Thursday, December 31, 2015

Hunter Deceived by Nancy Corrigan


He was born to kill her...but he'll risk all to save her.

Every day, Harley fights the urge to embrace the dark heritage that could turn her Unseelie. Evil. Bad. A nightmarish monster like the ones that wiped out her family. The only thing keeping her on this side of Seelie is a promise made to the ghostly man who saved her that terrible night.

Whenever she's tempted, she calls up a vision of his eyes. Hears his voice calling her back from the brink of madness. Years later, when she returns to the scene of her living hell, he's her only hope for salvation.

Calan, the leader of the Wild Hunt, was created to protect mankind from the Unseelie Court, not love one of them. He never expected the rightness he felt with her all those years ago would explode into desire.

But saving her from a fate she can't escape could damn them both...and leave the world open for destruction.

Note: Originally published as Hunter Betrayed by Ellora's Cave. It has been re-edited, expanded and re-titled as Hunter Deceived.

Warning: Contains a half-fae woman who could really use a Seelie version of AA to stay clean and monster-free. And a rider of the Wild Hunt who'll take any risk to keep her safe from her enemies. Including himself.

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Book 1
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Samhain  Publishing



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela☆☆☆☆☆
Although I have read several series that are based on Fae legends, Corrigan managed to give Hunter Deceived some twists that I haven’t encountered before. Because of this, I found myself further engrossed in the book because while there are certain Fae rules that are a constant from author to author – they are based on legends, after all – it was the differences between the Seelie and Unseelie that the author made her own that kept me glued to my Kindle as I raced to the end in a desperate need to find out what fate would befall Harley and whether or not she and Calan would find their way to one another. A word of warning – tissues were needed.

The book begins by giving the reader a look into Harley and Calan’s first meeting – the night that Harley’s family is murdered, the night she learns of her true heritage, and the night her struggle to resist the taint of her Unseelie blood intensified. We then jump ahead nine years to learn that while Harley has resisted the lure of the Unseelie, her journey to do so has been hard fought as she has spent the intervening years being stalked by Raul, a redcap, who has murdered several of those people she had gotten close to during her frequent moves. But the wedding of Harley’s only surviving brother brings her back to the family home and, in doing so, gives her the unexpected opportunity to reunite with her “ghost man” – Calan – who she had convinced herself was a figment of her imagination. The chemistry between Calan and Harley was immediately palpable. Their passion was so intense that my Kindle wasn’t the only thing that nearly overheated. Despite their long overdue reunion, Harley and Calan are thrust into the battle of their lives for their souls, the other Huntsmen, and the mortal realm and soon learn that the deck has been stacked against them. Will their love save them or will it condemn them forever?

Corrigan strikes a nice balance between the steamy eroticism that Harley and Calan fall into when the need to connect overwhelms them with the intense action in the battle between the Huntsmen and the Unseelie. I liked how Harley and Calan served as one another’s anchor in the storm. Harley’s touch could calm Calan when the fury of the Hunt took hold, while he could imbue her with his essence (for want of a better word on my part) and give her the strength to resist the pull of the Unseelie chaos. The constant action as Calan sought to free his brethren and save Harley propelled the story forward at a constant rate due to time not being on his side, yet the author avoided making the story seemed rushed. My heart broke once Calan’s father revealed that he had been tricked and the rules of the game had been changed on them, forcing Calan to make a choice he didn’t want to make. But even that didn’t compare when Harley was faced with the knowledge of how she could save them all. While Hunter Deceived doesn’t end on a cliffhanger per se, we still don’t know the full consequences of Harley’s actions. Corrigan has hooked me on the Wild Hunt series and I hope to bump Hunter Forsaken up on my reading schedule as I’m fortunate enough to have a review copy already loaded on my Kindle.



