2014 – Book #57

Posted in Book reviews, Book series, Cynster family series, Historical Romance by rebeccabook17

Current cover of And Then She Fell

The fifty-seventh book I read in 2014 was And Then She Fell by Stephanie Laurens. I finished this book on 7/5/14. This is the first book in the Cynster Duo and the nineteenth book in the Cynster family series. The Cynster Duo is actually a sub-series within the Cynster family series. I have read other books in the Cynster series and have many other blog posts on them (see link below). I rated this book 3.75 stars out of a scale of 5. This book tells the story of Henrietta Cynster and James Glossup.

After Henrietta, known to polite society as “the Matchbreaker” for her part over the years in breaking up various matches that would not suit in the long run, finds herself in a difficult position when she ends one of her brother Simon’s friend’s possible courtship. James is furious when Henrietta involves herself in his situation but when the girl he has been courting rebuffs him, he knows he needs to do something quickly. As part of his aunt’s will, he must marry within a year after her death to keep his inheritance. And with so many staff depending on him for their livelihoods, he has to find a wife and soon.

After explaining his situation to Henrietta, she starts to feel guilty for her part in his problems. She offers to help him find a suitable new bride. As they spend time together in their search though, they realize how much they care for each other and how attracted they are to each other. But when Henrietta starts being threatened by a mysterious gentleman, James begins to realize he may have to fight in order to hold on to her for long.

Overall this was not my favorite book in the Cynster series. I found it really hard to stay interested in the story. The hero and heroine were likable I just couldn’t get involved in the plot.

Link to other reviews in the Cynster family series: https://rebeccabookreview.wordpress.com/category/book-reviews/book-series-book-reviews/cynster-family-series/

Link to author website: http://www.stephanielaurens.com/

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/And-Then-Fell-Cynster-Sisters/dp/0062068644/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1404582969&sr=1-1

23Jun2014

2014 – Book #55

Posted in Book series, Cynster family series, Cynster Sisters trilogy, For the love of books, Historical Romance by rebeccabook17

The fifty-fifth book I read in 2014 was The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens. I finished this book on 6/22/14. This is the 18th book in the Cynster family series and the 3rd book in the Cynster Sisters trilogy. The Cynster Sisters trilogy is actually a sub-series within the Cynster family series. I have read other books in the Cynster series and have many other blog posts on them (see link below). This book was actually a re-read for me since I’ve read it before. This time I rated it 4.5 stars out of a scale of 5. This book tells the story of Angelica Cynster and Dominic, the Earl of Glencrae.

In the last book in the Cynster Sisters trilogy, the man behind the kidnappings of both Heather and Eliza Cynster was last seen by Eliza and Jeremy while he was falling to his death. Because of this, the Cynsters all believe the threat to Angelica has been eliminated, which Angelica is grateful for since she no longer has to worry about being kept under the collective Cynster males’ thumbs. And when she sees a devastatingly handsome man at a ball, she knows that he is her hero.

Dominic, the Earl of Glencrae, was hoping that he would not have to stoop so low as to kidnap a Cynster girl himself and thereby wound his own honor. After his associates failed to hold onto either Heather or Eliza though, Angelica is now his last hope and he can not afford any mishaps. Especially with his meeting with the bankers coming up in a few short weeks and his mother still refusing to tell him where the goblet is that he should be handing over to said bankers. Dominic never imagined that Angelica would make the kidnapping so easy by asking him to go for a private walk on the terrace. Then this Scottish laird convinces Angelica to help him save his clan and they set off together to his home near Inverness. I don’t know what it is but I love the books about highlanders, there’s something so romantic about them.

This book is personally one of my favorites in the series. I love the great tension and emotions that flow so easily between the hero and heroine, and I love that this book finally solves the mystery of the past 2 books in the Cynster Sisters trilogy about why Dominic’s mom is so mean. One of the things I didn’t necessarily love about the book though was that the ending kind of came out of nowhere. The villain from the end of the book isn’t included in the story up until he becomes the villain and honestly his name isn’t even mentioned at all until the climatic end scene. So at first you feel a little lost trying to figure out who he is and what the back story with him is. Another thing I probably would have changed is that I wish there had been more interaction between Angelica and the boys. Not that it was necessary to make the book a good book but I thought it would’ve rounded out the story better.

