Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase

Although the cover is pretty, it has nothing to do with fashions of the 1830's.  More like the 1950's!

Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase
(2012, 1830's England)  12/4/12
Grade: 3.5

Dressmaker Sophy Noirot is trying to save her shop - and help her friend Clara escape from a bad engagement.  The Earl of Longmore, Clara’s brother, does his best to help, but it seems like he’s more of a distraction - especially when Sophy starts to see him as more than an obstacle in her way.

Unlike the previous book in the series, this book started off well.  I enjoyed the banter between Sophy and Longmore and the road romance worked well.  Longmore wasn’t the sharpest tool in the drawer, but I found his bafflement around Sophy fun to read.  However, the book lost some of its charm in the second half.  I’m not sure what happened - maybe the sexual tension dissipated once Sophy and Longmore went to bed together - but I was forcing myself to turn the pages.  The final impression - another good but not great book from Loretta Chase.  Too bad.  

I still have quite a few Loretta Chase backlist books to read - maybe I'd better save those for another time, when I'm in a more receptive mood?

Silk Is For Seduction by Loretta Chase

Although Loretta Chase has never been one of my favorite authors, her books have always been reliably enjoyable - this one fell just a little short of the mark.

Silk Is For Seduction by Loretta Chase
(2011, post-Regency)  11/29/12
Grade: 3.5

Marcelline Noirot is one of the best dressmakers in London, and she is determined to attract the business of Clara, the future wife of the Duke of Clevendon.  But on a trip to Paris, she meets the Duke and finds him intriguing... even though she knows their positions are worlds apart.  Clevendon believes he loves Clara, but only Marcelline brings excitement and passion to his life.

I wanted to like this more than I did.  The book was well written, and the characters were interesting (particularly the heroine - I found the dressmaking background more interesting than the romance) but there was just something that left me cold.  The story just felt like something I’d read a hundred times, particularly in the first half.  The conflict between the hero and heroine felt insubstantial (the class difference between a dressmaker and a duke should feel monumental, but it just didn’t in this case), and the hero didn’t seem particularly unique or intriguing.  The book improved in the second half, but still, this just didn’t live up to Loretta Chase’s other books.  It left me feeling a little blah.  

This is a book that could have really used some illustrations - I'm familiar with Regency and Victoria fashions but I wasn't sure what dresses looked like in the 1830's.  The descriptions in the book were intriguing but I couldn't quite visualize them - unfortunately the dress on the cover looks more like a prom dress than a real historical outfit.

One Night in London by Caroline Linden

I read this weeks ago but for some reason forgot to post... probably because this book was so forgettable.

One Night in London by Caroline Linden
(2011, Regency Historical)  11/11/12
Grade: 2.5

Lady Francesca Gordon needs an attorney to help her gain custody of her niece, but the best attorney in London is stolen from her by Edward de Lacey, the son of the Duke of Durham.  Edward has problems of his own - the dukedom is threatened by a secret marriage - but he’s willing to help Lady Gordon.  But he wasn’t expecting to find her fiery personality so fascinating...

This book started off well.  The setup was interesting and unique, and the characters seemed well written.  But when I got about halfway through the book, I just got bored.  The book seemed like just another retread of the same story.  I found myself skimming to the end.  It’s hard to explain exactly why this book didn’t work for me - I just reached a point where I didn’t want to read it any more.  Too bad.  

I gave the next book in the series a try but it didn't interest me any more than this one.  Too bad, I was looking forward to discovering a new author.

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

Every now and then I'll take a chance on a Kindle special - this book was on sale for $1.99 a few weeks ago and I decided to buy it even though I don't usually read mysteries.  It was definitely worth reading, but I'm not sure I'll read the sequels - for one thing, they're really expensive!  The Kindle books are $11.99 and up.  Seems pricey for mysteries that have been out for a couple of years.

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
(2009, Mystery)  11/6/12
Grade: 3.5

Chet is on the case, helping his private investigator partner Bernie solve the case of a missing teenager.  Unfortunately, since Chet is a dog, he has some trouble communicating with his owner, but Bernie is a pretty good investigator - although he needs Chet to solve the case!

This was a fun mystery that was narrated by Chet, the canine partner of a private investigator.  Chet is a great narrator - it’s a lot of fun to see Chet following clues (and getting sidetracked by stray Cheetos and pet birds).  The problem was that the mystery went very slowly - Chet had the case solved by halfway through the book and then we had to wait... and wait... and wait... for Bernie to catch up.  As much as I liked Chet as a narrator, he had some limitations when it came to solving the crime.  Overall, this was a fun read but it had a few problems as well.

There seems to be a trend of books narrated by animals - I've read a couple of other ones this year.  Although I like the idea, they all seemed to have some flaws.

Suddeny You by Sarah Mayberry

I've enjoyed several books by Sarah Mayberry, although I sometimes think she's constrained by the Harlequin requirements for certain series lines.  I'm happy to see her writing something a bit different.

Suddenly You by Sarah Mayberry
(2012, Contemporary Series)  11/4/12
Grade: 4

When Pippa was dating his best mate, Harry had always liked Pippa, but he’d never thought of her as more than a friend.  But when he stops to help her when her car breaks down, he suddenly sees Pippa in a new light.  Harry usually doesn’t take things to seriously, but Pippa needs someone in her life that’s reliable - she’s a single mother raising her daughter alone.  But maybe Harry is ready to change his life...

I always like reading Sarah Mayberry’s books because they feel so refreshingly modern.  Unlike a lot of series books, this one seems to take place in the real world, where cars break down and babies cry.  The Australian setting is also a fun change.  I think Mayberry does her best writing when she’s not constrained by the “hot hot hot” requirements of Harlequin Blaze - the love scenes here are certainly steamy but they are more about Harry and Pippa and less about generic hotness.  My only issue with this book is that I generally don’t care for books about babies - I appreciated that Alice was a real baby but it’s just not my favorite thing to read about.  But overall, this was a very good read - I’m always so happy to find a good series book, and Mayberry is one of the best authors at the moment.

I really love this cover!  It stands out from the typical series cover - I think Harlequin was smart to de-emphasize the Super Romance logo on the covers.  This is the line that's most likely to appeal to non-series readers, so it makes sense to make the covers more like single titles.

Not Wicked Enough by Carolyn Jewel

This is the second book I've read by Carolyn Jewel, and both books shared the same flaw - a book that is great for the first two thirds, and then something unbelievable and inconsistent happens at the last minute, leaving me wondering, "what happened?"  I keep buying her books because they always start with such promise, but I hope that at some point she can write a book that's great all the way through.

Not Wicked Enough by Carolyn Jewel
(2012, Regency Historical)  11/3/2012
Grade: 3.5

When Lily Wellstone goes to Bitterward to visit her friend Eugenia, she expects to comfort her grieving friend.  She didn’t expect to be charmed by her friend's brother, the Duke of Mountjoy.  She may enjoy his kisses, but he is practically engaged to a neighbor, and she has vowed never to love again, after the death of her beloved years before.  But they could have an affair - after all, there’s no risk they might fall in love...

