Review: One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis

Title:  One Step Too Far  Author:  Tina Seskis Publisher/Publication Date: William Morrow; January 27, 2015 (first published April 7,2013) Genre: Fiction Format/Source:  Paperback, ARC, Publisher Amazon     Barnes & Noble Book Summary from Goodreads An intricately plotted, thoroughly addictive thriller from a major new voice in suspense fiction--a mesmerizing and powerful novel that will keep you guessing to the very end It's funny how easy it is, when it really comes down to it, to get up from your life and begin a new one. All you need is enough money to start you off, and a resolve not to think about the people you're leaving behind." A happy marriage. A beautiful family. A dream home. So what makes lawyer Emily Coleman--a woman who appears to have everything--get up one morning and walk right out of her life to start again as someone new? Deliberately losing herself in London, Emily quickly transforms herself into Cat. Along with her new name, she finds a new home in a shared house in North London teeming with an odd assortment of flatmates, and a new job as a receptionist at a hip advertising agency. Finding easy kinship with the fun-loving Angel, her savior and new best friend, Cat begins to live on the edge, giddy with the euphoria of freedom and release. Cat has buried any trace of her old self so well, no one knows how to find her. But she can't bury the past--or her own painful memories. As the days turn to months, thoughts of all she's left behind begin to consume her. She cannot outrun the ghosts that haunt her, no matter how hard she tries to elude them. And soon, she'll have to face the truth of what she's done--a shocking revelation that may push her one step too far . . . Filled with wonderfully complex characters, brilliantly plotted to ratchet the suspense, and exploring themes of family, secrets, and the choices we all must make, One Step Too Far is a mesmerizing thriller that tantalizingly illuminates just how far we may go to try and forget our sins. Review One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis is suspenseful and had an attention-grabbing start as Emily walked away from life as she knew it to start anew.  The first part of the book seemed to be dedicated to plot set up and character development. And I didn't really notice a substantial amount of clues as to why Emily walked away from everything until the latter part of the book. At that point, the story transitioned into a gripping tale in which I began to understand why Emily was experiencing so much inner turmoil and why she made the choices that she did. Emily found herself living in conditions that were much worse than what she came from, which made me think that things in her life had to be pretty bad to choose the path that she chose. After leaving her old life behind, she befriended Angel after which some chapters were dedicated to revealing events from Angel's past. Other chapters alternated between the key characters past and present day experiences, and it was difficult to understand why the story jumped around so much with few clues as to why Emily had left what seemed to be a perfect life behind. And although Ben seemed to be a loving husband, I was unconvinced that he searched very hard for his missing wife in the beginning. However, much of what Ben experienced while Emily was missing remains a mystery, because chapter after chapter was dedicated to other characters. Instead of just focusing on Emily, Ben, and their situation, there were just too many characters in the spotlight. Even though the book trailer really sparked my interest and a portion of the story was gripping—for me—the overall story was average. Rating 3.5/5 I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Cover Reveal Blitz: Get Lucky Anthrology

Get Lucky Anthology

What happens when six romance authors get together and write half a dozen brand-new, steamy, Irish-themed novellas? Everyone gets lucky! This 99-cent box set crosses genres and includes contemporary romance, new adult romance and paranormal romance novellas that will give Get Lucky a whole new meaning. Pre-order your copy today!

The Get Lucky Anthology features:

From USA Today bestselling author Nicola Marsh - Walking the Line

Finn Ahearn’s Irish luck is about to run out…

Reformed Aussie bad girl Ellie is a decade older than Finn but that doesn’t stop the charming Irishman from wooing her. Ellie doesn’t believe in the happily-ever-after dream any longer, not since hers imploded a long time ago. But can a smooth-talking Irishman sway a hard-hearted cynic to believe in love again?

From reader favorite Kelsey Browning - Amazed by You

Falling again for your first love...this time for keeps.

