His Wicked Reputation
His Wicked Reputation by Madeline Hunter is $1.99 at Amazon and $2.99 elsewhere! This is the first book in her Wicked Trilogy and involves a hero and heroine with a very antagonistic relationship, which many readers loved. However, some readers mentioned there was more telling than showing. It has a 3.7-star rating on Goodreads.
Gareth Fitzallen is celebrated for four things: his handsome face, his notable charm, his aristocratic connections, and an ability to give the kind of pleasure that has women begging for more. Normally he bestows his talents on experienced, worldly women. But when he heads to Langdon’s End to restore a property he inherited—and to investigate a massive art theft—he lays plans to seduce a most unlikely lady.
Eva Russell lives a spinster’s life of precarious finances and limited dreams while clinging to her family’s old gentry status. She supports herself by copying paintings while she plots to marry her lovely sister to a well-established man. Everyone warns her of Gareth’s reputation, and advises her to lock her sister away. Only it is not her sister Gareth desires. One look, and she knows he is trouble. One kiss, however, proves she is no match for this master of seduction.
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RECOMMENDED: Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn is $1.99! This book and series has been mentioned quite a bit on the site. Elyse recommended it if you like historical mysteries. Reader StacieH4 mentioned it for those who prefer their romance light on sex, and Reader Tina Chaney said on a podcast that the book has one of her favorite opening lines. Have you read it?
“Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.”
These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.
Prepared to accept that Edward’s death was due to a long-standing physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth.
Determined to bring her husband’s murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward’s demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.
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RECOMMENDED: Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard is $2.99! If you’re looking for a laugh, Elyse recommends this one. She gave it an A grade:
If you enjoy steampunk, dry humor or peeing your pants a little, then check Johannes out. The incontinence is worth it.
A charmingly gothic, fiendishly funny Faustian tale about a brilliant scientist who makes a deal with the Devil, twice.
Johannes Cabal sold his soul years ago in order to learn the laws of necromancy. Now he wants it back. Amused and slightly bored, Satan proposes a little wager: Johannes has to persuade one hundred people to sign over their souls or he will be damned forever. This time for real. Accepting the bargain, Jonathan is given one calendar year and a traveling carnival to complete his task. With little time to waste, Johannes raises a motley crew from the dead and enlists his brother, Horst, a charismatic vampire to help him run his nefarious road show, resulting in mayhem at every turn.
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Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep is $2.99! This is a young adult urban fantasy with a heroine who hunts monsters and lives in a library basement (which I would do in a heartbeat). Some readers mentioned that there’s a lot going on in setting up the world, since it’s the first book in a series. Meanwhile, others loved the cast of characters, mainly a cowboy pixie by the name of Oscar. Have you read this one?
There Be Monsters Here. . .
It’s not as great as you’d think, living in a tourist town that’s known as “the most magical place in America.” Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power.
I try to keep out of it. I’ve got my mom’s bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.
But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend’s pawn shop, and I have to make a call–get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn’t. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I’m stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I’m going to end up just like her. .
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Farrah Rochon’s DELIVER ME is free. Two doctors and a fake relationship, which I know is all kinds of catnip for a bunch of people.
TJ Klune’s Tell Me It’s Real is on sale for $1.99. Joined the bad decisions book club reading it last night because it’s been a long time since a book made me laugh like that.
The heroine in the Hunter book was one of the most egregious examples of unconvincing informed characterisation I’ve ever come across. She’s supposed to be Clever and Intelligent and Resourceful and all these other things, as I am informed by both her and the text at frequent intervals, but her actions do not support any of this IN THE SLIGHTEST, and it really fucked me off. I love reading about confident heroines, but only when the walk matches the talk, not when they’re smug and self-righteous idiots.
I loved “His Wicked Reputation”. Some of the strong points: the heroine’s sister is younger, prettier, and more sought after, but she’s not portrayed as dumb or self-centered. She’s actually very brainy and they have a great loving relationship. The H&h both had to make their own living, and although they sometimes were struggling to get by, they were both good at what they did and enjoyed their work. The H&h developed a believable friendship, besides being very hot together. The mystery plot(about an art theft) was clever. To top it off, the hero has a close relationship with his mother, even though he is illegitimate(his mother was the mistress of a nobleman), he loves her and values her opinions.
The other 2 books are about Gareth’s legitimate brothers. If you enjoy this one, I have to say I loved the 2nd book, “Tall, Dark, and Wicked” possibly even more. Again, the H&h are serious about their careers(he is a barrister, she is a math whiz), there is another mystery subplot, this time about counterfeiting. There is some real sexual heat between the H&h. And there was humor, especially in the sibling relationship that develops between the brothers. From my review at the time “The dialogue and interaction was so good, I wanted to roll around in those scenes and never leave. I think I could have read chapters just about them and never gotten bored, they were so deliciously and idiotically manlike in their macho rivalries and blind spots, but with a deep caring for each other underlying it all, which they never articulate to each other of course, being guys!”
@Karin Your notes here just sold me on the book! Thanks!
Funny, I just finished re-reading Johannes Cabal The Necromancer for something like the 5th time last night. Ultra-dry British humor + gothy goodness = comfort read for me. I love, love, love the whole series.
My husband and I had a great time listening to Johannes Cabal the Necromancer on a roadtrip after reading Elyse’s recommendation. You know it’s a good book when some of the dialogue ends up being part of your family language.
On sale 99 cents until 9/6 – Counterfeits
An Art Theft Romantic Suspense
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GQOEE9M/
‘Counterfeits’ is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s ‘Moonspinners’, and Kris Bock used all the things I love about this genre. Appealing lead characters, careful development of the mysterious danger facing one or both of those characters, a great location that is virtually a character on its own, interesting secondary characters who might or might not be involved or threatened, and many surprises building up to the climax. 5 Stars – Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog
I loathed the Hunter “Wicked” trilogy. Absolute rubbish from an author who has written some wonderful romances.