Jenn LeBlanc's Blog, page 13

His at Night – Sherry Thomas

"Love is hottest in the darkness before dawn.

Elissande Edgerton is a desperate woman, a virtual prisoner in the home of her tyrannical uncle. Only through marriage can she claim the freedom she craves. But how to catch the perfect man?

Lord Vere is used to baiting irresistible traps. As a secret agent for the government, he's tracked down some of the most devious criminals in London, all the while maintaining his cover as one of Society's most harmless—and idiotic—bachelors. But nothing can prepare him for the scandal of being ensnared by Elissande.

Forced into a marriage of convenience, Elissande and Vere are each about to discover that they're not the only one with a hidden agenda. With seduction their only weapon—and a dark secret from the past endangering both their lives—can they learn to trust each other even as they surrender to a passion that won't be denied?"

- Goodreads Blurb

This was a lovely book, an intriguing and fresh story. O loved the characters and their independent difficulties with the world they live in. The journey these two characters make to get to the HEA is extremely well written, difficult and satisfying in the end.

I loved the premise of the idiot, it was an incredible trick. It created amazing moments between the characters, not to mention the moments when he is out of character, so to speak.

I loved the drunken midnight scenes, I love the fact that the alcohol is far from glamourized, but the treatment of his personality made for some incredibly powerful and meaningful scenes. It was wonderful how she was able to bring in this über personality to a character that already had two personalities to begin with. I absolutely adored this.

Overall I thought the book was well written, the dialog was good, there was a bit of the past info dump at the end, and I thought perhaps some of the info was completely useless, but it all worked well in the end regardless.

Never wanted to throw the book, no eye rolls, laughed out loud at least twice, and no WTFckry.

 

I checked this ebook out from the Denver Public Library and read it on my iPad using Bluefire Reader

Filed under: historical romance, review Tagged: His at Night, historical, novel, review, romance, Sherry Thomas

Trading Cards!

Yep! You saw that right, Romance Trading Cards. I'm in.

I will have cards at the big release party (that you are going to right?) and at RomCon in August.

If you would like your own set of cards and can't get to the opening or RomCon I'll make them available here sooon.

I can't wait to add Lilly and Perry to the fray, but we'll see how these go first, shall we?

Until then here is a preview of the cards:

FRONT:

BACKS:

YAY! Check out all the other trading cards here:

Filed under: Illustration, Images, News, The Novel Tagged: beauty, book, cards, Derek Hutchins, freebie, HEA, historical romance, illustration, images, Jenn LeBlanc, love story, model, novel, photography, romance, romance trading cards, sexy, studio, torso, trading, Victorian, vintage, wet

Cowboy Take Me Away – Kathleen Eagle

"Her camera didn't lie.When photographer Skyler Quinn first fixed her lens on gorgeous cowboy Trace Wolf Track, she liked what she saw but didn't give it much thought. Until everywhere she went—the rodeo, the Double D Wild Horse Sanctuary— there he was, and the heat between them built to the boiling point.

As a widow struggling with debts and loyalties from a former life, Skyler needed to stay focused, especially if she wanted to achieve her dream of becoming a mother. Was Trace a fatal distraction, a mere summer fling? Or did this younger man—so deep, so passionate—hold the key to a future that would make all her dreams come true?" 

-NetGalley Blurb

First off that cover is a photoshopped nightmare. I hate when they do that. That guy was probably walking, nowhere near a horse, by looks of it. But that is generally not within the control of the author, so I digress.

This is my first Kathleen Eagle book and I very much enjoyed it. This was a nice easy read, though the banter, at times, was hard to follow and I had to go back and reread passages to figure out who was talking when since all the he said she said was missing. I don't mind that left out unless it gets in the way of the story and, for me, it did.

The only other thing that bugged me, like, eye roll bugged were the characters names. They were just too cliché for me. She already had us in a mindset of a country song with the title so a popular country music singer's name stuck out for the hero, and her name, well, whatever.

The story started off quickly, settled into its pace and kept going easily. It was a quick and painless read, a nice easy story except for the bit of tension over a lie which I would have considered unforgivable, but the characters didn't. I thought it was actually honorable how it wasn't treated like something completely blown out of the water between them in the story line, but rather a stumble they took care of in their paces. It was believable, even though I, personally, would not have handled it that way.

The technical aspects of the story were believable, as a photographer there were certain words that irked me, but I'm a professional and this woman was, at best, an amateur with no training looking to up her hobby game, so the terms were acceptable.

SORT OF SPOILER BELOW:

I did not like that at the end he seemed to be the only one giving everything up for her. But I don't like people who give up anything. I like them to find a way to come together without one of them giving up. Maybe in the end, after the final scene he doesn't end up giving in, but at the point we read the end, he does.

Overall I enjoyed the book. I might not read it again, but I never wanted to throw it across the room, it held my attention later into the night than I should have let it, I only rolled my eyes twice (once for each name) and there was no WTFckry.

A good story.

This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley for review.

