Marrying the Captain by Carla Kelly

I'm so pleased that Carla Kelly is back writing for Harlequin Historical (and I hope they're paying her well!). Although her books aren't always as "romantic" as I prefer, she has a unique voice, and I would hate for her to be lost to the romance world.

Marrying the Captain by Carla Kelly
(2009, Regency) 1/21/09
Grade: 4

Captain Oliver Worthy is on a brief leave from the French blockade, waiting for his ship to be repaired. He agrees to look in on Lord Ratliffe’s illegitimate daughter, Eleanor, and is soon enchanted by her and her family. But Oliver is unwilling to marry when his life is in constant danger - and Nana doesn’t want to burden him with a wife who will never fit in.

Carla Kelly is unparalleled in her depictions of ordinary heroes and heroines, and she does a wonderful job here with Oliver and Nana. She’s particularly good at creating military heroes, and she really brought her naval hero to life. (The heroine is a more typical “too good to be true” type, but she’s well written.) There were many scenes that stood out here, as the hero and heroine quietly spent time together. However, the book didn’t really stand out from other Carla Kelly books. It dragged a bit in the middle, and the action scenes felt tacked on at the end. Overall, it just felt predictable, although well executed - nothing that really excited me. But still, a good Carla Kelly book is still well worth reading, even if it’s not that different than the ones that went before.

Although Carla Kelly has dealt with illegitimate heroines before, this almost seems like a trend in romance - I've seen more illegitimate heroes and heroines in the past year than I ever have before. I'm intrigued - with all the mistresses and so forth, there had to be a lot of them running around Regency England, and it's a side of life we don't see very often.

Best of 2008

This has been an excellent reading year for me. I read more books this year (102) than in any year since 1996 - the last year before I started working full time. (Amazing how having a job cuts down on your reading time.) My continued unemployment probably explains why I read so many books this year, but it's not the only reason. I found a lot more books I wanted to read this year! 28 of the books I read were from 2008, which is more than I've bought in any year, in close to a decade. Finally, the romance publishers were putting out serious, "angsty" historicals again, in between all the paranormals and erotica. Nice for me, and probably for a lot of other romance readers as well.

I didn't have a keeper this year (Grade of 5), but that probably has more to do with my pickiness than anything else. But I had 8 books that I graded at 4.5, which means they were really enjoyable, the best books of the year. Three of those books were from 2008.

Simply Magic by Mary Balogh (2007)
A Heritage of Shadows by Madeline Brent (1983)
The Discarded Duke by Nancy Butler (2002)
His Captive Lady by Anne Gracie (2008)
A Kiss To Dream On by Neesa Hart (1999)
To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt (2008)
Beyond Breathless by Kathleen O'Reilly (2007)
The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn (2008)

There were a lot of other books that got very good grades (4). A lot of grading depends on my emotional reaction to a book, and a lot of these books might have gotten a higher grade on another day. They were all good reads. I won't link to all of them but it's a quick overview. (I included a couple of books that I read in early January, but were 2008 books.)

Barefoot in the Grass by Judith Arnold (1996)
Simply Love by Mary Balogh (2006)
Simply Perfect by Mary Balogh (2008)
Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh (2005)
A Most Unsuitable Man by Jo Beverley (2005)
The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne (2008)
Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase (2008)
Kiss The Cook by Jacquie D'Alessandro (2000)
After the Kiss by Suzanne Enoch (2008)
The Monk Upstairs by Tim Farrington (2007)
Nobody Does It Better by Jan Freed (1997)
Shores of Desire by Tracy Grant (1997)
His Secret Past by Ellen Hartman (2008)
The Pirate Lord by Sabrina Jeffries (1998)
Proving Herself by Yvonne Jocks (2001)
Summer Campaign by Carla Kelly (1989)
Like No Other Lover by Julie Ann Long (2008)
Mostly Married by Lisa Manual (2004)
Because of You by Cathy Maxwell (1999)
A Man to Rely On by Cindi Myers (2008)
Beguiled by Susan Spencer Paul (1998)
Ain't She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (2004)
Lady of the Knight by Tori Phillips (1999)
White Picket Fences by Tara Tyler Quinn (2000)
Lean On Me by Jill Shalvis (1998)
Rain Shadow by Cheryl St. John (1994)
Cold as Ice by Anne Stuart (2006)
Long Night Moon by Theresa Weir (1995)

Mostly historicals, with a few series books and a couple of contemporaries.