This book worked well for the first half.  The characters were interesting, and the sexual tension was excellently written, at least at the beginning.  Mountjoy and Lily were both unusual characters, and I enjoyed getting to know them.  But the book started to fall apart in the second half.  The love scenes started to get a little boring, and there wasn’t much else going on - until the hero and heroine started acting completely out of character.  Out of nowhere, the heroine is considering marriage to a man she barely knows, and the hero is proposing to make the heroine his mistress.  It felt completely out of place and inconsistent with the characters - it felt like the author needed to throw in an obstacle to keep the book going, and this was the best she could come up with.  (Which is disappointing, because there was interesting potential in the hero and heroine's background that could have provided a more realistic conflict.)  The book improved in the last couple of chapters, but not enough to save the book for me.  I ended up frustrated that this book (and this author) didn’t live up to its potential. 

I have the sequel to this book in my TBR - I'm planning to try it and hoping it turns out better than this one.

One Final Step by Stephanie Doyle

I'm always looking for good series books - but maybe I'm just too picky.  It's been a long time since I was able to read a series book without finding problems...

One Final Step by Stephanie Doyle
(2012, Contemporary Series)  10/27/12
Grade: 3.5

Michael Langdon wants to publicize his electric car, and he has hired the best publicist in the business - Madeline Kaye.  Madeline once helped to elect presidents, but after a sex scandal she has spent the last seven years hiding and working behind the scenes.  Michael is immediately attracted to Madeline, but she’s wary of opening herself up again - and he has a secret of his own...

I have mixed feelings about this book.  I’m happy to read a book that deals with an issue that isn’t often addressed in romance, but there was something about these characters that just didn’t appeal to me, particularly in the first half of the book.  Michael seemed a little too perfect, and neither Michael or Madeline really felt like real people.  (There was also a subplot about characters from another book that distracted from the main story.)  But my bigger problem was that the “solution” to Michael’s problem felt very “romance novel-ish”.  It’s not that Michael was “cured by love” (I thought that was explained fairly well) but that he was cured instantly without any continuing issues.  It just felt a little too easy.  However, the book improved in the last third, and I found myself caring about the characters, particularly Madeline and her journey.  The book had a good ending, which is why I gave it a slightly higher grade - I just wish the whole book had lived up to the last 50 pages.  

It's really hard to find a series book that doesn't feature babies or suspense - sometimes I wish I wasn't so picky!

Golden Girl by Joan Wolf

Why isn't this available as an e-book?  A few of Joan Wolf's books have been converted to electronic form, but more of them really deserve to find a new audience.  (I had to buy this one used from PBS.)

Golden Girl by Joan Wolf
(1999, Regency Historical)  10/23/12
Grade: 4

After his father’s death, Anthony, the Duke of Cheviot, finds that his estate is deeply in debt.  He needs to marry an heiress, and quickly.  Sarah, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, has the money to save his family, but will they be able to make a life together?  Anthony and Sarah soon find that their love of art brings them together - but will others around them threaten their happiness?

Although the storyline of this book was simple and predictable, it was well written and easy to read.  I finished the book in just a couple of hours, and for the most part, thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  The characters were well developed, and the secondary characters added to the story.  There was one exception - the villain.  Although his motivation made sense, I found him a little off-putting (it bordered on the stereotypical “gay villain”) and that marred the story a little for me.  Overall, this was an enjoyable read, even if it wasn’t as memorable as some of Wolf’s other books.  

Although I have two more Wolf books in my TBR, I will put those aside for now and try something different!

Lie to Me by Starr Ambrose

I definitely do my part to support the book industry - I'm pretty sure I bought this book TWICE in paper form and once in e-book form.  I will try not to think about how much I spent when I rate it.  (I also bought a hardback that was pretty much a wallbanger - at least this one was enjoyable even if I didn't need to buy it three times!)

Lie to Me by Starr Ambrose
(2008, Contemporary)  10/22/12
Grade: 4

Ellie Coggins is determined to find out why her best friend died mysteriously, so she breaks into the Westfield house to search for clues - only to discover the black sheep of the family, Jack Payton, doing the same thing.  They decide to fake an engagement so they can team up and find out what his brother is up to - but they aren’t supposed to fall in love, are they?

This was a fun and entertaining read - one of the best contemporaries I’ve read in a while.  The dialogue was snappy, the characters were well written and the suspense plotline kept things moving along.  The secondary characters added to the story (especially Rocky, Jack’s cellmate, and Libby, Jack’s daughter - who was much less annoying than kids usually are in romances).  I debated whether to give it a higher grade, but there was a little too much emphasis on sex in the second half.  (If someone is trying to kill you, probably a bad time to make out.)  It was also a bit fluffy - I doubt I’ll remember it in a month.  But still, it was an enjoyable read and that’s pretty rare in contemporaries these days!  I’d recommend it.  

I see that Starr Ambrose has written a sequel titled Thieves Like Us - I checked out her other books on Amazon but the descriptions didn't grab me - maybe I'll try Thieves Like Us.

Delusion in Death by J.D. Robb

Still reading the J.D. Robb In Death series...

Delusion in Death by J.D. Robb
(2012, Futuristic)  10/15/12
Grade: 4

Eve and Roarke struggle to solve a terrorist-style attack, where the victims are drugged to attack each other.  With dozens of victims, it’s difficult to determine who was the real target of the attack, and who was just an innocent victim... with the origins of the crime leading back decades to the Urban Wars.

This is a reliable J.D. Robb mystery, with some interesting details sprinkled in about the history of Robb’s fictional universe with the details about the Urban Wars that have been mentioned before.  The plot was interesting and unique, and there were some nice moments with Peabody and Somerset.  I wasn’t so fascinated that I couldn’t put it down, but it was a good entry in the series. 

I've become a little bored with the series, but I still enjoy one every now and then.

The Gamble by Joan Wolf

I had to break my rule about not buying any more paperback books for this one!  Thankfully it worked well since I brought it to the hospital with me.

The Gamble by Joan Wolf
(1998, Regency Historical)  10/12/12
Grade: 3.5

After her father’s death, Georgie discovers that he was blackmailing several  gentlemen for cheating at gambling.  She doesn’t want to become a blackmailer herself, but she must protect her sister Anna, so she heads to London to blackmail the Earl of Winterdale to help her find a husband.  The new earl ihas his own reasons to help Georgie.  But her father’s other victims will do anything to stop Georgie from revealing their secrets. 

This is another one of Joan Wolf’s first person Regencies, and although it was fun to read, it didn’t have quite the snap and exuberance of the other two.  The storyline of a Regency season was more typical, and the blackmail victims were too interchangeable to make good villains.  It’s also not very clear why Georgie fell in love with Winterdale, and he with her (a common problem with first person books).  Overall, it was well written and enjoyable, but not quite up to the standards of her other Regency historicals.

I haven't run across very many new books that are appealing, so it's a good thing I keep finding older books I haven't read yet.

My Dark Prince by Julia Ross

I've read several books by Julia Ross (aka Jean Ross Ewing) but none of them have been keepers.  Still, she had a unique voice - it doesn't seem like she's still writing, which is too bad.