Author’s assistant Olivia McLaughlin must pull off an extravagant St. Patrick’s Day garden party to win a coveted promotion, but her success hinges on landscape designer Cody Kavanaugh, her old high school boyfriend. Now, Olivia must decide which she can’t live without—the job that will make her a success or the man offering her a second chance at love.

From sizzling hot and bestselling Robin Covington - One Little Kiss

The best things start with one little kiss.

Trapped by a snowstorm in the same place at the same time, Leighton and Jonas must decide if their hot night together was the end of their story or if they started forever with just one little kiss…

From RT Book Review Award nominee Avery Flynn - Big, Bad Red

She always gets her wolf...

There’s nothing little or naive about this Red Riding Hood. Red runs the biggest fencing operation for fairytale treasures out of the back of Granny’s Pub. But when she comes into possession of the Caladbolg sword things get hairy–as in hot, sexy Liam MacTíre the werewolf hairy.

From paranormal darling Sara Humphreys - Luck of the Irish

A leprechaun is powerless without his gold….

Banished to the mirrored realm for hundreds of years, Declan Aherne had nothing but time to plot his revenge and mourn the loss of his beloved wife. But when a beautiful human woman, with a familiar amulet, stares into the mirror....Declan's luck was about to change.

From the sexy sweet Kimberly Kincaid - Something Borrowed

Her best friend is the best man for the job…

When her successful brother announces his plans for an impromptu wedding in Ireland, unlucky-in-love chef Sasha Arrington is stuck between the Blarney Stone and a hard place. Sasha needs a wingman for her brother’s wedding, and the romantic destination could be just what James Sullivan needs to tempt Sasha out of the friend zone.

Are you ready to Get Lucky? Pre-order today!

Expected Release Date: March 16, 2015

Amazon B&N: coming soon Kobo iBooks

Read an Excerpt of Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchin Rubin

Title: Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives
Author: Gretchin Rubin
Publisher/Expected Release Date: Crown; March 17, 2015
Genre: Nonfiction, Self-Help

Book Summary from Goodreads

The author of the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers, The Happiness Project and Happier at Home, tackles the critical question: How do we change? 
 
Gretchen Rubin's answer: through habits. Habits are the invisible architecture of everyday life. It takes work to make a habit, but once that habit is set, we can harness the energy of habits to build happier, stronger, more productive lives.
 
So if habits are a key to change, then what we really need to know is: How do we change our habits?
 
Better than Before answers that question. It presents a practical, concrete framework to allow readers to understand their habits—and to change them for good. Infused with Rubin’s compelling voice, rigorous research, and easy humor, and packed with vivid stories of lives transformed, Better than Before explains the (sometimes counter-intuitive) core principles of habit formation. Read More
 

Better Than Before, Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives

Review: Tamales by Alice Guadalupe Tapp

Title: Tamales (Fast and Delicious Mexican Meals)
Author: Alice Guadalupe Tapp
Publisher/Publication Date: Ten Speed Press; October 27,2014

Genre: Cooking
Format/Source: Hardcover, Blogging for Books/Publisher

Amazon     Barnes & Noble

Book Summary

A cookbook for making delicious, inventive, and fast tamales using time-saving tips and tricks that simplify the prep-intensive traditional process.

Tamales are a Mexican favorite, beloved year-round as well as at Christmas, when the whole family traditionally pitches in with the work of tamale preparation and assembly. Thanks to renowned tamaleraAlice Guadalupe Tapp, it’s now possible to enjoy these delicious treats with a lot less labor. Tapp has worked her tamale magic to turn the classic process on its head by paring it down to three to four steps that can be done in as little as forty-five minutes using handy tips, products, and tools. All sixty dishes in the book are naturally gluten free, and include both classic tamale recipes—such as Chicken Mole, Sirloin Beef, and Fresh Poblano and Potato tamales—and novel recipes such as Chorizo and Egg, Oxtail, and Baked Fig tamales. With this book, tamales are fast and easy enough to enjoy every day, and delicious enough to serve at any celebration.

