Amanda Quick – The Mystery Woman

The second book in the Ladies of Lantern Street series, published April 23, 2013.
Genre: historical romance
Cover: appropriate.



Under the plain gray skirts of Miss Beatrice Lockwood’s gown, a pistol waits at the ready. For Beatrice is a paid companion on a secret mission—and with a secret past—and she must be prepared to fight for her life at any moment.
Yet she is thrown oddly off guard by the fierce-looking man who joins her in foiling a crime outside a fancy ball—and then disappears into the shadows, leaving only his card. His name is Joshua Gage, and he claims to know Beatrice’s employers. Beyond that, he is an enigma with a hypnotically calm voice and an ebony-and-steel cane. . . .
Joshua, who carries out clandestine investigations for the Crown, is equally intrigued. He has a personal interest in Miss Lockwood, a suspected thief and murderer, not to mention a fraudster who claims to have psychical powers. The quest to discover her whereabouts has pulled him away from his mournful impulses to hurl himself into the sea—and engaged his curiosity about the real Beatrice Lockwood, whose spirit, he suspects, is not as delicate as her face and figure.
He does know one thing, though: This flame-haired beauty was present the night Roland Fleming died at the Academy of the Occult. Guilty or not, she is his guide to a trail of blood and blackmail, mesmerism and madness—a path that will lead both of them into the clutches of a killer who calls himself the Bone Man. . . .


Beatrice is a paid companion from the Flint & Marsh agency. They specialise in supplying paranormal investigating agents for short term contracts of a psychic nature. She is hired to protect Lady Pennington’s granddaughter, Daphne Pennington, as there are rumours the young heiress will be kidnapped by a fortune hunter.
With the help of a mysterious gentleman she can prevent the kidnapping, and the gentleman takes it upon himself to disgrace the would-be kidnapper in polite circles. Even though Joshua Gage needs a cane nowadays, he still exudes an aura of danger. Of course, she could have handled things herself, with the help of the tiny pistol she is wearing beneath her skirts …

Beatrice has not always been a companion. She was born from dirt poor parents, and was determined to make something better of herself. So with some scheming, she managed to get herself into a boarding school and got herself an education. At age 19, she got a job as governess to a sweet little boy, and became good friends with his mother. But the husband killed his wife in cold blood, and Beatrice got the blame. She has been in hiding ever since. Her next job was as a psychic at the Academy of the Occult, until her mentor was brutally murdered. She narrowly escaped the clutches of the murderer, who was after her, and started working for Flint & Marsh shortly thereafter. She really enjoys her new job, and her new friends.

Joshua Gage used to work for the most infamous spy master of England, mr. Smith, and was only known as The Messenger. A horrible accident cost him the woman he loved, and almost cost him his life. He can no longer live in the shadows, wounded as he is, but his mind is still cunning. His sister is being blackmailed, and he believes the only person capable of that, is Miranda, the psychic his sister regularly went to. And so he sets out to find this woman, and find out exactly what she knows. He has reasons to believe that he has found his quarry in Beatrice, but her little gun really surprised him. It sure has been a long time since he felt anything at all for a woman, let alone admiration, even though she might be his sisters blackmailer.

After some necessary explanations the next day, they decide to hunt the blackmailer together, as Beatrice sure is in danger now she has been found. If Joshua could do it, the Bone Man can too …


I have been a fan of Amanda Quick (who is also Jayne Castle and Jayne Ann Krentz) for over 25 years now, and I still look forward to the new book. And this one was refreshing in the sense, that the hero does absolutely not believe in psychic powers, even though he has considerable powers of his own. If he sets out to find something or someone, he finds it. But he thinks it is his subconscious that is processing what he sees and hears, and not some sixth sense. This means he also does not believe in our heroines’ psychic powers, which she finds very frustrating at times.

Beatrice is mature, strong and independent, and I really enjoyed her character. Together with Joshua they end up in strange situations, but she holds her own, even when accosted by some drunken lord who won’t take no for an answer. She has fought hard to make something of her life, and I admire her for that. Joshua was also surprised that he did not need to rescue her, as he was about to do. Great scene.
Joshua is scarred, and not a very trusting person, but he does trust Beatrice to help him in his investigation. Even when it leads to a madman, and some nasty surprises in the end.

