In some ways, I think series books were more daring in the 80's than they are now. Of course, finding a great series read is always like looking for a needle in a haystack, but it seemed like series books in the 80's were more willing to explore controversial topics and emotional nuances that are left out in so many of today's "baby and cowboy" reads. (Not that there aren't some good ones today, but especially if you don't like kids in your books, it's hard to find them.) Alas, this one had potential but didn't quite add up.
Waiting For Lila by Billie Green
(1989, Contemporary Series) 4/19/08
Grade: 2.5
In Acapolco for a conference, Bill is enchanted by Delilah (and her odd group of friends) even before he gets off the plane. He persues her, and at first Lila goes along, and pretends she’s as carefree as she seems on the outside. But would he still love her if he knew where she came from, and can Lila put the past behind her and leave herself vulnerable to love?
I suspect this book seemed more “daring” when it came out in 1989 than it does now. The hints that were dropped about Lila’s past in the first few chapters were more annoying than intriguing, but I liked Delilah and her interactions with her friends - they came alive and you got to understand Delilah through them. But Lila’s “big secret” doesn’t seem quite so earthshattering as it might have been at the time, and the scenes in the “perfect” Mexican village just seemed trite and cutesy. There was potential here for a meatier read - it’s refreshing to read about a heroine who is bluntly looking for a rich husband, and isn’t depicted as a total bitch for wanting that. I also appreciated that Bill didn’t care about her past. But there just wasn’t enough room in this book to explain her change of heart. Overall, a flawed read that had some good points - if it had been longer and a little more in depth, it might have been very good.
This was originally a Loveswept, but I have the reprint, so I'm not sure of the original series number. It was reprinted when Loveswept started reprinting a bunch of their classic titles in the mid-90's.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Because of You by Cathy Maxwell
Sometimes, with all the emphasis on "new" and "different" in the romance industry, the pleasure of the simple things is forgotten. A traditional story can be just as enjoyable as it ever was, if the story is told well, with believable, well written characters.
Because of You by Cathy Maxwell
(1999, Regency Historical) 4/18/08
Grade: 4
Yale Carderock, the disinherited younger son of a Duke, has returned from exile a successful man, only to find his father dead. Posing as “Marvin Browne”, he collapses at the local inn, where he’s nursed by the vicar’s daughter, Samantha Northrup. But when the villagers insist that they marry, Yale finds the idea surprisingly appealing.
A wonderfully enjoyable book with vividly written characters. The first half, in particular, just sparkled. The reader was given a chance to really get to know these characters, and understand who they were. Thankfully, just when the book seemed ready to go down the familiar road of the big misunderstanding or the big secret, the author had the characters talk to each other (how shocking!), which made the book a lot more interesting. The book bogged down just a bit in the second half, not that it was bad, but just not quite as sparkling and fast moving as the first half. And I can’t say it really moved me, as much as I liked the characters. But I didn’t want to put it down, and I enjoyed every page. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I've been reading romance for more than 20 years, and sometimes after reading a string of cliched books with cardboard characters, I start to think I'm getting bored with romance. But then I pick up a book that does it right, and I'm happy all over again.
Because of You by Cathy Maxwell
(1999, Regency Historical) 4/18/08
Grade: 4
Yale Carderock, the disinherited younger son of a Duke, has returned from exile a successful man, only to find his father dead. Posing as “Marvin Browne”, he collapses at the local inn, where he’s nursed by the vicar’s daughter, Samantha Northrup. But when the villagers insist that they marry, Yale finds the idea surprisingly appealing.
A wonderfully enjoyable book with vividly written characters. The first half, in particular, just sparkled. The reader was given a chance to really get to know these characters, and understand who they were. Thankfully, just when the book seemed ready to go down the familiar road of the big misunderstanding or the big secret, the author had the characters talk to each other (how shocking!), which made the book a lot more interesting. The book bogged down just a bit in the second half, not that it was bad, but just not quite as sparkling and fast moving as the first half. And I can’t say it really moved me, as much as I liked the characters. But I didn’t want to put it down, and I enjoyed every page. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I've been reading romance for more than 20 years, and sometimes after reading a string of cliched books with cardboard characters, I start to think I'm getting bored with romance. But then I pick up a book that does it right, and I'm happy all over again.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth
I remember when this book first came out - readers really seemed to love it and it was listed on many "best of the year" lists. But there were also people who hated it. I always find it difficult to set aside the buzz about a book and not let it influence my reading (especially when a book is either loved or hated) so this one went into hibernation in my TBR pile and didn't emerge until now.
My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth
(1998, Regency Historical) 4/17/08
Grade: 2
Although Lady Caroline Grayson has dreamed of studying botany, her father arranges a marriage to Brent, Lord Weymerth. She hopes to keep their marriage strictly platonic and have it annulled in a few months, but complications keep coming up - whether it’s her attraction to her blunt, mysterious husband, or his many relatives.
Unfortunately, a great disappointment. I’d heard a great deal about this book, back when it came out, so perhaps I was expecting too much. But from the beginning, it seemed like the author was lecturing the reader about how wonderful and brilliant the characters were, rather than showing us. And every few pages, I’d be pulled out of the story by some clanging historical error - I’ve happily read books with major errors - if the book is compelling, I barely notice them, but when a book isn’t good, they start to stand out. (Was “sexy” really a common word in 1815?) I also didn’t find the incessent focus on sex to be particularly interesting (or erotic). But the thing that finally killed the book for me were the many, many plot “developments” that the author kept dropping in the book, rather like anvils. We get illegitimate deaf daughters, evil French spies, troubled estranged sisters, evil mothers, haunting dreams of war - it goes on and on and on. Even though there were some moments of enjoyment in the book, I finally gave up and skimmed the rest.
Most of the time, I don't bother posting about books that I don't finish, but I got over 100 pages in this one, and it was such a popular book in its time - I wanted to include it in my database (and blog).
My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth
(1998, Regency Historical) 4/17/08
Grade: 2
Although Lady Caroline Grayson has dreamed of studying botany, her father arranges a marriage to Brent, Lord Weymerth. She hopes to keep their marriage strictly platonic and have it annulled in a few months, but complications keep coming up - whether it’s her attraction to her blunt, mysterious husband, or his many relatives.
Unfortunately, a great disappointment. I’d heard a great deal about this book, back when it came out, so perhaps I was expecting too much. But from the beginning, it seemed like the author was lecturing the reader about how wonderful and brilliant the characters were, rather than showing us. And every few pages, I’d be pulled out of the story by some clanging historical error - I’ve happily read books with major errors - if the book is compelling, I barely notice them, but when a book isn’t good, they start to stand out. (Was “sexy” really a common word in 1815?) I also didn’t find the incessent focus on sex to be particularly interesting (or erotic). But the thing that finally killed the book for me were the many, many plot “developments” that the author kept dropping in the book, rather like anvils. We get illegitimate deaf daughters, evil French spies, troubled estranged sisters, evil mothers, haunting dreams of war - it goes on and on and on. Even though there were some moments of enjoyment in the book, I finally gave up and skimmed the rest.
Most of the time, I don't bother posting about books that I don't finish, but I got over 100 pages in this one, and it was such a popular book in its time - I wanted to include it in my database (and blog).
