Saturday, September 30, 2017

Review & Giveaway - - Five Star Favorites


After a very busy summer when I hardly had a moment to pick up a book, I decided to give myself a birthday treat this month. I made sure to set aside plenty of time in September to catch up on recently released books that were threatening to turn my tbr stash into a giant mountain range. Some were good, others were great, but there were a few that pulled me deeply into the author's fictional world and refused to let go, keeping me reading way past my bedtime and lingering in my mind long after I turned the final page. Here are my thoughts on those fabulous, 5-star reads.


DIRTY DANCING AT DEVIL'S LEAP
By Julie Anne Long
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 29, 2017
 




She was a naive country girl. He was a billionaire's spoiled son. He was her first crush, her first heartbreak...and now her sworn enemy. 
As Avalon Harwood's fortunes soared, Maximilian “Mac” Coltrane's plummeted, and he had to fight his way back to where they both began: Hellcat Canyon. Now Mac and Avalon will play dirty—in more ways than one—to get what they each want: the glorious old abandoned Coltrane mansion. But when Avalon snaps the house up at auction, she discovers there's something awfully familiar about the extremely hot caretaker... 
Mac might have a heart of stone, and the abs to match, but Avalon—the dazzling girl whose heart was always too big and too reckless for her own good—was always his Kryptonite. And just like that, the stakes change: suddenly they're fighting not just for a house, but for a magic they tasted only once before and never since—long ago, with each other, at Devil's Leap.

It's no secret that I've been a fan of Julie Anne Long's writing for many years but with the first three books in her new contemporary romance series, she's taken that writing to a new level of excellence (her command of the English language is breathtaking) and my love of her stories to new heights. I adored this book! The characters are so well drawn, beautifully flawed, continually evolving, and realistic.

I loved Mac and Avalon's tug of war of one-upping each other. I laughed uproariously at their antics. I appreciate that Long gave them depth and didn't make this second chance easy for either of them. The secondary characters excelled in helping to move the story along while providing comic relief, conflict, and opportunities for growth. I especially enjoyed Avalon's 11-year-old niece, Annelise. The scene featuring Mac, Annelise, and her inquisitive, non-stop talking Hummingbird troop, in addition to being one of the funniest I've read in ages, convinced me I was going to fall head over heels in love with Mac, right along with Avalon. I can't wait for Annelise's mom's story. I won't be surprised if Annelise, that little scene stealer, steals the whole book!

Dirty Dancing at Devil's Leap is funny, endearing, emotional, and oh, so romantic. The final chapter had me sighing, crying, and sighing some more. It's one of my favorite books of 2017 and going straight to my "I'm going to re-read this over and over keeper shelf." 


THE WOMAN WHO COULDN'T SCREAM
By Christina Dodd
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: September 5, 2017
 






Between vicious meth-cooking fugitives, hostile family members, rampaging egos in the Virtue Falls city council and -- shocker! -- not one but two compelling men competing for her affection, Kateri Kwinault, the newly-elected first female sheriff, has her hands full.

Because someone is stalking innocent women and slashing them...to death. With no one to turn to, no one she dares trust, Kateri has to wonder--who is the killer's ultimate target? No one is safe, and if Kateri doesn't find the killer before the night is done, she just might become the town's first dead female sheriff...




As with the earlier Virtue Falls books, this one sucked me in from the first few pages and refused to let go. Dodd has created an ordinary world with sinister undertones, populated it with fully formed characters that seize my interest, and surrounded them with edge-of-your-seat suspense dappled with sass, snark, humor, and emotion. If that isn't enough, she adds paranormal elements that at first glance seem too farfetched to be believable but by the time I've finished the book seem completely normal. And then there are the villains, chilling in their evil, and keeping me guessing their next moves to the very end.

All of it makes me want to book a flight to coastal Washington; walk the rugged shoreline, collecting driftwood and shells while inhaling the fresh scent of the towering pines that dot the hills above, grab a table in the Oceanview Cafe, chat with Rainbow, eavesdrop on the crusty old men lingering over their coffee and pie, hang out with Sheriff Kateri, and drool over her gorgeous ex-con boyfriend, Stag, who may or may not be walking on the right side of the law. But, with all the serial killers, meth dealers, and such, not to mention earthquakes, a tsunami, and the undersea Frog God, maybe traveling there in person isn't that great of an idea. However, traveling to Virtue Falls between the covers of a Christina Dodd novel? Now that is an outstanding idea! 






