I picked this one up at Christmas time, but never got around to reading it.
Christmas Keepsakes (Anthology)
containing "A Handful of Gold" by Mary Balogh,
"The Three Gifts" by Julia Justiss and
"The Season for Suitors" by Nicola Cornick
(2005, Regency Anthology) 5/13/06
Grade: 3
Balogh: Verity has been forced to become an opera dancer, and plans to spend the holidays with a wealthy Earl. But Christmas brings more innocent pleasures. Justiss: After Miles is injured in Spain, he must make a marriage of convenience. Cornick: Clara needs some advice that only a rake can give - but will she lose her heart as well?
Three short stories, none of them really outstanding. The Balogh story is the best of the three, but even it’s overly sweet, without the sparkle of Balogh’s best stories. But it’s charming enough, and the characters are well written and interesting. The Justiss story started out well, but soon dissolved into misunderstandings. The Cornick story felt rushed, and I felt like I’d started a book in the middle - evidently the characters came from her previous books, which I haven’t read. All in all, not a terrible anthology (none of the stories were bad) but nothing really outstanding, either.
Nothing Balogh writes can ever be called "bad", but I prefer her stories with a little more bite to them. I found "No Room At The Inn", which is very similar, more touching than this one.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Monday, May 08, 2006
Don't Know Much About History
I vaguely remembered that this book was an "alternate history" but halfway through the book, I had to go online and figure out what exactly was changed. I guess I've forgotten most of my Tudor history...
Prince of Hearts by Katy Cooper
(2000, Tudor Historical) 5/8/06
Grade: 4.5
In a slightly altered Tudor England, Prince Edmund meets and falls in love with Lady Cecilia Coleville - but he knows he cannot marry her. Even though they both know their relationship is impossible, the attraction between them keeps growing stronger.. as political machinations play out around them.
An interesting book with a lot of fascinating court intrigue. I barely registered the “alternate history” part of the book (Henry VIII is replaced by a brother who actually died in childhood) but it felt real. I liked the characters, and the sexual tension between them was especially well done. At times, the book felt a little bit padded with Celia’s relatives - even though the barrier between Edmund and Cecilia is real, there wasn’t a lot of story here - but the strength of the characters and the historical background made it well worth reading.
Another book I've been saving for a long, long time: I bought this new back in 2000.
Prince of Hearts by Katy Cooper
(2000, Tudor Historical) 5/8/06
Grade: 4.5
In a slightly altered Tudor England, Prince Edmund meets and falls in love with Lady Cecilia Coleville - but he knows he cannot marry her. Even though they both know their relationship is impossible, the attraction between them keeps growing stronger.. as political machinations play out around them.
An interesting book with a lot of fascinating court intrigue. I barely registered the “alternate history” part of the book (Henry VIII is replaced by a brother who actually died in childhood) but it felt real. I liked the characters, and the sexual tension between them was especially well done. At times, the book felt a little bit padded with Celia’s relatives - even though the barrier between Edmund and Cecilia is real, there wasn’t a lot of story here - but the strength of the characters and the historical background made it well worth reading.
Another book I've been saving for a long, long time: I bought this new back in 2000.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
I Love A Man Who Can Cook
There's something about a man who can cook that just makes my toes curl...
Beauty and the Black Sheep by Jessica Bird (SSE 1698)
(2005, Contemporary Series) 5/4/06
Grade: 3.5
Frankie is about to give up on the run down B&B she inherited from her parents, when chef Nate Walker shows up at her door. She’s desperate to keep the place going for her grandmother and sister, and he needs a job for the summer - but can their attraction lead anywhere, with their future plans taking them in different directions?
This was an easygoing book, and I always like a chef hero. The characters were sympathetic and interesting, and I like the author’s easy style. The sexual tension between the hero and heroine is also nicely done. There was one plot point that kind of annoyed me, but the author didn’t belabor it. Overall, not particularly memorable, but an enjoyable read.
Nice enough, but I can't remember much about it, a few days later.
Beauty and the Black Sheep by Jessica Bird (SSE 1698)
(2005, Contemporary Series) 5/4/06
Grade: 3.5
Frankie is about to give up on the run down B&B she inherited from her parents, when chef Nate Walker shows up at her door. She’s desperate to keep the place going for her grandmother and sister, and he needs a job for the summer - but can their attraction lead anywhere, with their future plans taking them in different directions?
This was an easygoing book, and I always like a chef hero. The characters were sympathetic and interesting, and I like the author’s easy style. The sexual tension between the hero and heroine is also nicely done. There was one plot point that kind of annoyed me, but the author didn’t belabor it. Overall, not particularly memorable, but an enjoyable read.
Nice enough, but I can't remember much about it, a few days later.
A Good Harlequin Presents?
Normally I’m not a big fan of Harlequin Presents - I want to smack some sense into the arrogant heroes and inject some spine into the virginal heroines. But this one was recommended to me some years ago (and has been languishing in my TBR ever since).
