Book Description
A successful Web designer, forty-year-old India has a fabulously hip life in Denver and a sexy Irish lover in New York who jets out to see her on bi-weekly visits. The long-distance romance suits India just fine: Though Jack is the only man who has ever made India feel truly alive, she doesn’t want things to get too serious. But then her father passes away, and India must honor the promise she made to him: to look after her mother when he’s gone.
Suddenly India finds herself back in Colorado Springs with the woman who both intrigues and infuriates her. Eldora is sixty something and exquisitely gorgeous, but her larger-than-life personality can suck the air out of a room. True to form, Eldora throws India a curveball, insisting that they hit the road to look for India’s twin, Gypsy, a brilliant artist who lives a vagabond’s existence in the remote mountain towns of New Mexico. It looks like India can’t avoid her mother’s intensity any longer, especially after she discovers stunning secrets from Eldora’s past.
Thirty years ago, Eldora regaled her twin girls with glamorous stories about her days as a Las Vegas showgirl– stories of martinis and music at the Sahara, back when Frank and Sammy ruled the town. But the story of how she really ended up in Sin City, and the unsavory life she’d run from with her daughters in tow, is full of details she’s never seen fit to share–until now.
As mother and daughter sail down Route 66, the very road Eldora drove those many years ago, looking for Gypsy, while passing motels, diners, and souvenir shops, Eldora must relive a lifetime of memories that have tormented her before she can put them to rest once and for all. . . .
Award-winning author Barbara Samuel brings us a heartfelt story of second chances and unexpected detours. As two women come to terms with themselves and each other, the past unravels and the future spreads out before them like the open road.
Customer Reviews:
Lady Luck's Map of Vegas.......2007-03-12
This is a very fun read. I enjoyed the information in the book as well as just a chuckle from time to time.
Never judge a book by its cover.......2007-02-19
Never judge a book by its cover is so true of titles and the characters in this book untill you get to know them. Barbara Samuels writes a wonderful story about people you really care about and want to know better.
Loved it........2006-09-21
This fast-paced novel takes mother and daughter, Eldora and India, down Route 66 in search of India's schizophrenic twin sister, Gypsy. India is not pleased to leave her work and long distance lover, Jack, to take her mother on a road trip down memory lane in her mother's cherished 1957 Thunderbird. But she promised her father before his death that she would take care of her mother, and so she agrees to the trip hoping that the time on the road will help her to reconcile issues in her own life and also to help her make the most important decision of her life. Eldora, who has been living with the regrets and mistakes she made many, many years ago, wants to make peace with one daughter as she searches for the other one. Eldora is faced with revealing her true self to India and in the process risks losing her daughter forever. Both India and Eldora each tell their own story as they travel the same fateful route they took several years ago and try to reconcile their past to their present and dare to hope for a future but ultimately discover that in life and love there are no guarantees.
***** I thoroughly enjoyed Barbara Samuel's heartwarming story of a mother and daughter who both dare to risk their current tolerable relationship for a chance to really understand one another. The realness of these two characters makes the reader feel deeply connected with what both India and Eldora are facing. This novel needs to be a movie because India and Eldora's stories would be wonderful played out on the big screen. I highly recommend taking this real and endearing and ultimately hopeful journey with India and Eldora along Route 66. *****
Reviewed by Barbara Stabler.
WOW!.......2006-06-01
One of Samuel's best. This book made me laugh out loud and cry, the need a box of Kleenex, don't try reading on the elliptical kind of cry. I read it on one day and immediately wanted to read it again. The realness of the characters amazed me. I felt like I knew these people. I loved this book!
Wanted: Strong Women.......2005-03-26
I'm always so impressed with Barbara Samuel's novels, and Lady Luck's Map of Vegas is no exception. Samuel, who lives in Colorado, writes about women in the western United States who may have had family problems, but resolve them, or find a way to live with them, by the end of the books. I checked out her website at www.barbarasamuel.com, and she has also written a number of romances, some under the name Ruth Wind. But her women's novels are the ones that impress me - No Place Like Home, A Piece of Heaven, The Goddesses of Kitchen Avenue, and, now Lady Luck's Map of Vegas.
Forty-year-old India is a successful web designer with a large circle of friends. She also has an Irish lover that she sees monthly, Eldora, her widowed mother who can be demanding, and a schizophrenic twin sister who disappers into the unknown periodically. And, she's pregnant.