THE DUCHESS DEAL
By Tessa Dare
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 22, 2017
 




Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.
His terms are simple:
- They will be husband and wife by night only.
- No lights, no kissing. 
- No questions about his battle scars.
- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.
But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:
- They will have dinner together every evening.
- With conversation.
- And unlimited teasing.
- Last, and most importantly… Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love…


I love a damaged hero whose life is upended by an intrepid heroine and that's exactly what Dare gives us in The Duchess Deal. Ash and Emma are such fun. She's a surprise at every turn and exactly what our wounded (in body and spirit) hero needs to pull him out of his self-imposed isolation. Their journey is engaging, emotional, and satisfying. Surrounding this unlikely couple are fascinating secondary characters including three young women who, it appears, will all have stories of their own and my personal favorites: the hero's long-suffering butler, Khan (I adored him!) and a cheeky young boy who appoints himself the hero's crime-fighting assistant. I'm hoping we'll have the opportunity to see both of them again in future books. 

Pair these vibrant characters with Dare's witty dialog, heartfelt emotion, and sparkling humor (Emma's many possible pet names for her Duke when she can't figure out what to call him, and he's no help, are hilarious. "Twinkles" was a particular favorite of mine) and you have a feel-good story that will make you laugh, sigh, and turn the final page wanting nothing more than to go back to the beginning and start all over again.



MONTANA HEAT:ESCAPE TO YOU
By Jennifer Ryan
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: August 29, 2017
 





He discovered her during a Montana blizzard, freezing cold, impossibly vulnerable, a little boy by her side. Undercover DEA Agent Beck “Trigger” Cooke is astonished to recognize Ashley Swan—award-winning actress, famous beauty—and missing for over a year. To keep her and the child hidden from a sadistic madman, he secrets the pair away to his isolated home.
No longer a prisoner, and protected at Hope Ranch, Ashley recovers and learns the tall, tempting federal agent may have a dark past, but it hasn’t destroyed his sense of honor.
As they shed past roles and find common ground, Ashley and Trigger can’t help but fall slowly, carefully, in love. But danger still lurks outside the boundaries of Hope Ranch, for until her crazed captor is brought to justice, and Trigger’s undercover past is laid to rest, none of them will ever be truly safe…


If you're looking for a riveting contemporary romantic suspense story that grabs hold and refuses to let go, you need to be reading Jennifer Ryan. I discovered her a couple years ago and now eagerly await every book she publishes. 

In Montana Heat:Escape to You, Ryan has created a truly chilling tale that I could not put down. Beck/Trigger has isolated himself on his remote ranch while he recovers from injuries sustained while working undercover and to stay off the radar of the drug lord who wants him dead. He's a protector, one of the good guys, and I was in his corner from the get-go. Ashley and little Adam have spent the past year in a living hell, enduring unspeakable physical and emotional abuse. My heart broke for both of them. Their escape and desperate flight into a freezing Montana night couldn't have led them to a better person to keep them safe. But their captor, and tormentor, is cunningly clever and won't give up until he steals them back.  

Ryan excels at creating complex, multi-layered, realistic characters. Beck's years undercover have taken a toll and left him wondering who he really is. His struggle to answer that question is genuine and heartfelt. While Ashley has spent her career in movies, what she's endured for the past year could happen to anyone who trusts the wrong person. The journey she travels is so real with steps forward, and backward, and no easy fixes. Ryan captures it all, the good and the bad, in such detail that the reader can't help but share Ashley's pain, desperation, and first tentative steps toward taking back control of her life. 

I lost count of the number of times I gasped, ached, sighed, and, finally, cheered as I read this story. The twists and turns kept me engaged, with edge-of-your-seat suspense, the action pumped my adrenaline, and the emotional intensity of Beck, Ashley, and Adam's journey captured my heart. I can't wait to see what Jennifer Ryan brings us next! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What recent books have hit your 5-star meter?

What upcoming books are you looking forward to reading?

This is my final Birthday Month Giveaway. 
Thanks for helping me celebrate!

