Bella and the Merciless Sheikh/ Bella's Disgrace (UK) - Sarah Morgan

Author:  Sarah Morgan
Line: Mills and Boon Modern / Harlequin Presents
Release month: UK:  Dec 2010 /USA: Jan 2011
The S-Factor:  Sensual and Sexy

Back Blurb:

Sheikh Zafiq Al-Rashid is furious when his week of solitude is interrupted by Bella Balfour, lost in the desert! While his fierce honor demands he rescue her, the willful heiress is a little less grateful than he'd expected. Zafiq is tempted to leave the spoiled socialite wandering the wilderness…but where would be the challenge in that?

He's powerful enough to tame the rebellious beauty. However, when they depart from the seclusion of the oasis, will Zafiq leave the memory of the fiery passion behind or announce to his kingdom that he is taking a queen?


Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Sarah Morgan has yet again provided this reader with a most magnificent read. In fact I personally enjoyed it so much, I read it twice!

Bella Balfour intrigued me as she hid so many hurts. As we've learned in previous The Balfour Legacy series, their father Oscar holds a charity ball every year and it seems each one has some sort of press coverage of a new family scandal. Behind the scenes, Bella who is known for her beauty and being a party girl and her Olivia were locked in a battle over a shocking discovery and it was revealed concerning their sister Zoe. So their father like he has done in the past sent Bella away to a quite retreat in the desert to think about her behavior and how she could turn her life around.

Feisty Bella had noticed the stables across from the retreat and slipped away. She found a lovely mare and as she in her youth was an experienced horsewoman, she decided to take the mare to go into the city because she was going crazy at the retreat with no cell phone, Internet, etc. Once there she would leave the mare. However, she got lost and thought she would die in desert alone.

Sheikh Zafiq was an amazing man and head of his country, Al-Rafid. He was a strong and proud ruler, loved his country and his journey once a year to find peace and meditation. He was devoted to his siblings and had raised them He at times, felt the burden of raising them plus the burden of his country so he was looking forward to his five days alone in the desert, with no one, not even his guards. You can well imagine when he found his prize mare and a beautiful young Bella lost, dehydrated and sunburned in the desert, he was furious.

Bella and Zafiq's time in the desert began on a extremely rocky note and then after he nursed her back to health, the sparing began and then the sexual tension. They have five days to get to know each other and their time and romancing you absolutely will not want to miss. Their attraction was as intense as the hot desert sun and Bella fell in love. Zafiq, well let's just say duty came first. He was determined not to be like his father and be weak and fall in love with a beautiful, spoilt and pampered woman. Bella shared with him so much of her life in England and her family and he knew he was duty bound to his country to find respectable wife and mother for his heir so he needed to say goodbye upon their return to Al-Rafid and send her home to England.

Bella didn't want to go home because she felt two things; 1) her sisters were still angry with her and 2) every time her father looked at her she reminded him of her mother's betrayal.

She also new the mare she had stolen, his prized mare was the prize in an upcoming race. Zafiq's marvelous horse favored to win. However, if he did not, then the sheikh stood to loose his mare. She begged him to stay and promised if he gave her a chance, she would work in his stables, anything not to have to go home and face her family. I so admired how Bella handled herself with the grooms and horses. How hard and long she worked and because of her love for this proud man she was willing to sacrifice her safety. It was brilliantly written and so many lessons for all reading Bella's Disgrace.

Oscar Balfour had many family rules and I think Bella learned a few under the desert sun which were dignity, courage, loyalty and commitment traits any man could love. However, she most importantly learned about sacrifice because that was what she was willing to do for the man she loved even if it meant sacrificing herself or injury.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥♥
Reviewed by: Marilyn

Behind the Book:

"When I was first invited to contribute to the Balfour Bride series, I was thrilled. As I waited nervously for the brief to arrive, I hoped that my Balfour sister would be someone ‘real’ – someone whose journey would be absorbing and emotional. Right from the first moment I read Bella’s story I was excited, and that excitement stayed with me all the way through the writing of the manuscript. Bella was definitely flawed. She was also complex and sometimes spoiled, but I sensed immediately how vulnerable she was underneath all that attitude and how much of her ‘image’ had been developed as a defence mechanism.  Spoiled Bella became humble Bella and then bold, brave Bella.  I loved her (Go Bella!), and I hope you love her too'.....Sarah's post at I(Heart)Presents

Sarah's post at Tote Bags n' Blogs

AMNESIAC EX, UNFORGETTABLE VOWS – Robyn Grady

Author: Robyn Grady
Line: Silhouette Desire
Release month: UK/North America : January 2011
The S-Factor: Sexy

Back Blurb:

The last woman Samuel Bishop expected to have in his arms was his ex-wife. Left with amnesia from an accident, Laura had no memory of their bitter divorce. In her mind, she and the business tycoon were still newlyweds. With her ready to pick up where she thought their scorching-hot marriage had left off, he couldn't turn her down.

