REVIEW: THE ILLICIT LOVE OF A COURTESAN BY JANE LARK

Synopsis
Trapped under the reign of a cruel keeper, Ellen Harding longs to be free. Under his oppression, her soul and conscience have died while her body lives on, fulfilling his dissolute desires. She is empty—a vessel—deaf to the voice of morality and blind to shame.

When her eyes are drawn to a beautiful man for no other reason than his looks, she imagines what it would be like to escape her chains for a night by giving her body to him.

But Edward Marlow is kind and gentle when he touches her, and her subconscious whispers, this man could be her salvation. Yet how can he help her when she has secrets which prevent her freedom?

Edward is restless, lonely, and a little angry with his lot in life—it is his only excuse for being drawn to another man’s mistress. The woman’s dark hair and pale eyes are striking, and he cannot take his gaze off her while she watches him over the top of a fan with an illicit intent in her eyes.

Once he’s known her, he cannot forget her, and once he’s seen the evidence of her supposed benefactor’s brutality, he wants to help her. But how can he when she will not run any more than she will speak of her past?

When a desperate Ellen finally relents and shocks Edward from his sleep, he doesn’t hesitate, he helps her flee. He just doesn’t know he’s running headlong into the secrets of her past.

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Erin's Review
 Jane Lark does a beautiful job telling this story. It has a bit of everything, a dashing hero, a damaged heroine, a secret she must keep and a man that will do anything to make her his. 
 There is so much more to Ellen than meets the eye. She is forced in to her lot through the most heartbreaking of circumstances. Left alone with no one to turn to, she did the only thing she could to survive. 
 Her keeper is a cruel man. He does not love her. He keeps her in a guilded cage to bring out only when he sees fit, not knowing the woman underneath the facade she portrays. 
 Edward Marrow is the responsible one. He has been keeping up with his brother's estates ever since his trip gallivanting across the globe and Edward is a bit angry. Ellen draws him in and he can't get her off his mind. He wants her, all of her and damn the consequences. 
 Ellen has tried to protect her secret for so long she finds it hard to trust Edward, but she is left with no choice. Together they face what appear to be insurmountable odds to fight for those they love. And the odds are many, from the scathing eyes of Edward's brother to Ellen's formidable father. Ellen is character that you will fall in love with. You don't feel pity for her, you want to avenge her lot in life. Can she win Edward's family over? Can they forget her past and move on? And can her and Edward finally have the happiness they so truly deserve? 
 One has to read to find out, and uncover all the secrets and intrigue that surround our couple as they forge a new beginning.

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Midnight Heat by Haley Whitehall

Midnight Heat
Haley Whitehall

Living in St. Louis, Missouri is a nightmare for Allison. It is 1868, but for her slavery never ended. After enduring years of abuse, she reaches her breaking point. She sees a fiery death as her only escape. She did not expect to live through the night, but George came to her rescue and changed her plans. Now she has a chance to fulfill her dream of falling in love and having a normal relationship with a handsome black man. But will he accept her with her baggage and the dark secrets from her past?

At eighteen, George is ready to make his own way in the world. He leaves his brother’s farm and gets a job as a roustabout. Working on the Mississippi River gives him the freedom he craves. Going ashore one night he sees a shack along the waterfront on fire. He never expected to find a beautiful colored woman trapped inside. Protective instincts kicking in, he instantly wants to be her man and take care of her. 

Will he be able to gain her trust and love or will the memories of Allison’s painful past burn their relationship to cinders before it has begun?

Excerpt

“I saved a good spot for us,” he said, motioning for her to follow him.

A spot for us? He freely threw around the supposition they were together—which they weren’t. Still, she didn’t protest. She wasn’t sure she wanted to be closer to him, but she knew she didn’t want to push him away. They picked their way around the maze of barrels and crates, and poor and colored passengers to an area surrounded by cotton bales.

“Some privacy,” he said, a glint in his eye.

Why did they need privacy just to sleep? She gulped air. Or did he have something else in mind?

He lay down first and then patted the deck next to him. Sleep weighed heavily in his brown eyes, but the light remained. Was he happy because of her?

She sunk to her knees, her back to him.

He reached up and massaged her shoulders with just the right pressure. “Ah,” she said, “keep going.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She couldn’t see his face, but she could hear the smile in his voice. “You’ve been ironing a long time. You’re tight.”

“Yes,” Allison said. George worked his way from her shoulders down her back. She should tell him to stop. She didn’t know where this would lead, but it felt so good. Instead of telling him to keep his hands to himself she whispered, “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

There George was again. Having a conversation with her where he barely said a sentence. Of course she wasn’t much for making conversation either. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to express her feelings. Good grief, she didn’t even understand her feelings.

