Christina Dodd - Storm of Shadows

When the world was young, twins were born. One brought light to a dark world; the other, darkness and danger. They gathered others around them, men and women destined to use their powerful gifts for good or evil. Today, their descendants walk the earth as the Chosen, and the ultimate battle has begun.
Brilliant but proper and predictable, Rosamund Hill has lived her life buried in universities and libraries, discounting the legend of the Chosen as a myth. Until Aaron Eagle shows up at her door. Aaron both unsettles and enthralls her. But she can't resist his offers of clandestine visits to private museums, the hunt for a mysterious prophecy. or a makeover that unleashes her untamed soul. With the promise of a love that will defy fate itself, Rosamund is forced to confront the truth about the Chosen...and the dangerous man who sweeps her into a world of dark secrets.
  

Comment: Tis was the last book by this author I had yet to read. It's the second book in the series Chosen Ones, about a group pf people with special abilities trying to defeat an enemy.

This is the story of Aaron and Rosamund, they join forces to look for a prophecy related to the Chosen Ones and their destiny and that will take them to several places around the world.

Aaron is a Chosen One and he prefers to be alone. When he meets Rosamund he only sees a distracted researcher but after spending more and more time with her he starts seeing her for who she is and underneath a plain face is a stunning person.

Rosamund isn't the most outgoing woman, she prefers her research, her work and she doesn't know how appealing she looks to others, but Aaron is different and she wants him to see her as a woman and not only someone who can help him.

I've read the fist book in this series a long time ago, I don't even remember when. I also didn't remember much about the first book or the concept of the series. But once I started reading some things came to mind, although there was more I didn't remember than what I did.

This second book gives some clues about what happened which can be a good thing for random readers like me. I didn't feel the information given was too much or badly done, so in that alone the book could be a winner.

The story developed well, in my opinion. There was a slow pace that suited the things happening and nothing happened in a confusing or  stupid way, it made the sense how each step was taken and how the characters would go from one point to the other.

I liked the main characters and how they reacted to each other. I felt this book was successful in creating the right amount of sexual tension before they had sex, which makes the story feel bigger, like more time has passed since the couple first met until they become intimate.

Aaron was brooding but I liked his personality, he is clearly an alpha type but he had a good relationship with the other male members of the team and he wasn't overbearing although his tendency to be possessive appeared when he realized he cared for Rosamund. But this was to be expected. 

Rosamund was my favorite character. She is shy, distracted and doesn't pay much attention to herself or to the beauty of others, she is more focused on things, objects and papers. She starts feeling attracted to Aaron but she doesn't think he might reciprocate so she doesn't act silly or in a way opposite her personality. And this was my favorite thing ever in this book. She likes the guy, she knows he might not feel the same and she deals with it like any sane woman would, and doesn't attack him or falls like a moron to his feet in a puddle of need but shows she likes him too when the chance arises for them to act. What I mean is, she thinks, she acts more like a normal person instead of a stupid needy, woman. I loved to read a book where the heroine is shy, not the most beautiful person in the world and she doesn't change her way of being just because a handsome guy is around. Yay.

This said, it's obvious I enjoyed the book. The story ended in a positive way, they got their HEA and plans to keep their work as a team. the secondary characters played an important role and I liked how they all participated in the book.

I don't know if I'll read the rest of the series. I don't have the following books and I have other priorities right now. Perhaps one day I'll get back to it. At this point I don't think so, but this book was, indeed, an enjoyable one and well developed for me.

Christina Dodd - In Bed With the Duke

Demure lady's companion Emma Chegwidden never defies society’s rules. Until the night she runs straight into the arms of the mysterious and menacing Reaper . . . a man who rides the night-shadowed countryside and conceals his identity behind a mask. His goal is justice . . . or is it vengeance? Only one thing is certain: nothing will stop him from his dark purpose.
Michael Durant, long-lost heir to the duke of Nevitt, has a score to settle. Cynical, dangerous and ruthless, Michael is the last man on earth that sensible Emma should defy. But some challenges are too tempting to resist . . . and some passions too fierce to ignore. Soon Michael discovers in Emma the woman he has always longed for . . . a woman whose beauty and courage reach through to his tortured soul . . . and he will defy anything, even fate itself, to claim her . . .

