Reading List: December 2012

My wrap up for the year post will be coming by the end of the week. In the mean time here's my list of reads for the month of December. I didn't get nearly as much read as I wanted to.

1. What an Earl Wants by Kasey Michaels*
2. Forever a Lord by Delilah Marvelle*
3. The Other Side of Us by Sarah Mayberry***
4. Death by Chocolate by Julie Lindsey **
5. The Duchess War by Courtney Milan
6. Fallen by Celeste Bradley***
7. Romancing the Holidays by Jaci Burton, et al.***
8. The Lady Most Willing by Connie Brockway, Eliosa James, and Julia Quinn***
9. A Kiss for Midwinter by Courtney Milan
10. Deck the Halls with Love by Lorraine Heath
11. Death's Angel by Heather Killough-Walden***

In the new year it's more indies, more romance, and more happy reading times. I don't have any definitive plans besides a wedding in August, and hopefully a finished book at some point. In the meantime, my new year's resolution of posting regularly... well, I won't hold  myself to any promises. My plan to continue to review as I can is still in affect, though I plan on backing off a little bit to focus on the gazillion other things I have going on.

*Review coming soon or available on this blog
**Review available on IndieBooksRUs
***Review available or coming soon on TheSeason

Quick 5: Christmas Novellas= Historical Bliss

If you follow this blog or read my monthly reading lists you will notice a trend: I love Historical Romance. I'm a sucker for it and my list of favorite authors is probably a mile long. Just about anything from Avon is an auto-buy, and if you're a historical author represented by Nelson Lit I'm probably auto-buying your books as well. Those Nelson Lit agents sure know how to pick Historical authors.

Anyhoo, this Christmas has been a release bonanza! Novella's out the wazoo, and wonderful Christmas goodness. You couldn't get me to spend my money faster unless you wrote a Historical at Christmas time. In general I love Christmas stories of just about any variety. Needless to say my checking account is emptying out with my presents for me :).  But I wanted to share the awareness with everyone else. Yes, I enable. This is my job. Here's a list of Christmas novellas you must, must get.

5.) The Winter Wife: A Christmas Novella by Anna Campbell
I love all her books and have own almost her entire backlist. You really can't go wrong with a Anna Campbell story and she writes the most delectable tortured heroes. For $1.99, this story is the right price at the right time.

4.) All I Want for Christmas is a Duke by Delilah Marvell and Maire Claremont
Two for the price of one. This is a double whammy with two hot historical shorts in one. $0.99 and I'll say this Delilah always brings things hot and unexpected. Both stories sound like a good treat to dig into while tucking yourself away from the chilly winter weather.

3.) A Kiss for Midwinter by Courtney Milan
I just finished The Duchess War (1st book of The Brothers Sinister) and I loved it. There's 1 female in the story, a Miss Charingford, who need a love of her own. Milan sees to that in this novella. For $0.99 it's quite a steal. Milan's work is worth twice that and I've enjoyed everything she's published thus far. If you haven't nipped into the Turner Series then you should definitely snatch those up too.

2.) Deck the Halls with Love: A Lost Lords of Pembrook Novella by Lorraine Heath
Heath's latest series, The Lost Lords of Pembrook, has been nothing short of wonderful. I've enjoyed the books thus far and await with baited breath the next release in 2013. Yet, at the end of the last book I found there was a male hero who was pretty thoroughly neglected. I hoped Heath would tell his story. I'm happy to say the Marquess of Chetwyn gets his well-deserved HEA. For a mere dollar, less then really, you can enjoyed this additional Christmas treat.

1.) The Christmas King by Lecia Cornwall
Originally as part of the Historical Christmas Eve  Blog Hop, Lecia began this short story there. Since then two additional installments have been posted at her blog (linked above). The story is not over yet, and the next portion will be available today. This is an opportunity of mega proportions. Not often does an established author give a story away for free. Lecia is a rare talent and her books thus far have always been enjoyable. She's got a way with dialogue and the Christmas King is not exception. Especially since she transports everyone to a snowed in castle. :) Check it out and enjoy.

So, for $5 dollars and a bit of internet viewing you can get 6 wonderful Christmas novellas for your reading pleasure. Who says we can't reward ourselves with a little gift that doesn't break the bank? No one. Be Merry and Read. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas readers.

Reading List December 2011

Cap me off and call me Shirley, it's the end of 2011. I've really outdone myself this year, just a bit I think. I've consumed more books then I dare to imagine though I probably attempt a final count with my Year in Review post coming up tomorrow.

I thought I would get an early start though and post what books I've managed to devour in the last month.

