How to Romance a Rake by Manda Collins

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

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

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

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

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

On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

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

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

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

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

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

Confessions from an Arranged Marriage by Miranda Neville

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

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

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

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

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

My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin

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

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

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

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

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

A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant

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

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

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

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

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

Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey

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

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

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

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

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

About Last Night by Ruthie Knox

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

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

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

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

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

Best Reads of 2012

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

My best reads of the year:

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

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

In hopes of many great reads in 2013!
Karen

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

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

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

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

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

I love a good Christmas house party! 

Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase

Although the cover is pretty, it has nothing to do with fashions of the 1830's.  More like the 1950's!

Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase
(2012, 1830's England)  12/4/12
Grade: 3.5

Dressmaker Sophy Noirot is trying to save her shop - and help her friend Clara escape from a bad engagement.  The Earl of Longmore, Clara’s brother, does his best to help, but it seems like he’s more of a distraction - especially when Sophy starts to see him as more than an obstacle in her way.

Unlike the previous book in the series, this book started off well.  I enjoyed the banter between Sophy and Longmore and the road romance worked well.  Longmore wasn’t the sharpest tool in the drawer, but I found his bafflement around Sophy fun to read.  However, the book lost some of its charm in the second half.  I’m not sure what happened - maybe the sexual tension dissipated once Sophy and Longmore went to bed together - but I was forcing myself to turn the pages.  The final impression - another good but not great book from Loretta Chase.  Too bad.  

I still have quite a few Loretta Chase backlist books to read - maybe I'd better save those for another time, when I'm in a more receptive mood?

Silk Is For Seduction by Loretta Chase

Although Loretta Chase has never been one of my favorite authors, her books have always been reliably enjoyable - this one fell just a little short of the mark.

Silk Is For Seduction by Loretta Chase
(2011, post-Regency)  11/29/12
Grade: 3.5

Marcelline Noirot is one of the best dressmakers in London, and she is determined to attract the business of Clara, the future wife of the Duke of Clevendon.  But on a trip to Paris, she meets the Duke and finds him intriguing... even though she knows their positions are worlds apart.  Clevendon believes he loves Clara, but only Marcelline brings excitement and passion to his life.

I wanted to like this more than I did.  The book was well written, and the characters were interesting (particularly the heroine - I found the dressmaking background more interesting than the romance) but there was just something that left me cold.  The story just felt like something I’d read a hundred times, particularly in the first half.  The conflict between the hero and heroine felt insubstantial (the class difference between a dressmaker and a duke should feel monumental, but it just didn’t in this case), and the hero didn’t seem particularly unique or intriguing.  The book improved in the second half, but still, this just didn’t live up to Loretta Chase’s other books.  It left me feeling a little blah.  

This is a book that could have really used some illustrations - I'm familiar with Regency and Victoria fashions but I wasn't sure what dresses looked like in the 1830's.  The descriptions in the book were intriguing but I couldn't quite visualize them - unfortunately the dress on the cover looks more like a prom dress than a real historical outfit.

One Night in London by Caroline Linden

I read this weeks ago but for some reason forgot to post... probably because this book was so forgettable.

One Night in London by Caroline Linden
(2011, Regency Historical)  11/11/12
Grade: 2.5

Lady Francesca Gordon needs an attorney to help her gain custody of her niece, but the best attorney in London is stolen from her by Edward de Lacey, the son of the Duke of Durham.  Edward has problems of his own - the dukedom is threatened by a secret marriage - but he’s willing to help Lady Gordon.  But he wasn’t expecting to find her fiery personality so fascinating...

This book started off well.  The setup was interesting and unique, and the characters seemed well written.  But when I got about halfway through the book, I just got bored.  The book seemed like just another retread of the same story.  I found myself skimming to the end.  It’s hard to explain exactly why this book didn’t work for me - I just reached a point where I didn’t want to read it any more.  Too bad.  

I gave the next book in the series a try but it didn't interest me any more than this one.  Too bad, I was looking forward to discovering a new author.

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

Every now and then I'll take a chance on a Kindle special - this book was on sale for $1.99 a few weeks ago and I decided to buy it even though I don't usually read mysteries.  It was definitely worth reading, but I'm not sure I'll read the sequels - for one thing, they're really expensive!  The Kindle books are $11.99 and up.  Seems pricey for mysteries that have been out for a couple of years.

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
(2009, Mystery)  11/6/12
Grade: 3.5

Chet is on the case, helping his private investigator partner Bernie solve the case of a missing teenager.  Unfortunately, since Chet is a dog, he has some trouble communicating with his owner, but Bernie is a pretty good investigator - although he needs Chet to solve the case!

