New Release for 04/27/10

LOVER MINE!!!! I know there are other books being released today, but none that I've waited this long to read. I've wanted JM's story since he showed up in the very first book. I also love Xhex, so I'm so excited to read an entire book about JM & Xhex. I also am ready for some love between Blay and Quinn, and I'm sure the WARDen doesn't disappoint(I've read no reviews that listed any spoilers, so just guessing at this point).

I'm also very excited that I received my book today from Amazon. I pre-ordered from them since they had the best price($9.99 for a hardback), and was sure I would have to wait a few days to receive my book. I had received the latest email from Amazon telling me the delivery date was set for Saturday May 1. So imagine my surprise and excitement when the mailman called out "mails here" as he was leaving the building. I really think I would have hugged him had he stuck around. Now I'll have plenty of time to finish reading Lover Mine before going to the book signing in Radcliff, KY at The Bookstore next weekend.

Hope everyone else is having as great a book day as me today!!!

A Lady of Persuasion

A Lady of Persuasion is the third book in Tessa Dare’s first historical romance trilogy. From the back cover.~

Only one thing could convince Sir Tobias Aldridge, and incorrigible libertine, to profess undying fidelity to a woman he’s just met. Revenge. What better way to get back at an enemy than by stealing the scoundrel’s sister? Not that Toby finds it a chore, seducing a beguiling, sultry beauty freshly arrived from the West Indies. When the prize is Isabel Grayson, vengeance is doubly rewarding.

Isabel is determined to marry a wealthy, powerful lord and become a lady of influence, using her rank and fortune to fight social injustice. Sir Toby, with his paltry title and infamous reputation, is unsuitable husband material-but he makes her blood race, her heart pound, and her long-buried passions come to the surface. If she can reform the charming devil, she’ll get exactly what she craves: society’s respect. But it’s a dangerous gamble. For if Toby wins this battle of persuasion, Isabel could lose her heart.

As much as I loved the first two books in this series, A Lady of Persuasion is my favorite of the three. Isabel knows exactly what she wants out of life and has no bones about going after what she wants. Toby, initially only wants Isabel because she is Gray’s sister, but very soon into their relationship I could see his feelings turning real. This book moved really fast, and felt like I was visiting with old friends, as we got to see Lucy and Jeremy and Sophia and Gray throughout much of the book. My favorite part of the book is when Isabel actually realizes how much she loves her husband and giving into her passion for him is not only ok, but wonderful and fun.

I read this series back to back to back, which is my favorite way to read a series. Always hate having to wait months for the next book to come out. Luckily, the next series by Tessa Dare will also be released back to back to back this summer, so not much waiting between books.

Surrender of a Siren

Surrender of a Siren is the second book in Tessa Dare’s first trilogy of historical romances. From the back cover.~

Desperate to escape a loveless marriage and society’s constraints, pampered heiress Sophia Hathaway jilts her groom, packs up her paints and sketchbook, and assumes a new identity, posing as a governess to secure passage on the Aphrodite. She wants a life of her own: unsheltered, unconventional, uninhibited. But it’s one thing to sketch her most wanton fantasies, and quite another to face the dangerously handsome libertine who would steal both her virtue and her gold.

To any well-bred lady, Benedict “Gray” Grayson is trouble in snug-fitting boots. A conscienceless scoundrel who sails the seas for pleasure and profit, Gray lives for conquest-until Sophia’s perception and artistry stir his heart. Suddenly he’ll brave sharks, fire, storm, and sea just to keep her at his side. She’s beautiful, refined, and ripe for seduction. Could this counterfeit governess be a rogue’s redemption? Or will the runaway heiress’s secrets destroy their only chance at love?

I really enjoyed the first book in this series. Partially because I loved how strong Lucy is and partially because I really loved the character Sophia. In Surrender of a Siren, we get to find out so much more about Sophia. In Goddess of the Hunt, Sir Toby wanted to marry Sophia because she was so perfect and innocent. In Surrender of a Siren, we get to see the real Sophia, not the perfect heiress she had tried to be her entire life. Yes, she is still an heiress and knows how to act as one when needed. But we also get to see the woman, not just the public image of the woman. Sophia is an artist and not only passionate about art, but about life. Sophia and Gray are attracted to one another from their first meeting. When they finally give in to their attraction, it is explosive. Of course, the fact that she hasn’t been using her real name and lied about her occupation to get on his ship causes just a few problems between them.

Much like Goddess of the Hunt, Surrender of a Siren starts a little slow. However, it picked up much fast and I loved this book. As with the first book in this series, I immediately had to start reading the final book in this trilogy once I finished this book. A Lady of Persuasion is the final book in this trilogy and I’ll get my post up by morning on it. I will say that in my opinion Dare again delivers with Surrender of a Siren.

Goddess of the Hunt

Goddess of the Hunt is the debut novel by Tessa Dare. From the back cover.~

Ever the bold adventuress, Lucy Waltham has decided to go hunting for a husband. But first she needs some target practice. So she turns to her brother’s best friend, Jeremy Trescott, the Earl of Kendall, to hone her seductive wiles on him before setting her sights on another man. But her practice kisses spark a smoldering passion-one that could send all her plans up in smoke.

Jeremy has an influential title, a vast fortune, and a painful past full of long-buried secrets. He keeps a safe distance from his own emotions, but to distract Lucy from her reckless scheming he must give his passions free rein. Their sensual battle of wills is as maddening as it is delicious, but the longer he succeeds in managing the headstrong temptress, the closer Jeremy comes to losing control. When scandal breaks, can he bring himself to abandon Lucy to her ruin? Or will he risk his heart, and claim her for his own?

I had heard and read about Goddess of the Hunt for months, and even bought it right after it came out based on many reviewer blogs. I’m so glad I finally decided to pick it up out of my TBR mountain. I will say that the beginning of the book moves just a little slow, but once it picked up, I wasn’t able to put it down. I love Lucy and really think she is one of my favorite characters I’ve read in a long time. Jeremy and Lucy together made me laugh out loud, even as I kept reading to find out what would happen next. Both are such strong characters and I really enjoyed watching them fall for one another. I also loved all the supporting characters in the book, especially Sophia. Dare gives the reader a funny and sexy story, and I highly recommend Goddess of the Hunt for anyone who enjoys historical romances.

As soon as I finished Goddess of the Hunt, I immediately had to start reading Surrender of a Siren, so I could read Sophia's story. I hope to post my thoughts about Surrender of a Siren tonight.

Painting with Friends

So I promised to post my painting if it totally didn't suck. I really did have a great time learning to paint with my friends. We went to the artist's home and we had each voted to pick one of his painting to paint. Jason Erwin is the artist and he made the entire experience really fun. He pretty much told us anything we did was right and there was no wrong thing in art(so different from what my art teacher told me in school). I openly admit not to have much artistic talent and there were many others in our group who were just as worried about the painting as me. It was fun to see how each of us did our own thing with the same painting. I do think the painting looks much better from a distance than up close, still enjoyed it and I'm pretty sure we will do it again at some point. I don't have a copy of the picture with all of us together with our paintings, but I know my friends will be posting it on facebook soon, so I'll post it to my facebook page.