This is another book that was recommended by a friend (and because of that, I slogged my way through to the end.) Unfortunately, it didn't turn out as well as Dirty.
The Slightest Provocation by Pam Rosenthal
(2006, Regency Historical) 6/14/07
Grade: 2.5
Ten years after their marriage, and nine years after their separation, Mary and Kit meet again, and find their sexual attraction is as strong as ever, even if they still drove each other crazy. Their plan is divorce, but can they ever be happy apart? Amid political upheaval, they discover what brought them together in the first place - and might bring them together again.
Very frustrating! I don’t normally care about style, but Rosenthal’s “style” drove me nuts. She writes in disjointed phrases, jumping from present to past, putting in pauses at random, and skipping from one storyline to another just when things are getting interesting. Her self-consciously “literary” style kept me from caring about the characters. For most of the book, I didn’t feel that the hero and heroine had any connection at all, other than sexual attraction. Even when they begin to interact on other levels (200 pages in!), the author kept the emotions from building to a satisfying conclusion, by shifting the focus away from the hero and heroine every time we got a glimpse of their inner thoughts. It’s only in the last couple of chapters that we get any sustained emotional buildup. The political side-plot was interesting (especially in the last 50 pages) but it wasn’t explored in enough detail to really make a difference. I found the book very difficult to finish.
It's rare for me to criticize a book on the basis of style. Even when I recognize the flaws in an author's style, it doesn't usually prevent me from enjoying the book, as long as the characters are good. But for me to enjoy a romance, I need to bond with the characters. To get inside them and understand what makes them tick. A few authors have a style that puts a barrier between me and the characters, and prevents me from getting inside of their skins. Their style may be admirable in a literary sense. (I think Judith Ivory's prose is lovely, for example, but I've never been able to enjoy one of her books.) But it fails for me, as a romance reader, because it maintains this emotional distance.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Sex As Character Development
I don't have an objection to sexy books, but most erotica leaves me bored. If the characters don't interest me, the sex doesn't mean much, and I definitely don't want to slog through 400 pages just to get turned on. So I was skeptical of Dirty by Megan Hart, but it was recommended to me by several friends, so I vowed to give it a chance.
Dirty by Megan Hart
(2007, Contemporary) 6/12/07
Grade: 4
Elle isn’t interested in a relationship. But even though she’s been celibate for 3 years, she’s intrigued and turned on when a sexy guy picks her up, and she’s quickly having kinky sex everywhere she can. But will her sexfest with Dan turn into something more, and can she put her troubled past behind her and open herself up to a real relationship?
The first third of the book was not promising. Even though I understood the point the author was trying to make, it felt like an erotica checklist. “Sex in a public place? Check. Threesome? Check. Frequent use of the c-word? Check.” I can enjoy a hot sex scene, but this felt tedious and repetitive, like homework. The book improved once the author took a break from the constant f-ing and let us get to know the heroine. (The hero is more opaque, although I appreciate a nice guy hero - a rarity in erotica.) By the last third, emotion and character development finally came to the forefront, and I was touched by the heartfelt ending. I have to give the book a fairly high rating, but it’s a combo of 2 for the first third and 5 for the last third.
I love a good redemption story, and in the end, that's what won me over. At heart, this is a story of a tortured heroine saved by the love of a good man. But I wouldn't have made it through the first 150 pages of endless boinking if I hadn't been assured that it was worth the effort.
Dirty by Megan Hart
(2007, Contemporary) 6/12/07
Grade: 4
Elle isn’t interested in a relationship. But even though she’s been celibate for 3 years, she’s intrigued and turned on when a sexy guy picks her up, and she’s quickly having kinky sex everywhere she can. But will her sexfest with Dan turn into something more, and can she put her troubled past behind her and open herself up to a real relationship?
The first third of the book was not promising. Even though I understood the point the author was trying to make, it felt like an erotica checklist. “Sex in a public place? Check. Threesome? Check. Frequent use of the c-word? Check.” I can enjoy a hot sex scene, but this felt tedious and repetitive, like homework. The book improved once the author took a break from the constant f-ing and let us get to know the heroine. (The hero is more opaque, although I appreciate a nice guy hero - a rarity in erotica.) By the last third, emotion and character development finally came to the forefront, and I was touched by the heartfelt ending. I have to give the book a fairly high rating, but it’s a combo of 2 for the first third and 5 for the last third.
I love a good redemption story, and in the end, that's what won me over. At heart, this is a story of a tortured heroine saved by the love of a good man. But I wouldn't have made it through the first 150 pages of endless boinking if I hadn't been assured that it was worth the effort.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Success!
When I started this blog, it was in part to force myself to finish my "TBR bookcase", a collection of "intriguing reads" that I'd been collecting for years. And with this book, I've finally done it!
Some of the books ended up in my trade bag (if I didn't find them interesting after 50-100 pages), but I gave them all a chance. And I'm thrilled that I finally reached my goal.
Of course, I still have lots of books to read. I have more than 20 boxes of books in one of my closets! 1450 books in total! That should keep me busy for a long time. I have a lot more reading to do...
Best For Last
Although this book didn't quite make it into keeper territory, it's a good way to end my TBR quest.
A Bed of Spices by Barbara Samuel
(1993, Medieval) 6/10/07
Grade: 4.5
In Germany in 1348, Frederica der Esslingen visits the local herbalist, and meets a stranger, a doctor who thrills her mind, body and soul as no other has done before. But he is a Jew, and their love is forbidden. As Rica struggles with her obligations to her father and sister, the plague threatens, and Solomon doubts they can ever be together, despite their passion.
A rich, exquisitely written story with fascinating characters. The relationship between Rica and Solomon is passionate, but the author also shows us why these two characters have fallen in love. The setting and time period are richly described. The one problem is the pacing. The middle section dragged, with one identical meeting after another, and too much emphasis on the problems of Rica’s sister. And then the final section goes too fast - with all the foreshadowing of the plague and attacks on Jews, it’s skimmed over in just a couple of paragraphs. But the writing and story are so good, I can’t mark it down too much for these minor problems.
I have several Barbara Samuel books in my TBR pile. I hope they will be as rich and satisfying as this one.
A Bed of Spices by Barbara Samuel
(1993, Medieval) 6/10/07
Grade: 4.5
In Germany in 1348, Frederica der Esslingen visits the local herbalist, and meets a stranger, a doctor who thrills her mind, body and soul as no other has done before. But he is a Jew, and their love is forbidden. As Rica struggles with her obligations to her father and sister, the plague threatens, and Solomon doubts they can ever be together, despite their passion.
A rich, exquisitely written story with fascinating characters. The relationship between Rica and Solomon is passionate, but the author also shows us why these two characters have fallen in love. The setting and time period are richly described. The one problem is the pacing. The middle section dragged, with one identical meeting after another, and too much emphasis on the problems of Rica’s sister. And then the final section goes too fast - with all the foreshadowing of the plague and attacks on Jews, it’s skimmed over in just a couple of paragraphs. But the writing and story are so good, I can’t mark it down too much for these minor problems.
I have several Barbara Samuel books in my TBR pile. I hope they will be as rich and satisfying as this one.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Can't Make It To The End
Many readers are tired of Regency London, but I still find it an interesting setting, if the author can make the characters worth reading about.
Deceived by Nicola Cornick
(2006, Regency Historical) 6/8/07
Grade: 4
Desperate to escape her late husband’s death, Isabella looks for a husband in Fleet prison - and finds her former lover, who she left at the altar 12 years earlier. Marcus sees a chance for revenge, but he can’t deny the attraction between them. The more he gets to know Isabella again, the more he finds his anger softening into love.
This book started off with a bang. The characters were strong and well matched, and I loved their sparking back-and-forth arguments. The author focuses on the interactions between the characters, and I settled in for an enjoyable read. Unfortunately, the second half of the book lost the sparkle of the first. First, the characters were separated (emotionally) by misunderstandings, then they abruptly made up and the story shifted focus to the external plot. It wasn’t a total loss, the characters were still interesting, but it didn’t deliver on the wit and character development of the first half of the book.
It's always disappointing when a book starts off at the highest level, but then can't sustain that quality through to the end. Even if the book is still pretty good, it's hard not to be disappointed.
Deceived by Nicola Cornick
(2006, Regency Historical) 6/8/07
Grade: 4
Desperate to escape her late husband’s death, Isabella looks for a husband in Fleet prison - and finds her former lover, who she left at the altar 12 years earlier. Marcus sees a chance for revenge, but he can’t deny the attraction between them. The more he gets to know Isabella again, the more he finds his anger softening into love.
This book started off with a bang. The characters were strong and well matched, and I loved their sparking back-and-forth arguments. The author focuses on the interactions between the characters, and I settled in for an enjoyable read. Unfortunately, the second half of the book lost the sparkle of the first. First, the characters were separated (emotionally) by misunderstandings, then they abruptly made up and the story shifted focus to the external plot. It wasn’t a total loss, the characters were still interesting, but it didn’t deliver on the wit and character development of the first half of the book.
It's always disappointing when a book starts off at the highest level, but then can't sustain that quality through to the end. Even if the book is still pretty good, it's hard not to be disappointed.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Sometimes, It's Enough To Enjoy The Ride
I've been a fan of Laura Lee Guhrke since I read To Dream Again (which is on my keeper shelf). I've been disappointed by a couple of her books, but I was looking forward to reading this one.
The Seduction by Laura Lee Guhrke
(1997, Victorian) 5/28/07
Grade: 4
Although her father expects her to find a titled husband, American heiress Margaret Van Alden is only interested in true love. Trevor St. James doesn’t believe in love, but he does believe in money - and he needs it desperately. So he hatches a plan to woo the reluctant Miss Van Alden - but somewhere in the midst of the adventures, he finds love anyway.
An entertaining road romance with enjoyable characters. Although this book doesn’t have the depth of some of Guhrke’s other books, I found it thoroughly entertaining and zipped through it in one evening. The characters were well written, the dialogue was amusing and the setting (mostly in Italy in the 1880’s) was unusual. I didn’t remember much about the book a week later, but I definitely enjoyed the ride.
I have several more of Guhrke's books in my TBR pile. I hope they are as enjoyable as this one was! It's nice to read a book that focuses on the characters and doesn't spend a lot of time on meaningless side plots.
