Category Archives: Realistic

July 26, 2015 · 5:02 pm

Her Last Fling: A Bacherlorette Party Confession by Ava Sterling

Her Last Fling: A Bachelorette Party ConfessionHer Last Fling: A Bachelorette Party Confession by Ava Sterling

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Title: Her Last Fling
Author: Ava Sterling
Series: Bachelorette Party Confession
Pages: 16
Publisher: Red Lace Publishing
Date: July 8, 2015

Summary:

Susan is nervous. Who wouldn’t be nervous the night before her wedding?

She spends her bachelorette party with her best friend at a male strip club but ends up leaving early. Within minutes, she bumps into the stripper that gyrated over her lap an hour ago. After a glass of wine, she sees her friend walking past–near enough to spot her sharing a drink with a man other than her fiancé.

In an attempt to evade being caught, Susan rushes in the direction of the stripper’s hotel room. Now she must decide between getting a good night’s sleep for her wedding or being tangled in the sheets with her new mystery man.

Review:

I am not normally one for short stories because they feel rushed to me and there is not enough time for character development. This one, however, is about a one night stand, so it’s meant to be rushed.

I liked the fact that the author didn’t go straight into the sex scenes. There was a build up with some backstory with Susan and her friend, as well as a slow seduction in the bar with Mark. The description of Mark makes it easy to understand why Susan allowed herself to be seduced.

My problem with the story is in the content. Mark seduces a woman who is obviously drunk. As a matter of fact, he keeps pressing more drinks on her. He doesn’t wear a condom and Susan seems to be thrilled by that. Not to mention, she is cheating on her fiance. Cheating is definitely a hard limit for me.

Finally, Susan realizes that her fiance is not all that interested in having sex with her. I think that is supposed to be a rationale for cheating.

Why is she marrying this guy?

Her Last Fling is a quick read with some excellent male stripper scenes. However, I can’t bring myself to like either of the main characters.

I received a copy of this story from the author for an honest review.

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July 26, 2015 · 6:44 am

The Closer You Come (Original Heartbreakers, #1) by Gena Showalter

The Closer You Come (The Original Heartbreakers, #1)The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: The Closer You Come
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: The Original Heartbreakers, #1
Pages: 434
Publisher: HQN Books
Date: March 31, 2015

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter introduces the Original Heartbreakers, where three not-quite-reformed bad boys are about to meet the women who will bring them to their knees.

Just released from prison, Jase Hollister has a dark and twisted past. And now, he has only one goal: stay out of trouble. Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, sounds like the perfect place for him and his two brothers-by-circumstance to settle down and live a nice, simple life. But model citizen isn’t exactly this rugged bachelor’s default setting—especially when it comes to a certain hot-blooded Southern beauty…

Brook Lynn Dillon has always been responsible. Not that it’s done her much good. The down-on-her-luck waitress is broke, single and fun-deprived. Until Jase comes along. He is dangerous, stunningly protective, breathtakingly sexy and as tempting as sin, and the passion sizzling between them is undeniable. But can it melt her resistance? After all, the right kind of trouble might be just what they both need.

Review:

Read the prequel, The One You Want, first. It’s not really, really necessary, but it will help you understand some relationships.

I am not sure what to say about this book. I enjoyed it and read it in less than two days. The characters are likable, but the situations they came from can be heartbreaking. These people have real problems, both emotional and physical.
Having said that, it is not a dark book. Brook Lynn brings new levels to the word snarky. One of my favorite scenes is when she gives Jase a tube of Preparation H because he told her she was a pain in his ass.

I loved her . . . and she loves Jase. Now that is a man with problems. Fortunately, Brook Lynn loves him enough to fight for him.

Do we get a happily ever after? Of course. It is a romance after all. What we don’t get is butterflies and moonbeams. Brook Lynn will always have a physical problem and Jase will always have problems with his temper. However, both of them love the other and are willing to fight for the relationship.

