MR: Lord of Temptation & Captured by the Highlander

Lord of Temptation
[Lord Series, #2]

Author: Paula Quinn

Pages: 336

Publisher: Warner Forever, an imprint of Hachette Book Group

Publication: February 2006

Genre: Historical Romance

via Goodreads:

Norman Lord Dante Risande never met a woman he couldn't seduce - until a lovely slave named Gianelle refuses his bed and piques his interest. So when she's accused of murder, he can't sit idly by. As the King's right hand, it's his duty to investigate. But in order to save her, he must buy her.

It's good!

Gianelle is a servant a with a penchant for poisoning wine and licking desserts before serving them. All is for fun, until her lord drops dead of poisoning. Terrified of the late lord's brother, Edgar, a cruel man who desires Gia for his own possession, Gia and her friend Casey decide to escape. They are caught in the act by Lord Dante Risande, a rough with a reputation of seduction and desertion. Putting what little faith she has into this stranger, Gia and Casey depart the hands of the vicious lord for Dante's estate.

However, their plans of freedom are thwarted when Dante decides to seduce Gia for his own consort. Of these attempts, Gia is most unwilling. But when Edgar finds Gia, and backed by an army, tries to reclaim her as his, Gia and Dante must put aside their differences to find out who killed the late lord, and how to orchestrate the marriage that will save Gia from Edgar's grip.

This book was one of the historical romance I've read that actually stood out. The standard background of every character was present, but for once, the heroine didn't fall straight on her back at the sight of the rugged hero. In this book, Gia verbally abused him up one side and down the other. It was utterly hilarious and had me laughing out loud multiple times.

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Claimed by the Highlander
[Highlander Trilogy, #2]

Author: Julianne MacLean

Pages: 336

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks, an imprint of Macmillan

Publication: March 2011

Genre: Historical Romance

via Goodreads:

With his tawny mane, battle-hewn brawn, and ferocious roar, Angus “The Lion” MacDonald is the most fearsome warrior Lady Gwendolen has ever seen—and she is his most glorious conquest. Captured in a surprise attack on her father’s castle, Gwendolen is now forced to share her bed with the man who defeated her clan. But, in spite of Angus’s overpowering charms, she refuses to surrender her innocence without a fight…

With her stunning beauty, bold defiance, and brazen smile , Gwendolen is the most infuriating woman Angus has ever known—and the most intoxicating. Forcing her to become his bride will unite their two clans. But conquering Gwendolen’s heart will take all his skills as a lover. Night after night, his touch sets her on fire. Kiss after kiss, his hunger fuels her passion. But, as Gwendolen’s body betrays her growing love for Angus, a secret enemy plots to betray them both...

It's eh.

When Gwendolen's castle is under attack, she rises to the challenge because of her dead father and absent brother. However, Angus "The Lion" MacDonald takes the castle completely in the first ten pages. Then he claims Gwen as his soon-to-be bride in front of the entire population. What's a virgin to do? Oh, let's write to our neighboring allies in a desperate plea for rescue, while holding out hope that her brother will return to reclaim the castle and its people. But before help arrives, Gwen finds herself married to her worst enemy.

Angus MacDonald, fresh from the battle, terrifies Gwen. However, Gwen's innocence, and interest, intrigues Angus. But a wife was never part of the plan. Every night, Angus finds himself more affected by his new bride. Soon, Gwen goes from blushing virgin to wanton wife. But their distractions in each other give way to a rebellion by an enemy neither one of them saw coming.

Reading this book, half of the time, I wanted to smack some emotion into Angus. The other half, I wanted to just smack Gwen. Honestly, Angus was as emotionless as a brick wall. Gwen went from "No, don't touch me" to "let's do it every five minutes" in two chapters. Besides their spontaneity, there was about fifty characters that were important enough to have names and expected to be remembered. Over all, this book was an hour-long distraction that just made me more distracted. When I'm reading a book, I would rather be swept into another world that stay grounded and struggle to figure out who's who and why I should care about this guy's cousin's sister-in-law who's husband works in yonder field. But, hey, he's a semi-major character!

Have a great week!

*Mini Reviews are brought to you by The Bookery for a dose of sarcasm, snark, and humor in a short and sweet bundle.