Book Review-The Earl Claims His Wife

The Earl Claims His Wife
Scandals And Seductions Series
Cathy Maxwell
Avon,
341 Pages
Published October 2009
Paperback
Regency Historical Romance
ISBN:9780061350993

Synopsis:
She'll be his perfect wife . . .

Preoccupied with fighting Napoleon and making love to his mistress, Brian Ranson has ignored his wife since their wedding. But now that he's become the Earl of Wright, he's ready to fetch his bride back to London. He's shocked to find she's become a bold, beautiful woman, exactly the kind he lusts after . . . and she wants nothing to do with him.

Gillian, Lady Wright, is desperate to seize the love she's been denied . . . but not with her rakish husband! So she makes a bargain -- for thirty days she'll be the perfect wife, then he'll set her free. But no matter how she hardens her heart against her damnable earl, her body begs her to surrender . . .

MY REVIEW
Summary 
Gillian, Lady Wright, after falling in love with Brian Rason, the Earl of Wright, then marries him only to find out that he loves another and plans to leave her to go to Europe to fight in the war and take the woman he loves as his mistress. Now she is ready to take a lover, a hansome spaniard who stirs up her heart, and she knows that she can find happiness with him. Brian has returned to London, and has been sending her requests to return to his side, however after all the years he has ignored her, she plans on the doing the same to him as well. But then he comes to her to take her home with him. Brian, Earl of Wright, after finding out that his mistress betrayed him, and left behind a situation where he will need his wife's help, he goes to her to bring her to London, because he is at a loss at what to do, and knows that she is the only one that can help him, despite all the hurt he has caused her. But Brian has only one month to prove to Gillian, his love for her, and to have her feel the same in return.
The Hero 
Brian, Earl of Wright, fell in love with his mistress and had known her all of his life. So when his father forced him to marry Gillian, he left to fight in the war and set his mistress up on his own. However when he returned she betrayed him and has left him in a situation that has him most angry and with a feeling of helplessness, and knows that the only one to help him is his wife whom he hasn't seen since they were married. So he goes to claim her again as his own, not realizing how much emotion she would stir in him, and that he wants her both in his bed and in his life.
The Heroine 
Gillian, Lady Wright, after once falling in love with Brian, is ready to start her life with another man. However then Brian returns, insisting that she return to him, but Gillian has made a agreement with her husband, that she will return for one month and than after the alloted time frame, he will allow her a divorce if she helps him get a assignment within the government to help the soldiers in the war. But as time goes on, Gillian wonders if she can give up the man that has stolen her heart once more.
My Thoughts 
The Earl Claims His Wife by Cathy Maxwell is a wonderfully written love story, that stir up emotions in any reader. This is the second installment of the Scandals and Seduction series. As with most of Cathy Maxwwell's novels, I found this to be a intriguing and romantic read, that had me cheering for both of the main characters. We have the hero, who is fighting for the life of a innocent and the heroine, who yearns for love and children. So when she agree's to the one month agreement, she never realized that her heart would once more be threatened by Brian, knowing that she can't resist his charms or his heart. The Earl Claims His Wife was a wonderful romance, a well written story, with endearing characters.

My Grade On This Book
4.5 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series 
A Seduction At Christmas
The Marriage Ring 

Authors Website
Cathy Maxwell 

Its Monday! What Are You Reading (10)

This is a great weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. We simply post what we finished reading over the the last week, what we plan on reading this week, etc 


What I Read Last Week 
Keeper Of The Heart-My Review
Branded By Fire My Review
Her Master And CommanderMy Review
Halfway To The Grave-Review Coming Soon
The Earl Claims His Wife My Review
Tempt Me At Twilight My Review


What I Listened To This Past Week
All Through The Night Review Coming Soon
Smooth Talking Stranger Review Coming Soon


What I Am Reading Now:

What I Am Listening To Now:

What I Am Reading This Week:

Book Review-Keeper Of The Heart

Keeper Of The Heart 

Ly-San-Ter Family 

Johanna Lindsey

Paperback

Avon, 412 Pages

Published Nov 1993

Futuristic Romance

ISBN: 978038077493

Synopsis:
WHERE WARRIORS RULE

In search of a true and gentle love, fiery Shantele Ly-San-Ter flees the lustful advances of the blue-eyed barbarian who has been chosen as her lifemate - confused and frightened by the fevered yearnings the handsome brute has awakened in her innocent soul.

WHERE PASSION REIGNS

A Warrior's warrior, virile and magnificent Falon Van'yer is overwhelmed with intense desire for the spirited beauty who has vowed never to be his. And though the heavens themselves conspire against him, he will pursue his sensuous prize - and brave any peril to conquer and claim the keeper of his heart...

