Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as told by Christian by E. L. James

Publisher & Release Date: Vintage, June 18, 2015

Time and setting: Present Day, Seattle, Washington

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Erotic Romance

Length: 576 pages

Heat Level: 4 Scorching Hot Flames

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

See the world of Fifty Shades of Grey anew through the eyes of Christian Grey.

In Christian's own words, and through his thoughts, reflections, and dreams, E L James offers a fresh perspective on the love story that has enthralled millions of readers around the world.

Christian Grey exercises control in all things; his world is neat, disciplined, and utterly empty—until the day that Anastasia Steele falls into his office, in a tangle of shapely limbs and tumbling brown hair. He tries to forget her, but instead is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot comprehend and cannot resist. Unlike any woman he has known before, shy, unworldly Ana seems to see right through him—past the business prodigy and the penthouse lifestyle to Christian’s cold, wounded heart.  

Will being with Ana dispel the horrors of his childhood that haunt Christian every night? Or will his dark sexual desires, his compulsion to control, and the self-loathing that fills his soul drive this girl away and destroy the fragile hope she offers him?

This book is intended for mature audiences.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Grey-Fifty-Shades-Told-Christian/dp/1101946342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434926873&sr=8-1&keywords=grey&pebp=1434926874258&perid=11WFSQH8X73TQ1FNG1J1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grey-e-l-james/1122036118?ean=9781101946343

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Grey-Audiobook/B00Z86Z1NW

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25733911-grey

Vikki’s Musings

I only found out that E.L. James had written Fifty Shades of Grey in Christian’s point of view the night before it was released. Since I had enjoyed the trilogy, I wanted to read Grey, so I hit the one-click and it showed up on my Kindle at midnight. I downloaded the audible version the next day. I could not wait to read it, and I started listening to it on the 19^th and finished it on the 21^st. As with the original version, I became enthralled from the first page and remained so until the last.

This story is riveting whether it is in Ana’s POV or Christian’s, and thanks to Ms. James for giving me the chance to find out more about Christian and what makes him tick. It pulled on my heartstrings when I had glimpses into his harrowing formative years.

Since this plotline is so well-known one would have to live in the darkest regions of this world to have no idea what it is about, I will not give an overview. I’ll just say, this is an opportunity for anyone who has read the first book, to have a chance to see it from a different perspective.

I found Christian’s thought processes fascinating. Yes, he is emotionally immature. Yes, he is clueless when it comes to understanding why Ana reacts the way she does, but oh, what a rollercoaster ride it is along the way. With what he experienced as a young child, of course he has issues. Even with years of therapy, issues are rarely avoided. If Ms. James had given him a completely suave and confident persona, it would have taken away from the true Christian in my opinion.

I loved getting to see more of his relationship with his siblings, especially Elliott. Those relationships help to make his character come to life for me. His dreams and nightmares helped gain my empathy for this troubled, yet amazingly resilient character, and again gave me more insight into the workings of Christian’s mind.

Since I listened more than I read, I want to mention the narrative. Zachary Webber has given an outstanding performance in Grey, bringing the characters to living, breathing life. He is able to give each one of them their own distinct voice. I particularly admired his ability to give the co-pilot at the airfield in Savannah a great British accent. I will certainly be looking for other books with his narrative.

Whether you have read the Fifty Shades trilogy several times or never at all, Grey is a must read for anyone who enjoys a tale with an extremely complex character, and a love story that should not have worked, but does. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Happy reading!

Loving Cassie by JoMarie DeGioia

Narrated by Wendy Rich Stetson

Publisher & Release Date: Bailey Park Publishing, April 27, 2015

Time and setting: Present Day, Cypress Corners, Florida  

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 313 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

The girl with a knack for getting into trouble 

The guy who comes to her rescue again and again 

Can he be the one to save her from herself? 

Or is she too much to handle? 

Cassie Chapman finally caught her father’s attention when racy photos of her hit the tabloids. She comes to Cypress Corners to get a job and find herself. She reconnects with her family but doesn’t believe she deserves their faith in her. Or their love. 

