When An Author Has Too Much To Say

So many books feel padded, as if the author couldn't fill her page count without repeating herself a few times. But this author has the opposite problem - enough plot twists to fill three or four books!

Dedication by Janet Mullany
(2005, Regency) 9/18/06
Grade: 3.5

Twenty years after her affair with Adam Ashworth, Fabienne is shocked to see him again - now a widower with grandchildren. Between Adam’s reappearance, and her relationship with the daughter she gave up years earlier, Fabienne unburdens her soul to the mysterious author Mrs. Ravenwood - not knowing that the author is actually Adam.

This book is difficult to grade, because it’s a mixture of good and bad. As much as I liked the characters, the book was a jumble of plot points, thrown in almost at random - everything from hidden babies to secret sex societies to unrequited gay love to big misunderstandings. I started wondering what other bizarre twist the author might throw into the mix. But the characters were unique and interesting - it was especially refreshing to read about a hero who’s a grandfather (and who loved his late wife), and a heroine who didn’t waste away when the hero left her. And there were some nice moments of humor and emotion - if only they’d formed a coherent whole!

Alas, I was really looking forward to this one, since it was recommended by a friend. But despite my problems with it, I'll still be looking for the author's next book - she definitely has potential. (Her next book is supposed to be a "Regency Chick Lit". Doesn't sound promising, given my taste in books, but I'm willing to be persuaded.)

The Demise of the Regency

When the word came down that Signet and Zebra were abandoning the Regency, I put in a big order at Amazon. I ordered every recent Regency that seemed to have any potential at all, in hopes of finding a great read. So far, I've been disappointed - out of that entire group of 2005-2006 Regencies, I haven't found one excellent book yet. (Besides the ones I reviewed here, there were several more I couldn't finish.) I have just one left - I'm crossing my fingers!

The Marriage List by Dorothy McFalls
(2005, Regency) 9/16/06
Grade: 2.5

After being wounded on the Penninsula, Radford, Viscount Evers, has decided to do his duty and get married. He’s even picked out the perfect girl - she’s feather-brained and a bit mean, but she fulfills all the qualities on his “marriage list”. If only he wasn’t intrigued by May, who is being pressured into marriage to an elderly neighbor to protect her beloved aunt.

So frustrating! At first, I thought this would be an enjoyable Regency. The characters were interesting, even if the situation was cliched. But as the book continued, the characters just kept spinning in place, and becoming more and more annoying. The hero’s insistence on marriage to the nasty Lady Lillian started to seem stupid instead of befuddled, and the heroine’s dithering became TSTL instead of charming. Add in some silly misunderstandings and out-of-nowhere plot twists at the end, and you have a frustrating reading experience. And I really wanted to like this book!!

Thankfully I have over 200 Regencies in my boxes of TBR books. Maybe those older books will be more promising.

A More Realistic Western

I've never understood why American historicals aren't more popular. Millions of people visit historical sites like Williamsburg and read nonfiction books about American history, but American-set books are currently "out of style". Although I like English historicals, there's something particularly compelling to me about stories set here in the U.S.

So Wide The Sky by Elizabeth Grayson
(1997, Western) 9/12/06
Grade: 4

Nine years after she was captured by Indians at age 15, Cassie now has to readjust to white society. The tattoo on her cheek ensures that no one can forget her past. She reconnects with her childhood sweetheart, Drew, now a bitter widower who hates Indians - but it’s the half-Indian tracker, Hunter, who understands being caught between two worlds.

A compelling story about a unique heroine. I’ve never read anything quite like it. It’s brutally honest about the white’s view of Indians during the 1960’s, and the Indian response to the white settlers. (Most books gloss over both of these.) But a lot of the book is somewhat depressing to read. Cassie’s relationship with Drew is painful and frustrating, and her relationship with Hunter doesn’t really develop until almost the end of the book. I was glad I read it, but I was also glad when it was over.

It was hard to grade and review this book, because I think I'll remember it for a long time - but it wasn't always "fun" to read.

Even A Great Author...

doesn't write a keeper every time.

Miss Billings Treads The Boards by Carla Kelly
(1993, Regency) 9/7/06
Grade: 3.5

After her father’s death, Kate’s only choice is to become a governess - but she ends up taking to the stage with a motley band of actors. Lord Henry Grayson, bored and balding, stumbles into the same theatre group (after being shot by his nephew) and finds himself on the stage with a new “wife” - and after a few days with Kate, he doesn’t want the masquerade to end!

