My Dark Prince by Julia Ross

I've read several books by Julia Ross (aka Jean Ross Ewing) but none of them have been keepers.  Still, she had a unique voice - it doesn't seem like she's still writing, which is too bad.

My Dark Prince by Julia Ross
(2000, Regency Historical)  9/30/12
Grade: 4

When Nicholas, prince of Glarien, arrives in her small village, Penny Lindsey wants him to fulfill his duties to his local tenants - but Nicholas has bigger plans.  His royal fiancé has been kidnapped, and he needs Penny to fill in for her during the wedding celebrations in London.  His marriage is necessary to save his country, but he finds himself drawn to Penny despite his royal duties.

This was an intriguing book with compelling characters, but it didn’t quite live up to its early promise.  I was intrigued by Nicholas, the royal prince who was torn between love and duty, and Penny was a strong counterbalance for him through most of the book.  But I found myself getting impatient with the love scenes and wanting to get back to the royal intrigue and adventure.  The storyline of yearning for forbidden love didn’t quite work - it felt predictable and repetitive.  But the story of Glarien and the intrigues between Nicholas and his cousin Carl (and the other secondary characters) kept me turning the pages.  That’s one reason I found the ending unsatisfying - it was strange to have a story that focused so heavily on royal duty and the intrigues of a fictional kingdom end with something of an Anglo-centric romance cliché.  Julia Ross has a unique voice but I ended up being just a little bit disappointed. 

I love a royal romance, but it's surprising that so few authors follow through on their premise, especially in historicals.  It seems strange to me that you would spend all this time creating a fictional country with fictional royalty, and then end up with your hero and heroine living in England, but it's happened in almost every historical royal romance I've read.  Maybe I'm the only romance reader who also has a weakness for stories about princes and princesses (and doesn't want them to turn into English Earls in the end). 

Whispers of Heaven by Candice Proctor

Another book from my TBR - I enjoyed some of Candice Proctor's other books, but this one left me a bit cold.

Whispers of Heaven by Candice Proctor
(2000, Victorian Australia)  9/22/12
Grade: 3.5

After studying in England, Jesmond Corbett has returned to her family home in Tasmania.  She is supposed to marry her neighbor, Harrison, but she finds herself attracted to convict Lucas Gallagher, who works as her groom.  Lucas was transported to Australia after fighting for Irish independence, and his only hope is escape - but he develops an unexpected passion for Jessie, even though the both know their love is doomed.

This book had a lot of promise.  It’s unusual to read a historical set in Australia, and the author did a great job in evoking the time and place.  But I found myself somewhat bored by the romance.  It seemed passionate on the surface, but I kept putting down the book and having to force myself to continue.  Even the story of Lucas’s tragic past left me unmoved.  I can’t explain why this book didn’t work for me, but it was just a disappointment.

This book received glowing reviews, so I was surprised I found it so hard to read.  Maybe I was just in the wrong mood, or maybe it just didn't hold up 12 years later. 

The Bride Fair by Cheryl Reavis

There were quite a few romances set during and after the Civil War in the 1980's, but those books mostly disappeared in the 90's and 2000's.  It's difficult to write about the time without mentioning ugly realities - and those realities might not mesh with a love story.  I think it's still possible, but it's probably a lot more difficult than setting a book in the Regency (which has its own ugly realities that most romances ignore, but we aren't as familiar with them so they're easier to ignore.)  That was one of the problems with this book - it seems to be set in a fantasy version of post-war North Carolina.

The Bride Fair by Cheryl Reavis
(2002, post-Civil War North Carolina)  9/14/12
Grade: 3.5

In the aftermath of the Civil War, Maria Markham resents having to rent a room to Colonel Max Woodward, of the Occupying forces - but she has little choice.  Maria has a secret that may force her to marry him.  She finds that Max isn’t like the other soldiers - he wants to understand the South and is kind to her father and the two boys she is helping to raise - but can she let go of the past and learn to love him?

