Love Irresistibly by Julie James

I haven't had a lot of luck with 2013 books so far - but this one was at least promising...

Love Irresistibly by Julie James
(2013, Contemporary)  6/18/13
Grade: 4

Brooke Parker is the general counsel for a restaurant chain, and usually she enjoys her work - even though she spends most of her time answering emails and putting out fires.  But when she meets Assistant U.S. Attorney Cade Morgan, she begins to wonder if career is all there is - or if she needs more balance in her life.

Like all of Julie James’s books, this one felt refreshingly modern.  It was nice to read a book set in a city, with characters who love their jobs and don’t feel that they have to apologize for that.  Brooke eventually looks for more balance in her life, but it’s not so she can be a “better woman”.  Cade likes her just as she is - ambitions and all.  The only negative was that the book felt fairly predictable.  There just wasn’t much conflict between the hero and heroine, and the hero’s father issues, and the heroine’s career issues, felt a bit predictable - the outcome wasn’t a question.  I enjoyed it, but it didn’t exactly keep me guessing.  

I want more contemporary books that feel fresh and modern, but sometimes it's hard to keep the conflict going in those cases!

Vacation Reading

I read several Regencies when I was on vacation - none of them really outstanding.

Her Hesitant Heart by Carla Kelly
(2013, Regency)  6/10/13
Grade: 3.5

Susanna Hopkins left an abusive husband and fled West to a garrison town in Montana.  She plans to serve as a schoolteacher to the officers’ children.  But she is intrigued by surgeon Major Joe Randolph, who is one of the few people at the fort to show her compassion.  She must learn to get along with the others at the fort, despite her scandalous past, and find her place in this new world.

This was a well written book by Carla Kelly but the romance seemed so inevitable, I found myself impatient with everything else in the book.  There were so many secondary characters, I found myself slightly overwhelmed.  I just found the whole book a little dull.  

The Wicked Wager by Margaret Summerville
(1987, Regency)  6/11/13
Grade: 4

Olivia Dunbar is one of the most delectable beauties in London, but she has refused one suitor after another.  She make a wager with friends to marry the next man who walks by - who turns out to be Lord Ramsay, a reclusive and scholarly man from Northumberland.  Olivia soon forgets the wager, especially once she learns more about Lord Ramsay, but can she convince him her feelings are real?

A charming Regency - nothing all that groundbreaking but the characters were well drawn and interesting.  Lady Olivia is quick to dismiss the wager and finds Lord Ramsay is more interesting than her more conventional suitors.  Ramsay is more of a cipher but he’s willing to become more social if it means spending time with Olivia.  A trifle but an amusing one.

The Ramshackle Suitor by Nancy Butler
(2000, Regency)  6/12/13
Grade: 4

Lucy Parnell has escaped from her stepbrother and is working as a governess, but is spending a few weeks on the Isle of Man searching for a child who might be her sister’s daughter.  She stumbles upon Roderick Kempthorne, one of a roguish group of friends who decide to help her.  She soon finds that Roderick will defend her from her stepbrother - and help her with her myseterious quest.

This was an entertaining and well written Regency.  The mystery of the lost child was well done and kept me guessing throughout the book.  Roderick was a fun rogue hero.  This wasn’t one of Nancy Butler’s best books, but it kept me turning the pages.

I also read a couple of Chet and Bernie mysteries by Spencer Quinn, which were enjoyable.  Surprisingly, no great reads from my vacation reading.

The Way Home by Megan Chance

Since I haven't found very many 2013 books that I want to buy, I'm trying to read some of the older books in my TBR.  I first read Megan Chance back in 1996, when I read The Portrait.  Since then I've bought her books, but only read one other (A Season in Eden).  I was glad to see that her books have been reissued as ebooks.

The Way Home by Megan Chance
(1997, Western)  5/30/13
Grade: 4

Eliza Beaudry is afraid she’ll spend the rest of her life as a sharecropper’s wife, never leaving the small shack where she grew up.  So she throws herself at Cole Wallace, a gambler who seems exciting.  But soon he’s gone - and Eliza is pregnant.  When her father tracks him down, Cole offers a trade - Eliza can marry his shy brother Aaron who lives on the family farm.  Aaron reluctantly agrees - but he has no idea what to do with a wife. 

This was an intriguing book that suffered from some pacing problems.  The author starts with a traditional setup - the small town girl who wants more, and ends up pregnant - but then she twists the story in unexpected ways.  The hero of the love triangle is shy and awkward Aaron, instead of the more conventional hero Cole.  The heroine doesn’t instantly fall in love with Aaron, or magically solve all of his problems with love.  However, there were some issues with the way the book was structured.  The author spent a lot of time devoted to Cole, and not enough time devoted to Eliza and Aaron (particularly Aaron).  She withholds crucial information about Aaron until almost the end of the book, which makes Aaron a cipher for much of the book.  And once we begin to see the connection between Eliza and Aaron, we get a dramatic fire scene and then the book ends.  If the author had included just a few more scenes that explored Eliza and Aaron’s relationship, the book would have felt more complete.  Still, this book was well worth reading.  I’m glad I bought it - twice!  

I debated how to rate this book - the good parts were exceptionally good, but the book still felt incomplete.  Good, but not great. 

The Other Side of Us by Sarah Mayberry

I've really enjoyed Sarah Mayberry as a new Harlequin author.  (Well, she's not so new any more.)  I usually prefer her Harlequin Superromances to her Blazes, but I always find her books worth reading.  And it's fun to read a book set in Australia!

The Other Side of Us by Sarah Mayberry
(2013, Contemporary Series)  5/30/13
Grade: 4

Oliver has escaped to his late aunt’s beach house to get away from his pending divorce.  Mackenzie has been recuperating at her beach cottage since a car accident left her with serious injuries.  Neither one is looking for a relationship, but their dogs have other ideas.  Once they’ve become friends, it’s only a short step to lovers - but is either one ready for a relationship?

