The Princess and her Pirate by Lois Greiman

  Book Blurb:
     Passions' Prisoner- Princess Tatiana needs a groom to help her rule her vulnerable country.  So she embarks on a desperate mission-- traveling in disguise to a neighboring land to forge an alliance with the dashing Cairn MacTavish, the fabled "Pirate Lord". but instead of a marriage, a rude welcome awaits the brave, beautiful royal when she is accused of being a common thief-- and is taken captive by the rogue she had meant to wed!
    Not since his adventurous days on the high seas has MacTavish felt the sort of excitement this gorgeous hellion inspires.  He knows she is hiding something-- and each claim of innocence that comes from her lush, inviting lips only inflames his desire for a kiss... and for the passionate night that will inevitably follow.  Yet a past betrayal is still fresh in MacTavish's memory, and he dares not trust his heart.  Now he vows to learn this mystery woman's secrets... even if he has to seduce her to do it.

Rachel's Ratings: 19

Plot: 6
    Strong Beginning: 2

    Keeps You Hooked: 2
    Predictability: 2
Characters: 7
    Believability: 2

    Intriguing Leads: 3
    Secondary Characters: 2
Steaminess: 6

    Mood: 2
    Hotness: 2

    Number of Times: 2

Maybe Baby by Elaine Fox

  

    I absolutely adored this book, although, I might be slightly biased.  The book takes place in Harp Cove, a small coastal town in Maine, population 5,000.  I'm from a decent size town in central Maine (population about 8,000) and am currently living in the farthest possible state away.  Consequently this book struck home for me and made me slightly home sick.  "Listening" to the town's gossip and knowing more about people then you really should, even getting "a-yea" correct, Elaine Fox did a fantastic job.  The book made reference to Bangor, the city by my town, and even the University I went to (although she did get the abbreviation wrong...).  All gave me warm the warm fuzzies and even more home-sick for the holidays.  

    All that aside the book was quite sweet, if not somewhat predictable.  One thing that bothered me, and it'll bother you mothers out there too, is that her baby wasn't mentioned as often as I thought it should be.  Also, the book blurb is slightly misleading and you'll notice that too when you finish the book.  

    I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!

Book Blurb:

     Dr. Delaney Poole thinks Harp Cove, Maine, will be ther perfect palce to settle down and raise her infant daughter-- though she can't say why.  something wonderful happened in this charming, two-stoplight coastal town on a previous summer night, when a sexy stranger stole his way briefly into her heart and then moved on.  But now single-mom Delaney has to invent a husband in order to deflect smalltown gossip-- buying masculine clothing that no one will ever wear, framing pictures she's cut from magazines.  Her foolproof plan has one small glitch, however: her one-time mystery man is Delaney's new landlord!

    Jack Shepard never dreamed he'd see Delaney again- and he doesn't believe for one minute her cockamamie story about a husband!  While he's exploring the leaks in Delaney's bathroom- and her alleged "marriage"- he's trying desperately to get her to admit that they share something special.  But when the truth does come out, can Jack and Delaney deal with the consequences?

 

 Rachel's Rating: 21

Plot: 8
    Strong Beginning: 3

    Keeps You Hooked: 3
    Predictability: 2
Characters: 8
    Believability: 2

    Intriguing Leads: 3
    Secondary Characters: 3
Steaminess: 5

    Mood: 2
    Hotness: 1

    Number of Times: 2

Born of Fire by Sherrilyn Kenyon

  This is possibly my favorite series to date.  Born of Fire is the sequel to Born of Night (which is my highest rated novel to date) and this one was just as good, if not better than the first one.  I probably enjoyed this one more because the heroine was kick ass which lead to some interesting times between her and the hero of the story. This was the type of book that I got angry when I had to go and do something else, and it was always in my purse in case I had a few minutes of waiting time that I could find out what happened next.  I'm very excited for the next one in the series Born of Ice.

Book Blurb:
    In a universe where assassins make the law, everyone lives in fear-- except for Syn.  born of an illicit scandal that once rocked a dynasty he always knew how to survive on the bloodthirsty streets.  But that was then, and the future is now...
    He takes no prisoners.  Syn was raised as a techthief until his livelihood uncovered a truth that could end his life.  He tried to destory the evidence and has been on the run ever since.  Now trained as an assassin, he allows no one to theaten him.  Ever.  He is the darkness that swallows his enemies whole.
    She offers no escape.  Shahara Dagan is the best bounty hunter in the universe.  when Syn comes back on the radar, she's the only one who can bring him to justice.  There's only one problem: Syn is a close family friend who's helped out the Dagans countless times.  But if she saves him, both of their lives will be on the line.  Is Syn's protection worth the risk?  The only hope Shahara has is to find the evidence he buried long ago.  Now it's kill or be killed-- and they, the predators, have just become the hunted.

Rachel's Rating: 23

Plot: 8
    Strong Beginning: 3
    Keeps You Hooked: 3
    Predictability: 2
Characters: 8
    Believability: 2
    Intriguing Leads: 3
    Secondary Characters: 3
Steaminess: 7
    Mood: 3
    Hotness: 2
    Number of Times: 2

Snowy Night with a Stranger by Jane Feather, Sabrina Jeffries, Julia London

   Snowy Night with a Stranger is a compilation of 3 stories in one book.  I figured that since its Christmas time I should read something accordingly.  Well, my mistake.  Do yourself a favor and NEVER READ THIS BOOK!  Each story is just around 100 pages long, not enough to give the characters much depth and not enough to develop sincere relationships.  Its like they meet, the give in to lust and do the nasty and then get married.  End of story.  The best of the three was "When Sparks Fly" by Sabrina Jeffries.  And then the other two were tied in awfulness.

