Tag Archive | Laura Lee Guhrke

Book Review-Catch A Falling Heiress by Laura Lee Guhrke

Title: Catch A Falling Heiress 
Author: Laura Lee Guhrke 
Series: American Heiress in London 
Release Date: January 27th 2015 
Publisher: Avon Books 
Pages: 384 Pages 
Genre: Regency Historical Romance 
ISBN: 978-0-06-233465-7
Where To Find:

Synopsis

She’s an American heiress. He’s a devilish earl. When these two collide, the sparks ignite a shocking scandal in USA Today bestselling author Laura Lee Guhrke’s unforgettable Victorian-era romance.

Linnet Holland wants nothing to do with fortune hunters. No, she’s determined to marry a man who loves her. But just as she’s about to accept the perfect marriage proposal from the man she wants, the rakish Earl of Featherstone interrupts and ruins everything, including her reputation, with his smoldering kiss.

Jack Featherstone knows all about Linnet’s “intended”, and he’s determined she won’t fall prey to that villain as other women have in the past. But when his attempt to save Linnet ruins her instead, he knows he has to make things right. So he sets out to win this golden beauty . . . and prove to her that being ruined by him was the best thing that could have happened to her.

My Review

I received a ARC copy in exchange for a honest review.

Catch A Falling Heiress was a sexy and sweet historical romance that gave me barrels and barrels of laughs…Guhrke really outdid herself this time. I was beyond satisfied after reading this one. In this installment, we have Jack’s story…and I was really excited for it, especially after reading the blurb. After the previous book came out, and I loved it, I couldn’t wait for this one. The first book I have yet to read…but it is high on my priority this for the year so hopefully I will get it read and soon.

Jack Featherstone, has been asked by his friend to go to America, to get justice for a man who is unscrupulous. A man who hides beneath his charm and handsome facade. So Jack trusting his friend, goes to the America’s. Now it has been close to a year, and their plan to get justice is about to succeed, but then Jack sees Linnet and is captivated, but when he learns that her “Intended” is the man he knows horrid secrets about, he knows he has to stop her from making a grave mistake. Linnet has been all over Europe to satisfy her mothers wishes to marry a titled lord. But that is the last thing that Linnet wants, she is content with her life in America, but when a certain English Lord causes a scandal, she is now ruined and is furious. But Linnet isn’t one to just back down and give into what society expects of her. Jack doesn’t regret his actions, but hates that Linnet was put in the crossfire, especially when she can never know the reasons why. Now he must convince her of his genuine devotion to her to make her his wife, and that he wants her and not her dowry…but Linnet is stubborn and this pair will have to learn about trust or it could tear them apart…

One of my favorite things about Laura Lee Gurhke is her magical way of weaving a story of passion and adventure…and turn it into a gorgeous romance that keeps you enchanted from beginning to end. I couldn’t help but get fully into this one, and it was no hardship either. These two have amazing chemistry, even if they tend to go into denial about their feelings for each other. Jack, is a man of honor and loyalty, and never breaks his word. He is quite a rake at times, but he also has good intentions and what a lovely hero he was. He is so devoted to Linnet, despite the way she treats him at times, and he is tenacious when it comes to proving to her he cares for her. I was pretty much on his side for the whole story…there was just something about his character that really appealed to me in a certain way. There were so many elements to his character that made his seem real and human. Linnet…well she was alright for a heroine. I found that she could be a bit obnoxious at times, and a little self righteous, but she does prove herself. and she grew on me as the story progressed.

The plot was pretty well thought out, and as you read this one, you definitely see this author’s talent, and what a fun way this story turned out for me. I really loved the connection, and the intrigue especially at the beginning, that really sets the tone for the story. The romance had its rocky stops, but there was something very intense and emotional to it that keeps you anxious and what a amazing book that won me over!! Laura Lee Gurhkre, just never falters…her books are stellar, her writing is phenomenal and Catch a Falling Heiress is one ride you don’t want to miss!!