A true romantic at heart, Nancy Corrigan is convinced there’s a knight in shining armor for every woman (or man), but you won’t find damsels in distress in her stories. She adores pairing alpha heroes with women strong enough to match them and bring them to their knees. She also enjoys flipping the traditional roles in romances because her motto is—love and people should never be forced to conform to anyone’s norm.

She holds a degree in chemistry and has worked in research but now focuses on ensuring quality. She considers it the perfect outlet for her as she’s the first to admit she has some OCD tendencies. It carries over into her writing life too. While engrossed in a novel, she has a habit of forgetting to eat and sleep. Fortunately, she’s married to her own knight in shining armor who understands her oddities and loves her anyway. They reside in Pennsylvania with their three children, dog, snake and guinea pigs. Her other interests include tattoos, animals, classic cars and all things spooky and sexy.

Connect with Nancy

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https://www.netgalley.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Hunter Deceived (Wild Hunt #1) by Nancy Corrigan to read and review.

Once Kissed by Cecy Robson


Once they shared a night of passion. Now a chance encounter forces them back together. In Cecy Robson’s O’Brien Family series debut—perfect for readers of Monica Murphy and J. Lynn—two total opposites find that the flames of desire are still smoldering.

Tough-as-steel cop Curran O’Brien is quickly rising through the ranks of the Philadelphia police department. But when his rookie partner is almost killed under his watch, Curran just wants to prove he still has what it takes to walk among Philly’s finest. So he’s pissed to be stuck on a cushy security assignment for the DA’s office . . . until he gets a good look at the sweet, straitlaced intern he’s supposed to protect—but not touch.

Tess Newart recognizes Curran instantly. How could she not? Back in college she tied this former frat boy to the bed with her argyle socks! That sizzling one-night stand was the only indiscretion Tess ever allowed herself. She has survived law school so far, despite being pushed to succeed by her overbearing father. Now that she’s interning on a major case against a ruthless crime boss, she won’t jeopardize her career by giving in to temptation again. She just never expected temptation to look so damn hot in uniform.

Tess knows her father has other plans for her, and they don’t include Curran. But soon she’s falling for him all over again. And when danger emerges, Curran will prove just how good a bad-boy cop can be.

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Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan☆☆☆☆
After reading the Shattered Series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the O'Brien family. Curran O'Brien did not disappoint.

Curran is the tough cop, after an officer shooting he's placed on leave. Seeing his partner get shot and knowing he holds some of the blame, is something he's having a hard time getting over. When Curran's brother, Declan, the ADA prosecuting a big case, needs protection for his intern helping with the case. Curran is the perfect person to do it. He needs something to do other than think about the shooting and Declan trusts him. What Curran doesn't expect is to know the intern...personally.

I love how Ms. Robinson's writing style lets you just fall into the story. You see Curran is sexy and strong, sweet and compassionate. Tess is awkward and scared, wild and controlled. They really do make a perfect match up.

I can't wait to see which O'Brien is next!




Cecy Robson is the New Adult author of Once Perfect, Once Loved, and Once Pure and the award-winning author of the Weird Girls urban fantasy romance series. A self-proclaimed professional napper, Cecy counts among her talents a jaw-dropping knowledge of useless trivia, the ability to make her hair big, and a knack for breaking into song despite her family’s vehement protests. A full-time writer, registered nurse, wife, and mother living in the Great Northwest, Cecy enjoys spending time with her family and silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.

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http://readloveswept.com/


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Once Kissed (O'Brien Family #1) by Cecy Robson to read and review.

A SEAL Forever by Anne Elizabeth


Even a hero needs someone to believe in him...

Parkour instructor Maura Maxwell has always denied her attraction for her bachelor neighbor because she's seen his revolving door of women and doesn't want to become another notch on his belt. But the man who rescues her from a sudden storm isn't the one she thinks she knows-he's Master Chief Declan Swifton of SEAL Team Five, and he literally sweeps Maura off her feet.

