Sandy M’s review of Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky
Contemporary Romance audiobook published by Random House Audio 6 Feb 07

I listen to a lot of audiobooks while driving; can’t do without my books for even that long! Every now and again one of those audiobooks keeps me interested in the story more than the driving. This book certainly did that when I missed my freeway exit and ended up 15 miles down the road to the next town before I realized what I’d done. While that’s not the best thing in the world to have happen right at that moment, at least that tells you this is a darned good story.

Hugh and Dana Clarke are expecting their first child. This is a time in their lives of joy and anticipation. When the baby finally decides to come into the world, they’re prepared and all goes well, mother and daughter are doing fine. But when they get a good look at their new daughter, besides ten tiny fingers and toes, they notice little Lizzy also has traits of African American descent in her appearance. While they’re both a bit stunned, Dana is giddily happy with her perfect little girl. It’s Hugh who hesitates too long, who has doubts.

Then Hugh’s family begins to pressure to him to find Dana’s father, a man she’s never met, never known. The only family she has now is her grandmother, and she knows not much more than Dana. But Dana has never been interested in locating her father; she’s the result of a casual college relationship between her mother, who is now deceased, and a man who has never taken an interest in Dana. Hugh warns her they need to be prepared to answer questions people will ask when they see Lizzy. He knows there’s no African American ancestors in his family, it’s been traced back generations. If they don’t have answers, folks will assume the worst, like an affair.

Dana is dumbfounded that Hugh is giving in to the pressure around him, doubting her and her fidelity. He finally goes so far as to get a paternity test – just to quiet the nonbelievers, or so he says. Crushed that her husband doesn’t trust her – a marriage without trust isn’t a marriage – she reluctantly agrees to the test. The strain between them only grows. While all of this is going on, there are also plenty of other happenings around. Dana’s grandmother owns a local yarn shop and we get to meet and interact with a few characters there, some of whom knew Dana’s mother, and this is where Dana begins with the scant information they have to start her search. Hugh has taken on a pro bono legal client, one he met at the hospital, who is trying to get help from her father’s child to pay for the medical care due to his injuries as a result of a car accident. It ends up being a very high-profile case, and he fights to the end for what’s right.

The results of the paternity test put Hugh’s mind at ease, though Dana is still angry with him and his reason for needing it in the first place. The search for Dana’s father finally bears fruit, and they’re assured there’s no such ancestry in her family. She’s so overwhelmed at what she finds out that Dana just can’t handle the new family that comes out of the woodwork at this point. It’s during a routine checkup for Lizzy that it’s discovered she’s a carrier of the sickle cell, found predominantly in people of color. Dana is immediately tested, with negative results. The twist in all their lives comes when Hugh tests positive and all his family secrets that are at the core of the issue plaguing them are finally emotionally revealed.

I find this concept interesting, to say the least. Ms. Delinsky does a terrific job at building the reader up to go a certain way in the story and then turning the tables on both reader and characters. For Dana, she never cared where the baby’s color came from. It doesn’t matter. Though it matters to Hugh, more from family and social pressure, he does find that it’s not really as important as he thought. All that truly matters is that little girl and her family.

Grade: B

Summary:

An explosive novel about family, and choices people make in times of crisis.

Dana Clarke has always longed for the stability of home and family—her own childhood was not an easy one. Now she has married a man she adores who is from a prominent New England family, and she is about to give birth to their first child. But what should be the happiest day of her life becomes the day her world falls apart. Her daughter is born beautiful and healthy, but no one can help noticing the African American traits in her appearance. Dana’s husband, to her great shock and dismay, begins to worry that people will think Dana has had an affair.The only way to repair the damage done is for Dana to track down the father she never knew and to explore the possibility of African American lineage in his family history. Dana’s determination to discover the truth becomes a poignant journey back through her past and her husband’s heritage that unearths secrets rooted in prejudice and fear. Barbara Delinsky’s Family Tree is an utterly unforgettable novel that asks penetrating questions about race, family, and the choices people make in times of crisis—choices that have profound consequences that can last for generations

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of The Sicilian’s Marriage Arrangement by Lucy Monroe
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Presents 1 Feb 07

This isn’t a book that I’ve had in line to read or review, mostly because of its age and I acquired it just recently in a box of books someone gave away. Then something I don’t normally do, I forgot to take my current read with me when running errands the other day.  Deciding to stop for lunch, I wanted to read. Imagine my surprise and flash of pissed off that I didn’t have my book with me. But then I remembered the box of books in my car. Ha! Sometimes things just work out, and this time I chose 1) Harlequin Presents because Lynne Connolly’s reviews of late have made me curious, since I haven’t read the line in absolute ages, and 2) Lucy Monroe is a favorite of mine, so I decided to give this particular HP a chance just because it’s her title.

I was gong to say I’m pleasantly surprised I enjoyed the book just because it’s a Harlequin Presents. Not that Presents aren’t good books now and again, as Lynne attests to in her reviews, but maybe because I remember the old Presents I read eons ago. I know I more than likely wouldn’t care for those today, because I know my tastes in romance have dramatically changed from those days. And, of course, it goes without saying that I like this one because it’s a Lucy Monroe book. That’s not to say I don’t have an issue or two with it, but for the most part I did enjoy it.

