Beauty and the Scarred Hero by Emily May

I can't remember who recommended this one to me, but the title was enough to make me want to buy it!

Beauty and the Scarred Hero by Emily May
(2010, Regency) 8/31/10
Grade: 3

Lady Isabella Knox isn't looking for love. As the sister of a Duke, she is perfectly happy to live alone in her London townhouse collecting strays - including Harriet Durham, who has fled from Major Nicholas Reynolds, the intimidating man she is supposed to marry. Isabella accidentally gives Nicholas the nickname "ogre", then befriends him to offset the gossip. But she soon discovers Nicholas is far from an ogre...

Unfortunately, the best word for this book is "blah". I wanted to like it, since it seemed so appealing - tortured hero, independent heroine, Regency setting - but it just didn't hold my attention. It was just.. forgettable.

It's hard to grade a book like this - I was tempted to stop reading in the middle but I did like the heroine. It was a nice change to read about an independently wealthy heroine instead of yet another governess. But it just wasn't enough to make this book stand out.

Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight

Yay! A Keeper!! Or if not a keeper, at the very least a really great book. This is definitely a testament to online reviews, because I never would have bought this book if not for Dear Author and a couple of other online sites that raved about it. (It took me a while since it came out originally in e-book format, but then was released in paperback earlier this year.)

Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight
(2009, Contemporary) 8/29/10
Grade: 5

One year after the death of his lover, Michael Warner is struggling to hold his life together for the sake of their 8 year old daughter. Three years after a vicious attack left her scarred, former actress Rebecca O’Neill seems OK on the surface, but still faltering underneath. But when sparks start to fly between them, are they willing to take a risk and dare to love again?

This book started a bit slow, but as I got into it, I found myself spellbound. It’s rare to find a serious, thoughtful contemporary, and even rarer to find one that’s so well written. (The alternating-first-person style was a little off-putting at first, but I mostly got used to it. It did pull me out of the story a little bit at each chapter change.) Although this is a romance, the romance is only one part of the story. The primary focus is Michael and his struggle to deal with the death of his partner, Alex. (The issue of Michael’s sexuality - is he gay or straight or bi - was dealt with in a refreshingly adult way.) Since this was a Samhain book, I was expecting too many love scenes, but there was actually only one, which fit this story and these characters (but was still a refreshing surprise.) This book was just so open and emotional, it was almost too intense in some places. I’m not sure at this point whether this will be a long term keeper, but I know I have to read it again. I think this is a book that will expand on a second reading. There were some minor issues - the ending was rushed and didn’t focus enough on Rebecca and her story - but still, it’s definitely the best book I’ve read in some time.

As thrilled as I am to read such a great book, I'm also a little saddened because I know very few romance readers will discover this book. It's only available online (as far as I know) and it's from Samhain. Not to criticize Samhain, since I'm pleased they published this book, but Samhain is not a place where I'd go to look for a serious contemporary. Even the back blurb is misleading - it says it contains "explicit sex scenes" which this book most assuredly does not. I hope it finds some readership through online reviews, which describe the book far better than the publisher has.

The Summer of You by Kate Noble

I had a hard time grading this book - I found it appealing but somehow it left me a little cold...

The Summer of You by Kate Noble
(2010, Regency Historical) 8/28/10
Grade: 4

Jane Cummings is forced to spend the summer at her family’s country home when her father’s confusion grows worse. She blackmails her brother into coming along. She is caught up in village life, but is intrigued by Byrne Worth, an injured war hero that everyone thinks is a local highwayman! But Jane sees more in Byrne than he’s willing to reveal.

An interesting and well written story. This book felt somewhat old fashioned, since it concentrated as much on the secondary characters as it did on the hero and heroine. For much of the book, the focus is on Jane’s adjustment to life in Merrymere and her interactions with the people in the town. Even though there are some serious situations (Jane’s father’s illness, Byrne’s injuries and struggles with addiction), they’re dealt with in an almost abstract way, without the emotional directness that most romances have today. (This is more in the style of Austen or Heyer.) I prefer the more emotional style, but I enjoyed this book very much. The characters were interesting and the writing was excellent. But it just didn’t grab me on an emotional level.

There were some points in this book where I wished I'd read the previous book (Revealed) first. I have Revealed on my TBB list but I got this one as a gift first. It wasn't a big issue with the story, but now I want to know what I missed!

The Man She Once Knew by Jean Brashear

What happened to Harlequin Super Romance? Sometime last year, they lost 50 pages. That's a real disappointment, since HSR was my favorite series line, but their more complicated stories are harder to squeeze into just 240 pages. Sigh... I guess that's one more reason I haven't been reading series romance.