My Dark Prince by Julia Ross
(2000, Regency Historical)  9/30/12
Grade: 4

When Nicholas, prince of Glarien, arrives in her small village, Penny Lindsey wants him to fulfill his duties to his local tenants - but Nicholas has bigger plans.  His royal fiancé has been kidnapped, and he needs Penny to fill in for her during the wedding celebrations in London.  His marriage is necessary to save his country, but he finds himself drawn to Penny despite his royal duties.

This was an intriguing book with compelling characters, but it didn’t quite live up to its early promise.  I was intrigued by Nicholas, the royal prince who was torn between love and duty, and Penny was a strong counterbalance for him through most of the book.  But I found myself getting impatient with the love scenes and wanting to get back to the royal intrigue and adventure.  The storyline of yearning for forbidden love didn’t quite work - it felt predictable and repetitive.  But the story of Glarien and the intrigues between Nicholas and his cousin Carl (and the other secondary characters) kept me turning the pages.  That’s one reason I found the ending unsatisfying - it was strange to have a story that focused so heavily on royal duty and the intrigues of a fictional kingdom end with something of an Anglo-centric romance cliché.  Julia Ross has a unique voice but I ended up being just a little bit disappointed. 

I love a royal romance, but it's surprising that so few authors follow through on their premise, especially in historicals.  It seems strange to me that you would spend all this time creating a fictional country with fictional royalty, and then end up with your hero and heroine living in England, but it's happened in almost every historical royal romance I've read.  Maybe I'm the only romance reader who also has a weakness for stories about princes and princesses (and doesn't want them to turn into English Earls in the end). 

Whispers of Heaven by Candice Proctor

Another book from my TBR - I enjoyed some of Candice Proctor's other books, but this one left me a bit cold.

Whispers of Heaven by Candice Proctor
(2000, Victorian Australia)  9/22/12
Grade: 3.5

After studying in England, Jesmond Corbett has returned to her family home in Tasmania.  She is supposed to marry her neighbor, Harrison, but she finds herself attracted to convict Lucas Gallagher, who works as her groom.  Lucas was transported to Australia after fighting for Irish independence, and his only hope is escape - but he develops an unexpected passion for Jessie, even though the both know their love is doomed.

This book had a lot of promise.  It’s unusual to read a historical set in Australia, and the author did a great job in evoking the time and place.  But I found myself somewhat bored by the romance.  It seemed passionate on the surface, but I kept putting down the book and having to force myself to continue.  Even the story of Lucas’s tragic past left me unmoved.  I can’t explain why this book didn’t work for me, but it was just a disappointment.

This book received glowing reviews, so I was surprised I found it so hard to read.  Maybe I was just in the wrong mood, or maybe it just didn't hold up 12 years later. 

The Bride Fair by Cheryl Reavis

There were quite a few romances set during and after the Civil War in the 1980's, but those books mostly disappeared in the 90's and 2000's.  It's difficult to write about the time without mentioning ugly realities - and those realities might not mesh with a love story.  I think it's still possible, but it's probably a lot more difficult than setting a book in the Regency (which has its own ugly realities that most romances ignore, but we aren't as familiar with them so they're easier to ignore.)  That was one of the problems with this book - it seems to be set in a fantasy version of post-war North Carolina.

The Bride Fair by Cheryl Reavis
(2002, post-Civil War North Carolina)  9/14/12
Grade: 3.5

In the aftermath of the Civil War, Maria Markham resents having to rent a room to Colonel Max Woodward, of the Occupying forces - but she has little choice.  Maria has a secret that may force her to marry him.  She finds that Max isn’t like the other soldiers - he wants to understand the South and is kind to her father and the two boys she is helping to raise - but can she let go of the past and learn to love him?

This book was much better than Reavis’s previous book, The Prisoner, but it still had some flaws.  The characters were interesting, but the pacing was off - the first half of the book seemed to drag, and then the author throws in a half dozen plot points in the last 50 pages.  But a more serious problem to me was that this didn’t quite feel like the post-Civil War South.  No one mentions slavery in the entire book.  Many Southerners didn’t own slaves, but it seemed strange that no one in town had owned slaves and there was evidently no one black in the entire area.  Even the “vigilantes” who were trying to overthrow the occupying troops didn’t mention it.  It felt like it was prettifying the history of the war.  This is why I gave it a slightly lower grade than I might have otherwise, because the characters were very well written.  

Reavis never wrote any more Civil War historicals, although she seemed to be setting up other characters for sequels.  I guess it wasn't a popular setting - which is too bad.  As a Southerner, part of me wants to see books set in the South, but another part of me wants to see a real portrayal of the time period.

To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney

There are some unrealistic romance conventions that I enjoy (marriages of convenience, tortured heroes) but others are just too far outside reality for me.  The "forced seduction" is one of those - no matter how much the author tries to convince me it's true love, I keep thinking of Stockholm syndrome...

To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney
(1995, Victorian)  9/2/12
Grade: 3

Jaded Sebastian Verlaine is the new lord at Wyckerley, but when he sees Rachel Ward about to be sent to prison for vagrancy, he impulsively hires her as his new housekeeper.  Rachel spent ten years in prison for murdering her husband, and she has no illusions about what Sebastian really wants, but she is willing to take her chances - and finds an unexpected love.

This is another difficult book to judge.  It had moments of beauty and emotion, but I couldn’t get past the initial setup and “forced seduction” of Rachel by Sebastian.  It was difficult to believe in any kind of real love between these two characters when the threat of coercion was always there, and where the relationship was always unequal.  Rachel may have grown to love Sebastian, but she was always aware that she was in his power and could have been sent back to prison at his whim.  As a reader we know that Sebastian is the “hero” and a happy ending is really happy, but as a realist I found the whole thing more troubling than romantic.  

I will at least try to read the third book in this trilogy, in part because the Wyckerley setting is so well depicted, but so far it's been a disappointment.

To Love and to Cherish by Patricia Gaffney

When you read romances that are 15 years old or more, you never know what you're going to get.  Sometimes they are great and completely stand the test of time.  (Some of the best books I've read recently have been from the 90's.)  But some of the books that seemed daring and new back then now just seem a little dull.  I'm wondering if that's the case with these Patricia Gaffney books - which were praised as one of the best series ever written back in the 90's when they came out.

To Love and To Cherish by Patricia Gaffney
(1995, Victorian)  9/1/12
Grade: 3.5

Christy is settling in to his life as the vicar in the village of Wyckerley, the small town where he grew up.  But his world is upended when his childhood friend Geoffrey Verlaine returns and takes over as the new lord, along with his wife Anne.  Christy and Anne are powerfully attracted to each other, but their lives and faiths seem to keep them apart, even after Geoffrey is gone.

