Review - Pleasuring the Lady by Jess Michaels

Once the game begins, there is no tearing your gaze away.

The Pleasure Wars, Book 2

Her mother’s madness and her father’s and brother’s irresponsibility have relegated Lady Portia to the life of a wallflower. The only shining light in her life is her best friend, Ava, who is suffering a rift with her own brother.

Portia’s quest to help takes her to the notorious Donville Masquerade in the hells, where—behind the safety of a mask—she witnesses shocking public acts of sin. And succumbs to the touch of Marquis Miles Weatherfield.

Unfortunately, they’re discovered. And now, tainted by scandal, she and Miles are destined for a marriage neither of them want. But Portia makes a bargain that raises even Miles’s eyebrows.

In return for saving her mother from the asylum, Portia will do anything Miles wants in bed. Shocked by his driving desire for Portia, Miles agrees. As they explore every wicked desire, every forbidden act that pleases them, they discover something that goes far deeper than flesh. But the lies that brought them together could be the very wedge that drives them apart.

Warning: This book contains wicked encounters, erotic voyeurism, lies, a brief threesome, and unexpected kindnesses.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Portia hasn't lived an easy life.  With a mother whose madness is well known, a father who liked to gamble, and a brother just like her father, Portia has become a wallflower.  She knows no respectable man will marry her so she's resigned her life to living with her mother and servant Potts in a cottage far away from the rest of society.  Afraid to leave her mother for fear of what her brother will do, Portia is forced to live in horrible conditions and with limited food.  

Worse than a lonely life, she feels the grief of her best friend Ava Windbury who has been unable to reconnect with her brother since she married his enemy Christian Rothcastle.  Her search will lead her to Donville Masquerade a place where sex and sin go hand and hand.  It's here that the elite go to find sex and to gamble.  Ava has said that it's rumored that her brother has been seen there, a place where any woman who goes will have her reputation ruined.

Portia has never felt the intimate touch of a man, the closest she's ever been to sex is the drawings she found among her brother's belongings.  That is until she puts on a mask and goes to the Donville Masquerade and finds Miles Weatherfield.  Miles is drawn to the woman with the mask, unaware that below the mask is Portia.  Portia has never been attracted to Miles like she is when he kisses her the first time, but Miles has no idea that under the mask is long time friend and occasional dance partner Portia.  It's here that she's found in a compromising position with Miles by her brother and it's either marry or she will be ruined.

Scared not only for her future but her mother's she will agree to do whatever Miles wants in bed to save her mother from the asylum that her brother wants her sent to.  She will discover passion like she's never before experienced in her life, but how far will she go before it grows to be too much for her?  When feelings become involved can they let go of their pasts and learn to care for one another?

I must say that I loved Taken by the Duke, but Pleasuring the Lady took my love for her work to a whole new level.  These two stories were so different and these characters so complex.  I loved every second of this book as Portia learned what true passion is and as she learns to let another care for her in a way she's never been cared for her entire life.  I look forward to the next book in the series because I know if there's one thing I can guarantee it's that the next book in this series will be just as great if not even better than the first two books.  Oh and if you haven't had a chance to read Taken by the Duke yet, you'll want to because it's well worth the read, 5 stars.

***ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review***

Jess Michaels began writing full-time in 1999 after being encouraged by her husband to follow her dream. In 2003, she sold her first novella to Red Sage Press, an erotic historical romance about an Egyptian tomb and a very sexy curse. Since then she has published (or has contracted to publish) nearly 50 novels, novellas and short stories under three different pen names with several major publishers, small presses and via self-publishing. Her erotic historical romances have been national bestsellers and won awards from booksellers and readers.

She and her husband live in Tucson, AZ. There she enjoys hiking in the beautiful desert, spending time with her nephews, designing jewelry, reading and spending time with her awesome husband and cats.

You can follow her newsletter by following this link:  http://www.authorjessmichaels.com/join-the-jess-michaels-newsletter/  (She raffles a FREE Kindle or Amazon gift certificate EVERY month to members of her newsletter)

Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter

As a reminder, don't forget to check out my giveaway going on now.  I am giving away one e-book of Taken by the Duke AND Pleasuring the Lady

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: My Highland Love by Tarah Scott - Review & Giveaway

How does a woman tell her betrothed that she murdered her first husband?

Shipwrecked in the Scottish Highlands, American heiress Elise Kingston quietly plans revenge for the deaths of her daughter and the brother who sacrificed his life to save her.

