1 to 5 of 5
Review Date: 9/1/2010
Helpful Score: 5
A delightful collection of delicious treats!
Some people like anthologies... others do not. Me? I happen to love them because I always find a new author or two to add to my reading list! I know... a blessing and a curse when looking at shelf space. But what makes this book even better is that all the stories are brand new, and original - no reprints here!
Below is a brief synopsis of each story - in published order - and to simplify rating 23 individual stories, I have rated them as follows... LOVED IT, ENJOYED IT, JUST OK, or DIDN'T LIKE IT.
DESPERATE MEASURES by Candice Hern (17 pages)- It's all planned... Philip will pose as Lydia's attentive love interest at the Erskine ball in a scheme to get the man she loves to notice her. But when Philip doesn't show and Geoffrey steps in to help Lydia instead, can she hide the fact that Geoffrey was the man she was trying to make jealous to begin with? ENJOYED IT. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet story with, of course, a sweet happy ending.
UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR by Anna Campbell (31 pages)- Sebastian Sinclair, Earl of Kinvarra comes to the aid of a coach that tumbled off a frosty road. When the woman who emerges from the broken coach turns out to be his own wife travelling with another man, he's stunned but helps her get to safety. But when the storm strands them at a roadside inn for the night, will they be able to tolerate each other in the morning? ENJOYED IT. Rather predictable but a good read! I wish it had been longer.
THE DASHING MISS LANGLEY by Amanda Grange (27 pages)- Annabelle Langley whisks her besotted niece, Caroline, away to the country hoping to cure her infatuation with the gardener's grandson. But when they happen upon Daniel, the man Annabelle lost her heart to a year ago, will sparks have time to rekindle before Daniel walks away from her again? JUST OK. Most of the story seemed devoured by Caroline's subplot so just when things were starting to actually move and get romancey, it came to an abrupt end. And Annabelle (with her Amazonian figure) was a bit too eccentric and over the top for me at first, but her personality faded into something more likeable as the story progressed. I also think Annabelle and Caroline's names would have better suited the characters if they had been swapped.
CYNDERS AND ASHE by Elizabeth Boyle (33 pages)- Five years after meeting at a Masquerade, Ella Cynders reappears at the ball in which Lord Ashe must choose a bride. LOVED IT. The story would have been a tad more enjoyable without the play on names, but it was still a sweet twist on the classic Cinderella tale. I also love when a public display of affection seals the deal.
HIS WICKED REVENGE by Vanessa Kelly (31 pages)- Captain Anthony Barnett is hell-bent on revenge when he blackmails his former lover, Marissa, into becoming his mistress. But when they reconcile their past, could he maybe be the one asking for forgiveness? LOVED IT. A lot of ground was covered in this story, but it didn't feel crammed full of fluff... it was just a great story, and one I wish was a full length novel.
LADY INVISIBLE by Patricia Rice (23 pages)- Major Lucas Sumner returns from war and reclaims his daughter from his family. But now he needs a sturdy wife to tame his wild child. ENJOYED IT. Lucas had no knowledge of how to woo a woman, but when the perfect one shows up, she shows him that her wild side might just be the perfect match for him and his daughter.
THE PIANO TUTOR by Anthea Lawson (18 pages)- Viscountess Merrowstone has just packed away her last black dress when a handsome referral appears in place of the regular piano tutor. LOVED IT. A bit lacking in the 'getting to know you' part but a delightful and satisfying quickie read! I'm new to Ms. Lawson's writing but will be adding her immediately to my shopping list.
STOLEN by Emma Wildes (27 pages)- Lady Sabrina Pearson enlists her life-long best friend, Stephen, to help her steal , err, take back something that rightfully belongs to her. But on the trip home, Stephen has a plot to steal something as well... her heart. LOVED IT. A sweet, steamy story about the bond of childhood friendship that has grown and matured into love.
HER GENTLEMAN THEIF by Robyn DeHart (20 pages)- On the eve of her wedding, Annalise's coach is stopped by a highwayman. But when she pleads with him to save her from an arranged marriage, could it be that the thief learns a thing or two about love? LOVED IT. Very heavy on the introspective side but I really wished this story had been longer.
THE WEATHERLY'S BALL by Christie Kelley (23 pages)- Five years ago, Lady Tessa Townson was ruined by the man she loved when he left to go to war. Believing he was dead, she can't believe her eyes when she sees him again. A lot has changed over the past five years... but then again, maybe one thing hasn't. ENJOYED IT... but I got mad at the hero because I thought his plan with Georgiana was just beyond cruel. Really, I did enjoy this story... I just wanted to kick him in the tookus.
THE PANCHAMAABHUTA by Leah Ball (29 pages)- Francis' rare and valuable ring becomes a prize to be sought by a thief. But could he be after another prize as well? DIDN'T LIKE IT. When I can't pronounce a title, I get frustrated enough. But this story made me roll my eyes... I'm sorry but trying to steal back your own possession from a thief (no matter how handsome or tanned he may be) does not justify sleeping with him. I struggled through this one.
ANGELIQUE by Margo Maguire (22 pages)- Miss Angelique Drummond inherits after her father dies, but for some reason he left her funds under the control of her former fiancé. ENJOYED IT but... real close to being JUST OK. The story was fine, but nothing special. My big gripe was the ending... it felt like a magical dusting of pixie dust suddenly fell over the whole misunderstanding and everything became peaches and roses and teddy bears and the promised happy ending.