Book Blurb:
     A Holiday Gamble-  Edward Vasey, Viscount Allenton, is journeying precariously through a snowstorm when his coach is overtaken by highwaymen!  Robbed of his money, Ned takes refuge at Selby Hall, where a spirited beauty with a shocking secret may steal something more-- his heart.
    When Sparks Fly- When a coach accident strands heiress Elinor Bancroft at the home of the notorious Black Baron, she discovers the Christmas Day heartache that darkened his soul years ago-- and her generous heart brings a festive air to his home and reawakens his spirit to love.
    Snowy Night with a Highlander- Searching for her rakehell brother, an earl lying low in the wake of a scandalous affair, Fiona Haines is led by a rugged highlander who obscures his scarred face.  As they journey on, Fiona draws closer to her brave enigmatic protector== but will fury or passion ignite when he reveals his identity?

I've broken the ratings down and did one for each story.

Rachel's Rating: Whole Book: 13

A Holiday Gamble              When Sparks Fly              Snowy Night with a Highlander
Rachel's Rating: 11              Rachel's Rating: 15             Rachel's Rating: 12
Plot:  4                                  Plot: 5                                      Plot: 4
    Strong Beginning: 1            Strong Beginning: 2                   Strong Beginning: 1
    Keeps You Hooked: 2         Keeps You Hooked: 2                 Keeps You Hooked: 1
    Predictability: 1                   Predictability: 1                          Predictability: 2
Characters: 4                       Characters: 5                             Characters: 3
    Believability: 1                    Believability: 1                           Believability: 1
    Intriguing Leads: 2              Intriguing Leads: 2                     Intriguing Leads: 1
    Secondary Characters: 1      Secondary Characters: 2            Secondary Characters: 1
Steaminess: 3                        Steaminess: 5                            Steaminess: 5
    Mood: 1                                 Mood: 2                                     Mood: 2
    Hotness: 1                              Hotness: 2                                  Hotness: 2
    Number of Times: 1               Number of Times: 1                  Number of Times: 1

Duchess in Love by Eloisa James

Book Blurb:

    A Duke in Retreat-  Gina was forced into marriage with the Duke of Girton at an age when she'd havebeen better off in a schoolroom than a ballroom.  Directly after the ceremony her handsome spouse promptly fled to the continent, leaving the marriage unconsummated and Gina quite indignant.
    A Lady in the Middle- Now, she is one of the most well-known ladies in London...living on the edge of scandal-- desired by many men, but resisting giving herself to anyone.
    A Duchess in Love-- Finally, Camden, the Duke of Girton, has returned home, to discover that his naive bride has blossomed into the toast of the ton.  Which leaves Cam in the most uncomfortable position of discovering that he has the bad manners to be falling in love-- with his own wife!

Rachel's Rating: 16

Plot: 5
    Strong Beginning: 2
    Keeps You Hooked: 2
    Predictability: 1
Characters: 6
    Believability: 2
    Intriguing Leads: 2
    Secondary Characters:2
Steaminess: 5
    Mood: 2
    Hotness: 2
    Number of Times: 1

Dance of Seduction by Sabrina Jeffers

  

Well, it looks like I've done it again.  This is actually book 4 out of a series by Sabring Jeffries called "Swanlea Spinsters".  The other titles include: "A Dangerous Love" "A Notorious Love" "After the Abduction" and "Married to the Viscount".  This was a wonderful quick read that I couldn't put down.  I hope to get to the rest in the series quickly.

Book Blurb:

"The "gentleman" next door is surely a criminal who could undo all of Clara's good works.  So why can't the lady get the dashing rogue out of her dreams?"

 

Rachel's Rating: 22

Plot: 8
    Strong Beginning: 3
    Keeps You Hooked: 3
    Predictability: 2
Characters: 6
    Believability: 2
    Intriguing Leads: 2
    Secondary Characters:2
Steaminess: 8
    Mood: 3
    Hotness: 3
    Number of Times: 2 

Stranger by Zoe Archer

  

Book Blurb:

"Looking for Trouble: Gemma murphy has a nose for a story-- so when she runs intoa  man of mystery discussing how to save the world from fancy-pants Brit conspirators, she's sensing a scoop.  Especially when he mentions there's magic involved.  Of course, getting him on the record would be easier if he hadn't caught her eavesdropping...

Lighting his Fuse: Catullus Graves knows what it like to be shut out: his ancestors were slaves, and he's a genius inventor with appropriately eccentric habits.  But after meeting a certain redhead, he's thinking of other types of science.  Inconvenient, given that he needs to focus on preventing the end of the world as we know it.  Yet with Gemma's insatiable curiosity sparking Catullus's inventive impulses, they might set off something explosive anyway..."

Rachel's Rating: 18

Plot: 6
    Strong Beginning: 2
    Keeps You Hooked: 2
    Predictability: 2
Characters: 6
    Believability: 2
    Intriguing Leads: 2
    Secondary Characters:2
Steaminess: 6
    Mood: 2
    Hotness: 2
    Number of Times: 2