The Many Sins of Lord Cameron

Title: The Many Sins of Lord Cameron
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Series: Highland Pleasures (Book 3)
Genre: Historical Romance



Lord Cameron, a Mackenzie, never wants to get married again. His late wife, Elizabeth, was abusive towards him and his son. He's never really emotionally healed from that and now sleeps with married women of the ton.

Ainsley Douglas, the queen's confidant, has been sent on an errand to retrieve some stolen love letters of the queen. She is caught by Cameron rooting around in his bedroom looking for the letters.

It seems at first that Cameron wants to make Ainsley his mistress and she hems and haws about it, not wanting to embarrass her family. Although she knows that she loves him and would like to be pampered and taken care of. She finally puts her worry for her family aside and agrees to go away with him. He surprises her, instead, by taking her to get married. But the happily ever after doesn't happen then. Ainsley has to help him to work through his emotional scars left by his wife.

Again, Jennifer Ashley put something a little different into her story. The MacKenzie family is a strange breed and I feel like each sibling's story has something not 100% traditional about it. How often do you get an abused man in a romance novel? She also wins for longest book names.

I fell for Cameron right away, although was irritated by Ainsley's name. I had a hard time remembering she was the main female character, because I find Ainsley to be a boy's name. I kept thinking - who is this guy?

Overall, I felt there could have been a little more conflict to the story - they came together too easily. But otherwise it was another original read.

The Duke's Perfect Wife (Hart's Story) is up next, due out April 2012

A Night to Surrender

Title: A Night to Surrender
Author: Tessa Dare
Series: Spindle Cove (Book 1)
Genre: Historical Romance


Spindle Cove is Susanna Finch and many other ladies oasis. It is a small seaside town that has few men and what men there are aren't much bother. The ladies who go to Spindle Cove are those that just don't fit in the rest of society. They may be spinsters, "ill" or simply not get along with their husband. It is a perfect retreat where their days are filled with activities and womanly fun.

Then Victor Bramwell, a hurt soldier who only wants to return to the battlefield, arrives to speak with Susanna's father and everything is set on it's head. The women are forced to be around men again - and that includes Susanna. Susanna and Bram are drawn to each other and don't let much get in their way.

The character of Susanna was such a strong character, yet seemed to totally change once Bram was on the scene, I felt much in the same with Bram. It's like the author created 2 characters initially then completely changed to different ones. I understand that a character might develop within a relationship, but in this story did not feel that was the case.

I felt that the book wasn't fantastic, yet it wasn't horrible. Another luke warm story that is too predictable. I know most romance stories come together in a predictable way, but sometimes it's just too much. I'm going to continue to read the series to see what happens anyway.