Love Saves the World

The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens

2012-02-21T14:03:00.002+08:00

The Earl of Glencrae is running out of time -- and running out of options. With the unsuccessful kidnapping of the 2 older Cynster sisters, her mother's constant threats and the coming deadline for the goblet, he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands and handle the youngest, and last, of the sisters.

Like her sisters, Angelica is also looking for her hero and she believes that the new face across the ballroom might be the one. She is intrigued by the intensity and raw power that emanates from the man -- and so she finds a way to get closer.

One minute she is talking and flirting with him -- the next, she is kidnapped and brought to an unknown location -- as her captor plots his next move.

But Angelica, ever the Cynster, makes plans of her own.

I liked that Angelica was clever and strong enough to turn the tables on Dominic -- instead of being a helpless captive, she becomes his equal and co-conspirator (against his mother) and makes decisions for herself (and for him) --

This is the last part of Stephanie Laurens' Cynster Sisters series. I had read the first two and had mixed feelings about them -- but I ordered the last book because I wanted to see how Laurens would conclude the series. She did a good job building up the mystery of the Earl of Glencrae and this is partly the reason why I wanted to read this book.

The Earl of Glencrae has loomed in the shadows of the first two novels in the series -- is he truly a villain? Why is he targeting these sisters?

Since this is the last novel in the series, Laurens is left with the burden of having to cast light on all the details and puzzles she staged. And the untangling of it all has weighed down this book immensely -- and not in a good way.

It begins with a near-monologue from Dominic, Earl of Glencrae which spans pages 35 to 48 of the book. He details the history of his family and how it is connected to Angelica's family, etc. etc. etc. --

I also felt that the recitation of Cynsters and their wives from previous books was almost gratuitous. I understand that Laurens is trying to tie this mini-series to the greater Cyster stories --
p. 58 - 59
p. 74 = 2 paragraphs of Cynster names

This is a double-edged sword -- readers new to Laurens will get lost in the multitude of references to previous books; while fans of her previous books will be delighted to read about their favorites.

There's also a lot of explaining and telling too much, which doesn't allow the reader to decode the nuances in the actions of the characters or their dialogue. There is also a terrible case of repetitiveness --

Dominic Guisachan, Earl of Glencrae, a highland laird accustomed to absolute rule, absolute command ... p.52

He was accustomed to wielding power -- in his case more or less absolute power. p. 110

Stephanie Laurens is a talented writer -- her previous books are proof of that talent. And one finds a glimpse of that talent in this novel:

For the first time, he allowed that realization to fully form, to rise in his consciousness, then sink to his bones. p.92

That line is memorable -- there is a wonderful economy of words but the choice of words are very evocative of the feelings between Dominic and Angelica.

I had hoped to read more of that in the almost-400 pages left -- but, sadly, I did not.

Stephanie Laurens has a good story to tell -- but the story got lost in too many words, too many details, too many mentions of traveling -- just too many of everything.

What is interesting, though -- is that I did not feel there was chemistry between Angelica and Dominic. It is stated in the book how attracted they are to each other -- but I did not get a sense of any deeper devotion between the two.

There is a bonus novella at the end of the book, but I did not read it anymore.

Final note: I did like how the identity of the laird was uncovered. I like the reference to Burke's Peerage. ^_^

Waltz of Seduction by Natasha Blackthorne (e-novella)

2012-02-17T17:27:00.001+08:00

In Waltz of Seduction, we are given a glimpse into the life of a typical British couple in an amiable relationship. Sara is a merchant's daughter who is uncomfortable in her husband's world. Colin married Sara for her money but has grown to feel more for Sara than was initially required of him.

Theirs is a comfortable relationship --

Except that Colin and Sara both want something deeper or more passionate from each other, but they don't have the words to express what they want.

So they do it through the waltz. A private one, done at night when the servants have gone to bed and the lights are out.

It is during this quiet moment, away from society and it's expectations that husband and wife take tentative steps to get closer to each other.

Blackthorne aptly uses the waltz to convey the intricate dance this couple must engage in in order to get close to each other. The waltz is a dance that borders on the scandalous -- and, like the waltz, husband and wife have to tread the fine line between what they feel is "acceptable" and what is "scandalous" -- their exploration allows Sara and Colin to express their true feelings for each other.

Grey's Lady by Natasha Blackthorne (e-novella)

2012-02-17T17:12:00.001+08:00

I love Beth. She's a strong woman who knows what she wants. She's playful and witty and her introduction to Grey is memorable --

Beth and Grey have wonderful chemistry -- and their physical encounters are sizzling. There is an excited anticipation before Grey and Beth come together and their encounters and love scenes are a culmination of their yearning.

Each is used to having things happen their way but now have to deal with the new reality of someone else making the decisions for them. I loved how each one had to struggle with their loss of power and control -- and ultimately discover their greater strength when they are together.

There are gaps in the details and I wish Blackthorne took more pages and fleshed out the relationship between the two -- but she does say enough to leave the reader riveted and satisfied with the story.

It's interesting that the second part of the Carte Blanche series (this is part 1) follows Grey and Beth again. I'm definitely picking up a copy.

Disclosure: I got a copy of this e-book through a giveaway.

A Lady Never Surrenders by Sabrina Jeffries

2012-02-17T13:10:00.002+08:00

A Lady Never Surrenders is Celia's story. As the youngest Sharpe, she's had to fight to find her place (and value) in her family. And it's been a struggle -- she's not an important and well-liked marquess like her brother or a gifted writer like her sister. And, as the last unmarried Sharpe, the future of her siblings (and herself) rests on her shoulders and her ability to find a husband -- which is difficult for Celia, who has never felt desired or wanted ... or beautiful.

But she is. To Jackson Pinter, Bow Street Runner. Who fell in love with her the first moment he saw her (and has continued to love her ever since).

But Jackson knows his place in the world -- and he knows he is too far below Celia to even try. And so love and longing are folded up and kept locked up in his heart -- hidden from Celia, who only sees "Proper Pinter" who disapproves of and argues with her constantly.

Celia has two months to find a husband -- and she has enlisted Jackson's help to investigate her prospective suitors. Celia has no grand illusions of making a love match. She just wants to get it over and done with as an obligation to her older siblings.

Jackson wishes with all his heart that he could be the man to change Celia's mind about marriage and love, but he must do what he was hired to do -- and sets out to find out about Celia's suitors.

As he continues his inquiry into the Sharpe's parents' deaths ... and his investigation of Celia's three prospects, Jackson sees more and more that he wants Celia, deeply and desperately -- that he is willing to entertain the dream of having her in his arms and being the one to show her how lovable she is.

Jackson and Celia have to deal with their insecurities before they can face each other. He has to deal with the demons of his questionable parentage and she has to face the scandal of her parents' death and to find out what love is. Neither of them have had good examples of love -- so they dance around each other and deal with each other the only way they know how -- with sharpened tongues, claws unsheathed and pistols locked and loaded.

When Celia finally allows herself to be unguarded and lays her weapon down -- it is both literal and figurative -- and a definitive moment in the life of a girl who has always had to arm and protect herself.

After two years and five novels, the Hellions of Halstead Hall have all finally settled down -- and the mystery surrounding their parents' death finally finds resolution.

It is fitting that Jeffries ends the series with Celia and Jackson -- whose lives and struggles echo those of Celia's parents. With Jackson and Celia coming together, the past, and the present are resolved -- and the future is determined. While the Sharpe family's past is one of dark tragedy, their futures are full of promise and love.

Final note: I really love how Jeffries "solved" the mystery of the double suicide/murder -- it all fits in and makes sense.

Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel by Samantha Grace

2012-02-15T15:02:00.001+08:00

I am currently on page 140 of this book and I have 266 pages to go -- and I have found myself reading a few pages and then putting it down and reading a few pages and putting it down.

Somehow, I am not engaged by this story or by the characters.

And I don't feel there is enough action or complication happening up to this point.

The opening paragraph is amazing and sets the stage for a truly unique heroine:

Two types of men crowded the Eldridge Ballroom this evening: the dashing gentlemen whose ardent, but proper, pursuit any debutante would welcome. And then there were the ones who pursued Lana Hillary.

Samantha Grace has singled out her character and has led us to expect that there is something different about Lana Hilary --

But she never shows us why.

She is an heiress and she's been betrayed by a fiance. She's in London for the Season and is trying to steer clear of the fortune hunters. The situations and decisions she makes while in these situations have not shown me that she is special.

The one interesting thing about her is that she has a knack for matchmaking -- and the author was not able to develop this.

Drew isn't that dissolute a scoundrel either -- (he's not constantly drunk or broke; he doesn't have a bevy of mistresses or a score of illegitimate children; etc.)

And neither of them seem compelling enough or attractive enough (to each other and to the reader) --

There is the toffee-colored locks that seem to constantly fall on Drew's forehead.

And the reminder that Lana has red/orange hair -- (how is this related to peaches?) --

~Sigh~

My impression is that these two characters would not have given each other a second thought had it not been for the constant ~~meddling~~ reminder of the people around them to stay away from each other.

Thus they have become the forbidden fruit to each other -- attractive only because they are forbidden to each other.

And why does everyone pop in and out of the pages just to remind either Lana or Drew of this?

Up to page 140, the story is static -- and so are the characters. They interact with each other but their interactions don't serve to deepen the attraction -- what has happened thus far is that -- they interact and then someone reminds them not to interact -- nothing else develops except the allure of the forbidden, which becomes stronger and stronger.

~Sigh~

I will put this book down and start another. I will try to come back to this and reread it again.

I Kissed an Earl by Julie Anne Long

2012-02-12T09:55:00.001+08:00

In this installment to the Pennyroyal Green series, we find Violet Redmond -- beautiful, young, impulsive and perfectly composed. Violet Redmond is a restless sort -- and her life in England bores her. She believes she has seen and done it all. Her first meeting with Asher Flint discomposes her completely -- because he forgets her name.

And no one has ever done that to Violet before. She's used to getting her way. She's used to being able to ~~manipulate~~ convince people to see things her way. She's also the Redmond her family is most wary of -- because things just happen to her.

Asher Flint, the new Earl of Ardmay has more important things to do than dance and be "put on exhibit" at such balls. He needs to find Le Chat, a pirate with whom he needs to settle a personal score (and avenge his mentor).

When Violet hears about Le Chat, she pieces together the puzzle and realizes that the pirate Flint is looking for might be her brother, Lyon.

In true Violet fashion, she finds a way to get on board Flint's ship and doesn't expect what would happen next.

Asher has traveled the world many times over. He has risen up from his unfortunate childhood and has now received a most distinguished title -- but there is a restlessness to Asher -- a deep sense that he doesn't belong where he is. His ship and his travels are his refuge and excuse. The maps and charts that guide his ship guide him as well.

When Violet enters his world, it is turned over and inside out. He has never had anyone challenge him or infuriate him ... (or beat him) before. For the first time in his life, he is in uncharted waters.

There is a beauty and a preciseness to Julie Anne Long's writing. She's able to reveal and develop character gradually (and plausibly) -- and she writes love and longing so well.

The moment Violet realizes what she feels for Flint, she realizes what the word "breathtaking" truly means -- the moment when these two hearts discover that they are home in each other and are no longer restless -- it is a heady and electric moment.

Best profession of love. Ever.
"I could not have born [sic] it if he killed you. You. I could not have lived. I simply would have ... stopped breathing. I would have killed him a dozen more times. Happily. For you."

The scope of the story is not epic -- but it is profound. At the heart of it is family -- Violet's intense yearning to make hers whole again. And Asher's desire to be part of one. The highest point of drama is when Violet is caught between her love for her brother and for Asher. How does one choose between two loves without betraying the other?

Violet believed in her heart that Lyon could not have done the things Asher accuses him of doing. And Asher knows only that he must avenge his mentor's death by bringing to justice that man responsible. These are the truths that rule their lives and their motivations. What happens when the truth of one's life clashes with the truth of another person's life?

It is a trial that would bend or break many heroines -- but not Violet -- who has the mind and heart and resourcefulness to figure out what she needs to do.

What comes from this thesis and antithesis is not a breakdown or falling apart of truth -- but a synthesis of it. Both Asher and Violet realize this new truth -- and this new life -- a world where their love for each other can exist.

And Julie Anne Long offers a resolution that works.

I am looking forward to Lyon and Olivia's story. (Oh please, oh please, let his story be next. ^_^)

Final note: p. 188 to 189 -- Oh. My. God. Wicked funny.

The Pleasure of Your Kiss by Teresa Medeiros

2012-02-10T14:55:00.000+08:00

Ashton Burke has always been the unwanted, unappreciated spare. His father and brother constantly reminded him of his low stature. The single-most important thing in his life was Clarinda -- and he made the foolish mistake of walking away from her 8 years ago, in hopes of "finding himself" and being more worthy of Clarinda.

Clarinda never wanted anything as badly as she wanted to be with Ash. After one night of passion and surrender, she finds herself abandoned and alone. It is 8 years later and she's tired of waiting. She is on her way to Burma to embark on a new adventure and a new role as wife -- to Ash's brother.

Since their school days, Poppy Montmercy has always lived and walked in Clarinda's shadow. She's happy to be there and to follow where Clarinda leads -- including this latest trip to Burma. But now, she's discovered something that she wants for herself. And she's ready to step out and be her own person.

Farouk is king of all that he sees. He has wealth and women in his possession. He wants to move his kingdom to the future, but he must deal with his uncle and his insistence of clinging to the past. He hasn't completely shaken off 'Frankie' -- the boy who was sent off to England for an education; the boy who needs spectacles and loves to read Coleridge.

Then there's Maximillian, Ash's brother. And Luca, Ash's trusty sidekick. And Yasmin, Clarinda's nemesis at the harem. And Solomon, the eunuch.

There's also Morocco, which titillates the senses and brings to mind lushness and hedonism. The setting is an important factor in this story and Medeiros does a good job describing harem life and the desert very vividly.

This was an ambitious project: a love story that spans almost a decade (and two continents), a legion of characters, an exotic location and over 500 pages of text.

There are moments in the novel when it felt like an action-adventure movie. And this novel employs a lot of dramatic elements -- the cliffhanger, the dramatic dialogue and dramatic reveal, the journey through the desert, etc.

It's well-written and progresses nicely from beginning to end. There is enough action and excitement to carry the reader through reading this fairly lengthy novel.

The main weakness of The Pleasure of Your Kiss is the lack of focus. As Medeiros attempts to tell her story and to connect all the elements together, depth of story and character is sacrificed. The constant shifting of POV from different characters made it a bit difficult at times to follow who was "talking" --

The love triangle between Ash, Clarinda and his brother could have benefitted from a few more pages.

I would have loved to read more about the rocky relationship of younger Ash and Clarinda. (And would have wanted to find out more about what happens to Farouk <-- could have been a separate novel.)

The ending felt a bit rushed and loose ends were tied up a little too conveniently.

(I am glad that Ash's brother is getting his own story next.)

In Deep by Chloe Harris

2012-02-07T05:19:00.004+08:00

I read Chloe Harris's debut erotic novel, Secrets of Sin -- and the story of Jaidyn and Connor actually begins there.

