ARC Review: A MACKENZIE CLAN GATHERING by Jennifer Ashley

A MacKenzie Clan Gathering 
by Jennifer Ashley
MacKenzies & McBrides #8.5

ABOUT THE BOOK: 

Ian Mackenzie is awakened at Kilmorgan Castle one night to find robbers stealing the priceless art collection of his oldest brother, Hart. Since Ian and Beth are the only ones in resident at Kilmorgan at the moment, Ian decides he must find the art and the culprits before the family shows up for Hart's birthday gathering. With Inspector Fellows and Beth, he investigates, though Ian is somewhat worried by Beth's late husband's brother, a retired missionary, who decides to visit. Does John Ackerley hold the "cure" to Ian's madness? And can Ian discover what has happened to Hart's treasures, and who is targeting the Mackenzies before the enemy strikes again?


Return to Kilmorgan Castle to visit the Victorian branch of the Mackenzie family, and catch up on the brothers and friends, their children, and their lives.

Truth. Anytime I can get more of Ian and Beth McKenzie that is a good thing. They are a unique, beloved, indelible paring. Their love is true and they are so good together. Ian is a bit of an an odd duck but, nonetheless, highly lovable. Maybe it's his condition that makes him a little vulnerable but I love the way Beth responds and interacts with him. She does not treat him as if he has any kind of disability. In fact, she does not perceive his "oddness" as odd but instead, he is "different". I respect how she treats him with an expectation of normalcy that includes an absolute adoration love. As a reader, I am completely attracted to that kind of unconditional love. 

As a novella, I'm impressed at how much the author is able to accomplish in such a short space. There's a lot of tension, suspense, and action, all in the context of a kidnapping and a plot for revenge. We get to revisit with the MacKenzie brothers and their wives and children. It is a reunion of characters. This is gathering and family mystery, Jennifer Ashley gets to grow and develop Ian's character. It occurs to me that he could be a wonderful Sherlock Holmes - a bit eccentric, whip smart, and highly logical. The deep dive into his relationship with Beth is an integral part of the story and one in which I much appreciated.

I miss these two. And if Ms. Ashley would like to write another novel featuring Ian and Beth, I'll be first in line to one-click that buy!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Review: Harlot by Victoria Dahl

Harlot 
by Victoria Dahl

About the Book:
He came home to marry an angel... 
After working in the gold fields of California for two years, Caleb Hightower has come home to marry his childhood sweetheart, Jessica Willoughby. But when he returns, Caleb learns his refined bride-to-be is now a whore. Enraged by her betrayal, he can’t reconcile this shameless woman with the sweet innocent he once deeply loved—but Caleb knows what to do with a harlot. He’s determined to get everything from her that she’s sold to other men. And he’s prepared to pay for the pleasure of his revenge. 

But all he found was sin. 
Left penniless after her father’s death, Jess made a deal with a devil. Now she must face her first love, whose scorn is no match for her regret. To make amends, she’ll let Caleb quench his rage with her body. Their bargain strips them down to searing passion and naked vulnerability, and Jess can still glimpse her loving Caleb buried deep inside this rough cowboy. In the end, an unbearable truth emerges that could push them toward forgiveness…or could destroy their fragile bond forever.

Caleb Hightower

Jessica Willoughby

I am used to reading Victoria Dahl’s contemporary works. I love them for their fun and flirty tone. So, even though I read the book summary, I was unprepared at how angry I got over the subject matter. 

Caleb and Jessica live in 19th Century Colorado. Having grown up together, they both knew they were destined to be a couple. Caleb ventures to California to stake him claim during the Gold Rush so that he can secure a future for the two of them leaving Jess back in Colorado. In the two years he is gone, Jessica’s father dies and she is left destitute. She writes to Caleb through his parents asking him to come home only to be told that he has found another woman and is settling down in California. Alone and without means, she enters into an “indecent proposal.” 

Caleb comes back to Colorado seeking to marry his sweetheart to find that she has been labeled a harlot and whore by the townspeople. Feeling betrayed, Caleb buys time with Jessica. He intents on taking revenge on her for his lost dreams, but things do not necessarily go as he plans. 

