Jul 3, 2025 | 2025, Blog, Harper St. George, July 2025
𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐤𝐞 (The Doves of New York) 𝐛𝐲 Harper St. George is a historical romance with characters that are strong, resilient, resourceful, and when they fall … they fall hard this book is for you! Set in London in the year 1878 inside you’ll find…
✔ An American Heiress
✔ A bodyguard who knows how to defend and protect
✔ Strangers to Lovers
✔ Forbidden Love
✔ Fights for social issues
✔ The carriage – OMG … the carriage!
✔ Secrets … so many secrets.
✔ Will do anything to take care of those you love
Eliza Dove is an American Heiress hoping to find love…but will she be able to avoid a scandal?
The underground of Whitechapel will change everything for Simon Cavell where fists rule and one bet can make you rich or leave you penniless. I loved the grit and danger that Eliza and Simon find themselves in as they uncover secrets and defy expectations.
Love does not care about social status, class, or wealth. Two strangers will discover what happens when honor, obedience, and duty impact more than just their happiness. What will they risk for love? Who will do the right thing? Will follow their heart?
This captivating slow burn spicy read has exploration is more explicit between characters that may include dirty talk, detailed intimate moments, or suggested desire of what they would like to do with their partner. This moment might also be expressed before, during, or after intimacy, spicy e-mails, letters, or texting.
Readers can expect multiple detailed scenes or moments that leave no doubt there is a medium level of heat.
If you are looking for a summer read filled with tension, passion, and plenty of spice this is a satisfying read. I can’t get enough of Harper St. George and I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait to find out what happens next! With all the secondary character arcs one can hope there will be more adventures soon.
Thank you Berkley Publishing for this advance reader copy for an honest and fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
💬 𝐐: 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 book 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝?
Books I Love A Latte participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchase. If you click on the link and purchase the featured book and/or anything else during that shopping session, Books I Love A Latte will receive a small percentage between 2-6%. Any profit earned from this transaction is given directly back to readers via giveaways (gift cards, books, etc.)
Thank you in advance for your continued support.
Thank you in advance for your continued support of my 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫-𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐬 & 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬.
Jan 19, 2024 | 2024, Blog, Harper St. George, January 2024
Book Review: The Stranger I Wed (The Doves of New York) by Harper St. George is full of tension, struggle, hope, and love.
If you love historical romance with characters that are strong, resilient, resourceful, and when they fall … they fall hard this book is for you!
This is the first book in the new series The Doves of New York and is connected to her Guilded Age series. However, it can read read as a stand-alone. There is also plenty of time to dive in and discover Harper St. George’ backlist before this book releases in April.
However you decide to read … this book has
✔ An American Heiress
✔ The fairest earl of them all
✔ Marriage of Convenience
✔ Strangers to Lovers
✔ Lavender
✔ Fights for social issues
✔ The mirror – OMG … the mirror!
✔ Secrets … so many secrets.
✔ Will do anything to take care of those you love
✔ Slow burn that Scorches ☕🔥🔥🔥🔥
A marriage of convenience that’s unconventional.
Two strangers will discover that you can be friends, lovers, and more with your spouse.
How far would you go to save those you love, protect your name, and find a love that can stand the test of time?
I can’t get enough of Harper St. George and I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait to find out what happens next!
This slow burn scorches. There are multiple intimacy scenes, some may be “extra spicy” and/or graphic. Some scenes might include a dash of “tie-me-up-tie-me-down” play such as light bondage or sex toys as characters explore their curiosities and desires.
Thank you Berkley Publishing for this advance reader copy for an honest and fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
💬 What is your favorite trope?
Books I Love A Latte participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchase. If you click on the link and purchase the featured book and/or anything else during that shopping session, Books I Love A Latte will receive a small percentage between 2-6%. Any profit earned from this transaction is given directly back to readers via giveaways (gift cards, books, etc.)
Thank you in advance for your continued support.
Thank you in advance for your continued support of my 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫-𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐬 & 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬.
