Tag Archives: Barbara Monajem

The Infidelity Curse by Barbara Monajem – a Review

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The Infidelity Curse by Barbara Monajem – a Review

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Description:
The death of her cruel husband means freedom at last for Lucretia Tifton—until she learns that the guardian he chose for her longed-for baby is the latest in a line of earls known for separating their children from unfaithful wives. The elusive new earl is certain to hear the gossip about Lucretia. Will he believe it and prove to be as heartless as his ancestors? 

Giles, the Earl of Netherbroke, wants nothing more than to work in his London shop, building furniture with beautiful marquetry finishes. If unexpectedly inheriting the earldom isn’t bad enough, now he’s saddled with an unwanted guardianship. What’s worse, the baby’s mother is the loveliest woman he’s ever seen.

Giles is almost certain Lucretia is an adulteress—and the more he learns about her, the more he understands why she might have betrayed her husband. Nevertheless, he is determined not to succumb, like his ancestors, to the Infidelity Curse.

But then Lucretia is suddenly in danger, and the only way to protect her is to make her his.

 

 

Review:

The Infidelity Curse by Barbara Monajem is the 3rd book in her Perilous Secrets series.  Historical romance at its best. Lots of drama, action and twists. I’ve not read this author before, and this is the third book in this series. I’ve not read the previous books, but I’m sure to rectify that at some point. 

Lucretia wants only to raise her child with loving and caring parents, but she’s running for her life and the life of her child! Her husband believes her to be unfaithful and the child isn’t his! She needs to escape, and find a safe place to raise her child…..

Giles wants to build furniture and live a quiet life. But with the death of a family member, Giles has suddenly been saddled with not only a title, but also responsibilities of guardianship! He doesn’t want a baby in his life, and he certainly doesn’t want the mother around either! Even if she is captivating. 

I throughly enjoyed the adventure that Lucretia had with Giles. How she fought for her independence and her unborn child. She’s a resourceful person and wouldn’t give in too easily. 

Giles took me a while to warm too, he seemed really cold and aloof, and reading the blurb he was suppose to judge the faithless wife, and if found guilty, take away her child! 

But I did like the way he eventually falls under her spell ? But someone isn’t happy that Lucretia is finding happiness. They plan to ruin her life by spreading rumours and making sure Giles gets rid of her once and for all! 

Will they succeed? And can you guess who is behind it? (I sort of had a clue, but hints will lead you to the culprit soon enough) 

I do love a good historical romance, and this one hits all my buttons. I’d happily recommend this one. 

Reviewed by Julie ?

Copy supplied for review

 

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The Smuggler’s Escape by Barbara Monajem – a Review

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The Smuggler’s Escape by Barbara Monajem – a Review

 

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Description:
After escaping the guillotine in her native France, aristocrat Noelle de Vallon takes refuge with her aunt in Sussex. Feisty, resourceful, and determined to make her own way, she takes over the local smuggling operations, doubling their profits. But when their plans are betrayed, a man from her past steps out of the shadows to save her. Too bad he’s the last man on earth she ever wanted to see again.

Years ago, Richard, Lord Boltwood’s, plan to marry Noelle was foiled when his ruthless father shipped him to the Continent to work in espionage. But with the old man at death’s door, Richard returns to England with one final mission: to catch a spy. And Noelle is the prime suspect.

Noelle is determined to finish the smuggling run and escape back to France. She needs Richard’s help to do it, but how can she ever trust the man who abandoned her? And how can Richard catch the real culprit while protecting the woman who stole his heart and won’t forgive him for breaking hers?

 

Review:

*Rubs hands together and smiles* Alrighty, well this was a first time read for this author, Barbara Monajem and she sure didn’t disappoint. Spies, action, love and a good funny thrown in for good humor, this book is sure to excite just about any reader.

Noelle is a fiery, passionate and self-determined woman that tugs at the heart strings, and Richard, well he’s hard to not love on sight. Two polar opposite people come together to find so much more than what they were looking for. Noelle a spy, and Richard a government official, two people that seems to be the worst of enemies but turn into something more.

Now, I will be honest, at the end of this book, I was almost happy for it to be over, the story is great, and the characters even more so, but the story itself seems to drag on when it does not need to. Not to say that the book was bad, because it was not, I found myself caught up in the funny moments, and the interesting characters, but sometimes, less is more.