Hope is a shy young woman, blending into the background at her grandfather’s soirees after her hostess duties are complete, even ducking out and no one even notices. So on New Year’s Eve, she’s torn on whether to stay around for midnight when all the kissing will be going on. There’s no one for her to kiss and ring in the new year with. But out of the blue, dark and sexy Luciano, a business associate of her grandfather’s and the man she’s dreamed about for five years, disses a leggy blonde model and sweeps Hope into his arms for the kiss of her life. And his.

Stunned at the depth of his reaction to kissing Hope, Luciano hightails it out of the party, not to see Hope again for six months. And only then he seeks her out because her grandfather is holding all the cards, forcing him to marry Hope or lose more than his pride. Seeing Hope again in Greece, where she is enjoying her European tour, brings on a jealous rage when he spies her holding hands with a man. Stretching the truth and Hope’s patience just a bit, he hijacks her evening and the rest of her tour.

Hope isn’t sure what to make of Luciano’s sudden attention, but she’s not about to push the man away when he’s making her dreams of being with him finally come true. They end up in Palermo, Luciano’s home, and a relentless pursuit ensues until Hope agrees to marriage, a union that agrees with her when Luciano introduces her to the pleasurable world of lovemaking.

Of course, we know something has to happen to eclipse such happiness, and this is about the only nitpick I have with the book. It’s misunderstanding time. Luciano overhears a phone conversation between Hope and her grandfather, which leads him to believe she’s been in on the blackmail from the beginning, and he treats her thusly. Hope can’t figure out why her husband suddenly doesn’t want to touch her, why he’s now taking trips abroad and leaving her alone. And it’s not as easy as Luciano thinks it is to walk away.

I like these two characters a lot. Hope flourishes with Luciano. He’s of the old world, wants a wife who will stay at home and have his babies, but he learns to adjust quickly to certain things when dealing with a modern woman, especially when hurt and she’s pissed off at him. But at least they eventually do talk and work things out, so that makes up a little for the misunderstanding and assumptions on Luciano’s part.

I know it’s mostly due to Ms. Monroe’s writing that  I like this book so well, but because of that I do think I will try more Harlequin Presents in the future. As they say, I’ll never know what I find until I try.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Hope Bishop is stunned when darkly sexy Sicilian tycoon Luciana di Valerio proposes marriage. Brought up by her wealthy but distant grandfather, she is used to fading into the background. But Luciano’s sensual lovemaking makes her feel vibrantly alive. Hope falls in love with her husband and is blissfully happy—until she discovers that Luciano married her to fulfill his own ruthless agenda…!

Read an excerpt.

Limecello’s review of The Santorini Bride by Anne McAllister
Contemporary romance published by Harlequin Presents on 1 Feb 2007

The Santorini Bride is an older book, but definitely worth reading. I think it’s one of the best Harlequin Presents books I’ve read, and I can’t really think of cliches it truly falls into. Anne McAllister is a great author, and this story is very unique. While it has a number of the comfortable and expected occurrences from a Harlequin Presents story, there are a number of differences, and it’s very believable.

Martha Antonides is a great character. She’s spunky, fun, smart, and your typical Presents heroine, but not. She’s not very experienced, but for a good reason – she doesn’t want to live the same mistakes she’s seen her sister make. She then falls for a playboy tycoon sailor [yes truly - and they do exist!]… but when things go south, she picks herself up and moves on.

Theo Savas is an idiot, but a delightful one. He’s a jerk, but doesn’t mean to be. He’s rather charming, old school, and courteous. He’s also emotionally stunted, because what Presents hero isn’t? But he happens to come to his senses much earlier than most HP heroes do. Unlucky for him, he’s found a lady with a spine, and has to go chasing after her. Theo’s determination, and interaction with Martha is really sweet, and helps develop his character a lot.

The Santorini Bride starts out as a number of Harlequin Presents do, but continues on where a number of them would have ended. That’s what makes it so satisfying. This is almost a story of “what happens after the ‘happily ever after’.” The character don’t fall in love the first time they have sex. Or the second. Or the first week. In fact, they hurt each other deeply. (Or, Martha is hurt.)

I loved that Theo was an idiot, but much more invested than he thought. While he’s denying the connection to himself, the fact that he reacts so strongly to “Bloody Julian” is quite entertaining, and rather sweet.

The fact that the Santorini Bride takes place in three vastly different settings I think gives it a depth and allows the reader to see aspects of Martha and Theo’s character that wouldn’t otherwise have been as apparent. The idyllic vacation on Santorini where they were playing a part… the happy wedding both have to attend because of relatives… and then in the middle of nowhere Montana, where Theo finally tracks Martha down.

I thought there was some poetic justice that Martha chooses a land locked state to get over Theo, and that he uses art to finally get to Martha. (She’s a muralist.) I also love Ted the dog, and I love how Theo interacts with him, the ending, the students… I’ve already re-read this story a number of times and know it’ll be one of my comfort reads in the future. [And totally unrelated, but Ms. McAllister gets a giant shiny gold star for having excerpts of her books available!]