There was such promise to it -- a sea captain and the reluctant prostitute -- their first encounter is a threesome between Connor, his friend Reinier (hero of the first novel) and Jaidyn. While in the midst of their menage a trois, Connor stops Reinier from having Jaidyn but refuses to explain why. Thus is the mystery of Jaidyn and Connor's relationship (and why I decided to get the second book) --

Jaidyn has no choice but to work at Madame Poivre's -- she has no money and has no one to help her get to the Carolinas. She needs to work -- and Connor (and Reinier) are her first customers.

Instead of developing the story, this one flatlines -- the interaction between Connor and Jaidyn are only physical -- there is no indication of any emotional investment in either character and, when they realize that they have fallen in love with each other, it's a bit difficult to believe.

The storytelling is also a bit disjointed -- and the tone inconsistent. A lot of the complications and twists in the story are introduced far too late -- and a lot of things are left unresolved (or not resolved conclusively). There is potential for character development in Harris' story: a lot about Jaidyn's past is hinted about but never explored.

The biggest plus about this story are the love scenes -- the acts Jaidyn and Connor engage in are seemingly acrobatic but Harris is able to order the events in such a way that the scene moves nicely (without an elbow or a knee out of place) --

Final note: I did not like the name of the heroine -- it's too modern for the 18th century. And I did not understand the name of her horse: May Hem. Why 2 words?

The Price of Temptation by Lecia Cornwall

2012-02-06T15:38:00.000+08:00

Lecia Cornwall continues to delve into the world of spies and intrigue in her second novel, The Price of Temptation.

Evelyn Renshaw is in limbo -- her husband is a known traitor to the Crown and is missing. The latest rumour is that he is dead. Evelyn's life is fraught with uncertainty -- her funds have been frozen and she can't retire to the country, away from the prying of London society.

Sinjon Rutherford is in limbo -- he's been branded a traitor and is trying to prove his innocence. He can't go home because his family has disowned him -- and he can't trust anyone but himself.

He happens upon Evelyn in the park and saves her from French attackers who believe Evelyn knows the whereabouts of an important treasure that her husband stole from France.

And, by doing so, he becomes a player in the dangerous game of traitors and allies.

Sinjon is recruited by Adam Westlake to discover Evelyn's secrets. He gains a position as footman in Evelyn's household. As footman, Sin becomes privy to his new employer's life -- and desires. And she becomes his lover.

Espionage and infiltration is not a new scenario in romance novels -- but Cornwall adds a unique element: the question of Evelyn's "complicity" in her husband's schemes: how much does she know and how deeply involved is she? Sinjon's quest also puts him in a difficult situation: does he save himself? or does he save Evelyn?

As Sinjon tries to discover the answers, he can't help but fall in love with Evelyn's strength and calm.

There is a poignance to their coming together -- the sinner and the fallen. They are imperfect people in an imperfect world -- but one cannot doubt the sincerity and perfection of their love, which exists despite their circumstances.

Lecia Cornwall blends adventure and intrigue perfectly with the love story. She has created likeable characters that her readers can empathise and identify with.

I usually don't like how conveniently unwanted husbands are dealt with in similar stories -- but I did not mind it so much in Cornwall's novel -- because Sinjon and Evelyn belong together.

A Taste of Desire by Beverley Kendall

2012-02-05T07:14:00.001+08:00

Lady Amelia Bertam delights in causing trouble for her father -- and for anyone associated with her father. Which is unfortunate for Thomas, Lord Armstrong -- who really wants to like her but could never get close enough to her to find out.

She's irascible and he's long-suffering -- and now they have to spend 4 months together because Amelia's father is going away on business. And because Amelia said something insulting about Thomas at a party. And because Thomas wants to teach Amelia a lesson.

In A Taste of Desire, she introduces two characters who are so disparate and so unlikely to fall in love with each other and examines the way love develops between them.

It is a hedgehog's dilemma for Amelia longs for the attention and affection she has not had since her mother died when she was little. And Thomas is also cautious around Amelia who affects (and hurts) Thomas in a way no woman has ever done.

I wish Kendall took more time to explore and elaborate on Amelia's character -- she comes across as extremely insensitive and hurtful. (When she is first introduced to Miss Foxworthy -- ouch. She instantly regretted it -- but, it shows just how impulsive and thoughtless she can be.) Kendall reveals enough about it -- her past, the neglect she felt from her father after her mother died -- but it did not seem enough to justify her actions.

Thomas's character also suffers and borders on being almost flat -- I liked that he tried to be patient and professional with Amelia -- but his response to her during their encounters became very predictable.

Of all the characters, the most dynamic one (surprisingly) was Amelia's father. He appears in the first part of the book and the last part of the book -- his conversation with Amelia in the latter part of the book explains so much about their relationship -- and settles so much about it.

Beverley Kendall is a wonderful storyteller -- the narrative flows smoothly. She shows us that love and hate are not always opposite emotions but may stem from the same source. When Amelia finally identifies what she feels for Thomas, hate turns to love with the same passionate degree.

Kendall has a free e-novella that is part of the Elusive Lords series:

The next novel is An Heir of Deception, which features Alex Cartwright.

How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long

2012-02-03T14:07:00.000+08:00

How this reader was won:

Phoebe is a schoolteacher living in Sussex. She's content to save her wages and visiting her most-coveted, most-aspired for object -- a bonnet at Postlewaite's store.

She's thisclose to getting it and it's thrilling for her to imagine owning something so precious.

Julian Spenser, the Marquess Dryden is rock star-popular. Young lords follow his fashion -- and his every move. He's used to getting his way and getting the best.

Chance brings Phoebe to the store on the same day the Marquess Dryden happens to stop by, on his way to a house party. Chance brings her to the attention of Julian's "friend" Waterburn who bets Julian that he couldn't steal a kiss from Phoebe, who overhears the challenge.

And it is by chance that Phoebe gets invited to the same house party as Julian.

But that would not be Phoebe and Julian's first encounter -- they meet before the party, when Julian tours the school where Phoebe teaches -- and Phoebe makes a memorable first impression by turning the tables on the Ton's most renowned seducer.

Because it is Julian who gets seduced -- by Phoebe's mind and attitude. He is drawn to the light that shines from within Phoebe.

Phoebe is starstruck. She has read all about the Marquess Dryden and of the Ton in the broadsheets -- and what she has read has captured her imagination. The larger-than-life stories about their exploits and escapades. And she longs to be part of that bright and glittering world.

As is the story of her life -- she is thisclose to getting it: to being with Julian and being a part of that glittering world. But it is not meant for her.

Light plays a big theme in Long's story. Light and the absence of it. Phoebe and Julian's past are fraught with shadows and their current lives are filled with light -- but of different sorts. And this is what Julian realises. His life and the luster of it is borrowed light and, like the stars, it fades when the source disappears.

But the light he finds in Phoebe is the light that warms, and nurtures and loves.

But it is a difficult thing to turn his back on his life's work -- the rebuilding of his family name and fortune. He is thisclose to getting what he wants -- the last piece of his life's puzzle (his mother's dower lands) -- but at what cost to himself and to Phoebe?

I don't know how Julie Anne Long did it -- but she has transmuted paper and ink to romance novel gold. This was an amazing, amazing, amazing read.

Julian Spenser and Phoebe Vale have chemistry -- and it is palpable. The thrill of the first touch and the first kiss -- it is enchanting and utterly breathtaking.

Julie Anne Long has woven a wonderfully captivating story -- with an amazing, amazing, amazing ensemble of characters. It is a beautiful world, Pennyroyal Green -- and I am so glad that Julie Anne Long has created it.

An Unexpected Gentleman by Alissa Johnson

2012-01-31T18:24:00.002+08:00

If I were to write a summary of this book, it would be this:

Adelaide Ward is desperate to marry. She only has 7 pounds to her name, a teenage sister and an infant nephew to take care of, and house falling down on her.

She's worked hard to gain Sir Robert's attentions -- and she knows he's on the brink of proposing to her.

Except --

She's getting a bad case of doubt.

And Connor Brice enters the picture quite conveniently -- and suddenly. And her life's turned upside down and inside out.

The basic story is fairly straightforward -- except that the story is weighed down with a lot of details.

There is the revenge plot that involves Sir Robert and Connor Brice -- and Adelaide is part of the revenge. (This part I did not understand: When Adelaide discovers that each man intends her to be a piece of their individual revenge, she doesn't walk away -- but continues to entertain the courtship from both men.)

There's Adelaide's brother as well -- and his "contribution" to Adelaide's desperate situation. (And his involvement with Sir Robert.)

And there's Adelaide -- and her unfulfilled dreams. (That remain unfulfilled.)

There's a lot of deception and revelations coming from both Sir Robert and Connor -- while it was clear that Sir Robert is the villain -- but Connor isn't too far from the mark also.

And Adelaide isn't that sympathetic a character either -- early in the story, Johnson establishes how tragic and desperate Adelaide's situation is. But, as the story progresses, she gets slightly whiny -- and annoying. She's seen herself as a martyr and is intent on continuing along those lines. (I really wanted to love Adelaide and tried to remember that she's in a difficult situation but I actually loved her sister Isobel more.)

There's a lot of good points to Johnson's novel -- the writing is intricate and invites a reader to read closely and carefully. The banter between the sisters is wonderfully written -- and reveals so much about their character. I also loved the appearance of Freddie and Lilly from Nearly a Lady.

Mad About the Earl by Christina Brooke

2012-01-30T10:13:00.000+08:00

In her debut novel, Heiress in Love, Christina Brooke introduces an interesting (very possible) organization: The Ministry of Marriage, which is tasked with pairing and marrying off the children of the Ton.

Mad About the Earl is Rosamund Westruther's story. (It's her turn to be matched up!)

I really like Rosamund as a character. She has an interesting background: Although her mother is still alive, at an early age, she and her brother were taken in as wards by the Duke of Montford. She's the sister of a marquess and has very lofty connections in society. And she's perfectly beautiful and perfectly mannered.

In the story, we discover that Rosamund's mother is evil. (There is no other word for her.) She delights in tormenting her children and displays her indiscretions shamelessly.

Rosamund's childhood (and mother) have shaped her character. To the world, Rosamund is seen as her mother's daughter and the world expects her to follow her mother's footsteps. At one point, even her brother believes her to be as indiscreet as their mother.

Her beauty is both a blessing and a curse to her. She knows how to use her beauty to accomplish her goals but she also realizes that this is the cause of her mother's jealousy and why unwanted men flock to her.

She's an "it" girl with hats and ribbons are named after her. She could have anything she wants -- except for the one thing she truly, desperately wants -- Griffin deVere, the Earl of Tregarth. Perhaps the most imperfect man in the whole of England.

Like Rosamund, Griffin's physical appearance is both a blessing and a curse to him -- he's big and bulky -- and doesn't fit the mold of what a gentleman ought to be. His size suits him perfectly, allowing him to intimidate people and push them away.

And he tries to push Rosamund away, too -- their first meeting is memorable: he's filthy and smells of the stables. She's perfectly decked out in a new riding outfit. He thinks she mistook him for a stablehand -- but she knows exactly who he is but refuses to be cowed by his appearance.

I loved Rosamund instantly. She breaks the stereotype. She's perceived as shallow and a bit ... frothy -- but she has a core of steel and an unwavering devotion to the people she loves, which includes Griffin.

Griffin doesn't understand why Rosamund would want him. He's been told all his life how unworthy he is. He tries to delay the betrothal, hoping she would find someone else to marry.

What he doesn't know is that Rosamund is determined to marry him. In Griffin she sees the promise of a life and marriage unlike the one her parents had. And she wants that.

Christina Brooke's story tackles the issue of society and its perception of people -- while Rosamund was enjoying the Season, everyone thought she had favored and fallen in love with Captain Lauderdale. In fact, Rosamund felt nothing of the sort. She had been clear from the beginning that all she wanted from the captain was his friendship. But the Captain, knowing she was the daughter of Lady Steyne, expected her to behave like her mother -- blatantly offering her an affair after her marriage.

There is an attractive dynamism to all of Brooke's characters. I am eager to find out more about Xavier, Rosamund's brother and Cecily, her cousin. Brooke has also created perhaps my most favorite valet EVER: Sweet William Dearlove. In some instances, he steals the scene from Griffin. ^_^

Brooke's next installment in her Ministry of Marriage series is A Duchess to Remember and features Cecily. It comes out June 2012. Yay!

The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway (e-book)

2012-01-29T06:37:00.000+08:00

It usually takes me 2 to 3 days to finish a book. This one took a day and a half. I pushed bedtime back so I could read a chapter; I woke up earlier to read another chapter; I risked getting carsick and read it while going out to get dinner. Why? Because I loved reading it so much and wanted to read some more!

Ginesse Braxton is a woman who knows what she wants and, right now, she wants to go back to Egypt and discover the lost city of Zerzura. And she also knows that no one will agree to accompany her on her expedition --

Ginesse has a sad history in Egypt. Her father is famous for his archeological achievements -- and Ginesse is infamous for all the mischief she has wreaked while growing up. The last bit being the (accidental) burning of some not-so-ancient papyrus, which resulted in her banishment to England.

But now she is on her back to Egypt -- and she has a plan.

She decides to impersonate her next-door cabin neighbor, Miss Whimpelhall, who is meeting her fiance, Colonel Lord Pomfrey, at Fort Gordon -- which is near the area she suspects Zerzura to be.

What she does not expect is the man sent by Colonel Lord Pomfrey to meet "her" --

Jim Owens doesn't like Colonel Lord Pomfrey and doesn't like the assignment he gave him -- and is determined to not like Miss Whimpelhall.

What he does not expect is to feel an instant attraction to the woman who steps off the boat --

And so the adventure begins.

Jim knows he is a man of honor -- and wants desperately to be that man -- but he can't keep himself from liking, and falling in love with another man's bride-to-be.

Ginesse thought Zerzura was her all. Then she meets Jim and realizes that there might be something more to life than her archeological aspirations.

This was a well-planned, well-plotted and well-written story. It is the kind of romance novel that I have not encountered in a long time -- epic in its adventure with a nice mix of humor and heart. The supporting character have dimension and wonderful stories.

I have one small niggle: I did not understand why, in Chapter 21, when Ginesse had the opportunity to reveal her true identity, she did not. Instead she continued with her masquerade as Miss Whimpelhall. But the succeeding chapters manage to tie that decision up nicely with the rest of the story.

This is a sequel to As You Desire, which is Ginesse's parents story.

Trouble at the Wedding by Laura Lee Guhrke

2012-01-28T08:58:00.002+08:00

I really enjoyed the first two books of this series and was looking forward to this book, the final installment.

Annabel Wheaton is New Money -- and she knows it. She has a plan to escape her circumstances and it involves marrying the Earl of Rumsford, a man she does not love.

Annabel's family knows she's making the worst mistake of her life -- and they want to delay or stop the wedding, especially Annabel's uncle Arthur. He employs Christian Du Quesne, the Duke of Scarborough to talk Annabel out of the wedding.

