Author's last name starts with L

The Pursuits of Lord Cavanaugh by Stephanie Laurens 

The Pursuits of Lord Cavanaugh by Stephanie Laurens is the second book in a new series about the Cavanaughs.   Lord Christopher “Kit” Cavanaugh has found a new path for himself.  No longer needing to spend so much time avoiding his mother’s mechanisms, he can move forward with what is important to him.  He has decided that moving to Bristol, where there are large numbers of artisans with the ability to build wooden ships, to work for Cavanaugh Yachts.  He is excited by the prospect and hopeful of finding his way. His first need to find a warehouse that meets his needs. That is when he finds her - Miss Sylvia Buckleberry.

Miss Sylvia Buckleberry has a passion for helping young boys get an education.  She has founded a school - in a warehouse that she can no longer use - because of Cavanaugh Yachts.  Kit helps Sylvia find a new and better place for her school and then becomes a patron of her school to help her.  Both Kit and Sylvia have always believed that marriage and a family are not their paths, but now they have found each other.

The Pursuits of Lord Cavanaugh is a different kind of historical fiction novel.  It moves slower and spends time with each of the main characters spends time (in their head) looking at the situations around them.  The novel does do serious heat - but at the end. There are so situations that lead to “mysteries”, but each one is resolved in a satisfactory way as the characters move forward. The Pursuits of Lord Cavanaugh is good read with its focus on characters and people moving forward.

Hard Sell by Lauren Layne

Hard Sell by Lauren Layne was just what I needed today.  A wonderful romance with characters with a past and a healthy distrust for marriage.  The setting of the story is glittering New York City with the rich and famous. It is in this setting we find Matt Canyon and Sabrina Cross. Two people who seem to either bicker constantly or are having mad sex.  However, Matt needs help and Sabrina is known as the ‘fixer’. Matt asks Sabrina to help him, save his job by posing as his girlfriend. She agrees with one exception - no sex - none….

Matt’s need for help is hard for him.  Sabrina helping him opens her eyes to what she really wants out of life, a love, a companion, something meaningful and long lasting.  Matt does not believe he will find love, he just wants to save his job by changing his reputation from a partier to a trustworthy money man.  To top it all off, the one person he has always wanted to be a money manager for shows up and throws everything in turmoil.

Hard Sell by Lauren Layne was a fun, quick, enjoyable read.  

Illusive by Nina Levine

Illusive is the latest book by Nina Levine.  Once again we are with the Storm MC.  Storm MC is going through some hard times with people all around them seeming to want to take them down. The club is fighting for its life. 

Griff’s life changed dramatically a few years ago, he found Storm MC and decided to make them his family.  He is the vice president of Storm and loyal to them.  However lately his “real” family has been calling about something from the past and it is an issue for him.  Griff does hang out with one of his aunts, who went directly into matchmaking mode when Sophia moved in across the street. 

Sophia is a self-contained person who does not do one night stands and does do her own thing.  She was raised in foster care and understands how hard it is to be alone. Together they sizzle and you cheer them on. 

A great MC read!!

How to Train Your Baron by Diana Lloyd

How To Train Your Baron by Diana Lloyd was a fun read!  As an historical romance you expect a certain amount of miscommunication between the two leads.  In this case, the miscommunication was present with a dry wit and a comedy of ‘accidents’.

Elsinore, the youngest daughter of a duke and his esteemed duchess is a young lady looking for adventure and being able to make her own decisions.  Unfortunately, her decisions lead to all types of accidents and mishaps that have led her parents to distraction over getting her married. The last straw for her parents was when Elsinore was found lying on top of a man, while alone with the same man in a room covered in wine, her dress askew giving him a kiss.  Elsinore was promptly set up to marry him. He is a Scottish Baron, Quin Graham, a man who was not ready to marry and had series trust issues with women. Together forced into wedlock, neither able to explain to the other truthfully how they feel, the story continues to twist with the addition of suspicious notes and happenings.  I loved how Elsinore took the information from a book on how to train your dog and tried to make that information into helping her to train and understand her Baron!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. How to Train Your Baron by Diana Lloyd was a fun read!

Lies by T. M. Logan

Lies by T. M Logan gave me the willies….seriously the willies.  From the first chapter to the last, I was held in it’s grip wondering how it could possibly end.  I worried about the main character and his family. I wondered at how easily he was slowly being herded by a maniac.  The social media aspect made the story extremely relevant to today and helped story’s power over the reader grow...and then the end happened.  OH MY…

Joe, a family man, the main caretaker of their young son, William sees his wife’s car someplace he was not expected and decides to meet her there and surprise her.  Only it is there, that the story takes its first turn and suddenly Joe is embroiled in a mystery. Ben is dead? Is gone? Is missing? And Joe is the prime everything.  Every step seems to make things worse as he tries to find his way… and the social media certainly plays a large role in this story.