Happily, there were few bad books this year - although that's in large part because I had little patience for them. Any book that wasn't working for me by page 50 got a quick skim, and if it didn't look promising, into the trade pile it went. (Or into the paperbackswap queue.) So most of the disappointing books never ended up in my database. But there were a couple of exceptions:

My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth
The Wicked Ways of a Duke by Laura Lee Guhrke

The surprising thing about these two books is that both of them were very popular. I think both made several "best of the year" lists. I definitely didn't see the attraction.

Now, I'm looking forward to 2009. The new Carla Kelly is on its way to me - I'm hoping it will be my first great read of the New Year!

After the Kiss by Suzanne Enoch

Don't judge a book by its plot description. That's the lesson I can learn from this book - I never would have bought this book if I'd run across it at a bookstore, because it sounds so silly. The plot description is correct, but only a small part of the story. Unfortunately, it's hard to judge a book if you can't trust the back blurb - I bought this book based on a review, but it seems like reviews are getting scarcer these days. (And I haven't had a great history with Suzanne Enoch - I hated one of her previous books.) So, how do you find good reads? It's hard to tell...

After the Kiss by Suzanne Enoch
(2008, Regency Historical) 1/16/09
Grade: 4

Sullivan Waring, the bastard son of a Marquis, only became a thief to recover his mother’s paintings, but when he’s caught by Lady Isabel Chalsey, he can’t help but steal a kiss. Isabel can’t decide what to do about her mysterious thief, so she decides to hire him to teach her to ride, and keep him close at hand, so she can consider him more closely...

I didn’t expect to like this books as much as I did. The plot sounded ridiculous when I read the description, and I thought it would be a silly romp. It wasn’t that at all. Both the hero and heroine were well characterized, and the attraction between them was really well done. I believed that Sullivan and Tibby yearned for each other - it wasn’t just lust - and I found myself completely caught up in their seemingly doomed affair. I also appreciated that the ending stayed true to what had gone before. I almost gave this book a higher grade, because I found myself caught up in the book, but the beginning and ending were both a bit slow, and it wasn’t as deeply emotional as the best books I read this year. Maybe 4 and a quarter stars.

The last of my 2008 books! (I'm sure I'll read more 2008 books at some point in the future - books that I missed for one reason or another - but this is the last one of the books I bought in 2008. 28 completed books in all - not bad, considering how few books I've bought in previous years.

A Man To Rely On by Cindi Myers

Harlequin Super Romance is probably my favorite series line. I like the focus on realistic characters and real-life problems. But, I'm still a picky reader. I'm reluctant to buy HSR books without a specific recommendation, because I don't really like books about babies and kidlets, and it seems like they're everywhere in this category line. Even if you pick up a book that doesn't seem to feature this plotline, you get halfway through and WHAP, there it is. And then there are the garden variety bad books - books with cardboard characters, silly plotlines, etc. It's disappointing - and with a limited book budget and not much time to read, it bothers me to buy a book that turns out to be unsatisfying. So, I wait for recommendations. Unfortunately, it can be hard to get recommendations for HSR's - it seems like most readers prefer Blazes and Presents (ick), and those are the ones that get reviewed. So, I never hear about the good HSR's. I'm glad I heard about this one - even a fleeting comment on a discussion list is enough for me to give a book, so I'm not buying completely blind.

A Man To Rely On by Cindi Myers (HSR 1530)
(2008, Contemporary Series) 1/16/09
Grade: 4

Marisol was always the “bad girl” of Cedar Switch, Texas, until she left home at 16. After 20 years, she’s returned, but she’s now a single mother with a teenage daughter, and the death of her sports star husband has brought more scandal. Is she willing to give Scott Redmond a chance, even though he’s trying to rebuild his life after a stint in rehab?

Although the basic storyline was a bit predictable, the characters gave the familiar plot more depth and emotion. Marisol was a well drawn character, and it was nice to see her regaining her confidence and learning to put the past behind her. (Familiar story, but well done.) The hero is more unusual. Not only does he have a history of drug addiction, but he’s also struggling with anxiety attacks. Not a typical hero, but I found him compelling, and he has his own “rebuild my confidence” story. That made this book stand out from a lot of other category books. I also appreciated that the author didn’t fix everything with a bow on top at the end, although it felt a little rushed in the last pages. Overall, this was a very enjoyable and satisfying category read - a little predictable, but overall, a good read.

A storyline that might be a little thin for a full length book can be just right for a category. As long as the characters are well-drawn, I don't mind a predictable plot, especially in a short book that doesn't have room for a lot of plot exposition.

Sex, Straight Up by Kathleen O'Reilly

I've had mixed results with Harlequin Blaze. On one hand, a lot of good authors write for this line, and it's one of the few lines where you won't see cutesy-wootsy babies on every cover. On the other hand, most of them are based on the premise, "if the sex is good, it must be love". I don't really buy that, and I often find the sex scenes detract from the development of the relationship. I keep reading them because some of them are enjoyable, but I kind of wish the best Blaze authors would write their stories in other Harlequin lines, where a sex scene every 20 pages isn't a book requirement.

