I'm going to share with you today the final book in a trilogy that I thought was just amazing. I read this trilogy before I started blogging, and I still think it is simply amazing. Do read it in order.

Daybreak
Series: Dark Age Dawning
Author: Ellen Conner

The Novel: I remember when I bought the first book, I finished it in a day and then went out and bought the next two and quickly devoured those. I was in love this world, the characters and the writing was just plain lovely. I think what I loved about this novel as a love story was that both characters really drew each forward. Tru taught Penny she could be a great healer without sacrificing herself; that to love was to let love break her wide open, and she showed him he was strong enough to love again and let love break him wide open as it had with Danni. I really loved that the male character taught that lesson to the female character since it's usually the other way around. This read was absolutely my favorite of the three. And Tru is one of my imaginary boyfriends. 

The Series: Dark Age Dawning is a trilogy in which magic returns to the world and effectively short circuits everything technological. It also has an averse effect on humans, who are now all more or less supernatural and striving to survive in a world with no laws or rulers. Each novel is named for a point in the falling of our modern world as magic returns, and then the struggle to survive and adapt in a world that is new and frightening, and that's never going back to the way it used to be. 

The Author: I was delighted to learn that the author Ellen Conner, is a pen name for two authors who work as a writing team (or at least they did for this triglogy).

The authors are Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty. Even better, the pen name Ellen Conner, is taken from the kick ass heroines, Ellen from the Alien movie and Sarah Conner, from The Terminator. Honestly, that little fact just tickled me pink because the women in this series are so seriously kick ass. I loved each of them and when I learned this little fact I loved the little nod that these ladies made to those seriously strong female characters.

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 3rd 2014 

by Sourcebooks Casablanca

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Series: Book Club Belles Society, #1
My Rating: ❀❀❀❀❀
Genre: Historical Romance

These Book Club Belles are ready to put down their novels and find some real-life leading men!

In the sleepy village of Hawcombe Prior, five young ladies of the local book society are reading a salacious romance called Pride and Prejudice. Upon finishing the book, the ladies race to find their own Mr. Darcy, and the handsome, mysterious Darius Wainwright is the perfect mark.

Justina Penny can't understand why her fellow Belles are starry-eyed in the newcomer's arrogant presence. But if the town's only eligible bachelor marries anyone, it should be her sweet, beautiful sister. And it's up to Justina to make it happen. How could this plan possibly go wrong?

I really enjoyed this book. My intital thoughts when I began to read it was that it was cheerful. Which, considering that this a nod to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which she herself described as "light and bright and sparkling" makes sense. I loved how tongue in cheek this was, I adored the characters how they mirrored Austen's--and yet were whimsically and wonderfully their own. 

Where to start....Well, Justina was not your typical romance heroine. She is girlish, and independent but shocking in her independence. She is imaginative and fearless, and gets herself in scraps that make you giggle. She is a heroine you will adore. She is, of course, proud and prone to quick judgements--but then, that is to be expected. fun she is. And how she works up Darius. 

Book 0.5

I love how Darius, like Darcy, is a character you will adore. I defy you not to adore him. He is a bit buttoned up, perhaps somewhat aloof and overly orderly, but I loved how naughty he could be. I could never picture Mr. Darcy doing the things Darius does. And that's what makes Darius entirely his own character. He is naughty, but he is romantic, and he is insecure in ways that Darcy never was--after all, when Darcy's proposal is rejected, he writes a letter in his defense to Elizabeth. Darius never even got the proposal out--but he does write letters to let Justine figure out, in her own good time, how much he does care about her.

I think what I liked best was how gently the characters reminded me Austen's. Even Justina's mother who simply screams of Mrs. Bennett, was in the end, not Mrs. Bennett, but kinder and less addled brained. I'm am excessively curious about Major Sherringham and Diana (who could not be?) and Lucky, who is suddenly brought back from the dead! I cannot wait to read more of this wonderful new series.

Paperback, 336 pages

Published June 3rd 2014 
by Signet

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Series: Prelude to a Kiss, #1
My Rating: ❀❀❀❀❀
Genre: Historical
Romance
           
Charity Effington learned two valuable lessons from her first betrothal:

1) When one loses the attention of an earl, one gains the attention of every gossip in London.
2) Despite the lingering scandal, she’s not prepared to marry for anything less than love.

After an exhausting Season, Bath’s first annual music festival offers Charity the perfect escape. Between her newly formed trio and her music-loving grandmother, Charity is free to play the pianoforte to her heart’s content. That is, until their insufferably rude, though undeniably handsome, neighbor tells her to keep the “infernal racket” to a minimum.

Hugh Danby, Baron Cadgwith, may think he’s put an end to the noise, but he has no idea what he’s begun. Though the waters of Bath provide relief from the suffering of his war injuries, he finds his new neighbor bothersome, vexing, and… inexplicably enchanting. Before long, Hugh suspects that even if his body heals, it’s his heart that might end up broken.

It has been a long time since I've enjoyed a historical romance this much. Historical romance is perhaps my most favourite romance genre, and I was absolutely delighted with this new release by Erin Knightley. The characters were endearing, the plot well developed, the romance the sort of slow burn into passion that I just adore, and every scene struck just the right chord.