One of the things I think is really interesting is following my characters’ progress on their journey to Dominic’s highland home. They take a mail coach from London to Edinburgh, passing through York. And then from Edinburgh they head to Inverness by way of Perth. I can’t find the exact island where I think Dominic’s home was but that piece of it could be fictional. I also love the descriptions of how beautiful the highlands of Scotland are, they make me desperately want to go there myself someday to witness the landscapes. The photo below is of Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness in Scotland.

Link to other reviews in the Cynster Sisters trilogy: https://rebeccabookreview.wordpress.com/category/book-reviews/book-series-book-reviews/cynster-sisters-trilogy/

Link to other reviews in the Cynster family series: https://rebeccabookreview.wordpress.com/category/book-reviews/book-series-book-reviews/cynster-family-series/

Link to author website: http://www.stephanielaurens.com/

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Capture-Glencrae-Cynster-Sisters-Trilogy/dp/0062068628/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1403554774&sr=8-1-spell

20Jun2014

2014 – Book #54

Posted in Book reviews, Book series, Contemporary romance, Rainbow Valley, Texas by rebeccabook17

The fifty-fourth book I read in 2014 was Cowboy Take Me Away by Jane Graves. This is the first book in her Rainbow Valley series, the second book just came out in May 2014. I finished this book on 6/19/14. I rated this book 4.5 stars out of a scale of 5. This book is about Shannon North and Luke Dawson. As teens they fell in love, but Luke was from the wrong side of the tracks and Shannon didn’t yet have the age and confidence to stand up to her mother. Luke decides that he’ll never be good enough for this town and takes off during the night after Shannon breaks his heart.

Fast forward to eleven years later, Shannon left her cushy CPA job in Houston to come home and run Rainbow Valley’s animal shelter. Between a pony that bites and spitting llamas and too many dogs and cats to count, she’s having trouble keeping her head above water at the shelter financially. Meanwhile in the past eleven years Luke has become a very well known bull rider. Through a twist of fate he ends up back in Rainbow Valley with a knee healing from surgery that he needs back at top condition for the championship bull ride competition in 3 months as well as an empty bank account after paying for the surgery out of pocket. When he sees the ad in the paper for a live in caretaker at the animal shelter, he decides to apply for the job.

As Luke becomes more involved in taking care of the animals at the shelter he realizes that they aren’t the only ones who need his care. Shannon cares so deeply for these animals that she’s on the edge of breaking and Luke realizes someone should be watching out for her as well. As their friendship once again develops into something more, Luke can’t seem to get past the town’s stigma that he’s just like his drunk no-good father. And once he reveals to Shannon how horrible his childhood actually was, is there even a chance she could love him then?

This was just such a great book. This book is just so perfectly heart-wrenching, between Luke’s childhood insecurities and all the animals at the shelter, you have to be a cold-hearted son of a gun to avoid tearing up multiple times during this story. I just absolutely loved it. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Link to author website: http://www.janegraves.com/

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Take-Away-Rainbow-Valley/dp/1455515191/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1403270495&sr=8-2&keywords=cowboy+take+me+away

Link to Rainbow Valley, TX (not quite sure if it is a real place or if this is a Jane Graves website): http://www.rainbowvalleytexas.com/

Link to other blog reviews on Jane Graves books: https://rebeccabookreview.wordpress.com/tag/jane-graves/

18Jun2014

2014 – Book #53

Posted in Book reviews, Book series, Cynster family series, Cynster Sisters trilogy, Historical Romance by rebeccabook17

The fifty-third book I read in 2014 was In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster by Stephanie Laurens. I finished this book on 6/17/14. This is the 17th book in the Cynster family series and the 2nd book in the Cynster Sisters trilogy. The Cynster Sisters trilogy is actually a sub-series within the Cynster family series. I have read other books in the Cynster series and have many other blog posts on them. This book was actually a re-read for me since I’ve read it before. This time I rated it 4.25 stars out of a scale of 5. This book tells the story of Eliza Cynster and Jeremy Carling.