The Man She Once Knew by Jean Brashear (HSR 1595)
(2009, Contemporary Series) 8/28/10
Grade: 3

Sixteen years after a trip to Oak Hollow changed her life, Callie Hunter returns for her aunt’s funeral. She intends to leave as quickly as possible, but David Langley, the onetime town hero turned ex-con, needs her help. How could things have gone so wrong for David, and how can she make up for the sins of the past?

This book was so frustrating. It had great characters and an interesting story, but they were forced into a book that was at least 100 pages too short. Huge chunks of the story were cut off or completely left out in order to meet the page count. That’s why I can’t recommend it despite its many good qualities. These characters deserved more. There were hints of greater depth in the characters - David, the golden boy who spent 15 years in prison, and was struggling to survive on the outside. Callie, the onetime rebel and bad girl who fought her way out of a miserable home to become a lawyer and prosecutor. I kept getting flashes of what the book could have been.

This seemed like the perfect example of a story that belonged in a single title. But where are the serious contemporary single title romances? They're practically nonexistent these days.

To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt

I find Elizabeth Hoyt a little baffling. I enjoyed her last book very much, and this one was good too. But her previous series left me cold (and worse - I couldn't even finish the book, I disliked it so much). I know she just started a new series, but I'm reluctant to pick it up because I'm not such which Elizabeth Hoyt I'll be getting. But this one was definitely worth reading.

To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt
(2009, Georgian) 8/27/10
Grade: 4

On the run, Helen and her two children arrive on the doorstep of Alistair Munroe. Alistair has been hiding in his Scottish castle since he was badly injured during the war, but Helen and her children bring light and joy to his life - but can she escape her past and create a new life?

I read this in just one evening, and it was very readable and enjoyable. The plot was familiar, but it was done well and the characters were compelling. I don’t usually like children in books, but Abigail and Jamie were one of the highlights of the book, well written and unique. They brought some life to a story that felt a little cliched. The one interesting note was the heroine, who had been the mistress of the Duke of Lister for years. It’s unusual and interesting to see a heroine who has a somewhat questionable past and isn’t condemned for it. The love scenes were a bit overwrought in places (there’s one in particular that feels very out of place) but they didn’t overwhelm the book (unlike some previous books by Hoyt). Overall this was an enjoyable read, even if it wasn’t as original as the previous book in the series.

I have to say a word about the cover - love the dress but the blue-on-blue-on-blue makes it hard to pick out the details. I wish it wasn't such a tight closeup because Georgian historicals are rare and I'd like to get a better look at the dress.

The Preacher's Wife by Cheryl St. John

I decided to read something completely different from my last book. Definitely a change of pace!

The Preacher's Wife by Cheryl St. John
(2009, Americana) 8/23/10
Grade: 3.5

When a newly widowed minister comes to her town with his three young daughters, Josie Randolph wants to help. She is also widowed, and yearning for a family of her own. When Samuel asks her to marry him and join their family in Colorado, Josie is eager to accept. But can a marraige born out of necessity turn into something more?

I don’t normally read inspirationals, but I made an exception for one of my favorite authors, Cheryl St. John. She is one of the few authors still writing Americana, and she always writes lovely, heartwarming stories. At first this book was promising, with an enjoyable setup and pleasant characters. But after a while, the characters started to seem a little too perfect. The heroine, in particular, is just too good to be true. She has no flaws or doubts, at least until the final chapters. I’m not sure if this was due to the religious content of the book - the Biblical passages felt like a natural part of these characters’ lives, but it made me wonder if this was why the characters felt so one dimensional, as if religious characters weren’t allowed to have flaws. Cheryl St. John always writes characters that are fundamentally good at heart, but these characters more stereotypical and not as well rounded as many of her other heroes and heroines. Although I love Cheryl St. John’s writing, I will probably avoid her inspirationals, if she writes more of them.

Surprisingly, I don't have any keepers by Cheryl St. John, even though I buy all of her books. But I can always turn to her when I want a heartwarming American historical. I hope I'm not too selfish to hope that she doesn't start writing inspirationals exclusively. I enjoyed her other books more.

Her Ladyship's Companion by Evangeline Collins

It's surprising how many books you can read when you schedule an entire weekend for nothing but books! I'm determined to cut down my TBR at least a little bit before I take the Kindle plunge (maybe in mid-October?)

Her Ladyship's Companion by Evangeline Collins
(2009, Regency Historical) 8/22/10
Grade: 3.5

After five years of marriage to an abusive husband she rarely sees, Isabella is tempted when her cousin suggests that she take a lover. But when Gideon Rosedale arrives at her door, she finds him more than a paid companion - and he finds more than a wealthy client.

This is not my usual type of read, and I was skeptical that I would enjoy it. But the story was surprisingly compelling. The characters were well drawn and interesting, and there was more to it than just sex. The author definitely knows how to write a love scene. However, the book became a bit repetitive in the second half, with a little too much melodrama. It wasn’t enough for the heroine to be sad or upset or happy, she had to be over-the-top and distraught or hysterical or ecstatic. It made the book feel less realistic. I ended up skimming quite a bit in the last third. But still, the story was unique enough to keep my reading through to the end.