The plot was unique, and scary at times, with some real strange and lunatic people and ideas. Joshua’s nephew and sister also play a nice part in this book, and I think I will see the nephew again sometime.

I do recommend this series to all lovers of historical romance with some psychic powers thrown in. It is not part of the Arcane series, but it could be. The society is just not mentioned, nor the Jones family.

9 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Interview with Maya Banks, our tenth author for LLC 2013!

Hi, we are Aurian from Boeklogboek and Maia from Boekenlijstjes, and today we have best selling author Maya Banks visiting us here in Utrecht, Holland.

Of course you want to know, what is LLC 2013? It is short for Autoren Love Letter Convention 2013, which takes place in Berlin, Germany, on May 25 and 26, 2013. Maya Banks is one of the British romance authors attending. We had a blast this summer, so we immediately bought the tickets once they became available for next year’s convention.



Our guest is Maya Banks, author of numerous novels in the genres: historical romance, romantic suspense and erotica. We both love her KGI books very much, and Maia has also read some of her erotica. And I still have her hot Highlanders to devour.
We met Maya Banks and her assistant Telisa last year, and even went out to dinner with them! It was fun, and we loved hearing Maya Banks talking about her books and ideas. So when the site was updated with new authors, and Maya Banks was again on the list, that made us even more happy.

Aurian: Welcome to Utrecht, the Netherlands, Maya. Have some hot chocolate and some Dutch chocolates.

Maya Banks: Thanks! I love hot chocolate and I know Telisa would just steal all the Dutch chocolate from me haha (Aurian: we will make sure we bring enough chocolate for the both of you then!)

Maia: Can you tell our readers who might not yet know you or your books, a little about yourself? Something that is not in your official bio (which is at the bottom of this post).

Maya Banks: There’s not a whole lot about me that readers don’t already know lol. I lead a very boring existence! Most of my time is spent at home working and writing. I get out for my son’s baseball games and my daughter’s softball tournaments. We’re often gone every weekend watching one or the other play. My travel schedule is a bit heavier in the past year, so it’s been fun to get to meet readers and hang out with them.

LL Convention questions

Aurian: Could you tell us why you are attending the convention in Berlin, Germany, Europe, again? I know we had a blast last year, but how was it for you as an author? What are some of the differences with American conventions?

Maya Banks: The Love Letter conference was an awesome opportunity to meet and talk with readers whom I ordinarily wouldn’t get the chance to meet. The conference was wonderful and beautifully executed and had a more intimate feel than many of the U.S. conferences. I love having the opportunity to return and meet returning readers as well as getting the chance to say hello to new readers who weren’t able to attend last year’s event.

Maia: The convention is in Berlin, a beautiful city. Are you planning to do some sightseeing, or are you going shopping again? In Berlin or even in the rest of Europe?

Maya Banks: It will be a fairly quick trip for me. I’ll be flying in Friday morning and then out again Monday morning just because it’s a really busy time of the year for me! My oldest son graduates high school right after I return from Berlin so unfortunately there won’t be an opportunity to be able to travel more while I’m there.

Aurian: There's a lovely group of authors coming this year. Are there any new authors for you to meet?

Maya Banks: I honestly don’t know what the list of attending authors is! I haven’t had time to really check it out. I do know that Vivian Arend is going. This will be her first time to the conference and as we’re great friends, it will be nice to be able to catch up with her while I’m there.

Book questions

Maia: I’ve bought the original Coulter series as ebooks. Those were among the first I ever bought! But now they are published in print by Samhain. Did you rewrite them, or are they exactly the same?

Maya Banks: The first three books of the Colters’ Legacy series were published in digital and in print from Samhain publishing. I reissued Colters’ Woman through the same publisher in 2010 to expand and revise that original version in front of the two sequels that would be published, Colters’ Lady and Colters’ Daughter. Colters’ Woman has new content and was revised and re-edited. There is a new short story at the end of that book called Callie’s Meadow, and there is also an expanded “ending” to Colters’ Woman that wasn’t there in the first book.

