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Haanta Series

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

By Barb Drozdowich

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

sugarbeat's books romance novels romance book reviews

Welcome to Series Sunday! 

As you all know, Series Sunday is one of my favorite days of the week. I get to talk about one of my favorite series books!  We have been looking at Julia Quinn‘s Bridgerton Series because Julia Quinn is releasing a new book at the end of May.  I thought we could re-visit this series to prepare for the new arrival!  Last week was The Duke & I – as many have said, maybe the most perfect book of this series….what are your thoughts?

This week is The Viscount Who Loved Me.  This is the second book in the series and features Anthony – the eldest Bridgerton and Kate Sheffield.  I hope you enjoy my thoughts on the subject!

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

ISBN: 0380815575

Publisher: Avon

 

sugarbeats books romance novels romance book reviews historical contemporary erotica author promotions julia quinn1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, This Author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London’s most elsuive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry.

And in truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better…

—Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1814

But this time the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry—he’s even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams…

Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands—and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister—but she fars her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony’s lips touch hers, she’s suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself…

Book 2 in the Bridgerton Series tells the story of Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sheffield. We find Anthony at the beginning of the book deciding it is time that he, at the ripe old age of 29, marry and sire some heirs. Since he has decided that he has no intention of falling in love with his wife he is rather methodical about his choice of a wife. Anthony became Viscount after his father died at the age of 38 from a bee sting. Anthony feels that he will probably die the same way, and at about the same age as his father and he doesn’t want to leave a wife desperately grieving his death. His choice of a wife, Edwina Sheffield, is someone he feels he will never fall in love with and therefore some one who will not be too devastated when he dies. When Katherine (Edwina’s older half-sister) learns of Anthony’s pursuit she is determined to interfere. Anthony has a reputatation as a rake and she doesn’t want her younger, more innocent sister to become a victim of Anthony’s rakish ways. Anthony decides to seduce Kate to scare her off, but to his dismay, finds that Katherine may be the one to bring him to his knees when it comes to love! Although Anthony is becoming more attracted to Kate as each day passes, he holds true to his decision to marry Edwina. That is until he and Kate are caught in a compromising position by the biggest gossip in London. He was trying to suck out the venom after Kate was stung by a bee. If the scene wasn’t so heart wrenching, it would have been hysterical! Kate and Anthony help each other resolve their outstanding fears and love conquers all in traditional Regency romance fashion.

This is a beautifully written book that deals with the character’s traumatic issues in a very sensitive fashion. Certainly one of the better ones of this series.

Publisher’s Weekly describes this story by saying: “Her prose is spry and assured, and she excels at creating indelible characters.” I have to agree with this sentiment! Her characters feel real to me. I find myself speeding though the pages cheering for certain characters.

The Romance Reader says “…whenever I dive into one of her romances, I’m usually rewarded with dialogue that sparkles, heroines who are sassy and intelligent, and heroes who are genuinely heroic, not to mention kind-hearted. So I’m happy to report that on these counts The Viscount Who Loved Me succeeds beautifully.”

Although I know that one of the things I like about romance novels is that they always have a happy ending, I certainly enjoy the at time raucous ride through the story! I laugh out loud, I shed tears, and I treasure every minute!

Related articles
  • Series Sunday – Book Review for The Lady Most Likely by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James & Connie Brockway (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
  • Prolixity Julien’s #CBR4 Review #4: An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn (cannonballread4.wordpress.com)
  • Most Read Authors: 2012 Edition (muggle-born.net)
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Guest post & Giveaway with Michelle Franklin, author of the Haanta Series

By Barb Drozdowich

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel

Today we are welcoming Michelle Franklin to the blog.  She’s here to talk about her latest book in the Haanta Series.  Michelle Franklin is giving away a copy of her newest Haanta novella The Reporter from Marridon if you’d like to offer a giveaway. Sit back and enjoy what Michelle has to say.  I’ve included a blurb and an excerpt at the end.  Enjoy!  Remember to leave a comment to be entered to win a copy!

 

Rautu was struck by the sight of his companion upset. He had

never seen her so painfully reminiscent or so dejected. The subject of

her father’s murder was one she never discussed, not with him nor

with anyone, and though he was never one to ask of personal concerns,

he sensed that there was no resolution for her on this point. He felt for

her and wished he could do more, but there was nothing he could say

beyond claiming that this was one of the downfalls of Mivaari being

attached to their Ambesari. He was silent, but where his ideals were

unspoken, his actions were expressed. He brushed her long, knotted

hair aside and grazed the skin of her nape with the back of his hand. He

raised his hand to place it affectionately atop her head when he noticed

her rough hands were dusted with flour. He drew her attention to it, but

in her wiping it off she had gotten it on the side of her face. He molded

his hand around her chin and raised her features to examine the extent

of the damage. He abraded his thumb along her cheek to remove the

remainder of the white residue, and in its place came a vibrant blush.

The longer he held her in his regard the more it spread across her face to

the tips of her ears. He felt the change in temperateness of her soft flesh.

He thought to remove his hand, but was compelled to keep it cupped

around her chin. He enjoyed its being there, keeping her countenance

high and her face in full view.

He leaned down to gain a closer look at his work, but was stopped

by the very sight of her: her gleaming eyes, her flushed complexion,

and her parted lips recommended expectancy, and though he felt it

imprudent to take the advantage now as it was given, he could no

longer resist. He grazed his thumb across her lower lip and inclined his

head to kiss that which he had wanted to devour since their journey to

the Haven. He pulled her from her seat, gripped her hair by the root to

hold her in place and consumed her. His mouth delighted in the taste of

her lips, his hands reveled in the sensations her sinuous skin afforded

him, his tongue pursued hers, and he overwhelmed her with famished

osculations.

The commander leaned back against the counter and pulled the

giant down to her by his molded locks. She encouraged him to roam her

body by placing his hands on her hips, and his motions soon became

pleasantly aggressive. She taunted him, pressing her knee between his

legs, and she soon found herself lifted onto the counter, both of her

heavy breasts being crushed by his hands. She moaned and leaned back,

inviting him to place his mouth on her chest, but he suddenly stopped

and looked as though he were examining something: a smattering

of chocolate was spread across the commander’s chest. It must have

happened while she was filling the tarts and had not realized it until

now. She was certain the Den Asaan would enjoy cleaning it for her.

She had only to undo the tie at the top of her tunic and wait for him to

act.

The tie was pulled, the top of her heavy breasts exposed, and

Rautu had done. He forced his features into the valley of her deep

chest and sucked her flesh clean of defilement. The taste of his

soothing indulgence blended with the warm fragrance of her skin was

an arrangement too overpowering to endure. He growled in her ear,

expressing his increasing appetite, and when he felt her hands wander

into his war kilt, he grew impatient. He pushed her onto her back and

pulled her toward him by her thick thighs. He stared at her ample figure, tracing

the lines of her wide hips. He trapped her against the counter, holding her in place

with his lower body, and canted his head to gauge the space between her legs

when the sound of someone approaching suddenly broke his concentration. 

The Commander and the Den Asaan Rautu
By Michelle Franklin
Publisher: Red Willow Publishing
June 12, 2011

Book Description:

The Kingdom of Frewyn is being invaded by the Galleisian infantry and at the forefront of the battle is
Boudicca MacDaede, a First Captain in the Frewyn armed forces. Her regiment is charged with defending the borders between the two nations, but when Frewyn’s last line of defense falls, Captain MacDaede enlists the assistance of a Haanta, one of giants from the islands to the far north. Promising to free him from his imprisonment in exchange for his help, she gains his trust long enough for them to win the battle and save the Frewyn border from being breached. The giant’s freedom is granted, but Rautu cannot return home unless he redeems himself in the eyes of his people for past his transgressions. He is offered a place by the captain’s side, and together, they defeat the Galleisian forces and become the saviors of Frewyn.

One year later, King Alasdair Brennin takes the Frewyn throne, Boudicca is made commander, Gallei and Frewyn reach an accord, and Rautu is granted an invitation home. He is eager to return and see his brothers but finds it difficult to leave Frewyn without Boudicca at his side. He has become accustomed to her company and the idea of being made to live without her begins to distress him. Rautu invites the commander to the islands in hopes of finding a way for them to remain together, but when they arrive at the white shores of Sanhedhran, not everything goes as planned: one of the dangerous Haanta magi is freed, Rautu’s three brothers are strangely missing, and the neighboring nation of Thellis leads an attack on the islands.

Together, the commander and the Den Asaan Rautu must find a way to unite their two nations and defend against the Thellisian fleets, but can they do so successfully when outside forces are attempting to keep them apart?

Excerpt
Rautu stood on the bow of the ship remarking his home with the commander at his side. He gazed at the
island’s white sands to the south, dense trees to the north, and the animation of the docks with a
reverential countenance. He had been waiting for this homecoming for the greater part of three seasons,
and when he regarded Sanhedhran for the first time in nine months, all the longing he had reaped during
his separation rushed on him. He was eager to stand on the southern shore again and reclaim his place
among the Amghari. His exhalations became labored, his eyes glowed with quiet joy, and the Den
Asaan’s estrangement was reconciled; he was home, and this was all that occupied him at present.
The commander smiled at the giant’s silent worship and used his fascination as a diversion to
place her hand atop his as it rested against the ship’s railing. She savoured the texture of his stone-like
flesh with her rough fingertips and then placed her hand along the railing beside his. She observed him to

inspect any perceptible difference. There had been a momentary upturning in the corner of his mouth, but
his gaze held firmly toward the island approaching. She was satisfied with his minimal recognition, but
was amazed to feel his small finger suddenly wrapping around hers. He moved not otherwise, did not
even peek at her from the corner of his eye, but she heard the sound of a profound sigh and knew whose
sigh it was. She coiled her finger around his, looked toward their pending destination, and wondered how
he should govern himself once returned to his people.

Links:
The official site: http://thehaanta.blogspot.com/

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4557121.Michelle_Franklin

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00564TGKA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=fangtasticbooks-
20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B00564TGKA

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-commander-and-den-asaan-rautu-michelle-
franklin/1031506362?ean=2940012971531&itm=5&usri=michelle%2bfranklin

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66266

 

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