The Lost Duke of Wyndham and Mr. Cavendish I Presume by Julia Quinn

I have a mixed history with Julia Quinn. I have really enjoyed some of her books, especially The Duke and I and some of the others in that series. But some of her other books have been less satisfying - her humor doesn't always work for me, and many of her books have been disappointing. Still, when I read the premise of these two books, I was excited. I'm fascinated by historicals that deal with the privileges and drawbacks of titles - what does it mean to be a Duke, and what does it mean to have that taken away? Intriguing...

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn
(2008, Regency Historical) 10/9/08
Grade: 4.5

For the past five years, Grace Eversleigh has been the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham, a thankless job. But when a highwayman holds up their coach, she is oddly attracted to the mysterious stranger - and when it turns out that Jack Audley may be the dowager’s grandson, and perhaps the Duke himself, Grace knows her attraction is futile - or is it?

The premise is a little far-fetched, but the author makes it work here. Although this book has a lot of plot exposition, the focus is on the growing relationship between Jack and Grace. They spend a lot of time together, and the author does a great job in showing how and why they’re attracted to each other (not just lust). I love a hero who falls hard for the heroine, and Jack definitely qualifies. He could have been a stereotypical rogue, but the author made him three dimensional. There’s a lot more to him than a standard alpha hero. Grace is also a great heroine, with a dry and sarcastic sense of humor. In the end, this book may have bitten off a little more than it could handle - the hero’s dyslexia, in particular, is almost an afterthought - but overall, the real strength of this book was the intense yearning that develops between the hero and heroine - much sexier than just jumping into bed - and it gave the book a romantic intensity that is lacking in so many books these days.

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
(2008, Regency Historical) 10/10/08
Grade: 3.5

When an unknown cousin appears out of nowhere, Thomas, the Duke of Wyndham, must face the loss of everything he’s known and worked for - his title, his home, his way of life. Perhaps even his fiancée. A few weeks ago, that would have been the least of his problems, but now, as he begins to see Amelia as a real person, that’s the deepest loss of all.

I expected to like this book a lot more than I did. The premise intrigued me, and I wasn’t bothered by the setup (this book takes place at the same time as the previous one, and many scenes are repeated). I was hoping that seeing the same story from another perspective would be refreshing. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The book felt choppy and unfinished, and it just didn’t have the flow of the previous book. It felt like the author wrote the first book, then had to fit the second story in with the first one, and it didn’t work. The hero and heroine weren’t well defined, and they didn’t spend enough time together. Every time they started getting closer, the book returned to the plot manipulations, which stopped the momentum. There were individual moments that were good - I wanted to know more about Thomas’s difficulties in adjusting to life without a title, and Amelia’s tentative steps toward independence - but it felt like the author was so constrained by the plot of the previous book, that she couldn’t develop these moments into a coherent, fully developed story. Too bad. The potential was there, but it just didn’t gel.

It's interesting - the first book has terrific sexual tension. It builds and builds, but the hero and heroine don't go to bed until almost the end - at which point, you are invested in these characters, and because of that, the love scene really meant something. I found this book much more "sexy" than books where the characters jump in bed early on (i.e. the recent Mary Balogh series).

Shores of Desire by Tracy Grant

It's been a while since I read a history textbook, but I don't remember much about the Napoleonic wars from the French viewpoint. Even in the U.S., most European history is taught from the British point of view. (Interesting, since we were more closely allied with the French for much of that period.) It's certainly the standard in Regency romance - the British are good, the French are evil. Which is accurate from the point of view of the English characters, but it's surprising the folks of liberté, egalité and fraternité don't get more props from American authors. (Even if it all ended in tragedy.)

Shores of Desire by Tracy Grant
(1997, Regency Historical) 10/2/08
Grade: 4

When Captain Robert Melton comes to Scotland, widow Emma Blair can’t help her attraction to him... and where it leads. But she doesn’t know that he’s actually a French officer, Robert Lescaut, who is searching for his wife’s killer. When they reunite in Brussels on the eve of Waterloo, and later in Paris after the fall, their family secrets continue to keep them apart.

It was fascinating to read a Regency that deals with the other side, and get at least a glimpse of how the French viewed the war, and the ideals that led them there. The first section of the book, in Scotland, was a bit slow, although necessary for the plot. But I had a hard time slogging through it. The book really hit its stride in the next section, in Brussels and Paris. The setting was fascinating, and the dilemma facing Robert and Emma was very emotional and gripping. Unfortunately, the plot was so convoluted toward the end of the book, it was hard to keep track of it all. Between incest and spies and cross-and-double cross, the love story took a back seat to all of the intrigue. Still, the book was exciting and romantic, I just wish the author had focused a little more on the hero and heroine toward the end, rather than on French spy games.