Colters’ Promise and Colters’ Gift are both published with a different publisher. Colters’ Gift will release November 5th of 2013.

Aurian: I’ve read the first 5 KGI novels, and loved them all. You really drag me into the story, from the first sentence you capture my attention, and I just have to find out what happens on the next page. You make me believe in those broken persons, and how they heal and find love, and dare to believe and hope again. But those women always have a backbone, they don’t let the hero run their lives, and I love that especially.
Will one of the Kelly boys ever fall for a not-tortured heroine, but one with a normal day job and loving family in the village? Perhaps one he has known for years already?

Maya Banks: Steele’s heroine is a non tortured heroine with family and a job that’s taken her around the world. But I do love tortured heroines and I certainly can’t promise that the rest of the heroes in the series won’t fall in love with a damaged heroine :)

Maia: Are you a big believer in love at first sight? As far as we have read your books, all your heroes know: “this woman is the one!” at first glimpse.

Maya Banks: I love romances that when the hero meets the heroine he falls hard and he falls fast and he knows that she is THE ONE. It’s my favourite trope and is the backbone of many of my stories, the KGI series especially.

Aurian: You already write books in 3 different genres. Are there any other genres you would like to explore some day? I know you will be extremely busy the coming years already.

Maya Banks: Not that I can think of. I certainly won’t rule it out but for now I’m kept quite busy with the historicals, the romantic suspenses and the contemporary erotic romances. I’ve written a few paranormals earlier in my career and I love paranormals that are set in the real world and only have one character with paranormal abilities. I’d love to write more of those types of books.

Aurian: What is next on your writing schedule?

Maya Banks: I’m working on the next historical and then I’ll be writing Donovan’s story, the 8th book in the KGI series.

Personal questions:

Maia: We both have enormous TBR mountain ranges, how big is yours? And what do you plan on reading next?

Maya Banks: I have hundreds and hundreds of books I haven’t gotten to yet. I also have hundreds of books that I’ve already read but like returning to when I need a comfort read. I’m not sure what I’m reading next. I haven’t had a lot of time and it will depend on my mood when I’ve finished my deadline.

Aurian: What would you be if you could not be an author?

Maya Banks: I honestly can’t answer that. I worked in the medical field for several years before turning to writing but it’s not something I’d ever want to return to. I can’t imagine doing anything else BUT writing and I hope it’s a question I never have to really answer!

Aurian: Who are some of your favourite authors? Do you still have the books you loved reading as a young girl?

Maya Banks: I love Christine Feehan, Julie Garwood, Sharon Sala’s older books, Linda Howard’s older books, Elizabeth Lowell’s older releases, Lisa Marie Rice, Shannon McKenna and many many others.

And now for some fun quick questions:

Are you left-handed or right-handed?
Right handed

What is your favourite movie, and which is the last one you saw in the theater?
I can’t even answer this! I love really over the top action movies. But I never go to the theatre. I actually don’t watch a lot of television at all! And when I do I tend to prefer documentaries. I hate slap stick comedy. They make me cringe! And I refuse to watch horror movies. I don’t mind suspense thrillers but gory horror movies don’t do it for me at all.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Definitely NOT a morning person.

What famous author, dead or alive, would you love to meet and why?
This is one question I’m never able to answer simply because I’m terrible in social situations, so even if I could think of an author I’d love to meet, I wouldn’t want to do it because I would feel terribly awkward meeting them!


Official bio:
My name is Maya Banks and I live in Texas with my husband and three children and our assortment of pets. I’m more of a cat person, but my daughter became convinced she NEEDED a dog. So convinced in fact that it became her mission to convince her father and me. She prepared a two page handwritten proposal that detailed WHY she needed a dog, and well, after I sent her to her father (I knew he wouldn’t tell her no) we embarked on the search for the perfect dog. The journey that was two hours away and that I got pulled over for speeding while I was on the phone with my agent who had an offer from a publisher for one of my books… The officer wasn’t impressed. He wrote me a ticket anyway. Thus, I now tell my daughter that her dog turned into one very expensive concession! But isn’t he cute?