Jase’s best friends, Beck and West, are integral to the story as is Brook Lynn’s sister Jessie Kay. They get their own books too. The Hotter You Burn and The Harder You Fall come out in 2015. I can’t wait to read them both.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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July 23, 2015 · 2:23 pm

Begging for It (Asking for It, #2) by Lilah Pace

Begging for It (Asking for It, #2)Begging for It by Lilah Pace

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: Begging for It
Author: Lilah Pace
Series: Asking for It, #2
Pages: 352
Publisher: Berkley
Date: September 1, 2015

Summary:

The provocative author of Asking for It once again explores the dark side of erotic obsession, and the secrets that make it as dangerous as it is irresistible.

Some secrets should only be shared in the dark.

Jonah and Vivienne’s erotic bond—living out raw scenarios of captivity and force—began as no-strings sex between strangers who shared the same desires. Now the intimacy between them is turning into love, but it’s a love built on fantasies so extreme that exploring them makes guilt inescapable. But the risks they’re taking are far more dangerous than they’d imagined.

A stalker is terrorizing the city, and one of Jonah’s ex-lovers names him as a potential suspect to the police. Standing by a man under suspicion could cost Vivienne everything. But when Jonah’s stepfather takes advantage of the scandal to seize control of the Marks family fortune, Vivienne is drawn into her lover’s broken family and twisted past. Only then will she learn how dark the truth really is…

Review:

If you read my review of the previous book in this series, Asking for It, you know I only had one criticism of it. The ending was unresolved. It was not really a cliffhanger, but there was not a “happily ever after.” Now that I have read Begging for It, I am okay with that. A relationship containing so much turmoil as Jonah’s and Vivienne’s requires more than one book to resolve it.

Since it’s hard to discuss the beginning of this book without giving away the ending of the first, I am going to just skip right over that.

Jonah and Vivienne ran into some problems and they are trying to work things out between themselves. Jonah has even attended a counseling session with Vivienne’s therapist. Just when you think progress is being made, Jonah is suspected of being the campus rapist.

Jonah’s stepfather uses the scandal to try and take over the family company which brings Jonah’s siblings into the picture. Talk about a dysfunctional family and they all have plenty of reasons to be.

Although this book is focused on Jonah’s and Vivienne’s relationship, it is also about their relationships with others. The inclusion of friends and family helps them to see that they are not alone and they are not to blame for what happened to them in the past. They need that because both of them, but especially Jonah, have isolated themselves from the world.

Both of these books show an extreme side of sexual kink and because of the rape fantasy, I am sure they are not for everybody. I, however, loved them. I did not think I would. I was hesitant to read the first one at all, but they are amazingly well done.

According to Goodreads, Lilah Pace is a pseudonym for a New York Times bestselling author. I can believe it. These books are too well written to be debut novels. Now I want to know the identity of the author so I can read more of her books.

Begging for It has the solid ending I was wanting. There is a sense of completion and hope for Jonah and Vivienne. However, there are also plenty of characters introduced who need their own stories. I really, really hope we get them.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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July 3, 2015 · 3:07 pm

Broken Play (Birmingham Rebels, #1) by Samantha Kane

Broken Play (Birmingham Rebels, #1)Broken Play by Samantha Kane

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Broken Play
Author: Samantha Kane
Series: Birmingham Rebels, #1
Pages: 235
Publisher: Loveswept
Date: September 1, 2015

Summary:

Birmingham Rebels offensive linemen Beau Perez and Cass Zielinski are inseparable, on and off the field. Cass, the captain with the cowboy swagger, is a loose cannon. Beau, the veteran tight end, is cool under pressure. And ever since they were caught on tape in a steamy threesome, their exploits have fueled more than a few tabloid headlines—and naughty fantasies.
Marian Treadwell knows all about the video. And now that she’s the Rebels’ new assistant offensive coach, she can’t look at Beau and Cass without picturing their hard, naked bodies—with her pressed in between. Marian would like nothing more than to indulge those impulses, but she knows better than to get too close to her players, a bunch of adrenaline-fueled alpha males who don’t always follow the rules.
Just the thought of sharing the gorgeous yet guarded Marian drives Cass wild. At first, Beau isn’t sure she’s right for them . . . and lately, all he desires is a little alone time with Cass to explore their new intimacy. But it’s only a matter of time before Cass breaks through both of their defenses. Because when seduction is the game plan, he always plays to win.