When India's mother wants to take Route 66 from Colorado Springs to Las Vegas, she reluctantly agrees to accompany her, fleeing the truth and her own doubts about her pregnancy. As they hunt for Gypsy, India's sister, along the route, Eldora reaches into her own past to reveal secrets she has covered up about her life.
Once again, Barbara Samuel has written of two women coming to terms with the results of their own actions. It's a strong, beautiful novel.
Book Description
In the first book of her exciting new Andersen Hall series, Sari Robins delivers another delightful and fast–paced Regency romance full of emotion and liveliness that is sure to delight her fans.
Customer Reviews:
Give this book a chance - I think you will enjoy it !.......2007-03-29
It took me a few chapters to really get into and understand the plot of this novel but once I did - I really enjoyed this book. The basics of the story is that Lillian is pretending to Dillion's mistress to be protected from her evil father (not biological) and help give Dillion a good image since he is gay. The plot does a great twist when Dillion is accused/framed for murder by Lillian father and Dillion's brother. Lillian hires Nick to gather information and clear Dillion. As the reader to know the 'who done it' but how Nick undercovers the plot is a lot of fun. Of course Lillian and Nick hit it off - you will love how Lillian talks Nick into working for her....
One Wicked Night or Two.......2006-08-16
In Sari Robin's "One Wicked Night" Lillian Kane is determined to prove her "protector" can't be responsible for the murder of another woman, so she enlists Nick Redford--the ex bow street runner turned private investigator that she's been fantasizing about since meeting him in a dark garden. He wants nothing to do with the case at first, but she finds a unique way to convince him and once he's on the trail he's apparently like a dog with a bone. Unfortunately, the story also includes another dog; the Queen's kidnapped pug, Lancelot. The story digresses from the main plot line here and I'm really not sure why. Suffice it to say, Nick finds the dog (was there any doubt?) and we're back on the main path again, working to prove that Dillon couldn't have murdered anyone and that Lillian's evil (aren't they always) stepfather was really responsible. I enjoyed the other Andersen Hall stories, this one not so much. I liked Nick, but didn't find Lillian that easy to relate to and I thought the villains were mediocre.
It started so well...........2005-08-13
even ignoring the class differences and Lillian's unaccountable acceptance by the ton...But then... along came the queen's dog. From that moment on, this book became a farce. It was so often downright silly. I swear, that dog-napping plot was one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read! Several times, I almost threw the book across the room in disgust -- and I never mishandle books.
Without that disgusting subplot, the book would have been enjoyable despite its aforementioned historical defects. But the plot and the characters actions and dialogue during that were some of the most horrid stuff I've ever read. If you read Robins, get this one from the library so that you have additional background for More Than a Scandal -- and I do like Nick -- but you either have to wade though the disgusting dog plot or skip that section. Actually, the latter may be the better idea; then the book woun't be totally spoiled for you. 1.5 to 2 stars. Could have been more without the *(*&#&^%^ dog.
a pleasant read..........2004-12-14
unlike some of the other reviewers I enjoyed this book. The hero is a decent, hardworking ex-bow street runner who now has his own agency. The heroine, a "lightstocking", a woman who is being kept by a lord as a mistress. The villans are truly villanous, the supporting cast are fun. Yes, some of the story is inplausible but it IS romance people. Just relax, and enjoy yourself:) I've read better but many more that are much worse. At least B++ sex, likable cast that you'll want to win, and great ending. If you like regency with a twist, then give this book a try.
Guarding Lancelot.......2004-10-06
I read the book. It was O.K. I did not like the fact that there was not a little more distinctions in the social classes. Lillian was (as far as the Ton was concerned) a fallen lady, but she was portrayed more like a young widow. Nick was working class, but except for a brief scene in the beginning, he was always treated like a peer of the realm. I also agree that some of the dialog was a bit modern. It was a good read, the setting just didn't feel right.
The only other problem I had with this book is the whole scene with the queen's dog. You know one of my favorite movies is called Guarding Tess. It stars Nicholas Cage and Shirley MacLaine. There is a scene where Ms. MacLaine is kidnapped by her driver in conjunction with his sister and her husband. Mr. Cage realizes that the driver committed the crime based on wounds on the driver's person. He then threatens the servant with physical violence if the whereabouts of Ms. MacLaine is not revealed. Ms. MacLaine is later found on the in law's farm buried in the ground dehydrated and dirty. Sound's familiar?