Christian is no stranger to this kind of mistake. He made the same one years ago and it cost him his heart. Motivated by Arthur's offer of money -- and a personal need to help someone out of the same situation, Christian embarks on showing Annabel the truth about the sort of life she is marrying into.

What Christian does not realize is that, with each meeting and conversation, he is also revealing feelings that he thought he buried long ago with the death of his wife. But his old fears also resurface -- and Christian knows he cannot -- he must not act on his attraction to Annabel.

This is a story about second chances -- Annabel is eager to escape Mississippi and her old life. Her father's bequest allows her to have another chance at living a better life.

Having been hurt by a former lover, Annabel is also given another chance at love.

For Christian, he realizes that he has something to look forward to in his life. He realizes the gift his meeting with Arthur Ransom has given him -- and he decides to take it.

While Trouble at the Wedding was an enjoyable read, it was not a strong finish for this series.

There were some weak parts in the story -- (I didn't really enjoy Christian's monologues/proselytizing at the early chapters of the story about the misery of living in British society) --

I also felt the shift in the story and the tone felt a bit abrupt (and left a few loose ends -- and characters hanging without any resolution).

A question: Christian mentions the Duke of Trathen as being single in this story. I wonder if this last novel was meant to be happening concurrent to the previous novel, Scandal of the Year? Or does this happen before?

A Breach of Promise by Victoria Vane (e-book)

2012-01-25T13:42:00.002+08:00

Lydia and Marcus have been engaged forever. And Lydia has been in love with Marcus forever.

On the eve of their formal betrothal, Marcus gives Lydia a glimpse of their sexual compatibility and "ruins" her forever -- and then promptly leaves to embark on his career as a diplomat.

It is 6 years later and Lydia is tired of waiting for Marcus. She writes to him and asks that they break their betrothal.

Marcus is reluctant to get married -- but he is even more reluctant to let Lydia go.

So what's Marcus to do? He sets out to convince Lydia not to go -- and he'll do whatever is necessary.

I appreciated the details Vane included in her story -- from the description of the dresses, to the food, etc. It created a clear sense of setting, allowing the readers to imagine the space (and the time) where the hero and heroine moved in.

I also loved the whole diplomatic/political dimension of the story. One could see Vane's dedication to accuracy of the period she is writing about.

There seemed to be a slight inconsistency with the characters and their dialogue (and intelligence). Lydia and Marcus are incredibly smart people and converse intelligently about law and politics. (Loved their exchange regarding the betrothal contract and the breach of promise) -- but they sounded incredibly ... average (read: lust driving their thoughts) when they talked about sex ... Or when they were in the midst of the coital act.

The weakest point of the story had to be Lydia's change of heart -- she was truly intent on breaking off her engagement with Marcus and showed remarkable restraint in the face of Marcus's seductive charm. But when Marcus eventually agrees to it, she realises -- within the span of an hour (less actually) -- that she has made a big mistake and wants Marcus back.

I felt it was abrupt and had very little impetus for such a change.

I also did not believe Marcus' sudden reformation --

"I'm sorry, Lydia. I can't deny that, but can we not forget the past? Our engagement was too soon. We were neither of us ready, but I won't hurt you again."

Perhaps Vane was trying to rush this part -- in order to tell the rest of the story?

As an erotic romance, this is relatively tame -- with a wonderful balance between story and sex. (The characters aren't going at it every chapter --)

And it bring to fore the now-blurred line between a romance novel and an erotic romance novel. A lot of romance novels are pushing the boundaries and including scenes that were once only found in the pages of an erotic romance novel.

This was an enjoyable read.

Her next work, also set in the Georgian period, is coming in April.

Disclosure: I got a copy of this e-book through a giveaway.

Any Wicked Thing by Margaret Rowe

2012-01-24T05:58:00.000+08:00

I've read Margaret Rowe's debut Tempting Eden (and her debut as Maggie Robinson, Mistress by Mistake) --

There is a quality to her writing that makes me want to read more of her works -- and I have.

This is her second book, writing as Margaret Rowe.

Frederica Wells has known Sebastian Goddard all her life -- and she has loved him for half of it.

During a masked ball, when she was 18, she decides to give herself to Sebastian -- with disastrous results. They are caught by both their fathers -- Sebastian grudgingly offers for Freddie but she refuses him. (Plus, Sebastian's father won't allow it.)

Their relationship changes after that one night.

10 years later, Sebastian has inherited the dukedom and all its debts. He is intent on settling his father's estate and needs to travel back to Goddard Castle -- to sell it and move on with his life.

The problem is, Freddie's still living there -- and wants the castle for herself.

They enter into a bargain -- for 30 days, Freddie will agree to "any wicked thing" Sebastian wants of her.

And Sebastian agrees.

Having just read Cecilia Grant's A Lady Awakened -- where a bargain was also struck for a duration of 30 days, I could not help but feel that Grant handled narrative time much better than Rowe did.

Rowe's story dragged -- and the story was a bit static. At certain points, I was not sure how much time had passed -- and then to realize it hasn't even been a day yet.

Sebastian's character is nicely fleshed out (as is Frederica's) -- on the outside, he seems to be a carefree guy but one can see that he cares deeply about what happens to Freddie and to the people inside Goddard Castle. Freddie is an interesting woman -- well-versed in history and learned to fence properly from a book.

The most enjoyable part was the treasure hunt near the end of the book -- I think it would be a different (but completely readable) story had Rowe decided to focus on this more -- Sebastian discovers that there might be a treasure hidden inside Goddard Castle -- and Frederica, the history buff, helps him and his friend locate it.

There are a lot of wonderful elements in the story. The dynamic between the younger Freddie and Sebastian was wonderful. They were friends and confidants.

The older versions of them both doth protest too much, methinks. And it gets a bit tiresome. She enjoys the sex but feels dirty after. He enjoys the sex but feels guilty after.

While it shows just how irresistible the attraction is between the two, it seems to happens after every chapter -- and affects the flow of the story.

Disclosure: I got a copy of this book through a giveaway.

Forever and a Day by Delilah Marvelle

2012-01-22T16:43:00.000+08:00

To every story, there is the road taken and there is what might have been --

Delilah Marvelle begins the story simply: Rich boy meets poor girl on the street and they have a brief conversation. Rich boy invites poor girl to coffee and poor girl is tempted.

Marvelle could have continued along those lines and come up with a marvelous story with a happily ever after -- about how love would conquer all (including class and wealth) --

But Delilah Marvelle decides to take the road not taken -- and this is what makes Forever and a Day a compelling read.

Roderick Tremayne, heir of the Duke of Wentworth, meets an accident shortly after his encounter with Georgia -- and loses his memory.

He is stripped away of his identity and his past. He is what he is. A man who, despite his memory loss, knows clearly and with no doubt that he is attracted to Georgia Milton.

Georgia Milton struggles to make ends meet on a daily basis. She is a woman with big dreams of going West -- and she has an even bigger heart.

Seeing Roderick in the hospital (and knowing she is partially responsible for his accident), she reluctantly agrees to take care of him, hoping his family would come find him or that he would regain his memory.

She struggles with herself -- she knows the wealthy and the aristos and are wary of their kind. She knows Roderick (Robinson) is wealthy and she knows he isn't for a girl like her. But she can't help but fall in love with the man she sees daily --

The man who willingly gets his hands bloody, helping her pump water. The man who talks to her and listens to her and sees her.

But reality crashes down on them too soon -- and Roderick's father finds them.

It is heartbreaking when Georgia discovers that her Robinson is not only wealthy but also part of the highest tier of Society.

Neither of them are willing to give up on the love they had found in each other -- both are willing to fight for it. But the dictates of society and Roderick's own sense of obligation forces him to make a decision --

It is a question that still invites much discussion -- is love enough against all odds? Can love see past all discrimination and conquer all?

Marvelle resolves this in a very unique (but very believable way) -- and it is heartwarming to read about two people and the sacrifice they make for the sake of their love.

P.S. I love, love, love the Duke of Wentworth. He is a wonderful father to Roderick.

A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant

2012-01-21T16:22:00.000+08:00

I have a soft spot for new authors. I love picking up "first books" without bothering to read reviews online -- if it is a debut author and it's a historical romance, 9 out of 10 times, I will purchase it.

Here's why -- there are thousands (maybe millions) of aspiring romance writers out there -- these "first books" have something special in them that caught the attention of publishers -- and I like discovering this by reading their books.

So far, I've had a lot of success with this method -- Sherry Thomas and Tracy Anne Warren are two such authors who I've discovered by bravely buying their first books.

I have been disappointed by maybe one or two debut novels in the past 6 years of reading romances -- for the most part, debut novels have introduced me to memorable stories and to new authors to look forward to.

And now, Cecilia Grant's debut comes along. And it is stellar.

The prose is breathtaking -- deliberate and thoughtful. Words pieced together to form and complement the sentiment of the characters and of the story.

Martha and Theo are wonderful as heroine and hero. She's cold, distant and aloof. He's a ne'er-do-well sent banished from London by his father who got tired of his wasteful living.

He agrees to her proposition as a lark --

But in their month together, these two hearts coming from very, very different directions both realize what love and making love is all about.

While the title implies that it is only Martha who is awakened, in truth, one sees Theo's as well. He realizes his value as a man -- and the work that he can accomplish once he applies himself.

I love the pace of the story -- and we really see how the two characters change as they move along. It is also interesting to see Grant tackle the difference between "sex" and "making love" -- too often in romance novels, lust (and sex) becomes the driving force that joins the hero and heroine together. And they will blindly call it "love" --

In Grant's story, they couple have sex early on. It is unpleasant business for the both of them because it is exactly that -- business.

When they finally make love, after a period of knowing each other, the realization comes not only to the hero and heroine -- but also to the reader.

And when they finally say "I Love You" -- I believed it.

There were times when the writing felt too subtle -- for instance, Martha's marriage and the reason for her aloofness -- but it is there, layered carefully in the words on the page.

This was a wonderful debut -- and I am excited to reading Grant's next book.

***Early portions of this review came from a short piece I wrote 3 years ago.

The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James

2012-01-20T16:22:00.000+08:00

Things that I liked about this book:
1. I liked Tarquin -- he's a hero with a handicap (Asperger's). I liked how he interacted with the world -- and how the world interacted with him. It's an interesting insight. I loved that he can't lie (part of his handicap) -- and he says things as he thinks/feels them.

2. I liked Tarquin's mother -- she wrote a book on manners and is very, very strict. But one realizes, as the book progresses, that she is a mother protecting her son. She is wonderfully-layered and multi-faceted.

I love that she knows Tarquin very well and can read him very well. I think it takes an attentive mother to be able to do this.

3. I loved Rupert's character -- and he served as an excellent foil for Tarquin. It was interesting seeing Olivia caught between these two "dukes" (well, a marquess and a duke) -- one expressed emotions so effortlessly ... and so randomly and the other was very self-contained.

4. I loved Georgiana! Initially, she is portrayed as the perfect duchess-to-be -- and she seemed so cold and reserved. As her character unfolds -- (it literally unfolds!) -- we discover a woman who wasn't given many choices and had to do the best she could with what she had. (The only thing she was ever trained to do was to be a perfect duchess. And she learned it so well.) In the end, she discovers herself and what she truly wants. And she decides to go after it!

Things that I didn't like about this book:
1. Olivia. Olivia who talked too much. Olivia who needed to have the last word on everything. She seemed like a woman who was just trying to make up for her insecurities about her appearances. But -- she just talked too much. And she was too irreverent! She was thisclose to becoming a flat character with no dimension.

2. I did not understand Justin's character -- or his purpose in the story. (Was it really just to add more irreverence?)

3. The sudden change in tone towards the later part of the story (about what happened to Rupert) also threw me off guard -- the tone, the pace, the whole story shifted entirely.

My parting thoughts:
I felt Eloisa James' most successful retelling of a fairy tale is When Beauty Tamed the Beast -- this story, which is supposed to be a retelling of The Princess and the Pea, didn't seem like it was. And the elements of that particular fairy tale were included a bit too late in the story.

James focused too much on emphasizing Olivia's "vulgarity" and it tipped the balance of the story too much.

To her credit, the ensemble she created was amazing. Each one with a distinct voice and character. (Even Lucy, the dog.)

On These Silken Sheets by Sabrina Darby

2012-01-18T17:17:00.000+08:00

This is Sabrina Darby's debut and is a collection of 4 novellas all related to Harridan House -- an exclusive club that caters to every person's wildest fantasies.

I love how Darby was able to connect the four stories to each other (without being trite or forced) -- and I loved how she told each story.

My favorite of the 3 would be "Roses are Rouge" -- about Lady Blount and the new Baron Blount, a distant relative of her late husband. Jason hates everything that Lady Blount represents -- believing she married the former Sir Blount (who was over 70) for his money.

But there is also an intense attraction between the two -- and it's a wonderfully emotional dance that the two perform -- like poles that attract and repel each other.

Lady Blount is a compelling character -- one sees her as carefree and hedonistic (in the first two stories) -- but one sees a softer, more fragile side to her as well.

While this is considered erotic, I felt Darby was able to convey sensuality without being obscene. There is heart in her stories.

I look forward to Darby's next novel.

Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks

2012-01-18T17:05:00.000+08:00

After reading Keeley and Alaric's story, I excitedly picked up this book because I wanted to read about Rionna and Caelen.

Banks built up their characters very well and we see Caelen's character unfold with each of his brother's story.

Rionna is a twice-jilted woman. She was initially betrothed to Ewan and then to Alaric -- her father is desperate for the alliance in order to protect their clan against Duncan Cameron who has ambitious plans of taking over the Highlands.

Caelen accepts the responsibility of fulfilling the agreement between the McDonalds and the McCabes. But it is not just responsibility that compels Caelen to marry Rionna --

He finds her strangely attractive, despite her manner of dressing and her inclination to wield a sword. A betrayal in his past has left Caelen wary of love -- but he believes he and Rionna could make a comfortable life together --

If only Rionna would stop fighting him every step of the way.

Rionna resists Caelen's "heavy-handed ways" and believes he is trying to change her into becoming a different woman entirely.

But all Caelen wants to do is to cherish Rionna and to show her how much he treasures her.

This lacked the emotional gravitas found in the second book -- and I could sense that Maya Banks was trying to tie up and resolve all of her stories. (This is a plus point for me -- a lot of authors usually leave things hanging.)

I did wish she developed the emotional aspect of Rionna and Caelen's relationship more deeply -- at the end of the story, one feels a companionable affinity between the two -- but none of the intense love that we saw in Keeley and Alaric's story.

Congratulations to Maya Banks on this very solid trilogy!

Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks

2012-01-10T17:07:00.000+08:00

To put it simply, I really enjoyed this book. I kept pushing delaying sleep just so I could finish one more chapter ... and then another.

Then when I finished it, I immediately went to my to-be-read pile and picked up the last book of the series.

Now I'm trying to find the words to say why this story worked for me --

In this installment, Alaric McCabe needs to do right by his clan -- his nephew got kidnapped while under his charge and he is eager to do his duty and prove his loyalty to his clan. While on his way to the McDonald's to court his future wife, he and his clansmen are ambushed -- and he is left bleeding and dying.

