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Lisa Kleypas writes romance, both contemporary and historical. This one is historical, and terrific!

Devon Ravenel has inherited an earldom from his cousin, which he is none too happy about. The earldom includes a large estate that has fallen into serious disrepair after years of neglect, along with substantial debt. The former Earl’s wife and sisters are living in the manse and Devon decides to visit, kick them all out and sell off all the property. But when he gets there, he finds it’s not as easy as he thought it would be.

For one thing, his cousin’s widow Kathleen is stunning, and gets under his skin immediately. They butt heads constantly, but eventually Devon decides to keep the property. He send his drunken brother out to find out exactly what needs to be done, and with Kathleen’s sharp tongue keeping him in check, and sober, the work begins.

Eventually the romance heats up, but Devon has a love ’em and leave ’em reputation, and Kathleen isn’t interested – or so she thinks. This is a fast paced romance filled with snarky humor, my favorite kind. I can’t wait for the next book in this series – Marrying Winterborne (May 2016.)

1/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

COLD-HEARTED RAKE by Lisa Kleypas. Avon (October 27, 2015). ISBN 978-0062371812. 416p.

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The Fenwick Sisters Affairs, Book 1

The Fenwick sisters share an historic home that has fallen into serious disrepair since their father’s death in a duel. They have been selling off whatever they can to survive, until finally Lady Ivy Fenwick decides to answer an ad for a governess position with the nearby Duke of Ellsworth.

Lady Ivy had her coming out before her father’s death, and attended a ball where she was kissed by a stranger. He knew who she was though, so when the Duke of Ellsworth sees her applying for employment, he immediately hires her.

While she’s an excellent governess, she proves to be quite a temptation for the Duke, and he for her. When another man starts courting her for all the wrong reasons, the Duke does not take it very well.

This was a charming read with some humor and a terrific romance. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

1/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

FORBIDDEN TO LOVE THE DUKE by Jillian Hunter. Signet (February 3, 2015). ISBN 978-0451470133. 352p.

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Read on to find out how you can win a copy of the first book in the series, The Game and the Governess!

Winner Takes All, Book 2

In the first book of the series, the Earl of Asbury trades places with his secretary, John Turner, for a bet. While posing as the Earl, Turner falls in love with the visiting widow, Leticia, Countess of Churzy, but as soon as she finds out he is just a secretary, she dumps him and storms off.

This sequel follows John Turner and the Countess. She has been traveling, trying to stay one step ahead of all the stories about her misalliance. While in Paris she meets a lovely older gentleman, Sir Barty, and quickly agrees to become his wife.

Sir Barty brings her back to his small hometown, where she meets his daughter, a young woman who is a serious botanist in need of some guidance and a husband. Leticia is sure she can make a go of things but is forced to wait the requisite number of weeks while the banns are read in Church. Much to her horror, she finds herself face to face with John Turner.

Turner’s mill is in this same small town, and his mother is great friends with Sir Barty, so they are often forced together. Something is afoot with the mill, and Turner is determined to get it running again but is quite distracted by his Letty. Try as they might to keep away from each other, sometimes true love is like magnetic north, and the pull is simply irresistible.

This was a terrific story with humor, pathos, and a bit of mystery in addition to the heated romance. I am looking forward to the next book in this series!

To win your own copy of The Game and the Governess, the first book in the “Winner Takes All” series, please send an email to contest@gmail.com with “GOVERNESS” as the subject.

You must include your U.S. street address in your email.

All entries must be received by Jan 21, 2016. One (1) name will be drawn from all qualified entries and notified via email. This contest is open to all adults over 18 years of age in the United States only. Your prize will be sent by the publisher.

One entry per email address. Subscribers to the monthly newsletter earn an extra entry into every contest. Follow this blog to earn another entry into every contest. Winners may win only one time per year (365 days) for contests with prizes of more than one book. Your email address will not be shared or sold to anyone.

Good luck!

1/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE LIE AND THE LADY by Kate Noble. Pocket Books (December 29, 2015). ISBN 978-1476749396. 384p.

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Winner Takes All, Book 1

Read on to find out how you can win your own copy!

The Earl of Ashby, Lucky Ned to his friends, is sure he garners all the attention he does because of his innate charm. His old army captain, John Turner, is a mill owner down on his luck after his mill burns down, not once, but twice. Turner is working for the Earl as his secretary, trying to save enough to reopen his mill.

When the Earl is informed that he needs to make a decision about selling his mother’s home where he grew up, he decides to visit it one more time before he sells it. He hasn’t been back since he was a boy. His secretary will accompany him, and then Turner makes Lucky Ned a bet he can’t resist. They will trade places, Turner impersonating the Earl, and the Earl posing as Turner. Furthermore, the Earl has to get a woman to fall in love with him without revealing who he really is. If he wins, Turner will earn enough to reopen his mill, and if he loses, the Earl gets the mill.

There are rules and such, but the bet is on and they arrive in the small town to meet the family they will be staying with, and their visiting friends. Ned, posing as Turner, is determined to win the bet and the governess will fit the bill. Or will she?

I picked this up because it was on many of the best romances of the year lists and I liked it, but I found the back and forth and who was who a bit confusing at times. I did like the humor and the characters, and it all came together really well and I can see why it ended up on those lists. The sequel, The Lie and the Lady, just came out and I liked that one even more.