Ty Walsh makes sure the animals at Cypress thrive in their habitats. He can’t resist Cassie’s combination of boldness and vulnerability. As he rescues her from wild animals and her own enthusiasm, he sees there’s so much more to her than she thinks. 

Can Ty prove to Cassie that she can find herself with him? 

Or will she let her past mistakes cost her the life she was just starting to build?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Loving-Cassie-Cypress-Corners-Novel-ebook/dp/B00VRYJSW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434551020&sr=8-1&keywords=loving+cassie

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Loving-Cassie-A-Cypress-Corners-Novel-Book-3-Audiobook/B00YW8MYSC

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25681965-loving-cassie

Vikki’s Musings

I am so pleased I had the opportunity to review this audio performance and the book. When I received the request from Ms. Stetson, I was thrilled. I recently reviewed Finding Harmony and Taming Jake and enjoyed them immensely. I looked forward to reading/listening to Loving Cassie with great anticipation. Cassie’s character in the first two books intrigued me, so I was anxious to learn more about her. This book is definitely an excellent read. I thoroughly enjoyed Wendy Rich Stetson’s narration tremendously as usual.

So far, Cassie’s life has been aimless, until her father steps in, cuts off her money, and then sends her to Cypress Corners to her brothers. She’s never worked a day in her life. Can she find her way and learn to take care of herself, instead of depending on others to do it for her?

Ty Walsh spends his days working at the institute as the animal conservationist, and his weekends with Riley, his adorable niece, the daughter of his late troubled sister. He has to battle Riley’s father for visits constantly. His mom suffers from Fibromyalgia and needs his attention as well. When Cassie blows into his life, can he find a loving relationship with this troubled party girl as she learns to find a new way to live? 

Ms. Stetsons’s narration brings the sensual love scenes to life in a way that had me fanning my face several times! The chemistry between Ty and Cassie heated up my iPhone, to say the least. Her ability to get the emotion and passion that the couple feels for each other to come out with just the right inflection of her voice is fantastic.

Ms. Stetson has worked very hard on perfecting a New England accent for Cassie’s father, and it shows. She was spot on with this performance of the cantankerous man with his brusque style of speaking. She truly brought his character to life.

I was so pleased that Lettie, the older gently-bred southern lady introduced in the first two books was also in this book as well. Ms. Stetson is able to show this delightful character with her at times scandalous talk, as the humorous, playful character she is. I love the narrator’s smooth voice and well-modulated tone a great deal and would definitely listen to future books with her as the narrator.

JoMarie DeGioia writes another light-hearted story with engaging characters and an interesting story line. I fell in love with Ty’s character from the first page and remained in love with him throughout the entire book.  His ability to encourage Cassie to look at her potential for the future, rather than dwelling on her past mistakes was fantastic. He’s such a caring man with his concern for his mother and his desire to have a meaningful relationship with his darling niece.

Cassie is an endearing character, and I liked her a great deal. I could feel her pain over living such an only for the moment life, and allowing her father to influence her decisions. She was a party girl, and her shame over her previous lifestyle came through loud and clear, gaining my empathy for her character. Cassie suffers from a huge lack of self-esteem. I can identify with her character, since I’ve had bouts of this in my own life. This definitely touched my heart in a big way.

In this story, Bill Chapman takes a stand with Cassie, lying down the law, cutting off her allowance and sending her to Cypress Corners. This put him in a better light than in the previous books in this series. His reveal at the dinner with Cassie and her brothers, also showed a different twist to his character, allowing me to see him a better light.

I felt a deeper connection with Cassie and Ty in Loving Cassie than I did in the characters of the earlier books in this series. I truly felt Cassie’s emotional pain, and the heartache Ty feels over the situation with his niece. Ms. DeGioia has penned an emotionally-charged story, and I thoroughly enjoyed the romance between the pair, and I also enjoyed seeing Cassie blossom under Ty’s loving care.