LIKE NONE OTHER by Caroline Linden (24 pages)- Widowed Emma Bowen and a retired sea captain share pleasant conversations over their shared garden wall. But Captain Phineas Quentin is enchanted by Emma and wants more than just friendship between neighbors. Could it be she does too? LOVED IT. Loved it, loved it, loved it! My favorite in this anthology so far and oh, how I didn't want it to end! A sweet, romantic story by an author I am ashamed to admit I have yet to read. I'm off to pluck one of her books from my TBR shelf.
THE CATCH OF THE SEASON by Shirley Kennedy (28 pages)- Miss Julia Winslow receives a proposal from Lord Melton, the catch of the season, but Julia isn't impressed when his kiss feels like "kissing a piece of paper." Going home to the country to think things over, she meets his ne'er-do-well brother and wonders if his kiss could be any different. ENJOYED IT. Good story! Julia's mother was almost too much for me but her grandmother was a hoot. And Robert was charming, giving the story a sweet happy ending.
FRENCH INTUITION by Delilah Marvelle (22 pages)- Lady Gwendolyn Redford reconnects with her estranged husband by playing a bedroom game to rekindle their romance. DIDN'T LIKE IT. This story didn't do anything for me but I think it needed a lot more than 22 pages to tell it well. This was simply the wife using seduction to convince her husband that she wasn't having an affair with another man. Unfortunately, I didn't really see any romance in it, and I highly doubt that one bedroom game would be the defining moment in fixing an estranged marriage headed for divorce.
A SUITABLE GENTLEMAN by Sara Bennett (19 pages)- Clarinda Howitt meets James Quentin on the street one blustery day and there is a spark of mutual attraction. However, Clarinda has resigned herself to be a martyr, caring for her hypochondriac aunt, and seeking a good match for her younger sister. But could it be that there is more to James than meets the eye? And could that eye be on Clarinda? JUST OK. This is a good example of a short-story casualty. Adding ten more pages could have made this story great, but instead it felt half baked, then microwaved. I also got frustrated hearing Clarinda say she wasn't a martyr even though you are constantly reminded that she is. Really, she had no hope for herself and that just made me want to give her a satin-slippered kick in the drawers.
GRETNA GREEN by Sharon Page (29 pages)- Reformed childhood gang members reunite when a Bow Street Runner interviews his former lover who is now a dressmaker that secretly helps young ladies escape forced marriages. ENJOYED IT. A nice original story by an author I have never read before. Ms. Page has me intrigued.
LITTLE MISS INDEPENDENT by Julia Templeton (24 pages)- Adelaide Bruce has grown up over the past five years and battle-scarred Naval Captain Lord Drayton takes notice. But with all of society judging his appearance, could it be that Adelaide, his best friend's sister, sees the man for who he truly is? LOVED IT. This was a charming Beauty and the Beast kind of story PLUS you had the whole "forbidden fruit" thing going on. My first story by Julia Templeton, who typically pens erotic romance. I'd love to see a full-length novel in the historical romance genre.
THE DEVIL'S BARGAIN by Deborah Raleigh (26 pages)- Lord Spaulding crashes a party hosted by the woman who married then abandonded him exactly one year ago. Amelia is still bitter with resentment but could it be her husband valued more than just her dowry after all? JUST OK... Nothing special and the story ended as predicted. This is the third story in this anthology involving a misunderstanding that led to a married couple leading separate lives. I really hope there are no more.
KINDRED SOULS by Barbara Metzger (18 pages)- Paving way for a marriage to Millie Cole's dowry, Earl Stourbridge arranges with her father to send away the only man Millie ever loved. But seven years later, Ted returns and learns that Millie had stood the earl up at the altar and has been living an impovershed life, banished to the country ever since. Now that Ted's back to take on the role as Viscount, is there a chance that Millie still has feelings for him? JUST OK. I really wanted to see this story work but honestly, it felt like this was a bunch of excerpts plucked from a larger book and put together to form a short story. It was hard to follow at times and the writing seemed a bit scattered. Even writing this mini-review, I had to go back and re-read a lot just to refresh my memory of the flow and events. Part One needed to be a stronger foundation for the rest of the story, but instead it teased the reader about too many things we didn't know yet which ended up making this story confusing and hard to get into.
REMEMBER by Michele Ann Young (24 pages)- Madame Beauchere has claws firmly clasped around the young Lord Graves because marriage to his fortune would enable her to free her father from debtor's prison. But when Graves' family asks Gerard, the Duke of Hawksworth, to intervene before things go further, could it be that some old flames never quite die? ENJOYED IT. This, like the story before it, was a case of "meddling fathers" resulting in yet another misunderstanding. Not my favorite type of plot, but this one was still a good read!
MOONLIGHT by Carolyn Jewel (26 pages)- Alec, the Earl of Dane, hosts a ball with the help of his lifelong friend Philippa, but afterwards the two reminisce and talk openly and honestly about her upcoming marriage to Captain Bancroft. Could it be the moonlight has other things in mind for Alec and Philippa? LOVED IT. Loved it, loved it, loved it! Beautifully written, wonderfully passionate, and incredibly sensual. Curl up in a cozy chair, suspend belief for an hour and watch these two people fall in love in one moonlit night. I would have loved this to be a full-length novel.
AN INVITATION TO SCANDAL by Lorraine Heath ( pages)- Nicholas, the Earl of Harteley, receives an invitation for a private dinner hosted by a young Miss Arianna Vernon. Expecting much more from this clandestine meeting, she stuns him when she offers to pay off his inherited debts in exchange for marriage. LOVED IT. Strong story complete with Ms. Heath's trademark darker undertones. A fine story to end this great anthology.
