Splendeur Caisse

How to Survive a Scandal by Samara Parish My rating: 4 of 5 stars Benedict Asterly finds Lady Amelia alone on the side of the road after an accident that's left her carriage overturned in the snow and unconscious. Once he gets inside he builds a fire, removes her soaked dress, and leaves her close to warm back up. When they are found both are forced into a marriage of convenience otherwise she will be ruined. These two are definitely opposites attract. She was raised to fulfill her betrothal to the Duke, who she's been engaged to for quite some time. Amelia is pretty snobby almost to the point that you just want to dislike her. But as she starts to settle into her marriage you do get to see her grow. Because of his past, Benedict is wary of his wife. He's attracted to her and afraid she'll grow to be unhappy like his mother. We get lots of miscommunication before they finally admit they want to be together and are in love. This was the first book in a new series and ...

  This cover is gorgeous! And on track to be one of my favorites for the month.  It officially releases tomorrow January 12th, 2021. So you can still pre-order it at your favorite retailer.  Someday My Duke Will Come by Christina Britton My rating: 5 of 5 stars Can I give this all the stars? Having already been introduced to Quincy and Clara in A Good Duke is Hard to Find, the first book in this series, made it easy to recall how much I liked these characters. Now, I love them. The angst when they both realize they are in love with the other was so palpable. Quincy is my new book boyfriend. Lady Clara Ashford has spent her whole life taking care of others, especially after the death of her mother. And years later a rogue took advantage of her, leaving her to swear off marriage. With her younger about to be married Clara wonders where she'll fit in without any purpose. Until Quincy returns. Quincy is back from America to visit his friends before setting off to travel th...

  Whew... I wasn't sure I would make my reading goal for 2020. I started to feel a little slumpy and my reading speed slowed down. Christmas novellas definitely helped me reach my goal. Honestly, novellas help me every month. They also feel like a palate cleanser between books. And sometimes I just need something quick and steamy. So I read a total of 23 books. 10 ARCs 10 KU- kindle unlimited   2 PB- paperbacks   1 e-book   1 audio I am really missing Audible Escape. Having AE meant I usually read at least four more books a month. I tried Audible Plus free trial but I had a hard time even finding something I wanted to read. So I'll just take a break from audio for a while. Off to read. xo Alicia

  This is the first book in the Greycourt Series. I was actually supposed to read this one first but I somehow got the books mixed up and my ARC review for When a Rogue Meets His Match was due and I didn't want to fall behind. 😩 Here's my review: Not the Duke's Darling by Elizabeth Hoyt My rating: 4 of 5 stars I really liked Freya and Christopher. Despite the action that opens the book it took me a few chapters to finally find a good reading rhythm and really get into the story. Freya is posing as a chaperone using a fake name as part of her mission as a Wise Woman. When the Duke of Harlowe appears at the house party she is attending, she fears he will recognize her and give away her true identity. She can't hide her dislike of him which of course leaves Christopher wondering if he's met her before and what could he have possibly done to deserve her ire. Christopher is only attending this house party because his blackmailer has forced him to meet there. The b...

  Christmas on Reindeer Road by Debbie Mason My rating: 5 of 5 stars I already liked Mallory and Gabe from the previous book and now I absolutely love them and all their boys. This one really got me in the feels and maybe stuff came out of my eyes. 😢 But really if you're looking for something that gives you the warm and fuzzies and is set at Christmas time pick this one up. Mallory is moving back to Highland Falls with her stepsons after the death of her husband, their father. Knowing first hand what it's like to be abandoned she has no plans to give up on them. Gabriel is raising three boys on his own ever since his wife passed away. The locals are still giving him a hard time, his mother in law is looking for any reason to take the boys away and it's getting harder to fight his attraction to her. Thanks to Forever for sending me this paperback to review. View all my reviews If your looking for a heart-warming story grab yourself a copy. When you use the link abo...

  When a Rogue Meets His Match by Elizabeth Hoyt My rating: 5 of 5 stars Unbelievably this was my first Elizabeth Hoyt book and I loved it. So much mystery and action made it hard to put down as I neared the end of the book. I looking forward to the other books in this series. Gideon Hawthorne has been the Duke of Windmere's fixer for the last ten years. He was finally ready to walk away from this dangerous work when the Duke offers him Messalina Greycourt's hand in marriage and one last task. So he takes the chance to have this woman he has always desired. When Messalina's uncle forces her into marriage with Mr. Hawthorne leaving her shocked. But before she can run away Gideon strikes a bargain with her. Keep up appearances, play wife and he will not touch her until she asks for it. Confident she'll never need anything from him, she agrees. Thanks so much to the author, Forever, and NetGalley for this ARC. View all my reviews  Use this link to grab yourself a co...

