BLOG TOUR: Roamer by Janine Infante Bosco

ROAMER

by Janine Infante Bosco

Nomad #3

Publication Date: June 13, 2017

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Erotic, MC, Romantic Suspense,

Can be read as a standalone

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SYNOPSIS:

Deuce:

The first moment I stared into Ally’s tortured blue eyes, my subconscious knew I’d never escape her. She called to the darkest part of my soul and made it impossible to ignore the strange pull I felt towards her.

Some things are just meant to be.

As long as we were both breathing, my heart would do time with hers. Like the famous outlaw lovers, Bonnie and Clyde, Ally and I committed the perfect crime. I claimed her heart, and she stole mine.

I only meant to save her.

To heal her.

Now, my past threatens to ruin her.

Wanted dead or alive, I’ve got her by my side and together we’ll ride.

Ally:

I thought the world forgot me.

That I had died at fourteen.

But, I never knew life until I knew him.

Rescued and healed, I found love in the face of an outlaw.

Whether he fails or flies, I’ll ride until I die.

I’m his Bonnie and he’s my Clyde.

A love as strong as ours will never die.

***NOTE: Contains explicit sexual situations, violence, offensive language, and mature topics. This book deals with sensitive subjects, such as kidnapping and human trafficking. Please be aware of these triggers and keep them in mind while reading. Through the sensitive subjects, the storm passes and the sky clears….there is a happily ever after waiting on the other side. ***

#LightItUp 

Sonja's Review

I have wanted to read Ally's story ever since we learned who she was at the of Drifter and I only got more excited when I knew that it was going to be her and Deuce! I always have high expectations with every Janine Infante Bosco book I read, but she definitely surpassed them all with Roamer. Roamer was utterly incredible and it is my favorite out of all of her books! 

I cannot tell you how much I liked and loved Ally because it's just so much. Ally is inspiring and real and strong. She's been through a lot and not only is she still standing, but she's thriving. She has a core of steel and she's determined to live her life, go on adventures, and light her own fire. Of course, Ally had her struggles, but she never truly stops fighting. I completely admired and respected Ally - she's amazing and I think it's safe to say that she's my favorite Janine Infante Bosco heroine! 

I'm sorry in advance for saying this, but I'm not really into cowboys, they just don't do for me. That being said, though, I would take a guy like Deuce any day! Yeah, he has his jerk, what-were-you-thinking moments, but he's more than that. He sweet and protective, supportive and patient, and he's a rock for Ally. Deuce is charming in a way that's natural like he's not trying to be charming on purpose, he's just being who he is and it will melt your heart. Deuce totally stole my heart and I absolutely loved him! 

Roamer might have broke my heart and brought tears to my eyes at times, but even through all of that, I still fell in love with it. It was just right and perfect the way it all worked out. It was difficult and dark, frustrating and heart wrenching, but there was a lot of fun, light, and sweetness to it too. I just f*cking loved Roamer. No, make that I motherf*cking loved Roamer!

Roamer is the third nook in the Nomad series and it can be read as a standalone, but I would read them in order. It's told from Deuce and Ally's POV and they do get their happy ending. 

~ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

#DeuceIsLoose 

EXCERPT:

Admitting I haven’t tried Sushi makes me realize there are plenty of things I missed out on experiencing. That’s not saying I would have necessarily wanted to try different things or even liked them once I had, but I never got the chance to make those choices or decisions.

Aside from different foods, I missed out on a bunch of firsts too.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asks, tilting his head to the side as he stares at me. “If you don’t want Sushi we get something else…”

I shake my head.

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

“I just realized I’m twenty-six years old and not only are there so many things I probably haven’t tried but there are things I never got the chance to experience. Things I pushed out of my head because I told myself there was no point in dwelling on it. Now that I’m free, it feels wrong, if that makes any sense. I mean I know I lost twelve years and everyone keeps saying I’ve got a second chance to make a life for myself, but all those things I missed…I can’t get that back. I can’t replace all the miserable moments with what should’ve been. I guess what I’m trying to say is…I can’t trade my painful firsts for the firsts I dreamed I’d have.”

“Says who?”

My brows knit in confusion and I blink as he turns fully, propping his leg on my bed.

“Name one first you wish you could change.”

“Why? You can’t change them.”

