Review: Great Collection of Novellas that Are Firsts in Series
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 29, 2014
SCANDALOUS SUMMER NIGHTS is a collection of novellas that are the first in new series by each of the authors. I really liked that these are all new series because I could read each without worrying about missing part of the series. My favorites were the stories by Grace Callway, Jennifer Haymore and Kate McKinley.Overall rating: 4.25.THE WIDOW VANISHES by Grace Callaway: This novella is the prequel to Callaway's new Heart of Enquiry series. This new series is a spin off of Callaway's Mayhem in Mayfair series. For fans of the Mayhem in Mayfair series, there are appearances by favorite characters but new readers won't be lost.THE WIDOW VANISHES is the story Annabel Foster a young widow who sell herself to pay off her feckless husband's gambling debts. On her first night she is chosen by William McLeod. William is a Scotsman who works as a guard for hire. He receives Annabel as a bonus for a job he does for a gaming hell owner. Their amazing night together changes both of them and leads William to seek to rescue the woman who doesn't expect to be rescued by anyone.I really love the vibrancy of Callaway's characters. They are strong and independent people with a strong sexuality. Her books always have graphic and intense sex scenes, but they are not gratuitous. The characters always are emotional and intense people. I loved Will and Bella together. She is determined to be strong and recover from her weaknesses and Will is a very honorable man.We are also introduced to Will's brother, the Duke of Strathaven. I hope we see more of him in future books because his story must be a good one.Rating: 4.25SCANDAL BEFORE SUNRISE by Sabrina Darby: This novella is the first book in The Weekly Scandal series. It is the story of Abigail Billings who had two season where she was a bad girl. Now she has returned to London seeking a husband to avoid the great scandal gathering around her family. She meets Elliot Jones who expects the bad girl and instead finds a prim and proper girl. He's looking for a lover while she is looking for a husband.I liked Abigail's character but just didn't feel any real heat between her and Elliot. I was interested in what sent her running from London three years before but after that mystery was revealed, I wasn't as interested in the rest of the story. Rating: 3A HIGHLANDER'S HEART by Jennifer Haymore: This book is the first in the Highland Knights series. Robert Campbell is at the Battle of Waterloo and sees and angel. He doesn't realize that it is his own wife, Claire Campbell who he has not seen in months. The two separated bitterly when Claire said that she did not want to see Robert again. She travels to Waterloo, however, fearing that she won't have the chance to say that she is sorry.The story between Robert and Claire is raw and emotional as the two learn to speak to one another again after being driven apart. I really liked these characters who handle pain differently and don't necessarily recognize the needs that the other has. They are honorable and clearly in love. It was gratifying to see these two find their way back to one another.Rating: 4.25LORD LUCIFER'S DISCIPLE by Sue London: This is the first of the Haberdashers Nights books, short and sexy stories. Elisa Jarvis meets a mysterious foreigner at a masquerade. The two end up kissing and more and she wants even more and asks him to marry her but he refuses. Elisa is going to be married off in two weeks by her guardian if she doesn't find a husband before then. John Howards is a shy man who accepts an invitation to the masquerade but decides to become someone else and impersonates his friend from Vienna. This honorable man soon finds himself in a pickle having fallen for Elisa in his guise.I liked the premise of this book. John is shy and finds himself acting boldly in his disguise. I liked how he gets tangled in his disguise and ends up wooing her in two forms. I thought that Elisa was too nice to him when she discovers his deception, but thought that the couple was really sweet together in the end.Rating: 4HOW TO LOSE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS by Kate McKinley: This is the first in the What Happens in Scotland series. I loved the premise for this book. Miss Pippa Welby is the daughter of wealthy tradesman. Lucas Alexander is the Duke of Arlington. Lucas comes to ask Pippa to marry him. She doesn't want to (because she doesn't want to join the ton where she has been looked down upon because of her class). Lucas gives her an invitation to their engagement ball in 10 days. He swears to win her; she swears to lose him.I loved this story. Pippa and Lucas are funny together and strike sparks off of one another. I admit a weakness for those men who appear cold and just need the right woman to warm them. Pippa's attempts to discourage Lucas from wanting to marry her. The two are pretty hot together as well. I was amazed at how much McKinley packed into this novella. I certainly want to read more of the series.Rating: 4.25MISS AMELIA LANDS A DUKE by Sandy Raven: This is a prequel to the Caversham Chronicles. Amelia Manners-Sutton is a spinster and a companion to her aunt. Her aunt is a social climber who intends to wed Marcus Renfield Halden, the Duke of Caversham even though she is not out of mourning. While at a house party, Amelia hides from her aunt's schemes and runs into a gentleman who intrigues her. Of course, it ends up that it is the duke, but Amelia doesn't know that right away.I liked this story. Amelia is efficient and independent. The duke being older than most heroes is more settled and mature. He doesn't intend on marrying again because of his age. There is something very sweet about their relationship. They are a good match with Amelia being strong and independent.Rating: 4LADY NORTHAM'S WICKED SURRENDER by Vivienne Westlake: This is book one of the Wicked Liaisons series. This is a story of two former loves who have a second chance. Rowena, the widowed Countess of Northam is approached by a former suiter, Simon, Lord Rutherford. He has been away for six years in India. When the two parted, Rowena married Simon's best friend.I really liked the story of Simon and Rowena. My complaint about this story is that it really was too complex to be told in such a short novella. This story would have been better if the angst had had time to stretch out over the course of a longer novel. As written, I thought the story was a bit rushed and did not give the emotional impact it could have.Rating: 3I received an ARC free from Grace Callaway in order to provide a review of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.