1. King of the Isles by Debbie Mazzuca*
2. Sector C by Phoenix Sullivan
3. Forever and a Day by Delilah Marvelle **
4. Undeniably Yours by Shannon Stacy**
5. The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James **
6. Proof of Love by Arabella Stokes **
7. Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
8. Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
9. Winning the Wallflower by Eloisa James
10. The French Maid by Sabrina Jefferies
11. Once Upon a Winter's Eve: A Spindle Cove Novella by Tessa Dare
12. Ain't She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
13. This is What I Want by Megan Hart
14. Unraveled by Courtney Milan**
15. A Boyfriend Before Christmas by Caedem Marquez
16. All I Want for Christmas is You by Lisa Mondello
17. All I Want for Christmas by Liliana Hart
18. Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacy**
19. Bad Boys Do by Victoria Dahl
20. Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl
21. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

*Review available on The Season
**Review coming soon to the blog! (A lot of them coming soon)

Now, I will say that I kinda cheated this month. Several of the titles on the list are novellas and I'll admit to getting into the Christmas spirit as well. For the future, I'm not sure how many books I'll be reading in the new year. I'm not making a super plans as I have several writing goals I want to put into motion.

Review: Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

5 out of 5 stars
*It's not often I have a Top Pick, but this one took the cake for creativity and wonderful story crafting.

For the back cover visit Courtney Milan's website- Unclaimed

Never was there such a tale of woe between a seasoned courtesan and her… virgin.
Sir Mark Turner is the epitome of masculinity. His vow of chastity until marriage has sparked men to hail him as a leading example to all society. Women see him as the ultimate prize in holy matrimony. Sir Mark simply refuses to subject to baser instincts, and seeks solace from his celebrity image amidst the quiet countryside of his childhood home. What he doesn’t expect is to feel desire beyond reason, but when Jessica Farley sashays her way into his sight that’s exactly what happens.

Yet, Jessica’s no virginal queen, and her mission is to remove all traces of chaste and innocence from Sir Mark’s character. Facing destitution Jessica was left with little choice but to accept the contract proposed by Mark’s enemies. All she has to do now is get him to let go of his lofty ideals, though she never thought the man behind the celebrity image would be a man she could easily come to love.

Hail to Milan for an absolute stunner. The entire story was completely unexpected. There is something special about a virginal hero pitted against the sinful courtesan. I found both Jessica and Mark endearing because neither one is exactly how they seem to be in the eyes of outsiders. To most Jessica is evil incarnate, and at times I could swear she should have been walking around with an ‘S’ sewn into her clothes. Though Jessica tries hard to pretend she is not affected by the way people treat her, internally she hates being the villain. She merely wants her own personal chance at happiness. At the same time happiness always has a price.

Mark on the other hand is considered a man incapable of impure thoughts—the chastity king, who only thinks of peace and serenity and doing well by his fellow man. I love how he’s built up by others in the book and set onto a pedestal. Honestly, I was waiting for him to fall, and at the same time hoping he wouldn’t succumb. Also Mark knows that he isn’t perfect and completely chaste, and he’s not afraid to admit it. Like in this one scene with Jessica:

“I don’t want you to cover yourself to withdraw my temptation.” And then—he wasn’t precisely sure why—he dropped his voice to a whisper. “More clothing would hardly signify in any event. I could not possibly forget a single curve of your skin, and when I take myself to bed tonight I doubt I will see anything else.”

She’d been reaching for his jacket. But she froze at that, her hand held rigidly an inch away. Her eyes widened.

“No,” he continued, “the reason I offer is not because I want to avoid my sins, but rather that I must own up to them.”

“Sins?” she repeated.

“We’ve already discussed my sins, Mrs. Farleigh. I am greedy. I am covetous. I am selfish. And one other thing.” He leaned in. “I absolutely do not share.”

“I—But I haven’t—We—“ Her eyes fell from his in discomfort.

“Just because I happen to be a virgin does not mean I am content to share my fantasies at night with other men.”

She exhaled slowly. “If you were any other man,” she said softly, “I would think that you had just threatened to seduce me.”

“Worse.” He leaned down, close enough to whisper. “I threatened to like you. “

That honest streak of Mark’s was just another character trait that made me swoon, and his tongue is sharp and sensual at all the right moments. The story has the other Turner brother’s from Milan’s series popping up, and several interesting characters that make the book complete. I found the scenarios and plot refreshing, different then typical historical novels. Surprises abound, romance formed from the barest of embraces—Unclaimed is a sure win!

*Additional review is available on The Season E-Zine