I decided to jump right back into Balogh's Slightly series, even though I was wary after my bad experience with the last book...
Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh
(2003, Regency Historical) 7/9/2007
Grade: 3.5
Judith Law is on her way to a life as a poor relation. When she ends up with a handsome stranger, she decides to take the chance for one night of passion. But when the stranger turns out to be a neighbor, Rannulf Bedwyn, who is courting her cousin, the situation becomes very awkward. But Rannulf begins to wonder if he’s courting the wrong cousin...
This was a great improvement over the first Bedwyn book. The characters were likeable and the story was interesting (especially after I got past the endless sex scene that started the book). The writing style is smooth and easy to read, and the Bedwyns only make a few brief appearances. My main criticism is that there wasn’t much emotional engagement with the characters - they were nice enough but it didn’t have the emotional impact of Balogh’s other books. I had to downgrade this book compared to One Night For Love or Summer To Remember because my emotions weren’t engaged in the same way. Maybe that means I’m grading on a curve - judging Balogh by different standards than other authors - but I know she can do more!
I'm so relieved that the Slightly series isn't going to be a complete bust for me.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Here a Bedwyn, There a Bedwyn
I've met Mary Balogh a couple of times, once at a tea she gave when RWA was in NYC, and then later at the Celebrate Romance convention. She's a lovely person, who really seems to appreciate her fans. (Just had to start with something nice, since Balogh is my favorite romance author, bar none.)
Slightly Married by Mary Balogh
(2003, Regency Historical) 7/8/07
Grade: 3
When Aidan promised a soldier on the battlefield that he would take care of his sister, he never thought that would mean marriage. As a career military officer and the brother of a Duke, he had other plans for his life. But what began as a matter of honor became something more, as Aidan got to know Eve and her family of misfits and lame ducks.
This book was deeply disappointing. I found it very hard to care about either the hero or the heroine. The hero starts out as arrogant and unlikeable, and for most of the book, there’s very little to his character other than his stiff arrogance. I can empathize with an “unlikeble” hero if there’s something more there, but Aidan just left me cold and uninterested. The heroine was depicted as more “likeable” and sympathetic, but I didn’t get much from her either. She was stereotypical - even her moments of spirit and independence seemed like romance heroine formula. I couldn’t help thinking of other books - by Balogh and other writers - that took similar situations and made the characters sing despite the familiar storyline. This one didn’t. Aidan finally showed some life in the last part of the book, when he tells Eve about his childhood and why he went into the military, but this was 50 pages from the end of the book! Too little, too late.
It's disappointing, to be looking at five unread Mary Balogh books with a feeling of drudgery, rather than the joy and excitement I usually feel. Hopefully I'll have better things to say in my next review...
Slightly Married by Mary Balogh
(2003, Regency Historical) 7/8/07
Grade: 3
When Aidan promised a soldier on the battlefield that he would take care of his sister, he never thought that would mean marriage. As a career military officer and the brother of a Duke, he had other plans for his life. But what began as a matter of honor became something more, as Aidan got to know Eve and her family of misfits and lame ducks.
This book was deeply disappointing. I found it very hard to care about either the hero or the heroine. The hero starts out as arrogant and unlikeable, and for most of the book, there’s very little to his character other than his stiff arrogance. I can empathize with an “unlikeble” hero if there’s something more there, but Aidan just left me cold and uninterested. The heroine was depicted as more “likeable” and sympathetic, but I didn’t get much from her either. She was stereotypical - even her moments of spirit and independence seemed like romance heroine formula. I couldn’t help thinking of other books - by Balogh and other writers - that took similar situations and made the characters sing despite the familiar storyline. This one didn’t. Aidan finally showed some life in the last part of the book, when he tells Eve about his childhood and why he went into the military, but this was 50 pages from the end of the book! Too little, too late.
It's disappointing, to be looking at five unread Mary Balogh books with a feeling of drudgery, rather than the joy and excitement I usually feel. Hopefully I'll have better things to say in my next review...
