River's Reach

River's Reach by Christina Green
Robert Hale Publishers
Historical Romance
July 2008
224 Pages
ISBN: 978-0709085959

I very much enjoyed reading this excellent Victorian saga by Christina
Green. Exquisitely-told, highly moving and powerfully written, River's Reach
is a terrific romantic tale.

Rose Victoria Adams vows not to be like her parents, scrimping and saving
and living in a hovel. She wants more from life and has applied herself to
able to become a teacher at her local school. But Rose Victoria wants more.
She wants to be elevated to the upper echelons of society and not to be seen
by the people she knows an upstart with ideas above her station.
When artist Lawrence Vane comes to live in the village, he is immediately
drawn to Rose. An attractive red-head with a beautiful figure and a
delectable smile, Lawrence is determined to paint Rose's picture and to make
her his. And when his sister, Elizabeth, asks her whether she'd like to be
her companion, Lawrence is delighted because he thinks that he can finally
achieve his aim. However, Lawrence hasn't counted on Thomas Vane, the new
school master, who has managed to get under Rose's skin.

Thomas is taciturn, impervious to Rose's ideas and absolutely infuriating,
but Rose still cannot stop thinking about him - nor can she stop wishing to
become his wife!

River's Reach is a wonderful historical romance that I couldn't stop
reading. Christina Green imbues her tale with plenty of warmth and emotion,
and once readers begin reading this book, they will soon find themselves
unable to put it down! 4.5 red roses JB

His Reluctant Mistress

His Reluctant Mistress by Joanna Maitland
Harlequin
Historical Romance
April 2009
300 Pages
ISBN: 978-0709085959

A rakish spy finds himself giving his heart to daring opera singer in Joanna
Maitland's fabulous new novel, His Reluctant Mistress!

Sophie Pietre can never forget the cruelty which she had suffered at the
hands of her gambler father. Having been forced to abandon everything that
was familiar to her, Sophie had been compelled to make a living out of
singing opera and although the Ton thought her to be a superb singer, she
knows that the same members of polite society who complimented her voice
would scorn her company in their parlours. But Sophie is determined that
things will change for her. She doesn't want to spend the rest of her life
being treated with disdain by society matrons and being pawed by lecherous
men, so she makes plans to escape from the gilded cage which she has lived
in for the past few years.

Sophie distrusts men and vows never to let another man control her life and
shape her destiny. But when she meets Lord Leo Aikenhead, she finds herself
unable to forget the roguish English gentleman who seems most determined to
make her acquaintance. When a stolen kiss leads to something more, Sophie
soon realizes that she is in danger of falling for Lord Leo.

But can there be a future for a Lord and an opera singer? Or will their past
prevent them from moving forward?

His Reluctant Mistress is a spellbinding Regency romance imbued with plenty
of intrigue, passion and adventure. Joanna Maitland writes beautifully and
with great style and confidence, and I am sure that readers who enjoy
reading historicals will not be disappointed with her latest Harlequin
Historical! 4.5 red roses JB
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Wolf's Revenge and The Stray

The Princess and the Wolf By Linda Sole comes out with Red Rose Publishing next month.

These books are being sold to help a charity set up for a wolf sanctuary. They are short stories so I am putting the two together reviews together.
Wolf's Revenge by Aline de Chevigny/Red Rose Publishing. first Howl

Yvee returns to the man she loves, knowing that he is also a wolf. She did not think she could live with the knowledge but she cannot live without him either and she needs help. She is being pursued by Dekland, who is determined to have her as his mate. What Cain has to decide is whether this other wolf/man is the renegade he has been hunting and what he will do about it.

This is a lovely story and very enjoyable.

The Stray by Cassandra Gold. Red Rose Publishing. Second Howl
J owes Cash money and he can't pay but Cash won't wait. Stumbling away after being victimised, J is lonely and miserable but things get worse when he bumps into a man with long hair and blood stains on his clothes.

Hunter was fleeing from the enemy, his mind confused when he bumped into a young man. Hunter is a wolf/man who has escaped after being captured and used for experiments to discover what he is exactly. Can he make friends with a man who has helped him? Or will his secret prevent that yet again?

This is a different kind of story to the first but also enjoyable and touching.

This series will consist of many types of story about werewolves and there should be at least one for everyone. The Princess and the Wolf is described as a fairy story for grownups. This is a good cause and we hope it will be well supported.

Impoverished Miss

Impoverished Miss, Convenient Wife by Michelle Styles
Mills and Boon
Historical Romance
April 2009
300 Pages
ISBN: 9780263867749

Michelle Styles has written a fabulous Regency romance set in the North-East
that is heading straight for my keeper shelf. Highly emotional, immensely
compelling and beautifully written, Impoverished Miss, Convenient Wife is
simply another must-read by this wonderful writer.

A tragic accident had turned wealthy landowner Simon Benedict into a bitter
recluse. But Simon's scars are the last things on his mind. His son, Robert,
is ill and none of the servants, governesses or doctors he's employed seem
able to do anything for him. The only person who can help Robert is his Aunt
Diana. But Diana is pregnant and cannot make it to Northumberland from
London, so she sends her husband's cousin, Phoebe Benedict, instead.