This is by far my favorite of the three books, and I suspect there will be another one in this engaging series with Bill’s astonishing news. The pacing is excellent in Loving Cassie, making it an easy read and kept me entertained, and isn’t that what a book should do? Happy reading!

Welcome to our SCP Summer Release Party! We're 

going to have a blast today. Keep checking back each 

hours for the chance to win great prizes. Help pass the 

word to all your friends, so they can join in on all the 

fun! Let's give a big thanks to Secret Cravings 

Publishing for setting this up!

Session 1

8 am: M. S. Spencer

9 am: Vikki Vaught

10 am: Jean Joachim

11 am: Kathleen Ball

12 pm: Tamara Monteau

1 pm: LL Brooks

Session 2

6 pm: Sandy Sullivan

7 pm:Jamie Salisbury

8 pm: Mageela Troche 

9 pm: Nikki Belaire

10 pm: Beverly Ovalle

11 pm: Shannnon O'Connor

Sometimes a Rogue by Mary Jo Putney

Publisher & Release Date: Zebra, August 27, 2013  

Time and setting: 1813, England, Ireland

Genre: Historical Regency Romance

Length: 433 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4.25 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

Sometimes. . .

Even the most proper young lady yearns for adventure. But when the very well bred Miss Sarah Clarke-Townsend impulsively takes the place of her pregnant twin, it puts her own life at risk. If the kidnappers after her sister discover they've abducted Sarah instead, she will surely pay with her life. . .

A Rogue. . .

Rob Carmichael survived his disastrous family by turning his back on his heritage and becoming a formidable Bow Street Runner with a talent for rescuing damsels in distress. But Sarah is one damsel who is equal to whatever comes. Whether racing across Ireland with her roguish rescuer or throwing herself into his arms, she challenges Rob at every turn. 

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Sometimes-Rogue-Lost-Lords-Book-ebook/dp/B00C6BFTXY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1435248161&sr=1-

Audible: 1&keywords=sometimes+a+rogue+mary+jo+putney

http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Sometimes-a-Rogue-Audiobook/B00N9IA2S0

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15717068-sometimes-a-rogue?ac=1

Vikki’s Musings

I found this book through the Kindle Unlimited program and was able to purchase the audio version for an excellent price as well. I vaguely remembered reading some of the other books in the Lost Lords series years ago, and like Ms. Putney’s writing style. I am so glad I discovered this excellent tale of friendship blossoming into true love.

Sarah Clark-Townsend willingly puts her life in danger to save her very pregnant sister from kidnappers, bend on spiriting her away, by pretending she is the duchess. While she has longed for adventure, she may have gotten more than she has bargained for.

Rob Carmichael, a Bow Street Runner and one of the Lost Lords of the School of Westerfiled, arrives at his friend, the Duke of Ashton’s home to find his household in an uproar. The duchess is in labor and her sister has been abducted. He quickly offers to find her sister and bring her home.

When Rob finds Sarah, will he be able to get her safely away from her abductors, while still keeping his heart intact, or will this adorable golden chick with a fluffy cloud of blonde hair worm her way passed his barriers?

Sarah is an outstanding heroine. She is brave, fearless and intensely loyal, yet able to be a completely feminine woman and a lady through and through. Her tender nature comes through from the first page and only grows stronger as the story progresses. Her easy acceptance of Rob’s illegitimate daughter, not only acceptance, but willingness to take her in hand, melted my heart.

Rob is such a wonderful hero, determined to protect those in his care, a loyal friend and an honorable man all rolled into a handsome rogue in the bargain. The title is great for this story as it fits Rob perfectly. While many were convinced he is a rogue, including his cantankerous grandmother—delightful character by the way—he is actually not a rogue at all. He is a Bow Street Runner no less, fighting to right wrongs and defend justice. He has a past filled with heartache and plenty of reason for him to be cynical, but Rob has not let it color his true character.

