A Most Unconventional Match by Julia Justiss

Harlequin Historicals are probably the closest thing left to actual Regencies. I'm not sure whether this book would actually qualify as a Regency, since there's a very detailed love scene near the end (which felt odd and out of place, actually) but the rest of the book has a Regency feel.

A Most Unconventional Match by Julia Justiss
(2008, Regency Historical) 12/23/08
Grade: 3.5

After her husband’s death, Elizabeth Lowery is struggling to take over the household and take care of her young son. She is relieved when Hal Waterman, a family friend, offers to help. But she didn’t expect to find him so attractive, especially so soon. Hal Waterman has admired Elizabeth from afar for years, but how could she care for someone as tongue-tied as he?

The plot of this book was predictable, and yet, the characters came alive. I was particularly fond of the hero, who is shy around women and can barely get words out, but is also sincere and kind. Elizabeth was appealing as well, although I found it a little odd that she seems overwhelmed with grief in the first chapter of the book, then barely thinks of or mentions her husband through most of the rest of it. Having the romance take place just a month or two after his death was a little difficult. I’m not sure this is a book that I’ll really remember long term - the details are already a little hazy - but I read it practically in a single sitting, so I have to give it credit for that. An enjoyable Regency read.

Another nice guy hero - this is definitely the year for those. Hal actually goes beyond "tongue tied" since he can barely get a complete sentence out. But he was definitely yummy anyway.

Like No Other Lover by Julie Ann Long

Julie Ann Long is another author who's been recommended to me many times, but I've never gotten around to reading. After reading this one, I'm still not quite sure - I have a couple of her books in my TBR pile, but the other books in this particular series don't sound that appealing. I'll have to wait and see.

Like No Other Lover by Julie Ann Long
(2008, Regency Historical) 12/21/08
Grade: 4

Out of money and desperate, Cynthia Brightly is hoping to find a husband at the house party given by Miles Redmond. She was once the toast of the ton, but scandal destroyed her chances. Miles was once attracted to Cynthia, but turned away when he discovered her mercenary interests. But even as he disapproves, he can’t get her out of his mind...

There was a lot of good qualities to this book. The writing was excellent, very expressive, and the characters were interesting and sympathetic. But somehow, I found myself putting the book down. The pace was very slow, and after a while, it felt like the characters were going over the same ground, over and over. I like a book that’s introspective, but I just wanted the characters to make progress - particularly the hero, who seemed particularly obtuse as the book went on. The book took place over just a few days, but it felt like much longer. On the positive side, the love scenes were very lush and romantic, and I found the heroine refreshing. (Nice to read about a heroine who doesn’t think genteel poverty is appealing.) And the secondary characters were very well written - even the ones who aren’t obvious candidates for their own books. So, I’d give this a very good grade, still quite enjoyable.

Interestingly, a friend who recommended Julie Ann Long to me said that she found the heroine in this book unsympathetic. I had the opposite reaction - I got frustrated with the hero, but I found the heroine extremely sympathetic. Maybe I'm just tired of romance heroines who think it's better to suffer in poverty than to do something about it. I think I'd be looking for a rich husband, if I was a women in 1800.

A Bride For His Convenience by Edith Layton

Another example of a book that seems promising based on the premise, but turns out to be a disappointment...

A Bride For His Convenience by Edith Layton
(2008, Regency Historical) 12/18/08
Grade: 3

Forced to marry for money, Lord Ian Sutcombe makes an agreement with Hannah Leeds, the daughter of a wealthy mill owner. Her money enables him to restore his beloved estate, but can either of them get past the financial bargain they made? Can a marriage that started with money turn into something more?

I love a marriage of convenience story, but this one was a great disappointment. The hero and heroine spent most of the book obsessing about the same issues over and over (mostly money), and there was very little romantic development until the end, when the hero suddenly declares his great love for the heroine. First, the hero and heroine are separated for almost a third of the book. The hero spends much of his time declaiming his opinions in long speeches, while the heroine wrings her hands. Then, they get together, and proceed to have the same argument over and over - they seem to be getting along, one of them brings up money, they get offended and start over again. The hero remains a cold, imperious aristocrat for almost the entire book, which might be realistic but didn’t do much to develop his personality. Finally, we find out that his eeevvvvilll stepmother has the magical ability to make every member of society treat the heroine like dirt - which brings about the sudden change of heart for the hero. I kept reading this, thinking “it’s got to get better” but it never really did. A disappointment.

I couldn't tell if Layton's very negative view of ton society in this book was supposed to be real, or the result of the hero's evil stepmother's machinations. (Every society person the heroine meets treats her like scum.) I was curious to see if this was realistic to the period (as opposed to the cheery view in romancelandia) but it's hard to tell based on this book.

The Bride Price by Anne Mallory

Although I love historical novels, I've never been a historical purist. I'm more interested in characters that seem to have historical attitudes than I am about the specific facts of a book (particularly if the author changes them for a reason). Although I know all historical romances skip over a lot of unpleasant realities, I get a little annoyed by historical characters who have modern attitudes toward society, sex, etc. (For example, all the heroines who jump in bed with virtual strangers and never think of the dire consequences of unwed pregnancy during the period.)

The author admits that the "contest" of this book never happens, but I found it intriguing, and it allowed the author to explore the roles of illegitimate sons during the period. To me, that's a successful historical. But I'm curious to look online and see how the historical purists reacted to this book. (On the Regency list, perhaps?)

