Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson ~ My Review

Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson 

Publication Date: December 31, 2013 
Publisher: Harlequin HGN 
Pages: 368 
Received: E-copy from publisher via NetGalley 
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman teetering on the verge of thirty must be in want of a husband.

 

I loved Unleashing Mr. Darcy! This modern Pride and Prejudice retelling is cute, humorous and well done!  

Life wasn’t going well for Elizabeth Scott. She was turning 30, still single, and losing her teaching job. Accused of attempting to extort money from a wealthy parent of one of her students in return for a passing grade. Now, she would probably have to move back home with her parents. But this weekend all she wanted to do was go away, escape the realities of life, and enjoy herself. She was going to spend her birthday weekend at a dog show where she had entered her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Bliss. It’s at this dog show that she meets tall, dark and intense Donovan Darcy, a guest judge from England. So handsome he takes her breath away, but it’s not long before his rude manner breaks the spell. Meeting another arrogant wealthy man is the last thing Elizabeth has in mind and more than she can bear as she snaps back with some biting remarks!

On this same weekend, Elizabeth also meets Sue and Allan Barrows. After learning that Elizabeth is temporary out of work, Sue offers Elizabeth a job, as a dog nanny. Her duties would include grooming and caring for Sue's four dogs and helping to show them at dog shows. At the same time, she would be able to show Bliss. Soon she's in England and crossing paths with Darcy more than she could have imagined! 

Told from both Elizabeth and Darcy’s point of view, the story does a great job covering most of the major plot points and tweaking them to fit nicely into the present day. Elizabeth is smart, cute and witty. Darcy’s dark stares and brooding ways cause Elizabeth to misunderstand him. Most of the major players are here. Elizabeth’s sister, Jenna is sweet like Jane. Henry (Charles) and his horrible sister, Helena (Caroline). I always have fun in these modern day retellings picking out all the characters! 

The banter between Darcy and Elizabeth is delightful! I really enjoyed Darcy’s comments during one of the dog shows as he quotes breed standards that are full of sexual innuendos. It had me laughing out loud! 

Unleashing Mr. Darcy is a delightful and entertaining read! I would highly recommend it to not only Austen fans but to anyone who enjoys a cute romance!

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.

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A Perfect Mess by Zoe Dawson ~ My Review

A Perfect Mess by Zoe Dawson 

Publication Date: August 5, 2013 
Publisher: Blue Moon Creative 
Pages: 215 
Received: E-copy from publisher via NetGalley 
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

 
I loved A Perfect Mess! I’m finding I really like these edgy, New Adult romances!

Aubree Walker had not been back home since she left for college. Finding every excuse not to come home for the holidays and summer vacation. It’s been a year now since that night...a night she wants to forget about. Going home only reminds her of what happened, but when she gets a call informing her that her Aunt Lottie has been hurt and is in a coma. Aubree rushes home to be with her. Aunt Lottie is the only family she has left.

The Outlaw triplets, Booker, Boone and Braxten, have a reputation for trouble. Truth be told it’s more of a family reputation that has been passed down for generations. But Aubree knows there is more to Booker, and she knows she can trust him. He’s the only one that knows what happened that night, but he’s also the last person she wants to see. He reminds her of that night...a night she has worked so hard to forget. 

I really liked the relationship Booker and Aubree have. They both had crushes on the other during high school, although they didn’t know it and kept their distance from each other. Aubree was too busy trying to be the perfect student and Booker never thought he was good enough for her. Now that she is back in town he can’t stay away from her.

There is also a few mysteries to solve.  For instance, we don’t know what happened the summer before. How did Aunt Lottie get hurt? What’s the secret Aubree knows about Booker?  As the truth gets closer to being told, more secrets come out, and Booker and Aubree find out how freeing the truth can be! 

I truly enjoyed reading A Perfect Mess! Sure, there are a few things I found unbelievable in this story, but what story doesn’t have some unbelievable moments? I’m really looking forward to reading Boone and Verity (one of Aubree’s friends) story in A Perfect Mistake!

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of the book for my honest review.

I would give this a mature rating for sexual content and strong language.

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Winners to December Giveaways!

Hey Everyone! Wow! December was a busy month! I'm sure it was busy for all of you, too! 

I have a few giveaways to announce winners for!

I'd like to thank authors Lory Lilian, Carol Cromlin, and Karen Doornebos for having these wonderful giveaways with me! 

Without further ado... Rafflecopter picked:

 His Uncle's Favorite (paperback) ~ Katrin W.

Fitzwilliam Darcy such I was (e-copy) ~ Vesper

Fitzwilliam Darcy such I was (e-copy) ~ Barbara D

Undressing Mr. Darcy (paperback) ~ Stephen

Thanks so much to all who entered! I do appreciate the time you took to stop by, and I enjoy all of your comments!

Happy 2014!! Cheers!

I have emailed the winners! (updated 1-9-14)

  

Three Broken Promises by Monica Murphy ~ My Review

Three Broken Promises by Monica Murphy 

Publication Date: December 31, 2013 
Publisher: Bantam 
Pages: 304 
Received: E-copy from publisher via NetGalley 
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

I was super excited to read Three Broken Promises! I read the first two of the Drew and Fable series and LOVED them! This book is Jen and Colin's story, who we first met in Second Chance Boyfriend.