The romance between Sarah and Rob grows steadily as the tale unfolds. There is physical attraction from the start, but neither of them believe they can love again, both having loved and lost in their past. Their marriage starts out based on companionship and desire, but by the end of the story, it becomes a love match that will stand the test of time. I always enjoy “friends to lovers” stories since I have one of my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative by Steven Crossley. He reads with emotion, easily able to bring the characters to life. His voice tone for the females is credible and allowed me to forget that a male was the reader. He also has a good handle of the accents of this wide cast of characters. I look forward to listening to future books performed by him.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading/listening to Sometimes a Rogue and plan to continue with the Lost Lords series. If you enjoy a great love story with plenty of action and a good deal of suspense along the way, then you will enjoy this book as much as I have. Happy reading! 

A Gentleman Never Tells by Jerrica Knight-Catania

Publisher & Release Date: Night Shift Publishing, January 9, 2012  

Time and setting: Early 19^th Century, London, England

Genre: Historical Regency Romance

Length: 240 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

The Wetherby Brides, Book 1--

Benjamin Wetherby, Earl of Glastonbury and heir to the Marquisate of Eastleigh, has just received an urgent letter from home. His father is dying and he must return to England at once. Benjamin is a man bound by honor and duty, to both his country and his family. So, despite his reservations, he leaves his life in New York City behind so he may find a wife and assume his role as the Marquess of Eastleigh.

Miss Phoebe Blake is finally out of mourning for her father, and just in time. She and her mother could be days away from being carted off to debtors prison, so Phoebe returns to society with the intent and determination to secure a rich husband.
Sparks fly when Benjamin and Phoebe meet, and it appears they have both found just what they are looking for. But will a dark secret keep them from finding their happily ever after?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Gentleman-Never-Tells-Wetherby-Brides-ebook/dp/B006VWSKJO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435149243&sr=8-1&keywords=a+gentleman+never+tells

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/A-Gentleman-Never-Tells-Audiobook/B00B1HWCU2

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18340850-a-gentleman-never-tells

Vikki’s Musings

I found this book on Amazon for free and since I could purchase the audio for an excellent price, decided to give it a read. I had never heard of the author, but this is the first book in the Whetherby Brides series and I normally enjoy sagas a great deal. I am so glad I found A Gentleman Never Tells. I thoroughly enjoyed reading/listening to it.

Phoebe Blake is a damsel in distress. Her father died a year ago, and she and her mother are on the verge of losing it all. They barely have enough money for food. She knows she must find a man to marry and quickly, but she also longs for a love match.

Benjamin Whetherby, the Earl of Glastonbury, suffers from a huge case of guilt for wounding a man in a duel, and this man succumbs to fever days after. Guilt-ridden, he leaves hearth and home and goes to America, where he spends a year. When he learns his father is ill, he rushes back to be at his side. The Marquess wants to see his heir married before he dies, so Benjamin goes to London to find a wife.

When Benjamin meets Phoebe at a ball, he is immediately smitten, and wants to pursue her, intent on making her his bride. The next day he decides to visit her, but he must pay a visit to the widow of the man he killed first. When he arrives at the baroness’s residence, he is greeted by none other than Phoebe.

Benjamin has a dilemma on his hands. Should he follow through with his plans to wed the lovely Phoebe, or will he allow guilt to drive them apart?

This is a sweet romance that’s unfolds gently. It is a boy meets girl, they get married and along comes baby story, but is not boring at all. The pacing is excellent and the many twists in this tale kept me listening well into the night to finish it.

While both characters have strong motivations to marry, the attraction is instant between them, so they actually choose each other because of this more than their external reasons for marrying. It is refreshing to read a story where, the couple truly likes each other from the beginning.

Phoebe is a great heroine. Even though she finds herself in a deplorable situation, she does not let it pull her into the darkness as it has her mother. While she is a waif character type, she has a touch of the spunky kid rolled in. Her ability to grab the brass ring is evident and had me liking her from the start.

Benjamin is a fantastic hero. While not completely without faults (he has a mistress at the start of the story, and he has a short fuse at times), he is an honorable man, determined to do the right thing. His desire to protect Phoebe’s innocence is commendable, and causes him great distress. His secrets eat at him, and then he becomes the keeper of Phoebe’s mother’s secrets as well. Even though these secrets could very well tear him apart from the woman he loves, he will not break faith with the baroness.