The Bride Price by Anne Mallory
(2008, Regency Historical) 12/10/08
Grade: 3.5

Sebastian Deville, the illegitimate son of a Duke, is thrown into a competition sponsored by his father - the contestants are all bastards and younger sons, and the winner will receive a title, an estate (which happens to be Sebastian’s family home) and a wife. Sebastian is determined to win, but will his attraction to widow Caroline change his mind?

This was a frustrating book, because it had a lot of good points, but a major weakness as well. I was fascinated by the hero - his frustration and rage at his treatment by his father and by society, his determination to never let his feelings show, his hidden depths. And the contest was also an interesting idea, and I loved the interplay between the bastards and the spares, and how the competition played out between Sebastian and his legitimate brother. However, there was a glaring problem with the book - the heroine. I just didn’t believe her as a character. The “witty banter” between the hero and heroine in the first chapters felt flat, and their instant sexual attraction felt forced. Her actions didn’t make a lot of sense, and although the author kept telling me that she saw “another side” of Sebastian, it didn’t ring true for most of the book. It felt like she was just doing things because the plot required it. I found myself groaning when the action moved from the contest to the heroine. Things finally improved slightly in the last section, but I just didn’t find this book successful as a romance. The contest was a really cool idea, though, and I wish it had featured a better heroine.

Although I'm not a huge fan of continuing series, I was just a little disappointed to discover that the contest was over within a single book. There were other contestants who were also interesting - Anne Mallory's web site doesn't say anything about future books, but it would be hard to write another book about the contest since it was fully resolved in this one.

Amorous Liaisons by Sarah Mayberry

I am always a little skeptical about Blaze books. You never know when you buy one, if you're getting a real romance or just a contrived sex-fest. And often, the requirement for early sex scenes leads to a contrived plotline. However, I have read some good Blazes so I don't want to dismiss them out of hand - but I only buy them when I have a specific recommendation. I occasionally will pick up a Superromance or a Special Edition if it just looks appealing (since so many series books are never reviewed, it's hard to find them otherwise), but usually not a Blaze.

Amorous Liaisons by Sarah Mayberry (HB 425)
(2008, Contemporary Series) 12/10/08
Grade: 3.5

When an injury forces ballet dancer Maddy Green to retire prematurely, she turns to an old friend, Max Laurent, a ballet dancer who also had to leave his career early, to take care of his father. She needs a shoulder to cry on, but she’s always been attracted to him, and hopes that it leads to more. But Max only wants to be a friend... or does he?

I really liked parts of this book, but in the end, it fell short. I found the hero and heroine compelling characters - Maddy’s frustration and grief at losing her career was well portrayed, as well as Max’s insecurity about his new career as an artist. The sometimes contrived Blaze sex scenes made me roll my eyes at times, but overall, the characters had great sexual tension and the attraction between them felt real. I also loved the setting in Paris and characters who weren’t American (she’s Australian, he’s French). But, the “big misunderstanding” that kept them at odds for most of the book felt very contrived and annoying. She likes him but thinks he wants to be just friends. He likes her but thinks she wants to be just friends. That’s fine for a start, but after the first 100 pages, I wanted to say “just get over it already!” It was particularly irritating in the last section of the book, when it felt like a contrivance just to pull the hero and heroine apart again. This book was good, but it could have been much better.

Just a random comment - although I didn't love the cover, I was impressed that the artist replicated a dress that is described specifically in the book.

Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas

I decided to go ahead and read the next book in this series right away, while the characters were still fresh in my mind.

Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas
(2008, Victorian) 12/7/08
Grade: 3.5

Win Hathaway has been drawn to Kev Merripen since childhood, when her family rescued the Gypsy boy from death. But her poor health kept them from anything but friendship. Now that she has returned home, healthy enough to make a new life, Win is determined to overcome Kev’s barries and make him admit his feelings for her - despite their differences.

Although this book was more successful than the previous one, I still felt that the book lacked emotional intensity. Kev is a compelling hero, and I was fascinated by the glimpse into Gypsy life and his struggles to live in the gadjo world. But somehow, the romance between Win and Kev didn’t come together. It felt like the author was telling me they were in love, rather than showing me, and the barriers between them felt forced. Also, there was a lot of space devoted to the secondary characters - revisiting Cam and Amelia and setting up the future romances for other Hathaway siblings. It took away from the main story. I can’t really say why this book wasn’t compelling to me - it just felt predictable, despite the unusual setting and characters.

Why can one author write a book with a well known plot and characters, and make it seem fresh and new? And another author can write a book with characters that seem unique - Gypsy heroes are not that common - and yet, every move the characters make seems blah and predictable? I guess if I knew the answer to that, I'd be a writer instead of a chemist.

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

It must be hard, to be an author who wrote a well-loved book early in her career. Every time I read a review of a book by Lisa Kleypas, it usually starts, "this book can't compare to Dreaming of You". How can you live up to that? It must be frustrating. I try to look at books with a fresh eye and not compare them to their past successes too much, but still, I can't help thinking, "I know you can do better than this."

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas
(2007, Victorian) 12/5/08
Grade: 3

Amelia Hathaway has her hands full dealing with her younger sisters and her wayward elder brother, who just inherited a title. But when Cam Rohan, a Gypsy who has made a life on the edges of civilized society, enters her life, she can’t stop thinking about him - and he finds her unforgettable as well, although he longs to return to his Gypsy roots.

