Lady Edwina Bollash knows a real challenge when she sees one. This challenge is in the form of taking an outspoken, unpolished, but oh so handsome ratcatcher with a unique Cornish Cockney accent, and transforming him into a smooth-talking gentleman. Edwina is a renowned linguist, and she finds Mick Tremore's way of speaking simply fascinating. Actually, she finds all of him simply fascinating.

Brought up in wealth, but having most everything taken away from her by her cruel cousin once her father died, Edwina is prim, proper, and generally regarded as a plain spinster. However, one wouldn't think she was plain by the way Mick regards her, and his thoughts of her are none too proper either. Mick happens to know first hand that Edwina is the proud owner of a first class pair of legs, and he's been obsessed with them since gazing on them without her knowledge.

Edwina has six weeks to transform Mick into a proper gentleman, and pass him off at a London ball as a Viscount. But Mick may not be the only one transformed by their time together. And what will happen if he attends the ball and life-altering secrets are revealed? And will Mick and Edwina, who obviously come from different worlds, be able to find enough common ground to remain together after the six weeks are finished?

I've been continuing to broaden my reading horizons by trying the work of authors new to me. Unfortunately, I'm finding that out of every three to four untried authors, odds are I'll only find one whose work is superior. Judith Ivory's work here is most assuredly in that superior category. Even though I recognize the premise of "My Fair Lady" with a role reversal, this story is fresh, funny, and endearingly romantic. These beautifully flawed characters showed an emotional depth, and it was a real pleasure to watch them grow and change together while falling in love. Ms. Ivory is obviously a masterful storyteller who penned a flowing, seamless story filled with romance, wrought with sexual tension, and an ending worthy of a true fairy tale. This has to be one of the best books I've read to date, and I will now be in search of her backlist titles.

Maggie ingen Blar was fed up with the bloodshed of her family and people, the result of an overlong clan war with the neighboring group. So she came up with a viable plan to put an end to the problem. Organizing the women of not only her clan, but also their rivals, they had separated themselves from their men. In doing so the men would not enjoy any of the privileges of marriage, until they agreed to stop their foolishness and declare peace.

What she didn't count on was the men sending the one man she, and most women, had a special weakness for. Braden MacAllister, the most devastingly handsome warrior to tread in her path, could deliver the fatal blow to her well-laid plans. He figures a little charm and sweet talk ought to do the trick, but Maggie proves to be made of sterner stuff. So he may have to pull out the big gun, so to speak, to convince her to give up.

This was my first perusal of a Kinley MacGregor novel, and after reading some of the glowing reviews of her work, I could hardly wait to try one out. This has to be the worst kind of disappointment, when you're expecting something really wonderful, and it turns out to be, well...really bad. The premise sounded okay, although rather thin in the plot department. But I really thought the humor I had heard so much about in her books would prove to be the glue holding the story together. However, the humor seemed really forced, as if the author was trying too hard to make it funny, so the result was contrived. The characters are one dimensional, and there was nothing present here to engage my emotions and make me care what happened to them. In fact, this story was just plain boring, and I couldn't get past page ninety-seven. I skimmed ahead to find the section where he, ahem...pulled out the big gun, and even that was rather boring. There's nothing here to recommend, and this is my first, as well as my last, MacGregor novel. I have to say I am baffled by the dismal quality here, because she also writes as Sherrilyn Kenyon, and I thought the book FANTASY LOVER was quite good.

Seven years ago, Southern belle Georgeanne Howard left her rich, and decidedly older fiancé at the altar. In her hurry to escape, she accepted the offer of a ride from the tall, handsome man getting into a red Corvette. John Kowalsky, renowned bad boy and professional hockey player, had no idea he was assisting in the escape of his boss's intended bride. But since she had no one else to turn to, nor a place to go, he put her up for the night. The night turned into a bewitching temptation too good to pass up. However, in the cold light of day, penniless Georgeanne found herself in love with John, and abruptly dropped off at the airport with a paid ticket in hand.

Now they run into each other again, and this time Georgeanne is part owner in a successful catering business, and John has cleaned up his life and is considering settling down. Imagine his shock when he meets Georgeanne's daughter, and realizes he's the father. He wants to get acquainted with his daughter and become part of her life, but in doing that he also grows closer to Georgeanne. Has he actually changed enough to settle down, and will John risk his career by his boss finding out about his romantic involvement with Georgeanne?

