THE WAGER
I love
novellas, but this is the first time I wish one had been much, much longer.
It's such a waste of a good idea to limit it to so few pages. It'd have been
worth it to explore this tantalizing relationship between this lord and lady
that stems from a lurid book shunned upon by society. So worth it!
What a
delightful... well, everything. Not only the concept is utterly delicious, but
the writing is full of win and fun.
In just 65
pages, the author managed to make me smile, sigh, feel, laugh, and long for the
lovely things that happen in this story.
Anne is
opinionated and probably doomed to ending up as a spinster. Never mind, she
likes her freedom of spirit. The man who once loved her sister disapproves of
her behaviour. When due to an unintentionally cruel remark from Anne, they
start exchanging correspondence, the dynamics between them shift. A new world
of unexpected intimacy, mental and physical, opens up.
My favourite
parts:
- The
letters. What a great idea it is to just pen alternating letters they send to
each other. They are so funny, smart and subtly naughty.
- The book.
It's called Confessions of a Courtesan, and tells of all the forbidden things
that a lady should never be aware of that entail passion of the marital nature.
Anne and Michael tease each other about the contents of this scandalous book in
the most witty and steamy manner.
- The wagers.
Anne is always making bets with her sisters, she likes the challenge and
winning too. Thankfully, Michael entertains a new wager with her that stirs all
kinds of delicious behaviour.
I
wholeheartedly recommend it for everyone who loves a sensual historical romance
with a surprisingly daring female character and a beautiful relationship that
goes from apparent dislike to deep belonging.
I'm weak, and
with a title like that, I had to have a taste of it ;o)
It all starts
with a good girl who wants to forget her boring day-to-day life and have a go
with the dark side of excitement. What could be more thrilling than to have a
one-night stand with a hot, tattooed stranger in a club?
What follows
is a lot of melting hot sex.
At times Skylar
seemed to be a little too forward for a supposedly good girl, but we live in a
modern world so let's accept female attitudes are not as demure as they used to
be. I liked her, though. She's bright and open-hearted, and she wants to break her
predictable routine. I like that in characters.
That's where
Gage fits in. He's all muscle, intensity, excitement.
He's a former
MMA fighter and now co-owns a successful night club called Sin. As if that
wasn't enticing enough...
The
electricity just flies between them, laying grounds for explosive encounters
that I enjoyed freely. Gage is too
locked up. I understand that his harsh life has made him like this but it was
frustrating to see him push Skylar at every turn, gently but relentlessly. She
doesn't cave in. She overpowers his lack of trust and self-worth by sheer
kindness and cheerfulness, and yes, loyalty.
It's a good
story. The pace never falters, keeping interest high thanks to a heady
combination of hotness, sweet relationship advances, and family issues that
burden both characters which brings him together and also adds more depth to
the plot and spice up the drama.
Apart from
the sexy times and the brush with the MMA fights world, I loved how Skylar's
giving nature really cleanses Gage's guarded heart. It made the heartache
worthwhile.
It's so
refreshing to find a historical romance that comes loaded with hot scenes and
passion. The Irresistible Miss
Peppinwell is about a woman who defies society's conventions in her pursuit
of freedom, and a man who seeks exactly that to feel fulfilled.
So, what are you reading these days? And did you like my choices for the summer?
THE IRRESISTIBLE MISS PEPPIWELL
It's a very
entertaining read thanks to:
- the lady's
aloofness poses a challenge for the gentleman who coaxes her inner fire in the
most ardent and delicious manner
- she's not
shy about desires of the flesh which is a welcomed change in the usual female
protagonists of this kind of romance
- both
Philippa and Anthony carry a secret burden on their shoulders that makes for a
lot of drama, adventure and heartache
I liked how
forward both are with their desires, even if at the beginning Philippa is the
Ice Maiden because of the dire situation she finds herself in. A certain
nobleman is not behaving properly towards her and she has to put distance from
this rake to protect her already feeble reputation.
It's true
that Anthony is also daring with his advances, but their stances in life
coincide so well that it helps with their fast intimacy.
Apart from
the writing, perfectly attuned to the period, I enjoyed the mystery surrounding
Philippa's past in Boston, and the unity in Anthony's family. His brother and
sister have their personal tragedy to contend with. It felt real and was very
appealing to read about.
Hot, dynamic,
life-changing love story. Good assets for a historical romance, I believe.
**
So, what are you reading these days? And did you like my choices for the summer?