An oddly unemotional book. I’m not sure if the problem was that I hadn’t read the earlier books in this series, or if the characters were just undefined and underwritten. I enjoyed reading about the Hathaways and their problems, but Amelia wasn’t particularly unique - she was the managing spinster older sister that I’ve seen in dozens of books. Cam should have been a delightfully unique character, but I found him even more of an enigma. We get hints of his life, but there’s a lot of “tell” instead of show. I didn’t find their love story particularly emotional, or believable - it just seemed like the author was going through the motions. The hint of a paranormal subplot also didn’t work, and felt tacked on. Kleypas is always readable, so I didn’t have any trouble finishing the book, but I was left feeling unsatisfied and disappointed.

This book is a good example of why I get frustrated with never-ending series. Technically, this book is the first book in a new series about the Hathaway family. But it's related to many of the author's previous books - the Wallflower series for a start, but it's also related to bunches of her other books, going all the way back to Dreaming of You. I've read some of the previous books by Kleypas, but evidently not enough of them to keep track of all of her interlocking characters - I was left feeling like I'd walked into the middle and didn't know what was going on. (Would Cam have been a more compelling hero if I'd read all the previous books?)

I'm left with a dilemma - I don't really want to waste my time reading books that are soggy and uninteresting and contain plot points that I hate. All series contain some books like this. (No author writes a winner every time, especially for a picky reader like me.) But if I pick and choose and only read some of the books in a series, I'm left feeling lost. I'm beginning to wonder if I should just skip series books altogether. but that doesn't leave much to choose from, since romance authors are just ga-ga about endlessly long series. It's frustrating. I gave up on a Liz Carlyle book last week for the same reason.

To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt

Most romance readers are author loyalists. They have a list of favorite authors, and they'll buy every book by that author. If they try a new author, they'll either add that author to their auto-buy list, or drop her. I was like that when I first started reading romance, but I've since become a promiscuous reader. Even if I like an author, I won't auto-buy her books. I'll pick and choose, only buying those books that have plots and characters that appeal to me, even if I end up reading the middle book in a series. I guess that makes me disloyal - I'm more interested in an appealing plot or type of story than I am in a particular author. On the other hand, I think it makes me more willing to give authors second chances. I hated an earlier book by Elizabeth Hoyt, almost to the point of wall-banging. I thought I'd never read another book of hers. But when I read the description of this book, and when I skimmed a few sections of the book in the store, I could see that this was a very different type of book, much more my style. So I was willing to give it a chance. And happily, I was rewarded!

To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt
(2008, Georgian) 11/26/08
Grade: 4.5

After Jasper Renshaw, Lord Vale is left at the altar, Melisande decides to take a chance and asks him to marry her instead. To her surprise, he agrees. Melisande has loved Jasper from afar for years, but as she gets to know him better, she finds his carefree attitude hides deep secrets - and he finds that the shy and quiet Melisande has hidden depths as well.

From the beginning, this book pulled me in. The characters were immediately appealing - shy but resolute Melisande, teasing, open-hearted Jasper. The book focused primarily on getting to know these two, and building their relationship, and it was delightful to read. (I also loved the stalwart terrier, Mouse. The secondary relationship between the maid and the valet felt recycled and cliched, though.) The spy plot was not that original, but it was in the background most of the time, and the setting of the French and Indian war was unusual. And Jasper’s haunted past was very touching, and I appreciated that the heroine didn’t magically fix him. I wasn’t thrilled with the sex scenes - they were certainly hot, but the early ones felt too acrobatic and exotic for Melisande, even if she wasn’t a virgin, and I just don’t find certain words appealing, even in context. But that was a minor problem. Overall, this was a lovely book, and I enjoyed all of it.

I don't know if it's a coincidence or a trend, but I'm very happy with all the books I've read this year with "nice guy" heroes. Heroes who genuinely like and respect the heroines and want to get to know them. These are the heroes that I love, and I hope this run of nice heroes is a real trend. (Maybe all the authors who write alpha jerks have moved over to paranormals?) I never understood the appeal of the hero who treats the heroine like dirt for 300 pages and then declares his love - that's romance? Not for me. Give me a nice hero every time. Vale isn't a nerd or a wimp - but he doesn't need to wipe his feet on the heroine to be a man.

Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb

I love watching procedurals on TV - I can't get enough of Law & Order, CSI and The Wire. But for some reason, I don't usually find procedural mysteries as appealing in book form. I guess I'm looking for something different when I'm reading than when I'm watching TV. Although I read a lot of mysteries when I was younger, I don't find them all that appealing any more. However, I was drawn to the first J.D. Robb books. The first few books in this series combined a great relationship between Eve and Roarke with a heroine who had a real feeling for the victims, because of her own past as a victim of violence. But that aspect of the books seems to be fading away as the series continues. The passion isn't there (depsite the energetic sex scenes between Eve and Roarke). I guess no author (even Nora Roberts) can sustain that over 29 books. Too bad.

Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb
(2008, Suspense) 11/18/08
Grade: 3

When a well-loved priest is poisoned during a funeral, Eve quickly discovers that he’s not what he seems. Is Father Miguel Flores really who he claimed to be? And when a similar killing fells an evangelical minister, is she looking at a serial killing? Or does it all go back to the supposed priest’s old neighborhood and a 20 year old crime?