By sheer luck, his horse leads him to Keeley. Keeley is formerly of the McDonald clan who had banished her (unjustly) many years ago. Keeley is sad, lonely and still hurting from the accusations and abandonment of her clan.

She finds purpose in caring for Alaric, her unnamed warrior -- and even more purpose when she is brought back to the McCabe hold after she and Alaric are found by Ewan and Caelen.

It is a devastating moment when Keeley realizes that she has fallen in love with Alaric -- and that Alaric is bound to marry her (former) dearest and closest friend, Rionna McDonald.

And it is equally devastating for Alaric when he realizes just how deeply in love he is with Keeley but he knows he cannot marry her.

Love is said to either be the complicating factor or the factor for change in a romance novel -- it does both in Banks' story --

Keeley and Alaric's love complicates things for both of them -- he needs to marry Rionna McDonald in order to secure an alliance and to ensure the safety of the McCabe clan and Keeley wants him but cannot betray her old friend, Rionna.

It also changes the two characters -- Alaric realizes that there is more to him than being a good brother and defender of the McCabes -- he realizes, for the first time, that he wants something for himself -- and Keeley discovers her worth as a healer and beloved member of her clan.

At the heart of this series' success is the set of characters. Maya Banks was able to create members of a clan (the McCabes) with very distinct personalities and voices. And the characters were consistent throughout the series (from Book 1 to 3) --

I'm currently reading the 3rd book. (And enjoying it as well.)

The Secrets of a Lady by Jenna Petersen (e-book)

2012-01-07T16:55:00.003+08:00

When Audrey Jordan said "Yuck" -- I also said yuck.

The book is set in 1809 -- I don't expect my historical novels to adhere strictly and accurately to the language of a particular period -- but this was blatantly anachronous.

Jenna Petersen returns to writing about lady spies -- she wrote a marvelous series featuring 3 remarkable lady spies (From London with Love, Desire Never Dies and Seduction is Forever) --

I had high expectations for The Secrets of a Lady and I was sadly disappointed by it.

Audrey and Noah Jordan are spies who work for the British government. Their latest mission has brought them back to London and back in contact with an old family friend, Griffin Berenger. It is an especially difficult homecoming for Audrey who, five years earlier, had awkwardly revealed her feelings for Griffin ... on his wedding day.

But the safety of the Prince Regent and of their country forces them to put aside their past and to work together to uncover a plot involving France and traitors to the British Empire.

I felt that Noah and Audrey's plan to get close to Douglas Ellison was unnecessarily complicated: they have Audrey be courted by Ellison so that Audrey can infiltrate Ellison's circle and try to get information about the plot. They enlist Griffin's help because he is next-door neighbors with Ellison.

Wouldn't it have been simpler for them to: break in Ellison's house (which Audrey eventually does anyway) or to do covert surveillance?

To Petersen's credit, her talent at writing shines through in some parts -- I especially love how Griffin is tormented by his attraction to Audrey. His late wife, Luci, had deceived him and was unfaithful to him. And now, Audrey comes back into his life -- and her whole world and profession is about deception and lies.

I think Jenna Petersen had a good story -- but wasn't able to tell the story well.

The Lady Gambles by Carole Mortimer

2012-01-05T20:26:00.003+08:00

This is my first Carole Mortimer book --

I had first encountered Mortimer's name when I read reviews for her Notorious St. Claires series. Then I was further intrigued when she took the same family (the St. Claires) and wrote a contemporary series for them.

When this new series was announced, I decided to give her a try.

Carole Mortimer has been writing since the 80s and has over a hundred books -- and her experience shows. The story has a wonderful pace and consistent tone. She's created an attractive and irresistible set of sisters and introduced 3 lords who are the right mix of rogue and gentleman.

The Lady Gambles is Caro's story -- she's the middle sister who got tired of her secluded life in Hampshire, waiting warily for the lord who will be their guardian. She decides to take matters into her own hands and travels to London with big plans.

Her big plans get swallowed up in London and she is forced to take employment at a club.

Dominic Vaughn, Earl of Blackstone, has gained ownership of the club through a game of cards. He has returned from his trip to Italy, surprised to see that his new employee is a woman! And a very beautiful one at that.

Dominic knows there is more to Caro than she reveals -- and he wants to find out more.

What I liked about this book is how Mortimer is able to introduce the story of the 3 sisters (and the premise of the series) without weighing down the story of Caro and Dominic. She was able to reveal enough about the 2 other sisters to keep her readers interested ... and wanting more. (Like me!)

This was a well-written, nicely-focused story. I'm glad I gave Mortimer a try.

I'm now planning to order books 2 and 3. ^_^

I Love the Earl by Caroline Linden (novella)

2012-01-04T06:15:00.001+08:00

This is the prologue to Caroline Linden's ongoing series, The Truth About the Duke.

Margaret de Lacey had settled into her life as a spinster -- and to her simple, quiet life keeping house for her brother Francis.

But Francis suddenly becomes the Duke of Durham --

And Margaret's life changes dramatically.

With the dowry her brother has offered for her, she becomes the most sought-after heiress in London.

But Margaret is wary of the attention -- and she refuses to bend to Society's rules and whims.

Rhys, the Earl of Dowling, needs a rich wife -- desperately.

When he first decides to approach Margaret, all he sees is the forty thousand pounds Margaret will bring into the marriage. But when he and Margaret have their first conversation, Rhys suddenly realizes that there is more to Margaret than just her money.

And he wants her. Desperately.

This was a lovely short story. It introduces the de Lacey family and their origin quite nicely. And Margaret and Rhys are wonderful. Both are sharp and quick-witted. Both have a wonderful sense of humor.

Their love story was nicely developed. (And enough was revealed about Francis, the Duke of Durham to pique my interest.)

It's amazing what Linden was able to accomplish in 140+ pages.

I actually read and enjoyed One Night in London and I'm looking forward to the next installment: Blame It On Bath.

Wicked in Your Arms by Sophie Jordan

2012-01-04T06:13:00.003+08:00

Singular is the word Sevastian uses when he finally admits that he is captivated by Grier.

It is also the word I will use to describe this novel. Singular. Utterly captivating.

Grier's a Cinderella -- rescued from her poor life in Wales and brought to London by her long-lost father.

Sevastian's a Prince but he isn't so charming. He's grown up knowing only war and loss. Finally, his kingdom has found peace and it's up to Sevastian to pick up the pieces and rebuild his home.

He's in London seeking an heiress. And Grier's one, but she doesn't want to be. She's happy to be in a corner, eating all the things she's never had when she lived in Wales. And she's wary of all the men who see the money and not the woman.

And Grier definitely doesn't want Sevastian. Especially after she overhears what he thought of her.

And Sevastian definitely doesn't want Grier. Especially after what she does to him after she overhears what he thought of her.

And so begins a clash of wills and personalities. Of a prince used to have people in humble and quiet obeisance. And of a woman who has known only independence and self-determination.

I love Grier and Sevastian. Whether they like it or not, they are kindred spirits. Both living lives not of their own choosing. Grier's father Jack wants her to marry a title. And Sevastian's grandfather expects Sev to come home with a lot of money.

This was a page-turner and a delight to read. The characters had wonderful personalities and I enjoyed reading about their little "skirmishes" --

When they finally come together, it is breathtaking. Literally, the spark that has finally been lit. It's a beautiful moment.

I think this is Sophie Jordan's best work ever. I had trouble getting into Marguerite's story and actually had to put it down. But this one was amazing. Singular. Captivating.

Now I am looking forward to Cleo's story.

Pride & Passion by Charlotte Featherstone

2012-01-02T10:20:00.002+08:00

This is Book 2 of the Brethren Guardian series and features Adrian, the Duke of Sussex and Lucy, the daughter of the Marquess of Stonebrook.

Lucy is engaged to Adrian and she hates it. She hates what he represents: the same cold, heartless society who robbed her of her parents and her childhood. But she knows her duty.

Adrian has loved Lucy forever but he can't seem to compete with the ghosts in Lucy's past. First, there is the young boy, Gabriel, who was Lucy's first friend -- and there is Thomas, Lucy's first lover.

He has done everything to make Lucy see him, the man -- and not the title. But it always seems to have the opposite effect on Lucy and drives her further and further away.

And there is the business of the Brethren Guardians -- Adrian and his fellow Brethren seek to unmask the people behind the House of Orpheus. Lucy is an unknowing pawn in the dangerous game between the Brethren and the House of Orpheus and Adrian wants to keep her safe.

This is a long book and a Featherstone focused too heavily on the enmity between Lucy and Adrian and on the House of Orpheus for most of the book.

The story of Lucy and Adrian actually improves at Chapter 20 -- when they finally decide to talk to each other not as Lord and Lady -- but as Lucy and Adrian. And the blossoming of their relationship is a beautiful thing to read about.

I really like Adrian. I could sympathize with him and I love that he fell in love with Lucy first.

Lucy struck me as a bit too spoiled. Granted she didn't have the happiest of childhoods (her parents ignored her) -- I didn't like that she kept using her childhood as an excuse to behave terribly now that she's grown up.

I did love that she made her own clothes (and also Isabella's) -- that was an interesting, albeit unexplored, aspect of her personality.

This was an improvement on the first book. The tone is much better (not as overwrought) --

Looking forward to reading the 3rd book.

All the books I read in 2011

2011-12-31T16:22:00.000+08:00

1. Angelology by Daniella Trussoni
2. Addicted by Charlotte Featherstone
3. Sinful by Charlotte Featherstone
4. Seduction & Scandal by Charlotte Featherstone
5. A Hidden Heart by Laura Kinsale
6. After Dark With a Scoundrel by Alexandra Hawkins
7. Till Dawn with the Devil by Alexandra Hawkins
8. Blaze Wyndham by Bertrice Small
9. Breathless by Anne Stuart
10. Ruthless by Anne Stuart

11. Reckless by Anne Stuart
12. Shameless by Anne Stuart
13. The Bewitching Bride by Elizabeth Thornton
14. The Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick
15. A Christmas Promise by Mary Balogh
16. A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh -- has my most favorite passage for 2011
You must never ever say you are sorry ... you must never even feel sorry. If you act with deliberate intent, there is nothing to be sorry about. And if you act in ignorance, there is nothing to apologize for.
17. The Secret Mistress by Mary Balogh
18. Captured by Desire by Kira Morgan
19. Captured by the Highlander by Julianne MacLean
20. Claimed by the Highlander by Julianne MacLean

21. Seduced by the Highlander by Julianne MacLean
22. The Classic Ten: The True Story of the Little Black Dress and Nine Other Fashion Favorites by Nancy MacDonell Smith
23. The Dangerous Viscount by Miranda Neville
24. Defiant by Jessica Trapp
25. Dangerous in Diamonds by Madeline Hunter -- on a rating scale of 1 to 5 stars, I gave this one 20 stars last April.
26. Every Time We Kiss by Christie Kelley
27. One Night Scandal by Christie Kelley
28. Something Scandalous by Christie Kelley
29. Scandal of the Season by Christie Kelley
30. Ten Ways to be Adores When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean

31. Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean
32. Force of Nature by Susan Johnson
33. Sweet as the Devil by Susan Johnson

34. Fifty Handbags That Changed the World
35. A Groom of One's Own by Maya Rodale
36. A Tale of Two Lovers by Maya Rodale
37. Highland Surrender by Dawn Halliday
38. His Sinful Secret by Emma Wildes
39. One Whisper Away by Emma Wildes
40. His Christmas Pleasure by Cathy Maxwell

41. How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries
42. To Wed a Wild Lord by Sabrina Jeffries
43. Her Ladyship's Companion by Evangeline Collins
44. His At Night by Sherry Thomas -- re-read it this year
45. It Happened One Season by Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, Candice Hern and Jacquie D'Alessandro
46. Heiress in Love by Christina Brooke
47. Libertine's Kiss by Judith James
48. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn
49. Just One Season in London by Leigh Michaels
50. The Wedding Affair by Leigh Michaels

51. Love Lessons at Midnight by Shirl Henke
52. Lord Lightning by Jenny Brown
53. Star-Crossed Seduction by Jenny Brown
54. The Lady Most Likely by Eloisa James, Julia Quinn and Connie Brockway
55. The Mysterious Benedict Society Book 1 by Trenton Lee Stewart
56. My Wicked Marquess by Gaelen Foley
57. Midnight's Wild Passion by Anna Campbell
58. Never Trust a Rogue by Olivia Drake
59. Scandal of the Year by Olivia Drake
60. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

61. Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt
62. Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt
63. Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt
64. Never a Gentleman by Eileen Dreyer
65. Always the Temptress by Eileen Dreyer
66. Nearly a Lady by Alissa Johnson
67. Nowhere Near Respectable by Mary Jo Putney
68. Once Upon a Scandal by Delilah Marvelle
69. Prelude to a Scandal by Delilah Marvelle
70. The Perfect Scandal by Delilah Marvelle

71. Forever Mine (e-novella) by Delilah Marvelle
72. The Perfect Mistress by Victoria Alexander
73. The Pursuit of Pleasure by Elizabeth Essex
74. Seduction Wears Sapphires by Renee Bernard
75. Ecstasy Wears Emeralds by Renee Bernard
76. The Surrender of a Lady by Tiffany Clare
77. The Seduction of His Wife by Tiffany Clare
78. Secret Desires of a Governess by Tiffany Clare
79. Trial by Desire by Courtney Milan
80. Unveiled by Courtney Milan

81. Unlocked (e-novella) by Courtney Milan
82. Unraveled by Courtney Milan
83. Unclaimed by Courtney Milan
84. Tempting Eden by Margaret Rowe
85. Taken by Desire by Lavinia Kent
86. What a Duke Wants by Lavinia Kent
87. Tempting the Marquess by Sara Lindsey
88. The Unclaimed Duchess by Jenna Petersen
89. To Tempt a Rake by Cara Elliott
90. Too Wicked to Wed by Cara Elliott

91. Wedding of the Season by Laura Lee Guhrke
92. Scandal of the Year by Laura Lee Guhrke
93. To Desire a Wicked Duke by Nicole Jordan
94. To Be Seduced by Ann Stephens
95. The Scottish Groom by Ann Stephens
96. Treasure Me by Robyn DeHart
97. Wicked Delights of a Bridal Bed by Tracy Anne Warren
98. When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James
99. Winning the Wallflower (e-novella) by Eloisa James
100. Wild Heart by Lori Brighton

101. Style by Kate Spade
102. Secrets of a Proper Countess by Lecia Cornwall
103. All The Pleasures of the Season (e-novella) by Lecia Cornwall
104. The School for Brides by Cheryl Ann Smith
105. The Accidental Courtesan by Cheryl Ann Smith
106. You Only Love Once by Caroline Linden
107. One Night in London by Caroline Linden
108. The Year of Living Dangerously by Julia London
109. The Soldier by Grace Burrowes
110. Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes

111. The Virtuoso by Grace Burrowes
112. The Sins of Viscount Sutherland by Samantha James
113. Scandalous Deception by Rosemary Rogers
114. Waking Up With the Duke by Lorraine Heath
115. In Bed with the Devil by Lorraine Heath
116. Surrender to the Devil by Lorraine Heath
117. Promise Me Forever by Lorraine Heath
118. Between the Devil and Desire by Lorraine Heath
119. Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman by Lorraine Heath
120. Love, Come to Me by Lisa Kleypas

