Tag: Romance

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Review: A Love by Any Measure by Killian McRae

by The Lit Bitch5 Comments on Review: A Love by Any Measure by Killian McRae

True love knows no boundaries….true love doesn’t love based on wealth, class, title, or circumstance…..the heart simply wants what it wants: its other half. The only thing that can come between the heart and its desire, is the brain. In Killian McRae’s latest historical romance novel, A Love by Any Measure, the heart and the brain go head to head–will true love win out?

August Grayson is an English lord–rich, powerful, titled, and handsome. But in Ireland 1865 he’s called the enemy. Maeve O’Connor is a tenet on Lord Grayson’s land struggling to keep a roof over her and her father’s head.

Maeve has nothing but her good looks and good name to recommend herself. Though she is engaged to a local blacksmith, Owen Murphy, there wedding isn’t for months so Owen cannot help her financially nor can she move in with him until they are properly married.

Maeve goes to the manor, Shepherd’s Bluff, to plead to the Lord Grayson’s landlord for an extension…..instead she finds Lord Grayson himself. Lord Grayson (August) and Maeve were childhood friends, sweethearts even in a way, but had not seen or spoken to each other in years. When Maeve pleads her case, she will offer him her body in exchange for settling her rent. Continue reading “Review: A Love by Any Measure by Killian McRae” →

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Review: Ivy and Intrigue (A Very Selwick Christmas) by Lauren Willig

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Ivy and Intrigue (A Very Selwick Christmas) by Lauren Willig

After finishing the latest installment of Lauren Willig’s flowery spy series (The Pink Carnation series), I couldn’t resist eking out a little more frivolous adventure by reading this short story/novella: Ivy and Intrigue (A Very Selwick Christmas).

Since this is more of a short story, my review will not be as lengthy. I found the novella available for free online through Willig’s website, however I found that reading 100 or so pages on my computer was not ideal so I splurged and spent $0.99 to get it on my iPad through Amazon :).

Amy Balcourt has just married the dashing, Lord Richard Selwick (AKA, the flowery spy better known as the Purple Gentian) and they are celebrating their first Christmas together at Selwick Hall with the entire Selwick family–including one very unwelcome house guest–Lord Richard’s first love Deidre.

While Amy despises Deidre on principal, she is surprised to find that Deidre is not all together as upsetting as her cousin Jane….Amy is feeling the growing pains of her marriage. While Jane is off playing caped crusader all over France, Amy is left in stuffy old Sussex with her new husband–not exactly the glamorous life that Amy imagined. Continue reading “Review: Ivy and Intrigue (A Very Selwick Christmas) by Lauren Willig” →

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Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4) by Lauren Willig

by The Lit Bitch11 Comments on Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4) by Lauren Willig

Dapper, dark, mysterious, and mature: Lauren Willig’s latest flowery spy novel, The Seduction of the Crimson Rose  was the ‘changeling’ in the series.

Each book follows the usual pattern of ‘romance’ between a dashing international man of mystery (typically of peerage) and a virginal debutant.

The Crimson Rose is principally the same as the other books, but the love story between Lord Vaughn and Mary Alsworthy is more of an intimate, mature, intellectual love not like the previous books that are more of a fairytale romance….Vaughn and Mary for me were more like Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara.

I was actually surprised that the love story was more intellectual in nature….based on the previous books with Vaughn and Mary I suspected their romance would be all passion and elicit romance, so I was surprised that the story lacked ‘compromising’ encounters between the two lovebirds.

Though the story lacked the same dashing, flowery affection that the other books had the lack of overt attraction was one of the reasons I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED Lord Vaughn as a hero. Continue reading “Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4) by Lauren Willig” →

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Review: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

by The Lit Bitch6 Comments on Review: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

There is only one word to describe Debra Anastasia’s novel Poughkeepsie…..elegant.

I feel absolutely privileged to review this novel, the cover alone is completely breathtaking and haunting…I couldn’t help but say yes to a review. When I first read the summary, I was not sure that this novel was entirely in my general review genre and I was not sure how the story would fit together as it sounded abstract. I am normally not a huge fan of contempo lit, let alone contempo romance, I feel like contempo lit generally leaves the reader feeling disturbed.

Many of the characteristics of contempo lit are feelings of hopelessness, questioning a world that lacks past assurances (happy endings etc). When I am reading I generally like to escape the real world and retreat into a world of happily ever after….I guess I’m saying I need to be in a mood to read contempo lit LOL :). Which was why I thought about waiting to review Poughkeepsie until after the new year….but I simply couldn’t forget the haunting cover and mysterious title….for some reason I just couldn’t get the book out of my mind, so I agreed to review.

Since this will probably be my last review of the year, I am thrilled to say I went out on a high note–the book was hands down phenomenal….one of the best I have read this year and I don’t say those sorts of things lightly. This book was so many additives it was hard to pick just one: spellbinding, elegant, lyrical, breathtaking, magical…..beautiful.

Poughkeepsie is a dark modern day Cinderella story with a distinct classic Romeo and Juliet feel. Continue reading “Review: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia” →

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Review: The Deception of the Emerald Ring (Pink Carnation #3) by Lauren Willig

by The Lit Bitch8 Comments on Review: The Deception of the Emerald Ring (Pink Carnation #3) by Lauren Willig

Letty Alsworthy has an appalling nasty habit of being whisked way by seemingly innocent carriages! What was it about her that made everyone within grabbing distance want to and act upon the sudden urge to toss her an anything with wheels, one would be abductor in particular–Lord Geoffrey Pinchingdale Snipe.

In Lauren Willig’s latest Pink Carnation romantic spy thriller series, The Deception of the Emerald Ring, Letty Alsworthy finds herself in a precarious situation…her sister Mary is secretly engaged to Lord Pinchingdale and plotting to elope with him.

Letty discovers the plot moments before Mary literally flies out the window right along with her reputation….Letty manages to get to Lord Pinchingdale’s carriage before Mary does and to her satisfaction prevents their elopement but before she can gloat too much, Letty finds herself in the compromised position–NOT Mary.

When the coach delivers Lord Pinchingdale’s bride to him, before he can confirm the identity of his beloved, he finds himself swept up in a moment of passion only to reveal he is snogging the WRONG sister! With Letty’s reputation at stake, Lord Pinchingdale does what any English gentleman would do–he marries Letty. Continue reading “Review: The Deception of the Emerald Ring (Pink Carnation #3) by Lauren Willig” →