ARC Review: When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

I love Jayne Ann Krentz, for the exception of a few books here and there I always enjoy her books, When All the Girls Have Gone is no exception. Since JAK has switched back to her normal romantic suspense without the Arcane Society her writing has gotten a smidge darker and grittier, and I like it. It has her normal style the witty banter, exciting action, and a good mystery with some twist and turns. The romance is an easy smooth going one with the story concentrating more on the mystery and suspense aspect more than the romance. The characters, Charlotte and Max, are different sides of the same coin they are similar in how they take life one step at a time but Charlotte is an optimist and Max is more of a realist/pessimist. Max has an interesting backstory that I hope leads to more books with his brothers and adoptive father. Max is a former profiler, but during a high profile case he became obsessed with something from his own past and let it take over his life ruining not only his career but also his marriage. Now a private investigator Max has been asked to uncover the truth behind a young woman’s death. Charlotte and Max join forces and work together trying to find out how everything ties together, where Jocelyn has vanished to, why the investment club members are being so secretive, and how a serial rapist connects them all; a bunch of loose ends that end up in a complicated yet easy to unravel knot by the end.

Louise was murdered and no one seems to care but her young cousin who hires Max Cutler to find out what really happened since the police are satisfied with the easy answer that she overdosed. Jocelyn is missing and Charlotte, her step sister, is now worried that something might have happened to her since Louise was Jocelyn’s best friend. Charlotte didn’t know Louise very well but she is confident that she was murdered. Max and Charlotte start to uncover clues that lead them to believe there is a lot more to the friendship and to the investment group they were part of then they let on. Max’s intuitive and obsessive nature shows him things that everyone else over looks and it leads him right where he needs to be and where to look. Charlotte is good for Max because she understands why he does what he does she has unwavering faith in him and that’s exactly what he needs. The chemistry was there and it was strong but there wasn’t a whole lot of angst between them. They both gave into their feelings easily only hesitant when it came to what future they might have together. 

I enjoyed the dark backstory of Max and I love his adoptive father. The story leaves off on his past and the mystery behind it hopefully where his two adoptive brothers can pick up the storyline. Overall, this was a good read that is very much true to JAK’s stlye.  

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Guest Post with Author Samantha Chase and Giveaway

Meet Samantha Chase author of This is Our Song.

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan's Return, in November 2011. Teaching creative writing to students from elementary through high school motivated Samantha to take that step as well. Since then, she has become a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She lives with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

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Feature and Giveaway: Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt

IN THE ARMS OF DANGER

Bold. Brave. Brutally handsome. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is the king's secret weapon. Sent to defeat the notorious Lords of Chaos, he is ambushed in a London alley-and rescued by an unlikely ally: a masked stranger with the unmistakable curves of a woman.

IN THE HEAT OF DESIRE

Cocky. Clever. Courageously independent. Alf has survived on the perilous streets of St. Giles by disguising her sex. By day she is a boy, dealing in information and secrets. By night she's the notorious Ghost of St. Giles, a masked vigilante. But as she saves Hugh from assassins, she finds herself succumbing to temptation . . .

ONE KISS WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER

When Hugh hires Alf to investigate the Lords of Chaos, her worlds collide. Once Hugh realizes that the boy and the Ghost are the same, will Alf find the courage to become the woman she needs to be-before the Lords of Chaos destroy them both?

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ARC Review: Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt

The Maiden Lane series gets better and better and then better!  I could not wait to read Alf and the Duke of Kyle’s story! I’m still relatively new to this series but I am hooked on Hoyt’s writing! Her stories, that I have read, are always filled with action, tension, excitement and suspense! “The Duke of Pleasure” is no exception.