“Maybe not all of them,” he says with a shrug. “But if we can manage to change a few that should count for something.”

Biting down on my lip, I think about his suggestion.

“My first kiss is something I wish I could change,” I say honestly, lifting my head to meet his expressionless face. “Papa,” I mutter, cringing as I say the name. “That’s what he made me call him,” I explain, watching Deuce’s jaw go rigid.

“Rush?”

I shake my head.

“Yankovich,” he growls.

For as long as he kept me, I never knew his real name. Hearing it now sends chills down my spine as I recall the first time I was kissed and how Yankovich’s lips felt against mine.

“It was rough and not in a good way,” I confess. “It wasn’t done in a way to make me feel desired but in a way where I was scared of what would happen if I didn’t oblige. So, I kissed him back and hated myself afterward.”

Muttering a curse, Deuce runs his fingers roughly through his hair before turning back to me.

“Close your eyes,” he directs.

“What for?”

“I won’t hurt you,” he promises, evading my question. A foreign feeling erupts inside of me, one I can’t quite place and I find myself closing my eyes, not because he ordered me to but because I trust he won’t hurt me.

Seconds tick by before I hear Deuce’s exasperated breath. Then I feel the mattress dip and as I continue to keep my eyes closed I subconsciously lean forward. His hands lift to my cheeks and the next breath he releases brushes gently over my lips.

Then it happens.

Deuce lays his mouth over mine.

For a moment neither of us move as our lips stay locked on one another. Slowly, he then moves his mouth, taking my lower lip between his and giving it a gentle tug. Sucking softly, he parts my lips and a small gasp spills from my mouth into his.

My heart pounds against my chest as he applies more pressure, making our kiss rougher in all the right ways. I’m not scared or trying to drift away. I’m right there with him, flying high on sensation and adrenaline. His tongue touches my lips, prying them open. Following his lead, I part my lips. He pushes his tongue into my waiting mouth and glides it over mine, tasting me—teaching me that some firsts can be rewritten.

Pulling back slightly he pecks my lips once more and I open my eyes. Keeping his eyes fixed to mine, he licks his lips and drops his hands from my face.

“There you go,” he rasps, as if what just happened didn’t shake the ground beneath us. Unsure what to say, I lift my fingers to my lips and watch as he leans his elbows on his knees. Silently, he stares into space before he slowly turns to me. His eyes immediately dart toward my mouth but quickly lift to my eyes and I wonder if he liked it as much as I did.

“You still got those matches I gave you?” he asks suddenly.

Biting my lip, I stare at him for a moment then lift my hips and reach into my pocket. Pulling out the book of matches my cheeks flush and I turn my palm over to display them. His lips quirk slightly as he slaps his hands against his thighs and rises to his feet.

“Let’s go,” he says, reaching for the hoodie I draped across the back of a chair. “Is this all you took from Reina?” he asks, tossing it onto the bed and crossing his arms as he leans against the wall.

I didn’t know I wasn’t going back there,” I reply, taking the hoodie from the bed. “Wait, where are we going?”

“To get food.”

“Raw food?” I question, slipping my arms through the hoodie before getting up from the bed. “No way.”

“Won’t know if you like it unless you try it,” he retorts, raising an eyebrow “Gotta strike the match, girl,” he adds, tipping his chin toward the book of matches I’m still holding.

“Are you daring me?”

“Maybe,” he says with a shrug. “You accepting?”

Licking my lips, I shove the matches back into my pocket and take a deep breath. If trying Sushi is anything like my new first kiss, then joining the land of the living might not be so bad. It might be scary but it’s a leap I’ve got to take.

“Under one condition,” I say, stepping closer to him. Continuing to lean against the wall, he raises an eyebrow as amusement flickers in his eye.

“You have to get me ice cream too.”

“You like ice cream?”

“We’re going to find out,” I tell him as I brush past him and walk into his room.

Grabbing the keys off the table, he follows me toward the door and reaches around me to open it.

“With manners like that it’s a wonder your room is a mess,” I tease as I walk outside.

“My room isn’t a mess…it’s lived in,” he argues, slamming the door shut behind him.

“I don’t have to wonder if you wear boxers or briefs,” I call over my shoulder as we head toward Wolf’s truck. “However, I’m not going to lie, I’m a little disappointed.”

“Yeah, why’s that?”

