Diva's Bookcase: Lynsay Sands

Monday, March 14, 2011

ARC Review: The Heiress by Lynsay Sands

Series: The Madison Sisters, Book #2

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: February 2011

Publisher: Avon Books

Author Website: http://www.lynsaysands.net/

Format I Read: ARC ebook

Pages: 384

Source: Net Galley

Reading Challenge: Historical Romance Challenge

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

Desperately seeking a husband…

Suzette is not like other heiresses; she wants a poor husband. A gentleman who will be so grateful for her dowry that he will allow her access to her dowry so she can help pay off her father’s gambling debts. When this alluring beauty encounters Daniel Woodward—handsome, titled, single…and even more impoverished than she could have hoped for—it seems Suzette’s wildest dream has come true.
But Daniel has not been truthful. Tired of being accosted by an endless stream of vapid coquettes and their fortune-hunting mothers, Daniel has decided to plead poverty to stop them in their tracks. Yet here is a most refreshing and delectable lady who claims to be thrilled by his penury. Now all Daniel has to do to find true happiness is to keep a little white lie alive…while avoiding a dastardly villain who’s determined to prevent this union by any means necessary.

My Thoughts

In The Heiress, the story is told with Suzette and Daniel in mind. Suzette is the second oldest of the Madison sisters and next in line to be married off to pay their father’s gambling debts. Instead of being pawned off or courted by a rich suitor, she has the bright idea to find herself a poor sucker eager to gain a buck, but gullible enough to allow her to be in complete control of her personal finances.

I have to admit that I did not like this book as much as I liked The Countess. I was disappointed that the story was retold exactly the same way in the beginning and didn't completley become Suzanne and Daniel's story until the last few chapters. I found myself skimming over a lot of the story looking for newer parts.

I really liked Suzette because she was the most outspoken of the sisters. She was feisty and unafraid to say what was on her mind.

I also liked Daniel. He was a fun character but never stood a chance of resisting Suzette. No matter how honorable he tried to be, she always shocked him with her words and actions.

Although I didn't like this story as much as the first in the series, I will continue to read the series and look forward to the next book.

Rating

Three flowers of love. I liked this story.

Other Books In This Series:

The Countess, Book #1 (January 2011)

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

Friday, February 18, 2011

ARC Review: The Countess by Lynsay Sands

Series: Madison Sisters, Book #1

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: January 2011

Publisher: Avon

Author Website: http://www.lynsaysands.net/

Format I Read: ARC ebook

Pages: 222 (Nook pgs)

Source: Net Galley

Reading Challenge: Historical Romance Challenge

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

The fairy tale courtship did not turn into a happily ever after…

Not until her husband dropped dead, that is. He had been horrible enough to Christiana during their short marriage, and she was not going to allow the traditional period of mourning to ruin her sisters’ debuts as well. So Christiana decides to put him on ice and go on as if nothing’s happened…

Until the real earl appears. Richard Fairgrave had every intention of confronting his villainous twin who robbed him of his name and title…only to discover that he’d died. Quietly assuming his identity, Richard must now deal with a maddening desire for his ravishing inherited “wife”—certainly a gold digger and possibly a murderess. And Christiana must deal with an unwanted new “husband”…and they both must figure out what to do before the ice melts!

Awesomeness:

“I assure you, you are welcome to anything in my home,” he said, straightening with dignity, and then added in a lie, “I just did not wish you to drink the whiskey out of anger. I’m quite sure you would never have consumed it under normal circumstances, and it’s very strong. It would have gone right to your head.”

Obviously not appeased by his explanation, she said dryly, “Yes, well now it’s gone to my bosoms instead.”

My Thoughts

First of all Lynsay Sands is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance writers because I have enjoyed every one of her book that I have read. Her stories never contain super complicated story lines, but easy plots and likable characters that always find themselves in humorous situations.

The Countess is the first, but certainly not the last, historical romance that I have read by Ms Sands. The beginning of the story had me raising my eyebrows and wondering if I wanted to continue. I had already decided that I didn’t like the imposter husband, or the way he treated his wife. Normally, disliking one of the main characters turns me off to a book, but thankfully, the fake husband was killed off and the real husband’s attempt to take his life back made the story more interesting.

Despite their rocky start, I knew there was an instant love connection between Richard and Christiana. Their back and forth struggle to figure out if their growing attraction was real or if they were simply staying in the marriage to avoid scandal made me turn pages very quickly. I was really rooting for Richard to win over Christian and her family so that the two could have a happy ending.

I loved Suzette and Lisa, Christiana’s sisters. They were a handful and more than ready to issue a beat down to anyone they thought was abusing their sister. I also loved the fact that they were willing to help off their brother-in-law just to make their sister happy.

Overall The Countess was a fun read and I look forward to reading future books in this series.