This story takes place in the “Wild West” where the area is populated by people from all social and economic classes looking for opportunities and a new life. However, many bring their old Puritanical attitudes about sex. Although Jessica has to compromise and sacrifice much to survive, it’s noted that men can have sex seemingly without censure. Women continue to bear the burden of being both a sexual object and the scorn of using sex for money. The hypocrisy is pronounced and the guilt Jessica feels is oppressive. She is left to feel dirty and unworthy. Jessica’s story breaks my heart. She continues live a shadow life, punishing herself for making difficult decisions. The double standard set between men and women makes me so frustrated. And although Caleb is disillusioned and angry, It’s only through her painful interaction with him does she begin to feel worthy. I applauded when this happened. 

I give a lot of credit to Victoria Dahl for taking a very difficult story and telling it with a sense of compassion and class.  In the end, it is simply a beautiful story about forgiveness and redemption. 

IN A NUTSHELL:
As short as this book is, it is full of strife, heartache, and ultimately, hope. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions are my own and I was not paid for this review. 

SUNNY - BLOG TOUR: "The Dark Seduction of Miss Jane" by Amanda McIntyre

Welcome to the blog tour for The Dark Seduction of Miss Jane. Not only is this a beautiful cover, it is an intriguing book.  Join us for a review, excerpt and a generous giveaway.  Don't forget to enter at the end of the post.

The Dark Seduction Of Miss Jane
By Amanda McIntyre

BLURB: 
A scandalous betrayal sets Miss Jane Goodwin on an unexpected journey to London to pursue her dream of being the first female investigative journalist, but she soon finds herself in a hotbed of murder and controversy. Seduced by the passions of a mysterious lover and stalked by a madman, tensions mount as Jane falls prey to her desires, only to discover a deadly secret that threatens more than just her trust in men.

Inspector Randolph Mansfield is one of Scotland Yard’s elite, battling the dark secrets of his past while trying to solve a rash of grisly murders threatening to mar Queen Victoria's Jubilee. His respite is the anonymity he finds in the decadence of a private gentleman’s club, until a determined American journalist goes undercover in search of her stalker and he finds the lines between protection and passion blurred. But as tensions heat and her life is threatened, he must choose whether to reveal his true identity at the risk of losing her trust and his career.

Available for purchase at 

      

REVIEW:

I was originally attracted to this book's title and cover.  I thought it was an intriguing title (I can always use a shot of dark every once in a while) and the cover is so attractive. It turns out, the story is appealing is well. 

After being betrayed by her fiancé, Jane Goodwin rebels against the strictures of 19^th Century societal rules and sets out go across ocean to start over as an investigative journalist in England.  Knowing that even in England, women are not completely accepted as independent thinkers and writers, she nonetheless embarks upon investigating a series of gruesome murders. In this capacity, she encounters Inspector Randolph Mansfield, a man with dark secrets and proclivities. 

Amanda McIntyre writes an engaging story with a perky heroine and an edgy hero.  Jane is all sunshine with high energy and inquisitiveness.  Randolph is the opposite – dark, foreboding, stoic and serious.  Their chemistry works because Randolph isn’t as bad as he thinks he is, and dark is always attracted to the light.  I like that Jane has feminist sensibilities for the Victorian era that gives her the drive and courage to take risks in her investigation.  It is these risks that put her directly in line with Inspector Mansfield.

My greatest criticism of the story is that given that the title is about “dark seduction”, there isn’t really enough “dark”.  Randolph belongs to a private gentlemen’s club, aka a sex club in which members can and do engage in BDSM.  I wish the author went into a little more detail about that topic.  Not all books need to be erotica, but given the topic and title, this book could benefit from a little more spice.

IN A NUTSHELL:

The Dark Seduction of Miss Jane is an entertaining read with a dark mystery.  Although I would have preferred a little extra heat in the story, it is still a page-turner.

EXCERPT

My parents believed that women should be independent and capable. What is your thinking along those lines, Mr. Hampton?” she asked, purposely goading him.

He emitted a long-suffering sigh. “I do find a capable woman refreshing, Miss Goodwin. I have no qualms with a woman who wishes to be independent and, moreover, isn't afraid to speak her mind.”

She slid him a glance. “Indeed, I think your aunt is correct. You are a charmer.”

He shrugged. “A woman can profess to be independent in many things, but there are still times when a man’s involvement is necessary.”

“That is quite enough, Wesley Hampton,” his aunt spoke.

“Name one,” Jane fired back as she crossed her arms.

“Jane!” Isabella turned in her chair and pinned Jane with a shocked expression.