Grade: A-

Billionaire Theo Savas didn’t need marriage. He’d been there, done that and he wasn’t doing it again. Not that it stopped nearly every single woman on the planet trying. Theo wanted space, maybe even a bit of celibacy. So he was furious when he’d just got himself settled in an isolated house on a Greek island-and came downstairs to discover Martha Antonides letting herself in! But forced together, passion overcame them. Eventually, of course, Theo went back to his bachelor lifestyle-and Martha discovered she was pregnant. She knew she couldn’t turn to Theo-he was strictly a no-strings man.

Read an excerpt here.

Lynne Connolly’s review of The Sicilian’s Marriage Arrangement by Lucy Monroe
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Presents 1 Feb 07

I have to say that this isn’t my favourite Monroe book. I usually enjoy her books, but not this one. 

My personal hot button was pushed when I learned that the hero was 42 and the heroine a young 25. When that happens I usually ‘imagine’ them closer in age. In the main HMB lines, it can be more of a problem because of the relative power. The hero is always alpha, always a powerful megatycoon or the equivalent and the heroine is usually the virginal, innocent type. Certainly in this book that was the case.

What made it worse was that the heroine was involved as a friend with the hero’s son, who was much closer to her age, and the son had feelings for her too.

Ick. She sees the son as her friend. But, dude, no. As a result there is some father/son rivalry over the same woman, which made me feel distinctly uncomfortable.

Add to that, the hero and heroine keep falling out with each other and every time it happens, she runs away. I never felt that Luciano was a fully realized character, he never came alive for me.

I did like that Hope was a real waitress and proud of it, though there is a point later on in the book that made me cheer, because I was thinking “Okay, she’s a waitress” when it got to that point. And the hero actually does some work of an executive nature, which was a nice change. The chemistry between the hero and heroine is lacking, too. I didn’t really believe in their happy ending, I could see divorce maybe five years or so in their future, when he grows up a bit and he wants a bit more – well, more personality, maybe.

It won’t stop me getting more Monroe books, though. It might just be my thing, that father/son rivalry over the same woman isn’t for me. So…

Grade: C-

Summary:
.
Hope Bishop is stunned when darkly sexy Sicilian tycoon Luciano di Valerio proposes marriage. Brought up by her wealthy but distant grandfather, she is used to fading into the background and being ignored.
.
But Luciano’s sensual lovemaking makes her feel vibrantly alive. Hope falls in love with her husband and is blissfully happy–until she discovers that Luciano ruthlessly married her…for convenience!
.
Read an excerpt here.

Limecello’s review of Simply Love by Mary Balogh
Historical romance released by Dell on 27 Feb 07

I haven’t read many of Mary Balogh’s books, but I’ve liked those that I have. Her writing has a subtlety that’s quite enjoyable and definitely apparent in Simply Love. I’m not quite sure if it was my mood – but everything just worked. It’s not your typical romance, and there are a lot of elements that could be exploited, but Ms. Balogh manages to craft them together skillfully and delicately.

Anne Jewell is not your typical heroine for a historical romance. First of all, she’s “much older.” (All of 29, which for the time is quite on the shelf.) Then, she’s an unmarried mother, although not by choice. It was nice that Ms. Balogh picked such a non-traditional character to write about. Anne is a lovely person, though she makes mistakes. She’s honest with herself, and realistic. Anne also is well rounded, with her moments of foolishness balanced with great pragmatism. She’s also quite likeable, and a heroine you feel a lot of sympathy for.

Sydnam Butler is even more of an anomaly in terms of a main character. He’s a war hero – and comes from a good family, but not only is he an amputee, he’s disfigured. I had a difficult time picturing Sydnam, and a small part of me is glad of it. It was interesting to look into Sydnam’s past and see the changes it’s wrought in his person and personality. Sydnam is an admirable hero, and he has this quality that makes him extremely appealing. I also loved how he was extremely handsome – and half his face still is. Sydnam is an extremely interesting character that I wouldn’t mind seeing more of.

I love how Anne and Sydnam were quite content with their lives until they meet each other. This isn’t a bad thing, because the time they spend together reveals to them how much more life has to offer them. One could be distracted with their “flaws” and be upset with how Ms. Balogh saw fit to pair two “broken” people together- as if that’s all they deserved, but that’s not how the book is written. Anne and Sydnam complement each other, and, while this sounds sappy, makes them better people.

The book isn’t at all fast paced – it’s quite mellow and focuses on the character’s thoughts and emotions. In fact, there isn’t much of any action at all in Simply Love. Maybe the simple fact that this book is so different from so many other books being published makes it so enjoyable. It’s quite different, but at no point is there a lull, or does the reader think the book is dead.

One aspect of the book I couldn’t quite decide if I liked or not was how Ms. Balogh had the characters repeat each other when one of them had a “one-liner.” They were all good quotes, but it got a bit old. However, doing so did emphasize the point, and act as another method in tying the plot and characters together from beginning to end. Another minor thing was that at times the characters did get a touch too maudlin. However, both went through extremely difficult and horrifying experiences, so it was easy to excuse that.

Simply Love is of course part of Ms. Balogh’s “Simply” series, but it’s also loosely tied to her “Slightly” series. It was fun to see characters make a re-appearance and see a “where are they now” in Ms. Balogh’s story world. I really enjoyed Simply Love and plan on reading the other books in this series. I definitely recommend reading this book, especially if you want something that offers a break and escape from constant rushing and stress.

