Category Archives: TBR List

Hearts & Hunks

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and we all know what that means! Time to curl up with chocolate, champagne and a good romance.  Here is my completely subjective and unscientific list of new books for my TBR pile.

After dark with a Scoundrel, Alexandra Hawkins: The third book in the Lords of Vice series, this one centers around the Earl of Chillingsworth’s sister, who has spent several years in a respectable school for young ladies after she got caught snogging Lord Hugh Mondare. Lady Regan’s interest in her brother’s friend is unquenched after five years, and she returns to London determined to follow up on it.  I look forward to Frost as a protective older brother as well. This has been a wonderful series so far, and I am looking forward to Regan and Dare’s story. February 1, 2011

Invitation to Sin, Jo Beverly et al: This romance anthology includes stories by Beverly, Vanessa Kelly, Sally McKenzie and Kaithlin O’Riley.  Four stories abounding with disreputable neighbors, secret affairs, scandalous behavior, unconventional women and bold, sexy men. I enjoy comparing the voices of different writers in anthologies, and given the authors assembled for this one, it should be quite the Valentine’s Day treat. February 1, 2011

One Night is Never Enough, Anne Mallory: Charlotte Chatsworth is understandably horrified to find that her father has gambled her away to Roman Merrick, head of a criminal empire in 19th century London.  Papa didn’t even gamble away her hand in marriage, just her virtue. Roman expects to have his night with the exquisite lady and then leave her. Neither of them expect their one night to turn into love, but when that happens, they each face ruin. I’m especially intrigued by the hero here: Roman’s manipulations could cross the line into being a bit creepy, but I’m willing to see how he turns out. February 22, 2011

To Desire a Wicked Duke, Nicole Jordan: The last in the Courtship Wars series gives Tess Blanchard her own story. And it should be a good one, since she and ‘her’ Duke are caught in an extremely compromising (and hot) embrace within the first pages of the book. Ian Sutherland is interfering, possibly manipulative, undoubtedly handsome, and has loved Tess for years.  In other words, the perfect romantic hero. I really, really, really can’t wait for this one, but I have to until February 22, 2011.

Pleasure Me, Monica Burns: A courtesan who thinks she’s past her prime meets a younger man in need of deflowering. This premise could be a disaster in the wrong hands, but Burns’ erotic romances raise the bar for her genre, so this one is totally going into my TBR pile. Both Lady Ruth Attwood and Garrick Stratfield sound like well rounded, sympathetic characters. Who are going to engage in some very hot love scenes. March 1, 2011

What upcoming releases are you going to add to your TBR pile?

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Books for my Stocking

‘Tis the season for romance!  It’s time for another of my unscientific and completely subjective lists of upcoming and new books that pique my interest.  I’d be happy to find any of the books below in my stocking.

His Christmas Pleasure, by Cathy Maxwell: Abigail Montrose takes her future into her own hands and rejects the husband (and thirteen stepchildren) her father has selected for her.  Instead, she elopes with a mysterious (and sexy) baron. Both Abigail and Andres believe they will have a satisfactory marriage of convenience, only to find that they develop deeper feelings for one another.  I look forward to seeing what Maxwell does with this story. November 2010

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady, by Sabrina Jeffries: The most recent of the Sharpe family series, this book centers on Lady Minerva Sharpe’s reluctance to acquiesce to her grandmother’s demands that she marry.  This historical sounds like it mixes romance with a good mystery, as the hero selected by Minerva to parade as her betrothed has a double life.  The pairing of a proactive heroine and a wily hero sounds like a great way to while away a winter’s night. January 2011

A Most Scandalous Engagement, by Gayle Callen: The heroine, now a respected member of the ton, loses her reputation when a single outrageous episode in her past is brought to light. She turns to a trusted childhood friend to help her, but he has wanted her for years and won’t rest until he gains her heart.  ‘Hero-worshiping-heroine-for-ages’ is one of my favorite tropes, so I am really excited about this one. November 2011

The Perfect Mistress, by Victoria Alexander: Julia Winterset has inherited a decidedly racy book that has aroused the seductive instincts of not one, but three men. Publication would ruin the Earl of Mountdale’s family name.  Take one overbearing nobleman and match him with a stubborn widow in a story told with Alexander’s humor and historic accuracy. I’ll have to wait till January for this one, but I bet it’s worth it. January 2011

A Taste of Desire, by Beverley Kendall: In the second volume dealing with siblings Missy and Thomas Armstrong, outspoken beauty Amelia Bertram inadvertently wounds Thomas’ pride in a very, shall we say, personal area.  The outraged nobleman takes Amelia off to his country estate with the intention of teaching her a lesson in manners, which become lessons in mutual desire.  I have high hopes for Thomas’ story. January 2011

What books are you looking forward to in the next couple of months? I’d love to get more ideas for my TBR pile.

And check it out! I’m celebrating St. Andrew’s Day today at SOS Aloha!

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TBR: Life, Libertines and the Pursuit of Hotness!

It’s July, and I just celebrated the 4th.  In the spirit of independent heroines and the bad boys they love, here are some books that I hope will heat up some of my summer days. (And nights.)  Yup, time for another entirely subjective, unscientific list of recent and upcoming releases in my TBR pile:

My Reckless Surrender, by Anna Campbell: The premise of this book involves the maiden running headlong into the arms of a practiced seducer instead of away from him.  (And really, in our imaginations, wouldn’t we all rather do that?) This sounds like the hero and heroine both get caught in their own webs, a device that can make for some great reading. June 2010, Avon

Song of Seduction, by Carrie Lofty: Lofty thinks outside the box in her choice of times and places to set her historical romances.  Centered around a composer hero and a violinist heroine and placed in 1804 Vienna, I have high hopes for this one!  Her angst-filled heroes and heroines absorb me completely. June 2010, Carina

Knight of Passion, by Margaret Mallory:  The family of William and Catherine FitzAlan continues.  This time the hero is Jamie Rayburn, introduced as a small boy in the first book of her ‘All the King’s Men’ series.  If her past novels are indication, very adult sparks are going to fly when he meets his childhood sweetheart, Linnet.  Mallory’s deft use of historical events and detail hooked from the first.  June 2010, Grand Central

The Wicked Wyckerly, by Patricia Rice:  A second son with no sense of entitlement who comes into an impoverished title, his hellion of daughter and a heroine blessed with compassion and common sense — all sound like a charming trio to read about on summer’s day.  Abigail, the heroine, sounds like an especially delightful foil for a rake beset by debts, a sordid past and sudden fatherhood.  July 2010, Signet

Highland Warrior, by Hannah Howell: Howell releases another of her Highlands romances, this one featuring the laird of a rogue clan.  He faces the quandary of ransoming the heroine off to her family for the good of his people or keeping for the good of his heart.  Howell writes so many times and places well, her books are always a treat.  July 2010, Kensington Zebra

So this is my list.  What books do you look forward to reading?

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