Just as his teasing and tenderness start to work their way into Maura's heart, Declan and his team are called in for a dangerous op in the Middle East. The man who returns is facing the toughest fight of his life, and he needs Maura by his side more than ever...

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Book 3
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie☆☆☆
The third in a series, but can be read as a standalone. I am a big fan of military romances, and the military elements feature large in this story, in quite a significant way. They help us understand Declan and ground the future that he seeks.

This is an enjoyable read, with some issues for me regarding timing – as in jumping around in time, missing bits I really, really wanted to know more about. Declan is a man who needed to get his head together over the way he treats women, and by the end he has, but he’s not the good guy from the beginning. Maura turns from the rescued to the rescuer, and has the chance to grow through the experience. The romance develops in spite of the leads, and I liked how it ended.



New York Times bestselling author Anne Elizabeth is an award-winning romance author and comic creator. With a BS in business and MS in communications from Boston University, she is a regular presenter at conventions as well as a member of The Author’s Guild and Romance Writers of America. Anne lives with her husband, a retired Navy SEAL, in the mountains above San Diego.

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http://sourcebooks.com/


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of A SEAL Forever (West Coast Navy SEALs, #3) by Anne Elizabeth to read and review.

The Captain's Bluestocking Mistress by Erica Ridley


Captain Xavier Grey’s body is back amongst the Beau Monde, but his mind cannot break free from the horrors of war. His friends try to help him find peace. He knows he doesn’t deserve it. Just like he doesn't deserve the attentions of the sultry bluestocking intent on seducing him into bed...

Spinster Jane Downing wants off the shelf and into the arms of a hot-blooded man. Specifically, the dark and dangerous Captain Grey. She may not be destined to be his wife, but nothing will stop her from being his mistress. She could quote classical Greek by the age of four. How hard can it be to learn the language of love?

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Book 3
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Jacki☆☆☆
This was another just okay read for me. The characters were likeable, especially Jane. Xavier was interesting and good-hearted. I wish there was a little more depth to his story. Jane, the bookworm, was amusing. Their romance was sweet. Overall, this was a sweet, quick, okay read.



Erica Ridley is a USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels. Her latest series, The Dukes of War, features roguish peers and dashing war heroes who return from battle only to be thrust into the splendor and madness of Regency England.

When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, ziplining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.

Connect with Erica

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https://www.netgalley.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Captain's Bluestocking Mistress (The Dukes of War #3) by Erica Ridley to read and review.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

When We Fall by Marquita Valentine


In the captivating new novel in Marquita Valentine’s Boys of the South spinoff series—perfect for readers of Abbi Glines and Katy Evans—a small-town sweetheart takes a chance on the bad boy who’s always been her hottest fantasy.

The last time Piper Ross saw her best friend’s sexy older brother, Jase Simmons, he was being taken away in handcuffs. Seven years later, two things haven’t changed: Piper is still head-over-heels in love with him...and Forrestville’s chief of police—Piper’s dad—still hates his guts. So when Piper sees a chance to get close to Jase, she makes her move—literally. As his new roommate, and as the office manager of his tattoo shop, Piper won’t be satisfied until Jase knows that she wants to be his.

The quintessential good girl, Piper is pure temptation for Jase. The only reason he’s always kept his distance is because she’s the last person he’d ever want to hurt. But once he realizes that Piper is ready to take the leap, everything just makes sense. Suddenly Jase feels like a new man—until nasty rumors start swirling and Piper’s heartless father stirs up even more trouble. Now Jase must convince Piper that she wasn’t wrong about him...because falling in love never felt so right.

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Book 2
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B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Rachael☆☆☆☆
3.5 Stars
Having loved the first book in this series, I was really looking forward to this book. However, I felt let down in the end, sadly.

Jase has been through a lot and Piper has had this thing for him for so long…but nothing has ever come of it...until now. For me, things were just too smooth. There was so much desire built up and I thought it would be dragged out a bit more since they hadn't acted on it before...but nope, it wasn't really...sure one part was, but the rest wasn't.