Review 

I was excited to receive Tamales by Alice Guadalupe Tapp for review, because I had been searching for a way to make Tamales that wasn't so labor intensive. Initially, I asked an acquaintance how to make them. But  other than telling me that she only made them when she got together with her family and that they were hard to make, she didn't give me much information, so I Googled it. I found basic information on how to make tamales. The process was so labor intensive that I've only made them twice in the last five years. The recipe just yielded way too many. Also I wasn't a fan of the filling so the second time I altered the recipe, but it still took sooo long to make them. ***facepalm*** 

As such, I was excited to find this book  by Tapp, which has scaled down recipes that I can easily prepare and cook in a matter of hours. I love the fact that there are a variety of recipes for Masa and filling combinations. There are also helpful illustrations that provide examples of  the different methods of tying and various wrappers that can be used.

I only had a couple of problems with this book. First,  the various steps to making tamales were in different sections of the book; however, they weren't difficult to find.  Also the consistency of the Basic Fresh Masa was compared to that of spackling paste, which might be confusing if you haven't worked with that substance before.

Overall, this is an invaluable resource, and it gave me a lot of ideas for creating tamales.  So far I've made chorizo and egg tamales (I substituted soyrizo for the chorizo), and my family absolutely loved them.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for quick and easy ways to make tamales.

Rating 4.5/5

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this Review" 

About the Author 

When ALICE GUADALUPE TAPP was only seven years old, she began helping her grandmother make tamales to sell after Sunday mass. Now Alice is co-owner (with her daughter, Tamara) of Tamara's Tamales in Marina Del Rey, California. She is the author of Tamales 101.

Review: The Martian by Andy Weir

Title: The Martian
Author: Andy Weir
Publisher/Publication Date: Crown, February 11, 2014
Genre: Science Fiction
Format/Source: Paperback Review Copy, Blogging for Books

Goodreads     Barnes & Noble     Amazon     Book Depository     Audible



Book Summary From Goodreads

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first men to walk on the surface of Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first man to die there.

It started with the dust storm that holed his suit and nearly killed him, and that forced his crew to leave him behind, sure he was already dead. Now he's stranded millions of miles from the nearest human being, with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive--and even if he could get word out, his food would be gone years before a rescue mission could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to get him first. Full Summary Here

My Thoughts:

One of my goals this year is to expand the genres I’m reading, and The Martian by Andy Weir is one such novel. Even though I like science fiction I haven’t read many books in that genre. I really had no idea what to expect when I picked this book to read next. It’s certainly different from what I’ve been reading up till now, and I have to say that I freaking loved it!

As far as reading goes, I’m having a great year so far.

The Martian follows Mark Watney as he figures out a way to survive on Mars after being stranded on the barren planet after a particularly bad dust storm. He was resourceful and I did enjoy his humor despite the situation he was placed in—and his determination to survive. I liked seeing how Mark kept-it-together despite being completely alone.

I have to say that I enjoyed the alternating points of views, as the story is partially told from logs written by Mark and other perspectives of those left on earth. There was no shortage of tense moments, and I liked the overall pacing. I think the concept was executed well and blended themes of survival and science fiction together nicely. And the setting, well, it was Mars. It was barren and basically uninhabitable. How much more can I really say on it?

Overall I loved The Martian, and I look forward to reading more books outside of the genres I’m familiar with.

5/5

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review, thank you!

About the Author 

Andy Weir was first hired as a programmer for a national laboratory at age fifteen and has been working as a software engineer ever since. He is also a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of subjects like relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. The Martian is his first novel.