Average customer rating:
- not quite perfect ending to the series but still good....
- A great series overall, too bad this one had such a rushed ending, with no epilogue
- A good read, but sadly not what I had hoped for..
- Like fast food: it is only momentarily satisfying.
- Wickedly Compelling
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The Wicked One
Danelle Harmon
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Harmon, Danelle. | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
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England | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
Regency | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
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Gothic | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
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The Defiant One
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The Beloved One
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The Wild One
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Wicked at Heart
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My Lady Pirate
ASIN: 0380809095 |
Book Description
The bluest of blood; the boldest of hearts; the de Monteforte brothers will take your breath away
Meet Lord Lucien
The head of his noble family, the dark and dangerous Duke of Blackheath spends his time manipulating other lives without giving a thought to finding a wife of his own. Yet Lucien must admit he finds exquisite Eva de la Mouriere most intriguing. What adventurous, red-blooded male would not be intrigued by a flame-haired beauty who appears in his chambers demanding that he make love to her? Certainly this hot-tempered minx would make a delightful bedmate -- though surely not a bride.
Eva knows Lucien is the cause of all her current misfortunes, Yet he refuses to be humiliated. But the worst betrayer is her own heart. No match for Lucien's seductive mastery, Eva craves the blackguard as she's never craved another, She must resist this rogue, but how long can she deny her own passion -- or Lucien's blossoming genuine love -- in the face of his scheming family's successful attempts to force a wedding?
Customer Reviews:
not quite perfect ending to the series but still good...........2007-06-23
Of the 4 DeMonteforte books-this one was a little bit of a letdown(a 4 star) in contrast to books 1-3, which I felt were 5 stars. I think my main problem is that the author had made the hero and heroine so flawed and "anti-hero"-that the book was too rushed to get them back on track and better explanations of why they behave the way they do.
Knowing that this is the last book that this author has published-and this one was let out 2+ years after book three-I just got the feeling that the author was rushed, by herself or the publisher, to get the book out so the series would be complete. It was also interesting that this book had more bedroom scenes-in fact it seemed like the characters fell in love through the sex. I think if more time would have been spent in the relationship between all the characters than the book would have been 5 star.
It's also sad that there's not a longer epiloge and that there will be no future books with some of the other characters, especially the final DeMontforte, Nerissa.
I do hope that one day Miss Harmon will come back to writing as she does have talent.
4 stars-recommend if you've read 1-3 to get closure in the series. Otherwise I'd say skip it.
A great series overall, too bad this one had such a rushed ending, with no epilogue.......2006-01-08
I loved this series, and I think that each of the DeMontforte brothers is dashing in his own way (Charles was my favorite), but this last book, which should have been the crowning accomplishment to the whole series, was lacking in the last few pages.
The ending was hurried, and there should have been less of the Lucien story & more of his sister's story. His story is wrapped up pretty neatly, but her story, which should have been it's own book, was hastily dealt with in the last few pages. This is the only thing that kept me from giving this book 5 stars. We should have been able to see her get together with her sweetie and there should have been a decent epilogue to finish the book & whole series off. Instead, we are told, not shown, what happens. I felt cheated, really. It felt short, snippy, and like the author just wanted to be done with the whole thing, which was sad.
In short, I think most readers of the series could have written the last chapter better & wrote a decent epilogue as well.
Still, this would not keep me from reading her previous works, prior to the writing of this mostly great series.