Comment: The last book I've had in this series. I haven't got the last one yet and I'm not sure if I will so soon.

The thing is, I liked all the books, two or three much more than the others, but this one...I didn't. I read it, yay, but it wasn't that amazing and frankly, I was in a rush to just get it over with.

This is the story of Michael Durant, the older brother of Jude, whom we've known from the previous book.

Michael has been arrested and a prisoner in Moricardia, the kingdom/country? ruled by the tyrannical prince Sandre.

Michael, however, seems to have accepted his fate and despite longing for home, keep being mocked by others for his lack of spine and his nonexistent attempts to return to England.

Emma is a governess helping an older widow who's hunting for a husband.Because of an accident, she's fired and later the masked ghost who's been bringing hope to the population helps her. The ghost is said to be the country's previous deceased king,hoping to return things to peace and prosperity. Emma sees herself in the middle of political problems but she proves to be a great help by spying for him while being courted by prince Sandre, who wants a bride no one would care about, for Emma is alone in the world.

The story is interesting, full of intrigue, but I thought Michael would be rescued and most of the story would focus on his return to England and how he would deal with his past, but no...all the book took place in Moricardia and was focused on the fight against prince Sandre and his guards.

I have to confess I was bored and wanted to get to the end soon. I am aware the problem I had with this book is mostly misplaced expectations, but I really wanted to see a book set in England with, possibly, scenes with the previous characters and even situations that would follow the convention of England's society. The fact the plot was only happening in Moricardia, and most things were about the evil plans of prince Sandre...boring and really not what I wanted.

The romance was daring and interesting but at some point I stopped liking Emma, although she did everything in her power to help the ones in need and the good ones. Still, something in her change from a submissive maid to a brave fighter stopped being convincing and lost me somewhere.

I don't have much more to say...I was hoping for something and got another, but the story didn't enthrall me that much that would force me to change my opinion, even when I realized things wouldn't go the way I thought.

I feel bad for not enjoying but the story didn't stir me that much, what a shame.

Christina Dodd - My Fair Temptress

Miss Caroline Ritter, accomplished flirt, acknowledged beauty, and ruined gentlewoman, offers lessons to any rich, noble lord too inept to attract a wife. Discard your silly affectations and your garish clothing! Learn the art of witty conversation, elegant dancing, equestrian feats and irresistible seduction at the opera! With Miss Ritter's help, you can become the most sought-after aristocrat at the ball!
Send your request to the Distinguished Academy of Governesses.
Please, absolutely no devastatingly attractive men with hidden agendas, such as secret missions or vengeful plots against evil villains--specifically not Jude Durant, the earl of Huntington, the most handsome, the most covert, the most dangerous of all the aristocrats in Regency London.

Comment: Another book by this author.
Just a little note... Who comes here must bear in mind I read very randomly and try to not read the same author continuously...first because it suits the way I write in the blog and second, it doesn't bore me...unless an author writes something so amazing I just can't help myself I usually read a book a month by a certain author. I also have so many older books in my TBR list, don't always read recent books so I guess for some it might be boring to come here, but I think all books are worthy mentioning and I love to see how eclectic I am.

Ok, back to this book.This is the story of Caroline, she is a young lady who liked to flirt. That put her in an awful position when she was seduced and put aside by a married man. With her innocence intact but her reputation ruined, her father threw her out and she has been working since then, something no respectable lady should get into, but she does in order to support her and to get money to take her sister with her to France, where their maternal grandparents live. Then comes the offer from a duke to help his son become a flirt to find a wife and the promise of a huge amount of money if she can do it. Caroline jumps into action with the hope this might be the solution to her problems.
Jude is the duke's son and he is a spy. He's disguising as a silly man, only worried about fashion since his stay in France in order to catch the men who murdered his older brother. Since the two bad guys got themselves among the ton, it's Jude's job to deceive them but to do so, he must deceive everyone else. He didn't count on Caroline and her beauty to distract him and even knowing it's not the best time he decides to ruin his father's plans and make Caroline a respected lady once more..but didn't imagine he might fall in love with her too.

