Review: Scandalous Summer Nights
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 4, 2014
I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.My favorites in this anthology are by Grace Callaway, Jennifer Haymore and Kate McKinley.The Widow Vanishes, Grace CallawayWill and Annabel. I have loved all of Grace Callaway’s books and this one is no exception. This is a knight in shining armor story. You can imagine Will riding up on his trusty steed to save the day. Will has a sense of honor and does what he can to protect others. Both Will and Annabel have suffered from bad past relationships and are hesitant to let themselves be vulnerable again. Will and Annabel each make sacrifices for what they believe is right for the other. Theirs is a sweet story (there are some sexy parts as well) that will make you smile. A secondary character is Will’s brother, Alaric. He seemed to be thoughtless and uncaring - he steals Will’s former girlfriend but realizes it was a mistake. By the end of the story you realize that Alaric is not all that he seems. I would love to see him as a hero in one of the continuing stories in this new series. Also there are a couple of cameos from the Mayhem in Mayfair series…if you have not read those be sure to pick them up, they are also fantastic.Scandal Before Sunrise, Sabrina DarbyElliot and Abby. I still start off by saying that I love other Sabrina Darby books (e.g., Carolina and the Duke was very fun and flirtatious) but this one does not live up to those standards. This is a personal preference but I like a lot of dialog between the characters. For about  of the book it is mainly their inner thoughts. Abby is desperate to find a husband to avoid a scandal she believes is about to surface (and when we find out about the scandal it is shocking but comes out anyway and she is not terribly scandalized). Elliot just wants a fling and I was honestly tired of him saying that he did not see what the big deal was with Abby. I did not feel the love between them. I will admit that the last  of the book sort of redeemed itself. A secondary character that I did like very much was very flirtatious and outrageous and would love to see him as a hero in another book (Manfrey). Will I read another Sabrina Darby book? Yes.A Highlander’s Heart, Jennifer HaymoreRob and Claire. This is a heartbreaking story of love and loss. Rob and Claire have been through a very tough time in their life and it is tearing them apart. Claire has decided that they need to make amends and goes to Rob at Waterloo. However being with Rob is bringing back the sad memories and it is tearing her apart. You can feel the heartbreak of both Claire and Rob and want them to feel love once again. Rob has no idea how to deal with it and walks away because Claire asks him to. There is a great scene with him and two friends where they are basically telling Rob that he is an idiot for walking away and what he should have done instead. Rob and Claire finally understand each other and how they each express their grief and their coming back together was so beautiful. Honestly you might need a tissue. I loved all of the men in Rob’s regiment (especially Stirling) and look forward to the future stories in this series.Lord Lucifer's Disciple, Sue LondonJohn and Elisa. This was a sweet story. John is a beta hero who is not outgoing would rather be reading and alone than in the midst of the marriage mart. I really felt for him. Elisa was bored with all of the suitors and was hoping for excitement in her life. It did come in the form of John in disguise. I like the “masked” side of John. He let go and had fun. However he did not want Elisa to fall for his other persona so he set about wooing her as himself which Elisa rebuked at first but we all know how that goes…it was really the person inside that drew her to him. John’s wooing of Elisa as himself was very sweet and made for a nice HEA. At about  through the book I thought there is no way I am going to read more of this series but have to say by the end I was drawn in and will look for future books.How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days, Kate McKinleyLucas and Pippa. This is what I love about most Regency romances. Lots of wit and lots and banter. Lucas is definitely a rogue of the worst sort and you cannot help but like him. His journey to the realization that emotions will not make you any less of a person is fantastic. Pippa had absolutely no chance against his seduction. She is a strong person and helps change Lucas for the better by her not bowing down to his machinations. I loved their interactions and would have liked the story to be longer. A secondary character you did not see much of but is nonetheless intriguing is Lucas’ friend Matthias. I am hoping he can get his own book (maybe there is something in his helping Lucas…will not give it away but it seems to make for what could be an interesting story). I look forward to reading future books in this series.Lady Amelia Lands a Duke, Sandy RavenMarcus and Amelia. This was a very sweet story. It was also a much more mature story than most Regency romances. Marcus is a mature man with grown children from his first marriage and not a rogue but is intelligent and honorable. Amelia is older than most heroines and holds her own and does not care what society thinks. I really liked both Marcus and Amelia. I believed that they came to love each other in the short period of time (which does not always work in romances). The only thing that bothered me was that Marcus would have been an old man by the time his children with Amelia were grown. I have not read the other Caversham books but plan on it now.Lady Northam’s Wicked Surrender, Vivienne WestlakeSimon and Rowena. This is a second chances story that is bittersweet with misunderstandings and with a twist. I read this as a stand-alone a while back but understand it was revised a little for this anthology and it is still just as good as I remember. Simon’s devastation over what he believes was Rowena’s cuckolding was definitely felt in this story. The twist comes in that instead of Simon having to explain himself it is Rowena as Simon is ready to walk away because he feels Rowena does not trust him and how could their relationship grow but Rowena realizes she does not want to lose Simon again. Rowena realizes he is right and as they talk they realize that they do want a relationship and love each other. I only wish this story could have been longer. I really liked both characters. I look forward to the next books in this series.