Melissa Neville suffered badly in a fire and now she has to keep away from a would-be suitor who is very insistent that she marry him, despite her still-healing injuries. In fact he has broken into her home a few times to try to intimidate her. She's a widow and has estates and a name so she's attractive, even if she's scarred. Regular baths and a salve have helped her so when Colonel Harry Gunn and his steward Zed break in and inform her that she needs to move for her safety she's intrigued. When their salves work better and they appear to care more for her and less for her wealth and looks than they do for her she starts to warm to them. However she's still in danger and maybe not from what she thinks.

Interesting story, I disliked the lack of agency of the heroine but overall it was a good read.

My NOOK and Kindle got quite a work out this month. I am so glad to have participated in the Romance Bingo, as I was given an incentive to read a lot of books from the very bottom of my TBR.

Highlights, Lowlights, and Challenges

Best books of the month: The Just Desserts set from D.F. Mello were great. Highly recommend. Really loved To Defy a Sheikh by Maisey Yates as well.

Worst books of the month: Celtic Viking - Danish Celtic Viking having coffee before plundering a barely formed England in 876 AD...and puts the "mis" in "mishistorical romance". His Ring Is Not Enough by Maisey Yates was just a waste of time.

Disappointment of the month: Key of Knowledge - Nora why did you put me through that?

Romance Bingo: 10/25

Library Love Challenge: 1 - but will be making it up come March

Diseases and Disasters: 0 this month, as I concentrated on bingo

BL/GR Reading Challenge: 32/150

Pop Sugar Challenge: 4 this month

Re-cap 

1. To Defy a Sheikh by Maisey Yates (Romance Bingo - Secret Billionaire) - 4 stars

2. Dangerous Allies by Renee Ryan (Romance Bingo - Rogue) - 2.5 stars

3. His Ring is Not Enough by Maisey Yates (Romance Bingo - Virgin) - 0 stars

4. The Sweetest Thing (Just Desserts #1) by Deborah Fletcher Mello (Romance Bingo - Free Space; Pop Sugar Challenge - Author is POC) - 4.5 stars

5. Craving Temptation (Just Desserts #2) by Deborah Fletcher Mello (Romance Bingo - Eyeshadow and Bosom; Pop Sugar Challenge - MC is different ethnicity than reader) - 4.5 stars

6. Beauty and the Rake by Erica Monroe (Romance Bingo - Fairy Tale Re-telling) - DNF

7. Key of Knowledge (Key Trilogy #2) by Nora Roberts (Romance Bingo - Key to the heart; Library Love) - 1.5 stars

8. Lighting the Flames by Sarah Wendell (Romance Bingo - Guy/Girl Next Door; Pop Sugar Challenge - holiday setting other than Christmas) - 2.5 stars

9. A Lady Dares by Bronwyn Scott (Romance Bingo - Pirates) 2.5 stars

10. Celtic Viking by Lexie Timms (Romance Bingo - Man in Kilt) - .5 star

11. Courting His Countess by CJ Archer (Romance Bingo - Gothic) - 3 stars

Romance Bingo - Gothic Romance

Despite the clothing and overall image on the cover, this is a late-medieval romance about saving a marriage. Rose was smart and had a good sense of leadership and management. Thomas was contrite about his dumb actions six years ago, but his apologies seemed hollow until the end. Of course Rose had to rescue Thomas from her father's schemes; Thomas is definitely a follower. A quick read to pass an afternoon.

Halfway through Romance Bingo and I am behind in my goal to black out the card. Time to prioritize romance over any other challenge until the card is complete. Luckily, some romance will satisfy other challenges, so I can kill birds with not as many stones.

1. The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough (Diseases and Disasters challenge)

2. To Defy a Sheikh by Maisey Yates (Romance Bingo - Secret Billionaire)

3. Dangerous Allies by Renee Ryan (Romance Bingo - Rogue)

4. By Starlight by Dorothy Garlock (physical TBR)

5. His Ring is Not Enough by Maisey Yates (Romance Bingo - Virgin)

6. The Sweetest Thing (Just Desserts #1) by Deborah Fletcher Mello (Romance Bingo - Free Space; Pop Sugar Challenge - Author is POC)

7. Craving Temptation (Just Desserts #2) by Deborah Fletcher Mello (Romance Bingo - Eyeshadow and Bosom; Pop Sugar Challenge - MC is different ethnicity than reader)

8. Beauty and the Rake by Erica Monroe (Romance Bingo - Fairy Tale Re-telling)

9. Key of Knowledge (Key Trilogy #2) by Nora Roberts (Romance Bingo - Key to the heart; Library Love)

10. Lighting the Flames by Sarah Wendell (Romance Bingo - Guy/Girl Next Door; Pop Sugar Challenge - holiday setting other than Christmas)

11. A Lady Dares by Bronwyn Scott (Romance Bingo - Pirates)

12. Celtic Viking by Lexie Timms (Romance Bingo - Man in Kilt)

13. Courting His Countess by CJ Archer (Romance Bingo - Gothic)

Today’s post is for Donna Hatch’s Courting the Countess. We will have info about the books and author. A great interview with Donna. As well as a great giveaway. Make sure to check everything out and enter the giveaway.

Happy Reading :)

When charming rake Tristan Barrett sweeps Lady Elizabeth off her feet, stealing both her heart and a kiss in a secluded garden, her brother challenges Tristan to a duel. The only way to save her brother and Tristan from harm—not to mention preserve her reputation—is to get married. But her father, the Duke of Pemberton, refuses to allow his daughter to marry anyone but a titled lord. The duke demands that Elizabeth marry Tristan’s older brother, Richard, the Earl of Averston. Now Elizabeth must give up Tristan to marry a man who despises her, a man who loves another, a man she’ll never love.

Richard fears Elizabeth is as untrustworthy as his mother, who ran off with another man. However, to protect his brother from a duel and their family name from further scandal, he agrees to the wedding, certain his new bride will betray him. Yet when Elizabeth turns his house upside down and worms her way into his reluctant heart, Richard suspects he can’t live without his new countess. Will she stay with him or is it too little, too late?

Buy Link

Tell us about your writing - What genre do you prefer to write?

I write historical romance—specifically the Regency—that has been described as sweet but with a lots of sizzle.

What about you as a person? What do you do to relax?

I walk daily—both for exercise and because I enjoy it. I also like to hike. Music is also a big deal for me. I sing and play the harp. I also love ballroom dancing.

Do you write to a music, and do you want to share your playlist?

I usually turn on Pandora when I write. There is a Regency Era music station that I like. I also listen to instrumental/new age—nothing with lyrics or a drum beat. If I’m somewhere without internet, I listen to a harp or piano CD.

Donna Hatch is the author of the best-selling “Rogue Hearts Series,” and a winner of writing awards such as The Golden Quill and the International Digital Award. A hopeless romantic and adventurer at heart, she discovered her writing passion at the tender age of 8 and has been listening to those voices ever since. She has become a sought-after workshop presenter, and also juggles freelance editing, multiple volunteer positions, and most of all, her six children (seven, counting her husband). A native of Arizona who recently transplanted to the Pacific Northwest, she and her husband of over twenty years are living proof that there really is a happily ever after.

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