When I’m not writing, I love to hunt and fish with my family. We all love the outdoors and go on family hunting trips every year. We also love to travel. One of our more recent trips was to Scotland, which was every bit as comical as National Lampoon’s European Vacation. You know the part about “Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament” as they went round and round the roundabouts? Yeah, that was us, only we couldn’t even get out of the airport in Glasgow without hitting three of those suckers.

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of a writing career is getting to meet so many wonderful readers. There’s nothing better than dishing books with someone who loves the romance genre as much as I do. Romance readers are passionate and vocal. We love our books, love our happily ever afters, and we love to spend time talking to others about our favorites. THIS is why I love my job so much, and I’m so grateful to readers who gave ME a chance when I began my career. So thank you.
Love, Maya.

Where to find Maya?
http://mayabanks.com/website
twitter: @maya_banks
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMayaBanks?ref=ts&fref=ts
Facebook

Maya’s next book is Forged in Steele, the seventh novel in the KGI series (which I love!) which will be available in June 2013.



The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business. Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background. Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can't...

Steele, a KGI team leader, is an enigma not even his teammates understand. His emotions are tightly locked down and nothing can break that icy exterior. Nothing except Maren Scofield, a doctor on a mission, a woman who has gotten under Steele's skin and threatens to crack that unflappable cool he's legendary for.
Steele is determined not to allow Maren past his carefully guarded defenses. But when she's in danger, there's no way he'll allow anyone else to protect her.
Maren's hiding something. He's sure of it. But he isn't prepared for the shocking discovery her secrets reveal. Or how they will forever alter the course of his destiny. He has a decision to make. Hold tight and shut her out. Or take a chance on something more powerful than he's ever faced: Love.

Susan Wittig Albert – Cat’s Claw

Book 20 in the China Bayles series, published March 6, 2012, but I waited for the paperback, published April 4, 2013.
Genre: cozy mystery
Cover: my paperback is more beautiful than this one.



Larry Kirk, Pecan Springs’s computer guru, has been shot dead in his kitchen. At first Sheila believes it to be a suicide, but further investigation reveals that Kirk's death wasn't self-inflicted. And the truth is reinforced by her friend China Bayles' news - Larry recently asked her for legal advice in regards to a stalker.
As a police chief in a male-dominated force, Sheila meets many challenges, especially when her theories rock the boat in high profile cases like that of George Timms, who was caught breaking into Larry's shop. Now that Larry is dead, Sheila is sure the burglary is connected to the murder. But when Timms disappears instead of turning himself in, Sheila must prove she's got what it takes to hunt down a predator who's loose on the streets of Pecan Springs...


This book is not written in the style I have come to love in the China Bayles series. Instead of focusing on China and her private life and her sleuthing on the side, the book focuses on her good friend Sheila, who is the police chief in town. So even though this book has peaks in Sheila’s private life, and a bit in what is happening with China and both their husbands (who are private detectives together), this book reads more like a police mystery. This does not mean that I did not enjoy the book, as I did enjoy it. The author does explain why she choose this new style at the beginning of the book.

The book starts with a gathering of the Texas Star Quilting Club, some old ladies of Pecan Springs, who are experts at gossiping and watching their neighbours. And lately, they have had their eyes on Larry Kirk. He is going through a divorce, as he is a work-a-holic, and his wife has found a new lover. But recently, a lady has been showing up at his house, especially when he is not at home. So what does that mean?
And then Larry Kirk is found murdered. Do those old ladies actually have clues to solve the mystery?

Sheila Dawson is the police chief of Pecan Springs, and she is really trying to make it a modern department, but she is hindered by the budget cuts the city council keeps throwing at her, and especially her second in command, who was hoping for her function when the previous chief was fired. She is not happy in her work, and even doubting her decision to stay as chief and have her new husband Blackie give up his job as sheriff. But they both decided that there can’t be two police officers in one relationship, and they flipped a coin for it. Blackie is happy enough with his new job though, he went into the private investigator business with Mike McQuaid, China Bayles’ husband.