A good read, but sadly not what I had hoped for.........2003-06-08
Oh how I was looking forward to this book. I loved Lucien throughout this series and I was so impatient to get to his story. Well, I hate to say it, my heart breaks to admit it, but I was disappointed in this book. Thats not to say it was a bad book, its just that it wasnt what I wanted it to be. First of all..I had one hell of a time liking the character of Eva..she was OK, but nothing special. Lucien was sweet and I adored him, but I felt like the only way to truly appreciate him was to know him from the previous books. I think readers who dont know him from the earlier stories may not like him . My main complaint with this book, however, was the fact that a lot of its plot clung to the rescue of Perry and Nerissas relationship. I think that Nerissa should have gotten her own book...and I definitely think that this subplot took the spot light off of Lucien and Eva. All in all..this WAS a great book, but to fully appreciate it, I highly recommend reading it as part of the series..(In order they are The Wild One, The Beloved One, The Defiant One, and The Wicked One)
Like fast food: it is only momentarily satisfying........2002-01-29
Harmon is to be given credit for creating a series in which each book and its characters are distinctly different. Unlike Stephanie Laurens' Bar Cynster series (which is generally wonderful, but unfortunately each hero is nearly identical), each couple in this series is unique and there is a theme holding the series together: the machinations of the eldest brother Lulcien. On its own this book, would rate 4 stars, but as the culminating book in this series on the de Monteforte brothers, it is a disappointment and therefore I gave it only 3 stars. All through this series, I had been eagerly anticipating the story of the seemingly-Machiavellian Lord Lucien and his comeuppance. The set up in The Defiant One (my favorite of the series) was well done and led me to think that The Wicked One would employ both a devious and worthy heroine and lush love scenes (after all, Lucien and Eva were stealing an aphrodisiac from each other). Instead, the heroine is foiled with little effort, becomes a shadow of her former self and the 2 first love/sex scenes between Lucien and Eva are unsatisfying and cut short. It would be one thing if those scenes served as a teaser to a wonderful and revealing physical and emotional encounter, but unfortunately they do not. The scene in which Eva leaves Lucien and the two end up in dire physical straits due to an avoidable accident, seems forced. In addition, the series-long relationship between Lucien's sister Nerissa and her beau Perry has never been fully explicated and although that relationship played a pivotal role in this book, it was unsatisfying. I thought the author missed the boat on this book: the aphrodisiac was not well employed as a deus ex machina, the sex scenes did not live up to the possibilities, and the characters' spy work was not employed to its full potential.
Wickedly Compelling.......2001-08-19
The Wicked One is very provocative read, an absolute "can't put down" story. Reading this wonderfully romantic, sensual tale of love and intrigue, I couldn't tell who was the wicked one, Eva or Lucien. I am still not sure. WHAT A READ!
Customer Reviews:
Irish cowboy falls for enemy's widow and child.......2007-04-10
OK, he's raises horses not cows, but in my mind he was all cowboy! This was a sensual read with some spicy pages to tantalize. It's the story of two people's struggle for love and survival, who also have a past that doesn't seem to let them go. It was a bit predictable, and does require you to stretch your imagination a bit as the bad guy doesn't come across all that bad, but overall a very enjoyable story.
I was up all night and could not put it down!!!!!.......2006-10-23
What an honor!!! How ironic is this. I'm an author of a controversial memoir and is doing a book signing in Holyoke Massachusetts. In walks this gorgeous and vivacious person who asked me to autograph my book and said she liked to support fellow authors. A half hour goes by and this beautiful woman, hands me a bag from the bookstore and says I purchased you a copy of my latest romance novel and autographed it personally to you gave me a kiss and ran out the door.
Last night I stayed up and read the entire book and got hooked on her writing style. Boy do I wish I was the character of the handsome horse trainer.
Thank you, Elizabeth Keyes, a.k.a. Mary Lou...
Much Love,
Dennis J. Schleicher
Author of Forbidden Love with a Married Man; E-mail Diaries
Customer Reviews:
Was this a first draft?.......2000-09-20
I was bored, bored, bored with this book. After seeing so many 5 stars from reviewers, I looked forward to a good read. Unfortunately, the formulic plot, inspid heroine, dashing but tortured hero made for a long, long, read. Lady Serena, who married an old geezer who can't consumate their marriage (now in its third year) asks her to take a lover to beget a heir. Serena spend practically the whole book prosing morality and that was boring. Anyway, she and Lucien meet and get together (physically) in a good scene but that is about it. Her husband is murdered by his heir, the evil Alastair. Lucien marries Serena and even though it is obvious they have more than great physical chemistry, the book is one scene after the other of mis-communication and their inability to relate as a couple. Oh, let's not forget Alastair and his never ending sting of attempts to kill Serena. Don't adle you brain with this book. It would have been a much better book had Serena and Lucien married and tried to build a marriage together, and then try to deal with Alastair. In the end, Serena is not very bright and really, quite the shrew. Also, Lucien's ex-wife was just another waste of story line. Should have left her on the continent.