  I received this action-packed paperback from Forever. I love getting book mail from them. So this was my first time reading something from April Hunt and I was not disappointed. I plan on reading the other books in this series at some point, my TBR just keeps growing.  If you love suspense/action with your romance then you should definitely pick this one up!  Fatal Deception by April Hunt My rating: 5 of 5 stars There was never a dull moment in this book. It started off with the theft of a deadly disease from a high-security lab which brought in Steele Ops to investigate and the broody Roman Steele. When the virus is stolen from her lab Dr. Isabel Santiago is desperate for it to be found before it is turned into a weapon. She and Roman must work together to track down the thieves before they can hurt anyone. View all my reviews Grab a copy! xo Alicia

  A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins My rating: 5 of 5 stars I really enjoyed every second of this book. It was a nice balance of romance and mystery. The supporting characters were great too! Especially Val and Caro. Lady Katherine Bascomb runs and writes for England's most notorious newspaper. With a serial killer on the loose, she decides to write a column targetted at society ladies to educated them about the crimes going on in the city and those committed against the fairer sex. She and her fellow columnist discover a lead the police overlooked and run the story, leading to the arrest of an innocent man. She flees the city to a friend's estate who is hosting a small gathering and while out walking the grounds comes upon a dead body. Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham was the lead on the case until Lady Katherine's article was published resulting in his removal. His boss sends him out to investigate the murder that Lady Katherine discovered o...

I received this paperback for the publisher in August, started reading it in September, and didn't finish it until last week. I picked it a few times and had to set it right back down when my digital ARCs were all due on the same day. I had to start keeping better track of what needed to be read. Also, I had to start writing down everything I request.  If you use the link under my ^^^ picture,  I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks so much in advance.  Here's my review: Make Mine a Cowboy by A.J. Pine My rating: 4 of 5 stars Finally, finished this one! I hate that it took me so long but I had to put this one down twice in order to finish the cluster of ARCs I had to review at the end of September and the middle of October. Anyway, this one was good. Ben and Charlotte met over the summer and had a summer fling. Ben was living it up making the most of his time after a medical diagnosis. Charlotte comes back into town after her grandmother suffers ...

This book was sent to me by the publisher. I really enjoyed it, its suspense helped fulfill my need for something with a little more. I also hadn't and still haven't read anything spooky for the fall season.  The publisher also sent me some Sandra Brown mysteries which I'm hoping to start soon. I've got a few ARCs to finish first. My review:  Blacklisted (Loveless, Texas #3) by   Jay Crownover   (Goodreads Author) Alicia 's review Oct 27, 2020   ·    edit it was amazing This was my first Jay Crownover book and I'm now officially a new reader/fan. This is the third book in the Loveless, TX series but it can be read as a standalone. I love Shot and Presley so much. I loved the chemistry they shared and how drawn they were to each other. This also wasn't just a romance novel, Shot is the president of the Sons of Sorrow MC, dealing with someone wanting revenge and Presley is dealing with a former best friend who became unhinged when she was passed ove...

  Any Rogue Will Do by Bethany Bennett My rating: 5 of 5 stars I could not put this down! I love a historical romance with action and we get that from the very beginning. I loved their backstory and the groveling Ethan has to do in order to win the Lottie. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. Years before he ruined her reputation. Lottie has never forgotten the humiliation especially when the ton mocked her and spread the nickname he gave her. Now, she returning to London to find a suitable replacement for the unwanted suitor her father has chosen. When that man tries to manipulate her into marriage she turns to Ethan for help. Ethan, Lord Amesbury, has always regretting ruining Lady Charlotte's reputation. He's older and wiser but his attraction for Lottie has never wavered. So he offers to be her fake fiance in order to stop the other man from announcing an engagement, he's hoping to also win her forgiveness. Thanks so much to Forever and NetGalle...

  The Highland Laird by Amy Jarecki My rating: 5 of 5 stars I wish this adventure would never end! Really this book was great from start to finish. I loved everything about this couple as well. Emma is strong and fierce. Not everyone has the determination to rise above a "limitation". Emma has always thought of Ciar as her knight in shining armor. And he has always felt the need to protect her ever since they were young. And when these two finally give in to their attraction, it was steamy! Emma Grant has been sheltered her entire life because she is blind. When word comes that her brother's best friend is jailed, she doesn't hesitate to go to his rescue. Laird Ciar MacDougall is on a mission when he witnesses a murder. Attacked from behind he awakens in an English prison accused of the murder. Never did he think Emma would be the one to come to his rescue. Thanks so much to Forever and NetGalley for this ARC View all my reviews Grab yourself a copy! If you u...