I can’t help wondering, was I too distracted to give this book my full attention? (I read it during chemotherapy.) I don’t think that was the problem. I recently reread one of the early J.D. Robb books during an equally distrating hospital visit, and it kept my attention completely. In her last few books, the focus has been on the mystery, with only brief interludes of personal relationships (and even those have become routine). I don’t get the personal attachment that Eve had with her earlier cases. (And it doesn’t help that everyone in this case is unsympathetic - Eve has more passion for her cases when she has a strong feeling for the victim and finding justice for him or her.) I never really got a feeling for the “victim” here until the very end, and even then, it was hard to reconcile his initial description as a caring priest with the revelations of who he really was and what he was doing. Overall, this was a fairly blah entry in the series.

While I was waiting at the drug store, I picked up a copy of Suite 606, which has a short story by J.D. Robb. And interestingly, I found the first 15 pages of that story a lot more appealing than this full-length book. I didn't get a chance to finish, but I was more interested in that story than in finishing the longer book that I had in my bag. (Not enough to pay full price for an anthology that only had one story I wanted to read, but still...)

The Price of Desire by Jo Goodman

This year, I'm determined to actually read some 2008 books in 2008. It's nice to finally find some current books that are worth reading - for a while, I was having a hard time finding any books that were worth buying.

The Price of Desire by Jo Goodman
(2008, Regency Historical) 11/9/08
Grade: 4

After her brother Alistair loses heavily in a card game, Olivia Cole finds herself turned over to the owner of the gaming hell, Griffin Wright-Jones, Viscount Breckenridge. Griffin isn’t at all what she expected - he’s intelligent and considerate, and allows her to live under his roof unmolested. Olivia begins to wonder, is it worth taking a chance on him?

Although I liked the characters well enough, I found this book very hard to get through, particularly in the first half. The pace was very slow, and the hero and heroine are both hard to understand. The author seemed to be deliberately keeping their motives from the reader, and it got frustrating after a while. I got about 150 pages into the book and then put it down for almost a week. Once I got past the first half, the book definitely improved, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. Both of them are wounded, especially Olivia, and seeing her come into her own was satisfying. But sometimes the author’s writing left me a little confused - it’s as if she tried to make things difficult to understand. However, I did enjoy the book overall, I just think it needed better pacing, and maybe a little editing in the first half.

Several people who share my taste in romance have recommended Jo Goodman to me, but this is the first time I've read her books. (I still have a few in my TBR pile.) I'm not sure if I'm going to seek her out or not - something about her writing style just didn't grab me. Although she's a good writer, it left me feeling somewhat aloof from her characters. I'll have to try another book by her before deciding one way or the other, but it was a little disappointing.

The Soft Touch by Betina Krahn

This one was in my trade pile, but I pulled it out and gave it a try. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't have been heartbroken if it had ended up at the UBS.

The Soft Touch by Betina Krahn
(1999, Victorian) 11/4/08
Grade: 3.5

Baltimore heiress Diamond Wingate has a reputation for being a “soft touch”. She gives away millions to causes and inventors, but her inability to say “no” has left her with three fiancées. Bear McQuaid is hoping to persuade Diamond to invest in his Montana railroad, but he discovers there’s more to her than her millions...

Although the characters were sympathetic and the style was pleasant, this book offered few surprises. It just didn’t have the zest of Krahn’s earlier books (or some of her later ones). There were hints that Diamond had more psychological reasons for giving away her money, but they weren’t given a lot of attention. (And the name was a bit much - Diamond?) I enjoyed the first half of the book, when Diamond was in Baltimore and trying to give away her money, more than the second half, which was a pretty typical Western romance. However, the book was enjoyable and easy to read, just not very memorable. It just didn’t rise above its predictable plot.

I read a lot of Betina Krahn's books in my early days of romance (before I started keeping my database). I have fond memories of them, but it's hard to remember without my records to jog my memory. I wish I'd started my reading record a few years earlier!

A Man in a Million by Jessica Bird

I'm not generally fond of leather-jacket-motorcycle-riding heroes, because they're usually alphas, but I was definitely enchanted by Spike. I wonder if there are any other French chef heroes who ride motorcycles and have tattoos?

A Man in a Million by Jessica Bird
(2007, Contemporary Series) 11/1/08
Grade: 3.5

When professional sailor Madeline Maguire sees Spike at an engagement party, she can’t help but think “yum!”. His black jacket, his motorcycle, his tattoos - but would he take a second look at her? Spike is equally smitten with Mad, but he knows that once she finds out about his past, she’ll disappear, just like everyone else...

Although the characters in this book were great, the author spent far too long dragging out the misunderstandings between them. Almost half of the book goes by while we’re still stuck in “I like him but he’ll never like me” and “I like her but she’ll never like me”. These are strong, decisive people, and the endless dithering just annoyed me. Especially since both characters had such serious issues and they really needed more space to deal with them. Jessica Bird has a smooth writing style, and she created two great characters in Madeline and Spike, but why was the plot so predictable and tedious? They needed more.

I know that Jessica Bird is busy writing uber-alpha vampires as her alter-ego, J.R. Ward, but it would be nice if she came back and revisited the contemporary romance now and then. Although this book wasn't perfect for me, it definitely had potential, and I loved The Billionaire Next Door. (Didn't the hero in that one have brothers?) Speaking for the non-vampire readers, I'd like to see more books by Jessica Bird

His Dark and Dangerous Ways by Edith Layton

Edith Layton is an author that's been around for many years, and she's written some wonderful books. But I wonder what's going on with her books lately. They seem very "trendy" and lacking the historical background that she's so good at.