Book Two
Coming 2015

Charity is a delighted character and wonderful fun to read. She is poised and yet sassy, and I loved how she always stood up to Hugh, insisting that he explain his boorish behaviour, and letting him know exactly what is on her mind. It was refreshing to read a character that was passionate but not wildly so. Her love of music and her determination to compose her own music really highlighted her independent nature, but it was the last scene where she stood up to her father that really had me cheering for Charity.

I really loved Hugh. I've always had a soft spot for the broken characters, and even though Hugh suffers horribly from his war injuries, I never really saw him as broken. Vulnerable yes, but not broken. And yet I loved that vulnerability about him, and his level headed solider ways coupled with his passionate nature made him so much fun to read.

But for me, it was really the development of the romance that cinged this whole book. From avoiding each other to arguing, to the wondering of why they were always thinking about each other and then onto the passionate balcony scenes and kisses, this courtship was no real courtship and yet nothing could have been more perfect or romantic. The pacing was that good. And the proposal scene and every word uttered from that scene till the end of the book by Hugh and Charity made this a wonderful, romantic read and I left the book with a dreamy le sigh feeling. What more can I say? This is bound to remain a favourite of mind.

Kindle Edition, 257 pages

Published December 15th 2011 

(first published December 1994)

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My Rating: ❀❀❀❀
Genre: Historical Romance

To survive, Emma Langolet has committed a shocking crime. But, to her amazement, the notorious scoundrel, James Killoran, has agreed to accept responsibility for her desperate act—though the handsome, Irish earl professes no interest whatsoever in the enchanting miss whom he has surely rescued from the gallows.

Hurt and confused by his indifference, Emma is nonetheless drawn to this elegant, arrogant rogue who uses people for his own amusement—but is always there when she most needs him. For she believes Killoran hides true goodness behind his decadent façade. And only the power of love can restore hope and tenderness to a dark and damaged heart—and release the passionate lover imprisoned within.

Lately I've been searching for novels that are not my typical romance read. Something with a twist, or in a new genre. This historical romance sounded like it fit the bill, and I've heard good things about Anne Stuart. So I was not disappointed with this read. It features a dark hero, a hero that you sometimes want to hate, but can't quite bring yourself to, although I'm still asking myself why he was so compelling. 

Perhaps it was the facade that was his life. From the beginning you could tell that Killoran was the master of his own misery. He insists that he does not have a heart, and goes to extraordinary lengths to prove it to himself and the world. And while there was much he did that proved he was a hard sort of man, there was even more that he did that demonstrated that he was not as cold and unfeeling and mean as he purported to be. And I think it's this that makes him compelling. 

Emma is a likable character, but she's something of an enigma to me as well. Perhaps it's because she trusted so much in her heart, in her emotions and not to common good sense. But I doubt there is anyone else who could have saved Killoran, and this is what made their romance so interesting. 

The plot is fraught with murders, plots to murder, twisted characters and schemes. It made this historical romance dark and engaging, and I quite enjoyed that as I was reading. I loved the sizzle factor too, we get just enough heat in this novel between Killoran's romance with Emma, and Nathaniel's with Barbara. Now, that was a romance I wish had been a book of its own. It was searing and sweet and delightful to read. All in all, this novel is well rounded; passionate, romantic, suspenseful dark and made for great reading. 

Paperback, 258 pages

Published July 29th 2013 by

 CreateSpace Independent 

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Series: Lost & Found Inc, #1
My Rating: ❀❀❀❀
Genre: Romantic Suspense


When ex-SEAL Nate Wolfe learns a woman from his past is in danger, nothing will stop him from protecting her. Not even her.

Dallas Child Protection Services Investigator Kay Taylor doesn't want or need Nate in her life. But he doesn't seem to understand the word no. He seems to also have forgotten the brand he left on her heart. 

When Kay is taken and sold to a monster, the devil himself couldn't stop Nate from doing whatever it takes to find her...but will he be in time?

Wow, what a read. Romantic suspense isn't a genre I read much but I must say, I like! The novel was fast paced from beginning to end, but although the action and crime story was a large part of the story, the romance was still at the heart of the novel. 

Essentially, this novel is a second chance sort of romance, with a couple that loved each other deeply once upon a time, and now dangerous events have brought them back together. They are both tough, brave and independent, but both of them recognize their passion for one another. I found I liked their efforts to stave off their emotions for the other, a characteristic that I usually tolerate. However, considering what this couple had been through personally and even in the past, I found their doubts made sense and the manner in which they sought to stave off their emotions mature. If unnecessary, because of course, a HEA was in sight. 

This a great first book to the series. It has gently introduced characters for later novels, and I'm already revving for more. The writing is clean and crisp and the directness of it makes it hard to put this novel down. I found my heart racing as I was reading and my imagination shying away from the horrors of human trafficking. There is a twist that I was rather was not expecting--that isn't to say it surprised me, because I had a hint, but the way it unfolded was so bam!  that it took me by surprise. But I think what I liked most was the slow burn of Kaycie and Nate's romance, the way they needed each other yet couldn't quite be honest with one another until the very end. It added a whole other layer of suspense to an already suspense filled book. I'd recommend this read to anyone who needs a break from their usual romance of choice.