Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt is $1.99! This is the sixth book in Hoyt's Maiden Lane series and is currently nominated for a RITA® in the Historical Romance category. Readers seem torn on whether Duke of Midnight has the best heroine or the best hero so far in the series. We've also had some favorable guest reviews. It also has a 4.1-star rating on GR. For the RITA® Reader Challenge, Pam G. gave it an A+:
Duke of Midnight is far more than an excellent offering in the Maiden Lane series. It is a beautifully crafted, gripping read in its own right, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys an historical novel that transports the reader fully to a place and time where powerful and passionate characters flourish in an atmosphere of swashbuckling derring-do.
WHEN A MASKED MAN . . .
Twenty years ago Maximus Batten witnessed the brutal murders of his parents. Now the autocratic Duke of Wakefield, he spends his days ruling Parliament. But by night, disguised as the Ghost of St. Giles, he prowls the grim alleys of St. Giles, ever on the hunt for the murderer. One night he finds a fiery woman who meets him toe-to-toe—and won't back down . . .
MEETS HIS MATCH . . .
Artemis Greaves toils as a lady's companion, but hiding beneath the plain brown serge of her dress is the heart of a huntress. When the Ghost of St. Giles rescues her from footpads, she recognizes a kindred spirit-and is intrigued. She's even more intrigued when she realizes who exactly the notorious Ghost is by day . . .
DESIRE IGNITES A DANGEROUS PASSION
Artemis makes a bold move: she demands that Maximus use his influence to free her imprisoned brother-or she will expose him as the Ghost. But blackmailing a powerful duke isn't without risks. Now that she has the tiger by the tail, can she withstand his ire-or the temptation of his embrace?
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RECOMMENDED: Skies of Gold is the latest in Zoe Archer's Ether Chronicles series, and is $1.99 right now. It's also currently nominated for a RITA® in the Paranormal Romance category. Though it's placed in the paranormal romance group, Skies of Gold is heavily in the steampunk camp with our hero and heroine stranded on a mysterious island. Carrie S LOVED this book and gave it an A-:
The only bad thing about this book is that it ends. This book is a sublime example of how to do character-driven speculative fiction (specifically, steampunk). I loved the characters, I loved the setting, I loved the world building, and boy howdy did I love the romance.
Malin also reviewed this for the RITA Reader® Challenge and gave it a B:
Much of the novel is just the two of them alone on the island, and while I thought that might get weird or boring, it didn’t. Having now read the blurbs of the previous books in the series, I can see that there are also call-backs to previous romantic couples from earlier books, which I’m sure is nice for long time readers. I liked this enough that I’m going to be checking out more of the Ether Chronicles, hoping that the others have more convincing antagonists and final acts.
Kalindi MacNeil survived the devastating enemy airship attack that obliterated Liverpool, but even her engineering skills can't seem to repair her broken heart. Seeking to put her life back together, Kali retreats to a desolate, deserted island–only to discover she's not alone. Captain Fletcher Adams, an elite man/machine hybrid, a Man O' War, crashed his battle-damaged airship into the island after the destruction of Liverpool, never expecting to survive the wreck. But survive he did.
Believing he is nothing but a living weapon, Fletcher is wary of his newfound companion–a pretty, damaged, but determined young woman. Together they are stranded on the island, and it is only a matter of time until desire gets the best of them both. Soon Kali and Fletcher each find that they may be just what the other needed. But a danger from beyond the island puts them to the test. Will it rip them apart or bond their hearts forever?
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The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan is $3.99 and is nominated for a RITA® in the Historical Romance category. This is the third book in the Brothers Sinister series and features a romance between a rake and a widow. It currently holds a 3.9-star rating on GR. Carrie S reviewed this book earlier this year and gave it a B-:
Courtney Milan is a masterful writer who never disappoints. The Countess Conspiracy is not my favorite of her books but I think it will make many romance readers very happy indeed.
For the RITA® Reader Challenge, Fallen Professor gave it a B+:
Overall, I enjoyed The Countess Conspiracy. It feels very modern, with its scientific discussions and trains and focus on women’s issues. For readers used to more old-fashioned historicals, where horse-drawn carriages are the only means of transport (there are still carriages here, but trains are equally important) and with most of the action taking place in ballrooms, this novel might feel either awkward or refreshing.
I am far from unbiased when it comes to Courtney Milan. I love, love, love her books, and The Countess Conspiracy is among my favorites so far. Fact: I am not a person who cries over much at all (I’m unaffected by sad songs and Applebee’s commercials), but The Countess Conspiracy made me cry the first time I read it (and then again when I re-read it, even though I knew what was going to happen, dangnabbit).
Sebastian Malheur is the most dangerous sort of rake: an educated one. When he’s not scandalizing ladies in the bedchamber, he’s outraging proper society with his scientific theories. He’s desired, reviled, acclaimed, and despised—and he laughs through it all.