While the book itself was well written and I liked the characters, I just felt like this big, bad man who could've been so much sexier ended up not really doing it for me because he ended up being a bit like a school girl. :(

That being said, there was off the charts chemistry between the characters, I just wanted more angst and desire building between them since they'd waited so long to acknowledge the desire that was there. Not to mention her family... yeaaaaah…that whole situation was weird and I didn't care for it either, but I can't say much without giving much away.

However, at the end of the day, I still look forward to the next story in this series.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
I enjoyed the first book in the series a lot, so was not at all surprised to find that this is also a very good read. Ms. Valentine has created a group of people who are easy to care for, and whose pasts definitely mean they deserve a better future.

Piper is a cheerful soul, in spite of her truly awful parents, and what her heart desires the most is finally in her grasp. That Jase is prepared to be her everything, even when the going gets tough, makes for a lovely romance. The patience and care which they bestow upon each other lets the reader enjoy every minute. I really liked that we get to catch up with Seth and Rowan too. I loved some of the foreshadowing comments when Piper and Rowan are planning Seth & Rowan's wedding...and we get all that we could wish for in the end!

Thank you Ms. Valentine for another read.


Also Available in the Take the Fall Series

Book 1
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Take the Fall Blog Tour.




Marquita Valentine is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Holland Springs and Boys of the South series, having sold more than a quarter of a million books around the world. She’s been called “one of the best new voices in romance” (Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews) and her books have been praised as “sexy, fun, and slightly addicting” (The Book Queen). When she’s not writing sexy heroes who adore their sassy heroines, she enjoys shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Married to her high-school sweetheart, Marquita Valentine lives in a seriously small town in the south with her husband, two kids, and a dog.

Connect with Marquita

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http://readloveswept.com/


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of When We Fall (Take the Fall #2) by Marquita Valentine to read and review.

Catering to His Needs by Rose C. Carole Blog Tour


Being a single mother running a catering business isn’t easy. Finding time for love is nearly impossible. Adding in a man with his own family issues could be a recipe for disaster.

Ethan is at his wit’s end. Gina, his brother’s ex-wife, has threatened to reveal that Ethan is a member of the Playground, an exclusive BDSM club, unless she gets more alimony from the family trust fund. The scandal that would arise from such a revelation must be avoided at all costs--not only for the sake of Ethan’s reputation, but for the future of his relationship with his treasured sub, Rebecca.

Rebecca is a single mother working hard to expand her catering business. The only peace she finds from her building stress is in the handcuffs of her strong Dom, Ethan. But Rebecca’s life is not her own. Her teenage son is not handling Rebecca’s divorce well, and Rebecca feels the responsibility for her son’s happiness like a weight on her shoulders. Between her business and her son, she has little time for herself--or the growing emotional demands from her Dom.

Ethan is determined to take their relationship to the next level, and Rebecca is equally determined not to upset her son further by revealing that she has a new man in her life. Fortunately, Ethan is a Dom with a passionate interest in seeing that his sub is happy—even if he has to whip some sense into her. He’s making progress until suddenly his own problems take a turn for the worse. His brother Zach has gone missing under suspicious circumstances, and now it’s all Ethan can do just to keep himself out of jail. The cat, as they say, is out of the bag.

As their lives spiral out of control, will Ethan and Rebecca be able to find a way back into each other’s arms?

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of spanking and rope and suspension play.

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Book 1
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Totally  Bound



A Word from Rose C. Carole about the Kitchen Confessions Series

Writing good erotic romance is hard (no pun intended). Porn bores me. Man summons secretary to office, sexily clad woman enters office, suggestive glances are exchanged, clothes come off, robotic sex ensues. Meh.

I have a grown son, so it’s no secret I’m not a virgin. I have had a very satisfying sex life and do not consider myself a prude. But watching a mechanical display of sexual activity does not turn me on. The brain and the heart are important erogenous zones, and if they are not engaged during sex, it doesn’t work for me.

