Sandy M’s review of Stroke of Genius by Emily Bryan
Historical Romance published by Leisure Books 25 May 10

I read the back cover blurb of this book and groaned. Haven’t we read this before? But then when I got into the book, there’s a couple things in the blurb that are just plain wrong. So if the same thing happens to you when deciding to try this book or not, read it anyway. Someone didn’t do it justice when they wrote that darned blurb.

Grace and her family are visiting England from Boston, and her mother has decided that having a sculpture done of Grace’s hands by premier artist Crispin Hawke will help place her high among the season’s ton, making her chances of snagging a titled lord much easier.

Grace would rather stay among her books than deal with such things, but she does meet with the artist, who is rude and too familiar for her tastes. He also intrigues her, so at her mother’s insistence Grace finds herself in Crispin’s studio the next morning.

And then starts Grace’s education in matters of pleasure in between their banter and Crispin’s unexplained bouts of guilt when it comes to seducing Grace. They are total opposites and in the beginning they don’t attract. Sparks fly instead, Grace not giving in to Crispin’s hauteur even though he’s a commoner, though one in high demand. Of course, they finally do attract and things take off, more sparks of a totally different nature, but then Crispin has to make a difficult decision for himself when that wanted titled lord that he, himself, brings on the scene does take an interest in Grace.

There is a side story with Wyckham, Crispin’s valet, and Claudette, Grace’s French maid. At times this element seems to go a little overboard, but over all it works well enough with the rest of the story.

I really like the snippits we see of Crispin’s growing-up years, just enough to know why he’s turned out the way he has, like his life has been waiting for Grace to liven and lighten things up for him, to show him how life should be lived.

A good story that has its moments but is weighted down at others. The main characters, however, are worth the read in the way they overcome their differences and do what is best for them, instead of what everyone else wants.

Grade: B

Summary:

CAN AN ARTISTIC GENIUS . . .

Crispin Hawke is revered by the ton.  His artistic creations are celebrated in every fashionable parlor,  tales of his fiery bed skills whispered behind every fashionable fan.

TRANSFORM AN AMERICAN HEIRESS . . .

Grace Makepeace is determined to wed a titled lord, but her Bostonian bluntness leaves her least likely to succeed. To be accepted by the ‘high-in-the-instep’ crowd, she has her hands ‘done’ in marble by the incomparable, Crispin Hawke.

INTO THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER ORIGINAL …

Crispin schools Grace in flirting and the delights of the flesh.  But when she catches the eye of a marquess, Crispin regrets her transformation.  An artist isn’t supposed to lust after his own creation but how can he help Grace . . .

WITHOUT FALLING FOR HER HIMSELF?

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of A Christmas Ball by Jennifer Ashley, Emily Bryan and Alissa Johnson
Historical Romance published by Leisure Books 29 Sep 10

If any of you read my reviews over the past holiday season, you’ll know I was on the search for a really feel-good Christmas story. I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for at the time. When I was offered the chance to read A Christmas Ball by three terrific historical authors, I jumped at the chance, even though the holiday season was months ago. While these three novellas don’t quite embody the Christmas-y feeling I was after either, it truly doesn’t matter because they’re each so good. That’s what big-name authors will do for you every time.

My Lady Below Stairs by Emily Bryan

This is my first story by Emily Bryan, and I have to say I’m very pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Jane is the illegitimate daughter of the house, a servant, as her station requires, instead of going to balls and all else that comes with noble birth. She’s in love with Ian, the estate’s head groom, but when family calls she sides with them, doing as they ask though it goes against the grain for her.

Posing as Lady Sybil, her half-sister, Jane is to accept a marriage proposal from Lord Eddleton at the Hartwell’s ball, thereby saving the family from disgrace since Sybil has once again been selfish.  She’s run off with her current lover. It sounds so simple. And it should have been, if it hadn’t been for Ian.

He’s not happy watching his love waltz around with man after man and then accept marriage from a man who Ian knows won’t be faithful. But Ian does have second thoughts when he realizes he can’t give Jane the life she’s been entitled to but never had.

Summary:

Nobody misses Lord & Lady Hartwell’s Christmas Ball . . .

But they all go for different reasons. When Lady Sybil runs off with an Italian portrait painter, her bastard half-sister Jane Tate goes in her place. Lord Eddleton plans on proposing to “Sybil” under the mistletoe. Lady Darvish is on the hunt for her fifth husband.

And Ian Michael MacGregor is determined to show Jane that love doesn’t have to pretend.

Grade: B

The Longest Night by Jennifer Ashley

This story is a continuation of Ms. Ashley’s Nvengarian series, and we last saw Mary at the end of Highlander Ever After when Valenin was injured and asked Mary to come to him once he was home in Nvengaria. I had hoped at the time I read and reviewed HEA that Valentin and Mary would eventually get their story. Ms. Ashley, once again, doesn’t disappoint.

We find out that Mary never did take Valentin up on his offer, for various reasons of her own. He’s now back in England on another mission for his Prince and as luck would have it, he shows up at a ball where Mary is chaperoning a young girl as a favor to a friend.

The heat and attraction is still there between them and Valentin does his best to seduce Mary into his bed and into finally going home with him. But suddenly there is danger everywhere and neither of them may survive to be together in either England or Nvengaria.

Summary:

Nvengarian shapeshifter Baron Valentin arrives at the ball to continue his pursuit of his beloved Mary Cameron, who has run away from love.

Grade: B

Traditions by Alissa Johnson

This novella is my favorite of the three. Ms. Johnson had me grinning from ear to ear from beginning to end in this engaging story.

William is an earl and he’s on the hunt for a wife. He’s already picked out the perfect candidate and now he only has to ask that most important question. Locating her at the Hartwell’s ball proves difficult, but when he finally spies her, all of his well-laid plans fly right out the window.

