Category: Barb’s Reviews

A Counterfeit Heart – K. C. Bateman – 04/18/2017

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A Counterfeit Heart (Secrets & Spies #3)A Counterfeit Heart by K.C. Bateman

Barbara’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series:  Secrets & Spies #3

Release Date:  May 23, 2017

What a great read!!! It was so good that I couldn’t put it down and when it ended I was really, really sad. One of the hallmarks of books by this author seems to be that she handles a mystery and tense situation with humor and great characters. This is the third – and I hope not the last – book in the Secrets and Spies series. I would really like to see Kit get his own book although he’s not been featured much so far.

What did I love:
—–All of the main characters, but particularly the H/h. Both of them are strong, smart, brave and so very drawn to each other. There are reasons they should and do mistrust each other so the author handles their inner turmoil brilliantly. Neither is manipulative and they tell each other the truth – it is just that past history and the situation makes each doubt the other.
—–The book is filled with wonderfully witty banter (I even laughed out loud a couple of times), sexual tension beyond belief, exceptionally good secondary characters, danger – you name it — it has everything that makes a book great!
—–I LOVE that we get to visit with Raven and Heloise from book two. They are as wicked as they were in their own book. Raven takes great delight in the fact that Richard has met his match and I love the way he needles him all through the book.

What didn’t I love:
—–Hard to say — I loved it all. However, I can say that I would have appreciated seeing more of Kit. That one little scene just absolutely wasn’t enough. I’m sure it is all build up to when he gets his own book, but — well — it would have been nice to have had a little dialogue to kind of see where he is now in his recovery. Maybe an epilogue-epilogue to catch up with what happened with Anton once he got to America. I liked him and wanted to see good things happen for him or maybe even get his own book too!

“I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

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The Most Dangerous Duke In London – 04/18/20

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The Most Dangerous Duke in London (Decadent Dukes Society, #1)The Most Dangerous Duke in London by Madeline Hunter
Release Date:  May 30, 2017
Barbara’s Rating : 4 of 5 stars

Series:  Decadent Dukes Society #1

Exciting beginning to Madeline Hunter’s new ‘Decadent Dukes Society’ trilogy! In addition to the main hero and heroine in this book, we get a great introduction to the next two dukes who will have their stories. Can’t wait!!

I really liked our hero – Adam Penrose, the Duke of Stratton. He has been living under a shadow for years and even fled the country to avoid some of it. However, the shadow followed him to France where he was involved in duels because of some people’s belief that his father had committed treason. So, he returns to England fully intending to find the truth of who is behind the heinous rumors – and to prove they aren’t true.

I also liked our heroine – Clara Cheswick who is the oldest daughter of his family’s sworn enemy. Clara has only heard the worst about Adam, so she has little to make her think well of him. She’s also determined to keep her independence and never marry, so when she is inexplicably drawn to Adam she is really disconcerted.

The story is well developed and the characters, including the supporting characters, are complete and well developed. Madeline Hunter writes an excellent story filled with romance, angst and a great mystery.

Now, I loved the characters and the story — but there are a few things that just aren’t well explained or plausible. First — how easily Adam and Clara manage to have their liaisons with no chaperones, etc. Also – Clara moves into her own home unchaperoned and she is still acceptable in the ton (not likely). Then, there is Clara’s grandmother. I just didn’t get what made her decide to try to forge an alliance with Adam. She didn’t appear to me to have had a sudden epiphany that she had done a real bad thing. I don’t know — just didn’t buy that part!

“I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”