In my opinion, Rachel Gibson is unquestionably one of the best authors of the subgenre of contemporary romance. I was hooked upon reading my first book by her, and she's now one of the few whose titles I buy sight unseen. Lately, I've been catching up on her backlist of work, and I was particularly interested in this one. The first book I had read by her was SEE JANE SCORE, whose male lead was also a professional hockey player. I've carried a certain curiosity about SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, because it is commonly referred to as "The Hockey Book". While this was an excellent story with in depth characters, witty dialogue, great romance, and love scenes that made me forget to breathe; my favorite book by her still remains, SEE JANE SCORE. However, I do wonder if it would have made a difference if I had read this one first. At any rate, this is a wonderful book that is certainly worth picking up for an unforgettable reading experience. Whenever I'm in a reading slump, I know I can end it simply by picking up a novel by Ms. Gibson. I have yet to read something by her that I didn't love.

Gwen Cassidy was just trying to add a dash of spice to her ho-hum way of life. At twenty-five she has no family left to speak of, she's sick of her job, and there's no man in her life. So she embarks on a group tour of Scotland, but little does she know her trip will lead to the adventure of a lifetime, and then some. While out exploring alone, she stumbles and falls into a cave, directly on top of the sexiest man she's ever laid eyes on. A Highland warrior, who awakens from a nap that has lasted centuries.

Drustan MacKeltar is determined to keep Gwen by his side, especially once he discovers he has been enchanted for five hundred years, and only ruins remain where his castle once stood. He knows he must return to his own time by using the closely guarded power and knowledge of his Druid heritage. Drustan has the ability to travel through time, and he'll not leave Gwen behind. She has no idea she will accompany him, until she finds herself whisked back to sixteenth century Scotland. It is then that Gwen realizes the life of the man she loves, along with the fate of Drustan's entire clan, rests solely with her. For there is an enemy plot which will eventually cause the death of Drustan's people, unless she can successfully alter the course of time. But can this diverse couple, each from a different century, find a way to remain in one place together for all time?

I believe my first thought after finishing this book was, "Wow!" This was my first novel to read by Ms. Moning, and I was definitely impressed. I've previously read a couple of time travel books by other authors, and found them too unbelievable and just lacking something. Now I do realize that any way you look at it, time travel is unrealistic. But the difference here is Ms. Moning makes it realistic, and very possible. This story was a non-stop, sit on the edge of your seat, quick, turn that page, nail-biting adventure! In fact the pace reminded me of watching an Indiana Jones movie. This book has it all: well-developed main characters, interesting secondary characters which add to the plot, fast-paced adventure, humor, romance, and some sizzling love scenes. A definite five star keeper, and I can't wait to read the rest of this series!

Eleanor Tennant is steaming mad. Her eighteen year old niece, Belinda, has been given some really bad advice to follow her heart, and pursue her relationship with the scoundrel she's infatuated with. Belinda's father has been at sea for the majority of her childhood, and for the last several years her upbringing has been the sole responsibility of Eleanor. She just won't stand for that misguided lady columnist, the Busybody from the Ladies' Fashionable Cabinet, handing out damaging advice to young girls, especially her niece. After putting forth much effort, she finally uncovers the Busybody's residence, only to unwittingly discover the lady is actually a man, Simon Westover.

Simon must keep his columnist identity secret at all costs, so he's forced to do as Eleanor wishes. So he'll return to her home, speak with her niece, and set everything straight. Except when they reach Eleanor's home, Belinda has run off with her beau to supposedly get married. Eleanor believes there will be no marriage, and Belinda will be ruined. Eleanor is determined to find the duo and rescue her niece at all costs. She insists Simon accompany her on the trip. Left with no choice, Simon escorts the lovely, fiery, and tempting Eleanor across the country. However, on the way, Eleanor begins to change her opinion about Simon, and it becomes more and more difficult to deny the strong attraction between them. But will Simon, a hopeless romantic, breach the heart of the cold, cynical, and closed off Eleanor?

After reading a string of forgettable books lately, this novel was a welcome breath of fresh air. I found the writing smart and witty. The characters were well developed, and I really felt as if I knew them. Simon has to be one of the most wonderful and original heroes I've had the pleasure of spending time with. He's gentle, compassionate, honorable, a hopeless romantic, and he actually blushes when he's embarrassed. How adorable! But even though he's described as bookish, he's still quite handsome with the muscular physique of the typical romance hero.

