Lucca wishes for nothing other than to become a nun. But her father has other plans. He ships her off to Cuba for an arranged marriage. Her ship is attacked on her way and she finds herself the prisoner of Captain Morgan Scott. She puts on her nun habit hoping he will have moral issues with forcing himself on a nun. When Morgan meets Luca he is powerfully attracted to her. He does not believe she is a nun, and he is determined to find the truth and make her want him like he wants her. There were things I liked and disliked about this book, so I decided on three stars.

~I liked the fact that the book takes right off from the beginning, and the story moves forward without lagging. I finished this story in an afternoon, and could not stop until I was done. I had to know what would happen next. There's lots of action.

~I disliked the fact that the characters were flat and pretty two-dimensional, and the style of writing is very simplistic. The hero hates everything Spanish, because he was made a slave on a Spanish ship. Although he is strongly attracted to Luca, he cannot get over the fact that she is Spanish. Most of the story deals with Morgan trying to accept Luca despite her spanish heritage. This got tedious in the extreme. This woman had absolutely nothing to do with what had happened to him and it seemed like he blames her for the sins of a Spanish Crew.

Taken By You is an entertaining read. I would recommend picking it up and giving it a try.

This seems to be a rewrite of Ms Mason's Pirate, which is a much better book. I found myself skipping ahead in places and rushing through others. The story is ok and if I hadn't read Pirate so recently I may not have noticed. Others may enjoy this book very much. The rest of Ms Mason's books have been wonderful.

I really enjoyed reading this book. One thing I could describe about this book is engrossly entertaining!!!

One star is way too generous for this. Desperado (come on, Desperado?) is a chauvinist pig with no class, intellect, or respect for anyone and Chole is a complete twit who does little more than droll over said pig for the length of the book. Combine that with a complete lack of plot, and this is quite possibly the worst book I've ever read. Save your money for anything by Lorraine Heath, Kathleen Kane, Maggie Osborne, or Susan Kay Law. This one isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The story line caught my attention from the very first page and carried me through to the end without coming off as scattered thoughts and jibberish as to the hero/heroine's thoughts and feelings and didn't drag on in dialogue.

To me, the characters were interesting and believable. I love Desperado, the dark mysterious stranger who comes into town and hires on for a cattle drive, and Chloe spends the rest of the novel trying to figure out what drives him.
Connie Mason did a wonderful job in developing these characters to match wits with each other in interesting, intriguing and sensual ways. There was no dragging-your-heels in the descriptions and dialogue of this story. It was even paced and enjoyable to read.

... I highly recommend this book, it's a page-turner! I couldn't put it down!

Connie Mason has a knack for making her male leads so hot and this book was no exception. Desperado is the fastest gun in the west. He is feared and revered by so many. Chloe is about to lose her ranch to a bunch of money-grumbing people and needs a fearsome gunslinger to protect her herd as she makes her way to the market to sell them to pay her back taxes. He is hired on to help her and her herd and her hired hands not more than boys, make it to market, but what Chloe doesn't know is, Desperado has a hidden agenda. The story was explosive and full of action. I loved Desperado. He was pure sex-appeal. He was reknown for his coldness and meanness, but inside Chloe finds his heart. I don't know what it is about the way Mason writes, but her men become so real to the reader that you wish they would walk right off the pages. I loved 'Gunslinger', it's one of the BEST western romances I have EVER read.

This book would be ten pages if not for the CONSTANT repetition of phrases. Ms. Mason found herself a few key phrases she found to be terribly tricky, clever and smart ('Railroaded into marriage', for instance) and proceeds to milk them for everything they are worth, which is not a whole lot. The characters are stereo-typical and juvenile, at best, and none of them are particularly 'charming'. The plot is like the song that never ends going from one 'snafu' to the next, none of them particularly harrowing or engaging. Frankly this book could not have been worse if it TRIED. Save your money and choose something by Joan Johnston, who refrains from railroading her characters into marriage.

