Category: This one’s a Keeper

Review: The Harlot Countess by Joanna Shupe

Posted April 28, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: The Harlot Countess
Series: Wicked Deceptions
Author: Joanna Shupe
Genre: Regency Romance, Historical Romance
Published: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Kensington Books
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Maggie, Lady Hawkins, had a debut she’d rather forget—along with her first marriage. Today, the political cartoonist is a new woman. A thoroughly modern woman. So much so that her clamoring public believes she’s a man…

FACT: Drawing under a male pseudonym, Maggie is known as Lemarc. Her (his!) favorite object of ridicule: Simon Barrett, Earl of Winchester. He’s a rising star in Parliament—and a former confidant and love interest of Maggie’s who believed a rumor that vexes her to this day.

FICTION: Maggie is the Half-Irish Harlot who seduced her best friend’s husband on the eve of their wedding. She is to be feared and loathed, as she will lift her skirts for anything in breeches.

Still crushed by Simon’s betrayal, Maggie has no intention of letting the ton crush her as well. In fact, Lemarc’s cartoons have made Simon a laughingstock…but now it appears that Maggie may have been wrong about what happened years ago, and that Simon has been secretly yearning for her since…forever. Could it be that the heart is mightier than the pen and the sword after all?

Read on for my thoughts on The Harlot Countess. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Wild Heat by Lucy Monroe

Posted April 27, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Wild Heat
Series: The Northern Fire #1
Author: Lucy Monroe
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

In the quaint little town of Cailkirn, Alaska, it’s impossible to keep a secret, especially one as juicy as the unexpected return of Kitty Grant. Tack MacKinnon remembers her wild red curls and even wilder spirit—and still feels the sting from when she shattered his heart in college. But there’s a pain in Kitty’s gorgeous eyes that guts him to the core, and Tack is determined to do whatever it takes to see the woman he still loves smile again—even if it means taking on her demons as his own.

After fleeing an abusive ex-husband, Kitty decides that the best way to heal her broken heart is to come back home. But she gets a whole new shock when she sees how undeniably sexy Tack has become. More handsome, more muscular, more charming—more everything—he’s impossible to resist. Before she knows it, they’re reigniting sparks that could set the whole state of Alaska on fire. Yet trust doesn’t come easy to Kitty anymore, and as things heat up between her and Tack, she can’t help but wonder if one of them is going to get burned .

Read on for my thoughts on Wild Heat No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Wolf by Nicole James

Posted April 27, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Wolf
Series: Evil Dead MC #4
Author: Nicole James
Genre: Romance, Motorcycle Club Style
Published: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Mark My Words Book Publicity
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

The Evil Dead Motorcycle Club gave Wolf his nickname. They said it was because women stood about as much chance with him as Little Red Riding Hood stood against The Big Bad Wolf. And maybe that was true.

For Wolf, when it comes to his club, he’s all about loyalty. He loves his brothers, he loves the freedom of the road, and he loves his independence. When it comes to women, Wolf is all about the chase. He likes the hunt, he likes the challenge, and he loves women. And for the hot-as-hell badass biker, they’ve always come too easily. But they never fully satisfy him.

That is, until he met Crystal.

Buried under that hard-edged sexy-as-sin tomboy with the smartass mouth that can put any brother in the MC in his place, is a feminine side she only reveals when pushed. And Wolf is just the man to push. Problem is she’s the only woman to ever push back. Which only makes him more determined to have her.

Life in the Evil Dead MC isn’t easy, and neither is loving one of them. It’s a life that can leave a man scarred and bloody. And sometimes the fallout is far reaching and takes more than a man is willing to give.

It can be just as risky for any woman brave enough to love one of them.

The scars of life run deep, for both of them.

Sometimes life doesn’t give you a fairytale, sometimes you have to make your own.

And sometimes it takes a spitfire to tame a hell-raiser.

Read on for my thoughts on Wolf. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Sinfully Yours by Cara Elliott

Posted April 26, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Sinfully Yours
Series: The Hellions of High Street #2
Author: Cara Elliott
Genre: Regency Romance, Historical Romance
Published: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

After an eventful Season, Anna Sloane longs for some peace and quiet to pursue her writing. Though her plots might be full of harrowing adventure and heated passion, she’d much prefer to leave such exploits on the page rather than experience them in real life. Or so she thinks until she encounters the darkly dissolute-and gorgeously charming-Marquess of Davenport.