This was a charming Regency that started to wear thin by the end. It was refreshing to find a balding hero, and the theatre setting was interesting. There were a few too many secondary characters, but I managed to keep them straight by the end. But the main problem was the relationship between the hero and heroine - by the halfway point, the relationship had stalled, and it didn't develop any more until the end. Even though I liked the hero and heroine, the last half of the book felt like the same thing over and over. Not one of Kelly’s best books, but still worth reading.

I keep hearing rumors that Carla Kelly might write some more books for Harlequin Historical. Even when she's not at her best, her books are still worth reading, so I hope it works out!

At Last! A Great Book!

I picked up this book when I was browsing at Waldens - I haven't heard anything about it online, and it's too bad people are missing out!

Lost Cause by Janice Kay Johnson
(2006, Contemporary Series) 9/6/06
Grade: 4.5

After a motorcycle accident, Gary decides to contact his sisters, who he hasn’t seen since he was three. After his parents death, they were separated, and he was adopted by abusive parents. Gary is reluctant to open his heart up to anyone - but maybe it’s time to start fresh - and maybe the red-headed social worker is also worth a bit of his heart as well.

A really wonderful, emotional read - one of my best reads of the year, almost a keeper. The author does a great job depicting Gary - his reluctance to feel and love, and his struggles to overcome the past. The romance takes second place to Gary’s emotional journey and his relationship with his sisters, but there was enough connection between the hero and heroine to convince me, especially in the second half. These characters seemed like real people, and I didn’t want the book to end so I had to say goodbye to them!

The next book in the series is coming out in November, although it's a "cute kid" book, like so many other series books these days.

A Hero Named Ravenscar?

With a hero named "Ravenscar", you can't take anything too seriously...

The Devil Earl by Deborah Simmons
(1996, Regency Historical) 9/5/06
Grade: 3.5

Although she’s always been fascinated by Wolfinger Abbey, Prudence never thought to meet the Earl of Ravenscar, who has a dark reputation. She’s happy to use him as inspiration for her gothic novels. But when she meets the mysterious Earl, she finds more fascinating than frightening - and she’ll take any risk to get to know him better.

An amusing send-up of gothic novels, but somewhat lacking in emotion. The author has a lot of fun with the stereotypes and cliches of gothic castles and brooding heroes, but although she tries to create well-rounded characters for Prudence and Ravenscar, I never quite bought it. (At one point, Prudence comments “she knows him so well” although she’s only met him twice at that point. How does she know him?) I enjoyed the story, but I never felt emotionally connected to the characters, especially when the plot goes over-the-top at the end with pirates and smugglers.

Amanda Quick also poked fun at gothic conventions in a couple of her early books, but her heroes and heroines always felt more real to me. Despite the author's efforts, I always felt I was reading "a book" when I was reading The Devil Earl.

Action On The Page

Even though I was a big fan of Alias and other "butt kicking heroine" TV shows, I don't usually enjoy them in book form. To me, action just doesn't translate well to the page. But every now and then, I'll try one.

Once a Thief by Michele Hauf (SB 49)
(2005, Contemporary Series) 9/4/06
Grade: 3.5

Trained as a jewel thief since she was a teenager and kept as a virtual prisoner, Rachel finally escapes and lives an anonymous life as a security consultant. But when the ruby she’s supposed to protect is stolen, she has to steal it back - and finds herself thrown back into her old life, and into the arms of a safe cracker who once showed her kindness and love.

At its best, this is like an episode of Alias - cat burglers climbing over the roof, and cross-and-double-cross intrigue. (I think action works better on screen than it does on the page, but this was kind of fun.) I was most interested in the psychological side - how she’s building a new life after years of brainwashing, and her confrontation with her former master - but the cat burglar stuff was fun too. But the romance with Jason wasn’t as effective, although he’s an intriguing hero - not enough time for a relationship in between the punches. (Hauf also has an odd writing style, although I got used to it.) It could have been better, but it was a fun read.

There were a few silly plot points in this one - incapacitation by orgasm? - but the world Hauf created was intriguing. I'd like to know more about villain Christian Lazar!

