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.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, October 20, 2008
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.)
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.)
Sunday, October 19, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, October 17, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
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 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?
Friday, October 10, 2008
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).
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).
Friday, October 03, 2008
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...
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...
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