Book Review- A Hint Of Wicked

A Hint Of Wicked
James Family (1)
Jennifer Haymore
Paperback
Forever
Published June 2009
403 Pages
Regency Historical Romance

CAUGHT BETWEEN DUTY AND DESIRE . . .

Sophie, the Duchess of Calton, has finally moved on. After seven years mourning the loss of her husband, Garrett, at Waterloo, she has married his cousin and heir, Tristan. Sophie gives herself to him body and soul. . . until the day Garrett returns from the Continent, demanding his title, his lands-and his wife.

TORN BETWEEN TWO HUSBANDS . . .

Now Sophie must choose between her first love and her new love, knowing that no matter what, her choice will destroy one of the men she adores. Will it be Garrett, her childhood sweetheart, whose loss nearly destroyed her once already? Or will it be Tristan, beloved friend turned lover, who supported her through the last, dark years and introduced her to a passion she had never known? As her two husbands battle for her heart, Sophie finds herself immersed in a dangerous game-where the stakes are not only love . . . but life and death.

A HINT OF WICKED

My Review
Summary 
After losing her first husband, Garrett, it took her several years to get over his loss, with the help and comfort of her second love, Tristan. Now married a year to Tristan, Sophie can’t imagine a life better. But then Garrett comes storming back into her life, and determined to get his wife back, even though he has  been gone all of these years. Sophie at first, knows where her heart truly lies, with Tristan. But being in such close proximity to Garrett again, has caused her to doubt her true feelings. But there is a danger lurking in the corners of her home, and with the help of Tristan and Garrett, she will try to uncover the truth…..and will find out who hold the key to her heart for once and for all….

The Hero 
Tristan, has always loved Sophie, even before his cousin married her. He has always known his feelings for her. When Garrett first wanted Sophie for his wife, Tristan to fight him on it, wanting all three of them to live in harmony. But now that he has married Sophie, he refuses to just let Garrett take his wife away from him. But despite the tense situation between himself and Garrett, he also knows there is something going on, something that is trying to undermine everything he holds dear, his relationship with his cousin, and the love he has for Sophie.

The Heroine 
Sophie, suffered for years after grieving the loss of Garrett. Even though she misses her first husband, Tristan has been the one she has been able to always rely on. Then when Garrett shocks them both with his return, and now Sophie has a difficult choice to make…but only if Garrett lets her. Even though she loves Garrett and he awakens a passion that once existed between them, she can’t deny her true feelings for Tristan, and how he made her believe in love again….

My Thoughts 
Even though for the most part part I found this to be a enjoyable story, it was my least favorite of the series. It might have been better if I had read it first instead of last, however I think it also had something to do with the love triangle that exists. I have to say I just loved Tristan, I thought he was the true hero….trying to fight for the woman he loves. Sophie on the other hand, wasn’t my favorite. I understood how you can have mixed feelings, but I just felt like through most of it, she wasn’t being true to Tristan, as much as I would have liked. Garrett, is a very complex character in this story, and at times you like him and at others you just wish he would go away. Although I did like the bit of suspensful portion of the plot, and the mystery that keeps the reader engaged in the story. I don’t know if I would have kept reading, if it didn’t have some positive aspects besides the love triangle. I will admit that there have been love triangles that I have been okay with, but this one seemed so forced and out of place, and wasn’t the most easiest of books to read due to certain circumstances.  Although toward the end I really enjoyed the story a lot more. Overall a fun and enjoyable story with intense moments that keeps one involved!!!

My Grade On This Book 
3.5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Steamy

Other Books In The Series 
A Touch of Scandal
A Season Of Seduction

Book Review- A Touch Of Scandal

A Touch Of Scandal
James Family (2)
Jennifer Haymore
Grand Central Publishing
Paperback
Published April 2010
400 Pages
Regency Historical Romance

Synopsis
The last thing Garrett, Duke of Calton, expects to find while tracking his sworn enemy is the delectable, mysterious Kate. This beautiful servant girl rouses a longing the battle-scarred ex-soldier had never hoped to feel again. But when she turns out to be the sister of the man he seeks, he’s convinced he’s been betrayed.

Kate knows her duty to her family, yet how can she ignore Garrett’s powerful pull on her heart? Or the heady temptation of his stolen-and sizzling-kisses? Scandal has followed the duke since the war. Now the greatest shock of all is on its way-the one that can separate Garrett and Kate forever

My Review
Summary 
When Kate, on her way home, stops by her special place, a pool, she see’s a bronze naked god of a man swimming, and finds herself watching him. And each night she watches him for eight days, but then one night, he looks right back at her and finds her hiding behind a bush staring at him. At first Garrett, is shocked when a young but beautiful woman is watching him from the bushes. Garrett knows he can’t afford to trust anyone right now, especially a young woman who gazes at him with such trust and innocence. But then he realizes that Kate would never hurt anyone, and he finds passion in her arms, but that doesn’t change his mission. Garrett has come to find his sister and rescue her from her husband, who is his enemy and who he has sworn to kill…until he finds out Kate is his enemy’s sister. Now he is all mixed up inside, but when Kate proves that she is not who he thinks she is, he starts to fall madly in love with this woman who takes his breath away.