Review:

The description above describes this book, but it leaves out more than it tells.

Beau is a recovering drug/alcohol addict and still sees himself as a screwup and not worthy of anyone’s time. Cass is the person who pulled him out of his addictions and has taken responsibility for his continued soberness.

And they’re in love and neither will admit it.

Sharing women is the only way they can be close to each other without acknowledging the truth.

Marian has been in the football world her entire life. Her father is a college coach and she has worked in the sport since she was a child.

She has also discovered just how entitled some players can be. She knows that they cannot always be trusted.

She has always fantasised about being with two men, but she thinks there is something wrong with her for wanting it.

Obviously, the three of them are made for each other.

I love Samantha Kane’s books, especially her Brothers in Arms series. There is wonderful m/m/f sex, but the emotion is what sets her books apart.

I think this series is going to be even more emotionally satisfying that the Brothers in Arms and that is hard for me to believe.

There is a twist towards the end that for a minute I thought was going to be more than I could accept. But it worked. Man, did it work.

Time for a cold drink and a fan to cool things off.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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July 2, 2015 · 6:08 pm

The Lure of the Moonflower (Pink Carnation, #12) by Lauren Willig

The Lure of the Moonflower (Pink Carnation #12)The Lure of the Moonflower by Lauren Willig

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Lure of the Moonflower
Author: Lauren Willig
Series: Pink Carnation, #12
Pages: 528
Publisher: NAL
Date: August 4, 2015

Summary:

In the final Pink Carnation novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla, Napoleon has occupied Lisbon, and Jane Wooliston, aka the Pink Carnation, teams up with a rogue agent to protect the escaped Queen of Portugal.

Portugal, December 1807. Jack Reid, the British agent known as the Moonflower (formerly the French agent known as the Moonflower), has been stationed in Portugal and is awaiting his new contact. He does not expect to be paired with a woman—especially not the legendary Pink Carnation.

All of Portugal believes that the royal family departed for Brazil just before the French troops marched into Lisbon. Only the English government knows that mad seventy-three-year-old Queen Maria was spirited away by a group of loyalists determined to rally a resistance. But as the French garrison scours the countryside, it’s only a matter of time before she’s found and taken.

It’s up to Jane to find her first and ensure her safety. But she has no knowledge of Portugal or the language. Though she is loath to admit it, she needs the Moonflower. Operating alone has taught her to respect her own limitations. But she knows better than to show weakness around the Moonflower—an agent with a reputation for brilliance, a tendency toward insubordination, and a history of going rogue.

Review:

I resisted reading this book. Not because I didn’t want to read it, but because I did. The Lure of the Moonflower is the last of the Pink Carnation books and I don’t want the series to end. I adore these books. I love the historical sections and I love Eloise and Colin in modern times. I have been dying for Jane’s, aka The Pink Carnation’s, book, but I don’t want it to be over.

-sigh-

It’s over readers . . . and it’s a great ending. All the ins and outs get tied up. It seems like everyone from the previous books either shows up or is at least mentioned. We even get a wonderful “after the book” section telling us what happens to the kids. Don’t call it an epilogue. You’ll understand why if you read it.

There is a twist in Eloise’s and Colin’s storyline that I did not see coming, but it so fits with everything that has gone before.

Jeremy is still smarmy, Colin’s mother is still a pain, Serena is still helpless and needy, and that’s just the modern day characters.

In case you’re wondering, Miles is still addicted to ginger biscuits and Miss Gwen still wears purple and carries her parasol.

This is such a satisfying ending to the series.

Read it! Read it, but not unless you’ve read all the others. I mean it. Right now. Start reading.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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July 1, 2015 · 4:15 pm

Second Chance Summer (Cedar Ridge, #1) by Jill Shalvis

Second Chance Summer (Cedar Ridge, #1)Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: Second Chance Summer
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Cedar Ridge, #1
Pages: 386
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Date: June 30, 2015

Summary:

Cedar Ridge, Colorado, is famous for crisp mountain air, clear blue skies, and pine-scented breezes. And it’s the last place Lily Danville wants to be. But she needs a job, and there’s an opening at the hottest resort in her hometown. What has her concerned is the other hot property in Cedar Ridge: Aidan Kincaid-firefighter, rescue worker, and heartbreaker. She never could resist that devastating smile . . .