Grade: A-

Summary:

She spies him in the deepening dusk of a Wales evening-a lone figure of breathtaking strength and masculinity, his handsome face branded by a secret pain. For single mother and teacher Anne Jewell, newly arrived with her son at a sprawling estate in Wales on the invitation of an influential friend, Sydnam Butler is a man whose sorrows-and passions-run deeper than she could have ever imagined.

As steward of a remote seaside manor, Sydnam lives a reclusive existence far from the pity and disdain of others. Yet almost from the moment Anne first appears on the cliffs, he senses in this lovely stranger a kindred soul, and between these two wary hearts, desire stirs. Unable to resist the passion that has rescued them both from loneliness, Anne and Sydnam share an afternoon of exquisite lovemaking. Now the unwed single mother and war-scarred veteran must make a decision that could forever alter their lives. For Sydnam, it is a chance to heal the pain of the past. For Anne, it is the glorious promise of a future with the man who will dare her to reveal her deepest secrets…before she can give him all her heart.

Read an excerpt here.

Shannon C‘s Duckies Do Series reviews of Dragon Knights (Books 1-4) by Bianca D’Arc
Erotic fantasy romance eBooks released by Samhain Feb 2006 – Feb 2007

A friend of mine actually recommended this series to me quite some time ago. She says it was at least a year ago, but I think she’s lying. In any event, I loved Anne McCaffrey’s Pern novels, and figured that the adult version, where everyone’s grown-up and there’s lots of consensual sex would be fun. And these books really are amazingly fun. 

Maiden Flight (Book 1)
Released 14 Feb 06

I didn’t really expect to be so charmed by this start of the series. One of the heroes and the heroine pretty much fall into instant lust, and the rest of the story is basically about integrating Belora, the heroine, into life as the mate of a bonded Dragon Knight. In this opening installment of the series, Ms. D’Arc gives us just enough of the world of her books to explain what’s going on. It never felt infodumpy, and it all made sense. And while this book does spend a lot of time setting up the sequel, I thought it did so in a way that added to, rather than detracted from, the main story at hand. Plus, I was really impressed that Ms. D’Arc could sell me on the kind of triad where the two guys in question aren’t actually interested in each other. All I ask is a little bit of an explanation, even if it is “just call it dragon magic, honey.”

I didn’t entirely buy the romance in this book, because while it was hot, it seemed to have come about through author fiat rather than any true feelings from the characters involved. Normally, this would bother me a lot, but I liked the other aspects to the story, and if the characters weren’t as realized as I’d like, it still didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.

Grade: B

Summary:

First in the Dragon Knights series.

War is coming for the knights, dragons, and a damsel who is not quite in distress, but finds her heart’s desire in the strong men of the Border Lair.

A chance meeting with a young male dragon seals the fate of one adventurous female poacher. The dragon’s partner, a ruggedly handsome knight named Gareth, takes one look at the shapely woman and decides to do a little poaching of his own.

Sir Gareth not only seduces her, but falls deeply in love with the girl who is not only unafraid of dragons but also possesses the rare gift to hear their silent speech. He wants her for his mate, but mating with a knight is no simple thing. To accept a knight, a woman must also accept the dragon, the dragon’s mate … and her knight too.

She is at first shocked, then enticed by the lusty life in the Lair. War is in the making and only the knights and dragons have a chance at ending it before it destroys their land and their lives. But there’s nothing a knight enjoys more than a noble quest and winning the heart and trust of a maiden is the noblest quest of all.

Warning, this title contains explicit sex and ménage a trois.

Read an excerpt.

Border Lair (Book 2)
Released 23 May 06

This story picks up directly after where Maiden Flight left off. It features Adora, the mother of the heroine in the first book. Adora is kind of a cheesy name, but if that’s really all I have to complain about, we’re doing pretty good.

In this installment, Adora finds love with Jared, the knight bonded to Kelzy, a dragon she has always thought of as a mother figure. Jared wants Adora. Adora wants Jared. But Jared has been carrying lots of guilt over the loss of his first wife and his young son. It will take the presence of a handsome ambassador from a neighboring kingdom with whom the dragons are at war to convince them both to act on their feelings.

I really loved this book. All three of our human protagonists go through a lot in their own rights. I loved the little dance Adora and Jared did around each other, both wanting and afraid to ask. It made the sexual tension positively sizzle. And the third member of their triad is an awesome hero in his own right, not as scarred emotionally as the other two, but a generally good-hearted person.

In fact, I have to say that Ms. D’Arc writes some amazing beta heroes. In all of the books, someone says that they would rather die than hurt their heroine, and in the case of all these men, I absolutely believe it.

The plot is just as interesting, and the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, as it is discovered that the twin daughters Adora had taken away from her are still alive.

Grade: A-

Summary:

War has come to the Border Lair, but as enemies become allies — and lovers — hope springs anew for the dragons and their knights.

A young widow, Adora raised her daughter by herself, but her girl is married now. Can Adora find a love of her own in the crowded Border Lair? Dare she even try?

Lord Darian Vordekrais is about to turn traitor, giving up his title, his lands, and his home in order to warn the dragons and knights of his treacherous king’s evil plan. Will his life be forfeit or is there some way he can make a new life in a foreign land?