But soon Bishop realized he was playing with fire. He wanted to reclaim the wedded bliss this Laura had shown him, but what would happen when her memory returned?

And what would happen if it didn't?

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Amnesiac Ex, Unforgettable Vows by Robyn Grady was a very moving love story with two extremely likeable characters, Bishop and Laura.

Their courtship with swift and fast and they both fell head over heels in love with each other. As Grace, Laura’s sister said had they taken more time and not rushed into their marriage maybe things would have turned out differently. Had Bishop been able to understand that Laura’s heart condition didn’t diminish her need to have a child and not adopt one. Had they both been able to talk after the baby they conceived resulted in a miscarriage. It was all so easy to walk away from each other ending their marriage with a divorce.

Now Bishop was back in Laura’s life because she had an accidental fall and was suffering from amnesia. As her sister told him, maybe they would get a second chance and love one another again. It was such a touching story line and it was one of those love stories that at times was hard to read. As for Laura, she didn’t remember loosing the baby and she thought they had only been married a few months. For Samuel Bishop, it was shear torment because his feelings for Laura were both physical and personal. It was obvious he still desired and loved her after the weeks tending to her needs and moving back into the home he built for her. It was like walking on egg shells, wondering when she would remember, trying to turn away her touches and kisses, trying so hard not to make love to her; it drove him crazy.

After days of resisting his ex’s flirtations plus the tension of trying to decide if he should sell his business, he finally gave in and took some time off to spend with Laura. All she could talk about was creating a baby together, wanting her own child and not to adopt one and couldn’t understand Bishop’s resistance. And then, finally Bishop gave in, he couldn’t resist anymore and no matter what the consequences, he realized he wanted that child and Laura. He realized he loved her! Of course she knew he was worried something could or might happen to her and/or the baby. But she didn’t understand his behaviour until after a couple of weeks later part of her memory returned.

I wondered if they could get their second chance, clear the air, talk out why their marriage ended the first time. It had to workout because they both loved each other. But would it be enough? Because no matter how well they suited each other, there would always be the past between them.

Amnesiac Ex, Unforgettable Vows took place in Australia with the final scene taking place on New Years Eve, with the opera house, bridge and fireworks in the background. But those weren’t the only fireworks because after Bishop’s friend encouraged him to talk to Laura again, make her understand how much she meant to him, they had a lot to celebrate in the end. They got their happy ending and so much more thanks to the very talented Robyn Grady.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥
Reviewed by: Marilyn

THE BRIDE THIEF (US) / THE VIRGIN’S CHOICE (UK) - Jennie Lucas

Author: Jennie Lucas
Line: Mills and Boon/Harlequin Presents
Release month: UK: Oct 2010 / North America : Jan 2011
The S-Factor: Sensual

Back Blurb:

If anyone here present knows of a reason why this marriage may not lawfully take place, please declare it now...

Xerxes Novros is about to do more than just voice his reasons why Rose's marriage should be stopped... He's going to steal this beautiful wife-to-be and whisk her away to his private Greek island!

Now the kidnapped virgin bride has a choice... or does she? Xerxes certainly knows what he wants – he's determined to give Rose the wedding night she's been denied...

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

The Bride Thief was a powerfully written and extremely emotional romance. Their journey was a difficult one but in the end so worth all of the pain they went through to get their happy ending.

In Sensible Housekeeper, Scandalously Pregnant one was introduced to another ruthless billionaire from Argentina, Rafael Cruz and he went after what he wanted and that was his virgin housekeeper. At Rafael's birthday party, another ruthless billionaire was in attendance, Greek billionaire Xerxes Novros who also owned many properties and several private islands. In fact, he let Rafael and his mistress stay on one of them for awhile.

The Bride Thief was Xerxes and Rose’s story and oh what a ruthless and determined man this Greek alpha was and a man with a plan and agenda. He was determined to rescue a young, Laetitia, a woman from his past who was believed to be in a coma and she was married to Baron Lars Vaxborg from Sweden who actually wanted her dead so he could have Rose. Lars met Rose Linden in San Francisco and was determined to marry her; so much so, he rushed her to make a decision to marry and flew her entire family, siblings and all to his castle for the wedding. Now Rose was married and scared because she wondered if she’d made a mistake. She wandered outside, was kidnapped by the Greek billionaire Xerxes and taken to his private island in Greece.