When Marcus MacGregor, Marquess of Ashlund, returns to his Highland home to discover a stunning American woman has been taken in by his clan, his attraction is instant and he resolves to make her his--no matter what secret she's keeping.

Elise is shocked by her need for Marcus and, too late, discovers that her feelings make him a target of her enemy--a man powerful enough to destroy even a Scottish nobleman.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | ARe

"Tavis," Elise snapped, finally within hearing range of the boy and his sister, "this time you've gone too far and have endangered your sister by leaving the castle."

His attention remained fixed on the thickening woods at the bottom of the hill and her frustration gave way to concern. They were only minutes from the village—a bare half an hour from the keep and safely on MacGregor land—but the boy had intended to go farther—much farther. He had just turned fourteen, old enough to carry out the resolve to find the men who had murdered his father, and too young to understand the danger.

Bonnie tugged on her cloak and Elise looked down at her. The little girl grinned and pointed to the wildflowers surrounding them. Elise smiled, then shoved back the hood of her cloak. Bonnie squatted to pick the flowers. Elise's heart wrenched. If only their father still lived. He would teach Tavis a lesson. Of course, if Shamus still lived, Tavis wouldn't be hunting for murderers.

Those men were guilty of killing an innocent, yet no effort had been made to bring them to justice. The disquiet that always hovered close to the surface caused a nervous tremor to ripple through her stomach. While Shamus's murderers would likely never go before a judge, if Price found her, his version of justice would be in the form of a noose around her neck for the crime of defending herself against a man who had tried to kill her—twice.

Any doubts about her stepfather's part in Amelia's death had been dispelled a month after arriving at Brahan Seer when she read a recent edition of the London Sunday Times brought by relatives for Michael MacGregor. She found no mention of the Amelia's sinking. Instead, a ten thousand pound reward for information leading to the whereabouts of her body was printed in the announcements section.

Reward? Bounty is what it was.

The advertisement gave the appearance that Price was living up to his obligations as President of Landen Shipping. But she knew he intended she reach Boston dead—and reach Boston she would, for without her body, he would have to wait five years before taking control of her fifty-one percent of Landen Shipping. She intended to slip the noose over his head first.

Elise caught sight of her trembling fingers, and her stomach heaved with the memory of Amelia's body sliding noiselessly from the ship into the ocean. She choked back despair. If she had suspected that Robert had been poisoning her daughter even a few months earlier—

"Flowers!"

Elise jerked at Bonnie's squeal. The girl stood with a handful of flowers extended toward her. Elise brushed her fingers across the white petals of the stitchwort and the lavender butterwort. She was a fool to involve herself with the people here, but when Shamus was murdered she been unable to remain withdrawn.

"Riders," Tavis said.

Elise tensed. "Where?"

"There." Tavis pointed into the trees.

She leaned forward and traced the line of his arm with her gaze. A horse's rump slipped out of sight into the denser forest. Goose bumps raced across her arms.

Elise straightened and yanked Bonnie into her arms "It will be dark soon—" Tavis faced her and she stopped short when his gaze focused on something behind her.

Elise looked over her shoulder. Half a dozen riders emerged from the forest across the meadow. She started. Good Lord, what had possessed her to leave Brahan Seer without a pistol? She was as big a fool as Tavis and without the excuse of youth. She slid Bonnie to the ground as the warriors approached. They halted fifteen feet away. Elise edged Bonnie behind her when one of the men urged his horse closer. Her pulse jumped. Was it possible to become accustomed to the size of these Highland men?

She flushed at the spectacle of his open shirt but couldn't stop her gaze from sliding along the velvety dark hair that trailed downward and tapered off behind a white lawn shirt negligently tucked into his kilt. The large sword strapped to his hip broke the fascination.

How many had perished at the point of that weapon?

The hard muscles of his chest and arms gave evidence—many.

The man directed a clipped sentence in Gaelic to Tavis. The boy started past her, but she caught his arm. The men wore the red and green plaide of her benefactors the MacGregors, but were strangers.

"What do you want?" She cursed the curt demand that had bypassed good sense in favor of a willing tongue.

Except for a flicker of surprise across the man's face, he sat unmoving.

Elise winced inwardly, remembering her American accent, but said in a clear voice, "I asked what you want."