Overall I was very pleased with this anthology. I was introduced to a handful of new authors who I have now added to my reading list, and as you can see, most stories rated very positive with me. Here's how my ratings tallied:
LOVED IT: 9 stories ENJOYED IT: 8 stories JUST OK: 4 stories DIDN'T LIKE: 2 stories
Not bad at all, in my opinion! My personal favorites, you ask? LIKE NONE OTHER by Caroline Linden, MOONLIGHT by Carolyn Jewel, LITTLE MISS INDEPENDENT by Julia Templeton and THE PIANO TUTOR by Anthea Lawson.
This book stays on my keeper shelf. :)
Some people like anthologies... others do not. Me? I happen to love them because I always find a new author or two to add to my reading list! I know... a blessing and a curse when looking at shelf space. But what makes this book even better is that all the stories are brand new, and original - no reprints here!
Below is a brief synopsis of each story - in published order - and to simplify rating 23 individual stories, I have rated them as follows... LOVED IT, ENJOYED IT, JUST OK, or DIDN'T LIKE IT.
DESPERATE MEASURES by Candice Hern (17 pages)- It's all planned... Philip will pose as Lydia's attentive love interest at the Erskine ball in a scheme to get the man she loves to notice her. But when Philip doesn't show and Geoffrey steps in to help Lydia instead, can she hide the fact that Geoffrey was the man she was trying to make jealous to begin with? ENJOYED IT. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet story with, of course, a sweet happy ending.
UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR by Anna Campbell (31 pages)- Sebastian Sinclair, Earl of Kinvarra comes to the aid of a coach that tumbled off a frosty road. When the woman who emerges from the broken coach turns out to be his own wife travelling with another man, he's stunned but helps her get to safety. But when the storm strands them at a roadside inn for the night, will they be able to tolerate each other in the morning? ENJOYED IT. Rather predictable but a good read! I wish it had been longer.
THE DASHING MISS LANGLEY by Amanda Grange (27 pages)- Annabelle Langley whisks her besotted niece, Caroline, away to the country hoping to cure her infatuation with the gardener's grandson. But when they happen upon Daniel, the man Annabelle lost her heart to a year ago, will sparks have time to rekindle before Daniel walks away from her again? JUST OK. Most of the story seemed devoured by Caroline's subplot so just when things were starting to actually move and get romancey, it came to an abrupt end. And Annabelle (with her Amazonian figure) was a bit too eccentric and over the top for me at first, but her personality faded into something more likeable as the story progressed. I also think Annabelle and Caroline's names would have better suited the characters if they had been swapped.
CYNDERS AND ASHE by Elizabeth Boyle (33 pages)- Five years after meeting at a Masquerade, Ella Cynders reappears at the ball in which Lord Ashe must choose a bride. LOVED IT. The story would have been a tad more enjoyable without the play on names, but it was still a sweet twist on the classic Cinderella tale. I also love when a public display of affection seals the deal.
HIS WICKED REVENGE by Vanessa Kelly (31 pages)- Captain Anthony Barnett is hell-bent on revenge when he blackmails his former lover, Marissa, into becoming his mistress. But when they reconcile their past, could he maybe be the one asking for forgiveness? LOVED IT. A lot of ground was covered in this story, but it didn't feel crammed full of fluff... it was just a great story, and one I wish was a full length novel.
LADY INVISIBLE by Patricia Rice (23 pages)- Major Lucas Sumner returns from war and reclaims his daughter from his family. But now he needs a sturdy wife to tame his wild child. ENJOYED IT. Lucas had no knowledge of how to woo a woman, but when the perfect one shows up, she shows him that her wild side might just be the perfect match for him and his daughter.
THE PIANO TUTOR by Anthea Lawson (18 pages)- Viscountess Merrowstone has just packed away her last black dress when a handsome referral appears in place of the regular piano tutor. LOVED IT. A bit lacking in the 'getting to know you' part but a delightful and satisfying quickie read! I'm new to Ms. Lawson's writing but will be adding her immediately to my shopping list.
STOLEN by Emma Wildes (27 pages)- Lady Sabrina Pearson enlists her life-long best friend, Stephen, to help her steal , err, take back something that rightfully belongs to her. But on the trip home, Stephen has a plot to steal something as well... her heart. LOVED IT. A sweet, steamy story about the bond of childhood friendship that has grown and matured into love.
HER GENTLEMAN THEIF by Robyn DeHart (20 pages)- On the eve of her wedding, Annalise's coach is stopped by a highwayman. But when she pleads with him to save her from an arranged marriage, could it be that the thief learns a thing or two about love? LOVED IT. Very heavy on the introspective side but I really wished this story had been longer.
THE WEATHERLY'S BALL by Christie Kelley (23 pages)- Five years ago, Lady Tessa Townson was ruined by the man she loved when he left to go to war. Believing he was dead, she can't believe her eyes when she sees him again. A lot has changed over the past five years... but then again, maybe one thing hasn't. ENJOYED IT... but I got mad at the hero because I thought his plan with Georgiana was just beyond cruel. Really, I did enjoy this story... I just wanted to kick him in the tookus.
THE PANCHAMAABHUTA by Leah Ball (29 pages)- Francis' rare and valuable ring becomes a prize to be sought by a thief. But could he be after another prize as well? DIDN'T LIKE IT. When I can't pronounce a title, I get frustrated enough. But this story made me roll my eyes... I'm sorry but trying to steal back your own possession from a thief (no matter how handsome or tanned he may be) does not justify sleeping with him. I struggled through this one.