Wesley’s mouth curled into a wicked smile. He lifted his brow and set down his cup. “A conversation left to another day

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda McIntyre grew up the daughter of a father who was a distributor for a New York magazine publishing firm, and usually had her nose stuck in the latest issue of Vampirella magazine or a Hitchcock Mystery paperback. She has been called  "a true artist in the writing realm' and her zest for life inspires her "character-driven" stories. Her passion is to take ordinary people and place them in extraordinary situations. She is a best-selling, multi-genre hybrid author and has received numerous awards and nominations for her work. Amanda is published internationally, in audio, e-book and in print. She currently writes sizzling contemporary cowboy romance and is about to release her first historical erotic thriller.

Amanda's Social Links:

         

Giveaway

$100 Gift Card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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SUSAN: BOOK REVIEW "Blessed Isle" by Alex Beecroft

SUMMARY:
For Captain Harry Thompson, the command of the prison transport ship HMS Banshee is his opportunity to prove his worth, working-class origins be damned. But his criminal attraction to his upper-crust First Lieutenant, Garnet Littleton, threatens to overturn all he’s ever worked for.

Lust quickly proves to be the least of his problems, however. The deadly combination of typhus, rioting convicts, and a monstrous storm destroys his prospects . . . and shipwrecks him and Garnet on their own private island. After months of solitary paradise, the journey back to civilization—surviving mutineers, exposure, and desertion—is the ultimate test of their feelings for each other. 

These two very different men each record their story for an unfathomable future in which the tale of their love—a love punishable by death in their own time—can finally be told. Today, dear reader, it is at last safe for you to hear it all.

REVEIW:

THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gah! I am SHOCKED. STUPEFIED. FLUMMOXED. 

It was GLORIOUS and I LOVED it!

"Thanks, but I don't read historicals"
"Thanks, but not interested in a book that doesn't have onpage sex"
"Thanks, but I prefer a book I can actually understand the dialogue"

Apparently I don't know myself very well. 

Because despite every excuse I could have made, I read this on the recommendation of an adored friend and I was swept away. I felt like I was just floating and in complete bliss the entire time. 

Alex Beecroft wrote a short book that made me feel lost in poetry and prose and in the dearest and deepest love story. Using a journal format where the MC's write alternating chapters of their tale, I was immersed in their journey to each other. It doesn't dive deep, and some of the details are glossed over, but in the end you get everything you need (though I'm left wanting so much more) to understand how Harry & Garnet LOVED. 

I honestly ended hugging my kindle and just...in utter joy. 

IN A NUTSHELL:
Painfully lovely...MORE PLEASE! I plan to read this over and over again...

SUNNY: BOOK REVIEW "Defiant" by Pamela Clare

SUMMARY: 
The MacKinnon brothers are pressed into fighting for the British during the French and Indian War.  Their noble Scottish family was exiled from Britain during the conflict between Britain and Scotland.  The MacKinnon brothers, Iain, Morgan and Connor grew up in the rugged frontier learning to survive from their friends, the Muhheconneok people.  British General William Wentworth blackmails them into service and creating the MacKinnon's Rangers - an group of mostly Scottish frontiersmen - who are tasked to engage in guerrilla warfare.  

This is book 3 of MacKinnon’s Rangers saga focusing on the story of Connor MacKinnon and Lady Sarah Woodville.   Lady Sarah is capture by the Shawnee, enemy to the British, and Major MacKinnon is dispatched to rescue her by his nemesis and uncle to Sarah, General Wentworth.  It is ironic that Connor is sent to bring back a relative of the very King that had his family banished to America and by the man that is coercing him to fight.  Sarah has her own reasons for being in America.  Shamed and convicted by her parents for a crime she knows nothing about, she is exiled to America until her family can find her a proper suitor.  For Connor and Sarah, her return is more than just a rescue but becomes the beginning of a complex and deep love story.  

REVIEW:  

I have said this before, but it bears repeating - Pamela Clare is a MASTER storyteller.  It is not only her imagination but also the way she brings her readers into the world of MacKinnon's Rangers.  

This is a character study with timeless themes that include: the terrible ravages of war, the arrogance of class warfare, and the irrational nature of ethnic prejudice.  The story is compelling as well with lots of twists, turns, drama and conflict.  The battle scenes are scenes are raw, open and violent.  Through her writing, Pamela Clare's respect for the Rangers (this is a true life fighting group and the predecessor  to the modern day, special forces units, including the Army Rangers) is revealed.  They contributed more than manpower to the war effort, but also harassed the enemy and kept them off balance.  