Eliza has been kept under lock and key by the males in her family ever since her sister Heather was rescued from her kidnappers by Viscount Breckenridge. For some reason unbeknownst to the Cynster family, a villain is out there trying to kidnap one of their girls. The family lets down their guard though at Heather’s engagement ball, thinking that Eliza and Angelica (the youngest sister) are safe in the company of so many family members and friends. What they don’t know though, is that their villain was counting on this vulnerability. He has hired a new set of kidnappers to come fetch Eliza for him, and they are able to do just that. The kidnapper, Scrope, proves himself to be more of a villain than Heather’s set of kidnappers, keeping Eliza drugged for days. Scrope also has a vested interest in handing Eliza over to the laird since he specializes in this type of business and having it known that he kidnapped Eliza Cynster from beneath the other Cynsters’ noses will make him infamous in his sphere.

Scrope keeps Eliza drugged along the way to Edinburgh for three days after the kidnapping. Following that though, Eliza is kept lucid and tries to think of a way to escape. When she sees a curricle going in the opposite direction as them, she happens to recognize the driver and reaches out to him for help. Jeremy recognized the girl who shouted to him for help inside the carriage but it takes him a minute to place a name to the face. Once he does, he turns around and follows Eliza’s coach to Edinburgh where some friends help him plan to rescue her from her kidnappers. Once she is out of Scrope’s clutches, Jeremy tries to spirit her away to the closest safe destination, but nothing goes according to plan. Along their journey to safety, while they are being pursued by both Scrope and the laird for different reasons, both Jeremy and Eliza discover sides of themselves and things about themselves that they never knew.

Overall I really liked this book. I thought is was a little dry/repetitive towards the middle, they seem to keep getting thwarted at every turn when they start making any kind of headway, which I’m sure was just so the hero and heroine could spend as much time alone together as possible plot-wise. But other than that, this is a very sweet story about two people stuck in an unlikely situation who fall in love. I also really liked how they made the original villain (the laird) come out to be a hero in the end of this book. Not to spoil the surprise for the next book in the series, but the change in his character along with Angelica’s piece in the last few pages of this book are both good leads into the next book.

Link to other reviews in the Cynster Sisters trilogy: https://rebeccabookreview.wordpress.com/category/book-reviews/book-series-book-reviews/cynster-sisters-trilogy/

Link to other reviews in the Cynster family series: https://rebeccabookreview.wordpress.com/category/book-reviews/book-series-book-reviews/cynster-family-series/

Link to author website: http://www.stephanielaurens.com/

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/In-Pursuit-Eliza-Cynster-Sisters/dp/006206861X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403093615&sr=8-1&keywords=in+pursuit+of+eliza+cynster

14Jun2014

2014 – Book # 52

Posted in Book reviews, Book series, Historical Romance, Lost Lords series by rebeccabook17

The fifty-second book I read in 2014 was Not Quite a Wife by Mary Jo Putney. It is the sixth book in the Lost Lords series by this author. I finished this book on 6/14/14. I rated this book 4 stars out of a scale of 5. This book was about James Kirkland and his estranged wife, Laurel Herbert. Ten years ago James and Laurel married in a fit of passion. Soon after they married though Laurel saw James kill a man who had broken into their home and the violence scared her away. So she ran back to her home in Bristol (England) and lived there with her brother for the next ten years running an infirmary and a shelter for battered women.

I’m sorry but how undeniably selfish is that. I mean I can understand being upset over something so violent but aren’t you supposed to love this guy? She was so head over heels in love with him but as soon as she sees something in him she doesn’t like she runs away. And its not like James killed some guy who was sitting there drinking tea with him, the guy had broken into the house and was obviously menacing, he was sneaking up on James from behind. I just think that if she really loved him she should’ve at least tried talking to James about it before she shut him out of her life for ten years. Also, she was all affronted because she thought James was going to take the baby away and she was railing at him how unfair that was. But isn’t it also unfair to him to keep James’ child from him for most of their life? Just because he’s a guy doesn’t mean he has no feelings.

Other than that though the book was quite good. A chance encounter ends up with Laurel being pregnant with James’ baby and they try to make another go of it for the baby’s sake. James brings Laurel to London so that she can grow accustomed to this space as well since they both plan to travel between Bristol and London after the baby is born.