His Dark and Dangerous Ways by Edith Layton
(2008, Regency Historical) 10/28/08
Grade: 3.5

Jane Chatham is barely surviving, teaching dance to the young daughters of the ton. When she’s approached by Simon Atwood, Lord Granger, she’s not sure what to think - the money would certainly help, but why does he want her to spy on her employer? Simon survived a year in a French prison, and now he’s just spying for a friend - or is it more than that?

This book was frustrating. On one hand, the plot was interesting, and gave the hero and heroine a lot of chances to be together. I enjoyed many of their interactions, especially as they get to know each other. On the other hand, I never really believed in them, particularly the hero. The characters just seemed like pieces on a chessboard, to be moved around. The book felt erratic and choppy - it never engaged my emotions. And in the last few chapters, the plot became far too convoluted. (Why was the villain out to kill Simon? It made no sense.) There were some good parts to it - I liked the heroine, and she rang a lot truer than the hero - but overall it was a disappointment. Readable, but frustrating.

I always wonder why an author introduces a "tortured" hero, and then barely uses that in her book. Although Simon was supposed to be traumatized from his time in a French prison, it didn't ring true at all - it's mentioned once or twice, and used as an excuse for him not to get involved with the heroine, but it could have been left out with no real change in the hero's personality. Why tease readers with a nice tortured hero if you're not going to deliver? That's one reason I was frustrated by this book - it promised something it didn't give.

The Wooing of Miss Masters by Susan Carroll

I was never a big fan of the comedic Regency. They often end up seeming silly to me. I always take the characters seriously, even when they're supposed to be funny, and I end up feeling sorry for the characters who are being ridiculed, instead of laughing. But one exception is Susan Carroll. Her Regencies were witty, but her humor comes out of the characters. I've always been surprised that her longer historicals don't have the wittiness that was so much a part of her Regencies.

The Wooing of Miss Masters by Susan Carroll
(1991, Regency) 10/23/08
Grade: 3.5

The Duke of Raeburn is looking for a biddable wife, but why does he keep thinking about his spinster neighbor, Miss Audra Masters? She’d rather step on his toes than dance with him, and swears that she will never marry, but Simon would rather have a feisty wife than one who bats her eyes at him and agrees with everything he says.

This was a charming and amusing book that was fun to read, but was somewhat forgettable. I enjoyed the characters, although they were familiar types. There were a few unique touches - the hero’s grief over his brother’s death, the heroine’s frustration with her absent mother - although there wasn’t enough space to really go into them in any detail. But Carroll’s writing was witty and the story enjoyable, even though it was predictable. The only other criticism is that the book ended too quickly, with the hero and heroine only getting together on the last page. But overall, a nice Regency confection.

I hate to see my collection of unread Regencies dwindling. Although I've read historicals that have the sensibility of a Regency, they rarely have the same witty humor that characterized Regencies.

A Homespun Regency Christmas (Anthology)

Signet is a bit sneaky with this collection. Although I read the back cover and didn't recognize any of the stories, I'm not sure I would have bought it if I'd known they were all reprints. The copyright says 2008, with a small disclaimer: "Author copyrights for individual stories can be found on page 329". So, it's only on the very last page that the truth is revealed. However, I should have seen it coming, when the front cover proclaims "Four Classic Holiday Stories". I don't mind reprints, but I wish they'd be more honest about it! (And of course, I wish Signet had come out with a new Christmas anthology this year.)

A Homespun Regency Christmas (Anthology)
(2008, Regency) 1020/08

An Object of Charity by Carla Kelly ~ Grade: 3.5
The Wexford Carol by Emma Jensen ~ Grade: 3
Mistletoe and Folly by Sandra Heath ~ Grade: 3
Once Upon a Midnight Clear by Amanda McCabe ~ Grade: 3

Four stories, by Carla Kelly (a lonely naval hero meets an orphaned young woman and her brother, and goes home for the first time in 20 years); Amanda McCabe (a scarred sea captain finds unexpected acceptance from the daughter of a slave); Emma Jensen (a young woman is desperate to save her home) and Sandra Heath (misunderstandings abound.)

As usual, the quality is mixed. Unfortunately, none of the stories are really exceptional. The Carla Kelly story (An Object of Charity) is best, although it lacks romance. The hero is wonderful, but the heroine is a cardboard cutout, and it felt like the hero fell in love with the idea of her, more than the person. But it had moments of emotion, especially when the hero looks back on his long estrangement from his family and lonely years at sea. The Amanda McCabe story (Once Upon a Midnight Clear) is second best - although it was a bit superficial (and the paranormal element out of place), it was interesting to read about an unusual heroine, who is of mixed race and dealing with her place in society. But the romance was far too rushed. The Emma Jensen story (The Wexford Carol) has the same problem - maybe in a full length book, it would have worked, but in short story form, it was just too abrupt, and the romance a convenience. The Sandra Heath story (Mistletoe and Folly) was the worst of the bunch - one misunderstanding after another, completely tedious. Overall, not the best collection of stories.

Dear Author recently reported that some paranormal authors are selling short stories individually as e-books. Although the price was a bit high, I think it's a good idea. I don't have the shelf space to save anthologies for a single story, but I'd gladly buy my favorite Mary Balogh, Carla Kelly and Mary Jo Putney stories as e-books. They're all out of print, so why aren't the publishers jumping on this? The anthology collections by Balogh and Putney were nice, but didn't include all the best stories. And if some of the old Regency authors were to publish new Christmas stories and sell them electronically, I might buy - if the price was right.

