Review & Tour: A Duke Changes Everything by Christy Carlyle

Title: A Duke Changes Everything
Series: The Duke’s Den #1
Author: Christy Carlyle
Genre: Victorian Romance
Release Date: November 27, 2018
Length: 384 Pages
Format: Digital/Paperback

In the first novel in Christy Carlyle’s sizzling Duke’s Den series, three men, intent on making a fortune, discover irresistible opportunities . . .

Nicholas Lyon gambled his way into a fortune and ownership of the most opulent, notorious gentlemen’s club in England. But when Nick’s cruel brother dies, he inherits a title he never wanted. The sooner Nick is rid of the estate that has always haunted him, the sooner he can return to the life he’s built in London. But there’s one obstacle—the exquisite Thomasina Thorne.

When the new heir to the Tremayne dukedom suddenly appears in Mina Thorne’s life, she’s flustered. Not only is he breathtakingly handsome, but he’s also determined to take away her home and position as steward of the Enderley estate. If Mina learns what makes the enigmatic duke tick, perhaps she can change his mind—as long as she doesn’t get too close to him.

With each day Nick spends with Mina, his resolve weakens as their colliding wills lead to explosive desire. Could she be the one woman who can help him finally bury the ghosts of his past?

Find out more at: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

---

“Your sleep was troubled?” she asked softly.

“It always is.”

“I heard you call out. I thought you said my name.” Mina swallowed hard after the admission. She’d probably misheard him, but some rationale felt necessary to explain her presence in his room.

“Did I? Perhaps you’re haunting me in my sleep.” He did that thing with his thumb again, a seductive slide against her skin. His touch rippled out to spark goose bumps along her arm and heat between her thighs.

“You don’t remember your dreams?” she asked, her voice trembling like her insides.

“I try not to.”

“What troubles you?”

“Everything.” He let out a low chuckle, like the rusty creak of a door hinge. Lowering his chin, he assessed her. “Especially you.”

“I never intended to.” She pulled her hand from the duke’s, ignoring the shiver that spiked up her spine from the friction of his skin sliding against hers. “I’ll leave you so that you can get back to sleep.”

“Mina, wait.” He reached out, caught the edge of her arm, and a few strands of unpinned hair tangled between his fingers. “There’s something I must say before you go.”

She moved closer. He was utter temptation, all blazing heat and forest scents, and she felt an odd comfort being near him. She knew she should be scandalized. To be alone with him, a duke of the realm. A gambling club owner. Especially while he wore nothing but trousers and a half-buttoned shirt.

Fueled by Pacific Northwest coffee and inspired by multiple viewings of every British costume drama she can get her hands on, USA Today bestselling author Christy Carlyle writes sensual historical romance set in the Victorian era. She loves heroes who struggle against all odds and heroines who are ahead of their time. A former teacher with a degree in history, she finds there's nothing better than being able to combine her love of the past with a die-hard belief in happy endings.

You can also visit her online at the following places: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**

This was a great weekend read!

When Nick is forced to take on the dukedom he never wanted, the last thing he expected to find was a woman in charge of the estate. Not just any woman--one that doesn't run away screaming from the sight of him. And she might be tempting enough to make him want to give up his gaming hell, the only thing of importance in his life, to spend his days in the country instead. She's ruining his plans, but he's finding it hard to care anymore.

Historical romances are sort of unique in that a lot of stories sound similar to one another if you read their blurbs. I mean, there are only so many ways that a duke can come into power. A popular plot theme is when the casted out second son suddenly receives a title on the death of his older brother. That's the way this story begins. And you may think you've read that plot somewhere before. Because you have. But that doesn't mean this isn't a worthwhile book.

For me, the key to a good story is not necessarily originality. I do tend to dislike seeing the exact same 'formula' used, mostly in contemporary romance. However, I've read a lot of books that follow the same story progression as all of the others and yet still touch me on an emotional level. Even if I've seen this plot theme before, I crave likable characters I can connect with and a way of storytelling that pulls me in. This story has both of those, in spades.

The couple were interesting, separately and together. Nick's history was tragic and I could understand why his temperament would be soured after that. And while he was a brute in many ways, I appreciate the fact that he didn't run over the heroine or mistreat her just to show how tough he was. His demons made me sympathize with him and not loathe him for being a grump. I think that's the best way to write a 'bad boy' character. No wonder he was irresistible to Mina. He was to me too.

As for the story, it flows really well and there wasn't a single boring moment, even when the couple were doing mundane things. I read the whole book in a single evening. It was easy to dive into the story and root for these two lonely people to come together. The ending was wrapped up nicely, yet I still could have read another five chapters of this couple doing practically anything. 

In closing... 

Another 5-star read from Ms. Carlyle!