This is the first book of the Delany brothers trilogy, including, "To Love A Stranger", "To Tame A Renegade", "To Tempt A Rogue". This story is of the eldest brother Pierce Delany. He and his brothers have sworn to never fall in love or marry, all women are trouble, well everything is about to change when Pierce is shot by a group of vigalanties and he has to hide in Zoey Fuller's root cellar. He is accussed of a heinous crime that he didn't cimmit and has nowhere to go. Zoey finds him near death and she saves his life only to coerce him into marrying her to save her ranch from a corrupt banker. Things get out of control when the pair fall in love and Pierce refuses to acknowledge it. I loved this story. Pierce is a man hurting and capable of love, but he is afraid to take a chance. As always Connie Mason delivers an exciting story that you can't put down until you read the very last page. His younger brothers Chad and Ryan are the main characters of the next two books in that order. Chad's tale begins to take form in the last chapters of this story and continues in "To Tame A Renegade" and Ryan's begin's in "To Tempt A Rogue"....

I JUST finished reading this book about an hour ago- it is excellent! I have a ton of connie mason's books, but this one is fabulous! It never got dull or repetetive. I read it nonstop, and it is totally worth reading. Her stories are easy to get into, and they are hard to put down. BUY IT!

This wasn't a bad sequel to "To love a stranger" but it was not as strong as the first one. The antogonist was forboding but was not as all imposing as the first one. Overall It was a good read.

This is the second book in the Delaney brother's trilogy, including in order, "To Love A Stranger", "To Tame A Renagade" and "To Tempt A Rogue". This was very tenderhearted and very sweet, comparing it to the first one about the eldest brother Pierce in TO LOVE A STRANGER.

Chad Delaney is on the run from his past, a dark and forbidding one that he can't seem to shake no matter how hard he tries. He hasn't seen his two brothers Pierce and Ryan in over two long and lonely years as he hunts men down for money as a bounty hunter. During one of these jobs he tracks a notorious bank robber into the tiny town of Carbon, Wyoming. But as soon as Chad has arrived, the outlaw had fled and so has his family. Irritated, Chad decides to ask around town to see if anyone has seen him when he runs into a bedraggled boy on the streets being beaten and teased by nasty bullies. Deciding he couldn't stand there and let the boys beat on the poor helpless boy, Chad helps him. Which turns out to be a big mistake when he takes the boy home, a shantytown right on the outskirts of Carbon. A filthy and poor section where people,lives worse than animals.

Sarah Temple is in no mood for an illtempered bounty hunter coming to her door bringing her little boy, beaten and scared. She distrusts all men and looks upon Chad's handsome face with nothing but loathing. In the heated exchange that follows, Sarah suffers an accident and Chad feels responsible. Now Chad is finding himself helping the poor woman more than he ever intended. He wants to leave her behind and continue on with his own life but his almost forgotten concience compells him to stay and help her.

The longer Chad stays to help her, the more he finds out about the single mother and the way she lives. Is she connected to the very outlaw he is hunting? Will her life change his in the blink of an eye? Does he want it to? Can he trust himself if he becomes besotted with yet another destressed woman? Can his heart and soul manage the pain again? Chad soon learns that Fate has already made plans for him whether he is ready to face his demons or not...

We meet up again with all the Delaneys and we get to catch up again with the characters from the first book TO LOVE A STRANGER with Pierce and Zoey Delaney and Pierce and Chad's younger and very rogueish brother Ryan. The story is filled with non-stop action and tender scenes between an emotionless Chad trying to find his heart once again and an abandoned young woman trying to raise a little boy on nothing but scraps of food and torn clothing. It was a beautiful story of will and courage and how things will always turn out in the end. Ms. Mason brings us right into the last book in this exciting trilogy "To Tempt A Rogue" easily and with much excitement! TO TAME A RENEGADE is a sure hit and a keeper! All are sweet tales of rugged, yet gentle men from the Montana mountains...enjoy! :-)

Tracy Talley~@

This book is one of the best book I've read and I have to say that it is going to be in my collection to keep. I think Chad is such a wonderful character, although he seems to be rugged,his heart is kind. I think it is great that a book could captured a feeling such as that because like in the real world,some men are the same as Chad. This book is a must read!

This story is the sequel to Sin's story. You do see him as well as Emma in different parts of this story.

Julian is still spying for the crown and is actually the notorious "Scorpion" that is searching of for the Jackal. When he is discovered during a one smuggling excursion and is captured. He manages to escape by jumping overboard and being shot. While out walking the next day Lara (part gypsy, part Ton member) finds him on the beach and is immediately drawn to him. She gets help and takes him back to the camp where her grandmother helps to save him. At the same time the Jackal's men are looking for him. Lara claims that not only is he sick but he is her husband. Due to a bizarre set of events this actually makes them married in the eyes of the Gypsies... Interesting for a man who has sworn off marriage.