Sir Jared lost his wife and child to treachery, but he knows Lord Darian and trusts him. Both men admire the lovely Adora, but Jared’s broken heart is frozen in solid ice. Or is it?

As war comes to the border, the knights and dragons of the Border Lair rise to the occasion. New allies rally to their side. Love blossoms and grows even as evil invades the land. The knights and dragons must stand fast against the onslaught, the beautiful woman of royal blood bringing them hope, healing and love.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, ménage a trois.

Read an excerpt.

The Ice Dragon (Book 3)
Released 29 Aug 06

One of the things I love most about these books is that they each lead seamlessly into the next, and are so compulsively readable that I kept going from one book to the next. This is something I almost never do.

Alania, one of Adora’s missing twins, has been a slave of the evil king Salomar in the north. Salomar at one point stole a dragon egg and made Lana tend it, hoping to watch the always fun sport of baby dragon dining on human flesh. Unfortunately for Salomar, Lana finds that she can talk to the dragonet, who calls himself Tor, and the two develop an immediate rapport. Eventually, they escape, and, a couple of years later, end up rescuing a black dragon as it falls from the sky. The black dragon is badly wounded, but Lana uses her innate dragon healing abilities. Of course, the rare black dragon is Roland, whom we learn in the first books in the series is the king of Draconia, and he wants Lana.

It was the dragons that made this book for me. I loved Tor, who is so obviously a precocious child. I imagine if he’d been human he would have irritated me because he is just too cute for words, but he wasn’t and he didn’t. And yet again, we have an absolutely awesome hero in the form of Roland, who is fiercely devoted to Lana and wants the best for her. I totally bought their romance, and loved watching Lana come into her own. Other revelations are made at the end of this book that move the overall story arc further, and the epilogue ends on the right note to segue into the fourth book.

Grade: B+

Summary:

A wild Northern Ice Dragon and the girl who raised him save the life of a fierce, shapeshifting royal black dragon, only to have him save them in return…with his love.

Third book in the Dragon Knights series.

When a royal black dragon falls under enemy fire, only the wild Northern Ice Dragon and his unlikely female rider can save him. Half wild, like the baby Ice Dragon she calls friend, Lana is a rare and powerful dragon healer. She saves the life of the royal black, only to learn this most sacred of dragons is half-man, able to shift from one form to the other at will.

Roland is king of all dragons and humans in his land but he’s far from home, mortally wounded, and his only refuge is the incredible woman who has saved his life and her young wild dragon friend. Lana is the purest form of magic to him, heaven to his senses in both dragon and human form. He knows almost from the first moment that he wants her for his very own.

But a warlord plots in the north, seeking to kill the dragons, who protect the northern border, and overrun Roland’s peaceful kingdom. Lana and her incredibly skilled Ice Dragon friend are the only ray of hope for the knights and fighting dragons of the Northern Lair. Just as Lana is the only love Roland will ever know. He can reunite her with her lost family, but can he win her heart and make her his queen?

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex explained in graphic terms.

Read an excerpt.

Prince of Spies (Book 4)
Released 6 Feb 07

There was a lot going on in this fourth book. We meet up again with Nico, known in his kingdom as the Prince of Spies, as he lets himself be captured by the evil king of Skithdron. He is intrigued by the poor starving waif of a healer that the king has tied to his bed. It turns out she is Arikia, Adora’s other lost daughter. They make their escape and begin a long journey home.

I loved these two characters. Riki is a pretty damaged woman, and I loved Nico’s devotion to her. Nico is just an awesome hero, and I really could buy that he was a spy. Unfortunately, at one point the plot takes center stage and veers into “Oh, for Pete’s sake” territory as Nico and Riki find themselves embroiled in a mysterious prophecy. But while I was reading, I very much enjoyed the book, so I’ll forgive the author for taking the plot in a direction I didn’t personally like.

Grade: B

Summary:

Prince Nico is a cunning master of stealth, but can he master a maiden’s fragile heart?

Fourth book in the Dragon Knights series, but can be read on its own.

Prince Nico is known as the Prince of Spies for a reason. Not only is he the Spymaster of Draconia, but he’s a cunning shapeshifter able to take the form of a dragon at will. The gift of his royal heritage comes in handy as Spymaster for the king, but it’s a great secret known only to a few.

Riki lives in misery, chained up to serve a mad king’s perverted magic. Forced to use her draining healing skills to keep King Lucan of Skithdron alive, Riki is a shadow of the woman she should be.

Nico knows Riki is the woman he’s been searching for and wastes no time breaking them both out of the enemy palace. Thus starts an adventure that will take them across two countries, through peril and danger, and the discovery of an undeniable love and mutual respect. Will Nico have the courage to let her fly free, trusting she’ll return to him, or will his love smother the fledgling beauty who is breathing free air for the first time in her tragic life?

Warning, this title contains explicit sex explained in graphic terms and scenes of ménage a trois.

Read an excerpt.

There are two other books in this series, but since the first four revolve around related heroines, I’ll be reviewing the next two individually.

