Author: Emma Holly

Lightning Review: Beyond Innocence by Emma Holly

Posted June 12, 2023 by Holly in Reviews | 1 Comment

Lightning Review: Beyond Innocence by Emma HollyReviewer: Holly
Beyond Innocence by Emma Holly
Series: Beyond Duet #1
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: July 1, 2001
Format: eBook
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 295
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Emma Holly turns up the heat in this sinfully sensuous story of a family plagued by scandal—and a shy young woman who discovers a passion beyond her wildest dreams...
When her beloved father passes away, Florence Fairleigh finds herself alone in the world. All she wants is a man who will treat her kindly and support her financially—and she's come to London to find him.
Edward Burbrooke thinks marriage is the only way to save his brother, Freddie—and their family—from scandalous ruin. As head of the family, Edward has vowed to find Freddie a bride—and fast.
Thrown together by Edward, Florence and Freddie make a perfect pair—until Edward realizes he has feelings for his brother's betrothed. The sight of her nubile young body makes his blood burn with lust. The sound of her voice makes his heart warm with love. And the sweet taste of her kiss makes him wonder if he isn't making a terrible mistake.

My book club chose Beyond Innocence last year. I’m certain I’ve read Emma Holly before, but I can’t recall what titles or remember any details, so I’m going to say this is a new-to-me author. I haven’t been much for historicals lately, but this one really drew me in. I liked Florence from the start. She’s a practical sort, determined to find a husband so she can live a comfortable life. I liked that she recognized her circumstances and decided to do something about them. I did not love that she was such a perfect innocent. She was a total Disney princess..she even had an affinity for cats and babies. Like…they rushed her whenever she went outside (no joke).

I did not love that the family tried to dupe her into marrying Freddie. It was really frustrating and felt a little squicky (are we still using that word?).

Anyway, aside from that, I enjoyed the story. I really enjoyed Freddie, and his struggle to find his place in a world not accepting of who he was.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Beyond Duet

three-half-stars

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Guest Review: Saving Midnight by Emma Holly

Posted August 28, 2009 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: Saving Midnight by Emma HollyReviewer: Tracy
Saving Midnight by Emma Holly
Series: Midnight series #6
Also in this series: Kissing Midnight
Publisher: Berkley, Penguin
Publication Date: August 4, 2009
Format: eARC
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Graham Fitz Clare became a vampire to save his adoptive father from a deadly enemy. Sadly, the price of that rescue may have been too high. Edmund’s captors are at large again, and are amassing the sort of power that could make them unstoppable. In the end, the love the Fitz Clares share with each other could be all that stands between them and a desperate storm of destruction.

This book pretty much continues where the last book, Breaking Midnight, left off. It’s 3 months later and the Fitz Clare family has moved to the family home Bridesmere. Edmund has blocked Estelle from his mind and the bond they once shared is slowly slipping away. Edmund is scared that Estelle won’t love him any longer if she see’s what’s in his mind.

Pen, who is in love with Graham and helped out in the last book, has gone to South Carolina to take over the home there since her mother has died. While there the evil upyr, Frank and Li-Hua, attack her. Her “boss” comes to her rescue and saves her. When the Fitz Clare family finds out about the attack they (except Edmund and Estelle) head to the Carolina’s to track and take down the evil ones.

When Pen and Graham are together again they immediately continue their sexual relationship but when Graham realizes that what he’s feeling for Pen is love he tries courting her rather than ravishing her. The problem is that the way Graham starts phrasing things to Pen she’s thinking he just wants to be friends. It makes for an interesting relationship.

This third story in the Fitz Clare Chronicles was a good one. When the whole family took off for the Carolina’s I didn’t get the feeling, like I did in the second book, that their participation was unnecessary. I was closer to the characters than I had been in the second book and could see that each one had their place in the story and in the final events with the villains.

This book also brought to light exactly what Pen’s “job” was. It was a secret no-named agency that was investigating the existence of upyrs. Though I was happy for this information (as I was wondering about it in the second book) I didn’t felt that it added too much to the story. Yes, it gave Pen some good fighting skills but that was about it.

Overall I think this was a good conclusion to the storyline from the last few books. There was a little bit more romance in this one which was nice – since I’m a romance junkie – and of course Emma Holly always has the rockin’ hot sex scenes.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

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three-half-stars

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What I’ve Been Reading This Week

Posted August 24, 2009 by Tracy in Features | 12 Comments

by Emma Holly, GA Aiken, Jaci Burton, Jet Mykles, Olivia Parker, Sarah Mayberry

I can’t believe that the “summer” is over for my kids! Back in school and they seemed to like their teachers ok so that’s good. No complaints so far. 🙂

I took the kids out to shop and had to buy a pair of shoes for my youngest – her foot has grown so she needed new tennis shoes. While there my oldest decided to get her foot measured too – just for fun. Turns out her foot has grown 3 sizes in 2 months! She’s a ladies size 7 for crying out loud (yes, she’s only 11.5). Don’t ask me how she wore her size 4 shoes to school for 3 days – she said they didn’t hurt but still! Crazy. She’s like a big footed rabbit or a kangaroo! lol

I’ve been horrible with my blog lately. I know the only reviews I’ve been posting are for another site and that sucks. I will try to be better in the future.