Talk about being scared because Rose didn’t understand the situation and Xerxes believed her to be in on the fake marriage to Lars. It took a few days to determine that she had no idea about Laetitia. On top of that he was angry with himself because after touching her, kissing her, trying to torment her, he was angry with himself. Why? Because she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, he wanted and desired her. On top of that, he had made the call to Lars to make a trade…..Rose for Laetitia. He was a man of his word and he would definitely not go back on his word. However, they moved from the private island to three other destinations because his security team had sightings of Laetitia. Rose thought they were moving due to Xerxes business but that was not the truth. It all became so complicated for both of them…..the attraction, the emotions and being a man of his word, Rose would have to ask him to kiss her because he promised her back in Greece he would only do so if she asked. However, there was one thing for sure, Rose knew from what he told her, he needed no one, didn’t do relationships and would never love nor marry.

Xerxes knew one thing for sure…….she made him feel at home and she was such a generous person, always doing things for others, especially her family. As she once told him “a life without faith, , without being brave enough to risk loving someone and be loved in return, was no life at all.” While reading this incredible love story I could feel Xerxes soften, knew he had a past and secrets because he would not tell Rose whom or why Laetitia was important to him. Quite honestly, his secrets were shocking and I wondered and then understood why this proud Greek shielded his heart.

The ending of The Bridal Thief was quite shocking; from the trading of Rose for Laetitia due to the fact Lars divorced his first wife so he could have her back in his life. Then the brutal kidnapping of Rose by Lars, to Xerxes revealing his and Laetitia’s past……it was quite moving. This stubborn and honorable man had a lot of things to overcome before he could give them their happy ever after but he did so with such flourish and style giving this couple hope, love and making their dreams come true.

I love connected stories and Sensible Housekeeper, Scandalously Pregnant and The Bride Thief were such amazing and sensual reads. I just knew Xerxes had to have a story like his ruthless billionaire rival and it was so worth waiting for and then some. Plus the fact that both of the heroines were such accepting, understanding and patient women.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥
Reviewed by: Marilyn

Behind the book:

Jennie's post at I(Heart)Presents

Jennie Lucas website

BREAKING THE SHEIKH'S RULES (Summer Sheikh's - Abby Green

Author: Abby Green
Line: Mills and Boon/Harlequin Presents
Release month: UK: JUL 2010/ North America : May 2011
The S-Factor: Sizzling, Sexy and Sensual


Back Blurb:


When Sheikh Nadim buys the O'Sullivan stables, Irish virgin Iseult is plunged into a life of glorious sensuality and luxury - for as long as she can obey Nadim's one cast-iron rule: don't fall in love with me..

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥


Spirit, sass and spunk is what I adore in a heroine and Abby Green has outdone herself in Breaking The Sheikh’s Rules, her first venture into writing the sheikh genre. It’s an amazing sensual journey you’ll take with Sheikh Nadim and Iseult O’Sullivan.


Sheikh Nadim Bin Kalid Al Saqur was quite the ruler and he was in the process of purchasing the O’Sullivan Stud Farm. In fact not only the farm but the O’Sullivan home, along with the services of Paddy, Isuelt O’Sullivan and their housekeeper, plus their prize two year old magnificent horse, Devil’s Kiss. What he didn’t count on was he would be on the receiving end of her smart mouth. No one, but no one talked to him in the manner this sassy redhead did; she not only challenged him she intrigued him. In the end, the plan was to move his racing and breeding horse program to Ireland and to make sure Iseult returned home with him to Merkazad along with Devil’s Kiss to assist in training the prize horse.


What an excuse, to have her return home to his country and see her daily. What a mistake, but he couldn’t help himself because he desired her.  He didn’t do love nor relationships. He would have a mistress from time to time but that was the extent of his love life.   At one time he had been married.  But his wife and unborn child died, due to a horse riding accident. However, this young and spirited woman stirred things inside him and until he figured it out and got her out of his system, he wasn’t going to get much sleep.


It all happened to fast, the sale of the farm, her relocation to Merkazad and being installed in employee housing.  Then of course, her being part of his training team. Iseult was confused by her feelings for this handsome sheikh. As he pointed out, when he purchased O’Sullivan’s, he owned all of them including Iseult! He was larger than life and she felt the sensual pull, especially when he was too near, touched her and then kissed her. While working with Devil’s Kiss there was an incident which made Sheikh Nadim angry and gave him the perfect excuse to move her to his castle. Sparks flew every time they were together and in the end on a horse buying trip to look at Arabian’s, they finally both had had enough. An innocent “harem dance”  led to them making love in his tent, and this virgin’s fate was sealed. Honestly, it was like something out of the Arabian Knights!


