ARC Review: Wildfire by Anne Stuart

Wildfire is book three in Anne Stuart’s Fire series. It was a good read even if the plot was a little thin. There was a lot of internal conflict for both main characters which undoubtedly leads to more internal dialogue. The antagonist, Archer, is a narcissistic megalomaniac and truly evil, but he was kind of annoying. One thing I love about Anne Stuart’s suspense is that it is not sugar coated, it’s gritty and dark. Her Heroes aren’t always very nice, in fact I think out of the last three books this one, Malcolm, is the least asshole-ish of all of them. I really like Sophie she was a very strong and determined character, she is all alone basically held prisoner by Archer.

Originally sent to kill Archer rookie member of the Committee, Sophie, falls in love with him. When Archer finds out why she was there he tries to have her killed but only leaves her paralyzed from the waist down. Archer then spends the next three years tormenting and keeping Sophie prisoner on his island. Sophie is determined to kill Archer and get off the island she has an ace up her sleeve, she never let anyone know she gained feeling back in her legs and has been strength training for the last two years; now she’s ready to follow through on the original plan of killing Archer. Malcolm is deep undercover for the Committee his next assignment is to kill Archer and stop the production of a new bioweapon from being distributed. The Committee told Malcolm that what happens to Sophie is his choice, before getting on the island he is pretty much sure he’s going to kill her or leave her to die but after seeing the once Committee member confined to a wheelchair, as much as he tries to debate with himself he knows he going to save her.

Sophie and Malcolm are at odds for the first half of the book, especially after she finds out who he works for she is sure he’s going to kill her too. But after Archer pretty much demands that Archer sleep with Sophie, the dynamic changes between Malcolm and Sophie. They still don’t know whether they can trust each other yet but the angry sex let of a bunch of steam. The bullying them into sex plan pretty much blew up in Archer’s face and all the carefully laid plans go downhill from there. Archer is such a self-centered idiot most of the interaction between him and everyone else is aggravating. Malcolm knows what he wants he just won’t let himself have it. Sophie is so tired of being helpless, she just wants it over by any means necessary.

Overall, a good read. I wish there had been a little bit more between Sophie and Malcolm.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Consumed by Fire by Anne Stuart

I wish I could say that I have read all of Anne Stuart and love everything she has ever written, but sadly I can’t say that, I have only read four of her books but I do LOVE them. I have read the first three books in her Ice series about a super secret organization called The Committee; Consumed by Fire is a continuation of The Committee story with all new characters and without the necessity to read the Ice series (but if you love this book why would you skip them). Anne Stuart has a way with suspense that keeps you glued to the book and getting so involved in the story you jump at sudden noises. It’s got great characters, even James Bishop who is a complete a-hole most of the time you can end up loving in the end.

Five years ago Evangeline Morrissey was doing a study on ancient Italian architecture when she was swept off her feet by a gorgeous man who wakened in her sexual desire she had no idea she had and married her. Four days of sexual bliss later and her husband James Bishop abandoned her and stole her grandmother’s diamond earrings. Evangeline went on a downward spiral abandoned her research and started on a different topic. Not even marring another man mended her heart. Five years she was alone with only her dog Merlin to keep her company and she was fine with that until she was returning from Canada doing more research when out of the blue James Bishop shows up in her life again.

Five years ago James Bishop was working, trying to collapse family controlling white slavery trade lead by some high ranking Italian Priest by assassinating a small but pivotal person within their infrastructure. Evangeline just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and in order to protect her he marries her. Five years of staying out of her life for the exception of training an attack dog to protect her, he has kept her safe from a distance. Somehow the family found out about Evangeline and now plans to use her to get to James. James must now get Evangeline to safety and divorce her for her own safety keeping her at a distance without touching her like he has longed to in their years apart. His only choice is to be a complete bastard.

Evangeline is confused and scared and finally come to the realization that she loves James and hasn’t stopped but is heartbroken because he obviously just wants to love and leave her again. Fighting off and out running assassins and driving cross country in a Winnebago they will either drive each other crazy or bring them together finally.

