Read and Review #30 - Desperately Seeking Suzanna (Elizabeth Michels)

Title: Desperately Seeking Suzanna (Tricks of the Ton #2)

Author: Elizabeth Michels

Publication date: 4 March 2014

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

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Synopsis:

Her Cinderella Moment

Sue Green just wanted one night to be the pretty one. But a few glasses of champagne and one wild disguise later,

she’s in some serious trouble. Who knew the devastatingly handsome face of Lord Holden Ellis would get in the way of her foot? And how exactly did all that high-kick dancing start in the first place? At least she blamed it all on her new persona—Suzanna. So Society’s most eligible bachelor will never find out the truth.

All Holden wants is the truth. Who was that vixen who seduced him so thoroughly, then disappeared? The only one who seems to have any answers about Suzanna is Miss Sue Green. She’s promised to help him find his mystery woman, but in truth she’s not being all that helpful. And in truth, the more time Holden spends with Sue—witty, pretty, and disarmingly honest—the more he realizes he may have found exactly what he’s been looking for all along...

My rating:
5 / 5

My review:

Sue Green secretly crashed a party with her cousins and sister, got drunk and kicked Lord Holden Ellis in the nose, breaking it. Since it was a masquerade ball, she was masked and declared herself to be Suzanna, her very brazen alter ego. They indulged in one night of passion, only to be cut short by the reveal at the end of the party. Caught by her mother, all her make-up were removed and the accessories on her dress were ripped off and Sue was forced to leave early. She decided to hang out a little more and when she encountered Holden again sans make-up, he didn't recognize her.

Heartbroken, she fled and vowed to never speak or see Holden ever again. Yeah right. Holden however, thought that Suzanna had simply left him. And soon began his desperate search for the woman who had enticed and fascinated him. 

This story reminded me so much of An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn (I am obsessed with Julia Quinn) with different story lines. Benedict wasn't as obsessed as Holden and Sue wasn't as outspoken as Sophie. The only similarities were the masquerade ball, the evil mother and someone was always left heartbroken. 

The events in this book coincide with the first book and even then I already knew what was going on before I found out the title of this book. It's a less dramatic book aside from Holden's crazy mother. Even his crazy mother didn't make enough appearance to make her threats seem dangerous. The build-up to Sue's confrontation with Holden's mother was rather tame but understandably reasonable.

It's a good read for those not looking for swooning ladies and terribly arrogant heroes. A perfect read for those who love a stud and plain jane romance. I enjoyed it immensely and I am looking forward to more of this author's work.

Read and Review #16 - When a Lord Needs a Lady (Jane Goodger)

Title: When a Lord Needs a Lady

Author: Jane Goodger

Publication date: 6 February 2014

Publisher: Kensington Books

Synopsis:

Lord Graham Spencer needs a wife. 

But not just any girl will do. She must have the money to save his dilapidated estate and desperate tenants. So when he meets a charming American lady’s maid on the beach at Brighton, the last thing he ought to do is kiss her. 

Katherine Wright is hunting a titled husband.

Or at least her mother is. But Katherine can’t get the memory of a most inappropriate kiss out of her mind. The handsome stranger who took her in his arms in Brighton was only a valet, but even if she is an heiress, she’d rather spend her life with him than some stiff British aristocrat. Can true love survive two false identities, two scheming mamas, and two lavish house parties where all is revealed? It can…

My rating:

4 out of 5 wants to be rich heiresses

My review:

*ARC generously given by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I remember reading a bunch of contemporary romances and new adult books before getting started on this book and it was like a breath of fresh air where I don't have to deal with tacky instant attraction (although this book does have instant attraction) and unnecessary ignores. 

Graham Spencer was a broke marquess. Like dead broke. He could barely keep any servants and most of the furnitures in his home were sold so he could provide for his tenants and estate. And that was why he needed to marry a rich heiress. Fast. He was always on the lookout for meetings with heiresses and was known for the increasing debt he had accumulated from his father's reign as a marquess. He was also known to be very cold and distant company during social events, which also contributed to him not being able to find a wife who he could tolerate. While holidaying in Brighton Beach, he stumbled upon Katherine Wright, thinking she was a lady's maid and introduced himself as a valet to hide his real identity and to get closer to her. 

Katherine Wright was a rich heiress in a search for a titled husband, as do most American heiresses at the time. Instead, she met Gray, a valet while out walking in Brighton Beach. Her dress suggested her to be a maid, as to not gain attention from everyone else. Charmed by Gray, she agreed to continue meeting him and they were soon involved in a whirlwind romance. Until her sudden departure to attend a very important social event. 

The two lovers were soon reunited, no longer under false pretences but were met with more obstacles that led one further away from the other. 

I like historical romances for one thing, innocence. It was a fast, sweet romance between Graham and Katherine. I enjoyed this book immensely (probably because I hadn't read any historical romances in a while). I cried towards the end because holy shit I'm a crier and the part where Graham and Katherine's relationship began to take a downside, I really felt the emotions portrayed by both of them.

However, it was missing that one thing, probably the lack of climax (not sexually). 

I still enjoyed it but that one kick I needed in the book was missing and so I kicked one star out of my rating.

Read and Review #12 - Catching Claire (Cindy Procter-King)

Title: Catching Claire (Love & Other Calamities #2)
Author: Cindy Procter-King
Publication date: 1 October 2013
Publisher: Blue Orchard Books
Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Synopsis:

When Claire Merriweather hires hunky future doctor Ridge Pederson to strip at a friend’s bachelorette party, she never imagines she’ll wake up in his bed. Well, she imagines it—but now it’s happened. 

Big problem: Claire’s memory is fuzzy. Did they do the bouncy? Or did Ridge reject her? Either way…oh-oh, her heart’s in trouble!

My rating:

3.5 out of 5 women suggest a hook-up with a stripper at least once

My review:

*A copy was given generously by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Well, this is a very short read. Like 39 pages long. Everything is fast-paced and on the verge of unrealistic. But keep in mind, it's supposed to be a sweet, short love story. 

Claire Merriweather hires Ridge Pederson, a stripper to perform at her best friend's bachelorette party. When she found herself in his bed the next day, she is mortified with the thought that they may had have sex the night before.

This is one of those love at first sight sort of thing. They are so attracted to each other that they kissed just hours into knowing each other. And then he became her date to the wedding. And basically it's a happy ever after ending. Oh look, so much spoilers. 

Not recommended to those who likes instant attraction.