Anne Barton's SCANDALOUS SUMMER NIGHTS Review & giveaway

Five of Anne's favorite foods are.....

1. Eggplant parm and meatballs

2. Hot fudge brownie sundae

3. Strawberry spinach salad

4. Thanksgiving turkey with fixings (just a few more weeks to wait. Yum!)

5. Banana chocolate chip waffles with whipped cream

And Lady Olivia’s favorite food—the treat James tempts her with—is warm, cinnamon hot cross buns. :)

About SCANDALOUS SUMMER NIGHTSLady Olivia Sherbourne isn't shy about speaking her mind, except when it comes to James Averill. For ten long years he has been her brother's best friend and her heart's only desire. But when Olivia hears James will soon set sail for an expedition to Egypt, she knows the time has come to make her move. It's now or never . . .

James has always found Olivia bewitchingly attractive, but what kind of gentleman takes up with his best friend's sister? Not that he's thinking particularly gentlemanly thoughts when she appears on his exploratory trip-three hundred miles from home!-and incites a tavern fight. No matter what the devil she's doing there, it's his duty to see her safely back to her family. But how safe will she be when every starlit night brings wicked temptation . . . ?

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My thoughts.....3 stars

Lady Olivia Sherbourne has been suffering from a case of unrequited love for her brother’s best friend, solicitor James Averill, for ten years. Olivia, always outspoken and daring, decides to take drastic steps when she learns of James’ plan to join an Egyptian expedition for two years. 

James Averill, best friend to Owen, the Duke of Huntford and Olivia’s older brother. James is about to realize a life’s dream with his inclusion on an archaeological dig in Egypt.

Poor James didn’t take into consideration the machinations of a very determined Olivia.

After Olivia practically throws herself at James during a secluded meeting at Lady Easton’s ball, he escapes the next day to the Lake country. Olivia discovers his destination and boldly sets in motion her plan of attack.

SCANDALOUS SUMMER NIGHTS is third in the Honeycote series but can easily be read as a stand-alone. 

SCANDALOUS SUMMER NIGHTS is like meringue, light and fluffy.  Ms. Barton’s writing is engaging with lovely pacing and flow while Olivia and James’ banter is witty and fun.  I really enjoy her voice. However, like meringue it’s airy with little substance.

Olivia is selfish, though not in a spiteful or hateful way, she’s simply thoughtless.  Even her selfless acts are tinged because she worries about repercussions to herself later.

James never has an inkling of interest toward Olivia until she accosts him. Being honorable her struggles against his baser nature but Olivia is dogged in her determination.

These are the two main reasons it was difficult for me to buy into their love story. Would I feel differently if I’d met them in a prior book? Possibly, but as a heroine and hero Olivia and James are rather lackluster and suffer from an absence of depth. 

SCANDALOUS SUMMER NIGHTS is a good diversion read, a pleasant break from something darker and heavier. 

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Anne Barton began swiping romance novels off her mom's bookshelf as a teenager, so when she had the chance to spend a semester in London-home to her favorite heroes-she packed her bags and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance, but somehow ended up a software analyst instead.  

Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Anne found her way back to writing the stories she loves and in 2011 won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart® for Regency Historical Romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband (who, sadly, is not a peer of the realm-but a great guy nonetheless) and her three children, who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen. Her weaknesses include reality TV, cute-but-impractical shoes, and caffeinated beverages of all kinds.

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