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Not too long ago I was talking with a friend and I caught that person in a fib. It was not a big deal but afterwards it did give me some pause and I thought about why they felt they needed to lie. On one level it was a bit disappointing because I had thought better of this person who was a dear friend but not always so keen to making the right decisions. While I immediately forgave the person for their actions it did make me think about the nature of living a good life. From these ponderings I still came up with the following guidelines.

1. Telling the truth is always best. No matter what you believe it is always best to tell it like it is – to tell the truth. Sure there are situations where the truth has been stretched to save someone from having their feelings hurt but honesty goes a long way.
2. Lies always catch up to you. I have learned lying always catches up with you whether it takes a day or a year.  It is always a personal issue as to what one’s code of ethics are regarding fibs and lies. If your grandma made a dessert that tasted like tree bark I think it is okay to tell her it was delicious then discard it discreetly without grandma’s knowledge. However you may need to explain later why your tastes have changed if she serves you the same dessert again and again.
3. The truth always comes out. Whether you are a religious person or not we all have our own rules to live by. I am hardly a preacher nor do I want to be but I can say every time I told someone I couldn’t have dinner  or make a concert for one reason or another you can be sure the truth always came out.
4. Lying can destroy relationships. I have seen first hand how lying can destroy relationships and diminish one’s spirit. Hurting another person intentionally is just not cool. Being honest without hurting another is a challenge but it is all in the delivery. If your mom bought you a gift you would never wear I would thank her but say I hope you do not mind if I use the receipt to exchange the gift. I would never want to insult you but I could use black rather than red.
5. Telling the truth is always the most practical choice in life. Experience is a teacher in itself.  Even if we lie now eventually we may see that lying is a difficult, destructive and time consuming activity and that it is still always better to simplify our lives by not lying and simply telling the truth. We all must learn from our mistakes. I try each day to be a better person. I feel as if we are on a grand journey. We learn as we go along much like parents learn how to parent on a daily basis. Hopefully we will see over time that living a life of honesty is still the best course of action.

Sometimes I believe think that the idea of karma and reincarnation are correct. For those who believe in reincarnation the journey of the spirit continues until you come back and begin the process all over again until the circle is completed or the lesson is finally learned. Then we can go where ever we are meant to be in spirit and be free to fulfill our purpose in the after life. Ok I probably have read too many books where the after life is a sense of glorified perfection or too many fiction books where it is the greatest existence to be an immortal. When it is my turn I’ll find a way to let you know how things go when I get there.

This book is part of a series called the Heiress Bride Series. The first book is Desperately Seeking A Duke and the Third book in the series is called Duke Most Wanted.

Calder Marbrook, Marquis of Brookhaven is known as the The Beast of Brookhaven.

When his intended bride Phoebe fell in love with his bastard half brother, Rafe, Calder did not stand in their way- even giving the two a gift of the honeymoon he was to take with his bride. He and Rafe have always had a competitive and difficult relationship. He being the true heir and Rafe who was thrown into his life by his father with the simple explanation of, “this is your new brother.” They were close in age and as much as he wanted a sibling Rafe’s circumstance of birth made it near impossible for them to be true brothers. Until now. He had a fondness for Phoebe but he did not love her. Even though he was standing at the altar and appearances would seem as if he were to wed her he would see his brother have the lady he wanted for a wife.

Calder no longer believed in love. His first wife saw to that when she ran off to be with another man. Then of course there was the suspicion of his having a hand in her death although no one would speak of it to his face.

Now Phoebe’s cousin, the beautiful Deirdre came to him to ask for his hand in marriage. Her cousin Phoebe was lovely but Deirdre was stunning in all ways to make a man lose his wits. Much to his own surprise he found himself saying yes.

She was too beautiful and he had been without a woman for so long. He knew beautiful women were not to be trusted He would partake of the many gifts she offered but not lose his heart. He would be like he knew he had always been, cold and aloof. Only in the privacy of his bed chamber would he allow himself to express his passionate nature with his new bride. He could easily live with the fact that Deirdre, his lovely wife married him for his wealth and the title of Duchess she would one day possess.

