Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Spotlight | How to Seduce a Scot by Christy English


How to Seduce a Scot by Christy English


Summary

He’s the terror of the ton...

The plan is simple:
1. Descend from the Highlands to face the aggravation of a London Season;
2. Foist his wild sister off on some gullible English lord;
3. Retreat before the ladies of the scandalized ton can get any ideas.

Determined to see his hellion of a sister wed, Highlander Alexander Waters is willing to face anything—even the English. He just didn’t expect his own rough manners to cause such a riot…or for a blooming English rose to catch his eye.

Gently bred Catherine Middlebrook must find a respectable man to marry or her family will be ruined. She won’t allow herself to be distracted by Highland barbarians…no matter how her body may thrill whenever Alex is near.

Catherine wasn’t part of the plan, but as their battle of wills escalates, Alex comes to realize this “proper” English girl is as wild as the Highlands themselves...and nothing will stop him from having her.


Buy Links

Author Bio
Ever since Christy English picked up a fake sword in stage combat class at the age of fourteen, she has lived vicariously through the sword-wielding women of her imagination. A banker by day and a writer by night, she loves to eat chocolate, drink too many soft drinks, and walk the mountain trails of her home in North Carolina.
What Kind of Historical Romance Heroine Are You?


Exclusive Snippet

Catherine was minding her own business, cutting lilacs in the townhouse back garden when a hulking Scot vaulted over the wall and back into her life.
“I beg your pardon!” she said automatically, idiotically, standing with her pruning shears in one hand and her basket over her other arm. Part of her wanted to toss those shears at him in a fit of ire. But in the next moment, her calm reason asserted itself and she took a series of deep breaths. Blast him, Alexander Waters was still a beautiful man. She had hoped that he might have grown toady warts overnight.
No luck there.



How to Seduce a Scot by Christy English
First in her new Broadswords and Ballrooms series
ISBN: 9781492612872
Release date: December 1, 2015
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Read Lisa's review here!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Review of How to Seduce a Scot by Christy English

How to Seduce a Scot | Review

Alexander Waters, a tough, strong and
determined Scot with chocolate eyes
 has come to London.
He has come to find a husband for his

sister, Mary Elizabeth. The heathen.


Mary Elizabeth finds Catherine Middlebrook.
Catherine needs to marry. She needs to find
a biddable, quiet man. That's how she finds
Lord Namby Pamby. Well, that is Alexanders
name for him. Because he believes Lord
Namby Pamby is
not good enough for Catherine.
Alexander was only supposed to come to the

land of the uncivilized to find a husband for
Mary Elizabeth. Turns out Catherine is from the
county of Devon. That's practically Cornwall.
That's practically civilized. Which means that even
though their mother told him not to marry while
he was gone from home, Catherine may have figured
out How to Seduce a Scot, so Alexander may just
have to marry anyway.
This is a rollicking story of good fun, romance,

sibling love and family tolerance.
It is my first Christy English read. I would like to

read more of her now. I hope you will give it a
try and enjoy it as well.
This book is scheduled for release
on 1 December 2015.

I got my copy from Netgalley.
Review by Lisa Hutson




Monday, November 23, 2015

Daniel's True Desire by Grace Burrowes




Vicar Daniel Banks has appeared as a secondary character in several of Grace Burrowes novels. Readers adored Daniel and asked for a story solely devoted to him. I will admit I wasn't one of them. Lady Kirsten's story appealed more to me, not Daniel's. In this novel, Reverend  Banks has been adversely affected by scandal. His wife has left him and the child they raised is really Daniel's nephew.  Because of this disgrace, Daniel is now a vicar in need of a parish. I didn't view Daniel as a hero-- he's a nice man but, hero material? I had a hard time imagining brusque and impatient Lady Kirsten married to a parish vicar. Wait a minute...Daniel Banks is married. How could my heroine have a "happily ever after" with a married man?  What was Grace Burrowes thinking?

I wondered how one of my favorite authors could craft a romance between these problematic characters and that's what kept me reading Daniel's True Desire.


"You're the new Vicar?"
Amusement made this brusque, pretty woman an altogether different creature. She had mischief in her, and humor and secrets, also--where on earth did such thoughts come from?--kisses. Fun generous kisses. When she smiled, Lady Kirsten looked like the sort of female who'd pat a fellow's bum --in public.
The cold had made Daniel daft."Do I have horns or cloven feet to disqualify me from a religious calling, my lady?" She slapped the butter onto the bread, her movements confident.
"You have gorgeous brown eyes, a lovely nose--though it's a big red at the moment-- and a smile that suggests that you might get up to tricks, Mr. Banks. You could also use a trim of that brown hair. Ministers are not supposed to look dashing. I have two younger sisters who will suffer paroxysms  of religious conviction of you're to lead the flock.
Olivia had found Daniel's nose"unfortunate". Daniel found his entire marriage worthy of the same appellation.

Daniel's True Desire is the second book In the True Gentlemen series by Grace Burrowes. The novel seamlessly blends the opposites attract and the second chance romantic themes. Kirsten doesn't view Daniel as an impoverished 'has been" vicar whose wife left him.  She sees him as an intelligent, kind, patient man who truly enjoys teaching the local boys. Daniel looks past Kirsten's brusque demeanor. He sees a beautiful, intelligent woman whose laughter and kisses makes him happy. He wonders why she has never married. Daniel and Kirsten are attracted to each other but Daniel is married.

Both character's faith, love and commitment to each other and to their families are tested during the course of the well paced novel. The author carefully focuses on Daniel and Kirsten's friendship and the challenges of teaching the "rotten boys". Daniel is an honorable man who has taken vows with his wife and the church and will not break them. He will not cross the line and commit adultery. Daniel receives some news that changes his life. Will his friendship with Lady Kirsten change?

Loved the scenes where Daniel, Kirsten and Susannah meet with each boy's parents, especially when Kirsten and Susannah slyly suggest that the parents send weekly food baskets  to their sons. The banter between the sisters and the parents was cleverly written and very funny. And I loved it when the toads invaded the classroom! My favorite secondary plot involved Daniel and one of his students Matthias. Matthias had a difficult time with his classes and horseback lessons. He listened and understood his classroom lessons but could not pass a written exam and Matthias lacked confidence riding his pony. The author cleverly placed several clues throughout the novel regarding Matthias' difficulties. I enjoyed how this piece of the story played out.

The conclusion to the novel has a few surprises for Lady Kirsten and Vicar Banks. Daniel's late father provided him with a solution to his problem. Daniel needed to take time and sort through his father's belongings to understand how to move forward.  Together, Daniel and Kirsten face conflict and two well written villains in the last few chapters of the novel. The ending of this character driven novel was perfectly written for this couple.

And, yes Grace Burrowes convinced me that Daniel is a hero an honorable, kind hero to Lady Kirsten, his family and students. 



Reviewed by Susan Gorman
ARC provided by Sourcebooks