In true jerk form he doesn't believe that she is wife, that she is a virgin or that she is anything other than a Gypsy and therefore below him as an Earl. He leaves in the early morning.

Much to his surprise they meet again at a ball thrown in her favor by her father (of course Julian jumps to the wrong conclusion about why she is there). Then both her life and Emma's are in danger causing Julian to take some strong arm tactics and flee to Scotland (with Lara). Though Julian is a huge jerk throughout most of this story I really liked it and was glad to read about Julian and Emma as well as Lara :)

This book is a sequel to A TASTE OF SIN, which is one of my favorite HRN. I've always wondered about Julian, elder brother of Sinjun in the prequel. He was described as a very honorable & responsible person albeit mysterious. He live by the rules and is over protective of his family. He also have a dark personal mission. To find the person responsible for the death of his fiancee. His character here in A Breathe of Scandal is consistent but is of course more detailed. We learn more about him and he is definitely not the prude man I thought he was in ATOS. In fact, he is a very passionate man. On one of his secret mission he was rescued my a gypsy woman named Lara. She claimed him as his husband to save his life. Yes, Lara did save him from death but she also added complication to his well contained heart & well organized life. What a riot! I love Lara's character. She is no nonsense and straight forward. She knows who she is and what she wants regardless of her new station in life. Sometimes she feels she doesn't fit in outside the Gypsy world yet she adapts well and never loses her personality. The Gypsies and their way of life was an interesting read for me. This is my first book with such kind of plot & the way Ms. Mason explains and describes it makes me feel like I am inside the book. It grabs my imagination. A Gypsy woman versus a Noble sure have a big difference in their ways of living and belief. Interesting! The relationship development of Julian & Lara is heart warming. They are both full of desire despite the contradiction of their mind. There's lots of sex scenes but I didn't mind it. For me, it's written with passion. You can feel their affection and not just lust. Of course, there's always the usual confusions and misunderstanding twist but there is also some element of surprises between them.

The action and mystery line was a bit light and predictable, however since I am not much on action/mystery, this didn't bother me at all. Just thought I'd mention it here for others who prefer heavy action/mystery added on their romance books.

The appearance of the characters in A TASTE OF SIN was one of the best part for me. I love reading updates of the characters from my previous books especially if they are my favorites. The Epilogue of this book was simply perfect. It's happy, filled with love, family & children. Goose bumps alert :-)

The reason why this book didn't belong to a five star rate to me is because of the added romance of Emma and Rudy. I loved Emma's spunky character in A TASTE OF SIN and couldn't wait to read her very own story. I didn't expect her to simply be an extra piece here in A BREATHE OF SCANDAL. I didn't mind her marriage with Rudy, I think it's fitting but I would have love to read how she tamed Rudy. I just want more of her. Oh well, that's only a small niggle which unfortunately took one star out of my overall rating.

Juxtaposed with A Taste of Sin, Ms Mason's first offering from her Scottish Highlands installment, A Breath of scandal fares much better. In fact, this time she puts her spicy narration to her advantage and not just a story overload with lewd scenes to titillate as in the first novel. A Breath of Scandal is sexy but with a heart - the characters molded out by Ms. Mason brings the pages alive. Julian Thornton is the brother of Sinjun and his rigid decorum belies a secret agent identity "Scorpion". He is haunted by the phantom of his demised fiancee Diana and swears to take vengeance on The Jackal, the mastermind behind a smuggling ring and who caused the death of Diana.

On his secret mission, he fell prey to the hunchmen of the Jackal but is saved by a half Gypsy girl, Lara. From there, the attraction is set - Lara sacrifices her pride to pose as Julian's wife and to hide him from his tenacious enemy, he assumes the identity as Lara's husband, Drago. After nights of passion, Julian and Lara forged a tenuous love only to be shattered by Julian's guilt and the mismatching social status. It is only after he returns to London did he find that Lara is actually the daughter of the Earl of Stanhope.Their reunion is short-lived - with the chase of enemy behind both of them, their love would prove even more difficult....