Serious Contemporary

The serious, non-suspense romantic contemporary: such a rare bird these days! I almost hesitate to criticize one, in case they disappear altogether. (Not to mention, one of the last books by Ruth Wind before she went over completely to "women's fiction", which I find much less satisfying...)

In The Midnight Rain by Ruth Wind
(2000, Contemporary) 9/3/06
Grade: 4

Ellie comes to Pine Bend to research a biography on the mysterious blues singer Mabel Beauvais - and hoping to find her unknown father. She’s offered a place to stay by Dr. Reynard, or Blue, who she met online and who also loves the blues. Blue is certainly charming, with a troubled past of his own, but can he get past his own grief, to reach out to her with love?

This book took a long time to get going. I’ve never had a lot of patience with laid back Southern heroes who are irresistible to women, and the author spends a lot of pages telling the reader how charming he is. And introducing dozens of secondary characters, and meandering along without much purpose. The book perks up in the second half, though, and starts getting interesting when Blue finally becomes a real person instead of just a cliche. The book deals with some interesting issues - Vietnam, and race, and history - but it seemed like the first half was too slow, and the second half was too rushed. Still, in the end it was a good read.

Maybe I just had to get into the rhythm of this book - in the first half, I kept putting it down and finding other things to do, but by the time I got into the second half, I couldn't stop reading.

I meant to add in my review - I really loved the way Wind incorporated internet newsgroups. I used to be a newsgroup junkie, and it rang true. Nice to see the internet incorporated into a book in a positive way.

Disappointment from a Favorite Author

I think the most disappointing kind of read is when you're anticipating a book from a favorite author, and then it falls flat. I've been saving up the last of Candice Hern's Regencies (her single titles are OK, but not the same) and hoping it would give me the pleasure of Change of Heart or A Garden Folly.

An Affair of Honor by Candice Hern
(Regency, 1996) 9/1/06
Grade: 2.5

Six years after meeting him during her disastrous Season, Meg Ashburton discovers Viscount Sedgewick thrown from his curricle. He is taken to her home nearby to recover. During the weeks he spends in her company, she is charmed all over again, and he finds himself thinking of love for the first time. But does he want marriage - or something less honorable?

A surprisingly boring Regency from the usually reliable Candice Hern. I was skeptical from the first, when Meg declared her “love” for a man who danced with her twice and barely remembered her. It seemed more like a “plot setup” than an actual emotion. But I was willing to go along, if it had turned into something more interesting. There wasn’t much chemistry between the hero and heroine, and the “mystery” was obvious. I would have graded this as average if not for the tedious misunderstandings in the last third - by the time I reached the end, I just wanted it to be over. Hard to believe that this book came after the enchanting Change of Heart.

I hesitated before grading this one, because I didn't want to grade it too harshly just because I'm a fan of Candice Hern. But in the end, I had to give it a lower score, because I had such a hard time finishing it. I probably would have given up if it had been by another author.

I've been on a Regency kick lately, but I think I'd better switch to a different genre to "cleanse my palate".

Lab Intrigue

Every now and then, I read something other than romance! Although I usually like to get away from my normal life when I read, I can't resist a book that's set in the world of science - if it's done well.

Intuition by Allegra Goodman
(2006, Contemporary) 8/30/06
Grade: 4

After years of frustration, postdoc Cliff discovers his virus causes remission in mouse tumors. At first, everything seems perfect - but a little too good to be true? When his ex-girlfriend (and fellow postdoc) Robin discovers some questionable documentation, will his discovery turn out to be bogus? And will Robin’s career be destroyed by her insistence on the truth?

An interesting book with some flaws, but does a great job in depicting the culture of an academic research lab. Goodman creates vivid characters (maybe too many of them - she spends too much time on some minor characters) and creates a believable scenario of a questionable result that turns into a media circus when the results are questioned. The first section is rather slow, the middle a little too operatic and the end a little too quick and perfunctory, but overall, it’s great to read a book that treats science and science labs realistically and thoughtfully.

If this book had been set in a police station or a law office, I probably wouldn't have found it as interesting. But even though this was a biology lab, it rang true to this onetime chemistry grad student.

What Could Have Been

An entire series was planned for the St. Ives family, but Barbara Samuel only wrote two of them before switching to women's fiction. Too bad!

