A Whisper of Roses by Teresa Medeiros

Sabrina Cameron and Morgan MacDonnell's book




A Whisper of Roses

By Teresa Medeiros

Book Blurb:As she peered over the edge of the gallery, Sabrina Cameron trembled at the sight of the sun-bronzed giant striding into view. But she never recognized the stranger...not until the moment she found herself surrounded by arms of warm steel—and drowning in smoldering green eyes that had once held cool disdain but now shimmered with passion. Morgan MacDonnell, the boy, had been her tormentor. Now it looked as if Morgan, the man, would prove infinitely more dangerous...

Though hatred divided their clans, Morgan MacDonnell had come to Cameron Glen hoping for a truce...only to find that by evening's end the only way to avert bloodshed between the two families was for him to marry his enemy's daughter. But even as Morgan spirited Sabrina away to his rugged fortress, his battle would not be won. For this delicate rose of a girl would put up a bold fight...and the spoils of victory would be nothing less than a heathen MacDonell's heart.

Originally Published 1993

 I wanted to love this story. I really did. I was so in the mood for a "take me away to the Scottish Highlands" type of book. I have to admit, more than the first half of the book was outstanding. 

I was reading away and wondering to myself why A Whisper of Roses was not rated higher because I was immensely enjoying the story, loving the characters and totally enjoying the 1730 time period. So where did it go wrong for me? The story got really derailed and then went on far too long. A Whisper of Roses was 407 pages but it easily could have been edited down by 100 pages. In fact it if was, I think it would have been a memorable classic. Such a shame. 

The magic of Teresa Medeiros' writing was present but you can tell it was an early Mederios' style. I was swept away to the cool Highlands during a brisk wintertime season and the characters were immensely interesting but on and on the story went and then it moved in another direction. 

The Prologue was fabulous. In fact I didn't want it to end. The story started out with Sabrina and Morgan as children and the background that was written was a solid foundation for the rest of the book.

There were some great lines as well. I think this one was my favourite as it captured Morgan's personality perfectly. 

"Then with what tender phrases do you woo the lasses?" 
"Bend over usually does it."

I am glad I read it, I just wanted to love it. 

Teasers: barefoot Highlander, Pookah over the cliff, Clan betrayal, motherhood surprise

The Pleasure of Your Kiss by Teresa Medeiros

Ashton Burke and Clarinda Cardew's book




The Pleasure of Your Kiss


By Teresa Medeiros


Book Blurb:
Ashton Burke is a legendary adventurer who has spent the past ten years roaming the globe to forget the girl he left behind. His devil-may-care life is interrupted when he's hired to rescue his brother's kidnapped fiancée from a sultan's harem. Too late, he discovers she is none other than Clarinda Cardew, the very same girl who made off with his jaded heart a decade ago.

The last thing Clarinda wants is to be trapped in a palace of sensual delights with the man whose irresistible kisses still haunt her sleepless nights. Although he vows he is only doing his job, Clarinda quickly realizes that allowing Ashton to rescue her may put her yearning heart in even greater peril. In a journey that takes them from the delicious intrigues of a sultan's court to the glittering ballrooms of London, Ashton and Clarinda resume the steps of their dangerous dance only to discover the most seductive pleasure of all may be love itself.

My feelings are all over the place with The Pleasure of Your Kiss. There were times in the story I thought it was spectacular and then there were other times I was skimming the pages to get past them.

As always with Teresa Medeiros, the writing is top notch. I am a big fan of her style. I also really loved that The Pleasure of Your Kiss was a historical romance where the setting is primarily centered in a far off distant land full of camels, silks and Sultans. What a pleasure to read something different. I got all caught up with the scents of oils, the silk textures of the lounging pillows and the fresh breeze wafting up from the ocean. Simply excellent. 


Ash and Clarinda have a past relationship that dated back to when they were just children. I adore these types of stories with rich backgrounds. I can really get into couples with histories. Although Ash and Clarinda seemed to have been destined to be together and totally in love, I am not all that sure I bought into the reasons behind Ash's decision to leave her and England behind. Regardless, their young love impressed so deeply on Ash that every woman he met along his adventures, he always compared back to Clarinda. Clarinda however was extremely bitter. 


Ten years float by and Clarinda along with her socially inept best friend, Poppy find themselves kidnapped and held hostage at the mercy of the Sultan, Farouk. I really liked Farouk. Teresa Medeiros did a wonderful job setting up this character. I think he was my favourite character in the whole story. Which I think is one of my problems. Shouldn't my favourites be either Clarinda or Ash?  I wanted to read more about Farouk and his friendship with Poppy. These secondary character relationships just caught my interest more.   


Clarinda quickly bored me with her attitude. Yes I understand her young heart was broken in peices by Ash but I wished she was funny or sarcastic or something other than what was given. She did a lot of thinking to herself and hiding. I don't think she should have rolled over and simply forgiven him and I know that she was in a precarious situation being stuck at the palace with Farouk. This part is where the skimming happened. I just wanted to move forward and get over her bitterness and see what was going to happen. 


Teasers: mistaken identity massage, cucumber practice, hammam pool surprise, opium aphrodisiac elixir, 

Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros

Gabriel Fairchild and Samatha Wickersham's book




Yours Until Dawn


by Teresa Medeiros


Book Blurb:
Gabriel Fairchild's valor during battle earns him the reputation of hero, but costs him both his sight and his hope for the future. Abandoned by the fiancée he adored, the man who once walked like a prince among London's elite secludes himself in his family's mansion, cursing his way through dark days and darker nights.


Prim nurse Samantha Wickersham arrives at Fairchild Park to find her new charge behaving more like a beast than a man. Determined to do her duty, she engages the arrogant earl in a battle of both wit and wills. Although he claims she doesn't possess an ounce of womanly softness, she can feel his heart racing at her slightest touch. As Samantha begins to let the light back into Gabriel's life and his heart, they both discover that some secrets -- and some pleasures -- are best explored in the dark. 


Great deal for your Kindle. If an US resident Yours Until Dawn was free. If you're Canadian, Yours Until Dawn was still an amazing price of $2.19. I highly recommend this great limited time offer. 


Well I'll be honest and say that I purchased Yours Until Dawn because of that great deal I mention above. I follow Teresa Medeiros on Facebook and I read so many of her comments from her fans indicating that Yours Until Dawn was one of their favourites of her's so I got it. I can see why. I just loved it. 


I knew nothing of Yours Until Dawn as I didn't even read the book blurb. I had no idea what to expect but I do enjoy Teresa Medeiros' historicals so I knew with faith that it would be great. The writing was fabulous and highly descriptive. I adore the witty banter of conversation she orchestrates with her protagonists. Samantha and Gabriel entered into some simply awesome sparring moments and humourous comebacks. As Samantha was acting as Gabriel's nurse there were some laugh out loud moments that I want to go back and read. Loved it!


I could really feel Gabriel's desperation with his blindness and all the emotional turmoil that twisted inside him. From the jilted finance that left him at the hospital to his adoring family thinking he'd been better off dead rather than suffer a disability like blindness. It was unsettling to read their ignorance. 


There is a twist to Yours Until Dawn that I admit I didn't see coming. I can usually sniff out the obvious and I was pleasantly surprised to be taken by surprise. I think I was so absorbed with the fabulous story,and by not taking a moment to put my Kindle down, that I didn't see it coming. What an amazing transformation these characters go through and it was a wonderful afternoon read. Outstanding! Now I want to turn around and re-read. 


Teasers: love letters, Sam the dog, "Before, you were only a dream. Now you're a dream come true"