Now that summer is upon us with the warm weather, shorts and tanks, swimming and picnics I wanted to look back and talk about my favorite spring reads and I am curious to know what books you loved the most this past spring. I have had some great reading books the past few months and I wanted to share some fun and happy moments.
Marrying Winterbourne by Lisa Kleypasβ₯Historical Romanceβ₯Released May 2016Β
Savage ambition has brought common-born Rhys Winterborne vast wealth and success. In business and beyond, Rhys gets exactly what he wants. And from the moment he meets the shy, aristocratic Lady Helen Ravenel, he is determined to possess her. If he must take her virtue to ensure she marries him, so much the betterβ¦
A sheltered beauty
Helen has had little contact with the glittering, cynical world of London society. Yet Rhysβs determined seduction awakens an intense mutual passion. Helenβs gentle upbringing belies a stubborn conviction that only she can tame her unruly husband. As Rhysβs enemies conspire against them, Helen must trust him with her darkest secret. The risks are unthinkableβ¦the reward, a lifetime of incomparable bliss. And it all begins withβ¦
Marrying Mr. Winterborne
Now this was truly a fantastic book and one of my favorites this year especially in historical romance!! Lisa Kleypas has her historical romance writing groove back and she wrote this book so dang well. What I adored the most was how these two had no angst with each other…which is fairly common in historical romance but Kleypas has a talent for writing a great romance without needing to have angst in a romance. There is also some great emotional intimacy that is developed that I truly loved. If you haven’t picked this one up…..DO IT!!!
My Favorite Moments
“Heart of my heart, you need no man to give you away. Just come to me of your own free will. Love me for who I am…just as I love you for who you are…and our bond will last until the stars lose their shining.”
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Through The Storm by Beverly Jenkinsβ₯Historical Romanceβ₯Released 2008Β
MARRIED FOR MONEY
Raimond Le Veq needed to marry to gain his inheritance and restore the fortunes of the House of Le Veq, the proud Black New Orleans family whose wealth had been ravaged by the War Between the States. Still wounded by the double-cross of the only woman he ever came close to loving, he gave the choice of bride to his mother. But he never expected that she would pick Sable Fontaine — the beautiful former slave he could not allow himself to trust again.FREED BY PASSION
Betrayed and sold to a cruel neighbor, Sable did whatever it took to escape. With the spirits of her royal African ancestors guiding her, she made a bold bid for freedom, and won. But along the way she had to hurt the charming Union Major Le Veq, who had romanced her and championed her. Now fate had brought them back together in a marriage of convenience. Can she convince Raimond she was never a Rebel spy, and that this time, she’d choose him above all else?
Through The Storm is one of my all time favorite books, and is at the top of the list from Beverly Jenkins. It takes place toward the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction. I love the chemistry between Raimond and Sable. These two are quite amazing together. They both go through quite a journey together and what a READ!!!
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Castles In The Mist by Josie Littonβ₯Historical Romanceβ₯Released 2002Β
As a child, Brianna survived a shipwreck and was washed upon the island of Akora. The orphaned girl grew up there longing to know her true identity. The answers to her past lure Brianna back to England. Meanwhile, Attreus, the chosen ruler of Akora, knows Brianna is the woman he is to marry and sets out to win her heart. Now Brianna must face her future with the most powerful–and passionate–man she’s ever known. Original.
This was simply delicious to read and one of my favorite types of set up for a romance!! I do love seeing a alpha male have to work hard to win over the woman he wants to marry. So well written and has some fun mystical elements in the story that really add some spice to it. The world building was detailed and Josie Litton did a fantastic job with creating a story you can fall in love with from the beginning.
My Favorite MomentΒ
His touch was light, even teasing, as was his manner, but it didn’t seem to matter. Her own response was entirely serious. She could not look away from him, could scarcely breathe, and her body–her body seemed to have developed a mind of its own. She’d been warned of this. Her mother and the other women had made it clear: Men could banish sense, shatter control and make irrational thought impossible.Β
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Walk Through Fire by Kristen Ashleyβ₯Contemporary Romanceβ₯Released 2015Β
Millie Cross knows what it’s like to burn for someone. She was young and wild and he was fierce and even wilder-a Chaos biker who made her heart pound. They fell in love at first sight and life was good, until she learned she couldn’t be the woman he needed and made it so he had no choice but to walk away. Twenty years later, Millie’s chance run-in with her old flame sparks a desire she just can’t ignore. And this time, she won’t let him ride off . . .
Bad boy Logan “High” Judd has seen his share of troubles with the law. Yet it was a beautiful woman who broke him. After ending a loveless marriage, High is shocked when his true love walks back into his life. Millie is still gorgeous, but she’s just a ghost of her former self. High’s intrigued at the change, but her betrayal cut him deep-and he doesn’t want to get burned again. As High sinks into meting out vengeance for Millie’s betrayal, he’ll break all over again when he realizes just how Millie walked through fire for her man . .