I found it difficult to grade this book, because it was extremely well written and did a wonderful job depicting Victorian village life - but I found myself struggling to get through it, especially the first half.  The author said she based it partly on the books of Thomas Hardy, and perhaps it’s difficult for someone in the 21st century to understand the religious differences that keep Christy and Anne apart (she’s an atheist, supposedly, but it never seems that believable.  Her constant depiction of herself as a terrible person never seemed to fit with her actions.)  Christy’s struggles as a minister were more believable and interesting, but the book just seemed to drag for a large portion of the story.  This book was highly recommended so it was a bit of a disappointment.  These have been in my TBR pile for a long time so I plan to read all three, but I hope the next two are more enjoyable.  

Next up - To Have and To Hold.  So far it's at least completely different...

A Week To Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

I thought Tessa Dare's early books had a unique voice - they felt like something different from the usual Regency historicals.  Unfortunately, her Spindle Cove books are missing something - this one was OK but it felt very Avon-ized.  She'll probably sell more books but I'm not running out to buy the next one.

A Week To Be Wicked by Tessa Dare
(2012, Regency Historical)  8/30/12
Grade: 3.5

Everyone thinks of Minerva Highwood as the bluestocking sister who fits into Spindle Cove society but has no chance on the marriage mart.  But she is determined to present her geological work at a scientific conference.  She persuades Colin Sandhurst, Viscount Payne, the local rake, to take her to Scotland.  The journey shows Colin that Minerva can be a lot more fun than she lets on - and Minerva that Colin has more depth than she expected.  

This book had charm but somehow it was lacking something.  I usually love a charming rogue hero, but Colin just didn’t seem believable to me, especially in the first half.  (Maybe his backstory was more developed in the first book in the series, which I only skimmed, but he still felt like rake-by-the-numbers.)  The book got more interesting in the second half, but it just didn’t break out of its fairly stereotypical setup. 

I find myself getting bored by typical Regency historicals, especially when I compare them to the books from the 90's that I'm reading from the 90's - the unique voices just seem to be missing.

The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne

I'm glad to see Westerns making at least a small comeback, but even in the new Westerns, you rarely see a heroine like Jenny Jones.  Glad I got the chance to read this one!

The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne
(1997, Western)  8/29/12
Grade: 4.5

Just when Jenny Jones is ready to die in front of a Mexican firing squad, a desperate mother comes to her and offers to change places - if she will take her 6 year old daughter Graciela to California to live with her father.  Jenny grudgingly agrees, but with Graciela’s cousins in murderous pursuit, Jenny joins forces with Graciela’s uncle Ty Sanders - a man she finds uncomfortably attractive.

This unique and fast paced book kept me turning the pages from beginning to end.  The only flaw was the romance, which faltered a bit especially in the first half.  (The book was so suspenseful that I kept wanting to scream, “stop making eyes and each other and RUN!”)  Jenny was a great character, completely different from a typical romance heroine and yet very sympathetic.  I normally don’t like books with children in a primary role, but Jenny’s reluctance to deal with Graciela gave this an unusual spin in comparison to the usual sweet kid stories.  Ty was less well developed but the romance started to work in the last part of the book.  Overall, a very entertaining read.

It's so random, what's available in ebook form and what is not.  Several of Maggie Osborne's other books are available but this one is still paper only - even though it's probably her best known book. 

The Girl with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir

I really should take advantage of my Prime borrowing membership - I tend to just buy books instead of finding out if they're available for free with Prime.  Not that I begrudge Theresa Weir her $3.99!  I'm just happy she's still writing romance occasionally.

The Girl with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir
(2012, Contemporary)  8/28/12
Grade: 3

Two years after her husband David’s violent death, Melody is still struggling - and her cat Max is ready to find her someone new.  Someone who likes cats.  When he brings home Joe, everything seems to be going well, but Joe may not be what he seems. 

This novella had such great promise!  I loved Max and the scenes narrated from his point of view were charming and fun.  But the story drifted away from his perspective in the second half, and I found myself a little bored.  I just wasn’t that interested in Melody and Joe.  It wasn’t a bad book (and I’ll definitely try out the sequel) but it didn’t live up to the promise of the first part of the story.  

It's a good sign when you start looking for information about a sequel before you've finished a book, although this one didn't quite work for me.

The Pretenders by Joan Wolf

I wasn't supposed to be looking for new backlist titles, but after reading two Joan Wolf Regency historicals, I think I'm going to be searching out her other first person historicals.  It's odd that the two best-reviewed books in this series aren't available in ebook form, but happily some of the others are so I don't have to break my "no more paper books" resolution.

The Pretenders by Joan Wolf
(1999, Regency Historical)  8/27/12
Grade: 4.5

Deborah has known Reeve, the Earl of Cambridge, since they were children, although they’ve always just been friends.  But when Reeve’s uncle demands that he gets married before he can gain his inheritance, Reeve suggests a false engagement.  At first this seems like an easy solution, but as they spend more time together, both Deborah and Reeve find themselves wanting the marriage to be real.

The description of this book is highly misleading - the back cover talks about horse racing and gambling, which is only a tiny part of the book.  This is one of Joan Wolf’s first person Regency historicals, and it was just as absorbing as The Arrangement.  The first person narration works well, and Reeve turns out to have a lot more depth than it first appears.  The back story was quite touching.  There’s a bit of a suspense plotline which was exciting but didn’t take over the story.  Overall, an excellent read that kept me up past my bedtime.

Unfortunately, I think her later first person historicals lean more toward suspense. 

Castaway Dreams by Darlene Marshall

This book definitely shows how easy it can be to buy an e-book, especially at a good price - I read a review, clicked over to Amazon and bought it without thinking too much about it.  It turned out to be a good find!

Castaway Dreams by Darlene Marshall
(2012, Regency Historical)  8/27/12
Grade: 4

Navy surgeon Alexander Murray is convinced that Miss Daphne Farnham is completely useless and brainless - the only thing on her mind is ribbons and bonnets and her fluffy dog PomPom!  Daphne is convinced the surgeon is old and humorless.  But when they are stranded on a desert island, they find there is more to the other than expected - but are their positions still too far apart?

This was a fun book with a lot of charm.  There were some pacing problems (the beginning was slow, and the love scenes started to get tedious after a while) but the characters were well written and believable, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages (well, the virtual pages) to find out what would happen next.  It was very enjoyable to see both characters grow and change through the book - something you don’t see all that often in romance.  

There were definitely some plot holes in this book but it was just so charming that I overlooked them.

Miss Truelove Beckons by Donna Simpson

I picked up most of Donna Simpson's books based on her excellent debut, Lord St. Claire's Angel, but her subsequent books haven't worked as well for me.  I still have a few in my TBR pile...

Miss Truelove Beckons by Donna Simpson
(2001, Regency)  8/26/12
Grade: 3.5

Miss Truelove Becket, the daughter of a vicar, is accompanying her cousin Arabella to visit Wycliffe, Viscount Drake.  It’s expected that Arabella and Drake will be married, but Drake has returned from the war a different person - haunted by the horrors of Waterloo.  It is only when he is with True that he can find peace - but how can either of them think of a life together when they come from such different worlds?