Because Nadim was her first, he reminded her he didn’t do love or commitment.  She was reminded of an earlier conversation when he revealed he did not love his wife and their’s had been a marriage of convenience. So when she agreed to be his mistress, he was very firm their relationship would be over when he said so! What an arrogant Sheikh! I only hoped she would remember her conversation with her boss, the head trainer Jamilah and family friend of the Al Saqur’s.  Jamilah warned Iseult the Al Saqur’s were ruthless and she knew it first hand because she had once been involved with Nadim's younger brother.


Back at the palace they resumed their love making; however he didn’t stay the night with her and she realized then that he had the power to hurt and destroy her. There were other changes, her co-workers treated her differently, so did Lina her maid and her sheikh didn’t like it when she wasn’t there waiting for him. However, there was something about her; he realized was special . Nadim felt comfortable with her and shared more with her than he had with anyone.  In a way, I personally thought they were somewhat alike as they had both been thrown into taking responsibility for their family……Iseult for her family and horse farm and he for his family and country.


Holding my breath, I wondered what would become of their affair because Sheikh Nadim was so adamant they didn’t have a future together. Plus the fact that their world's were so different from each others. When would it end and how? Simply, Iseult ended it because she couldn’t continue and spilled  her emotions.... she loved him! Shock would be the word I would use to describe his reaction to her confession..... “I’ve fallen in love with you” . Then disbelief  because she was leaving him, followed by anger. However, Abby Green gave this desert lord and sassy Irish lass a brilliant and happy ending.  It was hard to believe this was Abby Green's first sheikh book.


Be on the lookout for Sheikh Nadim’s brother’s story in Secrets of the Oasis. It’s his younger brother Salman and his family friend Jamilah Moreau, Nadim's head horse trainer. You’ll get a short glimpse of the emotion and tension brewing between this couple, towards the end of Breaking the Sheikh’s Rules.


Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥
Reviewed by: Marilyn


Behind the Book:


"When my editor first asked me to consider writing a sheikh story, I was reluctant. Why? Because this prospect was daunting to say the least. These books, to me, have always delivered the ultimate fantasy – the heroes are impossibly autocratic, hardened by their harsh environments; the heroines have to be strong enough to withstand their particularly delicious brand of arrogance. And there is a well-loved list of names who do them so well; Penny Jordan, Jane Porter and Sandra Marton, just to name a few. Not to mention the sheer task of creating that evocative world. Deserts and oasis and stupendously gorgeous palaces.


But….the lure became too great. I’d had an idea in my head for sometime about a sheikh who comes to Ireland to buy a thoroughbred horse and so that became the start of my story…not in the arid desert, but in the lush green fields of Ireland.


And whilst in the process of writing the story, I found myself encountering two more arrogant heroes; one a sheikh, the brother of Nadim in this story, and the other a sultan from a neighbouring sultanate. So, far from my initial trepidation, if looks like I’m going to be inhabiting the land of sheikhs and sultans for a while longer.


I hope you enjoy Nadim and Iseult’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it"……Abby

TABLOID AFFAIR, SECRETLY PREGNANT! (UK) FRONT PAGE AFFAIR (USA) - Mira Lyn Kelly

Author: Mira Lyn Kelly
Line: Mills and Boon Modern/ Harlequin Presents Extra
Release month: North America: Jan 2011 /UK: Oct 2010
The S-Factor: Sizzling and Sensual

Back Blurb:

Payton hasn't seen Nate Evans in years—not since he used to hang out with her brother in high school. But now she and Nate are guests at the same wedding where the notorious millionaire offers her a wild proposal—a sexy, scandalous and irresistible affair!

Nate's outrageous proposition was supposed to stay only paper-thin; it was merely a ploy to distract the tabloids from another, all-too-real scandal. But neither he nor Payton expected such a very public affair to prove so very hot in private…

Or to have such lasting consequences….

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Myra Lyn Kelly has written the “perfect” romance with Front Page Affair.

Nate Evans had a secret, one he didn’t not want the press to get ahold of. So he needed a diversion and who better than a woman from his past, Payton Liss, a woman he felt he could trust because years ago they had been friends.