Lucky for Sheila, Deputy Chief Clint Hardin is going on vacation for 10 days, so she can relax a little and perhaps even go out in the field herself. When the call comes in that a dead body has been found, at first it looks like a suicide, and Sheila knows her detective Bartlett can handle that fine by himself. But it is close where she lives, so she will hop over for a quick look. As chief of police, it is important that she is seen out and about, and not only busy with the necessary paper work. But when there is reasonable doubt that this is actually a suicide, Sheila decides to help with the investigation herself, but leaving her Detective in charge of the case.
Is this case combined with the almost closed Timms case? Timms is supposed to hand himself over to the police this afternoon, on the charge of breaking and entering in Larry Kirk’s shop. Timms is one of the most important and influential citizens in Pecan Springs, so this is sure to cause a scandal. Timms claims to have been blackmailed, but so far he has not told anything about the how or why.

Unfortunately, Timms fails to show up, and even his lawyer withdraws from the case. He never liked his client anyway, so Timms is now officially missing.
Of course, when China hears about those new developments, she can’t help herself to investigate a little. McQuaid told her about some kind of bachelor pad’s of Timms not far from their home. She is not sure if Sheila knows about it, so the next morning she decides to go take a look. And there she does not only find a possible reason for Timms supposed blackmail problems, but also Timms himself. And that is not a pretty sight. But Sheila now has two distinct cases on her hands, and she needs all the help and information that China can give her. Still, Sheila is not called Smart Cookie for nothing, and she weaves the clues together to find out the truth and catch the real murderer(s).


I really did enjoy this book, even though I am used to more personal life stuff of China and her friends. Still, all the different threads are nicely woven together into a neat story, with lots of surprises and twists. I like China and her family and friends a lot, and it was nice to read a bit more about Sheila in this episode. I did have my suspicions about the murderer, but it was still a well written mystery.

I do recommend this series, but for the most enjoyment, and to know the main characters, please read in order.

8 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Debbie Macomber – Brides for Brothers

The first book in the Midnight Sons series, published in 1995.
Genre: contemporary romance
Cover: bleh, I have the duology which has a lovely but tiny view of Alaska. Flowers, tundra and huskies and mountains.



The mostly male population of Hard Luck, Alaska, is about to swell – because the O’Halloran brothers, who run a bush-pilot charter service called Midnight Sons, have launched a campaign to bring women to their hometown.
Sawyer O’Halloran is not entirely in favor of his brothers’ scheme. He considers himself immune to the charms of any woman – until Abbey Sutherland shows up in Hard Luck, anxious to start over, and with two adorable kids in tow!


Midnight Sons is losing pilots due to the lack of women in Hard Luck, Alaska. And so the men come together to think up some kind of scheme to get more women in to town. Not that they are eager to marry them, o now, but the would love some female companionship. And so they start creating some jobs for them. But where will they live? There are no houses available in town … But the O’Halloran brothers own some hunting cabins their father build many years ago, and perhaps those can be made ready for some females? They are only one room cabins, with no indoor plumbing or electricity. No female would want to live there! But Sawyer O’Halloran is outvoted, and the guys combine forces to clean and repair the cabins. And to sweeten the deal, the women will get the cabins rent free, and also a 20 acre parcel of land. Not the land where the cabin is situated, but at the other side of town …

Abby Suterhand is down on her luck. She is divorced with two small children, and has a hard time making ends meet. She is living in Seattle, but she longs for small town life. Her landlord just told her the rent will be raised next month, and her boss tells her, her job will be terminated due to budget cuts in three months. And so Abby will have no choice but to go live with her parents if she cannot find a new job soon. So when she finds the advertisement in the paper about jobs for women in Alaska, she thinks a dream comes true. Against her parents advice, she applies for the job of librarian and is hired. She sells everything she owns, and get with her children on the plane to Alaska. Finally arrived in Fairbanks, she is met by Sawyer O’Halloran, who is horrified when he finds out she has two children. She cannot possible live in that one room cabin with two small children! And so he tries his best to send her back to Seattle, but Abby won’t budge. She just cannot go back. Not even when he is leaving all their luggage behind so they will all fit in the small plane he brought for the mail run and to pick her up.