This book was much better than Reavis’s previous book, The Prisoner, but it still had some flaws.  The characters were interesting, but the pacing was off - the first half of the book seemed to drag, and then the author throws in a half dozen plot points in the last 50 pages.  But a more serious problem to me was that this didn’t quite feel like the post-Civil War South.  No one mentions slavery in the entire book.  Many Southerners didn’t own slaves, but it seemed strange that no one in town had owned slaves and there was evidently no one black in the entire area.  Even the “vigilantes” who were trying to overthrow the occupying troops didn’t mention it.  It felt like it was prettifying the history of the war.  This is why I gave it a slightly lower grade than I might have otherwise, because the characters were very well written.  

Reavis never wrote any more Civil War historicals, although she seemed to be setting up other characters for sequels.  I guess it wasn't a popular setting - which is too bad.  As a Southerner, part of me wants to see books set in the South, but another part of me wants to see a real portrayal of the time period.

To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney

There are some unrealistic romance conventions that I enjoy (marriages of convenience, tortured heroes) but others are just too far outside reality for me.  The "forced seduction" is one of those - no matter how much the author tries to convince me it's true love, I keep thinking of Stockholm syndrome...

To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney
(1995, Victorian)  9/2/12
Grade: 3

Jaded Sebastian Verlaine is the new lord at Wyckerley, but when he sees Rachel Ward about to be sent to prison for vagrancy, he impulsively hires her as his new housekeeper.  Rachel spent ten years in prison for murdering her husband, and she has no illusions about what Sebastian really wants, but she is willing to take her chances - and finds an unexpected love.

This is another difficult book to judge.  It had moments of beauty and emotion, but I couldn’t get past the initial setup and “forced seduction” of Rachel by Sebastian.  It was difficult to believe in any kind of real love between these two characters when the threat of coercion was always there, and where the relationship was always unequal.  Rachel may have grown to love Sebastian, but she was always aware that she was in his power and could have been sent back to prison at his whim.  As a reader we know that Sebastian is the “hero” and a happy ending is really happy, but as a realist I found the whole thing more troubling than romantic.  

I will at least try to read the third book in this trilogy, in part because the Wyckerley setting is so well depicted, but so far it's been a disappointment.

To Love and to Cherish by Patricia Gaffney

When you read romances that are 15 years old or more, you never know what you're going to get.  Sometimes they are great and completely stand the test of time.  (Some of the best books I've read recently have been from the 90's.)  But some of the books that seemed daring and new back then now just seem a little dull.  I'm wondering if that's the case with these Patricia Gaffney books - which were praised as one of the best series ever written back in the 90's when they came out.

To Love and To Cherish by Patricia Gaffney
(1995, Victorian)  9/1/12
Grade: 3.5

Christy is settling in to his life as the vicar in the village of Wyckerley, the small town where he grew up.  But his world is upended when his childhood friend Geoffrey Verlaine returns and takes over as the new lord, along with his wife Anne.  Christy and Anne are powerfully attracted to each other, but their lives and faiths seem to keep them apart, even after Geoffrey is gone.

I found it difficult to grade this book, because it was extremely well written and did a wonderful job depicting Victorian village life - but I found myself struggling to get through it, especially the first half.  The author said she based it partly on the books of Thomas Hardy, and perhaps it’s difficult for someone in the 21st century to understand the religious differences that keep Christy and Anne apart (she’s an atheist, supposedly, but it never seems that believable.  Her constant depiction of herself as a terrible person never seemed to fit with her actions.)  Christy’s struggles as a minister were more believable and interesting, but the book just seemed to drag for a large portion of the story.  This book was highly recommended so it was a bit of a disappointment.  These have been in my TBR pile for a long time so I plan to read all three, but I hope the next two are more enjoyable.  

Next up - To Have and To Hold.  So far it's at least completely different...

A Week To Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

I thought Tessa Dare's early books had a unique voice - they felt like something different from the usual Regency historicals.  Unfortunately, her Spindle Cove books are missing something - this one was OK but it felt very Avon-ized.  She'll probably sell more books but I'm not running out to buy the next one.

A Week To Be Wicked by Tessa Dare
(2012, Regency Historical)  8/30/12
Grade: 3.5

Everyone thinks of Minerva Highwood as the bluestocking sister who fits into Spindle Cove society but has no chance on the marriage mart.  But she is determined to present her geological work at a scientific conference.  She persuades Colin Sandhurst, Viscount Payne, the local rake, to take her to Scotland.  The journey shows Colin that Minerva can be a lot more fun than she lets on - and Minerva that Colin has more depth than she expected.  