Ishbel's Party by Stacy Absalom (HP 943)
(1987, Contemporary Series) 5/3/06
Grade: 4
After a bombing in Beirut, Bethan is under doctor's orders to rest and recover. She’s been working in war-torn hospitals for ten years, since a drunk driving accident that killed a child. She ends up as nurse and companion to Lorna Rushton, not knowing that her nephew was Fraser Laurie, the man she’d loved who abandoned her after the accident. At first Fraser is harsh and unforgiving, but as he gets to know Bethan again, he tries to help her recover from her guilt and doubt - but what about his young, innocent fiance?
The story is typical Presents - the misunderstandings, the other woman, the purple prose, the ending that wraps up everything a little too neatly. But Bethan is an interesting heroine, and most of the book focuses on her journey and her character. The author makes her sympathetic despite her too-perfect innocence. Fraser is definitely an alpha hero, and he's less believable, especially when he erupts with purple prose near the end. But he manages to get over his fits of arrogance without crossing into “jerk” territory. Despite the sometimes over the top story and dated language, I enjoyed it.
I doubt I'll become a Presents fan, but this one was an interesting change of pace.
Ishbel's Party by Stacy Absalom (HP 943)
(1987, Contemporary Series) 5/3/06
Grade: 4
After a bombing in Beirut, Bethan is under doctor's orders to rest and recover. She’s been working in war-torn hospitals for ten years, since a drunk driving accident that killed a child. She ends up as nurse and companion to Lorna Rushton, not knowing that her nephew was Fraser Laurie, the man she’d loved who abandoned her after the accident. At first Fraser is harsh and unforgiving, but as he gets to know Bethan again, he tries to help her recover from her guilt and doubt - but what about his young, innocent fiance?
The story is typical Presents - the misunderstandings, the other woman, the purple prose, the ending that wraps up everything a little too neatly. But Bethan is an interesting heroine, and most of the book focuses on her journey and her character. The author makes her sympathetic despite her too-perfect innocence. Fraser is definitely an alpha hero, and he's less believable, especially when he erupts with purple prose near the end. But he manages to get over his fits of arrogance without crossing into “jerk” territory. Despite the sometimes over the top story and dated language, I enjoyed it.
I doubt I'll become a Presents fan, but this one was an interesting change of pace.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Finally, I Read Liz Carlyle
I've had this book in my TBR since it first came out! And I finally got around to reading it. (That's not a critism of Carlyle, I have lots of great books still in my TBR.)
My False Heart by Liz Carlyle
(1999, Regency Historical) 4/3/06
Grade: 4.5
When Elliot Armstrong, the marquis of Rannoch, gets lost in the rain, he finds himself in the warm and loving household of Evangeline, an immigrant artist with many family responsibilities. He finds himself wanting to belong there, to forget his unhappy and dissolute life in London. But Evangeline has her own secrets, and she’ll need his help to escape.
Although it’s confusing at the beginning, I found myself drawn in by this complex and compelling story. The characters are wonderful, very well drawn and believable. The pacing is a little bit off, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but overall, this book kept me turning the pages. It was like picking up a rich chocolate truffle after weeks of eating Hershey’s kisses.
My TBR is getting smaller, although very, very slowly...
My False Heart by Liz Carlyle
(1999, Regency Historical) 4/3/06
Grade: 4.5
When Elliot Armstrong, the marquis of Rannoch, gets lost in the rain, he finds himself in the warm and loving household of Evangeline, an immigrant artist with many family responsibilities. He finds himself wanting to belong there, to forget his unhappy and dissolute life in London. But Evangeline has her own secrets, and she’ll need his help to escape.
Although it’s confusing at the beginning, I found myself drawn in by this complex and compelling story. The characters are wonderful, very well drawn and believable. The pacing is a little bit off, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but overall, this book kept me turning the pages. It was like picking up a rich chocolate truffle after weeks of eating Hershey’s kisses.
My TBR is getting smaller, although very, very slowly...
A Familiar Story, Done Well
Another older series title - I owe this one to AAR, which recently reviewed it.
A Summer To Come Home by Dallas Schulze (HAR 368)
(1990, Contemporary Series) 4/1/06
Grade: 4
When Jake Quncannon comes back to Riverbend after twenty years, everyone in town is ready to assume the worst. Paige was just a child when he left, but now she’s grown up and is the respected town librarian. But there’s something about Jake that makes her want to take chances, even if it’s only for the summer.
The plot is familiar, but somehow, the author makes this familiar plot come alive. The characters are well drawn and the emotions are real. It doesn’t really matter that the background is familiar. In a longer book it might have become tired, but here, it works. It’s more like listening to an old song you haven’t heard in a while.
The opposite of my last read - the story may be familiar, but the execution makes it worth reading.
A Summer To Come Home by Dallas Schulze (HAR 368)
(1990, Contemporary Series) 4/1/06
Grade: 4
When Jake Quncannon comes back to Riverbend after twenty years, everyone in town is ready to assume the worst. Paige was just a child when he left, but now she’s grown up and is the respected town librarian. But there’s something about Jake that makes her want to take chances, even if it’s only for the summer.