I don't remember quite why I bought this book - erotica is not usually my cup of tea, but I think the plot description tempted me. It definitely had potential, but there's a reason I stick with more traditional historicals.

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn is one of those authors I love in small doses. Whenever I haven't read her in a while and pick up one, I'm completely charmed. But if I try to read too many of her books at a time, they start to annoy me. She's a nice contrast to my usual diet of angst, pain and suffering.

Ten Things I Love About You by Julie Quinn
(2010, Regency Historical) 8/22/10
Grade: 4

Annabel Winslow is expected to marry Lord Newbury, even though he’s three times her age. Her family is depending on her. But it’s his nephew Sebastian Grey who makes her laugh. Everyone thinks Sebastian is a penniless nobody, but he has a secret life as a writer of gothic romances - and he isn’t going to let Annabel get away.

As usual, Julia Quinn makes me laugh. She writes great characters and funny scenes that aren’t too silly or over the top. I loved both Sebastian and Annabel, who were interesting and well realized characters. I always like Quinn’s wise rogues - she does them so well. I wouldn’t want a steady diet of Quinn, but her books are always fun to read. My only quibbles about this one are the “Ten Things” lists which appeared in the book every few chapters. They felt out of place and a little too silly. The middle of the book also got a little slow by comparison to the rest of the book. But these are minor issues - overall this was a highly enjoyable read. It doesn’t quite have the depth of her best books, which is why I graded it down slightly, but it was definitely a fun and enjoyable read.

I have another Julie Quinn in my "must read soon" pile but I think I should put it off for a while so I don't get Quinn-ed out.

The Right Mr. Wrong by Cindi Myers

I don't remember why I picked this up in the first place, but I wish I'd read it a few months ago during the Winter Olympics! It would have been a perfect accompaniment to the skiing events, which I love. I am a Winter Olympics junkie and watch every skiing event, even though my attempts at skiing in real life have been pretty embarrassing!

The Right Mr. Wrong by Cindi Myers (HAR 1199)
(2008, Contemporary Series) 8/21/10
Grade: 4

After an accident ended her skiing career, Maddie Alexander joined the ski patrol. She likes her new friends, except for Norwegian skiier Hagan Ansdar, who has a new girlfriend every week and keeps himself aloof from the other skiiers. But as Maddie gets to know Hagan, she discovers there’s more to him beneath the surface.

As an Olympic skiing fan, I loved the background of this book. Maddie’s struggles to get past her accident and put her dreams of Olympic gold behind her were interesting and well written. I also liked Hagan, the taciturn Norwegian who hides a painful past. Although there are a lot of secondary characters (who probably have books of their own), they added to the story without detracting from the hero and heroine. However, the book started to feel a bit repetive in the second half. There was nothing wrong, but it just started to feel predictable. An enjoyable book, but not quite a keeper.

I debated about how to rate this one, because I particularly liked the heroine and her development. But I kept putting the book down to do other things, which is a sign that it just isn't holding my attention.

Halfway to Heaven by Susan Wiggs

I decided to take a break from more recent books to read an older book set in Washington DC - not a popular spot for romances, unfortunately.

Halfway to Heaven by Susan Wiggs
(2001, 1880's Washington) 8/15/10
Grade: 4

Abigail Cabot is awkward and shy, more interested in stars than in people and the despair of her Senator father. But she harbors a secret love for handsome, politically connected Boyd Butler, who only has eyes for her beautiful sister. Somehow, she keeps falling into the arms of Jamie Calhoun, a disreputable Congressman from Virginia, who agrees to help her win Boyd - but finds himself drawn to Abigail despite his best efforts

This book had a lot of things going for it, but also had a few flaws. I loved the unusual setting. The background of politics in the 1880's was fascinating, and I also enjoyed Jamie's attempt to deal with Virginia politics in the decades after the Civil War. It's a wonderful background for a book and I wish more books were set in the U.S. during this time period. I also liked the main characters - I always like the hero who sees the true value of the heroine when everyone else can only see the surface. Both Jamie and Abigail were well drawn, interesting characters. However, one problem with the book is that Abigail spends most of it pining after someone else. At first it kept the hero and heroine together, but after a while, you started to think she was a little stupid. Secondly, the last few chapters were frustrating, with a long separation between the characters and an abrupt ending that didn't pay off the emotions that had been building through the book. The disappointing ending made me mark this one down a bit, but overall, it was an enjoyable read.

I have so many Susan Wiggs books in my TBR pile - although I don't always love her books, they are always reliably good, although I'm a bit disappointed that she's turned to women's fiction these days. At least she has a large backlist of meaty historicals.