MY REVIEW
  
Summary:
Shanelle Ly-San-Ter has been searching and yearning for a tender love, the kind that her parents have shared. Shanelle under her mother, Tedra's, wing has learned what to do in every situation handed her, however she never knew what to expect in the barbarian who stirs up secret yearnings and causes her to both be afraid and yet excited as well. Falon Van'yer has found the one woman who is the "Keeper of his Heart" but then Shanelle flees from him, causing him to be overwhelmed with the whirlwind of emotions that she stirs within him. Falon knows that Shanelle is his to keep forever, and he will do everything in his power to possess her and keep her at his side.

The Hero:
Falon Van'yer, a warrior came to another world for a competitions among warriors, and found a prize worth more than anything he had ever achieved, a woman with a gentle heart and a strong spirit. When he shared a passionate night with Shanelle, he lost control and bruised her without realizing it. Now he must earn her trust once more, not only in their bed but also to share a life with him and be the Keeper Of His Heart.

The Heroine
Shanelle Ly-San-Ter has grown up watching her parents love for each other, and aches with needing that same kind of passion and love that her parents have shared. When a competition among warrior comes, she meets the one warrior that will steal every defense that she has. After sharing a passionate night with Falon, and only feels the pain of it, instead of the pleasure, she flee's from the warrior, afraid of being hurt both on the outside and the inside. But then he takes her and claims her as his own, but his warm embraces and tender kisses tempt her to share the unknown with the Virile Warrior who has claim to her heart.

My Thoughts
Keeper of the Heart is one of my favorite novels that Johanna Lindsey has written, as well as one of my favorite series apart from the Malory's of course :). Keeper of the Heart is the second installment in the Ly San Ter Family Trilogy. This series is different than the rest of her series, because this series has more of a science fiction and futuristic twist to it. This is such an endearing love story, of two souls that looking for love and family, but not knowing what  is right in front of them. I found the plot to be engaging and full of surprises. I found overall Keeper Of The Heart to be as infectious as a chocolate truffle, Definitely a first rate love story.

My Grade On This Story 
5 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series 
 Warrior's Woman
Heart of a Warrior

Book Review-Branded By Fire

Branded By Fire
Psy-Changeling Series (6)
Nalini Singh
Berkley,
345 Pages
Published July 2009
Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 9780425226735

Synopsis:
When a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped, DarkRiver sentinel Mercy, a cat, and SnowDancer lieutenant Riley, a wolf, must work together to track the young man-before his shadowy captors decide he's no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it'll leave them both branded by fire. 

MY REVIEW:
  Summary:
The DarkRiver Sentinel Mercy, seeing all those that she looks up to and admires, involved with their mates, leaves her in need for one as well, even though its frustrating to no end on how happy everyone around her seems to be, but Mercy feeling a bit lost, until Riley Kincaid, starts to work with her to find a young researcher that has been kindapped. But as they get closer, the heat between Riley and Mercy becomes near explosive, with both dominant, they wonder how this could ever work between them, because if the mating heat comes, Mercy knows that she could never submit to Riley, which could destroy her in the end.

The Hero 
Riley Kincaid, a lietenant in the SnowDancer pack, despite his being a wolf, has yet to find a mate until Mercy, and passions definitely fire them both up. Riley, is determined to possess Mercy, despite the fact that she is a cat and he a wolf, because there is a rising undeniable passion between them, that he can no longer deny, and must claim her, but that is no easy task. Riley knows that Mercy is far from what he had invisioned his mate to be, more submissive and passive, Mercy is everything BUT!!! And he is in for a wild ride!!

The Heroine 
Mercy, is utterly frustrated with her friends falling in love and find mates, and wonders if that will ever happen to her, because she is a sentinel and such a dominant female, she yearns for passion and a love that she see's all around her, but knows that if she ever found a mate, if he was dominant, it could very well destroy who she is. But when a young boy goes missing, she must join with Riley to find him. However when she is around him, she is on alert, and a heat that she can't deny, knowing that she couldn't ever submit to him before he submits to him.

My Thoughts:
Branded By Fire is defnitely one of the most heated of the Psy Changeling Series, of course they are all filled with romance and passion, however this story is a bit different than the others. Both characters are part of two different packs, and they are both dominants, and one or both will have to become submissive for their mating. As with all this series that Nalini Singh has created, I found it hard to put down, and kept flipping the pages as fast I could read them, taken into a world of adventure, intrigue, and wild passion that will smoke up the room with heat. I definitely enjoyed this wild ride that Singh has taken this reader on, ensnaring me on this endearing story of how love can be found in least expectation scenarios, filled with surprises and mysteries along the way. Definitely another one that I have fallen in love with in this author!!