Sex, Straight Up by Kathleen O'Reilly (HB 388)
(2008, Contemporary Series) 1/12/09
Grade: 3.5

Seven years after losing his wife on 9/11, Daniel O’Sullivan still wears his ring, and can’t imagine another woman - until he meets Catherine Montefiore. At first, he thinks it will just be a fling, but when an audit of her grandfather’s auction house throws them together, he begins to think more seriously about whether he can move on, and make a new life.

Although I liked the hero and heroine in this book, it was a little bit overstuffed, and the relationship between the hero and heroine was kept in the background for too long. I found Daniel a particularly sympathetic hero. His devotion to his wife and his struggle to move past her death was very well written and emotional. I also liked Catherine, but I didn’t find their relationship all that realistic until the last chaper or two. There were a lot of sex scenes, but for a long time, it felt like the only thing between them was sexual attraction. Maybe it was because we got a moment-by-moment accounting of the state of Daniel’s cock. The storyline about the audit of the auction house wasn’t all that interesting, and it took time away from deepening the relationship. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I particularly enjoyed the hero, but it didn’t quite work for me.

One thing I appreciate about Kathleen O'Reilly are her New York settings. It's such a refreshing change from the endless small towns of Harlequin land.

Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase

I've had mixed results with Loretta Chase. I'm one of the few people who didn't love Lord of Scoundrels - I enjoyed it, but it wasn't the be-all and end-all of romance for me. But I've had a pretty good track record with her books on the whole - most of them have been enjoyable at least. I started reading this book a couple of months ago, and was so intrigued by the first chapter that I decided to set it aside for a time when I wasn't so distracted by other things. And then I didn't get back to it until now.

Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase
(2008, Regency Historical) 1/11/09
Grade: 4

Francesca Bonnard has lived on the Continent since her divorce, taking lovers and scandalizing society. But when the British government wants secret letters incriminating her ex-husband, they send James Cordier, a spy who is ready to retire and live a normal life. But there’s something about Francesca that makes him forget about all that...

This book was fascinating from the first page, and featured unique characters and a terrific setting of Venice. I especially loved the heroine, who was intelligent and fun, and far from the usual romance heroine. The hero was more typical, but I loved the way he appreciated Francesca for who she was, instead of trying to turn her into something else. The setting was almost a character unto itself - I was swept away by Venice, without being lectured (as so many authors do when they use exotic settings). However, despite all the good points of this book, I wasn’t drawn into the romance as much as I would have liked. The book was so plot-heavy, it didn’t leave a lot of time for exploring the character’s emotions. We’d get a hint, and then we’d be swept along on the next twist and turn of the plot. So, I’d call it very good, rather than great - but definitely worth reading and unique.

I only have a couple of books left from 2008, and it's nice to end on a good note (rather than my last couple of reads - the Guhrke that was so disappointing, and after that, three or four books that I couldn't even finish. Hopefully those last remaining reads from 2008 will be worth the effort.

The Wicked Ways of a Duke by Laura Lee Guhrke

The Wicked Ways of a Duke by Laura Lee Guhrke
(2008, Victorian) 1/5/09
Grade: 2

Seamstress Prudence Bosworth is dazzled when she meets the indebted Duke of St. Cyres, but she never imagined it would go further - until she inherits a fortune from a father she never knew. Suddenly she’s the heiress that everyone wants, but the Duke is pure of heart and loves her for herself... doesn’t he?

This book had an interesting premise, but it was doomed by a heroine who was so naive, she came across as too stupid to live. For more than three quarters of the book, she is convinced that the hero never knew she was an heiress - even though she knows he’s in debt, and it’s been in all the newspapers. There’s naive and then there’s dumb. Maybe the book would have been more believable if the heroine had been a 17 year old sheltered debutante, but the heroine supposedly had lived on her own for years and supported herself. I had to wonder how she survived. I found Rhys slightly more appealing, especially as he found himself warming to the heroine and dreaming of a life with her - but even that was pretty much dropped at the end. By the end of the book, I just wanted it to be over.

I rarely write reviews of books that I rate this low, mostly because I don't bother finishing them. There are lots of books that hit the trade pile by page 100 - probably many that were better than this one! But I kept reading because (1) I kept hoping the author would turn it around somehow and (2) I had a glimmer of interest in the hero. But by the end, I was wishing I'd tossed it. I will continue on to book three in the series, and hope it's an improvement!