Overall Grade: B

Sandy M’s review of Arousing Suspicions (Darling Detectives Trilogy, Book 1) by Marianne Stillings
Contemporary Romance published by Avon 27 Feb 07

These brothers are definitely darling, in more ways than one, of course.  I’ve enjoyed this trilogy so far, even if I did read it out of order. I read Satisfaction and reviewed it late last year and I immediately wanted to read Nate’s story.  Well, this is my immediately, eight months later.  But it was worth the wait.  As much as I go for the alpha heroes in my reads, a man who is as adorable as Nate wins my heart just as completely as any he-man.

Coming home to San Francisco, Nathan has hopes of reconciling with his brother and sister after a long separation when their parents divorced, but so far Ethan hasn’t welcomed him back into the fold.  So he goes about his job as a SFPD detective, fighting crime the best he can.  He’s not prepared, however, when he’s sent to a home to investigate a complaint of solicitation, especially when he meets the lady in question.

The woman may be a charlatan when it comes to her supposed psychic abilities, but after his deceitful playacting to trap her on a prostitution charge, he knows she’s in no way any type of call girl.  He also discovers she’s somehow involved with several murders that have happened throughout the city and hopes she’s not the perpetrator.  He finds himself thinking about her when he should be focusing on the job and that’s never happened before.  In between all this, he’s still trying to make inroads with Ethan, but he’s about to give up that dead horse.  The love he needs and wants always takes him back to the woo-hoo weirdo lady who thinks she can see people’s dreams.

Tabitha has given up on love and the opposite sex after both her father and then her ex-husband were typical men, just up and leaving when things got too tough for them.  Keeping a handle on her emotions and feelings, however, when it comes to Nate is something that’s nearly impossible.  She’s trying to hang onto her home, keeping both repairs and her ex at bay, and now she has a probable murderer as a client, so trying to juggle a man and a relationship at the same time doesn’t seem possible.  But his charm, his wit, his body, his sex appeal, and his love of baseball are whittling her defenses down to nothing.  She has to either get her act together and embrace the love Nate has for her or head for the highway and take a different road in her life.  The killer on the loose has different ideas, though, and it may be too late for Tabby to grab onto the best thing she’s ever had in her life.

There’s just something about Ms. Stillings’ writing that calls to me.  I finished this book in a day, and I haven’t done that in a while.  I remember going through Satisfaction nearly as quickly.   I like the elements of the paranormal in her books, even the skepticism that goes along with it for a while.  As much of a gentleman as Nate is, I really enjoyed the way he let Tabitha know it was time to make love, and the later love scene in the car during a rainstorm was as sexy as could be.  And I loved Nate even more when he didn’t give up on Tabby when she couldn’t say those three little words when he needed her to.  The antagonism between Nate and Ethan is a good underlying story to the romance and the main story, one that should finally come to a head in Killer Charms, the last book in the trilogy, which is to be released in a matter or days, and one I have in hand.  That one I am starting immediately!

Grade: A

Summary:

Detective Nate Darling has put up with a lot of weird things since he’s moved back to San Francisco—healing crystals, free range tofu, the SF Giants. But he’s drawing the line at psychic dream interpretations.

Tabitha March claims she can see other people’s dreams. In fact, she insists she “saw” a murder, and even provides Nate with explicit details of the crime. There’s no doubt the curvaceous blue-eyed blonde knows something, but how is she involved? Is she the murderer? Because there’s just no way that Tabitha can really “see” the killer’s dream.

Then another body is discovered, just the way Tabitha described it would be. Now evidence suggests she may be the next victim. And Nate has to reconsider his beliefs or risk losing the woman he has fallen in love with . . . forever.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Devon’s review of The Boy Next Door by Amy Knupp
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Superromance 1 Feb 07

I haven’t read a ton of SuperRomance, but I’ve found that even if I don’t love them, they keep my interest, making for a pretty fast read. They are the perfect length for straight up contemporaries: long enough to explore the characters and conflicts, but not so long that the obstacles to the romance seemed contrived merely to drag things out. Just throwing that observation out there, because this particular HSR was very good: full of emotion, difficult issues, and very human characters.

Eighteen year old bad boy Zach Rundle shared a mutual attraction with the good girl next door, Lindsey Salinger. Any chance for the two to have a relationship is shattered the night Zach’s older brother drunkenly smashes into the Salingers’ car, killing Lindsey’s mother. Unable to stand the local censure, Zach leaves Lone Oak, Kansas and begins a new life in Wichita. It is thirteen years later when Lindsey, now a social worker, calls Zach with her concerns regarding his five year old nephew. Zach makes the return to Lone Oak to get Lindsey to butt out, only to find their attraction to be stronger than ever.

There were some intense issues here. Were the Salingers unreasonable to hate all the Rundles so much, when it was only one who sinned against them? On the other hand, it must burn to see the person responsible for your wife and mother’s death all the time, still drinking, still driving, still being a loser. The loss and the circumstances around it affected everybody so much. It made for some compelling conflict between the hero and heroine.

A major strength of this book was that the characters remained sympathetic, even though they sometimes behaved unsympathetically. Lindsey Salinger could have come off as a goody goody, but she is also suffering from a major case of suppressing her emotions. Although she is kind and understanding to others, her anger and guilt cause her to treat Zach somewhat shabbily. She was a very human character. Zach was a bit less vividly drawn, but a likeable character. He wants to do the right thing regarding his nephew, but he also hopes against all hope that he won’t have to take responsibility for him. Zach’s brother Josh, is a complete tool, but he genuinely cares about his son. Even Lindsey’s father, with his hatred of all things Rundle, didn’t come off as one-dimensional.

