Tuesday, September 25, 2012

K.I.S.S. & TEAL: Reading for a Good Cause

Last year, AVON did a K.I.S.S. & Teal promotion featuring several wonderful books, where the purchase of the books earned a donation to the research and prevention of ovarian cancer. This year, they have even more great books for the cause, and I've already read four of them without even trying. I'm sure these are already on your autobuy list, but in case they are not--

A LADY BY MIDNIGHT (Tessa Dare): Another of the Spindle Cove series, this book charmed me from beginning to end. I had had a crush on Captain Thorne ever since he was introduced in the first book. He's so gruff and well, thorny, how could I not immediately fall for him? It's in my M.O. Tessa Dare's series have gotten better and better, and I really adore this series. Her style is lush and lyrical, and I finish each book wishing I could write a love story so beautiful. And funny. Lord, the woman is funny! That duel scene? I nearly fell out of my bed, cackling. Tessa just writes men like men...or at least how we see them. Lovable and occasionally ridiculous.

SINS OF A VIRGIN (Anna Randol): She's a bit of a newcomer in romance, but I think she's on the make to become the next big autobuy. Her writing voice is sharp and her vocabulary is a dream. You feel immersed in her world-building just from the language alone. She loves strong heroines and the kind of heroes we cut our teeth on with Julie Garwood. In this novel, our heroine--a notorious courtesan--is selling her virginity to the highest bidder. The hero has been hired as protection and as an investigator to the men who are bidding for her to make sure they can pay up. He agrees, as some of the men he'd be investigating are men he needs to get close to to unravel the mystery of his sister's death. Let the games begin. Anna Randol is making a name for herself for stories of strong heroines and espionage. Enjoy!

THE UGLY DUCHESS (Eloisa James): This woman hardly needs an introduction. Should I just cut this short and just say buy it already? Okay. Still, it doesn't hurt to add that you'll love adding this fairy tale to the rest of your Eloisa James' fairy tale collection. I always loved the ugly duckling and was always very glad that it was proved that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so take that, high school!

THE WAY TO A DUKE'S HEART (Caroline Linden): Caroline Linden is a bit of a new autobuy for me, but she is awesome. I have adored this series about whether the duke and his brothers would be found to be illegitimate and have to give up their life as they know it. I fell in love with the serious middle brother...and was charmed by the youngest, and I admit, I probably cared the least about the actual duke, Charlie. But this was a delightful book of redemption on his part, and a lovely heroine named Tessa who had once been betrayed by some ne'er do well. You have to read it just to enjoy how she handles the betrayal from the ne'er do well. It's worth a fist-pump!

There are also a couple other K.I.S.S. & Teal books part of the campaign (mysteries/thrillers), but I haven't gotten to read them so I can't offer any opinions. However, I do recognize the names and am sure they're also autobuys. :) 

Have you gotten to read any of the K.I.S.S. & TEAL books this year? What are you reading now? Any new autobuys on your lists?

7 comments:

Maureen said...

I was just looking at EJ's book today and will upload it ASAP.

Now, there are mysteries in this program? Hmmm, I'll have to look for them!

Janga said...

I haven't read the Randol yet, but all the others are winners. The Ugly Duchess is my favorite of EJ's fairy tale books. I love Griffin's story too. I really did just smile all the way through "Seduced by a Pirate." It was sheer joy to read it.

I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but Mischief and Mistletoe, the Christmas anthology from the Word Wenches is waiting on my Kindle. I don't think I've ever seen an anthology with stories by so many of my favorite authors.

Terri Osburn said...

I've read Eloisa's and she never lets me down. I do want to read Tessa's, but I have to finish the first and read the second in the series first. But I'm like you. As soon as she introduced Thorn in the first one, I was excited to read his story eventually.

I picked up a Caroline Linden book and it turned out to be from 2009. Might be her first, not sure. But I read the novella that introduced the current series and then never got my hands on the actual novels. Must rectify that soon. Hadn't heard of the Randol but that is high praise from you so I'll add her to my list. (If only that list wasn't as long as my sidewalk. *sigh*)

Hellie Sinclair said...

Mo, yes, there are mysteries. A Wendy Corsi mystery, I believe; and a Mary-something-Clark? See, I don't read mysteries. I just don't know. I just know when I saw the names, they were STARS.

Hellie Sinclair said...

Janga, I always love Eloisa's books. *sighs* Good stuff. I'm not overly a fan of anthologies--I like being immersed in a story rather than rushed through it, but I've read some really great short stories in anthologies and love it when I can have several of my favorite authors together. :)

Hellie Sinclair said...

Terri, I still vote for Tessa first. I cannot believe you haven't read the other two books. *LOL* They're so funny! And romantic! Gah!

JulieJustJulie said...

THE UGLY DUCHESS by Eloisa James is sitting on my coffee table right now! Just getting a chanch to read it. I would have finished it already but I got waylaid by Hellie Sinclar’s charming Suffragettes.