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Hit and Miss Groom by Nana Malone & Misty Evans

Title: Hit & Miss Groom Authors:  Nana Malone & Misty Evans Release Date: February 2, 2015 Tour Dates: February 2, 2015 – February 6, 2015 Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance Amazon     Amazon UK     Barnes & Noble     Kobo     iBooks Book Summary: **The second book in a New Adult contemporary romance series! **This contemporary New Adult romance is intended for readers 17+. Contains adult content, language, and situations. Fasten your seatbelt… Marketing Program Manager, Vanessa Rodriquez, is driven to succeed and keeps the finish line in sight at all times…until one unexpected pit stop at her best friend’s wedding sends her skidding off course. Sleeping with Alex McIntyre wasn't supposed to make her feel this way—scattered, unfocused, and in need of another sexual tune-up. If only he didn’t make her feel so alive. Yield to oncoming desire… Alex can’t resist the beautiful Vanessa any more than he can resist his need for speed as an amateur race car driver. Even though she claims to hate him, she keeps coming back for lap after lap in his bed. When he ends up moving in next door to her, their sexual chemistry turns to deep desire. Ready to go full throttle, he convinces her to be his grid girl on—and off—the track. Van, however, puts on the brakes. Race against love… If Van can just course correct, it’ll be smooth sailing toward her goals. Or will it? Alex is smart, sexy, and way too much of a distraction, but maybe she needs to shake up her world and do the one thing she swore she’d never do…follow her heart. Will she risk it all to cross the finish line? Or will she and Alex crash and burn before they have a chance at love? ***** Hit & Miss Groom Excerpt 4 The purse of her lips and narrowing of her eyes told him she truly wasn’t interested. Which was ruining his goddamned night. Maybe he should cut his losses and save face. “What did I do to piss you off so much, Vanessa? We had to work together on this wedding thing and I did everything you wanted and then some. Whatever I did, I’m sorry.” She sighed and looked completely annoyed that he would apologize. That confused him even more. Most women loved a man who could say he was sorry, and if it meant getting on Van’s good side—if she had one—he’d say it until he was blue in the face. “You’re not pissing me off. I just don’t buy it. You can cut the Boy Scout show. No one is watching you. You don’t have to pretend. Can’t you be real for once?” Real? “Um, I hate to tell you this, but I am a Boy Scout. Or was.” “Now, there’s a surprise.” “You want real? Okay, here it is. I grew up with loving, if nutty, parents, breezed through school, decided I like helping people, and here I am. Working for the 3 Wishes Foundation and enjoying life. No skeletons in my closet, no weird fetishes—unless you count the one about black lace tights and heels—and I’ve never done Pilates in my entire life, although I do enjoy watching women do it.” Her cheek did this little tick and the corner of her lips moved. “Wait, was that a smile?” He nudged her with his elbow. “Did I just get the ice queen to smirk?” Her eyes widened in mock protest. “Ice queen? So now I’m a Disney princess? Nice, Alex. Real nice.” Oh, she was indeed an ice queen, with a volcano of heat underneath waiting to explode. He wanted to widen the crack in her facade and let that molten lava out to play. “Are you sure you won’t have a drink? Or we could dance. Listen, it’s Shakira. You could show me some moves. Preferably ones that go along with the cardio strip tease. I hear the hips don’t lie.” She smacked his arm. Contact. The A-man was back on his game. Alex smiled, loving that her shoulders were a bit looser, her face softer. “I don’t dance,” she said, still trying to sound like the ice queen but failing, “with Boy Scouts.” “That’s a shame. I have moves that other Boy Scouts never dreamt of.” “I bet you do.” She slid off her stool, grabbed her credit card and slipped it into the cleavage of the dress. Then she picked up the heels setting on the floor and swung them around her fingers. “Or at least you think you do. I’m off to bed.” Bed…Van. His cock twitched, already riled up after the talk about strip teases. He jumped up. “I’ll walk you to your room.” She