ANGELIQUE by Margo Maguire (22 pages)- Miss Angelique Drummond inherits after her father dies, but for some reason he left her funds under the control of her former fiancé. ENJOYED IT but... real close to being JUST OK. The story was fine, but nothing special. My big gripe was the ending... it felt like a magical dusting of pixie dust suddenly fell over the whole misunderstanding and everything became peaches and roses and teddy bears and the promised happy ending.
LIKE NONE OTHER by Caroline Linden (24 pages)- Widowed Emma Bowen and a retired sea captain share pleasant conversations over their shared garden wall. But Captain Phineas Quentin is enchanted by Emma and wants more than just friendship between neighbors. Could it be she does too? LOVED IT. Loved it, loved it, loved it! My favorite in this anthology so far and oh, how I didn't want it to end! A sweet, romantic story by an author I am ashamed to admit I have yet to read. I'm off to pluck one of her books from my TBR shelf.
THE CATCH OF THE SEASON by Shirley Kennedy (28 pages)- Miss Julia Winslow receives a proposal from Lord Melton, the catch of the season, but Julia isn't impressed when his kiss feels like "kissing a piece of paper." Going home to the country to think things over, she meets his ne'er-do-well brother and wonders if his kiss could be any different. ENJOYED IT. Good story! Julia's mother was almost too much for me but her grandmother was a hoot. And Robert was charming, giving the story a sweet happy ending.
FRENCH INTUITION by Delilah Marvelle (22 pages)- Lady Gwendolyn Redford reconnects with her estranged husband by playing a bedroom game to rekindle their romance. DIDN'T LIKE IT. This story didn't do anything for me but I think it needed a lot more than 22 pages to tell it well. This was simply the wife using seduction to convince her husband that she wasn't having an affair with another man. Unfortunately, I didn't really see any romance in it, and I highly doubt that one bedroom game would be the defining moment in fixing an estranged marriage headed for divorce.
A SUITABLE GENTLEMAN by Sara Bennett (19 pages)- Clarinda Howitt meets James Quentin on the street one blustery day and there is a spark of mutual attraction. However, Clarinda has resigned herself to be a martyr, caring for her hypochondriac aunt, and seeking a good match for her younger sister. But could it be that there is more to James than meets the eye? And could that eye be on Clarinda? JUST OK. This is a good example of a short-story casualty. Adding ten more pages could have made this story great, but instead it felt half baked, then microwaved. I also got frustrated hearing Clarinda say she wasn't a martyr even though you are constantly reminded that she is. Really, she had no hope for herself and that just made me want to give her a satin-slippered kick in the drawers.
GRETNA GREEN by Sharon Page (29 pages)- Reformed childhood gang members reunite when a Bow Street Runner interviews his former lover who is now a dressmaker that secretly helps young ladies escape forced marriages. ENJOYED IT. A nice original story by an author I have never read before. Ms. Page has me intrigued.
LITTLE MISS INDEPENDENT by Julia Templeton (24 pages)- Adelaide Bruce has grown up over the past five years and battle-scarred Naval Captain Lord Drayton takes notice. But with all of society judging his appearance, could it be that Adelaide, his best friend's sister, sees the man for who he truly is? LOVED IT. This was a charming Beauty and the Beast kind of story PLUS you had the whole "forbidden fruit" thing going on. My first story by Julia Templeton, who typically pens erotic romance. I'd love to see a full-length novel in the historical romance genre.
THE DEVIL'S BARGAIN by Deborah Raleigh (26 pages)- Lord Spaulding crashes a party hosted by the woman who married then abandonded him exactly one year ago. Amelia is still bitter with resentment but could it be her husband valued more than just her dowry after all? JUST OK... Nothing special and the story ended as predicted. This is the third story in this anthology involving a misunderstanding that led to a married couple leading separate lives. I really hope there are no more.
KINDRED SOULS by Barbara Metzger (18 pages)- Paving way for a marriage to Millie Cole's dowry, Earl Stourbridge arranges with her father to send away the only man Millie ever loved. But seven years later, Ted returns and learns that Millie had stood the earl up at the altar and has been living an impovershed life, banished to the country ever since. Now that Ted's back to take on the role as Viscount, is there a chance that Millie still has feelings for him? JUST OK. I really wanted to see this story work but honestly, it felt like this was a bunch of excerpts plucked from a larger book and put together to form a short story. It was hard to follow at times and the writing seemed a bit scattered. Even writing this mini-review, I had to go back and re-read a lot just to refresh my memory of the flow and events. Part One needed to be a stronger foundation for the rest of the story, but instead it teased the reader about too many things we didn't know yet which ended up making this story confusing and hard to get into.
REMEMBER by Michele Ann Young (24 pages)- Madame Beauchere has claws firmly clasped around the young Lord Graves because marriage to his fortune would enable her to free her father from debtor's prison. But when Graves' family asks Gerard, the Duke of Hawksworth, to intervene before things go further, could it be that some old flames never quite die? ENJOYED IT. This, like the story before it, was a case of "meddling fathers" resulting in yet another misunderstanding. Not my favorite type of plot, but this one was still a good read!