121. Romancing the Countess by Ashley March
122. Season for Temptation by Theresa Romain
123. In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks
124. A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare
125. Once Upon a Winter's Eve (e-novella) by Tessa Dare
126. The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne
127. To Pleasure the Duke by Sara Bennett
128. The Sinner Who Seduced Me by Stefanie Sloane
129. The Angel in My Arms by Stefanie Sloane
130. The Devil in Disguise by Stefanie Sloane

131. Redeeming the Rogue by Donna MacMeans
132. Sacked (e-novella) by Jane Charles
133. Handfasted (e-novella) by Jane Charles
134. In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster by Stephanie Laurens
135. Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue by Stephanie Laurens
136. All's Fair in Love and Seduction (e-novella) by Beverley Kendall
137. Engaged in Sin by Sharon Page

Did not Finished Novels = 7
Non-romance novels read = 6
E-novellas = 8

My Favorite Romance Novel Series for 2011

2011-12-31T14:01:00.000+08:00

1. Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane Series (not yet complete)
Book 1: Wicked Intentions
Book 2: Notorious Pleasures
Book 3: Scandalous Desires

2. Courtney Milan's Turner Brothers Series (complete)
Book 1: Unveiled
Book 2: Unclaimed
Book 3: Unraveled
e-Novella: Unlocked

3. Eileen Dreyer's Drake's Rakes Series (not yet complete)
Book 1: Barely a Lady
Book 2: Never a Gentleman
Book 3: Always the Temptress

4. Sabrina Jeffries's Hellions of Halstead Hall Series (not yet complete)
Book 1: The Truth About Lord Stoneville
Book 2: A Hellion in Her Bed
Book 3: How to Woo a Reluctant Lady
Book 4: To Wed a Wild Lord

5. Christie Kelley's Spinsters Club Series (complete?)
Book 1: Every Night I'm Yours
Book 2: Every Time We Kiss
Book 3: Something Scandalous
Book 4: Scandal of the Season
Book 5: One Night Scandal

My Favorite Debut Romance Novels for 2011

2011-12-31T13:36:00.000+08:00

Favorite debut novels:

1. Secrets of a Proper Countess by Lecia Cornwall

2. To be Seduced by Ann Stephens

3. Heiress in Love by Christina Brooke

4. Lord Lightning by Jenny Brown

5. Mistress by Mistake by Maggie Robinson

My Favorite Romance Novels for 2011

2011-12-31T13:27:00.000+08:00

Favorite Romance Novels for 2011

One of my resolutions for 2010 was to keep a log of all the books I read. First, I got a Moleskine Passions Book Journal -- then it started filling up and I was having a hard time organizing it. So I opened this blog.

I have to say, I am enjoying this blog. And the romance novels that I am reading.

For 2011, these were the stand-outs for me:

1. Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath

2. Unraveled by Courtney Milan

3. Romancing the Countess by Ashley March

4. Always a Temptress by Eileen Dreyer

5. Dangerous in Diamonds by Madeline Hunter

6. You Only Love Once by Caroline Linden

7. When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

8. Her Ladyship's Companion by Evangeline Collins

9. The Lady Most Likely... by Julia Quinn, Connie Brockway and Eloisa James

10. A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh

11. The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne

12. A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

Seduction & Scandal by Charlotte Featherstone

2011-12-29T18:01:00.002+08:00

I loved Charlotte Featherstone's Addicted and Sinful. They were incredibly memorable reads with wonderful characters.

I was pleased when she released a mass-market paperback and I immediately pre-ordered my copy.

I have started and stopped reading this book since I got it in June -- I finally buckled down (and found quiet time) and finished it before 2011 ended.

When I read historical romances, the colors that come to mind are bright -- pinks, yellows, gold, etc --

But Charlotte Featherstone paints a very grayscale world --

Seduction & Scandal has a very gothic feel to it -- with characters that seem haunted by both their past and their present.

Isabella is the niece of the Marquess of Stonebrook, who rescued her from her simple (read: near-impoverished) life in Yorkshire and whisked her off to London. Together with her cousin, Lucy, they are enjoying the Season and the attention of the gentlemen of the Ton.

Isabella is determined to be happy and to erase all traces of her former life (and of her mother's scandal) -- but she is not happy and she is haunted by dreams of her past. She writes about her dreams where she is the heroine and Death is the hero.

Jude Sheldon, the Earl of Black, is an elusive member of the Ton. Few people know about his past and he is happy to keep his secrets. He is a member of the Brethren, descendants of the Templars, who are entrusted to guard Templar treasures.

The theft of the treasures forces Jude to move about in society -- this allows him to get close to Isabella. Isabella is attracted to Jude, who seems to embody her story's character, Death. She is caught between her desire for respectability (and a quiet life with Wendell) and the allure and excitement of the world of the Earl of Black.

There's a lot going on in this book:
1. Isabella's unfortunate past <-- constantly referred to and thought of by Isabella and Lucy (and the Earl of Black)
2. Jude's tragic past <-- much more fleshed out
3. The Brethren and their treasures <-- paranormal element in Featherstone's romance
4. A new incarnation of the Orpheus club <-- I assume they are former adversaries of the Brethren and have been revived by a mysterious group
5. The love story between Isabella and Jude
6. Lucy and her fascination with the occult
7. Lucy and the Duke of Sussex
8. Elizabeth, the Duke's sister and Alynwick

Granted this is the first book in the series and introduces the cast of characters, it encumbered the story --

Featherstone has a wonderful gift for creating atmosphere, but I felt this was overly Gothic and was, at times, overly dramatic.

I am currently reading the second book, Pride and Passion, and I'm hoping that Featherstone regains her focus in it.

Sacked by Jane Charles

2011-12-27T06:53:00.001+08:00

I actually read the second book first --

Elizabeth is hiding from her uncle who is trying to marry her off to one of his ancient friends. She finds herself being interviewed and then accepted as a governess to Jared, Lord Fairfield's five wards.

Jared doesn't know what to do with his 5 nieces. He feels an instant connection to Elizabeth and hires her as a governess.

This was a delightful read. Jane Charles shows us that good stories don't have to have complicated plots or overly brooding/angsty characters. That love can happen in the simplest of ways.

Jane Charles actually has full-length e-books -- I've already read 2 of her e-novellas and am about to pick up the 3rd book in her Governess short story series.

Handfasted by Jane Charles

2011-12-26T15:37:00.003+08:00

I don't remember who had recommended this book to me -- but I had just finished reading Eloisa James's e-novella and this was right next to it on the e-shelf.

Katrina needs to travel to a nearby town to secure a position as a governess -- and it is to her benefit that Lord Timothy Strotham was going in the same direction.

Katrina fell in love (and in lust) with Timothy the first time he stepped inside her father's bookshop. Realizing that marriage and family would not be in her future, she has come up with a plan -- to seduce Lord Timothy and know everything about the physical side of love.

Timothy also felt an instant attraction to Katrina but he has stayed away, out of respect for Katrina's deceased father. He refuses Katrina's request to travel with him -- afraid that he would succumb to temptation.

Someone suggests that they be handfasted -- to avoid the scandal and tarnish to their reputation. Both agree (one of them reluctantly) -- and their journey begins.

This was a wonderful read -- we learn enough of Timothy and Katrina to like them and to root for them as they discover just how deeply their attraction to and their love for each other is.

This was a "travel" story done nicely -- a balance of journey and action.

All the Pleasures of the Season by Lecia Cornwall

2011-12-25T16:15:00.000+08:00

This is an e-novella that completes the Archer Family story (Isobel and Phin from Secrets of a Proper Countess) --

Miranda feels the burden of being the youngest Archer -- she needs to enter into a respectable marriage to please her grandfather and to counter the notoriety gained by her older siblings.

She thinks that a match with the Duke of Kelton would be the answer to everything -- but her heart says otherwise.

She is in love with Gilbert Fielding, a second son of a baron with very little prospect -- and Gilbert loves her, too.

But they both know their place in society and their duty. And they know that theirs is an impossible match.

This was a wonderful short story that showed the magic of the holiday season --

Gilbert is a wonderful character -- observant and understanding. A man of action and of insight.

My favorite scene is the one where Miranda and Gilbert are looking at a portrait of Miranda -- (I won't spoil it -- read it and feel all tingly at what Gilbert says.)

Winning the Wallflower by Eloisa James

2011-12-24T16:06:00.002+08:00

Lucy and Cyrus are engaged -- but a reversal of fortune changes everything.

Lucy inherits some money and realizes that she now has more power to choose a husband -- one who would do more than be aloof and indifferent to her.

Cyrus wanted a wife with an impeccable lineage and no fuss. He is convinced that his criteria is sound and Lucy is the best choice.

But Lucy breaks off their engagement -- leaving Cyrus half in love with this new Lucy. The Lucy who is honest and stands up to him.

He throws his old plan out of the window and sets off with a new plan -- to win his former wallflower fiance.

Lucy and Cyrus are wonderful together. I love their conversations and I love how they are able to match wits.

I was charmed by how unaware Cyrus was of his own attractiveness. He has had ladies fall over his feet but he did not let this get to his head. It is Lucy who shows him that he is a man worthy of love.

This was a nice short story -- I'm looking forward to the full-lengthed novel, The Duke is Mine, which features Lucy's friend, Olivia.

In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster by Stephanie Laurens

2011-12-24T15:13:00.002+08:00

It took me awhile to finish this book -- I felt it was too long and over-written.

This is the second book in the Cynster Sisters series and it is Eliza's turn to find her hero.

I think Stephanie Laurens did a good thing by introducing us to an atypical Cynster -- Eliza is not like her siblings or cousins. She isn't bold or daring. She can't ride a horse. She's not overly fond of being social. She is quiet and introspective.

Jeremy Carling is also not your typical Laurens hero. He is a scholar and leads a quiet and contemplative life.

I felt Laurens could have done more about Eliza and Jeremy -- both out of their element in an adventure better-suited for their siblings/friends. Instead, Laurens does the same thing -- she rehashes the same plot -- and has Eliza kidnapped and brought to Scotland. And Jeremy and Eliza go through chapters and chapters of traveling ... on foot.

I am fine with Laurens using the kidnapping as the device to tie the three stories together -- but I don't think it should be as easy as changing the names of the kidnapper, the kidnapped and the rescuer -- (even the end destination was the same!)

I had to keep putting the book down because it was a lot of walking and walking and walking and not a lot of adventure. Laurens did the convenient thing and made sure to draw out their travel to Wolverstone. Of course there was an explanation -- and we accept (but don't understand) Jeremy's rationale for choosing such a roundabout route to a place he is very familiar with --

This is also where Laurens commits the error of over-writing -- the tedious discussion of routes and directions -- the ever-present and quite-often consultation of a map --

This story lacked focus. It also lacked direction. This should have been Eliza and Jeremy's story -- and we should have seen some growth and transformation in the two of them.

In the end, when Eliza realizes that she had changed, I am unconvinced that she had.

When Eliza finally rose from the tub, and wrapped in a robe, toweled her hair dry, she felt ... like her old self, but not.

She was increasingly certain she could never go back to that earlier self, her previous incarnation. Whatever changes the last week had wrought, they were irreversible.

What Laurens has succeeded in doing is to make the Laird (I assume he is the Earl of Glencrae) a very appealing character. It is explained in this second book why he was so hesitant in the first book.

He is a reluctant villain -- and it is because of him that I have pre-ordered the third book and will read it.

This book was released one month after the first book was released ... but the third book won't be out until January -- I am hoping that Laurens has used this time to work out the kinks in her story.

Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue by Stephanie Laurens

2011-12-19T20:11:00.000+08:00

This story had potential --

We are told, at the beginning of the story, that Heather and Timothy, Viscount Breckenridge, hate each other. They are somewhat, distantly related by marriage and they are nemeses.

They meet at an infamous soiree where Heather has sneaked off to -- she is determined to find a man to marry. (It's a strange place to find a prospective husband, considering it is a gathering with questionable purpose.)

Breckenridge compels Heather to go home, threatening to inform her brothers of her outing. On her way to her carriage, Heather gets kidnapped. Breckenridge witnesses this and decides to chase after Heather and her kidnappers.

He catches up to them -- but, instead of escaping, Heather is determined to discover the identity of the mastermind to her kidnapping. She decides to stay kidnapped to try to get information.

This whole part felt odd -- and partly defies logic. But I guess Laurens wanted to use this time for Heather and Breckenridge to develop a relationship. (They meet at night to discuss what they have discovered during the day.)

Finally, (after about 6 chapters), they decide to escape. The mastermind of Heather's kidnapping follows them. (Again, weird: he never seems to catch up. He's riding a horse and they are on foot -- but he never seems to catch up!)

Heather and Breckenridge decide to travel to Vale, to seek help from Richard (Scandal) and Catriona --

When they arrive there, the story changes.

They have forgotten about the mastermind (and the kidnapping) and Breckenridge is intent on marrying Heather. Heather does not want to get married and plans to devote her life to taking care of children. (Um... she sneaked out to a soiree in order to find a man!) She demands his love and he can't give it because of something that happened to him in the past.

There was one moment when Richard and Breckenridge decide to track the mastermind -- but, at this point, his trail is cold. (They should have done it when they arrived at the Vale, when Breckenridge and the mastermind had a standoff. Instead, they wait a few days so he could escape.)

It takes a deus ex machina (in this case, a tauri/bull ex machina) to push Heather and Breckenridge to give in to their feelings. And live happily ever after.

This story had a lot of potential. It would have been nice if Laurens had stuck to one story and saw it through to the end (preferably the kidnapping story). She also needs to edit her work better -- to avoid such lines as:

Their hearty breakfast of porridge and honey stood them on good stead as they marched steadily on. O_o

Some things Laurens failed to address:
1. Why do Heather and Breckenridge hate each other?
2. Who is Helen and what did she do to Breckenridge? (It is implied that she broke his heart but a lot of the details are left out -- I think this is an important part of the story since this is the reason why Timothy can't seem to open his heart to Heather.)
3. What happened to the letter Breckenridge left with Heather's coachman? Why didn't anyone come after them?

Laurens succeeded in piquing our interest about the mastermind of the kidnapping and the reasons behind it -- (which is why I am reading the next book) --

The greatest challenge Laurens has to overcome (IMHO) is creating unique characters. She has written about the Cynsters for more than 10 years and has introduced over 15 of the Cynster children. It becomes difficult distinguishing one from the other -- and one's story from the other.

In the word of her own characters:
The same thing we've all had to do--prostrate ourselves at their dainty feet, swear undying love, and mean it. - Richard to Breckenridge

Whoever your hero is, he's definitely like your cousins... - Catriona to Heather

She tried to step out of the Cynster mold with the Black Cobra Quartet -- but there is a reason why she has decided to return to writing about the Cynsters.

I have the next book and I'm interested enough to continue reading this series.

