Tag: Lily Dalton

Guest Review: Never Entice an Earl by Lily Dalton

Posted July 2, 2014 by Tracy in Reviews | 1 Comment

Guest Review: Never Entice an Earl by Lily DaltonReviewer: Tracy
Never Entice an Earl by Lily Dalton
Series: One Scandalous Season #2
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: April 29th 2014
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three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

A Deception Most Reckless

Lady Daphne Bevington would do anything for her maid Kate-including masquerading as Kate and sneaking around the wrong side of London to settle the poor girl's debt. Yet her innocent ruse takes a scandalous turn when "Kate" runs into a handsome gentleman on a secret quest of his own. A moment of passion could cost Daphne her reputation, but how can she ignore the stranger's searing kiss?

An Arrangement Most Wicked

Lord Cormack Northmore is determined to find the immoral peer who ruined his sister. So when he learns that the irresistible woman he knows as "Kate" is the Season's most sought-after debutante, Cormack plans to use her connections to help him set a trap. Now, the closer Cormack gets to uncovering the villain who haunts the ton's ballrooms, the more he realizes that the lovely lady is in danger herself. Will he abandon his quest for revenge-or risk losing his one chance at love?

 

Tracy’s review of Never Entice an Earl (One Scandalous Season #2) by Lily Dalton

One of Daphne’s dear friends is her ladies maid, Kate. It may seem strange but they are incredibly close. Kate’s family gets themselves in a bit of a spot with a money lender (because the man is a complete ass) and he not only wants repayment, he wants Kate to dance at his brothel. Kate has agreed because she wants to save her parents business, but when part of the Daphne’s household falls sick Kate just can’t fulfill that promise as she’s just too ill. Daphne takes it upon herself to help her friend and goes to the brothel in Kate’s stead. She figures it won’t be so bad – she figured wrong. Not only is it horrible, the place is invaded by the police and Daphne is almost raped in an alleyway while trying to not get arrested. She is saved by a man who eventually introduces himself as Cormack, a merchant. Daphne introduces herself as Kate, a ladies maid. The attraction between the two is powerful and they succumb to their desire and they kiss.

Cormack is in London to search for the man who disgraced his now deceased sister. He knows that the man is part of a secret club but finding that club and getting himself into the inner workings of it is a proving difficult. When he meets Kate he’s almost immediately smitten. When he finds out that she’s actually Daphne, granddaughter of an Earl, he feels like he’s been played for a fool. He decides that he will blackmail her with the information of the night in the brothel in exchange for her help introducing him to society.

While Daphne’s not thrilled with the Cormack (he’s not a merchant, he’s an Earl!) she can’t help but have feelings for the man. Despite the fact that she knows she should stay away from him she finds it impossible and they soon fall in love. But there is someone who wants her for their own and they’re not willing to take a chance that she may say no.

NEaE was a pretty darned cute book. I really liked both Cormack and Daphne and liked them together as a couple.

Cormack was the type of man I’d want for a brother. He wanted nothing more than to avenge his sister and I loved him for that. He was on board with Daphne not wanting to get married (a self imposed punishment for what she believed was her part in her father’s death) because he didn’t want anyone to have her but him. He wasn’t available as he had an understanding with a neighbor (to marry his daughter) so that he could get back the family lands that had been sold. Now that he had money he had tried to buy the lands back but was unsuccessful. The daughter was only 12 at the moment so he was prepared to wait until she came of age. He very much wanted those lands so when he falls in love with Daphne he’s torn. He wants to do what is right for his family but he wants Daphne and happiness as well.

Now things with Daphne and Cormack, as well as Cormack’s sister and her illegitimate son, turned out a little too perfectly for my liking in the end. It was a nice twist but almost too much of a coincidence. It didn’t ruin the story for me but it was a tad too tidy of an ending. This was my first read by Dalton and I look forward to reading more in the future.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Series:
Book Cover Book Cover

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place.

This title is available from Forever Publishing. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

three-half-stars


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What I Read Last Week

Posted May 9, 2014 by Tracy in Features | 0 Comments

Hey there!

Well it’s back to the daily grind for me after a fun-filled weekend with my sister. She was in San Diego for a conference but extended her stay over the weekend so that I could go down and stay with her and her business partner – who also happens to be her sister-in-law, Sandy, who I love to pieces. We had a great time eating and drinking and sightseeing – so much fun. I haven’t seen my sister in about 3 years so it was wonderful getting caught up in person. I love Skype and FaceTime but nothing beats having the person there next to you. 🙂 
 

Because of my busy social life snort I didn’t get all that much reading done. On the train down there I did a little but the train rides along the coast it and it was so beautiful I kept getting distracted. Then on the way home I was so damn tired I kept closing my eyes. FYI – this makes reading difficult.