A child is a big part of The Boy Next Door’s plot, but he wasn’t annoyingly precious or precocious. Owen Rundle was a normal, sweet five year old who rang true to me. I really felt for him, all he had been through and his current confusing situation. I like the way he interacted with Lindsey and Zach as well.

What kept me from giving this book a higher grade is the other thing I’ve noticed about HSRs. Sometimes so much attention is given to all the various conflicts or issues, that the romance takes a backseat. I definitely believed the developing relationship between Zach and Lindsey, but there were so many other situations that needed to be resolved, it distracted from their plot. I was interested in all those other issues though, and that’s a good thing. I would recommend this to those who like an angsty story, one concerning family, friends and neighbors, rather than more fantastic elements. I will definitely check this author out again.

Grade: B

From the Back Cover:

Lone Oak, Kansas-a place where old animosities never died…

In Lone Oak, Rundles and Salingers don’t mix. Not since the tragic accident involving Zach Rundle’s brother and Lindsey Salinger’s mother. But when the well-being of Zach’s five-year-old nephew is at stake, Zach and Lindsey are unwillingly dragged together again.

At first, Zach thinks the social worker is stirring up the old feud. But once he’s back he realizes that’s the last thing on her mind. Before long, the attraction they’d felt twelve years ago returns, too.

Could a child’s needs bring them together? More important-would it help keep them together?

Read an excerpt here.

Limecello’s review of Real Men Do It Better by Susan Donovan, Lora Leigh, Lori Wilde, and Carrie Alexander
Erotic romance anthology released 6 Feb 2007 by St. Martin’s Griffin.

They say that Real Men do it better… and they do, at least in this book.

His Body Electric by Carrie Alexander

I liked this novella because it was unique, yet at the same time… common. The hero, Gabe Tomzak is a human lightening rod. The heroine, Karen Jaffe is a divorcee who left New Jersey when her husband traded her in for a younger actress wannabe. She returns home to Iowa to the glamorous life of an amateur sculptor, and virtual service rep, answering 1-800 calls. The story runs on a short timeline, but the forced proximity causes the characters to open up, and their relationship is very believable. I enjoyed the give and take between Karen and Jaffe, as well as the comic relief provided by an overly conscientious ex-boyfriend.

Grade: B+

Bed and Breakfast by Susan Donovan

The old story of opposites attracting, yet Ms. Donovan makes it work. Kate Dreyfuss and Jorey Matheny couldn’t be more different – on the surface. Flash floods not only threaten Kate’s life when she makes the foolhardy decision to leave on foot, but also restrict them to the lodge. It was nice seeing Kate learn to relax and let go, and Jorey is a terrific character- the friend/boyfriend everyone wants. My only issue, is that at times the “new age stuff” got to be a bit much for me. I felt minor disbelief as to Jorey being so centered- but what got me most was all the super vegan food. There was also some minor drama to throw a kink into Kate and Jorey’s budding relationship, which I didn’t love, but can understand why it was added.

Grade: B-

For Maggie’s Sake by Lora Leigh

I tend to like Lora Leigh’s books, and I enjoyed this one more than some of her recent ones. My biggest beef with this novella is that it was too short. It could (or should) have been a chapter in another book. Maggie Samuels and Joe Merino have history, with no closure. When Maggie’s husband Grant dies, her delicate position causes Joe to step up and take charge. The emotions were well written, and the concerns Maggie and Joe have valid. Their interaction is believable, and entertaining. Of course, this was a very hot, with wild monkey sex.

Grade: B+

Siren’s Call by Lori Wilde

I liked this novella, but unfortunately Duncan Stewart and Annie Graves didn’t really draw me in. They were friends growing up, but a night of passion led to regrets, and a separation. They had a cute story, but I felt too much depended on their past. The reader is thrown into the present with all of Duncan and Annie’s baggage, and told to believe they can pick up essentially where they left off. Despite the fact that they haven’t interacted in years. Annie gives a token protest, but I wasn’t completely convinced. I felt that the book could have taken place a month after their split, not five years. Something else that bothered me was the excessive emphasis on Annie’s Harvard degree. I like snarking about Harvard as much as the next person, and ribbing Harvard friends – but I don’t need to read about it every few pages. Also, the education system is a hot button for me. Annie supposedly has a Harvard MBA, but she only went there for undergrad. Therefore, she might have a degree from Harvard Business School, but no Masters of Business Administration. Rawr.

Grade: C+

I happened upon this book, and had to read it because of Lora Leigh’s Tempting SEALs series. I wasn’t disappointed -  this is one of the best anthologies I’ve read in a while. I’d definitely recommend reading Real Men Do It Better, and plan on looking into the backlists of these authors.

Overall Grade: B+

     Summary:

     Every woman knows real men do it better, and these contemporary erotic romance writers prove why.

     Bed and Breakfast by Susan Donovan
     A stressed-out corporate dynamo finds a rustic lodge under renovation and the hunky owner, who had no idea she was coming. After a downpour strands her, he helps “center” her in ways she never imagined.