Connie Mason sculpts the characters to finesse in this book. I was a bit disappointed with Sinjun's profligate ways last time, but Julian shows a more nuanced, mellow and resilient shade which I much preferred. The only thing was his xenophobia and parochial view on Gypsy group - even to the shallow point of thinking Lara was a loose woman. Lara - as usual is strong, brave and decisive, as with all the women characters in Ms. Mason's book. Ms. Mason does not disappoint. The passionate scenes are fiery and sensual, and complimented by an exciting plot to the finish, A BREATH OF SCANDAL is lushly scandalous to take the breath away from the fanatics.

I haven't read many of Connie Mason's books and if Lord of the Night is anything to go by I won't be reading anymore. I forced myself to read through the whole just to see how bad it would get - I wasn't disappointed. The storyline is interesting enough although a little predictable. I found Aleta SOmerset to be the most annoying romantic heroine I've come across in a long time. She comes across as spoilt, selfish, immature and incredibly feeble. Although she was described as being such in the beginning, her character just didn't develop at all. Jamie was little better - he also came across as selfish and to be honest not too bright. The ending was very rushed and tame. IF you don't want tp waste your money as I did then don't but his book

This is the fourth book by Connie Mason that i've read and it was sooooo intense. I have enjoyed every book by her and her love scenes are so vivid, it leaves you breathless. I would recommend this book.

If you are looking for a great book, read Lord of the Night. The author will make feel that you are Lady Aleta Sommerset. Imagine! At the end she will make you fall in love with Jaime.

This is an entertaining, smooth read, full of good characters, great romance, and hot sensuality.

"A Most Wanted Man" is a good story, with charming characters and a decent little "mystery." The heroine, Leanne, seems almost too good to be true, and the romance was more one of those "meant to be" sort of things than a well-developed relationship. But I appreciated the good writing and appealing characters, and the romance was very sweet (especially with the happily ever after ending).

I thought "Love Sessions" the best of the bunch. Stories where the hero and heroine know one another but are forced to reevaluate themselves and their relationship always appeal to me a lot, and Devine handles the fears of the heroine very well. Both of the characters were well-developed and very charming, and Hunter is a man any woman would want! Devine's writing style was a little out of the ordinary, but still very easy to follow, and if anything the oddity only enhanced the story.

"Promise Me Pleasure" was probably the weakest story, although I began to like it more as it went on. This is a personal preference, but "immediate hot attraction between two incredibly attractive people" stories don't appeal to me as much, especially when they involve international playboys. And the relationship seemed to be initially based too much on sex. That said, Mason does a good job of developing that relationship, and the fantasy of being "romanced" by the world's sexiest man will be enough to pull in many readers. The writing was good, and the characters attractive.

All in all, this is a good summer read. Enjoy!

"A Most Wanted Man" by Marilyn Campbell - Leanne Shepard needs some repair work done on her newly inherited home in Key West. When she hires an elderly handyman named Zachary Rush to help fix the place up, she has no idea he's really a gorgeous, thirty-three year old fugitive in disguise...

"Love Sessions" by Thea Devine - Leslie Gordon tells herself that the only reason she's bidding on Hunter Devlin at the charity bachelor auction is because a date with a celebrity like Hunter will make a great article for the magazine she writes for. When their date ends up in a secluded ski resort in St. Moritz, she isn't so sure of her motives any longer...

"Promise Me Pleasure" by Connie Mason - Stood up at the altar, Cara Brooks decides to take her scheduled honeymoon cruise anyway. She soon discovers that getting ditched was to be the best thing that ever happened to her...

This is an entertaining anthology to read on a rainy day or while lying on the beach soaking up the sun. Nothing heavy or complicated. Just a light, enjoyable read.

In 1876 Yuma Territorial Prison, Arizona Pinkerton Agent Casey Walker visits his brother Mark who was convicted of murder. Casey vows to get his sibling free, but needs money to hire the best lawyer available to properly defend Mark's self defense plea. Casey agrees to a deal with winery owner T.J. McAllister to bring his client's five-year-old grandson Tommy to him in exchange for three thousand dollars in advance.