Like many historical authors, Tracy Grant has moved into historical mysteries. I can't blame her, but it's frustrating for someone like me, who likes historical romance. Mysteries just leave me frustrated - I want more focus on the relationship and less on the tedious mystery plots. There aren't many authors still writing historicals that use history as more than wallpaper. The ones that did, all seem to be writing mysteries these days! (Or writing straight histories with little-to-no romance.) Alas...

Barefoot in the Grass by Judith Arnold

I'm a great fan of the "issue romance". I know a lot of people don't like them, but I find it very rewarding, reading about a heroine who has overcome a real-life obstacle (like breast cancer in this book), and is still able to find love and happiness. To me, that makes the book all the more satisfying and emotional, and leaves me with a happy feeling. But, I guess that's not a common response among romance readers, because I've only read 2 or 3 other books that dealt with this issue (and unfortunately, the other ones were not that great). I know there are "women's fiction" books that deal with this topic, but I prefer to read romance - where I'm guaranteed my happy ending.

I'm always terribly picky when it comes to romance, but the reluctance of romance readers to read books like this has always baffled me. It seems like a natural fit for romance, in my opinion. What's more romantic than a hero who loves you no matter what?

Barefoot in the Grass by Judith Arnold (HSR 715)
(1996, Contemporary Series) 9/27/08
Grade: 4

After losing a breast to cancer, Beth Pendleton leaves New York for the calm of small town New Hampshire. She plans to buy a house, get a dog, walk barefoot in the grass. She didn’t expect to meet contractor Ryan Walker, or to be so attracted to him. Ryan can’t stop thinking about Beth, but how will he react when he finds out the truth?

This was a heartfelt story with a very sympathetic heroine. She was strong and smart and sarcastic - a real person. Ryan was a bit less developed, but his instant attraction to Beth was depicted very well - he just can’t stop thinking about her, almost despite himself. And when the truth of Beth’s secret finally comes to life, his reaction is not perfect bliss - he struggles with it. However, I felt the book had a major problem with pacing. It takes far too long in the first part of the book - the book is more than 2/3 over before Beth reveals her secret. It was just a bit too slow and plodding in the first section. After a while, I felt like the author was dragging her feet. And then, once the truth comes out, although it’s very emotional, it’s just a bit too short. I think the book would have been better if the big reveal had occurred earlier in the story. However, it was still very good, and I enjoyed it and found it quite moving.

I haven't heard much from Judith Arnold lately, although she wrote a Harlequin Everlasting last year that I enjoyed. I've enjoyed many of her books, and it's too bad that she hasn't written more recently.

Simply Perfect by Mary Balogh

Books in a series always create a dilemma for me. If I read them as they come out (often, a year or so apart), then I will forget all the secondary characters. A particular problem for Balogh, since you will be completely lost if you don't have a complete geneology of the Bedwyns and all their various relatives and acquaintances at your fingertips. Even reading these close together, I was often confused by the many appearances of Lord X and Lady Y and Lord Z and Lady Q - who we were expected to recognize and know. But, when you read too many books by the same author in a row, the similarities become more apparent - especially in a series like this, with very similar storylines.

Simply Perfect by Mary Balogh
(2008, Regency Historical
Grade: 4

Claudia Martin has made a life for herself as the headmistress of a school for girls, but she remains suspicious of the aristocracy. But when the Marquess of Attingsborough comes to her school, hoping to find a place for his illegitimate blind daughter, Claudia softens a bit, especially as she gets to know Joseph better, and finds he’s not the stuffy aristocrat he appears.

This book had its good points, and bad ones. I enjoyed the characters, and I appreciated that the plot threw them together a great deal and allowed them to get to know each other. The hero’s love for his daughter was very touching and sympathetic. However, the book never really took off for me. The daughter became a little too cutesy after a while, and there were a lot of similarities between this book and the previous books in this series. The characters seemed to spend a lot of time going over and over the same issues. I just wasn’t moved, the way I was in the last book. And of course, there were gaggles of Bedwyns and other relatives - by this point, I’ve given up trying to keep them all straight. Still, overall the book was enjoyable to read, it just wasn’t as wonderful as some of the other books by Balogh. It was a decent ending to this series - although I can’t help hoping, no more Bedwyns, PLEASE.

After reading this series, I have mixed feelings - on one hand, I'm relieved that Balogh is still writing books that I can enjoy. I was really wondering after the previous series. On the other hand, for the most part, the magic of her Regencies isn't quite there any more. Oh well, I suppose no author can sustain that.