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment 
will receive a print copy of
Montana Heat:Escape to You 
and
The Duchess Deal
(U.S. only)

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment will receive a book of their choice from bookdepository.com
(Open internationally - $10 maximum value)





Friday, September 29, 2017

Review - - Tangled Up in Tinsel


Tangled Up in Tinsel
By Candis Terry
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: September 26, 2017
Reviewed by Janga
         



Parker Kincade, the black sheep of his family for too many years, is doing his best to see that Sunshine and Vine, the restaurant that he is opening at the family vineyard is ready in time for the December wedding of his brother Jordan and Lucy Diamond (A Better Man), but renovating the barn his grandfather built as a restaurant site is no easy task—especially when he is still operating his food truck in Portland. Parker is determined not to let his family down, and Jordan’s groomzilla antics just add to the pressure. As if that were not enough, the Kincade siblings are still dealing with the recent death of their parents, the discovery of the vineyard’s precarious finances, and integrating half-sister Lili into the family. When Gabriella Montani shows up looking for a job, Parker knows that the sexy chef is one complication he does not need.

Gabriella is the daughter of celebrity chef Giovanni Altobelli. Estranged from her father since he and her mother divorced when Gabi was eighteen, she uses her mother’s maiden name. Gabi is driven by the need to prove her father wrong in his belief that she can never become a chef worthy of sharing his name. Knowing that she and Parker share the same philosophy about food, she sees a job at his restaurant as a way out of her stultifying job as personal chef to a lottery winner who views peanut butter and jelly as fine dining and as a way to establish herself as a chef independent of her father. When she offers to audition for the job by preparing a meal for Parker, she does not expect the potent attraction that flares between them or the passionate night that follows.

Parker and Gabi are focused on their careers, and neither is looking for a committed relationship. They agree on “One good night. A good time. Then tomorrow it’s back to business.” It turns out not to be that easy to keep their hands off each other and their hearts uninvolved. Just as they are on the verge of finding happiness they never sought, the secret of Gabi’s identity is revealed, and Parker, scarred from his parents’ deceit, rejects her. Parker and Gabi must learn to trust each other fully if they are to find their HEA.

Candis Terry once again displays her superb storytelling skills as she takes her readers to the Sunshine Creek Vineyard for the third time in Tangled Up in Tinsel. The central romance in this novel is an appealing combination of sizzle and sweetness. It is arguably the most sensual book in the series. Family drama adds conflict and interest. Parker wins hearts whether he is the sexy chef, the sensitive brother, or the lover, playful and intense by turn. Gabi has the strength to meet him as his equal in the restaurant and in their private life. They are both relatable characters, likable in part because their mistakes derive understandably from who they are. Parker’s declaration of love is a heart-melting, unforgettable moment.

The Kincades are all present, arguing, teasing, and supporting one another. Aunt Pippy is finally pushed into giving the siblings the details of their parents’ marriage, ending a thread that has run through three books. Gabi adds drama when she confronts her egomaniacal father, and her relationship with her Italian grandmother gives a needed softness to her story. These family contexts add depth to the story and to the characterization of the protagonists. Fans of the series will be pleased to be present for Jordan and Lucy’s wedding. The Christmas setting gives the book an extra sparkle, and Terry gives her readers the gift of some recipes, a fitting end to this foodie novel. I’m eager to try Nonni’s Ricotta Cheese Cookies with Lemon Icing myself.

If you like small-town romance that centers around the lives of a large, lively, loving family, I suggest you include this one among your Christmas reads this year. Counting half-sister Lili, there are four Kincades remaining. I hope Terry gives readers stories for them all. I haven’t been able to find out what is next, but I am most eager for the story of single-father Ryan, the eldest Kincade.


Thursday, September 28, 2017

Today's Special - - Q&A with Nancy Northcott


Nancy Northcott joins us today not as a reviewer but wearing her author hat. I've been a fan of Nancy's writing since her debut, Renegade. Today, she's here to tell us about a different direction she's taken with her writing. I've read an early copy of The Deathbrew Affair, the book that launches Nancy's new Lethal Webs series and, I have to say, I'm very excited about this hero/heroine pairing and the adventures to come. 

Stop by her website for more information about Nancy, her books, and social media links. 






Welcome, Nancy! Congratulations on the upcoming release of The Deathbrew Affair, the first book in your new Lethal Webs series. Please tell our readers what they can expect from this series.

Thanks for having me, PJ.

The series mixes intense action, suspense, and hot romance. Many successful romantic suspense series are built on that combination, but having one couple’s romance evolve over the course of several books, as Casey and Jack’s does, is less common. Some authors are doing that but not many.