Anyway, what I did read was… 

It Happened One Wedding by Julie James. This is another one of Julie’s wonderful romances that involved Vaughn the FBI agent and Sidney the investment banker. They’re thrown together by their siblings who are getting married but they’re not happy about it as they don’t like each other. That changes as they get to know each other and they soon become friends, and then much more. I can’t say enough good things about this book. It was just my cup of tea and definitely recommend it. My review will post this week. 5 out of 5

Next up was Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler. This story is about a covert ops group that works under the Homeland Security umbrella. They employ shifters (they have animal DNA and can partially shift but not actually turn into the animals) and pair them with military men. Ivy is the shifter and Landon is the military man. Ivy has had bad luck with past partners so is leery of Landon. Landon is more than a bit surprised about the shifter thing but it doesn’t stop him from lusting after Ivy. Though they try to stay away from each other love soon blooms. This was an unexpected treat. I really liked the story, the main characters and the secondary characters. I’ll post a full review of this one this week. 4 out of 5

Next up was Never Entice an Earl by Lily Dalton. The story has our heroine who is the granddaughter of an Earl taking her ladies maids place dancing in a brothel when the maid is too ill. The maid’s family is in trouble due to borrowed money and she must dance or her family’s business will be ruined. Cormack is looking for a secret club – of which one man ruined his now deceased sister. Cormack meets Daphne but believes her to be the ladies maid, Kate. When Cormack finds out who Daphne is he blackmails her into helping him find the man he’s looking for. They have undeniable attraction but Daphne swore never to marry so there’s lots of tension. This was a cute book that was pretty darned enjoyable. I liked the story although some things were a tad far-fetched. The ending got tied up a little bit too easily for my liking but not enough to ruin the story entirely. 3.5 out of 5  

Last for the week was The Kraken King Part V: The Kraken King and the Iron Heart by Meljean Brook. In this installment Zenobia and Ariq are getting closer but there are lots of things that stand in their way. I can’t tell you too much cuz it’ll ruin it for you. I’ll post my review next week on May 13th. 4.25 out of 5

  

My Book Binge reviews that posted last week:
The Affair by Lily Maxton 
Survive to Dawn by PJ Schnyder
Romancing the Runaway by Wendy Soliman

Happy Reading!

FYI…I’m an idiot. lol  I had this all written out on Monday and ready to post.  Then I actually scheduled it for next week rather than just hit publish, that’s why it’s posting on a Friday. WTF?  Told ya, idiot. 🙂 
 


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Historical Hookup (+ a Giveaway): Hoyt, Dreyer, Delamere, Barton, and Dalton

Posted October 14, 2013 by Holly in Giveaways, Promotions | 14 Comments

HistoricalHookup1

Today we have historical romance authors Elizabeth Hoyt, Lily Dalton, Anne Barton, Eileen Dryer and Jennifer Delamere here to answer that all important question:

“What item of clothing would you most (and least) want to wear/have if you lived in the time-period of your novel?”

 

 

Elizabeth Hoyt, DUKE OF MIDNIGHT:

I like the sack gowns with the draping back. Stays don’t sound like a lot of fun.

 

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DUKE OF MIDNIGHT by Elizabeth Hoyt

October 15, 2013; GCP/Mass Market; $8.00; 978-1-4555-0834-1

By day Maximus Batten is the Duke of Wakefield, a powerful member of Parliament. But by night he is the Ghost of St. Giles, prowling the grim alleys of St. Giles, ever on the hunt for the man who brutally murdered his parents twenty years ago. When he rescues Artemis Greaves and her cousin, the fiery young woman discovers his secret and threatens to expose Maximus unless he uses his influence to free her imprisoned brother. But blackmailing a powerful duke isn’t without risks. Now that she has the tiger by the tail, can she withstand his ire—or the temptation of his embrace?

 

Bio: The author of the New York Times bestselling Maiden Lane series and the Legend of Four Soldiers series as well as the Prince Trilogy, Elizabeth Hoyt writes “mesmerizing” (Publishers Weekly) historical romances. She also pens deliciously fun contemporary romances under the name Julia Harper. Elizabeth lives in central Illinois with three untrained dogs, two angelic but bickering children, and one long-suffering husband. Central Illinois can be less than exciting, and Elizabeth is always more than happy to receive missives from her readers. You can write to her at: P.O. Box 17134, Urbana, IL 61873.

Buy links:

Amazon| Barnes and Noble | Indiebound | iTunes

Social Media:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Eileen Dreyer, ONCE A RAKE:

Oh, this is an easy one. I would love to wear the empire design clothing. The style looks great on me, especially since I never had a waistline. I loved the materials(although I would definitely wear enough to stay warm), the designs and the elegance.

What would I hate to wear? Again, no contest. A corset. Ick.