The Black Angel by Barbara Samuel
(1999, Georgian) 8/28/06
Grade: 4

Five years after an affair that devastated her family, Adriana marries Tynan Spenser, “The Black Angel”. It’s a marriage of convenience, and most of all, Adriana doesn’t want to risk falling in love - or lust - again. But Tynan isn’t what she expected, and his kindness and sensuality tempt her to let down her guard. But can she accept the secrets he’s hiding as well?

An interesting story that gets better in the second half. The plotline was interesting from the first - drawing in hypocrisy about women’s roles, racism, Catholicism, and unique secondary characters. I especially liked the way she made the family members part of the story, without making them obvious sequel fodder. But in the first half, I felt distanced - the writing seemed to keep me at arm’s length from the characters and their emotions. But this went away in the second half - either I got used to it or the author became more intimate. The book wrapped up a little too quickly, but it was a compelling read.

I can't blame an author for following her muse, but it's frustrating as a reader, when you can see where an author is going, and then she decides not to go there. So many good authors, going in directions that just don't particularly interest me.

Just Can't Put My Finger On It

It's always hard to review a book that just doesn't seem "right", for some reason.

Her Perfect Earl by Bethany Brooks
(2005, Regency) 8/27/06
Grade: 3

In hopes of winning a classics competition, Esmerelda Fortune accepts a position as governess for the Earl of Ashforth’s five children. She is looking for a missing manuscript, but finds herself more interested in his lonely children - and the “perfect” Earl himself, who is not as perfect as he wants people to believe.

A nice story that didn’t quite gel. It’s hard to explain - there was something about the characterizations, particularly of the Earl, that just didn’t work. The author kept telling me who he was, but it never felt quite real. The children were more interesting, the story was fun, and Esmie was charming, but I kept thinking that the author was trying too hard. It just didn’t touch my emotions the way it should have.

I can't point to any particular problem with this book, but the entire time I was reading it, I felt like something was "off". Weird.

A New York Western

After spending four years in Williamsburg, I'm always interested in Revolutionary War settings. But I've never read a book set in upstate New York during the war - a part of history I didn't know much about!

Gift of the Heart by Miranda Jarrett
(1996, Revolutionary War) 8/26/06
Grade: 4

In 1778, Rachel struggles on her farm in upstate NY, raising her young son, with her husband at war and probably dead. When a wounded soldier stumbles into her barn, she helps him, although she keeps her musket handy. He soon becomes a part of the family. But can they build a life together when he’s fighting on the other side, with a bounty on his head?

A simple but charming story, with an interesting setting. This is a fairly typical “man hardened by war is saved by the love of family” story, but it’s well written, with interesting and well-rounded characters. The focus is on the character development, which is a nice change from more plot-oriented books. Although the main focus is the romance, it also reveals a part of the revolutionary war that I hadn’t known about, and it’s refreshing to read a book with this kind of setting. The only negative is the ending, which is too rushed and tries to wrap up all the loose ends in just a few pages. This wasn’t a keeper, but it was enjoyable and well done.

I miss American-set books! I don't understand why they aren't more popular.

Classic Regency

I'm glad I have a bunch of Regencies in my TBR - even when they're average reads, there's something about a Regency that appeals to me. Regency-set historicals just aren't the same.

Debt of Honor by Diana Brown
(1982, Regency) 8/20/06
Grade: 3.5

When they first meet, Lord Peter Chalmsforth mistakes Fiona Guthrie for a lightskirt and propositions her. But he is quickly charmed by her intelligence and beauty. After her brother gambles away the family estate, Fiona decides to take Peter up on his offer - but will he accept? And can an honorable relationship ever develop, after such a beginning?

A pleasant Regency that unfortunately devolves into misunderstandings in the last third. The first part of the book is nice enough - the characters are interesting, although Fiona is a little too perfect. (Everyone falls in love with her on first sight.) The “shocking” proposal doesn’t really go anywhere very shocking. But the hero and heroine are appealing and the writing is good. But in the last third, the story just dribbles away. The hero and heroine are separated, there’s no conflict, there are petty misunderstandings - nothing terrible, just kind of boring. An unfortunate end for an enjoyable Regency.