Simply Magic by Mary Balogh

I'm faring much better with this new series by Balogh than I did with the last one, although I think Mary Balogh is far too enamored of her beloved Bedwyns. They just keep popping up, over and over and over again. I hope her next book (or series) deals with some other group of people - surely even in Mary Balogh's world, every person in England wasn't a close relative of a Bedwyn!

Simply Magic by Mary Balogh
(2007, Regency Historical) 9/22/08
Grade: 4.5

Once a charity student, Susannah Osborne is now a teacher at a girl’s school. When she meets Peter, Viscount Whitleaf, she thinks he’s frivolous and without depth, but as she gets to know him better, she finds that he’s more than he appears. Surprisingly, they become friends - but can their relationship survive when Susannah’s past comes between them?

This was my favorite of this series so far, mostly because the hero and heroine were so appealing. Peter is the nice guy hero rarely seen in romance, a hero who puts everyone else’s needs before his own. Susannah was strong and warm as well. And the book gives them a lot of time to simply be together, and spend time talking and getting to know each other. (Although the teacher’s at St. Martin’s are awfully quick to jump in bed with their heroes, at least this time the heroine waited until she got to know the hero.) There is a little bit of Bedwyn overdose towards the end, but thankfully, it’s kept at a minimum. Overall, this book was just a joy to read - there wasn’t a lot of plot, but the characters were just so delightful, I enjoyed every page.

I guess I've accepted that romances today all take place in a slightly fantasized historical setting, where heroines don't need to worry about the consequences of sex. I like a good sex scene, but you lose a bit of historical accuracy when heroines don't seem bothered by the prospect of unwed motherhood.

Simply Love by Mary Balogh

One problem with a long-running series is that many authors seem to think that readers are as familiar with the books and the characters as the author is. Maybe the fan girls can recite Bedwyn family genealogy back three generations, but I've read a lot of other books, in between reading the Balogh books, and my memory isn't that good. So, when an author starts throwing in characters that date back 8 or 10 books ago (including secondary characters), I only have the vaguest memory of who they are. It's like being at someone else's family reunion and having Aunt Tallulah run up and grab you, saying "you remember me, don't you?" Uhhh, no.

Simply Love by Mary Balogh
(2006, Regency Historical) 9/20/08
Grade: 4

After having a child out of wedlock, Anne Jewell was relieved to have a job as a teacher. But when she takes her son to visit the Bedwyn family in Wales, she is unexpectedly attracted to Sydnam Butler, the steward who was badly injured in the war. He lives almost as a recluse, hiding his injured face and body from the world. But Anne makes him dream of more.

When I read the description on the back of the book, I knew where this book was going, and I almost decided not to read it. But I went ahead anyway, and I’m glad I did, although the book wasn’t as wonderful as it could have been. I really loved the hero and heroine. Both of them were well characterized, particularly Sydnam. (Although, the heroine was treated in a pretty modern way - I find it hard to believe that an unwed mother would be accepted as readily in Regency England.) The book gave them a lot of time to simply talk and explore their relationship, my favorite kind of book! However, the main problem with the book was the “Bedwyn family reunion” atmosphere. The author managed to shoehorn in just about every character from her previous books (even the most minor), and this crowd of characters intruded on the story (and even though I read most of the previous books, I had a hard time remembering who was who. It was annoying.) This became such a distraction from the main story that it made me mark down the grade. But still, it was a lovely romance.

How realistic do we want our historicals to be? In the last book, I was a little put off by the imperious way the hero and heroine treated the servants at the beginning of the book. And yet, that's surely realistic to the times. Here, the realism was a little Disney-fied. Would an unwed mother really be treated so kindly, at a girls school for the upper classes? Even as little as 40 years ago here in the U.S., unwed mothers were considered so scandalous that the mothers were almost always pressured to give up their babies. (I was adopted under such circumstances.) It's a nice thought, that "single mother" Anne would be loved and accepted by all, but I suspect it's a fantasy.

Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh

I am such a Balogh fan. If my house was on fire and I could only grab a few books on my way out the door, I'd pick most of them off my Balogh shelf. I can't think of another author who has moved me as much. That's one reason the Slightly books were so disappointing for me - although I liked the last book in the series, there were two or three that were actually unreadable. I began to wonder if Mary Balogh had been abducted by aliens.

I'd heard more promising things about this series, but when I started this book, I was immediately worried. The "we're strangers, let's jump in bed" plotline is hard for me to swallow under the best of circumstances, and it didn't seem like Balogh was doing anything to make it more appealing to me. When the book turned around in the second half, I was so relieved...

Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh
(2005, Regency Historical) 9/18/08
Grade: 4

When schoolteacher Frances Allard is stuck in a snowstorm with Lucius, Vicsount Sinclair, she is initially annoyed, then attracted to him. They spend the night together, thinking they will never see each other again. Frances is resigned to her life as a teacher, but Lucius can’t stop thinking about her, and is determined to find a way for them to be together.

Initially, I found this book a bit annoying and dull. I didn’t find either the hero or heroine particularly interesting or sympathetic (he was arrogant, she was passive). It didn’t make a lot of sense for them to go to bed together - I really didn’t see this great attraction between them, and it seemed like just a plot point by the author. However, the book improved dramatically once that section was over, and the two separated. Lucius, in particular, became a much more interesting and sympathetic character once he realized that he cared for Frances (almost in spite of himself). I love a hero who will move heaven and earth to be with the heroine. Frances was still a less interesting character - in particular, I got a bit tired of the hints about her “mysterious past” - but the last few chapters were so touching and emotional, in true Balogh style, that I had to give it a better grade.

I'm such an emotional reader - I can forgive a lot of flaws, if I close the book with that happy "aahhh" feeling. A book that leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy will always get a better grade from me.

Lean On Me by Jill Shalvis

I have a great fondness for romances about disabled heroes and heroines - which probably has some deep psychological meaning, but I think the main reason is that it often gives the story more depth, and a chance to deal with issues beyond the usual "boy meets girl" (or more likely these days "boy tries to bite girl".)

Lean On Me by Jill Shalvis (LS 912)
(1998, Contemporary Series) 9/10/08
Grade: 4

Clarissa Woods is relieved to finally be free of her abusive father, and starting a new life as a physical therapist. But she didn’t expect to be so attracted to the center’s founder, Bo Tyler. Bo has rebuilt his life after an accident left him in a wheelchair, but there’s something about Clarissa that makes him reconsider his bachelor life.

This book had interesting characters and a lot of compelling issues, but it just felt too short to properly deal with all of them. I found Clarissa particularly well drawn - her fear and relief at escaping her past, her difficulties in dealing with her new co-workers, etc. However, I thought she got over her problems very quickly, which was probably dictated by the length of the book. Bo was also an interesting character, especially in his interactions with Clarissa, but I was disappointed at his insistence that he couldn’t be a “real man” unless he could walk - it seemed particularly odd considering his work at the therapy center, working with children in wheelchairs. Perhaps this would have been more believable in a longer story, but in this one, it just felt like a romance cliche. Overall, there were a lot of good things in this story, but it just felt rushed and a little too short.

I went back and forth several times, trying to decide how to grade this book. It was good, but flawed. I decided to give it a boost, mainly because it dealt with some interesting issues, but books like this are definitely the hardest ones to grade!

Rain Shadow by Cheryl St. John

I usually avoid Indian romances, unless there's something particular to recommend them - so often, they feature the same old cliches and stereotypes. But I'll read any book by Cheryl St. John - and of course, she doesn't write about "noble savage" cliches.

Rain Shadow by Cheryl St. John
(1994, Western) 9/9/08
Grade: 4

Rescued by an Indian warrior as a child, Rain Shadow has spent her life as a performer in Bill Cody’s Wild West show. When an accident leaves her and her son Slade on a farm in Pennsylvania, Rain Shadow isn’t sure how to live in the white man’s world - and Anton can’t figure out why he finds this unsuitable woman so attractive.

Although this didn’t have the deep emotionalism of Cheryl St. John’s best books, it’s well written and features real characters with real emotions. Although the “white woman raised as an Indian” plotline is familiar, the author takes it in new directions - it doesn’t feature the usual cliches. Rain Shadow is caught between two worlds, but Anton doesn’t have a problem with an Indian wife - he admires her for her strength and skill. The biggest problem with this book is that the hero and heroine spend far too long figuring out how they feel about each other. Especially in the second half, it started to feel repetitive. I wanted more of the characters’ emotions and less about the suspense plotline featuring Rain Shadow’s former lover. However, this is a fairly minor criticism - I found the book very readable and enjoyed it very much.

It's interesting that this was Cheryl St. John's first published book - it takes place after the events of another book she wrote, Heaven Can Wait. Perhaps she wrote that one first, but this one ended up being published first. However, her talent was definitely clear from the beginning!