This was a fun mystery that was narrated by Chet, the canine partner of a private investigator.  Chet is a great narrator - it’s a lot of fun to see Chet following clues (and getting sidetracked by stray Cheetos and pet birds).  The problem was that the mystery went very slowly - Chet had the case solved by halfway through the book and then we had to wait... and wait... and wait... for Bernie to catch up.  As much as I liked Chet as a narrator, he had some limitations when it came to solving the crime.  Overall, this was a fun read but it had a few problems as well.

There seems to be a trend of books narrated by animals - I've read a couple of other ones this year.  Although I like the idea, they all seemed to have some flaws.

Suddeny You by Sarah Mayberry

I've enjoyed several books by Sarah Mayberry, although I sometimes think she's constrained by the Harlequin requirements for certain series lines.  I'm happy to see her writing something a bit different.

Suddenly You by Sarah Mayberry
(2012, Contemporary Series)  11/4/12
Grade: 4

When Pippa was dating his best mate, Harry had always liked Pippa, but he’d never thought of her as more than a friend.  But when he stops to help her when her car breaks down, he suddenly sees Pippa in a new light.  Harry usually doesn’t take things to seriously, but Pippa needs someone in her life that’s reliable - she’s a single mother raising her daughter alone.  But maybe Harry is ready to change his life...

I always like reading Sarah Mayberry’s books because they feel so refreshingly modern.  Unlike a lot of series books, this one seems to take place in the real world, where cars break down and babies cry.  The Australian setting is also a fun change.  I think Mayberry does her best writing when she’s not constrained by the “hot hot hot” requirements of Harlequin Blaze - the love scenes here are certainly steamy but they are more about Harry and Pippa and less about generic hotness.  My only issue with this book is that I generally don’t care for books about babies - I appreciated that Alice was a real baby but it’s just not my favorite thing to read about.  But overall, this was a very good read - I’m always so happy to find a good series book, and Mayberry is one of the best authors at the moment.

I really love this cover!  It stands out from the typical series cover - I think Harlequin was smart to de-emphasize the Super Romance logo on the covers.  This is the line that's most likely to appeal to non-series readers, so it makes sense to make the covers more like single titles.

Not Wicked Enough by Carolyn Jewel

This is the second book I've read by Carolyn Jewel, and both books shared the same flaw - a book that is great for the first two thirds, and then something unbelievable and inconsistent happens at the last minute, leaving me wondering, "what happened?"  I keep buying her books because they always start with such promise, but I hope that at some point she can write a book that's great all the way through.

Not Wicked Enough by Carolyn Jewel
(2012, Regency Historical)  11/3/2012
Grade: 3.5

When Lily Wellstone goes to Bitterward to visit her friend Eugenia, she expects to comfort her grieving friend.  She didn’t expect to be charmed by her friend's brother, the Duke of Mountjoy.  She may enjoy his kisses, but he is practically engaged to a neighbor, and she has vowed never to love again, after the death of her beloved years before.  But they could have an affair - after all, there’s no risk they might fall in love...

This book worked well for the first half.  The characters were interesting, and the sexual tension was excellently written, at least at the beginning.  Mountjoy and Lily were both unusual characters, and I enjoyed getting to know them.  But the book started to fall apart in the second half.  The love scenes started to get a little boring, and there wasn’t much else going on - until the hero and heroine started acting completely out of character.  Out of nowhere, the heroine is considering marriage to a man she barely knows, and the hero is proposing to make the heroine his mistress.  It felt completely out of place and inconsistent with the characters - it felt like the author needed to throw in an obstacle to keep the book going, and this was the best she could come up with.  (Which is disappointing, because there was interesting potential in the hero and heroine's background that could have provided a more realistic conflict.)  The book improved in the last couple of chapters, but not enough to save the book for me.  I ended up frustrated that this book (and this author) didn’t live up to its potential. 

I have the sequel to this book in my TBR - I'm planning to try it and hoping it turns out better than this one.

One Final Step by Stephanie Doyle

I'm always looking for good series books - but maybe I'm just too picky.  It's been a long time since I was able to read a series book without finding problems...

One Final Step by Stephanie Doyle
(2012, Contemporary Series)  10/27/12
Grade: 3.5

Michael Langdon wants to publicize his electric car, and he has hired the best publicist in the business - Madeline Kaye.  Madeline once helped to elect presidents, but after a sex scandal she has spent the last seven years hiding and working behind the scenes.  Michael is immediately attracted to Madeline, but she’s wary of opening herself up again - and he has a secret of his own...

I have mixed feelings about this book.  I’m happy to read a book that deals with an issue that isn’t often addressed in romance, but there was something about these characters that just didn’t appeal to me, particularly in the first half of the book.  Michael seemed a little too perfect, and neither Michael or Madeline really felt like real people.  (There was also a subplot about characters from another book that distracted from the main story.)  But my bigger problem was that the “solution” to Michael’s problem felt very “romance novel-ish”.  It’s not that Michael was “cured by love” (I thought that was explained fairly well) but that he was cured instantly without any continuing issues.  It just felt a little too easy.  However, the book improved in the last third, and I found myself caring about the characters, particularly Madeline and her journey.  The book had a good ending, which is why I gave it a slightly higher grade - I just wish the whole book had lived up to the last 50 pages.  