Walk Through Fire is an all consummingΒ story Β and will work through every human emotion you have…so its not an easy read but a hell of a ride and full satisfying and I admit I had a hangover from reading this one and it stayed with me for a while. It also is one of my favorite tropes “Second Chance” and even though it does have a bit of angst in the beginning, when we get to the heart of the issues and these two start to really connect again does it truly become like gold.
My Favorite MomentΒ
βMillie, I was given one good thing in my life, the family I was born into. I found one good thing, my Club …. But in all my life, I only earned one good thing. Thatβs you.β
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Ride Hard by Laura Kayeβ₯Contemporary Romanceβ₯Released April 2016
They live and ride by their own rules.
These are the Raven Riders . . .
Raven Riders Motorcycle Club President Dare Kenyon rides hard and values loyalty above all else. Heβll do anything to protect the brotherhood of bikersβthe only family heβs gotβas well as those who canβt defend themselves. So when mistrustful Haven Randall lands on the clubβs doorstep scared that sheβs being hunted, Dare takes her in, swears to keep her safe, and pushes to learn the secrets overshadowing her pretty smile.
Haven fled from years of abuse at the hands of her criminal father and is suspicious of any manβs promises, including those of the darkly sexy and overwhelmingly intense Ravensβ leader. But as the powerful attraction between them flares to life, Dare pushes her boundaries and tempts her to want things she never thought she could.
The past never dies without a fight, but Dare Kenyonβs never backed down before . .
Now this book was a true gem and I loved every moment. Now I truly do enjoy MC themed romances, but sometimes they can be a bit too much for me. So this story is a bit more softer than most MC romances are but the way Laura Kaye wrote this….I was cool with it. In fact, I adored the way she wrote this MC club. They aren’t perfect and aren’t innocent as roses, however they are good people. Their motto is pretty much to help others in need especially women and children from abusive situations. The writing we have here is so engaging, and I honestly couldn’t put this one down ONCE!! The chemistry between these two is simply fantastic, and I liked the way the author developed their relationship. It felt perfect for me!!
My Favorite MomentΒ
You own my heart and you always will, because you taught me what love was and you showed me what life could be. You gave me wings, Dare, and they brought me right back to you. And they always will
I get so giddy when I see Marrying Winterborne! I love that book so so much! π
Castles in the Mist sounds amazing too. I love the sound of that summary and that moment you shared.
I have to get a copy of Ride Hard soon. Next time I go book shopping for sure!
Ahhh and Beverly Jenkins has been on my TBR forever!
Thanks for sharing these! π
oh amen to Marrying Winterborne!!! I am thinking a re read is in order though. I read that one too quickly. π
Ride Hard is pretty fantastic. I love the way Laura Kaye wrote that one….I couldn’t put it down!! Castles In The Mist is wonderful, and I can’t wait to read the other books in the series.
Good picks! I’ve only read one of them, Walk Through Fire, and was deeply moved by the story, but just reading the blurbs and your thoughts on the others when you reviewed them told me they were pretty special. I definitely want to read a couple of them.
I don’t know how you narrowed it down to such a short list. LOL
Thanks Sophia. Walk Through Fire was pretty amazing right??!! I still think about that one.
Yes I don’t know how I chose, I just picked the ones that stuck with me the most even though I have read some amazing books the past few months. π
Have you read the Hard Ink series by Laura Kaye? I’ve been gobbling them up this spring. I also just read Act Like It by Lucy Parker. You would LOVE that one, Renee.
yes I have and I adore that series. So fun and some great humor and I do love some well written romantic suspense and isn’t Laura Kaye such fun to read? Love everything I have read from her.:) I will have to look up Lucy Parker, I haven’t heard of her before.
Marrying Winterborne is next on my list to read!
oh yippee!!! You will LOVE it, so dang good.
Oooh Marrying Winterbourne! *grabby hands* π
haha yes HIGHLY recommend that one!!
I have not read any of those :/
oh you should π
YES, I want to read all of these! I’ve seen such good things about Marrying Winterbourne!!
So many books that need reading. I’ve gotta check out Ashley. She’s been on my list for ages.
I loved the Kaye story and have Kleypas in on my list to get.
Such a great list! Walk Through Fire and Ride Hard are two of my faves as well. Love those two authors! Can’t wait to read Marrying Winterborne soon. π
I absolutely must read Kleypas. I don’t know why I haven’t read her yet. Yay for Walk Through Fire. I love, love that book even if it tore my heart out before putting it back in place. And I recently picked up Ride Hard…I’ll have to move it up in the queue. π
I can’t wait to read Marrying Winterbourne! I still need to read Cold-Hearted Rake and I want to do that before starting MW. Yeah for Through the Storm! I fell for LaVeq when we did the group read of Indigo for HR101 so I’m glad that his story is worth it.
I could go for Ride Hard right now. π