A Heart's Rebellion by Ruth Axtell

After reading Moonlight Masquerade, I have been looking forward to what would be next for Ruth Axtell. That book was one that I still remember, despite it being some time since I've read it.  To me, that's the mark of a good book. It's one that you don't have to go back to remember who the main characters are and the plot!  I was really excited to see this book when it came out!  I was definitely excited to get an update on Céline and Rees. I think it tied this book into the first one really well.

There was some difference with this book, in that it didn't have a whole lot of action like the first one. However, I'm kind of glad she wasn't afraid to write another story in a different way from the first.  This one focused more on how Jessamine was coming out in London and finding a husband.  Jessamine was frustrating and at times kind of annoying.  She seemed spoiled and it was hard for me to really care about her. I was able to stir up some compassion for her by the end of the book, but it didn't come easily.

Lancelot was a good match for Jessamine and  was definitely the type of person that Jessamine needed.  However, I'm not sure how he could stand her at times!

I'm excited to see why the next book Ruth Axtell will be sharing with her readers!

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

Julie Klassen is my favorite Regency author.  Her books have gotten better and better over the years.  I enjoyed her first ones, but I couldn't put this one down! I felt like she had me gripped from the prologue.

I felt as though I were dancing through the pages of this book.  I learned so much about dance masters in this book.  I honestly didn't know that was how they learned dance.  I enjoy ballroom dancing, so it was fun to watch Devonshire learn to once again enjoy dance.

This book had mysterious secrets that waited to be revealed at just the right time.  Klassen did a great job at not revealing them too early or too late.  The romance in the book blossomed with beautiful relationships between just the right people.  I felt such a close relationship to all of the characters in the book and had such a strong desire to see hem all happy!

Julia's spunk made me laugh.  There were a few times where I felt she was being a little disrespectful to her mother. However, I felt that she had to be a bit more demanding to get her mother to even answer some of her questions. After all, the truth is always best, Lady Amelia has been known to say.

I admired Alec and his protectiveness over his family.  Even his friendship with Desmond when no one else wanted to be in the same room with him, made me proud of him.

I absolutely can not wait to see the next story Julie Klassen will write.  It will be delightful, and as hard as it is to believe, I'm sure it will be even better than this book.  I'm not certain how, though!

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I received this book free from Bethany House Publishes in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman

I don't think that I have miss a single book by Julie Lessman and there's a reason for that.  She writes with such humor and attitude that you can't help but laugh throughout the book, even during serious scenes.  I never get enough of the Irish attitude!

Allison McClure had spunk!  Whenever her and Nick Barone (with a long e) were in the same room together, sparks and tempers flew.  I loved the scene with the hair pins and how imagination imagined that scene.  At first, I suspected Nick to be up to something and wasn't convinced his intentions were all that pure.  But that didn't make me like Allison's uncle any better.  I liked him by the last page and could understand his desire to protect his family, but for the most part he annoyed me.

The ending of the book broke my heart one minute and then made me laugh the next.  The cable car scenes were also pretty fun to imagine.  You can tell that Julie Lessman had a lot of fun writing this book.  I'm curious how much of her personality is in this book!  The characters are funny and real.  Meg was one that I liked because of her difference.  I hated that her friends couldn't see her beauty and love her for who she really was.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the Heart of San Francisco Series.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

I can usually tell when I read a book whether or not I'm reading a fairly new author or not.  I'm shocked that Jessica Dotta has not written so many more books.  I'm glad to see that this is the beginning of a trilogy!  She had me liking even a mean old woman that I doubt many authors would 

have been able to get me to like.  I even liked Julia, who I couldn't believe that I did like.  She wasn't the typical person I usually like in books.

Julia has a sense of mystery around her.  Her mother has committed suicide, she's left alone, and top it off with she now will be moving to Scotland in two months to work as a servant--compliments 

of her new guardian who remains nameless and faceless.

That means that Julia has 2 months to find a man to marry.  At first that doesn't seem to hard since 

she is technically betrothed.  One problem, though.  Edward, her secret lover, has had a change of 

heart since she last saw him.  Needless to say, they don't quite see eye to eye on most things anymore because of one major issue.  That issue has driven a permanent wedge between them until 

Julia realizes what mistakes she's made.

I really did like Lady Foxmore.  She was a brutal woman, but I did like her humor for some reason.    

I found it funny that she would send notes at night and wake up the household.  I also found it funny how she spoke to Elizabeth and her mother. 

This book has romance, but it also has suspense and mystery.  It was a book that keeps you wondering until the very last page.  I can't wait to see what the next 2 books consist of.  It'll be hard to beat this book!

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I received this book free from T'yndale Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

 

Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell

This book had so many twists and turns in it that I found myself staying up quite late just to finish it!  Just when I thought I knew something would happen to one of the characters, I was wrong.  I kept thinking that their masks would be revealed earlier than when they were because they kept finding themselves in predicaments.  I liked how she kept certain main details out of the beginning of the book.  It lead to the suspense and intrigue.

 

I had a hard time figuring out the cook and lady's maid.  I knew they were somehow involved with Lady Celine Wexham's side, but wasn't really for sure how or to what extent.  I liked that their relationship with her wasn't immediately clear and that there was an air of mystery around her relationship with her late husband.

 

I think if I had to sum up the style of this book, it would be mystery, romance, denial, and setting aside hierarchy.  If you like Downton Abbey, then you would most definitely like this book.  It is set in 1813, but has the whole idea of the estates and Countesses and butlers. 

 

This book is a Regency Romance novel and is set to have her next novel out in the Spring of 2014.  I am anxiously awaiting her book.  She has a wonderful style of writing that makes you feel like you're caught in the middle of two people who are socially forbidden from each other because of circumstances.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.