This book had charm but somehow it was lacking something.  I usually love a charming rogue hero, but Colin just didn’t seem believable to me, especially in the first half.  (Maybe his backstory was more developed in the first book in the series, which I only skimmed, but he still felt like rake-by-the-numbers.)  The book got more interesting in the second half, but it just didn’t break out of its fairly stereotypical setup. 

I find myself getting bored by typical Regency historicals, especially when I compare them to the books from the 90's that I'm reading from the 90's - the unique voices just seem to be missing.

The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne

I'm glad to see Westerns making at least a small comeback, but even in the new Westerns, you rarely see a heroine like Jenny Jones.  Glad I got the chance to read this one!

The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne
(1997, Western)  8/29/12
Grade: 4.5

Just when Jenny Jones is ready to die in front of a Mexican firing squad, a desperate mother comes to her and offers to change places - if she will take her 6 year old daughter Graciela to California to live with her father.  Jenny grudgingly agrees, but with Graciela’s cousins in murderous pursuit, Jenny joins forces with Graciela’s uncle Ty Sanders - a man she finds uncomfortably attractive.

This unique and fast paced book kept me turning the pages from beginning to end.  The only flaw was the romance, which faltered a bit especially in the first half.  (The book was so suspenseful that I kept wanting to scream, “stop making eyes and each other and RUN!”)  Jenny was a great character, completely different from a typical romance heroine and yet very sympathetic.  I normally don’t like books with children in a primary role, but Jenny’s reluctance to deal with Graciela gave this an unusual spin in comparison to the usual sweet kid stories.  Ty was less well developed but the romance started to work in the last part of the book.  Overall, a very entertaining read.

It's so random, what's available in ebook form and what is not.  Several of Maggie Osborne's other books are available but this one is still paper only - even though it's probably her best known book. 

The Girl with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir

I really should take advantage of my Prime borrowing membership - I tend to just buy books instead of finding out if they're available for free with Prime.  Not that I begrudge Theresa Weir her $3.99!  I'm just happy she's still writing romance occasionally.

The Girl with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir
(2012, Contemporary)  8/28/12
Grade: 3

Two years after her husband David’s violent death, Melody is still struggling - and her cat Max is ready to find her someone new.  Someone who likes cats.  When he brings home Joe, everything seems to be going well, but Joe may not be what he seems. 

This novella had such great promise!  I loved Max and the scenes narrated from his point of view were charming and fun.  But the story drifted away from his perspective in the second half, and I found myself a little bored.  I just wasn’t that interested in Melody and Joe.  It wasn’t a bad book (and I’ll definitely try out the sequel) but it didn’t live up to the promise of the first part of the story.  

It's a good sign when you start looking for information about a sequel before you've finished a book, although this one didn't quite work for me.

The Pretenders by Joan Wolf

I wasn't supposed to be looking for new backlist titles, but after reading two Joan Wolf Regency historicals, I think I'm going to be searching out her other first person historicals.  It's odd that the two best-reviewed books in this series aren't available in ebook form, but happily some of the others are so I don't have to break my "no more paper books" resolution.

The Pretenders by Joan Wolf
(1999, Regency Historical)  8/27/12
Grade: 4.5

Deborah has known Reeve, the Earl of Cambridge, since they were children, although they’ve always just been friends.  But when Reeve’s uncle demands that he gets married before he can gain his inheritance, Reeve suggests a false engagement.  At first this seems like an easy solution, but as they spend more time together, both Deborah and Reeve find themselves wanting the marriage to be real.

The description of this book is highly misleading - the back cover talks about horse racing and gambling, which is only a tiny part of the book.  This is one of Joan Wolf’s first person Regency historicals, and it was just as absorbing as The Arrangement.  The first person narration works well, and Reeve turns out to have a lot more depth than it first appears.  The back story was quite touching.  There’s a bit of a suspense plotline which was exciting but didn’t take over the story.  Overall, an excellent read that kept me up past my bedtime.

Unfortunately, I think her later first person historicals lean more toward suspense. 

