Stock Up Saturday Reviews

Too Wicked To Love
by Debra Mullins
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: May 31, 2011


After learning her boyfriend was using her just to get closer to her Admiral father, Genevieve Wallington-Willis has sworn all men are untrustworthy and beneath her attention. The bitterness of their break up made it easy for Genny to leave men by the wayside and live her own life. That is until the day she attended her sister’s wedding and ran into John Ready, the man who had the gall to call her a flirt. While anger simmers, it was not the only emotion Genny feels around John Ready. Genny once again feels desire, passion and the excitement of attraction.

Forced to leave England and assume another identity after being framed for the murder of his wife, John Ready returns to England to attend his best friend’s wedding. While at the wedding John is asked to guard two women and readily agrees when he discovers the man who framed him is also the man attempting to kidnap one of the women. While John diligently goes about his job protecting the ladies and keeping his identity of a duke a secret, he finds himself distracted by his thoughts and growing feelings for Genny.

“That kiss was … well, it was ill-advised. I was not thinking, only feeling. And I wanted you.” His voice lowered to a near growl. “God help me, but I still want you.”
As danger lurks closer, John and Genny discover a love of a life time. But can their love survive the secrets of their past? Is their love enough? You will have to read the book to see! I have always enjoyed the writing of Debra Mullins, and this is a wonderful story of secrets, betrayal, passion, evil and putting it all on the line for the one you love.

~ Buffie

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Burning Down the Spouse 
Ex-Trophy Wives Series, Book #2 
By Dakota Cassidy 
Publisher: Berkley 
Release Date: July 5, 2011 

Frankie Bennett goes berserk on live TV when she discovers her husband’s ---Mitch of Mitch in the Kitchen---infidelity. After that embarrassing debacle and being kicked out of her house, Frankie moves in with her Aunt Gail---in a retirement village---and spends the next six months hiding under the covers. Desperate to light a fire under Frankie, Gail turns to Maxine Henderson-Barker, an ex-trophy wife and owner of Trophy Jobs Employment Agency, for help. Frankie is practically broke, jobless, and can’t think of a job she would be qualified for, unless it’s as an expert vegetable chopper. Well, Maxine is not about to let Frankie crawl back into bed and continue to feel sorry for herself, so she tells her to suck it up and come with her for her first job interview…at a Greek diner.

Nikos Antonakas runs the family restaurant, Greek Meets Eat Diner, home of the World’s Best Meatloaf. As a favor to Maxine, he’s willing to hire Frankie as a prep chef. Plus, there’s just something about Frankie that he can’t resist, even when she looks like a “hot mess”---as she likes to say. The last thing Frankie needs is to get involved with another man, even if he does look like a luscious Greek statue come to life. But Nikos is very hard to resist---he’s sexy, kind, and makes her laugh. Throw in his big Greek family, and he seems pretty darn perfect. But first, Frankie needs to stand on her own two feet and put her trophy wife days behind her.

A Dakota Cassidy novel is the perfect recipe for a guaranteed giggle fest. She has a wicked way with words that will have readers laughing out loud, and she also cranks up the heat with her scorching hot love scenes. I fell in love with Nikos, Frankie, and the rest of the Antonakas family. For a good time, I recommend you go Greek and pick up a copy of Burning Down the Spouse. Opa!

~ Gannon

Guest Review - - Tempting a Proper Lady

Tempting a Proper Lady
By Debra Mullins
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: June 8, 2010

American Samuel Breedlove is a survivor. He survived a barren childhood, a rough life at sea from a young age, an attempt on his life, and many months of being marooned on a Caribbean island. He returns to London after he is rescued from the island to find Annabelle Bailey, the woman to whom he was engaged on the verge of becoming betrothed to the Earl of Raventhorpe, the very man who tried to kill him. Samuel succeeds in breaking up the ball before the engagement is announced, but when Annabelle’s parents, who have been like family to him, doubt his story, his only possible ally is Priscilla Burke, a lady’s companion whom the American Baileys have placed in charge of planning their only daughter’s wedding to an English aristocrat.

Cilla, widowed after a disastrous marriage and estranged from her family because of her marriage, is determined to be independent. Annabelle’s wedding to Raventhorpe is her opportunity to forge a career for herself as a planner of society weddings. Helping Samuel will meet forfeiting her chance at securing her future as an independent career woman. But Cilla knows the effects of marriage to an untrustworthy male, and she can’t discount Captain Breedlove’s tales.

Working together to uncover the deeds of the villainous Raventhorpe, Cilla, a woman who has sworn to make herself vulnerable to no man, and Samuel, who believes he is incapable of love, find themselves passionately attracted to one another. They strike a bargain. Cilla will work to persuade Annabelle to jilt Raventhorpe, and Samuel will become Cilla’s lover and teach her how to distinguish desire from love. Matters become even more complicated when love enters a relationship that was supposed to be only about desire.

I admit that I struggled to suspend disbelief concerning the bargain, and I prefer my villains more complex and less undiluted evil than Raventhorpe. But these difficulties are balanced by my delight in a setting that blends elements of America’s Gilded Age with England’s Victorian Era. I also found both major and minor characters a refreshing change. Samuel is a self-made man who rises from poverty to great wealth, Cilla is the daughter of an admiral, the Baileys are Molly Brown types, and secondary characters John Ready and highwayman Black Bill with their secrets are particularly intriguing. Additionally, the love scenes between Cilla and Samuel sizzle.

Tempting a Proper Lady is the first book in a new trilogy, the Brides of Nevarton Chase. Mullins said in an interview that the next book will be John’s story. I certainly plan to stick around for that one.

~Janga