Something About Emmaline by Elizabeth Boyle

The con artist heroine is not that uncommon in American historicals, but I've rarely seen this type in Regency-set romances. One reason I get tired of the Regency period isn't because of the period itself, but because of the restrictions that authors (and readers) sometimes put on the genre - only certain kinds of characters allowed. This heroine is pretty mild, as "con artist" heroines go, but it is a refreshing change from the typical Regency miss.

Something About Emmaline by Elizabeth Boyle
(2005, Regency Historical) 9/3/08
Grade: 3.5

When Alex, Lord Sedgwick, made up a wife, he thought he was avoiding trouble. But when Emmaline shows up and starts redecorating his house, Sedgwick doesn’t know what to think - who is this imposter, and why is she so attractive and appealing? She isn’t at all the wife he’d envisioned.

This was a cute book with appealing characters, but it didn’t have much deep emotion. The hero and heroine were both a lot of fun, and I especially enjoyed Emmaline, who has lived by her wits all her life, and is a refreshing change from the typical romance heroine. She and Alex had nice chemistry together, and their interactions were enjoyable. I would have given this book a slightly higher grade if it weren’t for the ending, which throws in one unbelievable coincidence after another, just to make everything come out perfect with a ribbon on top. It kind of spoiled the book for me, just a bit - Alex’s sacrifice to marry Emmaline despite her background didn’t mean much after her past was whisked away. But overall, it was an enjoyable read, although I doubt I’ll remember much about it by next week!

I've ranted about this before, but I'll say it again - why do authors feel the need to wash away all of the heroine's issues in the last chapter of a book? Do readers really want this? I love reading about a hero who will sacrifice for love, and at least to me, it feels less satisfying if the hero's sacrifice turns out to mean nothing because the heroine is really nobly born, or isn't really poor, or whatever. This particular book ends with a coincidence that's so outlandish, it would make a soap opera writer blush. Why? Do readers really think it makes the ending "more happy"?

Cool Shade by Theresa Weir

Theresa Weir was one of those authors who always seemed to have a lot of potential. She wrote about unusual characters, and she was one of the few authors who wrote serious, thoughtful contemporaries. But her books were wildly inconsistent. Often, they have moments of greatness, interspersed with questionable plotting and characterization. But I wish she'd kept writing romances - I kept thinking she had a great book in her somewhere.

Cool Shade by Theresa Weir
(1998, Contemporary) 8/29/08
Grade: 3

After Maddie’s sister disappears, she decides to take a trip to Nebraska to find her - it’s the perfect chance to get away from her dead-end life. Her first suspect is the mysterious Eddie Berlin, who might have hired her sister as a prostitute, but attracts Maddie even though she can’t quite trust him.

There was a good book lurking in here somewhere. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by a lot of not-so-good. For the first half of the book, I couldn’t figure out either the hero or the heroine. They hate each other, no, they boink like bunnies. She distrusts him, no, she wants to tear her clothes off every time he walks in the room. It made very little sense. There was nothing to these characters other than their overheated hormones. Finally, in the last third of the book, the characters actually started talking, and things improved drastically - for the first time, I started to care about what happened to them, especially Eddie. His characterization was much more consistent than Maddie’s, and I would have liked to know more about his agoraphobia and his past. But it was a long slog to get to that point.

I've now worked my way through the Weir backlist - the two best ones, in my opinion, were Long Night Moon and Forever.

The Date Next Door by Gina Wilkins

The Date Next Door by Gina Wilkins (SSE 1799)
(2006, Contemporary Series) 8/21/08
Grade: 3

When Nic’s widowed neighbor, Joel Brannon, needs a date to his high school reunion, she’s glad to accept - as a friend. But once they start spending time together, she starts wondering, is being “just friends” enough? And can he accept her job as a small town police officer?

This book was well written, with some interesting conflicts (instead of the hero being a police officer, it’s the heroine - and it’s the hero who finds it difficult to deal with her job). But overall, it was kind of boring. I found myself losing interest in it fairly quickly. The characters were well drawn, the situation realistic and well written - but after a while, it just felt too predictable, without much pep or passion to make it unique.

I debated about how to grade this one, because I can't really say anything bad about it... but it just felt totally predictable.

Delicious by Sherry Thomas

After all the praise the author has received, I had high hopes for this one... alas...

Delicious by Sherry Thomas
(2008, Victorian) 8/20/08
Grade: 3.5

After the death of Bertie Somerset, her onetime lover, renowned cook Verity Durant isn’t sure what will happen next. She has a history with the new heir, Stuart Somerset, once illegitimate and now a rising politician, but she’s not sure if she wants him to know that she’s the same woman he loved ten years ago... or that she’s hiding a secret past of her own.