Phoebe Benedict had been one of the Ton's most notorious beauties, but her
father's death had forced her to turn her back on the ton and focus all of
her time and energies into taking care of her family. Unfortunately for
Phoebe, her family treat her no better than an unpaid servant. But Phoebe
must bear their indifference for she has never forgiven herself for an event
which happened in the past which is still haunting her.

Phoebe wants to get her brother into the army and she knows that her cousin
is a many with many connections who could open lots of doors for her
brother. Deciding that the best way to impress her cousin is to step into
the breach for his wife, Phoebe decides to help Simon Benedict take care of
his son. But little does Phoebe know that Simon will awaken long-buried
feelings deep within her. Feelings which she won't be able to ignore.

But can there ever be a future for them when they are still haunted by
ghosts of the past?

Impoverished Miss, Convenient Wife is simply fantastic! You will adore
Michelle Styles' powerful romantic story of redemption, hope, sacrifice and
love. 4.5 red roses JB

Bonded Heart

Bonded Heart by Jane Jackson
Severn House Publishers
Historical Romance
January 2009
224 Pages
ISBN: 978-0727867483

Jane Jackson's sweeping Cornish historicals are not to be missed and her
latest, Bonded Heart, is another spellbinding tale of love, honour and
loyalty by this wonderful storyteller.

Roz Trevaskis' life of luxury and comfort came to an end when she discovered
that her mother was living in Cornwall as a drunk prostitute who would sell
her own soul for a swig of brandy. Determined to help her mother as much as
she possibly can, she leaves her grandfather's house and goes to her aid.
But life in Cornwall for a gentlewoman like her is anything but easy. Forced
to work in a tavern to put food on the table and to keep a roof over their
heads, Roz has to contend with the advances of Will, a man who is adamant
that he will possess her and make her his wife, much to Roz's disgust and
shame.

Shame keeps being heaped upon Roz, whose drunk mother's misdemeanors often
lead her down the shameful path of jail. Roz is embarrassed at having to
rescue her mother - especially when she meets the Justice, Branoc Casvellan.
Branoc is attractive, intelligent and out of her league. Although Roz is
drawn to Branoc, she knows that a man such as he could never look twice at
her. But little does she realize, that her face, her figure and her smile
have been haunting Branoc's dreams and thoughts.

Branoc couldn't believe that Roz, with her gentle manners and aristocratic
voice, is the daughter of a drunk. He is intrigued by her and wants nothing
more than to get to know her better. However, Branoc knows that he is
expected to make a suitable match, and marriage to a tavern wench is
anything but!

When Branoc's brother is taken ill, he enlists Roz to look after his ailing
sibling. But as his desire for her increases, Branoc wonders whether he will
be able to resist the woman he has grown to love.

Jane Jackson is a wonderful writer whose books sparkle with beautiful
descriptions and captivating prose which will keep you reading late into the
night. Bonded Heart is the sort of book that has it all: a spirited heroine,
a gorgeous hero, a dastardly villain, poignant romance, nail-biting drama
and plenty of twists and turns to keep you engrossed till the very end!
4.5 red roses JB

Hope Springs Eternal

Ginger Simpson
Hope Springs Eternal
Eternal Press
70 pages/ ebook

Another brilliant story from the author of Sarah’s Journey.
Hope Harrison decides it is time she had tests to establish whether she might have cancer. However, in her forties and a widow, Hope doesn’t expect the doctor to look like a cross between Paul Newman and Tom Selleck. Knocked off balance at the first meeting, she can hardly speak. Returning for a mammogram doesn’t seem so bad now. His sexy image was going to stay in her mind

When she returns the blood pressure is responding to treatment and the tests were negative, but Hope is lonely and when he suggests that she might help with his notes by transcribing them she seizes her chance to see more of him. Things spark between them but then it looks as if Hope may be ill. Will happiness beyond her dreams come for her or will she lose everything?

This is a lovely sympathetic book about an older woman. A book to pick you up when you are down from a well loved author. Morna. 4.5 red roses.

A Knight's Captive

Paperback 346 pages

Zebra Historical Romance ISBN 13-978-1-4201-0362-5

US $4.99
Can $5.99

This novel of Saxon/Norman conflict is filled with adventure throughout. Sunniva of Wexford is at the mercy of a brutal, uncaring father and half brothers who treat her as if she is a slave. Travelling on a pilgrimage for the sake of her father’s painful leg, Sunniva is under constant attack both from her family and from slavers who would sell her as a whore. Her beauty has attracted the attention of Marc de Sens, a Breton knight travelling with his nieces. It is Marc who saves her from brutality and capture, but he has a secret.

Sunniva is falling for Marc, but pretends to have a betrothed waiting for her, because of her father’s attitude. At first she cannot believe that any man would treat her with kindness and love, but as their journey continues and she is Marc’s captive their feelings become impossible to ignore. Yet in such violent times can this mismatched pair ever find peace and happiness?

This is a powerful book, the writing strong, sensual with beautiful descriptive passages. I suggest another winner from this popular author.
Five red roses, Linda Sole