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A Regency Charade by Elizabeth Mansfield
I have a bunch of Elizabeth Mansfield Regencies in my TBR pile, and I'm really hoping that at least a few of them are decent! (I enjoyed The Phantom Lover, the first one of her books that I read, but since then, not so much...)
A Regency Charade by Elizabeth Mansfield
(1981, Regency) 4/15/08
Grade: 3
After an arranged marriage and a short time as man and wife, Alec Tyrell discovers that his wife is in love with someone else! He demands a divorce, or an annulment, and then heads off to the army. Six years later, he’s shocked to discover he’s still married, and his wife is determined to stay that way - but was her infidelity real, or just in his imagination?
An almost painful reading experience, at the same time it was oddly fascinating. The whole book is premised on a misunderstanding that goes on and on and on - Alec was so obtuse that it made you wonder about his intelligence and sanity, while Priss was incredibly passive. But the Regency setting is well done, the secondary characters are lively (although paired off a little too conveniently at the end) and for some reason, I kept reading even though I wanted to smack the both of them.
I debated about how to grade this one... it was painful to read but I did finish it, which says something!
A Regency Charade by Elizabeth Mansfield
(1981, Regency) 4/15/08
Grade: 3
After an arranged marriage and a short time as man and wife, Alec Tyrell discovers that his wife is in love with someone else! He demands a divorce, or an annulment, and then heads off to the army. Six years later, he’s shocked to discover he’s still married, and his wife is determined to stay that way - but was her infidelity real, or just in his imagination?
An almost painful reading experience, at the same time it was oddly fascinating. The whole book is premised on a misunderstanding that goes on and on and on - Alec was so obtuse that it made you wonder about his intelligence and sanity, while Priss was incredibly passive. But the Regency setting is well done, the secondary characters are lively (although paired off a little too conveniently at the end) and for some reason, I kept reading even though I wanted to smack the both of them.
I debated about how to grade this one... it was painful to read but I did finish it, which says something!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Mostly Married by Lisa Manuel
Some readers find certain romance conventions - like amnesia - too unrealistic. Even though I know bonking someone on the head probably doesn't take away someone's memory (selectively!), I grew up on soap operas, and I'm willing to go with an unrealistic plot point, as long as it takes me somewhere interesting. I'd rather read a book with an amnesia plot that has something interesting to say, than a book that gets everything right down to the last street name and weather pattern, and features dull, cardboard characters that don't do or say anything worth reading about. (But I'm glad the author didn't cheat on the succession issue.)
Mostly Married by Lisa Manuel
(2004, Regency Historical) 4/13/08
Grade: 4
Lucas wakes up on a farm in Scotland, next to a wife he can’t remember. A year earlier, he’d been washed up on shore after a shipwreck, with no memory, and fell in love with and married Charity. But now his memory has returned, and he must return to his family back in England and his responsibilities as Duke of Wakefield. But what about love?
An interesting and thoughtful book, that was great in the first half and merely good in the second half (but that’s still not bad). Amnesia is a romance cliche, but Manuel uses it as a reason to explore an interesting subject - what happens to a Duke, raised and trained from birth to fulfill his duty, when duty and responsibility are taken away? And what happens to him once they come back, and he has to learn to live with them again? Unfortunately, once the author gets to a certain point in the story, she sort of runs out of steam, and the latter part of the book seems to repeat itself for a while, and then peter out with a suspense plotline that, although well done, is kind of a distraction. And it didn’t have the emotional intensity of someone like Balogh, for example. But overall, it was nice to read a book that was thoughtful and mature, without relying on sex or external plots to fill the pages.
In some ways, this book reminded me of The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh - it didn't have the angst of that one, but it had a similar kind of "family trying to deal with the aftermath" feeling.
Mostly Married by Lisa Manuel
(2004, Regency Historical) 4/13/08
Grade: 4
Lucas wakes up on a farm in Scotland, next to a wife he can’t remember. A year earlier, he’d been washed up on shore after a shipwreck, with no memory, and fell in love with and married Charity. But now his memory has returned, and he must return to his family back in England and his responsibilities as Duke of Wakefield. But what about love?
An interesting and thoughtful book, that was great in the first half and merely good in the second half (but that’s still not bad). Amnesia is a romance cliche, but Manuel uses it as a reason to explore an interesting subject - what happens to a Duke, raised and trained from birth to fulfill his duty, when duty and responsibility are taken away? And what happens to him once they come back, and he has to learn to live with them again? Unfortunately, once the author gets to a certain point in the story, she sort of runs out of steam, and the latter part of the book seems to repeat itself for a while, and then peter out with a suspense plotline that, although well done, is kind of a distraction. And it didn’t have the emotional intensity of someone like Balogh, for example. But overall, it was nice to read a book that was thoughtful and mature, without relying on sex or external plots to fill the pages.
In some ways, this book reminded me of The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh - it didn't have the angst of that one, but it had a similar kind of "family trying to deal with the aftermath" feeling.
The Bride and the Beast by Teresa Medeiros
I started reading romance in the late 80's, when I was a high school and college student, but I didn't start keeping a record of my reads until 1995. (My first database entry - March 9th, 1995, Prelude to Heaven by Laura Lee Guhrke.) Keeping a record helps me jog my memory and remind me of what I've read - but all the books I read before 1995 are a bit of a blur. I know I read quite a few Julie Garwood books, but unlike many romance readers, she was never one of my favorites. I found her books sweet but forgettable. This book gave me that same feeling.
The Bride and the Beast by Teresa Medeiros
(2001, Scottish Historical) 4/13/08
Grade: 3.5
The Scottish town of Ballybliss is haunted by a dragon - a mysterious dragon who lives in the ruined castle and sends demands to the villagers. One stormy night, they decide to appease the dragon with a virgin - hefty, spinster virgin Gwendolyn Wilder. But she discovers the dragon is only a man - a haunted man who hides his face, but thrills her heart.
A cute and charming story that was, unfortunately, rather forgettable. The story was well plotted, with interesting twists that I hadn’t expected. But the characters just didn’t engage my heart. The book felt like a book I’d read a long time ago and vaguely remembered. (An old Julie Garwood, perhaps? It’s much in the same style.) It was charming but still felt a bit contrived and lacking in character.
I can't remember if I've read other Medeiros books - I think I read some of her older books once upon a time (Heather and Velvet and Once an Angel look vaguely familiar) but they obviously didn't make a big impression on me. (I had Yours Until Dawn in my TBR pile until I peeked at the end and discovered a plot point that irritates me every time. So that one went into the trade pile.)
The Bride and the Beast by Teresa Medeiros
(2001, Scottish Historical) 4/13/08
Grade: 3.5
The Scottish town of Ballybliss is haunted by a dragon - a mysterious dragon who lives in the ruined castle and sends demands to the villagers. One stormy night, they decide to appease the dragon with a virgin - hefty, spinster virgin Gwendolyn Wilder. But she discovers the dragon is only a man - a haunted man who hides his face, but thrills her heart.
A cute and charming story that was, unfortunately, rather forgettable. The story was well plotted, with interesting twists that I hadn’t expected. But the characters just didn’t engage my heart. The book felt like a book I’d read a long time ago and vaguely remembered. (An old Julie Garwood, perhaps? It’s much in the same style.) It was charming but still felt a bit contrived and lacking in character.