This is a hard book to grade. On one hand, it has lovely, lyrical writing, and a story that kept my attention through most of the book. On the other hand, I often felt manipulated by the author - that she was arranging the plot in ways that felt unrealistic and frustrating. (For example, the long delay before Stuart realized his cook was also his former lover - it was strung out far too long, and after a while, I just felt like the author was pulling the reader’s strings.) The sex felt titillating rather than arising from true emotion, and by the time we reached the ending, I just felt tired of all the pushing and pulling, rather than caught up in the emotions of the main characters. I found the secondary romance intriguing (although I would have liked to know more about these characters - again, the author seemed more interested in wry word games than emotion). And the food was wonderfully described, especially in the first half of the book. But overall, this was a book that just didn’t do much for me as an emotional reader - it felt more like an intellectual exercise than a romance.

I am an unabashedly emotional romance reader. I want to throw myself into a book and be carried away with the emotions of the characters. Unfortunately, I've often found that more "literary" writing and plotting put a barrier between me and this emotional experience. I've seen it with Judith Ivory, for example. It's too bad, because I do admire lovely writing - there were some beautiful passages, especially in the first half of the book where there was more of an emphasis on the food - but it's not enough. If I don't feel like I'm there with the characters, feeling what they feel, experiencing what they experience, then the book just isn't successful to me - and that seems to be hard to fit in with a more literary writing style. The only author that can do that for me is Laura Kinsale (and even she isn't always successful).

An Honorable Rogue by Carol Townend

I'm not usually a big fan of the "road romance". Often, road romances feel more like a series of episodes rather than a story, and they often have a lot of external "stuff" going on. But in this case, the road section was the best part of the book - it was only when the journey ended that the book ran into problems.

An Honorable Rogue by Carol Townend (HH 229)
(2008, Medieval) 8/19/08
Grade: 3.5

Rose Kerber is determined to go to England, despite the political turmoil of 1067. After an unhappy marriage, she has the chance to marry a knight who can give her the stability she crave. But why does she have such warm feelings for childhood friend Ben Silvester, a flirtatious minstrel? She may need him on her journey, but she must resist his kisses...

It was interesting to read a medieval that, for the most part, wasn’t set among lords and castles. Rose and Ben were ordinary people - a seamstress and a minstrel - and it was fascinating to see the medieval world from a different perspective. I also enjoyed these two characters - Ben was very attractive, the rogue with a heart, and I also liked practical Rose. I’m not a huge fan of road romances, but this one worked fairly well. However, even though the initial attraction between Ben and Rose worked well, I felt that the book took a long time getting started, and then kind of fizzled out at the end. The fun chemistry between the hero and heroine got lost in the last few chapters, so that the author could deal with all the plot points that needed to be wrapped up. I ended up a little bit disappointed.

Even though this wasn't the best book, I'm grateful, as always, to Harlequin Historicals, for publishing books that might not be flashy enough or trendy enough to be published as single titles.

The Chef's Choice by Kristin Hardy

I have become a huge fan of chefs and cooking - from watching them on Iron Chef America and Top Chef to reading books like Kitchen Confidential or Cook Like a Chef, I just love it. I'm surprised there aren't more romances about chefs, considering how trendy they are at the moment.

The Chef's Choice by Kristin Hardy (SSE 1919)
(2008, Contemporary Series) 8/16/08
Grade: 4

Damon Hurst was once a well regarded chef, but after being fired, he needs to find his way back, and taking over the restaurant at the Compass Rose Inn in rural Maine might be his chance. Cady McBain has been part of her family’s inn since childhood, and she won’t let some celebrity chef ruin it - but maybe Damon is more than his bad boy reputation.

I love chef heroes, and this book does a better job than most in creating a realistic working environment. I loved hearing about Damon’s concern about his dishes, his frustrations at finding produce, his attitude in the kitchen. His attraction to Cady was well done. I also liked Cady as a character, and the conflict between them was realistic. However, overall the book was a bit forgettable. By the next day, I didn’t remember much about the romance, although I remembered the descriptions of the cooking and kitchen work. That’s what made it stand out - otherwise it could have been any other book. Enjoyable and easy to read, but not all that unique.

I have to admit, if this book hadn't featured all the great scenes in the kitchen, I would have probably found it pedestrian.

His Secret Past by Ellen Hartman

When I go to the bookstore and see the endless rows of babies and cowboys and billionaires in the series romance section, I sometimes despair of ever finding something I'll enjoy! It's nice to know there are still some series books that I can enjoy.