Forever Mine by Delilah Marvelle (e-novella)

2011-12-18T16:08:00.000+08:00

I am a big, big fan of Delilah Marvelle and have read all of her works --

This is a wonderful e-novella and teaser to her new series (Rumors) --

Augustine is haunted by the disappearance of her younger brother two years ago. Leonard, the Duke of Wentworth, has mourned his wife for seven years and has finally decided to move on -- and he wants Augustine as part of his life.

Augustine is a wonderful character -- strong and willing to stand up and speak up for herself. The loss of her brother shatters her completely and she goes through the motions of living but doesn't allow herself to enjoy her life.

Augustine likes Leonard but cannot offer commitment to him because she is determined to find her brother -- when Leonard discovers her plan to travel back to New York (where her brother disappears), he asks to come along.

The voyage to New York allows Augustine and Leonard to discover more of each other -- and trust each other with their broken hearts.

Their love gives Augustine the faith and conviction that her brother will be found.

The Rumors series begins with Forever and A Day, 28 years after Augustine and Leonard's story and featuring the current Duke of Wentworth.

To Wed a Wild Lord by Sabrina Jeffries

2011-12-17T13:39:00.000+08:00

This is the 4th part of Sabrina Jeffries' Hellions of Halstead Hall series --

Of the siblings, I felt Minerva was the most interesting and Gabriel is a close second.

This is Gabriel's story.

Three deaths haunt Gabriel -- the death of his parents and his best friend, Roger Waverly. He has earned the nickname Angel of Death because it seems that everyone close to him dies.

Gabriel acts like nothing bothers him -- but, deep down (and secretly), he has all but believed the nickname given to him -- he doesn't let anyone close, not even his own siblings.

Then his grandmother issues the ultimatum to him and his siblings -- his 3 older siblings have accepted their fates and have married --

Gabriel and Celia are holding on out on principle (and fear -- fear of letting people close) --

But time is running out -- Gabriel, ever protective of Celia, has come up with a plan that will allow Celia to escape a rushed marriage.

He decides to propose marriage to Roger's sister, Virginia. The problem is, Virginia and her family blame him for Roger's death. And they all hate him.

This does not stop Gabriel from pursuing Virginia --

What begins as a convenient arrangement for Gabriel, becomes utterly inconvenient when his heart gets involved. The more he spends time with Virginia, the more he comes to care for her -- and vise versa. Virginia finds it harder and harder to hold on to her anger when she discovers the real Gabriel.

And it's a Gabriel she has learned to love.

But so much of their past bears down on their present -- and it takes courage and faith from both Gabriel and Virginia to overcome it all.

This was a wonderfully written story -- at the heart of it all, are two orphans, making sense of their world and their hearts. They don't realize how alike they are -- Gabriel and Virginia, both lost their childhoods early with the deaths of their parents.

But the brilliance of Sabrina Jeffries lies in the "story within the story" -- the mystery of Gabriel's parents death continues to unfold --

It's interesting that Jeffries used a "locked room scenario" -- in the beginning (in Oliver's story), it seemed like a simple case: husband and wife were both found dead in a cabin. As the Sharpe siblings stories continue, we learn more and more about the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of their parents.

I think, with this series, Jeffries has shown incredible focus and consistency -- 2 different genres have played out in a series of 4 books (so far) -- and she has successfully moved the story forward (and leaving her readers riveted) --

The next (and last?) story is Celia's -- very, very excited to get my copy in 2012!

All's Fair in Love and Seduction by Beverley Kendall (e-book)

2011-12-15T15:49:00.000+08:00

I was not very impressed by Beverley Kendall's debut novel, Sinful Surrender -- but there was something about the story that made me continue to follow Kendall's work -- but not that closely.

I passed on her second novel, A Taste of Desire -- and, when she offered this e-book for free, I decided to give it another go.

I have to say, Kendall has grown since her first book. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I love the clash of wills of Elizabeth and Derek. (And I wished that their story was longer!)

I've gone ahead and ordered a copy of her second book and will preorder the 3rd book in the series, An Heir of Deception. (I read the teaser on the back of the e-book and it's amazing!)

Unraveled by Courtney Milan

2011-12-11T15:20:00.001+08:00

In one word? Wow.

In two words? Ohmygod. Wow.

Of the three brothers, Smite was always the most interesting and his story is aMAzing.

Smite is a magistrate and is known as Lord Justice because he is uncompromising, exact and deliberate. He has been that way all his life and in all aspects of his life.

His brothers, Ash and Mark, and their wives have all accepted who he is and tiptoe around him -- as though he were surrounded by broken glass.

But Miranda refuses to bend to his personality. She has seen glimpses of a different Smite and she likes what she has seen.

Smite is equally fascinated by Miranda. It is obvious that she doesn't belong in the slums of Bristol but he can't figure out where exactly she ought to be.

In an impulsive move, he asks her to be his mistress for one month -- hoping he could indulge and then move on.

But Miranda's life is complicated and she brings these complications with her. She is indebted to The Patron, an unknown entity that rules the slums.

Smite is also very complicated. The sight and sound of water upsets him. He can't have his face touched. He allots only 20 minutes for sentiment each day. And he has a photographic memory -- which means, he can never, ever forget his past.

But Smite keeps it all in check. He is very together, which infuriates his older brother (who wishes he could help Smite with something ... anything.)

I love the Turner brothers. I love the names their mother gave them. The impression from the very first book in the series is that the three brothers hate their names and keep it a secret.

One realizes that Miranda is truly special when Smite reveals his true name andall Miranda says is, "Your mother named you after the rainbow?" -- it is Miranda's very unique point of view that Smite needs in his life.

Miranda and Smite are wonderful characters. Complex without being convoluted. Broken without being fragmented. Challenging without being irritating.

This is Courtney Milan's first major foray in self-publishing -- she took her time with this book. (Originally scheduled for release earlier in the year) -- and I appreciate it.

It was masterfully written -- and wonderfully balanced.

I can go on and on with superlatives.

To say this was a page-turner would be an understatement.

Seduced by the Highlander by Julianne MacLean

2011-12-11T15:02:00.000+08:00

I'm on the fence about this book. I really enjoyed MacLean's previous series (Pembroke) and MacLean wrote one of my favorite romance novels of all time (The Mistress Diaries) -- but this book confused me.

The premise seemed a bit implausible -- Lachlan believes the curse that Raonaid placed on him and seeks her out to have the curse removed. It takes him 3 years to find her.

Catherine has no memories of the last 5 years of her life. She believes Lachlan would be able to help her regain them and asks him to bring her back to the Highlands.

Then they discover she's a twin. And they apparently know Raonaid's whereabouts (she's the lover of the Macdonald's mortal enemy -- and Lachlan's cousin's brother-in-law.) O_o

When Raonaid and Catherine first meet, there is no doubt that they are twins -- and they decide to travel back to the Montgomery estates to confront their family and to find answers.

And Lachlan finds out from Raonaid that the curse isn't real. (There's a bit of inconsistency in Lachlan -- he knows Raonaid is a seer and even once mentioned that she wasn't a witch -- didn't it occur to him that curses were not something Raonaid could do in the first place?)

There's a lot of traveling and a lot of wanting but not having in this book -- Maclean is very good at moving the story forward but there was very little substance in between the major moments of the story.

Lachlan and Catherine didn't have much chemistry -- and their back stories are not that compelling.

Julianne MacLean is publishing a Regency (?) romance next -- I'm really looking forward to that one.

The Virtuoso by Grace Burrowes

2011-12-08T05:09:00.000+08:00

The Virtuoso is Valentine's story. Valentine is the youngest son of the Duke of Moreland and is forever trying to find a way to live out of his family's shadow.

He does so by playing the piano. Well. So well that he is known as a virtuoso. But a sore hand and a doctor's orders prevents him from doing the one thing that he feels defines him -- and he is lost once more.

One night, a game of cards and lady luck in his favor gives Valentine another opportunity -- he travels to Little Weldon to inspect his "newly-acquired" property and is pleased to discover that a former acquaintance lives nearby.

Ellen, Baroness Roxbury, lives a quiet life -- and loves her garden.

When Valentine shows up in her quiet little town, she doesn't know if she should be pleased or worried. They had met a year before ... and shared a kiss. They never expected to meet again but, now -- they were living in close proximity to each other and the attraction from one year before is stronger and more irresistible.

But things were happening around them -- bonfires and loose tile roofs -- and a tree falling on to Ellen's cottage.

And why was Ellen living so modestly in a place so badly in need of repair? And where was all the money from the tenant farms going?

Valentine is determined to uncover all the secrets Ellen keeps --

And Ellen wants to discover Val's secrets as well.

Why did Valentine have so many titled friends? What sort of furniture did he make that made so much money?

I loved Val's hesitation to reveal his identity -- it worked on two levels -- on the basic level, Valentine didn't want to lord around (pun intended) his title and connections. On the greater level, I guess it was because Val didn't know exactly who he was. He was searching for his own identity, outside of being his father's son and being good at playing the piano.

The whole crisis of identities comes into a wonderful climax when a piano is delivered to Valentine's new home and he shows Ellen who he is by playing.

Grace Burrowes is a wonderful storyteller and one of my great discoveries -- her stories are charming and wonderfully written.

Engaged in Sin by Sharon Page

2011-12-06T09:00:00.001+08:00

This book annoyed me -- I finished it but it annoyed me.

This is Sharon Page's second mainstream historical romance -- and I think she is still trying to find her place in romance world. She's very good at writing sex scenes -- but even that was not very well done in this book.

Anne is desperate and on the run -- she believes she is guilty of murdering Madame Sin, the owner of the brothel where she has been working in. She pretends to be the courtesan hired to "entertain" the Duke of March.

Devon was blinded in the wars and is hiding from the world in his hunting box.

He is "charmed" by Anne's persistence and allows her to stay for one day. (And has sex with her.)

One day becomes one week and then one month, etc -- and they have sex a lot. (I was confounded by the one on the swing.)

The best part of the story was when Anne was trying to teach Devon to "see" again and I loved the part where they go out in the rain.

The story was well-plotted and had an okay beginning and an okay resolution -- but it wasn't a story that stood out. A lot of it was cliche: she falls in love with him and runs away so that she doesn't taint him or his title -- he finds her and they have sex and she runs away again, etc.

And she gets pregnant.

Sigh.~

For me, Sharon Page's best work was still her Rodesson's Daughters Trilogy --

The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne

2011-11-30T15:41:00.000+08:00

The Black Hawk is book 4 in Joanna Bourne's Spymaster series --

In this installment, we find a grown-up Adrian Hawkhurst as the new head of the British Intelligence Office. It is many years after the French Terror and he is back in England.

His world is disturbed once more when Justine knocks on the door of his Meek Street headquarters.

Justine was a spy for the French. And she was one of their best. In over 25 years of service, she and Hawker have crossed paths many times -- sometimes as comrades but, most times as enemies.

Justine has been living "quietly" as a shopkeeper in England but she is attacked one evening -- she instinctively finds her way to Adrian's doorstep where he and his fellow British spies tend to her injury.

Part of me wishes Joanna Bourne would write more than 1 book a year -- but the other part appreciates the deliberateness of her writing -- her stories are not hurried and her characters are well-developed.

This story is part of her Spymaster series -- but this is about 10-20 years after the first story (in the first book) began. I love that she's done that. It allowed her characters to develop more fully through each other's stories. (Adrian was 13 in Doyle and Maggie's story.)

I love how she writes, which is romantic but not sickeningly sweetly so.

I love Adrian and Justine. I read somewhere that this is the end of the Spymaster series ... I'm really looking forward to her future work!

Too Wicked to Wed by Cara Elliott

2011-11-29T19:44:00.000+08:00

This is the first book in a new series for Cara Elliott -- her previous series, The Circle of Sin, was an amazing read about a group of unique women.

Now, Elliott is turning her attention to men -- the Lords of Midnight (all of them nicknamed after a type of hound -- Wolfhound, Deerhound, etc.)

The first book is about the Irish Wolfhound, Connor, is an earl who happens to run a brothel/hell to augment his income -- he suffers several setbacks:
1. A clever card player has "broken the bank" which
2. forces Connor to borrow money from his friend, the Marquess of Haddan and did the gentlemanly thing of putting up half of the brothel/hell as collateral.
3. The Marquess loses the note to Alexa in a game of cards where Alexa is disguised.

Alexa is a thorn on Connor's side -- they met months before when Alexa was looking for her brother, Sebastian.

Now, she holds half of his business in her hands and she has no plans of giving it back to him.

Connor and Alexa are wonderfully quirky -- she's an odd duck who never learned how to sew and paint like a proper lady and is widely well-versed in animal husbandry and farming. He's an Earl who dabbles in the worst sort of trade.

But, together, they make sense.

I especially love the interlude, where Alexa and Connor are at Linsley Close, while Connor is recuperating from a gunshot wound --

You can see Alexa shine -- she is in her element in that surrounding -- rustic, quiet, charming. (In a ballroom, she feels uncomfortable and uneasy.)

Connor never planned to return to Linsley Close -- the place filled with unwanted memories of his unhappy family life. But, with Alexa there, he begins to see the place ... and her in a new light.

I didn't enjoy the (forced) use of animal metaphor in the story -- I felt it weakened the story and the writing by making it trite. (Too much growling and howling.)

The next book is about the Deerhound, Griffin, Marquess of Haddan -- I hope Elliott manages to edit the book more slowly and do away with the metaphors.

(But I am definitely picking up a copy!)

To Pleasure the Duke by Sara Bennett

2011-11-29T16:58:00.000+08:00

When Sara Bennett began her Husband Hunters series a few years ago, I was excited. I was excited about the possibility of a group of women who will take control of their lives and marriages by "naming" the man they plan to marry.

So far, the series has not disappointed me --

This is the latest installment.

It is now Eugenie's turn to name the man she plans to marry -- but, unlike her fellow Husband Hunters, Eugenie's prospects are slim: her father is an impoverished baron with a reputation for doing bad business, her mother is usually hysterical because of her twin brothers, etc --

But this does not stop Eugenie from naming Sinclair St. John, the Duke of Somerton, as her future husband.

In truth, Eugenie just said the first name that popped to her head -- but imagination quickly becomes reality when the Duke decides to reside in his country home (in the same village where Eugenie lives) -- and there is the matter of the goat.

The goat that started it all -- the Belmont children were on their way to the village to sell/return the goat when they cross paths with the Duke of Somerton. The Duke, after being butted by the goat, offers to take custody of the animal and allows the younger Belmont son to visit it.

Eugenie and Sinclair are keenly aware of their positions in society but this does not stop them from indulging their recklessness ... and falling in love.

This was a wonderful read -- the main characters were well-defined and extremely likable and the supporting cast had dimension. It would be interesting to read about Terry and the younger Belmont siblings in future Bennett books. ^_^

The Sinner Who Seduced Me by Stefanie Sloane

2011-11-26T16:19:00.000+08:00

At the heart of Sloane's Young Corinthians story is a French conspiracy, which three spies have tried to uncover in three separate stories.

