Tag Archives: historical

May Reading List

So my historical to-be-read list bled over into May a little and I’m supplementing it with a lot of cowboys and general contemporary romance stuff.

Heart of a Hero series – Shelly Gray – post-Civil War (1874) Texas, Colorado, Kansas

  • A Texan’s Honor (book 2) – Jamilyn is traveling by rail from her home to Kansas City to live with her aunts when the train is over-run with the Watson Gang.  Little did she know that her fate was in the hands of Will, a US Marshal working undercover to take the gang down.
  • A Texan’s Choice (book 3) – While focused on Scout Proffitt hanging up the gun-for-hire hat and becoming a family man, a good deal of energy is spent on Russell, a young former Watson Gang member from book 2, and Miles, Scout’s brother-in-law from book 1 as they all deal with a group of deadly cattle rustlers.

Grant – Jennifer Ashley – book 2 of the Riding Hard series.  A year after Grant and Christina split up, neither can get the other out of the system.  A volatile reconciliation is attempted amid personal and public crises.

Tycoon Takedown – Ruth Cardello – book 2 of the Lone Star Burn series. Cowgirl Melanie’s trip to New York to find her baby’s daddy is side-tracked by billionaire Charlie who is dealing with his own demons from the past.  (Book 1 read in January 2015)

Books 3-5 of the Walker Island Romances: When It’s Love, All for Love, Forever in Love.

All I Ever Need is You – Bella Andre – book 14 of the Sullivans series. Adam is the last single Seattle Sullivan and is more than happy to stay that way until he meets Rafe and Brooke’s wedding planner, Kerry.  But Kerry knows Adam’s reputation as a playboy and is convinced he’s just like her father who abandoned them when she was little. He has his work cut out for him in convincing her of his devotion.

Destined for Power – Kathleen Brooks – book 4 of the Women of Power series.

One Man’s Treasure – Sable Hunter/Ryan O’Leary – part of the Heal Yeah! series and Equalizers subseries.  While on a trip to Veracruz, Mexico, MMA fighter Jet unknowingly takes on Sami, a terminally-ill journalist who is running for her life from the Mexican drug cartel.

And I Love Her – Marie Force – book 4 of the Green Mountain Romance Series.  It’s now or never for Hunter to make his move on Megan now that her sister is selling the local diner where she works.

Heartbreak Cove – Lily Everett – book 3 of the Sanctuary Island series.  Complicated doesn’t describe what happens between horse rehabilitator Sam and local sheriff Andie when the fate of an abused horse rides the fine line of the law.

On the Run – Jo Davis – book 4 of the Sugarland Blue series.  Tonio gets in over his head when he stumbles into an undercover gig to nail a local thug.

April Reads

This month I’m focusing on some of the historical romances I’d bought over the years and still haven’t read. In many cases I have more than one book from a series to finish up.

The Montbryce Legacy – Anna Markland – The series starts during the rise of William the Conqueror and follows the Montbryce family through the next 30 years or so.  The author maintains the historical accuracy with events, even though her characters are fictional.

  1. Passion Conquered – Rambaud is William’s right hand man and is reluctantly betrothed to Mabelle.  Only after he meets her, his reluctance fades as they face nearly insurmountable obstacles living near the English-Welsh border.
  2. A Man of Value – Caedmon was a Saxon born in Scotland to his widowed mother.  He meets Agneta while recovering from serious wounds and later takes her as his bride. When he realizes everything he believed about his past was a lie, Caedmon joins the First Crusade and finally comes to grip with who he really is.
  3. If Loves Dares Enough – Rambaud’s brother Hugh brings a heap of trouble on the family when he rescues Saxon Devona Melton from her abusive Norman husband.  Antoine faces similar issues when he harbors Sybilla after her husband is killed during battle with King William.
  4. Passion in the Blood – Robert, Rambaud’s heir to the Montbryce title, suffers the wrath of his family’s biggest enemy when he marries Dorianne de Giroux.

Lassoed in Texas – Mary Connealy – Post-Civil War era, Texas.  Book 1 previously already read.

  • Calico Canyon – Grace, running from her wicked adoptive father Parrish, takes a teaching job in Mosqueros.  She loses her job over the behavior of the unruly Reeves boys and gets snowed into their canyon when Parrish tracks her down.
  • Gingham Mountain – Hannah, trying to find Grace, ends up teaching in Sour Springs and butts heads with fellow orphan Grant over his practice of adopting multiple orphans himself.

The Brocade Collection – Jackie Ivie – A collection of stand alone historical novels which take place during a variety of time periods.

