Review - The Lady Most Likely...

Title: The Lady Most Likely...
Author: Anthology: Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway
Publishing Date: 2010
Genre: Historical
Rating: B
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I purchased a new copy.

Lady Finchley, the sister to Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, decides to throw a party at her country house inviting the most eligible young ladies. Hugh has decided that it is high time to get married after recently being close to death. He has asked Carolyn to help him find a suitable wife. Carolyn not only plans to match make for her brother but for her best friend Georgina too, who was widowed young. Not two, but three couples find love at this country party.

I don't usually read anthologies but this one caught my eye with the great list of authors participating. I really liked that all three stories were related by taking place at the country party and involved all the same characters. There are three distinct couples who find love at this party. I am not going to go into specifics because part of the fun of reading the book is discovering who ends up with who.

I felt that the stories flowed seamlessly together to where I would not have been able to identify the different authors if not for the labeling at the top of the page. I did however feel that the character Hugh's personality went from mildly appealing to greatly appealing by the end of the story. I like the direction the author's took his character and I enjoyed his romance the best. I thought all three stories were fun to read, but not overtly exceptional. This anthology is just a nice way to pass the time and I enjoyed the three sweet stories.

Review - When Beauty Tamed the Beast

Title: When Beauty Tamed the Beast
Author: Eloisa James
Publishing Date: February 2011
Genre: Historical
Rating: A
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I purchased a new copy for my Nook eReader from Barnes and Noble.

When Beauty Tamed the Beast is the second book in Eloisa James Fairy Tale series. *You do not need to have read the first book in the series to read this one.* When Miss Linnet Thryne finds herself utterly and truly ruined, her father and aunt concoct a plan to wed her to Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant. Linnet doesn't seem to have much choice in the matter and meekly goes along with her family’s wishes. The only problem is that Piers is one of those very grumpy, cantankerous men and only a truly astonishing woman will be the one to capture his heart. Imagine his surprise to find Linnet on his doorstep with her shining beauty. But that is not the only thing that captures his attention.

Wow. Can I just say, wow!! This book completely blew me away. I loved everything about it. This is my third Eloisa James novel and so far I have loved everything she has written. This may just be my favorite so far. I absolutely adored everything about Linnet and Piers. At first I was a little worried that Linnet wouldn't have what it takes to capture Pier's heart. He is such a beastly man with a horrid temper. His intellect is outstanding and I was worried that Linnet would be to mild mannered for him and that he would walk all over her.

It turns out I was wrong and just needed to let the story unfold at its own pace. The dialogue between Linnet and Piers is fantastic. Ms. James is a master at dry humor and snide witty comments had me in stitches. Then the reader also gets the added bonus of a secondary love story between Pier's parents. I loved that they get a second chance at love. In addition the ending of this story is so completely moving and beautiful. I was up late at night because I could not put the book down. I love the unexpected twist to universal tale of Beauty and the Beast. I highly recommend this one!!! If you have not tried Eloisa James yet, what are you waiting for? This is the perfect place to start!!

Review - A Kiss at Midnight

Title: A Kiss at Midnight
Author: Eloisa James
Publishing Date: August 2010
Genre: Historical
Rating: A
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: Purchased a new copy.

A Kiss at Midnight is the first book in a new series by Eloisa James. Ever since Kate's father died and left everything to her Stepmother, Kate has been relegated to rooms in the attic. Her status is more representative of a servant than that of the actual Lady she is. Her stepsister Victoria is bitten on the lip by her little dog rendering her usual pretty face less than picturesque. Not wanting anything to impede her matchmaking ambitions, Kate's stepmother insists that Kate take Victoria's place at the ball Prince Gabriel is hosting. This meeting with the Prince will ensure Victoria's marriage to his nephew. Although to Kate's distress, the Prince turns his eye to her.

A Kiss at Midnight parallels the popular fairy tale Cinderella. Kate is the dutiful daughter who is tormented by her vain Stepmother and Stepsister. She attends a ball wearing glass slippers, dances with a prince and has a Godmother to make all her dreams come true. It might seem like this book could be farcical and too over the top, but that is not the case at all. It is a beautiful story with tenderness, heart-break, humor and a touching ending.

Eloisa James' writing is clever and poignant. Her characters are all full of verve. Kate never pities her situation and decides to take matters into her own hands to secure a better future for herself. Marianna the infamous Stepmother, while vain and selfish is not eeevil. Victoria is good natured if simple-minded. Gabriel is strong and willful but needs a kick in the pants when it comes to Kate. His half-brother Wick is just the person to do it. Finally, Kate's Godmother Henry is eccentric but not ridiculous. A Kiss at Midnight is a perfectly balanced and wonderful read. Don't miss this book!

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Review - A Duke of Her Own

Title: A Duke of Her Own
Author: Eloisa James
Publishing Date: July 2009
Genre: Historical
Rating: A
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

A Duke of Her Own is the 6th book in Eloisa James' Desperate Duchesses series. Lady Eleanor finds herself as one of the two women the Duke of Villiers is considering for his bride. The Duke has six illegitimate children who he plans to openly accept into society and he needs an appropriate Duchess who would be able to ease their way. Eleanor had her heart broken when her childhood love, The Duke of Astley was forced to wed another. Eleanor hasn't been able get over him and deep within her heart believed that he would come back to her. The Duke of Villiers awakens a part of Eleanor she never knew about herself and she finds herself most intrigued by his outrageous ways.

This was my first, ever book by Eloisa James and I absolutely adored it! I don't know how she has managed to give me the slip all this time, but I must remedy this situation immediately. James' writing is oh so very smart. The characters are just down-right bold and clever, but it is all held within the historical time period. Also, the pacing of the book is sublime. The balance between internal characterization and external action is perfect. The secondary characters were all just wonderful too. I mean really, I was just blown away by this book!

Here is a small snippet of the writing. This little scene in the beginning of the book between Eleanor and Villiers had me chuckling.

He looked her directly in the face. "I have six illegitimate children."

Eleanor felt her mouth slip open, and snapped her teeth together. Was she supposed to congratulate him? "Oh," she ventured.

"I wish to marry someone who will not only mother my bastards, but launch them into proper society when the appropriate time comes. The Beaumonts have assured me that no woman below your rank will be able to cow the ton to the extent that I demand. You needn't look so surprised. I assure you that many men at this ball have a bastard or two being raised in the country."

There was something extraordinarily annoying about the way he paused after that, as if expecting her to scream and faint. "One or two... versus six," she said musingly. "I gather you have led a life of rather extraordinary dissipation."

"I'm not as young as I look."

"You don't look very young," she observed.

"I see you're not expecting to charm your way into a title."

Essentially, the Duke was a careless and selfish man who made bad choices. Something happened to him in a previous book and on his deathbed he made a promise to God that he would take care of his children. Now the Duke is trying to turn over a new leaf and has plans to become a family man. The beauty of this story is that his transformation is very believable because he still does outrageous things. Plus with Eleanor he has finally met his match. She's not ever going to just fall at his feet and worship him. She matches wits with him and keeps him comfortably challenged. A Duke of Her Own is a true gem and I highly recommend it!

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This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.