George finished her back rub and scooted away from her, giving her space. His shoulders probably ached, too. Lifting crates and barrels all day was hard work. He’d seemed pleased though when they returned from seeing Mrs. Brown and said they had hired a new fireman. He took simple satisfaction in being a roustabout.

Shifting her shoulders, she twisted her back and felt all the tension drain away. No more knots. She stood and George quirked an eyebrow.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” she said in a playful tone. She knelt behind him and reached for his broad shoulders.

“Allison, you don’t have to. I didn’t expect an exchange.”

She laughed. Silly man. All men expected something for themselves even if they didn’t admit it. “You need a massage, too. And I’m happy to help.” She paused, working her way from the outside of his shoulders to the middle between his shoulder blades. She had never seen a man so toned. Through his coarse cotton shirt, she felt the definition of every muscle. “Were you praying a minute ago?”

“I guess.” George hesitated and wetted his lip. “I always wish to see my mama again. I don’t even know if she is alive.”

Allison frowned, feeling his pain. For being such a strong man he had a gentle soul—and kind eyes. “I’m sorry about your mama.”

“It’s all right. I know you don’t want to, but I don’t mind sharing my past.”

She took her time massaging his back. His heat nearly burned her fingers, only a little fabric separating them from his skin. Her hands dropped lower, closer to his waist and he sighed. It was tempting to reach around and touch his front, to feel his chest.

As it was, her folds moistened, her body betraying her attraction. This close proximity sent a lightning bolt straight to her core, waking every sleepy nerve. She stopped before she caved and took it too far. Lying on her side next to him, his chest was less than an inch from her back. He didn’t touch her, but Lord she wished he did.

GIVEAWAY: Haley Whitehall is giving a copy of Midnight Heat away to one lucky commenter who answers this question: What is the most difficult thing you've done for love?  Please make sure that you leave an email to be reach at. 


Sarah's Review: 

Thanks to Haley Whitehall again, for reaching out for a review on the first one of this series. This is the second book in the series and it is about Frederick's brother George.  

George decides it is time to leave his brother's farm and go out on his own.  After he leaves, he happened to be in the right place at the right time and saved Allison's life.  The journey that George and Allison face and take is one that had me rooting for the two of them even more than I thought.  

My heart broke at some points for the two of them but every couple goes through trying times in their relationship at some point in time.  

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Midnight Caller by Haley Whitehall

Midnight Caller
Haley Whitehall


Life without love is painful, but in 1865 forbidden fruit can be deadly. When a wealthy widow decides to enjoy her new-found freedom, she puts more than her reputation on the line. An unwanted suitor means to have her, or no one will. From sizzling sex to life-threatening danger, the intrigue will keep you turning the pages of Midnight Caller, Haley Whitehall’s sizzling new romance.

When Emma Bennett’s husband dies in a carriage accident in 1865, she is released from her loveless, controlling marriage. Now she has a chance to find happiness and raise a family. But before she begins courting again she wants to experience her freedom. At the advice of the leading socialite in town, she takes a black lover to fulfill her sexual needs. His raw, masculine power awakens feelings she didn’t know existed. After the first touch she craves more.

Frederick works as a roustabout by day and moonlights as a prostitute. He knows better than to fall in love with his white client, but Emma enchants him the first time he calls on her. To keep them both safe, he works hard to put up barriers. Unfortunately, he can’t protect Emma from the slimy Mr. Hawthorne, who wants her as his bride. Frederick vows to keep her safe even if his forbidden love costs him his life.

Content Notes: Hot

Excerpt:

Emma reached across the table and tentatively held his hand. Her warm skin and soft touch sent a lightning bolt to his core. Lust consumed him. He craved more. He wanted to feel her bare chest rub up against his. To see her eyes brighten by the throes of passion, to hear her moan.

What was wrong with him? He was yearning after this delicate creature before they even got to the bedroom. Never before had a woman—white or black—gotten to him like this. She is a client. Control yourself.

He pressed the coffee cup to his lips and focused on the taste of the dark liquid. He rolled the acrid drink in his mouth before swallowing, grasping at any distraction.

“Why do you do what you do? I mean this.”

Her absurd question sounded sincere. Frederick nearly choked on his coffee. “For the money. I’m saving for a house.” He didn’t want to spend his entire life on the river. He wanted his own land. One night with a woman earned him double the pay for a day’s work on the steamboat.

“Oh,” Emma said as if she expected a different answer. She unwound her small fingers from his large hand. Uncertainty played across her face.

He held his breath, his insides pressed together. Was she going to send him away?

Finally, her lips settled in a smile. “Shall we go to the bedroom?”