It’s the same for erotic novels. I don’t just want to read about who put what where without an emotional journey for the characters—once again, meh. So when I took it upon myself to write erotic romance, I knew that I had to write stories about characters who were more than just sexual beings; they had to have heart and soul.

Getting in touch with those elements is not easy. First of all, I needed a world in which these characters would inhabit. Though I enjoy a good billionaire romance like Joey W. Hill’s Knights of the Boardroom series or a fantasy kingdom like Anne Rice’s Beauty series, I have to admit to an imagination limited in that kind of world-building. I tried to write a billionaire romance and failed miserably. And anyway, I love to read stories about women like me, who struggle to build a relationship in the face of all the obstacles that life seems to throw at us. And so I came up with the Kitchen Confessions series about women who run a catering company, something I’m very familiar with since I have a catering company of my own.

Now I knew all about how these women live. The next part was to figure out how these women love. Intrigued by BDSM erotic novels, I attended the BDSM Writers Workshop four years ago, which was a three-day intensive on the tenets of Dominance and submission. As a feminist, it was hard at first to reconcile the concept of a woman submitting to a man in that kind of relationship—and even accepting the reverse, where the woman is the one with the power. But as I learned more about it, I came to realize that the central element to these relationships was consent. And when a strong woman consents to give a man control over her, he better be taking her needs into consideration or she’ll take it right back.

This was a dynamic I found exciting. The emotional connection has to be intense or it doesn’t work. The Dom has to be able to get into the mind of the submissive or he will not be able to maintain control. Bringing my characters into the D/s lifestyle was a way for me to enable them to unite all the elements that are needed for good sex—body, mind and spirit.




After a brief call to Sam to tell her friend she was safe, Rebecca set out the food for dinner. She was making her famous seafood stew. She hadn’t had an opportunity to cook for Ethan before, and she wanted to impress him. He came into the kitchen as she was peeling the shrimp in the sink. The next thing she knew, his hands were exploring the curves of her ass.

“If you distract me like this, Sir, it’s going to take longer for me to get this on the table.”

“You’re going to have to get used to it. You’re mine, and this is what I want to do with you now. Just concentrate on what you have to do. Think of it as an exercise in learning to focus.”

She bit her lip. Her ass was very sensitive—being touched there made her juices flow and she wasn’t wearing any panties to absorb the cream accumulating between her legs. Resisting the desire to turn and hug him, she kept going, knowing he wanted her to keep prepping, no matter what he did. He was right. This was going to be quite a test of her ability to concentrate.

Ethan moved his hands up, reached under the apron’s bodice and pinched her nipples.

She dropped the shrimp she had in her hands and gripped the side of the sink to keep herself steady. Damn him. He knew how to push her buttons, literally!

“Just remember…I have a sharp knife in my hand, Sir.”

“Okay, I’ll leave you alone for a while. I need to get some work done anyway. I’ll be in my study. Just let me know when dinner is ready.”

The moment he left, she regretted opening her mouth. It was nice having him try to distract her while she was cooking. For the first time in a long time, being alone cooking in the kitchen wasn’t enough. It had only been six months, but she was closer to him than she had been to her ex-husband, Luke, after many years. She wasn’t sure if it was the D/s relationship that brought them closer—the fact that he opened her up and pushed her further each time they got together—or that he seemed so in tune with her needs, emotionally as well as sexually.

When they were together he always made her feel as though she was the most important person in his life. She’d had to fight for Luke’s attention. Ethan gave it to her willingly and often.




Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie☆☆☆
There is a good story here, although sometimes the vacillating which Rebecca does gets annoying. She is so desperate to keep her real life separate from her sub life, that she seems to be unable to consider the possibility that she is being selfish in the extreme. She certainly isn't thinking about Ethan, and actually even her son makes it clear he doesn't like her being alone. So instead she upsets everyone. Ethan, whilst denying he allows her to top from the bottom, allows her to avoid difficult conversations for too long. He also has some family issues which take up his time and effort...setting up some potential drama to cause an even bigger rift between normal and ‘play.’

