Once and Always

Once and Always by Julia Harper

My rating:

3 stars—I liked it.

My thoughts:

Julia Harper is also Elizabeth Hoyt. I’ve been a fan of Hoyt’s historical romances for a while. This is the first contemporary that I’ve read from her. I didn’t love all the mystery thrown in, but there was some hotness between the characters!

Description from Goodreads.com:

“IS THERE A PROBLEM, OFFICER?

Small town cop Sam West certainly doesn't mind a routine traffic stop: speeding ticket, stern warning, and sayonara. With a whopper of a blizzard closing in, that's all he has time for. But the lawbreaker he pulls over is anything but typical. From her mile-long legs to her razor-sharp wit, Maisa Bradley is like nothing Coot Lake, Minnesota, has ever seen . . . and she's about to take Sam on the ride of his life.

BEING BAD HAS ITS BENEFITS

Whoever said blood is thicker than water probably wasn't related to a former Russian mobster. But an innocent mix-up and rumors of stolen diamonds soon have the Russian mob taking an unusual interest in the sleepy little town-and Maisa facing heated scrutiny from a certain tall, dark, and handsome deputy. Sam's dazzling blue eyes beg her to reveal all her secrets, but how much should she tell? Getting snowed in with the sexiest lawman in the frozen north may not be the worst way to decide.”

Monday Recommendations

Monday Recommendation List

Random list of 10 books Monday! I have read and enjoyed each of these enough to flag for a potential personal library purchase.

Be bold and just choose randomly, stick to your normal genre...or step outside of your normal reading zone and try something you usually wouldn’t. You can look up the descriptions at Amazon.com, or search my blog for old posts by entering the title in the little search box in the top left-hand corner and clicking the magnifying glass.

This week-- 10 recommendations (in no particular order):

1. A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro
2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
3. Perfect Parenting by Elizabeth Pantley
4. Traveling Light by Katrina Kittle
5. The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
6. I Killed June Cleaver by Deborah Werksman
7. Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
8. Lady Be Good  by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
9. Awaken the Spirit Within by Rebecca Rosen
10. Chosen by Chandra Hoffman

Wicked Intentions

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

My rating (out of 5 stars):

3 stars. I liked it!

Description from Goodreads.com:

“Infamous for his wild, sensual needs, Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching for a savage killer in St. Giles, London's most notorious slum. Widowed Temperance Dews knows St. Giles like the back of her hand— she's spent a lifetime caring for its inhabitants at the foundling home her family established. Now that home is at risk.

Caire makes a simple offer—in return for Temperance's help navigating the perilous alleys of St. Giles, he will introduce her to London's high society so that she can find a benefactor for the home. But Temperance may not be the innocent she seems, and what begins as cold calculation soon falls prey to a passion that neither can control—one that may well destroy them both.”

My Thoughts:

Hoyt bring strong emotion to this story. I enjoyed the depth of plot and the characters. Recommend for the historical romance crowd! If you are in this crowd and haven’t tried Hoyt, definitely add her to your list.

The Raven Prince

The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

Amazon Description:

“Widowed Anna Wren is having a wretched day. After an arrogant man on horseback nearly crushes her, she arrives home to learn that she is in dire financial straits.

The Earl of Swartingham is in a quandary. Having frightened off two secretaries, Edward de Raaf needs someone who can withstand his bad temper and boorish behavior.

When Anna becomes the earl's secretary, it would seem that both their problems are solved. But when she discovers he plans to visit the most notorious brothel in London, she sees red-and decides to assuage her desires . . .”

My Thoughts:

I loved Anna and Edward. The wicked man and the smart beauty who tames him…one of my favorite themes! I enjoy Hoyt’s voice and her talent for character development. Historical romance fans should definitely give her work a try.

On a side note, it’s funny how both characters are described as relatively ugly in the book…but on the cover there are two perfect looking people!

Monday Recommendations

Monday Recommendation List

Random list of 10 books Monday! I have read and enjoyed each of these enough to flag for a potential personal library purchase.

Be bold and just choose randomly, stick to your normal genre...or step outside of your normal reading zone and try something you usually wouldn’t. You can look up the descriptions at Amazon.com, or search my blog for old posts by entering the title in the little search box in the top left-hand corner and clicking the magnifying glass.

This week-- 10 recommendations (in no particular order):

1. Old School by Tobias Wolff
2. Being In Balance by Wayne Dyer
3. If This is a Man by Primo Levi
4. Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
5. The Stage Dive Series (starts with Lick) by Kylie Scott
6. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
7. The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
8. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
9. A World of Curiosities by John Oldale
10. The Ledge by Jim Davidson and Kevin Vaughn