It's really hard to find a series book that doesn't feature babies or suspense - sometimes I wish I wasn't so picky!

Golden Girl by Joan Wolf

Why isn't this available as an e-book?  A few of Joan Wolf's books have been converted to electronic form, but more of them really deserve to find a new audience.  (I had to buy this one used from PBS.)

Golden Girl by Joan Wolf
(1999, Regency Historical)  10/23/12
Grade: 4

After his father’s death, Anthony, the Duke of Cheviot, finds that his estate is deeply in debt.  He needs to marry an heiress, and quickly.  Sarah, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, has the money to save his family, but will they be able to make a life together?  Anthony and Sarah soon find that their love of art brings them together - but will others around them threaten their happiness?

Although the storyline of this book was simple and predictable, it was well written and easy to read.  I finished the book in just a couple of hours, and for the most part, thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  The characters were well developed, and the secondary characters added to the story.  There was one exception - the villain.  Although his motivation made sense, I found him a little off-putting (it bordered on the stereotypical “gay villain”) and that marred the story a little for me.  Overall, this was an enjoyable read, even if it wasn’t as memorable as some of Wolf’s other books.  

Although I have two more Wolf books in my TBR, I will put those aside for now and try something different!

Lie to Me by Starr Ambrose

I definitely do my part to support the book industry - I'm pretty sure I bought this book TWICE in paper form and once in e-book form.  I will try not to think about how much I spent when I rate it.  (I also bought a hardback that was pretty much a wallbanger - at least this one was enjoyable even if I didn't need to buy it three times!)

Lie to Me by Starr Ambrose
(2008, Contemporary)  10/22/12
Grade: 4

Ellie Coggins is determined to find out why her best friend died mysteriously, so she breaks into the Westfield house to search for clues - only to discover the black sheep of the family, Jack Payton, doing the same thing.  They decide to fake an engagement so they can team up and find out what his brother is up to - but they aren’t supposed to fall in love, are they?

This was a fun and entertaining read - one of the best contemporaries I’ve read in a while.  The dialogue was snappy, the characters were well written and the suspense plotline kept things moving along.  The secondary characters added to the story (especially Rocky, Jack’s cellmate, and Libby, Jack’s daughter - who was much less annoying than kids usually are in romances).  I debated whether to give it a higher grade, but there was a little too much emphasis on sex in the second half.  (If someone is trying to kill you, probably a bad time to make out.)  It was also a bit fluffy - I doubt I’ll remember it in a month.  But still, it was an enjoyable read and that’s pretty rare in contemporaries these days!  I’d recommend it.  

I see that Starr Ambrose has written a sequel titled Thieves Like Us - I checked out her other books on Amazon but the descriptions didn't grab me - maybe I'll try Thieves Like Us.

Delusion in Death by J.D. Robb

Still reading the J.D. Robb In Death series...

Delusion in Death by J.D. Robb
(2012, Futuristic)  10/15/12
Grade: 4

Eve and Roarke struggle to solve a terrorist-style attack, where the victims are drugged to attack each other.  With dozens of victims, it’s difficult to determine who was the real target of the attack, and who was just an innocent victim... with the origins of the crime leading back decades to the Urban Wars.

This is a reliable J.D. Robb mystery, with some interesting details sprinkled in about the history of Robb’s fictional universe with the details about the Urban Wars that have been mentioned before.  The plot was interesting and unique, and there were some nice moments with Peabody and Somerset.  I wasn’t so fascinated that I couldn’t put it down, but it was a good entry in the series. 

I've become a little bored with the series, but I still enjoy one every now and then.

The Gamble by Joan Wolf

I had to break my rule about not buying any more paperback books for this one!  Thankfully it worked well since I brought it to the hospital with me.

The Gamble by Joan Wolf
(1998, Regency Historical)  10/12/12
Grade: 3.5

After her father’s death, Georgie discovers that he was blackmailing several  gentlemen for cheating at gambling.  She doesn’t want to become a blackmailer herself, but she must protect her sister Anna, so she heads to London to blackmail the Earl of Winterdale to help her find a husband.  The new earl ihas his own reasons to help Georgie.  But her father’s other victims will do anything to stop Georgie from revealing their secrets. 

This is another one of Joan Wolf’s first person Regencies, and although it was fun to read, it didn’t have quite the snap and exuberance of the other two.  The storyline of a Regency season was more typical, and the blackmail victims were too interchangeable to make good villains.  It’s also not very clear why Georgie fell in love with Winterdale, and he with her (a common problem with first person books).  Overall, it was well written and enjoyable, but not quite up to the standards of her other Regency historicals.

I haven't run across very many new books that are appealing, so it's a good thing I keep finding older books I haven't read yet.