I can't remember if I've read other Medeiros books - I think I read some of her older books once upon a time (Heather and Velvet and Once an Angel look vaguely familiar) but they obviously didn't make a big impression on me. (I had Yours Until Dawn in my TBR pile until I peeked at the end and discovered a plot point that irritates me every time. So that one went into the trade pile.)
A Splendid Indiscretion by Elizabeth Mansfield
Although I'm a Regency fan, I didn't come to the Regency world in the typical way - I never read Heyer and barely read Austen. My first exposure to Regencies came with the more emotional, romance-y books of Mary Balogh, Mary Jo Putney and other authors. I tried going back to read Heyer, after talking to so many Regency fans who love her, but I find her dry and a bit cold. (And most of the time, I only find her mildly amusing, or not funny at all.) As much as I enjoy the Regency period, I still want the kinds of emotions that I find in later Regency books. Which always presents me with a problem when I pick up an older Regency - will it be a new-style emotional Regency or an old style comedy of manners Regency?
A Splendid Indiscretion by Elizabeth Mansfield
(1985, Regency) 4/12/08
Grade: 3
Everyone considers Ada Surringham a bit bubbleheaded and absent minded, but living in the country with her uncle, it doesn’t matter much. But when she’s invited to London by her godmother, she finds herself kissed by Griff, Viscount Mullineaux, and working as a librarian’s assistant in his house - how did that happen?
A cute Regency “comedy of manners” that unfortunately lacks a bit of romance. Even though Ada seems like a typical TSTL heroine, she’s appealing because she knows it - her struggles to become more responsible and less flighty don’t work very well, but they’re endearing. Griff is less strongly drawn as a character - I was never sure why he was so in love with Ada other than her lovely eyes, although his eventual acceptance of (and amusement with) Ada’s muddles is heartwarming (even though it doesn’t happen until practically the last page). Although this book was very funny in places, I didn’t really buy the hero and heroine’s devotion to each other - the two barely spend any time together and don’t seem to know each other at all. More of a Regency “romp” than a real romance.
I've read a few of Mansfield's Regencies in the past (and I have quite a few more in my TBR) and even though I enjoy her characters, I often find they're missing that "certain something" that makes a book feel romantic to me.
A Splendid Indiscretion by Elizabeth Mansfield
(1985, Regency) 4/12/08
Grade: 3
Everyone considers Ada Surringham a bit bubbleheaded and absent minded, but living in the country with her uncle, it doesn’t matter much. But when she’s invited to London by her godmother, she finds herself kissed by Griff, Viscount Mullineaux, and working as a librarian’s assistant in his house - how did that happen?
A cute Regency “comedy of manners” that unfortunately lacks a bit of romance. Even though Ada seems like a typical TSTL heroine, she’s appealing because she knows it - her struggles to become more responsible and less flighty don’t work very well, but they’re endearing. Griff is less strongly drawn as a character - I was never sure why he was so in love with Ada other than her lovely eyes, although his eventual acceptance of (and amusement with) Ada’s muddles is heartwarming (even though it doesn’t happen until practically the last page). Although this book was very funny in places, I didn’t really buy the hero and heroine’s devotion to each other - the two barely spend any time together and don’t seem to know each other at all. More of a Regency “romp” than a real romance.
I've read a few of Mansfield's Regencies in the past (and I have quite a few more in my TBR) and even though I enjoy her characters, I often find they're missing that "certain something" that makes a book feel romantic to me.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
A Rose At Midnight by Jacqueline Navin
I'm not a writer, and never really had the urge to write a romance. But when I read a book that seems to come close to something good, and then fail, I find myself mentally rewriting the book to make it more appealing! (However, I'm sure that if I actually wrote a book, I'd probably have my own problems and issues - I have enough problems writing scientific reports for work...)
A Rose At Midnight by Jacqueline Navin
(1999, Victorian) 4/12/08
Grade: 3.5
After realizing that he’s dying, Marcus, the Earl of Rutherford, wastes no time in finding a wife and marrying her. He desperately hopes to father a child before his death. Caroline has been thrown into poverty after the death of her evil father, and hopes this marriage will help her save her sick younger brother - but she didn’t expect to find Marcus so attractive...
This book had moments of touching emotion, but most of the time, these characters seemed like cliches out of “Romance Central Casting”. Marcus was a profligate rake, but it all comes back to the Woman Who Betrayed Him and Issues With His Father. Caroline marries for money, but it’s Only To Save Her Family. And of course, there’s a Big Secret that Caroline can’t confide, even after she’s grown to love and trust Marcus. Have I seen this somewhere before? Some authors can make familiar characters and plotlines come alive, but Navin only succeeds sporadically. There were moments, for example when Marcus looks at his beloved rose garden and realizes he’ll never see it bloom again, when we get a glimpse of what this book could have been - which is one reason I gave it a slightly higher grade. But for the most part, this book just didn’t come to life.
I did find the time period an interesting one - 1847, very early Victorian. Other than the clothes, there isn't a lot that differentiates this one from a typical Regency, but it might be nice to see more books set in this period, rather than either Regency or late Victorian.
A Rose At Midnight by Jacqueline Navin
(1999, Victorian) 4/12/08
Grade: 3.5
After realizing that he’s dying, Marcus, the Earl of Rutherford, wastes no time in finding a wife and marrying her. He desperately hopes to father a child before his death. Caroline has been thrown into poverty after the death of her evil father, and hopes this marriage will help her save her sick younger brother - but she didn’t expect to find Marcus so attractive...
This book had moments of touching emotion, but most of the time, these characters seemed like cliches out of “Romance Central Casting”. Marcus was a profligate rake, but it all comes back to the Woman Who Betrayed Him and Issues With His Father. Caroline marries for money, but it’s Only To Save Her Family. And of course, there’s a Big Secret that Caroline can’t confide, even after she’s grown to love and trust Marcus. Have I seen this somewhere before? Some authors can make familiar characters and plotlines come alive, but Navin only succeeds sporadically. There were moments, for example when Marcus looks at his beloved rose garden and realizes he’ll never see it bloom again, when we get a glimpse of what this book could have been - which is one reason I gave it a slightly higher grade. But for the most part, this book just didn’t come to life.
I did find the time period an interesting one - 1847, very early Victorian. Other than the clothes, there isn't a lot that differentiates this one from a typical Regency, but it might be nice to see more books set in this period, rather than either Regency or late Victorian.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Long Night Moon by Theresa Weir
I only have one Theresa Weir book left. She's not always great, but when she is, she's not like any other romance writer.
Long Night Moon by Theresa Weir
(1995, Contemporary) 4/1/08
Grade: 4
When troubled reporter Nash Audubon first sees Sara Ivy, all he sees is the mask she shows the world - the perfect wife of a rich businessman. But he keeps probing, and finds out there’s much more underneath - but after years of abuse, can Sara find the courage to break free?