The Seduction by Laura Lee Guhrke
(1997, Victorian) 5/28/07
Grade: 4
Although her father expects her to find a titled husband, American heiress Margaret Van Alden is only interested in true love. Trevor St. James doesn’t believe in love, but he does believe in money - and he needs it desperately. So he hatches a plan to woo the reluctant Miss Van Alden - but somewhere in the midst of the adventures, he finds love anyway.
An entertaining road romance with enjoyable characters. Although this book doesn’t have the depth of some of Guhrke’s other books, I found it thoroughly entertaining and zipped through it in one evening. The characters were well written, the dialogue was amusing and the setting (mostly in Italy in the 1880’s) was unusual. I didn’t remember much about the book a week later, but I definitely enjoyed the ride.
I have several more of Guhrke's books in my TBR pile. I hope they are as enjoyable as this one was! It's nice to read a book that focuses on the characters and doesn't spend a lot of time on meaningless side plots.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
The Fine Line Between Nice and Boring
I'm always bemoaning the lack of "nice guy" heroes in romance. I'm not a fan of the alpha jerk, and my favorite heroes are the betas. But unfortunately, there's a fine line between nice and boring - the author still has to give the hero and heroine some kind of conflict to keep the story interesting.
Vermont Valentine by Kristin Hardy (SSE 1739)
(2006, Contemporary Series) 4/3/07
Grade: 3
Celie Favreau has come to Vermont to fight the maple borer, an insect that is threatening the maple trees in the sugarbush. The first farmer she meets is Jacob Trask, a gruff but kind man who has spent his life dedicated to his family and the farm. Both the hero and heroine are convinced they’ll never find love because of their work, but they can’t resist the attraction.
At first, this was a fascinating look at maple syrup farming. The details were fascinating, and the characters were likeable and sympathetic, with nice chemistry between them. However, the book started to get a bit dull in the second half. I kept putting it down. There wasn’t any real conflict between the characters, other than some whining from Jacob about how he was “meant to be alone”, and the rest of the book felt rote and unoriginal. I ended up skimming. Too bad, because there were some nice moments in the first part of the book.
I feel like I was too harsh on this very nice, very sweet book. Sometimes sweet is good. But when it takes me two weeks to force myself to finish a book, there's something wrong.
Vermont Valentine by Kristin Hardy (SSE 1739)
(2006, Contemporary Series) 4/3/07
Grade: 3
Celie Favreau has come to Vermont to fight the maple borer, an insect that is threatening the maple trees in the sugarbush. The first farmer she meets is Jacob Trask, a gruff but kind man who has spent his life dedicated to his family and the farm. Both the hero and heroine are convinced they’ll never find love because of their work, but they can’t resist the attraction.
At first, this was a fascinating look at maple syrup farming. The details were fascinating, and the characters were likeable and sympathetic, with nice chemistry between them. However, the book started to get a bit dull in the second half. I kept putting it down. There wasn’t any real conflict between the characters, other than some whining from Jacob about how he was “meant to be alone”, and the rest of the book felt rote and unoriginal. I ended up skimming. Too bad, because there were some nice moments in the first part of the book.
I feel like I was too harsh on this very nice, very sweet book. Sometimes sweet is good. But when it takes me two weeks to force myself to finish a book, there's something wrong.
Tortured Heroine
It's so hard to find an anthology where all the stories are worth reading. Usually, there are only one or two really good stories in an anthology, which is why I hate to spend a lot of money on one. So an anthology in trade size was hard to take! So I read this story sitting in Borders, instead of spending $14 for the whole book. (Even though it was a very good story!)
"Street Corners and Halos" by Catherine Spangler
(in Demon's Delight anthology)
(2007, Contemporary Paranormal) 3/24/07
Grade: 4.5
The heroine is a vampire prostitute who gives men the illusion of sex in return for blood. She was turned in a concentration camp, where her family died. The hero is an angel, who tries to teach the heroine to live again, whether it’s going to a movie and buying a pretty dress, caring for a friend, or taking a chance to be human again.
Although this story is too short, it’s a wonderful redemption story. The heroine is a wonderful tortured heroine - she survives any way she can, but she’s never forgiven herself for surviving when her family did not, and she can’t let herself be happy, even in small ways. The hero is more of a blank slate - he’s good, he wants to help, he’s a hip angel. He isn’t characterized as deeply, probably because of the limited space. But the way he gradually persuades the heroine to find happiness, and forgive herself, is very touching. I love a good redemption story.
Although I'm not a big fan of paranormal, I occasionally enjoy a good vampire story. (I loved Angel, who was the ultimate tortured hero.) Unfortunately, most vampire stories these days don't really focus on the tortured hero aspect, which is why I rarely read them. I enjoyed reading about a tortured heroine vampire, which is a nice change of pace!
"Street Corners and Halos" by Catherine Spangler
(in Demon's Delight anthology)
(2007, Contemporary Paranormal) 3/24/07
Grade: 4.5
The heroine is a vampire prostitute who gives men the illusion of sex in return for blood. She was turned in a concentration camp, where her family died. The hero is an angel, who tries to teach the heroine to live again, whether it’s going to a movie and buying a pretty dress, caring for a friend, or taking a chance to be human again.
Although this story is too short, it’s a wonderful redemption story. The heroine is a wonderful tortured heroine - she survives any way she can, but she’s never forgiven herself for surviving when her family did not, and she can’t let herself be happy, even in small ways. The hero is more of a blank slate - he’s good, he wants to help, he’s a hip angel. He isn’t characterized as deeply, probably because of the limited space. But the way he gradually persuades the heroine to find happiness, and forgive herself, is very touching. I love a good redemption story.
Although I'm not a big fan of paranormal, I occasionally enjoy a good vampire story. (I loved Angel, who was the ultimate tortured hero.) Unfortunately, most vampire stories these days don't really focus on the tortured hero aspect, which is why I rarely read them. I enjoyed reading about a tortured heroine vampire, which is a nice change of pace!
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Eve and Roarke, Continued
I haven't read a lot lately, but I came home from Celebrate Romance with a huge pile of books, so hopefully I'll have more to post soon!
Innocent in Death by J.D. Robb
(2007, Suspense) 3/4/07
Grade: 3
Eve is back again, solving the murder of a friendly teacher who was poisoned for mysterious reasons. Was he as innocent as he seemed? And she also has to deal with the return of one of Roarke’s old flames, who is determined to cause trouble between Eve and Roarke.
Although the mystery was interesting (and a nice change from the conspiracy theories of the past few books), this wasn’t one of J.D. Robb’s best efforts. The “other woman” story didn’t work all that well - it made Eve seem petty and Roarke seem oblivious, although I liked the reactions of Eve’s friends (particularly Summerset!). As always, the book was enjoyable, tightly written and easy to read, but it just didn’t stand above the other books in the series.
Although I don't like most romantic suspense books, I enjoy the J.D. Robb books because they're really police procedurals - more like Law & Order or CSI than the typical "love on the run" romantic suspense book. Unlike many romance authors, Nora Roberts can write a tight procedural mystery. However, it's getting harder to come up with realistic stories about Eve and Roarke's relationship. The "other woman" story just didn't work for me, especially at this point in the series (maybe earlier on when their relationship was newer?). Unlike many online fans, I'm not eager for Eve and Roarke to become parents (I'd probably stop reading if that happened), but it must be a tricky problem for NR to find new obstacles for the couple in every book.
Innocent in Death by J.D. Robb
(2007, Suspense) 3/4/07
Grade: 3
Eve is back again, solving the murder of a friendly teacher who was poisoned for mysterious reasons. Was he as innocent as he seemed? And she also has to deal with the return of one of Roarke’s old flames, who is determined to cause trouble between Eve and Roarke.
Although the mystery was interesting (and a nice change from the conspiracy theories of the past few books), this wasn’t one of J.D. Robb’s best efforts. The “other woman” story didn’t work all that well - it made Eve seem petty and Roarke seem oblivious, although I liked the reactions of Eve’s friends (particularly Summerset!). As always, the book was enjoyable, tightly written and easy to read, but it just didn’t stand above the other books in the series.
Although I don't like most romantic suspense books, I enjoy the J.D. Robb books because they're really police procedurals - more like Law & Order or CSI than the typical "love on the run" romantic suspense book. Unlike many romance authors, Nora Roberts can write a tight procedural mystery. However, it's getting harder to come up with realistic stories about Eve and Roarke's relationship. The "other woman" story just didn't work for me, especially at this point in the series (maybe earlier on when their relationship was newer?). Unlike many online fans, I'm not eager for Eve and Roarke to become parents (I'd probably stop reading if that happened), but it must be a tricky problem for NR to find new obstacles for the couple in every book.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Nature or Nurture?
I've read several of Allison Lane's Regencies and enjoyed them, although her books have a different style and perspective than many Regency authors. (This book references several of her previous books - even including footnotes referring to previous books! - but I was able to follow the story even though I hadn't read all of the previous books in the series.)
Kindred Spirits by Allison Lane
(2002, Regency) 2/4/07
Grade: 3
Jack believes that he’s lost his honor after Waterloo, and is on the verge of suicide when he meets Marianne, the young girl he saved from the French 12 years earlier. She’s been in seclusion since then, afraid of going insane from the memories of her family’s death. Can Jack save her from her uncles machinations - and can she persuade him to live again?
A typically serious regency from Allison Lane. I found the story compelling, although I got tired of the hero’s constant whining about “bad blood” and “lost honor”. But the heroine was sympathetic, and their relationship was believable and interesting. The characters aren’t very emotional, but I was interested to see how the plot would play out and how the characters would react. Lane has a surprisingly dark view of Regency society, and it gives her books an unusual outlook. However, a revelation in the last pages was extremely disappointing - it undercut the entire “message” of the story, and annoyed me. I had to grade the book down accordingly.
I've read several books where the author throws in a "dramatic revelation" in the last chapter, which eliminates a problem that the hero and heroine have spent the whole book overcoming. The heroine doesn't want to marry an untitled man, but in the end she decides that love is more important. And then - poof! - he gets a title. The hero is poor and doesn't want to get involved with the heroine because she's rich. He gets over the problem, and then - poof! - he inherits a fortune.
Authors may think that this makes the ending "even more happy" but to me, it just seems like a cop-out. It makes the hero and heroine's emotional triumph over their obstacles seem hollow. Maybe some people like this kind of ending, but it really spoils a book for me.
Kindred Spirits by Allison Lane
(2002, Regency) 2/4/07
Grade: 3
Jack believes that he’s lost his honor after Waterloo, and is on the verge of suicide when he meets Marianne, the young girl he saved from the French 12 years earlier. She’s been in seclusion since then, afraid of going insane from the memories of her family’s death. Can Jack save her from her uncles machinations - and can she persuade him to live again?
A typically serious regency from Allison Lane. I found the story compelling, although I got tired of the hero’s constant whining about “bad blood” and “lost honor”. But the heroine was sympathetic, and their relationship was believable and interesting. The characters aren’t very emotional, but I was interested to see how the plot would play out and how the characters would react. Lane has a surprisingly dark view of Regency society, and it gives her books an unusual outlook. However, a revelation in the last pages was extremely disappointing - it undercut the entire “message” of the story, and annoyed me. I had to grade the book down accordingly.
I've read several books where the author throws in a "dramatic revelation" in the last chapter, which eliminates a problem that the hero and heroine have spent the whole book overcoming. The heroine doesn't want to marry an untitled man, but in the end she decides that love is more important. And then - poof! - he gets a title. The hero is poor and doesn't want to get involved with the heroine because she's rich. He gets over the problem, and then - poof! - he inherits a fortune.
Authors may think that this makes the ending "even more happy" but to me, it just seems like a cop-out. It makes the hero and heroine's emotional triumph over their obstacles seem hollow. Maybe some people like this kind of ending, but it really spoils a book for me.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Issue Romance
I love a good "issue romance", a type of story that Harlequin Super Romance used to specialize in (and still does, sometimes). There's something compelling about a hero or heroine who is able to open her heart and find love, even while overcoming a personal obstacle.
Warning: there's a bit of a spoiler in the review of this book, although I don't think it's a major spoiler.
The Word of a Child by Janice Kay Johnson (HSR 1009)
(2001, Contemporary Series) 1/27/07
Grade: 4
Three years earlier, a police officer came to her door and accused her husband of molesting a child. It ended Mariah’s marriage, even though the charge was never proved. Now, as a middle school teacher, Mariah has to deal with that same officer to help one of her students - and she finds herself more attracted to him than she’d expected.
An interesting and well-written book, although as is often the case with Johnson’s books, the secondary storyline is more compelling than the romance. I wanted to know what happened to Tracy, the student who accused a teacher of rape, and I was tempted to flip ahead to see how that part of the story would turn out. Sometimes the romance between Mariah and Connor seemed like an intrusion. But both the hero and heroine were well drawn, and they were both nicely mature people, capable of dealing with Mariah’s ex-husband as well as their tentative relationship. It was interesting that the question of the ex-husband’s guilt or innocence is never completely cleared up - unusual in a romance.
I've been looking up some older books by Janice Kay Johnson, since I've enjoyed so many of her books that I've read so far. How nice to have found a new author (or at least, new to me) that I enjoy reading!
Warning: there's a bit of a spoiler in the review of this book, although I don't think it's a major spoiler.
The Word of a Child by Janice Kay Johnson (HSR 1009)
(2001, Contemporary Series) 1/27/07
Grade: 4
Three years earlier, a police officer came to her door and accused her husband of molesting a child. It ended Mariah’s marriage, even though the charge was never proved. Now, as a middle school teacher, Mariah has to deal with that same officer to help one of her students - and she finds herself more attracted to him than she’d expected.
An interesting and well-written book, although as is often the case with Johnson’s books, the secondary storyline is more compelling than the romance. I wanted to know what happened to Tracy, the student who accused a teacher of rape, and I was tempted to flip ahead to see how that part of the story would turn out. Sometimes the romance between Mariah and Connor seemed like an intrusion. But both the hero and heroine were well drawn, and they were both nicely mature people, capable of dealing with Mariah’s ex-husband as well as their tentative relationship. It was interesting that the question of the ex-husband’s guilt or innocence is never completely cleared up - unusual in a romance.
I've been looking up some older books by Janice Kay Johnson, since I've enjoyed so many of her books that I've read so far. How nice to have found a new author (or at least, new to me) that I enjoy reading!
Angst By-The-Numbers
I love a good tortured hero, but that isn't enough by itself for a great read.
The Bride Sale by Candice Hern
(2002, Regency Historical) 1/31/07
Grade: 3.5
After being blamed for the death of his wife and son, Lord James Harkness has withdrawn from the world, even though his tenants see him as a heartless villain. But when he saves Verity from a “bride sale”, he finds himself charmed by her sweetness and generosity. She sees beneath his cold exterior to the troubled but loving man underneath.
Full of angst, but surprisingly, I didn’t connect emotionally to these characters. James is a by-the-numbers tortured hero, but his slowly building attraction to Verity seemed authentic. But Verity was just a little too perfect - she’s loved by everyone and seems to have no flaws. She didn’t have enough personality to really make the story come to life. The depiction of village life in Cornwall was well done, and overall it was an enjoyable read, just not as emotionally gripping as it could have been. I
Surprisingly, I was far more moved by Candice Hern's lighter Regency, Change of Heart. Even though it wasn't as "angsty" as this book, I cared about the characters more deeply.