Review: Raging Rival Hearts by Olivia Wildenstein

Title: Raging Rival Hearts
Author: Olivia Wildenstein
Genre/Age: Paranormal Romance/NA
Series: The Lost Clan (Book Four)
Publisher: Self-published
Format: ebook via Author
Rating: ✺✺✺✺✺
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: Raging Rival Hearts is a spinoff told from Lily's point of view.

I WAS A PRINCESS. I WAS ENGAGED. I WAS ALMOST IMMORTAL. 

Breaking my engagement to the man I had loved my entire life was a dangerous move, one that got me expelled from the faerie isle. I’d known the risks, though. I’d known that if Cruz, Cat or my brother didn’t find a way to get me home, the fire in my veins would dwindle until it was gone, and with it my life.

Months slid by, and still nothing. With mere weeks left to live, I set out on a last adventure: discover if more Daneelies had survived the massacre, the same way Catori’s ancestor had. Although I’d decided to go alone, Kajika insisted on accompanying me. 

I wanted to believe he was coming because he liked me. But I was still the enemy…the mute girl whom he could hear speak when no one else could…the one person who could track him when he didn’t want to be found. 

Perfect for fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Vampire Diaries.

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**

A faerie princess finds love in the most unexpected of places...

Lily may be a celebrity, but she's certainly not normal. She's a mute faerie who is locked out of her mystical world, stuck in the human realm with only weeks to live. And the only person who may understand her is the man reading her thoughts. Literally. A faerie hunter who is a natural rival and doesn't seem to like her. But with her end nearing, she takes matters into her own weakening hands. If she can't save the people she loves, she'll die trying. Or maybe she will find a new reason to live.

Even though I loved the third book of the series, this one is likely my favorite. I have had a love and hate relationship with Kajika for the entire series and didn't like him for Cat. But I did enjoy seeing him paired with Lily. I have to say, it was a pairing I did not foresee, in any way. When Lily marked him--and I'm still not sure I entirely understand why she did--I realized that their coupling made a lot of sense. So I was 100% on board when I started the book.

And it was a nice surprise. From the beginning, it had a different feel to it than the previous books, as told by Cat's point-of-view. I found Lily's mind to be lighter and more carefree than Cat's, so seeing into her head was a more pleasant read. Also, the story itself was filled with twists and turns to keep me guessing, but it did not have the same amount of emotional turmoil that Cat's books did. There were some darker moments, for sure, yet the whole book just felt easier to follow.

As for the romance between the pair, it was a slow burn that I thoroughly enjoyed. Their road trip together gave them time to bond and it was cute to watch. I was a little disappointed not to get at least one good love scene between the pair, as we got with Cat and Ace. The moment happened, but we just didn't get to see it. And since this book, like the others, were more New Adult, I was hoping to see the romance kicked up a notch. However, it's fairly clean, for those who don't mind a lack of naughty time.

In closing...

I'm curious as to what the final book of the series will be about and if we'll get to check in with our previous couples along the way. Five suns!

Review: The Vixen by Christi Caldwell

Title: The Vixen
Author: Christi Caldwell
Genre/Age: Historical Romance/Adult
Series: Wicked Wallflowers (Book Two)
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Format: ebook via NetGalley
Rating: ✺✺✺✺✺
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell pits a fiercely independent beauty against a devilish investigator.

Set apart by her ethereal beauty and fearless demeanor, Ophelia Killoran has always been a mystery to those around her—and a woman they underestimated. No one would guess that she spends her nights protecting the street urchins of St. Giles. Ophelia knows what horrors these children face. As a young girl, she faced those horrors herself, and she would have died…if not for the orphan boy who saved her life.

A notorious investigator, Connor Steele never expected to encounter Ophelia Killoran on his latest case. It has been years since he sacrificed himself for her. Now, she hires orphans from the street to work in her brother's gaming hell. But where does she find the children…and what are her intentions?

Ophelia and Connor are at odds. After all, Connor now serves the nobility, and that is a class of people Ophelia knows firsthand not to trust. But if they can set aside their misgivings and work together, they may discover that their purposes—and their hearts—are perfectly aligned.

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**

When everyone you know may be your enemy...

Ophelia hates the snobby elite society. And she has every reason to, after her dealings with the arrogant men who took advantage of her in the past. Yet, she has found herself thrust into their world as her brother expects her to make a match with a wealthy and influential gentleman. However, Ophelia finds herself drawn to someone considered much worse... and investigator.

Connor may have been adopted by a titled man, but he was once a boy in the streets. So it's easier for him to connect with Ophelia and their shared history. Unfortunately, no one else in their lives is happy about their budding relationship. And people on both sides are willing to do terrible things to keep the couple apart. Their path to happiness is riddled with secrets, lies, and possibly the hangman's noose.

