Don't Tempt Me! by Loretta Chase

Loretta Chase’s new book Don’t Tempt Me got rave reviews receiving an A- and a DIK designation from All About Romance and 4 ½ stars and a top pick from Romantic Times. It was also recommend in Library Journal. So with all of those recommendations I went and bought it. I would have anyway as Chase is an autobuy for me but all of these recommendations made a trip to Borders imperative.
When I first started reading the book I thought what in the world are all these reviewers raving about. But not long in to the book I realized what a great story this book contains. It has great characters, a good sense of place, a very different scenario and a little bit of mystery.
Zoe Octavia Lexham was the 8th child of Lord and Lady Lexham. From the beginning she was a rule breaker and was often called “The Bolter.” Lucien de Grey, the Duke of Marchmont was always able to find her. Until one day 12 years before this story takes place she disappears while on a family trip to Greece. Now she has turned up on her father’s doorstep and none will accept her as it turns out that she has been the second wife of a favorite son in a harem so according to Ton standards she is in disgrace. Lucien takes matters into his own hands and makes sure that she is once again accepted into society.
Lucien and Zoe’s developing relationship is at times funny and very poignant. Chase uses humor to good advantage in this book and I ended up loving both hero and heroine and cheering them on. Zoe’s family, other than her father, were not nice people, always thinking of themselves and never giving Zoe the support and acceptance she needed.
I have liked all of Chase’s books and even though at the beginning I was disappointed I ended up really liking Don’t Tempt Me. I highly recommend it. I gave it 4 ½ stars!

What Happens In London by Julia Quinn

I just finished reading What Happens in London and I loved it! As usual Quinn manages to create great characters and using her sense of humor comes up with another fabulous book. In addition to using her sense of humor she manages to create some real tension and intrigue in this book. It kept me on edge right up to the end! I have to say that some of the scenes between Harry and Olivia were very funny.
I remember Olivia Bevelstoke from Quinn's earlier book The Secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever. Olivia and Miranda were best of friends and Miranda married Olivia's older brother. Olivia comes into her own in this book and she is certainly different from the usual tonish debutante. She is bright and has a great sense of humor and is comfortable with who she is.
At first I thought Harry Valentine was a little weird! But I really liked how he accepted Olivia for who she is and didn't expect her to change, even though they got off to a rough start. Harry was different and very bright. His childhood left alot to be desired but because of his grandmother's influence and his friendship with his cousin Sebastian he was able to overcome that and become a whole person. He ended up being my favorite character.
I loved their method of communication and I thought the proposal scene was very funny and tender and quite romantic.
The secondary characters such as Sebastian Grey and Prince Alexi were well developed and they played an important part in moving the plot along. I can't wait to read Sebastian's story which will come out next year. I am wondering if Harry's brother Edmund will eventually get his own book.
This book got a DIK (Desert Island Keeper) rating from All About Romance and 4 stars from Romantic Times