Pulling open the door, I climb inside and turn to him.

“I took you for a commando type of guy,” I tell him before shutting the door. Standing in front of the car, he braces one hand on the hood and peers at me through the windshield with a dumbfound expression on his face.

Something amazing happens then.

Something genuine and natural.

Something so unfamiliar to me but common to others.

I smile.

Then he smiles too and I decide Deuce has a great smile, one that if you stare at it long enough it can become an addiction. Isn’t that funny? I never knew a person could crave something so simple like someone else’s smile. I wonder if too much of someone’s smile can be bad for another person. I’d like to think not but what do I know—I’m the girl who never thought she’d smile again.

“Looks good on you,” he comments as he slides into the truck.

“What does?”

“A smile.”

“Yours isn’t so bad either,” I point out, realizing I’m still smiling. His lips quirk again as he pulls out of the lot and I find myself staring at him while he drives. The first time I saw Deuce, I didn’t think much about him. I don’t know if it was the drugs or something else, but at the time he was just another person. When you’ve spent most of your life surrounded by animals, you don’t take notice of people. They all look the same. They all act the same. You’ll expect them to hurt you and take from you. You give up hope that there are still people worth knowing. You give up on the good folks and lump everyone into one category.

In the days since I was rescued I’ve been noticing things. I’ve been noticing people, and right now I’m noticing Deuce. I’m noticing there is a twang hidden underneath that raspy voice and every now and then it becomes more prominent.

“Where are you from?”

He looks at me out of the corner of his eye.

“Caught that, huh?”

“Were you trying to hide it because you’re not very good at it,” I reply.

“Texas.”

Not expecting that response, my eyes widen at the admission but I quickly recover.

“Is it true everything is bigger in Texas?”

Another quirk of the lips.

Yeah, I was addicted.

“I’m not touching that one,” he quips.

Realizing the innuendo, I slap his arm and attempt to call him a jerk but I get distracted by the size of it.

Things are huge in Texas.

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ABOUT JANINE INFANTE BOSCO

Janine Infante Bosco lives in New York City, she has always loved reading and writing. When she was thirteen, she began to write her own stories and her passion for writing took off as the years went on. At eighteen, she even wrote a full screenplay with dreams of one day becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Janine writes emotionally charged novels with an emphasis on family bonds, strong willed female characters, and alpha male men who will do anything for the women they love. She loves to interact with fans and fellow avid romance readers like herself.

She is proud of her success as an author and the friendships she’s made in the book community but her greatest accomplishment to date would be her two sons Joseph and Paul.

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Notice by K. Webster

Notice

by K. Webster

Publication Date: June 6, 2017

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Dark Romance, Suspense

Purchase: Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo

Synopsis: 

I didn’t notice her before…but now I do.
The shiny strands of gold in her silky brown hair.
Tiny crinkles between her eyebrows when she frowns.
Her passion for neatness.

Once I focus on her, I can’t take my eyes from my newest obsession. Ever.
I need to know everything about her.
Her past. Her present.
The way she takes her coffee.
Exactly how she smells after a spritz of perfume in the mornings.

She’s perfect in every way and I was blind.
But, God, now do I see.

I notice the organized way she arranges her clothes in her closet.
How she visits the same market each Saturday.
The sounds of her breathing as I lie beneath her bed in silence.

Violet is mine.
She just doesn’t know it yet.

***WARNING***
Notice is a dark and unusual romance. Extreme sexual themes and violence in certain scenes, which could trigger emotional distress, are found in this story. If you are sensitive to dark themes, then this story is not for you. If you aren't into super obsessive stalkers, then this story is not for you.

Sonja's Review

K. Webster is one of my favorite authors, so I usually don't read the synopses for her books, but I actually did with Notice. I couldn't wait to read it after that and everything I heard about it only made me more excited for it! Notice was just as good as I thought it was going to be and I positively loved it! 

I liked Violet from the very beginning and that only grew the deeper into Notice I got. She's strong and tough and driven. Violet hasn't always been that way, but she has overcome so much and challenged her demons. She is definitely a heroine you can be proud of - I know I am. I love the sassy, sweet, determined woman that Violet has become. 