Leather groaned when he leaned forward on his saddle. He shifted the reins to the hand resting in casual indolence on his leg and replied in English, "I asked the boy why he is unarmed outside the castle with two females."

Elise has lost the only thing that has ever mattered to her.  On a ship named after her daughter Amelia she's out to solve the mystery of her illness.  That is until her daughter dies on the ship leaving her devastated and with so many unanswered questions.  A pawn in a game to control Landon Shipping and Elise's 51% share her husband is out to kill her after poisoning their daughter.  On a ship trapped with her husband who is trying to kill her and her brother Steven who will do anything to save his sister after the lost of his niece, a move that lands him shot and dying on the deck of the ship.  After shooting her husband, Elise is thrown overboard where she watches her husband die.  She washes ashore in the Scottish Highlands and is taken in to recover by a couple.  It's here that she becomes close to Cameron and the other members of Brahan Seer where she lies in wait for her moment to exact her revenge against her step father.  Trapped in the Scottish Highlands and awaiting the wanted ads for her capture to disappear from the London paper she works as a servant lying in wait hoping no one will discover she's actually Elisabeth Kingston and wanted for murdering her husband.

Marcus MacGregor, Marquess of Ashlund returns to his homeland after his trip to London to discover Travis, Bonnie, and an unknown woman with them. He's surprised to discover that Elise is American and not Scottish. Right from the start, he's fighting his growing attraction toward her. The closer the get to one another the more determined he is to make her his own. But with the treat of the Campbell's constantly invading MacGregor land since Elise has come to stay with them, her attempt to escape to back to Boston become more and more difficult. Questions begin to arise about Elise every time she tries to leave Brahan Seer and Marcus is determined that she not leave and with the support of his father Cameron she is trapped within their walls.

Marcus wants to make Elise his own, not having felt so strongly for a woman his first marriage being a political move. Elise fights her attraction to Marcus in every way she can knowing that leaving him would only break his heart. Even with her attempt to avoid him, their attraction and passion for one another can only be delayed for so long. But when her secrets start to rise to the surface and her loyalty comes into question can she prove to Marcus that she wants a life with him and to finally find happiness in her life?

I loved Marcus. He was loyal, dominant, and caring toward Elise at all times. I have read several Scottish Highland novels, but this one ranks near the top of my favorites. This story was interesting since Elise was always trying to run away from Marcus whenever she could manage to. His passion and loyalty was something to behold and I enjoyed all the characters in this story, I look forward to reading more books in this series in the future, 4 stars.

***ARC provided in exchange for a honest review***

Award winning author Tarah Scott cut her teeth on authors such as Georgette Heyer, Zane Grey, and Amanda Quick. Her favorite book is a Tale of Two Cities, with Gone With the Wind as a close second. She writes modern classical romance, and paranormal and romantic suspense. Tarah grew up in Texas and currently resides in Westchester County, New York with her daughter.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tarah's Reading Group

1 signed print copy of "My Highland Love"

1 eBook copy of "My Highland Love" 

(2 separate winners)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My review: Taken by the Duke by Jess Michaels

Happy release day to Jess Michaels!!!

An eye for an eye, a sin for a sin…

The Pleasure Wars, Book 1

Amid all the lies and scandals that fuel Society’s gossip mill, one truth has stood out: House Rothcastle and House Windbury have always hated each other.

Lady Ava Windbury prays the feud will someday end, to no avail. One dreadful night, her brother accidentally causes the death of Christian Rothcastle’s sister, a tragedy that leaves both men maimed.

Consumed by grief, Christian makes a grim decision. He will kidnap Lady Ava so that her family will feel the pain of loss as keenly as he feels the loss of his own sister. But once he has Ava in his clutches, desire takes unexpected hold. Even more surprising, she willingly surrenders to his every sexual whim—after haggling over the terms of giving up her virginity.

Too late, he realizes she is using her body for peace, not war. But just as their affair of revenges turns into an affair of the heart, the past rears its ugly head to take matters into its own hands…

Warning: This book contains scenes of erotic seduction, sexual revenge and the healing power of love.

If there is one genre that I have a soft spot for it's historical romance.  Not just any historical romance, but erotic historical romance complete with a Duke.  When I took on this review I knew I would enjoy this book but more than the erotic aspect of it, I loved the story of this book.  Christian really takes an eye for an eye to a whole new level.