The problem with Sloane's conspiracy is that it isn't sinister enough --

When the series began in The Devil in Disguise, I didn't feel it was important enough or dangerous enough to merit such attention from a leading group of spies. (Premise of book 1: The French want to kidnap the richest girl in London so they can ransom her. O_o)

Book 2 followed a smuggling ring tied to Les Moines (the French organization) -- by far, this had the strongest story and tied a bit of Napoleon-related myth.

This third book felt a bit ... ridiculous. Les Moines threatens a French painter to go to England to paint the portrait of a rich banker's daughter. (They want the money. O_o) The French painter is injured before his trip so Clarissa, his student disguises herself as him and travels to England.

James is a Young Corinthian who has infiltrated Les Moines. He was asked by the leader of Les Moines to keep an eye on Clarissa and to ensure that she finishes the painting. (Again, O_o.)

James and Clarissa have a history. They were in love. Clarissa felt James betrayed her by not taking her side (about her father) and left.

They arrive in England and Clarissa paints the painting. In between, the endanger themselves and the rich banker's daughter by going to a Cyprian's Ball, by attending a boxing match and by letting the RBD (rich banker's daughter) gamble in a gaming hell.

Then they realize they still want each other and love each other. This was the strange part -- there didn't seem to be enough development in their relationships. From the start of their journey until the end, the felt like the same people. (Except they love each other.)

Sloane is continuing the series next year with The Saint Who Stole My Heart ... I'm hoping the long break between her books allows her to reflect on her material and provide her next story with more depth and insight.

The Angel in My Arms by Stefanie Sloane

2011-11-23T15:33:00.000+08:00

This is Stefanie Sloane's second novel and is part of her Regency Rogues (Young Corinthians) series.

She keeps to the tried-and-tested combination of spies + mystery + love. A lot of authors seem to use these to move their stories forward --

The greatest danger of this is the lack of originality in the story -- granted that, with romance novels being around for more than 50 years, all the "original" plots have been taken and used many times.

I think the author's challenge is to add something fresh to the story.

Sloane succeeds partly in doing so -- her heroine is refreshingly honest. (A bit too honest, if you think about it.) Sarah is also wary of men who want her for her beauty.

But there's something about Marcus that catches her fancy.

He's half-Scot and half-English and no one wants him. Except Sarah and the Young Corinthians.

He's actually in Dorset to investigate the smuggling ring that has strong ties to Napoleon and his ambition. Initially, Marcus believes this to be a wild goose chase and ploy for him to rest his injured leg.

His first meeting with Sarah is anything but ideal -- it involves a dog, a wet Sarah and Sarah's equally honest younger brother. But there's something about Sarah and her honesty that interests Marcus.

When the smuggling ring is uncovered and Marcus realizes that the mission is more dangerous than he initially thought, he and Sarah try to find the murderous leader of the smuggling ring.

Sloane is very good at creating suspense -- but I felt she lacked focus on the "finer details" of the story -- two boys were murdered because of their involvement with the smuggling ring -- and the aftereffects of these events were only described sparingly. I would think that, considering how small Sarah's town is, these two murders would shock people to their core. Instead, there is a ball. And other things.

I think Sloane also needs to work on blending love and mystery more seamlessly -- the book can be broken into 2 parts -- the first half of the book is about Sarah and Marcus's love. The second part of the book is about Sarah and Marcus and the devious plot. I felt that the two stories were independent of each other instead of contributing to each other to deepen the story.

I'm currently reading the 3rd part of this series. Book 2 was very good and the Young Corinthians are intriguing enough for me to keep following their stories.

Redeeming the Rogue by Donna MacMeans

2011-11-23T12:49:00.000+08:00

Donna MacMeans is one author that I feel is underappreciated -- I first experienced her brilliant writing in The Education of Mrs Brimley (part 1 of the Chambers Family series) and I have been looking forward to her releases ever since.

This is the 3rd part of the series and it comes 2 years after part 2 was released. It was initially difficult to recall the story of the 2 other Chambers siblings but MacMeans is able to incorporate their stories seamlessly into this 3rd installment without disrupting the actual plot.

Arianne is an interesting heroine -- she did a foolish thing and is trying to escape the scandal of her foolishness. She agrees to assist Michael Rafferty uncover a plot to overthrow the British government and travels to America with him.

Her position is lofty -- being the daughter of a former duke and the sister of the current one -- but she is aware of her imperfections. When she finally admits to Rafferty about her indiscretion, it is a heartbreaking revelation. Her honesty and regret are felt from the page.

Michael Rafferty is also an odd hero -- he is Irish and wants freedom for Ireland but he is helping the British government. He is caught between his ties to his homeland and his loyalty to the Crown.

The two start out hating each other -- expecting the worst of each other but, during the sea voyage to America, they discover that they are alike in so many ways.

Their love develops gradually and it is wonderful when they finally admit their feelings to each other.

I hope MacMeans follows this up soon -- I wouldn't want to wait another 2 years for a new book from her.

Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt

2011-11-22T16:38:00.000+08:00

The story of Mickey and Silence began well before this novel -- he compromised her out of whim and she paid dearly for the sacrifice she made to save her husband's career.

It is many years later and their paths have crossed again -- Mickey has taken Mary Darling, one of the children in Silence and Winter's care. Silence boldly approaches Mickey and demands that he return Mary to her.

But he can't. Because he is Mary's father and wants to keep her safe from his enemies.

Silence agrees to stay with Mary Darling at Mickey's "palace" -- and the story takes on a "Beauty and the Beast" theme. She is wary of Mickey but cannot deny that his staff is loyal to him. She realizes that there is something more in the unrepentant rake ...

And the inevitable happens. She falls in love with him. (He fell in love with her years ago when he ruined her reputation.)

The interesting bit is how they work out their situation -- he's a criminal and she's known to be a "good" girl --

Elizabeth Hoyt weaves a fairy tale -- but it's not where the fair maiden is whisked off the a castle to live happily ever after -- it's where the man discovers the prince in him and tries to be better.

I love Elizabeth Hoyt! I am really looking forward to her future projects!

Counting down for Book Depository --

2011-11-10T05:46:00.002+08:00

What a Duke Wants by Lavinia Kent

2011-11-07T16:35:00.000+08:00

Lavinia Kent started out very strong with her debut novel, A Talent For Sin -- she featured a very strong female character who took charge of her life and her sexuality.

Her next few books have been a bit more conventional but she was able to tie them all together with related characters (the Masters family).

This is the latest installment in their story -- and I felt that Kent's is still heading in a downward direction --

Believing she killed the man she was being forced to marry, Isabella Masters has been hiding from her family and has gone into service as a nanny.

During a trip to London, she and her ward are mis-directed and sent to the stables where she encounters the Duke of Strattington.

Mark isn't used to being a duke, yet -- and he longs to escape the constricting world that he has inherited.

He is intrigued by Isabella and her honesty (she's also very beautiful, btw) and decides to pretend to be plain Mark Smythe.

They are unfortunately discovered and Mark tries to do right by her ... by offering her the position of his mistress.

Isabella agrees reluctantly -- (ed: She has no choice! Her employer let her go without reference or money!) --

But Isabella is not content to live the role Mark has asked her to play so she leaves him.

The whole story is a bit cliche -- and the characters lacked spark.

It took me a while to finish the story but I'm glad I was able to read this through to the end -- Kent resolves everything nicely -- but questionably. I felt that Mark had no deep motivation to want Isabella back and his change of heart (asking her to be his wife) happened right at the time when he discovers Isabella was a Masters and fairly well-connected.

Kents storytelling and writing suffered a bit -- I wonder if it was because she was also writing/publishing her novellas at the same time?

On self-publishing --

2011-11-02T11:12:00.000+08:00

I received some issues of Romantic Times last Friday and I happily flipped through the newer issues. It surprised me to see that RT had added a new section in their review pages devoted entirely to self-published works.

Self-publishing has been around for a long time -- in the past, self-published works are works that couldn't find a publisher. They usually had very limited releases (limited usually to friends or family or a community).

Lately, it seems to become a more accepted practice even for seasoned writers. The reasons for doing so are varied --

One of my favorite authors, Courtney Milan has opted to go the self-publishing route -- she was unhappy with the terms of her contract with Harlequin and is venturing out on her own. She published a novella in e-book form and it was well-received by her readers.

I recently discovered that Cheryl Holt, another author that I follow, was dropped by her publisher and she, too, has decided to self-publish her newer works. She has published 2 e-books: Knight of Seductionand Nicholas.

From what I've seen, this rising trend indicates the following:
1. E-books are becoming the medium of choice for readers -- the reason may be eco-related or simply practical (one can carry a thousand books in an ebook reader). More authors are opting to publish in e-format because of greater sales. (I think this is a good step -- cheaper for authors to get published and readers can get books at a more reasonable rate and more quickly.)

2. Publishing houses are not offering competitive rates to writers. I think that publishers have to reassess their current business practices and try to match what Amazon and other similar businesses are offering writers.

3. The publishing industry might be suffering from losses from poor book sales. (Am not sure this applies to the romance novel genre, though -- from what I've seen, the genre is a growing industry and reports book sales in the billions of dollars per year ...)

I have some concerns, though --
My biggest worry about self-publishing is the lack of editing of some books -- writers might be in a hurry to release a book that the quality of the story would suffer.

I'm also worried about the quality of the stories (though, so far, the self-published works of the authors I follow have been very, very good) --

I'm trying to think about who gains the most from this new development -- I think authors are definitely getting more opportunities to release their works and I hope they are enjoying greater profit for their works.

As a reader, I get to experience stories that would never have seen print (through traditional publishing) --

I think technology has really opened the doors for writers and readers. I hope this continues going in a positive direction.

The next question then would be: ebooks? or paper? ^_^

Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes

2011-10-30T16:44:00.000+08:00

Grace Burrowes is a new author and this is her third book out -- so far, I have not been disappointed with any of her works.

Lady Sophie is younger sister to Gayle, Devlin and Valentine -- it's Christmas and she hasn't found her Christmas spirit.

She devices a plan to delay her travel to their family seat -- hoping that the few days alone would be enough time for her to find herself and to make sense of her despondence.

She never finds the quiet she needs because she unexpectedly comes into custody of a small baby boy.

Vim is also on his way home -- he is detained in London because of a snow storm. He sees the bewildered young lady trying to manage a small baby and offers his help.

Vim and Sophie are kindred souls -- they are both trying to make sense of the Christmas season when they are both derailed from their plans. They treat their time together as a respite from their true selves and responsibilities -- and end up discovering what it was they wanted for themselves.

I love the love between Vim and Sophie -- it is very comfortable and very intimate. It is not an instensely-heated passion or insane lust. One of my favorite moments in the book was when Vim ends up asleep in Sophie's bed after taking his turn with the baby.

They both knew that their "escape from reality" would not last so they savor the time they have together -- what they did not expect was how much they still wanted each other when they went back to the "real" world.

There were some vague parts in the story -- was Sophie a virgin? If she wasn't, what happened to her? I also think the publishers mixed up the release of this book and Valentine's book (The Virtuoso) -- in Sophie's book, it supposes that Valentine's story is already finished ... it was a bit confusing when they were referring to bits of Valentine's story --

On the whole, this was a wonderful story -- I'm glad Burrowes has one more book coming out this year. (The Virtuoso) I'm really excited for what she has in store for 2012!

Season for Temptation by Theresa Romain

2011-10-28T15:42:00.001+08:00

This is Romain's debut novel -- I tried to like it but felt that it lacked something to make it more interesting.

The author begins each chapter with a clever title -- I felt this limited each chapter -- when the author had fulfilled what was indicated in the title, the chapter end. It made her work episodic -- there was very little character development and, overall, her characters lacked depth.

Romain has a gift for humor and she shows this with her chapter titles, as well as with her heroine, Julia.

Julia is a breath of fresh air for James. She speaks her mind and eats heartily. My problem with her was that she talked too much.

The main conflict in the story is internal, IMHO -- James is engaged to Julia's sister, Louisa but he loves Julia instead.

The problem was, Louisa is a very likable character. She loved books and loved her sister. She was clever and honest. In some instances, the two sisters were very alike so I found it difficult to accept that James would prefer one over the other. (The only difference was that one loved him and the other did not.)

I felt this story was too flat -- but I see Romain's potential.

I will definitely try out her second book.

One Night in London by Caroline Linden

2011-10-28T15:30:00.000+08:00

This book was supposed to have been released under a different title (Love and Other Scandals) and, because of the confusion, I ended up ordering 2 copies but the good people at Book Depository were kind enough to refund me for the second copy. ^_^

This is the first book in Linden's new series, The Truth About the Duke -- and I love the premise.

The three sons of the Duke of Durham discover a potentially destructive secret from their dying father. Each one tries to deal with the secret and the scandal that could erupt from it.

The first book is about Edward, the middle child -- who actually manages everything for the Duke (his father and now his brother) --

He has engaged the services of the best lawyer to look at into his father's revelation. What he doesn't know is that he has actually stolen the services of the best lawyer from Francesca, Lady Gordon -- who is desperately trying to find a way to gain custody of her niece.

She confronts Edward and demands that he assist her. He agrees to help her after she helps him quash rumors about his family.

The more time they spend with each other, the more the attraction between them grows.

While it seems that Francesca is too low for Edward (he being the brother of a Duke and she being a widow of a baron), they are actually perfectly suited for each other. Both value their families and protect it at all cost --

When Edward is on the brink of losing everything he thought he held dear, he realizes that it is Francesca that matters the most. In the end, he steps out of his role as second son/middle child and out of the shadows of his older brother.

I'm really looking forward to the next installment. ^_^

Always a Temptress by Eileen Dreyer

2011-10-28T15:08:00.000+08:00

It surprises (and saddens) me that not more people are reading Eileen Dreyer's Drake's Rakes series.

Eileen Dreyer made a remarkable leap from writing suspense novels to writing romance novels. Her first romance series, about Drake's Rakes shows Dreyer's expertise in writing about crimes and conspiracies -- but what is surprising is that she has an amazing talent for writing about love.

In most romance novels, it is the hero who is an unrepentant ne'er-do-well -- but in Dreyer's Always a Temptress, it is the heroine who is fallen and in need of reform.

Kate is a duchess and she knows how to wield the power that comes with her title. She has also earned a dubious reputation among the Ton -- but, instead of being ashamed by it, she revels in her notoriety.

Harry has known Kate ever since they were children -- they even fell in love 10 years ago -- but now he hates her and everything that she has become.

Harry and the rest of Drake's men have been following the trail left for them by The Butcher -- and the final clues to the conspiracy lead to Kate.

Harry and Kate are thrown together once again -- and they discover all is not as it seems with each other.

This was a page-turner from beginning to end. Dreyer has kept the suspense of The Butcher's villainy from Book 1 and I can't wait for the resolution in her next book.

The Accidental Courtesan by Cheryl Ann Smith

2011-10-23T19:44:00.000+08:00

I really, really enjoyed Smith's debut novel, The School for Brides and had very high expectations of her follow-up, The Accidental Courtesan.

I felt that the story was not as cohesive as her debut and the characters were not as consistent. I also felt the pace was off -- this story had a more sinister plot -- a jewel that one of the former courtesans had stolen (and, which Noelle returned), starts off a chain of events that puts Noelle and Gavin in danger. The pace was choppy -- some parts were exciting and other parts ... dull.