Castaway Dreams by Darlene Marshall

This book definitely shows how easy it can be to buy an e-book, especially at a good price - I read a review, clicked over to Amazon and bought it without thinking too much about it.  It turned out to be a good find!

Castaway Dreams by Darlene Marshall
(2012, Regency Historical)  8/27/12
Grade: 4

Navy surgeon Alexander Murray is convinced that Miss Daphne Farnham is completely useless and brainless - the only thing on her mind is ribbons and bonnets and her fluffy dog PomPom!  Daphne is convinced the surgeon is old and humorless.  But when they are stranded on a desert island, they find there is more to the other than expected - but are their positions still too far apart?

This was a fun book with a lot of charm.  There were some pacing problems (the beginning was slow, and the love scenes started to get tedious after a while) but the characters were well written and believable, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages (well, the virtual pages) to find out what would happen next.  It was very enjoyable to see both characters grow and change through the book - something you don’t see all that often in romance.  

There were definitely some plot holes in this book but it was just so charming that I overlooked them.

Miss Truelove Beckons by Donna Simpson

I picked up most of Donna Simpson's books based on her excellent debut, Lord St. Claire's Angel, but her subsequent books haven't worked as well for me.  I still have a few in my TBR pile...

Miss Truelove Beckons by Donna Simpson
(2001, Regency)  8/26/12
Grade: 3.5

Miss Truelove Becket, the daughter of a vicar, is accompanying her cousin Arabella to visit Wycliffe, Viscount Drake.  It’s expected that Arabella and Drake will be married, but Drake has returned from the war a different person - haunted by the horrors of Waterloo.  It is only when he is with True that he can find peace - but how can either of them think of a life together when they come from such different worlds?

I tried to read this book several times before finally finishing it.  It was well written, with compelling characters, but there were a few things about it that bothered me.  Truelove is almost “too good to be true” as a heroine, and there was a definite undercurrent of “love solves all problems” to the story.  It’s a nice thought, but Drake’s problems seemed too extreme to be solved by something as simple as the welcoming arms of a sweet girl.  I love a good “troubled hero” story but I find it hard to believe that something that is depicted as extreme PTSD can be cured by the love of a good woman.  Maybe I’ve just become cynical in my old age.

I think back on some of the "wounded hero" books I've read in the past, and wonder whether I'd find them as compelling now - or would I be too realistic to believe that love conquers all? 

More Than You Wished by Jo Goodman

I've bought a lot of books by Jo Goodman (ever since I met her at the Atlanta CR meeting) but this is the first time I've read one.  Not quite sure what to think - this one was hard to grade.

More Than You Wished by Jo Goodman
(2001, American Historical)  8/26/12
Grade: 4

Set 10 years after the Civil War, Bria is reluctant to hire Northerner Luke Kincaid, but he may be the only way she can regain her family’s plantation from her hated stepfather.  Luke has his ow reasons for being in South Carolina, but the more he gets to know Bria, the more he’s drawn to her... and the more he’s willing to enter in a marriage of convenience that may turn into something real.

The writing was good, the setting was interesting, the characters were well written... but somehow this book lacked something.  The pacing seemed slightly off, and the emotional engagement just wasn’t quite there.  Maybe it was the secrets that were kept from the reader until almost the end of the book,  I can’t quite put my finger on it, but somehow this book didn’t quite engage me the way I hoped it would.

There may have been an advantage to reading this one in e-book form, since I couldn't easily skip ahead - it forced me to read it through which might have helped me keep going.  I did come close to giving up a couple of times.

Have Me by Jo Leigh

Every now and then a series book just hits the spot...

Have Me by Jo Leigh (HB 671)
(Contemporary Series)  8/24/12
Grade: 4

When Rebecca Thorpe is set up with Jake Donnelly, she’s only looking for a one night stand.  Their lives are just too different - she’s a socialite who runs a family foundation, and he’s a former police officer who’s fixing up his father’s house while figuring out the rest of his life.  But after they’ve spent some time together, they find out they have more in common than they might have thought... even enough to work out their differences.