Violet Waterfield, the widowed Countess of Cambury, on the other hand, is entirely respectable, and she’d like to stay that way. But Violet has a secret that is beyond ruinous, one that ties her irrevocably to England’s most infamous scoundrel: Sebastian’s theories aren’t his. They’re hers.
So when Sebastian threatens to dissolve their years-long conspiracy, she’ll do anything to save their partnership…even if it means opening her vulnerable heart to the rake who could destroy it for good.
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Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan is $1.99 and is another RITA® Paranormal Romance nominee set in a steampunk world. This is the fourth book in Callihan's Darkest London series. Readers seemed to find the first half of the book rather slow, but many agree the second half makes it all worth it, considering it has a 4.0-star rating on GR. Caty B. reviewed this for our RITA® Reader Challenge and gave it an A:
Squee, and happy sigh, and squee again. I enjoyed this book so much. There was banter and a fast-paced plot. The world-building was detailed, the characters were well-developed, and I am failing to find anything that isn’t made of pure squee.
DonnaMarie also gave it an A:
Now's where it gets hard for me. How to explain why this book was so good for me. I don't want to rehash the whole book; you need to experience it for yourself. My second read through I pasted half a pad of post-its marking quotes, themes and ideas, but I realized that I can't put in too much detail because there are so many twists to this story with the love story and Jack's secrets so closely intertwined with the murders that telling too much might lead to spoilers, and this not a book I want to spoil for anyone.
Once a heart is lost in shadow…
Life has been anything but kind to Mary Chase. But the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her purpose. Now she's been tasked with catching a vicious murderer dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross. But someone is already on the case—and the last thing he relishes is a partner.
Only someone who lives in darkness can find it.
Jack Talent has been alone with his demons for many years. He never expected to have the willful Mary Chase assist him on the Bishop case. Their age-old rivalry reaches new heights—even as their desire for one another reaches a fever pitch. Though he aches to bring her close, Jack's dark secrets are a chasm between them. With dangerous enemies closing in, Jack must find the strength to face the past…or risk losing Mary forever.
You guys are so dangerous for my budget.
Aren’t they, though?
Fortunately, I already own all these books. Loved the Archer book and the Callihan one. The Milan was good but didn’t really grab me. Haven’t read the Hoyt yet.
Skies of Gold is such a wonderful book. I absolutely adored the heroine. I really enjoyed all of Zoe Archer’s contributions to that series, but this one really stands out in my memory.
The Countess Conspiracy is also great. I didn’t have the same problems with it that Carrie did; in fact, the only thing that bugged me was how relentlessly positive the denouement is. I got over it by telling myself that it’s set in an alternate Victorian universe, but it wasn’t easy, since nothing about the rest of the book suggested it was a fantasy. The scene where Violet tells her mother the truth actually made me a little misty, and I am not generally a weepy sort of person (unless I’m PMSing and watching What Not to Wear.)
I read The Countess Conspiracy after it was recommended in responses to my “more geniuses, please?” query here, and loved it. I cried several times – it was much less fluffy and romantic (in the light/flirtatious meaning) than I had always assumed it would be based on the blurb. Really it’s about odd, brilliant people who are in love and trapped in a time and a system that forces them into roles they don’t fit well into. It was (for me) one of those rare romance novels I describe to my spouse. I really loved it and related to Violet’s struggle to be who she is – it was great.
I also read Duke of Midnight recently and liked it a lot, too. I’m making my way through the Maiden Lane series back to front now. This book was, I thought, unusually realistic about the precarious situation women of good family but no money, working as a distant relative’s companion, would find themselves in, so it was pretty angsty. I’ve noticed in a couple of books in this series that the book as a whole is quite gritty and realistic about urban poverty in the 1730s, and angsty and realistic about how likely a nobleman is to think he should marry a poor woman, etc., and then the final chapter will suddenly be kittens and puppies and rainbows. Which I find tonally a bit odd, but I still like them. In this book, I really liked the story of Artemis’ brother, I liked their relationship, and I look forward to Apollo’s presumably-inevitable book!
Praise be, I already own or have read three of these!!! My debit card just gave a HUGH sigh of relief.
I loved, loved, loved The Countess Conspiracy! and one comment towards the end, by Violet’s mother, gave me a chill. I’ve enjoyed Zoe Archer’s Nemesis series, but haven’t done as well with some of her others. And I’ve read all the Maiden Lane series except this last – it sounds a lot like Batman (in the 18th century).
Todd, go, buy, read Duke of Midnight, asap! It’s a GREAT installment in the series.
All Romance is doing a 30% off/rebate sale until the 26th.
One thing to be aware of, they recently changed their policy- you can only get the rebate if you pay with a credit card or paypal, not if you pay with gift cards (which come as e-book bucks). Very frustrating.