While there is very little internal conflict in Phoebe—most of hers is external—Benjamin on the other hand, has a great deal of both. He has easily definable goals and strong motivation, which makes this book a great read.

Since I listened to the audio version of A Gentleman Never Tells, I want to mention the narration. Sherrill Turner reads with an abundance of feeling, getting the emotions the characters feel across to me. However, she needs to work on her male voices. Her voice is a bit high-pitched, so I’m sure that makes it more difficult. Even with this issue, I enjoyed her narration and look forward to listening to the other books in this series.

If you enjoy a tender romance with plenty of plot twists and turns, then you will enjoy this lovely tale of two amazing characters, finding their happy ending. I can’t wait to read/listen to the next book in this great series. I’m sure I will enjoy them as much as I did this one. Happy reading! 

The Weaver Takes a Wife by Sheri Cobb South

Publisher & Release Date:  Belgrave House/Regency Reads; 15th Anniversary Edition, January 2, 2014

Time and setting: 1816, London, England

Genre: Historical Regency Romance

Length: 269 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

Beautiful, haughty Lady Helen Radney is the daughter of a duke who has gambled away his fortune. The duke’s plan is to marry her off to recoup his losses, but the only one interested in this sharp-tongued lady is Mr. Ethan Brundy. Once a workhouse orphan, Brundy is now the owner of a Lancashire textile mill, a very rich man—and smitten with Helen.

Regency Romance by Sheri Cobb South; originally published by PrinnyWorld Press

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Weaver-Takes-Wife-Sheri-South-ebook/dp/B004NEVLSO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1435064185&sr=1-1&keywords=the+weaver+takes+a+wife&pebp=1435064180675&perid=0VR2B7B93HEXRZ7GG6ST

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/The-Weaver-Takes-a-Wife-Audiobook/B00T56GG4Y

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24846103-the-weaver-takes-a-wife

Vikki’s Musings

I received a request from the author asking me if I would be interested in reviewing the audio version of The Weaver Takes a Wife. When I saw that the book had a foreward by Mary Balogh, one of my all-time favorite authors, I immediately accepted the request in exchange for an honest review. I’m so glad I did. This is a wonderful traditional Regency.

At first I was not sure I would like Lady Helen, but her character arch is incredible. Ms. Cobb South took me from almost dislike to love by the end of the book. Lady Helen starts out as a self-centered young woman who thinks everyone is beneath her. After all, she is the daughter of a duke. As the story progresses, she starts to see the world from a different perspective, her husband’s. I always love it when a character redeems themselves and Lady Helen does this in a most satisfying way.

Ethan Brundy is by far the most unusual hero I have ever come across, and I have read a lot of books. He is a fantastic hero with plenty of backbone and initiative. Once he makes his mind up, nothing will stand in his way. However, he accomplishes his goals the old-fashioned way, with hard work and determination. In many ways he reminds me of my father because he was also a self-made man.

This story has a sweetly unfolding romance between Lady Helen and Ethan. Their marriage does not start out as a love match, but through Ethan’s gentle wooing, his honor and his kindness, he wins Lady Helen’s heart. I loved it when the proud, haughty Lady Helen realizes Ethan is the man of her dreams, exactly the kind of man she has been longing for, ever since her come out.

As a narrator, Noah Michael Levine is fantastic. I normally have problems with a male reader because their female voices are uninspiring, but Mr. Levine does an outstanding job of portraying Lady Helen with just the right touch. His interpretation of the male characters is incredible. He gives each character, whether male or female a distinct voice and handles the different accents from cockney to upper crust with apparent ease. In many ways his reading style reminds me of the narrator, Jim Dale from the Harry Potter series. Mr. Levine is a true joy to listen to, and I will be looking for other books performed by him in the future.

The Weaver Takes a Wife is a sweet traditional Regency romance and anyone who is a fan of Georgette Heyer will thoroughly enjoy this delightful tale. It has been many years since I have read a traditional Regency romance, and this book reminds me of why I fell in love with this period as a young girl. Thank you Sheri Cobb South for giving a chance to take a trip down memory lane. Happy reading! 