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Balogh's Strength
One thing that I love about Balogh is that she can write a book that's focused on characters - she doesn't feel the need to throw in spy plots and adventure stories, but trusts that the hero and heroine can carry a book on their own. Whenever I hear criticisms of Balogh's books being "all the same", I don't really understand it - to me, it's the endless spy stories and suspense plots that seem "all the same". Character-based stories are always different, because each character has a different way of looking at the world and interacting with people.
A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh
(2002, Regency Historical) 7/4/07
Grade: 4
Although Lauren always thought of herself as the perfect lady, she’s wondering what comes next, after being left at the altar. Kit Butler is dangerous and exciting - the man her family warns her against. But maybe Kit can give her a summer of adventures and excitement, before she resigns herself to life as a spinster - but love isn’t part of the bargain.
There is a lot to like in this book. Kit and Lauren are sympathetic and charming characters, and their interplay is a lot of fun. Although the book starts off a bit slowly, as Lauren and Kit spend more time together, their interactions become more and more fun. The family dynamics of Kit’s family are reminiscent of The Temporary Wife (although not quite as touching). The problems are relatively minor. There are a lot of secondary characters (it’s hard to keep track of everyone) - in particular, the Bedwyns, who the author keeps throwing into the book even when it doesn’t seem necessary. I felt pulled out of the story every time the author extolled the virtues of the Bedwyns. However, Lauren and Kit’s happy ending left me with a smile on my face.
Although I'm determined to read the Slightly series next, nothing in this book attracted me to the Bedwyns or made me eager to read their stories. Even though the author was plainly "advertising" her next book when she introduced the Bedwyns, they didn't seem particularly sympathetic. It was almost as if she was daring the reader - "I'm going to write about unsympathetic, arrogant people, and you're going to LIKE IT." An odd approach for Balogh.
A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh
(2002, Regency Historical) 7/4/07
Grade: 4
Although Lauren always thought of herself as the perfect lady, she’s wondering what comes next, after being left at the altar. Kit Butler is dangerous and exciting - the man her family warns her against. But maybe Kit can give her a summer of adventures and excitement, before she resigns herself to life as a spinster - but love isn’t part of the bargain.
There is a lot to like in this book. Kit and Lauren are sympathetic and charming characters, and their interplay is a lot of fun. Although the book starts off a bit slowly, as Lauren and Kit spend more time together, their interactions become more and more fun. The family dynamics of Kit’s family are reminiscent of The Temporary Wife (although not quite as touching). The problems are relatively minor. There are a lot of secondary characters (it’s hard to keep track of everyone) - in particular, the Bedwyns, who the author keeps throwing into the book even when it doesn’t seem necessary. I felt pulled out of the story every time the author extolled the virtues of the Bedwyns. However, Lauren and Kit’s happy ending left me with a smile on my face.
Although I'm determined to read the Slightly series next, nothing in this book attracted me to the Bedwyns or made me eager to read their stories. Even though the author was plainly "advertising" her next book when she introduced the Bedwyns, they didn't seem particularly sympathetic. It was almost as if she was daring the reader - "I'm going to write about unsympathetic, arrogant people, and you're going to LIKE IT." An odd approach for Balogh.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Why I'm Not A Mystery Reader
I spent the morning at the auto repair shop and the afternoon at the unemployment office - what a day! But at least I got to read something good to take my mind off of everything.
Still Life With Murder by P.B. Ryan
(2003, 1860's Boston) 7/2/07
Grade: 4
After a childhood in poverty, Nell Sweeney has ended up as a governess in an upper class Boston household. But when Viola Hewitt’s son is accused of murder (although he was believed dead at Andersonville), she begs Nell to find out what really happened. Nell finds herself drawn into a world of opium addiction, crime and pain - a world she’d tried to escape.