I know there is some controversy over Eleanor's character, but I have to say I understood the reasons she had become the person she was. And I did like her most of the time, because she was such a perfect counterpart to Simon. Their interactions and heated discussions were interesting. The only time I didn't like Eleanor was toward the end, when she said some really nasty things to sweet Simon, who didn't deserve to be treated in such a manner. And while I got over it, and she did redeem herself, I would have enjoyed a little more graveling on her part to regain Simon's good favor. But don't let those few pages keep you from reading a superbly written and most enjoyable story. This was my first Candice Hern novel, but I can't wait to read ONCE A SCOUNDREL, the follow-up to this.

After several years away, Colin McBride returns to Colorado to visit a married couple who were his closest friends. He's surprised to see that their daughter, Anne Trevelyan, has grown into a beautiful young woman. Colin is only visiting for a short time before heading to San Francisco, where he plans to buy a ranch, marry, and settle down. His friends ask him to escort the lovely Anne to San Francisco where they have enrolled her in a finishing school. Although he's concerned about escorting such an attractive woman hundreds of miles, he cannot say no to his friends.

Anne is attracted to the handsome Colin, but she's determined to seek fame and fortune as an actress. Her parents are not in favor of her ambitions, which is why they are enrolling her in the finishing school. Anne has other plans though, and surmises all she needs to do is flirt with her companion enough, and he'll allow her to do as she wishes. But when passion rages between them on the trip, Colin wants to marry her. Anne is determined to devote her time to her career, and a husband doesn't fit into the equation.

When I picked up this book, I was unfamiliar with this author, but the premise sounded interesting. Unfortunately, this has to be one of the worst books I've ever read. Colin was likeable, but Anne was immature and self-centered. What he saw in her is a mystery to me. The characters were one-dimensional, and never engaged my emotions. I virtually lost interest in the story, and could care less what happened to the characters. Additionally, the writing seemed awkward and didn't flow well. I have no idea why I finished this book, because it was painful to get through even with the skimming I did at times. Save yourself the agony by passing on this one.

Beautiful debutante, Leah Carrollton, could have any man she wanted. But the selection found in London ballrooms was dull and unappealing. That is, until she met Devon Marshall, Viscount Huxhold, who was most appealing indeed. Devon shared the same regard for the lovely Leah, and since her family had been pressing her to pick a husband of means to offset their financial situation, Devon seemed perfect. But Leah's brother would not even consider a union between the two, since the Carrollton and Marshall families were old enemies. Leah was forced to end her relationship with Devon, and he left London soon afterward. A distraught Leah exercised poor judgment, and ran off with a notorious scoundrel who ruined her and left her pregnant. She then fled London for the countryside to bear her child alone.

Some months later, while traveling through the English countryside, Devon discovers a very pregnant Leah living in squalor. Before much could be spoken between the two, Leah went into labor. After assisting with the difficult delivery, Devon married her and claimed the child as his own. But old secrets and hurts still exist between the two. Will they be able to get past their problems, and rediscover their love for each other?

I'm beginning to think Cathy Maxwell is a writer whose work I'm just not really drawn to. I found her story in the anthology TWO FOR TEA quite good, so I sought out more of her titles. Next I read THE WEDDING WAGER, which I also found to be very satisfying. But the last two books I've read by her, this one and its prequel MARRIED IN HASTE, were horribly average. This story started off well, and I very much enjoyed the hero saving the heroine from her less than perfect living situation. Then he even went so far as to claim her fatherless child as his own. In fact, the hero of this book is a wonderful, charming, and honorable man, and his character is the best part of this story. Not that I found Leah unlikable; she was just okay. But after they married, the story seemed forced, lost momentum, and ceased to be as interesting. I did finish the book, but overall it just wasn't that special or memorable for me. I have one other novel by this author already in my possession, so I'll probably read it. However, if its not better than these last two, I'm most likely done reading Ms. Maxwell's work.

Even though the handsome and dashing Captain James Ashley returned a hero from the war, it isn't his prowess on the battlefield people talk about. In multitudes of drawing rooms his name emerges in the course of conversation, and the fairer sex of society has dubbed him, "The Most Delectable Man in England" who is only good for one thing. James craves respectability, and the chance to redeem himself for losing his ship to the smuggler's canon. Now he's returning to that area to investigate the smuggling, and catch the notorious "Wolf" who is reputed to be the leader of the crimes.