  • Morganna – early 14th century Scotland (Robert the Bruce era). Morganna watched as her clan was decimated by the FitzHugh clan and vowed vengeance, assuming the identity of a lad (Morgan) who pillaged the dead on the battlefield. She is unwillingly pressed into servitude by Zander FitzHugh as a squire giving her the opportunity of a lifetime to avenge her family’s peril.
  • Linna – early 19th century Louisiana territory.  Linna’s family falls to ruin when her father kills her mother for adultery.  In her quest for freedom from her father, she falls into further ruination when she beds Cord and becomes pregnant. Cord only did it in exchange for gold as he seeks to claim the family title that was stolen from him. Little did they know how twisted up their lives really were.
  • Elise – Victorian Era, England/Scotland. Elise attempts to confront Colin, Laird MacGowan, about their illegitimate nephew, but when two headstrong people clash, the only thing that comes to mind is “we all know what happens when we assume…”

November Reading List

  1. The Escort – Ramona Gray – Thirty year old virgin experiences the twin switch.
  2. Always on My Mind – Bella Andre – Book 8 of the Sullivans series.  Lori needs a time out from her life and situates herself as Grayson’s farmhand.
  3. Still the One – Kathryn Shay – Book 1 of the Educators series.  Unrequited love 20 years later.
  4. Rocky Mountain Romance – Vivian Arend – Book 7 of the Six Pack Ranch series.  Second chance to do things right.
  5. Bluegrass Dawn – Kathleen Brooks – Book 2 of the Bluegrass Singles.  Where it all began–Marcy & Jake and the Vietnam War.
  6. Montana at Sunrise – Blaire Brand – Book 1 of the Montana Brides.  Mail order bride gone wrong.
  7. In Good Hands – E C Sheedy – Beach fling that becomes so much more.
  8. Cowboy Boots for Christmas – Carolyn Brown – Book 1 of the Burnt Boots series.  The perfect one was there all along.
  9. One in a Million – Jill Shalvis – Book 12 (the last book) of the Lucky Harbor series.  Unrequited high school crush gets a second chance.
  10. Candlelight Christmas – Susan Wiggs – Book 10 of the Lakeshore Chronicles series.  Just because it didn’t work out the first time, doesn’t mean you can’t have another chance.
  11. A Curvy Coldwater Christmas – Jenn Roseton – part of the Coldwater Springs series.  The ultimate Christmas match…Santa and Mrs. Claus.
  12. I Saw Her Standing There – Marie Force – Book 3 of the Green Mountain series.  City girl, mountain man.  How can they make the impossible a possibility?
  13. Against the Fire – Kat Martin – Book 2 of the Raines of Wind County series.  Gabe has an arsonist after him and Mattie is scarred by her past.  Can they find a way to make things work out in the end?

October Reading List

I read…a lot. Here’s a list of titles I’ve finished this month.   Links point to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

  1. Divas Do Tell – Virginia Brown – book 5 of the Dixie Diva series. Murder mystery with some humor.
  2. He’s So Fine – Jill Shalvis – book 11 of the Lucky Harbor series.  Romance with some suspense.
  3. Home to Me – Ruth Cardello  – book 2 of the Andrades series.  Angsty rich guy with family issues romance.
  4. Banished – Cindy Stark – book 3 of the Retribution series.  Romantic suspense where the vigilantes are the good guys.
  5. Sweet Addiction – Maya Banks – book 6 of Sweet series.  Love triangle heavy on the BDSM.
  6. Untameable Texan – Janice Maynard  – Lead-in novella for the Texas Cattlemen Club: After the Storm series.  Love lost and found, cowboy included.
  7. Beguiled – Sylvia McDaniel  – book 3 of the Cuvier Widows series.  1890’s romance complete with murder trial and trust issues.
  8. Not Quite a Wife – Mary Jo Putney  – book 6 of the Lost Lords series.  There’s nothing like an unexpected pregnancy to end a 10 year estrangement in the early 1800’s.  Complete with kidnapping and daring rescue at sea.
  9. Hunt the Darkness – Alexandra Ivy  – book 11 in the Guardians of Eternity series. Vampire Roke and Sally the Witch end up in a magically induced mating.
  10. A Very Levet Christmas – Alexandra Ivy – follows book 11 in the Guardians of Eternity series.  Dickens’ A Christmas Carol revamped (pun intended) as only Levet could do it.
  11. Long Hot Texas Summer – Carolyn Brown – the first book in the Palo Duro Canyon series.  He screwed up, she ran. After 17 years, can they start over and do it right this time?
  12. Night Unbound – Dianne Duvall – book 5 of the Immortal Guardians series. A new vampire army is rising and the immortals are struggling to find the instigator as Zach is brought into the fold.
  13. Siren’s Song – Dana Marie Bell  – book 5 of the Gray Court series. Someone’s out to get the Oberon, Gray Court King. Is Cassie able to save him?
  14. Dare Me – Parker Blue – book 5 of the Demon Underground series. Someone is hunting Shadow Demons and Val is in her own personal love triangle hell.
  15. When I Fall in Love – Kristin Miller – book 1 of the Blue Lake series.  April is feeling the pressure to find a husband when Mason suddenly appears in her life.
  16. The Ultimate Santini Novella Collection -Melissa Schroeder – novellas focusing on the 4 military brothers with a bonus story rehashing how Mom and Dad came together.