To win your own copy of The Game and the Governess, please send an email to contest@gmail.com with “GOVERNESS” as the subject.

You must include your U.S. street address in your email.

All entries must be received by Jan 21, 2016. One (1) name will be drawn from all qualified entries and notified via email. This contest is open to all adults over 18 years of age in the United States only. Your prize will be sent by the publisher.

One entry per email address. Subscribers to the monthly newsletter earn an extra entry into every contest. Follow this blog to earn another entry into every contest. Winners may win only one time per year (365 days) for contests with prizes of more than one book. Your email address will not be shared or sold to anyone.

Good luck!

1/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE GAME AND THE GOVERNESS by Kate Noble. Pocket Books (July 22, 2014). ISBN 978-1476749389. 432p.

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The Sinful Suitors, Book 1

I finally started a series with the first book, and now I can’t wait for the next!

Jeremy Keane is an American hiding out in Europe. After his father’s death, he and his sister inherited the family’s hugely successful mills, and she is running the business and doing a good job of it.

Jeremy has always wanted to be an artist, and is making a name for himself in England – and also a reputation as a rakehell. (I just love these old English words that pop up in all these historicals.) Known for frequenting bordellos, Jeremy is in search of his next model but can’t seem to find her there. He attends a ball and spots a woman across the room that he is just drawn to. She is Lady Yvette Barlow, and her brother Edwin is her protector.

Edwin has been having a rough go of finding a husband for his sister. Keane talks him into a portrait, which Edwin thinks will portray her in a marriageable way. Really.

Keane is completely smitten with the lady but believes it to be lust, although he’s never felt this way before, not even with nude models. The Lady is trying to find her debauched and imprisoned brother’s bastard, and enlists Keane’s help.

Both sets of families have secrets, and ferreting out the truth leads Yvette and Jeremy down a rocky road fraught with hot sex and eventually love. Great characters make a great love story and that is the case here. I stayed up late into the night to finish and was happily rewarded with a terrific ending.

1/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE ART OF SINNING by Sabrina Jeffries. Pocket Books (July 21, 2015). ISBN 978-1476786063. 400p.

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Noah Winters is the Duke of Anselm, and he promised his parents that he would marry by his 32nd birthday, which is rapidly approaching. He has been courting Marliss, but after several weeks she agrees to marry someone else. Noah does not want to dishonor his parents’ memory, so he asks Marliss’ companion, Lady Thea Collins, to marry him. She has been chaperoning him and Marliss and he feels comfortable with her.

Lady Thea has also lost her parents. She cares for her younger sister and her brother, who is old enough to take care of himself but instead is just running wild, leaving Lady Thea to negotiate her own wedding agreement. She is reluctant to marry the Duke, but he sweetens the pot by agreeing to allow her younger sister to live with them and to give her a good dowry, and that is enough for Lady Thea.

These two virtual strangers marry and then learn to love one another. Beginning with a proposal was a really interesting twist on the romance genre, and watching this couple learn about each other and fall in love was truly heart warming. I loved it.

12/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE DUKE’S DISASTER by Grace Burrowes. Sourcebooks Casablanca (April 7, 2015). ISBN 978-1492605300. 448p.

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Seduction Diaries, Book 2

Lucy Westmore has no interest in getting married. She vaguely remembers a spinster aunt, long estranged from the family, who dies and leaves Lucy her farm in Cornwall and her diary.

Lucy’s father decides to sell the farm but Lucy rebels and reminds her father that she is the proper owner. Then she takes off for the farm, determined to see her property and perhaps live there as well. On her journey, she reads her aunt’s diary that is filled with advice on men, being a spinster, and more.

Lord Thomas Branston has been taking care of the property and is the potential buyer. He is determined to convince Lucy to sell, but she is just as stubborn as he is. As she adjusts to life in Cornwall, romance ensues with the young, damaged Lord.

As usual, I missed the first book in this series but I’m going to find it. This was terrific!

11/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SPINSTERS GUIDE TO SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR by Jennifer McQuiston. Avon (November 24, 2015). ISBN 978-0062335128. 400p.

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Seduction Diaries, Book 1

Clare Westmore is the eldest daughter of a Viscount and entering her second season.  She has her sights on Mr. Alban, heir to a dukedom, and thinks she is pretty and popular enough to snag him.

Shortly after the season begins, she has a nasty fall while walking in the park with her younger siblings and badly sprains her ankle. Determined to dance anyway, she attends a ball when she is spied by the head-turningly handsome young doctor, Daniel Merial. He realizes she is limping and approaches her, and she is haughty but really hurting.

Merial ends up attending her and insists on several weeks of bed rest. As his visits continue, Clare starts having feelings for him but fights them off, as he is not a suitable suitor. Meanwhile, her friends, and I use the term loosely, have been spreading rumors about her, trying to sabotage her relationship with Mr. Alban.

This is an interesting look at society and the classes with even a bit of politics thrown in. Lots of twists make this a fun read before the invariably happy ending.

This is the first book in the series, and the second book is even better.

11/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

DIARY OF AN ACCIDENTAL WALLFLOWER by Jennifer McQuiston. Avon (February 24, 2015). ISBN 978-0062335012. 384p.