Gwen’s reviews of three completely different books by Eloisa James, Noelle Mack, and Kresley Cole
Historical Romance, Contemporary Erotica, and Contemporary Paranormal Romance

I read books all the time, squeezing a couple of pages in every chance I get – eating lunch, in line at the bank, while I’m on hold – but I don’t always review every book. Below you’ll find three books that I read but, for whatever reason, I didn’t want to do a full-blown review. So read on for three short reviews of three completely different books:

~ Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James
~ Nights In Black Leather by Noelle Mack
~ Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole

Desperate Duchesses (Desperate Duchesses, Book 1) by Eloisa James (very nifty author site)
Historical romance released by Avon 29 May 07

I read this because Lime’s recent review of the third book in this series, Duchess by Night, made it sound so intriguing. And I liked this book. It took me a few chapters to get into it – I wasn’t sure who the hero or heroine were at first. Reading the first half of Desperate Duchesses is a bit like watching one of Robert Altman’s large ensemble cast movies – lots of intertwining story lines, all supporting some secrets, some heartache, some light romance, and myriad different details. By the time you get to the second half, it’s apparent who is pursuing whom, but you aren’t dumped into the relationship at the beginning, and that is actually kind of refreshing.

I enjoyed this book as a departure from the average historical. I really liked the dialog in it – intelligent and quick. I sort of liked the hero and heroine, but liked the ensemble cast more. Recommended for fans of non-traditional historical romances.

Grade: B

Summary:

A marquess’s sheltered only daughter, Lady Roberta St. Giles falls in love with a man she glimpses across a crowded ballroom: a duke, a chess player of consummate skill, a notorious rake who shows no interest in marriage — until he lays eyes on Roberta.

Yet the Earl of Gryffyn knows too well that the price required to gain a coronet is often too high. Damon Reeve, the earl, is determined to protect the exquisite Roberta from chasing after the wrong destiny.

Can Damon entice her into a high-stakes game of his own, even if his heart is likely to be lost in the venture?.

Read an excerpt and an even longer excerpt.

Nights In Black Leather by Noelle Mack (no author site found)
Contemporary erotic romance released by Aphrodisia 1 Jun 08

I had a really time with this book. I kept reading, but just didn’t like or believe in its premise. I skipped around it looking for something compelling to draw me into the romance, or even just the sex, and never did find it. I really didn’t like the hero – he was not appealing to me.

Grade: DNF

Summary:

She Said “Yes.”

London is a playground for international financier Adam Bowlin-it’s where he earned his fortune and his take-charge reputation. The man is big, bold, and wickedly handsome, and women can’t get enough of what he has to give. Adam is a master of pleasure, dominant by nature, with sexual skills beyond compare. And when Lara Stone, the firm’s beautiful and brilliant new associate, walks into his office, he sees a look in her not-so-innocent eyes that he understands completely. Behind closed doors, Adam and Lara come together to explore her darkest and most secret fantasies… one by one. Giving her what she longs for-what she needs-becomes his only desire. For the first time in his life, Adam is madly, truly, deeply in love…

Read an excerpt.

Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, Book 5) by Kresley Cole
Contemporary paranormal romance released by Pocket 20 May 08

What can I say that hasn’t already been said? This was an excellent book. I loved the hero, loved the heroine. Loved the very interesting elements of the heroine’s OCD and the hero’s complete acceptance of them. Just a terrific book. Read it.

(Is it bad that I keep typing this as “Dark Desires After Duck”?)

Grade: A

Summary:

A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can’t resist… Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

A tormented warrior she should fear, but can’t deny… Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon’s wicked touch.

Surrender to dark desires… Yet just when he earns Holly’s trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs — and claim his heart?

Read an excerpt.