I’ve read a lot of mystery series that have the two lead characters’ romance evolving through subplots as the series continues. This is not that. In the Lethal Webs books, the romance is every bit as important as the action-adventure elements. I’m curious to see how people will react to that—and to Casey’s first-person, snarky voice.

Casey and Jack come from backgrounds as different as night and day, behave much of the time like a dog and cat trapped in the same cage, and have a simmering sexual chemistry that threatens to explode sky-high. I finished this first book confident that, eventually, hopefully, they’ll have a happy ending. What is it about these two that convinced you they had the potential to be a good match?

They both broke out of boxes set for them at birth.  Jack is an earl but always wanted more than the parties and clubs and charity functions that were his family’s world.  He yearned to make a hands-on difference, to take the advantages his birth gave him and do something good with them.  Casey was very young when she vowed to escape the mill town where she grew up, where almost everyone married just out of high school and went to work in the mill, as their parents had before them. The mill owner’s abuse of his power ignited in her a fierce resolve to stop anyone who would misuse power to the detriment of others.

That refusal to conform is something they recognize in each other, though not consciously at first. At the root of things, they share an ardent desire to see the bad guys brought down, to see justice done. And each of them secretly admires, just a little bit, the qualities in the other that they find annoying.

This first book is set in the UK. Will the others be set there as well or will Casey and Jack be globe-trotting in future adventures?

There’s a little globe-trotting.  The novels are mostly set in the UK, with occasional scenes set in other countries.  For example, the second book opens with Casey on a raid in France. Then the action moves to England and stays there. A couple of the novellas, though, will have a more international focus, and the last book will be mostly set in Casey’s (and my) native North Carolina.

The Deathbrew Affair has a 007 vibe, if Bond had a female American agent partner. Are you a fan of the franchise? Who is your favorite James Bond?

I love the Bond movies, as it happens, and I always enjoy the opening action sequences.  My favorite Bond is Pierce Brosnan.  Each of the others has his strengths and does a good job, but I really liked Brosnan.  In second place would be Timothy Dalton.

As I read this book, I kept visualizing it playing out on the big screen. If given the opportunity, who would you cast in the roles of Casey and Jack?

Why, thank you! I would cast Missy Peregrym of Rookie Blue as Casey and Richard Armitage (in his MI-5 look, not his Thorin Oakenshield one) as Jack.

The Deathbrew Affair is packed with non-stop action and suspense (which I loved!). To what authors do you turn when you want a rollercoaster read?

Thanks, PJ. I obviously love those elements, too.  You can’t go wrong with the Romance Bandits, several of whom write mysteries and suspense. Jon Land’s series about fifth-generation Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong is a must-buy.  I also instantly grab J.D. Robb’s In Death series, Elle Kennedy’s Killer Instincts books, David Baldacci’s John Puller, Will Robie, or King & Maxwell series, and anything by Karen Rose, Cindy Gerard, Laura Griffin, or Nichole Christoff.




What is the timetable for future Lethal Webs books?

That’s not firmly set yet, as I’m juggling several series.  The next book, The Runway Murder Affair, should be out this year, with the third book, The Deadly Cargo Affair, coming early next year.  After that comes the first novella, The Christmas Village Affair.  Since that will definitely miss Christmas, I’m hoping to have it out by Valentine’s Day, but we’ll see. 




Rapid-fire Q&A:

Favorite place to read?
It’s a toss-up between the couch in my study or in bed.

Dogs or cats?
Dogs. Always. I’m allergic to cats, alas.

Pumpkin Spice or Apple?
Apple.  You just can’t beat good apple anything.

Favorite place to vacation?
England.

Where can readers find you online?

Twitter: @NancyNorthcott

What’s next?

Nemesis, the next Light Mage Wars book, is about half done and begging to be finished. I’m also working on Christmas on Outcast Station, a collaboration with Jeanne Adams. Then will be The Runway Murder Affair.

Sounds like a lot of good reads on the horizon. Thanks for visiting with us today, Nancy. Is there anything you’d like to add?

Thank you for having me, PJ.  The only thing I want to add is that I’m having a blast writing these books, and I hope readers will enjoy them, too.

Would you like to ask our readers a question?

Sure.  Who’s your favorite spy in books or movies? Have ever read other action-adventure series that place equal emphasis on the romance?

One randomly chosen person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM, September 29 will receive a signed copy of The Deathbrew Affair. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE DEATHBREW AFFAIR: LETHAL WEBS # 1
September 30, 2017
HES THE KING OF CONTROL FREAKS.
I’M THE QUEEN OF WINGING IT.
TOGETHER WELL SAVE THE WORLD...
UNLESS WE KILL EACH OTHER FIRST.