Looking back on this book, I can see the flaws - but when I was reading, they didn’t matter. I couldn’t put it down, the characters were so compelling. Sara could have been a cliched martyred heroine, but she was more than that, with her flashes of rebellion and strength, as well as her understandable (but unheroine-like) escapes into alcohol and pills. Nash sounds like the typical loner romance hero, but his characterization also goes deeper - he’s beyond “romance novel troubled”, he’s hit bottom, but he also has moments of rebellion, just like Sara. The villain was cardboard evil, and the big confrontation a little cliched, but they were relatively minor problems. I’m not sure how Weir made these two work, but she did, and I was completely sucked in.
In an odd way, I didn't feel emotionally moved by this book, the way I am by more traditional romances. But it was very compelling, and I just couldn't put it down.
Long Night Moon by Theresa Weir
(1995, Contemporary) 4/1/08
Grade: 4
When troubled reporter Nash Audubon first sees Sara Ivy, all he sees is the mask she shows the world - the perfect wife of a rich businessman. But he keeps probing, and finds out there’s much more underneath - but after years of abuse, can Sara find the courage to break free?
Looking back on this book, I can see the flaws - but when I was reading, they didn’t matter. I couldn’t put it down, the characters were so compelling. Sara could have been a cliched martyred heroine, but she was more than that, with her flashes of rebellion and strength, as well as her understandable (but unheroine-like) escapes into alcohol and pills. Nash sounds like the typical loner romance hero, but his characterization also goes deeper - he’s beyond “romance novel troubled”, he’s hit bottom, but he also has moments of rebellion, just like Sara. The villain was cardboard evil, and the big confrontation a little cliched, but they were relatively minor problems. I’m not sure how Weir made these two work, but she did, and I was completely sucked in.
In an odd way, I didn't feel emotionally moved by this book, the way I am by more traditional romances. But it was very compelling, and I just couldn't put it down.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Summer By The Sea by Susan Wiggs
I'm sure Susan Wiggs had her reasons for switching from historicals to contemporaries. (I'll even give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she just wanted to write contemps, rather than following the market - although I can't blame any writer for doing what she has to in order to get sold.) But gosh, I miss her historicals. "Women's Fiction" is just not as satisfying to me as a straight-up romance. Thankfully I still have quite a few of her historicals in my TBR pile.
Summer By The Sea by Susan Wiggs
(2004, Contemporary) 3/31/08
Grade: 3.5
Ten years after their summer romance ended badly, Rosa Capoletti is surprised to see Alex Montgomery in her restaurant. He’s returned to his family’s summer house in the wake of his mother’s suicide, still hoping that he can make things up to Rosa. But can Rosa trust him again, after their summer friendship ended in disappointment and tragedy and changed her life forever?
Susan Wiggs does an excellent job in creating two memorable and understandable characters, as well as a strong sense of place. Within a few chapters, I felt like I knew the hero and the heroine (particularly the heroine), as well as their summer town and their roles within it. I settled in for a comfortable and enjoyable read. Unfortunately, pacing problems in the second half kept the book from reaching its potential. First, the second flashback (to their teenage love affair) went on far too long (over 100 pages), and meandered without really telling us anything new. Then, in the last section of the book, Wiggs turned on warp speed, and covered a book’s worth of melodrama in 30 pages, and with all of the shocking revelations crammed in, she didn’t have time to complete the romance in a satisfying way. Despite the well drawn characters and vivid descriptions, I ended up feeling a bit unsatisfied.
It's probably a good thing I'm not a writer. I'm sure I'd want to smack picky readers like moi, who always finds something to nitpick about and can't just "go with the flow". How annoying!
(I'm not counting the scientific papers I've contributed to - I don't think anyone reads "Identification of Anthranilic Acid Derivatives as a Novel Class of Allosteric Inhibitors of Hepatitis C NS5B Polymerase" for its literary value.)
Summer By The Sea by Susan Wiggs
(2004, Contemporary) 3/31/08
Grade: 3.5
Ten years after their summer romance ended badly, Rosa Capoletti is surprised to see Alex Montgomery in her restaurant. He’s returned to his family’s summer house in the wake of his mother’s suicide, still hoping that he can make things up to Rosa. But can Rosa trust him again, after their summer friendship ended in disappointment and tragedy and changed her life forever?
Susan Wiggs does an excellent job in creating two memorable and understandable characters, as well as a strong sense of place. Within a few chapters, I felt like I knew the hero and the heroine (particularly the heroine), as well as their summer town and their roles within it. I settled in for a comfortable and enjoyable read. Unfortunately, pacing problems in the second half kept the book from reaching its potential. First, the second flashback (to their teenage love affair) went on far too long (over 100 pages), and meandered without really telling us anything new. Then, in the last section of the book, Wiggs turned on warp speed, and covered a book’s worth of melodrama in 30 pages, and with all of the shocking revelations crammed in, she didn’t have time to complete the romance in a satisfying way. Despite the well drawn characters and vivid descriptions, I ended up feeling a bit unsatisfied.
It's probably a good thing I'm not a writer. I'm sure I'd want to smack picky readers like moi, who always finds something to nitpick about and can't just "go with the flow". How annoying!
(I'm not counting the scientific papers I've contributed to - I don't think anyone reads "Identification of Anthranilic Acid Derivatives as a Novel Class of Allosteric Inhibitors of Hepatitis C NS5B Polymerase" for its literary value.)
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Bad Karma by Theresa Weir
Maybe I've gone on a romance overdose? I've started a dozen books this weekend, and none of them are doing anything for me. I'm looking for something to really thrill me, and all I'm getting is blah... am I expecting too much?
Bad Karma by Theresa Weir
(1999, Contemporary) 3/29/08
Grade: 3
Cleo may not be a real psychic, but if the chief of police in Egypt, Missouri wants to pay her to look for a key, she’s willing to do it. Police officer Daniel Sinclair is skeptical of Cleo from the first, but he soon discovers there’s more to Cleo than he imagined.
Although the characters in Bad Karma were compelling at times, the book just didn’t hold together as a romance. I particularly liked Cleo and her struggles to deal with the memories of her past. But after a while, it just got a little tiring - it seemed to be the same note over and over. (I feel bad saying that, because she was genuinely anguished about what happened to her, but I only needed to hear about her image of the broken pumpkin so many times... it went from poignant to dull.) And I didn’t see any connection between her and Daniel, other than sex. The secondary characters are portrayed well (especially Beau, Daniel’s mentally challenged brother) but the story needed more to hold it together. I just didn't feel a deep emotional connection to these characters.
I've tried several Theresa Weir books, and all of them seem to have such potential... but I haven't found one yet that really held together from start to finish. Forever came the closest, but lost momentum in the second half. I still have a couple more in my TBR box - will one of them be "the one"?
Bad Karma by Theresa Weir
(1999, Contemporary) 3/29/08
Grade: 3
Cleo may not be a real psychic, but if the chief of police in Egypt, Missouri wants to pay her to look for a key, she’s willing to do it. Police officer Daniel Sinclair is skeptical of Cleo from the first, but he soon discovers there’s more to Cleo than he imagined.
Although the characters in Bad Karma were compelling at times, the book just didn’t hold together as a romance. I particularly liked Cleo and her struggles to deal with the memories of her past. But after a while, it just got a little tiring - it seemed to be the same note over and over. (I feel bad saying that, because she was genuinely anguished about what happened to her, but I only needed to hear about her image of the broken pumpkin so many times... it went from poignant to dull.) And I didn’t see any connection between her and Daniel, other than sex. The secondary characters are portrayed well (especially Beau, Daniel’s mentally challenged brother) but the story needed more to hold it together. I just didn't feel a deep emotional connection to these characters.