We first meet The Duke of Kyle in the previous book “The Duke of Sin”-which was absolutely fantastic.  We meet Alf in the previous two books and as we all probably know at this point; Alf is a woman. She lives in St. Giles and dresses like a boy for security reasons.  Alf has lived on the street of Giles for years. Alf makes an appearance in, I believe, the previous two books. She is paid by the Duke of Montgomery to gather up information.  The Duke of Kyle contracts her for the same purpose in the previous book but she cannot help him since the Duke of Kyle wants her to gather information on the Duke of Montgomery.  Hoyt also introduces a sinister and sick society in “The Duke of Sin.”  There we learn about a group of high society men that are a part of “Lords of Chaos.”  In “the Duke of Pleasure” Kyle is trying to end this society and quickly realizes that they have affected him in a very personal way.

First, the plot is fantastic!  Alf is such a lovely character. She is strong and fierce. She has moments where she is Alf and moments where she is The Ghost of St. Giles.  But, she is never really herself- a woman.  Alf is quick with a sword and even quicker jumping from roof top to roof top. But as a woman she is completely vulnerable.

Kyle was a little more complex. He was married to a woman that notoriously cheated on him, when she suddenly dies, he has to return to London -after a self-inflicted exile- to care for his boys.  Kyle is also a spy for the king and is working to take down this sinister, secret society.  He needs Alf’s help in order to gain information.

I loved Kyle and Alf! They had great chemistry and Alf is no sipping -tea -Miss. She is an action hero caught up in a regency period. Kyle, although a Duke, is a bastard that was acknowledge by the king as his own son.  Kyle is very driven and in many ways emotionally shut off. He is limited by who he thinks he should be and who he thinks “should” be his wife.  This story is action driven, between uncovering the truth of “The Lord of Chaos” and numerous attacks on both Kyle and Alf, this is an exhilarating story. My one little complain is that I wanted Kyle to have more emotion with Alf. There were many moments where they shared something intimate that I thought conversation or introspection should have followed-but didn’t. Nonetheless, such a great read. This is the kind of book where you struggle to finish quickly because you want to see how the story unfolds yet don’t want it to end. Just when I thought I could sit back and not count down till the next book… Hoyt gives us Iris and the Duke of Dyemore.

Hoyt really knows how to plot out a book. Iris, a secondary character and whom the next book is about, was so interesting. She is by no means a primary character but I’m already counting down to her and the Duke of Dyemore’s story, “The Duke of Desire.” I will just say it starts with Iris’ kidnapping and Dyemore getting shot… the countdown begins!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Crown Jewels by Ella James

Crown Jewels is the newest standalone novel from Ella James. I couldn't wait to read this one after seeing the cover and reading the blurb. I liked this one a lot and enjoyed reading it from start to finish. If you like stories about royalty that are a bit different, this is definitely one worth checking out.

Ever since TMZ got a close up of his bulge, the world has referred to Prince Liam as Crown Jewels. While all her friends are obsessed with stalking his profiles, Lucy Rhodes acts like she is indifferent when it comes to him. While being a reality tv star has kept Lucy from living a normal life, for the past two years she has been out of the scene but keeps up with Liam's Instagram, even if no one knows she does it. But when she returns to the Hamptons for the summer to spend with her friends, one night at a party changes everything. Lucy and Liam spend one hot night together, and while they both think that is it, two pink lines change everything once again.

I really liked these two. I loved their connection, while it was instant it was so real and genuine. Liam and Lucy got each other in ways that others didn't and despite their differences, they had a lot in common as well. I enjoyed seeing them get to know one another. While the chemistry was off the charts hot right away, they spent time getting to know one another. It was so cute to see them learning who the other really was, and not just what the world thought that they knew based on their public personas. 

Overall, this book was cute and I enjoyed it. It wasn't your typical royalty type of story and I liked that Liam wasn't your standard prince. This book was fun to read and I liked the characters a lot. Besides just Lucy and Liam, I really loved Lucy's friends and would love to see them each get stories as well as their friend Dec! While this book felt a bit different than what I have previously read by Ella James, I had a great time reading it and it is one that I would recommend.

**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**

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