Payton couldn’t believe her eyes, Nate Evans was just as handsome as ever and she’d always wondered why he and her brother had argued and Nate had abruptly disappeared from her life. His father taught at her school and she had always respected Mr. Evans and now Nate was attending the same wedding as she and he had a proposition for her, he needed her to pose as his girlfriend. It couldn’t come at a better time because she had a lot she wanted to do with her life since her father’s death and her break-up with Clint her fiance.

Payton had always lived for her father and family. Now she was living and working where she wanted; not at the family business. Nate knew she would help him because she always did the right thing. She was a “good girl”. She was also someone who would know the score……he didn’t do love and forever and he would make sure Payton understood that fact. She felt that after all of these years, she could handle her attraction for him, she’d done that for half of her life or could she?

There had been untrue gossip as to why Payton didn’t marry Clint and she was tired of it. So Nate convinced her if she would play along with him, giving people the impression they were having an affair, it would change the gossip and not have people feel sorry for her. All she wanted was her independence and then he kissed her and everything flew out the window. Her sanity, all of it because the kiss was all consuming and she wasn’t prepared for it! From that moment on, I knew this entire “fake” affair would end on a bad note, especially for Payton but what about Nate? Well one thing was for sure, he hadn’t counted on the kiss being so sensual and he couldn’t remember ever wanting a woman more and definitely he wanted her in his bed.

The passion roared between them and their little charade turned into an evening of passion in a hotel suite where the wedding they attended had taken place. There was no going back even though Nate tried to be cautious. This was real, it wasn’t a charade, it was crazy! He wondered if she only wanted him because he was a dangerous bad boy. But Payton knew that Nate also knew her for who she was when no one else ever thought to look. He was the only one. However, he knew she would want the white pickett fence, the whole marriage bit and he wanted to stop their love-making, making sure she understood, no relationship and no forever as in marriage.

She represented a complication. As much as he wanted her friendship and company, he didn’t want to hurt her. They were so comfortable together and yes they both “got” each other. However, one afternoon he lost control and forgot protection until he realized it and remedied the situation. Every step of the way he fought their relationship and I wondered why because he was so close to his father. And then Nate revealed that his mother walked out when he was a small child, so it made sense he had trust issues when it came to women. They’d spent a month together and then the light bulb went on. Had Payton started her period?

Who ever said life was easy because for Payton and Nate everything changed when her pregnancy was confirmed. Being Nate even though there was no love in their relationship he demanded they marry. However, Payton definitely had other ideas and the answer was no, not without love. What I wondered was why couldn’t he see what was right there in front of him and that beneath all of his denial, he actually loved Payton. When would he realize that he missed her, her mind, her body, her softness, her laughter, all that made her so very special. Let’s just say that Mr. Playboy Nate Evans was literally brought to his knees in the end which had me so choked up with emotion because he loved his baby but could he love Payton as well?

You won’t want to miss Front Page Affair, it was such a beautiful and sizzling love story beautifully crafted by romance author Mira Lyn Kelly.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥
Reviewed by: Marilyn

Mira Lyn’s website
Mira Lyn on Facebook

FIREFIGHTER'S DOORSTEP BABY - Barbara McMahon

Author: Barbara McMahon
Line: Harlequin Romance/ Mills and Boon Cherish
Release month: North America:/UK: Nov 2010
The S-Factor: Sexy

Back Blurb:

When firefighter Cristiano Casali is injured on duty, there is only one place he can think of to recover—Monta Correnti, his home…

Estranged from his feuding family and still wounded, Cristiano finds it difficult to start living again—until he meets pretty, warmhearted Mariella and the adorable baby she cares for, Dante….

As Mariella helps Cristiano recuperate and reunite with his family she realizes that she wants a family, too—with Cristiano

Review: ♥♥♥♥

Mariella Holmes came to Lake Clarissa for a reason, she was now responsible for her bestfriend’s baby son, as she had died and left Mariella as Dante’s legal guardian. However, she did not know the identity of the father and felt she should at least look for him and let him know he had a son. What Mariella didn’t count on was that she would also meet the handsome Christiano, a man with baggage, a man that needed to heal his heart and soul.

Christiano when he first saw Mariella and she smiled at him, her smile was like a punch to his stomach. He had left Rome to come back to the lake and try to get his life back. However, he was from a large Italian family but he wasn’t ready to see them yet. Christiano was a firefighter, and he was one of the first responders to an explosion where he lost not only his best friend, he lost some of his life. Even though most of the wounds had healed, he heart had not. Plus the fact he suffered from post traumatic stress.