Only a Promise by Mary Balogh

(Survivor’s Club series)

Publisher & Release Date: Signet, June 9, 2015

Time and setting: 1820, England

Genre: Historical Regency Romance

Length: 393 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

The new Survivor’s Club novel from the New York Times bestselling author.

The Survivors’ Club: Six men and one woman, all wounded in the Napoleonic Wars, their friendship forged during their recovery at Penderris Hall in Cornwall. Now, for one of them, striking a most unusual bargain will change his life forever.… 

Ralph Stockwood prides himself on being a leader, but when he convinced his friends to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, he never envisioned being the sole survivor. Racked with guilt over their deaths, Ralph must move on...and find a wife so as to secure an heir to his family’s title and fortune.

Since her Seasons in London ended in disaster, Chloe Muirhead is resigned to spinsterhood. Driven by the need to escape her family, she takes refuge at the home of her mother’s godmother, where she meets Ralph. He needs a wife. She wants a husband. So Chloe makes an outrageous suggestion: Strike a bargain and get married. One condition: Ralph has to promise that he will never take her back to London. But circumstances change. And to Ralph, it was only a promise.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Only-Promise-Survivors-Club-Novel-ebook/dp/B00O2BS4N8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1434728497&sr=1-1&keywords=only+a+promise

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Only-a-Promise-Audiobook/B00YD7DVZC

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23274098-only-a-promise?ac=1

Vikki’s Musings

I have been a huge fan of Mary Balogh for years, ever since I read her Slightly series. She is an auto-buy author for me, and I have enjoyed her Survivor’s Club series immensely. Each book has been unique, which is surprising since the protagonists all have such a common bond. Only a Promise is another great addition to this wonderful series.

Chloe Muirhead is visiting the Duchess of Worthingham and acting as her companion, even though Chloe is the daughter of a Baron and has no need to work. The duchess’s grandson, the Earl of Berwick, is coming to visit. What she knows of him is not favorable, so she hopes his visit will be short.

Ralph Stockwood has been summoned by his grandmother, and he is positive it is to inform him again that as the heir to his grandfather, it is time for him to marry and set up his nursery. When he arrives, he has a long conversation with the duchess regarding that subject in front of Chloe, totally ignoring her presence.

When Chloe hears the conversation and finds out that while the earl is willing to do his duty and marry, he does not want to fall in love or have any emotional attachment to his future wife. This suits Chloe perfectly because while she does want to marry and bear children, she does not want a love match, having been disappointed in her youth.

When Chloe offers herself in marriage to Ralph, he is astounded by her audacity, but once he has time to mull it over, he realizes a marriage with her, just might be exactly what he wants. Can this unlikely pair learn to care and respect each other, yet keep their hearts intact?

As usual, Ms. Balogh has penned a another character-driven novel. I am fascinated with her ability to get me enmeshed with her characters, even if I may not even like them very much. This was the case with Chloe. It took a good part of the book before I liked her, but by the end, I not only liked Chloe, I loved her.

Since I had brief glimpses of Ralph in the previous books in this series, I had a general idea what his issues were, so I had empathy for him from the start. As the story unfolds, I could truly feel his pain, even though he goes to great lengths to hide it. He is truly a tortured soul, in mind and body, my favorite archetype. I loved seeing his growth from a dark, troubled young man he is at the start of the book, to the energetic, charismatic person he was before his injuries, both physically and emotionally, which caused him to withdraw from everyone, except his fellow survivors, by the end of the story.

Although this is not my favorite book in this series, it is still a fantastic read. I enjoyed it immensely and can’t wait for the next one to come out in the fall. In fact, I have already pre-ordered it. If you have not read Ms. Balogh’s books, I highly recommend them. While many of her stories involve a marriage of convenience, she is able to give a fresh spin on each, making them original and a joy to read. I have yet to read one that I did not love. Happy reading!