Davenport has a reputation as a notorious rake whose only forte is wanton seduction. However the real reason he’s a guest at the same remote Scottish castle has nothing to do with Anna . . . until a series of mysterious threats leave him no choice but to turn to her for help in stopping a dangerous conspiracy. As desire erupts between them, Davenport soon learns he’s not the only one using a carefully crafted image to hide his true talents. And he’s more than ready to show Anna that sometimes reality can be even better than her wildest imaginings.

Read on for my thoughts on Sinfully Yours. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Bedding Proposal by Tracy Anne Warren

Posted April 24, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: The Bedding Proposal
Series: The Rakes of Cavendish Square #1
Author: Tracy Anne Warren
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Published: March 3, 2015
Publisher: Signet
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Owned, Personal Collection
Synopsis:

Lord Leo Byron is bored with the aristocratic company he keeps; he needs a distraction, preferably in the form of a beautiful new female companion. So when he sets eyes on fascinating and scandalous divorcée Lady Thalia Lennox, he’s determined to make her intimate acquaintance. But the spirited woman seems to have no intention of accepting his advances no matter how much he chases—or how hard he falls….

Once a darling of Society, Thalia Lennox now lives on its fringes. The cruel lies that gave her a notoriously wild reputation have also left her with a broken heart and led to a solemn vow to swear off men. Still, Leo Byron’s bold overtures are deliciously tempting, and, for the first time, she finds herself wondering whether it just might be worth the risk to let the attractive rake into her life—and her bed.

Read on for my thoughts on The Bedding Proposal. No true spoilers, promise.

Feature & Follow #10

Posted April 24, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 33 Comments

FeatureFollowParaAlison Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs! The rules are simple…Follow the Hosts and the Featured Blogs of the week – then do the blog hop, Follow those blogs that you don’t already and remember, if someone Follows you be sure to return the favor and Follow them right back.

This week’s Feature Blogs are: Mountain Rhinestones ~ and Book Yabber Be sure to check out their blogs and give them a Follow (if you aren’t already).

Because this blog does not have the ability to put up GFC I would appreciate a follow through Bloglovin’. Thanks so much.

This week’s question:

How did you come up with your blog title and address? Does it have a special meaning for you? – Suggested by The Paperback Princess.

Keeper Bookshelf came about when I combined two other book blogs that weren’t “clicking” with me. I knew what I wanted but it just didn’t feel right. A book read-aholic friend had come over and as usual was looking for new to her books to read – and like good, old friends do headed for my bookcases to start browsing like I own a library. I immediately called out “Keep away from the 4th shelf that’s my Keepers Bookshelf where all my favorites live”… and this website was born. There was a time when readers often called a good novel that they intended to read again as a “Keeper” – and it was a phrase I had used for years. So when it came time to finally put a new name on a website about books: Keeper Bookshelf was my only logical choice. Fortunately, GoDaddy had the domain name available and the rest is history.

So now that the mystery of how Keeper Bookshelf got it’s name ~ This is a blog hop people, let’s get hopping for books!

Waiting on Wednesday #11

Posted April 22, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 22 Comments

“Waiting on” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating… cannot wait to get our hands on… having hissy fits at having to wait… you know, waiting for the book is exhausting work!

There are so many truly interesting novels coming out soon that it’s difficult to pick just one – but I have long been a Krewe of Hunters fan, and the next installment is out in June.

Where is Lara Mayhew?

Lara, a congressman’s media assistant, suddenly quits her job—and disappears on the way to her Washington, DC, apartment.

Novice FBI agent Meg Murray, a childhood friend of Lara’s, gets a message from her that same night, a message that says she’s disillusioned and “going home.” To Richmond, Virginia. Meg discovers that she never got there. And bodies fitting Lara’s description are showing up in nearby rivers… Could she be the victim of a serial killer?

Meg is assigned to work with special agent Matt Bosworth, a hard-nosed pro in the FBI’s unit of paranormal investigators—the Krewe of Hunters. They trace the route Meg and Lara took more than once in the past, visiting battlefields and graveyards from Harpers Ferry to Gettysburg. Places where the dead share their secrets with those who can hear… As Meg and Matt pursue the possibility of a serial killer, they find themselves in the middle of a political conspiracy. Is there a connection? And who—besides each other—can they trust?

I can always count on Heather Graham to give me a gripping mystery paranormal with a touch of romance mixed in. This is an amazing ongoing series and the wait is only about two months til this one releases. Looking forward to it so much.