I’m Casey Billings, an American operative in the London office of a covert, multinational agency. I’m working with an MI5 officer, Jack, Lord Bainbridge, to bring down a bioterrorist who plans to unleash a pandemic. We’re posing as newlyweds to infiltrate the community that’s a cover for the bioweapons operation. Unfortunately, we don’t play well together, and not only because of Jack’s distracting, off-the- scales hotness.
I grew up poor in a mill town, and he’s an aristocrat with more money than a third-world country. Besides that, I fly by the seat of my pants while Jack lives by his plans for every contingency and takes charge of everything. Including me. Or so he thinks.
Basically, we’d like to strangle each other. But we have a pandemic to stop first.
Then all bets are off.

#






Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Today's Special - - Q&A with Anna Bradley


I'm delighted to welcome Anna Bradley back to The Romance Dish today. I've been a fan of her writing since reading her debut novel, A Wicked Way to Win an Earl two years ago and intrigued by Lady Eleanor Sutherland since she walked onto the page in that first book. Eleanor's book, Lady Eleanor's Seventh Suitor, is another outstanding addition to Bradley's Sutherlands series and well worth the wait. I loved it! Anna joins us today to tell us a bit about Lady Eleanor's story as well as the next book in the series which (yay!) releases next week. 

Originally from Maine, Anna now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children. She holds a degree in English Literature, once worked at the Chawton House Library, a rare books library that specializes in writings by British women from the 1600s through the Regency, and now teaches writing in addition to penning her own books. Learn more about Anna and her books at her website.



Welcome back, Anna! Congratulations on the recent release of your third Sutherland novel, Lady Eleanor’s Seventh Suitor. I’ve been a Lady Eleanor fan since first meeting her in your debut. Please tell our readers what they can expect from her story. 

Thank you so much for having me back, P.J! I’ve been so excited for Eleanor’s story to come out, because she’s such a smart, spirited heroine, and that’s my favorite kind. Eleanor hides a soft spot under all her cleverness, though. The ton believes she’s cold and haughty because she’s rejected so many suitors, but all Eleanor really wants is to find true love. She doesn’t want to marry for anything less than that, but before she gets her HEA she’s got quite a battle on her hands with Cam, who’s determined to marry her for his own reasons, and his reasons have nothing to do with love! There’s a lot going on in this story—secrets, lies, blackmail, and revenge—but in the end, love wins!

Cam begins his journey with Eleanor as more villain than hero, throwing a whole lot of obstacles onto their path to happiness. What do you want readers to understand about him?

Cam is the hero who’s doing all the wrong things for what he truly believes are all the right reasons, so I really see him as part villain, part hero. I think what readers need to understand about Cam is that in the end, it’s his deep love for Ellie that shows him the errors of his ways. He becomes a hero because of her.
Even when we disapprove of Cam’s actions (and as readers we’re angry with him at times), we can still on some level relate to his reasons for them. Maybe Eleanor says it best when she says of him: “Devotion such as his, a love as deep as his, is rare.” Everything Cam does in the book is motivated by love.
There are a lot of different kinds of love in this book—romantic love, parental love, familial love between brothers and sisters, but I think Cam’s love for his sister Amelia shows us that love is an intense, complicated emotion that sometimes makes us do crazy things but also saves us in the end.

Ellie’s relationship with Cam is not the only one explored in this story. As you mentioned above, there’s also her relationship with her sister, Charlotte. Do you have sisters? How did your relationship with them influence the relationship between Ellie and Charlotte?

I do have sisters—two of them, Jen (who is 3½ years younger than I am) and Liz (who’s 13 months older). The three of us are really close, and this book definitely includes the “sister perspective,” because I did draw from my own experience with my sisters when I wrote it. I didn’t realize how much I’d done so until after the book was finished, but the depth and complexity of the sister relationship is reflected in Charlotte and Eleanor’s part of the story. They don’t always agree with each other, and they’re not really that much alike, but there’s this fierce love, loyalty and protectiveness between them, even so. One of my favorite quotes from the book is when Ellie says: “She might not understand Charlotte’s recklessness. She might not approve of Charlotte’s behavior…but there’d never been any question she’d defend her, with teeth bared and fingernails curled into claws, if necessary.” That, to me, is the sister connection, i.e. I may not always “get” you, but I’ve got your back!