Word of caution…if you are not familiar with the writing style that has made this woman a bestseller she does tent to be violent, but it’s nothing that I’m not use to; if you are picky about how violent and graphic a book gets depicting trained killers fight to the death, I would avoid it. But if you are like me and nothing fazes you, hell ya read and enjoy.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: The Demon Count Novels by Anne Stuart

The Demon Count was originally published in the 1980s. The recent publication has “The Demon Count” and “The Demon Count’s Daughter” published together instead of two separate stories.

First, I love Anne Stuart and “The Demon Count” is vintage Stuart. She creates such a dark and scary atmosphere in this book that I was captivated. She also plays with the reader and the characters in such a way that we start to question what we are reading. She has so many plots going on in this book that I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what is real? What is really going on? I think Stuart is brilliant in that aspect.

Her characters were also vintage. Charlotte Morrow is basically and orphan and goes to live with her guardian in Venice, Count Luc del Zaglia or the Demon Count as Charlotte refers to him. Del Zaglia could care less about his ward but accepts her into his home regardless.

Charlotte is very naive. I do have to say that this book was originally written in the 80’s and there is the typical naïve heroine with the sinister –controlling hero. But I really enjoyed it. I can’t give away too much away because it would ruin the book, but I loved how Stuart played the different plots.

When Charlotte arrives to live with her guardian, Venice is terrified of the “Ghoul of Venice.” He is a Jack the Ripper type villain. Del Zaglia is a prime suspect because of his very eccentric lifestyle. That and he was rumored to have killed his first wife. Since Charlotte is new to Venice and does know Del Zaglia she is terrified and intrigued at the same time about who Del Zaglia really is or what he is.

Del Zaglia is a typical Stuart hero. He is dark and has very witty and almost crazy comments to make to Charloette. I really enjoyed his character. Charlotte is young, beautiful and rich and has many suitors around her. But her heart doesn’t belong to any of them.

The second story is “The Demon Counts Daughter.” This story centers on Charlotte and Del Zaglia’s daughter- Lucinda de Zaglia. Luciana is nothing like her mother. Where Charlotte was young and naïve Lucinda is strong and in control. She travels back to Venice to her father’s old home. Her purpose in returning is very closely intertwined with her father’s old life (which I will not give away). Lucinda sets her eyes on Evan Fitzpatrick. Although Evan doesn’t want anything to do with her Lucinda is not easily deterred. Evan is not considered respectable because he is a divorced man.

Overall, both these stories were really interesting and I was eager to see both stories unfold. Although the Demon Count is darker and almost gothic, The Demon Count’s Daughter is lighter and more of a romance/spy story.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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ARC Review: Never Marry a Viscount by Anne Stuart

Anne Stuart is one of my favorite writers. She has written some of the most villainous, horrible reformed hero’s I have ever read about. So I have very high expectations for her. Anytime I see anything new by her I jump at the chance to read it.

“Never Marry a Viscount” is the final book in the (Scandal at the House of Russell #3) trilogy. I read the first book, “Never Kiss a Rake” but I have not read the second one, “Never Trust a Pirate”. Basically the same plot occurs in all three books. The three sisters, Bryony, Maddie and Sophie are living in disgrace. Their father died and left the daughters ruined. Many believe that he tried to steal money and business from his investors and that he was not actually murdered. The sisters believe otherwise, they know that there was foul play and want to find out who murdered their father. Byrony, the oldest sister believes that Adrian Bruton, Earl of Kilmartyn is the one responsible for her father’s death. Madeleine believes that Captain Thomas Morgan is responsible and Sophie believes that Viscount Griffiths is. All three sisters somehow infiltrated the lives of these suspected murders to uncover the truth.

I liked the idea of the plot I just think that it was over done in the three stories. I would have liked it better if the storylines were not repeated in three books. Sophie was a great character and I really enjoyed her spirit. Griffiths was also a great character but his villainous ways were not really that terrible. He is really just after Sophie the entire book. Granted he was under the impression that her purpose in his household was of a different nature. I personally found the confusion a little to drawn out.

Both Sophie and Griffiths had good chemistry but as I mentioned before, I love Anne Stuart and hold her to a very high standard. Since this is the last book in the series the other sisters make an appearance. The true identity of the murder is also known. I’m looking forward to reading more of Anne Stuarts books! She is still one of my favorite authors.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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