Tagged with romance stories …

Valentine’s Day Gifts: Love and Words

Gifts for the Ones You Love: This Continent Called Love, Quotations from Nobel Prize Winners by David Pratt. $0.99 from Smashwords.com 500 quotations on love in all its forms from Nobel Laureates. Combining love with wisdom, it will delight readers of all ages. Perfect for speeches at weddings and anniversaries. Send it to sweethearts, mothers, … Continue reading →

Eloisa James: Winning The Wallflower

Eloisa James is by far one of my favorite contemporary historical romance authors.  She has a consistently funny and entertaining style and memorable characters.  She also is a master at crafting the hero, with a unique insight into the male mind. Winning the Wallflower, a novella, was a short and sweet read.  I burned through … Continue reading →

Regency Women of Character: Women at Waterloo

During a lull in fighting at Waterloo in 1815, British solidiers found the bodies of two women.  “I saw one of them,” wrote Captain Henry Ross-Lewin of the 32nd Regiment of Foot. “She was dressed in a nankeen jacket and trousers, and had been killed by a ball which had passed through her head.”  Other … Continue reading →

New Releases Quick Review: Regency Romance Titles

Unclaimed by Courtney Milan Publish Date: September 2011      Reviewers are giving it an average: 9/10 In Pursuit of Miss Eliza Cynster: A Cynster Novel by Stephanie Laurens Publish Date: September 2011       Reviewers are giving it an average: 7/10 Confessions of an Improper Bride by Jennifer Haymore Publish Date: August 2011              Reviewers are giving it an average: … Continue reading →

The Pink Carnation Spy Series: Lauren Willig

Blending contemporary with historical romance (heavy on the spy/academic detecting), Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation series is a must read for those who love a light hearted, romantic suspense.  Plus, finding this in the “literature” section of most major booksellers means that your husband (if like mine) won’t roll his eyes at you “buying another romance … Continue reading →

Sabrina Jeffries: To Pleasure a Prince

He set down his glass and turned to Iversley’s bookshelves. Searching until he found the right volume, he opened it and read aloud, ‘Golden slumbers kiss your eyes/ Smiles awake you when you rise.’ It’s a poem by Thomas Dekker, now used as a common lullaby. You probably heard the tune in your head as I read it.”

“That’s not the same as hearing it sung. Reading the words of my favorite opera, for example, certainly wouldn’t satisfy me.”

“But one can’t always attend the opera. One can always open a book.”

She uttered a frustrated sound. “What about physical things, like dancing? There’s no dancing in books.”

“No?” He drew down another book. “Here’s one that explains how to perform dances.” He flipped through it and showed her the diagrams. “You see? You can find dance in books.”

She shook her head. “You can’t possibly claim that reading about dancing is the same thing as performing a dance.”

“Actually, it’s better. If I read about it, I don’t have to deal with too-hot ballrooms or having my toes stepped on.” He cast her a cold glance. “Or superior females who think themselves too fine to dance with me.” And sing with me.

When she flushed, he knew she’d taken his point. Yet she wouldn’t let go of her argument. “You also don’t know the joy of touching another human being.” She approached him, and he sucked in a heavy breath. “Or the thrill of passion. Don’t you dare tell me you can get that from a book, because I know better.”

“Oh? I would have thought a well-bred lady like yourself hadn’t experienced ‘the thrill of passion.’”

A faint flush turned her cheeks rosier than before. “You know perfectly well that’s not what I meant.”

“Ah, yes.” He scoured her with a contemptuous look. “From what I’ve heard, you won’t even allow your sniveling admirers to kiss your hand.”

“At least I dance with them. The only females you allow near your estate are servants, for pity’s sake. Unless there really are women in your dungeon.”

“What are you talking about?”

Her blush deepened. “The gossips say that…that you chain women up in your dungeon to…have your way with them.”

Oh, for God’s sake— “And you believe that?”

She thrust her chin out at him. “I might. Especially given how much trouble you seem to have with pleasing women who aren’t chained up.”

Even knowing she was baiting him couldn’t assuage his temper. He stalked up to loom over her, but that proved a mistake, for now he could smell the seductive scent of honeywater wafting off her and could see the golden tendrils feathering her neck. Her aristocratic arch of a neck that he wanted to—

He dragged his gaze to her face. “I know how to please a woman well enough when I set my mind to it.”

“Do you?” She arched an eyebrow. “I’ve seen little evidence of that.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t.”

“No? Then prove it. Prove that you can please a woman.”

God help him. Somewhere in the dim recesses of his fevered brain, he realized she meant a different sort of pleasing than he did—compliments and courtesies and gentlemanly behavior. But at the moment he didn’t care. He’d had enough of her lies and her condescending taunts. He’d show her once and for all what happened to any woman foolish enough to bait him.

“Fine. Since you insist…” And without giving her a chance to protest, he bent his head and kissed her right on the lush red mouth that had tortured his dreams last night.

She jerked back, her eyes wide. “What are you doing?”

“You told me to prove I can please a woman.”

“I didn’t mean that kind of pleasing.” Continue reading →