Today’s Steals and Deals at AAR…..
Black Ice is a classic–if you’ve never read it, you’re missing out on part of the canon. In our review we wrote:
Most readers are probably well aware going that this taut thriller is no tender love story. Stuart’s writing here is tight and the story is packed with action and darkness, still there were a few scenes buried in the story that I found oddly moving. Bastien is such a cold, dark hero that any subtle softening in him carries greater significance than it would with most heroes. While his utter coldness at the beginning of the book shocked me (and will likely shock many readers), I found myself feeling more sympathetic by the end. Bastien is not someone I personally would find romantic, but I have to admit he is an intriguing and exciting character.
Bastien’s attraction to Chloe did not ring true to me at first since his initial treatment of her seemed a little too brutal to justify that feeling. And even though Chloe seems so painfully naïve that it is almost impossible to see her with a jaded assassin, as the reader gets to know her, it is obvious that she is more than just naïve and mousy. There is a quiet strength to her that develops very subtly throughout the story. I’m not sure that Stuart ever fully convinced me that Chloe and Bastien are a perfect match, but she is not too far off the mark, either.
Anne Stuart’s dark romances are a guilty pleasure of mine, and this tightly plotted thriller was one I enjoyed a lot. While not my favorite of her works, it is certainly a worthy addition and one that I will turn to again when craving something dark and intensely different from the books I normally read.
It’s on sale for 2.99 here.
Our reviewer very much enjoyed this one. She wrote:
Queen Bee is a YA Regency revenge romance about Lyra, a young girl who was betrayed by her best friend when she was fifteen and is now back for revenge. I enjoyed the story’s suspense–the author slowly lets the reader see how Lyra was ruined in the past, how she takes revenge and how her schemes turn out.
As the book opens, eighteen year old Lyra is preparing for her come out at a ball at Almack’s Assembly Rooms. Her true goal here is to be revenged upon the reigning queen and king of high society. Lyra was born a daughter of a peer but lost her position, influence and power at fifteen when was betrayed by her scheming best friend. Not only is she now far more lovely and mature than she was at 15, she’s also grown out her hair and dyed it black. She is being presented not under her real name, Lady Ela Dalvi, but rather as Lyra Whitley, a mysterious heiress. Her target is Poppy Landers, who was her best friend three years ago and set Ela up to be ruined. Lyra plans to become part of Poppy’s inner circle of friends, charm Poppy’s suitors away, and then ruin her reputation the way Poppy ruined Lyra’s. Lyra also has it in for the handsome and popular Lord Keston Osborn, the Marquess of Ridley, who was once her friend but abandoned her when she needed him and believed Poppy’s schemes.
It’s on sale for 1.99 here.
Readers love this historical romance. They give it 4.5 stars on Amazon. Here’s the blurb:
Hell hath no fury like a bride scorned!
Highborn country heiress Mallory Edwards was dutifully fulfilling family obligations when she exchanged marriage vows with a dashing gentleman she barely knew. But the charming beast abandoned her on their wedding night. Years later—facing prison because of her husband’s debts—she has finally found the blackguard, John Barron, again. And she’s not leaving until the faithless rogue grants her a divorce!
John is enchanted by this delightful hellion who causes a scene at his London soirée. Could this be the forgotten rural miss whom his father once forced him to wed? Now that Mallory’s reentered his life, John desperately wants her to stay—and not merely to help him snare the criminal who is ruining them both. But winning her hardened heart will take more than sweet words and sensuous kisses—he will have to become the caring, thoughtful husband who is truly worthy of her passion and her love.
It’s on sale for 2.99 here.