My Rating 

4 Blossoms

Heat Rating

Warm

Series Order
When The Marquess Met His Match (1)
How To Lose A Duke In Ten Days (2)
Catch A Falling Heiress (3)

ARC Book Review-How To Lose A Duke In Ten Days

How To Lose A Duke In Ten Days
An American Heiress in London (2)
Laura Lee Gurhrke
Avon Books
E Book
Published April 2014
384 Pages
Regency Historical Romance
ISBN: 978-0-06-211819-6
Authors Website 

They had a deal…

From the moment she met the devil-may-care Duke of Margrave, Edie knew he could change her life. And when he agreed to her outrageous proposal of a marriage of convenience, she was transformed from ruined American heiress to English duchess. Five years later, she’s delighted with their arrangement, especially since her husband is living on another continent.

But deals are made to be broken…

By marrying an heiress, Stuart was able to pay his family’s enormous debts, and Edie’s terms that he leave England forever seemed a small price to pay. But when a brush with death impels him home, he decides it’s time for a real marriage with his luscious American bride, and he proposes a bold new bargain: ten days to win her willing kiss. But is ten days enough to win her heart?

My Review

Stuart made a arrangement with Edie, to leave England once they married and her fortune paid his family’s debts and that he would never return. So its been five years, and Stuart has been in Africa, but when a lioness attacks him and he almost dies, there is one face that kept him alive, his wife Edie. So he has a new purpose in life, to return to England and win her heart. Edie left America to escape a scandal that was forced on her, and when she first saw Stuart she knew he was the way to get her independence, but knew she could never be intimate with him. Its been five years, and she has managed all of his estates, and dealt with his distant relatives, and trying to send her younger sister to school. Then he shows up right in front of her, and she can’t believe that her husband is in England, when she didn’t expect to ever see him again. Stuart knows he has a battle to win with Edie, and he forms a agreement with her, if he can get her to kiss him in ten days then she will stay in England and be his wife, but if he can’t get her to kiss him then he will sign separation forms. So Stuart begins a slow seduction of his wife, wanting to coax her into opening to him, to trust him with a secret that he knows she is hiding, and make her believe that he loves her and will anything to keep her in his life, the battle is on!!

How To Lose A Duke In Ten Days is the second book in the latest series by Laura Lee Gurhke. For some reason I don’t think I have read the first book, which is strange considering how much I adore this author, I will read anything she writes. Ever since I read “Marriage Bed” I was fascinated with this author, and I have enjoyed every book she has written, so its not surprise I fell in love with Stuart and Edie. Before I had a chance to read this, I read some fantastic reviews on this story, and I was very excited to start it. This is a story that is one of my favorite set ups in regency romance. A injured hero, needing reconciliation with his wife, and a slow seduction–oh boy, did I love these two. Edie is stubborn and almost leaves England before really talking with Stuart, she is a fighter, and wants her independence and freedom, and at first you think she seems a bit high handed and eccentric. Who runs from a handsome scoundrel of a husband that wants her body and soul right? When you realize the secret that Edie has kept secret, and to herself, you start to understand her in a different light. Stuart is a delectable hero of this story. I just loved him from the beginning, you see how much he is willing to do to gain Edie’s trust. He is a bit injured, and I loved how he handles his injury, and the way he forms a bond with Edie, and their chemistry is slow but strong and it was a very stimulating experience seeing these two come together.

There was so many beautiful and tender scenes that wrung my emotions, and I did need a tissue or two. The steam level in this book is under “warm”, passionate but not over kill and I felt like it the whipping cream on the most tasty treat.  What really got to me was the growth of their relationship emotionally. Especially the later half of the story, I could barely keep a grip on my emotions, I was all over the place. When these two start to develop a trusting relationship, and desire flares, that is when things get heated and highly involved and what a variety of spices and flavors of passion and love. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a tender love story, endearing characters, and rich in emotion and drama…A DELIGHTFUL TREAT TO WARM YOU ALL OVER!!!

First Line 
The chanting woke him, a primitive, repetitive melody that brought him slowly to consciousness. 

Favorite Quote 
“I was once so proud of myself for all the women I’d had, so vainly proud. And yet, now I’m rather ashamed of the fact, because none of those women have ever been to me what you are.” He looked up. “I love you, Edie. I love you with every part of my soul”. 