Obviously you need to read it to see how it turns out, but I did think that the twists and turns were worth the effort in the end – and set up a better future for them all.



Rose has been an avid reader all her life and pursued that obsession into the publishing business, where she worked in both production and editorial for books and magazines. When her son went off to college, she decided to fulfill another passion and went to culinary school, thinking she would write a cookbook but loving the cooking so much she became a caterer. But her love for books is ever-present and she finally decided it was time to follow her own creative muse and write the kinds of books she enjoys reading. She hopes her readers enjoy them as well.

Connect with Rose

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https://www.totallybound.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Catering to His Needs (Kitchen Confessions #1) by Rose C. Carole to read and review for this tour.

The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower by Erica Ridley


Oliver York returns from war to find his father dead, his finances in arrears, and himself the new Earl of Carlisle. If he doesn't marry an heiress—and fast!—he and his tenants are going to be pitching tents down by the Thames. He definitely shouldn't be trading kisses with a penniless debutante...no matter how captivating she is!

Miss Grace Halton is in England just long enough to satisfy the terms of her dowry. But a marriage of convenience isn't as easy as she’d hoped. Back in America, her ailing mother needs medicine only Grace’s dowry can afford. Which means the dashing earl she can't get out of her mind is the one man she can't let into her heart.

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Book 2
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Jacki☆☆☆
I had mixed feelings about this book. It was a charming, easy to read HEA type of book, but it ended up feeling rushed. It started off nicely with an interesting and developed storyline with Grace and Oliver both struggling with their own issues. Their stories were detailed and intricate, but somewhere at the midpoint, it seemed like it was suddenly time to wrap things up and the depth completely disappeared and was replaced with a quick wrap it up solution to everything. I love HEA, but this was a quick-love with insta-cures to all of the problems. I would have liked to see Grace and Oliver's relationship more developed, and maybe a more realistic view on their financial, family, and friend's situation. I kind of had whiplash from it all suddenly and miraculously being better.

Now, I know all of this sounds harsh, but overall, I had no troubles reading this and it was an enjoyable read. I just think it had more potential. I do love Erica Ridley's character development and romance. I enjoyed book one as well. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for something quick and happily ever after to read.



Erica Ridley is a USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels. Her latest series, The Dukes of War, features roguish peers and dashing war heroes who return from battle only to be thrust into the splendor and madness of Regency England.

When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, ziplining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.

Connect with Erica

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


https://www.netgalley.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower (The Dukes of War #2) by Erica Ridley to read and review.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean Blog Tour


Lady Sophie’s Society Splash

When Sophie, the least interesting of the Talbot sisters, lands her philandering brother-in-law backside-first in a goldfish pond in front of all society, she becomes the target of very public aristocratic scorn. Her only choice is to flee London, vowing to start a new life far from the aristocracy. Unfortunately, the carriage in which she stows away isn’t saving her from ruin...it’s filled with it.

Rogue’s Reign of Ravishment!

Kingscote, “King,” the Marquess of Eversley, has never met a woman he couldn’t charm, resulting in a reputation far worse than the truth, a general sense that he’s more pretty face than proper gentleman, and an irate summons home to the Scottish border. When King discovers stowaway Sophie, however, the journey becomes anything but boring.

War? Or More?

He thinks she’s trying to trick him into marriage. She wouldn’t have him if he were the last man on earth. But carriages bring close quarters, dark secrets, and unbearable temptation, making opposites altogether too attractive...

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Book 1
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Intro from Sarah MacLean

Being shot on the Great North Road isn't exactly a thing people expect to happen, and Lady Sophie Talbot finds herself in the rooms above The Warbling Wren pub, under the welcome care of a rather mad doctor and the watchful eye of the rather infuriating (and infuriatingly handsome) Kingscote, Marquess of Eversley. There are worse things, she supposes. Or are there? Not for King.)


