ARC Review: Only Beloved by Mary Balogh

Only Beloved is a sweet romance that focuses on both lead characters sorting out their past and coming to terms with it. It was a nice conclusion to the Survivor's Club series. We saw many cameos of previous protagonists, thus also getting a little extra epilogue for each of them. My only qualm was that there were some boring parts that drug on a little too long for my taste.

Dora is a 39 year old spinster who lives in a small village and is a local music teacher. She is quite a gifted musician. She missed out on her society debut to raise her younger sister. Dora isn't bitter over her sacrifice and has learned to accept her situation in life and make the best of it.

George is a 48 year old Duke who lost his only son in the Napoleonic Wars and his wife who was beside herself with grief over losing their son and committed suicide. He opened up his country home to wounded soldiers of the wars, and in doing so created the Survivor's Club. This group of individuals became close friends and a great support group for each other.

George makes a hasty decision to remarry, and the person who comes to mind first is Dora, an acquaintance he met a year or so prior. So out of the blue he travels to her home to ask for her hand in marriage. I think they were both surprised that she says yes! Both Dora and George's new engagement and marriage are disrupted by their difficult histories.They have to learn to help each other overcome the sorrows of their pasts.

I really like Mary Balogh's style (sweet and calm) but this book took it too far for me. I found several parts hard to get through. It felt to me like she fluffed up the story with details to make the tale longer, that weren't necessary to the plot. Despite that one misgiving, the romance was precious. The story was almost too perfect and left the reader with this feeling of foreboding. This was the desired effect in my opinion though, because the climax was quite exciting! And the little extra message of starring older protagonists than what is the social norm, was fantastic!

I do wish I had started this series with book one, and I do plan to go back and read them because I love them so much. Mary Balogh is a wonderful writer. I am excited to see what she has in store for future series!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: A Walk in the Sun by Michelle Zink

I have been in a bit of a rut lately when it comes to reading, so I was really hoping that A Walk in the Sun by Michelle Zink would be the one to turn that around. It has such a gorgeous cover and the blurb really drew me in and made me want to read it. While I was drawn in right away, I ended up with mixed feelings on the story overall and this wasn't quite what I had been hoping for. 

After a tragedy strikes her family, Rose must rearrange her future and put her dreams on hold. Bodhi left home when he was young and has been working farm jobs ever since which allows him to travel. Bodhi was already looking forward to his next gig when he met Rose and it changed everything. Despite the attraction between them, they both know that with the end of summer approaching and Bodhi planning to leave in September will they be over before they really begin? 

I really liked both Rose and Bodhi. I thought that they were strong characters and they each had a lot that they were dealing with. With Rose having just lost her mom and being forced to help around the farm thought that was the last thing she wanted to do, you couldn't help but admire her. These two had a lot of chemistry and the connection between them was easy to see. Their relationship was more of a slow burn though, and there were times that it felt like things were taking a bit too long. 

The biggest issues I had though was the fact that this story while it had good moments, was also really cliched at times. There wasn't much that was new or different, the conflict was so typical and too easily resolved. It just felt like the same old story told too many times for me to really have much interest in what was happening. Because of that my interest waned and I found myself bored several times here. I had hoped that there would be something to stand out here since I did like the characters, but unfortunately for me this story was just okay. I think that a lot of readers will probably really enjoy this story, and it is worth giving a chance if it sounds like something you would like. This very well could just be a combination of the funk I am in and the sheer amount of books I read for why it was just okay for me personally and it could end up being one that others really love.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: League of Rogues Series by Darcy Burke

Book 1

Miss Margery Derrington and her dear aunts are in dire straits. Their discovery of a rare manuscript will hopefully stave off their creditors—if it’s worth what they hope. Margery reluctantly allies with a reclusive scholar to use the book to pursue a treasure that could solve their woes. Only, the irresistible desire she feels toward her partner is neither expected nor wanted.

Rhys Bowen can’t believe he has his hands on the elusive de Valery text. Solving its hidden code and unearthing its legendary treasure would establish him as one of Britain’s leading antiquaries, finally casting him out of his brilliant late father’s shadow. But when a centuries-old organization convinces Rhys of the perils of disturbing the past, he must choose between his conscience…and the captivating woman he’s sworn to help.

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Book 2

Major Elijah Hollister never wanted to be an earl, particularly not when it meant losing his brother. When a bold adventuress shows up at his door seeking a treasure map, Elijah suspects his brother’s death may not have been accidental and that the lady knows more than she’s willing to share. Whether she’s a friend or foe, Elijah plans to keep her close—and hope the temptation of her kisses doesn’t ruin them both.

Miss Catriona Bowen can almost taste the fruits of her years-long quest to find one of Britain’s greatest treasures. The discovery will deliver the recognition and respect she deserves as an antiquary, despite the fact that she’s a woman. However, to find the map that will lead her to success, she must ally herself with a stoic, yet provocative earl with a different goal. And when a villain threatens their lives, she realizes too late that love is the greatest treasure of all.

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Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of hot, action-packed historical and sexy, emotional contemporary romance. A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, and three Bengal cats. Visit Darcy online at www.darcyburke.com and sign up for her newsletter, follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/darcyburke, or like her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans.

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Feature: The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter

The Queen of Paranormal Romance, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter, returns with THE DARKEST TORMENT, the eagerly anticipated twelfth novel in her Lords of the Underworld series, available May 31, 2016! Pre-order your copy today!

Pre-order your copy of THE DARKEST TORMENT by Gena Showalter, and each week, be entered to win 1 of 4 darkly dangerous prizes! Just fill out the form! http://bit.ly/23mjCxS

ARC Review: The Untamed Earl by Valerie Bowman

Ever since I read the first book in the Playful Brides series, “The Unexpected Duchess” I cannot get enough of Valerie Bowman. I’ve been waiting for this book since I finished and loved, “The Irresistible Rogue.” For anyone that has never read this series Bowman takes a very witty and historical spin on tales such as Cyrano de Bergerac, The Importance of Being Earnest and other classics as The Philadelphia Story and gives it a spin. Bowman is one of those authors I leap to read her work. I really enjoy her heroines, heroes and her plots.

“The Untamed Earl” is a spin of the “Taming of the Shrew.” Alexander Hobbs is the sister of the alluded to shrew. Lavinia, her older sister, is definitely a shrew. When she was young she became very ill and since then Alexander lived in her sister’s shadow. For the most part Alexander accepted this lot in life, but when her parents arrange for her sister to marry the man that stole her heart years ago, Lord Owen Monroe, Alex takes matters into her own hands. Years ago Alexander met Owen by her balcony and since then he stole her heart.

Lord Owen is Cassandra’s brother; she is the heroine from “The Accidental Countess. Owen has a bad reputation not only in society but also with his family. His parents think it’s time for him to marry and start taking his life seriously. With Lavinia’s parents they arrange a marriage proposal for Owen and Lavinia, but Lavinia’s parents insist that she must fall in love with him and accept him on her own terms. Lavinia is a shrew in every sense of the word. She is an awful bully and Owen realizes that although he has had no luck with other conquests, Lavinia is more than he had bargained for. Alexander offers up her help. She tells Owen that if he helps her launch in society then she will help him with her sister.

I really like Alex and Owen, individually and as a couple. They were very sweet and they had great chemistry. There are some sad and heart-breaking moments and before long Alex realizes that her plan might need some reinforcements. I have really only two small complaints. One there was so much action and change of scenes in the previous book and this book was one ball after another. Second, I now have to count down the days until the next book in the series- The Legendary Lord which is about Viscount Christian Bancroft. I really loved the glimpses that the author gave us of his character and I cannot wait to see what she has in stored for him and Sarah. I really enjoyed this great shrew of a story and loved how the author finally gave Alex and Owen the chance they needed. Although the book is a part of the series, it is easily a standalone. However, the heart of the story is the friendship of Cassandra, Lucy and Jane -which I was happy to see them make an appearance. If anyone has time to sit around and binge read, I definitely recommend they do so with this funny series.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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