I tried to read this book several times before finally finishing it.  It was well written, with compelling characters, but there were a few things about it that bothered me.  Truelove is almost “too good to be true” as a heroine, and there was a definite undercurrent of “love solves all problems” to the story.  It’s a nice thought, but Drake’s problems seemed too extreme to be solved by something as simple as the welcoming arms of a sweet girl.  I love a good “troubled hero” story but I find it hard to believe that something that is depicted as extreme PTSD can be cured by the love of a good woman.  Maybe I’ve just become cynical in my old age.

I think back on some of the "wounded hero" books I've read in the past, and wonder whether I'd find them as compelling now - or would I be too realistic to believe that love conquers all? 

More Than You Wished by Jo Goodman

I've bought a lot of books by Jo Goodman (ever since I met her at the Atlanta CR meeting) but this is the first time I've read one.  Not quite sure what to think - this one was hard to grade.

More Than You Wished by Jo Goodman
(2001, American Historical)  8/26/12
Grade: 4

Set 10 years after the Civil War, Bria is reluctant to hire Northerner Luke Kincaid, but he may be the only way she can regain her family’s plantation from her hated stepfather.  Luke has his ow reasons for being in South Carolina, but the more he gets to know Bria, the more he’s drawn to her... and the more he’s willing to enter in a marriage of convenience that may turn into something real.

The writing was good, the setting was interesting, the characters were well written... but somehow this book lacked something.  The pacing seemed slightly off, and the emotional engagement just wasn’t quite there.  Maybe it was the secrets that were kept from the reader until almost the end of the book,  I can’t quite put my finger on it, but somehow this book didn’t quite engage me the way I hoped it would.

There may have been an advantage to reading this one in e-book form, since I couldn't easily skip ahead - it forced me to read it through which might have helped me keep going.  I did come close to giving up a couple of times.

Have Me by Jo Leigh

Every now and then a series book just hits the spot...

Have Me by Jo Leigh (HB 671)
(Contemporary Series)  8/24/12
Grade: 4

When Rebecca Thorpe is set up with Jake Donnelly, she’s only looking for a one night stand.  Their lives are just too different - she’s a socialite who runs a family foundation, and he’s a former police officer who’s fixing up his father’s house while figuring out the rest of his life.  But after they’ve spent some time together, they find out they have more in common than they might have thought... even enough to work out their differences.

I normally don’t like Blaze books, because they focus too much on the sex and not enough on the relationship.  But this one had a good combination of both.  It was certainly hot, with a lot of sexual tension, but it also dealt with a lot of real issues of class differences and how to deal with them - something you don’t often see in series romances.  There were some flaws, especially the ending which seemed cut off in the middle, but overall this was definitely worth reading.

It can be frustrating when so many go authors write for Blaze and other super-sexy series lines, because so often those books focus on sex above everything else.  But this one at least tried to combine that with more depth - even if I would have preferred one or two fewer love scenes and one or two more emotional scenes.

Marriage of Mercy by Carla Kelly

This is one of those books I wish I'd liked more than I actually did...

Marriage of Mercy by Carla Kelly
(2012, Regency)  8/20/12
Grade: 3.5

After the death of her father, Grace has no choice but to work at the village bakery.  But she finds friends in the village, including the local Lord.  At his death, she is given an unexpected inheritance - take care of his illegitimate son who is an American sailor in prison during the war of 1812.  But when she arrives, she finds the son dying - and takes another man instead.  Will this American sailor open her eyes to a whole new life?

A typical Regency from Carla Kelly.  This one had an interesting premise, with a nice contrast between English and American society.  But it lacked something... it just felt a little dull and predictable.  Even though I enjoy Carla Kelly’s writing, her books just seem to hit the same notes over and over again.

Even though I don't particularly want to read inspirational books, it seems like Carla Kelly is finding those books more "inspiring" than her Regencies, which have started to feel a little flat.

Hot Under The Collar by Jackie Barbarosa

I had been on a roll with my romance reading, when I got distracted by the Olympics - a very enjoyable distraction, but I'd like to get back to reading now that it's over!  I started with this novella since I thought it would be an easy read.

Hot Under the Collar by Jackie Barbarosa
(2012, Regency Historical Novella)  8/17/12
Grade: 3.5

Walter Langston, a third son, tried the army but after an injury ends up in the church, as the vicar of the small village of Grace-over-Sands.  Although he’s not terribly religious, he finds himself genuinely enjoying helping his paritioners.  But when he meets Artimisia Finch, a courtesan in London who has returned home to care for her father, he is immediately attracted.  At first it is just an affair, but soon they’re both dreaming of something more...

This is a charming story that was just a little too short (it’s novella length, about 110 pages).  We get the essence of the story but it could have used some filling out.  Despite the description of the story as erotic, it’s really not - it’s more focused on the lives of these two characters and how they could make a life together when their social positions were so different.  The ending is a little fairytale-ish, especially without more grounding to back it up, but it’s nice to think of these two characters making a life in this small town and finding both love and acceptance.  An interesting and unusual story, even if it had a few flaws.

This definitely wasn't a book I would have picked up without a review (thanks Dear Author) since it's sold as something it's really not - there are so many small press "erotic" romances that I don't even give them a second look, even though this one is quite different it's lost in a sea of books that just look like they're all the same.

The Love Knot by Elisabeth Fairchild

Elisabeth Fairchild was one of my favorite Regency authors - I'm still hoarding a few of her books in my TBR pile.  This was one of her early books.

The Love Knot by Elisabeth Fairchild
(1995, Regency)  8/2/12
Grade: 4

Aurora Ramsey is hoping to marry Lord Walsh, who seems to share her love of agriculture and the country, and can save her from destitution.  But she has no hope of catching her attention with her awkward conversation and unflattering clothes.  Miles Fletcher offers to help her - but does he have an ulterior motive?  The refined art collector may have fallen for Aurora himself, but he’s also hiding a secret about the land her brother lost in a card game...

This is a storyline I love - the refined beta hero who sets out to help the heroine find another man, and ends up falling for her himself.  But this Regency felt surprisingly unemotional for the first half of the book.  I didn’t feel that I got to know the hero or the heroine - it was all surface.  I kept wanting more emotional depth.  This improved in the second half, but it just wasn’t quite as good as Fairchild’s other books, which combine the Regency atmosphere with more emotion.  Good but not great. 

I was going to lament that Elisabeth Fairchild was one of those missing authors who didn't make the transition out of Regencies, but it seems that she's writing again - and her old books are being released in ebook form.  Yay! 

The Arrangement by Joan Wolf

I'm discovering some real gems in my TBR pile - at last!

The Arrangement by Joan Wolf
(1997, Regency Historical)  7/30/12
Grade: 4.5

Gail Saunders is happy living a quiet life in the country with her son Nicky, even if money is a bit short.  But then the Earl of Saville appears with an unexpected inheritance, and turns their world upside down.

A unique first person Regency historical with an extremely compelling writing style.  Normally I don’t care for first person romances since it means the hero is an unknown and you never find out his thoughts and feelings.  But in this case it worked very well because the author’s voice was so unique and refreshing.  I didn’t want to put this book down.  There was a strong mystery element that also worked well - even though I guessed some of it, other aspects surprised me, and the reader ended up discovering things along with the heroine.  Overall, this was an excellent read.