--

“If you want a bath, you’ll have to accept my help,” he said.

She pursed her lips at that, her gaze settling longingly on the steaming bath. “You mustn’t look.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” It might have been the most obvious lie he’d ever told.

Somehow, she believed it, nodding and throwing back the coverlet to step out of the bed. She came to her feet, the top of her head at his chin, and he resisted the urge to help her across the room. “How do you feel?” he asked, hearing the gravel in his words. He cleared his throat.

“As though I’ve been shot, I’d imagine.”

He raised a brow. “Clever. There's food when you’ve bathed." The words summoned a low growl from her, and her hands flew to her stomach. Her cheeks turned red, and he smiled. “I take it you are hungry.”

“It seems so,” she said.

“Food after the bath. And then sleep.”

She met his gaze. “You’re very domineering.”

“It’s a particular talent.”

“What with you being called King.”

“Name is destiny.”

She moved past him to the high copper bathtub. He resumed his place against the wall, arms crossed, watching her carefully as she reached down, her long fingers trailing in the hot water as she sighed her anticipation. The sound was like gunfire in the room—pure, unadulterated pleasure. It was delicious.

King stiffened. He was not interested in the lady’s pleasure.

If only someone would tell his body that.




Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica☆☆☆☆☆
5 Banterific stars.

Sarah MacLean is one of my His-ro favorites, so this review will not be critical in any way, as I'm unable to recognize the faults that obviously exist. I'm not a fangirl type of reader, but sometimes it does happen and I turn giddy.

Sophie, Sophie, Sophie, you brave yet stupid girl. Oh, how entertaining you were, and not in an over-the-top sort of way. Sophie had no filter, completely fed up with the hypocritical rules of the ton. When she sees injustice, she can't keep her mouth shut, which is entertaining to say the least for the reader. She was the youngest sister of four in a very outrageous, gossip-seeking family – the plain and uninteresting one. All she ever wanted to do was run away to the country and get away from London's gossip-mongers.

King, King, King, you big idiot. White Knight in leather with a bad reputation. King had a charitable heart, helping young ladies get out of betrothals so their love-matches could swoop in and their daddies would be agreeable. He had lost his heart when he was still a boy, and never expected to find love because he wasn't looking for it & he has major daddy issues of the Duke kind.

Together, the jaded yet heroic King and the pessimistic young Sophie are thrust together by outrageous circumstances. Sure, I highly doubt 'the how' was realistic, but it sure did make for an entertaining read.

Chemistry and banter, The Rogue Not Taken had it in spades. The play between King and Sophie was shameless in a good way. There were no filters, no ‘I shouldn't say that.’ They just let the insults and the appraisals fly. There was no insta anything. The buildup was slow, kindling their lust while creating a strong say-anything friendship, and the climax was explosive.

The Rogue Not Taken was a bit on the long side, but I was giddy with every page read, not wanting the book to end. Dry, witty banter, the tearing apart of ridiculous customs, and the gradual falling in love of two jaded characters who had hearts of gold.

This book was exactly what I needed, everything that I enjoy about His-ro writers of the present with the easy flow, entertaining storylines, and the unintentional humor. I am happy we get the Scot in the next title, and we only have to wait until August. If I'm not invited to review it, I'll happily buy it in a heartbeat.




Sarah MacLean grew up in Rhode Island, obsessed with historical romance and bemoaning the fact that she was born far too late for her own season. Her love of all things historical helped to earn her degrees from Smith College and Harvard University before she finally set pen to paper and wrote her first book.

Sarah now lives in New York City with her husband, baby daughter, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels. She loves to hear from readers.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Rogue Not Taken (Scandal & Scoundrel #1) by Sarah MacLean to read and review for this tour.