It wasn't hard at all to fall for Grayson. Sure, there are times where he had me gasping and shaking my head because he can be such a little creeper, I say that with love because it really was endearing to me. Gray is very intense and possessive, he's sweet and thoughtful, and Violet is everything to him. He melted my heart and stole it - I completely loved him! 

Notice was sexy and fun and I had such a good time reading it. It got my heart beating fast, it sucked me in, broke my heart, and made me smile a lot. It was a little messed up and twisted, wonderful, heartwarming read - I adored Notice! 

Notice is a standalone, it's told from Grayson and Violet's POV, and they do get their happily-ever-after. 

~ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

About K. Webster

K Webster is the author of dozens romance books in many different genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. When not spending time with her husband of twelve years and two adorable children, she’s active on social media connecting with her readers. Her other passions besides writing include reading and graphic design. K can always be found in front of her computer chasing her next idea and taking action. She looks forward to the day when she will see one of her titles on the big screen. You can easily find K Webster on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads! Website: www.authorkwebster.com Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bllgoP

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REVIEW TOUR: White Hot by Ilona Andrews

The Hidden Legacy series continues as Nevada and Rogan navigate 

a world where magic is the norm . . . and their relationship burns hot.

WHITE HOT

Hidden Legacy #2

Ilona Andrews

Releasing May 30, 2017

Avon Books

The Hidden Legacy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews continues as Nevada and Rogan navigate a world where magic is the norm . . . and their relationship burns hot.

Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.

Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada's "talent." But there's no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice.

“My wife is dead.” His voice shook with barely controlled emotion. His eyes glistened. “She’s my light. She found me in the darkest time of my life and she saw something in me . . . She believed I could be a better man. I didn’t deserve her or the happiness we had. She loved me, Nevada. She loved me so much, in spite of my faults, and I was the luckiest man alive because when I opened my eyes in the morning, I saw her next to me. She had integrity. She was kind and intelligent, and she tried her hardest to do the right thing so this world would be a better place for our child to grow up in. She didn’t deserve this. She deserved to be happy. She deserved a full and long life. Nobody had the right to rob her of it.”

His face contorted with raw pain and grief. I was trying so hard not to cry. “I love her determination. I love her spirit. I’m proud to have been her husband. And now she’s dead. Someone took this wonderful—this truly beautiful—human being and turned her into a corpse. I saw her on the morgue table. She’s just . . . cold and lifeless as if she never was. Everything is gone except for our daughter and my memories. I have to strive to be the man she thought I was. When my daughter grows up, she’ll ask me why her mother was murdered and I’ll have to answer her. I have to account for my actions. I want to tell her that I found those responsible and I made sure they wouldn’t hurt anyone else.”

He brushed moisture from his eyes with a furious swipe of his hand. “Nobody else will do this. Her family doesn’t have the means, my family doesn’t care, and her employer might have murdered her. There is only me. Will you help me? Please.”

He fell silent. He was sitting here asking for my help and I couldn’t throw him out of my office. I just couldn’t. I remembered when Mom sold our house to pay for Dad’s bills. I remembered when we mortgaged the business and kept it from him, because it would’ve killed him faster than any disease. If someone I loved was murdered, I would do the same thing Cornelius did. He had nowhere to turn. If I slammed the door in his face now, I wouldn’t be able to look my reflection in the eye.

I reached into the top drawer of my desk and took out the blue new-client folder. I opened it so it faced him, placed it on the table, and wrote $50,000 in the margins on the front. “This is my retainer. This stays with the agency no matter what happens. It’s nonnegotiable.”

I used my pen to circle the bottom number on the right side. “These are our rates. This job is likely to be high-risk, so the top rate right here will apply. As you can see, it’s a daily and not hourly rate. Depending on the situation, I may have to charge you hazard pay or additional expenses. The retainer acts like a deductible. Once the amount billed to you exceeds it, you will make additional payments in installments of $10,000. After we’re done here, you may want to go to the bank and withdraw at least $20,000 in cash. We may have to bribe people . . .”

“Thank you.”

“This is a bad idea. Please reconsider.”

He shook his head. “No.”

I walked him through the privacy policy and had him sign all of the waivers. “What happens once we find whoever is responsible?”

“I’ll take care of things from there.”

“Meaning you’ll kill your wife’s murderer.”

“It’s the way Houses handle things,” Cornelius said.