The plot of this story was quite intriguing and I found myself interested in the book the whole way through. The only thing I didn’t care for was Laurel’s selfishness and lack of consideration for James’ feelings towards the beginning and end of the story. I think it was a good addition to the series though.

Link to rest of reviews from the Lost Lords series: https://rebeccabookreview.wordpress.com/category/book-reviews/book-series-book-reviews/lost-lords-series/

Link to author website: http://www.maryjoputney.com/

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Quite-Wife-Lost-Lords/dp/1420127160/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402781407&sr=8-1&keywords=not+quite+a+wife

8Jun2014

2014 – Book #50

Posted in Book reviews, Book series, Historical Romance, Lords of Vice series by rebeccabook17

The fiftieth book I read in 2014 was Dusk with a Dangerous Duke by Alexandra Hawkins. This is the sixth book in the Lords of Vice series by this author. I finished this book on 6/8/14. I rated this book 3 stars out of a scale of 5. This book was about the Duke of Huntsley, known to his friends as Hunter, and Lady Grace Kearly. Lady Grace and Hunter were betrothed to each other when Hunter was only twelve years old and Lady Grace a mere two. Hunter’s grandfather did it to protect her from her devilish uncle and Hunter’s grandmother did it to protect Hunter from the financial destitution that his grandfather and father had left the dukedom in.

Nineteen years later, Hunter still resents the burden that was placed on him at so young an age. He has studiously ignored Lady Grace’s existence for the last nineteen years, even though she has been in his charge and his to take care of for most of her life. Lady Grace has waited in the country for the last nineteen years and with her twenty-first birthday now only weeks away (the deadline in the marriage contract for Lady Grace and Hunter to wed) Grace has decided to take matters into her own hands. She needs to marry to escape the evil clutches of her uncle, but that does not necessarily mean that she need marry Hunter. Grace decides to travel to London to find her own husband.

To be honest I found it impossible to like the hero starring in this book. He was an ass from beginning to almost end (for like the last 20 pages he apparently did a complete 180 and was nice I guess but still). How is it just ok that he literally tricked, drugged, and then finally forced Grace to marry him. I mean I realize from the story line that time was of the essence but still, there had to be another way. He was nothing but a high-handed arrogant asshole through the whole story. He didn’t listen to Grace once or even really try to make up for the nineteen years he had ignored her even though he and every single other person he talked to about it realized that he was absolutely in the wrong.

Overall, this was obviously not my favorite book. I think I liked it a little better than the fifth book in the series (All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess) but I don’t think I like it all that much more. There’s only one more book in the series so I am going to see it through to the end. I’m hoping the next one is better than these last two. Stay tuned.

Link to author website: http://www.alexandrahawkins.com/

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dusk-Dangerous-Duke-Lords-Vice/dp/1250001382/ref=pd_rhf_gw_s_cp_3_F0MV?ie=UTF8&refRID=0CDCTZMZQCTMNGZTQ0Y9

Link to rest of reviews in Lords of Vice series: https://rebeccabookreview.wordpress.com/category/book-reviews/book-series-book-reviews/lords-of-vice-series/

31May2014

2014 – Book #45

Posted in Book reviews, Book series, Cynster family series, Cynster Sisters trilogy, Historical Romance by rebeccabook17

The forty-fifth book I read in 2014 was Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue by Stephanie Laurens. I finished this book on 5/30/14. This is the 16th book in the Cynster family series and the 1st book in the Cynster Sisters trilogy. The Cynster Sisters trilogy is actually a sub-series within the Cynster family series. I have read other books in the series and have many other blog posts on them. This book was actually a re-read for me since I’ve read it before. This time I rated it 3.75 stars out of a scale of 5. This book tells the story of Heather Cynster any Viscount Breckenridge. Very early in the novel, Heather is kidnapped and Breckenridge just happens to witness it. He follows the carriage that kidnapped Heather and attempts to save her. Heather has learned from her kidnappers though that they were abduct “one of the Cynster sisters” and therefore she wants to learn Moe about the reason for her abduction before she’ll allow Breckenridge to save her. Her sisters could potentially be in danger too and Heather will do anything to protect them.