I really liked the story, like I said once, the author writes good historicals, in my opinion a much better job than in any paranormal she attempted, but still.
I like watching Caroline and Judd fall in love, I liked the game they played and how it came the time it was too late to ignore how they felt for each other. I liked how each one stood for the other even when others would cast a stone at the other for whatever reason, it was sweet.
In the end the story takes some predictable turns but it didn't ruin me the delight of reading about them and their love. I also liked some secondary characters because they were much more interesting and good than what I thought. I was surprised and liked it.
The book was very easy to read and it was a pleasure to turn each page. I can't wait to read the next one, which I know has a connection to this one in terms of plot.

Christina Dodd - My Favorite Bride

When Miss Samantha Prendregast arrives at Devil's Fell to take charge of six rebellious girls, the vibrant, outspoken governess is not quite prepared to deal with the tall, dark and dashing master of the grand estate. The children she can manage with intelligence, guile...and a little bribery. Their widowed father, Colonel William Gregory, is not so easily charmed-and far too easy to fall in love with, which she dares not do.
William always cherished the orderliness of his life, until this captivating troublemaker began flouting his authority and distracting him with her witty defiance and breathtaking beauty. Despite the fact that they clash at every meeting, William finds himself inexplicably drawn to Samantha's fire. And now he's even contemplating marriage, which would be sweet madness indeed.
But before he can successfully woo her, William must discover what it is that Samantha is hiding from him. But the secret the lady is preciously guarding is far too shocking and dangerous to ever reveal...

Comment: Some years ago, two or three, I've started reading this author's Governess series. I've stopped because I was enjoying them enough that I didn't want to finish them all at once. They weren't the best thing I've had read but they were so entertaining and interesting that I was seduced. In fact, after trying all the author's genres, I have to say historicals is the one I prefer and the one I think she is most successful at. But that's me.

This is the sixth story in the series and I liked it a lot. Samantha is a governess with a shady past. Her childhood was poor and her mother died soon so she was left with her father that treated in such a way it brought tears to my eyes. I didn't cry but I felt like it. Anyway, she became a known pickpocket but was rescued by her employer and since then her life turned better...but she speaks her mind and that got her in trouble where she worked because she couldn't stand seeing injustices. The owner of the governess agency decides to send her to the country after Samantha's latest trouble, and she's to become the governess of 6 children, all of them motherless. Their father was in the military and rules the house like a ship but of course this is a romance and with children's pranks and a handsome boss, what could be more natural than for Samantha to fall for them all?

This sounds familiar, isn't it? Yep, the moment I read the blurb the first thing that came to my mind was "Sound of Music". Lol. Obviously there are several differences, but it's interesting the inspiration. The same thing happened to some of her other novels in the series, which were so similar to movies.
Well, the story starts when Samantha arrives where she's supposed to be but no one is expecting her so she tries to walk but it's almost robbed.
The thing is, her new boss wants to catch spies that cross his land and in particular a couple that trades secrets and the betrays the country. He also wants a new wife because his children need a mother, so he arranges for a party where he can lure the couple and see if the woman he has in mind to propose to could manage the task. However, he wasn't counting on being attracted to Samantha, who still can't really hold her tongue or be submissive.
The sparks flew between them because they argued and it was fun to watch. I think the romance part of all this was very good, there's also a sub plot with another couple having a romance, I liked it. And when the main couple finally became intimate it was both sweet and romantic. I really liked it, I think, of all the books in the series, this one is now my favorite. The bad guys are caught, of course and all ends well. But this we knew from the start that would happen, but the way things progresses until then was very amusing and entertaining to follow.
There were interesting situations and some scenes, specially the one when Samantha explains why she's not married are quite stamped on my head because they made the story more rich somehow. You know, sometimes little details can make a whole book look better.
I really liked this one. I'm not so sure about the next one's blurb, but let's see..I'll be reading it next month.