The Kincaid brothers are as rough and rugged as the Rocky Mountains they call home. Aidan has always done things his own way, by his own rules. And never has he regretted anything more than letting Lily walk out of his life ten years ago. If anyone has ever been in need of rescuing, she has. What she needs more than anything are long hikes, slow dances, and sizzling kisses. But that can only happen if he can get her to give Cedar Ridge-and this bad boy-a second chance . . .

Review:

There are some authors you read because you know their books will make you feel good. Jill Shalvis is one of those authors.

Although there is strife in her books, there is also humor and the characters are always likable.

This first book in her new series is no exception.

I loved Aiden and Lily. They try so hard not to form a relationship because of their past together, but lust/love will find a way.

The secondary characters are great and I can’t wait for their stories. I have already preordered book two in the series, My Kind of Wonderful. Book three, Nobody But You, is not available to order yet, but I will definitely get it as well.

The only thing missing in this series is an animal to love. I have gotten used to those characters in Shalvis’ books as well and this one does not have one. Oh well, the humans are great all by themselves.

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June 19, 2015 · 11:52 pm

Caged (Mastered, #4) by Lorelei James

Caged (Mastered, #4)Caged by Lorelei James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: Caged
Author: Lorelei James
Series: Mastered, #4
Pages: 480
Publisher: NAL
Date: July 14, 2015

Summary:

In the searing fourth novel in the Mastered Series, following Unraveled, only one woman can set a hardened fighter free from his past.…

In order to survive a life of tragedy, Deacon McConnell embraced his roughest edges and learned to fight on the streets. Then a life-changing jujitsu seminar led by Sensei Ronin Black led Deacon to become a professional fighter. With his muscular physique and his body covered in tattoos and scars, the MMA fighter defines mean, both on and off the mat.

But everything changes when innocent Molly Calloway signs up for his kickboxing class. Molly is Deacon’s opposite in every way: She’s kind, sweet, thoughtful, and educated. After a heated argument between them turns into a passionate encounter, Deacon realizes Molly is eager to experience more, and she looks to him to take her to the darker edge of lust….

The last thing either of them expects is how deeply their lives will be thrown upside down by the passion they find together.

Review:

All right. You have to read these books in order. You will never be able to appreciate it as much as it deserves if you do not.

Having said that, I did not really expect to like this book. Deacon is harsh. He adds new meaning to “hard-ass, SOB” and Molly is a wimp.

Boy, was I wrong? I have liked all of the books in this series, but I loved this one. I mean I really, really loved it.

How could I have been so wrong about Deacon? I should have known there was something in his past making him so difficult. I never gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Fortunately, Molly did. She had her own past to overcome and even though she knew, and sometimes hated, Deacon, she was also in lust with him.
Now, let me say, things did not go easy for them. As I said, they both had pasts that influenced their reactions to others. Neither Molly nor Deacon thought they were good enough for the other. Both of them reacted sometimes instead of talking. And yes, most of the time it was Deacon’s fault. The great thing about him though was he recognized (okay, sometimes he had to have it pointed out to him) when he screwed up and would do anything to get Molly to forgive him.

And she does.

Because lust can develop into love.

And it does.

Oddly enough, I thought this book was less erotic and more plot driven than the others in the series. Make no mistake, there is plenty of sex and it is wonderful, but the story was what kept me engrossed. I had to know how things would work out between them.

There are also two secondary characters I have to mention.

Not to give away any spoilers, but there is a Queen Bitch of all bitches in this book. You’ll know who I mean when you meet her.