stopped him with a hand on his chest. “Thanks, but I know the way.” He was about to argue when Liam’s father sidled up next to him. “Liam told me about your race Saturday. Congratulations. Best time yet.” Van was walking away and Alex really didn’t want to discuss his racing. It was his hobby. A hobby he liked to keep secret from his family, who, thank God, weren’t here. His gaze followed Van and her sexy legs walking away from him. He wanted to run after her, but he couldn’t be rude to Liam’s dad. He shook the man’s hand and patted him on the back. “Thanks.” The guy didn’t let go. “Keep that up and the big guys will be coming after you, you know. I have a friend whose son is sponsored by Red Bull. Started out the same as you, sprint racing on the weekends. Now he’s doing Formula 1 as a career. He’s pulling in the sponsors, having the time of his life.” Racing with a sponsor. Alex’s dream since he was a kid racing karts around a dirt track. A dream he would never follow. His work with 3 Wishes was his career. An important job where a lot of people counted on him, from the volunteers all the way to the board of directors. His mother and father would stroke out if they discovered he’d taken up racing again. Van had disappeared out the door. Alex gave Liam’s dad another pat. “That’s great. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to call it a night.” He didn’t wait for s response, but by the time he hit the hallway where the elevators were located, Van was gone. About the Authors Nana Malone USA Today Bestselling Author Nana Malone’s love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin on a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana at a precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters. Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, Nana meantime works out her drama, passion, and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is. Nana is the author of twenty novels. And the books in her series have been on multiple Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble bestseller lists as well as the iTunes Breakout Books list and most notably the USA Today Bestseller list. Connect with Nana: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Newsletter ~ ~ ~ Misty Evans USA TODAY Bestselling Author Misty Evans has published over twenty novels and writes romantic suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance. As a writing coach, she helps other authors bring their books – and their dreams of being published – to life. The books in her Super Agent series have won a CataNetwork Reviewers’ Choice Award, CAPA nominations, the New England Reader’s Choice Bean Pot Award for Best Romantic Suspense in 2010 and the ACRA Heart of Excellence Reader’s Choice Award for Best Romantic Suspense in 2011. Her Witches Anonymous series was dubbed a Fallen Angel Reviews Recommended Read. The Super Agent Series, Witches Anonymous Series, and the Kali Sweet Series have been on multiple Amazon Kindle bestsellers lists. Her culinary romantic mystery, THE SECRET INGREDIENT, and the first book in her Deadly series, DEADLY PURSUIT, are both USA TODAY bestsellers. Misty likes her coffee black, her conspiracy stories juicy, and her wicked characters dressed in couture. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, movies, and hanging out with her husband, twin sons, and two spoiled puppies. Connect with Misty: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Newsletter / Pinterest ***** Giveaway Details Misty and Nana are giving away a $25.00 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble as part of the tour. Just fill out the Rafflecopter Form below to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway Hit and Miss Groom Blog Tour Stops Each day a new excerpt will be released as part of the blog tour. Follow along and read all five excerpts! February 2, 2015 – Excerpt 1 Becky on Books Just the Write Stuff Recommended Romance February 3, 2015 – Excerpt 2 Amy Manemann Cricket’s Chirps Long and Short Reviews February 4, 2015 – Excerpt 3 Musings from an Addicted Reader Em and M Books Cafinated Reads February 5, 2015 – Excerpt 4 Reading on the Rocks Romance Junkies Urban Girl Review Peaces of Me February 6, 2015 – Excerpt 5 Forget the Housework, I’m Reading Ecelctic Passions The Book Review So Many Reads