MOONLIGHT by Carolyn Jewel (26 pages)- Alec, the Earl of Dane, hosts a ball with the help of his lifelong friend Philippa, but afterwards the two reminisce and talk openly and honestly about her upcoming marriage to Captain Bancroft. Could it be the moonlight has other things in mind for Alec and Philippa? LOVED IT. Loved it, loved it, loved it! Beautifully written, wonderfully passionate, and incredibly sensual. Curl up in a cozy chair, suspend belief for an hour and watch these two people fall in love in one moonlit night. I would have loved this to be a full-length novel.
AN INVITATION TO SCANDAL by Lorraine Heath ( pages)- Nicholas, the Earl of Harteley, receives an invitation for a private dinner hosted by a young Miss Arianna Vernon. Expecting much more from this clandestine meeting, she stuns him when she offers to pay off his inherited debts in exchange for marriage. LOVED IT. Strong story complete with Ms. Heath's trademark darker undertones. A fine story to end this great anthology.
Overall I was very pleased with this anthology. I was introduced to a handful of new authors who I have now added to my reading list, and as you can see, most stories rated very positive with me. Here's how my ratings tallied:
LOVED IT: 9 stories ENJOYED IT: 8 stories JUST OK: 4 stories DIDN'T LIKE: 2 stories
Not bad at all, in my opinion! My personal favorites, you ask? LIKE NONE OTHER by Caroline Linden, MOONLIGHT by Carolyn Jewel, LITTLE MISS INDEPENDENT by Julia Templeton and THE PIANO TUTOR by Anthea Lawson.
This book stays on my keeper shelf. :)
Review Date: 8/4/2010
Helpful Score: 2
...A favorite from my 'keeper shelf'!
I won't call it an old favorite as it was published a mere four years ago, but it is one of the earlier books I read when I first got into Regency and historical romance and its definitely on my keeper shelf AND my Kindle! This story is more of a 'love at first sight' except its the girl that needs the convincing and trust me, the hero convinces!
Alexandra is a sweet, proper girl; raised a lady, but forced to work in order to live. Adding to her woes, she ran into a bit of trouble in the household of her last employer, therefore looking for work as a governess has proved very difficult. Bracing herself for one more interview before tossing in the towel and fleeing to Hampshire, she arrives at the home of the Earl of Kilcairn where he takes one look at Alexandra before promptly telling her she's hired. Befuddled, yet thankful for the income, she accepts the employment with reluctance, reminding the earl of the duties for which she has been hired to perform. Any other ideas he may have are out of the question. And he makes it quite clear that he has ideas!
Nevertheless, the earl is intrigued by the young governess he just hired to help launch his cousin Rose successfully into society. And soon, he convinces Alexandra that he needs some lessons too... in finding a wife. Jealousy tugs gently at Alexandra's heartstrings but why should it? Could it be that Lucien has other ideas... ideas that may just convince her that she just might be the perfect wife he seeks?
This story really snaps with wit from page one, which makes it a very entertaining read, firmly securing a spot on my favorites shelf. Lucien has no qualms about telling it like it is, which is refreshing and, at times, down-right hilarious. He's also wealthy, smart and handsome... could a girl really ask for more? But Alexandra is skeptical around this rake. She's a strong girl making her own way on a path shadowed in scandal, but she's a good girl and wants to stay that way. Can she perform the tasks for which she was hired without getting too distracted?
Reforming a Rake really sides more to the idealistic, but I didn't mind because it was cute and sweet and not overwhelmingly "too much". Alexandra's dog, Shakespeare (or Shakes as he is often called), is a cute addition to the story even if you might roll your eyes in the first chapter when she shows up on the Earl's doorstep, leash in hand, for an employment interview. But when Lucien questions Alexandra about the scandal with her last employer, he believes her without a doubt and, for me, that moved Lucien up the perfect man-o-meter another big notch. Their open honesty with each other just added to the tension of wanting to see these two people get together in the end. And I loved the come-uppance Fiona got when Lucien's plot with Rose was revealed. But the story doesn't end there...
I must say that I loved the wine cellar scenes. At one point, Lucien goes to great lengths to keep Alexandra near him, seeing to her every comfort, including a rearrangement of the living spaces to meet the needs of the woman he's in love with. Even the staff is in agreement that she and their employer are well matched, so they play the defensive for team Lucien. But the ultimate test for Alexandra comes in the form of our hero, himself. Willing to give up everything to prove his love for her, Alexandra must decide if this reformed rake is truly all he seems to be.
I love Suzanne Enoch's stories although I admit I find them a tad overly introspective for my taste. Personally I prefer much more dialogue, but I get it... its just her writing style. She still tells great stories so I recommend exploring her other books. After The Kiss and England's Perfect Hero are my other two personal favorites from Enoch and they are both on my list to re-read and review in the near future. Ms. Enoch has also just released A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior which I have standing by, ready to read as well!
I won't call it an old favorite as it was published a mere four years ago, but it is one of the earlier books I read when I first got into Regency and historical romance and its definitely on my keeper shelf AND my Kindle! This story is more of a 'love at first sight' except its the girl that needs the convincing and trust me, the hero convinces!
Alexandra is a sweet, proper girl; raised a lady, but forced to work in order to live. Adding to her woes, she ran into a bit of trouble in the household of her last employer, therefore looking for work as a governess has proved very difficult. Bracing herself for one more interview before tossing in the towel and fleeing to Hampshire, she arrives at the home of the Earl of Kilcairn where he takes one look at Alexandra before promptly telling her she's hired. Befuddled, yet thankful for the income, she accepts the employment with reluctance, reminding the earl of the duties for which she has been hired to perform. Any other ideas he may have are out of the question. And he makes it quite clear that he has ideas!