The Bride Sale by Candice Hern
(2002, Regency Historical) 1/31/07
Grade: 3.5
After being blamed for the death of his wife and son, Lord James Harkness has withdrawn from the world, even though his tenants see him as a heartless villain. But when he saves Verity from a “bride sale”, he finds himself charmed by her sweetness and generosity. She sees beneath his cold exterior to the troubled but loving man underneath.
Full of angst, but surprisingly, I didn’t connect emotionally to these characters. James is a by-the-numbers tortured hero, but his slowly building attraction to Verity seemed authentic. But Verity was just a little too perfect - she’s loved by everyone and seems to have no flaws. She didn’t have enough personality to really make the story come to life. The depiction of village life in Cornwall was well done, and overall it was an enjoyable read, just not as emotionally gripping as it could have been. I
Surprisingly, I was far more moved by Candice Hern's lighter Regency, Change of Heart. Even though it wasn't as "angsty" as this book, I cared about the characters more deeply.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Catching Up
Although I've been reading (some) over the past couple of months, I've been very lax in keeping up this blog. (Is anyone really reading it?) So I'm posting a bunch of reviews at once, and I'll try to do better from now on.
Looking back on my last few reads, I feel like such a curmudgeon. Really, I don't hate romance - I want to find a great book, I just haven't found one in a while.
Her Perfect Life by Vicki Hinze
(2006, Contemporary) 1/20/07
Grade: 3
After six years as a POW in Iraq, Katie Slater returns home, to find everything changed. Her husband has remarried, her children are strangers, and her only ally is her best friend, fellow fighter pilot C.D. Quade. How can she make a new life for herself, reconnect with her children, and come to terms with her experiences as a prisoner?
The first half of this book was emotional and compelling. Katie’s struggle to deal with her memories, while finding a way back to her children and family, was heart wrenching. But in the second half, the emotions started to feel false - more “after school special” than real life. Everything turns out perfectly for Katie - her children quickly fall into her arms, her best friend is conveniently carrying a torch for her, and even her PTSD is limited to a few minor quirks. It was nice to see the heroine succeed, but the sugar was piled on with a trowel in the last part of the book.
I kind of feel like the wicked witch, disliking such a nice, well-intentioned book. But nice is not enough! (I should turn that into a t-shirt...)
Looking back on my last few reads, I feel like such a curmudgeon. Really, I don't hate romance - I want to find a great book, I just haven't found one in a while.
Her Perfect Life by Vicki Hinze
(2006, Contemporary) 1/20/07
Grade: 3
After six years as a POW in Iraq, Katie Slater returns home, to find everything changed. Her husband has remarried, her children are strangers, and her only ally is her best friend, fellow fighter pilot C.D. Quade. How can she make a new life for herself, reconnect with her children, and come to terms with her experiences as a prisoner?
The first half of this book was emotional and compelling. Katie’s struggle to deal with her memories, while finding a way back to her children and family, was heart wrenching. But in the second half, the emotions started to feel false - more “after school special” than real life. Everything turns out perfectly for Katie - her children quickly fall into her arms, her best friend is conveniently carrying a torch for her, and even her PTSD is limited to a few minor quirks. It was nice to see the heroine succeed, but the sugar was piled on with a trowel in the last part of the book.
I kind of feel like the wicked witch, disliking such a nice, well-intentioned book. But nice is not enough! (I should turn that into a t-shirt...)
One Book Too Many
Although I've never been a huge fan of Nora Roberts, I have a few of her books on my keeper shelf. The last of her books that I really loved were the Chesapeake books - I gave two of them a grade of 5, which is almost unprecedented for me. Could a sequel to this beloved series be anything but a disappointment?
Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts
(2002, Contemporary) 1/4/07
Grade: 2.5
In the final book in the Chesapeake series, Nora Roberts tells the story of Seth, the abandoned boy who brought the brothers together in the previous books. Now, Seth is an accomplished artist, who has come home after years in Europe. He’s running from his past - but can he find happiness with flower shop owner Dru Banks, who has a past of her own?
Although Roberts is always readable, this was a tedious book. It seemed like nothing but “the minor problems of the pretty people”. Everyone in the book is practically perfect, which gets boring after a while. The book spends a lot of time visiting with all the characters from the previous books. They’re all happy, wise and very, very nice, of course. Seth and Dru have a few minor problems, but they seem like “much ado about nothing”, especially in the face of all that niceness. I enjoyed the previous books in this series, but this one is more like “old home week” than a real story. Too bad, because I really loved the previous books.
Whenever anyone asks me about the pitfalls of writing connected romances, I'll point to this book. By the time you get to the final book in the series, all the characters are so beloved that you can't do anything but overload on saccharine niceness.
Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts
(2002, Contemporary) 1/4/07
Grade: 2.5
In the final book in the Chesapeake series, Nora Roberts tells the story of Seth, the abandoned boy who brought the brothers together in the previous books. Now, Seth is an accomplished artist, who has come home after years in Europe. He’s running from his past - but can he find happiness with flower shop owner Dru Banks, who has a past of her own?
Although Roberts is always readable, this was a tedious book. It seemed like nothing but “the minor problems of the pretty people”. Everyone in the book is practically perfect, which gets boring after a while. The book spends a lot of time visiting with all the characters from the previous books. They’re all happy, wise and very, very nice, of course. Seth and Dru have a few minor problems, but they seem like “much ado about nothing”, especially in the face of all that niceness. I enjoyed the previous books in this series, but this one is more like “old home week” than a real story. Too bad, because I really loved the previous books.
Whenever anyone asks me about the pitfalls of writing connected romances, I'll point to this book. By the time you get to the final book in the series, all the characters are so beloved that you can't do anything but overload on saccharine niceness.
Another Day In Death
Although I'm not a big romantic suspense fan, I never miss an installment of the J.D. Robb "In Death" series.
Born In Death by J.D. Robb
(2006, Mystery/Suspense) 12/6/06
Grade: 3.5
Another Eve and Roarke mystery. Eve is investigating the deaths of two accountants, who may have stumbled across something shady at work. In the meantime, Mavis is about to give birth, and Eve is warily acting as a birthing coach and hosting a baby shower. But when one of Mavis’s pregnant friends disappears, will Eve save the day?
I’m not sure I can give this a proper review, since I read it at a very stressful time in my life. But it’s a decent entry in the “in Death” series. The original case about the accountants was well constructed. I appreciated the way the murder victims were humanized - they weren’t just anonymous bodies. And of course, the subplot about Mavis and her pregnancy was a lot of fun, especially the baby shower. But having the second mystery link in to the original case seemed too convenient, too coincidental. Usually Nora Roberts writes tighter mystery plots in her J.D. Robb books.
I like J.D. Robb's books best when she writes a really tight mystery - so many romance authors write pathetic mystery plots in their RS novels, but Robb usually does better. This one relied too much on a preposterous coincidence.
Born In Death by J.D. Robb
(2006, Mystery/Suspense) 12/6/06
Grade: 3.5
Another Eve and Roarke mystery. Eve is investigating the deaths of two accountants, who may have stumbled across something shady at work. In the meantime, Mavis is about to give birth, and Eve is warily acting as a birthing coach and hosting a baby shower. But when one of Mavis’s pregnant friends disappears, will Eve save the day?
I’m not sure I can give this a proper review, since I read it at a very stressful time in my life. But it’s a decent entry in the “in Death” series. The original case about the accountants was well constructed. I appreciated the way the murder victims were humanized - they weren’t just anonymous bodies. And of course, the subplot about Mavis and her pregnancy was a lot of fun, especially the baby shower. But having the second mystery link in to the original case seemed too convenient, too coincidental. Usually Nora Roberts writes tighter mystery plots in her J.D. Robb books.
I like J.D. Robb's books best when she writes a really tight mystery - so many romance authors write pathetic mystery plots in their RS novels, but Robb usually does better. This one relied too much on a preposterous coincidence.
Western Romance
Even though this book wasn't everything I'd hoped, I'm still glad to see some genuine Western romances - and Native American characters who are portrayed as three dimensional people.
Twin Willows by Kay Cornelius
(1999, Western) 12/31/06
Grade: 4
When Delaware Indian Silverwillow dies in childbirth, she leaves behind twin girls - Anna, who ends up in a Philadelphia finishing school, and Willow, who lives in a Shawnee village with an adopted mother. Neither knows the other exists, until their paths cross again, in the Kentucky wilderness. Will both sisters be able to find love and happiness?
Although it’s a compelling story about Indians and settlers in the 18th century, unfortunately it lacked romance, since the two main couples spent most of the story separated. The author has a smooth writing style that made the book easy to read, and I wanted to learn more about the main characters. She did especially well in depicting the Indian characters, without turning the whites into one-dimensional villains. But the main story consisted of a lot of “running around” and it got frustrating after a while.
This one gets points for trying something different, even if it wasn't completely successful.
Twin Willows by Kay Cornelius
(1999, Western) 12/31/06
Grade: 4
When Delaware Indian Silverwillow dies in childbirth, she leaves behind twin girls - Anna, who ends up in a Philadelphia finishing school, and Willow, who lives in a Shawnee village with an adopted mother. Neither knows the other exists, until their paths cross again, in the Kentucky wilderness. Will both sisters be able to find love and happiness?
Although it’s a compelling story about Indians and settlers in the 18th century, unfortunately it lacked romance, since the two main couples spent most of the story separated. The author has a smooth writing style that made the book easy to read, and I wanted to learn more about the main characters. She did especially well in depicting the Indian characters, without turning the whites into one-dimensional villains. But the main story consisted of a lot of “running around” and it got frustrating after a while.
This one gets points for trying something different, even if it wasn't completely successful.
Out of Order
I've never felt compelled to read series in order, but I guess it's a little weird to read the first book last.
Open Secret by Janice Kay Johnson
(2006, Contemporary Series) 12/28/06
Grade: 3.5
Although Carrie always felt out-of-place in her family, she never dreamed she was adopted. But when private investigator Mark Kinkaid shows up at her doorstep, she’s forced to confront the truth. But is her attraction to Mark just a matter of convenience... or something more?
The first in Johnson’s series, this is probably the weakest of the trilogy, but still, it’s well worth reading. Johnson manages to avoid (or confront) many of the “adoption story” cliches, and deal with the push-pull emotions of an adoptee with two families. The romance is not as compelling here, although the characters are likeable and well paired, but it takes a back seat to the adoption story. The whole series is well written and easy to read, and well worth reading.