I've read some Joan Wolf Regencies and haven't found them as compelling as this one, but I may have to investigate her backlist further...

The Marriage Wager by Jane Ashford

This book has been in my TBR pile since the mid-90's, and I think there was a reason I never read it...

The Marriage Wager by Jane Ashford
(1996, Regency Historical)  7/29/12
Grade: 3

Lady Emma Tarrant is back in England after the death of her gambler husband, and quickly finds herself entangled with Lord Colin Wareham, who has just returned from the war.  They end up in a marriage of convenience, but when problems arise, can they work together and trust each other to make their marriage a real one?

This started off well, with a nice Regency feeling and interesting characters.  I always enjoy a good marriage of convenience story.  But the story fell apart in the last half of the book, with one misunderstanding after another.  Interesting aspects of the story were dropped (such as the hero’s war experiences) and instead we get a lot of threats from external parties - a silly debutante who thinks she’s in love with the hero, and a slimy Italian who threatens the heroine with gossip.  It could all have been solved with one conversation, but instead we just get misunderstandings.  Frustrating and tedious. 

This should teach me not to trust reviews from people who have different tastes than I have.

Once Upon a List by Robin Gold

I normally don't read "women's fiction" but I was assured this one had an HEA ending, so I picked it up.

Once Upon a List by Robin Gold
(2012, Women's Fiction)  7/26/12
Grade: 4

After the death of her fiancé, Clara is adrift and unsure of what to do next.  But when she comes across her fifth grade time capsule, with a list of things she wanted to do before she turned 35.  She decides to fulfill the list - and ends up with a one-eared dog, kissing her old crush, reconnecting with her family, finding her best friend and changing her life.

This was more of a women’s fiction book than a romance, but it was well written and enjoyable.  This is the kind of book I would recommend to someone who didn’t necessarily read romance but wanted an upbeat, “feel-good” story.  There were some flaws - the middle dragged a bit and the romance was extremely underwritten, but otherwise it was a light hearted and enjoyable story with relatable characters.  A good read. 

The Conquered Heart by Denée Cody

I haven't read a historical like this in years - I used to love these books back when I was in middle school and high school, featuring real people and real history.  Not many of them are as well written as this one, though.

The Conquered Heart by Denée Cody
(1995, Medieval)  7/15/12
Grade: 4

Eve MacMurrough, Princess of Leinster, is forced to marry Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke.  Richard has been sent by King Henry II to conquer Ireland and stop the infighting there, while Eve is determined to protect her homeland and its people.  Despite their different agendas, Richard finds Eve passionate and desirable, and she finds Richard surprisingly honest and honorable.  Can love grow in such an arragment?

Although this book is labeled “historical romance”, it’s really history with a little bit of romance thrown in.  But it’s fascinating history!  I found myself checking Wikipedia to find out more about Eve and Richard (who were real people, although much of their personal relationship is imagined).  I didn’t know much about Irish history and so the story kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next.  The only flaw was that the book started rushing things in the last few chapters, probably trying to get through huge sections of history and wrap up the story in a satisfying way.  The personal relationship between Eve and Richard also sometimes fell into the background, and when the characters were together there was more emphasis on the love scenes than on their emotional connection.  Still, overall this was a very satisfying and well written book, definitely worth reading.

I wonder what happened to Denée Cody?  She wrote 4 or 5 books and then disappeared.  I hope she's writing under another name somewhere - although her other books didn't appeal to me as much as this one, she definitely had a unique voice, although she might not fit in to today's romance market with its de-emphasis on history. 

Heart of Deception by Taylor Chase

This one has been lurking in my TBR for a long time - glad I finally got to it!

Heart of Deception by Taylor Chase
(1999, Elizabethan)  7/14/12
Grade: 4.5

When Rafe Fletcher discovers his family has been implicated in a plot against Queen Elizabeth, he disguises himself as a simple fencing teacher and joins the thieving gang of Nicholas and Vivian Swift, the King and Queen of London’s underworld.  But things are not as they seem, and Rafe is soon drawn to the passionate Viv, despite the deceptions that lie between them.

A fascinating and exciting story of Elizabethan England.  Usually I’m not a big fan of criminal underworld stories, but this one was completely different.  The story of intrigue and spies kept me impatiently turning the pages, and the writing was superb.  I was fascinated by Vivian, who was a strong and passionate heroine, definitely out of the ordinary.  The romance was probably the weakest part of this book - the story just didn’t stop long enough for there to be much more to it than passionate attraction - but still, the book kept me interested from beginning to end.  I wish more books were set in Elizabethan England - such an interesting time period!  

I'm afraid my description doesn't do full justice to this book - it's definitely one of the best books I've read this year.  I wonder what happened to Taylor Chase?  She published a couple of books under this name and a couple of books under her real name, Gayle Feyrer, and then disappeared.  Her books got rave reviews but I guess they didn't do well enough to keep her contract.  I did a little web surfing and found that she's writing historical mysteries as Yves Fey, although she doesn't seem to have written anything in ten years.  I wonder why Elizabethan books aren't more popular?  The time period seems to be popular on TV but except for Susan Wiggs, it doesn't seem to have been popular in romance.

The Perfect Wife by Jane Goodger

Jane Goodger started out writing very unusual books - they don't quite fit into the genre.  This one was strangely compelling but also close to being a wallbanger - it definitely wasn't a typical romance.  I haven't read any of her newer books, but I've heard they're more conventional.  I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing...

The Perfect Wife by Jane Goodger
(2000, Edwardian)  7/11/12
Grade: 3

Henry Owen is desperate to gain his inheritance so he can save his childhood home... but the only way he can do that is to marry.  So he chooses shy, overweight Anne Foster - and divorces her as soon as his inheritance comes through.  Two years later, Anne is thin and beautiful and determined to take revenge... but she still finds herself drawn to Henry despite herself.

This was a very strange book.  I’m not convinced it was a romance at all - the “love” at the end felt tacked on and unconvincing.  A more realistic ending might have been for the hero and heroine to end up alone, or with other people.  Henry was cruel and self involved, and I was not convinced by his reformation.  Anne was more sympathetic but she was strangely lacking in depth or self-awareness most of the time.  There were some hints at the beginning of the book that Henry would end up falling in love with Anne’s personality over her looks, but that thread was mostly dropped since she showed very little personality during their “courtship”, other than a weird physical attraction that wasn’t backed up with any sexual tension.  Then there was the secondary romance that lacked any chemistry whatsoever, and the rather sick subplot about the hero’s grandfather.  So why did I keep reading with all these flaws?  It was compellingly written, despite everything.  But I felt kind of nauseous as I was reading.  It was probably the least convincing happy ending I’ve ever read.

Is it a good thing for a book to be memorable when the primary memory is dislike of the main characters?

Morning Song by Kimberly Cates

Still plowing through my remaining paper books - now down to only 12 paper historicals (plus one bookshelf of Regencies).  Amazing when I look back on the numbers I had just a year or two ago!