Nevertheless, the earl is intrigued by the young governess he just hired to help launch his cousin Rose successfully into society. And soon, he convinces Alexandra that he needs some lessons too... in finding a wife. Jealousy tugs gently at Alexandra's heartstrings but why should it? Could it be that Lucien has other ideas... ideas that may just convince her that she just might be the perfect wife he seeks?
This story really snaps with wit from page one, which makes it a very entertaining read, firmly securing a spot on my favorites shelf. Lucien has no qualms about telling it like it is, which is refreshing and, at times, down-right hilarious. He's also wealthy, smart and handsome... could a girl really ask for more? But Alexandra is skeptical around this rake. She's a strong girl making her own way on a path shadowed in scandal, but she's a good girl and wants to stay that way. Can she perform the tasks for which she was hired without getting too distracted?
Reforming a Rake really sides more to the idealistic, but I didn't mind because it was cute and sweet and not overwhelmingly "too much". Alexandra's dog, Shakespeare (or Shakes as he is often called), is a cute addition to the story even if you might roll your eyes in the first chapter when she shows up on the Earl's doorstep, leash in hand, for an employment interview. But when Lucien questions Alexandra about the scandal with her last employer, he believes her without a doubt and, for me, that moved Lucien up the perfect man-o-meter another big notch. Their open honesty with each other just added to the tension of wanting to see these two people get together in the end. And I loved the come-uppance Fiona got when Lucien's plot with Rose was revealed. But the story doesn't end there...
I must say that I loved the wine cellar scenes. At one point, Lucien goes to great lengths to keep Alexandra near him, seeing to her every comfort, including a rearrangement of the living spaces to meet the needs of the woman he's in love with. Even the staff is in agreement that she and their employer are well matched, so they play the defensive for team Lucien. But the ultimate test for Alexandra comes in the form of our hero, himself. Willing to give up everything to prove his love for her, Alexandra must decide if this reformed rake is truly all he seems to be.
I love Suzanne Enoch's stories although I admit I find them a tad overly introspective for my taste. Personally I prefer much more dialogue, but I get it... its just her writing style. She still tells great stories so I recommend exploring her other books. After The Kiss and England's Perfect Hero are my other two personal favorites from Enoch and they are both on my list to re-read and review in the near future. Ms. Enoch has also just released A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior which I have standing by, ready to read as well!
Review Date: 8/11/2010
Ummm... was there supposed to be an actual romance in here somewhere?
This was my first book by Johanna Lindsey, and I'll be honest... I was really disappointed. I admit I bought this book without checking out the ratings on Amazon.com... I ALWAYS check ratings first, so shame on me! But this was a last minute audio book purchase before an emergency eye surgery so I needed to buy SOMETHING! I've decided I may check out some of her earlier works because other reviews indicate she has much better fare than this latest effort, but really, this book contained no romance. It was all lust with no chemistry whatsoever and an absolute jerk for a hero, who ended up not being any sort of a hero at all! Would you want a man who consistently told you over and over again that he didn't believe you, didn't trust you? Accused you of being a liar even when there was proof to the contrary? I sure wouldnt! With that, the story became completely unrealistic real fast. And if I had to read one more time about how "angelic" Rupert was in Rebecca's eyes, I swear the audiobook discs were going to become frisbees for my dogs. Clearly his "angelic" glow impaired Rebecca's vision!
The potential for a great story was definitely there but it all just fell short. I was hoping Nigel could save the story and pair Rebecca and Rupert together to unfoil a good plot against the crown. The possibilities were endless yet the whole scenario with the Pearsons was so under-developed and brief it seemed like a last minute effort to create a little drama just to give the story some sort of climax, weak as it was. The potential to witness a blossoming romance was there as well but completely ignored. Instead Rebecca endured more accusations of untrustworthiness from Rupert, then of all things, he married her! WHAT?? The ultimate reason for the marriage made sense for the Victorian era, but come on! Rupert didn't believe Rebecca to begin with, so what was the point of marrying? Was that his way of finally acknowledging trust, or was he merely doing what he believed to be the right thing? Either way, that's not at all what I call romance.
This was my first book by Johanna Lindsey, and I'll be honest... I was really disappointed. I admit I bought this book without checking out the ratings on Amazon.com... I ALWAYS check ratings first, so shame on me! But this was a last minute audio book purchase before an emergency eye surgery so I needed to buy SOMETHING! I've decided I may check out some of her earlier works because other reviews indicate she has much better fare than this latest effort, but really, this book contained no romance. It was all lust with no chemistry whatsoever and an absolute jerk for a hero, who ended up not being any sort of a hero at all! Would you want a man who consistently told you over and over again that he didn't believe you, didn't trust you? Accused you of being a liar even when there was proof to the contrary? I sure wouldnt! With that, the story became completely unrealistic real fast. And if I had to read one more time about how "angelic" Rupert was in Rebecca's eyes, I swear the audiobook discs were going to become frisbees for my dogs. Clearly his "angelic" glow impaired Rebecca's vision!
The potential for a great story was definitely there but it all just fell short. I was hoping Nigel could save the story and pair Rebecca and Rupert together to unfoil a good plot against the crown. The possibilities were endless yet the whole scenario with the Pearsons was so under-developed and brief it seemed like a last minute effort to create a little drama just to give the story some sort of climax, weak as it was. The potential to witness a blossoming romance was there as well but completely ignored. Instead Rebecca endured more accusations of untrustworthiness from Rupert, then of all things, he married her! WHAT?? The ultimate reason for the marriage made sense for the Victorian era, but come on! Rupert didn't believe Rebecca to begin with, so what was the point of marrying? Was that his way of finally acknowledging trust, or was he merely doing what he believed to be the right thing? Either way, that's not at all what I call romance.