The plot is familiar, but somehow, the author makes this familiar plot come alive. The characters are well drawn and the emotions are real. It doesn’t really matter that the background is familiar. In a longer book it might have become tired, but here, it works. It’s more like listening to an old song you haven’t heard in a while.
The opposite of my last read - the story may be familiar, but the execution makes it worth reading.
Something Different!
Sometimes those old series books can surprise you.
A Time To Sing by Kathryn Belmont (SIM 40)
(1984, Contemporary Series) 3/30/06
Grade: 4
When opera singer Marina is called on to fill in at the Met, she doesn’t realize who much her life will change. Her career begins to take off, and she begins a love affair with tenor Paolo Cortelli. But Marina takes her career, and her voice, more seriously than playboy Paolo, and Marina wonders if she can accept his attitude of “live for today”.
The first half of the this book was wonderful. I felt like I’d been thrown into the world of opera singing. Every detail seemed right, and I was enchanted by Paolo right along with Marina. The book faltered a bit in the second half, when the hero and heroine were separated, and the author depended a bit too much on the “other woman” as a villain. But still, it’s rare to read a book that does such a wonderful job in opening up a new world for the reader - the author gets a lot of credit for that.
How nice to read something unique!
A Time To Sing by Kathryn Belmont (SIM 40)
(1984, Contemporary Series) 3/30/06
Grade: 4
When opera singer Marina is called on to fill in at the Met, she doesn’t realize who much her life will change. Her career begins to take off, and she begins a love affair with tenor Paolo Cortelli. But Marina takes her career, and her voice, more seriously than playboy Paolo, and Marina wonders if she can accept his attitude of “live for today”.
The first half of the this book was wonderful. I felt like I’d been thrown into the world of opera singing. Every detail seemed right, and I was enchanted by Paolo right along with Marina. The book faltered a bit in the second half, when the hero and heroine were separated, and the author depended a bit too much on the “other woman” as a villain. But still, it’s rare to read a book that does such a wonderful job in opening up a new world for the reader - the author gets a lot of credit for that.
How nice to read something unique!
Some Series Titles
I brought a few older series books with me, since they're easy to toss when finished. I had mixed results - there were a few others that weren't even worth finishing.
Beginner's Luck by Dixie Browning (SD 517)
(1989, Contemporary Series) 3/29/06
Grade: 2.5
The hero is a scientist who is staying at his aunt’s cabin for a few weeks. He’s shy and awkward and can’t talk to women. One of his aunt’s friends shows up, and he awkwardly tries to help her, but ends up scaring her more than helping her. Finally, she recognizes his true intentions.
This is a character in search of a book. The hero in this book is a lot of fun. His well intentioned bumbling and awkward attempts to woo the heroine are somewhat charming. But there’s not enough plot to hold this book together, and the heroine doesn’t make much of an impression. There wasn’t enough to hold the story together, even in a very short book.
I have a weakness for scientist heroes, but I wish more of them were better written!
Beginner's Luck by Dixie Browning (SD 517)
(1989, Contemporary Series) 3/29/06
Grade: 2.5
The hero is a scientist who is staying at his aunt’s cabin for a few weeks. He’s shy and awkward and can’t talk to women. One of his aunt’s friends shows up, and he awkwardly tries to help her, but ends up scaring her more than helping her. Finally, she recognizes his true intentions.
This is a character in search of a book. The hero in this book is a lot of fun. His well intentioned bumbling and awkward attempts to woo the heroine are somewhat charming. But there’s not enough plot to hold this book together, and the heroine doesn’t make much of an impression. There wasn’t enough to hold the story together, even in a very short book.
I have a weakness for scientist heroes, but I wish more of them were better written!
And the Third
The third book in Lee's Victorian series:
Nightingale's Gate by Linda Francis Lee
(2000, Victorian) 3/28/06
Grade: 3
The third brother in this series, Lucas, owns a gentleman’s club. His family, especially his father, disapprove of his lifestyle, but when he’s accused of murdering a prostitute, they hire attorney Alice Kendall. A female attorney is rare at the time, but Alice is determined to win the case. But she’ll have to delve into family secrets.
This book is a better mystery than it is a romance. I wanted to find out who committed the murder, and the author takes us through a number of red herrings before revealing the killer. I liked the character of Alice, struggling to succeed in a man’s world. But some of the plot doesn’t make sense, particularly Alice’s involvement with Lucas. It seemed like it was thrown in to make the book “romantic”, but it seemed completely out of character and unprofessional, and the relationship seemed forced. It wasn’t romantic at all. If the author wanted to write a mystery, she should have just written one, instead of forcing a romantic subplot that didn’t make much sense.
I've loved several of Linda Francis Lee's books, but this series was increasingly disappointing.