I didn't enjoy this at all............2000-08-29
Am I reading too many historical romances lately? Probably. Am I getting too jaded and picky? Probably not. I read only highly rated Amazon books because I haven't got time for mediocre or poorly written ones. But my advice to you is: don't trust all of the 16 favorable reviews written here. I agree with the few that said this book was definitely flawed. Serena and Lucien, the main characters in One Wicked Night, are flat and 2-dimensional. They are in constant denial, denial, denial about their feelings toward each other. The few scenes that had a glimmer of sensitivity and compassion are immediately marred by an abrupt reversal of feelings or actions. Take this for example: Serena whispers, trembling:"I killed him." Lucien answers: "He deserved to die". Immediately it's OK, so she says: "You're right. I'm not sorry." Give. Me. A. Break. There were other scenes just as shallow. Don't waste your time on this poorly written little book - go for the gusto with books like China Bride by Mary Jo Putney or Fia, The Ravishing One by Connie Brockway. You'll enjoy them soooo much more than this. And after all, who's got time for books that aren't really great?
Annoying heroine and time-worn plot sink this book.......2000-06-19
Been there, read that. This book is so full of cliches it sinks under the weight of them. Serena Boyce is married to an aging, impotent duke who insists she take a lover to give him the heir he needs in order to prevent the dukedom from going to his slimy nephew. Pious, self-righteous Serena means to refuse, but after being rescued from Lucien, Marquess of Clayborne, she finds she can't resist him. They make love, she conceives, the duke is murdered. At this point you might expect Serena to be grateful for Lucien's insistence that they marry. He wishes to protect her, but fearful ad nauseum ad infinitum of being perceived as wanton as her mother, Serena balks. I didn't like Serena. In addition to acting "too stupid to live" on more than one occasion, her over-the-top moral stand becomes old in a hurry. I liked Lucien a little more, though his insistence on seeing Serena in the same light as his first wife, continues far too long. I never understood what Lucien saw in Serena to make him want her so much. When she isn't melting in his arms, she's cold, haughty and so self-righteous you want to throw something at her. Like this book.
An Exciting New Author!.......2000-04-11
For the past thirty years, I have been an avid reader of Regency romances/historicals and have lately found most authors seem unable to put their finger on the nuances of tone, conversation and behavior that make a Regnecy so special. The reviewer who called this book longwinded obviously has no appreciation for any of these things! I'll bet also she hates all my favorite authors; Mary Balogh, Catherine Coutler and Stephanie Laurens. If you like any of these people GET THIS BOOK. I was so pleased to discover this exciting new author, I've become a devoted fan. Serena and Lucien held me spellbound as they overcame mistrust, betrayal and murder to ultimately find love.
Serena's elderly husband asked her to take a lover to conceive and carry on his dukedom. Serena refused--until she met a wonderful, lonely Lucien. After an amazing night together, Sernea is stunned by her ill-bred behavior and flees. Lucien searches for his mystery maiden until he discovers she is married to a much older man. He feels betrayed by her duplicity but cannot forget the way she moved him and eased his grief over the death of his young daughter. When Serena's husband is murdered and she realizes she carries Lucien's child, Lucien forces her to wed. He wants to protect her from her first husband's killer. He also wants her for himself. What follows is a wonderful example of love in bloom!
I finished this book in one evening. I'm hoping to see more of this author's brilliant work soon!
A paperback soap-opera.......2000-03-30
At the ripe old age of 23(!) a pretty, none-too-bright duchess has given up hope of ever having a child. Her doting husband tells her to take a lover, since he is incapable. After a few half-hearted protestations she does so, and so starts this soap opera that supposedly takes place in Regency England. It features a divorced hero (he and his ex-wife are still, unbelieveably, seen about in society) who had a daughter named Chelsea (Chelsea?) and a typically froth-at-the-mouth villian out to stab, burn, ravish, and stab our poor heroine (in that order). The poor old duke is conveniently done away with, the marriage of convenience inevitably occurs, and the heroine is stupid enough to believe what the ex-wife decides to tell her. Despite the plot, the writing is good, although a bit flowery. If you like soap opera, aren't fussy about historical details, like your heroines sweet and blonde and your heroes dark and brooding, then you should enjoy this.
Product Description
Multiple books shipped as one item. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.
Product Description
Multiple books shipped as one item for your convenience. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.
Average customer rating:
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One Wicked Night
Noelle Mack
Manufacturer: Aphrodisia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Adult Fiction | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
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Made for Sex
ASIN: 0758217730
Release Date: 2007-12-18 |
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- Nicholas Nickleby (Penguin Classics)
- Orientalism in Art
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