I have to say, I was lukewarm toward Connor for the first half of the book. He wasn't standing out very much to me and I'm not entirely sure why. He seems like a nice guy, passionate about his intentions to help the unfortunate. And he had good chemistry with our heroine. But he was still sort of 'meh' until the last quarter of the book. This was looking to be more of a 4-star book for a while.

But when the big twist happens and our hero is forced to stand up to his father and the other lords, I was pleasantly surprised to see this mild-tempered gentleman lose his cool and turn into a total bada$$. I literally cheered aloud, and my opinion of Connor skyrocketed. He earned that last star from me.

Our heroine was similar to Cleo from the first book of this series, in that she hated the circumstances she found herself in. I think that I preferred Cleo's story in some ways and Ophelia's in others. Both women were feisty and outspoken. Ophelia's history was much more painful and sometimes that was hard to read, but that made it easier to sympathize with her. The last part of the book was suspenseful and emotional. I finished the story with a smile, which is always good.

In closing...

With the way this book ended, I'm not sure if the third sister will get a chance to make a match. But I'm curious to see where the series goes from here. Five suns!

Review: Friends with Benefits by Hazel Kelly

Title: Friends with Benefits
Author: Hazel Kelly
Genre/Age: Contemporary Romance/NA
Series: Beta Brothers (Book Two)
Publisher: Self-published
Format: ebook via Author
Rating: ✺✺✺✺✺
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: We were only supposed to be friends with benefits. 

We even made rules. 

So things wouldn't get complicated. 

So no one would get hurt. 

But somewhere along the way, feelings got involved... 

I should've known better, but he got me. Had me. 

Besides, I always was lousy at relationships. 

I just never cared before. 

Not until him, anyway. 

Not until Carter. 

**This is a full-length, standalone romance novel with no cliffhanger, no cheating, and a satisfying HEA. 

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**

I love a book that leaves me smiling!

Nina doesn't do relationships anymore. Not since the last three guys she dated all cheated on her and left her with a broken heart. But now she's lonely and hoping to find a 'friends with benefits' situation to warm the cold nights and leave her heart whole. Unfortunately, she may have chosen the only guy on campus who doesn't want to settle for just sex. Carter may have thought their one time fling would be enough, but he soon realizes he can't just be friends with Nina. And he really wants the benefits. But permanently.

This is the second book of a new series and it's vastly different from the first. In the previous book, we met Logan and Zoey, whose relationship was mostly a forbidden one. There was a lot of angst there and the romance was slow to burn. Here, it's almost the complete opposite tone of story. The sexy time starts early and the fire burns heavy throughout the entire book. I can't say which I prefer because both methods of storytelling appeal to me.

As for the characters, I may have enjoyed this couple a bit more, simply because of their humor. I don't mind a book with more intense emotion, such as book #1 in the series. However, this one had a tad lighter feel to it. The interesting thing to me was that the 'rules' of the relationship were given by the heroine and not the hero. It was the girl who shied away from a serious relationship in this book, which I have to say is pretty rare to find. It's usually the other way around, so that was a nice change of pace.

And we do get to see the prior couple in this book too. So if you're curious as to how Logan and Zoey are faring, they are shown several times in the story. The conflict was understandable, even though I did want to strangle the hero when it happened. I know why he did what he did, but I still wanted to choke him out. The problem Carter has with his overbearing father isn't really explored much in the book, which I sort of wanted to see resolved. But the ending was sweet and left me grinning. That's proof of a good book for me.

In closing...

Orange Reeses--read this book! Five suns and I can't wait for the next one!

Review: Darak by Cara Bristol

Title: Darak
Author: Cara Bristol
Genre/Age: Sci-Fi Romance/Adult
Series: Dakonian Alien Mail Order Brides
Publisher: Self-published
Format: ebook via Author
Rating: ✺✺✺✺✺
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: Revenge is best served sweet with a hot, horned alien 

Free-spirited pastry chef Lexi Sutterman has discovered that true love is pie in the sky. The only thing more difficult than finding an Earth man willing to commit is pleasing her wealthy, hypercritical family who view her as a failure. So she’s given up on both, focusing her energy on her new bakery. Now that her uber successful little sister manages to nab a well-heeled fiancé, Lexi fights back by joining the Intergalactic Dating Agency. She plans to bring a huge, purple, tentacled alien as her plus-one to the wedding. 

Darak of planet Dakon isn't purple or tentacled—he’s just seven feet of horned alien hotness. To get a woman on his world, a guy has to literally win the lottery. Tired of waiting for the Fates to send him a female, he joins the dating service to meet a nice Earth girl to call his own. He recognizes Lexi as his true mate, but realizes convincing her they’re meant to be together forever and not just a weekend will be no cake walk. 