Magical Weddings includes 14 NEW RELEASES, written expressly for this set.  Now available for only .99 cents!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Ibooks | Google Play

 https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5d04e3ea3/

Whether real or only in the hearts of the bride and groom, the magic of weddings is undeniable. And irresistible! As these 15 enchanting happily-ever-afters by bestselling and award-winning authors prove.

From sweet to spicy, the romances bundled into this set cross time and unite hearts, cast spells of laughter, battle wedding jitters and fight back tears, while weaving love's hopeful magic throughout 1400 pages.

~~~About the Books~~~

Her Wedding Wager by Leigh Michaels, National bestselling and Award-winning author of over 100 novels. Celia's doomed to an arranged marriage--unless she can win the most important bet of her life!
~~~

The Last Wedding at Drayhome (Breens Mist Witches) by Aileen Harkwood. Never underestimate the power of a witch and warlock in love who have nothing left to lose.
~~~

The Dress by Eve Devon. Two couples, 400 years apart. From a masquerade ball in Venice 1615 to a wedding in England 2015, can a dress laced with magic weave its spell through the fabric of time?
~~~

Second Chance Bride by Raine English, USA Today bestselling and Award-winning author. She thinks she's marrying the man of her dreams, until a telepathic rescue dog leads her to someone else... Will this bride-to-be say "I do" to the wrong man?
~~~

Two Hearts Surrendered by Tamara Ferguson, Bestselling and Award-winning author. Will two warring hearts be strong enough to survive the ultimate battle?
~~~

Something Borrowed, Something Blue by Lynda Haviland. She has a wedding to crash--until love gets in the way!
~~~

Heart of the Secret (Witches of Lane County) by Jody A. Kessler, Bestselling and Award-winning author. A 500 year-old curse, a witch who will do anything to marry her one true love, and the heart of a secret that will either divide them or bring them together...forever.
~~~

The Jealous Love of a Scoundrel by Jane Lark, National bestselling author. How do you fight a calling that comes from your soul?
~~~

A Wedding Across the Winds of Time by Bess McBride, National bestselling author. Darius and Molly found each other Across the Winds of Time. Now, it's time for their wedding!
~~~

Kiss This by L.L. Muir, National bestselling and Award-winning author. You never expect the florist to catch the bouquet...
~~~

Caution is a Virtue by Jennifer Gilby Roberts. How much is too much to risk for love?
~~~

Loving Lindy by Jan Romes. In order to become the bank's new Vice President, Gunther Justin has to be "settled." With Lindy McPherson posing as his fiancé everything is set to go off without a hitch--until real feelings get in the way.
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With this Kiss by Heather Thurmeier. Does a simple kiss have enough magic to reunite lovers?
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Real Magic by Elsa Winckler. She's the bridesmaid, he's a best man. Will the magical evening stay just that or will it turn out to be real after all?
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The Wedding Guests (A Tassamara Short Story) by Sarah Wynde. When unexpected guests attend Akira and Zane's wedding, lives will change forever. But for better or for worse?

***Meet the Authors*** 

Leigh Michaels is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 100 books, including historical romance and contemporary romance. Her non-fiction book, On Writing Romance, has been called the best guide available for romance writers, and she teaches romance writing online at Gotham Writers Workshop.

Six of her books have been finalists in the RITA contest sponsored by Romance Writers of America, and more than 35 million copies of her books are in print in 25 languages and more than 120 countries. Her books have been published by Harlequin Books, Sourcebooks, Montlake Romance, Writers Digest Books, and Arcadia Publishing.