Nightingale's Gate by Linda Francis Lee
(2000, Victorian) 3/28/06
Grade: 3
The third brother in this series, Lucas, owns a gentleman’s club. His family, especially his father, disapprove of his lifestyle, but when he’s accused of murdering a prostitute, they hire attorney Alice Kendall. A female attorney is rare at the time, but Alice is determined to win the case. But she’ll have to delve into family secrets.
This book is a better mystery than it is a romance. I wanted to find out who committed the murder, and the author takes us through a number of red herrings before revealing the killer. I liked the character of Alice, struggling to succeed in a man’s world. But some of the plot doesn’t make sense, particularly Alice’s involvement with Lucas. It seemed like it was thrown in to make the book “romantic”, but it seemed completely out of character and unprofessional, and the relationship seemed forced. It wasn’t romantic at all. If the author wanted to write a mystery, she should have just written one, instead of forcing a romantic subplot that didn’t make much sense.
I've loved several of Linda Francis Lee's books, but this series was increasingly disappointing.
Second in the Series
I continued with the second book in this series:
Swan's Grace by Linda Francis Lee
(2000, Victorian) 3/27/06
Grade: 3.5
Sophie is returning home to Boston after making a career in Europe as a cellist (albeit one who plays folk tunes instead of Bach). She hopes to see her childhood sweetheart, Grayson, but is shocked to find herself betrothed to him (courtesy of her disapproving father). Grayson still loves Sophie, but doesn’t know how to deal with the grown woman she’s become.
Another book with interesting characters that doesn’t quite work. I liked Sophie and Grayson, and their psychological backgrounds are quite interesting - every character in this trilogy has father issues - but something doesn’t quite add up. Is Grayson a chauvinistic product of his time, or a more free thinking man, willing to accept Sophie as she is? Sometimes he’s one, sometimes he’s the other, and there’s no explanation. I wanted to like this book, but it just felt unfinished.
Like most series, this one started to decline with the second book.
Swan's Grace by Linda Francis Lee
(2000, Victorian) 3/27/06
Grade: 3.5
Sophie is returning home to Boston after making a career in Europe as a cellist (albeit one who plays folk tunes instead of Bach). She hopes to see her childhood sweetheart, Grayson, but is shocked to find herself betrothed to him (courtesy of her disapproving father). Grayson still loves Sophie, but doesn’t know how to deal with the grown woman she’s become.
Another book with interesting characters that doesn’t quite work. I liked Sophie and Grayson, and their psychological backgrounds are quite interesting - every character in this trilogy has father issues - but something doesn’t quite add up. Is Grayson a chauvinistic product of his time, or a more free thinking man, willing to accept Sophie as she is? Sometimes he’s one, sometimes he’s the other, and there’s no explanation. I wanted to like this book, but it just felt unfinished.
Like most series, this one started to decline with the second book.
Always Love Those Tortured Heroes
I went on vacation a couple of weeks ago, which always means a lot of reading! I finally have some new books to add.
Dove's Way by Linda Francis Lee
(2000, Victorian) 3/26/06
Grade: 4
Finnea has spent her life in Africa, and is now returning to Boston to be reunited with her mother. She has no idea how to deal with Boston society. She is helped, reluctantly, by Matthew, scarred and troubled, who she originally met in Africa. Even though they’re both reluctant to let down their guards, they find healing with each other.
This book could have been so much better. The characters were wonderful, but the book seemed underwritten - as if parts were missing out of it. It seemed like the reader was expected to fill in the blanks. There are some wonderful scenes, especially involving the hero’s daughter and Finnea’s grief over her own child. The author does a good job at exploring the psychological backgrounds of the characters, and I always love a good wounded hero and heroine. But the individual pieces just don’t add up to a focused story. This isn’t her best book, but it’s worth reading.
Dove's Way by Linda Francis Lee
(2000, Victorian) 3/26/06
Grade: 4
Finnea has spent her life in Africa, and is now returning to Boston to be reunited with her mother. She has no idea how to deal with Boston society. She is helped, reluctantly, by Matthew, scarred and troubled, who she originally met in Africa. Even though they’re both reluctant to let down their guards, they find healing with each other.
This book could have been so much better. The characters were wonderful, but the book seemed underwritten - as if parts were missing out of it. It seemed like the reader was expected to fill in the blanks. There are some wonderful scenes, especially involving the hero’s daughter and Finnea’s grief over her own child. The author does a good job at exploring the psychological backgrounds of the characters, and I always love a good wounded hero and heroine. But the individual pieces just don’t add up to a focused story. This isn’t her best book, but it’s worth reading.
Catching Up
I've been woefully behind in keeping up with this blog, mostly because I haven't been reading very much! I read this J.D. Robb book back in January, but haven't read much of anything since then.
Memory in Death by J.D. Robb
(2006, Suspense) 1/22/06
Grade: 3.5
Eve is paid a visit by an unwelcome visitor from the past - her foster mother, who abused her as a child. Soon, she turns up dead, and Eve is determined to find the truth - in part because she doesn’t care about the victim and might have wanted her dead herself.