Review: All’s Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden

Posted April 21, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 4 Comments

Title: All’s Fair in Love and Scandal
Series: Scandalous 2.5
Author: Caroline Linden
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: April 21, 2015
Publisher: Avon
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Owned, Personal Collection
Synopsis:

Nothing wagered…

Douglas Bennet can’t resist a good wager, especially not one that involves a beautiful woman. When a friend proposes an audacious plan to expose the most notorious woman in England, Douglas agrees at once. After all, it would be quite a coup to discover the true identity of Lady Constance, author of the infamous erotic serial scandalizing the ton, 50 Ways to Sin.

Nothing won…

Madeline Wilde is used to being pursued. For years she’s cultivated a reputation for being unattainable and mysterious, and for good reason: her livelihood depends on discretion. When Douglas turns his legendary charm on her, she dismisses him as just another rake. But he surprises her—instead of merely trying to seduce her, he becomes her friend…her confidant…and her lover. But can it really lead to happily-ever-after…or are they about to become the biggest scandal London has ever seen?

Read on for my thoughts on All’s Fair in Love and Scandal. No true spoilers, promise.

Teaser Tuesday #9

Posted April 21, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

teaser tuesday One of the fun parts of taking part in blog hops (aside from getting to visit new to me blogs) is finding great ways to interact with other book lovers. This is one:

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

“Why are you still alive?” The curious voice came from beside her because he was there watching, as he’d watched for hours. “Why don’t you give in? You know you want to just close your eyes and let go.”

She did. She wanted to close her eyes and pretend that she was just having a bad dream. A nightmare. When her eyes opened again, she’d be someplace different. Someplace without monsters.

He came closer to her, and she felt something slide into the sand with her. A knife. He liked to use his knife. It pricked her skin, but then he lifted the knife and pressed the blade against her skin.

“I can end this for you. Do it now. Just tell me…” His words were dark. Tempting. “Tell me that you want to die.”

I have just started this novel. That snippet is from the very beginning of the novel. We don’t know much – yet. But we know enough to be afraid.

Broken by Cynthia Eden

Ex-SEAL and LOST founder Gabe Spencer is accustomed to the unusual in his job. But when knockout Eve Gray steps into his office, he’s rattled. For the mysterious woman is a dead ringer for the heiress thought to be the latest prey of the serial killer who goes by the name Lady Killer.

When Eve awoke in an Atlanta hospital, her past was a blank slate. Then she recognized her own face in the newspaper and vowed to learn the truth. Determined to confront the nightmares hidden in her mind, she never expects to find a partner in Gabe.

As Gabe and Eve work together, their explosive attraction becomes irresistible. Gabe knows that his desire for Eve is growing too strong, bordering on a dangerous obsession, but nothing pulls him away from her. And when another Eve lookalike disappears, Gabe vows to protect Eve at all costs. While Eve may have forgotten the killer in her past, it’s clear he hasn’t forgotten her.

I went a little beyond 2 sentences. But that passage was just so striking – I knew it would be enough to grab my attention. How about yours? Leave me a link to your Teaser Tuesday – there is always room on the TBR pile for more.

Have You Started Roxy Sloane’s The Expose Yet?

Posted April 20, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Roxy Sloane has yet another winner with her new novel series The Expose.

Today’s release is the third installment – next week will be the conclusion.

And Holy Hotness Batman – this is an amazing story and couple.

I have the first, second and third installments of this one over on my exclusively Erotica book review blog.

Check it out – see if you’d like to pick this one up. But be aware, this is one hot, sensual, major sex involved story. Mature audiences, definitely.

Reviews are up at Smexy Does It.

Review: The Dead Days Journal by Sandra R. Campbell

Posted April 17, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: The Dead Days Journal: Volume 1
Series: The Dead Days
Author: Sandra R Campbell
Genre: Paranormal, Post- Apocalyptic
Published: March 20, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

The daughter of a radical doomsday prepper, Leo Marrok spent her entire life preparing for the end. A skilled fighter and perfect marksman, Leo is her father’s second-in-command when Armageddon comes to pass. Together, they lead a group of survivors to a secure bunker deep in the Appalachian Mountains.

Vincent Marrok is willing to take extreme measures to repopulate their broken world. Leo’s refusal marks her as a traitor. With father and daughter at odds for the first time, their frail community is thrust into turmoil. Until the unthinkable happens, a blood-thirsty horde arrives. The impending attack will destroy all that they have worked for.

To protect her home and everything she believes in, Leo puts her faith in the arms of the enemy—a creature only rumored to exist—the one she calls Halloween. An alliance born out of necessity evolves into feelings Leo is ill-equipped to handle.