Deirdre knew she wanted her grandfather’s inheritance and in order to collect she needed to marry a duke or a marquis who would one day become a duke. She had accomplished her goal. But when she looked into the unfeeling eyes of her husband she felt hollow inside. What had she done? She married a man who did not love her.

When Calder’s secret comes to light upon arrival at his home Deirdre is hurt and angry she is put in such a position that reminded her of painful childhood.

In return for keeping his secret she has chosen to seduce her husband into falling in love with her.

When greedy enemies surface to take away all he has come to love Calder will stop at nothing to save his family. While his new wife must overcome her past to embrace her present and safeguard the little treasure she has come to love as her own.

I loved this book. I was attracted to Calder’s brooding intensity in the first book, Desperately Seeking A Duke. I’ve always loved the tortured heroes the most. His vulnerability touches your heart and you are hoping he is able to let his guard down enough to admit he has fallen in love with his wife.

This book works on all levels for me. I look forward to Sophie’s story next in the final book.

Sylvia Day has been one of my favorite writers for awhile now. Her characters are well developed, compelling and make you want to read her books in one sitting.

The story lines are sexy and entertaining. Her males are truly objects of women’s fantasies.

In her latest book, DON’T TEMPT ME is a story of a mother and her two daughters and the men they love.

Their mother, Marguerite gave up her reputation to become the mistress of the man she loved, the very much married, Phillipe St. Martin. St. Martin’s reputation was that of a cad but he equally adored Margarette and was very devoted to her despite the fact that he had a wife.

When an enemy sought to separate them Marguerite marries another younger handsome man (De Grenier)to save St. Martins’s life when he his nearly killed by his enemies. St. Martin’s political connections are said to be in question and the reason for the attempt on his life but there is a more sinister undercurrent behind the evil doings.

Years later after living in Poland Marguerite  returns to France and visits Phillipe. He is still handsome and a now a widower. She has come to ask for a favor. She wants him to get information on a man named Simon Quinn whom her daughter, Lynette is infatuated with and claims to have answers regarding the death of one of her twin daughters Lysette.

St. Martin still in love with Marguerite agrees to help even though he knows she will never break her wedding vows to to return to his bed.

Simon Quinn a devastatingly handsome commoner of Irish descent has been servicing the crown for years as a spy. Just when he thought he could enjoy the wealth he had acquired he is asked to return to service and get close to the acid tongue female assassin known as Lysette.

While at a Cyprian’s ball he notices Lysette only something is quite different about her. Even though she had tried to seduce him during their acquaintance he never felt any desire for her. He believed she was mentally unbalanced and dangerous. That she did not trust men and had been hurt by men in the past. But her daring dress and innocent looks were driving him mad. He accosts her at the ball and demands to know what game she is playing with him. He knows she is only there to get close to a certain male secretary so why was she looking at him as if she wanted to bed him?

When he calls her by her dead sister’s name after a heated kiss Lynette vowed to stop at nothing to find out what happened two years ago to the twin she lost years before her death.

Lynette confides in Simon she is Lysette’s twin and he is relieved and tortured by the knowledge he is falling in love with the innocent Lynette.

After a fire at a social gathering Lysette is nearly killed. She is rescued by the man she was to get close to and begins to have genuine feelings for him as he nurses her back to health.

Simon tries to do the honorable thing with Lynette by sending her away but when she tries to seduce him he gives in to his passion and takes her innocence losing his heart in the process.

When Simon tells Lynette and her mother Lysette is broken in spirit and mind but alive they rally together to unmask the enemies that had tormented them for years forcing Marguerite to give up the only man she ever loved, St. Martin.

St. Martin is stunned to learn he sired Marguerite’s daughters and not her husband.

The true villain is uncovered and the twins are reunited with their parents. Lysette and her rescuer are headed for the altar as well as Marguerite and Phillipe.