There was one thing for sure, after seeing Mariella and her baby, he thought he wanted to feel connected. He wanted love, caring and passion and wondered if he should risk seeing her again? The answer was yes, yet he still wasn’t ready to see his family because he continued to have flashbacks from the accident in Rome. And then a fire started in the cabin where she and Dante were staying, and without thought, Christiano rescued the two of them.

In Firefighter’s Doorstep Baby, there were a lot of family dynamics. First the interaction between Dante, Mariella and Christiano. How their love grew and how they both healed each other. There was also his family. The feud between his aunt and father, his sister, brother, cousins and two brother’s he didn’t know about. However, what struck me was when Christiano was to receive a medal of honor and how he couldn’t deal with loosing his friend. However, with Mariella’s love and insistence they got their happy ending a wonderful family as well.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥
Reviewed by: Marilyn

THE SOLDIER'S UNTAMED HEART - Nikki Logan

Author: Nikki Logan
Line: Harlequin Romance / Mills and Boon Cherish
Release month:  North America:  Jan 2011 UK:  Nov 2010
The S-Factor: Sizzling

Back Blurb:

Brooding ex-soldier Clint McLeish isolates himself in the Outback. He trusts no one, but his game park needs a security coordinator—someone as tough as him, as intuitive as him. Someone with luscious curves, eyes to drown in and an enticing tattoo peeking out from under her tank top…?

Romy Carvell is no man's fool! She can see there's something missing in rugged Clint's life, and if she can overcome her inhibitions, she may be the woman to finally tame his heart!

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Romy Carvell wanted this security job more than anything and she needed something to drive the point home. So with her eight year old son not far away from her in the Wild Springs gift shop she started shoplifting until green eyes locked on her. One thing was for sure, this tall green eyed man was military, just like her father. A father she was estranged from, a man that had ruled with an iron hand. And now she and her son were free from him.

Clint McLeish was quite the specimen. He was on military leave and had returned back home to his tree house in the woods and Wild Springs refuge. What he didn’t count on was the young woman applying for his security position would be so young or that to prove a point about the lack of security, she stole him blind and pointed it out during their interview. What he also didn’t count on was how much she and her adorable son would worm their way into his life.

The chemistry between Romy and Clint sizzled even though they both fought it every step of the way. And then she found out that he had been in special forces which made sense about how he held himself back and dealt with uncomfortable situations. He had the look of a man who had seen too much! As the weeks went on, many things happened, a dance, a kiss and then both of them sharing……true confessions. Romy told Clint about Leighton’s father and how her father had treated she and Leighton and her need to get away from her military dad. As for Clint, why he’d left the army on leave and the guilt he shared concerning his younger brother.

And then there was the relationship which grew between Clint and her son Leighton. Complicated? Yes, a little as they were sorting out their feelings and attraction for each other. Clint wanted to protect Romy. However, thanks to her father she didn’t want to be dominated. He didn’t want her to connect him to those feelings, ever!

Then add into the mix the fact that Romy didn’t trust Clint’s younger brother and in the end accused him of dishonest dealings at Wild Springs, also putting her son in harms way. I seriously wondered if this couple and little boy would get their chance to become a family because they all certainly deserved it. However, Clint’s brother in the end, got in their way and they had a horrible disagreement and because of what he asked of her she knew she would need to leave.

Talk about drama, a lost boy, violent men all involving Clint’s brother and Wild Springs. Would her knight in shining armour save the day and her son? The Soldier’s Untamed Heart was a beautiful romance giving the three of them their happy ending and family thanks to the very talented Nikki Logan. Nikki’s love for her Australian countryside certainly shown through and I felt I was right out there in the Outback with all of that wonderful wildlife.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥
Reviewed by: Marilyn

Nikki’s Website
Nikki on Facebook

SURF, SEA AND A SEXY STRANGER – Heidi Rice

Author: Heidi Rice
Line: Mills and Boon Modern / Harlequin Presents Extra
Release month: UK: Dec 2010 /North America: Apr 2011
The S-Factor: Sizzling

Back Blurb:

Honed, handsome, and needing the kiss of life!

Millionaire entrepreneur Ryan King is mortified: he's just been pulled from the ocean by a pretty female lifeguard! Why, after months recovering from a horrific motorbike accident, did he get back on his surfboard? For the same reason he wants a hot, wild woman back in his bed - to prove he's the same man he was before...

Maddy is shocked to find that this half-drowned, totally gorgeous surfer has her body humming! She always ends up getting used - maybe this time it's her turn to do the using? It's the short, sizzling affair they both need - until their dangerously addictive liaison careers out of control...