“As you wish, ma’am.” He managed to sound casual despite his hardening cock. When he took off his clothes she’d find out in an instant how attractive he found her, how much he desired her, the power she held over him…

Already his thoughts had moved past coffee and to his delightful business. He couldn’t wait to see her naked, know the curve of her breasts, let his hands roam her hips. He’d laid with a lot of women, but never one as young and as sumptuous as this one.

“Strip to the waist and sit on the bed.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Frederick pulled off his shoes, and then he folded and piled his coat, vest, and shirt neatly on the floor before sitting on the edge of the mattress. The attraction between them was strong and undeniable. He was a bee and she was a beautiful rose. He was sure her nectar would be delicious, if only he would be granted a taste. Whether he would be granted a taste was in her hands. She was paying for an experience, and it was his duty to give her whatever she wanted. It wasn’t in his nature to submit, but the sight of her beauty as she stood before him with that glow in her eyes, made it more bearable.

He knew his job after more secret trysts than he could count and fell into his role easily. He genuinely wanted to please Emma, though. He sensed her hesitation. He hoped she’d muster the confidence to play her part.

“Spread your legs.” Emma walked into him, standing between his splayed thighs. She traced every muscle in his chest. The pads of her fingers gently caressed him, almost teasing. He tightened his stomach muscles, but was unable to prevent a tiny shudder.

Her smile widened, revealing a row of perfectly straight teeth. A thrum of pleasure rushed through him. He wanted to wrap his arms around her but resisted. He had not been given permission.

GIVEAWAY: Haley Whitehall is giving a copy of Midnight Caller to one lucky commenter who leaves the title and link to your favorite interracial or African American story.  Please make sure she can contact you by providing your email.

Sarah's Review:
Thank you to Haley Whitehall for reaching out and asking us to review her book.If she hadn't requested a review, I would have never found this story or the subsequent stories that follow. 

This story is set in 1865-1866 and if you like historical romances, then you may enjoy this one.  This story discusses how even after slavery was abolished, people still treated African-Americans.

I really have to be a in certain type of mood to read historical romances because I have remember that the times have changed.  However, this one caught my attention and kept it through out the whole story.  As a matter of fact, I told Erin that she may enjoy it to, since she is usually our historical romance reviewer.

I liked these characters instantly and I thought that Emma had a secret within a couple chapters, but I was not shocked by the surprise.  I have suspicions about Emma's husband death not being an accident.

Wednesday w/ WNY author: Patricia Bond

By Love's Honor Bound

Patricia Bond

2 sentence Facebook blurb:

Someone is killing Conductors on the Underground Railroad one by one.  With a cellar full of runaways, Olivia Mathieson must decide - is the handsome Fenton Pierce-Smythe savior, or traitor?

Back cover blurb:

Someone is killing Conductors on the Underground Railroad one by one. With a cellar full of runaway slaves, Olivia June Mathieson must decide - is the handsome Fenton Pierce-Smythe savior or traitor?

Both Fenton Pierce-Smythe’s fiancee and grandfather were killed when runaway slaves spooked their horses. Determined no one else will face that pain, he hunts runaways to return them safely to their owners. But can he remain unmoved by their plight? And unaffected by the beautiful woman who risks her life to lead them to freedom?

Excerpt 

1860

God, it was awful.

The whiskey was bad enough, and the stench of sour ale, unwashed bodies, and horse hung in the air like a sail in a calm, but this caterwauling could bring a strong man to his knees.

The girl was pretty, Fenton acknowledged. Remarkably so. She had blond ringlets, brown eyes, and a pair of delicate rosy lips pursed in an invitingly kissable shape. But, the noise coming from them was enough to make one wish for a fence full of toms serenading their lady love.

He closed his eyes and raked his fingers through his hair, praying for the singing to stop. Fenton Pierce-Smythe considered himself a patient man, unflappable and usually tolerant of his fellow man. Truly, though, this was testing even his limits.

Temperance songs were far from popular fare. Especially in taverns. Reactions ranged from drunken jeers and catcalls to being ignored. Fenton admired her courage though, both for her attempt to redeem the souls of his fellow patrons, and for her actually singing with that voice. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, wishing he had the guts to put his fingers in his ears instead.

The singing came to an end, praise God. He opened his eyes to see the object of his fantasies heading his way with a coffeepot. As she approached, the color of her eyes became clearer, a deep, rich brown capable of drowning a man as surely as sable invited one’s touch. Many souls had been lost for less. He watched her serve coffee at the next table. Then she was right there, standing by his table.

“Save your soul, sir, and give up the devil’s libation.”

He raised a brow and looked from his glass to her face, then slowly smiled. “Only if you’ll stay with me and keep me from temptation.”