(Which makes me wonder - why the high prices for e-books? I was considering buying an e-book from Cerridwen Press, but the $6.99 price just drove me away. $6.99 for an unknown author, that I can't check out in advance, and that I can't trade when I'm done? That's just too much. (I know, e-books have excerpts, but excerpts are always picked to make the author sound as good as possible. Like movie trailers, they don't necessarily reflect the book as a whole. I like to skip through and look at several points in the book, to get a more representative sample. And to see if the book includes any of the plot points that annoy me.) Between the price of e-readers and the price of the books, I just don't see any advantage to switching.)

Power Play by Deirdre Martin

I'm always looking for a good contemporary, but I think I'm even pickier about my contemps as I am about my historicals. I think it's also harder to find emotional reads in a contemporary setting - modern characters seem less likely to bare their souls, oddly enough.

Power Play by Deirdre Martin
(2008, Contemporary) 10/19/08
Grade: 3.5

Monica Geary is a soap opera actress, nervous about being replaced by a younger co-star. Eric Mitchell is a professional hockey player, trying to impress his new team mates. They can’t stand each other, but a public romance could help both their careers. But what happens when the fake romance becomes all too real?

Even though I liked the backdrop of soap operas (and, surprisingly, pro hockey), I didn’t find the characters all that convincing. Neither one was particularly sympathetic at the beginning, but even though I grew to like the two characters separately as the book went on, I didn’t find them convincing as a couple. Although the words said that they were falling for each other, it just didn’t ring true. The book was certainly readable, and I especially enjoyed the behind the scenes soap opera plot, but overall, I found it rather blah.

I was in Borders the other day and saw a soap opera tie-in written by Julia London. (Based on Guiding Light, my old favorite!) Maybe that means soaps are getting more acceptable? I'd love to see more romances with a soap opera setting - Kathleen Gilles Seidel did it so well in Again, and it would be fun to see more of it.

His Captive Lady by Anne Gracie

I'm feeling particularly hopeful about romance at the moment. There seems to be a small resurgence of character-based, emotional stories - I've read several this year, and I have a few more in my TBR pile. For a while, I despaired about the future of romance - it seemed like character-based books were being abandoned in favor of suspense, erotica, "kick ass" heroines and evil-fighting vampires. It's so nice to see emotional stories making a comeback.

His Captive Lady by Anne Gracie
(2008, Regency Historical) 10/18/08
Grade: 4.5

When Harry Morant sees a wet but lovely young woman in the back of a wagon, he impulsively gives her his hat and gloves. To his surprise, he finds out that she is Lady Helen Freymore, the daughter of the former owner of the house he is buying. He is immediately attracted to her, but Nell is bound for London, and is hiding a secret that she cannot reveal.

A lovely, emotional book with two strong characters. I particularly loved Harry, who was strong and kind and unwavering in his love for the heroine. (I particularly liked the scene where Nell tells him her secret, and he accepts it and loves her all the more.) Nell was somewhat less developed than Harry, because she spent so much of the book driven to find Torie, but she’s also a strong and loving heroine, and a good match for Harry. The secondary characters were also delightful, although there was a bit of “old home week” during the last few chapters, setting up characters for their own books. Overall, the book was focused on the relationship between the hero and heroine, and even the external focus (the search for Torie) grew out of the characters, rather than coming from outside. The problems were minor - I thought the sleepwalking bit was pretty contrived, and the ending was tied up a little too neatly. But overall, it was a wonderful, enjoyable read - just the kind of book I love reading!

My one question about this book - who picked the title? The heroine is never a "captive", unless it's meant in the metaphorical sense (she's a captive of her past, or something like that?) It's very misleading, and I probably would have avoided this book if it hadn't been recommended, since I hate captive romances.

The Way Home by Jean Brashear

If only I was a writer! There are so many storylines in romance that I would love to do differently. Amnesia is one of them. There is so much romantic potential in a couple learning to love each other again, but I haven't read a book that really tells this story with the depth of emotion it deserves. (I remember reading a real-life version of the story that was far more romantic than any romance novel treatment I've come across.) Alas, I'm not a writer, so I have to keep waiting for a romance author to do it justice.

The Way Home by Jean Brashear (HSR 1505)
(2008, Contemporary Series) 10/15/08
Grade: 3

Alone and unable to remember anything about her former life, Bella is confused and afraid. Even after her husband and children recognize her, she can only remember bits and pieces of her old life. James is determined to have his free spirited wife back, but will she still want him, if she remembers the betrayal that nearly destroyed their marriage?

I had high hopes for this book, but it proved disappointing. The first half was frustratingly choppy. The characters jumped from one thought to another, the book jumped from one character to another, and the setting jumped from the present to the past. There wasn’t a coherent story holding all of this together, and I felt disconnected from the characters. I wanted to know who they were and why I should care about them, and I didn’t get that until well into the book. It was refreshing to read about characters in their 50’s (despite the image on the cover!) and once the book settled down into one storyline, it did improve. But it just felt unsatisfying, and it never really lived up to the promise of two characters learning to love each other again.

Just wondering, who created this cover? Did they have any idea that the characters were supposed to be in their mid-50's?

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.