Of course Abby is horrified when she sees the tiny cabin she is supposed to live in, but she is determined to make it work. Her two children soon find new friends, and love it there. But for now it is summer in Alaska, and it is gorgeous and nicely warm. But what when winter will arrive? There are dangers on the tundra they don’t know about. So after a few days Sawyer relents and let them use his brother’s house. Christian won’t be back for a few more weeks, and he just hope the problems will resolve themselves, and she will go back to the big city. And that attraction between them, will come to naught. He is not the marrying kind, especially after he witnessed the disastrous marriage between his parents.
But when every other male in town starts courting Abby he is not happy either. She should not be bothered by them!


I was in the mood for a nice contemporary romance, so I picked a book which has been gathering dust on my shelves for a long time. And I was not disappointed in it. I liked the descriptions of live in a small Alaskan town, and the people living there.

Abby was a good woman, who has had a hard life and a bad marriage. She is ready to start over, to own her own land. And the fact that it is worthless and way out of town doesn’t deter her when she finds out, although she is disappointed. She just makes the best of what she does have. She likes Sawyer, even though he is gruff and tries to make her leave. But she is not interested in marriage either, even though he thinks it is what she wants. She came for the job they offered her, and the chance to build a new life.
Sawyer fell so hard for Abby, it was fun to watch. Of course he had no idea what was happening as he has never been in love before. But how he reacted to the other men who paid attention to Abby, he was so jealous. And Sawyer is so incapable of talking about his feelings or his wants, he kept putting his foot in his mouth, making Abby angry with him.
But he is also very nice to her children, and I loved those parts too.

A nice and sweet contemporary romance, I do recommend it. I am looking forward to the next book, featuring his older brother Charles.

7 stars.





This book is to be re-released as a paperback on May 1, 2013. So if you want to start reading this series, you are in luck.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Thea Harrison – Rising Darkness

The first book in the Game of Shadow series, published April 2, 2013.
Genre: urban fantasy
Cover: compelling



USA Today bestselling author Thea Harrison begins an all-new, darkly romantic paranormal saga, in which the fate of existence itself lies in the balance - and the key to victory may rest in the hands of two eternal lovers...
In the hospital ER where she works, Mary is used to chaos. But lately, every aspect of her life seems adrift. She's feeling disconnected from herself. Voices appear in her head. And the vivid, disturbing dreams she's had all her life are becoming more intense. Then she meets Michael. He's handsome, enigmatic and knows more than he can say. In his company, she slowly remembers the truth about herself...
Thousands of years ago, there were eight of them. The one called the Deceiver came to destroy the world, and the other seven followed to stop him. Reincarnated over and over, they carry on - and Mary finds herself drawn into the battle once again. And the more she learns, the more she realizes that Michael will go to any lengths to destroy the Deceiver.
Then she remembers who killed her during her last life, nine hundred years ago...Michael.


I do love Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series, so when I found out she had written a new series, I pre ordered it sight unseen. But a few days ago I read the book, and I still don’t know if I like it or not.

The story is certainly well written and original, but I have a hard time liking the main characters. I am not a big fan of the name Mary to begin with, and she is not someone I can relate to at all. And so her story is distant to me. She feels herself incomplete, like she is missing something. She is a good doctor apparently, but she has no friends or close family, she is a loner. She doubts her own sanity because of her very vivid dreams. And when something really strange happens while she is out running, she discounts it totally, doesn’t even take a closer look.
And then there is Michael (this is a name I do like), but he is portrayed as a psychopath waiting to happen, he is a trained warrior and filled with rage. They are both missing their Soulmates, and now that they have found each other, everything should just be fine with them. They have suddenly real feelings, can understand them.
Then there is Asia, who is kind of their leader, but she is cold and untrusting and distant. I can’t get a feel for dynamics, for a team fighting evil here. And that is what they are supposed to do, fight the ultimate evil, who has escaped from their planet millennia ago. They started out with 7 warriors, and only 3 of them are left.