Independent and beautiful, Lady Prudence Farnsworth has become the protector of her town. When Prudence and James meet, their attraction for each other is undeniable. When they are caught in a compromising position, they are forced to marry. But will their love for one another be enough when James discovers the shocking secret Prudence has kept from him, and the lengths she has gone to protect it?

This was the first and only book I've read by this author. The storyline does end up being rather original, and it wasn't a bad read, but unfortunately it also wasn't very memorable. The humorous moments were its biggest saving grace, but there were points in the book where the story just didn't seem to flow very well to me. And probably what bothered me the most was how Prudence basically made a fool of the hero at least twice - once without her knowledge of his identity, and again when she did. And in each case a serious circumstance made him look foolish. In addition, he was humiliated with the whole town's knowledge. Anyway, if you come across this book, you may want to give it a try, but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to look for it.

Tess Hamlin, being a rich and beautiful heiress, could have her pick among the eligible men, and in fact, has turned down several offers of marriage. No man has captured her interest or affections, until at a ball she meets handsome war hero, Brenn Owen, the new Earl of Merton. Brenn is equally enamored with the captivating Tess, plus he must marry a rich heiress in order to afford the cost involved with restoring his estate back to its original glory.

The circumstances that bring them to marry are most unusual indeed. As a lark, Tess makes a bet with her closest rival, which grows into a wager among several bored debutantes at the ball. Whoever garners the first marriage proposal wins. When the bet becomes public, Tess' brother insists she save her reputation by marrying Brenn, who has offered for her. Initially she refuses, but once she discovers her irresponsible brother has gambled away her fortune, she has no choice but to marry quickly in order to save face, and insure she ends up with a rich husband.

Tess and Brenn's mutual attraction and passion for each other leads to temporary happiness. Tess is unaware of his lack of finances, and the dilapidated state of her husband's home. Brenn is still in the dark that his rich heiress is now penniless. When they reach his Wales estate, the secrets are revealed. Will their secrets shatter their trust in each other, or will love conquer all?

Cathy Maxwell's books are a hit and miss proposition for me. One will be really good, and the next will be okay, but nothing special. Unfortunately, this book basically falls into the nothing-special category. It started off well with interesting, likeable characters. I enjoyed Tess' little wager and felt that was an original element of the story. In fact, the story was above average until Tess and Brenn reached Wales, and then it deteriorated. Especially when Tess became interested in the local folklore and the fairy folk. From there, the story became more unbelievable and felt rather forced.

If you've never read Ms. Maxwell before, I wouldn't recommend beginning with this one. Probably the best book of hers I've read thus far would be THE WEDDING WAGER, so that would be my suggestion to begin with. If you're a Maxwell fan, you may still find this worth checking out.

Jonquil "Jonni" DeVries is trying to deal with the blow life has handed her. Her husband died in an auto accident a year ago, leaving her and their five-year-old daughter to deal with the loss. Jonni has coped by isolating herself, overeating, and dwelling on the very real possibility her husband had been cheating on her, prior to his death. At the suggestion of her twin sister, Jonni agrees to allow a children's movie to be filmed in her New Orleans mansion.

The star of the movie is none other than Hollywood's reigning action hero heartthrob, Cameron Scott. Cameron has always thrived on life in the fast lane, taking advantage of what women all too willingly offer him. But recently he's realized just how empty his life is, and has begun thinking of a home and family of his own. When he meets Jonni, he's instantly attracted to her, even though she's nothing like the women he normally associates with. But will gun-shy Jonni believe Cameron may actually want to settle down with her?

I've been trying out books lately by authors I've not read before, and I have to say I'm not having much luck. I just couldn't get into this story, and by chapter ten or eleven I began skimming to get through the remainder of the book. I couldn't really identify with the heroine, and found her rather annoying and unlikable. She's rich, doesn't have to work for a living, and seems to stay home quite a lot. But she needs to hire a live-in nanny to care for her five-year-old child? And I really grew tired of her dwelling on her late husband's fidelity, or as it turned out, his lack thereof.

For the most part, I did like the hero, but overall I found both their characters lacking depth. And therefore, I didn't feel an emotional connection with them or their story. In fact, the story came across as being forced. I will give credit for the highly erotic love scenes, but that's not enough to redeem this book, or make it worth reading.