I've tried several Theresa Weir books, and all of them seem to have such potential... but I haven't found one yet that really held together from start to finish. Forever came the closest, but lost momentum in the second half. I still have a couple more in my TBR box - will one of them be "the one"?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Proving Herself by Yvonne Jocks
I learned a new term in this book - "remittance man". I'm guessing this was more of a Victorian term, referring to a younger son or other troublemake who is sent away from Britain (mostly to Australia, according to the internet, but also to the US) and who is paid an allowance (or remittance) to stay away, basically. I don't remember hearing that term in any Regency historicals, and it didn't seem to be typical for younger sons to be sent away during that period. A development in the later nineteenth century, I guess? There's even a Jimmy Buffett song, "Remittance Man" - the things you learn on the internet!
Proving Herself by Yvonne Jocks
(2001, Western) 3/26/08
Grade: 4
When second son Collier Pembroke is exiled to Wyoming, he’s desperate to find some way to regain his family’s regard, even if it means investing in a homestead run by unconventional Laurel Garrison. Laurel is determined to prove her claim, but the only way she can spend the winter on the ranch is to marry Collier - but it’s just a marriage of convenience, right?
An interesting story with an unconventional hero. Collier might be right at home in Edwardian England, with his upper crust attitudes toward work and etiquette, but in Wyoming as a “remittance man”, he’s uncomfortable and frustrated. But he’s willing to take a chance and try new things, (although he expects to bring his feather bed along). I appreciated that the author was willing to make Collier a bit unlikeable from time to time, and she didn’t turn it into the usual “cowboy good, aristocrat bad” cliche that’s usual in Westerns. Laurel is a more typical romance tomboy heroine, but her dislike of society (and “girl shoes”) is explored in more depth, she’s not just “fiesty”. The main problem I had with the book is that the secondary characters are given a lot of time (setting them up for books of their own, I guess), and I would rather have used those pages to explore the hero and heroine in more depth, particularly Collier. The ending, in particular, was too abrupt. This is a fairly minor criticism, but it could have been just a little more satisfying.
When I was at the Celebrate Romance conference a few weeks ago, we had a discussion about "unconventional heroes". Most of the people there seemed to define unconventional heroes as men who turned into weird animals or sucked blood in unusual ways, but that's not what I'm looking for in an "unconventional hero". As much as I like romance, I've never been a huge fan of the typical "romance hero", particularly the alpha variety. Give me a hero who's not the usual alpha, and I'm swooning already. Looking back at some of the books I've enjoyed recently, many of them featured heroes who weren't afraid to be different, and weren't afraid to be... nice. Horrors! Alas, I'm afraid I'm out of the mainstream on this one - I think most romance readers still have the fantasy of being swept away by the commanding alpha hero. But that's just not my fantasy guy.
Proving Herself by Yvonne Jocks
(2001, Western) 3/26/08
Grade: 4
When second son Collier Pembroke is exiled to Wyoming, he’s desperate to find some way to regain his family’s regard, even if it means investing in a homestead run by unconventional Laurel Garrison. Laurel is determined to prove her claim, but the only way she can spend the winter on the ranch is to marry Collier - but it’s just a marriage of convenience, right?
An interesting story with an unconventional hero. Collier might be right at home in Edwardian England, with his upper crust attitudes toward work and etiquette, but in Wyoming as a “remittance man”, he’s uncomfortable and frustrated. But he’s willing to take a chance and try new things, (although he expects to bring his feather bed along). I appreciated that the author was willing to make Collier a bit unlikeable from time to time, and she didn’t turn it into the usual “cowboy good, aristocrat bad” cliche that’s usual in Westerns. Laurel is a more typical romance tomboy heroine, but her dislike of society (and “girl shoes”) is explored in more depth, she’s not just “fiesty”. The main problem I had with the book is that the secondary characters are given a lot of time (setting them up for books of their own, I guess), and I would rather have used those pages to explore the hero and heroine in more depth, particularly Collier. The ending, in particular, was too abrupt. This is a fairly minor criticism, but it could have been just a little more satisfying.
When I was at the Celebrate Romance conference a few weeks ago, we had a discussion about "unconventional heroes". Most of the people there seemed to define unconventional heroes as men who turned into weird animals or sucked blood in unusual ways, but that's not what I'm looking for in an "unconventional hero". As much as I like romance, I've never been a huge fan of the typical "romance hero", particularly the alpha variety. Give me a hero who's not the usual alpha, and I'm swooning already. Looking back at some of the books I've enjoyed recently, many of them featured heroes who weren't afraid to be different, and weren't afraid to be... nice. Horrors! Alas, I'm afraid I'm out of the mainstream on this one - I think most romance readers still have the fantasy of being swept away by the commanding alpha hero. But that's just not my fantasy guy.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Marry In Haste by Lynn Kerstan
I'm a picky reader. I just don't see the point of slogging through a book that's not working for me, especially when I have 1200 books in my TBR pile, calling my name. But this can present a problem when it comes to books in a series. This book is the third book in a series, and it's very closely related to the previous book, Lucy In Disguise. I tried reading that book a while back, and it just didn't appeal to me - it started out with smugglers and a "chick in pants" (yuck and double yuck) and then became something of a Regency romp. I'm sure it had good qualities - Lynn Kerstan is a good writer - but I just didn't care for it. Like I said, I'm picky! I think I dropped it in the trade pile somewhere around page 50.
However, I felt a bit lost when trying to read this book, because obviously I missed a great deal of the plot that was revealed in the previous book. I managed to get my bearings eventually, but still, some things didn't make sense. Would I have liked this book better if I'd read the previous book? Probably. But I hate having to read books that feature plots that don't interest me, just to keep up with a series. The result is that I'm wary of buying books that seem too closely related, unless they're by a favorite author.
Authors seem to really like writing books in a series, and obviously they work for a lot of readers. But I'm often left with an "all or nothing" feeling. If one book in the series has a plot that leaves me saying "yuck, I don't want to read THAT", can I still read other books in the series without feeling lost? Or am I better off not buying these books at all?
Marry In Haste by Lynn Kerstan
(1998, Regency) 3/23/08
Grade: 3
In hiding from her dastardly uncle, Diana Whitney is usually very cautious and shy - but when a man tries to break into her house, she hits him with a frying pan! Unfortunately, he is actually Colonel Alex Valliant, her protector’s brother. They end up marrying to save her from her uncle’s schemes, but can their hasty marriage ever turn into something real?
It was hard to grade this one, because in many ways I liked the characters (particularly the insecure but determined Diana). There were some lovely scenes that showed Diana gaining her confidence, and Alex’s pride in her strength (although I wished he’d shared that pride with Diana instead of staying secretive and gruff almost to the end.) However, this book was very closely related to a previous book in the series (which I tried to read but didn’t work for me) and I felt like I was coming in the middle of a movie. Obviously I was supposed to know more about these characters than I did. Also, the book dragged for a long period in the middle. Both the characters had secrets, but Alex’s secrets were drawn out for far too long. (It almost seemed like a plot device to keep them out of bed.) When Alex’s secret was finally revealed, I appreciated that it wasn’t the typical “war memory” secret that we’ve seen before - but it was dropped in way too late and dealt with too quickly. I felt like this book had a lot of potential, but it didn’t live up to it.
When I was reading Regencies, I sometimes wondered if authors put in obstacles to keep their characters from having sex. It wasn't that significant in this book, but I've read books where the author kept coming up with one excuse after another to keep the characters at arm's length. Rather the opposite of today's books, where some authors seem to look for excuses to put their characters in bed together, even if it doesn't make sense in terms of the plot. But still, it's the same idea, isn't it? I find both strategies a bit tiring...
However, I felt a bit lost when trying to read this book, because obviously I missed a great deal of the plot that was revealed in the previous book. I managed to get my bearings eventually, but still, some things didn't make sense. Would I have liked this book better if I'd read the previous book? Probably. But I hate having to read books that feature plots that don't interest me, just to keep up with a series. The result is that I'm wary of buying books that seem too closely related, unless they're by a favorite author.
Authors seem to really like writing books in a series, and obviously they work for a lot of readers. But I'm often left with an "all or nothing" feeling. If one book in the series has a plot that leaves me saying "yuck, I don't want to read THAT", can I still read other books in the series without feeling lost? Or am I better off not buying these books at all?
Marry In Haste by Lynn Kerstan
(1998, Regency) 3/23/08
Grade: 3
In hiding from her dastardly uncle, Diana Whitney is usually very cautious and shy - but when a man tries to break into her house, she hits him with a frying pan! Unfortunately, he is actually Colonel Alex Valliant, her protector’s brother. They end up marrying to save her from her uncle’s schemes, but can their hasty marriage ever turn into something real?
It was hard to grade this one, because in many ways I liked the characters (particularly the insecure but determined Diana). There were some lovely scenes that showed Diana gaining her confidence, and Alex’s pride in her strength (although I wished he’d shared that pride with Diana instead of staying secretive and gruff almost to the end.) However, this book was very closely related to a previous book in the series (which I tried to read but didn’t work for me) and I felt like I was coming in the middle of a movie. Obviously I was supposed to know more about these characters than I did. Also, the book dragged for a long period in the middle. Both the characters had secrets, but Alex’s secrets were drawn out for far too long. (It almost seemed like a plot device to keep them out of bed.) When Alex’s secret was finally revealed, I appreciated that it wasn’t the typical “war memory” secret that we’ve seen before - but it was dropped in way too late and dealt with too quickly. I felt like this book had a lot of potential, but it didn’t live up to it.
When I was reading Regencies, I sometimes wondered if authors put in obstacles to keep their characters from having sex. It wasn't that significant in this book, but I've read books where the author kept coming up with one excuse after another to keep the characters at arm's length. Rather the opposite of today's books, where some authors seem to look for excuses to put their characters in bed together, even if it doesn't make sense in terms of the plot. But still, it's the same idea, isn't it? I find both strategies a bit tiring...
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The Quiet Storm by Raeanne Thayne
"The Big Secret" is another one of those romance conventions. I think they can work, but too many authors keep them hidden for far too long. After a while, the reader gets bored and frustrated, waiting for the reveal. Secrets can be a great conflict, but not if the author drags it out until the last page!
The Quiet Storm by Raeanne Thayne (SIM 1218)
(2003, Contemporary Series) 3/20/08
Grade: 3
The police assumed that Tina committed suicide, but heiress Elizabeth Quinn is sure her dear friend wouldn’t have left her deaf son behind. She turns to detective Beau Riley for answers - and finds more than she expected. But could Beau ever accept a woman with the limitations that she has struggled with all her life?
There were a lot of good things about this book. The characters were well drawn, with good chemistry between them. The mystery was important without taking over the story. And Elizabeth’s struggles with her speech problems were poignant and well drawn. The problem was that the book hit a wall in the middle of the book, and for the next 100 pages or so, it just spun its wheels. Keeping Elizabeth’s speech problem a secret until almost the end of the book was a major problem - it left the characters just repeating the same “misunderstandings” for far too long. As much as I liked the characters, I came very close to giving up during that dry middle section.
I felt cheated that we never got a nice, meaty scene between the hero and heroine, where they discuss her speech problem and what it's meant to her. That kind of emotional interaction is what I look for in a romance!
The Quiet Storm by Raeanne Thayne (SIM 1218)
(2003, Contemporary Series) 3/20/08
Grade: 3
The police assumed that Tina committed suicide, but heiress Elizabeth Quinn is sure her dear friend wouldn’t have left her deaf son behind. She turns to detective Beau Riley for answers - and finds more than she expected. But could Beau ever accept a woman with the limitations that she has struggled with all her life?
There were a lot of good things about this book. The characters were well drawn, with good chemistry between them. The mystery was important without taking over the story. And Elizabeth’s struggles with her speech problems were poignant and well drawn. The problem was that the book hit a wall in the middle of the book, and for the next 100 pages or so, it just spun its wheels. Keeping Elizabeth’s speech problem a secret until almost the end of the book was a major problem - it left the characters just repeating the same “misunderstandings” for far too long. As much as I liked the characters, I came very close to giving up during that dry middle section.
I felt cheated that we never got a nice, meaty scene between the hero and heroine, where they discuss her speech problem and what it's meant to her. That kind of emotional interaction is what I look for in a romance!
Mr. Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson
A good hero goes a long way in making me like a book. However, what I like in a hero may not be the typical "romance hero type" - I like nice guy heroes who are a little insecure, not alpha manly-men. I was even a little disappointed in this book when the hero gave up his glasses for contacts - I wear contacts myself but a hero with glasses is sexy!
Mr. Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson (HT 624)
(1997, Contemporary Series) 3/18/08
Grade: 3.5
Krysta has a daily lunch date with Jack Killigan, where she advises him to get serious about his career. Unbeknownst to her, Jack’s been secretly writing a romance novel - and now it’s been accepted! But Jack needs a favor - will Krysta pose as “Candy Valentine” and accompany him to NYC? And will Krysta start seeing Jack as a sexy man and not just a project?
This was a fun book, although it was a bit fluffy. At the beginning, I found Krysta’s insistence on career success (and her obsession with her boss, Derek) a bit much. (The reasons behind it are explained, but she still seemed a bit clueless.) However, I liked her characterization of Jack, especially his ability to write romance, as well as his lack of confidence from time to time. He seemed very real, not a cardboard “romance hero”. The scenes in New York were cute, and I enjoyed the banter between Krysta and Jack - but it left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. I wanted more.
Even though I buy a fair number of series books (I like contemporary books, and it's hard to find them otherwise, especially since I'm not into suspense, wacky comedy or erotica), it's hard to find a series book that feels "full" enough. I've tossed a lot of them onto the trade pile lately. But the best book I read last year was also a series book, so there are gems out there - it may be like finding a needle in a haystack, but I keep looking for that needle.