The Hero (Garrett, Duke of Calton)
Garrett, after having suffered many battle wounds in the war, and being separated from his wife and daughter for seven years, only to return and find his wife in love with his cousin, when they thought he had died. Now recently divorced, he is determined to find his sister and save her from her husbands evil clutches after learning the truth about him. What he didn’t expect to find is the one woman that would make him whole…

The Heroine (Kate Fisk)
Kate, grew up knowing what her place in life was, as a daughter to a servant. However when her older brothers marries into money and position, she has to hide from others who she truly is as she serves in his household as his wife’s maid. Then she finds Garrett in her secret place, and she is tempted by his tender caresses that make her only want him more, even though she knows in her heart, that he could never love her or even marry her, but can she resist have one night in his arms…

My Thoughts 
A Touch Of Scandal is the second in the James Family series. I read the third recently and just fell in love with this author, and now that I have read the second one, I just love her even more and I am very excited to read her other books. I just love how she just draws the reader in from the first page of her stories and how enthralled one can become once fully entrenched in her stories. A Touch Of Scandal is such a heartwarming story, of the true power of love. I found both Garrett and Kate captivating characters. Garrett is such a wounded hero, with a lot of baggage to fight through (don’t ya just love that, I know I do 🙂 ) and yet I love the way he treats Kate (most of the time). Once he fights through his trust issues, he is so caring and gentle and protective of Kate. Kate is such a sweetheart, even though she cares for her brother, you can see where her loyalty lies, and I just love how she fights for Garrett and there were moments where I was just cheering her on. I especially loved her little brother, he seemed so cute and innocent. Overall a sweet romance that will sweep you off your feet with adventure, passion and a story about the power of true love…..A Captivating Read!

My Grade On This Book 
4.5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Steamy

Other Books In The Series 
A Hint Of Wicked
A Season Of Seduction

 

Book Review- A Season Of Seduction

A Season Of Seduction

James Family (3)
Jennifer Haymore
Grand Central
Paperback
Published October 2010
379 Pages
Regency Historical Romance
ISBN 978-0-446-54028

Synopsis
Although the widowed Lady Rebecca has sworn off marriage, men are another matter. London’s cold winter nights have her dreaming of warmer pursuits—like finding a lover to satisfy her hungry heart. Someone handsome, discreet, and most importantly as uninterested in marriage as she is. Someone like Jack Fulton.

A known adventurer and playboy, Jack seems like the perfect choice. There’s just one problem: Jack isn’t interested in an affair. He needs the beautiful, mysterious Lady Rebecca to be his wife. And he doesn’t have much time to persuade her. A secret from Jack’s past is about to surface, and by Christmas Day he’ll be either married to Rebecca or dead.

Summary
After the disaster of Rebecca’s first marriage, she is now a widow and in search of a change in her life. Its been four years since she was married, and has hidden herself away. Now she is ready to enjoy life and desires a night full of passion. So she goes in search of a man that could meet her needs and will remain uninterested in marriage so she pursues him, but after sharing moments of pure pleasure with Jack, her brother and cousin burst in the room finding her in his arms, and a scandal ensues, for both herself and her family. She is devastated, and when Jack proposes to her, she doesn’t know if she can say yes, even though there is a part of her that wants to. Years ago she made a drastic mistake in saying yes to the first man she fell for, and it ended up being the worst mistake of her life. So now, even though she wants to trust him, but knows she can’t. But Jack is persistent and goes about trying to court her, because he has no choice but to marry her or he could end up dead…..so his life is dependent on her decision….even though he is clearly falling in love with her….

The Hero
Jack, once made the mistake in his past, and after years of a scandal and leaving England for his family’s sake, now he has returned wanting to make a life for himself until he gets blackmailed and has no choice but to deceive the first woman he has feels strongly for since his first love. Even though he is desperate to find a way out of this situation, he also knows that he is starting to genuinely starting to care for Rebecca, who has burrowed her way into his heart and knows he will have to make the most difficult choice of his life…..

The Heroine 
Lady Rebecca has lived of life of loneliness and despair ever since her first marriage. Now after feeling like she is ready to make a fresh start, she desires a lover, someone to keep an emotional distance away from, and just enjoy the physical pleasure of it all, but then she spends a night in his arms and everything changes for her…..and even though she wants to believe his intentions are good, she doesn’t know how she will be able to see past her fear and trust in her heart….

My Thoughts 
A Season Of Seduction is the third book in the James Family series. After hearing so many good things about Jennifer Haymore, I saw this book at the library and just knew I had to try her out, and see what I thought of her, especially since it was Christmas themed in a way. I found that I just fell in love with this book, and everything about it. Its one of those you aren’t sure you will enjoy after reading the synopsis, but give it a try and are blown away by how wonderfully written it is. From the first to the last page I was spellbound by this beautiful story of love, trust and sacrifice. I just loved both Rebecca and Jack. Jack is the kind of hero you just want for yourself. He is doing something he hates doing, but you can see he starts to really care for Rebecca even though he is after her money…..Rebecca has suffered a lot in her life, and is fully devoted to her family but then she falls in love and it turns out both of them learn much about trust, and I just loved the ending… definitely a tearjerker. Overall a powerful and sensual novel that will sweep you off your feet and into the horizon!!! A ENTHRALLING TALE TO TREASURE!!!!

My Grade On This Book
5 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series 
A Hint Of Wicked
A Touch Of Scandal