Although it has some fun parts about Christmas, this one didn’t do much for me, for some reason. The mystery part of it just wasn’t that interesting, and I had no trouble figuring out who and what and why. There were some nice character moments for Eve and Peabody (always welcome!) and some between Eve and Mira, but I found it surprisingly easy to put down.
I always find the Robb books readable, but the last couple haven't done a lot for me.
Memory in Death by J.D. Robb
(2006, Suspense) 1/22/06
Grade: 3.5
Eve is paid a visit by an unwelcome visitor from the past - her foster mother, who abused her as a child. Soon, she turns up dead, and Eve is determined to find the truth - in part because she doesn’t care about the victim and might have wanted her dead herself.
Although it has some fun parts about Christmas, this one didn’t do much for me, for some reason. The mystery part of it just wasn’t that interesting, and I had no trouble figuring out who and what and why. There were some nice character moments for Eve and Peabody (always welcome!) and some between Eve and Mira, but I found it surprisingly easy to put down.
I always find the Robb books readable, but the last couple haven't done a lot for me.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
2005 Summary
2005 hasn't been a great year for reading. I didn't get a lot of reading done, and I also didn't read a lot of great books. I only read 39 books this year, compared with 96 in 2004. That's my lowest total since my slump of 1998-1999. (I only read 24 books in both those years put together.) [My total only includes books I finished, or came close to finishing. If I dump a book in the first few chapters, I don't include it in my database. And it's mostly romance and romance-type books: I always read a few other types of books, Harry Potter for example, or "how to" books, but I don't put those in my database either.]
I can't completely blame the books for this, although I haven't really been excited about many books this year. But I think the blame has to go in part to a couple of major projects - Celebrate Romance in the first part of the year, and a job-related research project in the second half of the year. I just didn't have a lot of uninterrupted free time. And when I did spend time relaxing, I was more likely to watch a DVD or surf the internet than pick up a book.
But I think the hardest thing this year was the lack of good reads. That's surprising, because I focused my reading in 2005 on working through my stash of books that I'd set aside as "extra good reads". Favorite authors, books that had been highly recommended, books that got rave reviews. So I'm surprised that I didn't find more gems.
I only had one keeper this year (The Mysterious Miss M by Diane Gaston) and one near-keeper (The Duchess's Next Husband by Terri Brisbin) but that's not unusual - I'm very picky about keepers and usually only have one or two a year. But I had a surprisingly low number of "very good" reads - books that I graded 4 or 4.5. And most of those came at the very beginning of the year, although I had a few at the end as well. I didn't have a lot of duds, but there were a lot of books that were just kind of average. Blah. Maybe that's why I haven't read as many books as usual this year - it's hard to stay enthusiastic when you're reading one blah book after another.
I've also felt the lack of contemporary and series books - I enjoy reading them but I'm finding it harder and harder to find the types of books I like in those settings. As much as I enjoy historicals, I find it energizing to alternate them with contemps and series books, but over the last few years, I just haven't found as many contemps as I'd like to buy, at least ones that fit my rather exacting standards. (OK, I'm picky, I admit it. But I just don't much care for suspense, mysteries, most comedies and baby/child/motherhood/sisterhood books, which eliminates a lot of the field in the contemporary market.)
When I started this blog, I was looking at a bookcase full of "TBR" books. I buy a lot of books, and often I'll put a book aside as a "rainy day" book - any book that has the potential to be really good, so I want to save it for a rainy day. Almost every book in that bookcase had been recommended to me at some point, and I wanted to finally read them. I vowed to read my way through that bookcase before reading anything else or before buying any more books. I've read a few other books in the meantime, but not that many - my book buying has been greatly curtailed this year. But I still have 36 books in that bookcase. (And over 1400 TBR books boxed up in my attic, but I don't want to think about those! They're my "retirement" fund.) So the challenge isn't over yet.
So my goal for 2006: finish those last 36 books. When I do that, I will reward myself with a huge book-buying binge. Free, free at last!
I can't completely blame the books for this, although I haven't really been excited about many books this year. But I think the blame has to go in part to a couple of major projects - Celebrate Romance in the first part of the year, and a job-related research project in the second half of the year. I just didn't have a lot of uninterrupted free time. And when I did spend time relaxing, I was more likely to watch a DVD or surf the internet than pick up a book.
But I think the hardest thing this year was the lack of good reads. That's surprising, because I focused my reading in 2005 on working through my stash of books that I'd set aside as "extra good reads". Favorite authors, books that had been highly recommended, books that got rave reviews. So I'm surprised that I didn't find more gems.
I only had one keeper this year (The Mysterious Miss M by Diane Gaston) and one near-keeper (The Duchess's Next Husband by Terri Brisbin) but that's not unusual - I'm very picky about keepers and usually only have one or two a year. But I had a surprisingly low number of "very good" reads - books that I graded 4 or 4.5. And most of those came at the very beginning of the year, although I had a few at the end as well. I didn't have a lot of duds, but there were a lot of books that were just kind of average. Blah. Maybe that's why I haven't read as many books as usual this year - it's hard to stay enthusiastic when you're reading one blah book after another.