Filed under: review, western contemporary Tagged: ARC, ebook, epub, love story, review

The Iron Duke – Meljean Brook

"After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.

But when Mina uncovers the victim's identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans-and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen, as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke."

-Goodreads Blurb

Wow, wow. WOW. Wait, let me compose myself a second. W O W. I was floored by this novel. Just blown away like a feather by a fire cannon. I have never read any kind of fantasy romance beyond vampires and a few shapeshifters, but when Jane Litte (@Jane_L) of Dear Author kept talking about this book I added it to my list. I figured I love the Victorian Era, and steampunk costuming is just beautiful and amazing. I would LOVE to illustrate this novel. Oh yes I would…but I digress.

I was worried about reading it. Seeing steampunk and understanding the detailed descriptions seemed worlds apart in my minds eye. Like watching sports live versus listening on the radio. It is all just a jumble of mismatched words to me with a few shouted GOOOOAAAALL!!! at the end. (Which I assumed would be the giggly-bits in the book, of course)

ANY WHOO…THIS was not THAT. I was hooked in the first 20 pages and I wasn't lost or confused like I feared. The personalities leapt from page amidst a world so conceivable I was in it, coughing and sputtering along with the bounders. Meljean's descriptions of the characters are so subtle, yet so very powerful and speaking, that you don't even realize you've been given a description until later, when it dawns on you— oh he would never do that because when they met he…OOOOHH!! Yeah, like that. To the point where at times I would put the book down and say out loud "Damn she's good."

Meljean Brook didn't tell me anything. NOTHING, Everything was shown. The tension building was so well drawn, so very well drawn, and so very within character. He is so damned cocky, and he lives up to it to the final page. He never switches tack, and neither does she. They never give an inch of who they are in their core, in order to be together. They never discuss what must be given up.

I would love to go on about this book. But there are so many more qualified people to tell you about this book in a true review sort of way. I just can't give that to you.

Let me just tell you how hooked I am, because I am…hooked. Line and sinker. Done and undone.

I bought this book for 50% off at a closing mall Borders. I plan to also buy the eBook, as I lent my copy to a friend and I miss it already.

Filed under: review, steampunk Tagged: Meljean Brook, review, romance, steampunk, The Iron Duke

The Perils of Pleasure – Julie Anne Long

"A rescued rogue . . .

Scandal has rocked the city of London. Colin Eversea, a handsome, reckless unapologetic rogue is sentenced to hang for murder and, inconveniently for him, the only witness to the crime disappears. Then again, throughout history, the Everseas have always managed to cheat fate in style: Colin is snatched from the gallows by a beautiful, clever mercenary.

A captivating captor. . .

Cool-headed, daring Madeleine Greenway is immune to Colin's vaunted charm. Her mission is not to rescue Colin but to kidnap him, and to be paid handsomely for it. But when it becomes clear that whoever wants Colin alive wants Madeline dead, the two become uneasy allies in a deadly race for truth. Together, they'll face great danger—and a passion neither can resist."

-Goodreads Blurb

I am very quickly becoming obsessed with the writing of Julie Ann Long. The descriptive writing, the small details and nuances of movement and thought, the incredible tension she builds, the beautifully crafted moments of pure intimacy all make for such incredibly wonderful stories you can't peel yourself away from. This book was no exception.

This is the second of her books I have read, the first escapes me at the moment, but the next will be her latest release What I did for a Duke, and I also have a hardcopy of Since the Surrender.

Everything about this book was wonderful. No eye rolling, no WTFckry, no french toast. AH maze ING. I was constantly stopped in awe wanting to nudge someone and say 'oh em gee! Did you SEE what she did there? All it was, was a slight turn of the head but OH EM GEE!! Do you see how much went into that!?!' Seriously, the people on the elliptical trainers at the gym next to mine were the ones in Peril. I laughed out loud a few times as well. It doesn't end there, however. The dialog is so DAMN GOOD. Like, holy crap I wish I was that quick on my feet GOOD.

At any rate, this hasn't been as much about the book as it has been about the style and that is merely because my iPad ate my original review, and my brain has moved on (as it does). So I am left with the mere impressions of the novel. I will re-read this one, but not before I read the others. I am avidly scratching my claws at every title I can .

I own my very own copy of The Perils of Pleasure. Purchase for my iPad through the iBookstore, because I prefer that interface. Something I LOVE LOVE LOVE about the iPad? turned the last page of the book and it took me to the authors page in the store. How is that for marketing? Ding ding ding! SOLD!

Filed under: historical romance, review Tagged: historical romance, Julie Anne Long, Pennyroyal Green, review, The Perils of Pleasure

Harper's Bride — Alexis Harrington

A lovely story, I enjoyed the journey both characters made to getting to their HEA. The end got a bit frustrating with the 'stuff' that we all know won't ultimately keeps them apart, but does for awhile. I think that's why this was closer to a 3.5 for me. I just really hate when there is more internal waffling than there really needs to be.