This is a very low key, realistic book.  With all the trauma in the hero and heroine’s pasts, it could have been an angst fest - but instead, it was a quiet and down to earth story.  The relationship between Oliver and Mackenzie developed slowly - they were friends first, and there wasn’t a lot of the mental lusting that you get in so many books these days.  Eventually they did become involved (and there were quite a few sex scenes - I got a little bored with them after a while) but the characters remained grounded and down to earth.  Even the barriers between the characters were realistic ones - Oliver’s hesitation to get involved so soon after separating from his wife, Mackenzie’s concern about her injuries and uncertainty about her career.  In the end, the book may have been a little too realistic - it didn’t transport me or thrill me, and there were a few points in the first half when I got a little bored - but it was refreshing to read a book that wasn’t over-the-top, and I got a little misty at the end.  One of the best Mayberry books I’ve read so far.

The cover is pretty but doesn't match the book at all!  Mackenzie had short hair - it was a major plot point!  I guess Harlequin has done a poll and figured out that long hair sells more books.

A Countess by Christmas by Annie Burrows

I miss Regencies - even when they weren't perfect, they had a certain charm.  Thankfully Harlequin Historical is still publishing a few of them.

A Countess by Christmas by Annie Burrows
(2010, Regency)  5/25/2013
Grade: 3.5

Helen Forrest has accompanied her aunt to the Christmas house party of the Earl of Bridgemere.  Her aunt has lost all of her money and is hoping for help from the Earl, despite his aloof reputation.  The Earl finds Helen a breath of fresh air - so different from his grasping, money-hungry relatives - but can he persuade her to give up her plans for an independent life and become his countess?

Although this is a Harlequin Historical, it felt very much like an old school Signet Regency.  I always enjoy a good Christmas house party story, and this included all of the usual elements - frost covered lakes, gathering greenery, charming children, kissing under the mistletoe.  The problem was there wasn’t much to the story beyond the Christmas background.  There was no real reason for the hero and heroine not to be together, so the book had to depend on the characters - and these characters had some flaws.  The heroine, in particular, was quick to jump to conclusions and lose her temper for no apparent reason.  The hero was more appealing, but he was also quick to jump to conclusions.  It seemed like the author couldn’t find a reason to keep the hero and heroine apart, so she threw in a bunch of misunderstandings.  This didn’t completely spoil the book - it still had a lot of charm - but it could have been so much better.  

I had to read a book on my birthday - too bad it wasn't a great one.

A Prior Engagement by Karina Bliss

I've heard a lot of good things about Karina Bliss, but this is the first book I've read by her.  It's always interesting to read a book set somewhere different - in this case, New Zealand.

A Prior Engagement by Karina Bliss
(2013, Contemporary Series)  5/18/13
Grade: 3.5

After two years, SAS soldier Lee Davis is finally coming home.  His family and friends thought he was dead.  Things have changed since he left, but the most surprising change is that his supposed fiancée, Juliet Browne, has become a part of his circle of friends - except that they broke up just before he left on his last mission.  Lee decides to feign amnesia to find out what’s really going on - but he finds himself drawn to Jules all over again.

I had mixed feelings about this book.  There were many moments that were emotional and lovely.  Karina Bliss is an excellent writer and she did a great job depicting Lee’s struggles to adjust to normal life again.  However, the fake amnesia storyline was a gimmick that went on too long.  And even after that part of the story was resolved, there were a lot of characters from other books that played a big part in the story.  I felt a little lost.  I enjoyed the book, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

If I'd written this review immediately after reading the book, I might have graded it a little more highly.  But a day later, I can barely remember the good parts, while the negatives stand out more.  So I downgraded it from 4 to 3.5.

An Unlikely Countess by Jo Beverley

Although I like some of Jo Beverley's books, her Malloren books have never worked quite as well for me as her Regencies.  There is always more focus on the external over the internal.  But I picked this one up because I love a marriage of convenience story.

An Unlikely Countess by Jo Beverley
(2011, Georgian)  5/12/13
Grade: 4

Prudence has spent most of her life sacrificing for her brother - and now that he has a career and a wealthy wife, he ignores Prudence’s poverty.  One bright moment in Prudence’s life is when she shares a few moments with Cate Burgoyne.  But then he’s gone - until months later when he rescues her from a bad marriage.  He’s now an Earl, and although their marriage is unlikely, they are determined to make the best of it. 

This was an unusual book.  The hero and heroine spend a short time together in the first chapter, but then they are separated for almost a third of the book.  When they are reunited and forced to marry, they spend more time together - but the focus of the book is on the practical aspects of their marriage, rather than the development of their relationship.  There are far more paragraphs devoted to Prudence’s clothes than there are on her emotions.  The Georgian background was interesting, but I just didn’t feel much of a connection between the hero and heroine.  The writing was excellent, as always, and the story was interesting, but I just didn’t find it as compelling as some of Jo Beverley’s other books.  

Jo Beverley always finds an excuse to drop Rothgar into her Malloren books.  (Or in this case, Diana, Rothgar's wife.)  Although it always seems believable to have them appear, I get the impression that I'm supposed to be ooohing and aahhing like Rothgar is Justin Bieber - "oooh, it's so exciting to see him".  Maybe that's what her fans want - a glimpse of Rothgar in every book.  But I find it a little silly.  I didn't think those characters really needed to be there. 

How to Misbehave by Ruthie Knox

So far I've been impressed by Ruthie Knox, although this short story is probably my least favorite of the ones I've read so far. 

How to Misbehave by Ruthie Knox
(2013, Contemporary)  5/9/13
Grade: 3.5

Good girl Amber Clark has been admiring contractor Tony Mazzano from afar, but when the tornado warning siren goes off, she and Tony are stuck together in a dark basement.  It gives them a chance to get to know each other - and give in to their attraction.

This was a cute novella.  At first I was afraid it would just be one long sex scene, but things improved in the second half.  Both Amber and Tony have interesting backgrounds, and I thought the author managed to establish their connection beyond their sexual attraction.  I’m not sure I was convinced this was a happy ever after - it was just too short - but it worked well for what it was.  

I used to enjoy Regency novellas, but I think contemporary novellas are harder to write since a large portion of the page count is necessarily taken up by love scenes.  When you only have a few pages to work with, I'd rather focus on emotional connections rather than body connections. 

The Typewriter Girl by Alison Atlee

I'm having such a hard time finding historicals this year!  This is one of only two historicals I've bought so far this year (the other one is the Carla Kelly book).  Is this the death of the historical?  (Or am I just being picky?)

