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.