What Happens at Christmas - Victoria Alexander (Kensington - Oct 2012)

Series: Millworth Manor (Book 1)

Camille, Lady Lydingham, knows precisely what she wants for Christmas -- an official engagement to a handsome, dashing prince. Her very proper suitor expects a proper English family and the perfect Dickensian Christmas, which leaves the lovely widow with a slight problem. The last thing Camille wants is for the prince to meet her unconventional relatives. But with the aid of a troupe of actors, Camille intends to pull off a Christmas deception of massive proportions. At least until Grayson Elliot shows up. A dozen years ago, he declared his love on the day before her marriage to another man, then vanished from her life. Now he’s back, gate-crashing Camille’s already chaotic house party, playing absolute havoc with her scheme -- and with her heart. Because for Grayson, losing Camille once was quite bad enough. Losing her twice? Unthinkable. And he’ll find a way to show her they belong together -- for this season, and every Christmas yet to come… 

Very fun book, with a theme of second chances.  Camille is well known in her family for her impulsiveness and the fact that it usually gets her in trouble.  This one has the potential to do the same. Camille is very stubborn once she makes up her mind and nothing is going to stop her.  She has the chance to land a prince as her next husband.  The catch is that he wants to experience an old fashioned English Christmas.  Most of her family is away, and they're rather unconventional anyway, so she hires a troupe of actors to fill in.  What can go wrong?  Well, the actors are not the best and seem to have some trouble remembering their parts.  Then Camille's old friend Grayson shows up.  They had been close friends as children, then the day before she married someone else he told her he loved her.  She was stunned as she had loved him for a long time.  But she thought it was too late and they said some things to each other and Grayson took off for America.  After eleven years he is back.  He walks in on the production and decides to "help" by sticking around as her cousin.  Camille now has to cope with his reappearance which stirs up old feelings.  She also begins to feel that maybe being a princess to a man she doesn't love isn't what she wants after all.   I loved seeing her try to manage her actors who weren't doing quite what she asked them to do, and trying to adjust to all the changes that happen.  It gets even more interesting when her real family shows up.  Grayson has finally come home after making his fortune.  When he sees Camille again, he realizes that he still loves  her and is not about to lose her again.  I loved the way he was there for Camille even though his "help" at times purposely stirred things up.  I also liked the way that he was trying to protect her from herself.  Both he and Camille had to finally talk about the events of their past in order to move on with their future. I liked the fact that Grayson admitted his mistakes but also wasn't going to give up.    Some of the situations that cropped up were so funny that I could hardly read because I was laughing so hard.  I loved the secondary characters - Grayson's cousin Win who is the one who got Grayson home, Camille's twin Beryl who is snarky and sarcastic, but supportive, the troupe of actors who just can't seem to keep in character, and Camille's mother and sister who show up and have to be fitted into the play in some manner.  
 

Christmas Promises - Lynne Graham, Carole Mortimer, Marion Lennox (Harlequin - Oct 2012)

The Christmas Eve Bride by Lynne Graham
Rocco thought he was done with Amber after her betrayal two years earlier. But when he unexpectedly runs into her, the attraction is still strong - so he asks her to become his mistress! Amber only accepts so her baby boy can have a better Christmas. But Rocco's plan for revenge changes as he begins picturing a future with Amber - and their son.

Originally published in Christmas With a Latin Lover.  Okay story.  I liked Amber.  She was doing her best to get on with her life after being dumped by Rocco then having his baby.  When she runs into him again, he is out for revenge and wants her to be his mistress.  But she has a surprise for him when she moves in, and he is stunned.  I never really warmed up to Rocco.  Yes, he took to being a father very well, but I never really got the feeling that he accepted his part in their breakup.  He finally admitted his love, but I didn't see much improvement in his attitudes.


 

A Marriage Proposal for Christmas by Carole Mortimer
Cally Turner thinks Noel Carlton is an egotistical playboy! The only reason she's agreed to work for him is so she can give her daughter a Christmas to remember. But as she spends more time with Noel, she begins to wonder what's more irritating - his infuriating arrogance or unexpected tenderness?

Originally published in Mistress to a Millionaire. I liked this story better.  Noel started out pretty obnoxious, with his demands and his flirtatious attitude.  But as he and Cally worked together to get his house ready for the holidays and his family's visit, the better side of him became more apparent.  He had a good sense of humor and an innate kindness that showed in the way he treated Cally's daughter.  Cally didn't trust him at first because of her daughter's father, but he soon overcame those issues.  I liked the way Noel turned out to be pretty much of a sweetheart.






A Bride for Christmas by Marion Lennox
Wealthy businessman - and contented bachelor - Guy Carver is in Australia to take ownership of Jenny Westmere's wedding salon. It's strictly business. So no one is more surprised than Guy himself when he realizes that the deal he really wants to ink is making Jenny and her little boy his family by Christmas!

Originally published in Christmas Proposals. This was my favorite of the three stories.  Guy started out as cold and aloof and really looking down on Jenny and her salon.  Though he had started his wedding and event planning business from scratch, in recent years he had become removed from the personal touch.  I loved the way that Jenny called him on his snottiness and then made him work to get her to help him.  She was a warm and caring woman who knew what she felt was most important in her life.  Guy found that being around Jenny and her family started to wear away at the walls he had around his heart.  He fought his developing feelings for her, and nearly lost it all when he tried to make her part of his life without thinking about her needs.  I loved the weddings that the two of them planned.  The humor in both made the story.

Sparks Fly - Katie MacAlister (Signet - May 2012)

Series: Light Dragons (Book 3) 

Ysolde de Bouchier has a lot on her plate, which isn’t unusual considering her Light Dragon mate Baltic is still at odds with just about everyone, starting with his former guard Thala and her outlaw posse, right down to his dragon god father. Ysolde herself fairs no better, since the First Dragon has her in his sights as well, demanding that she right past wrongs…and her time to do that is quickly running out.

With the help of some familiar friends, Ysolde sets into motion an elaborate plan that will have repercussions throughout the mortal and immortal worlds. But when a member of her family is held hostage, no one is safe from the fire of her rage. 

Another fun Light Dragons book.  Baltic is being his usual stubborn self.  He doesn't feel that he needs to be part of the community of dragons, they are just fine on their own.  He feels no need to lift the curse from the silver dragons.  He does want to track down Thala and take care of that problem, and get on with restoring his castle.  Ysolde is still trying to figure out how to fulfill the First Dragon's demands, especially since he won't tell her exactly what he wants done.  She also needs to do some heavy bargaining to acquire some artifacts that she needs for various purposes.  When her ex-husband kidnaps her son, she goes on a rampage to get him back.  That battle is pretty intense, but with some fun moments too.  The final battle of the book is very good, with some serious mayhem happening.  I loved the part where she confronts the First Dragon, doing and saying things that make other dragons present cringe, but she doesn't care.  The epilogue is great, and I loved the machinations that went on.  Ysolde's son Brom is one of my favorite characters, and I loved his mixture of little boy and adult.  The scene with Constantine in the sex shop was hysterical.  I really hope there will be another Light Dragons book, because I really want to see what happens with Thala.

Lady Drusilla's Road to Ruin - Christine Merrill (HH #1082 - Apr 2012)

Series: Ladies in Disgrace (Book 2) 

Considered a spinster, Lady Drusilla Rudney has only one role in life: to chaperone her sister. So when her flighty sibling elopes, Dru knows she has to stop her! She employs the help of a traveling companion, who looks harmless enough....

Former army captain John Hendricks is intrigued by this damsel in distress. Once embroiled with her in a mad dash across England, he discovers that Dru is no simpering woman. Her unconventional ways make him want to forget his gentlemanly conduct...and create a scandal all their own! 

Good book.  I really liked both John and Dru.  Dru had taken off after her sister, to stop her from a scandalous elopement.  She didn't realize how difficult and potentially dangerous it could be.  After John left the employ of the Earl of Folbroke, he got on a coach headed for Scotland - not the one he intended to take.  When Dru ran into some problems with another passenger, he came to her rescue.  He then agreed to help her stop her sister.  Dru was the older sister who was basically ignored for everything except watching over her sister, and had a very low opinion of her own attractiveness.   John found her attractive from the beginning, but knowing of the difference in their stations, tried to fight it.  He found her wit and willingness to endure hardship on their quest even more appealing.  Dru found him attractive too.  I loved what happened when they caught up with Priscilla.  I also loved the reactions of the Folbrokes when John went to see them.