It's always disappointing to read a book that starts well, and then fizzles out. (A common problem, unfortunately.)

Good? Bad? Both?

My knowledge of the Norman conquest is pretty spotty, so I have no idea of the historical accuracy of the politics in this book. As always, I'm more interested in the emotions of the characters than in the history.

Her Norman Conqueror by Malia Martin
(1998, Medieval) 8/17/06
Grade: 3

Desperate to avoid her stepbrother, Aleene marries a seemingly simple minded poacher. Haunted by memories of her stepfather’s sexual abuse, she finds comfort in his kindness. But when William invades, she discovers her husband isn’t what he seemed - he’s actually a Norman spy. Can she ever trust a man who turned her into a traitor?

The first section of the book was an interesting, emotional story, as Aleene learns to trust again with her new husband. (It’s a bit of a cheat, since we never find out that “Cyne” isn’t really simple minded. But since he’s the hero of the book, the reader has to assume something else is going on. If he really had been retarded, the scenario would be kind of icky.) But with the invasion, the book shifts gears as Aleene and Robert become closely involved with the politics of the two kings. It’s interesting, but it doesn’t seem to track with what came before. By the time the story got back to the emotional side of things, the plot threads had gotten lost somehow.

If this book had been straight politics, I might have found it more acceptable. The author teased me with a great, emotional story in the first part of the book, and when that went away, I was especially disappointed.

Never Boring, But Sometimes Frustrating

So many books are by-the-numbers retreads, as if they were written by a formula. It's refreshing to read something different, even if it has flaws.

The Music of the Night by Lydia Joyce
(2005, Victorian) 8/13/06
Grade: 4.5

A life as a companion in Venice is more than Sarah ever expected, after a childhood spent in the rookeries of London. But when she is caught up in the Earl of Wortham’s plans of dark revenge, she finds a passion she never expected - and a dangerous love that might destroy her forever.

Intriguing and unique, Lydia Joyce creates fascinating characters and puts them in unusual settings and situations. Both Sarah and Sebastian are compelling, sympathetic characters, and the Venetian setting is fascinating. But the author’s convoluted plotlines make the story hard to follow - I always felt like I was one step behind, and was never quite sure what was going on. I don’t need to be spoonfed every detail, but it was sometimes frustrating. As in her first book, the pacing was off sometimes - the middle section was drawn out, and then the final scenes were overly rushed. An interesting book, but one that could have been improved.

I've heard mixed things about Joyce's third book - I hope she keeps trying new things, but I think I'd enjoy her books more if they were a little more clearly plotted.

Everybody's Favorite Romance Author

Whenever I mention that I've attended a romance book signing, the first author that people ask me about is Nora Roberts. There was a woman at the post office who took great care of my packages after I told her I'd met her favorite author, and a co-worker who was fascinated by what "Nora" was wearing at a recent book signing.

I've never been a huge fan, but I have a couple of her books on my keeper shelf (Born in Fire and Born in Ice) and I usually find her books easy to read and fairly enjoyable, even if they aren't always to my taste.

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts
(2006, Romantic Suspense) 8/12/06
Grade: 3

Two years after violence shattered her life, Reece drives into Angel’s Fist, Wyoming. It’s as good a place as any: the people are nice, and she even finds work as a cook (although it’s far from her previous life as a chef in Boston). But when she witnesses a murder, she finds herself doubting her own sanity, and becoming closer to a gruff but handsome mystery writer.

The mystery was well done, but I found it hard to get into this one. I usually find Roberts easy to read, but I kept putting this one down. The romance between Reece and Brody seemed more convenient than passionate, although the author does a good job in creating a small town full of interesting characters. Reece grew on me - her fear and doubts were compelling - but I just didn’t care that much about her relationship, and was only slightly more interested in the identity of the killer. Not a bad book, but not as good a mystery as the best of the J.D. Robb books, and not as good a romance as some of Nora Roberts’ earlier titles.

Although I'm not a big romantic suspense fan, I'd heard good things about this one, and I enjoyed some of Roberts' earlier RS books (Hidden Riches, Carnal Innocence). This one just didn't do much for me, although I liked the way she hid the identity of the killer until almost the end.