When her abductors arrive with her in Gretna Green, however, Heather realizes that she can’t postpone being rescued any longer. She and Breckenridge then decide to walk to the Vale, which is apparently a three day journey. At the Vale they then spend 50-100 pages miscommunicating with one another. Which while probably realistic is incredibly drawn out for readers. The heroine in this book was the epitome of stubborn and it was very frustrating. The plot line of the beginning of this book was very interesting as we are trying to figure out why Heather was kidnapped and where they’re going and what not. But I found that I really had to push myself through the 100pages of the book whether Heather and Breckenridge are basically circling around each other, each loving the other but not wanting to be the first to admit it and not even wanting to show it first.

I love the Cynster family series, don’t get me wrong, but after the 16th one I am starting to get tired of the pattern. Each book has a very similar pattern, we have a hero and heroine each with a strong and stubborn personality, they have sex and fall on love and struggle to admit to each other that they are in love. I think that her books are great and I would highly recommend them to readers but I don’t know if I would recommend reading all 20 in the series. Maybe that’s why there aren’t many authors who write series’ with 20 books.

One thing I do want to talk a little about is the mention of Gretna Green. This comes up in a lot of historical romance novels. It is a place just over the border of Scotland (from England) where couples in love could run away to get married. This is swell known by the heroine in the book and what leads her to allowing Breckenridge to rescue her so she can avoid being married to the mysterious laird who had her abducted. This apparently was because of a law that was enacted in England in 1754 allowing the guardian of a person under the age of 21 to prevent marriages simply by rejecting the match. According to Wikipedia, in Scotland the age of consent for boys was only 14 and for girls only 12.

Link to Wikipedia website on Gretna Green: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretna_Green

Link to author website: http://www.stephanielaurens.com/

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Viscount-Breckenridge-Rescue-Cynster-Sisters/dp/0062068601/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1401501271&sr=1-1

29May2014

2014 – Book #44

Posted in Book reviews, Book series, Highland Pleasures (Mackenzie family) series, Historical Romance by rebeccabook17

The forty-fourth book(s) I read in 2014 were Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift and The Untamed Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. These were both short stories connected to the Highland Pleasures (Mackenzie family) series by this author so I counted the 2 short stories as 1 book. Together the 2 short stories were 396 pages, which is about the size of a normal novel.

Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift is book 4.5 in the Highland Pleasures (Mackenzie family) series by Jennifer Ashley. This short story therefore takes place between books 4 (The Duke’s Perfect Wife) and 5 (The Seduction of Elliott McBride). I finished this book on 5/27/14. I rated this story 3.75 stars out of a scale of 5. This story was fun because it was about all the Mackenzies! The family has gathered for Christmas and all 4 brothers and their wives and children and relatives, plus the Mackenzies’ half brother Inspector Fellows. It was interesting to revisit many of the characters from the previous books. You hardly ever get to read about how well your favorite characters are doing in their marriages after you read their books. They might show up in books on their relatives but usually they play only a small part in those books. This book featured each of the couples from the previous 4 books in different scenes. It was great! What a lovely addition to the series.

The Untamed Mackenzie is book 5.5 in the Highland Pleasures (Mackenzie family) series by Jennifer Ashley. This short story therefore takes place between books 5 ( The Seduction of Elliott McBride) and 6 (The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie). I finished this book on 5/28/14. Unfortunately, this book was only available in e-book format. I rated this book 4 stars out of a scale of 5. This tells the story of the Mackenzies’ half brother Lloyd Fellows, Chief Inspector for Scotland Yard. He has run into Isabella’s sister Louisa Scranton at a few family functions and each time he is drawn to her. They have kissed twice and neither can deny the sparks that fly between them. Louisa has been hurt by her scandalous family though and wants to find a respectable man to marry so that her family’s name might be drawn from the mud. When a respectable man proposes to her and promptly perishes however, Inspector Fellows is called to investigate the crime. Everyone seems to think Louisa killed the man (which if you ask me is a little ridiculous) but Lloyd knows she’s innocent. I thought this short story was great because it didn’t even feel like a short story. It felt like a regular novel with its plot and story line. And I have been wanting to hear Lloyd’s story so overall I thought this was great!