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ONCE A RAKE by Eileen Dreyer

October 29, 2013; Forever/Mass Market; $8.00; 978-1-4555-1932-3

Accused of trying to kill the Duke of Wellington, Colonel Ian Ferguson is now a fugitive—from the law, the army, and the cunning assassin who hunts him. Wounded and miles from his allies, Ian finds himself at the mercy of an impoverished country wife. Lady Sarah Clarke knows she should turn him in, but a single, delirious kiss shatters her resolve…and awakens a passion that neither of them can escape.
Bio: New York Times best-selling author Eileen Dreyer has won five RITA Awards from the Romance Writers of America, which secures her  fourth place in the Romance Writers of America prestigious Hall of Fame. Eileen is an addicted traveler, having sung in some of the best Irish pubs in the world.  Eileen also writes as Kathleen Korbel and has over three million books in print worldwide. Born and raised in Missouri, she lives in St. Louis County with her husband Rick and her two children.

Buy links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | iTunes

Social Media:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Jennifer Delamere, A LADY MOST LOVELY:

I love the beautiful ball gowns and colorful silk shawls of the period. Unfortunately, the gowns also required corsets—something I’m very glad we don’t have today (although some might argue that Spanx comes close…)

 

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A LADY MOST LOVELY by Jennifer Delamere

September 24, 2013; Forever/ Mass Market; $8.00; 978-1-4555-1896-8

Socialite Margaret Vaughn agrees to marry a rich man to save her family’s estate, but then her fiancé tur

ns out to be just another poor social climber. Even after amassing a fortune, Tom Poole hasn’t forgotten his humble beginnings. Taken with Margaret’s beauty and grace, Tom offers her financial assistance—but his interest is not strictly business. Can he convince the proper, refined lady that they despite their social differences, they are a match made in heaven?

Bio: The youngest child of a Navy pilot and a journalist, Jennifer acquired a love of adventure and an excitement for learning that continues to this day. She’s lived in three countries and traveled throughout the U.S. An avid reader of classics and historical fiction, she also enjoys biographies and histories, which she mines for the vivid details to bring to life the characters and places in her books. She resides with her husband in North Carolina–where, when not writing or dreaming up romantic adventures for her characters, she can be found fantasizing about her next ski trip or European vacation.

Buy links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound |  iTunes

Social Media:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Anne Barton, ONCE SHE WAS TEMPTED:

Oh, I’d like an armoire filled with ball gowns in a rainbow of silks, please!

I confess I’m not a fan of caps—they’re decidedly unfetching.

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ONCE SHE WAS TEMPTED by Anne Barton

October 29, 2013; Forever/Mass Market; $8.00; 978-1-4555-1330-7

In desperate need of money for her sick mother, Daphne Honeycote had posed for two scandalous portraits. Now she must hide her secret to save the Honeycote family name. Benjamin Elliot recognizes the stunning beauty from the beauty the instant he meets her. His possession of the painting makes him an insufferable thorn in her side—and yet he may be her best chance at finding the canvas’s companion. As she becomes drawn to the dark-tempered earl, can Daphne risk laying bare the secrets of her heart?

 

Bio: Anne Barton began swiping romance novels off her mom’s bookshelf as a teenager, so when she had the chance to spend a semester in London-home to her favorite heroes-she packed her bags and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance, but somehow ended up a software analyst instead.

Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Anne found her way back to writing the stories she loves and in 2011 won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® for Regency Historical Romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband (who, sadly, is not a peer of the realm-but a great guy nonetheless) and her three children, who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen. Her weaknesses include reality TV, cute-but-impractical shoes, and caffeinated beverages of all kinds.

Buy links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound |  iTunes

Social Media:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Lily Dalton, NEVER DESIRE A DUKE:

I’d love to wear the gowns of the Regency period. All that pleating and lace and trim and style.

And I think I’d get over stockings really fast. I mean, they’re sexy in a love scene, but in reality, I bet they were just the most irritating things to wear. I’d probably walk around with saggy elephant ankles all the time.

ndad

NEVER DESIRE A DUKE by Lily Dalton

September 24, 2013; Forever/ Mass Market; $6.00; 978-1-4555-2401-3

Lady Sophia has long been estranged from her husband, the Duke of Claxton, who has never forgiven himself for the youthful mistake that ruined their marriage. After nearly a year abroad, the reformed rogue vows to win back the only woman he’s ever truly loved. He’ll do whatever it takes to prove he can be the honorable husband she deserves—and the passionate lover she desires. Can they rekindle the flame that burned so bright and find a new path to forever?

 

Bio: Lily Dalton grew up as an Army brat, moving from place to place. Her first stop after relocating was always the local library, where she could hang out with familiar friends: Books! Lily has an English degree from Texas A & M University and after graduation worked as a legal assistant in the fields of accident reconstruction and litigation. She now lives in Houston, Texas, with her family. When she isn’t at work on her next manuscript, she spends her time trying out new recipes, cheering on her favorite Texas football teams and collecting old dishes, vintage linens and other fine “junque” from thrift stores and flea markets.

Buy links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound |  iTunes

Social Media:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Giveaway!! One lucky winner will receive a prize pack with all five books!

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