Simon knew he would never give up Lynette for once he met her all other women ceased to interest him. He intended for her to be his bride. And now that he had his wealth returned to him (by his boss who had black mailed him) he would take care of the only woman who had loved him without expecting anything more in return than winning his heart.

This is the third and final book in the Daventry sister’s Trilogy. Born to a mother who was once an actress who brought scandal and shame to her three daughters upon her death Elise’s secrets and story is told through her youngest daughter Aimee. As a young girl Aimee had walked in on a man threatening her mother with a gun. The only thing she remembered was her mother lying dead in a pool of blood.

Her two older sister’s Jillian and Maura have protected her to a fault. Now at nineteen Aimee’s memory is returning through her nightmares. In addition she is faced with the man who had left her after she confessed her love for him a year ago.

Royce Greenville, Viscount Stonehurst has had his share of tragedy in his life. A war hero who had been jealous of his elder brother, the heir thought to seduce his brother’s intended with scandalous and devastating results.

Royce ran from Aimees affections for he truly believed he is cursed. But when he visits Aimee’s sister and brother in law he is drawn into the society he shuns for the sake of Aimee’s safety.

There have been several attempts on her life as a result of her memory returning and Royce will stop at nothing to bring those responsible to justice.

The more time he spends with Aimee the less he can control his physical and emotional attraction to her but he still believes he will only cause her harm.

Will Aimee nicknamed “mouse” by her father be able to stand up for herself and claim the man she loves as well as expose her mother’s true killer?

Get your copy of this fantastic read and find out.

I was waiting quite a while for Rio’s story. The emotionally and physically scarred member of the Breed who was bent on self destruction.

When his Breed mate betrayed him and his fellow warrior brothers Rio became dangerous and suicidal. He walked a thin line between sanity and insanity as his permanently scarred body and face healed. His heart was another matter.

Plotting to destroy a cave as well as his own existence he is stopped by an unexpected visitor. A reporter who has uncovered some of the Breed’s ancient secrets.

Much to his disappointment he has to put off ending his own life in order to save the woman he has come to care for-Dylan.

She has always been strong and self-sufficient but when her mother becomes gravely ill again she must choose between the love she has for her current life and the love she has found with Rio in his world.

I loved this book. It was fast paced, sexy as hell and kept me turning the pages until I read it through in one sitting. Thanks, Lara Adrian. I can’t wait to read your next book.

Daniel Throckmorten’s family had experienced scandal and sorrow. But among the chaos and secrets he has maintained a close relationship with his cousins especially one being a duke . He is a self made business man known for his talent in the boudoir as well as the gambling houses.

When he wins two properties one in London and another in the country it comes with an added perk he could not believe he would come to desire more than anything else.

Much to his surprise he finds himself smitten with the young woman whose mother is more scandalous than his own. She is the first young lady he admires and feels something more than just an all consuming passion for and it unnerves him.

They make a wager in which neither intends to lose.

Grace Banbury will stop at nothing to keep what is hers no matter what the cost despite her disappointment in her mother who lost everything gambling and a brother who seems to have followed in their mother’s footsteps.

Fredrick Smith an exceedingly handsome man was labeled a bastard as an infant and was

abandoned by his father. The only people he considered family were his tutor and mentor, Mr. Dunnington and his two best mates whom he considered brothers, Raoul and Ian.

 As grown men they come together for the funeral of their beloved surrogate father shocked to learn each has been given a substantial inheritance which was obtained by extorting their fathers.

All three men wonder what damaging knowledge their tutor knew of their fathers to have received such a large sum of money over the years. And they were equally puzzled as to why their tutor kept the noblemen’s secrets until his will was read.

Fredrick Smith is the first of the three men to embark on his journey to uncover his father’s sins.