I normally don’t like Blaze books, because they focus too much on the sex and not enough on the relationship.  But this one had a good combination of both.  It was certainly hot, with a lot of sexual tension, but it also dealt with a lot of real issues of class differences and how to deal with them - something you don’t often see in series romances.  There were some flaws, especially the ending which seemed cut off in the middle, but overall this was definitely worth reading.

It can be frustrating when so many go authors write for Blaze and other super-sexy series lines, because so often those books focus on sex above everything else.  But this one at least tried to combine that with more depth - even if I would have preferred one or two fewer love scenes and one or two more emotional scenes.

Marriage of Mercy by Carla Kelly

This is one of those books I wish I'd liked more than I actually did...

Marriage of Mercy by Carla Kelly
(2012, Regency)  8/20/12
Grade: 3.5

After the death of her father, Grace has no choice but to work at the village bakery.  But she finds friends in the village, including the local Lord.  At his death, she is given an unexpected inheritance - take care of his illegitimate son who is an American sailor in prison during the war of 1812.  But when she arrives, she finds the son dying - and takes another man instead.  Will this American sailor open her eyes to a whole new life?

A typical Regency from Carla Kelly.  This one had an interesting premise, with a nice contrast between English and American society.  But it lacked something... it just felt a little dull and predictable.  Even though I enjoy Carla Kelly’s writing, her books just seem to hit the same notes over and over again.

Even though I don't particularly want to read inspirational books, it seems like Carla Kelly is finding those books more "inspiring" than her Regencies, which have started to feel a little flat.

Hot Under The Collar by Jackie Barbarosa

I had been on a roll with my romance reading, when I got distracted by the Olympics - a very enjoyable distraction, but I'd like to get back to reading now that it's over!  I started with this novella since I thought it would be an easy read.

Hot Under the Collar by Jackie Barbarosa
(2012, Regency Historical Novella)  8/17/12
Grade: 3.5

Walter Langston, a third son, tried the army but after an injury ends up in the church, as the vicar of the small village of Grace-over-Sands.  Although he’s not terribly religious, he finds himself genuinely enjoying helping his paritioners.  But when he meets Artimisia Finch, a courtesan in London who has returned home to care for her father, he is immediately attracted.  At first it is just an affair, but soon they’re both dreaming of something more...

This is a charming story that was just a little too short (it’s novella length, about 110 pages).  We get the essence of the story but it could have used some filling out.  Despite the description of the story as erotic, it’s really not - it’s more focused on the lives of these two characters and how they could make a life together when their social positions were so different.  The ending is a little fairytale-ish, especially without more grounding to back it up, but it’s nice to think of these two characters making a life in this small town and finding both love and acceptance.  An interesting and unusual story, even if it had a few flaws.

This definitely wasn't a book I would have picked up without a review (thanks Dear Author) since it's sold as something it's really not - there are so many small press "erotic" romances that I don't even give them a second look, even though this one is quite different it's lost in a sea of books that just look like they're all the same.

The Love Knot by Elisabeth Fairchild

Elisabeth Fairchild was one of my favorite Regency authors - I'm still hoarding a few of her books in my TBR pile.  This was one of her early books.

The Love Knot by Elisabeth Fairchild
(1995, Regency)  8/2/12
Grade: 4

Aurora Ramsey is hoping to marry Lord Walsh, who seems to share her love of agriculture and the country, and can save her from destitution.  But she has no hope of catching her attention with her awkward conversation and unflattering clothes.  Miles Fletcher offers to help her - but does he have an ulterior motive?  The refined art collector may have fallen for Aurora himself, but he’s also hiding a secret about the land her brother lost in a card game...

This is a storyline I love - the refined beta hero who sets out to help the heroine find another man, and ends up falling for her himself.  But this Regency felt surprisingly unemotional for the first half of the book.  I didn’t feel that I got to know the hero or the heroine - it was all surface.  I kept wanting more emotional depth.  This improved in the second half, but it just wasn’t quite as good as Fairchild’s other books, which combine the Regency atmosphere with more emotion.  Good but not great. 

I was going to lament that Elisabeth Fairchild was one of those missing authors who didn't make the transition out of Regencies, but it seems that she's writing again - and her old books are being released in ebook form.  Yay! 

The Arrangement by Joan Wolf

I'm discovering some real gems in my TBR pile - at last!