A detailed depiction of the social world of upper class Boston in the late 1860’s. Nell is an interesting character, and her observations bring the setting to life. The author also brings in fascinating side issues - opium addiction among former soldiers, the horrors of Andersonville - and ties them neatly into a well drawn mysery. The main problem of the book is the character of Will - he’s just as interesting as Nell, but he’s kept at arms length throughout the book, and we don’t really see what draws him to Nell, or much about their relationship. Although I found the book interesting, it felt somewhat incomplete.
I find most "hybrid" books unsatisfying. I get frustrated because it feels like neither the mysery or the relationship is fully formed. The best part of this book was the deftly realized setting. The mystery was OK, but it was fairly simple and the resolution fell a bit flat. The relationship felt like just a taste - not enough to really get the full flavor and depth.
Back when I read mysteries, the ones I preferred were puzzle mysteries, like Agatha Christie. The reader has to figure out a complicated, detailed puzzle and put all the pieces together before the detective. But those types of stories don't seem that popular any more. So I'll stick with romance.
Still Life With Murder by P.B. Ryan
(2003, 1860's Boston) 7/2/07
Grade: 4
After a childhood in poverty, Nell Sweeney has ended up as a governess in an upper class Boston household. But when Viola Hewitt’s son is accused of murder (although he was believed dead at Andersonville), she begs Nell to find out what really happened. Nell finds herself drawn into a world of opium addiction, crime and pain - a world she’d tried to escape.
A detailed depiction of the social world of upper class Boston in the late 1860’s. Nell is an interesting character, and her observations bring the setting to life. The author also brings in fascinating side issues - opium addiction among former soldiers, the horrors of Andersonville - and ties them neatly into a well drawn mysery. The main problem of the book is the character of Will - he’s just as interesting as Nell, but he’s kept at arms length throughout the book, and we don’t really see what draws him to Nell, or much about their relationship. Although I found the book interesting, it felt somewhat incomplete.
I find most "hybrid" books unsatisfying. I get frustrated because it feels like neither the mysery or the relationship is fully formed. The best part of this book was the deftly realized setting. The mystery was OK, but it was fairly simple and the resolution fell a bit flat. The relationship felt like just a taste - not enough to really get the full flavor and depth.
Back when I read mysteries, the ones I preferred were puzzle mysteries, like Agatha Christie. The reader has to figure out a complicated, detailed puzzle and put all the pieces together before the detective. But those types of stories don't seem that popular any more. So I'll stick with romance.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
With a Bow on Top
Mary Balogh is one of my favorite authors, but I've gotten terribly behind in reading her books. I guess I took them for granted and let them languish on my bookshelves. It's nice to come back to an author who I always enjoy.
One Night For Love by Mary Balogh
(1999, Regency Historical) 7/1/07
Grade: 4
As Neville Wyatt, the Earl of Kilbourne, stands in the church on his wedding day, an unexpected guest appears. It’s his wife, Lily Doyle, the soldier’s daughter that he married in Portugal. He believed her dead years ago. Although their marriage was one of necessity, Neville grew to love Lily and her untamed spirit - but will that be enough for the wife of an Earl?
Balogh does a good job (as always) in depicting Regency society. Many romance characters seem to live in a void, but Balogh’s characters must deal with the strictures and rules of the society in which they live. Lily’s difficulties in adapting to those rules is described in detail, and it made the characters seem real. The relationship between the hero and heroine seeemed a bit impersonal at first, but it became more interesting as the book continued. The main problem was the convenient revelation in the last section of the book, which made many of Lily and Neville’s problems disappear. Although it was foreshadowed from the beginning, it seemed like a cheat - making Lily’s struggles and triumphs seem empty. I’m not marking down the grade as far as I might have, because there is a sweetness to the resolution - it gives two of the secondary characters a happy ending - but it definitely lessened the book’s power for me.