And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke

The first book I read by Laura Lee Guhrke was To Dream Again, which is still on my keeper shelf, although I haven't read it in many years. It has a very similar plot to this one - repressed heroine learns to take chances - but I don't remember finding the heroine as blind in that one. But romance has changed since that book came out, and a heroine thinking about the consequences of sex is out of fashion these days.

And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke
(2007, Victorian) 1/4/09
Grade: 3.5

After five years as a secretary to Viscount Marlowe, Emma Dove knows all about his mistresses and his charm. But when he refuses to even read her etiquette books, she decides to take a chance and go out on her own. And Harry suddenly sees his bland secretary with new eyes. Can she resist his sensual advances, knowing that he is determined to never marry?

This book had a lot of charm, but I found the characters inconsistent. The basic plotline (the repressed heroine learns to enjoy life) was familiar, and fairly charming, but as the book continued, I began to get frustrated with the heroine. She starts out as practical and intelligent, but she loses her brains when the hero starts kissing her. And it didn’t seem realistic for her to throw all thought of consequences aside. It seemed like the heroine “knew” she was in a romance novel, and Harry was a romance hero, so she didn’t have to think about what might happen. (The Victorian setting and focus on etiquette made this loom more largely for me as a reader than it might have in a Regency.) The hero is also inconsistent, although he shows more depth as the book goes on - he seemed more clueless than deliberately stupid. Overall, the writing was smooth and I found the book entertaining, but the hero and heroine’s attitudes kept grating on me, which spoiled the book for me somewhat.

I debated about how to rate this book, because I really did enjoy many aspects of it - but with all of the emphasis on Victorian mores, the heroine's attitude just kept bugging me, like an uncomfortable itch. One of my annoyances in romance is Romance-itis, i.e. the hero and heroine act in ways that don't really make sense unless the hero and heroine "know" that they're in a romance novel (and therefore the happy ending must occur). I prefer the heroines to at least consider what might happen if the hero doesn't have "Romance Novel Hero" tattooed on his forehead. All romance is a fantasy, but I like at least the illusion of reality in my books.

The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne

It's always difficult to judge a book that's been praised and hyped - and this one was the darling of all the romance lists when it first came out. I had to put it aside and wait a little while, so I could try to read it more objectively.

The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne
(2008, Regency Historical) 12/29/08
Grade: 4

Annique Villiers has spent her life as a spy for the French, and she’s known everyone in the Game as the expert Fox Cub. But when she is captured by the English spymaster Robert Grey, she has finally met her match - and perhaps love as well.

I was impressed from the beginning of the book by the character of Annique. In just a few pages, the author had created a character who was unique and specific - a character that came to life. And the background of spying during the Napoleonic wars was fascinating, and well depicted. However, there were some major flaws as well. First, the plot depends on Annique doing something very stupid and out of character, which frustrated me and pulled me out of the story. And secondly, I never really felt an emotional connection between Grey and Annique. They respected each other, admired each other’s skills - but love? It wasn’t developed at all. So, it was an interesting book, with a fascinating and unique heroine, but not really a successful romance.

After reading this book, I can see why so many people liked it - and why others hated it. I'm somewhere in between. I admire its originality, but I ended up feeling a little disappointed as well.

A Most Unconventional Match by Julia Justiss

Harlequin Historicals are probably the closest thing left to actual Regencies. I'm not sure whether this book would actually qualify as a Regency, since there's a very detailed love scene near the end (which felt odd and out of place, actually) but the rest of the book has a Regency feel.

A Most Unconventional Match by Julia Justiss
(2008, Regency Historical) 12/23/08
Grade: 3.5

After her husband’s death, Elizabeth Lowery is struggling to take over the household and take care of her young son. She is relieved when Hal Waterman, a family friend, offers to help. But she didn’t expect to find him so attractive, especially so soon. Hal Waterman has admired Elizabeth from afar for years, but how could she care for someone as tongue-tied as he?

The plot of this book was predictable, and yet, the characters came alive. I was particularly fond of the hero, who is shy around women and can barely get words out, but is also sincere and kind. Elizabeth was appealing as well, although I found it a little odd that she seems overwhelmed with grief in the first chapter of the book, then barely thinks of or mentions her husband through most of the rest of it. Having the romance take place just a month or two after his death was a little difficult. I’m not sure this is a book that I’ll really remember long term - the details are already a little hazy - but I read it practically in a single sitting, so I have to give it credit for that. An enjoyable Regency read.

Another nice guy hero - this is definitely the year for those. Hal actually goes beyond "tongue tied" since he can barely get a complete sentence out. But he was definitely yummy anyway.