We heard all the arguments throughout the book, so by the end it gets to be an OKAY! I GOT IT! They'll never be together! SURPRISE ME! ugh. I actually glazed over the last 20 pages or so because I wasn't interested, and the little wrench she tried to toss in at the end didn't fool me either, she had us believing Harper to be a strong, noble, upstanding man, why would she then try to convince us he wasn't? If she had done her job to begin with (which she did) we wouldn't believe it (which I didn't) and the only outcome to that is: an eye roll.

However, that being said, I would read this again. I really came to like both of the main characters, I enjoyed the interplay between them and the baby involved. I don't think I have read a romance with a baby involved before the fact. So that was intriguing, and while it could have gone very much awry, it didn't.

So overall enjoyable. Didn't toss it across the room, rolled my eyes only once, and no WTFckry.

Filed under: historical romance, review Tagged: Alexis Harrington, Harper's Bride, historical, review, romance

Courtesan's Kiss — Mary Blayney

This book was enjoyable and I really like to write my reviews right after reading as my brain is quite adept at moving on to the next best thing —oo shiny!!!— yes like that, I need to write it for the third time. I wrote it, but my iPad didn't update it, and (yes stupidly) rewrote it and once again, well here we are. So let's see if I can remember what I wanted to say.

This book is a solid 3…3.54978265

I really liked these characters. I loved that she managed to get his character across primarily from her thoughts on his actions as opposed to his internal maundering which can be SO popular with romance novels. It was refreshing not to hear from him for a good part of the beginning of the novel except very briefly.

I quite enjoyed this story. The thing that dropped the rating to a three, for me, was what seemed like an uncomfortable…coupling. Yes. The sex, after all of the sex talk in this book, what with the courtesan obsession and the house they stayed in, etcetera, I expected MORE from the sex scene. I'm not saying length or breadth I'm saying depth and scope. (let the giggles commence) Now back to it. With all the emotion roiling through these two their coupling ended up being a bit of a disappointment, There was so much riding on it that when all was said and done, it felt more like a yadda yadda yadda.

Now, I did not through my book across the room, after all I was reading on my iPad, but I wouldn't have anyway. What I DID however was drop the book to the bed with a loud "What the french TOAST!!" Yeah, I did.

One other thing that bothered me was the confusing beginning, I understand (NOW) that this is part of a series and others will I know the multitude of names thrown around, but I did not and it made for some very confusing moments after which I simply moved on and hoped it didn't matter. Ultimately it didn't, which was nice, but then why bother to begin with.

Anywhoo. Liked it, a lot. Didn't want to throw it across the room, no eye rolls and only one french toast. Recommended.

Filed under: historical romance, review Tagged: Courtesan's Kiss, historical romance, Mary Blayney, review

You are cordially invited…

 

 

Filed under: Illustration, Images, News, The Novel Tagged: ebook, epub, freebie, historical, illustrate, illustrated, illustration, images, invitation, Jenn LeBlanc, male, model, party, photography, portrait, release, romance, romance novel, sexy, Victorian, vintage

PRE ORDERS!

I am so excited that the limited edition of my novel is available for pre-ordering.

But more than that, it's almost finished and off my desk. This project has been so incredible I am absolutely amazed that the end is in sight!

This print edition is not for the weak of heart, as a fully illustrated, made to order novel it is a bit pricey (I know!) But the intention of the novel is distribution primarily as an Ebook, so the print edition is merely for the collector.

It really is beautiful, and I can't wait to get my final edition with my signatures.

Every single copy ordered will be signed and finished by hand. These last few hardcopy editions are a labor of love.

So buy the book. The ebook is STUNNING on an iPad, but if you would really like a treat, get the print edition.

If you order before March 28, your copy will be sent on April 8th, release day, with a few very special extras only for the pre-order set.

After April 8, 2011, delivery will take approximately two weeks, for printing and finishing.

http://illustratedromance.com/informa...

Future consideration

I was in the studio yesterday for a wreck the dress shoot. For those who don't know, it is a popular after wedding shoot in which we do exactly what we say. We wreck that darn expensive heirloom you purchased to wear once. (dresses wrecked are done so with permission of the bride of course)

I shot a wedding last summer for the author of a national Zombie website: The Inevitable Zombie Apocalypse. So it seemed only reasonable we turn his bride into a zombie.

But I digress. It had me in a mind for future studio work, and the upcoming studio shoot for my second novel, about the Rake. If you've read the Rake and the Recluse: the recluse, you are looking forward to the second book. If you haven't read it…please do (and since you are reading this post I'll give you a special discount, 40% enter ZOMBIES at checkout) and then you'll understand how much my readers are looking forward to the story of Perry. Ah Perry. What is it about a rogue that draws us so?

Anywhoo…since quite a few of the preview images from the novel have been cut, I thought I would put one of them up here for you. Because I LOOVE it so.

Filed under: Illustration, Images, The Novel Tagged: color, couple, historical, illustrate, illustration, images, Jenn LeBlanc, lighting, lights, love story, male, man, model, romance, Ross Elliott, sexy, studio, Victorian, vintage