I very much enjoyed the action, suspense, humor and romance of this author, she will be one I look forward to reading again for sure! 

Reviewed by Sarah

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Love and the Shameless Lady by Barbara Monajem – a Review

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Love and the Shameless Lady by Barbara Monajem – a Review

 

Love and the Shameless LadyAmazon

 

DESCRIPTION:
Disgraced lady Daisy Warren serves ale in a tumbledown inn, sings crude songs for the smugglers, and writes romantic novels in her spare time. Shunned by her own class, she’s resigned to her lowly life—until someone tries to kill her.

Gentleman spy Sir Julian Kerr noses out seditionists and traitors. When he visits the inn to investigate two suspicious Frenchmen, he meets the lovely but hostile Daisy. He doesn’t intend to get involved with her—but then he learns that someone is threatening her life. 

He wants to find out more—it’s part of his investigation. 
He wants to protect her—he’s a chivalrous man. 
He just wants her. 
But will Daisy’s bitter past allow her to risk love again? 

 

REVIEW:

4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Love and The Shameless Lady by Barbara Monajem is the third book in her Scandalous Kisses series.  A regency romance, this story follows Daisy and Julian, and I have to say I was really looking forward to reading about Daisy.  She captivated me in the previous novels and she is everything I had hope she would be.

Daisy Warren is a ruined woman.  Having seduced and bedded a smuggler before marriage, she has been shunned by her fellow high class society and in order to avoid her family any further embarrassment she has taken to living in a local inn and resigned to being a spinster.  Daisy is a spitfire however, and while she may be resigned to live this way, she also takes her future in her own hands.  She has secretly penned a romantic book series and uses stories and people she meets in this inn as inspiration.  Her latest book is ready for release, but someone does not want it published and they have gone so far as to threaten and make attempts on her life to ensure it isn’t.

Julian Kerr is a spy.  YUP, that’s right, a true gentleman like spy.  While investigating, and doing his spy stuff, he lands at the inn that Daisy just so happens to reside.  He is immediately attracted to her and wonders why such a well bred lady is residing in a place like this.  When he witnesses her life being threatened, he jumps right into gentleman savior mode and whisks her away to safety.  Just so happens he can do a little investigation in the process as well.

Before we know it, these two are breaking all the polite society rules and falling for each other.  Julian brings her to her cousin’s home (just so happens to be Miles from the first book) where Daisy is afforded opportunity to heal in more ways than one.  Sassy exchanges, healed relationships, a little action and adventure and blossoming beautiful romance soon come to surface.

Well written, this novel truely flowed from one page to another.  I loved Daisy, I loved everything about her.  I loved that she was hard on the outside but strong and soft on the inside.  She has a vulnerability that is completely endearing and made my want to root for her.  Julian .. he was easy to adore as well.  His patience for Daisy was incredible, and while he wanted her badly, he knew that her previous experience was traumatic in ways and he wanted her to feel safe and loved.

A little slow in the beginning is the only complaint I have.  Once the story got going, it was engaging.  I recommend that you read the first two books of this series before this one.

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reviewed by Rachel

Copy supplied for review

 

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The Rake’s Irish Lady by Barbara Monajem – a Review

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The Rake’s Irish Lady by Barbara Monajem – a Review

 

The Rake's Irish LadyAmazon

DESCRIPTION
 
ONE WILD NIGHT . . . 

Widowed & lonely, Bridget O’Shaughnessy Black indulges herself in a night of pleasure. 
After all, she’s in disguise. And the baby girl? An unexpected blessing. . .until an old flame claims the child as his own to force Bridget to marry him. 

ONE DETERMINED LADY . . . 

Many women pursued Colin Warren, but only one climbed in his bedchamber window. When Bridget does it for the second time, she doesn’t have fun in mind. Colin is unfit to be a parent, and yet he has no choice but to acknowledge the little girl. 

RISKING EVERYTHING FOR LOVE 

Circumstances force Bridget and Colin together, yet grave differences divide them. Can love bridge the chasm that keeps them apart?
 
REVIEW
 
5 out of 5 for this reader folks!
 
I LOVED this book!  The Rake’s Irish Lady by Barbara Monajem is the second book in her Scandalous Kisses series.  I remember really enjoying the first book and this one absolutely delivered the same way.
 
Bridget O’Shaughnessy Black is half Irish/English but her stereotypical Irish side is prevalent in her daily life.  She is feisty and daring, but she also tones it down perfectly for polite English society.  Bridget is also a widower with a six year old girl.  She absolutely loved her husband but a few months after his death her loneliness gets the better of her, and she finds herself climbing into a mans window for a night of passion.  This passion created her daughter Sylvie, who she has introduced as her late husbands daughter
 
Colin Warren is one bored, lost, in a rut English gentlemen.  He just lives day by day, hoping for some excitement.  He gambles, is a rake with the ladies, but he moves through his life with no purpose, almost apathetic to the world in general.  
 
When Bridget is blackmailed by an old lover, she tracks down Colin to try and get him to claim Sylvie as his.  Colin wants no part of it, but out of the many unmemorable woman in his past, he sure does remember Bridget.  As they go through adventure, danger, time spent together and more, Colin realized he is coming back to life.  Will they both realize they have more to gain than to lose before it’s too late?
 
This was a page tuner for me.  I read it in one sitting (LOVE the holidays ..lol), and just basked in this romance.  The silliness, idiot moments were completely acceptable in this story as you can tell by the characters personalities that this is likely what they would do.  I loved Colin interacting with his daughter, although Sylvie really made him work for it.  Bridget’s determination to do everything she can to provide happiness to both herself and Sylvie is admirable.  She could of settled for a whole new life that offered stability, but trusting her gut was the best thing she could of done!
 
A wonderful historical romance, that flowed and had some yummy steamy moments, I am happy to recommend this series to anyone who likes this genre! 🙂
 
HAPPY READING and HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🙂


Reviewed by Rachel


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To Kiss a Rake by Barbara Monajem – a Review

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To Kiss a Rake by Barbara Monajem – a Review

 

To Kiss a RakeAmazon

Description:
WHEN A LADY IS ABDUCTED BY MISTAKE . . .

Melinda Starling doesn’t let ladylike behavior get in the way of true love. She’s secretly assisting in an elopement . . . until she’s tossed into the waiting coach and driven away by a notorious rake.

REVENGE REALLY DOESN’T PAY.

Miles Warren, Lord Garrison, comes from a family of libertines, and he’s the worst of them all—or so society believes. When Miles helps a friend to run away with an heiress, it’s an entertaining way to revenge himself on one of the gossips who slandered him.

Except that he drives off with the wrong woman . . . and as if that wasn’t scandalous enough, he can’t resist stealing a kiss.

 

Review:

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!
 
Want to know what I love more than almost anything?  Finding a new historical romance author to fall in love with.  YUP … Barbara Monajem just found herself on list.  I adored this book!
 
While helping friends, both Melinda and Miles find themselves in a situation that they never saw coming.  A situation that fate surely understood however!  WINK!  Facing ruin and injured, Melinda reluctantly agrees to become Miles betrothed.  Miles, who couldn’t care two you know what’s for society’s opinion is amazed that he is opting to do right by lovely Melinda.  That one shared kiss must of set of some serious fireworks.
 
Meeting a little girl living next door to her betrothed that is being severely punished unjustly reminds Melinda of her own childhood.  When Melinda discovers who Rebecca is (the illegitimate daughter of Miles), she becomes this little girl’s strongest advocate.  Miles, who truely adores his daughter, believes that Melinda would never accept Rebecca and reluctantly begins to look at fostering his daughter elsewhere.  When Melinda’s beautiful character and harsh history comes forth, Miles begins to understand his like as a rake is truely over for he is going to fall in love with his wife.
 
Both of these characters were so well developed.  Barbara peels back their layers throughout this entire story making them more endearing by the page.  They are well matched and in truth end up rescuing the other from a life of misery.  I loved that they both hated what society considers proper and opt instead to do right by the other as well as innocent little Rebecca.  When Melinda took Rebecca’s care (or lack there of) in hand, I found myself wanting to high five her fine hand.  I also like nothing more than reading a rake being brought to his knees by a loving woman who will treat him right.
 
Flowed from page to page, I found I gobbled this book up quite quickly.  I will be keeping an eye out for this author and any future work she releases!  
 
HAPPY READING! 🙂

 

Reviewed by Rachel

 

Copy provided by Author
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