Of course there are some scenes I loved, but there is a lot of violence and death, and indeed, evil in this book. At one hand, Mary is accepting of what is happening and at other times, she totally ignores the miracles that happen and tries to explain them away.

I will read the second book, as I thing her Elder Races books are also improving with each book, but for now, I am not a fan of this story.

6 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Bertrice Small – Francesca

The second book in the Silk Merchant's Daughters series, published April 2, 2013.
Genre: historical romance
Cover: beautiful, but she could have smiled a little bit.



New York Times bestselling author Bertrice Small continues her glorious historical-romance series featuring four sisters in Renaissance Florence who have anything but marriage on their minds....

Giovanni Pietro d'Angelo selected his oldest daughter's husband, and the marriage proved to be a disaster. He offers to give his next oldest daughter, Francesca, more latitude in choosing a husband than her sister had. But the arrogant beauty has no desire to marry, and she drives every potential suitor away.
The Duke of Terreno Boscoso seeks a wife for his heir, Rafaello, and invites Francesca, along with several other possible brides, to come meet him. Francesca's parents think it's a good match, but she refuses to consider it until her father makes her a promise: If he does not suit, you may return. She is therefore shocked when, not long after they meet, Rafaello chooses her as his bride and her parents agree to his proposal - without her consent.
Furious and feeling betrayed, Francesca flees into the woods and takes shelter at an inn. There, she earns her keep as a servant - and meets an unlikely suitor who steals her heart. But the future remains uncertain for the runaway bride, who is still promised to another.


I have to admit, after the shocking sex scenes in the first book of this series, I was a bit anxious about this one. But my worries were ungrounded, as there are no such scenes in this book. Just the “normal” hot love scenes Bertrice Small writes so well.

After the scandal in Venice, Francesca is sent back home to Florence, to find a husband there. But she scorns away all her suitors, determined to never marry. Which is just not done for a lady in the 1400’s in Italy. She is 15 already, and almost to old to be married. So when the invite comes from the Duke of Terreno Boscoso to spend some time at his country and get to know his son, Francesca wants to refuse. Her father doesn’t allow that, as his friend and benefactor, the great Lorenzo de Medici is behind this scheme.
And so, dressed to the nines, with her two beautiful horses with their own slave boys to take care of them, her grey hounds, two nuns as her chaperones, her own priest, her personal maid and a big guard of men-at-arms, Francesca sets out on the month long journey from Florence to Terreno Boscoso. Of course she has no intention of staying there and marrying the Duke’s son, she would miss her family and city too much. Her father is a very wealthy silk merchant, and he can and does give his family the best. Her mother though has her heart set on this match, her daughter marrying a Duke! This will sure make the prospects for her other daughters so much better. Even though Terrono Boscoso is only a small country between French and Italy, it has some strategic importance.

Besides Francesca, there are two other girls invited. Louisa Maria de Genoa is the bastard daughter of the Duke of Genoa, and a very sweet girl. Unfortunately, she is terrified of Rafaello, and has fallen in love with his best friend instead. The third girl is a real shrew, Aceline Mary du Barry, daughter of the Comte du Barry. Aceline is convinced that Rafaello will chose her as his bride, as she is very beautiful and of higher birth than both Louisa and Francesca. But Rafaello is intrigued by Francesca, who doesn’t seem to be interested in him at all. He knows that his best friend has fallen for Louisa, and such a timid girl would never suit him. Aceline is only interested in him because he will be the Duke soon, and she wants to spend his money. Rafaello also dislikes how she treats the other girls and the servants, he will never choose her. And so Francesca is the logical choice for him. She is beautiful, but so are the other girls, but she also has a kind heart, and is smart and not afraid to tell him what is on her mind.

