ARC Reviwe: The Scoundrel's Seduction by Jennifer Haymore

I love books like “The Scoundrel’s Seduction” by Jennifer Haymore. It has, what for me, seems like a perfect book! The plot is fantastic. It is filled with emotion, adventure and a bit of mystery. The writing is engaging and very good. The characters are interesting, fallible and you can’t help but like them. I can’t believe that this is my first book by this great author! I will be on the lookout for her upcoming books and add her already written books to my to- read list.

Ok, so the story begins with a murder! Page one the story is interesting and I was immediately taken into who is Sam and why is he killing Lord Dunthorpe. ( I do have to say that I wish I had read the previous two books in the series.) We quickly learn that Sam Hawkins is an English spy. It is no coincidence that he has killed a Frenchman. While he kills Dunthorpe he realizes that his wife Lady Dunthorpe, or Élise, witnesses the whole thing. Sam is left with no option than to take her with him. Sam is such a great character. He is the illegitimate/ never cared for child. Although he has two other brothers he feels a loneliness because of his lack of legitimacy. He is very dedicated to being a spy and is very good at his work. There were so many wonderful layers to Sam. He was a mixture of imperfections and admirable heroic qualities. He’s brothers play an important role in his life and he finds his own way… eventually. No stranger to heartache (he is twice a widower and also lost a child) he is emotionally very guarded.

Élise was an equally fantastic heroine. She also feels alone. She is recently a widow. But because her deceased or murder husband was not the greatest of husbands, she feels only slightly sorrowful for his loss. The reality is that Élise is finally free. She married too young and to a much older man. She did not live a happy matrimonial life. Besides losing her husband she is all alone. She lives in a country that distrusts her because of her nationality.

Everything about this story was so enjoyable! The chemistry, the romance and the suspense! How can these two very wounded and lost people find their way together while trying to escape with their lives? Read and enjoy this fantastic adventure! I highly recommend it and enjoyed it

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes |

Feature and Giveaway: The Scoundrel's Seduction by Jennifer Haymore

TEMPTATION KNOWS NO BOUNDS . . .

Undercover agent Sam Hawkins has devoted his life to protecting king and country. So when he receives orders to assassinate a ruthless traitor, he doesn't question his mission. But Sam didn't know his deed had a witness--the beautiful and mysterious betrayer's wife. Now he has no choice but to take her as his prisoner-one he can neither trust . . . nor resist.

Élise, Lady Dunthorpe, will do anything to escape her powerful captor--including seducing him senseless. She didn't know of her miserable husband's crimes, but she has secrets of her own, secrets that threaten everything she holds dear. With his piercing dark eyes and gentle touch, Sam inflames Élise's deepest desires, but how could she ever trust a man who won't let her go? Caught between the crown he's sworn to serve and the woman he's come to love, Sam will risk his heart--and his very life--to keep her safe.

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | iTunes |

ARC Review: Pleasures of a Tempted Lady by Jennifer Haymore

When I finished reading the last book from Jennifer Haymore, I just couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I had such high expectations for it. Unfortunately I think my high expectations ruined it a bit. I just couldn't really get into this book and it just felt like it moved so slowly.

Eight years ago while sailing home to Antigua with her sisters Meg accidentally fell overboard and was never found. She was presumed to be dead, but in truth she has spent the last eight years held captive by a pirate. Finally Meg has been able to escape and she has taken the pirates son Jake whom she has come to love as if her were her own son. During her escape Meg and Jake were caught in a terrible storm and both are now just floating aimlessly in the ocean hoping to find help.

Captain William Langley has spent the last eight years thinking about Meg and just how much he loved her. Will would give anything to just see her once again and let her know just how much he loved her. Will is out on a mission to find smugglers when he comes across a small boat with two passengers. Imagine his shock when he discovers one of the passengers just happens to be his long lost Meg. While can't believe his eyes to see Meg again. Will is bound and determined to never lose Meg again, and he will do everything he can to keep both her and Jake safe.