Winter Wonderland by Elizabeth Mansfield

There's nothing like a good Regency. Even a Regency that's just OK can really hit the spot when I'm tired of torrid historicals. Unfortunately, there are a lot of blah Regencies out there as well, with plotlines ad characters that just seem like same-old, same-old. It's frustrating, especially since my supply of Regencies continues to dwindle... still hoping there are a few sharp needles in that haystack.

Winter Wonderland by Elizabeth Mansfield
(1993, Regency) 7/15/08
Grade: 3

Eleven years ago, shy 19 year old Barnaby Traherne was ridiculed by young deb Miranda Perdew. Now, Barnaby is more confident and sure of himself, but when he meets Miranda again (now a penniless widow working as a governess) he finds himself still angry - and still attracted. But shouldn’t he marry shy, sweet Livy instead?

As much as I liked the characters in this book, I didn’t find a lot of romance in it. I could believe (barely) that Barnaby fell “in love” with Miranda after such a short time, because he didn’t realize it until near the end of the book after they’d spent a fair amount of time together, but Miranda declares her love for Barnaby in no time at all. A couple of short encounters, a moonlight kiss, and bam, she’s in love. I just didn’t believe it. On the other hand, the author always does a good job in depicting the Regency period, and I liked the close family life shared between Barnaby and his brothers. Overall, not a bad read, but very predictable.

I tried another Elizabeth Mansfield before this one (A Marriage of Inconvenience) and it had the same problems, except worse. Cardboard characters that seemed to fall "in love" for no reason except that the author said so. Just about as bad as the historical heroes and heroines, who seem to think lust equals love. Sigh...

Shield's Lady by Jayne Ann Krentz

I don't particularly like paranormal books, and although I read a lot of sci-fi when I was younger, I find it too involved for me now. (Plus, most sci-fi books, even the romance oriented ones, tend to focus on the world building and adventures over the hero/heroine intereractions.) But every now and then, I pick up a "futuristic" book. I like futuristics that are just a small step away from our current world - enough to be interesting, but not enough to be too involved. Alas, there aren't many of these around, and most of the time they aren't satisfying as romances even if the futuristic background is intriguing. Ah well.

Shield's Lady by Jayne Ann Krentz
(1989, Futuristic) 7/12/08
Grade: 3.5

Sariana is new to the Western continent, but she is determined to be a successful businesswoman by helping her employers get back a stolen prisma cutter. She has to deal with a Shield, whose clan is known to be rough and mercenary, but she had no idea how attractive he could be... or what would happen when he claimed her as his Shieldmate.

A fun futuristic adventure that had the typical Krentz touches. At first I really enjoyed the author’s trademark interactions between the hero and heroine, but then I realized that this was one of Krentz’s alpha heroes. He wasn’t as bad as some of her heroes, but I got tired of his alpha jerk tendencies pretty quickly. I also found the background of the colony to be interesting, but there were definitely some gaps in the world building. It had a lot of similarities to the Jayne Castle books that came out in the late 90’s. Overall, though, I found myself getting bored - too much running around and getting chased, not enough about the hero and heroine (once they finally got past the “I hate you but I lust for you” stage, the running around took over). A bit disappointing - I was hoping for another good Krentz book but this one was only OK.

Jayne Ann Krentz can be a frustrating author for me. On one hand, I have six of her books on my keeper shelf, more than any other author except Balogh, and I reread those books quite often. I've reread Grand Passion so many times the pages are falling out. But unfortunately, there was only one brief period when JAK wrote books that I enjoyed. Before that period, her heroes were too alpha. After that period, her books veered too far into romantic suspense for me. I haven't read her new books in a number of years, but I keep hoping that someday I'll find one of her books that's as satisfying to me as the ones on my keeper shelf. (Which are A Coral Kiss, Family Man, Perfect Partners, Wildest Hearts, Grand Passion and Trust Me.)

A Most Unsuitable Man by Jo Beverley

Although I read most of Beverley's Malloren books, I was never a big fan. Too much adventuring and running around. But I was tempted by this one, because the plotline was so appealing - although it was interesting to see how closely it resembled Hazard, at least in its outline. (The specifics are quite different.) I was reminded of Mary Balogh, who once said that she wrote books with similar plotlines so she could see how different characters would react to similar situations.

A Most Unsuitable Man by Jo Beverley
(2005, Georgian) 7/10/08
Grade: 4

After inheriting a fortune, Damaris Myddleton is ready to buy a husband. But when she’s humiliated by the marquess of Ashart, she finds comfort and amusement from Fitzroger - who is so appealing, but so unsuitable! But this penniless outcast turns out to have hidden depths, and when her life is in danger, Damaris begins to wonder if Fitz could be suitable after all!

This book has a lot in common with Hazard, which was set in the Regency but had a similar plotline. However, like most of the authors Georgian books, there’s more emphasis here on adventure. However, Fitz and Damaris are a great couple, and the author gives them time to get to know each other and talk together. There’s a little too much Rothgar-worship, especially in the last section, but the details of the Georgian era are fascinating, and overall, this was an enjoyable book, although I didn’t find it as emotionally compelling as Hazard.

I've become more aware of covers since I started working on the annual cover contest, although I still ignore unappealing covers most of the time. But I must admit, the cover for this book is wonderful. I actually prefer the front cover to the stepback image, although it's rare to see a cover that adheres so closely to the plot of the book.

The Desperate Viscount by Gayle Buck

There's something about a Regency that's just different from a historical. I always enjoy reading about how the characters fit into their social roles - why have a titled hero or heroine if the title doesn't affect what they do and how they act? However, sometimes I find myself wanting more...