Morning Song by Kimberly Cates
(1997, Victorian)  7/9/12
Grade: 3.5

Hannah Gray is on the run with her sister’s son, Pip, trying to escape from his abusive father.  She ends up at Ravenscar, where the mysterious and volatile Austen Dante takes them in.  Despite Austen’s blustering, Hannah soon discovers the caring heart underneath - but will that be enough to protect them?

An intriguing gothic that suffered a little bit from predictability.  I enjoyed the gothic setup, clearly influenced by Jane Eyre and authors like Victoria Holt.  Kimberly Cates managed to keep the gothic feeling while still writing the book from the perspective of the heroine and the hero - the usual failing of a traditional gothic.  However, the book had a few problems.  First, the author piled on one issue after another onto Austen, without enough time to explore them all.  (Music! Reading! Father! Friend’s death!)  Whenever the drama died down a little bit, the author threw in another “issue”.  Paradoxically, this made the book predictable - I got kind of bored in the last third and started skimming.  I could predict everything that was going to happen.  Overall, this was a good book but it didn’t quite live up to its promise.

The setting of this book wasn't entirely clear - I had it labeled as a Regency historical at first but the traditional Gothic setting is Victorian, and there were some details that made me think "Victorian" more than "Regency".

Bartered Bride by Anne Avery

I used to love these meaty historical romances, but I think I've become shallow in my old age... 400 pages of history is a bit much these days!

Bartered Bride by Anne Avery
(1999, Medieval)  7/8/12
Grade: 4

Lady Alyce Fitzmartin finds herself married to cloth merchant Robert Wardell, for the price of 100 silver coins and her family’s support of the Earl of Leichester.  Robert supports King Henry III and his son Prince Edward, but finds it prudent to have a foot in both camps.  But despite the practical marriage arrangement, both Alyce and Robert find they have passion together... and as England goes to war, they fight on the same side.

An interesting historical romance, with most of the emphasis on the history and not as much on the romance.  But still, it was a fascinating story, with a lot of emphasis on the class differences between Alyce, the daughter of a Baron, and Robert the cloth merchant, as well as the split between the two sides in the war.  I didn’t know much about Henry III and the baron’s rebellion, but this book definitely brought it to life.  The relationship was present, but the focus of the story was more on how the hero and heroine adjusted to marriage and their new lives, rather than the romance.  Overall, an interesting read - but I’m ready for something lighter!

What a great cover, by the way!  I love the Franco Accornero covers - they just say "historical romance" to me.

This Is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland

I read Lynn Kurland way back in the early 90's when I was obsessed with time travel books, but this is the first time I've read her since then.

This Is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland
(1997, Medieval)  7/5/12
Grade: 4.5

When Gillian is betrothed to Christopher, the Dragon of Blackmour, she is relieved to escape her abusive father, but convinced Blackmour must be the devil, because he has such a dangerous reputation.  He might even have horns!  But what she finds is a man who is struggling to live with his blindness, and who needs love as much as she does.

This was an emotional and heartfelt story that went on just a little too long - but it was still a rewarding read.  The writing style was unique - it was in close third person, alternating between the hero and heroine, so the reader sees everything from the point of view of the main characters.  This was probably a major reason why the story worked, because otherwise the heroine would have been extremely annoying - she verged on TSTL at the beginning of the book, and she cried every 5 minutes for the first half.  But because of the writing style, her actions were understandable and sympathetic.  The main problem with the book was pacing - not a lot happened in the first 350 pages, and although I appreciate a book that focuses on the emotional lives of the characters, it got a bit long winded.  Then the fight with Warewick was crammed into just a few pages.  But that’s a minor issue - I gave this book a higher grade because it was such a sweet and touching story that I’m sure I’ll remember.  

I think I've gotten too used to the quick and short books of the last 10 years - back in 1997 I probably would have appreciated a 400 page book a lot more but now I found myself just slightly impatient.  Still a good read, though.

Home Fires by Susan Kay Law

Hooray for Susan Kay Law - she restores my faith in romance (and in my reading taste).

Home Fires by Susan Kay Law
(1995, American)  7/4/12
Grade: 4

Amanda's marriage was the envy of New York high society. But in truth, her life was unbearable. Gathering her courage, Amanda escaped and sought refuge far away, in a small and beautiful Minnesota town. There, at the crossroads of two peaceful rivers, she found hope--and Jakob Hall.

This was an emotional, comforting read, although it was somewhat predictable.  Susan Kay Law hadn’t developed her trademark style of emotion and humor yet, so this felt more like a traditional Americana book, but still, the characters were well developed and the writing was very good.  The background of Minnesota and German immigrants was also very well done.  It got a little dull in the middle, but it finished strong.  Nice to finally read something good!

I still have a few Susan Kay Law books in my TBR.  I'm kind of hoarding them since she's pretty much stopped writing romance (or at least Westerns) but hopefully they'll be a little more original than this one.  This was one of her early books so I have high hopes!

The Reluctant Tutor by Paula Hampton

I'm starting to wonder if the problem is me.... but this book really did have serious problems.  I need a good book, though!  It's beginning to get discouraging.

The Reluctant Tutor by Paula Hampton
(2000, American)  7/4/12
Grade: 2

Set at the turn of the century, this is the story of Kate Delaney, who has made arrangements to be apprenticed as an architect to Gabe Murray Senior - only to find his son instead.  Gabe doesn’t believe women belong in business and he’s determined to make Kate give up and leave - but she has no intention of doing so.

This was a very frustrating book.  It felt like the author had taken a 500 page book and randomly cut sections out of it to fit into 300 pages.  The characters were inconsistent and the story jumped around - but at first I kept reading because the writing was good and the individual scenes really worked.  But as it went on, I found myself getting more and more frustrated.  I kept reading because I was interested in the plotline - the architecture aspect of the book was fascinating, but much to my annoyance, even that was dropped by the end.  This came close to being a wall banger.  At least it was a fast read.

Although there was a scene in the book involving a windmill, 95% of the book is set in NYC so I don't understand the cover.  Why make a book look like a Western when it's really not?

The Prisoner by Cheryl Reavis

I remember reading Civil War romances when I first started reading romances as a teenager, but they seem to be out of fashion now.  (American romances in general, actually, except possibly Westerns.)  It's always surprising to me that American romances aren't more popular with American readers, especially when historical sites and nonfiction continue to be so popular.

The Prisoner by Cheryl Reavis
(1992, Civil War) 7/1/12
Grade: 2.5

When Union soldier John Howe escapes from his NC prison in the middle of the Civil War, Confederate Amanda Douglas is forced to go along with him as he escapes back to Washington.  But once they arrive in the North, everything changes, and Amanda finds herself out of place, and yearning to be back home - despite the unhappy life she led there.

I was intrigued to read a book set during the Civil War, and was hoping this one would be great.  Unfortunately, it was not.  The first part of the book was a road romance, and even though it felt disjointed and rushed, it seemed to fit the story.  But it never improved.  Individual scenes were sometimes quite good, but the storyline just felt thrown together, with decisions made for no apparent reason and plot points thrown in and out at random.  This was one of those books where all the problems could have been solved if the hero and heroine just talked to each other, and it left me feeling very frustrated.