The Dead Days Journal is a post-apocalyptic story of love and family told through Leo Marrok’s first-hand account and the pages of Vincent’s personal journal, giving two very different perspectives on what it takes to survive.

Read on for my thoughts on The Dead Days Journal. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: True Alpha Complete Box Set by Alisa Woods

Posted April 17, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

True Alpha Desired 1 Title: True Alpha (1-6 Box Set)
Series: True Alpha (serial)
Author: Alisa Woods
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: October 28, 2014
Publisher: Sworn Secrets Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

Shifters live in the shadows of Seattle, just under the skin of the alpha male, dot-com entrepreneurs who are building a new Silicon Valley in the Emerald City.

Mia is just a college girl trying to earn her business degree and dig out of the poverty she was born into—being a shifter is something she hides, hoping her secret won’t sabotage her dreams.

Lucas is a broken alpha, a wolf who lost his mate, his pack, and almost himself—he wasn’t looking to rescue a girl or start a pack war. But now he has to keep her safe or it won’t just be her life, but his whole family at risk… only his inner wolf can’t seem to keep its paws off a girl who has secrets of her own.

Read on for my thoughts on True Alpha 1-6. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Beauty and the Rake by Erica Monroe

Posted April 16, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Beauty and the Rake
Series: The Rockery Rogues #3
Author: Erica Monroe
Genre: Regency Romance
Published: April 21, 2015
Publisher: Quillfire Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

ONCE SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL...

Abigail Vautille grew up in the heart of the London rookeries, toiling as a factory worker until one tragic night leaves her disfigured and unable to weave. Faced with starvation or prostitution, she strikes a deal with the rogue who owns her father’s gambling debts—if he excuses the debt, for two weeks, she’ll give him her body, but not her heart.

ONCE HE WAS CHARMING…

Inspector Michael Strickland of the Metropolitan Police has always had a way with women. Success comes easily to him, and he glides through life on his good looks and family name. But Abigail lights a passion within him he never knew existed. As he gets to know her, he realizes two weeks with her won’t be enough. He sees the beauty within her, not the beast she believes herself to be.

TOGETHER, THEIR LOVE IS BEYOND A FAIRY TALE.

Yet Abigail’s scars run more than skin deep. With the end of their agreement so close, can Michael convince Abigail she’s exactly who he wants?

Read on for my thoughts on Beauty and the Rake. No true spoilers, promise.

Waiting on Wednesday #10

Posted April 15, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 4 Comments

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Leopard’s Prey returns to the feral underworld of her astonishing Leopard novels in an arousing new romance of forbidden animal instincts…

Cat Benoit has finally escaped the past—and the man who was the source of her nightmares. She’s off the grid, underground but watchful, and creating a new life for herself in Texas, far from the torrid dangers of her native New Orleans. She’s safe. He’ll never find her this time. Cat has to believe that. It’s the only thing keeping her sane.

Yet she can’t escape the attention of Ridley Cromer, the instructor at the martial arts dojo where Cat takes lessons. She arouses the animal in Ridley—and something feral comes to life when their body heat rises. Cat is in no position to let her guard down with anyone, especially someone who could be endangered by her past. But Ridley has secrets of his own—secrets only Cat would understand. If she dares to trust him.

Cat’s Lair (Leopard People #7) by Christine Feehan releases in May, so not too long to wait on this one for me. I love my shifters series.

Review: The Fairy Tale Bride by Kelly McClyer

Posted April 14, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

The Fairy Tale Bride OUAWedding1 Title: The Fairy Tale Bride
Series: Once Upon A Wedding
Author: Kelly McClymer
Genre: Victorian, Historical Romance
Published: October 2000
Publisher: Zebra Books
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Owned, Personal Collection
Synopsis:

The Fensters were like many other proper Victorian families—in every way but one. Ignoring the grim convention that one married for wealth and title, these spirited siblings followed their hearts…and vowed to wed only for love.

Happily-ever-after is all she ever wanted…

Even though society thinks her all but unmarriageable, Miranda Fenster still believes in true love. She’ll do anything to advance its cause, even confront the man whose disapproval is all that keeps her dear brother from making a romantic match. But Miranda’s impetuous meeting with the Duke of Kerstone has a far different outcome than she intended. For when the cynical nobleman realizes she’s been compromised by their tryst, he insists on nothing less than marriage. Now suddenly, the champion of fairy tale endings finds herself a most unlikely bride!

Read on for my thoughts on The Fairy Tale Bride. No true spoilers, promise.