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

The incredible Heidi Rice has not only made my New Years Day enjoyable, she will provide her readers and fans with a stunning love story with Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger. Sexy doesn’t even describe billionaire Ryan King.

Maddy Westmore had been bitterly hurt by her father, her parents marriage had been a mess and a couple of past boy friends had used her. It was her time to do the using! First she had to save a surfer caught out in a storm. The well toned, handsome surfer was ungrateful and cranky when he was pulled onto shore. In fact he was a very rich man who lived in a manor up on the cliffs overlooking the bay. However, being the person she was Maddy was determined to check on him because he had a bad limp and had also injured his head. Her visit to the manor to check on Rye would changed this green eyed pixie and billionaire’s life forever.

Rye was in a mood. After the surfing incident, he realized he was done. He was not used to living this way because he wasn’t in control. On top of that a woman rescued him and that also made him angry. A bad knee, he was impotent and now he had another problem, the sexy lifeguard showed up on his front porch, soaking wet from a storm. Yes, Maddy stormed into his life and brought back to life to his body, something he had believed would never happen. He wanted her with a fierceness he hadn’t felt in a long time. The feelings were mutual and after a few passionate kisses they both agreed they wanted each other and a “no strings” blow out affair. Of course being an alpha, Rye called all of the shots and that made Maddy angry from time to time.

Maddy was in for a shock. On top of her life guard job which was soon coming to an end, she worked at the beach cafe. Her boss and friend knew she had a number one rule...... “never sleep with the boss”. Her reason had something to due with what she witnessed as a young girl. Now she was in trouble because what she didn’t know was her boss actually was Rye. He finally owned up to the fact that he owned many businesses in the area, the cafe being one of them. Learning he was the boss, made her physically ill and he couldn’t understand why. He demanded she explain and her answers surprised him. However painful it was to reveal them, in the end they agreed to continue their short term “no strings” affair. After a couple of weeks, Rye went to California and then on to London for business without her as he decided to take over the helm of his London based company. While he was gone, she also realized there was no chance for them, because she had broken the rule…….she loved him!

Maddy was miserable and Rye had to admit he missed her. His plan was to bring her to London and also encourage her to meet with his friend because he felt she was a talented artist and possibly had a future with her painting. He was proud of her, but still he distanced himself and wouldn’t share his past or his feelings. Maddy knew she should own up and tell him she loved him and when she did, not only did everything change; she ended up leaving London with a broken heart. A broken young woman, a woman in love with someone who would never love her back.  So she returned  home to her cottage.

Maddy, his little green eyed pixie, in the end, brought him back to life even though he fought it every step of the way because he didn’t do commitment. However, there was a reason why which was later revealed. Yes, Maddy also had issues but her feelings for her lover were stronger. Did he mean to be cruel by still wanting her in his bed? No; but he had to come to terms with the past before he could figure everything out. Running out on him, did the trick because in the end, he realized their relationship had never been simple; it had been so more than that. A spectacular ending with a beautiful epilogue giving this interesting couple their happy ending. Reading Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger was a great way to start out my New Year thanks to clever author, Heidi Rice.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥
Reviewed by: Marilyn


From Heidi’s website:

“The story stars ex-surfer turned extreme sports entrepreneur Rye King and female lifeguard Maddy Westmore, and their passionate affair in a cozy cottage on a Cornish clifftop (cue some hot October nights) which switches to the glitz and glamour of London high society in the run-up to Christmas. “ HRice

SWEET SURRENDER, BABY SURPRISE - Kate Carlisle

Author: Kate Carlisle
Line: Silhouette Desire
Release month: UK/ North America : December 2010
The S-Factor: Sizzling

Back Blurb:

Marriage and kids? Not for confirmed bachelor Cameron Duke. Then an affair with Julia Parrish changed everything. Once he discovered the pretty cupcake maker had borne him a son, Cameron's priorities did a complete turnaround. He would marry and give his child the Duke name. But he'd be keeping his heart.

A marriage of convenience? That wouldn't have been Julia's first choice. Yes, she had always craved Cameron, and becoming his wife could be sweet indeed. But once she said "I do," this new bride and mother realized she wanted more from her husband. She wanted love.

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Kate Carlisle and her Duke Brother series promises to be amazing. My only regret was that I began reading the second book Sweet Surrender and missed book 1, The Millionaire Meets His Match.  Well all I can say is the other two are on order.  These proud men who don't love easily are magnificent!