The Typewriter Girl by Alison Atlee
(2013, Turn of the Century)  5/8/13
Grade: 3.5

Betsey Dobson has survived on her wits, and she has advanced from being a typewriter girl to the excursions manager at the seaside resort of Idensea.  She enjoys her work and the unexpected freedom it brings her - but she is intrigued by John Jones, the Welsh engineer who is building the resort’s pleasure fair.  She and John begin an affair, but Betsey must guard her heart, because she knows their relationship can’t last.

The characters and setting of this book were intriguing, but I struggled with the writing.  I enjoyed reading about this unusual setting, and the heroine’s advance from a typewriter girl to a manager.  The author did a good job depicting the heroine’s pleasure in her work and how she became better at it over time.  But the relationship between the hero and heroine was less successful.  The book alternates between the heroine’s perspective and the hero’s, but the language feels stilted and unemotional.  Maybe this is supposed to be “literary fiction” but it just felt tedious and hard to read.  The first half of the book was a chore to get through.  Things improved in the second half, but still, I found myself more frustrated by this book than I expected.  Too bad, since the premise was quite intriguing.

Sometimes I feel shallow because I prefer romance to more literary fiction - but trying to parse out the meaning of sentences just doesn't appeal to me any more.  If I have to read a sentence three times to figure out what it means, then it's too much for my brain - I read enough complex documents for work. 

Her Ladyship's Companion by Joanna Bourne

It's always fun to read an old book by an author who became famous later.  Evidently Joanna Bourne didn't write any books between 1983 and 2008 so it's fun to see how her writing developed.

Her Ladyship's Companion by Joanna Bourne
(1983, Regency)  4/28/13
Grade: 3.5

French teacher Melissa Rivenwood leaves her school in London to take a job as a companion in remote northern England.  She finds an intriguing cast of characters - her imperious employer, Lady Dorothy, the 7 year old earl, Robbie, and his mysterious uncle, Giles.  There are also several other relatives who are also living in the house.  Everything seems well at first, until mysterious accidents start to threaten Robbie.  Who can she trust?

This was a fairly by-the-numbers gothic, but it was well written enough to keep me turning the pages.  All of the characters were straight out of gothic central casting.  Especially in the first half, it was hard to keep track of everyone.  But despite all this, the story and characters were interesting.  I enjoy a good gothic, even if the story is predictable.  It was worth reading despite the problems.

Gothics are out of fashion, but they're fun to read occasionally.

Stay at Home Dead by Jeffrey Allen

Although I don't read mysteries very often, every now and then I enjoy something light and funny (the complete opposite of what I read in romance).  Leanne recommended this one.

Stay at Home Dead by Jeffrey Allen
(2012, Contemporary Mystery)  4/28/13
Grade: 3.5

Stay at home Dad Deuce Winters is making his usual trip to the grocery store when he finds a dead body in his minivan.  The victim is his high school nemesis, Benny Barnes, and soon everyone in Rose Petal, Texas, thinks Deuce is the killer.  So Deuce decides to do a little investigating of his own...

This was a quick and fun read, although it didn’t quite hold up when thinking about it later.  The book was very easy to read, with short chapters and an engaging writing style.  The main characters (Deuce and his wife Julianne, the midget investigator Victor) were fun and well written.  But the plot had a lot of holes, and some things didn’t make a whole lot of sense.  This was a book with a lot of style, but not much substance.  Still, it was fun to read.

My review sounds a little harsh, but still, I enjoyed it enough to buy the next book in the series.

The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand

Mmm, this is a book that will make you hungry!

The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand
(2012, Contemporary)  4/16/13
Grade: 4

Cade Corey, the heir to the Corey chocolate fortune, is in Paris in hopes of starting a gourmet chocolate line - and she wants the best chocolatier in Paris, Sylvain Marquis, to work with her.  But Sylvain has no interest in working for a company that sells cheap chocolate bars at supermarkets.  Cade and Sylvain begin to play a cat and mouse game, but the game isn’t for chocolate - it’s for love.

This was a charming, fun book.  It had a “fairy tale” aspect to it so I couldn’t take the story too seriously.  I especially liked the heroine - I know enough about the history of Hershey to enjoy this fictionalized version.  Sylvain was more of a stereotypical alpha hero, albeit one with an interesting career, but he improved in the second half of the book.  My one complaint is that the ending felt rushed - the hero and heroine go from thinking it won’t work out to Cade deciding to leave her entire life and move to Paris in just a couple of pages.  It really needed more time to feel real (especially since Cade seems to enjoy her job for most of the book so her sudden decision to drop everything seemed a little forced).  But the charming feel of the book, and the luscious descriptions of the chocolate, kept me turning the pages despite its flaws. 

I found the background of Corey chocolate so interesting - especially since I visited the Hershey museum a couple of years ago - that I'd love to see another book with that history as a backdrop.  But it doesn't seem like Laura Florand's other chocolate books have anything to do with that. 

Lady Meg's Gamble by Martha Schroeder

Still working on the last of the paperbacks in my Regency collection.

Lady Meg's Gamble by Martha Schroeder
(1998, Regency)  3/22/13
Grade: 3.5

Lady Margaret Enfield is desperate to save her home, but after she is left penniless, she sees no way out.  Then a neighbor introduces her to Captain James Sheridan, a wealthy Navy captain who is looking for a home of his own.  They agree to a marriage of convenience - but can they get past each others’ faults and make a happy life together?

I always enjoy a marriage of convenience story.  This one worked well at first.  The characters were well written - both of them were quick to make assumptions and tended to act before they thought, but their actions made sense based on their personalities.  It was a nice change to read about a hero who wasn’t titled and a heroine who had no interest in society and the ton.  But the misunderstandings between the hero and heroine went on too long.  What seemed natural for the characters in the first two thirds of the book became frustrating and tedious in the last third.  Although this wasn’t a bad book, I ended up feeling a bit disappointed.

Martha Schroeder wrote one book that I loved (A Merry Little Christmas) but her other books have been a bit disappointing.  She doesn't seem to be writing any more - which is too bad, since her best book seems to have been her last one.

The Ice King by Dinah Dean

Dinah Dean is known for her unusual settings - and for her books that are nearly impossible to find.  I have found a few of them over the years, and I was curious to read one.