So when Francesca finally learns that Rafaello has chosen her for his bride, and that her parents have already consented to the marriage, she is furious! She does not want him! She wants to go home to her sisters and her parents. And with the help of her servants and slaves, she escapes the castle and seeks to find her way home. But she gets lots in the forest quite soon, and the howling wolves scare her very much. So when she finds an Inn, and the owner promises to bring her to the main road come spring, she has no choice but to stay and work as a servant. To her own surprise, she grows to like the work, to feel useful and have a purpose. The woodsmen for whom this inn is intended leave her alone after their leader puts her under his protection.
Later that winter a new woodsman arrives, Carlo, and to her own surprise, Francesca is attracted to him. But she will not sleep with him; she will go into her marriage a virgin. Carlos keeps trying to seduce her of course, but Francesca does not give in to him. Until that last night, before they will close the inn for spring and summer, and she will be free to return home. But to her big surprise, Carlos is now the one who refuses to take his price.

Back in town, Francesca learns that the next day is the day Rafaello will be married. So he did find a new bride after all? She will try to find out if her servants are still at the castle, and take them home with her. But very early the next morning soldiers come to take her with them, and she is taken to the castle where she is bathed and dressed for her own wedding. Apparently, the Duke has know where she was the whole winter, and has decided to leave her there, to reconsider her life. Francesca is ready now to do her duty to her family, even though she has fallen in love with Carlo. She knows she can never have him, and she will honor her marriage vows to Rafaello.

After the wedding, the old Duke abdicates, and Rafaello and Francesca are crowned the new Duke and Duchess. But Rafaello is ignoring his bride, and Francesca will have none of that. If they are to make a success of their marriage, he will have to talk to her, and sleep with her. And so they decide to take a few days for themselves, to get to know one another again. Francesca comes to like Rafaello, and is willing to be a good wife and Duchess for him. And to do that, she wants to know everything that is happening in their Duchy.

The French girl, Acelinde, was not happy when Francesca was chosen instead of her, and she has made quite a scene. And apparently, their troubles with her and her family are not over yet, as she claims to have given birth to Rafaello’s son…


I really enjoyed this book, and I wanted to finish it in one evening. Which is not smart to do on a Monday, when I kept on reading way past my bedtime. But the book is certainly worth losing a few hours of sleep.
In the first book, I did not really like Francesca, but I quickly warmed up to her in this book. She had no choice but to go on the visit, but she sure got everything else she wanted from her father. Her life was not easy, especially not after her marriage, but she was a great duchess, and she was a lot smarter than her husband. He was pampered and a good warrior, but had no idea of the world and the politics behind his borders.
I have to admit, I liked the Old Duke better than his son. Rafaello was arrogant as a noble man can be, but also kind of naïve and too trusting and soft.

I am not going to spoil the story itself for you, and the bad things that happen, but it is a great historical romance, with an emphasis on historical. I did try to Google for this country though, and did not find it, other than the English meaning of the name: woodlands. Which is appropriate.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

9 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

New books to look forward to for May 2013

This is the list of new releases for the month of May 2013 I am looking forward to:

Lynn Viehl – Nightbound – Lords of the Darkyn 3
Gini Koch – Alien in the House – Alien 7
Alyssa Day – The Cursed – League of the Black Swan
Kresley Cole – Poison Princes – Arcana Chronicles 01 PB
Leann Sweeney – The Cat, the Mill and the Murder – Cats in Trouble 5
Lori Handeland – Zombie Island – Shakespeare Undead 2
Michelle Sagara – Touch – Queen of the Dead 2
Clive Cussler – Zero Hour – Numa Files 11
Jacquelyn Frank – Forever – World of the Nightwalkers 2
Jean Johnson – The Tower – Guardians 1
Jenn Bennett – Binding the Shadows – Arcadia Bell 3
Karen Hawkins – How to pursue a Princess – Duchess Diaries 2

I have read a total of 23 books and 3 short stories this month.

Did I match my reading solutions for last month? Yes, but I had to hurry towards the end of the month to make those goals.

I have read 5 cozy mysteries:
- Sofie Kelly – Curiosity Thrilled the Cat
- Heather Blake – The Good, the Bad and the Witchy
- Deb Baker – Murder passes the Buck
- Susan Wittig Albert – Cat’s Claw
- Dufy Brown – Iced Chiffon

1 book longer than 1 year on my shelf:
- Debbie Macomber – Brides for Brothers

and 1 book I have won:
- Marlene Perez – Dead is a battlefield

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian