4th Annual OctobeRec Fest ~ A Month of Recommendations! #OctobeRecFest

Welcome to my Fourth Annual OctobeRec Fest. 

FOURTH, y'all! I can't believe I've been doing this for four years now. Anyway, I started this as a nod to Oktoberfest and I'm once again spending a month dedicated to reading the many, many books on my ereaders and bookshelves thanks to you, my blogging friends. (and a few beers will probably be added into the mix! ;) This year, I'm switching it up just a tad. I'll be reading books from series that I started thanks to y'all and in doing so, I'm showing my digital and physical shelves love as well as moving towards finishing up those series! 

Here are a few of the books I'm hoping to get to this month. I'm sure you'll recognize your recommendations but I'll try to make sure to call you out in my reviews. ;)



Thank you all so much for sharing book love! And hopefully I can get a few of you interested in some new books to try. 

Review ~ The Art of Sinning ~ Sabrina Jeffries #ReadAlltheBooks #ShelfLove

The Art of Sinning by Sabrina Jeffries
Sinful Suitors #1
Release Date: July 21, 2015
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: Purchased on Nook
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #ReadAlltheBooks, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
American artist Jeremy Keane refuses to return home and take over his father's business. He'd much rather sample bevviews of beauties abroad, in search of a model for the provocative masterpiece he's driven to paint. When he meets lady Yvette Barlow at a London wedding, he realizes she's perfect for his work--and determines to capture the young heiress's defiant spirit and breathtaking sensuality on canvas.

No stranger to scandal, Yvette agrees to be Keane's subject--in exchange for his help gaining entry to the city's brothels he knows intimately, so she can track a missing woman and solve a family mystery. But when their practical partnership leads to lessons in the art of sinning, can they find a bold and lasting love?

So I started this series out-of-order - which was no big deal - and now in reading this installment, I realize I should have finished another series (The Duke's Men) first. But only because there are character crossovers. It didn't affect my enjoyment of The Art of Sinning at all - only ruffled my OCD in reading series in order. LOL

Anyway, Jeffries is adept at creating heroines who don't fit the mold, so to speak, and Yvette didn't let me down in any respect. She's tall and strong - not small and dainty - she speaks her mind, and, and, and...she contributes slang words to a sort of urban dictionary of the day. Words she uses occasionally in public, much to her brother's dismay. Needless to say, her marriage prospects are few. 

Enter Jeremy Keane. He's an artist and when he first sets eyes upon Yvette, he knows he's found his muse. Then he meets her brother. With some finagling he manages to get what he wants...access to Yvette for painting.

These two were quite fun. Their banter was spirited and their chemistry was electric. They were both, however, harboring secrets that threatened their budding romance.

The secondary cast added much to the dept of the story, introducing the characters who inhabit this series. I quite enjoyed them all - getting to know better the few I met already, having read book 3.

My only issue was with the guilt Jeremy carried over an incident from his past. I felt he made a little more of his perceived part in it then there actually was. Overall though, The Art of Sinning was exactly what I've come to expect from Jeffries and I'm eager to finish this series as well as The Duke's Men.

Oh, I must mention the art. I'm not very knowledgeable about art, but I enjoyed it as an element in this story - especially the thought that went into a particular piece of Jeremy's.

Review ~ Ten Reasons to Stay ~ Sabrina Jeffries #BloggerShame #COYER #ShelfLove

Ten Reasons to Stay by Sabrina Jeffries
Release Date: May 6, 2013
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This in no way affected my rating and I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame, #COYER, #ReadAlltheBooks, #ShelfLove, #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads

Synopsis
In "Ten Reasons to Stay," previously published in the anthology The School for Heiresses, lessons go far beyond etiquette and needlepoint. Eliza Crenshawe's lesson is to look before she leaps. But when she discovers that her new guardian plans to marry her off without so much as a Season, she forgets all that. She flees--on a horse she unwittingly steals (oops!)--from Colin Hunt, a newly minted earl who wants nothing more than for her to go home...or stay forever.

What a delightful read this was! I'm a sucker for both a feisty historical heroine and a broody hero - Ten Reasons to Stay delivered both! Even though things moved at lightning speed, I still fell for both Eliza and Colin.

These two meet under conspicuous circumstances. Eliza was intending to borrow a horse when Colin catches her. He was confounded by her appearance - she was dressed as a man - and even more so when she refused to tell him anything regarding who she was or her reasons for needing his horse. Oh but he has his ways of getting information.

Both Eliza and Colin have suffered losses. Colin has come to England from India, where he grew up. He's looking for peace. Eliza's looking for escape. But they might need one another to find what they're looking for.

I would have liked more time with these two. Time for me to get better acquainted with them and for them to become better acquainted with each other. But I did like them both. They're very spirited and fell hard and fast. The reason behind Eliza's escape attempt was solved a bit too easily for my tastes but this is a novella. And despite wanting more, I still had a good time with the story. Jeffries deftly creates engaging characters I adore spending time with as well as watching them get themselves out of situations...and always to find their HEA.

Audio Review ~ The Danger of Desire ~ Sabrina Jeffries

The Danger of Desire by Sabrina Jeffries
Sinful Suitors #3
Narrated by: Beverley A. Crick
Release Date: November 22, 2016 (audio)
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: Audio Challenge, #ReadAlltheBooks, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
To root out the card cheat responsible for her brother's death, Miss Delia Trevor spends her evenings dancing her way through high society balls, and her late nights disguised as a young man gambling her way through London's gaming hells. Then one night, handsome Warren Corry, the Marquess of Knightford, a notorious member of St. George's Club, recognizes her. When he threatens to reveal her secret, she's determined to keep him from ruining her plans, even if it means playing a cat-and-mouse game with the enigmatic rakehell.

Warren knows the danger of her game, and he refuses to watch her lose everything while gaining justice for her late brother. But when she starts to delve beneath his carefully crafted facade, can he keep her at arm's length while still protecting her? Or will their hot desires explode into a love that transcends the secrets of their pasts?

The Danger of Desire served as my introduction to this series. I can only assume some of these characters have appeared in the previous books but I can say I was never lost. In fact, I came to adore all these characters but especially Warren and Delia.

Delia and Warren meet because Warren's cousin, Clarissa, who is know for her matchmaking, asks Warren to keep an eye on Delia. There is some concern over some of Delia's behavior but despite his reluctance, Warren agrees. He is shocked when he witnesses Delia's antics and sets about discerning the why behind her actions as well as trying to put a stop to them.

Of course this means Delia and Warren spend time together and develop a mutual attraction. They are both witty and forthright but Warren really admires that in Delia. They're also both loyal and would go to great lengths to protect those they love. One thing I greatly enjoyed was Delia's realization that she was guilty of the same offenses she lodged at Warren.

The mystery element of the story is well done and brought Warren and Delia together - Warren wanting to help Delia find her answers while protecting her. Both were keeping secrets and seeing the trust built between them, where they finally felt they could share, was heartwarming.

I quite enjoyed The Danger of Desire and am eager to read/listen to the other books in this series. I'm curious about Clarissa's story and now want Brilliana's and Lord Margrave's as well. Sabrina Jeffries delivers an engaging and entertaining story with a fun cast of characters.

Beverley A. Crick made it to my favorite narrator list with this one listen. She's incredible! Her range was perfect for this cast, both male and female. And with her chuckles and sobs, when called for, this more a dramatization than a narration. Crick made the story that much more engaging and I will certainly look for more books with her narration.

Audio Review ~ Stormswept ~ Sabrina Jeffries

Stormswept by Sabrina Jeffries
Wales #1
Narrated by: Carmen Rose
Release Date: November 8, 2016 (audio)
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: Tantor Media sent me a complimentary copy
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease, Goodreads Reading Challenge
Goodreads ~ Tantor

Synopsis
The first wedding night that Lady Juliana St. Albans spent with the dark and daring Rhys Vaughan was intoxicating, the heady culmination of her new husband's driving hunger and her own awakened sensuality. When he mysteriously disappeared the next morning, she waited for him in hope and desperation. And when he was finally proclaimed dead in a shipwreck, she bitterly mournted the loss of her love.

The second wedding night that Juliana spent with Rhys Vaughan was six years later, after he returned to claim her just as she was about to wed another. This Rhys was different--bolder, harder, and convinced that she'd betrayed him. Only their blazing passion remains from from their years apart. But is it enough to light their way through the maze of mystery, menace, and mistrust--to the love they once shared and would have to find again?

Gah! Finally the blasted stubborn man found some sense!

Yeah, that's a reaction I had to this story. I adored Stormswept though. Jeffries has a gift with unconventional heroines and Juliana was no exception. Sure she might seem a little fickle in her youth but she typically behaves impetuously even once she's older. Rhys is stubborn to a fault and he's lucky to have met his match in Juliana since she's tenacious and strong-willed enough to wait him out.

Juliana and Rhys meet at a meeting of radicals - Welsh men wanting to shuck off the shackles of British rule. Despite Juliana being British, and the daughter of the man responsible for Rhys having lost his estate, Rhys can't help but be drawn to her. After a secret courtship, the two marry only to be found out by her older brothers. That leads to some none too pleasant things for Rhys.

Flash forward six years and Rhys has returned to claim what is rightfully his. However, he believes Juliana had a part in what he's endured for the past six years and this forms the foundation of the tale of subterfuge, intrigue, and learning to trust and love again.

Jeffries crafted a wonderfully entertaining story. While Rhys and Juliana were fleshed out well, some of the side characters were more one-dimensional. For example, I never fully embraced Darcy's (Juliana's oldest brother) political ambitions as an excuse for his actions. I felt he was simply greedy and selfish, wanting what he wanted. The passion between Rhys and Juliana though was palpable.

Carmen Rose was an excellent narrator. She made the distinction between English and Welsh accents believable. And her pacing in the delivery as well as the emotions conveyed by the characters kept me listening usually longer than I intended.

Overall this was a great historical romance!

#OctobeRecFest Review #10 ~ What the Duke Desires ~ Sabrina Jeffries

What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries
The Duke's Men #1
Release Date: June 18, 2013
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: Purchased on nook
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Goodreads
Recommended by: Sabrina Jeffries is an author Lexxie @(un)Conventional Book Views has been trying to get me to read almost as long as we've been friends

Synopsis
Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, long ago buried his grief for his missing elder brother, Peter, who was presumed dead after being kidnapped. When a mysterious note arrives from Tristan Bonnaud asserting that the Duke's brother is alive, it leads Max straight to the winsome Lisette Bonnaud, illegitimate daughter of a viscount and Tristan's sister. Soon he and Lisette are traveling to Paris posting as husband and wife, in search of Tristan, who has disappeared. And the longer he spends with Lisette, the easier it is for Max to see that the line between dukedom and desire is easier to cross than he imagined...

*This author comes recommended by Lexxie @(un)Conventional Book Views. *

I was immediately sucked in to What the Duke Desires, knowing my emotions were going to be toyed with after finishing just the prologue. Oh my! To think of living during this era when your life could change at the whim of one person...gah!

Jeffries deftly wove together a fascinating story with a fiery heroine and a slightly tortured hero. Getting each of their perspectives, even at their first meeting, was a delight and provided so much insight into who they truly were - their feelings. Their chemistry was immediately obvious and it made for hearty entertainment in their banter and actions as neither was interested in falling for the other. Their interplay reminded me of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. The backstory for them both also provided for more depth in their characters. And I adore them both!

The mystery, while not the focus of the story, is also well-done. It simultaneously created suspense in this story and laid brilliant groundwork for the subsequent stories in this series. Jeffries kept the flow perfect with the blend of humor, action, intrigue, and romance. Ah, the romance.

Jeffries' details of the period felt spot on. Oh the power the aristocracy could wield - at least in England. I admit to being delighted to find notes on all the historical research regrading events and people as well as diseases at the end of the book. I admire Jeffries' commitment to accuracy.

That said, the characters were the biggest draw here. I can't say that enough. And if you are a fan of historical romance and haven't read Jeffries, don't wait! *wink*

Lexxie has been recommending Jeffries almost as long as we've been friends. After this introduction, I wholeheartedly agree with her recommendation. I'm anxious to begin the next book in the series and hope to seem more of Max and Lisette.