Mr. Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson (HT 624)
(1997, Contemporary Series) 3/18/08
Grade: 3.5
Krysta has a daily lunch date with Jack Killigan, where she advises him to get serious about his career. Unbeknownst to her, Jack’s been secretly writing a romance novel - and now it’s been accepted! But Jack needs a favor - will Krysta pose as “Candy Valentine” and accompany him to NYC? And will Krysta start seeing Jack as a sexy man and not just a project?
This was a fun book, although it was a bit fluffy. At the beginning, I found Krysta’s insistence on career success (and her obsession with her boss, Derek) a bit much. (The reasons behind it are explained, but she still seemed a bit clueless.) However, I liked her characterization of Jack, especially his ability to write romance, as well as his lack of confidence from time to time. He seemed very real, not a cardboard “romance hero”. The scenes in New York were cute, and I enjoyed the banter between Krysta and Jack - but it left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. I wanted more.
Even though I buy a fair number of series books (I like contemporary books, and it's hard to find them otherwise, especially since I'm not into suspense, wacky comedy or erotica), it's hard to find a series book that feels "full" enough. I've tossed a lot of them onto the trade pile lately. But the best book I read last year was also a series book, so there are gems out there - it may be like finding a needle in a haystack, but I keep looking for that needle.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Italian's Wife By Sunset by Lucy Gordon
I don't read many books from the Harlequin Romance line. I find them a bit thin, although this one had more sex than I might have expected from this line. Surprisinly, this book felt too long, rather than too short, despite the limited page count.
The Italian's Wife By Sunset by Lucy Gordon
(2007, Contemporary Series) 3/17/08
Grade: 3
When producer Della Hadley first meets Italian archeologist Carlo Rinucci she can’t resist his charm and sex appeal. But will their age difference keep them from having a future together - or is it just Della’s insecurity? And will a tragic accident separate them forever?
I originally bought this book because I’d read a review that mentioned the ending - which is lovely and poignant, just as promised. But the rest of the book didn’t live up to it. I liked Carlo, despite his alpha tendencies, but the “conflict” keeping Della and Carlo apart just didn’t seem that significant. A six year age difference (with both the hero and heroine in their 30’s)? It seems quite trivial. And the sexy interactions between Della and Carlo gave way to a long middle section when the two were separated. The accident at the end seemed tacked on, rather than an integral part of the plot. Maybe I was expecting something different from this book, but it just didn’t do much for me, despite the touching ending.
What makes a "happy" ending in a romance? Sometimes I think romance authors go too far making their endings not just happy for the couple, but "every single problem must be fixed, no matter how implausibly". To me, it rings a little false. When I pick up a romance, I want the promise that the couple will end up together, but I'd rather know that the hero and heroine can live with their problems, rather than having the "deus ex machina" author swoop in and eliminate them. This book didn't do that, at least, despite its other problems.
The Italian's Wife By Sunset by Lucy Gordon
(2007, Contemporary Series) 3/17/08
Grade: 3
When producer Della Hadley first meets Italian archeologist Carlo Rinucci she can’t resist his charm and sex appeal. But will their age difference keep them from having a future together - or is it just Della’s insecurity? And will a tragic accident separate them forever?
I originally bought this book because I’d read a review that mentioned the ending - which is lovely and poignant, just as promised. But the rest of the book didn’t live up to it. I liked Carlo, despite his alpha tendencies, but the “conflict” keeping Della and Carlo apart just didn’t seem that significant. A six year age difference (with both the hero and heroine in their 30’s)? It seems quite trivial. And the sexy interactions between Della and Carlo gave way to a long middle section when the two were separated. The accident at the end seemed tacked on, rather than an integral part of the plot. Maybe I was expecting something different from this book, but it just didn’t do much for me, despite the touching ending.
What makes a "happy" ending in a romance? Sometimes I think romance authors go too far making their endings not just happy for the couple, but "every single problem must be fixed, no matter how implausibly". To me, it rings a little false. When I pick up a romance, I want the promise that the couple will end up together, but I'd rather know that the hero and heroine can live with their problems, rather than having the "deus ex machina" author swoop in and eliminate them. This book didn't do that, at least, despite its other problems.
A Notorious Love by Sabrina Jeffries
I've decided on a new approach to my TBR pile. I opened up two boxes - one historical, one contemporary - and I'm going to keep reading until I work my way through both boxes. The historical box goes from Jeffries to Kinsale, the contemporary box goes from Sullivan to Wilkins. What J and K authors will I discover? (I still have a few more "Jeffries" titles to go.)
A Notorious Love by Sabrina Jeffries
(2001, Regency Historical) 3/17/08
Grade: 3.5
After her sister is kidnapped, Helena goes searching for Daniel Brennan, a former smuggler who is now in business with her brother-in-law. Perhaps he can find her wayward sister, but Helena is determined to go with him, despite her crippled leg. Daniel has always been attracted to Helena, but traveling with her makes him see her in a whole new light.
A fun, well-written book with intriguing characters. I enjoyed getting to know Daniel and Helena, and even though their interactions were a bit cliched, it was still fun to be along for the ride. I pretty much knew where the story was going and how it was going to get there, but the characters were well drawn, and I never wanted to put the book down. Overall, a fun read, if not anything spectacular.
This is an example of a book with a familiar plot that worked, at least reasonably well. I'm not a big fan of "road romances" (I get bored with all the running around) but this one worked pretty well, and didn't leave me thinking, "haven't I read this story 20 times before?"
A Notorious Love by Sabrina Jeffries
(2001, Regency Historical) 3/17/08
Grade: 3.5
After her sister is kidnapped, Helena goes searching for Daniel Brennan, a former smuggler who is now in business with her brother-in-law. Perhaps he can find her wayward sister, but Helena is determined to go with him, despite her crippled leg. Daniel has always been attracted to Helena, but traveling with her makes him see her in a whole new light.
A fun, well-written book with intriguing characters. I enjoyed getting to know Daniel and Helena, and even though their interactions were a bit cliched, it was still fun to be along for the ride. I pretty much knew where the story was going and how it was going to get there, but the characters were well drawn, and I never wanted to put the book down. Overall, a fun read, if not anything spectacular.
This is an example of a book with a familiar plot that worked, at least reasonably well. I'm not a big fan of "road romances" (I get bored with all the running around) but this one worked pretty well, and didn't leave me thinking, "haven't I read this story 20 times before?"
Summer Campaign by Carla Kelly
Has Carla Kelly written a bad book? There have been some that I didn't like as much as others (this one wasn't a keeper) but I haven't found any major clunkers in her backlist so far - which isn't something I can say about my other favorite authors.
Summer Campaign by Carla Kelly
(1989, Regency) 3/16/08
Grade: 4
Illegitimate Onyx Hamilton has little choice but to marry tedious, overbearing Reverend Andrew Littletree. But on her way to the vicarage, she is attacked by highwaymen and saved by Major Jack Beresford, newly returned from Spain and desperate to get home. After Jack is injured, Onyx must take care of him - and finds a love she never expected.