My diet’s going ok – I’ve lost 2 pounds so far. Slow and steady wins the race, right? Right?? lol (Patience is a virtue, Tracy!)

I also bought a new bookcase to put in my office! My books were starting to take over and I finally decided on one. It’s stinking adorable! Not huge but just big enough for what I need. After I get it (I had to order it online) I’ll take a picture and show you.

Ok – what I read this week – some pretty good books!

First up was the second book in the Fitz Clare Chronicles trilogy by Emma Holly, Breaking Midnight. After finishing Kissing Midnight last week I wanted to jump right in and read more. I’ll let you know when my review posts on The Book Binge.

Next up was At The Bride Hunt Ball by Olivia Parker. This was a very sweet historical about a Duke who has decided not to marry, ever, so he decides to hold a week long party at his estate to find a bride for his brother who will be his heir. Seven women are chosen to attend and at the end of the week the “winner” who will then be engaged will be announced at The Bride Hunt Ball. One of the women who gets chosen does NOT want to be there and makes it loudly known to the Duke that she is against what he’s doing. Of course they start to have feelings for each other and the romance is on. I very much enjoyed the book. I think some people would say it was too sweet but I didn’t think so at all. I have to say I was left with some questions at the end of the book but luckily Parker’s second (and follow up book) is releasing on Tuesday so hopefully some of my questions will be answered. 4 out of 5

Riding on Instinct by Jaci Burton was my next read. This is book 3 in the Wild Riders series. I thought it was a good installment. We got to know the characters and their backgrounds well which was nice. 3.75 out of 5

Next up was Heaven Sent 3: Hell by Jet Mykles. What a great story. After reading the first two books I got the impression that Brent was a hidden gem but needed a strong personality in his life. Hell definitely provided that strength. I just loved Hell in all his lavender goodness. Good book. 4.25 out of 5

I continued with the Heaven Sent series by Jet Mykles by reading the 4th book Faith. Another good addition to the rockers stories. At times Darien seemed like a great big puppy to me and I thought he fell a little quickly for Chris but it was still good. 4 out of 5

My Tracy’s TBR Challenge Read for the week was About A Dragon by G.A. Aiken. This is book 2 in the Dragon Kin series and I really liked it! This was about Briec the Mighty aka to the heroine of the book Briec the Arrogant. He was certainly arrogant! Briec saves Talaith from being hanged by her village and decides that he’s going to keep her. Talaith wants nothing to do with Briec and needs to be moving on. Briec knows that Talaith is hiding something but he has no idea what. This book has love, romance, friendship, humor, sibling interaction, battles and lots of arguments – something for everyone! lol I’m almost happy that I waited to read this since the next book, What A Dragon Should Know, comes out on Sept. 1. This way I don’t have to wait too long to read the next book! 🙂 4.25 out of 5


Last but not least was Amorous Liaisons by Sarah Mayberry. Renee was nice enough to send it to me and I decided to read it for the Year of the Category Challenge this month. I’ll post my review later this week.

Happy Reading!

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Guest Review: Kissing Midnight by Emma Holly

Posted August 21, 2009 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 3 Comments

Guest Review: Kissing Midnight by Emma HollyReviewer: Tracy
Kissing Midnight by Emma Holly
Series: Midnight series #4
Also in this series: Saving Midnight
Publisher: Berkley, Penguin
Publication Date: June 2, 2009
Format: Print ARC
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Edmund Fitz Clare has been keeping secrets he can’t afford to expose. Not to the orphans he’s adopted. Not to the woman he’s been yearning after for years. This seeming professor of history is a shapeshifting vampire, determined to redeem past misdeeds.

Estelle Berenger knows better than to fall for her best friend’s father, but he holds the key to a mystery: that ever since she was struck by lightning, she’s had abilities no normal woman should be able to call upon.The question is, can these star-crossed lovers survive a vampire war?

Estelle has been in love with her best friends father since she was 15 and first met him. While it was a completely innocent love at first, since she’s come of age she has anything but innocent thoughts about Edmund Fitz Clare.

Edmund, almost against his will, finally gives in to his desire for Estelle and realizes that he’s loved her for a damned long time. Even though he’s a upyr, and can’t let her know that information, he wants to be with her for the rest of his life. Estelle does find out what Edmund is which makes for some incredibly tense moments.

While the E and E romance is happening, Edmund’s oldest adopted son, Graham, is being thralled by a fellow upyr. He’s told what Edmund is and is made to believe that Edmund is the epitome of evil. Graham is torn between taking care of his siblings, his loyalty to Edmund and his conscience, and of course the thrall. He’s not quite sure what to believe and what to do. When all hell breaks loose at home Graham is unsure who are the bad guys and who are the good guys.

This is story 6 in the upyr series of vampire/shapeshifting books by Emma Holly. I’ve not read any of the others, but I didn’t feel like I had missed any information by starting with this one. Also, from the author’s website I found that this book and the next 2 in the series are tightly connected. In fact so much so that there wasn’t a definite conclusion to this book (I’m not saying what cuz that would just give too much away).

Although there were some parts that dragged for me slightly I found the book to be an intriguing mix of historical (takes place in 1933), paranormal and suspense with all of the wonderfully hot erotic romance that Emma Holly is famous for. I think if that is a blend that appeals to you, as it does to me, that you would very much enjoy this story. Now I’m off to start the next book in the series.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

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three-half-stars

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