“Well, I’m not a House. I’m a person with a family, and I respect and try to obey the laws of this country. I won’t hesitate to defend you or myself, but I won’t condone murder.”

“Understood,” Cornelius said. “How do we start?”

“I need to be able to speak to Matthias Forsberg. I need face-to-face time so I can ask him some questions. I can make the necessary calls tomorrow, but he’ll refuse to see me.”

“You don’t have the social status and you work for his competitor.” Cornelius nodded. “Matthias is an active participant in the Assembly. He never misses a session. Tomorrow happens to be December 15th. The session starts at 9:00 a.m.”

“I don’t have admission to the Assembly.” The Assembly was an unofficial executive body that governed the magic users at state and national levels. The Texas State Assembly met in Houston. A family had to have at least two Prime-caliber magic users in three generations to be considered a House and each House had a single seat. Technically the Assembly had no power within the US government, but, practically, when the Houses spoke in one collective voice, both Congress and the White House listened.

“A family name has to be good for something, right?”

Cornelius smiled. It never reached his eyes. They stayed bitter and haunted. “As a Significant and a scion of a House, I’m free to attend the Assembly and bring a companion of my choice. I intend to be an active participant in this investigation, Ms. Baylor.”

“Call me Nevada,” I told him. “Good. Then we’ll meet here tomorrow at seven.”

White Hot is the first Ilona Andrews book I've read and yes, I realize that it's actually the second book in the Hidden Legacy series, but I thought it was the first. Ilona Andrews has been on my radar for awhile now and sometimes when I decide to read an author, I don't do things like read a synopsis before I just dive into one of their books. That's what happened with White Hot and although I should be better and make sure I do go in order and check out the blurbs, in this case it worked out truly spectacularly. White Hot completely blew me away and I wholeheartedly loved it! 

Even though we don't get Rogan's point of view, I did love him. He's sexy and sly and can be quite the charmer when he wants to be. Rogan can be cold and hard at times, but it's not hard to see that he has a soft, caring side too. He's protective of his people and especially Nevada. I have to say that Nevada is my favorite, but I'm very fond of Rogan and I can't wait to see more of him again! 

The heroes usually end up being the character I love the most, but Nevada was no question the star of the show. She's one strong, tough woman who can kick butt and take names, can take care of herself and her family, and she has an iron will. If I'm being honest, a lot of the females in this book are just as strong and admirable as Nevada and it is one of the things I love most about White Hot. I was talking about Nevada though and while there are many things I could tell you about her, I will end it with the fact she is loyal, honorable, incredible, and I just loved her! 

From the moment I started reading White Hot, it drew me in and captured my attention. It was utterly fascinating, intriguing, and complex. It was full of action and there was so much meat and bones to this story that there was never a dull moment. It kept me on the edge of seat, flipping the pages as fast as I could. I felt everything from heartache and fury to amusement and happiness. White Hot was truly a book that I never wanted to stop reading while at the same time I was eager to reach the end and have my questions answered. It was an outstanding read and I can't wait to go back and read the first book and then read the next one! 

White Hot is the second book in the Hidden Legacy series and you should read the books in order. It's told from Nevada's POV and while Nevada and Rogan are together, you will definitely be excited to see where Ilona Andrews takes us next on this journey!

~ Sonja, 5 Stars

Start the Trilogy at the beginning

“Ilona Andrews" is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.) They have co-authored two New York Times and USA Today bestselling series—the urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and the romantic urban fantasy of The Edge—and are working on the next volumes for both. They live in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.

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REVIEW TOUR: The Girl With the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn

When the truth comes out, Edward may have a few 
surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.

THE GIRL WITH THE MAKE-BELIEVE HUSBAND

Rokesbys #2

Julia Quinn

Releasing May 30, 2017

Avon Books

While you were sleeping...

With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie...

I told everyone I was your wife

When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is—even if he does not recall her face—and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England.

If only it were true...

Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself—completely—to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.

Manhattan Island

July 1779

​His head hurt.

​Correction, his head really hurt.

​It was hard to tell, though, just what sort of pain it was. He might have been shot through the head with a musket ball. That seemed plausible, given his current location in New York (or was it Connecticut?) and his current occupation as a captain in His Majesty’s army.

​There was a war going on, in case one hadn’t noticed.

​But this particular pounding—the one that felt more like someone was bashing his skull with a cannon (not a cannonball, mind you, but an actual cannon) seemed to indicate that he had been attacked with a blunter instrument than a bullet.

​An anvil, perhaps. Dropped from a second-story window.

​But if one cared to look on the bright side, a pain such as this did seem to indicate that he wasn’t dead, which was also a plausible fate, given all the same facts that had led him to believe he might have been shot.

​That war he’d mentioned... people did die.

​With alarming regularity.

​So he wasn’t dead. That was good. But he also wasn’t sure where he was, precisely. The obvious next step would be to open his eyes, but his eyelids were translucent enough for him to realize that it was the middle of the day, and while he did like to look on the metaphorical bright side, he was fairly certain that the literal one would prove blinding.

​So he kept his eyes closed.

​But he listened.

​He wasn’t alone. He couldn’t make out any actual conversation, but a low buzz of words and activity filtered through the air. People were moving about, setting objects on tables, maybe pulling a chair across the floor.

​Someone was moaning in pain.

​Most of the voices were male, but there was at least one lady nearby. She was close enough that he could hear her breathing. She made little noises as she went about her business, which he soon realized included tucking blankets around him and touching his forehead with the back of her hand.

​He liked these little noises, the tiny little mmms and sighs she probably had no idea she was making. And she smelled nice, a bit like lemons, a bit like soap.

​And a bit like hard work.

​He knew that smell. He’d worn it himself, albeit usually only briefly until it turned into a full-fledged stink.

​On her, though, it was more than pleasant. Perhaps a little earthy. And he wondered who she was, to be tending to him so diligently.

​“How is he today?”

​Edward held himself still. This male voice was new, and he wasn’t sure he wanted anyone to know he was awake yet.

​Although he wasn’t sure why he felt this hesitancy.

​“The same,” came the woman’s reply.

​“I am concerned. If he doesn’t wake up soon...”

​“I know,” the woman said. There was a touch of irritation in her voice, which Edward found curious.

​“Have you been able to get him to take broth?”

​“Just a few spoonfuls. I was afraid he would choke if I attempted any more than that.”

​The man made a vague noise of approval. “Remind me how long he has been like this?”

​“A week, sir. Four days before I arrived, and three since.”

​A week. Edward thought about this. A week meant it must be... March? April?

​No, maybe it was only February. And this was probably New York, not Connecticut.

​But that still didn’t explain why his head hurt so bloody much. Clearly he’d been in some sort of an accident. Or had he been attacked?

​“There has been no change at all?” the man asked, even though the lady had just said as much.

​But she must have had far more patience than Edward, because she replied in a quiet, clear voice, “No, sir. None.”

​The man made a noise that wasn’t quite a grunt. Edward found it impossible to interpret.

​“Er...” The woman cleared her throat. “Have you any news of my brother?”

​Her brother? Who was her brother?

​“I am afraid not, Mrs. Rokesby.”

​Mrs. Rokesby?

​“It has been nearly two months,” she said quietly.

​Mrs. Rokesby? Edward really wanted them to get back to that point. There was only one Rokesby in North America as far as he knew, and that was him. So if she was Mrs. Rokesby...

​“I think,” the male voice said, “that your energies would be better spent tending to your husband.”

​Husband?

​“I assure you,” she said, and there was that touch of irritation again, “that I have been caring for him most faithfully.”

​Husband? They were calling him her husband? Was he married? He couldn’t be married. How could he be married and not remember it?

​Who was this woman?

​Edward’s heart began to pound. What the devil was happening to him?

​“Did he just make a noise?” the man asked.

​“I... I don’t think so.”

​She moved then, quickly. Hands touched him, his cheek, then his chest, and even through her obvious concern, there was something soothing in her motions, something undeniably right.

​“Edward?” she asked, taking his hand. She stroked it several times, her fingers brushing lightly over his skin. “Can you hear me?”

​He ought to respond. She was worried. What kind of gentleman did not act to relieve a lady’s distress?

​“I fear he may be lost to us,” the man said, with far less gentleness than Edward thought appropriate.

​“He still breathes,” the woman said in a steely voice.

​The man said nothing, but his expression must have been one of pity, because she said it again, more loudly this time.

​“He still breathes.”

​“Mrs. Rokesby...”

​Edward felt her hand tighten around his. Then she placed her other on top, her fingers resting lightly on his knuckles. It was the smallest sort of embrace, but Edward felt it down to his soul.

​“He still breathes, Colonel,” she said with quiet resolve. “And while he does, I will be here. I may not be able to help Thomas, but—”

​Thomas. Thomas Harcourt. That was the connection. This must be his sister. Cecilia. He knew her well.

​Or not. He’d never actually met the lady, he felt like he knew her. She wrote to her brother with a diligence that was unmatched in the regiment. Thomas received twice as much mail as Edward, and Edward had four siblings to Thomas’s one.

​Cecilia Harcourt. What on earth was she doing in North America? She was supposed to be in Derbyshire, in that little town Thomas had been so eager to leave. The one with the hot springs. Matlock. No, Matlock Bath.

​Edward had never been, but he thought it sounded charming. Not the way Thomas described it, of course; he liked the bustle of city life and couldn’t wait to take a commission and depart his village. But Cecilia was different. In her letters, the small Derbyshire town came alive, and Edward almost felt that he would recognize her neighbors if he ever went to visit.

​She was witty. Lord, she was witty. Thomas used to laugh so much at her missives that Edward finally made him read them out loud.

​Then one day, when Thomas was penning his response, Edward interrupted so many times that Thomas finally shoved out his chair and held forth his quill.

​“You write to her,” he’d said.

​So he did.

​Not on his own, of course. Edward could never have written to her directly. It would have been the worst sort of impropriety, and he would not have insulted her in such a manner. But he took to scribbling a few lines at the end of Thomas’s letters, and whenever she replied, she had a few lines for him.

​Thomas carried a miniature of her, and even though he said it was several years old, Edward had found himself staring at it, studying the small portrait of the young woman, wondering if her hair really was that remarkable golden color, or if she really did smile that way, lips closed and mysterious.

​Somehow he thought not. She did not strike him as a woman with secrets. Her smile would be sunny and free. Edward had even thought he’d like to meet her once this godforsaken war was over. He’d never said anything to Thomas, though.

​That would have been strange.

​Now Cecilia was here. In the colonies. Which made absolutely no sense, but then again, what did? Edward’s head was injured, and Thomas seemed to be missing, and...

​Edward thought hard.

​...and he seemed to have married Cecilia Harcourt.

​He opened his eyes and tried to focus on the green-eyed woman peering down at him.

​“Cecilia?”

I fell in love with the Bridgertons and Rokesbys when I read Because of Miss Bridgerton, so when I got the chance to read The Girl With the Make-Believe Husband, I jumped on it like white on rice! And even though I was so excited to read it, I waited until I just couldn't anymore because it was the last Julia Quinn book that I had and I wanted it to last. It was worth the wait though and it will tide me over until I can read her again. The Girl With the Make-Believe Husband was absolutely wonderful and I loved it so much! 

I have say that Billie is still my favorite and while Cecilia might not be as outrageous as Billie, I mean that in a good way, she definitely holds her own. She's strong and fierce, brave, compassionate, and so kind-hearted. Cecilia is sweet and funny and she's also extremely protective of the people she loves. She might have lied about Edward being her husband, but she didn't do it to hurt anyone and she truly is an honorable, good woman. I loved getting to know Cecilia - I just loved her period. 

Well, I didn't start thinking until now which brother I loved more between George and Edward and it's tough to decide. They're really different but they both swept me off my feet. Edward is playful and sweet and gentle, but that's not to say that he can't be all growly and intense when he wants to be. It's so easy to tell how devoted he is to Cecilia, you never have to doubt it, not even for a minute. I loved so much about Edward, but that was what I loved most of all and while I think George is still in the lead, it was a pretty close call and I have no doubts that you will fall for Edward. 

The Girl With the Make-Believe Husband made my heart ache and brought tears to my eyes. It made me laugh and smile and I had such a good time reading it. It was fun and exciting and there were times when I could not tear myself away. It was a lovely heartwarming tale and I can't wait for the next book or really any Julia Quinn book! 

The Girl With the Make-Believe Husband can be read as a standalone, it's told from Edward and Cecilia's POV, and they do get their happily-ever-after.

~ Sonja, 5 Stars

Julia Quinn is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five novels for Avon Books, and one of only sixteen authors ever to be inducted in the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.

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