Release Week Blitz & Excerpt: When Good Earls Go Bad by Megan Frampton

“Exquisitely written, fast-paced, and -- I would not dare call them sex scenes -- the lovemaking is sublimely erotic, sensual, and deliciously wicked. Megan Frampton was a new author to me, and with WHEN EARLS GO BAD, she has gained a new devoted fan. A must- read for historical fiction lovers!”    — Fresh Fiction When Good Earls Go Bad A Victorian Valentine’s Day Novella By Megan Frampton On sale from Avon Impulse; February 3, 2015; ISBN 9780062380319; $1.99 As the site manager of one of the most popular romance blogs on the Internet, Heroes and Heartbreakers, Megan Frampton makes a business of knowing what romance readers love most. And with WHEN GOOD EARLS GO BAD, she has used that knowledge to write a delightfully fun and sexy novella! Frampton’s Dukes Behaving Badly series is back, though this time it’s an earl who’s meeting his match.                              What’s a lovely young woman doing asleep in his bed? Matthew, Earl of Selkirk, is shocked to discover it’s his new housekeeper! She’s a far cry from the gray-haired woman he expected. Matthew is no fan of surprises, and Annabelle Tyne is pure temptation. Perhaps he shouldn’t have had her hired sight unseen. Annabelle, co-owner of the Quality Employment Agency, is no housekeeper, but she wasn’t about to lose a potential client simply because there was no one to fit the bill. Imagine her shock when the Earl arrives at his London townhome and she’s awoken in the night by the most attractive man she’s ever seen. Matthew is a man who lives life by the rules, but sometimes rules are made to be broken…and being bad can be very, very good. Amazon     Barnes & Noble Chapter 1 Excerpt “While it’s not precisely true that nobody is here, because I am, in fact, here, the truth is that there is no one here who can accommodate the request.” The man standing in the main area of the Quality Employment Agency didn’t leave. She’d have to keep on, then. “If I weren’t here, then it would be even more in question, since you wouldn’t know the answer to the question one way or the other, would you? So I am here, but I am not the proper person for what you need.” The man fidgeted with the hat he held in his hand. But still did not take her hint. She would have to persevere. “I suggest you leave the information, and we will endeavor to fill the position when there is someone here who is not me.” Annabelle gave a short nod of her head as she finished speaking, knowing she had been absolutely clear in what she’d said. If repetitive. So it was a surprise that the man to whom she was speaking was staring back at her, his mouth slightly opened, his eyes blinking behind his owlish spectacles. His hat now held very tightly in his hand. Perhaps she should speak more slowly. “We do not have a housekeeper for hire,” she said, pausing between each word. “I am the owner, not one of the employees for hire.” Now the man’s mouth had closed, but it still seemed as though he did not understand. “I do not understand,” he said, confirming her very suspicion. “This is an employment agency, and I have an employer who wishes to find an employee. And if I do not find a suitable person within . . .” and at this he withdrew a pocket watch from his waistcoat and frowned at it, as though it was its fault it was already past tea time, and goodness, wasn’t she hungry and had Caroline left any milk in the jug? Because if not, well, “twenty-four hours, my employer, the Earl of Selkirk, will be most displeased, and we will ensure your agency will no longer receive our patronage.” That last part drew her attention away from the issue of the milk and whether or not there was any. “The Earl of . . .?” she said, feeling that flutter in her stomach that signaled there was nobility present or being mentioned—or she wished there were, at least. Rather like the milk, actually. “Selkirk,” the man replied in a firm tone. He had no comment on the milk. And why would he? He didn’t even know it was a possibility that they didn’t have any, and if she did have to serve him tea, what would she say? Besides which, she had no clue to the man’s name; he had just come in and been all brusque and demanded a housekeeper when there was none. “Selkirk,” Annabelle repeated, her mind rifling through all the nobles she’d ever heard mentioned. “A Scottish earl,” the man said. Annabelle beamed and clapped her hands. “Oh, Scottish! Small wonder I did not recognize the title, I’ve only ever been in London and once to the seaside when I was five years old, but I wouldn’t have known if that was Scotland, but I am fairly certain it was not because it would have been cold and it was quite warm in the water. Unless the weather was unseasonable, I can safely say I have never been to Scotland, nor do I know of any Scottish earls.” “Glad to have that settled,” the man said in the kind of strangled hush that