Welcome to the war between the House Rothcastle and House Windbury.  No one alive knew why they never got along, but some long ago deceased relative started a war between the two families and it has raged for decades.  But when the war goes to a whole new level leaving Christian Rothcastle and Liam Windbury severely injured and Christian's sister dead the war explodes.  Stricken with grief, Christian will do anything and I mean anything to make the Windbury family suffer.  So what better way than to go after Liam's own sister,  Ava. 

Ava has been a wallflower for as long as she can remember.  The feud between her family and the Windbury family has left her without any suitors.  She is forced to only interact with her aunt and her friend Portia and the few other women who only want to gain gossip from her.  It's not until one night at a party that she sees Christian again does something spark deep within her.  Christian still shows signs of the accident in his limp and the cane he now walks with but he returns to society anyway 6 months after the death of his sister.  He devises a plan, kidnap Ava and make her brother feel lost without her the way he now feels about his sister.  Christian's plan works, but he's surprised to find that Ava isn't like any other woman that he has encountered before.  She's defiant and so very sure of herself, showing no fear even though she is scared.  But not scared of Christian, scared of what she is feeling towards him.

The original plan was for her to just stay and he would let her go unharmed after he felt her brother had suffered her loss, but Christian quickly decides that he must have Ava for himself even for just a short period of time.  So he makes Ava a deal that she cannot refuse.  Sacrifice her virginity to him and he would let that pay the debt for her what her brother has done.  Ava will do anything to try and stop the way between the two families which has ripped both families apart so she agrees.  What Christian didn't except was not only for Ava to accept to stay for three weeks and have an affair with him, but what he feels when they are finally together.  Christian is determined to make their affair only of a sexual nature but as time goes on and they grow closer to one another and their attraction grows, Christian feels his walls begin to break down and he lets Ava see the real him that no one ever gets to see.  But deep down to Christian she is still the enemy and that is a fact he cannot overlook for a long time.

He finally decides that if Ava wants to leave, he'll let her go but she doesn't want to leave and is determined to stay for the entire agreement.  So what happens with their feelings begin to grow towards truly caring for one another and what happens with Liam finds them together?  Join Ava and Christian as they discover truths about what Christian's sister was really trying to do and who among them wants to hurt the Windbury family more than Christian does?  But most of all will Christian ever be willing to accept Ava for who she is and let go of the hurt he feels deep in his heart?

I loved this story.  I felt like I was right there along side the characters in this story and that is part of the reason why I love to read these stories.  The characters were very well thought out and is was a beautiful story. Jess just has a way with words that draws you into the story and you find yourself up late at night reading, engrossed in the story and in serious need of a fan on more than one occasion.  This was my first novel by Jess but it will not be my last as I look forward to reading the other novels in the Pleasure Wars series.  This was an easy 5 stars for me!

***ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review***

Jess Michaels began writing full-time in 1999 after being encouraged by her husband to follow her dream. In 2003, she sold her first novella to Red Sage Press, an erotic historical romance about an Egyptian tomb and a very sexy curse. Since then she has published (or has contracted to publish) nearly 50 novels, novellas and short stories under three different pen names with several major publishers, small presses and via self-publishing. Her erotic historical romances have been national bestsellers and won awards from booksellers and readers.
She and her husband live in Tucson, AZ. There she enjoys hiking in the beautiful desert, spending time with her nephews, designing jewelry, reading and spending time with her awesome husband and cats.

Website | Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Facebook

My Review: The Quiver of a Kiss by Sarah Daltry

Title: The Quiver of a Kiss

The Seduction of Helen of Troy

Author: Sarah Daltry

Genre: Historical Romance

This is the story you were never told about Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships. A bargaining chip for her father and brothers, Helen learned of seduction and lust but was denied love until one of her suitors, a young Odysseus, showed her a world she had always imagined. Despite her wishes, however, she is married to Menelaus and her fate is decided for her. That is until a young man from Troy named Paris ignites in her a desire she cannot control. Together, they will test the power of the gods and give in to passion that will lead them to be remembered throughout history.

Of course being the movie buff that I once was, I know all about Helen of Troy since I have seen the film Troy about twenty times.  What I loved about this book was that it gave you a different look at Helen of Troy the face that launched a thousand ships.  She was a beautiful woman and everyone knows the story about how Paris took her back with him to Troy which caused Menelaus to rage an all out war for revenge and to get her back.  What you don't see especially with the film Troy was the woman behind that story how she came to be the way that she was and the heartache that she experienced throughout the years of her life. 