All because of another young woman who isn’t a beauty, who isn’t well born, but can stuff a huge piece of cake into her mouth all at once. Watching Patience perform that little feat makes him want to get to know her better, and when he does it’s her intelligence and wit, her humor and laughter that capture his heart.

The characters are charming and the dialogue is loads of fun. Ms. Johnson has become a favorite of mine over the last couple of years, and she proves once again why that is.

Summary:

Prim and proper Casslebury plans to court Miss Caroline Meldrin, but to his chagrin is attracted to her wild friend Miss Patience Byerly.

Grade: B+

Overall Grade: B

C2’s review of Vexing the Viscount by Emily Bryan
Historical romance released by Leisure 24 Feb 09

This review is going to be a bit different, gentle readers. I’ve had this book for the longest time and kept getting distracted. Real Life sometimes interrupts my reading schedule, don’t you know. Anyway, I try to keep notes when I’m reading a book for review, so I can keep things straight in my head when it’s time to do the write-up.

When I actually sat down to do start my review, my notes amused me so much I thought I’d post them rather than doing a more formal review. So, yes, you’re about to get a glimpse into my brain – a very scary place, some might say.   Here we go:

Georgian setting – unusual nowadays.

First meeting over an antique oil lamp shaped like a penis.

Tassels=phallic symbol? I had no idea.

Childhood Iggy has turned into reclusive rake and wastrel Lucian.

Would she have really been on the shelf at 21, I wonder?

An outspoken young lady – gentlemen don’t like that, you know.

A reader of naughty books…shame on her.

Egad, a group of sisters with flower names.

A lost Roman treasure.

A masquerade ball and a courtesan costume.

Yikes – intimate waxing!

Yikes again – he’s a virgin!

Oh, I forgot he’s young too – mid-20s. Still – VIRGIN!! 

She (the in-disguise her) agrees to give him a kissing lesson if he shows her some of his antiquities.

Subplot involves the second Jacobite uprising. Why??

His father hates her family so she uses a fake name while working with him.

Whoa! Flashback to Romans in England. Unexpected.

Flashback has 30 year-old male virgin!

Kissing lessons between her (in disguise) and him. That lead to strip poker (not really poker, of course).

Holy anachronisms! Chocolate candies in the Georgian era?! I don’t think so.

“She cupped his bag”?!?! Oh no she didn’t…OMG  

He gets cranky when he doesn’t get all the goodies the first time they make out. Typical. 

Flashback with naked moonlight dancing. Wheee!

Back with our couple. Ooh, he briefly sees a resemblance.

A convenient antiquities expert appears.

The father is prone to destructive, drunken rages. Lucian suspects he’s on the brink of madness.

Lucian’s suspicions deepen that Blanche and Daisy are the same person.

A second lesson in love is arranged. And a blindfold comes into play, an ankle is sprained and a realization is made.

Dark flashback. Necessary?? I’m thinking no.

A conspiracy is afoot. Just call me Holmes…Sherlock Holmes. Jeez.

Clues are uncovered.

The aunt is a beard for her hubby. Carry-over from an earlier book, I’m guessing.

The plotting Jacobites want the Roman treasure to fund their cause and try to hook Lucian’s father into helping them. *sigh*

The aunt’s husband overhears the plotters and refuses to let Daisy see Lucian.

Another masked ball is just the ticket, then, isn’t it? But this time he recognizes her and says so.

A painting on a ceiling gives them another clue. How did they spot the painting? Hmm, I wonder.

Why won’t he tell her about the Jacobite plot? Oh yeah, because it’s silly.

And because he didn’t tell her, she steps right into problems. Of course.

And when he finds out, he is angry. Of course. But he doesn’t tell her of the connection to his father so she thinks he is excluding her. *sigh*

They go in search of the treasure…with the bad guys lurking behind them.

In the meantime, her uncle from Cornwall arrives. Her family figures out Daisy isn’t where she’s supposed to be.

While the family looks for Daisy, she and Lucian look for the treasure. On a haunted island! Woooo-oooooo-oooo. *eerie wailing sounds*

Gratuitous tavern brawl/sword fight. But, it provided a way to get him into her room and for nature to take its course. After he finally tells her the truth about the Jacobites and his father.

On the island they untangle the poem. But they’re being watched.

Finally, they find the treasure…but it isn’t what they expected. And their enemies get their comeuppance.

And that’s not all – Lucian gets a new title for helping dispatch the traitors.

My final thoughts on Vexing the Viscount are that it is a light (mostly) read and a nice change of pace for those who might be tiring of the Regency era. While it wasn’t a perfect book, it was entertaining. The main characters were engaging and amusing and the plot involving the treasure was interesting enough to stand on its own.

Grade: C+

Summary:

Daisy Drake is leading a double life! By day, she’s Lucian Beaumont’s unwanted assistant and by night, she masquerades as the masked courtesan, Blanche La Tour, a Frenchwoman who agreed to give Lucian lessons in sensual love!

There’s only one problem. Daisy speaks fluent French and can read ancient Latin without moving her lips, but she doesn’t know the first thing about the pleasures of the flesh!

Good thing she has the real Blanch La Tour’s very explicit memoirs for guidance.

Lucian Beaumont, Viscount Rutland, longs to see his family’s standing returned to its glory days, before his father lost their fortune. And he thinks he can manage it, if he can only discover the hiding place of an ancient Roman payroll.

Daisy never forgot her girlhood fascination with Lucian, even though his father has a score to settle with her uncle. Now that they’re all grown up, she’s determined to help the viscount find his Roman treasure.

Whether he wants her help or not!

Read an excerpt HERE.

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