My Grade On This Book 
5 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series 

Slave to Sensation

Visions of Heat

Caressed By Ice

Mine to Possess

Hostage to Pleasure

Branded by Fire

Blaze of Memory

Bonds of Justice

Whisper of Sin

Play of Passion

Hawkes Book

Book Review-Her Master And Commander

Her Master And Commander
Just Ask Reeves
Karen Hawkins
Avon, 358 Pages
Published March 2006
Regency Historical Romance
ISBN: 0060684084

Synopsis:
Just ask Reeves!
Dying without legitimate issue, the late Earl of Rochester sent his butler extraordinaire, Reeves, to find his wild, illegitimate children and "civilize" them. Reeves must seek out the first of the earl's arrogant sons, Captain Tristan Llevanth, a one-time pirate, and teach him to be a gentleman.
A will of steel...
Tristan Llevanth gave up his free-wheeling life as a pirate to fight at Admiral Nelson's side. Wounded, Tristan will never again sail the seas he loves. Life has no more challenges. Or so he thinks, until Reeves brings a certain outspoken lady into the captain's uncultured househol...
An iron-clad spirit...
Reeves believes Tristan needs a spark to relight the fires of his soul. And who better than lovely Prudence Thistlewaite, the bane of the captain's existence? Prudence wants nothing to do with her wickedly handsome, ill-tempered neighbor. Still, she cannot refuse the outlandish sum Reeves offers to smooth Tristan's rough edges.
Can Prudence tame the rakish captain? Or will Tristan gain what he most wishes, to become...

Summary:
 Tristan Llevanth loved the sea and being aboard his ship, but when he is injured fighting side by side with Admiral Nelson, he has to give up what he loves, and his men come with him. Tristan settles in a house in the countryside that overlooks the ocean. And despite the peace he desires, he never manages to hold onto it. A neighbor widow, Prudence Thistlewaite, is definitely the bane of his existence and they tend to get on each other's nerves. Then Reeves (his late father's butler) tells him that he is the new earl, he needs to learn all the pompous rituals that come with the title and the money, which he desperately needs for his men. So Reeves has Prudence endeavor to teach Tristan, which is a sore trial in and of itself. And the more time they are alone together, passions ignite between the two of them, with the future uncertain if they could end up together in the end.

The Hero
Tristan Llevanth was a pirate of the sea, and ever since he was ten years old, has lived on a ship and the ocean, and has loved his life aboard. However after his leg gets injured he has to give his life up. Tristan is a twin, his mother died in prison, charged with treason, even though she was innocent, he has despised his father for not saving her in time, and lost his twin brother and has searched for him ever since. Now he has to take the title, if it means to help his men who are like family to him. And to contend with a widow, who threatens to take hold of his heart.

The Heroine 
Prudence Thistlewaite, loved her husband but then he died and now lives with her mother, and about to set up a school for girls. But is utterly annoyed with Tristan and their tempers tend to fire up when they are near each other, but when he kisses her senseless, and everything changes for him, because she knows that she could very easily fall in love with this handsome rogue.

My Thoughts:
As much as I love this author, this is probably my least favorite book of Karen Hawkins. It took me a while to get into the story, and had to force myself to keep reading until I got into the story, which thankfully I did, but it seemed to take a while. There were certain aspects of the story that I really fell in love with though. The characters I found intriguing and utterly fascinating, and all of them had me at the very beginning. The plot was very mystery packed and filled with surprises, that will delight you. However I just found at the beginning the interaction between Prudence and Tristan, leaves much to be desired, however once the story really got going, then it started to even out, and I started to enjoy the story. But overall it was a good romance and was glad to finally read Tristan's story.

My Grade On This Book 
4 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series 
Her Officer And Gentleman

Lusting For Covers (20)

Lusting for Covers is a meme found on TBQ so come and join in on this fun meme!!!
 

1- Take the graphic (left) to use on your post. Remember to give credit to the original host (TBQ).

2- Choose your own book cover that you've fallen in "lust" with in the past week. It can be new, old, a reprint, or even a book that is not yet out-- it's all up to you! If you find a cover that catches your eye, then showcase it on your blog, and let others see the pretty covers out there.

3- Copy the direct link to your own L4C post into the comment section on my post (when in doubt, use this link and then scroll down to find the post), and allow others to come and see what you picked! (OPTIONAL):
4- Besides posting the picture of the book cover you chose, it's nice to provide the book summary, title, author, or a website link for the book. It's not required, but it can help you readers' to add more books to their own list! A brief "Why I choose this cover" is also appreciated, but not required-------------------------------

He was playing a dangerous masquerade...

Griff Knighton's found the perfect way to avoid being trapped into marriage with one of the Earl of Swanlea's daughters: he'll swap identities with his man of affairs during their next visit to Swan Park, and be free to pursue his own desires! After all, he's not about to marry some homely spinster just to claim his rightful title. But Griff didn't reckon on the brazen, voluptuous Rosalind, who could tempt even a saint into sinning--and Griff is no saint.

She was determined to unmask him...

Rosalind wants no part of the plan to marry her off to her father's wealthy heir--and his man of affairs is even more intolerable! The arrogant man clearly doesn't know his place, but the sparks that fly whenever they're together make her wish he's no mere servant. There's something slightly dangerous--and a little mysterious--about this man...

Does she dare to risk her heart to a man whose secrets could destroy that love?