Helen was in an arranged marriage with Menelaus but he did not love her it was more of an understand that she was to give him children and he could do whatever he wanted.  Years go by they have a daughter, but Helen lacks the love she felt when in the arms of Odysseus one of the suitors who she wanted to marry.  Alone and miserable she turns to Paris when he is visiting from Troy and so begins their affair.  From here you get to see the all out war that is raged against Troy that will destroy the city.  It really is a great story that I love to hear about and I really appreciated how the author gives you a different look into Helen's story outside of the war aspect.

So if you are looking for a short read this would be it.  To say it's short and sweet wouldn't be the correct term.   To say it's short and sexy would be better because the scenes in this book are electric.  I give it four stars!

***Copy provided in exchange for an honest review***

I have been writing for quite some time although I have only had the nerve to go public with my writing recently. My work ranges from short stories to novels, and it goes along the spectrum from romantic to raunchy. This is an exciting summer for me, so keep an eye out for new works!

In the meantime, if you're looking for something romantic, check out "The Quiver of a Kiss." If you want steamy, the "First Timers" collections are a good place to start.

Sometimes I provide a little tease on my website: http://sarahdaltry.com.

Follow me on Twitter @SarahDaltry or like me on Facebook (Sarah Daltry Erotica). My email is sarah.daltry@gmail.com.

Promotion Event: Kiss Me, Curse Me by Kate Shay

Title: Kiss Me, Curse Me

Author: Kate Shay

Release date: March 6, 2013

Genre: Paranormal/Historical Fiction

Age Group: Young Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BPGECHK

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17668802-kiss-me-curse-me

Book Description:

This is a story of a kiss--a simple kiss. . . and a boy. . . and a girl.

It's the Great Depression, but you would barely know it in Dam Town. The building of the great Carnee Dam has brought money, men, and mischief into an otherwise seemingly quiet desert community.

Ahanu is an outcast, born into a culture that despises him. He is Native American, of the land, a free spirit. If he wasn't in love with a girl that was already taken, maybe he could spend his days in the forest just as he pleases, but life isn't that simple.

Coreen is on a path to nowhere, dating the typical boy, and doing as her father always asks, or that's how it appears. On one moonlit night, her fate becomes entwined in an old curse unlocked by the boy of her dreams--true love--Ahanu.

This curse is old and it will have its way, it will do its damage.

Excerpt:

She giggled quietly as they entered the gaping hole that burrowed into the mountain.

“Shhhhh,” he whispered.

She giggled again.

“I’m serious . . . be quiet.” Ahanu put his finger to his generous lips.

The flame was almost about to burn out, so Ahanu ripped the second arm off his shirt and wrapped it around. In the brightness, he caught the flames dancing in her sapphire blues. He held the torch up and out and took her hand in his.

“You’ve never been here before?” she whispered.

“No. I’ve come close, but ran back.”

“Oh. You  scared?”

“No . . . mmm . . . maybe. . .”

The opening was small compared to how large it actually was inside. The cave ceiling loomed high above, then tapered farther back to a crouching level. The light didn’t carry that far back, and they didn’t want to venture so far anyway.

“Stop,” he whispered.

There was a large, lone rock, shaped as if to invite seating. He leaned the torch staff against the wall. They sat down together, Ahanu’s heart pounding away in nervousness. He wondered if hers was doing the same. At first they said nothing, did nothing, other than listen to one another’s steady breath. He let out a sigh and she did as well. They caught each other’s gaze. She smiled, and he leaned in for that first kiss.

The waiting had been killing him inside. Ahanu felt his stomach burn and recoil as their lips touched. Her lips were softer than he had imagined, and any other active thoughts in his mind vanished as he allowed himself to experience his Coreen. He took his hand and slipped it at the base of her head under her silky hair and tugged slightly. She let out a soft moan, so he tugged a little harder, pulling her head away just enough so that their lips separated. The look in her eyes was only one of want, so he got back to it.

About the Author

Kate Shay was born in Scotland under a full moon amongst the misty moors. Her homeland calls to her still, but now she basks in the Seattle rains and visits the Isle only in her dreams.

She took creative writing in college for two years and has been writing for the last five years. She keeps a diary with her sad and romantic poems for when she's in the mood: usually it's after watching The English Patient--her favorite all-time movie.

Connect With Author

Blog Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway