ARC review: An Earl to Enchant - Amelia Grey

An Earl to Enchant by Amelia Grey

The Rogues' Dynasty, book 3

Genre: Historical romance
Pages: 352
Published: April 6th 2010 Sourcebooks Casablanca

Young Miss Arianna Sweet, in grave danger after her father's death, rushes to his old friend Lady Elder—but her protectress has passed away, and now Arianna must rely on Lady Elder's dashing grandson, Lord Morgandale. Having watched his cousins surrender their freedom to two beautiful young ladies (A Duke To Die For, A MarquisTo Marry) Morgandale is determined to elude the parson's mousetrap. But can he save the lady without losing his heart?

This is the third book about 3 cousins finding love. Like with the two other books here each chapter starts with a quote from Lord Chesterfield, and I do like that. She has kept consistent, the letters from lady Elder, the quotes by or jokingly by Lord Chesterfield, and Gibby getting into trouble.

Wouldn't exactly call Arianna young, she is 27, but she has lived in India her entire life, and has not been presented. She is very young in one way. After her father's death she leaves for England and shows up at at Morgan's estate. She is looking for his grandmother and she is weak from fever. Soon he realizes that he is attracted to her, but he has better things to do than seducing innocent women. Better to send for someone who can introduce the lovely Arianna to society.

This book has another pace then the other two. There there were more "action" in one way. This one introduced the couple and the time they spent at Valleydale getting to know each other, and falling in love, whether they want it or not. That is the two first parts of the book, getting to know each other, starting with the sexual tension and then the last part that is set in London. Here the danger starts, it all has to do with her father's work in India and the reason why she has come to London.

Arianna is sweet, she may be a blushing virgin but she does not deny what she is feeling for him. And Morgan, well I do like he eagerness to preserve her innocence. He seems honorable (but well we all know he is not gonna be able to keep that up for long.)

This is sweet romance, I do not mind things going slowly or it not being steamy (I did have that earlier talk about how conservative I get sometimes, lol.) There is some passion in the latter part of the book, fear not those who want that. But I think the sweetness is the thing about this book just as that is her name.

When thinking about all 3 books, then I think number 2 was my favorite of the three, and these two can share the second place. They do not need to be read in order. Even if I hadn't known anything I could have read this one without the rest. But then I love order and could never read a book out of order.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: I do want faces

Reason for reading: From the publisher

Final thoughts: Sweet

Final grade: 3

Review: A certain Wolfish Charm - Lydia Dare

 A certain Wolfish Charm - Lydia Dare

Genre: Historical paranormal romance
Pages: 352
Published: April 6th 2010 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

He gets crankier and crankier as the moon gets full...

The rules of Society can be beastly-especially when you're a werewolf and it's that irritating time of the month. Simon Westfield, the Duke of Blackmoor, is rich, powerful, and sinfully handsome, and has spent his entire life creating scandal and mayhem. It doesn't help his wolfish temper at all that Miss Lily Rutledge seems not the least bit afraid of him, and in fact, may be as untamable as he is...

A woman whose charm is stronger than the moon...

When Lily's beloved nephew's behavior becomes inexplicably wild, she turns to Simon, the boy's cousin and guardian, for help. But Simon's idea of assistance is far different than hers, and Lily finds herself ensconced in his house and engaged to the rogue.

They both may have bitten off more than they can chew when each begins to discover the other's darkest secrets.

When I first heard of this one I wanted to read it at once. First historical, second, werewolves. Two of my favorite subjects.

The book starts with Lily Rutledge, the guardian of a young Earl, who is also her nephew. He is behaving in an odd way, and he is growing really fast. She has been trying to get a hold of his other guardian, Simon Westfield, his father's cousin. But the Duke rather spends his time gambling and fooling around with women. What is a woman to do than to go straight to the source and give him a piece of her mind.  There the story takes off and he is attracted to her at once.

Lily is a strong independent woman who has come to terms that she will be on that shelf for the rest of her life. She has no suitors, she has no dowry. No one has ever paid any real attention to her. But along comes a handsome duke who is following her around with his eyes. He wants her and he does everything to show her just that. But she is not any woman, all or nothing. I do like her, she is strong, she has flaws, but they come natural.

Simon is, well yes wild, womanizer and all that. He can also get really aggressive. That is because of his hidden nature. We learn quickly that he is a werewolf, no need to hide that. But nobody knows that they exist and they want to keep it that way. He knows he can never be what she want and he is afraid to hurt her. I like him, but then he is the big bad alpha and who can say no to that.