Link to author website: http://www.jennifersromances.com/

Link to Mackenzie family series website: http://www.jennifersromances.com/NewSite/Mackenzies/mackenzie_main.html

Link to Amazon – Mackenzie Family Christmas: http://www.amazon.com/Mackenzie-Family-Christmas-Highland-Pleasures/dp/1481268007/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1401372840&sr=8-1

Link to Amazon – The Untamed Mackenzie: http://www.amazon.com/The-Untamed-Mackenzie-Mackenzies-Series-ebook/dp/B00AEDDSMA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401372873&sr=8-1&keywords=the+untamed+mackenzie

24May2014

2014 – Book #42

Posted in Book reviews, Contemporary romance by rebeccabook17

The forty-second book I read in 2014 was Starry Night by Debbie Macomber. I finished this book on 5/24/14. I rated this book 3.25 stars out of a scale of 5. This book tells the story of Carrie Slayton, a reporter from Chicago, and Finn Dalton, a recent bestselling author who is trying his best to stay out of the limelight. Carrie is currently writing the Society page in the Chicago Herald. Tired of writing articles without substance, her boss finally gives her a chance to write articles about more than just the comings and goings of the city’s elite. If she can get an interview with the reclusive Finn Dalton she can write anything she wants.

And so Carrie sets off on her journey to find Finn Dalton. Through a couple of lucky breaks she ends up finding out where he lives. Unfortunately she finds his house only to be dumped there at the beginning of a snowstorm, with no promise of being rescued until the following morning at the earliest, if not later. Finn is less than pleased to find a frozen woman reporter on his doorstep, and he makes his unhappiness with the situation very clear. A couple of days in a secluded cabin together though brought them closer together than they ever imagined, so much so that they can’t help but continue their relationship after Carrie goes back to Chicago.

Overall I thought this was a very cute book. It was a quick read at only about 230 pages. I liked the characters in the story and I found myself being able to relate to the hero and heroine’s long distance relationship. Beyond that though I had trouble connecting with the main characters in the book. Was a good story though.

Link to author website: http://www.debbiemacomber.com/

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Starry-Night-A-Christmas-Novel/dp/0345528891/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1400953204&sr=8-2&keywords=starry+night

22May2014

2014 – Book #40

Posted in Book reviews, Book series, Cynster family series, Historical Romance by rebeccabook17

The fortieth book I read in 2014 was Temptation and Surrender by Stephanie Laurens. I finished this book on 5/21/14. This is the 15th book in the Cynster family series by this author. Previous books in the series were discussed in earlier blog posts this year, specifically 2014 – Book #23, 2014 – Book #21, 2014 – Book #13, 2014 – Book #12, 2014 – Book #10, 2014 – Book #6, and 2014 – Book #4 (I know that’s quite a few!). I rated this book 3.5 stars out of a scale of 5. This book tells that story of Jonas Tallent and Emily Colyton. Jonas is the brother of Phyllida, who married Lucifer (Alasdair) Cynster in the 6th book in the series, All About Love. As I’ve said in previous posts about this series, I like meeting the characters in previous books and then seeing them and learning about their characters further when they feature in their own books.

Emily is willing to do whatever is necessary to get herself and her siblings out of their horrible Uncle’s house, even if that means taking a position as an innkeeper to earn money to support her family. So they take up residence in the town of Colyton, hoping to find a treasure that their ancestors supposedly left behind for future generations while Emily also manages the inn. Jonas Tallent’s father owns the inn that Emily now manages, giving him a perfectly good excuse to talk to her whenever he wishes. Their relationship develops and Jonas realizes that he wants to protect Emily and take care of her for the rest of her life, which is nice.

I thought this book was ok. I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I have in previous books by this author but the plot was interesting enough and the main characters seemed like decent people. The hero was a little too pushy for my taste but he was a nice enough guy. I felt like the ending was a bit of a stretch, the villain’s identity I saw coming in a sense but the explanation behind it was weak and not well developed through the rest of the story I thought. Overall this wasn’t my favorite book by this author but was a decent addition to the series.

Link to author website: http://www.stephanielaurens.com/

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Temptation-Surrender-Cynster-Stephanie-Laurens-ebook/dp/B001NLL932/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400770991&sr=8-1&keywords=temptation+and+surrender

Link to first blog post in 2014 about Cynster family series (includes family tree picture): https://rebeccabookreview.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/2014-book-4/