Like No Other Lover by Julie Ann Long

Julie Ann Long is another author who's been recommended to me many times, but I've never gotten around to reading. After reading this one, I'm still not quite sure - I have a couple of her books in my TBR pile, but the other books in this particular series don't sound that appealing. I'll have to wait and see.

Like No Other Lover by Julie Ann Long
(2008, Regency Historical) 12/21/08
Grade: 4

Out of money and desperate, Cynthia Brightly is hoping to find a husband at the house party given by Miles Redmond. She was once the toast of the ton, but scandal destroyed her chances. Miles was once attracted to Cynthia, but turned away when he discovered her mercenary interests. But even as he disapproves, he can’t get her out of his mind...

There was a lot of good qualities to this book. The writing was excellent, very expressive, and the characters were interesting and sympathetic. But somehow, I found myself putting the book down. The pace was very slow, and after a while, it felt like the characters were going over the same ground, over and over. I like a book that’s introspective, but I just wanted the characters to make progress - particularly the hero, who seemed particularly obtuse as the book went on. The book took place over just a few days, but it felt like much longer. On the positive side, the love scenes were very lush and romantic, and I found the heroine refreshing. (Nice to read about a heroine who doesn’t think genteel poverty is appealing.) And the secondary characters were very well written - even the ones who aren’t obvious candidates for their own books. So, I’d give this a very good grade, still quite enjoyable.

Interestingly, a friend who recommended Julie Ann Long to me said that she found the heroine in this book unsympathetic. I had the opposite reaction - I got frustrated with the hero, but I found the heroine extremely sympathetic. Maybe I'm just tired of romance heroines who think it's better to suffer in poverty than to do something about it. I think I'd be looking for a rich husband, if I was a women in 1800.

A Bride For His Convenience by Edith Layton

Another example of a book that seems promising based on the premise, but turns out to be a disappointment...

A Bride For His Convenience by Edith Layton
(2008, Regency Historical) 12/18/08
Grade: 3

Forced to marry for money, Lord Ian Sutcombe makes an agreement with Hannah Leeds, the daughter of a wealthy mill owner. Her money enables him to restore his beloved estate, but can either of them get past the financial bargain they made? Can a marriage that started with money turn into something more?

I love a marriage of convenience story, but this one was a great disappointment. The hero and heroine spent most of the book obsessing about the same issues over and over (mostly money), and there was very little romantic development until the end, when the hero suddenly declares his great love for the heroine. First, the hero and heroine are separated for almost a third of the book. The hero spends much of his time declaiming his opinions in long speeches, while the heroine wrings her hands. Then, they get together, and proceed to have the same argument over and over - they seem to be getting along, one of them brings up money, they get offended and start over again. The hero remains a cold, imperious aristocrat for almost the entire book, which might be realistic but didn’t do much to develop his personality. Finally, we find out that his eeevvvvilll stepmother has the magical ability to make every member of society treat the heroine like dirt - which brings about the sudden change of heart for the hero. I kept reading this, thinking “it’s got to get better” but it never really did. A disappointment.

I couldn't tell if Layton's very negative view of ton society in this book was supposed to be real, or the result of the hero's evil stepmother's machinations. (Every society person the heroine meets treats her like scum.) I was curious to see if this was realistic to the period (as opposed to the cheery view in romancelandia) but it's hard to tell based on this book.

The Bride Price by Anne Mallory

Although I love historical novels, I've never been a historical purist. I'm more interested in characters that seem to have historical attitudes than I am about the specific facts of a book (particularly if the author changes them for a reason). Although I know all historical romances skip over a lot of unpleasant realities, I get a little annoyed by historical characters who have modern attitudes toward society, sex, etc. (For example, all the heroines who jump in bed with virtual strangers and never think of the dire consequences of unwed pregnancy during the period.)

The author admits that the "contest" of this book never happens, but I found it intriguing, and it allowed the author to explore the roles of illegitimate sons during the period. To me, that's a successful historical. But I'm curious to look online and see how the historical purists reacted to this book. (On the Regency list, perhaps?)

The Bride Price by Anne Mallory
(2008, Regency Historical) 12/10/08
Grade: 3.5

Sebastian Deville, the illegitimate son of a Duke, is thrown into a competition sponsored by his father - the contestants are all bastards and younger sons, and the winner will receive a title, an estate (which happens to be Sebastian’s family home) and a wife. Sebastian is determined to win, but will his attraction to widow Caroline change his mind?