I liked Joe a great deal as the main character.  I found him likable and trusting. Some of the other characters - not so much.  The story took my breath away a couple of times with the incidences, but I really wanted to know the truth and I needed to keep reading.  Lies by T.M. Logan was a good read.

Devil in Tartan by Julia London

Devil In Tartan by Julia London is the fourth book in the Highland Brides Series.  

Lottie Livingstone and her family are struggling to make ends meet. Her father has come up with another scheme to help make money.  He has distilled whiskey and wishes to sell it abroad (Denmark) since it is unlicensed. He convinces the only man who has a boat, load it with whiskey and sell it.  The problems with the situation are endless and it is Lottie who has to bear the burden after her father’s injury.

Aulay runs his ship for his family.  It is on the water that he feels the most free and capable in his family.  It is his ship that arrives to help and it is his ship that is taken over. It is his ship that is used to transport the whiskey.  Lottie and Aulay are smitten and then things get interesting.

I have liked all the the books in the Highland Groom Series by Julia London.  This particular one is not my favorite of all the books, but I did enjoy the story and the characters.  I liked how Lottie was willing to take the responsibility for her clan. I liked how the clan worked to support Lottie. The plot felt a bit contrived for me especially at the ending, despite that I did complete the book and found the ending satisfying. Devil in Tartan by Julia London was a interesting read with all the twists and turns.

Seduced by a Scot by Julia London

Seduced by a Scot by Julia London was a fun read while I spent time at the Highland Games in NH.  I enjoy Julia London’s books and found this one to be a different read with it’s unusual plot. I liked the twists and turns and I liked Maura Darby’s righteous anger.  This book is the sixth in a series called The Highland Groom Series.

Nicholas Bain is a fixer for people’s problems.  It seems he is able to negotiate and resolve sticky situations without most people being the wiser.  He is called in to solve a problem and realizes that the ward, Maura is being treated horribly by the family.  He has found a solution that will allow Maura security and her “family” to be rid of her. The only problem is that Maura is not on board with this solution, especially as she has done nothing wrong.  Nicholas has found a person for Maura to marry, but to add to the plot line, her new “groom to be” has a problem as well. The twisted plot and underlying motivations did not make me like many of the secondary characters at all and I wanted Maura to get her HEA.

While Seduced by a Scot was not my favorite of Julia London’s  books, I did appreciate the different story line and all the twists.  The ugliness of people and their choices was a clear message in this storyline.  Seduced by a Scot by Julia London was a good read.

Tempting the Laird by Julia London

Tempting the Laird by Julia London is the fifth book in the Highland Grooms.  Julia London’s books about the Highlands and the the people of the Highlands, while being historical fiction allow the reader to enjoy the ruggedness of the land and the people.  This set of novels take place after the rebellion so there is still the distrust between different people.

Catriona is not a traditional highland lass.  She is determined to take care of a collection of woman and children who are without a home and a nowhere to go. Her family worries that she is not married and has not found love. She wants a husband and a family but the opportunity has not presented itself.  She is bold and brass. Her family sent her to visit her uncle. While visiting her uncle she meets Hamlin Graham, Duke of Montrose.

Hamlin Graham, Duke of Montrose is a duke under suspicion.  His wife - muched loved by the people - is gone. He has not told anyone what happened, but most people consider he has killed her.  Cat does not believe the gossip and works to find the truth. As we know, not everything is a clear as one would hope. Catriona and Hamlin...is it even possible.

Tempting the Laird by Julia London was a good read.  

Lady Derring Takes a Lover by Julie Anne Long

Lady Derring Takes a Lover by Julie Anne Long is an historical romance novel with a twist.  When Lord Derring dies suddenly, Delilah, Lady Derring discovers that everything is mortgaged to the hilt.  She is left without a home, money and pushed out into the world, but her husband left her one building, down by the docks for some unknown reason.  When she confronts the lawyer, she meets his mistress who also is left without a thing. Together they decided to take on the world and work together.  

Captain Tristan Hardy is in charge of a group dedicated to stopping smuggling.  He is determined to stomp out the group who are secreting cigars into the country and have them punished.  Too bad, Lady Derring is somehow involved. He will need to stay close and figure out how everyone is involved. It is also too bad that he is falling for Delilah and she for him.