And finally, I want Tag’s story and you will too.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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June 7, 2015 · 3:39 pm

The Collar (Submissive, #5) by Tara Sue Me

The Collar (Submissive, #5)The Collar by Tara Sue Me

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Title: The Collar
Author: Tara Sue Me
Series: Submissive, #5
Pages: 336
Publisher: NAL
Date: July 7, 2015

Summary:

Nathaniel and Abby are struggling to navigate the challenging waters of their own relationship, when they get a surprising phone call from their partners in play, Dena and Jeff, who are in need of a helping hand…

Seven years ago, blonde, beautiful lawyer Dena Jenkins was tired of her carefully controlled life. Desperate for something exhilarating to help her escape the pressures of her demanding job and her senator father, she joined a steamy, local BDSM club as a submissive. There she met brooding Dominant, Jeff. The attraction between them was undeniable, and, despite Dena’s doubts, they couldn’t stay away from each other.

Except, as the years have passed, their blazing connection has proven difficult to maintain. Dena and Jeff have a history they’d rather forget, but Dena can’t let go of the past, and Jeff is ready to move across the country to give her space. Now, to save their passion, they’ll have to rediscover what it means to trust each other—and give themselves to each other completely…

Review:

I didn’t dislike this book, but I didn’t like it either. I thought it was rather meh.

I didn’t feel a connection to Dena or Jeff and I didn’t really feel a connection between them if that makes sense. They had lived together for years as D/s before a tragedy tore them apart, so there should have been something there. In this book, they are making their way back to each other.

The book switches between present day and their earlier relationship. I did like the way this explained the backstory to someone who had not read the earlier books. In fact, the only time I felt a connection with the characters was during the scene where they broke up. It was the only time the emotion felt real to me.

You know how there are certain things in books that are “hard limits” to you as a reader. For example, I will not read a book in which either character cheats. Well, I found a new one with this book. During their scenes, Dena kisses his feet. No, just no. I never knew that was an issue for me, but I had a really strong negative reaction to it.
Normally, I will go back and read earlier books if I somehow read one in the middle. I am not even tempted with this series. The secondary characters in The Collar seem like very interesting people, but there are too many other books I know I will enjoy to spend anymore time on this series.

Other reviewers have really liked this book and maybe I would have liked it better if I had read the entire series. Anyway, it’s just not for me.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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June 1, 2015 · 7:37 am

Asking for It (Asking for It, #1) by Lilah Pace

Asking for It (Asking for It, #1)Asking for It by Lilah Pace

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Asking for It
Author: Lilah Pace
Series: Asking for It, #1
Pages: 336
Publisher: Berkley
Date: June 2, 2015

Summary:

“This is who I am. This is what I want. Now I need a man dangerous enough to give it to me.”

Graduate student Vivienne Charles is afraid of her own desires—ashamed to admit that she fantasizes about being taken by force, by a man who will claim her completely and without mercy. When the magnetic, mysterious Jonah Marks learns her secret, he makes an offer that stuns her: they will remain near-strangers to each other, and meet in secret so that he can fulfill her fantasy.

Their arrangement is twisted. The sex is incredible. And—despite their attempts to stay apart—soon their emotions are bound together as tightly as the rope around Vivienne’s wrists. But the secrets in their pasts threaten to turn their affair even darker…

Reader Advisory: Asking for It deals explicitly with fantasies of non-consensual sex. Readers sensitive to portrayals of non-consensual sex should be advised.

Review:

I was hesitant when this book was offered to me to review. The focus on rape fantasies disturbed me and I was not sure I would be able to read the book. I agreed to try it and then let it sit unread for weeks. That was a mistake.

Once I actually started the book, I was totally engrossed. The writing is excellent and the sex scenes are amazing. I mean really amazing.

Although Vivienne cannot get off without the fantasy of forced sex, it is just a fantasy. She and Jonah negotiate what is and is not allowed and even have a safe word. It reads more like a D/s scene than anything else. There is even a reference to that.

Eventually, Vivienne and Jonah begin to develop a true relationship, not just a sexual one. They both have secrets in their pasts that they are trying to overcome. Vivienne is seeing a therapist and I really think Jonah should as well.

I really liked the subplot involving Vivienne and her therapist. Vivienne thinks she needs to be “fixed,” but her therapist is more interested in getting her to accept herself. I hate books that imply there is something wrong with a person if they have a sexual kink.