I've also felt the lack of contemporary and series books - I enjoy reading them but I'm finding it harder and harder to find the types of books I like in those settings. As much as I enjoy historicals, I find it energizing to alternate them with contemps and series books, but over the last few years, I just haven't found as many contemps as I'd like to buy, at least ones that fit my rather exacting standards. (OK, I'm picky, I admit it. But I just don't much care for suspense, mysteries, most comedies and baby/child/motherhood/sisterhood books, which eliminates a lot of the field in the contemporary market.)
When I started this blog, I was looking at a bookcase full of "TBR" books. I buy a lot of books, and often I'll put a book aside as a "rainy day" book - any book that has the potential to be really good, so I want to save it for a rainy day. Almost every book in that bookcase had been recommended to me at some point, and I wanted to finally read them. I vowed to read my way through that bookcase before reading anything else or before buying any more books. I've read a few other books in the meantime, but not that many - my book buying has been greatly curtailed this year. But I still have 36 books in that bookcase. (And over 1400 TBR books boxed up in my attic, but I don't want to think about those! They're my "retirement" fund.) So the challenge isn't over yet.
So my goal for 2006: finish those last 36 books. When I do that, I will reward myself with a huge book-buying binge. Free, free at last!
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
The History in Historical
Another "following the drum" book. I've read a couple of Farrell's Regencies and she's a very talented writer. She hasn't written anything in quite a long time, unfortunately.
Red, Red Rose by Marjorie Farrell
(1999, Regency Historical) 12/26/05
Grade: 4
The illegitimate son of an Earl, Valentine Ashton ends up a Lieutenant in Portugal. He is determined to prove himself, and ends up rescuing Elspeth Gordon, the daughter of an officer. They become friends, and through the long winter, get to know each other - but can their friendship become love, as Val investigates a friend for possible treason?
Another excellent depiction of the war against Napoleon, this one with more of an officer’s perspective. This is Val’s story, from his beginnings as an orphaned bastard in England to his struggles with his family and duty in Portugal. The book really focuses on him, and he’s a wonderful hero - a bit tortured but brave and admirable. Elspeth is also a terrific heroine, but she’s a secondary character for most of the book - the focus is on Val and his troubles, and on a detailed depiction of life in camp during a long campaign. It’s only near the end that the romance really comes forward. A book to read for the history, not the relationships.
A bit disappointing, since Marjorie Farrell is known for her deeply emotional Regencies, and I was looking forward to more romance with my history. But it's worth reading for Val's story, even if it's not deeply romantic.
Red, Red Rose by Marjorie Farrell
(1999, Regency Historical) 12/26/05
Grade: 4
The illegitimate son of an Earl, Valentine Ashton ends up a Lieutenant in Portugal. He is determined to prove himself, and ends up rescuing Elspeth Gordon, the daughter of an officer. They become friends, and through the long winter, get to know each other - but can their friendship become love, as Val investigates a friend for possible treason?
Another excellent depiction of the war against Napoleon, this one with more of an officer’s perspective. This is Val’s story, from his beginnings as an orphaned bastard in England to his struggles with his family and duty in Portugal. The book really focuses on him, and he’s a wonderful hero - a bit tortured but brave and admirable. Elspeth is also a terrific heroine, but she’s a secondary character for most of the book - the focus is on Val and his troubles, and on a detailed depiction of life in camp during a long campaign. It’s only near the end that the romance really comes forward. A book to read for the history, not the relationships.
A bit disappointing, since Marjorie Farrell is known for her deeply emotional Regencies, and I was looking forward to more romance with my history. But it's worth reading for Val's story, even if it's not deeply romantic.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
The Dog Makes The Tale
I've never been a big fan of Barbara Metzger - I've read several of her books, but her humor doesn't really work for me, and I find most of her books a bit dull. But people keep giving me her books, assuring me that "you just haven't found the right one yet". This one was most highly recommended.
A Loyal Companion by Barbara Metzger
(1992, Regency) 12/24/05
Grade: 3.5
Fitz is the loyal dog of high-spirited Sunny, and he’s determined to protect her and find her a proper mate. After some false starts, he discovers Darius Conover, a war hero with a bad reputation. Fitz will do anything to see his mistress with the right man - and Darius is just the one for her.
Cute and fun - you don’t read many books that include the dog’s perspective. Fitz’s unique narration kept me laughing, and kept me reading. Unfortunately, the rest of the book wasn’t that interesting - the hero and heroine are kind of bland, and the story runs out of steam about halfway through, even though the book is very short. If it hadn’t been for Fitz, I probably wouldn’t have finished it.
I think this will be my last Metzger...