most people seemed to speak after some time conversing with her. “The thing is, the purpose of my visit here is to hire a person to take care of the earl while he is in London on business.” Annabelle opened her mouth to speak, but he held his hand up, indicating she should wait. That, too, was something many people did to her. Was there a class that everyone took in How to Speak to Annabelle of which she was unaware? Because they were remarkably consistent in their discourse, and it couldn’t be coincidental. But he was still speaking, so she couldn’t think about the possibility of the class, and whether she herself would be allowed to enroll. And why they hadn’t asked her to lead the class. “And the earl was most specific, as he is about most things,” the man said, almost as though he were annoyed about that, “that there be someone at the house he’s rented to prepare it for his arrival. I do not have time to waste on this matter. Do you have a housekeeper who can take care of the earl for the time, perhaps as much as a month, that he is in residence in London?” He drew himself up to his full height and stared down at her, as though daring her to reply in a way he did not want. “To be clear,” he continued, as though he hadn’t been clear already. Only she still wasn’t quite certain, so perhaps he hadn’t. “To be clear, the earl is most insistent that he only have a housekeeper while he is in residence.” His expression revealed just what he thought of that edict. “So can you assist, or should I apply to another agency?” Annabelle liked to accommodate, and the earl was an earl, after all. Even if she could already tell he was odd, not only because he was Scottish but because he wasn’t demanding that every servant in London bow to his every whim. She bit her lip and thought about it for perhaps half a second, almost the same amount of time she spent on what she was going to say next in general. Her agency partner had been just as reckless a few months ago, and look where that had gotten her: a duke for a husband and a new child without the bother of childbirth. This would not net her a duke, obviously, since this was an earl, and she hoped that there were not any children going to be in residence, but still, besides all that, it was a remarkably similar situation. “I do not normally take on positions myself, you understand, but since the earl is in such desperate need, and there is no one here”—as I’ve mentioned several times, you’d think he could have realized that by now—“who can fill the situation, I will come along and take care of it. For a month, no longer.” That would bring her up to right around Valentine’s Day, and if she were busy, perhaps she wouldn’t remember she did not have a Valentine. “Is that suitable?” Now the man—she might have to ask his name soon, only then she might also have to offer him tea, since they had become known to one another, and she still hadn’t figured out the milk issue—had what she might call a smirk on his face, only she didn’t know him well enough to know if he was amused or he was perhaps hungry. In which case she’d have to offer him tea, damn the milk, and she really did not want to do that. Mostly because she now had to find out where the Scottish earl lived and get over there to discover what needed doing. It likely included buying milk. “You,” he said, and now she knew he wasn’t hungry, he was amused, because there was a strong hint of a laugh in his tone, only she didn’t see what there was that was so funny. “You would be perfect. Thank you.” Praise for Megan Frampton “Frampton superbly balances passion with humor, avoiding cliché through rich characterization. The result is warm, kindhearted, and utterly delightful.” — Publishers Weekly *Starred Review* “Frampton’s enchanting tale of a lively governess and desolate duke is just what historical readers cherish—a humorous, touching, fast-paced and sensual love story. Frampton has what it takes to become a fan favorite.” — RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars  “Frampton’s romance has charm to spare, and readers will find it impossible to resist her flawless characterization, fanciful plotting, and deliciously fizzy wit.” — Booklist “This witty and sexy romp is wildly swoon-worthy. Megan Frampton’s delightful characters and delicious sense of humor always entertain!”    — Sabrina Jeffries, New York Times bestselling author “Megan Frampton’s talent just sizzles off the page.”    — Award-winning author Andrea Pickens (aka Cara Elliott) About Megan Frampton Megan Frampton writes historical romance under her own name and romantic women’s fiction as Megan Caldwell. She likes the color black, gin, dark-haired British men, and huge earrings, not in that order. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband and son. You can visit her website at www.meganframpton.com . She tweets as @meganf, and is at Facebook at facebook.com/meganframptonbooks.