The Desperate Viscount by Gayle Buck
(1993, Regency) 7/9/08
Grade: 3.5

Hotheaded Viscount St. John always thought he would inherit a dukedom, but after his uncle suddenly marries, he is forced to marry for money. Tradesman’s daughter Mary Pepperidge has the requisite dowry, but Sinjin finds himself unaccountably attracted to his quiet bride, although he never thought he’d let himself trust again after a painful childhood.

A well-written and interesting Regency, but it lacked romance, and shyed away from emotional intensity. I was intrigued by the character of Sinjin, who is depicted in great detail, especially in the first part of the book. (The heroine barely appears until the second half.) Sinjin’s pride is deeply hurt by the loss of his prospective title, especially when his fiance drops him and the ton turns him into a joke. But he leans on his friends, who are also described in great detail (a wonderful part of the book). There’s also a lot of interesting details about the ton and the social structures. However, I would have liked to know more about Sinjin’s past, which is only hinted at, as well as more about his relationship with Mary. The heroine isn’t as well drawn as the hero - although she has some spark, she’s mostly a stereotypical good girl - and I was disappointed that the author devoted so much time to Mary’s dealings with her uncouth sister, rather than delving into her marriage. Overall, I felt like the book ended too soon, leaving me feeling unfulfilled, despite the interesting hero.

I don't usually go looking for sequels to most books I read. I usually find them disappointing - the appearance of a familiar character isn't enough to make me like a book that didn't attract me on the first go-round. However, I found the hero's friends so appealing in this book, I had to find out whether the author had written about them, too! Alas, no. Probably because they weren't typical "romance heroes", which is probably why I liked them!

Ain't She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

I've had mixed results with Susan Elizabeth Phillips. On one hand, I think she has a unique voice, and unlike many romance writers, she isn't afraid to write about heroines who are less than perfect. On the other hand, I've found her books uneven, and sometimes I find her books lacking when it comes to the romance. Still, I appreciate a romance writer who isn't writing cookie cutter books.

Ain't She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
(2004, Contemporary) 6/28/08
Grade: 4

Back in high school, Sugar Beth was the queen of Parrish, Mississippi. She and her friends ruled the school. Now, Sugar Beth is back, but her life hasn’t turned out the way she wanted. Her only hope is to find a valuable painting left to her by her aunt... but she didn’t count on Colin Byrne living next door, the teacher whose life she’d ruined all those years ago.

As usual, SEP’s writing is smooth and easy to read - I finished this one in just a few hours. And it was refreshing to read about a heroine who was far from perfect. (Of course, she had a saintly reason for needing money, but I guess that’s inevitable in a romance.) However, I didn’t find the romance as compelling as Sugar Beth’s story. Although Colin was an interesting character, as the out-of-place British author who revels in his designer clothes, I got a little bored with their relationship, especially in the last third of the book. The story definitely fizzled out in the last section. I was more interested in the other characters in the town, particularly the troubled marriage between Winnie, Sugar Beth’s half sister, and Ryan, her ex-boyfriend. But overall, I found Sugar Beth a memorable and unique character, and so I had to give it a slightly higher grade based on that alone.

I don't seem to be a typical SEP fan when it comes to the books I like and don't like. I find her Chicago Stars books mostly forgettable - probably because I loathe football and would rather stick pins in my eyes than read about it. However, I enjoy her unconventional heroines, which seem to offend some of her more diehard fans!

White Picket Fences by Tara Taylor Quinn

I always appreciate a heroine who is a little bit different. Although I'm far from an athlete myself, it's nice to read about a heroine who is unabashedly athletic - and a hero who admires her for it.

White Picket Fences by Tara Taylor Quinn
(2000, Contemporary Series) 6/21/08
Grade: 4

Miranda Parsons is content with her job, her family, her home. If only she didn’t have to sponsor a pet therapy group at her college - dogs are so messy! But veterinarian Zack Foster is a lot more appealing. Zack is still reeling after his wife left him for another woman, so all he wants is an affair with no strings - which is just what Miranda wants too, right?

This was a very easy book to read - I finished it in one evening. I was impressed by the way the author handled Zack’s situation. Although Zack initially blames himself for not satisfying his wife, everyone around him quickly points out that his wife’s sexual orientation wasn’t his fault (or hers) and everyone ends up friends. Miranda’s issues are given less attention - although she learns to accept her imperfections and open herself to love, at the beginning she seemed compulsive almost to the extent of OCD, and that really isn’t addressed. However, my main problem with the book was the ever-so-perfect town of Shelter Valley. Every few pages, a character gives a little lecture about how wonderful Shelter Valley is, how perfect the people are, how much better than the nasty city. I expected a comment that all the children were above average. It was way, way overdone and it became intrusive. There were also too many references to characters from previous books. These were fairly minor problems, but it made me a bit reluctant to pick up other books in this series.

What is it with romance novelists and small towns? I've met lots of romance novelists, and for the most part, they live where the rest of us do - some in small towns, but mostly in suburbs and cities and various other places. But the myth of the idyllic small town persists in romance. No place could be as perfect as the romance novel small town - everyone who lives there is virtuous, kind, and altogether above average. Maybe some readers like this, but I find it cloying, especially when the author keeps stuffing it down the reader's throat every few pages. It's a tribute to how good the rest of this book was that I graded it as highly as I did, because the endless hosannas to Shelter Valley made me want to gag after a while.