The Ice King by Dinah Dean
(1980, Regency-era Russia)  3/17/13
Grade: 3.5

After the death of her uncle, Tanya is afraid she will spend the rest of her life as a companion in a remote village, but distant relatives offer her a season in St. Petersburg before she leaves.  She is soon caught up in the social life of the city, and drawn to the mysterious Prince Nikolai.  Nikolai has been known as the emotionless Ice King since the death of his wife years earlier, but perhaps Tanya’s influence will help him thaw...

It was interesting to read a book with such an unusual setting, but most of the book was more focused on the setting than the characters.  The author spent a lot of time describing St. Petersburg and Russian society in great detail, but the characters (particularly Nikolai) remained cyphers.  This was a little bit frustrating, especially in such a short book.  The characters started to come to life in the last 50 pages or so, but overall this book was more notable for its setting than for its character development.  

I'm not sure what to do with this book - it's in terrible condition (so yellowed it's practically brown) but I hate to throw it out when Dean's books are so hard to find! 

A Matchmaker's Christmas by Donna Simpson

Although I have a cache of Regency romances left on my TBR shelves, they haven't been doing much for me lately.  I'm hoping there are a few gems left in there, since I miss a good Regency.

A Matchmaker's Christmas by Donna Simpson
(2002, Regency)  3/16/13
Grade: 3

For her last Christmas, Lady Bournaud invites friends and relatives to her home for a house party, but the pairings don’t go according to plan.  The well born Lady Silvia is attracted to the penniless vicar, and spirited Canadian Verity is drawn to the careless Lord Vaughn.  Lady Bournaud’s godson David Chappell was intended for her companion Beatrice, but they share a dark past that may be too much for them to overcome.

This book had a lot of promise, but it just had too much going on for one Regency.  Although the main couple was supposed to be David and Beatrice, the romances between the other two couples were often more interesting.  We get pages of Beatrice worrying about her secret past, but the final reveal felt anticlimactic - and their great love rather bloodless.  It was a nice Regency but it lacked any great feeling.

This wasn't a bad book, just a little boring and predictable. 

Calculated in Death by J.D. Robb

I still keep reading the In Death books by J.D. Robb, but the characters have become so familiar by now that there needs to also be a strong mystery to keep my attention.  The books in the series that work the best have a good mix of plot and character.  This one had the characters but the plot was lacking.

Calculated in Death by J.D. Robb
(2013, Suspense)  3/6/13
Grade: 3

It looks like a mugging gone wrong, but Eve realizes there’s more to the murder of Marta Dickenson, an accountant who may have audited the wrong account.  As more bodies pile up, Eve and Roarke have to search for clues among the financial elite.

This wasn’t one of J.D. Robb’s best books.  The characters are still interesting, but there were too many similar suspects in this case.  The potential murderers didn’t have much personality, and I spent over half the book confused about which one was which.  They just seemed blah and interchangeable.  The book picked up in the last third, and I always appreciate seeing Peabody and the other secondary characters, but this book just didn’t stand out compared to others in the series.  

It's hard to find a good police procedural, and even rarer to find one with interesting characters (and a happy ending - it seems like most police detectives in fiction are depressive loners).  So I keep reading the J.D. Robb books even though they are outrageously pricey and don't hit every time. 

Muscling Through by J. L. Merrow

M/M romance isn't usually my thing - I miss the female perspective - but I've enjoyed a few M/M stories.  I pulled this one out after the recent discussions of M/M on the romance blogs.

Muscling Through by J. L. Merrow
(2011, Contemporary)  2/20/13
Grade: 4

Al may not have a degree or a fancy job, but he’s intrigued by college professor Larry Morton - even after Larry mistakes him for a mugger.  Everyone around Al and Larry see their relationship as unequal, but Larry sees something in Al that no one else can see - his kind heart.

This was an intriguing writing experiment that mostly worked.  The story is told from the perspective of Al, who isn’t particularly perceptive or self-aware.  But the reader starts to understand Al by seeing how other people react to him - we get a perspective on Larry based on his actions, even though we don’t get to hear his thoughts.  I sometimes found this frustrating, because I wanted to know more - Al is a nice enough character but he’s limited as a narrator - but in the context of a novella it worked.  The frequent sex scenes also limited the character development - at first they helped explain the relationship but after a while they just became repetitive.  If the book had been longer I think I would have given up but at this length, it worked.  It was interesting to read a book with such a different perspective.

I read this book on my Kindle and I didn't see the cover art until after I finished the book.  I think the cover would have added to my reading experience - I had a hard time visualizing Al and the cover definitely makes him more intriguing.  More Larry's view of Al rather than his own. 

Autumn Rose by Marjorie Farrell

I went a few weeks without reading anything, then tried a couple of Regencies without success.  I hope I can find something worth reading soon - I had such a great run of books over the last few months!

Autumn Rose by Marjorie Farrell
(1991, Regency)  2/19/13
Grade: 3

Honora Dillon has lived an unassuming life in Hampstead with her daughter since she ran away with a scoundrel as a young girl.  But their quiet life is changed when Nora’s daughter Miranda falls in love with Jeremy, the Earl of Alverstone.  The marriage seems impossible because of the differences in their stations - but when Nora starts spending more time with Jeremy’s godfather, Viscount Marcus Vane, she begins to wonder...

I’ve read several books by Marjorie Farrell and enjoyed all of them, but this one just didn’t measure up.  It was refreshing to read about an older heroine who had to come to terms with her daughter growing up and the choices she had made in her life, but the romance between Nora and Marcus felt like an afterthought.  They barely spent any time together and had no chemistry whatsoever.  It left the book feeling flat and kind of dull.  

I wonder if reading the more fast paced books that are being published now has ruined me for a good Regency.  I still have quite a few in my TBR pile so I hope not!

The Hollow House by Janis Patterson

I ran across this book in one of Dear Author's deal of the day posts, and it sounded so intriguing I decided to give it a try.  I used to love Gothics, although it's hard to find a good one these days.