Oct 4, 2016 | Asa Maria Bradley, Blog, Octboer 2016
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I am delighted to join you today to chat about one of my favorite things: Vikings! Being born and raised in Sweden, I was introduced to Norse mythology through childhood picture books. I loved the stories of Odin and Freya and the other gods who lived in Asgard. And later on, my seventh grade history teacher noticed my interest and shared his favorite books with me. In my Viking Warriors series, I combine my love of Norse mythology with my love of paranormal romance to write about brave immortal warriors who have been sent back to Midgard—where mortal humans live—to protect contemporary humanity from Loki and his evil minions. And they of course happen to fall in love in the process.
Vikings and Valkyries have inspired a slew of story tellers, from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Ring trilogy to the History Channel’s TV show Vikings, Norse mythology and history is showing up in a lot of our pop culture. So why don’t we dish about our favorites?
Nïx the Ever-Knowing aka Nucking Futs Nïx in the Immortals After Dark series.
Kresley Cole’s paranormal series is an auto-buy for me in large part because of Valkyrie Nïx who alternately charms, confuses, and frustrates the other characters with her prophesies and unsolicited advice. I love the comic relief the character supplies, but also the mystery and increased tension she brings to the page.
Who are your favorite Vikings and Valkyries?
If you are a fan of Viking stories, I hope you check out my Viking Warriors series and also Tales of the Valkyries, an anthology of Viking short stories I collaborated on with Gina Conkle, Harper St. George, Anna Marklund, Emma Prince, and Lisa Hendrix. The anthology is free right now across all ebook retailers.
Book Info from Sourcebooks:
Title: Viking Warrior Rebel
Author: Asa Maria Bradley
Series: Viking Warriors, #2
ISBN: 9781492618874
Pubdate: October 4, 2016
Genre: Paranormal Romance
She can’t let him discover…
Immortal Vikings are among us
Astrid Irisdotter is a Valkyrie—a fierce warrior fighting to protect humanity from the evil god Loki and his brutal minions. She’s on an urgent mission for her queen when everything goes hideously sideways. Undercover agent Luke Holden arrives on the scene just in time to save her life—and put his own on the line.
Luke may have saved her, but that doesn’t mean Astrid can trust him. Tempers flare as they hide secret upon secret from each other, but Astrid’s inner warrior knows what it wants…and it will not take “no” for an answer.
VIKING WARRIOR REBEL Excerpt
Astrid’s boots echoed against a shiny marble floor as she crossed the Denver hotel lobby. The male clerk on the other side of the check-in desk watched as she approached, appreciation glinting in his eyes. The man’s gaze dipped low and swept up her body before meeting her eyes again. Astrid sighed at the predictability of the mortal male, but still increased the wattage of her smile.
The man’s eyes widened. “Welcome. Are you checking in, Miss…?”
“Idrisdotter, but call me Astrid. It’s probably easier.” She gently lowered her large duffel bag to the floor. Her smallsword was in its scabbard, wound up in layers of clothing. It wasn’t likely to make a sound as the bag hit the floor, but the weapon was her favorite and had been with her for a long time.
The clerk’s glance moved to her cleavage as if pulled by a magnetic force. “Ah, let’s see what type of rooms we have available.” He swallowed loudly.
One free upgrade and a short elevator ride later, Astrid unlocked the door of a luxury suite. The expansive windows covered one whole wall and offered a splendid view of the Denver downtown skyline and the Rocky Mountains beyond. Snowcapped peaks rose dramatically against a clear, blue spring sky. It reminded her of the mountains at home, although their tops were more rounded, more worn down. The Scandes, the mountain chain between Sweden and Norway, had been old even when she was a little girl thousands of years ago. And still, they had appeared gigantic to that little orphan thrall girl who had almost no one looking out for her.
She shook her head to get rid of the memories of how powerless she had been when she was a slave. Instead, she strolled into the bathroom, humming appreciatively to herself when she saw the large sunken tub with jets. She turned on the hot faucet and dumped a whole mini bottle of bubbles into the bath. It had been a very long time since she was that dirty, little thrall girl who didn’t even own the rags that covered her body.
She didn’t go to excess now, but she made sure to appreciate the simple pleasures in life. At least, that’s what she told herself. There was probably some deep-seated psychological reason why she felt cleaner and prettier if the soap she’d used was expensive, but why waste time figuring that out? It was more efficient just to spend the money. She shed her clothes and sank into the hot, fragrant water.