I'm very impressed by Janice Kay Johnson (who I've read a few times before). She writes a lot of baby books, but I'm hoping to find some more gems in her backlist.
Open Secret by Janice Kay Johnson
(2006, Contemporary Series) 12/28/06
Grade: 3.5
Although Carrie always felt out-of-place in her family, she never dreamed she was adopted. But when private investigator Mark Kinkaid shows up at her doorstep, she’s forced to confront the truth. But is her attraction to Mark just a matter of convenience... or something more?
The first in Johnson’s series, this is probably the weakest of the trilogy, but still, it’s well worth reading. Johnson manages to avoid (or confront) many of the “adoption story” cliches, and deal with the push-pull emotions of an adoptee with two families. The romance is not as compelling here, although the characters are likeable and well paired, but it takes a back seat to the adoption story. The whole series is well written and easy to read, and well worth reading.
I'm very impressed by Janice Kay Johnson (who I've read a few times before). She writes a lot of baby books, but I'm hoping to find some more gems in her backlist.
Gothic Revival?
I seem to be reading a lot of gothic-esque books these days. I guess it's become trendy (even though this book is from 1997). But some authors do it better than others...
Annalise by Libby Sydes
(1997, Georgian) 11/13/06
Grade: 3
After the deaths of her other children, Eleanor, the Duchess of Marchfield, sends for her last remaining son, imprisoned in an insane asylum for 6 years. Despite his insanity, she will marry him off to a naive village girl and hope that he produces an heir. But he’s not as insane as his keepers believed - and the village girl isn’t as naive as Eleanor might want.
It started off as an intriguing gothic, in the style of Victoria Holt. Bryson’s struggle to regain his sanity was poignant and Annalise’s strength was admirable as well. But the I hate you - I love you - I hate you - I love you dance went on far, far too long. (At page 300 out of 375, Annalise was still fighting Bryson every time he touched her, and he was still consumed with “animal lust”.) And then both characters turned on a dime, and were devotedly in love, as a convoluted French Illuminati plot threw them together. It was just too much. If Annalise and Bryson had developed their relationship earlier in the story, the book would have worked a lot better.
I loved Libby Sydes earlier book, Until Spring. This one felt... overcooked.
Annalise by Libby Sydes
(1997, Georgian) 11/13/06
Grade: 3
After the deaths of her other children, Eleanor, the Duchess of Marchfield, sends for her last remaining son, imprisoned in an insane asylum for 6 years. Despite his insanity, she will marry him off to a naive village girl and hope that he produces an heir. But he’s not as insane as his keepers believed - and the village girl isn’t as naive as Eleanor might want.
It started off as an intriguing gothic, in the style of Victoria Holt. Bryson’s struggle to regain his sanity was poignant and Annalise’s strength was admirable as well. But the I hate you - I love you - I hate you - I love you dance went on far, far too long. (At page 300 out of 375, Annalise was still fighting Bryson every time he touched her, and he was still consumed with “animal lust”.) And then both characters turned on a dime, and were devotedly in love, as a convoluted French Illuminati plot threw them together. It was just too much. If Annalise and Bryson had developed their relationship earlier in the story, the book would have worked a lot better.
I loved Libby Sydes earlier book, Until Spring. This one felt... overcooked.
Sometimes Sweet Is Good
The third in Janice Kay Johnson's trilogy about a brother and two sisters who were separated after their parents' died. Hard to believe I'd buy a book titled "Kids By Christmas" but everyone needs a little sweet sometimes!
Kids By Christmas by Janice Kay Johnson
(2006, Contemporary Series) 11/11/06
Grade: 4
Suzanne has always hoped to adopt a child, maybe to make up for failing her sister and brother, separated from her at the age of six. But she didn’t expect a troubled brother and sister, who aren’t eager for a new mother. And then there’s her neighbor, Tom, who always seemed so perfect - now she’s beginning to see the real man under the neatnik facade.
I bought this book because it’s the sequel to Lost Cause, a wonderfully angsty character study. This is a more traditional story - Mom finds love with kids and hunky neighbor. But sometimes it’s nice to read something warm and fuzzy, especially at Christmas. The author manages to bring these characters to life, and even though they’re unrealistically nice, they seem like real people. (Even if every problem is solved with a heartfelt talk and sharing of emotions...) I especially liked Tom, who’s the ultimate “nice guy”, but fun and appealing too. A pleasant end to this trilogy.
Kids By Christmas by Janice Kay Johnson
(2006, Contemporary Series) 11/11/06
Grade: 4
Suzanne has always hoped to adopt a child, maybe to make up for failing her sister and brother, separated from her at the age of six. But she didn’t expect a troubled brother and sister, who aren’t eager for a new mother. And then there’s her neighbor, Tom, who always seemed so perfect - now she’s beginning to see the real man under the neatnik facade.
I bought this book because it’s the sequel to Lost Cause, a wonderfully angsty character study. This is a more traditional story - Mom finds love with kids and hunky neighbor. But sometimes it’s nice to read something warm and fuzzy, especially at Christmas. The author manages to bring these characters to life, and even though they’re unrealistically nice, they seem like real people. (Even if every problem is solved with a heartfelt talk and sharing of emotions...) I especially liked Tom, who’s the ultimate “nice guy”, but fun and appealing too. A pleasant end to this trilogy.
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