As always, Carla Kelly creates realistic characters and puts them in heartrending, vividly depicted situations. The story may be simple, but the characters of Onyx and Jack are so perfectly rendered, you can’t help understanding them and feeling for them. The author can write scenes that leave you laughing (the teasing about the nonexistent “little Ned” kept me giggling for a couple of chapters) and then write scenes that leave you in tears (Jack’s wrenching memories of Badajoz, the deathbed scenes of Jack’s brother Adrian). I only had a few quibbles, which kept this from becoming a keeper. The quiet romance was lovely, but sometimes it was too quiet, almost in the background. It needed a bit more, especially at the end. And there were some plot threads that were played up in the early sections (Jack’s stammer, for example) and then were dropped. But overall, even though it didn’t reach the heights of Kelly’s best books, it was still a very enjoyable read.
Carla Kelly's books are always real, sometimes to the point of painfulness. I'm not sure I'd want a steady diet of war and illness and death, but it's a nice change from the cutesiness of so many romances.
Summer Campaign by Carla Kelly
(1989, Regency) 3/16/08
Grade: 4
Illegitimate Onyx Hamilton has little choice but to marry tedious, overbearing Reverend Andrew Littletree. But on her way to the vicarage, she is attacked by highwaymen and saved by Major Jack Beresford, newly returned from Spain and desperate to get home. After Jack is injured, Onyx must take care of him - and finds a love she never expected.
As always, Carla Kelly creates realistic characters and puts them in heartrending, vividly depicted situations. The story may be simple, but the characters of Onyx and Jack are so perfectly rendered, you can’t help understanding them and feeling for them. The author can write scenes that leave you laughing (the teasing about the nonexistent “little Ned” kept me giggling for a couple of chapters) and then write scenes that leave you in tears (Jack’s wrenching memories of Badajoz, the deathbed scenes of Jack’s brother Adrian). I only had a few quibbles, which kept this from becoming a keeper. The quiet romance was lovely, but sometimes it was too quiet, almost in the background. It needed a bit more, especially at the end. And there were some plot threads that were played up in the early sections (Jack’s stammer, for example) and then were dropped. But overall, even though it didn’t reach the heights of Kelly’s best books, it was still a very enjoyable read.
Carla Kelly's books are always real, sometimes to the point of painfulness. I'm not sure I'd want a steady diet of war and illness and death, but it's a nice change from the cutesiness of so many romances.
The Forbidden Lord by Sabrina Jeffries
I was hoping I'd found a hidden treasure in Sabrina Jeffries... alas...
The Forbidden Lord by Sabrina Jeffries
(1999, Regency Historical) 3/15/08
Grade: 3
When rector’s daughter Emily Fairchild gets into the wrong carriage with the notorious Earl of Blackmore, she finds herself attracted despite herself. But when Emily reappears in London a few months later, disguised as Lady Emma, it’s Jordan who can’t stop thinking about her, and he’s determined to figure out who Emily really is!
This book started out with the same wit and charm that the previous book had, but unfortunately, it fizzled out fairly quickly. I liked the characters, and they had nice chemistry together, but by the middle of the book, it seemed like the same scenes were playing out over and over again. It became a little tedious. And the romance between Emma and Jordan began to feel a little cliched - maybe I’ve just read too many “sweet minister’s daughter tames the wicked rake” stories, but sometimes they can still work for me - this one did at the beginning, when Emily was exploring her sensual side as Lady Emma, but by the middle, continuing through to the end, it just seemed like same-old-same-old. I kept reading, but I was disappointed.
Why do familiar plots work in some books and not others? Something was missing here.
The Forbidden Lord by Sabrina Jeffries
(1999, Regency Historical) 3/15/08
Grade: 3
When rector’s daughter Emily Fairchild gets into the wrong carriage with the notorious Earl of Blackmore, she finds herself attracted despite herself. But when Emily reappears in London a few months later, disguised as Lady Emma, it’s Jordan who can’t stop thinking about her, and he’s determined to figure out who Emily really is!
This book started out with the same wit and charm that the previous book had, but unfortunately, it fizzled out fairly quickly. I liked the characters, and they had nice chemistry together, but by the middle of the book, it seemed like the same scenes were playing out over and over again. It became a little tedious. And the romance between Emma and Jordan began to feel a little cliched - maybe I’ve just read too many “sweet minister’s daughter tames the wicked rake” stories, but sometimes they can still work for me - this one did at the beginning, when Emily was exploring her sensual side as Lady Emma, but by the middle, continuing through to the end, it just seemed like same-old-same-old. I kept reading, but I was disappointed.
Why do familiar plots work in some books and not others? Something was missing here.
The Pirate Lord by Sabrina Jeffries
Humor is very subjective. Most of the time, "humorous" romances don't work for me. Maybe I'm too literal, but a lot of authors leave me cringing instead of laughing, when they are writing "funny". Other times, I just don't get the joke. But every now and then, I'll happen across a downright silly comedy that, surprisingly enough, works for me. Who knew?
The Pirate Lord by Sabrina Jeffries
(1998, Regency Historical) 3/14/08
Grade: 4
Sara Willis is determined to accompany a group of convict women to New South Wales, to report on the disgraceful conditions. But when the ship is attacked by pirates - pirates who want to retire and need wives - her adventure begins! To her surprise, she finds the notorious Pirate Lord, Gideon Horn, to be kind and thoughtful, and not what she’d expected at all.
This book had the potential to be very, very silly. The plot itself was beyond implausible, but somehow, the author made me willing to suspend disbelief and just go with it. Despite the back story, the characters themselves were well written and grounded. I especially appreciated that the pirate hero wasn’t the typical 80’s alpha jerk pirate - he was nice (and even a bit tortured), while the heroine was strong and not at all ninny-ish. There was strong chemistry between the hero and heroine, and their dialogue was both witty and sexy. The secondary characters were also well done and added to the story. There were a few false notes - surprisingly, I didn’t think the hero’s back story worked here - even though I love a tortured hero, the part about his parents and how that problem was resolved seemed a little too pat. And some of the travel times in the book seemed way too short, especially near the end when people were popping over to the island like it was next door. But overall, it was truly enjoyable, and I had a lot of fun reading it.
One reason I think this worked was because in the middle of the silly plot, there was a real story - not just "hijinks".
The Pirate Lord by Sabrina Jeffries
(1998, Regency Historical) 3/14/08
Grade: 4
Sara Willis is determined to accompany a group of convict women to New South Wales, to report on the disgraceful conditions. But when the ship is attacked by pirates - pirates who want to retire and need wives - her adventure begins! To her surprise, she finds the notorious Pirate Lord, Gideon Horn, to be kind and thoughtful, and not what she’d expected at all.
This book had the potential to be very, very silly. The plot itself was beyond implausible, but somehow, the author made me willing to suspend disbelief and just go with it. Despite the back story, the characters themselves were well written and grounded. I especially appreciated that the pirate hero wasn’t the typical 80’s alpha jerk pirate - he was nice (and even a bit tortured), while the heroine was strong and not at all ninny-ish. There was strong chemistry between the hero and heroine, and their dialogue was both witty and sexy. The secondary characters were also well done and added to the story. There were a few false notes - surprisingly, I didn’t think the hero’s back story worked here - even though I love a tortured hero, the part about his parents and how that problem was resolved seemed a little too pat. And some of the travel times in the book seemed way too short, especially near the end when people were popping over to the island like it was next door. But overall, it was truly enjoyable, and I had a lot of fun reading it.
One reason I think this worked was because in the middle of the silly plot, there was a real story - not just "hijinks".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)