A Loyal Companion by Barbara Metzger
(1992, Regency) 12/24/05
Grade: 3.5
Fitz is the loyal dog of high-spirited Sunny, and he’s determined to protect her and find her a proper mate. After some false starts, he discovers Darius Conover, a war hero with a bad reputation. Fitz will do anything to see his mistress with the right man - and Darius is just the one for her.
Cute and fun - you don’t read many books that include the dog’s perspective. Fitz’s unique narration kept me laughing, and kept me reading. Unfortunately, the rest of the book wasn’t that interesting - the hero and heroine are kind of bland, and the story runs out of steam about halfway through, even though the book is very short. If it hadn’t been for Fitz, I probably wouldn’t have finished it.
I think this will be my last Metzger...
Friday, December 23, 2005
A Twist On Romancing The Stone
AAR did a recent review of this Harlequin American series title from 1994 - I was looking for a short and light read so I picked it up at the used bookstore.
The Adventuress by M.J. Rodgers (HAR 520)
(1994, Contemporary Series) 12/23/05
Grade: 3.5
Timid librarian Pamela Gibson has a secret - she writes bestsellers about the sexy, adventurous “Roxanne Rainey”, who travels the world righting wrongs. But when she’s bonked on the head during a helicopter hijacking, she wakes up thinking she’s actually Roxanne, and that she and reluctant pilot and pararescuer Skye have to rescue a kidnapping victim in trouble!
A silly-but-fun adventure story, which doesn’t take itself too seriously. The tone is definitely tongue in cheek. I don’t normally like adventure stories that much, but the short length works for it - it’s just long enough to be a fun and frothy read. Roxanne is a plucky, tough heroine who climbs cliffs and dives into Hawaiian lagoons without a second thought - except she can’t figure out why she keeps remembering life as a librarian. Skye has less personality but he and Roxanne have a lot of chemistry together. The ending is a bit rushed, but overall, a fun time is had by all.
Think of this as a twist on Romancing the Stone - an affectionate take-off on the typical romance adventure story. I probably won't remember much about it by tomorrow, but it was a fun way to spend my first day of Christmas vacation.
The Adventuress by M.J. Rodgers (HAR 520)
(1994, Contemporary Series) 12/23/05
Grade: 3.5
Timid librarian Pamela Gibson has a secret - she writes bestsellers about the sexy, adventurous “Roxanne Rainey”, who travels the world righting wrongs. But when she’s bonked on the head during a helicopter hijacking, she wakes up thinking she’s actually Roxanne, and that she and reluctant pilot and pararescuer Skye have to rescue a kidnapping victim in trouble!
A silly-but-fun adventure story, which doesn’t take itself too seriously. The tone is definitely tongue in cheek. I don’t normally like adventure stories that much, but the short length works for it - it’s just long enough to be a fun and frothy read. Roxanne is a plucky, tough heroine who climbs cliffs and dives into Hawaiian lagoons without a second thought - except she can’t figure out why she keeps remembering life as a librarian. Skye has less personality but he and Roxanne have a lot of chemistry together. The ending is a bit rushed, but overall, a fun time is had by all.
Think of this as a twist on Romancing the Stone - an affectionate take-off on the typical romance adventure story. I probably won't remember much about it by tomorrow, but it was a fun way to spend my first day of Christmas vacation.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
An Admirable Read
I have a couple of "following the drum" books in my TBR pile - I'll be interested to see how different authors explore the subject.
Rules of Marriage by Wilma Counts
(2002, Regency Historical) 12/11/05
Grade: 3.5
After four years married to a cruel soldier, Rachel is resigned to her fate, although she defies her husband to save the life of wounded Major Jake Ferguson. When her husband sells her at an auction, it’s Jake who saves her. She and Jake live together on the campaign trail, but when she returns to England, can she continue as his mistress? Or his wife?
This is a book to be admired for its nobility, rather than loved. The characters rarely come to life - Rachel in particular is so saintly and so passive, it’s hard to root for her or believe in her character. The hero and heroine are apart for much of the book, and their relationship seems rote. The book does contain a lot of interesting details about the Spanish campaign and the lives of the women following the drum, but the book is more of a history lesson, with just a small dollop of romance. I enjoyed the history and I'll keep it in mind when I read other books about the period, but I doubt I'll remember the romance. The characters are just too perfect and the story too predictable.
Red, Red Rose by Marjorie Farrell is sitting next to my bed - I can't decide if I should jump right into another "women in war" book or try something completely different.
Rules of Marriage by Wilma Counts
(2002, Regency Historical) 12/11/05
Grade: 3.5
After four years married to a cruel soldier, Rachel is resigned to her fate, although she defies her husband to save the life of wounded Major Jake Ferguson. When her husband sells her at an auction, it’s Jake who saves her. She and Jake live together on the campaign trail, but when she returns to England, can she continue as his mistress? Or his wife?
