Of Deadly Descent (G G Vandagriff)

Alex and Briggie go to France and then to Oxford, on the track of cousins Alex discovered in Cankered Roots who will possibly disinherit her. They scarcely arrive in Oxford before one of her cousins is killed. Was it murder? Did it have anything to do with their search? If so, who even knew they were coming? While trying to answer these questions, they uncover among her relatives a number of secrets someone would kill for. In the midst of her sleuthing, Alex attracts the attention of Charles Lamb, an impossibly handsome bachelor who is used to having women fall at his feet.

The Trouble With Demons (Lisa Shearin)

My name is Raine Benares. I'm a seeker. People hire me when they need something found. I'm not usually the one being sought. But that all changed when I found the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone of unlimited power -- and the bane of my existence. Now mages and madmen have me in their sights, not to mention demons...
An opened Hellgate leads to a demon infestation on the Isle of Mid, and while there's never an ideal time to face down demon hordes, it's hard to imagine a worse one. Already fighting the influence of the Saghred, Raine discovers she is also magically bonded to a dark mage and a white knight, two dangerous and powerful men on opposing sides -- and Raine's stuck in the middle.
But with demons pouring through the Hellgate, Raine can't afford to be distracted. Turns out, the demons want the key to unlock the Saghred. As a seeker, Raine should be able to find it first. As the axis of light and dark powers, she's a magical cataclysm waiting to happen...

I am really liking this series. There is plenty of action and humor. And there is an intriguing twist that occurs in the love triangle between Raine and the two sexy men in her life.

The Duke and I (Julia Quinn)

Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, has sworn never to marry. Daphne Bridgerton has sworn to marry only for love. They make a bargain and fake a courtship to keep the ton's matchmakers at bay--but what happens when the charade becomes all too real?

I liked this one. This is the first of 8 Bridgerton family stories.

(There were a few sexual moments and scenes )

Till There Was You (Lynn Kurland)

Zachary Smith is finished with high-maintenance women, impossible clients, and paranormal adventures. He wants an ordinary life and a happily-ever-after with a fresh-faced girl next door. But when he walks through a doorway into a different century, he knows his life isn't going to turn out quite the way he planned.

Mary de Piaget is passionate about two things: training her father's horses and avoiding wedded bliss. But when she finds herself facing marraige to the most perfect knight in England, she fears for more than her freedom, because only she can see the malice behind the perfection. And then a chance encounter with a strangely dressed traveler kindlees her hope for a different fate.

But to change Mary's life is to change Zachary's future - with disastrous results. Yet how can either of them face the alternative...

This was a sweet story even if it was bit predictable.

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume (Julia Quinn)

Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting...for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all...
It's true. He doesn't. Thomas rather likes having a fiancée—all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay—and he does intend to marry her...eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas’s world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he’s not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love...with his own fiancée!

This story coincides with The Lost Duke Of Wyndham. It shows the other half of the story. It was a little hard to be excited about this one because I basically knew what was gonna happen next because it is exactly (word for word in some instances) the same as the Lost Duke story with a few extra different scenes with the new main characters.

(There is a sex scene near the end of the novel)

The Lost Duke Of Wyndham (Julia Quinn)

Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.
Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine... until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she's not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have...

This is a good regency story. I enjoyed the characters in this novel. Not too surprising considering I've always been a sucker for the charming rogue!

Fortune's Fool (Mercedes Lackey)

The seventh daughter of the Sea King, Ekaterina is more than a pampered princess - she's also the family spy. Which makes her the perfect emissary to check out interesting happenings in the neighboring kingdom...and nothing interests her more than Sasha, the seventh son of the king of Belrus. Ekaterina suspects he's far from the fool people think him. But before she can find out what lies beneath his face, she is kidnapped.

Trapped in a castle at the mercy of a possessive Jinn, Ekaterina knows her chances of being found are slim. Now fortune, a fool and a paper bird are the only things she can count on - along with her own clever mind and intrepid heart...

I have found that Mercedes Lackey can be a hit and miss kind of author. Some of her stories are dry and I have to force myself to finish her books. This one actually kept my attention!

I loved the twist on fairy-tales. The way the "Tradition" controls what happens in the lands is quite interesting and how the characters have to do things in certain ways to get the results they want.

Fablehaven: The Grip of the Shadow Plague (Brandon Mull)

Strange things are afoot at Fablehaven. Someone or something has released a plague that transforms beings of light into creatures of darkness. Seth discovers the problem in its infancy, but as the infectious disease spreads, it becomes clear that the preserve cannot hold out for long.
In dire need of help, the Sorensons question where to turn. The Sphinx has always given sound advice—but is he a traitor? Inside the Quiet Box, Vanessa might have information that could lead to a cure—but can she be trusted?
Meanwhile, Kendra and members of the Knights of the Dawn must journey to a distant preserve and retrieve another hidden artifact. Will the Society of the Evening Star recover it first? Will the plague eclipse all light at Fablehaven? Find out in Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague.

The Wedding Clause (Debbie Raleigh)

Molly Conwell's life has been unremarkable - until she learns the startling details of her late employer Lady Woodhart's will: The sum of 30,000 pounds will be divided equally between the deceased's grandson, Viscount "Hart" Woodhart, and Molly if they wed. If one or the other fails to appear, then the present party receives the entire fortune.

Molly has no intention to wed Hart,but if she inherits the money she could help her brother regain his proper place in Society. Besides, she's convinced that her prospective groom, who has always accused her of being a fortune hunter, will not present himself. As Molly embarks on a daring charade, she discovers a fierce opponent in Hart - and an even fiercer desire for this dangerously handsome man who may prove impossible to resist...

This was a cute story. I enjoyed the heroine because she wasnt a wimpering fool. She stood up to the bully.

Debbie Raleigh is a good author who can make the story flow so easily you dont realise how much you're reading until you're done with the book.

Rogue Angel, Solomon's Jar (Alex Archer)

Rumors of the discovery of Solomon's Jar - in which the biblical King Solomon bound the world's demons after using them to build his temple in Jerusalem - are followed with interest by Annja Creed. An archaeologist intrigued by the arcane, Annja pursues the truth about the vessel and its ancient origins.

Her search leads her to a confrontation with a London cult driven by visions of a new world order; and a religious zealot fueled by the insatiable desire for glory. Across the sands of the Middle East to the jungles of Brazil, Annja embarks on a relentless chase to stop humanity's most unfathionable secrets from reshaping the modern world.

This one didnt catch me so much as the first. It was interesting to hear some different religious views on some bible stories.

Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star (Brandon Mull)

At the end of the school year, Kendra and her brother, Seth, find themselves racing back to Fablehaven—a refuge for mythical and magical creatures in Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star.
The Society of the Evening Star, an ancient organization determined to overthrow magical preserves and use them for their own intents and purposes, is determined to infiltrate Fablehaven. Grandpa Sorenson, the caretaker of Fablehaven, invites three specialists to help protect the property: a potion master, a magical relics collector, and a mystical creature trapper. In addition, these three specialists have a more perilous assignment—find an artifact of great power hidden on the grounds.
When the Evening Star pervades the gates of Fablehaven, it is assumed that someone inside the preserve is a mole and a traitor. If the artifact falls into the wrong hands, it could mean the downfall of other preserves and possibly the world. With good intent, Kendra and Seth become both a help and hindrance to their grandfather’s cry to protect Fablehaven.