Review: Her Captain Dares All by Eliza Knight

Her Captain Dares All
by Eliza Knight

Genre: Spicy Historical Romance (Regency)
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Price: $4.00

What I Liked:
Well, I've now read all three of the "Men of the Sea" series by Eliza Knight. And while this wasn't my favorite of the three (Her Captain Returns was the BEST), this was very good. I liked that the settings were unique. It gave a new feel to the story. Of course, the hero was majorly hunky. Knight writes fantastic heroes, trust me. I've read probably five of them now, and they're all uber yummy. Jeremy Williams, in Her Captain Dares All, was no different.

My favorite thing about these books is that they're easily consumable but not forgettable. They're just over 100 pages (so, novella length), but contain a whole story. I never feel like I get slighted on the story when it comes to Eliza Knight's novellas. But they're easily readable in about an hour. I love that. I can get totally caught up in them on the exercise bike, or on a commuter flight, and not feel like I have to put them down before I'm ready to. I really enjoy that. I know a lot of people sort of look down their noses at novellas... I think that's unfortunate. I have really gotten into reading them lately, and have found them to be just as enjoyable as novels.

I enjoy these spicy Regency novels that Eliza Knight writes. I like her characters, I like the plot lines, I like the resolutions. I think she writes relationships very well, and she is a master of sexual tension. I thoroughly recommend these Men of the Sea books. This particular one is a new release (just last month), and the last in the series. A great conclusion to a great series of yummy British Naval Captains.

Book Blurb:
Pursued by kidnappers, Lady Tessa Woodward is running for her life. When handsome Captain Jeremy Williams comes to her rescue in the backstreets of Paris, she persuades him to help her escape France and return to her home in England.

Captain Jeremy Williams is captivated by Lady Tessa's fiery nature and agrees to give her passage aboard his ship. Once on board, his desire grows and soon reveals a sensual side to the woman he can’t deny. But when danger threatens his lady, will the captain dare all to save her?

SECRET WISHES by Catherine Stang

First off, ignore the Christmas-themed cover. Secret Wishes is set around Christmas but I wouldn’t consider it a Christmas romance. There’s no decorating of trees or anything like that. This is a good ol’ Regency, a good ol’ PARANORMAL Regency.

I know, I know… I’m not usually a paranormal lover (though I did gobble up J.K. Coi’s latest installment of her Immortal Series, Dark Immortal – what a tear jerker!). I’m squeamish about blood and scary supernatural beings.

Although Secret Wishes has ghosts, it has no blood or gore and the ghosts are more charming than frightening. The heroine Emma is haunted by a former Rake (former because he’s dead, not that he’s given up being a Rake). The dead Rake, having made a dreadful mess of his own life, decides to help Emma pursue her true love. She is head over heels in love with Ross Stanton, Earl Of Brynmor, the only other person she knows who can also see ghosts. Yes, they are perfect for each other!

Ross, however, doesn’t see that. He came back from the war wounded not only physically but psychologically, and refuses to have anything to do with Emma. He has troubles of his own, being haunted by a squabbling brother/sister duo.

Give Emma a real live squabbling brother, add one money hungry suitor, and you have a wonderful Regency read with a few twists. Ross is deliciously broken. Emma is healing yet strong (and stubborn as an ox but she’d have to be to deal with Ross). Our dear dead Rake proves that dying doesn’t make you more savvy about life. Secret Wishes is a fun, fresh read from beginning to end.

Note: Secret Wishes does contain different types of romantic relationships (as secondary storylines) but then with ghosts in the story, you know this is not a traditional Regency.

To read more about Secret Wishes and Catherine Stang’s other novels, please visit http://www.catherinestang.com/

Sunday's Oldies but Goodies...

Greetings!

This week's Oldie but Goodie is....

A Scandalous Proposal
by Julia Justiss
Originaly Released in 2000
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Emily Spenser is a widow. She lost her officer husband in a war and came back to England to raise her son. Problem is, her father-in-law has always felt she wasn't good enough for his boy, and has been searching for Emily for several years in the hopes of taking her son away from her and raising him as his next heir.
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Emily, trying to stay below her father-in-law's radar, has chosen to take on the persona of 'Madame Emilie' - simple shopkeeper. And while money is tight, she is able to keep her son in school and keep her business afloat.
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One afternoon, however, everything changes. A chance encounter with Evan Mansfield, the Earl of Cheverley, turns her entire world upside down. He witnesses a man trying to blackmail her into paying 'protection money' and instantly intervenes. Evan is immediately taken with Emily, and she with him. Soon, they have an 'arrangement' that provides Emily with companionship she has forgotten she wanted, and Evan with a relationship that suits his busy schedule.
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Of course, things are not always what they seem. Emily has her secrets, and more than one reason she wants to stay hidden from the prying eyes of 'the ton'. Evan, however, is falling for his new paramour hard and fast.
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But when a deathbed promise to a friend jeopardises his relationship to Emily, and her link to the 'upper crust' is discovered, both will have to make some hard choices. Unfortunately, their new found love may not be enough to see them through.
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If you are a frequent reader of Regency Historicals, then you become very familiar with the strict society rules for the different class levels and genders. In a lot of these stories, the lordly male always wins his woman, overcoming class boundaries and societal snubs, all in the name of true love.
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And we all know that is very far-fetched.
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Luckily, this story manages to find a way around the same old formulaic Regency boy-meets-girl-overcomes-everything-lives-happily-ever-after storyline. Yes, our couple manages to overcome a lot, but not in the way you would suspect, and not without some major sacrifices along the way. The heat level is somewhat sensual, but moves the story along rather than being there just for the sake of being there. Ms. Justiss has a wonderful talent to make her characters come alive, and you care about what happens to them. This was the first novel by her I had ever read, and because of it I own just about her entire back list. If you haven't heard of this author or read this story, I highly recommend you give this one a read. You will enjoy it!
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You can learn more about this author and view a complete book list on her website at http://www.juliajustiss.com/

Happy Reading!


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