Review Date: 8/4/2010
Helpful Score: 1
Ten thoughts I had about this book...
1. This story is Julia Quinn's third offering in an un-named series beginning with The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, followed by What Happens in London, followed by Ten Things I Love About You. All three books are not the caliber of her earlier works but are pleasant reads full of witty dialogue, and Ms. Quinn's trademark humor. If you choose to read them, I recommend reading them in order for maximum enjoyment. (You learn quite a lot about Sebastian in What Happens In London which is Olivia and Harry's story, who in turn are big supporting characters in this book.)
2. Ten Things I Love About You is really Sebastian Grey's story of meeting Annabel Winslow, a country girl brought to London by her grandmother to catch a rich husband and save her destitute family. Capturing the unwanted attention of a dirty, old earl, claiming Annabel's wide hips and shapely figure will suit nicely for begetting an heir, Annabel's grandmother is of little help when she approves the impending match, reminding Annabel how rich and titled he is (and how he'll soon die of old age). Sebastian, on the other hand, is the earl's heir who will never see the title if the earl has his way. But that's ok... Sebastian doesn't want the title, nor does he even need it. After all he's no pauper, bringing in a tidy sum publishing books under a nom de plume and leading the simple bachelor life. But meeting Annabel sparks something and there is a definite mutual attraction.
3. Annabel is a sweet girl, oldest of eight and voted by her family to be the third most likely to outrun a turkey. Oh, and she likes to make lists. Her history was not full of "woe is me" which was really nice, but she has a lot of weight on her shoulders so she needs to make a choice... marry Lord Newbury, the mean, old, rich, titled earl or enjoy the company of the young, handsome heir presumptive who makes you giggle with his "smirky" smiles and quick wit. While the choice is ultimately hers, her love for her family and their welfare played a big role in the dilemma and it was written quite well. It never got to the "woe is me" point, nor did she shy away to hide in a corner. Her choice was real, and she had a conscience but could she be true to herself with her ultimate decision?
4. Witty banter abounds between our Miss Winslow and Mr. Grey, creating delightful dialogue complete with Quinn trademark smirks and giggles. I loved her use of the word "smirky". I also loved the books Sebastian penned, a secret he kept well-hidden from everyone. It added a nice dimension to the story.
5. My big gripe #1 with the book was the drawing room scene at Olivia's home. I don't know if hormones just suddenly kicked in or what, but out of nowhere, Sebastian started undressing Annabel! WHAT?? It was just weird. They were laughing and talking and then it turned into an abrupt intimate moment that ended almost as quickly as it started. And the scene just kind of went downhill from there. It all just felt very out of place and forced on the characters, which made me wonder if I was going to enjoy the second half of the book as much as I had the first. Rest assured, once the drawing room scene was over, things did pick back up and I settled back into the story. But this was definitely a speed bump for me.
6. Big gripe #2 was the actual climax of the book. I will not spoil the end, but it centers around the moment when Annabel and Sebastian learn that Annabel's grandmother was in fact once romanced by Lord Newbury. Really, its not a spoiler - look at #6 from the book's back cover (above). And I'm not even sure "romanced" is the right word. But with that revelation paired with the situation... all I had to say was EEEIIIIWWWWWW!
7. Nevertheless, Ms. Quinn created two very lovable, human characters in this story. Sebastian's sense of humor, authenticity, and even self-doubt balanced beautifully with Annabel's family values, good nature and all around sweet personality. Annabel's cousin Louisa was a sweet addition to the story, making one wonder if she might be next to get her own story since there seems to be a spark to her that we've merely just had a taste.
8. Ms. Quinn's relentless use of parenthetical emphasis is most thankfully kept to a relative minimum in this book. (It took her a few books to learn when too much was way too much.)
9. But overall, I liked most of the book. It was a pleasant read, yes, but my two big gripes really just did in any chance of me ever going back to re-read it. Several familiar names from previous Quinn books popped up in the ballroom scenes, which always makes reading her books a bit more fun... you never know who you might run into!
10. While certainly not one of Julia Quinn's best books, I would certainly say it isn't her worst. That being said, I strongly recommend steering clear of the Two Dukes of Wyndham duo! The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever was my favorite of the three in this series, but really, if you haven't read the Bridgerton series, I would say drop everything and pick up The Duke and I. The entire series is wonderful, and even Quinn's backlist before the Bridgerton's were all excellent and really a higher caliber than her last handful of books.
1. This story is Julia Quinn's third offering in an un-named series beginning with The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, followed by What Happens in London, followed by Ten Things I Love About You. All three books are not the caliber of her earlier works but are pleasant reads full of witty dialogue, and Ms. Quinn's trademark humor. If you choose to read them, I recommend reading them in order for maximum enjoyment. (You learn quite a lot about Sebastian in What Happens In London which is Olivia and Harry's story, who in turn are big supporting characters in this book.)