The Hollow House by Janis Patterson
(2011, Historical Mystery)  2/1/13
Grade: 4

I decided to use the name Geraldine Brunton. It's not the name I was born with, nor the name I married, but it will hide who I really am...and what I have done.  I've taken a job as companion to wealthy invalid Emmaline Stubbs, whose fragile exterior hides a will of iron. Despite its opulence, the Stubbs household is not a happy one. Emmaline's equally stubborn daughter and charismatic, untrustworthy son-in-law want control...

This was an intriguing gothic mystery that kept me turning the pages late into the night.  The book is set in Denver just after WWI, and there were a lot of interesting details about the setting and time period.  The heroine is a typical Gothic heroine, who comes to a dark and mysterious house hiding secrets of her own, although Geraldine is a lot more savvy and tough than many of those old Gothic heroines.  The book is also lacking any romance - it’s purely a mystery.  At first I liked this, because it made sense for the heroine to avoid men and to stay away from anyone who might guess her secret.  But as the book continued, it started to get a little repetitive, and a little flirtation might have added some spark.  This was the main problem with the book - the author ratcheted up the tension in the first half of the book, but once the murder took place, the tension couldn’t be sustained.  There weren’t enough suspects to keep the reader guessing.  I still kept reading but it just didn’t quite live up to the terrific first half.  Still, I liked it overall - 4 stars. 

I've been trying to expand my horizons and read more books outside of romance.  It's just as hard to find a good mystery as it is to find a good romance. 

An Illicit Temptation by Jeannie Lin

After reading My Fair Concubine (one of my favorite books from last year), I was curious to see if the author had written a book about Dao, the servant girl who ends up as a princess.  I found out that she had, but it was a Harlequin Undone - their line of short, sexy ebooks.  I figured it was worth a try.

An Illicit Temptation by Jeannie Lin
(2012, Medieval China)  1/29/13
Grade: 3

Dao is a house servant masquerading as a princess on her way to marry a powerful chieftain. As a lowly commoner with no prospects, she is content to be an alliance bride until an encounter with Kwan-Li, her enigmatic escort, tempts her with the promise of forbidden love. On their adventure through the wild Khitan steppe, Dao discovers Kwan-Li has secrets of his own...  Sequel to My Fair Concubine.

This novella had its moments, but in the end it was just too short.  The setting of this story (medieval China and the steppes) was fascinating, but there wasn’t enough space to really explore it fully.  The first half of the book was interesting, but just when I wanted to know more about the characters, the author switched the focus to the love scenes.  They were fine, but having multiple love scenes in such a short book meant that other aspects of the story were neglected.  The novella was fine as a quick follow-up to My Fair Concubine, but it just wasn’t long enough to stand alone.  I think the author could have written a full length book about these characters, and I wish she had.   

I wish the author had done more to explore the steppe setting in this story - I just finished listening to a five part podcast about the Mongols and I was eager to read a romance with that setting.  But maybe that's too foreign for romance readers.  (It works for Game of Thrones!)

Lady Maggie's Secret Scandal by Grace Burrowes

I thought I was done with 2012 books, but since this book appeared on so many Top 10 lists among my friends, I thought I had to give it a try.

Lady Maggie's Secret Scandal by Grace Burrowes
(2012, Regency Historical)  1/27/13
Grade: 3.5

Lady Maggie is the daughter of a courtesan, but she was adopted by her father, the Duke of Moreland, and his wife.  Now 30, she lives a reclusive life until she needs help to find a reticule hiding secret letters.  She turns to Benjamin Hazlit, an Earl who also works as a private investigator.  He pretends to court her in order to investigate, but soon they both want more - except Maggie still has secrets that she must hide from her family.

I had mixed feelings about this book.  I’m not a stickler for historical accuracy, but there were a lot of points in this book where I was taken out of the story by something that just didn’t feel "right" for the period.  This was mostly a problem in the first half of the book.  I also found aspects of the story clichéd and the heroine frustratingly passive when it came to her “big secret”.  But despite these problems, I couldn’t stop reading.  The characters were interesting and the plot moved at a fast clip, which kept me from thinking too much about any problems with the story.  I enjoyed reading about the heroine’s close family and her difficulties in being the illegitimate daughter of the Duke.  I’m left wondering how to rate this book and ended up giving it 3 1/2 stars, because it was so readable despite its flaws.

I’m not sure I will pick up other books by Grace Burrowes unless they’re recommended by other readers, though.  I’ve read some reviews and the plots in those books seem to be even more over-the-top than this one.

Beguiling the Beauty by Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas is one of those authors I want to like - readers who share my tastes love her, and the descriptions sound like books I'd like to read.  But I think her books verge too far toward literary fiction for me - they may be worthy books but I don't find them especially romantic. 

Beguiling the Beauty by Sherry Thomas
(2012, Edwardian)  1/26/13
Grade: 3

When the Duke of Lexington meets the mysterious Baroness von Seidlitz-Hardenberg on a transatlantic liner, he is fascinated. In reality, the “baroness” is Venetia Easterbrook—a proper young widow who had her own vengeful reasons for instigating an affair with the duke. But the plan has backfired. Venetia has fallen in love with the man she despised—and there’s no telling what might happen when she is finally unmasked…

I never liked the old school romances where the hero and heroine hated each other until the end of the book, when they fell into each others arms and declared eternal love.  I could never believe that all the hurtful things the characters did to each other could be forgotten so easily.  Sherry Thomas’s books remind me of those romances.  They are written in a much more sophisticated way, but the characters still spend most of the book hurting each other, inflicting painful emotional wounds until they suddenly discover a happy ever after in the last few pages.  When I read Beguiling the Beauty, I didn’t feel carried away with romance - I felt sad and a little depressed.  Everyone in the book, including the secondary characters, seem determined to inflict unhappiness on one another.  The author has an elegant writing style which kept me reading to the end, but I found it hard to believe in the happy ending.  Perhaps that’s a failing in me as a reader.  

I still have a couple of Sherry Thomas books in my TBR pile that I may try to read at some point, but I doubt I'll buy her books again.  It's disappointing, because there are so few new romance authors, especially those who are writing something other than "same old same old".  But I guess I'm too much of a traditional reader to enjoy something too far outside the lines.

The Importance of Being Wicked by Miranda Neville

There are many romance authors that I enjoy, but very few that really work for me, book after book.  Based on her last two books, Miranda Neville may be joining that small group.

