Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 368 - The Infamous Duchess by Sophie Barnes, Emergence by John Birmingham

The Infamous Duchess by Sophie Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Viola Cartwright is a very complex character. She has survived losing everyone she loved, some by death and one by deceit. Her story is as complex as her character. She is facing losing everything she has worked for and finds that she must trust even though it is very hard for her. This plot just kept getting more complex as Viola both looses and gains as the story progresses. I loved Henry Lowell and how he worked to overcome a past he invented to keep safe from marriage. Seems it was coming back to haunt him. Look for a interesting characters whose story will come up next. Love how this series just keeps moving in unusual ways. I also enjoyed hearing about the medical history that Barnes adds as an afterwards.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Emergence by John Birmingham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you love blood and gore this series is for you. In Emergence you will meet David Hooper, a more flawed and unlikely hero would be hard to find. Even he admits that he is usually not Nice Dave but Rotten Dave. How he changes into to a hero is unexpected. Something has escaped the deep and is killing his crew on the oil rig where he works. When he kills one he get more than he expected. He still is not a nice person but he does has some unusual memories and strengths. This is as I started with saying a lot of blood and gore. We follow not only Dave but also the monsters he is fighting. In the end he wins only to have his victory ripped from his hands and the win turns into a loss.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 158 - Heart Sight by Robin D. Owens, The Earl Who Loved Her by Sophie Barnes, The Duke Who Came to Town by Sophie Barnes

Heart Sight by Robin D. Owens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Muin “Vinni” T'Vine as been a part of the Heartmates series since he was 6 years old. Now he is grown and has a heartmate. Avellana is much stronger than she seems but Muin keeps trying to shelter her from danger. That is the heart of the story. There is danger to both Muin and Avellana. Danger comes from unexpected areas and they have to work hard to finally find and stop the person who wants Avellana dead. A nice addition but it did seem to a little long.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


The Earl Who Loved Her by Sophie Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eve Potter is off to visit a friend when she takes a wrong turn. Eve is the second Potter sister to find her HEA. She leaves a day after her older sister left to take a job as a governess. Weather takes a hand in finding a HEA for Eve. Bryce Harlowe lives as a recluse but gives Eve a place to stay when a winter storm closes the roads. He is a nice man who is unjustly accused. He does not feel he deserves Eve but in the end all works out for the best.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


The Duke Who Came To Town by Sophie Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Josephine Potter has to keep her job to support her sisters. Then the unexpected happened and she had to make some changes in her life. Devon, the Duke of Snowdon, is a big part of that change. I liked Josephine and Devon. Both are strong characters who go for what they want and both have to make some changes as thing change. Josephine is the last Potter to find her HEA. This is a nice series with interesting characters and fun romances.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 155 - The Governess Who Captured His Heart by Sophie Barnes, Ironclads by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines

The Governess Who Captured His Heart by Sophie Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Louise Potter has many excellent qualities. She is doing everything she can to help her other two sisters. Alistair Langley has been coasting through life. He now has to make a choice about his future. Both find a lot in common as they travel together to Louise's new job as a governess and Alistair's time to find a bride. Of course they find that they prefer each other to any other future and with some help they reach their HEA. This is a nice novella with a well rounded story, two great main characters and some interesting side characters.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Ironclads by Adrian Tchaikovsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ted Regan and his crew have been sent on a mission with little or no chance of success. At the heart of the story are Scions, an interesting concept developed for the story. Corporations are driving the wars and the Scions keep the sons of the powerful safe in a battle while the common man fights and dies. Ted and crew have to come up with some very inventive moves to stay alive and in the game. There are some very interesting character who help along the way. They do succeed but not in the expected way. There is an ending to the story but that ending left me wondering and not quite satisfied. I did like the world building and back story. With the ending leaving some things up in the air I hope this is book one in a series. There is certainly enough there to continue the story.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is such a fun start to a new series. I loved the characters and their names, Marilyn Monroe is a male. Mops is janitor on the Earth Mercenary Corps Ship Pufferfish. Something happened to the humans on Earth to turn them into feral beasts. I quickly caught on to what had happened but it takes a while for Mops and crew to find out. The Krakau arrived and started changing some back using some as soldiers and some like Mops and crew as cleaning personnel. What happens when only Mops and crew are left to run the ship keeps the story going I almost skipped requesting this book and I am very glad that I changed my mind and requested it. This is fun, fun science fiction. I will be on the lookout for the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 115 - Gift From the Stars by James Edwin Gunn, A Most Unlikely Duke by Sophie Barnes, Down Home Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Gift From The Stars by James Edwin Gunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Told as a series of short stories Gift From the Stars caught and held my attention from the first episode. The gift is plans for a interstellar space ship and each episode follows the characters as they work to first build the ship. Then it follows them as they journey and arrive. This is hard science fiction with a side of character development. Not a long story but an interesting one that left me wondering at the end and for me that is a mark of a good story.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.



A Most Unlikely Duke by Sophie Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I liked the concept at the heart of A Most Unlikely Duke. Raphe Matthews and his sisters were living in poverty until he became the Duke of Huntley and his speech and manners told where he came from. Enter Lady Gabriella who agrees to help his sisters fit into their new role while others help Raphe. The story seemed to fit a mold then it surprised me with some twists I did not expect. Gabriella is a great character. There was a lesson in the her story - you cannot live to please others if you are not pleasing yourself. This is book one in a new series and it set up some great side characters who will eventually have their own story.


Down Home Cowboy by Maisey Yates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Down Home Cowboy talks frankly about abuse and how the victim of abuse in a marriage leaves and recovers. It also looks at another serious problem in our society today - what happens when teens try to kill themselves. For all that it looks at two serious problems it is not a depressing book. All of that is wrapped up in a very nice love story between two people who do not trust and try to make the attraction they feel about just the physical. Cain, his daughter Violet and Alison are really great characters who move the story along at a brisk pace. While both problems are tackled in the story line it is done in a very sensitive manner and shows that with work there can be a happy ending.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda, A Summersby Tale by Sophie Barnes

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Historical Romance

Goodreads Summary:

William finally meets his match in the latest Summersby Tale from Sophie Barnes, author of How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back.

Lucy Blackwell is desperate, reckless, and maybe a little bit crazy. That's the only possible explanation for tricking a man she doesn't know into a dance, a kiss, and an engagement—all in the middle of the biggest ball of the year! But Lord William Summersby is the final piece of her grand plan, and she'll do what it takes to make this marriage of convenience work—as long as it's convenient for her. She just never counted on falling in love . 
 

This is the third book in the Summersby Tale series and I know that you can read them out of order as this was the first one I read.  It can stand on its own with no trouble.

The two main characters are really fun.  William is willing to just settle for a bride and has made up his mind to marry Lady Annabella, the best of the really bad choices.  Lucy Blackwell needs help in finding the man who murdered her mother and father. William is the perfect choice.  Lucy stages a kiss and then announces their engagement before William has a chance to announce his to Lady Annabella.  From there a lot happens, some of it not very good.  

There is the perfect mix of romance, tension, danger and adventure in The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda.  Lucy and William are both strong characters and there is a lot of tension between the two at first.  William’s family adds support for Lucy helping her gain her goals.  In time Williams realizes that he needs to help and protect Lucy.  The interaction between the characters keeps the story moving.

This is a very good series with very strong male and female characters and good plots.  I would recommend it to anyone who loves historical romance.

Harper Collins published The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda by Sophie Barnes in 2012.

I received an ARC of The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda from Edelweiss.