T.J. informs Casey that his estranged son died on a cattle drive after marrying a whore Belle Parker. Though he ignored the existence of his grandson until now, he demands his heir be brought to him without the prostitute mother. Casey learns that Naomi of Naomi's Pleasure Palace has corresponded with Isabelle Henderson of Placerville, Oregon. Believing Henderson is Belle Casey heads north. Instead of a fallen woman, Casey finds Belle to be a good mother and a hardworking restaurant owner. He quickly respects and falls in love with her leading to a moral dilemma because what is best for his brother is not best for Belle or Tommy.

A LOVE TO CHERISH is a deep historical romance that contains a strong ethical quandary that leads readers to keep going until a resolution occurs though that denouement is too simplified for the honorable lead male protagonist. The action-packed story line enables the audience to see inside the gentle yet protective Belle and caring decent Casey. Though the outcome is too easily facilitated for such a complex morality tale, fans of Americana romance will want to read Connie Mason's well-written cerebral tale.

Harriet Klausner

As always I love Connie's books. She has a way with words that really brings the characters to life.

This book is set in Scotland, where the hero, Damian, an Englishman, is sent to prevent a wedding that would join two clans and possible upset the fragil peace between England and Scotalnd. The king send Damian, a landless knight to be the new Lord of Misterly & if he can prevent the wedding the land will be his. He arrives just in time to keep the heroine, Elissa Fraser keeping her promise to her dead father. He had wanted her to marry the Gordon Laird and unite the two clans. At first Elissa treats Damian like the hated Englishman he is and thinks he will be cruel and harsh with her clan and family, but she soon finds that he is a honest, caring, tender man who has no wish to hurt anyone anymore.

they soon realize the strong attraction they have to each other and the love scenes are passionate and beautiful. But there are evil forces that keep them from being together and they must fight for thier love and their very lives.

I enjoyed this book so much that I read it all in one setting. Its a fast and exciting read. I can't wait to read her new book as soon as I get it.

There is not much I can write about given that my predecessors have done so quite eloquently, I will just tell you that this book treats us to a lot of passion, love, courage and learning.

This was a great story. Damian and Elissa find love despite the tragedies that have touch both of their lives. Damian an English Knight who fought on Culloden Moor and Elissa the proud Scottish beauty who lost her father and brothers at the same battle. Despite their differences and bigotry of English/Scottish heritage they find love. Of course it is not a smooth path, but then again anything worth having is worth working for.

Don't miss this one by Connie Mason it won't let you down

I am still kicking myself for spending good money for this book. This is the first Connie Mason book I've read and will be the last. Mason tells the story...literally. There were times that I laughed out loud at some of the more intense moments when the characters are recognizing their own glowing physical attributes and sharing with us. I'm sure that Mason never intended to give this perception, but sadly that's the way it came across to this reader. Over and over and over again. The editor needs a serious reprimand for allowing this book to ever be put into print. We've all heard that the publishing industry is a beast, that it is next to impossible to get published. Connie Mason proves them all wrong.

I loved this story, but the hero was a little irritating. Thorne the Relentless spots Fiona the Learned in a pool naked on the Isle of Man after he feels a compulsion to go to the island. Immediately he is enchanted and has to have her. He is scared off but returns a year later after suffering a whole year dreaming about her and obsessing about her until he is sure he is bewitched. He is sent to kill the 'witch' on the Isle of Man. He soon finds he can't kill her, he'd rather stop breathing for he feels completely under her siren spell and must have her.

Fiona is no witch, she is a healer. Since she was small, her friend and teacher Brann, has told her she will be captured by her future soulmate, a Viking, on a raid. She is appalled and aghast. She isn't sure Brann is correct, but when Thorne shows up and takes her to his homeland. She soons realizes she is indeed his soulmate and can't understand how Thorne will accept this since he firmly believes she is a witch and has cast a spell on him.

The history here is excellent and is accurate. You get a real life glimpse into Viking life and how they were. I liked Fiona and Brann, but Thorne quickly got on my nerves. He continuously believes that she is a witch and has cast a spell on him. He also believes EVERYONE else besides Fiona when things happen, even a known murderer and liar. The story kept me turning the pages regardless of how Thorne got on my nerves, lol, Connie Mason is a superb writer and this story is worth the read...

Tracy Talley~@

This is the first book I had ever read of Connie Mason.I found that I couldn't put the book down. The characters of Thorn the Relentless and Fiona the Learned were made very well, and the love scenes were amazing. If you see this book in stores, pick it up and read it because it will blow your mind, like it did mine. It is surely a keeper.