But when a sweet-tart pastry chef and a horned alien hottie fall in love, everyone might get their just desserts… 

* * * * 
DARAK: Dakonian Alien Mail Order Brides is a new science fiction romance series and a spin-off from the author’s Alien Mate series. In the Alien Mate books, Earth women travel to planet Dakon to become the mail order brides of aliens. 
In the Dakonian Alien Mail Order Brides series, the aliens get tired of waiting for their ship bringing women to come in, so they join the Intergalactic Dating Agency and go to Earth.

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**

Find an alien date to shock your snooty parents? Check. Fall in love with said alien? Wait, what?

When Lexi came up with a scheme to annoy her up-tight mother, she had no idea what she was really getting into. Because the alien she was matched with isn't like a human man. Darak recognizes her as his mate and he isn't looking for a fun fling. He's playing for keeps. But even if Lexi does decide to take their relationship seriously, their future depends on whether they can survive being an odd couple in a judgmental family.

This was a short and pleasant read. I loved both characters, immediately. I also appreciated the fact that Lexi took Darak's feelings into consideration when she realized how serious he was about finding his mate. This made me respect her more. And it was nice to see the alien react to the human world, since we've gotten to see the opposite in the other series. The romance was sweet with a dash of spice and there was a bit of suspense tossed in too.

In closing...

I can't wait to see how the next alien finds his mate. Five suns!

Review: Alien Intention by Cara Bristol

Title: Alien Intention
Author: Cara Bristol
Genre/Age: Sci-Fi Romance/Adult
Series: Alien Mate (Book Three)
Publisher: Self-published
Format: ebook via Author
Rating: ✺✺✺✺✺
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis: Our attraction unleashes a perfect storm…

I’m Stormy Weathers. My love life on Earth is one natural disaster after the other. I’m attracted to bad boys, rebels, commitment-phobes. In a crowd of choirboys, I’ll manage to find the jerk. All I want is a man who’ll love me and my young son, so I’m going to an icy planet to become an alien’s mail order bride. This time will be different! The chemistry I feel with Romando is electric. It doesn’t matter what my sister or her mate or their tribe says, mutual attraction this strong can’t be wrong, so I’ll do anything to get him…

I’m Romando, an outcast in my own tribe. One rash, angry act turned me into a pariah and almost got me banished. But, what everyone resents the most is that I’m one of the lucky few who’ll be getting a mate. The instant Stormy Weathers blows into Dakon with the other Earth females, my horns tingle. She is meant for me, but I resist the instinct to claim her. You see, she’s related to my nemesis responsible for my outcast state. Honor and pride dictate that I reject her as a suitable mate. If only I could get her out of my mind…

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**

It's falling in love with the bad boy--alien edition!

Romando is an outcast, but it's only partially his fault. When his ticket to find a mate was stolen by another, he may have gone a little overboard with his scheme to kidnap the woman to make the cheating tribesman suffer for his deceit. Romando never hurt the woman and he's doing his best to make amends. But he's still shunned by everyone in his tribe. His new chit to find a bride is the only chance he has for happiness and he isn't about to ruin that for the sister of the woman he kidnapped. Even if she does set his blood on fire.

It doesn't take Stormy long to decide which of the hot alien men she wants. It's the one brooding in the back, who made her body tingle with just a single look. And even her sister's warnings to stay away from Romando fall on deaf ears. He's the only man she could see herself mating with and he's the one she wants to help her raise her human son. But even the chemistry between the couple may not be enough when it seems like everyone else on the planet is trying to break them apart.

When I learned that Romando was our next hero, I can't lie, I was a little worried. He was essentially a villain in the previous book and so he didn't necessarily leave a good first impression. Rooting for him to find his happily ever after was something I wasn't sure I could do. Yet, from the first chapter in his point-of-view, I was intrigued by his character and I honestly did want him to succeed in getting his mate.

But there were a lot of challenges faced by this couple. Even more than I was anticipating. I was ready to give them their happy ending at the 50% mark, but there were twists still to come and I was kept on my toes for most of the book. This series doesn't shy away from conflict, I've noticed. Here, we have trouble coming at our pair from all sides. It seems like everyone is against their mating. Except me. I was surprisingly on board from the get-go.

And even though we sort of knew the heroine from the previous book, we see that she is entirely different from her sister and there was certainly no repetition here. The women may all arrive the same way, but their stories are vastly different and you never know where the next one will go. We even get a glimpse into not one--but two--villain characters' heads. I don't know if I could forgive them as easily as I did Romando, though. But if there is an author who can convince me to fall in love with a hated character, it's this one.

In closing...

Five suns! And I am really looking forward to the new spin-off series, where the script is flipped and it's male aliens who are traveling space to find their mates. Sounds fun!