My Grade 
5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Warm

Other Books In Series 
When The Marquess Met His Match

Book Review-Trouble At The Wedding

Trouble At The Wedding
Abandoned At The Alter (3)
Laura Lee Guhrke
Avon
Mass Market Paperback
Published January 2012
372 Pages
Historical Romance
ISBN: 978-0-06-196317-9
Author’s Website

Synopsis
Annabel is about to marry the perfect man . . .

The last thing Miss Annabel Wheaton desires is true love. She learned the hard way that love makes a woman foolish and leads only to heartache. That’s why she agreed to marry an earl who needs her money. He’s got a pedigree and a country estate, and he won’t ever break her heart. There’s only one problem . . .

Christian isn’t about to let her marry that pompous prig . . .

Christian Du Quesne, Duke of Scarborough, thinks the stubborn heiress is about to make the biggest mistake of her life, and he’s determined to stop her. Tempting beautiful women is Christian’s forte, after all. When her family offers him a nice sum of money to stop the wedding, he’s happy to accept.

Falling in love with Annabel was never supposed to be part of the bargain . .

My Review
Summary 
Annabel grew up with not much money, but when her father lands a gold mine, but then dies suddenly she has a fortune in her possession. All Annabel has ever wanted for her life was to get married and have a family, and she has a chance to have a good life in England, to land a title and she knows he isn’t the type to demand her heart on a platter, just her money. Annabel only wants to be happy, but doesn’t need love in her life, at least that is what she thought until Christian, the Duke of Scarborough came into her life. Christian, has just become the Duke of Scarborough when his older brother passes away suddenly, after losing most of everything they had to gambling. Christian has been gambling most of his life, but unlike his brother, he knows the game well, and has the greatest luck to have never lost a fortune to it. When Annabel’s uncle comes to him with a proposition, if he can convince her to cancel the wedding, he will give Christian half a million, which is enough to start to rebuild what his brother lost in a card game. What Christian didn’t expect was to find love or a woman that would break the ice around the walls of his heart.

My Thoughts 
I was really excited to get my hands on this newest addition to Laura Lee Guhrke’s books. I have just loved every one of her stories, they always capture my attention from the beginning. Even though this wasn’t my favorite of hers, I still enjoyed it quite a bit, and before I knew it I was done with it, so it did fly by pretty quick, and was a easy engaging read. Set in the early 1900’s which is a bit different from her other books, but I liked the era she chooses which is the Edwardian Era, which is a later era than she usually does. However I found I enjoyed the set of the scene in the beginning. It starts out in New York City, then progresses onto a ship headed for England, and it only gets better. There was a instant chemistry between this couple that I found sizzling yet tender at times as well. There was enough steam to fog your windows in the classic way that Guhrke writes her books. The story line was fun and definitely had some shocks that will fire up your nervous system. Christian is handsome, total rake, and doesn’t deny it, he is proud of it except for the fact that he hides who he really is behind that facade. Christian has certain vulnerabilites that just sung to me in a real way, my heart just broke for him, he won me over almost instantly. Annabel is very spirited and knows what she wants, she also has certain weaknesses at well, that only appealed to me. I did find her a bit over the top at times, but overall I tended to like her. She definitely stirs things up and I liked how she puts Christian off kilter in such a delightful way that was very amusing at various times throughout the story.

Overall I found Trouble At The Wedding, a great additon to a full of life series that just steals your breath away. Charming characters, sensual chemistry, endearing set of cirumstances and a plot that will take you on a adventure that spans from New York to London. A breath of fresh air and I couldn’t help but adore this story. A WINNER in my book!

First Line 
The middle of the ocean wasn’t the usual location for a lavish, high society wedding, but if anyone could make that wedding a success, it was Miss Annabel Wheaton.

Favorite Quote 
I’m not talking about love. I’m talking about something else,  a feeling I’d wager my life Rumsford has never given you.”
“What feeling is that?”
He let go of her arms and cupped her face in his hands. “This one,” he said, and he kissed her. 