A contented sigh escaped her lips as the warmth soothed her travel-worn body, easing the ache in her tense shoulders and stiff back. She sank in deeper, fully submerging. As she blew out her breath under water, more tension left her body, but a small knot of anxiety remained in her stomach. She couldn’t afford to relax fully. Couldn’t afford to screw up. She’d been making too many mistakes lately and gone too far over the edge into battle fury. Twice, one of the Vikings had to knock some sense into her before she had her rage under control again.
Then there’d been that night where she almost killed a human. It went against everything she stood for. She had been chosen by Freya to protect the people of Midgard. If she didn’t do this mission right and bring back her queen’s brother, she might as well not return to the Norse fortress.
* * *
A while later, Astrid checked her reflection in the hotel elevator. She planned to visit a well-reviewed French restaurant a few blocks from the hotel. She smoothed down the simple black dress she’d brought especially for the restaurant and turned sideways to see if the dagger strapped to her thigh would show in profile. Twisting a few degrees more, she adjusted the silver belt she wore around her waist. Two throwing blades slid sideways into the back of the custom-made belt, their decorated hilts blending perfectly with the inlays of turquoise and lapis lazuli.
It took only a few minutes to reach the restaurant. The maître d’ assured her the table she’d reserved would be available shortly and suggested she wait in the bar. Astrid walked the few steps up to the bar, which was raised half a level above the restaurant’s main floor. She ordered a glass of her favorite first-growth Bordeaux and inhaled its aroma before savoring her first sip. Sighing contently, Astrid perched on a high stool as she let her gaze roam over the patrons enjoying their dinners.
She went for another sip of wine, but froze with the glass halfway to her lips. One of the men across the room looked familiar. He was in half profile as he spoke with his male dinner companion. It couldn’t be Holden. No way would he be here in Denver. She’d avoided him and his club ever since that night she’d been high on battle fever and, as a result, had gone down a wide road of poor choices due to lack of impulse control.
The memories of Luke Holden’s calloused hands heating her skin had her suddenly blushing.
As if he knew she was looking at him, the man turned and their gazes caught across the room. She’d recognize that blond hair and those steel-gray eyes anywhere. She knew how the one-day stubble of that square jaw felt against her own skin. How those arrogant lips could deliver the most scorching of kisses. Heat spread through her body as other body parts perked up at the memory of their last encounter.
Holden quirked an eyebrow and raised his glass to her in a silent greeting, a cocky smile stretched across his lips.
Astrid turned her head away, tipped back her own wineglass, and drained it.
Get you copy here:
Viking Warrior Rebel (Viking Warriors Book 2) $3.82
Bio:
2016 double RITA finalist Asa Maria Bradley grew up in Sweden surrounded by archaeology and history steeped in Norse mythology, which inspired the immortal Vikings and Valkyries in her paranormal romances. She arrived in the U.S. as a high school exchange student and quickly became addicted to ranch dressing and cop shows. Asa currently resides on a lake deep in the pine forests of the Pacific Northwest with a British husband and a rescue dog of indeterminate breed. She graduated from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers program at Eastern Washington University with an MFA in creative writing and also holds an MS in Medical Physics from University of Colorado. Visit her at www.AsaMariaBradley.com, or follow her on Twitter @AsaMariaBradley.
Social Networking Links
Website: https://www.asamariabradley.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsaMariaBradley.Author
Twitter: @AsaMariaBradley
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13754069.Asa_Maria_Bradley
Preorder Link: https://www.amazon.com/Viking-Warrior-Rebel-Warriors/dp/149261887X
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
10 copies of Asa Maria Bradley’s first book, Viking Warrior Rising
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Feb 8, 2015 | Blog, Collection, February 2015
Take a look at a few “Spicy” reads and discover some fabulous tales… Just a reminder that some of these are tales are shorter than others but are a must read and a must own collection! Also, there is a running theme that all of the stories in the collection involve a wrong number and are between 5,000-7,000 words. Just enough to whet your appetite for more!