This is a book to be admired for its nobility, rather than loved. The characters rarely come to life - Rachel in particular is so saintly and so passive, it’s hard to root for her or believe in her character. The hero and heroine are apart for much of the book, and their relationship seems rote. The book does contain a lot of interesting details about the Spanish campaign and the lives of the women following the drum, but the book is more of a history lesson, with just a small dollop of romance. I enjoyed the history and I'll keep it in mind when I read other books about the period, but I doubt I'll remember the romance. The characters are just too perfect and the story too predictable.
Red, Red Rose by Marjorie Farrell is sitting next to my bed - I can't decide if I should jump right into another "women in war" book or try something completely different.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Elisabeth Fairchild: Always a Pleasure To Read
I'm never disappointed by an Elisabeth Fairchild Regency - some are better than others but they're always a cut above the rest.
A Fresh Perspective by Elisabeth Fairchild
(1996, Regency) 12/3/05
Grade: 4.5
Lord Reed Talcott returns from his grand tour to find his best friend and neighbor, Megan Breech, greatly changed. They always shared a love for art, but it seems that she’s grown up overnight! Megan’s first love was always Reed, but he sees her as just a friend. So she’ll have to look elsewhere - unless she can get him to see her from a new perspective...
Elisabeth Fairchild always impresses me with her writing - she is so vivid, and does such a great job at depicting characters in just a few words. My favorite one, describing a secondary character: "The young woman reminded her of a vine. It did not seem to matter that it was always a different fellow, only that there should be someone male to wind herself around." I also enjoyed the way she keeps coming back to “perspective” - for once, a title that really means something! The story here isn’t all that romantic (Fairchild’s characters are always down to earth but I prefer her more passionate books, like Miss Dornton's Hero) but she keeps me turning the pages because I genuinely like these characters and want to find out what happens to them. The ending is a bit muddled, but that's a minor quibble. Her books never disappoint - highly recommended.
I'm crossing my fingers that Fairchild survives the demise of the Regency, and finds a way to write her wonderful books without destroying what's special about them. (Something that too many Regency authors haven't been able to do...)
A Fresh Perspective by Elisabeth Fairchild
(1996, Regency) 12/3/05
Grade: 4.5
Lord Reed Talcott returns from his grand tour to find his best friend and neighbor, Megan Breech, greatly changed. They always shared a love for art, but it seems that she’s grown up overnight! Megan’s first love was always Reed, but he sees her as just a friend. So she’ll have to look elsewhere - unless she can get him to see her from a new perspective...
Elisabeth Fairchild always impresses me with her writing - she is so vivid, and does such a great job at depicting characters in just a few words. My favorite one, describing a secondary character: "The young woman reminded her of a vine. It did not seem to matter that it was always a different fellow, only that there should be someone male to wind herself around." I also enjoyed the way she keeps coming back to “perspective” - for once, a title that really means something! The story here isn’t all that romantic (Fairchild’s characters are always down to earth but I prefer her more passionate books, like Miss Dornton's Hero) but she keeps me turning the pages because I genuinely like these characters and want to find out what happens to them. The ending is a bit muddled, but that's a minor quibble. Her books never disappoint - highly recommended.
I'm crossing my fingers that Fairchild survives the demise of the Regency, and finds a way to write her wonderful books without destroying what's special about them. (Something that too many Regency authors haven't been able to do...)
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Humor is So Subjective...
Every now and then I like to read a funny book, but it's so hard to find one that works for me...
George & the Virgin by Lisa Cach
(2002, Medieval) 11/25/05
Grade: 3
Every year, the villagers of Markesew make an offering to the local dragon - a virgin. When Alizon is sent to the dragon, she changes the rules and manages to save herself (and the other virgins). But when professional wrestler George is thrown through time, she can only hope he can slay the dragon - and save her from a lifetime of isolation.
A cute premise that works at the beginning. I really liked George the wrestler, and Alizon who saves herself from the dragon - and the setup with the virgins was clever. But the book quickly loses its way - it tries to hit the same notes as Deveraux’s Knight in Shining Armor but it just seems to get lost and muddled. There were a few humorous moments, but mostly they fell flat. I lost interest and skimmed through quite a bit of the second half.
I really loved Cach's short story Puddings, Pastries and Thou but her longer books haven't really worked for me.
George & the Virgin by Lisa Cach
(2002, Medieval) 11/25/05
Grade: 3
Every year, the villagers of Markesew make an offering to the local dragon - a virgin. When Alizon is sent to the dragon, she changes the rules and manages to save herself (and the other virgins). But when professional wrestler George is thrown through time, she can only hope he can slay the dragon - and save her from a lifetime of isolation.
A cute premise that works at the beginning. I really liked George the wrestler, and Alizon who saves herself from the dragon - and the setup with the virgins was clever. But the book quickly loses its way - it tries to hit the same notes as Deveraux’s Knight in Shining Armor but it just seems to get lost and muddled. There were a few humorous moments, but mostly they fell flat. I lost interest and skimmed through quite a bit of the second half.
I really loved Cach's short story Puddings, Pastries and Thou but her longer books haven't really worked for me.
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