This was a frustrating book, because it had a lot of good points, but a major weakness as well. I was fascinated by the hero - his frustration and rage at his treatment by his father and by society, his determination to never let his feelings show, his hidden depths. And the contest was also an interesting idea, and I loved the interplay between the bastards and the spares, and how the competition played out between Sebastian and his legitimate brother. However, there was a glaring problem with the book - the heroine. I just didn’t believe her as a character. The “witty banter” between the hero and heroine in the first chapters felt flat, and their instant sexual attraction felt forced. Her actions didn’t make a lot of sense, and although the author kept telling me that she saw “another side” of Sebastian, it didn’t ring true for most of the book. It felt like she was just doing things because the plot required it. I found myself groaning when the action moved from the contest to the heroine. Things finally improved slightly in the last section, but I just didn’t find this book successful as a romance. The contest was a really cool idea, though, and I wish it had featured a better heroine.

Although I'm not a huge fan of continuing series, I was just a little disappointed to discover that the contest was over within a single book. There were other contestants who were also interesting - Anne Mallory's web site doesn't say anything about future books, but it would be hard to write another book about the contest since it was fully resolved in this one.

Amorous Liaisons by Sarah Mayberry

I am always a little skeptical about Blaze books. You never know when you buy one, if you're getting a real romance or just a contrived sex-fest. And often, the requirement for early sex scenes leads to a contrived plotline. However, I have read some good Blazes so I don't want to dismiss them out of hand - but I only buy them when I have a specific recommendation. I occasionally will pick up a Superromance or a Special Edition if it just looks appealing (since so many series books are never reviewed, it's hard to find them otherwise), but usually not a Blaze.

Amorous Liaisons by Sarah Mayberry (HB 425)
(2008, Contemporary Series) 12/10/08
Grade: 3.5

When an injury forces ballet dancer Maddy Green to retire prematurely, she turns to an old friend, Max Laurent, a ballet dancer who also had to leave his career early, to take care of his father. She needs a shoulder to cry on, but she’s always been attracted to him, and hopes that it leads to more. But Max only wants to be a friend... or does he?

I really liked parts of this book, but in the end, it fell short. I found the hero and heroine compelling characters - Maddy’s frustration and grief at losing her career was well portrayed, as well as Max’s insecurity about his new career as an artist. The sometimes contrived Blaze sex scenes made me roll my eyes at times, but overall, the characters had great sexual tension and the attraction between them felt real. I also loved the setting in Paris and characters who weren’t American (she’s Australian, he’s French). But, the “big misunderstanding” that kept them at odds for most of the book felt very contrived and annoying. She likes him but thinks he wants to be just friends. He likes her but thinks she wants to be just friends. That’s fine for a start, but after the first 100 pages, I wanted to say “just get over it already!” It was particularly irritating in the last section of the book, when it felt like a contrivance just to pull the hero and heroine apart again. This book was good, but it could have been much better.

Just a random comment - although I didn't love the cover, I was impressed that the artist replicated a dress that is described specifically in the book.

Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas

I decided to go ahead and read the next book in this series right away, while the characters were still fresh in my mind.

Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas
(2008, Victorian) 12/7/08
Grade: 3.5

Win Hathaway has been drawn to Kev Merripen since childhood, when her family rescued the Gypsy boy from death. But her poor health kept them from anything but friendship. Now that she has returned home, healthy enough to make a new life, Win is determined to overcome Kev’s barries and make him admit his feelings for her - despite their differences.

Although this book was more successful than the previous one, I still felt that the book lacked emotional intensity. Kev is a compelling hero, and I was fascinated by the glimpse into Gypsy life and his struggles to live in the gadjo world. But somehow, the romance between Win and Kev didn’t come together. It felt like the author was telling me they were in love, rather than showing me, and the barriers between them felt forced. Also, there was a lot of space devoted to the secondary characters - revisiting Cam and Amelia and setting up the future romances for other Hathaway siblings. It took away from the main story. I can’t really say why this book wasn’t compelling to me - it just felt predictable, despite the unusual setting and characters.

Why can one author write a book with a well known plot and characters, and make it seem fresh and new? And another author can write a book with characters that seem unique - Gypsy heroes are not that common - and yet, every move the characters make seems blah and predictable? I guess if I knew the answer to that, I'd be a writer instead of a chemist.

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

It must be hard, to be an author who wrote a well-loved book early in her career. Every time I read a review of a book by Lisa Kleypas, it usually starts, "this book can't compare to Dreaming of You". How can you live up to that? It must be frustrating. I try to look at books with a fresh eye and not compare them to their past successes too much, but still, I can't help thinking, "I know you can do better than this."

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas
(2007, Victorian) 12/5/08
Grade: 3

Amelia Hathaway has her hands full dealing with her younger sisters and her wayward elder brother, who just inherited a title. But when Cam Rohan, a Gypsy who has made a life on the edges of civilized society, enters her life, she can’t stop thinking about him - and he finds her unforgettable as well, although he longs to return to his Gypsy roots.