Oh boy, was Cameron Duke in for a real surprise when he returned back to his hotel suite for a shower and beer and found pastry chef Julia Parrish naked in his shower. And then the bomb dropped when he heard a baby crying which was later announced to be his son! Talk about shock turned to anger and then an emotion he couldn’t describe.

Julia had spent one weekend in the arms of Cameron Duke only to be told he didn’t do relationships and once it was over, it was over because he never went back. However, being the lovely woman she was she was determined to advise Cameron that he was going to be a father so she called and then emailed him several times only to be ignored. Julia had been discovered by his mother Sally Duke and she supplied all of the Duke properties with her pastries. An now she was back attending a conference and at the insistence of Cam’s mother, was staying in his suite and that she was welcome to use it in his absence. And then when Sally saw the little baby boy, she knew immediately it was Cameron’s. Being a mother who adored her three sons, I could just tell there were going to be problems and mom would have a hand in them.

Cam wasn’t sure what to do about little Jake. At first he thought a paternity test was in order. However, just looking at him and his dimple in the same place as his, and the same color eyes he knew it wasn’t necessary. What he didn’t know was that Julia didn’t need his money because she was wealthy herself and had become so, when her parents died. He also didn’t know about her childhood or how she was raised. And let me just say, it broke my heart at how lonely she had been and it also explained her fierceness and protectiveness in regards to her son Jake. The chemistry between Julia and Cam sizzled off of the pages and so did the emotions he felt about his little son.  Especially when Jake called him Dada.  Other emotions too like the lust he felt for Julia.  Then there was the fact that he needed to tell his other two brothers. It was shear craziness when his family got involved and they were are over the top with emotions for their new nephew and grandson. And for Julia, this warm and loving family was what she always had wanted, a place to belong and to be loved.

Because they lived and worked in different towns I wondered what would happen. Would Cam try to get custody, would he want to be a dad and share joint custody because Julia was protective of her son. And then Cam set things into motion, baby proofing his home, he wanted to shop with Julia for his son and set up a place for Jake.  So Cam came up with a plan……..marriage and raising their son together. However, I wondered what Julia’s answer would be because she knew Cam never looked back, plus the fact he didn’t love her. Their passion grew for each other and there were a few blips in their marriage but for the most part all three of the settled into being a family. And then Julia realized she loved her husband but would have to keep it a secret, because Cameron didn’t do love.

Three days later they were married and the chemistry was amazing. His mother suspected Cam felt more for Julia than he wanted to admit. As for Julia, I was sure she not only loved Cam and Jake, she adored his fun and loving mother and family. The family, she so wanted to be a part of.  But could she survive her marriage without Cam’s love because her marriage now was one of convenience along with the benefits?

Of course, the inevitable happened while attending a charity ball. It was an emotional time for Cam because Martina, a woman from his past appeared at the ball and told him she wanted him back, the very same woman he had loved years ago, who left him for another man. And then the passion Cam and Julia shared in a most secluded grotto at the resort and he thought she never looked more beautiful. Of course, it got ruined when Julia blurted out and told Cam she loved him after making love. And this arrogant alpha told her he was glad because it would strengthen their marriage but he couldn’love her! Would it be enough for Julia? I Cameron would show his respect and admiration  for her but never give her his love.

The answer was no, she needed his love, she needed to belong, she wanted it all, she deserved it! And she wanted answers so she went to see his mother, the woman who had adopted him and loved him. Reluctantly, Sally told Julia about Cameron’s parents, a very sad and horrible story and other events that had shaped Cam’s life. Later they both shared with each other about their troubled childhoods.  Then Julia and their son left Cam, over the three little words she deserved to hear from her husband. It took his mother, his brother’s and in the end something as simple as his son trying to walk and Julia not being there to see it, how much he missed his wife. Emotions were churning around in his chest emotions; he would learn to understand……..love!  A very happy one for Cam, Julia and Jake.

Sweet Surrender, Baby surprise was beautifully written, with everything that makes a perfect romance, emotion, conflict, passion and of course the perfect happy ending, thanks to author, Kate Carlisle.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥Weepy Factor♥♥♥
Reviewed by: Marilyn

The Duke Brother's series:

The Duke brother's, Adam, Cameron and Brandon are not related by blood but rather by adoption. All have a past through no fault of their own and Sally Duke gave them love, a stable home and a ton of love! Even though blood doesn’t bind them, they are close and together they run Duke Development.

However, this loving mom wants her men to find love and in the end, giving her grand children.

The Millionaire Meets His Match (July 2010)
Sweet Surrender, Baby Surprise (December 2010)
How to Seduce a Billionaire – (August 2011)