Two minds, two hearts, they both want the same thing but the road will take some twist and turns before they get there. Some passion is promised. This books also has some great side characters and I can't wait to read book 3 that is about William and Prisca. William is so fun and he tries to soothe Lily in this book, and Priscilla and him is always bantering.

This was a sweet book and fun too. It had some tension since some want one thing and the other another thing. And then there is the big bad secret that Lily wants to know about.

I also like the idea of the traditional regency novel transformed into a paranormal romance. The werewolves fitted perfectly into this story.

I am looking forward to book 2, and Benjamin, the brother not present in this book.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Do no know if you can see it, but chest hair alert! Yes he has plenty on those pecs. I like it, a real werewolf has some hair on his chest. And we get to see a human head and not a torso. Always good.

Reason for Reading: Review copy from the publisher.

Final thoughts: If you want some paranormal with your historical then this something to try
Final grade: 3,5
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Happy Easter!!! With some tradtions from my part of the world

Happy Easter!

pics have been removed....

I was thinking, why not share some Easter traditions with you all. Of course all these are not  exactly Finnish traditions since I am Finnish, but not Finnish by blood. I am a Swedish speaking Finn, but they are not Swedish traditions either. Since not all of us came from Sweden, we were German merchants and Dutch miners, and so on. They traditions are how we made them, and how others forgot them, or changed them. And they differ from the north to the south, from village to village. So in the end this is the tradition from my village. I do not want to talk for the whole people even if things are the same.

It all starts during Easter Week when we decorate with treebranches that later bloom, Easter grass and the usual chickens and such.

On Thursday the witches leave for "Bluehill" to dance with the devil so you better stay inside then.

On Friday we do nothing.

On Saturday Morning the Easter rooster has laid some eggs filled with candy, yum!

Do forgive him, he is usually not so serious looking.

Of course my boyfriend, who is from the same area, but is an islander tells me that this is not true. It is actually on Sunday it all happens. And it is the Easter bunny that brings eggs and puts them in rubberboots, but that is just plain silly. Those islanders ;)

On Saturday the children dress up as Easter witches. The children have their little teapots and walk from house to house getting candy. The Finnish traditions is to have those branches and give them to people. We never did.

To dress up like that which is evil is always a good idea to scare away everything dark that is around during this day.

When we have Easter dinner we eat memma/mämmi.  It is made from rye flour and malt.

Yes I know it looks totally gross, and trust me, looks like cowshit. I never eat it. People either love it or hate it.

And then later we watch Easter bonfires.

And do not forget to paint some Easter eggs.

GLAD PÅSK!!!

Review: Shadow Kiss - Richelle Mead

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy, 3

Genre: Paranormal romance/YA
Pages: 443
Published: 2008

It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason's death, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can't concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even bigger secret .... She's in love with Dimitri. And this time, it-s way more than a crush. Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever...

You might remember that I was not that excited over the first 2 books. This one was better, but...I'll just begin.

The first drama was so unnecessary and stupid. if Rose had just said what was up nothing would have happen. And the reason for not saying anything, drama over nothing. I started grinding my teeth and thinking I would be annoyed for the rest of the book. But it got better and in the end I felt this was an ok book.

Rose will get to practice some when they get 6 weeks of intense guarding duty. They can't be attacked by "Strigoi" at any moment and must protect their Moroi. Everything would be fine if Rose wasn't feeling so strange and is not doing so well. Could that mean she will not be able to graduate? She can't mess this up. Then there is those feelings for Dimitri and she wants him more than ever.

Yes she is an immature idiot, but I must say she (after that first idiotic first 100 pages where I wanted to slap her for being so daft) has improved. Yes I do not feel she is such an idiot, or slutty anymore. And the whole mean girls vampire vibe is gone too.

Left it this romance that I just do not see. Yes I see that she wants to jump his bones but I can't feel that he wants anything really. Nope no chemistry. Also she is like 13, well in the way she acts, and he is so much more immature than his age so that puts him at..35, you get my point. It would be fine if she acted her age and he acted his age. But they do not and I get this icky feeling when he wants her. I get why she want him since he is hot.

Other than those things I like Lissa and Christian and now I feel that Rose shoudl just be with Adrian, he seems to be closer to her mental age. Seeing Mia again and how nice she is, not a fan of mean girl gone good.

But it was ok, some danger and some romance. And it ended with such a cliffhanger, what an evil woman. I can't wait for the next book that comes out here in August (cos not loving them enough to buy.)

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Liking this one more than that other one. On a side note the Swedish covers suck!Let me show you.

They are all the same photo, only the color changes! That is just silly.

Reason for Reading: Library Book

Final thoughts: It was ok, improvement from the other two.