2. Ten Things I Love About You is really Sebastian Grey's story of meeting Annabel Winslow, a country girl brought to London by her grandmother to catch a rich husband and save her destitute family. Capturing the unwanted attention of a dirty, old earl, claiming Annabel's wide hips and shapely figure will suit nicely for begetting an heir, Annabel's grandmother is of little help when she approves the impending match, reminding Annabel how rich and titled he is (and how he'll soon die of old age). Sebastian, on the other hand, is the earl's heir who will never see the title if the earl has his way. But that's ok... Sebastian doesn't want the title, nor does he even need it. After all he's no pauper, bringing in a tidy sum publishing books under a nom de plume and leading the simple bachelor life. But meeting Annabel sparks something and there is a definite mutual attraction.
3. Annabel is a sweet girl, oldest of eight and voted by her family to be the third most likely to outrun a turkey. Oh, and she likes to make lists. Her history was not full of "woe is me" which was really nice, but she has a lot of weight on her shoulders so she needs to make a choice... marry Lord Newbury, the mean, old, rich, titled earl or enjoy the company of the young, handsome heir presumptive who makes you giggle with his "smirky" smiles and quick wit. While the choice is ultimately hers, her love for her family and their welfare played a big role in the dilemma and it was written quite well. It never got to the "woe is me" point, nor did she shy away to hide in a corner. Her choice was real, and she had a conscience but could she be true to herself with her ultimate decision?
4. Witty banter abounds between our Miss Winslow and Mr. Grey, creating delightful dialogue complete with Quinn trademark smirks and giggles. I loved her use of the word "smirky". I also loved the books Sebastian penned, a secret he kept well-hidden from everyone. It added a nice dimension to the story.
5. My big gripe #1 with the book was the drawing room scene at Olivia's home. I don't know if hormones just suddenly kicked in or what, but out of nowhere, Sebastian started undressing Annabel! WHAT?? It was just weird. They were laughing and talking and then it turned into an abrupt intimate moment that ended almost as quickly as it started. And the scene just kind of went downhill from there. It all just felt very out of place and forced on the characters, which made me wonder if I was going to enjoy the second half of the book as much as I had the first. Rest assured, once the drawing room scene was over, things did pick back up and I settled back into the story. But this was definitely a speed bump for me.
6. Big gripe #2 was the actual climax of the book. I will not spoil the end, but it centers around the moment when Annabel and Sebastian learn that Annabel's grandmother was in fact once romanced by Lord Newbury. Really, its not a spoiler - look at #6 from the book's back cover (above). And I'm not even sure "romanced" is the right word. But with that revelation paired with the situation... all I had to say was EEEIIIIWWWWWW!
7. Nevertheless, Ms. Quinn created two very lovable, human characters in this story. Sebastian's sense of humor, authenticity, and even self-doubt balanced beautifully with Annabel's family values, good nature and all around sweet personality. Annabel's cousin Louisa was a sweet addition to the story, making one wonder if she might be next to get her own story since there seems to be a spark to her that we've merely just had a taste.
8. Ms. Quinn's relentless use of parenthetical emphasis is most thankfully kept to a relative minimum in this book. (It took her a few books to learn when too much was way too much.)
9. But overall, I liked most of the book. It was a pleasant read, yes, but my two big gripes really just did in any chance of me ever going back to re-read it. Several familiar names from previous Quinn books popped up in the ballroom scenes, which always makes reading her books a bit more fun... you never know who you might run into!
10. While certainly not one of Julia Quinn's best books, I would certainly say it isn't her worst. That being said, I strongly recommend steering clear of the Two Dukes of Wyndham duo! The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever was my favorite of the three in this series, but really, if you haven't read the Bridgerton series, I would say drop everything and pick up The Duke and I. The entire series is wonderful, and even Quinn's backlist before the Bridgerton's were all excellent and really a higher caliber than her last handful of books.
Review Date: 8/4/2010
Helpful Score: 1
Sad to say, this was a snoozer...
This was my first Jane Feather book and I was reminded of something very important... check reviews before just picking up a book!
I liked that this was the first in a new series, but more importantly, I really liked what I read on the back of the book! The story sounded fun and exciting and ...well, it wasn't. To be honest, there is nothing that even stood out to me as memorable. Not a scene, not a character ...although the thimble made me think of my grandmother because she had a collection. But that's it! And the secondary characters seemed to be everywhere, cluttering up any hint of a storyline. And just where was the "wicked" gentleman? It couldn't have been the hero because he was positively lackluster and boring. And for being a codebreaker for the crown, he wasn't all that intelligent either. This book was just a disappointment. The story was really, really slow and never picked up any speed at all since it was predictable the whole way through.
Its unfortunate because I think Feather's writing has the potential to tell great stories. After reading reviews for some of her other books, I may try her again sometime, but with so many books and so little time, you won't see me running to buy her titles any time soon.
This was my first Jane Feather book and I was reminded of something very important... check reviews before just picking up a book!
I liked that this was the first in a new series, but more importantly, I really liked what I read on the back of the book! The story sounded fun and exciting and ...well, it wasn't. To be honest, there is nothing that even stood out to me as memorable. Not a scene, not a character ...although the thimble made me think of my grandmother because she had a collection. But that's it! And the secondary characters seemed to be everywhere, cluttering up any hint of a storyline. And just where was the "wicked" gentleman? It couldn't have been the hero because he was positively lackluster and boring. And for being a codebreaker for the crown, he wasn't all that intelligent either. This book was just a disappointment. The story was really, really slow and never picked up any speed at all since it was predictable the whole way through.
Its unfortunate because I think Feather's writing has the potential to tell great stories. After reading reviews for some of her other books, I may try her again sometime, but with so many books and so little time, you won't see me running to buy her titles any time soon.
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