The Importance of Being Wicked by Miranda Neville
(2012, Regency Historical)  1/25/13
Grade: 4.5

Thomas, Duke of Castleton, has every intention of wedding a prim and proper heiress. That is, until he sets eyes on the heiress's cousin, easily the least proper woman he's ever met. Caroline Townsend has no patience for the oh-so-suitable (and boring) men of the ton. So when the handsome but stuffy duke arrives at her doorstep, she decides to put him to the test. But her scandalous exploits awaken a desire in Thomas he never knew he had.

Another excellent book by Miranda Neville.  I was a little wary when I picked it up because I’ve read so many books with this premise, but the author manages to put a new spin on a familiar story.  “Wild child” heroines often come across as immature, but Caro’s back story is so well developed that her actions make sense based on her personality.  I also enjoyed that neither the hero or the heroine had to completely change their personality to make the relationship work.  My interest waned slightly in the last third, where misunderstandings come between the hero and heroine a bit.  (The disagreements were realistic, just not very romantic.)  But the emotion of the ending made up for it.  Another great book by Neville.  

I know several people who liked this cover, but there is something weird about it to me.  The heroine's head and shoulders seem out of proportion, and the dress fits in a strange way.  Oh well, nothing's perfect!

The Second Seduction of a Lady by Miranda Neville

I heard mixed things about this story, but I wanted to read it since it's the beginning of her new series.

The Second Seduction of  Lady by Miranda Neville
(2012, Regency Historical)  1/24/12
Grade: 3

Eleanor Hardwick and Max Quinton shared one night of incredible passion . . . that was shattered the next day, when Eleanor learned of a bet placed by Max's friends. Now, five years later, Max still can't get Eleanor out of his head or his heart. He has a single chance to make a second impression - one that will last forever.

This short story was a disappointment.  I’m not sure if it was just too short, or if the premise was flawed from the start, but it just didn’t work for me.  The characters thoughts and actions didn’t add up.  The heroine is presented as someone who doesn’t want to marry, but after that initial setup, her thoughts and emotions are all about how much she would enjoy being married.  The hero claims that he respects the heroine’s intelligence and independence, but he spends most of the story manipulating her.  In a longer book it’s possible the author could have reconciled these contradictions (or made them a point of contention) but in this novella they just seemed confused.  The only reason to read this novella is that it introduces and explains the heroine of her next book.


Some authors just don't do well with novellas - maybe Miranda Neville is one of them.  I love the cover though - there's nothing like a period dress cover.

The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

I've read a couple of short stories by Courtney Milan, and I've read her comments online, but this is the first full length book I've read by her.  I'm not quite sure what I think.

The Duchess War by Courtney Milan
(2012, Victorian)  1/20/12
Grade: 3.5

Robert Blaisdell, the Duke of Clermont, wants nothing more than to be different from his father.  He has been secretly writing incendiary handbills to organize workers that his father exploited.  But the handbills are attributed to Minnie Pursling, who is trying to escape her own secret past by vanishing into the background.  Robert is deeply attracted to Minnie, and must find a way to protect her while also protecting his family. 

I had mixed feelings about this book.  For the first third of the book, it seemed like the author was deliberately trying to make her characters hard to understand - as if she was taunting the reader with characters that were obscure and confusing and difficult to read.  This gradually improved during the book, but still, the characters often did things that didn’t make much sense (and weren’t explained very well).  Still, the story was intriguing, and the character of Minnie in particular was very interesting and sympathetic.  There were some truly excellent scenes along the way, which helped.  By the end of the book I was caught up in the romance and the relationship, but I still felt like I was trying to read a story that didn’t quite come into focus.



I'm not sure what to think about Courtney Milan's writing - there's definitely potential there but I'm not sure whether she's an author for me.  Call me shallow, but I like a story that's easier to understand.  But I will try her again. 

Love in the Afternoon by Allison Packard

I used to watch soap operas faithfully when I was in middle and high school - I was a third generation fan of Guiding Light.  I've read a few books set in the world of soap operas, but surprisingly enough, not that many romances (with the exception of Again by Kathleen Gilles Seidel - one of my favorites).  Maybe it's difficult to come up with a new story set in that world.

Love in the Afternoon by Allison Packard
(2012, Contemporary)  1/17/12
Grade: 3

Kayla Maxwell is eager to prove herself as a new soap opera actress, but she is nervous to work with Sean Barrett, her idol since childhood.  Sean is the son of a well known actor, and is wary of getting to close to an actress, but he soon learns to respect her as an actress - and admire her as a woman.  But just as their relationship is getting underway, Kayla is threatened by a mysterious stalker.

I love a good soap opera, so I was looking forward to this book.  Unfortunately, it felt very derivative and predictable - almost like fan fiction.  I felt like I could predict every development before it happened.  The characters were pleasant enough, and it was easy to read, but I was left feeling like I’d read it all before. 

I'm not sure why this story felt so predictable - most romances don't have ground breaking plots, but every development in this story felt like something I could have written myself. 

A Notorious Countess Confesses by Julie Anne Long

I'm always a little wary of reading a book in a long running series.  Even if I've read other books in the series, I just don't remember books that closely, especially when I might have read 40 or 50 other books since I last picked up the series.  I think authors assume readers have an encyclopedic memory for their previous characters.  But still, this book was highly recommended...

A Notorious Countess Confesses by Julie Anne Long
(2012, Regency Historical)  1/14/13
Grade: 4

Evie Duggan is at loose ends after the death of her husband, the Earl.  Her past as an opera dancer and courtesan does not help her fit in the small town of Pennyroyal Green.  But Vicar Adam Sylvaine agrees to help her find friends - if she can avoid the distraction of such an attractive minister.  Adam is equally attracted to Evie, but he can’t give in to temptation... even as he learns that Evie is much more than she seems.

This book was slow to get started, but in the end the romance was sweet and satisfying.  I’ve read other Pennyroyal Green books, but obviously I don’t remember then as well as the author expects me to, because I couldn’t place the many characters from previous books that keep appearing in the story without explanation.  Once I got past that, I found myself more intrigued by the relationship between Evie and Adam, and Evie’s attempts to fit into village life.  This is actually the third book I’ve read this year featuring a vicar hero, but I think it was the best developed, even if the storyline was familiar.  I enjoyed the heroine’s attempts to help the women in the village and the glimpses of her back story.  The interactions between the hero and heroine were both romantic and sensual.  The book suffered from some pacing problems - the ending also seemed abrupt and a bit unrealistic - but overall this was an enjoyable read.  