While staying at an Inn Fredrick encounters the raven haired beauty that owns and runs the Inn with an iron fist. Although not considered a true rake by London’s standards Fredrick has not been a stranger to the temptations of an attractive female but the enticing widow, Portia Walker awakens something inside himself he does not quite understand. He craves her attention and her touch and sets out to learn all he can of his heart’s desire. Behind her admirable intelligence and fierce independence Fredrick sees the vulnerability and pain she tries to hide from him.

He will receive his answers regarding his father but his quest is no longer as important as conquering the trust and love of a certain widow.

When Anthony Dalton,Viscount Norcourt went looking for the best school for his new charge, his young niece, his well known reputation as a rake made it near impossible.

That is -until he was coerced into giving “rake lessons” to the innocent young girls who attend the one school he wants his charge to attend.

Under the watchful eyes of the schools proprietress, Mrs. Harris and her near perfect teacher, Madeline Prescott the girls seem to enjoy the handsome Viscount’s lessons on how to avoid a scoundrel after seduction like himself.

As an undeniable attraction between Madeline and the Viscount becomes a temptation too great to ignore he tries his best not to give in to the desires concerning Madeline. He has vowed to become respectable for his niece’s sake since the deaths of his older brother and sister in law who were killed in a fire leaving the girl in his care.

He does not know the first thing about being respectable but he will learn fast and prove to the women who hold his niece’s future in their hands that he can and will be a responsible male influence to his young relative.

His curiosity regarding the young teacher becomes as important to him as safe guarding the girl’s schooling.

Miss Prescott has a secret she is trying desperately to hide while teaching the young girls at Mrs. Harris’ school. Her father, once a wonderful physician is near suicidal over the death of one of his patients and Madeline is out to prove her father’s innocence.

The Viscount wants to help Madeline even when he finds out doing so means reliving his damaging childhood and the people responsible for his trauma. And when he learns the same relatives managed to gain possession of his sweet niece he will stop at nothing to bring her home. They say reformed rakes make the most wonderful and devoted husbands. Will Madeline agree?

The Earl of Wyldewood is looking for a biddable wife. When he meets the beautiful mother of Belinda the young woman his son, Erick is about to marry he decides she would make, The Perfect Wife.

Both Sabrina Winfield and the Earl of Wyldewood have secrets from their pasts that will lead them to the altar or to ruin.

When both the Earl and his son’s soon to be mother in law go on a treasure hunt they discover more than the treasure they are seeking but a grand passion neither thought they would ever find in their lives.

The Earl’s sister and several of Sabrina’s past connections round out this wonderfully entertaining book.

I have enjoyed all of Ms. Alexander’s novels but this one had a little special something extra. Maybe it was simply that both Nicholas and Sabrina find true love in their thirties rather than in the blush of youth; even if they might have had a past connection. It certainly lends hope for us all. We are never too old to fall in love…

Jennifer Ashley has done it again with her most recent book, “Highlander Ever After.”

This book is the third book in the Nvengaria Series which began with Penelope & Prince Charming followed by The Mad Bad Duke.

When Zarabeth was a young girl she saved the life of Egan MacDonald. She never forgot him and when he visited her and her father in her native Nvengaria. Zarabeth wanted Egan to see her as a woman not the young girl he once met. But Egan left to travel the world when Zarabeth let her true feelings known to him. At the time he thought he had nothing to offer her but passion. For spite after being left behind by Egan, Zarabeth married the man her father chose for her with disastrous results.

Years later Zarabeth’s life is in danger and her father sends her to his friend and the one man he knows will protect her with his life especially now that he is laird of his clan.

When Egan saves Zarabeth’s life after her boat tragically breaks apart on its way to Scotland he is instantly reminded of the lust he once felt for her. His demons come back to haunt him but Zarabeth’s love erodes his hard shell with each day she is under his protection.

Egan’s relatives bring humor and mischief to the story. Characters from the first and second book make cameo appearances to bring the story to a very satisfying ending.

Now I find myself wanting to reread the first two books in the series.

Here’s a tip: Any book by Jennifer Ashley is bound to bring you hours of pleasure and entertainment.