I've ranted about this topic before, but I'll add a few more thoughts. Recently, there's been a lot of talk online about the HEA - is it really required for romance? I think so. But that doesn't mean that everything has to be tied up perfectly with a bow on top. I want the hero and heroine to end the book together, happy and in love. But all their problems don't have to be magically solved. To me, a happy ending has more emotional impact if the hero and heroine overcome their problems through their love for each other - not by the author's "deus ex machina" eliminating the obstacles.
I feel a little bit insulted as a romance reader when I get an ending like this - as if the author thinks I can't appreciate a happy ending if it doesn't come with a pile of money and a fancy title for the characters.
One Night For Love by Mary Balogh
(1999, Regency Historical) 7/1/07
Grade: 4
As Neville Wyatt, the Earl of Kilbourne, stands in the church on his wedding day, an unexpected guest appears. It’s his wife, Lily Doyle, the soldier’s daughter that he married in Portugal. He believed her dead years ago. Although their marriage was one of necessity, Neville grew to love Lily and her untamed spirit - but will that be enough for the wife of an Earl?
Balogh does a good job (as always) in depicting Regency society. Many romance characters seem to live in a void, but Balogh’s characters must deal with the strictures and rules of the society in which they live. Lily’s difficulties in adapting to those rules is described in detail, and it made the characters seem real. The relationship between the hero and heroine seeemed a bit impersonal at first, but it became more interesting as the book continued. The main problem was the convenient revelation in the last section of the book, which made many of Lily and Neville’s problems disappear. Although it was foreshadowed from the beginning, it seemed like a cheat - making Lily’s struggles and triumphs seem empty. I’m not marking down the grade as far as I might have, because there is a sweetness to the resolution - it gives two of the secondary characters a happy ending - but it definitely lessened the book’s power for me.
I've ranted about this topic before, but I'll add a few more thoughts. Recently, there's been a lot of talk online about the HEA - is it really required for romance? I think so. But that doesn't mean that everything has to be tied up perfectly with a bow on top. I want the hero and heroine to end the book together, happy and in love. But all their problems don't have to be magically solved. To me, a happy ending has more emotional impact if the hero and heroine overcome their problems through their love for each other - not by the author's "deus ex machina" eliminating the obstacles.
I feel a little bit insulted as a romance reader when I get an ending like this - as if the author thinks I can't appreciate a happy ending if it doesn't come with a pile of money and a fancy title for the characters.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Rich In History
At one time, I loved to read sagas and complex historical fiction. Unfortunately, I now find it hard to lose myself in long, dense historical reads these days. It's hard to really be immersed in another time and place, when there's always a voice in the back of my head saying "you have a report due, you should be working!" or "the rent is due next week and you haven't balanced your checkbook!" or "the kitchen is a mess and you need to clean it up before work tomorrow!". I guess that's why I prefer the more direct, get-to-the-point emotions of romance these days. I sometimes feel nostalgic for the days when I could lose myself in colonial India for 1500 pages and never worry about anything except how long summer vacation would last...
The Dark Queen by Susan Carroll
(2005, Renaissance) 6/18/07
Grade: 4
Ariane, the Lady of Faire Isle, is renowned for her magical talents, which she uses for good. But when Justice, the compte de Renard, wants to marry her, she is skeptical of his motives. She vows never to use the magical ring that binds them. but as she is drawn into the court intrigue of Catherine de Medici, she must depend on Renard’s strenth, and his love.
Set in France in 1572, this book skillfully blends historical fact and fiction (including witchcraft) to create a dark and intriguing story that is heavier on history than it is on romance. The author creates a world that always feels real, and is rich in historical detail. The relationship between Ariane and Justice is intriguing at first, but as the book continues, it takes a back seat to the historical intrigue and the relationship between Ariane and her sisters (who are set up for future books). The book is also a bit over-long, at least from my perspective, and I got a bit bogged down in the middle section. However, these are fairly minor problems, and I found it a rich and rewarding read overall.