I started to wonder if it was my fault that I haven't enjoyed the last few books I read, but there were definitely a lot of flaws in this book.  So many things left unexplained...

Miss Carlye's Curricle by Karen Harbaugh

Karen Harbaugh's Regencies were hit or miss for me - loved some of them, others were only OK, but they were all readable - except this one.  Possibly my own fault - the tiny type in this one made it hard to read.  (Or maybe just my aging eyes!)


Miss Carlyle's Curricle by Karen Harbaugh
(1999, Regency)  6/29/12
Grade: 3

After her uncle’s sudden death, Diana Carlyle is heartbroken - and then shocked to discover that her uncle’s will leaves her a large inheritance if she marries the new Lord Brisbane, her distant cousin and a former businessman, Gavin Sinclair.  Gavin falls in love with the spirited Diana instantly, but it takes her longer to recognize his true depths.


I wanted to like this more than I did, because there was an intriguing mystery as part of the storyline.  I guessed who but not why, and there were multiple twists.  But it was mixed in with a Regency that just didn’t work.  The characters didn’t seem real, and I struggled to plow through it.  I’m not sure why it didn’t work for me when I’ve enjoyed so many other Karen Harbaugh books (maybe it was me) but it just felt like a chore to read.  It had promise but didn’t deliver. 

After 100 degree temperatures all day, it's raining!  Hallelujah!

American Pie by Margaret St. George

Although she wrote a number of Westerns as Maggie Osborne, I always liked Margaret St. George's series romances.  (I have a soft spot for the one that managed to combine a royal princess and bat guano.) 

American Pie by Margaret St. George
(1990, Nineteenth Century New York)  6/28/12
Grade: 3

When Polish immigrant Lucie Kolska arrives in New York, she is determined to find her part of the American dream.  But she can’t stop thinking about Irishman Jamie Kelly, who’s also struggling as a new immigrant.  Can Lucie and Jamie find a place in the new world, and can they set aside the old attitudes to make a new life?

This was a really interesting story in an unusual setting (1890’s New York) but the romance really lacked drama.  The hero and heroine fell in love at first sight in the first chapter of the book, and there really wasn’t any conflict between them up until nearly the end.  (Her brother’s disapproval seemed like a forced reason to keep them apart.)  The more interesting part of the book was the vivid description of immigrant life in New York, and the sometimes brutal environment that didn’t work out for everyone.  (Greta’s death of what seems to have been arsenic poisoning was quite affecting and unfortunately realistic.)  The heroine's success with her face cream was a typical St. George touch.  Overall, it was an educational read but not quite a great romance.

This was part of an entire series of books set from the 1890's to the 1990's.  Unfortunately I couldn't find a cover image of the original edition, which is the one I have.  I read most of them but unfortunately they weren't all that exciting.  (Although I'd like to reread the 1990's one now - I remember it featured the "futuristic" background of internet chatting.)

Here Comes the Bride by Pamela Morsi

This is one of my last Pamela Morsi westerns.  Usually she's a reliable mix of emotion and humor, but this one just fell a bit flat.

Here Comes The Bride by Pamela Morsi
(2000, Western)  6/27/12
Grade: 3.5

After three years of waiting for Amos Dewey to pop the question, Augusta Mudd decides to make him a bit jealous, by stepping out with Rome Akers, who works for her at her ice factory.  But Amos starts to seem less attractive once she gets to know Rome - and Rome starts to see Gussie in a whole new light.


This was a reliable read, but it lacked the usual Morsi charm.  I found it a bit predictable.  It was easy to put down.  There was a lot of charming local color (set in the early 20th century Texas) and some humor, but overall, it just didn’t have the sparkle that Morsi’s other books had.  It got better in the last third, but still, a minor disappointment.  

It's hard for Morsi to live up to her best books (Something Shady is my favorite) but still, her books usually don't disappoint.  Maybe I was just in the wrong mood for this one.

Dog Days by Elsa Watson

I read about this book online, and I was curious - even though I don't care for paranormals, I have a weakness for "Freaky Friday" stories, especially if they aren't taken too seriously.  So I ended up buying this both in paper and in eBook form - happily Amazon takes returns.

Dog Days by Elsa Watson
(2012, Contemporary)  6/22/12
Grade: 3.5

Jessica Sheldon lives in a town full of dog lovers, but she’s branded as a “dog hater” after her dog phobia got out of control at her local restaurant.  When she finds a stray dog just before Woofinstock, she decides it will be good publicity for the restaurant - but something strange is going on.  When she wakes up in Zoe’s body and Zoe wakes up in hers, she has to find a way to switch them back - and still save the restaurant.

I was looking for a light and cute book to read at the doctor’s office, and this seemed to fit the bill.  It had a cute premise and some of the situations with Jessica the person-turned-dog and Zoe the dog-turned-person were very funny.  But the book just didn’t gel in the first half.  I kept getting confused about which character was talking, and the whole thing just seemed overly cute and not that fun.  But the book finally started to gel in the second half (either that or the drugs kicked in) and I ended up enjoying it.  I’m not sure I can really recommend it - the romance is quite limited and you need to have a high tolerance for cute small towns - but it was a decent way to spend a couple of hours.

Star Sapphire by Rebecca Danton

This is a very old Regency - I think I picked it up at the fabulous bookstore Paperbacks in Snellville, Georgia.  One of the few stores with a great Regency backlist.  These older Regencies are disappearing - I rarely see the old ones any more...

Star Sapphire by Rebecca Danton
(1979, Regency)  6/19/2012
Grade: 4

Sonia Goldfine lives a quiet life in London with her uncle, designing jewelry for the ladies of the ton.  But she can never be a part of that world, due to her religion.  Although Jews are accepted in England to a certain extent, they will never be accepted in society.  But when Alastair Charlton, the Marquess of Fairley, finds himself deeply in debt, a marriage of convenience is his only option.  But Sonia wants more than that... she wants love.

This book was definitely memorable and unique, although it wasn’t always a pleasure to read.  It felt like two different books merged together.  One was historical fiction centering around the status of Jewish immigrants in England during the Regency, and the exciting (slightly fictionalized) story of how Nathan Rothschild smuggled gold to Spain during the Napoleonic wars to pay the troops.  This part of the story was fascinating and definitely different from a typical Regency.  However, the romance part of the story wasn’t as appealing.  Although the characters were fairly interesting and had moments of emotional connection, the romance was full of big misunderstandings, long separations and petty jealousies.  I found the romance dated and frustrating.  Overall, it was definitely worth reading, but I won’t be looking for more Regencies from the 1970’s.  

When I was looking for a cover image for this book, I discovered Rebecca Danton was a pseudonym for Janet Louise Roberts.  I remember reading her Gothics back in the 80's and early 90's when I glommed every Gothic I could get my hands on.  I'm not sure I'd enjoy them now (they'd probably seem just as dated as this one) but I loved them so much back then.