As Premier: A Collection of Romantic Tales from Romance Writers of a America is a sampler of some amazing writers, the stories in this review have M/F and M/M stories. Since I keep my reviews clean, I have a rating system only for these posts to let you know how sensual the books are. I will still review it but again, keep it clean with just enough details that you’ll hopefully want to read it.
All of these tales have a range of hot peppers and my pepper scale is as follows:
For full on no holds barred and go for it sensuality & situations
For NSFW, NSF Metro, proceed with caution it’s pretty hot and may offend
Just enough sizzle to make you tingle
Definitely for mature audience, 18+
I’ll leave it up to you dear reader to determine where these rate on your scale.
Ravished by the Geek by Vicki Lewis Thompson is a super hot, super sexy, super Geeky read that is absolutely fabulous! When Vivian accidentally sends a scene that she’s written to her friend at work, but accidentally sends it as well to the other Jamie “Jamie Two” – at work, she assumes he’ll delete the message. What will she do when she discovers that not only did he read it, but that he can’t stop thinking about it? Thoughts of her desires consume him. Now he just needs to show her that he isn’t the Geek she thinks he is. If you are a fan of Vicki’s Nerd Series then you will be screaming for more when you are finished with this little treat! Hopefully we will see more stories with a Geek or two :).
Hard to Breathe by Sylvia Day is hot and spicy! What’s an angel to do when she’s fallen for her Commander? Cadet Annalise can’t be in Commander Gareth’s squadron and needs to remedy the situation fast. Realizing that she’s unable to be near him and perform her duties that are worthy of a great Angel, she requests a transfer. However, she omits a few pieces of information and hopes that no one finds out the truth. Unfortunately, no matter how well you disguise the truth, it always surfaces. What happens when her feelings are exposed? What will Gareth do when he learns the truth?
If you love paranormal romances then you will love this scorching tale of a conflicted angel and the Commander she can’t let go. Sylvia Day is a master when it comes to showing us deep characters with lots of layers and hearty appetites!
Flying in the Face of Convention by Lex Valentine is a steamy M/M story about a college crush re-connected in the most unexpected place. Trey Beaumant assumed that he’d never see Jordan Smithson when he graduatied from the University of Washington. Both men played on the same football team and never said a word about their sexual preferences. Trey had always hoped, but wasn’t sure. So when fate tempts him with a second wedding invitation, addressed to Jordon, for the same friend’s wedding in his mailbox, he must now face his past.
When did Jordan move into his building? What were the odds they would end up on the same floor? Was he married, single or in a relationship? There was only one way to find out and it starts by knocking on Jordan’s apartment door. What happens when they stand face to face and recognize each other is unexpected. Their responses are exciting and heated as they discover the truth about their sexual preference.
This is the first time I have read a story from Lex Valentine and thought her writing was passionate and her characters believable. It’s always refreshing to read a new author and if this genre is what you are looking for then you won’t be disappointed.
The Fallout by Harper St. George refreshing, sexy and loveable story of two misunderstood young adults. For four years, Elena Black has had radio silence from her husband, Dexter Thomas Harrington. A man born into wealth and groomed for success. When his lawyer visits Elena at her lab in college, he catches her unawares. Divorce? Now?
When she refuses to just read and sign the contract the lawyer is a bit flustered. Elena decides she must read it and tells the pushy man, no! Forgetting she’s supposed to be going out on a date she backs out of it when he picks her up. After he insists on driving her home he’s not completely convinced and when he notices Dex standing across the street both of them are now in for a surprise.
No one knows she’s married and his presence immediately stirs up old feelings. Something is up and she needs to figure out what. When she can’t find her house keys and his still work, she knows she has to finally tell him the truth. What will he do?
Harper St. George delivers a fantastic contemporary romance tale about a relationship built on love before these young lovers know who they are. I loved her characters and found the story believable and refreshing. I am disappointed that it ended as I want to see more! It’s always refreshing to read a story by an author I have not read before. I’m especially excited because she normally writes historical romance fiction, but for this collection she wrote a contemporary tale. Super happy that she did! Now go onto Amazon and see what other tasty stories she’s got – it looks like there are plenty!
I congratulate RWA for including both M/F and M/M stories to appeal to a variety of readers. I will continue to post reviews this week of the other stories as this collection is a must read!
