could simply not go unanswered, but Jisella knew from the moment she saw him that they needed each other. Then his brother came to claim her...

This was so much more than just a dare – this was destiny.

Remy was made for war. His bloodlust on the battlefield proving that a life of peace would be a form of death for him. Fighting give him purpose. Where illegitimacy brought Remy freedom, Renard was dealt the responsibility card of inheritance and a guarded expression. Yet no matter the title or circumstance of birth, a man is still a man and now Jisella has two of them.

The quote above was my favorite from the story and yes it's implying exactly what you think it's implying. For once I found myself not immediately smitten with either of the two leading men. I admired Jisella's boldness with her untried sexual prowess, but the men just came off as arrogant and slightly annoying. Some of the scene flow was a bit choppy, but enjoyably heated nonetheless. The storyline is creative with a bit of unexpected plot suspense, which could have taken the story to the next level had it been longer. Historical romance fans may want to check out this debut author and give this short and erotically sweet story a try.

3 Tea Cups!

Review: The Lady Dares by Tish Domenick

The Lady Dares by Tish Domenick

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Rating: 4

Blurb

Lady Tess Ashworth grew up with, and at fifteen, fell in love with Lord Gareth Caldwell. She has had seven years since they last met to mature into an elegant woman. And seven years to nurture resentment for the man who declared undying love, then married someone else.

Now widowed, Gareth has returned to capture Tess’ heart. But she has acquired a reputation as an
adventuress and will not be easily won. To intrigue her into his bed, he dares her—she never could resist a dare—to join him in a ménage a quatre. Tutored by his deceased wife, he and his two mates have perfected the art of pleasuring a woman while sating their own appetites.

Tess accepts, but not for the reason he imagines. While Gareth is devising a means to thwart her uncle’s plot to murder her, Tess is devising her revenge for Gareth’s betrayal.


Dodie's Review

A Lady Dares is a classic example of be careful what you wish for. Both Gareth and Tess wish to be reunited with each other, and for the other to realize the difficult time they have had throughout the years without each other. In their reunion, neither Gareth nor Tess get quite what they are expecting. Without giving too much away, I love it when books deliver something wonderful, especially when it isn't the occurrence that you are expecting. You know the type - you hear oink, oink, oink and expect to see pigs, but it turns out to be the neighbor's doorbell instead.

This was a great read. The plot twists and turns without loosing the reader. The sex scenes are erotic, as you would expect in a book that promises (and delivers) a menage a quatre. No matter the type of sex you enjoy reading about, there is something here for you. It kept me on my toes, and enthralled the whole way through.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: Busy by Cherie Denis

Busy by Cherie Denis

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Gem has kept her parent's home fire burning for many years. Now she is old enough to pick a mate and the man she has chosen, Og, is too busy. She has done everything she can think of to entice him to her sleeping pallet, but he continues to be too busy.

What Gem doesn't know is Og wants to mate with her and has been hunting for the best skins to offer to her father. Gem's father, Tog, is greedy and wants only the best skins before he will give his daughter away.

Tog drags her to a different cave hoping to sell her there, but the man who offers for Gem is a poor hunter and Tog is offended when the skins he shows are tattered and torn.

Will the skins Og presents to Tog be perfect enough to please the old man?

Will Og always be too busy for Gem or will Gem win out in the end?


Dodie's Review

This book focuses on the friendship Gem has with her sister – friend Cia. Gem and Cia seem to be destined to be in charge of their cave as they get older, and take it upon themselves to lead the other young people of the cave in crafting a spoken language. They have a close friendship, and a socially accepted sexual relationship. There are many erotic scenes between the two of them as they learn how to pleasure each other. The other main focus is on the relationship between Gem and Og. Neither one has done a good job of telling the other how they feel, but both are working hard to end up mated to the other. There are many obstacles in their path to happiness – other possible mates, difficulties with their parents, will Og be able to support Gem and pay her bride price. You find yourself rooting for the two of them to find their happiness together.