I was surprised I'd read so many minister romances in the past year since it's a fairly unusual plotline, but maybe it's having a moment?  The other two were Hot Under the Collar by Jackie Barbarosa (2012) and To Love and To Cherish by Patricia Gaffney (1995).  All three of them with essentially the same plot - a vicar learns to love a "bad" girl.  It would be interesting to read a minister romance that doesn't feature that plot - the only one I can think of is Gift of Daisies by Mary Balogh and even that one is somewhat similar.

Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox

After reading About Last Night, I decided to try another book by Ruthie Knox - even though I have very little interest in cycling!

Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox
(2012, Contemporary Series)  1/12/13
Grade: 4

Tom is planning to bike cross country, but he’s not looking for a traveling companion - until his sister pairs him up with Lexie.  At first their different traveling styles cause problems - she wants to plan out every step of the journey, while he’d rather enjoy the side roads - but soon they fall into a road romance.  But will this just be a summer fling, or something more?

This was a fun read with an unusual setting.  While I wasn’t as emotionally invested in these characters as I was in the author’s last book, it was an enjoyable read.  I also learned a lot about cycling (in a fun way).  I got a little bored with the sex scenes after a while (although they were definitely inventive) and like many road romances, the narrative got a little repetitive, but those were minor flaws.  Overall, this book was very charming and fun to read.  I’m looking forward to future books by Ruthie Knox. 

I used to enjoy reading series books, since they're a nice break from longer reads.  But I rarely find any series books that I want to read any more - so many of them seem like retreads of stories I've read dozens of times before.  But I've had better luck with the new ebook series lines - at least the few I've read.  Maybe this is a place to find short contemporary books that aren't just a collection of sex scenes.

How to Romance a Rake by Manda Collins

One of my biggest frustrations with romance is that publishers try to make the books all sound alike - generic covers, generic titles, and all too often, generic plots and characters.  This book sounded like it had the potential to overcome that... but didn't quite succeed.

How to Romance a Rake by Manda Collins
(2012, Regency Historical)  1/12/13
Grade: 3

Since an accident that left her with a limp, Juliet Shelby has remained on the edges of society - until she meets Lord Alec Deveril.  As Alex and Juliet spend time together looking for Juliet’s missing music teacher, both Alex and Juliet begin to see each other as more than just friends.

Although this book had some redeeming qualities, overall I found it very predictable.  It felt like romance-by-the-numbers, as if the author was checking off a list of plot points for a Regency historical.  (Group of friends who each have their own book - check!  No one notices the heroine until she gets a new wardrobe in brighter colors - check!  Hero realizes he loves the heroine when his friends say something insulting about her - check!)  Some authors can take a familiar story and make it feel new, but in this case it just felt... familiar.  Like I’d read it all before.  The one unusual plot point was the heroine’s prosthetic leg, which I hadn’t seen in a romance before.  There was nothing terribly wrong with this book - the characters were likeable, the writing was serviceable and it was easy to read - but it just didn’t leave a lasting impression.

I want to keep trying new authors (especially since so many of my favorite authors have left the genre) but it's hard to find something new when so many authors are content with the same-old-same-old.

On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

I've been hearing a lot about this book so I was intrigued...

On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves
(2012, Contemporary)  1/11/13
Grade: 3.5

Thirty year old English teacher Anna Emerson is planning the spend the summer tutoring sixteen year old T.J.  Callahan - but when their plane crashes, they end up marooned on a desert island.  At first they struggle to find food and water and shelter, but as weeks turn to months and years, they begin to turn to each other for more than friendship.

This was an intriguing story that never quite gelled for me.  The storyline was fascinating but the characters weren’t very emotionally developed.  It felt more like a narration of a series of events - this happened and then this happened and then this happened, like a child telling a story.  But the characters never really developed beyond their initial sketches - we were told that they were in love but it just didn’t feel real.  I gave it a slight boost in the rating because it was very readable and I wanted to find out what happened, but I just didn’t find the characters and the romance particularly compelling.  I wanted more.

Interesting that this book has gotten so much attention - it has a great "hook" but I found the writing a bit amateurish.  It felt like the YA books I read when I was in high school.  But I'm pleased to see a self-published author find success. 

Confessions from an Arranged Marriage by Miranda Neville

Sometimes I think I'm getting jaded, that I've read so many romances that nothing can excite me any more.  It's great to see a relatively new author who can write a classic story and do it so well!

Confessions from an Arranged Marriage by Miranda Neville
(2012, Regency Historical)  1/9/13
Grade: 4.5

Minerva Montrose has plans to marry an aspiring politician and become a political wife - but her plans are ruined when she is caught with Lord Blakeney, who is well known for caring for nothing but horses and frivolity.  But they decide to make the best of their marriage.  Miranda decides she can make Blakeney into the husband she wants - but Blake is hiding a secret that might upend their promising relationship.

The last few books I’ve read have been unconventional romances.  This story is much more conventional - but it was still completely enjoyable.  This book shows that a well constructed story and well written characters can still surprise and delight, even in 2012.  Blake’s “secret” was fairly predictable (almost a cliché by this point in romance) but the political setting was unusual, and the characters made the traditional story come alive.  Even the love scenes felt special, not just the same-old-same-old.  One of the best books of 2012.  

When I first started reading this, I was still caught up in my last book and wasn't expecting much.  But this book pulled me in and I finished it in less than a day!  This was almost a keeper. 

My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin

I always appreciate an author who chooses an unusual setting - especially if she can also write a good romance.  All too often it's one or the other.  (And kudos to Harlequin for continuing to publish these kinds of books.)

My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin
(2012, China)  1/8/13
Grade: 4.5

Fei Long has a problem - he is expected to deliver his sister Pearl as a bride for a distant leader, but she has run away to marry her lover.  But when he meets spirited tea girl Yan Lin, he sees an opportunity.  He can teach Yan Lin to act like a lady and send her in Pearl’s place.  But as they spend time together, Fei Long begins to see Yan Lin in a new light - and dream of making a life with her himself.