For me, I just had such a difficult time connecting with Meg. I just never really warmed up to her and I honestly didn't like her all that much. She just came off as cold and a bit uncaring towards everyone but Jake. I understand that she's been through a lot with being held captive for the last eight years, but I would have liked to see her make more a connection with her family and Will. She continuously keeps them at an arms length and seems so uncaring to their feelings. She purposely makes irrational decisions regardless of anyone else's opinions. She is very stubborn. Instead of asking for help or even just unburdening herself of the truth, she runs and keeps everything a secret. It was very aggravating to read.

As for Will, oh my goodness but he was an amazing hero. For the last eight years he has held a torch for Meg and never gave up his love for her. Even despite the rumors of her death, he stayed truthful to her and I found that so endearing. His emotions jumped off the page and slapped you in the face. I like that even though you know just how much he loves Meg he doesn't come off as a pansy.

One thing I did enjoy with this story was the secondary characters. I liked seeing more of Meg's family and seeing more of Jessica. I'll be honest, at first I found Jessica really annoying and slightly snobby but by the end of the book I really liked her. I also really liked getting to know Briggs. I liked him so much that I wish he would have gotten his own book. There is just so much more I would have liked to see from him.

**ARC copy provided by NetGalley**

Purchase:

| Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | 

Secrets of an Accidental Duchess Winners

Congratulations to: 

Jamie M

June M

Diane S

On winning a copy of Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore courtesy Forever Romance

All winners have been contacted via email. Thanks to everyone that has entered.

Blog Tour Giveaway: Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore

Please note that this giveaway is open to US residents only.

Check out my review for Secrets of an Accidental Duchess here. 

With her pale hair and slim figure, Olivia Donovan looks as fragile as fine china, and has been treated as such by her sisters ever since a childhood bout with malaria. But beneath her delicate facade, Olivia guards a bold, independent spirit and the kind of passionate desires proper young ladies must never confess...

It was a reckless wager, and one Max couldn't resist: seduce the alluring Olivia or forfeit part of his fortune. Yet the wild, soon-to-be Duke never imagined he'd fall in love with this innocent beauty. Nor could he have guessed that a dangerously unpredictable rival would set out to destroy them both. Now, Max must beat a madman at his own twisted game-or forever lose the only woman to have ever won his heart.

Places to Purchase:

| Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble |

ARC Review: Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore

I just finished Secrets of an Accidental Duchess and I'm just all over the place. I'm feeling so many different emotions now that I've finished this book. I really enjoyed this book but there were a few times I had to put this book down because it became a little rough to get through. It wasn't bad at all but this book was definitely not a light read. In fact, the villain of this story is so heinous and brutal and some of his actions made me shudder. Besides my hatred of the villain, I really enjoyed the story and all of the characters that are in it.

Let me just start off by saying that I love Max. I love Max so freaking much! Watching him and Olivia both fall in love with each other was great to watch. Their interactions with each other and just the way they both opened up to one another was great. There really weren't any games between them and I liked that. I liked that they both fell and fell hard.

I'll admit that the first couple of chapters kind of dragged for me a bit, but once Olivia and Max started interacting with each other the story just picked up and I found myself unable to stop reading. I loved getting to know who both Olivia and Max were. The type of people they were inside and out. Both are caring and so full of love. I was worried that I might not like Olivia based off of reading the back of the book. I'm not the biggest fan of heroines that always need saving and are helpless. That wasn't the case at all with Olivia. Everyone may try to baby her and shelter her but she definitely doesn't need it. She is strong and if given the chance, independent. She is also selfless. She willingly put others first to save them even if it costs her so much more. She doesn't back down when times get hard and I loved that about her.

With Max, in the beginning he's portrayed as a womanizing rake that doesn't have a care in the world and could care less about another feelings. That was not the case at all. Max is so caring and considerate. He fights for what he believes in and the ones he loves and cares about. He is truly good even though it takes him a while to realize it.

As I said before, I really enjoyed this story. I loved meeting the rest of the Donovans and I am eagerly awaiting the next book from Jennifer Haymore. I can't wait to see how things end up for the rest of the Donovans. I also will be checking out the first book in this series, Confessions of an Improper Bride. I loved seeing the little tidbits of Serena/Meg and her husband and I am very curious about their book.

**ARC copy provided by NetGalley/Forever Romance Publishing**

RATING: