Monday, April 30, 2012

Book Review: When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

When You Were Mine
By Rebecca Serle 
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Summary: In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo’s original intended—Juliet’s cousin Rosaline—tells her side of the tale. What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything.     Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.     


Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends….


Review: Retellings are my favorite kind of books to read, so when I had the opportunity to read this one, I was crazy excited. Romeo and Juliet is probably the most well-known classic there is, so I was really curious to see how this one was going to turn out. And you know what? It was pretty awesome. 

The prologue starts off with Rose explaining that Shakespeare had it wrong. Romeo was actually taken before Juliet came in and swooped him off his feet. And this was her story. Then, the reader is taken into a modern day teenage story where Rose is falling for her best friend Rob.

I liked Rose from the start and how unsure and vulnerable she was around Rob. They are so cute together in the beginning and she is so relatable to teenage girls. Her best friends are awesome too. Charlie is the typical "leader" of the group, but she's a really good friend and cares for Rose and Olivia. Olivia is the quirky girl and her relationship with Charlie's brother is really cute too. Everything is going fine and dandy; Rose is on her way to being accepted early to Stanford and her relationship with Rob is progressing out of the friend zone. Until Juliet comes back into town.

From Rose's memory, Juliet and her used to be best friends (they're cousins) until something happened with their parents and Juliet became super mean. Juliet's family moved away and now, ten years later, they're back. Rose never learned what happened between their families, but Juliet only wants one thing: revenge. And that revenge just so happens to be stealing Rob.

Every way Juliet is characterized I have to hate her, but I wish we could have seen Juliet through Rob's eyes at some point and understand why the day after he was so enamored with Rose he falls head over heals in love with Juliet. Yeah, I know it's "love at first sight" but that wasn't really explained in this book. That, however, was the only flaw I found in the story.

Rose completely falls apart and has to pick herself back up, but having to deal with being the only one single among her friends ins't helping. Until Len comes in, that is. Len is such a mysterious character until Rose actually spends time with him and both Rose and the reader are surprised by how much they like him. He's funny, cute, and actually has substance to him. I don't want to give away anything else, but I really enjoyed hearing Rose's side and view on the story. Juliet and Rob seem crazy and how everyone else see's their relationship is finally shown. The transformation from Romeo and Juliet into a young adult, high school romance was done really well and it was so much fun reading! Even if you're not a Shakespeare fan, any young adult fan should check this book out! 


Blogspiration (4)


This is a new meme I found hosted by Growing Up YA and Saz101. Bloggers post something that inspires them every week and shares it with their followers! I love this idea, so I decided to try it out! Every Monday I'll share a picture/quote/video of something (most likely book related) that's inspired me this week :) 


These reprints of old classics are so adorable, don't you think? I'm obsessed with cute covers and reprints, especially when it's of the classics. These are gorgeous and so are the ones from Barnes and Noble with the gold-edged pages. I have to restrain myself from buying the same book multiple times because each of the covers are so unique and adorable! Now if I could only get myself to actually read them sometime....


Sunday, April 29, 2012

In My Mailbox (33)


In My Mailbox is a meme that I picked up from The Story Siren's blog. It's where we share the new books that we've gotten for that week with our readers. These books could be from the library, the store, or from the writers/publishers for review. Whatever the reason, I will share my new books every Sunday!

From World Book Night



This past monday was World Book Night and I got to pass out 20 free copies of Wintergirls! My friend was a giver too and she was giving out copies of The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. We ended up swapping books, so now I have a copy of each of these! Apparently they're awesome, so I'm excited to get the chance to read them. You can read all about World Book Night right here if you're interested! 

That's it for me! What did you all get this week? 


Friday, April 27, 2012

Book Review: Belles by Jen Calonita

Belles
By Jen Calonita 
Release Date: April 10, 2012
Summary: Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she’s ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn’t go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn’t thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates’ Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls’ lives forever.


Review: I love love love YA contemporaries, so I was so excited to have the chance to review this book. And you know what? It was AWESOME! 

This book is like a mixture between The Clique series by Lisa Harrison and the Private series by Kate Brian (who's actually quoted on the back), and those two series happened to have been my favorite at some point in my life. So it's no surprise I stayed up all night reading this until I was finished!

Ever since the first page I really liked Izzie. She's so down to earth and she's someone that you can't help but like, no matter what she does. Then, when you hear about her past and how she has to move in with her distant Uncle (who happens to be running for senator and has three kids already, including a super popular daughter the same age as her) because her Grandma can't even remember her name, you know you have to root for her throughout the entire story.

I felt really conflicted on wether I like Mira (the popular daughter) or not, because she was nasty when she was around Savannah (her best friend who I hated) but she knew what she was doing was wrong. I really started to like her, though, when she started to realize her life was so fake, even though she was popular and dating the quarterback of the football team. It was cool how she had a secret passion for art and always wanted to be in the art studio instead of being the plastic barbie best friend and girlfriend.

There were so many new things thrown in Izzie's way (usually thrown by the evil Savannah) and I just couldn't get enough of the story (especially when it came to the rocky relationship between Izzie and Brayden, who happens to be someone Izzie DEFINITELY shouldn't be with). And a twist thrown in the end was SO unexpected that my mouth was actually gaping. Maybe I was too oblivious to have realized it, but I was shocked. Only awesome books have the ability to shock me that much and this one sure did.

You know what else I loved about this book? The cover! It's gorgeous! Underneath the cover jacket, it's a picture of the girl and a bunch of the pink flowers. And I love the idea of the title. Mira's full name is Mirabelle and Izzie's is Isabelle, so they're the Belles. Haha, clever right? Well I thought it was! If you haven't had the chance, go grab this book! It's awesome!
 


Follow My Book Blog Friday (37)


This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

Question: Have you ever had a character that disappointed you? One that you fell in love with then "broke up" with later on in either the series or a stand-alone book? Tell us about him or her. 

Answer: 

  

So, I fell completely in love with Jeremiah Fisher in the first two books. He was so sweet, amazing, and absolutely PERFECT for Belly. When it got to the third book, though, he COMPLETELY CHANGED. He turned into a complete jerk and totally different than he had been from the first two books. I was so mad how he wasn't the same perfect Jeremiah anymore and how he was annoying and mean. It was like his character just switched with Conrad's (his brother). Ughh I was so mad the entire time I was reading because I was like, how could an author just completely change her characters without so much as an explanation?? I still love Jeremiah, I just choose to ignore the existence of the third book :) 


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Book Review: Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery by Keren David

Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery 
By Keren David
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Summary: Think winning the jackpot will solve all your problems?
Life's hard for Lia. Her mum is a nag, her sister a pain and the gorgeous but mysterious Raf seems immune to her charms. When Lia wins £8 million on the lottery, though, suddenly everything is different.
But will Lia's millions create more problems than they solve?

Firstly, a resentful gang of girls at school set up a 'We Hate Lia Latimer' Facebook group . . . that soon has fans in the thousands. Her friend Shazia can't have anything to do with Lia's new-found fortune, believing gambling to be immoral. The mum of her other best friend, Jack, is threatening to sue Lia for what she believes to be his share of the winnings. Raf's behaviour is getting stranger and stranger, and Lia can't help but wonder whether there's something to the school rumours that he's not . . . well, human.

And when her sister Natalie goes missing, Lia begins to wonder if a millionaire lifestyle is all it's cracked up to be. . .

Review: I was really intrigued when I won this book from Librarything because it just sounded like such a fun read. I'm happy to say it ended up being just that! 

Lia is a 16-year-old girl from Britain and the book starts off when her mom kicks her out of the house (after another one of their fights) and she finds out she won the lottery. As you can imagine, her entire world turns upside down. Lia has to deal with people taking advantage of her, her family's continuous communication issues, and the mysterious Raf who everyone thinks is a vampire. Oh, and did I mention the ticket was her best guy friend's sweet sixteen birthday present to her? Talk about complicated. 

I loved how Lia was far from being a perfect person. She has fights with her parents, has a ton of issues with her friends, and ends up being a bit (okay, quite a lot) selfish. Her imperfections, though, make the story that much more fun to read. Yes, there were times when I wanted to jump into the story and just shake her until she could think straight, but I enjoyed watching her world completely unravel while she tried to piece it back together. 

I really like how the author kept the reader in the dark about Raf's past and Lia and Jack's relationship until the end because it made the story more interesting. Raf was so mysterious yet yummy at the same time that I couldn't get enough of him! Him being British wasn't too shabby either ;) 

So overall this book was a cute, quirky read about a teen winning the lottery. Yeah, Lia got annoying at times by how immature/self-centered she acted, but the story was still fun. If you're looking for a fast, fun British read, check this one out. It's bound to make you smile :)


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

World Book Night 2012


I was so fortunate to be able to participate in World Book Night on Monday, April 23rd! It was so much fun, so I'd thought I'd share with you all about my experience! 

What's World Book Night? 

Well, according to their website, "World Book Night is an annual celebration designed to spread a love of reading and books. To be held in the U.S. as well as the U.K. and Ireland on April 23, 2012. It will see tens of thousands of people go out into their communities to spread the joy and love of reading by giving out free World Book Night paperbacks."

The book I got to give out was Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson! 

Summary: “Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.
“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.
I am that girl.
I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.
I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.


Lia and Cassie were best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies. But now Cassie is dead. Lia's mother is busy saving other people's lives. Her father is away on business. Her step-mother is clueless. And the voice inside Lia's head keeps telling her to remain in control, stay strong, lose more, weigh less. If she keeps on going this way—thin, thinner, thinnest—maybe she'll disappear altogether.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the National Book Award finalist Speak, best-selling author Laurie Halse Anderson explores one girl's chilling descent into the all-consuming vortex of anorexia.



So I picked up my giver box of 20 copies of Wintergirls on Friday and was all set to give them away on Monday! I went to Kroger first with a friend of mine who also signed up as a giver! She ended up giving away copies of The History Of Love by Nicole Krauss. We were both so excited to start giving them away that we were completely shocked when the first few people we asked didn't want a copy. Who would ever refuse a free book?!?!?!? 

So we went through the entire grocery store three times and only got rid of about half of our books. Defeated, we walked back towards our dorms trying to decide what to do next. We ended up handing them out to girls in our dorm until we got rid of all of them. The girls in the dorm seemed super excited when I handed them the books, so I'd say the night ended on a high note! 

Overall, the night started off rocky, but it was fun in the end! It was nice knowing that I was a part of something so inspiring and awesome! I love reading, so it was so much fun being able to share my love with others and encourage them to read too! You can check out the list of the 30 books that were being given out that day right here! Everyone should apply next year when this amazing night comes around again! I know I sure will! 


Waiting on Wednesday (39)


This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of!

Kissing Shakespeare 
By Pamela Mingel
Release Date: August 14, 2012
Summary: Miranda has Shakespeare in her blood: she hopes one day to become a Shakespearean actor like her famous parents. At least, she does until her disastrous performance in her school's staging of The Taming of the Shrew. Humiliated, Miranda skips the opening-night party. All she wants to do is hide. 

Fellow cast member, Stephen Langford, has other plans for Miranda. When he steps out of the backstage shadows and asks if she'd like to meet Shakespeare, Miranda thinks he's a total nutcase. But before she can object, Stephen whisks her back to 16th century England—the world Stephen's really from. He wants Miranda use her acting talents and modern-day charms on the young Will Shakespeare. Without her help, Stephen claims, the world will lost its greatest playwright. 

Miranda isn't convinced she's the girl for the job. Why would Shakespeare care about her? And just who is this infuriating time traveler, Stephen Langford? Reluctantly, she agrees to help, knowing that it's her only chance of getting back to the present and her "real" life. What Miranda doesn't bargain for is finding true love . . . with no acting required.



I freaking love any book that is a retelling/based around a classic, so I got SO excited when I heard about this book. This one sounds like such a cute book and the cover is so gorgeous! I like the idea of Miranda being an actress, then having to figure out how to deal with her real life. Oh, and a time traveler? Charming the young Shakespeare? When can I read this book?!?!?! 



Monday, April 23, 2012

Blogspiration (3)


This is a new meme I found hosted by Growing Up YA and Saz101. Bloggers post something that inspires them every week and shares it with their followers! I love this idea, so I decided to try it out and see how it goes! So every Monday I'll share a picture/quote/video of something (most likely book related) that's inspired me this week :) 



My friend posted this video on my wall a couple of months ago and it's just so freaking adorable. I thought I'd share it with all of you because I know all of us book lovers, at some point in our lives, have wanted a guy like this :)



Sunday, April 22, 2012

In My Mailbox (32)


In My Mailbox is a meme that I picked up from The Story Siren's blog. It's where we share the new books that we've gotten for that week with our readers. These books could be from the library, the store, or from the writers/publishers for review. Whatever the reason, I will share my new books every Sunday!

From the Publisher


Ahhh I'm so excited for these goodies that came in the mail :) I applied to be an Avon Addict and didn't get chosen, but Avon was so awesome to give away the first two books to all of the people who entered! So I got those lovely romances in the mail! And the other two look awesome too, so I'm excited to crack into them! 

From Giveaway
 

I won some great books this week too! The first one I won from Kristen at Seeing Night Reviews along with some awesome swag and tattoos! Then I won Fever from Juliababyjen's Reading Room and I'm so excited to read it! I recently finished Wither, so I can't wait to see what happens next! And last, but certainly not least, I won Assassins In Love from Crystal at Reading Between the Wines! I want to thank all of these awesome ladies for the generous giveaways! All of these books look so good! 

And that's it for this week! What did you all get in your mailboxes? 


Friday, April 20, 2012

Book Review: When Dreams Come True by Cathy Maxwell

When Dreams Come True
By Cathy Maxwell
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Summary: Everyone knew the earl of Penhollow needed a wife, so one thunderous night the villagers gathered together to ask the ocean to deliver a bride to the bachelor lord . . .

When Pierce Kirrier rescues a mysterious beauty from the billowing ocean waves, he has no idea who she is or where she came from. But at first sight of this enchanting maiden, he knows he must claim her for his own. Taking her back to Penhollow Hall, he pampers her like a princess, determined to win her trust and her heart.

For Eden, awakening in an elegant bedchamber in a remote corner of Cornwall is like a perfect dream. In Pierce’s arms she has discovered true love, true joy, and a passion she never imagined could exist. Yet she knows in her heart that, once her secret past catches up with her, her dreams could be shattered . . . forever.


Review: This is the first historical romance I've read by Cathy Maxwell and it definitely will not be the last! This story sucked me in from page one and didn't let me go until the end. 

Eden was really an awesome heroine because even though she was so innocent and loving, she could still be stubborn and stick up for herself when she needed to. I loved the instant attraction between her and Pierce when he rescued her from the ocean when she was running away from being sold as a mistress from the whorehouse she was living in. Her past was so horrible and it was so sad whenever she thought about how she was in no way good enough to be the wife of the magnificent, gorgeous Pierce. She's such a sweet person, even to people who don't even like her, so I was rooting for things to work out for her throughout the entire story. 

Pierce was such a good guy (well, most of the time) and I wanted things to work out with him and Eden SO BAD! It was so cute how everyone in the house (i.e. the servants) were working together to push Pierce and Eden together because they all knew they were perfect for each other. Pierce may have been serious when it came to his business and reputation, but he is such a softie and I loved how much emotion he was capable of showing. He was just the perfect person to rescue Eden from her past life. 

Of course, there were many trials along the way, including rescuing children from burning buildings, a strange sorceress, and snobby, stuck-up neighbors/mothers. Everything tests Pierce's feelings for Eden and Eden's determination to keep her disgraceful past a secret form Pierce. 

The love story of this book was so sweet and so romantic that I hated to see it end! I'm so happy this book is being republished (it was first published in 1998) because now even more people will be able to experience this adorable historical romance! I would definitely recommend checking this book out! I now I'm checking out what else Cathy Maxwell has in store for her readers!


Follow My Book Blog Friday (36)


This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

Question: Fight! Fight! If you could have two fictional characters battle it out (preferably from books), who would they be and who do you think would win? 

Answer: Hmmm that's so hard!!! I'd have to go with.... Tris from Divergent and Katniss from The Hunger Games. 

 


I think Katniss would win because she's just so kick-butt that I couldn't really see anyone beating her. I thought about having Four and Peeta go against each other, but pretty much an





Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (38)


This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of! 

The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life
By Tara Altebrando
Release Date: July 5, 2012
Summary: An all-day scavenger hunt in the name of eternal small-town glory
With only a week until graduation, there’s one last thing Mary and her friends must do together: participate in the Oyster Point High Official Unofficial Senior Week Scavenger Hunt. And Mary is determined to win.

Mary lost her spot at Georgetown to self-professed “it” bully Pete Lembo, and she’s not about to lose again. But everyone is racing for the finish line with complicated motives, and the team’s all-night adventure becomes all-night drama as shifting alliances, flared tempers, and crushing crushes take over. As the items and points pile up, Mary and her team must reinvent their strategy—and themselves—in order to win.




This sounds so good! I saw it for the first time last week on someone else's WoW and knew I had to read it. I love books at this time of a teenager's life and the added scavenger hunt sounds so fun! It reminds me of my senior year, so I really can't wait to see how everything turns out for Mary and her friends! 


***Don't forget to enter the two giveaways I have going on right now***

  



Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Author Feature/Giveaway: Cathy Maxwell

I am so excited to feature Avon author Cathy Maxwell today! Her novel When Dreams Come True was recently re-released and her new novel Lyon's Bride will be released April 24th!

Interview
Cathy Maxwell talks about how Daphne du Maurier helped her write WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE, her upcoming THE CHATTAN CURSE trilogy, and the fun of escaping to another world...

Cathy, thanks for joining us and congratulations on the republication of WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE.

First, when was WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE published?  And why does a publisher “re-release” a book?
WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE was first published in 1998, almost fifteen years ago.  Publishers re-release because the public is interested in the author and want to read those classics.  It’s a wonderful compliment.

The novel is set in the Regency era—your specialty!—but it’s far from the ballrooms of London.  Why did you choose a remote village and estate as a setting? Where is Cornwall, anyway?  
Cornwall is a peninsula located in the most western part of England.  Eden would not be able to hide her past if she was in London, but here, surrounded by kind village people, she can be whomever she wishes.  I also like the dynamic of country life.  It truly is the heart and soul of England, even today.

The village, Hobbles Moor, and Penhollow Hall are a world onto its own, with most of the story taking place there.  What is it about stories set in this sort of microcosm that appeals so much to so many readers?  Is it that it can be so entertaining to read about characters such as villagers, servants and the “local gentry” can be so entertaining to read—as well as a change of pace?
Don’t we all love escaping to another world?  Leaving the bills, the cares, the car pools?  We all have our “villages” in real life.  Our peeps.  And I think recognizing them in literature is grand fun.