Beyond the amazing plot, I found myself immersed in the characters, the setting, overwhelmed by the emotions the character were feeling.  We get into the heart and mind of Connor's guilt over his actions after the rumored death of Morgan (in book 2, Untamed) -- today we could call this a case of PTSD; his fierce devotion and love for Sarah; Sarah's bewilderment over her scandal; and her deep love of music.  Ms. Clare leads us beyond the superficial level and takes us deep into heart of her characters.    

IN A NUTSHELL:
Although this is the third book in the series, it can stand alone.  But why would you want to miss the opportunity to read the whole series?  It is THAT good. 

SUSAN: BOOK REVIEW "Skybound" by Aleksandr Voinov

SUMMARY:

Germany, 1945. The Third Reich is on its knees as Allied forces bomb Berlin to break the last resistance. Yet on an airfield near Berlin, the battle is far from over for a young mechanic, Felix, who’s attached to a squadron of fighter pilots. He’s especially attached to fighter ace Baldur Vogt, a man he admires and secretly loves. But there’s no room for love at the end of the world, never mind in Nazi Germany.

When Baldur narrowly cheats death, Felix pulls him from his plane, and the pilot makes his riskiest move yet. He takes a few days’ leave to recover, and he takes Felix with him. Away from the pressures of the airfield, their bond deepens, and Baldur shows Felix the kind of brotherhood he’d only ever dreamed of before.

But there’s no escaping the war, and when they return, Baldur joins the fray again in the skies over Berlin. As the Allies close in on the airfield where Felix waits for his lover, Baldur must face the truth that he is no longer the only one in mortal danger.

REVIEW:

I should be angry with Aleksandr Voinov for writing such SHORT "books", not even novellas...pamphlets, maybe. BUT, it would be impossible to be angry with Aleksandr Voinov because he could write ONE sentence and you'd love it, it would be THAT good.

"Skybound" felt like one sentence long...started and ended way too quickly. But it was beautiful. I don't classify it in any one genre (historical, M/M, romance, political)...but rather, a love letter, maybe, written from one to another. Where I'd normally get frustrated that I didn't get to know enough about the characters of Felix and Baldur in such a short read, I feel like I was actually rewarded with simply a strong sense of longing and love between the two. I felt almost voyeuristic into something so intimate shared between glances, clicks of a safety belt, shared cigarettes with much deeper meaning.

IN A NUTSHELL:
All in all, hard to describe how something so short could be so good. But it was...so, so good.  Beautiful and quick read.

SUNNY: BOOK REVIEW - "Surrender" by Pamela Clare

CHARACTERS: 
Iain MacKinnon
Anne Burness Campbell

SUMMARY: 
From Goodreads - A hand-picked cadre of warriors, they had the fierce courage of their Scots forefathers, combined with the stealth and cunning of the Indians who lived beside them in the wilderness. Battling the French in a no-holds-barred combat, they forged a new brand of honor, became a new breed of men...MacKinnon's Rangers

Iain MacKinnon had been forced to serve the British crown, but compassion urged him to save the lovely lass facing certain death at the hands of the Abenaki. He'd defied his orders, endangered his brothers, his men and his mission, all for a woman. But when he held Annie's sweet body in his arms, he could feel no regret. Though he sensed she was hiding something from him, it was too late to hold back his heart. In love and war, there are times when the only course of action is...Surrender

REVIEW:
Warm, rich and satisfying. Sounds like a great cup of coffee or a really good read. 

Pamela Clare has a great skill in balancing the romance with a great story. I haven't read a historical romance in awhile and had forgotten how a reader can be transported into another world. I wouldn't share this with my history professors but some of my knowledge came from my obsession with historical romances as a teen. Ms. Clare writes a truly engrossing story about honor, redemption, betrayal and love. There are plenty of steamy scenes to satisfy this romance junkie; action abounds as it is set in the middle of the French and Indian War and is populated by some hot alpha males mostly in the form of the Mackinnon brothers. 

Perfectly fulfilling. That reminds me I need to load up on some Starbucks after staying up this late and will grab the next book in the series while I'm at it.

IN A NUTSHELL: 
If you have never read a historical romance, this is an excellent example of how it is done.