Lady Derring Takes a Lover by Julie Anne Long is the first book in a series called “The Palace of Rogues”.  I suspect some of the interesting characters we have met will continue to populate the book along with other new characters that are equally as interesting.  Lady Derring Takes a Lover is an fun, historical romance.

It Started With a Scandal by Julie Anne Long

It Started With a Scandal by Julie Anne Long was located at the library on a shelf of RITA books.  I was happy to read the story, happy to know it was considered a good read and even happier to find it was.  

Elise Fountain trusted the wrong man and became pregnant without being married.  In her society, a horrid situation.  She was sent away in disgrace and had to find a position to work and keep her son safe.  From there she was let go again because of the old scandal and left with no place to go except for a house keepers position with a very unhappy man.  Lord Philippe Lavay was not an easy man.  He seemed to have moments of rage where he would throw things.  Elise started and found Lord Lavay a hard man to work for, but more so the staff was taking advantage of him.  She had her work cut out for her.  Hopefully, she could find a way to balance everything and keep her son safe.

It Started With a Scandal by Julie Anne Long was a good read.

Iron Will:  Ironwood Chapter by Daphne Loveling

Daphne Loveling has a new MC romance series called  Lords of Carnage: Ironwood Chapter. The first book is called Iron Will and introduces Rourke Powers - a Vice President - of the Ironwood Chapter.  He is visiting in the hospital when he stops an incident from occurring and meets Delaney Hart. She is the hospital’s social worker and is both appalled and fascinated by Rourke. Rourke continues to find reasons to see Delaney and eventually she agrees to go out with him.

The novel also introduces us to the rest of the Ironwood Chapter and their struggles as a MC.  This introduction opens us up to further books and intrigue that comes from this MC. Iron Will was a good read from Daphne Loveling and I look forward to reading more of this series.  

Dirty Santa:  A Holiday MC Romance by Daphne Loveling

Dirty Santa:  A Holiday MC Romance by Daphne Loveling was a quick hot read. Bailey Shaw, newly divorced and single mom found herself staring out the window at the hot man next door, who notices.  What a great start to a short novella! Add in that it is Christmas Eve and a washer that starts spewing water all over the floor. Bailey needs help and asks Gage if he can help. Gage was able to help and so the story morphs into heat! Dirty Santa by Daphne Loveling was a fun read.  

Hale (Lord of Carnage #8) by Daphne Loveling

Hale (Lord of Carnage #8) is by Daphne Loveling.  She has written a series of book about a MC called the Lord of Carnage.  Her MC is a club that participates in illegal activities and is considered a one percenter.  This is her eighth novel about the main charter club. As there are many members of the club unmarried and now there is the Ironwood chapter, I look forward to more books in this series.  

Hale is sent down to another chapter to help set up a new route to help ease the flow of illegal weapons.  What is not known to many of the brothers is that this is where Hale spent many years. Also in the other chapter is Mal, his cousin, with some bad blood between them.  What he didn’t expect to see is Kylie, a girl from the past. Kylie was someone he lusted after but never touched as she was his best friend’s girlfriend. It seems that past event occurred that made Hale angry at her, while still lusting after her.

Kylie desperate for cash to help her ailing father agrees to be a mule delivering drugs from one location to another.  Of course we start out with Hale and Kylie growling and snapping at each other. Kylie and Hale has a lot to overcome and Hale isn’t sure it how he feels about what is happening. 

This was another fun read in the series and I look forward to reading many more from this author. I am hoping for a story about Mal or Tank next.  Hale (Lord of Carnage #8) is by Daphne Loveling was a good read.

Angel by Daphne Loveling

Is it bad to start a book review by stating I have been waiting for Angel’s story? Angel is the President of the Lords of Carnage MC. He is a leader others follow and will do what is necessary for his club. Daphne Loveling has finally written a book about him, her seventh book, called Angel.   

The club has been fighting for their land, mission and how to become more legitimate. A number of brothers have found their Old Ladies and yet Angel is good the way he is.  It does worry him that he thinks of Jewel too often, but she is like the club’s Old Lady, their bartender and someone who deserves respect.

Jewel has struggled throughout her life. She finally has found a steady job and some security, when her younger brother is dumped on her.  He is angry and non-communicative. He hangs around, bring scummy friends into her apartment. She feels he isn’t even trying, but she is not one to drop her concerns to others, until it is almost too late.

I am glad Angel found Jewel.  Now he just needs to get his head straight, because she is perfect for him. Angel is another great MC read by Daphne Loveling!