There’s a bit of magic in WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE as the villagers cast a spell to bring the Earl of Penhollow a bride.  Do you believe in magic? Is this something you’ve used as a plot device in other books?  Which ones?
I believe that when people come together for one shared purpose, great forces are set to work.  Is that magic?  Do we have the ability to will what we desire?  Or is it Higher Power answering prayers?  I’m open to everything.  That being said, I’ll be using the mysteries of life again in my upcoming The Chattan Curse trilogy.  The first book is LYON’S BRIDE and it will be released this May.

Trained as a courtesan, the beautiful and innocent heroine, Eden, is destined to be part of a harem.  Did her blend of knowledge and innocence make her a difficult character to write?
Eden wasn’t any more difficult than the others.  And perhaps easier.  After all, she had a secret.  She isn’t innocent . . . whereas Pierce was more complex.  He is the character with a decision to make.

Was including the harem a tip of the hat to the breakout romances of the late 70s from authors such as Johanna Lindsey, Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen Woodiwiss?
I wasn’t thinking of them at all.  Actually, I wanted to turn the tables.  Eden is the one with “experience.”  In many ways, Pierce is the innocent and I liked that thought of a “pure” knight.

Which, if any, of your other novels is similar to WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE in terms of being set outside of London and the immediate concerns of the ton?
Many of them—BECAUSE OF YOU, TEMPTATION OF A PROPER GOVERNESS, THE SEDUCTION OF AN ENGLISH LADY, IN THE HIGHLANDER’S BED, FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN . . . titled people for titled people’s sakes are not interesting to me.  I like the dynamic of a society.

It’s been fourteen years since Pierce and Eden got together.  Surely one of their children will be old enough in a few years to have a romance of his or her own.  Do you think you’ll ever return to Penhollow Hall?
I don’t know about revisiting Penhollow Hall, although I suspect I’ll be returning to Cornwall again.  For the research on this book, I read Daphne du Maurier’s Vanishing Cornwall.  Cornwall was the setting for many of her books and her travelogue is wonderful reading for an armchair traveler.

How can readers get in touch with you with questions and comments?  And are you on Facebook?
I have a website at www.cathymaxwell.com   Yes, I’m on Facebook.  Isn’t everyone?  Readers can find me at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cathy-Maxwell/166883240063709 if they want to yak at me.  To sign up for my mailing list or just post a quick comment, I have a fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cathy-Maxwell-Fan-Page/144546442251787

What have you got in store for us next?
This is a Maxwell packed spring!  The first of The Chattan Curse books is out in May, LYON’S BRIDE.  Then, in June, Avon Impulse is releasing an e-anthology titled FOR LOVE AND HONOR.  Lynne Hinton and Candis Terry are the book’s other two authors.  We were each given the theme of “a soldier” and turned loose from there.  I adore my contribution The Bookish Miss Nelson.  It is set during the Peninsula Wars in the early 1800’s.  

Then, Pocket Books will be re-e-releasing (did you catch all of that?) a novella I wrote for them a decade ago titled, In a Moonlit Garden. It will be out in July.  Long time fans will know this is from the TEA FOR TWO anthology I did with Liz Carlyle.  

Finally, the second book of The Chattan Curse trilogy, THE SCOTTISH WITCH, will be out in November of this year.  The third book, THE DEVIL’S CURSE, should be out next spring.
I have my nose to the grindstone!

Thanks again, Cathy!

Lyon's Bride
By Cathy Maxwell
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Summary: "When a Chattan male falls in love, 
Strike his heart with fire from above..."

They call him Lord Lyon, proud, determined - and cursed. He is in need of a bride, but if he falls in love, he dies. His fervent hope is that by marrying - and having a son - without love, perhaps he can break the curse's chains forever.Enter beautiful Thea Martin - a duke's headstrong, errant daughter and society's most brilliant matchmaker. Years ago, she and Lyon were inseparable, until he disappeared from her life without a word. Now she is charged with finding Lyon's bride - a woman he cannot love for a man Thea could love too well....




When Dreams Come True
By Cathy Maxwell
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Summary: Everyone knew the earl of Penhollow needed a wife, so one thunderous night the villagers gathered together to ask the ocean to deliver a bride to the bachelor lord . . .

When Pierce Kirrier rescues a mysterious beauty from the billowing ocean waves, he has no idea who she is or where she came from. But at first sight of this enchanting maiden, he knows he must claim her for his own. Taking her back to Penhollow Hall, he pampers her like a princess, determined to win her trust and her heart.

For Eden, awakening in an elegant bedchamber in a remote corner of Cornwall is like a perfect dream. In Pierce’s arms she has discovered true love, true joy, and a passion she never imagined could exist. Yet she knows in her heart that, once her secret past catches up with her, her dreams could be shattered . . . forever.



Excerpt

Eden didn’t want to lie, not to him, not anymore. But she couldn’t tell him the truth.
Lord Penhollow sat down on the piano bench beside her, his back to the instrument. “Play.”
“What shall I play?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Her fingers trembled as she touched the ivory keys. She was all too aware of him, of his thigh brushing against hers, of his arm leaning on the piano, of the intensity in his face.
For a moment, her mind went blank. She could barely remember her name, let alone why she was here. Her fingers stuck a D chord and then began moving almost with a will of their own. Mozart.
The music had been written to be played by moonlight. It wasn’t an easy piece. Its mood changed swiftly, flowing from pensive contemplation to almost joyous rapture and back again.
She played for him as she’d played for no other, letting the music speak words that could never, should never be spoken between them.
His expression sober, he leaned his head down on his arm, listening. The light from the single candle encircled them.
Eden didn’t feel the burn of tears until the first one trickled down her cheek. She struggled to hold back the others. Her throat ached with the pain of regret. Still she played, her fingers running over the keys, striking chords. Another tear escaped, this time falling free and striking the back of her hand just as she finished the final chord.
The music vibrated in the air. Neither spoke. Eden couldn’t face him. She lowered her head, staring at the contrast of her fingers against the creamy ivory keys.
The back of his fingers stroked her cheek. She shivered at his touch, then closed her eyes, pressing her cheek closer, wanting these few moments between them.
Her tears flowed freely now. She tasted them on her lips, and then, tasted him. His fingers brushed her lips softly, before his lips hovered near hers in silent question.
Eden had never kissed before. The women of Madame Indrani’s did not kiss. A kiss was too intimate, too personal. A poet had once said, a kiss could claim a woman’s soul and never give it back and Madame had trained her women to believe it. But now, Eden craved that intimacy. The blood roaring in her ears, she wet her lips and parted them.
He needed no other invitation. Their lips met.
The kiss was far more gentle than she’d anticipated. His lips were smooth and soft. Kissing him felt as natural as breathing and she relaxed into it with a small sigh. His arms came around her, pulling her closer. Her hands still rested on the piano keys. She raised them now and placed them awkwardly upon his shoulders.
His lips pressed against hers curved into smile, a heart beat before his arms tightened and his kiss deepened.
What had started off as simple and innocent flared into passion. Her breasts flattened against the solid strength of his chest. Separated by only the thin layers of cotton material between them, she could feel his heart beat. Her nipples tightened in response. The tip of his tongue gently stroked her lower lip. It tickled and she gasped in surprise. That’s when his tongue sweetly entered her mouth and she really learned how to kiss.
This was intimate. . . but, very exciting.
Eden drank her fill of him. He’d been sipping brandy. She could taste it in the kiss, mingled with the salt from her own tears. His skin smelled of the spice scent of his shaving soap he’d used a few hours earlier.
But it wasn’t enough. She wanted to be closer and hooked her arms around his neck He chuckled deep in his throat. His hands on her waist, he lifted her up to sit on his lap.
Eden faced him, her bent legs embracing his body. She kissed him back now. He’d shown her how and she reveled in the feel of his body pressed against hers. Placing her hand against his jaw, she delighted in the texture of his whiskered growth beneath her fingers and the movement of his muscles as he devoured her with his kiss.
Their movements pushed her night dress up her thighs. Pressed against his black, finely woven breeches, she could feel the long, hard length of him. Something possessive and proud soared inside her, opening her to him. She pressed closer.
His hand ran up her bare thigh and slipped beneath the night dress. Their kiss went deeper and deeper as if they could pull the very breath from each other. She tugged at his shirt, wanting clothes removed between them. Her fingers slipped under the waist of his breeches and her fingertips brushed the velvety hard head of his erection. His hand came round and captured hers, preventing her from exploring further. He broke the kiss and leaned back against the pianoforte, his breathing heavy.
Eden tossed her hair back, a wildness thrumming through her. She leaned her arms on his chest and bit his bottom lip. “Why did you stop? I want to touch you. I need to feel you.”
She would have kissed him again, but he shook his head, taking both her wrists in his hands. “If we don’t stop here, then I’ll never stop.”
Eden rubbed her breasts against his chest. “Then let’s not stop.”
His eyes glowed in the candlelight. She waited. She felt wanton, she felt powerful . . . she felt honest. This, she was trained for. This, she understood.
Suddenly, he rose, bringing her up with him. Strong arms cradled her shoulders and her legs. He blew out the candle and carried her from the drawing room to the hallway leading to her bedroom.
Eden threw her arms around his shoulders breathing in the scent of warm man and starched cotton. Tomorrow, she would leave, but she would have tonight.
He pressed her door open with his shoulder. The room was dark save for the moonlight coming in through the panes of the French doors and spreading across the bed. Outside, the fountain splashed and crickets called.
Eden’s heartbeat quickened as he didn’t waste time but crossed to the bed and laid her down upon the sheets, the bed still indented where her body had been resting earlier. She reached for him.
But Lord Penhollow didn’t follow her onto the bed. Instead he backed away, moving into the shadows.
Eden came up on one elbow. “Aren’t you joining me?”
“No.”
Her passion fuddled mind had difficulty understanding. “No?” She came up on her knees. “But I thought– We were just . . .” Her voice trailed off. She couldn’t put into words what they’d been doing in the drawing room. Oh, she knew many descriptions for it, but none of that matched this racing of her heart and the almost desperate need inside her. “Don’t you want me?”
He gave shaky laugh and then whispered, “I burn for you. I want nothing more than to be buried inside you and feel your body around me.”
Eden groaned with the aching desire his words inspired. She reached out. “Then come to me.”
“I can’t.”
Eden dropped her hand to the bed, gathering the sheets in a fist clenched in frustration. “Why?”
“Because there is something I want from you more.”
“And what is that?”
“I want you to trust me.”
Trust. Eden sat back on her heels. She combed her hair back from her face with her hands. “What if I can’t give you that?”
“You will,” he said fiercely. “Because I’m not the type of man to stop until I get what I want.”
Her heart seemed to stop. “What if what you want, is not what you expect?”
“You’re an innocent, Eden. I could never believe you guilty of wrong doing.”
“An innocent?” she repeated with disbelief. “What makes you believe that, my lord?”
His teeth flashed white in the darkness. “My sweet Eden, I could tell by your kiss. I’m the first man you’ve kissed, although you learn quickly.”
“My lord, I’m far from innocent that you think–”
“No, stop. Aren’t we all guilty of something?” he practically growled.
His anger surprised her. She pulled back just as he crossed the room to her. His hands grasped her arms and lifted her to meet his kiss. This kiss was different than the earlier. It was savage, possessive, and branded her completely as his.
He let go and Eden slid to the bed, unable to move.
Her body cried for more.
He stood over the bed. “You’re mine,” he said. “But I want more than just this, Eden. When I take you, it will be when I can claim all of you. Your heart, your mind . . . your soul.” Without another word, he turned and left the room, shutting the door behind him.
It was hours before Eden could fall asleep and when she did, she knew she would not be leaving on the morrow.



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