The Perfect Wife - Lynsay Sands (Avon - May 2011)

It was to be hoped that her groom was partial to cherries. For Avelyn feared she would very much resemble one at their wedding feast. Too round, too red in the scarlet gown that was all she could fit into ... and perhaps too tart for his taste? No doubt he longed for a sweet, biddable bride, one who was as tiny and trim as she was trying to appear.

Paen Gerville longed for a lively, well-rounded woman, one whose plump breast would cushion his head after the lonely, harsh life of a solitary fighting knight. At first his wife-to-be promised no such delights--her form was unbending, her health apparently fragile as she fainted his arms after their first kiss. But one split bridal gown later, her assets were eye-poppingly apparent and Paen could only grin as he anticipated the surprises yet to come on his wedding night with ...The Perfect Wife. 

Very good book.   Avelyn had some serious self-esteem issues thanks to her cousins.  She was curvier than she thought she should be so she tried to hide that from Paen at the wedding.  When her gown split and her true self was exposed she was embarrassed.  I loved Paen because she was exactly what he wanted.  His biggest problem was that he didn't really know how to tell her.  He was a knight who had spent years fighting, not learning how to relate to women.  They also had the problem of accidents that kept happening to Avelyn.  He thought she was just clumsy.  I loved when they moved to their new home and Avelyn's abilities became obvious as she brought the castle to order.  I also thought that Paen was wonderful when he figured out how to help Avelyn accept how valued she was.  The conclusion, with the resolution of the accidents, was wonderful.  I love the humor that I always find in Lynsay Sands' books.

To Wed A Wild Lord - Sabrina Jeffries (Pocket - Nov 2011)

Series: Hellions of Halstead Hall (Book 4)

To fulfill his grandmother's ultimatum, Lord Gabriel Sharpe pursues a spitfire he believes desperately needs him. Then the tables are turned. . . 
Like everything daredevil Gabe Sharpe does, wooing Virginia Waverly is a high-stakes game. Ever since her brother, Roger, died racing Lord Gabriel, Virginia has yearned to take her revenge on the reckless lord by beating him at his own sport. But when she challenges Lord Gabriel to a race, the hellion called the "Angel of Death" counters with a marriage proposal! Gabe knows Virginia is in dire financial straits -- so why not marry her and solve both of their problems? She claims to be appalled by his proposal, but her response to his kisses says otherwise. And when the two of them begin to unravel the truth behind Roger's death, Gabe takes the greatest gamble of all, offering the courageous beauty something more precious than any inheritance: true love.

Very good book.   I liked both Gabe and Virginia.  Gabe has been trying to outrun his feelings of guilt over Roger's death by doing risky things that court death.  Virginia blames Gabe for her brother's death in the race that he and Gabe did.  Gabe decided that he would marry Virginia, solving her financial worries and making him feel that he is helping his friend's sister.  Neither of them expected the immediate and strong attraction.  Gabe decides to do his best to convince her to marry him, and in their times together they begin to develop feelings that neither expected.  Gabe still feels he doesn't deserve to be happy, and Virginia is trying to let go of her anger over Roger's death.  The two of them work to unravel the truth behind the race.  The final race scene is fantastic.  

Captured For the Captain's Pleasure - Ann Lethbridge (HH #1070 - Dec 2011)

Captain Michael Hawkhurst relishes his fearsome reputation, for he lives only to wreak revenge on the Fulton family, who so cruelly destroyed his own.

Spirited Alice Fulton knows a ship is no place for a lady, but she is determined to save her father's business....

When fate delivers him Fulton's virginal daughter as his captive, Michael faces a dilemma -- should he live up to his scandalous name and find revenge with sweet Alice, or will his honorable side win out -- and win the girl...?

Pretty good book. I enjoyed Alice's way of standing up to Michael. She did a good job of negotiating the ransom demand. I think Michael didn't quite know what hit him. She also showed an amazing ability to think on her feet when she faced down the men on the Royal Navy ship to prevent him from being whipped. I also liked her escape from Sandford's house and her appearance back on Michael's ship. Meanwhile, he was dealing with his tunnel vision regarding his revenge. When he finally got it, he didn't understand why it didn't satisfy him. When things really went bad, he was devastated by what he had done and the effect of it on his relationship with Alice.