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Aileen Harkwood is a Readers’ Crown finalist who lives in the Southern Rockies. The Last Wedding at Drayhome is the prequel to two concurrent series of fantasy romances, Spell Touched: Breens Mist Witches, Book 1, and Wedding Spell, first in the Breens Mist Weddings series, due out in September 2015. She’s passionate about green chile and the mysteries hiding in antique photographs. Check in with her at:

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Eve Devon: Growing up in locations like Botswana and Venezuela gave Eve Devon a taste for adventure. Her love of romances began when her mother shoved one into her hands in a desperate attempt to keep her quiet during TV coverage of the Wimbledon tennis finals. She lives in leafy Surrey in the UK, a book-devouring, slightly melodramatic, romance-writing sassy heroine with her very own sexy hero husband! Visit the author at her website: www.EveDevon.com

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Raine English USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Raine English writes sweet small-town romance, paranormal, and Gothic romantic suspense. She’s a Daphne du Maurier Award winner and a Golden Heart finalist. Her new lighthearted contemporary romance series, Love Always, will be available June 2015. It features three childhood friends who encounter a lot more than anticipated while searching for love. Raine lives in New England with her family and her French bulldog, Bailey.

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Tamara Ferguson: A member of the Romance Writers of America, as well as the FTHRW Chapter, Tamara

Ferguson is the best-selling and multi-award winning author of the Tales of The Dragonfly Romance Suspense Series. Tales of the Dragonfly Book II: In Flight was a 2014 WINNER at the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards. Her latest release, That Unforgettable Kiss, was recently a top ten Amazon bestseller in Kindle Saga Fiction.

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Lynda Haviland shares her chaotic and creative life with her chef husband, two artistic teenagers, and an aging bearded dragon. She admits to being heavily influenced by hazelnut coffee, chocolate with caramel, and romantic comedies. Something Borrowed, Something Blue is a stand-alone romantic short story written for the Magical Weddings Boxed Set. But Nellie Pearle can’t be contained. Look for her and other oddly entertaining residents of Pearl Key in an upcoming paranormal suspense series.

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Jody A. Kessler’s debut novel, Death Lies Between Us, is a #1 best-seller and the winner of the Readers’ Crown Award. She writes paranormal romance, historical time travel fiction, and contemporary fiction.

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Jane Lark: Jane is a Kindle bestselling author and a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional Historical and New Adult romances, and she’s a sucker for a love story. “I love the feeling of falling in love and it’s wonderful to be able to do it time and time again in fiction.” She loves writing intense relationships and she is thrilled to be giving her characters life in others’ imaginations.

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Bess McBride is the bestselling author of over fifteen time travel romances as well as contemporary, historical, romantic suspense and light paranormal romances. She loves to hear from readers, and you can contact her at bessmcbride@gmail.com.

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L.L. Muir lives in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains with a charming husband who makes her laugh, but does not make her do pans. Like most authors, she is constantly searching for, or borrowing pens. The best ideas always begin on a napkin.

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Jennifer Gilby Roberts has a degree in physics and a postgraduate certificate in computing, so a career writing fiction was inevitable really. She was born and grew up in Surrey/Greater London, but now lives in North Yorkshire with her husband, her small daughter, a middle-aged cat and a lot of dust bunnies.

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Jan Romes is a hopeless romantic who grew up in northwest Ohio with eight zany siblings. Married to her high school sweetheart for more years than seems possible, she is also a proud mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She likes to read all genres and writes witty contemporary romance.

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Heather Thurmeier is a lover of margaritas and a hater of spiders. Born and raised in the Canadian prairies, she now lives in New York where she’s become an odd Canuck-Yankee hybrid. Heather’s currently writing her next romance, which will probably be filled with sassy heroines, sexy heroes that make your heart pound, laugh out loud moments and always a happily ever after.

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Elsa Winckler: Inspired by the writing of Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Henry James, and the Brontë sisters, Elsa Winckler likes her heroines beautiful, feisty, independent and headstrong. She married her college boyfriend who, after 40 years, still makes her weak in the knees. They have 3 interesting children, 3 beautiful grandsons and live in the picturesque little seaside village of Betty’s Bay, South Africa.

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Sarah Wynde graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in English, which she actually managed to put to use by becoming an editor. She’s worked on magazines, websites, and books, including ten years spent as a senior acquisitions editor with Pearson. Eventually, her love of writing pushed her into independent publishing. She likes to think of the stories she writes as unexpected fiction—bending, blending, and occasionally breaking genres.

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