His Secret Past by Ellen Hartman (HSR 1491)
(2008, Contemporary Series) 8/15/08
Grade: 4

Documentary filmmaker Anna Walsh wants to make a film about rock band Five Star - and hopefully find out what ended the career of lead singer Mason Star. Mason is finally clean and sober, and has devoted his life to his son and Mulligans, a community devoted to second chances. The last thing he wants to do is relive his past. But there's something about Anna...

The author does a great job creating a group of realistic, heartfelt characters. By the end of the book, I felt like I’d really gotten to know all of them, from Anna and Mason to Joe, Christian, Stephanie, and the others. I wanted to know what happened to them in their pasts, and where they were going in the future. However, although there was strong chemistry between Anna and Mason, their relationship was just one thread among many. The romance could have been more front and center. But this is a fairly minor criticism. Overall, I really enjoyed getting to know these characters, and found the book rewarding.

I'm grateful to review sites for bringing books like this to my attention - I can't remember where I first heard about this one, but I probably wouldn't have picked it up without a review.

To Love A Stranger by Adrianne Byrd

When I was in college, I was assigned The Return of Martin Guerre by Natalie Zemon Davis. The book describes the historical record of the Martin Guerre case, but it also asks the question: in an age when portraits were limited to the wealthy, how closely could you remember how someone looked? If a husband was gone for 10 years or more, how would you know it was him, when he came home? People today say, "of course I would know" but we live at a time with photography everywhere. My Mom died 15 years ago, and when I remember her, am I remembering what she really looked like, or the photos I've looked at since then?

I always thought that would be an intriguing premise for a romance, although it takes a lot of handwaving to make it work in a contemporary setting.

To Love A Stranger by Adrianne Byrd
(2007, Contemporary) 8/1/08
Grade: 3.5

Six years after her music mogul husband was lost at sea, Madeline Stone is happier without him. She is using her inheritance to fund her fashion career, and she doesn’t have to deal with his infidelities and disrespect. But when Russell seems to have returned, she’s not sure what to think - how can this kind and loving man be the same person?

I’ve always thought this plotline would be a great premise for a romance novel (with a happier ending, of course!) But although I’ve read a couple of books with this idea, none of them have really worked well, and unfortunately, although this one is the best of the lot, it doesn’t really stand out either. The book was smoothly written, but it felt superficial, without a lot of emotional involvement with the characters. Although there was some attempt to explore Madeline’s mixed feelings about Russell’s return, and Russell’s emotions when connecting with his children, they just didn’t move me. Maybe it was because so much of the book was taken up with the details of the plot (is he or isn’t he) and descriptions of the characters’ wealth, or perhaps it was just because the book wasn’t long enough, but it just didn’t work for me. I just didn't feel emotionally involved with the characters. It wasn’t bad, just predictable and a bit dull.

This is one of those books that's hard to grade. I can't point to anything in particular that was "wrong" with it, but it just left me unmoved. I can enjoy a book with a familiar plotline, but the author has to do something to make the characters stand out, and I just didn't find that here.

The Discarded Duke by Nancy Butler

I'm not usually worried about "spoilers". I read a lot of reviews, looking for new books and new authors, and for the most part, I want the review to give me a good understanding of what the book is about, even if that means revealing spoilers. For example, I remember picking up a book based on reviews that said the heroine was infertile, and implied that she and the hero would have to deal with that issue in their relationship. In actuality, the heroine becomes pregnant very early in the book, and the book turned into a very typical "cutie patootie baby book". Not what I was expecting, and not a book I would have bought if I'd known. I felt like the reviewer should have said something, rather than giving a misleading impression of the book in an attempt to avoid "spoilers". (And I have never bought that author again, even though she is now a big name - I still feel like she stole my money under false pretenses.)

However, sometimes spoilers really do "spoil" a book. I read a review of this book that revealed a huge secret that was a big part of the book's plot, and I just didn't think it was necessary to give a clear idea of what the book was about. When I started reading this book, I immediately remembered the review, and it changed my view of the book, since I knew from the start what was going to happen. Would my experience with this book have been different if I'd come into it cold?

(By the way, I am not revealing any spoilers in my review!)

The Discarded Duke by Nancy Butler
(2002, Regency) 7/30/08
Grade: 4.5

Widowed and deeply in debt, Ursula Roarke sees her chance when she meets the Duke of Ardsley. But when she visits his estate, where he hopes to set up a stud farm, she finds herself unaccountably attracted to the baliff, William Ridd. After suffering abuse, Will has turned his sheep into the best in England - but a romance with a well born lady is impossible, isn’t it?