The Summer House by Jenny  Hale My rating: 4 of 5 stars Callie and her best friend Olivia have finally purchased the beach house she admired all throughout her childhood. They're going to open it as a bed and breakfast. So, Callie has been too busy to think about her love life. So meeting Luke Sullivan catches her off guard. And the more time she spends with him the more see she's that he's more than the stories that the press publish about him. Thanks to Forever for a copy of this book! View all my reviews Click on the image below to pick up a copy today! xo Alicia

.   A Good Duke is Hard to Find by Christina Britton My rating: 5 of 5 stars What a great opening to this book.  It immediately sucked me in. And if slow-burn is something you enjoy this is definitely it. Oh and the hero is a Grump! Miss Lenora Hartley finds herself left at the altar. Her fiance isn't coming, he was duelling for another woman. This is her third failed attempt at getting married And her father tells her he'll give her the summer to get over the loss before trying to find another husband for her. But if she doesn't make it down the aisle he'll cut her off and abandon her. She heads to the Island of Synne, where she be far from the gossip. But it also holds a lot of memories from the past, specifically of her first fiance, who died. Peter Ashford is next in line to inherit a dukedom he doesn't want. He plans to destroy it all after he was turned away as a child when he came looking for help for his dying mother. His Grand-Aunt reminds him that he...

Summer on Honeysuckle Ridge by Debbie Mason My rating: 4 of 5 stars Abby Everhart was living out of her car before discovering that her Great Aunt has left her Honeysuckle Farm in Highland Falls, North Carolina. She plans on putting it on the market to help her get back on her feet. But what she finds is a serious fixer-upper and a man living on the property, who claims her left the property to him. Hunter MacKenzie is an ex-Delta Force soldier hiding away on the place that feels like home since his return from the war. He doesn't want to spend any time with this woman who annoys him. But the more time they spend together makes it harder to deny the spark he feels for her. This was my first Debbie Mason book, and I enjoyed this sweet romance. With the charm of a small Scottish town, who celebrate Highland Games. FYI this has nothing much beyond kissing. And I'm looking forward to Mallory and Gabriel's book. This book was provided by Forever. View all my reviews ...

First Kiss with a Cowboy by Sara  Richardson My rating: 4 of 5 stars Jane Harding is heading home for her best friends wedding. She was not expecting Toby Garrett to be there. The first boy she kissed, the inspiration for the hero in the romance novel she wrote. He annoys her and now they have to spend time together as they help their best friends prepare for their wedding. They both have suffered loss and it's kept jane from really living. The loss of her father keeps her from seeking out adventure and that Toby has a rodeo career keeps her from wanting to give her heart to the man who has been her crush since high school. I love cowboy romances! I like small-town romances as well and the fact that they have to work together means Jane gets to see that Toby is not what she assumed he was. Thanks to Forever for providing a copy of this book. View all my reviews Pick up a copy today~ Amazon Barnes and Noble Google xo Alicia

I think I finally got my reading mojo back. Only thirty of the books I read this month are pictured here. I started the month off with the Hell Fire Riders Series from Kati Wilde and The New Camelot Series by Sierra Simone. Which were among a few of my favorites this month.  I actually read 41 books! 10  ARC 4   Read Me Romance 19  Kindle Unlimited 6   Audible Escape 2   Physical books from Forever Now back to reading~ xo Alicia

The Book of Second Chances by Katherine Slee My rating: 4 of 5 stars Honestly, I'm not even sure where, to begin with, this book. After the death of her Grandmother, famous author Catriona Robinson, Emily is sent on a scavenger hunt, to find an unpublished manuscript. Otherwise, she risks losing the home she lives in and the rights to her famous book series. Each stop holds clues for the next stop and letters from her Grandmother. But she's not travelling alone. Her Grandmother has tasked a childhood friend to accompany her. Forcing her to exam parts of her past, relive painful parts and learn how to grow from it all. I definitely had to take me time reading this book because there was so much to observe. Ultimately, I was happy that it forced me to slow down and enjoy this book. Thank you to Forever for the physical copy of this book. View all my reviews Pick up a copy! Amazon Barnes & Noble xo Alicia