I also regretfully sent a couple of recent and noteable books to the trade pile over the last couple of days - Games of Pleasure by Julia Ross (which had an intriguing storyline, but the characters seemed more like cardboard cutouts than real people) and Scandalous Lovers by Robin Schone (another intriguing storyline, but it felt more like a lecture on Victorian sexual attitudes than a book about real characters). I tossed both of them after reading about 100 pages, much to my disappointment.
The Dark Queen by Susan Carroll
(2005, Renaissance) 6/18/07
Grade: 4
Ariane, the Lady of Faire Isle, is renowned for her magical talents, which she uses for good. But when Justice, the compte de Renard, wants to marry her, she is skeptical of his motives. She vows never to use the magical ring that binds them. but as she is drawn into the court intrigue of Catherine de Medici, she must depend on Renard’s strenth, and his love.
Set in France in 1572, this book skillfully blends historical fact and fiction (including witchcraft) to create a dark and intriguing story that is heavier on history than it is on romance. The author creates a world that always feels real, and is rich in historical detail. The relationship between Ariane and Justice is intriguing at first, but as the book continues, it takes a back seat to the historical intrigue and the relationship between Ariane and her sisters (who are set up for future books). The book is also a bit over-long, at least from my perspective, and I got a bit bogged down in the middle section. However, these are fairly minor problems, and I found it a rich and rewarding read overall.
I also regretfully sent a couple of recent and noteable books to the trade pile over the last couple of days - Games of Pleasure by Julia Ross (which had an intriguing storyline, but the characters seemed more like cardboard cutouts than real people) and Scandalous Lovers by Robin Schone (another intriguing storyline, but it felt more like a lecture on Victorian sexual attitudes than a book about real characters). I tossed both of them after reading about 100 pages, much to my disappointment.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Change Of Pace
This was another recommended book, and it was definitely a change of pace compared to my last couple of books!
Heavens to Betsy by Beth Pattillo
(2005, Contemporary) 6/15/07
Grade: 4
It’s not easy being a single and female, especially when you’re a minister (and your congregation isn’t quite sure they want a woman in the pulpit). Betsy Blessing thinks the time may have come to leave the ministry and go to law school, but her friend David disagrees - and Betsy finds herself having unexpected feelings for him, just at the wrong time!
An amusing chick lit book, with a twist. It features a heroine who happens to be a minister, not a proseletizer who happens to be a character in a book. That made the heroine much more real (and funny). Betsy is a great character, and it’s an interesting look into the life of a single, female minister who is trying to balance the different part of her life. Her relationship with David is only part of her life, and he’s not as well rounded as a character as she is. (It’s a chick lit book in the first person, so that’s to be expected, but I would have liked some of his perspective.) This book was very easy and fun to read (I finished it in just a couple of hours) - it wasn’t necessarily deep with emotion, but it was enjoyable.
After two very sex-heavy, dark books, it was nice to read something light and sex free!
Heavens to Betsy by Beth Pattillo
(2005, Contemporary) 6/15/07
Grade: 4
It’s not easy being a single and female, especially when you’re a minister (and your congregation isn’t quite sure they want a woman in the pulpit). Betsy Blessing thinks the time may have come to leave the ministry and go to law school, but her friend David disagrees - and Betsy finds herself having unexpected feelings for him, just at the wrong time!
An amusing chick lit book, with a twist. It features a heroine who happens to be a minister, not a proseletizer who happens to be a character in a book. That made the heroine much more real (and funny). Betsy is a great character, and it’s an interesting look into the life of a single, female minister who is trying to balance the different part of her life. Her relationship with David is only part of her life, and he’s not as well rounded as a character as she is. (It’s a chick lit book in the first person, so that’s to be expected, but I would have liked some of his perspective.) This book was very easy and fun to read (I finished it in just a couple of hours) - it wasn’t necessarily deep with emotion, but it was enjoyable.
After two very sex-heavy, dark books, it was nice to read something light and sex free!
Frustrating, Frustrating, Frustrating
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.
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.
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.
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