Set in 9th century China, this was a unique and fascinating book that took a completely alien setting (at least compared to most romances) and made it feel universal.  The slowly developing relationship between Fei Long and Yan Lin was well written and compelling - I couldn’t figure out how they were going to make things work, and I was eagerly turning the pages to find out what would happen.  The book was somewhat slow to develop, but the story was well worth the wait.  Excellent! 

I'm curious to find out if Lin writes a book about the character who ends up in the arranged marriage - sounds like an interesting story! 

A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant

One of my New Year's resolutions is to read at least an hour a day - hopefully that will make quick work of my remaining 2012 books.

A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant
(2012, Regency Historical)  1/4/13
Grade: 4.5

Will Brashear is trying to win enough money gambling to help the widow of one of his men from the army, when he is distracted by Lydia Slaughter, the mistress of another player.  He is more intrigued when he realizes Lydia is an excellent gambler herself.  Although at first they are at odds, he and Lydia form an alliance - she needs to save up enough money to free herself from her protector.  But it soon becomes more than a business partnership.  

An intriguing story with completely unique characters.  Lydia and Will do not fit any of the romance stereotypes - especially Lydia, who is the complete opposite of a typical romance heroine - neither virgin or victim.  I enjoyed reading about Lydia’s tactical plans to free herself from her situation - without depending on anyone to rescue her.  I found Will more problematic - his heart was in the right place but sometimes I wanted to thwack him on the head for his brainless actions.  The pacing was also a bit off - I found myself skimming through a multi-chapter sex scene that didn’t really add much to the story, and the ending felt rushed - but the author is improving in this respect.  Her last book had a lot more problems with pacing.  Overall, this was a worthwhile and interesting read that kept me turning the pages.

I definitely had some issues with this book as I was reading it, but it was such an interesting change of pace that I had to give it a few bonus points.

Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey

I was looking for a holiday novella and this one seemed like fun.  Plus I'd been wanting to try out Shannon Stacey.

Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey
(2010, Contemporary)  1/2/12
Grade: 3.5

Chloe Burke is back in her small hometown, housesitting for her parents in the weeks before Christmas.  She decides to upgrade her parents’ electrical wiring as a Christmas present, which means spending a lot of time with local electrician Scott Quinn - who has grown up nicely since they were in high school together.  The job soon turns to a holiday fling - but it couldn’t lead anywhere, since he’s a small town boy and she’s a city girl.

This was a cute and sexy holiday story.  The writing was great and the tone was perfect for a holiday novella - fun, light, sexy.  The problem was the message, which was larded on a bit too thick - small town good, big city bad, girls who like the big city are eeee-vvvvillll.  By the end of this fairly short novella, I was ready to gag (and I like small towns in moderate doses!)  I’ve heard a lot of good things about Shannon Stacey but if this is her typical storyline, I think I’ll pass. 

What is it with romance authors and small towns?  I don't even like the city that much but after reading one of these "small towns are perfect, cities are awful" stories, I want to stab someone.  It's a tribute to Shannon Stacey's writing style that I liked this story as much as I did. 

About Last Night by Ruthie Knox

Yay - a great book from 2012!  (If only I'd actually read it in 2012 - continuing my track record of never reading books in the year they come out.)

About Last Night by Ruthie Knox
(2012, Contemporary)  1/2/12
Grade: 4.5

Cath Talarico is determined to stay on the straight and narrow - to stick to “new Cath” and not slip back into bad habits.  But when she ends up spending the night with the handsome banker from her daily commute, she finds that she can’t resist a little bit of bad.  Neville Chamberlain has a straight laced exterior, but underneath he wants to break free.  Mary Catherine is just the woman he’s been looking for.

A great book with a refreshingly contemporary voice.  The characters were unique, especially Cath with her tattoos and troubled past.  It was great to read about a character who had a difficult past and yet wasn’t portrayed as a victim.  The book faltered a bit in the middle, with too many sex scenes and not enough character development, but it found its voice again in the last third and finished strongly.  I’ll be looking for more books by Ruthie Knox.   

Interesting that Loveswept has been revived - in name at least.  Anything that encourages more great contemporaries! 

Best Reads of 2012

This was a strange reading year for me.  I read 63 books and had 7 excellent reads - not bad.  But all but one of those books were published in the 1990's.  I read 17 books published in 2012, and while most of them were good-to-very-good, none of them were excellent.  (I had quite a few "did not finish" books this year too, so my ratio of good to bad books is worse than it seems by the books I included in the blog.)  I still have a half dozen 2012 books in my TBR pile and a few more on my Amazon wish list, so maybe I'll find a gem or two in there.

My best reads of the year:

A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant (2011)
The Doctor's Wife by Cheryl St. John (1999)
This Is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland (1997)
Heart of Deception by Taylor Chase (1999)
The Arrangement by Joan Wolf (1997)
The Pretenders by Joan Wolf (1999)
The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne (1997)

On the positive side, this was the year I went "all in" with ebooks.  Except for a handful of Regencies that aren't available in ebook form, I've gone entirely electronic.  It's freeing not to have piles of books everywhere, but I wonder if converting to ebooks has made me more critical.  (Or maybe it's just my "old age".) 

In hopes of many great reads in 2013!
Karen

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

I was looking for a Christmas read and ran across this book by Lauren Willig.  I've never read the Pink Carnation books (the combination of modern and historical doesn't really appeal) but this one was set purely in the past.

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig
(2010, Regency Historical)  12/26/12
Grade: 3.5

Arabella Dempsey is settling into life as a teacher at a girl’s boarding school, but she finds herself unexpectedly caught up in a spy plot - and thrown together with Reggie “Turnip” Fitzhugh.  Things get more complicated when they both end up at a Christmas house party.  Turnip may not be the brightest bulb but he’s determined to protect Arabella and uncover the spies.

This was a fun read with enjoyable characters.  I haven’t read the other books in the Pink Carnation series but this one seemed to stand on its own.  The spy plot was a little bit silly (the business with the puddings went on a bit too long) but Turnip and Arabella were so charming that it was worth reading in the end.  It didn’t make me want to run out and read more Lauren Willig books but it was a fun Christmas read.  

I love a good Christmas house party!