My Grade 
4 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Steamy

Other Books In The Series 
Wedding of the Season
Scandal of the Year  

Book Review-With Seduction In Mind

With Seduction In Mind
Girl Bachelor (4)
Laura Lee Guhrke
Avon
360 Pages
Published September 2009
Victorian Historical Romance
ISBN: 978-0-06-145683-1

Synopsis
Her proposition…
London Society is harsh for a young woman with no family connections who has to work for a living. But when Daisy Merrick is sacked from yet another job, the feisty and outspoken miss comes up with a plan that could give her a future beyond her wildest dreams. There’s only one problem. Her success depends on a man, the most infuriating, impossible, immovable man she’s ever met.

His resolution…
Sebastian Grant, Earl of Avermore, is England’s most infamous author. Known for his notorious reputation, he is more interested in play than work, and has no intention of cooperating when Daisy shows up on his doorstep with a mad plan. The provoking, fire-haired beauty stirs his senses beyond belief, and Sebastian knows he has only one way to stop her. Seduction.

MY REVIEW

Summary:
Daisy Merrick, is outspoken and independent, and with every job her sister manages to find for her, she manages to get fired for being too opinionated, which is her downfall. However she loves writing, and goes to Marlowe Publishing for a job. When she gives a review on a play written by a man she once loved reading his work, she provokes him. Sebastian Grant, an infamous writer in England at one time, now hates to write, for it brings to him feelings of fear and helplessness due to his past. Sebastian is determined never to write again, but when the unrelenting Daisy comes to him with a resolution to solve both of their problems, he never expected that she would seduce him into writing again, when he at one time hated doing it. Sebastian has never believed in ‘happily ever after’ ending, but after being moved by Daisy’s beauty and spirit, he dreams of a happy ending for himself.

The Hero 
Sebastian Grant, Earl of Avermore, at one time produced great works of writing, and became infamous in England. But then all the tributes get to his head, and he lost his spirit for writing, and after ten years of trying to write and forcing himself to write, and got addicted to drugs, and now having recovered, fears that if he starts writing again he will get back to his addiction, and knows that could lead to his death. Sebastian is stubborn, and angry and frustrated with the world, but also he is angry at himself for losing his life’s passion and for all his past mistakes, that has caused him to whom he is now. But meeting Daisy is like a breath of fresh air to his soul.

The Heroine 
Daisy Merrick, is very trusting and believes in those that are close to her.  Daisy’s mother died before she could ever get to know her, and her father became a drunk and broke promises to her, and yet despite all that, she continues to believe in people. Then she has a chance to publish her writing, but only with the help of Sebastian Grant, whose earlier works inspired her. Now if she can help him to start writing once more, she can accomplish her dream of becoming something great for once in her life. Daisy doubts herself and her looks, thinking she is not pretty, especially not compared to her sister, and far too opinionated for any man to accept in her, that is until she meets Sebastian who unsettles her.

My Thoughts 
With Seduction In Mind is the fourth in the Girl-Bachelor series written by Laura Lee Guhrke. Now this series is about young women who are independent, outspoken and both the hero and heroine have yet to find love.  I have truly been entertained by this series, and With Seduction In Mind definitely hit the bar. I love the whole interaction between the characters, both witty and sensual. At the beginning it started out slow, and things in the story didn’t really pick up for me until halfway through the book, but once I got to that point I just had to flip through the pages to see what would happen between Daisy and Sebastian. One of the things that I just loved about this book was how engaging the story and the characters were to this reader, and I felt emotionally involved like I was drawn into the story, and seemed very riveting, and I wont lie, but brought a tear to the eye, especially at the end. One of the things I didn’t like however was I wished it didn’t drag a bit at the beginning, But definitely a satisfying read!!

My Favorite Quote 
And I want you to marry me, and come back to Avermore with me, and write your books right across from where I write mine, so that whenever I am working, I can see your sweet, freckled face.

My Grade On This Book 
4 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series 
And Then He Kissed Her
The Wicked Ways Of A Duke
Secret Desires Of A Gentleman