I’m already invested in Charlotte and Julian West. I understand their book will be next. What can you tell us about it?

Julian and Charlotte don’t get their HEA at the end of Lady Eleanor’s Seventh Suitor, and I know some readers were surprised by that. One reader emailed me to tell me how mean I was to leave them at loose ends! But the love between Julian and Charlotte is incredibly deep, and they really needed their own story. I’d call Lady Charlotte’s First Love (to be published in October) a “second-chance at love” story, but it’s a complicated one because their history together is painful, and they’re both also dealing with difficult events from their recent pasts. It’s a passionate story, and a heart-wrenching one, but their HEA really delivers on the feels. Keep a Kleenex handy when you read it!



Fall is upon us, and I’m in my element. I love the crisp mornings, cool nights, fall fruits and veggies, and, of course, college football. Which season is your favorite? What makes it so?

I’m a fall girl too, P.J. I was born and raised in Maine, and people from Maine are taught at an early age to love fall. I think it’s actually a state law! I love the crisp, cool weather, the fall colors, and even the rain. I live on the west coast now, near Portland, OR, and I love it here, but when the end of September rolls around, I always miss the east coast.

Rapid-fire Q&A:

Favorite fall drink?

Earl Gray tea. I’m so boring, but every once in a while I go crazy and get an Earl Grey latte instead!

Most recent book you’ve read?

            I just finished Lorraine Heath’s Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses. I love Lorraine’s books!

Favorite comfort food?

            It has to be tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Thankfully, my kids love it, too!

Beach or mountains?

Definitely beach, which makes things interesting, because I’m married to a “mountain” guy, so we have to split the difference.

Early-bird or night-owl?

Early bird, for sure. Very early, as in 4 a.m. Yes, I’m crazy.




What’s next after Lady Charlotte’s First Love?

A Christmas novella! It’s my first one, and I’m super excited about it. It’s called Twelfth Night with the Earl and it features Lord Devon, a character from Lady Charlotte’s First Love as the hero. Then in 2018 the three Somerset sisters’ books are coming out.









Thanks for visiting with us today, Anna. Would you like to ask our readers a question?

            Yes! Those of you who have sisters, I’d love to hear what you love to do together, and does that include talking about your favorite books?


Two randomly chosen people who leave a comment before 11:00 PM, September 28th will receive an e-book copy of Lady Eleanor's Seventh Suitor. 

 
Lady Eleanor's Seventh Suitor
By Anna Bradley
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Release Date: September 5, 2017

There have been six suitors so far, all vying for the attention—and generous dowry—of the beautiful, elusive Eleanor Sutherland. What does this woman really want? Who has what it takes to melt the heart of the so-called Lady Ice? These are the questions Camden West keeps asking himself. But rather than wait for answers, Cam takes matters into his own hands . . . for he has a secret weapon. 
 
Cam knows that Ellie’s sister, Charlotte, harbors a scandalous secret—one that could bring ruin to the Sutherland name. If Ellie marries him, Cam promises to keep mum. But is she willing to sacrifice her own happiness for her sister’s reputation? 
 
To Ellie’s surprise, it becomes clear that Cam doesn’t need her money, nor is he interested in her status. Soon, what begins as a sham engagement transforms into something deeper, and more passionate, than Ellie could have imagined. Is it possible that all Cam truly wanted was her? And is that reason enough to say yes—or is handsome Cam hiding something else? Even for a lady in love, only the truth will do . . .


Lady Charlotte's First Love
By Anna Bradley
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Release Date: October 3, 2017

Since her husband’s tragic death, Lady Charlotte Hadley has embarked on a path of careless behavior and dangerous hijinks from which no one can divert her . . . until suddenly, her first—and only—true love reenters her world. Their fiery romance was so scandalous Charlotte had no choice but to marry another, more suitable man. Surely now they are both free to pick up where they left off . . .

Julian West has returned to London a hero after making a name for himself in battle at Waterloo. Every woman is vying for his attention—except the one who stole his heart. No matter, Julian has other obligations. But when Charlotte’s sister, Eleanor, charges him with protecting the widow from ruin, what ensues is another kind of battle—one that leads a chase from London’s bars and brothels to the finest country estate as Julian and Charlotte untangle a host of secrets, regrets, and misunderstandings. For could it be that the love they’ve forced themselves to forget is exactly what they need to remember? . . .