The Arrangement by Joan Wolf
(1997, Regency Historical)  7/30/12
Grade: 4.5

Gail Saunders is happy living a quiet life in the country with her son Nicky, even if money is a bit short.  But then the Earl of Saville appears with an unexpected inheritance, and turns their world upside down.

A unique first person Regency historical with an extremely compelling writing style.  Normally I don’t care for first person romances since it means the hero is an unknown and you never find out his thoughts and feelings.  But in this case it worked very well because the author’s voice was so unique and refreshing.  I didn’t want to put this book down.  There was a strong mystery element that also worked well - even though I guessed some of it, other aspects surprised me, and the reader ended up discovering things along with the heroine.  Overall, this was an excellent read.

I've read some Joan Wolf Regencies and haven't found them as compelling as this one, but I may have to investigate her backlist further...

The Marriage Wager by Jane Ashford

This book has been in my TBR pile since the mid-90's, and I think there was a reason I never read it...

The Marriage Wager by Jane Ashford
(1996, Regency Historical)  7/29/12
Grade: 3

Lady Emma Tarrant is back in England after the death of her gambler husband, and quickly finds herself entangled with Lord Colin Wareham, who has just returned from the war.  They end up in a marriage of convenience, but when problems arise, can they work together and trust each other to make their marriage a real one?

This started off well, with a nice Regency feeling and interesting characters.  I always enjoy a good marriage of convenience story.  But the story fell apart in the last half of the book, with one misunderstanding after another.  Interesting aspects of the story were dropped (such as the hero’s war experiences) and instead we get a lot of threats from external parties - a silly debutante who thinks she’s in love with the hero, and a slimy Italian who threatens the heroine with gossip.  It could all have been solved with one conversation, but instead we just get misunderstandings.  Frustrating and tedious. 

This should teach me not to trust reviews from people who have different tastes than I have.

Once Upon a List by Robin Gold

I normally don't read "women's fiction" but I was assured this one had an HEA ending, so I picked it up.

Once Upon a List by Robin Gold
(2012, Women's Fiction)  7/26/12
Grade: 4

After the death of her fiancé, Clara is adrift and unsure of what to do next.  But when she comes across her fifth grade time capsule, with a list of things she wanted to do before she turned 35.  She decides to fulfill the list - and ends up with a one-eared dog, kissing her old crush, reconnecting with her family, finding her best friend and changing her life.

This was more of a women’s fiction book than a romance, but it was well written and enjoyable.  This is the kind of book I would recommend to someone who didn’t necessarily read romance but wanted an upbeat, “feel-good” story.  There were some flaws - the middle dragged a bit and the romance was extremely underwritten, but otherwise it was a light hearted and enjoyable story with relatable characters.  A good read. 

The Conquered Heart by Denée Cody

I haven't read a historical like this in years - I used to love these books back when I was in middle school and high school, featuring real people and real history.  Not many of them are as well written as this one, though.

The Conquered Heart by Denée Cody
(1995, Medieval)  7/15/12
Grade: 4

Eve MacMurrough, Princess of Leinster, is forced to marry Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke.  Richard has been sent by King Henry II to conquer Ireland and stop the infighting there, while Eve is determined to protect her homeland and its people.  Despite their different agendas, Richard finds Eve passionate and desirable, and she finds Richard surprisingly honest and honorable.  Can love grow in such an arragment?

Although this book is labeled “historical romance”, it’s really history with a little bit of romance thrown in.  But it’s fascinating history!  I found myself checking Wikipedia to find out more about Eve and Richard (who were real people, although much of their personal relationship is imagined).  I didn’t know much about Irish history and so the story kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next.  The only flaw was that the book started rushing things in the last few chapters, probably trying to get through huge sections of history and wrap up the story in a satisfying way.  The personal relationship between Eve and Richard also sometimes fell into the background, and when the characters were together there was more emphasis on the love scenes than on their emotional connection.  Still, overall this was a very satisfying and well written book, definitely worth reading.

I wonder what happened to Denée Cody?  She wrote 4 or 5 books and then disappeared.  I hope she's writing under another name somewhere - although her other books didn't appeal to me as much as this one, she definitely had a unique voice, although she might not fit in to today's romance market with its de-emphasis on history.