After the death of her brother, Danny, Jen runs away from home. Jen hits rock bottom when she is living out of her car, doing what she has to do to get by. That’s where Colin (Danny’s best friend) finds her. Colin made a promise to Danny to watch over Jen, so he takes her home and gives her a job at his restaurant. Now, a year has gone by, and they are still living together, and the sexual tension is getting thick. Both have feelings for the other but neither will act on those feelings. Fear, secrets, and broken promises are keeping them apart.

I felt this story dragged a little in the beginning (most of the first half). It spent too much time with the “She’ll never forgive me...” and “he’ll never forgive me...” It was getting very redundant. For me, I didn't begin to enjoy the story until the last quarter. Then I really got into it. For those of you who like explicit sex, you will enjoy the story much sooner than I did. 

I loved that Fable is in this story, and for more than just a passing appearance. She is still working at the restaurant and is Jen’s best friend. I love how she still says what’s on her mind, without pulling any punches. When something needs to be said, she doesn’t hesitate! 

Three Broken Promises was okay, but not my favorite of the three.  I think I set my expectations too high. I definitely would recommend reading One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend. I am looking forward to reading Murphy’s short story Drew + Fable FOREVER and then Murphy wraps up her series with Four Years Later which is Owen’s story (Fable’s brother).

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.

Buy a copy: Amazon

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Undressing Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos ~ Review and GIVEAWAY!

Undressing Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos 

Publication Date: December 3rd, 2013 
Publisher: Berkley Trade 
Pages: 369 
Received: paperback from the author 
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


"Everybody needs a little Mr. Darcy in their lives..." p. 12

Book Blurb: 

Taking it off in the name of history…
Thirty-five-year-old American social media master Vanessa Roberts lives her thoroughly modern life with aplomb. So when her elderly Jane Austen–centric aunt needs her to take on the public relations for Julian Chancellor, a very private man from England who’s written a book called My Year as Mr. Darcy, Vanessa agrees. But she’s not “excessively diverted,” as Jane Austen would say.

Hardbound books, teacups, and quill pens fly in the face of her e-reader, coffee, and smartphone…

…Until she sees Julian take his tight breeches off for his Undressing Mr. Darcy show, an educational “striptease” down to his drawers to promote his book and help save his crumbling estate. The public relations expert suddenly realizes things have gotten…personal. But can this old-fashioned man claim her heart without so much as a GPS? It will take three festivals filled with Austen fans, a trip to England, an old frenemy, and a flirtatious pirate re-enactor to find out…

I really loved this story! Right from the beginning when Vanessa picks up Mr. Darcy, AKA Julian Chancellor, at the airport for the annual Jane Austen Convention being held in Chicago, where Mr. Darcy is a keynote speaker. Julian (author of the book My Year as Mr. Darcy) is traveling to various Jane Austen Festivals to promote his book and to raise funds for all the restorations needed to be done on his ancestral estate in England. Vanessa is doing his P.R. for the weekend at the convention, and she is also taking him to the festival being held in Louisville the following weekend, then he’s on to Bath. Not a Janeite herself, Vanessa is doing all this as a favor to her Aunt Ella, who is a lifetime member of JASNA. Vanessa has always avoided anything to do with Jane Austen, but after this weekend things are going to change!

Julian is definitely swoon worthy. He is always in Mr. Darcy mode. He dresses like Mr. Darcy, always wearing regency clothing. He speaks like Mr. Darcy and is always the gentleman. Rarely breaking away from character. His presentation as keynote speaker is about clothing of a Regency gentleman, describing each piece as he simultaneously removes it from his body. Creating a very informative and sensual show!

Vanessa starts falling for Julian but tries hard not to because he is her client, and she wants to keep everything very professional. Plus, he lives in England, and long distance relationship never work out, do they? Soon she finds herself on a plane headed to Bath to find out. When she gets there, will she find happiness with her Mr. Darcy?

I also really liked the pirate dressing Chase MacClane. He’s a sweet guy, almost to good to be true. I couldn’t help but think of Mr. Wickham. “Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his MAKING friends...” ~ Pride and Prejudice. Chase is also interested in Vanessa and is always ready to lend her a hand. 

Part of Vanessa’s job is to be very involved on social media. I really enjoyed the tweets Vanessa was posting throughout the story, to promote all of Mr. Darcy’s events. It was cleverly done!

There is so much I loved about this book! I loved that it took me back to the Jane Austen conventions that I’ve attended. I love all the Jane Austen quotes and history written throughout the story! Loved Vanessa's new (and old) friends. Loved the exciting sword fights, treasure hunt, and romance... Undressing Mr. Darcy has it all!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for my honest review.

Buy a copy: Amazon • B&N

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~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~

Karen Doornebos has graciously offer to giveaway a paperback copy of 
Undressing Mr. Darcy! 
To enter fill out the Rafflecopter below.

• One winner will be chosen.
• US only
• Last day to enter: December 31, 2013.

Good luck, Everyone!

Thank you, Karen!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Comments are always welcome! 
Remember you MUST fill out the Rafflecopter above to enter the giveaway.