This book had wonderful, compelling characters and an emotional core that made me care about them. All of the four main characters - Ursula, Ardsley, Will and the duke’s onetime love, Judith - were sympathetic and well drawn. Even in a fairly short book, the author was able to make me believe in the attraction between Ursula and Will, and feel the yearning that kept drawing them together. There was a lot going on in this book, between the love story, the sheep farm and the “big secret”, but I thought Butler was able to explore all of them without feeling rushed, at least up until the end. The only flaw was the ending, which wrapped up the stories a little too quickly. Will’s choice made sense, but it was such a monumental decision in his life, and it felt rushed. I guessed the “big secret” very early in the book, but I felt that it was handled well, and I never felt like the author was dragging it out. All in all, an excellent book with real, heartfelt emotion.

When I think of the "casualties" of the elimination of the Regency, I think Nancy Butler's name has to be on the list. I don't know what she's doing now, but she hasn't published since Signet went under. Although I haven't loved all of her books, I saw a lot of promise in them - they had the deep characterization and heartfelt emotion of Mary Balogh or Mary Jo Putney. But I guess this style of writing just doesn't fit with the current trend of lusty historical romps, and she didn't have the name recognition to continue to publish her quieter, more thoughtful books in the single title format. It's too bad, and I hope I see her books again someday.

My Only Love by Katherine Sutcliffe

I've been reading romance for a long time (since my high school years in the 80's) and maybe that makes me a bit jaded. Plot twists that might have surprised me ten or twenty years ago now seem obvious and dull. There are still some authors who can make the "big secret" or the "big misunderstanding" work, but it's more difficult now that so many of these plots have been done over and over. That doesn't mean that I can't still enjoy an "old fashioned" romance - give me well written characters and well drawn emotions, and I will fall in love with romance all over again - but I have a lot less patience for the games that some authors play.

My Only Love by Katherine Sutcliffe
(1993, Victorian?) 7/29/08
Grade: 3

Olive Devonshire danced naked for gypsies, had a tattoo, and bore a son out of wedlock. Miles Warwick knew the shame of illegitimacy, but Olivia’s money was his one chance to redeem himself and make him respectable. And he couldn’t help being intrigued by someone who broke society’s rules so eagerly...

This book was a mix of good and bad. The characters were compelling, but it had two major flaws. First, why did Olivia “love” Miles? The plot depends on Olivia having this great love for Miles and wanting to save him, but he comes across as an irresponsible jerk who slept with her sister and treated everyone around him like dirt. I didn’t get it. Secondly, the “big secret” in the book was obvious (at least to me) from the first chapter, and after a while, the delays and interruptions just became frustrating. I knew how it was going to turn out, and I just wanted them to get over the “big reveal” and go on with the story, but the author put it off until almost the end of the book. I kept reading because I wanted to find out how the story would be resolved (unfortunately, exactly as I’d predicted) and the writing was compelling. But there’s a reason the big misunderstanding went out of style, and it just doesn’t work here.

I read several Katherine Sutcliffe books back in the 90's (A Heart Possessed stands out in particular) but unfortunately, I think the big misunderstanding plots haven't aged well. It's too bad, because I did find the hero and heroine compelling. If they'd spent more time together, instead of dithering about the big secret, the book might have worked a lot better.

Kiss The Cook by Jacquie D'Alessandro

When it comes to series books, enjoyable characters and charm go a long way for me. Things that might wear thin in a longer book work perfectly in a shorter, lighter read. Sometimes it's just relaxing to enjoy a charming, well written story about likeable people.

Kiss the Cook by Jacquie D'Alessandro (ZB 46)
(2000, Contemporary Series) 7/28/08
Grade: 4

When caterer Melanie Gibson double parks in front of an office building, she has no idea she's about to meet the man of her dreams! After years of taking care of his family, Chris Bishop is ready to live the life of a carefree bachelor - but that was before he met Mel. Something about her makes his thoughts of swinging bachelor life disappear.

This was a cute and charming romance that was easy and fun to read. I really liked the hero and heroine, who were both likeable and came across as real people that you'd like to know. There was also a lot of sexual tension, even though the book wasn't very explicit. (I could have done without the constant references to the hero's erection, though.) The book lost a little bit of momentum in the second half, simply because there wasn't much conflict - the attraction between the two is immediate and there's really nothing keeping them apart, and the author doesn't belabor their doubts for too long - but it was a nice way to spend a couple of hours. I found myself speeding through this book and enjoying myself thoroughly (even in a cramped airplane seat!) My only regret was that it was over too soon.

I discovered that this book was re-released as a single title in 2006. It might be a little thin for a single title book, but I'm glad it didn't get lost when Zebra Bouquet disappeared.