Old Fashioned... Not In A Good Way

Sometimes I can read a book that has an "old fashioned" story, and I'm happy to enjoy an old story told well. But there were some scenarios from older romances that I didn't particularly like the first time around - and they haven't gotten better with age...

The Seduction of His Wife by Janet Chapman
(2006, Contemporary) 8/6/06
Grade: 2.5

After Alex is declared dead, his family marries him by proxy to their housekeeper, to protect his two children. It’s a shock to everyone when he comes home safely - but especially to Sarah, who never expected a real husband. Despite their first, passionate night together, Sarah is unsure if she can trust Alex’s charm, and allow him to rescue her from her past.

Despite mostly likeable characters and a readable writing style, this book annoyed me most of the time. Start with the “she’s a slut - oh no, she’s a virgin” scenario (which of course ends in the typical romance way). Add the fiesty-but-helpless heroine, who is too feminine and cute to be able to take care of herself (although she tries, sweet thing that she is) and who naively beguiles every man within 100 miles. Then add a hero who is nice enough, but always thinks he knows best and treats the heroine accordingly (and everyone around agrees, naturally). I can’t say that this was a bad book, but it just pushed my buttons - I kept wanting to gag.

This was my book club book, so I felt like I had to finish it. Otherwise I would have dropped it in the trade pile after the first chapter or two.

It's hard for me to assess this book, because there's nothing really awful here. I know some people like this type of story - why else would Diana Palmer still be popular? But the stereotypical "helpless but in a cute way" heroine just irritated me, and I was never able to get past it. (Not to mention the "oops, she's a virgin, she must be good" setup which I thought was gone and forgotten.)

A Disappointment From One Of My Favorites

Although I wasn't thrilled by Mary Jo Putney's previous paranormal books, I was hoping this one would put more emphasis on the romance - and bring back the enjoyment I always got from her best books. (She's one of my all time favorite authors, although I'm not a big fan of paranormal so I tried not to get my hopes up too high.)

The Marriage Spell by Mary Jo Putney
(2006, Paranormal Regency Historical) 7/23/06
Grade: 3.5

In a Regency world where magic is commonplace (if not quite accepted), Jack is sent to school to beat the magic out of him. But when he ends up married to a healer, he discovers that magic isn’t all bad - and it may be the key to saving his family. And Abby finds herself pulled into a social world she’s never known, and discovers passion and acceptance within herself.

I enjoyed the first part of this book - the magical background was interesting, but not overwhelming, and the arranged marriage story worked well. The characters were sympathetic, and the blend of magic and romance seemed to work. Unfortunately, in the second half, the story went downhill. The focus turned to external problems, and magic conveniently solved everything, much too easily. The characters were still interesting, but there wasn’t much more to say about them - their relationship didn’t really develop in the second half, it just stayed the same. There were opportunities for more (especially when it came to Jack's background and the way his magic was suppressed by his father) but it was just pushed aside in favor of fighting the "bad guy" and using a few spells to fix everything. More disappointing than bad, but not one of Putney’s best.

Perhaps it's unfair, but I couldn't help comparing this to some of the arranged marriage stories that I've loved in the past - by Putney herself, as well as other authors. This one just seemed superficial by comparison. Throwing in some magic doesn't compensate for the lack of deep emotion, at least not for me.

Book by the Numbers

I just moved to a new city, and I'm thrilled to have the chance to join a book discussion group - I love meeting other romance readers! Even though I'm trying not to buy books for a while, I picked up this one so I'd be able to join in the discussion.

The Rogue Report by Barbara Dawson Smith
(2006, Regency Historical) 7/9/06
Grade: 3.5

Jack, the Earl of Rutledge, is enraged after his gambling exploits are revealed in an anonymous newsletter, ending his engagement. He decides to disguise himself as a math teacher at a charity school run by Julia Corwyn, an outcast from society since she had a child out of wedlock. But he finds himself unaccountably drawn to the stern headmistress...

This book is the perfect example of “nothing special”. The hero and heroine were likeable, the secondary characters amusing, the story unexceptionable, but nothing really stood out. It just seemed predictable. Sometimes an author can take a familiar story and make it sing, but this one just plodded along - it was pleasant enough for a lazy Sunday, but it could have been any one of dozens of books.

I hate to criticize a book that's OK when there are so many truly bad books out there, but this one just didn't stand out in any way - good or bad.