Do you like historicals? Did reading Jean Auel leave you wishing for romance novels set in the prehistoric time period? Did you ever wonder how prehistoric teenagers courted? This novel is for those of you who answered yes to the above questions.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: Adelaide's War by Vivian Kees

Adelaide's War by Vivian Kees

Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Rating: 1

Blurb

Isolation has become Adelaide Warren's solace. She lives far from civilization, up in the hills of West Virginia, after the end of the Civil War and the death of her husband. When Josiah Hamilton finds his way to her doorstep, nearly frozen to death one stormy winter night, she nurses him back to life.

They form a fast friendship, which soon becomes more. When Josiah professes his love for her, she refutes him. But when tragedy strikes, it’s Josiah who comes to her rescue. Now, Adelaide is forced to confront her love for him which she has both denied and hidden.

A proposal is made. Will she accept him? If she does, what does that mean for her future?


Clare's Review

Living with the consequences of the war, Adelaide lives alone in the middle of nowhere, until a blizzard lands Josiah literally on her doorstep. Half frozen and almost dead, she brings him inside to care for him. Both Adelaide and Josiah have suffered devastating, life changing losses and know all too well the harsh tongues of the gossips.

In this well written short story, Ms. Kees has packed two well rounded characters, with a supporting cast of secondary characters, each with their own distinct personalities and quirks. Very much like an onion, each page of this book reveals more about Adelaide and Josiah. From a literally frosty beginning, to its heart thudding fiery conclusion, this is well worth curling up with as the nights draw in.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: Roselynde by Roberta Gellis

Roselynde by Roberta Gellis

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Rating: 1

Blurb

Alinor Devaux, is beautiful and very rich. She is also an orphan, but her grandparents had not left her defenseless. She has been trained to manage her estates and to rule her vassals. But then the old king dies and Alinor becomes the ward of Richard Coeur de Lion. Alinor knows that her safety and the well-being of her precious lands rests on her ability to make her warden, Sir Simon Lemagne, her willing slave.

Sir Simon has known many women, but never one like Alinor. He is an easy victim. But Alinor tumbles into love. Soon Sir Simon is the only man she will take as a husband. But Simon is no suitable match—he is poor and has no political power. The king would make no profit by permitting Simon to marry Alinor. In their struggle to be united despite the obstacles in their path, Lady Alinor and Sir Simon are swept from the Royal Court in England into King Richard’s Crusade, through the king’s conquest of Cyprus and into the Holy Land. They endure bloody battles and heartrending separations before Simon convinces King Richard to allow their love fruition in marriage.


Dodie's Review

As I finished the book, my immediate thought was, “Wait! That was the ending!?!” Of course, upon further thought no other ending would have been appropriate for Simon and Alinor. Don't get me wrong, they got their happily ever after, or at least disposition to marry and have the futures of their own making, which made them very happy. Sunshine and roses and glowing happiness would not have been appropriate for Simon and Alinor. Ok, I know I'm putting the cart before the horse. The beginning and middle are very good, and while the ending was not the one I was imagining and hoping was coming it was appropriate.

Simon and Alinor are two practical, down to earth people who somehow find themselves in the courts of Queen Alinor of Aquitaine and King Richard the Lionhearted. Interesting how they can survive and survive well in the Courts of chivalry and courtly love, when they both disdain such a rosy colored view of the world. It is very fitting that they found each other.

This is not a light hearted beach read kind of book, but I loved it nonetheless. It was an excellent picture of middle ages courtly life, the times of King Richard, and his battles in England and in the Holy Land on his Crusade. Allinor and Simon are well suited, and their struggles make for an interesting read. I enjoyed the political maneuvering they had to go through in order to convince the King that they should be married.

The book is called The Roselynde Chronicles Book One. I look forward to Book Two.

4 1/2 Tea Cups!