Gavin seemed a bit hapless and merely reacted to the situation that Noelle would put them in -- it was clear that Noelle was the one steering the course of their story.

Noelle was more lovable in the first book -- in this one, she seemed a bit careless and reckless. She was a woman with a plan in the first book -- in this one, she relied too much on her impulses.

I hope Smith finds her groove in the next book. She has a lot of promise as a writer.

Ecstasy Wears Emeralds by Renee Bernard

2011-10-22T08:38:00.000+08:00

This is the third book in Renee Bernard's Jaded Gentleman series -- and I have to say this was my favorite of the series. I think it's because Bernard has had time to develop his supporting characters' stories so, when it's their turn to take center stage, they are more fleshed out than the earlier stories.

In this one Rowan West was amazing -- a girl can really fall in love with him because of his sterling qualities. (Yes, I am gushing.) He comes from a family of doctors and is a bit of a rebel in the world of medicine. He goes against conventional medical practices: refusing to use opiates in the prescribed quantities, offering free clinic for people who can't pay -- and he has taken on a female apprentice.

Gayle applies for the apprenticeship under false pretense -- she fails to say that she is female. She has a dual purpose to seeking out Rowan: she wants to study medicine and she wants to find out more about the "monster" who was the cause of her cousin's death.

Rowan reluctantly agrees to accept Gayle, impressed with her sharp mind and passion. He expects her to quit after a few days but is proven wrong -- Gayle is willing to do the work and does it well.

Gayle expects Rowan to be cold, heartless and unfeeling towards her and his patients. Instead she sees a man who is tireless and compassionate.

And, like that, they fall in love.

With great reluctance.

Rowan and Gayle have a wonderful relationship -- they are true equals and partners.

I am very excited to read the next book.

(And I will probably re-read the previous books.)

Star-Crossed Seduction by Jenny Brown

2011-10-14T18:13:00.000+08:00

Amanda Quick has her talents and her special powers --

Jenny Brown has her horoscope.

This is the second book where Jenny Brown puts horoscope and zodiac readings on center stage -- it is as much a part of the story as the characters.

Trev and Temperance have a hard time trusting people -- true to their Scorpio natures, they are always ready to sting whoever is foolish enough to get too close to them.

They are attracted to each other but they hurt each other with the half-truths and lies that surround their lives. They cannot decide if they want to stay together or go their separate ways.

They reluctantly try to stay together and promise each other that they would be honest with one another.

Their vow is threatened by a conspiracy that involves the king -- Trev thought Temperance betrayed him and Temperance felt that Trev's love for her was too shallow and faltered at the first trial.

Lady Hartwood, the heroine of Brown's debut novel, Lord Lightning plays a pivotal role in bringing these two wary souls together -- she reads their charts and offers guidance and wisdom -- but, as Lady Hartwood says in the book, as Scorpios, their natures are too strong to be directed by anyone else -- they need to make the decision themselves.

Jenny Brown has a very unique writing style and the infusion of horoscope is a fresh perspective in romance novels. I wonder, though, how other people would perceive it -- Brown is very thorough and some parts of her novel border on the esoteric --

But this one was a page-turner and a keeper.

I'm looking forward to her next book. ^_^

In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks

2011-10-12T19:54:00.000+08:00

Maya Banks, like Leigh Michaels, is trying her hand at writing a historical novel. Maya Banks is very successful at writing contemporaries and I was curious about how she would go about writing a historical novel.

I had a hard time finishing this book -- the work felt derivative of other Scottish-themed historical novels and I had to stop and compare Banks' work with those of Julie Garwood and Judith McNaught.

Mairin has a secret and she hides in a convent in order to protect herself and her secret. The convent gets invaded and Mairin is forcibly taken by a clan who knows about her and her secret.

While in captivity, she meets a young boy and becomes his protector. They manage to escape and are found by the young boy's family.

Apparently, the young boy is the son of a powerful laird, Ewan McCabe, and now Ewan has pledged to protect Mairin.

When the clan discovers Mairin's secret, Ewan decides that the best course of action os to marry Mairin. Mairin reluctantly agrees, knowing that Ewan is her only hope to protect herself and her legacy.

This all happens in the first few chapters of the book. The middle part reveals Mairin's life in the McCabe household -- initially, she had difficulty adjusting to her new family and they were also wary of her -- eventually, they all grow to love and appreciate each other.

When I was telling my sister the plot, she also felt that the story reminded her of Julie Garwood's stories. Check out Ransom, Saving Grace and The Wedding.

Sadly, I felt that Garwood wrote it better.

But Banks has a lot going for her -- her characters are wonderful and multi-faceted. Her supporting characters provided color and life to the Scottish Highlands and she was able to lay out the scene for the next 2 parts of her trilogy.

I have already pre-ordered the second part and will read that before deciding to get the last part.

A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

2011-10-05T18:33:00.000+08:00

I love Tessa Dare! I've enjoyed her 2 previous trilogies and I was very excited when this book was announced.

It took me a while to finish it -- not because it was difficult to read -- but because it was an utter pleasure to read.

Tessa Dare has a way with words -- and she's added a bit of humor into this new love story. (There is a lamb named Dinner so, every time someone asks what the lamb is, the answer is: "That's Dinner.")

Bram is traveling to Spindle Cove in a last-ditch effort to regain his commission in the army. He has with him his cousin, Colin and his friend, Thorne.

His plan changes when he receives a title (and a castle) and the task of training a militia to protect Spindle Cove.

Susanna is very protective of Spindle Cove, which has become a haven (for her) and for other young women who don't fit society's mold. At Spindle Cove, they are allowed to explore their talents and enjoy their uniqueness.

It is a battle of the sexes as Bram and Susanna seem to want very different things for Spindle Cove --

One of my favorite exchanges is when Bram first visits the tea shop:
"I see. So this place isn't a tavern any longer. It's a tea shop. Instead of real, hearty food we have this assortment of pastel absurdity. You've reduced a hardworking, decent man to piping rosettes to earn his keep."

...

"You'd prefer we offer you a great, bloody slab of meat. Something you can pierce with your fork. Stab with your knife. Conquer, in brutish fashion. A man looks on his food as conquest. But to a woman, it's rebellion. We are all ladies here, and Spindle Cove is our place to taste freedom in small, sweet bites."

But the two cannot deny the attraction they feel for each other -- but they realize that giving in to the other would mean giving up their personal dreams.

It is interesting to see the battles between Bram and Susanna, both external and internal --

The supporting cast are just as lovable and I cannot wait to read their stories next.

Romancing the Countess by Ashley March

2011-09-28T13:00:00.000+08:00

In a word? Wow.

In three words? Oh. My. God.

Coincidentally, this book is also Elizabeth Hoyt's book of the month for September.

I had the pleasure of discovering Ashley March's debut novel, Seducing the Duchess last year -- and I became an instant fan.

This was a lovely, unconventional read. Leah and Sebastian are the victims of their spouses infidelity. They agree to keep their spouses affairs a secret and try to go about living their own lives. Leah doesn't mourn in the conventional way and this annoys Sebastian. She hosts a small house party in the guise of honoring her husband's life and Sebastian attends, in an effort to control the damage.

They cross paths and match wits during the house party. There is a strong attraction between the two but they fight it. As it ends, Leah accomplishes what she had intended all along. She and Sebastian part ways, knowing they would never meet again.

But circumstances bring them together again.

The story is a wonderful reflection of what love is in a romance novel -- more often than not, lust/desire is the driving force that brings the hero and heroine together.

This one is a thoughtful and very gradual development of feelings and attraction --

Leah and Sebastian are wonderful, consistent and sympathetic characters.

Love, Come to Me by Lisa Kleypas

2011-09-28T12:46:00.000+08:00

Love, Come to Me is set in post-Civil War Concord -- about Heath and Lucy -- a Southerner who with grand plans and Lucy, a local girl he pulls out from a frozen river.

Lucy is engaged to be married and she's been waiting impatiently for her fiance, Daniel, to set the date.

As the story progresses, it becomes obvious that Lucy and Daniel are a mis-match. Lucy is far too spirited and lively for Daniel. Daniel tries to contain her passions while Heath encourages her to express them.

Heath and Lucy are forced to marry and they are slowly building a life together in Boston. Lucy's love for Daniel comes between her and Heath from time to time --

Eventually, their love and appreciation for each other blossom.

There's a lot of historical detail in this story and it sets the stage for the love story of Heath and Lucy. There's a lot of things going against them but they also have a lot going for them -- their passions and spirits are compatible.

I'm really glad that Lisa Kleypas has finally allowed her earlier works to be reprinted -- and I found it an interesting exercise to read an author's earlier works and be able to compare it to her later works.

This early on, Kleypas already has a good sense for character and drama. Her later works are more polished and better-edited.

But this one was a lovely read, as well.

Finished Reading: The Wedding Affair by Leigh Michaels

2011-09-25T06:22:00.000+08:00

I felt this was better-written than Just One Season in London --

The biggest challenge of writing a multiple perspective book that is only 300+ pages long is to make sure that the readers know whose perspective it is at any one time --

This book had no problems with that -- however, because 3 stories are being told at the same time, some parts of each story are necessarily left out because of page constraints.

I hope Leigh Michaels tries her hand at writing a story exclusively about 1 couple only. I'm curious about how deeply she can develop their characters and their stories.

Currently reading: The Wedding Affair by Leigh Michaels

2011-09-22T14:16:00.000+08:00

Leigh Michaels is an interesting study --

She's been writing contemporary romance novels for 20+ years -- last year, she decided to try her hand at writing a historical romance novel.

I picked up The Mistress' House and thoroughly enjoyed the novellas about the house on Upper Seymour Street.

This was followed by Just One Season in London which is a multi-POV story about a family and their stay in London during the Season.

Right now, I'm reading The Wedding Affair -- the style is similar to Just One Season in London -- of the characters introduced so far, Olivia (the widowed Lady Reyne) is the most interesting.

Did Not Finish: Secrets to Seducing a Scot by Michelle Marcos

2011-09-21T14:26:00.004+08:00

I'm a big fan of Michelle Marcos's Pleasure Emporium series --

It's been 2 years since her last book so I was very excited when it was announced that she had a new book coming out.

I pre-ordered it and, when it arrived, it was at the top of my to-be-read pile.

And I tried to read it --

But I can't get over how annoying the heroine is --

Michelle Marcos intended Serena to be a Carrie Bradshaw-type who meets her own Mr. Big (Malcolm) during a forced trip to Scotland. (I felt she misunderstood Carrie Bradshaw and her version of Carrie is off.)

I'm certain M. Marcos intended to emphasize the shallowness and pettiness of Serena's character (Will this lead to some sort of epiphany towards the end and she'll change her ways?) -- but I'm halfway through the story and Serena has become a terribly flat, terribly one-sided character. Selfish and self-centered -- intent only in pursuing her own wants and needs. (It annoyed me that she could not be bothered to know how to pronounce her Scottish maid's name and calls her "Quinny" --)

To add to Selena's irritation, the girl's brogue was so thick that Serena could understand only every third word that the mousy young thing said. And just calling her seemed an insurmountable task -- her name, Caointiorn, was impossible for Serena to pronounce.

True to form, Caointiorn said something that sounded like words a drunkard would say. Backward.

The hero doesn't save this story either -- he's definitely an Alpha male but ... that's all that he is. The prologue is Malcolm's back story -- about what happened to his family and what motivates him -- but I think he has forgotten about this and doesn't seem to have any sort of singular driving will.

M. Marcos's story deals with the Scottish rebellion -- and I felt her musings on the subject lacked ... finesse. While the author cannot be responsible for the comments made by her characters (or can she?) and while this is a work of fiction, I felt that some of the ideas her characters were spouting were outrageous (and not in a good way).

If M. Marcos's intention was to portray her women to be silly, vapid and shallow, she has succeeded -- but, sadly, this success is the reason why her story failed so miserably for me.

... I stopped reading this but I'll probably pick it up again some time in the future just to see how the story goes.

The second installment of this book is coming out in February 2012.

Finished reading: Between the Devil and Desire by Lorraine Heath --

2011-09-16T19:41:00.000+08:00

This is actually Book 2 of the Scoundrels of St. James Quartet -- but I read the first and last book first before getting to the middle ones.

This is the story of Jack Dodger and Olivia, the Duchess of Lovingdon.

The two are brought together during the reading of Olivia's late husband's will -- and are forced to deal with each other because of the late duke's conditions.

Jack's a scoundrel -- and he knows it and doesn't apologize for it. He's a scoundrel with a heart -- a really big one. And it is this big heart of his that compels him to accept the terms of the late duke's will.

Olivia resists the change in her life and tries her best to put distance between her and her son and Jack -- but the more she resists, the more she realizes that there is more to Jack than meets the eye.

I love how Jack handles Henry, Olivia's son -- it's very no-nonsense -- I am curious about how Henry will turn out when he is older, with Jack as his guardian.

In the end, when the last part of the will is revealed, it resolves a lot of the mystery surrounding Jack --

It's a wonderful read. ^_^

Finished reading: Surrender to the Devil by Lorraine Heath + Promise Me Forever by Lorraine Heath

2011-09-16T19:33:00.000+08:00

I really enjoyed Surrender to the Devil by Lorraine Heath -- Frannie Darling was a central character in the previous novel that I read and I was eager to see how her story continued --

She was against marrying Luke because she was so afraid of having to be part of the ton. Instead, she ends up with a duke -- the highest title of nobility (not counting princes and kings) --

From the start, Frannie and Sterling were attracted to each other -- but they knew they had to stay away from each other because of their stations in life. Heath was able to capture the confusion and anguish that the two characters felt as they wrestled with their feelings for one another.

Sterling is an imperfect duke (irony with his name!) who hides a deep-dark secret (one that caused the rift between him and his father) and Frannie is too perfect for the world that she was born, raised and live in --

I love how Heath resolved the story.

Promise Me Forever is part of Heath's Lost Lords Trilogy and was recommended to me by F --

The premise reminded me of Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas -- one of my all-time favorite romance novels.

I love Lauren and Tom together -- I love how the scoundrel constantly tries to corrupt the lady -- and she lets him!

Circumstances cause them to be separated for 10 years and, when they reunite, they are both wary of the other -- so much had changed ... and yet so much had stayed the same with each one.

Unlike Again the Magic, after they sort out the misunderstanding surrounding the last 10 years, there's very little that stands in the way of the two --

How they ultimately come together is wonderful -- and I love Tom's loyalty and steadfastness.

Currently Reading: In Bed with the Devil by Lorraine Heath

2011-09-14T11:06:00.001+08:00

Heath is a new discovery for me. I know she's been around for a long time and I've actually been carrying her books at my online store -- but it wasn't until I read the summary for Waking Up with the Duke that I got intrigued.

I finished her London's Greatest Lovers Trilogy and I'm working my way through her books.

I really like Catherine -- she's consistent. She's strong-willed and independent. And she isn't afraid to stand up to Luke and to spar with him.

There's real chemistry between the two of them and I like how the relationship is developing.

I have a copy for sale over at Ebay Philippines. Clickety click here to see it.