SPOILER ALERT

This book was a five star right up to the ending. There isn’t one . . . an ending, I mean. There is not a cliffhanger, but the relationship is unresolved. The second book, Begging for It, is due out in September and I have already preordered my copy. I tweeted the author and she has assured me there is not a cliffhanger ending in it.

This really is an amazing book and I cannot wait for the sequel. Don’t let the content warning keep you from it. If you enjoy darker books, this is definitely something you should read.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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April 11, 2015 · 3:30 pm

Medium Dead (Dr. Alexandra Gladstone, #4) by Paula Paul

Medium Dead: An Alexandra Gladstone MysteryMedium Dead: An Alexandra Gladstone Mystery by Paula Paul

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Medium Dead
Author: Paula Paul
Series: Dr. Alexandra Gladstone, #4
Pages: 188
Publisher: Alibi
Date: April 14, 2015

Summary:

Sure to delight readers of Jacqueline Winspear and Ellis Peters, Medium Dead features Queen Victoria herself—and she’s rumored to have slain a local psychic in Newton-upon-Sea. Now the task of clearing her name and catching the real killer falls to Dr. Alexandra Gladstone.

Under Victoria’s reign, women are barred from calling themselves physicians, but that hasn’t stopped Alexandra Gladstone. As the first female doctor in Newton-upon-Sea, she spends her days tending sick villagers in the practice she inherited from her father, with her loyal and sometimes overprotective dog, Zack, by her side.

After the corpse of village spiritualist Alvina Elwold is discovered aboveground at a church boneyard, wild rumors circulate through the charming seaside village, including one implicating a certain regal guest lodging nearby. Tales of the dead Alvina hobnobbing with spirits and hexing her enemies are even more outlandish—but as a woman of science and reason, Alexandra has no doubt that a murderer made of flesh and blood is on the loose.

Finding out the truth means sorting through a deluge of ghostly visitors, royal sightings, and shifty suspects. At least her attentive and handsome friend Nicholas Forsyth, Lord Dunsford, has come to her aid. Alexandra will need all the help she can get, because she’s stumbled upon dangerous secrets—while provoking a deadly adversary who wants to keep them buried.

Review:

This is the fourth of the Dr. Alexandra Gladstone series, but it is the first one I have read. I rarely (okay, NEVER) read books out of order, but I made the commitment to review this book before I realized it was part of a series. I’m glad I did. There is enough backstory that I did not feel I was missing something that kept me from understanding and enjoying to book. And yes, I most definitely enjoyed the book.

There were a couple of things I would like to find out from the previous books though. One, what, if any, relationship was there between Alexandra and Nicholas before he became the Earl? And two, where did Alexandra get Zack the dog and why does Zack hate Nicholas? There has to be something going on there.

Anyway, as anyone with a passing interest in Queen Victoria knows, she was deeply in love with her late husband Prince Albert. So much so, that she delved into mysticism and mediums to try to contact him from the grave.

Well it just so happens that there is a medium living in the town where Alexandra is a doctor. The Queen arranges to spend time with Nicholas’ mother in order to consult the medium . . . and the medium ends up murdered the very next day.

Now let me say, the medium wasn’t very likable and won’t be missed, but murder is murder and the culprit must be found.

But could it really be the Queen? And if it is, does anyone expect her to be held accountable for her actions?

Speaking of unlikable characters, I don’t like the Queen. I don’t like the butler. And I really don’t like the Earl’s mother.

But I love Alexandra and Nicholas and I really like Alexandra’s maidservant Nancy. Nancy is bossy and can even take Alexandra by surprise with her managing ways.

The relationship between Nicholas and Alexandra is understated, but still the affection between them is obvious. Nancy and Alexandra grew up together and even though they are servant and mistress, they are also family. It is these relationships that are the backbone of the story, but the mystery itself is well handled.

I have to say I didn’t see it coming.

I should have. The hints were there, but it was handled so well I was completely surprised.

I guess you can’t compliment a mystery better than that.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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