An oddly unemotional book. I’m not sure if the problem was that I hadn’t read the earlier books in this series, or if the characters were just undefined and underwritten. I enjoyed reading about the Hathaways and their problems, but Amelia wasn’t particularly unique - she was the managing spinster older sister that I’ve seen in dozens of books. Cam should have been a delightfully unique character, but I found him even more of an enigma. We get hints of his life, but there’s a lot of “tell” instead of show. I didn’t find their love story particularly emotional, or believable - it just seemed like the author was going through the motions. The hint of a paranormal subplot also didn’t work, and felt tacked on. Kleypas is always readable, so I didn’t have any trouble finishing the book, but I was left feeling unsatisfied and disappointed.

This book is a good example of why I get frustrated with never-ending series. Technically, this book is the first book in a new series about the Hathaway family. But it's related to many of the author's previous books - the Wallflower series for a start, but it's also related to bunches of her other books, going all the way back to Dreaming of You. I've read some of the previous books by Kleypas, but evidently not enough of them to keep track of all of her interlocking characters - I was left feeling like I'd walked into the middle and didn't know what was going on. (Would Cam have been a more compelling hero if I'd read all the previous books?)

I'm left with a dilemma - I don't really want to waste my time reading books that are soggy and uninteresting and contain plot points that I hate. All series contain some books like this. (No author writes a winner every time, especially for a picky reader like me.) But if I pick and choose and only read some of the books in a series, I'm left feeling lost. I'm beginning to wonder if I should just skip series books altogether. but that doesn't leave much to choose from, since romance authors are just ga-ga about endlessly long series. It's frustrating. I gave up on a Liz Carlyle book last week for the same reason.

To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt

Most romance readers are author loyalists. They have a list of favorite authors, and they'll buy every book by that author. If they try a new author, they'll either add that author to their auto-buy list, or drop her. I was like that when I first started reading romance, but I've since become a promiscuous reader. Even if I like an author, I won't auto-buy her books. I'll pick and choose, only buying those books that have plots and characters that appeal to me, even if I end up reading the middle book in a series. I guess that makes me disloyal - I'm more interested in an appealing plot or type of story than I am in a particular author. On the other hand, I think it makes me more willing to give authors second chances. I hated an earlier book by Elizabeth Hoyt, almost to the point of wall-banging. I thought I'd never read another book of hers. But when I read the description of this book, and when I skimmed a few sections of the book in the store, I could see that this was a very different type of book, much more my style. So I was willing to give it a chance. And happily, I was rewarded!

To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt
(2008, Georgian) 11/26/08
Grade: 4.5

After Jasper Renshaw, Lord Vale is left at the altar, Melisande decides to take a chance and asks him to marry her instead. To her surprise, he agrees. Melisande has loved Jasper from afar for years, but as she gets to know him better, she finds his carefree attitude hides deep secrets - and he finds that the shy and quiet Melisande has hidden depths as well.

From the beginning, this book pulled me in. The characters were immediately appealing - shy but resolute Melisande, teasing, open-hearted Jasper. The book focused primarily on getting to know these two, and building their relationship, and it was delightful to read. (I also loved the stalwart terrier, Mouse. The secondary relationship between the maid and the valet felt recycled and cliched, though.) The spy plot was not that original, but it was in the background most of the time, and the setting of the French and Indian war was unusual. And Jasper’s haunted past was very touching, and I appreciated that the heroine didn’t magically fix him. I wasn’t thrilled with the sex scenes - they were certainly hot, but the early ones felt too acrobatic and exotic for Melisande, even if she wasn’t a virgin, and I just don’t find certain words appealing, even in context. But that was a minor problem. Overall, this was a lovely book, and I enjoyed all of it.

I don't know if it's a coincidence or a trend, but I'm very happy with all the books I've read this year with "nice guy" heroes. Heroes who genuinely like and respect the heroines and want to get to know them. These are the heroes that I love, and I hope this run of nice heroes is a real trend. (Maybe all the authors who write alpha jerks have moved over to paranormals?) I never understood the appeal of the hero who treats the heroine like dirt for 300 pages and then declares his love - that's romance? Not for me. Give me a nice hero every time. Vale isn't a nerd or a wimp - but he doesn't need to wipe his feet on the heroine to be a man.

Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb

I love watching procedurals on TV - I can't get enough of Law & Order, CSI and The Wire. But for some reason, I don't usually find procedural mysteries as appealing in book form. I guess I'm looking for something different when I'm reading than when I'm watching TV. Although I read a lot of mysteries when I was younger, I don't find them all that appealing any more. However, I was drawn to the first J.D. Robb books. The first few books in this series combined a great relationship between Eve and Roarke with a heroine who had a real feeling for the victims, because of her own past as a victim of violence. But that aspect of the books seems to be fading away as the series continues. The passion isn't there (depsite the energetic sex scenes between Eve and Roarke). I guess no author (even Nora Roberts) can sustain that over 29 books. Too bad.

Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb
(2008, Suspense) 11/18/08
Grade: 3

When a well-loved priest is poisoned during a funeral, Eve quickly discovers that he’s not what he seems. Is Father Miguel Flores really who he claimed to be? And when a similar killing fells an evangelical minister, is she looking at a serial killing? Or does it all go back to the supposed priest’s old neighborhood and a 20 year old crime?

I can’t help wondering, was I too distracted to give this book my full attention? (I read it during chemotherapy.) I don’t think that was the problem. I recently reread one of the early J.D. Robb books during an equally distrating hospital visit, and it kept my attention completely. In her last few books, the focus has been on the mystery, with only brief interludes of personal relationships (and even those have become routine). I don’t get the personal attachment that Eve had with her earlier cases. (And it doesn’t help that everyone in this case is unsympathetic - Eve has more passion for her cases when she has a strong feeling for the victim and finding justice for him or her.) I never really got a feeling for the “victim” here until the very end, and even then, it was hard to reconcile his initial description as a caring priest with the revelations of who he really was and what he was doing. Overall, this was a fairly blah entry in the series.

While I was waiting at the drug store, I picked up a copy of Suite 606, which has a short story by J.D. Robb. And interestingly, I found the first 15 pages of that story a lot more appealing than this full-length book. I didn't get a chance to finish, but I was more interested in that story than in finishing the longer book that I had in my bag. (Not enough to pay full price for an anthology that only had one story I wanted to read, but still...)

The Price of Desire by Jo Goodman

This year, I'm determined to actually read some 2008 books in 2008. It's nice to finally find some current books that are worth reading - for a while, I was having a hard time finding any books that were worth buying.

The Price of Desire by Jo Goodman
(2008, Regency Historical) 11/9/08
Grade: 4

After her brother Alistair loses heavily in a card game, Olivia Cole finds herself turned over to the owner of the gaming hell, Griffin Wright-Jones, Viscount Breckenridge. Griffin isn’t at all what she expected - he’s intelligent and considerate, and allows her to live under his roof unmolested. Olivia begins to wonder, is it worth taking a chance on him?

Although I liked the characters well enough, I found this book very hard to get through, particularly in the first half. The pace was very slow, and the hero and heroine are both hard to understand. The author seemed to be deliberately keeping their motives from the reader, and it got frustrating after a while. I got about 150 pages into the book and then put it down for almost a week. Once I got past the first half, the book definitely improved, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. Both of them are wounded, especially Olivia, and seeing her come into her own was satisfying. But sometimes the author’s writing left me a little confused - it’s as if she tried to make things difficult to understand. However, I did enjoy the book overall, I just think it needed better pacing, and maybe a little editing in the first half.

Several people who share my taste in romance have recommended Jo Goodman to me, but this is the first time I've read her books. (I still have a few in my TBR pile.) I'm not sure if I'm going to seek her out or not - something about her writing style just didn't grab me. Although she's a good writer, it left me feeling somewhat aloof from her characters. I'll have to try another book by her before deciding one way or the other, but it was a little disappointing.

The Soft Touch by Betina Krahn

This one was in my trade pile, but I pulled it out and gave it a try. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't have been heartbroken if it had ended up at the UBS.

The Soft Touch by Betina Krahn
(1999, Victorian) 11/4/08
Grade: 3.5

Baltimore heiress Diamond Wingate has a reputation for being a “soft touch”. She gives away millions to causes and inventors, but her inability to say “no” has left her with three fiancées. Bear McQuaid is hoping to persuade Diamond to invest in his Montana railroad, but he discovers there’s more to her than her millions...

Although the characters were sympathetic and the style was pleasant, this book offered few surprises. It just didn’t have the zest of Krahn’s earlier books (or some of her later ones). There were hints that Diamond had more psychological reasons for giving away her money, but they weren’t given a lot of attention. (And the name was a bit much - Diamond?) I enjoyed the first half of the book, when Diamond was in Baltimore and trying to give away her money, more than the second half, which was a pretty typical Western romance. However, the book was enjoyable and easy to read, just not very memorable. It just didn’t rise above its predictable plot.

I read a lot of Betina Krahn's books in my early days of romance (before I started keeping my database). I have fond memories of them, but it's hard to remember without my records to jog my memory. I wish I'd started my reading record a few years earlier!