     For Maggie’s Sake by Lora Leigh
     Maggie’s ex-lover things she’s hiding information about the deaths of some Navy SEALs. But when a member of a notorious crime family captures and holds her hostage at gunpoint, he realizes he’s wrong, and only he can save her life.

     Siren’s Call by Lori Wilde
     Annie never forgot her first love or the day he pushed her away. But she’s back in town and he plans to win her over. What girl could resist a handsome Scotsman to guide her on a treasure hunt?

     His Body Electric by Carrie Alexander
     Strange events occur at Karen’s farmhouse after an aloof stranger seeks shelter from a violent lightening storm. Alone in the dark with him, Karen uses her skills as a phone-sex operator to seduce the mystery man, uncovering secrets and erotic pleasure.

Sandy M’s review of Natural Born Charmer (Chicago Stars, Book 7) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Contemporary Romance Audiobook published by HarperAudio on 6 Feb 07

I’m glad I listened to the audio of this book instead of sitting down and reading it. The characters are simply wonderful, so full of depth, and hearing them coming to life was so much better than anything I could have come up with in my head. The humor and the emotion of those characters deserved to be spoken, to be appreciated. In putting this review together, I found out the woman who narrated the book, Anna Fields (her real name was Kate Fleming) has passed away since her perfectly read narration. What a loss for those of us who enjoy audiobooks. She was one of the best.

The humor starts in right away, all at the expense of Blue Bailey, who is down on her luck at this point in time. She’s wearing a beaver suit, carrying her head, trying to earn some money after being dumped by her boyfriend who she moved across the country to be with, and then the most handsomest of men pulls up alongside her and offers her a lift. The ensuing scene between Dean and Blue bantering back and forth as they coast down the road is definitely laugh-out-loud funny. Not knowing Blue’s name initially, Dean calls her “the Beav” throughout their conversation, and it’s all inflection of voice with a little laughter thrown in that makes it one of the best scenes of the book. Blue ends up sticking with Dean on his trip to Tennessee to take a look at some property he owns. There’s attraction right away between them, but they both deny it; Dean only wanting to get in Blue’s pants, needing nothing more, or so he thinks.

Dean is estranged from both his parents, his father is rock ‘n roll star Jack Patriot, who turned his back on Dean before his birth, and his mother is a now-sober ex-groupie of Jack’s. He’s happy without them in his life, but when he gets to his destination he finds it’s been his mother who’s been remodeling his house, something that rockets Dean’s temper sky high, even though April is now a productive citizen and only wants to make up for the years she wasn’t a mother at all to Dean. He’s having none of it. But suddenly he has a houseful of family to deal with. First his mother, and now his eleven-year-old sister has made her way into his life, which also brings his father along, and Dean is not anywhere close to being able to deal with all of them. All he wants is to have Blue to himself to find a way past her irrational behavior — she’s attracted to him but she won’t admit it and he loves a good challenge. Blue doesn’t even realize she’s thrown the gauntlet down to this competitive man who turns her to jelly with just a touch.

Blue has her own family problems. Her mother is one of those people who takes up causes for others while leaving her daughter behind and cleaning out her bank account to pay for the release of a young girl being held by fanatics in another country. Blue has no choice but to tag along with Dean. Even though he never introduces himself as a football star, Blue knows who he is and also knows that anything that develops between them would be a disaster, so she holds him at bay as much as possible. She goes along with his schemes where his family is concerned, but she eventually winds up loving them as much as she loves Dean. She knows, however, he’ll never return her feelings. She’s only a challenge to him and the day is coming when she’ll have to leave him.

I enjoyed the majority of this book. The interactions between Dean and his family, the slow rehashing of their lives and the eventual forgiveness for all of them is well done. However, I don’t think Dean deserved Blue’s forgiveness for his treatment of her when his football buddies and their girlfriends, including one who thinks she’s Dean’s girl, come for a visit. He should have shown more care for Blue’s feelings when he didn’t correct their misconceptions about her place in his life. He’s come to terms with his feelings for Blue by this time, so it just didn’t feel right when he acted as he did. I really liked the scenes with his young sister. She’s a catalyst for the repair of a lot of hurt in their family. The intricacies of these characters’ lives is laid bare for them to come to grips with their mistakes, forgive, and move on with one another as a family should and it’s done with wit, laughter, and raw emotion.

Grade: B+

Summary:

     Chicago Stars quarterback Dean Robillard is the luckiest man in the world. But life in the glory lane has started to pale, and Dean has set off on a trip to figure out what’s gone wrong. When he hits a lonely stretch of Colorado highway, he spies something that will shake up his gilded life in ways he can’t imagine. A young woman . . . dressed in a beaver suit.

     Blue Bailey is on a mission. As for the beaver suit she’s wearing . . . Is it her fault that life keeps throwing her curve balls? Witness the expensive black sports car pulling up next to her on the highway and the Greek god stepping out of it.

     They’re soon heading for his summer home, where their already complicated lives and inconvenient attraction to each other will become entangled with a charismatic but aging rock star; a beautiful, fifty-two-year-old woman trying to make peace with her rock and roll past; an eleven-year-old who desperately needs a family; and a bitter old woman who hates them all.

Listen to an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of A Beautiful Surrender by Brenda Williamson
Historical romance print released by Samhain on 27 Nov 07 (ebook release 13 Feb 07)

I nearly surrendered myself and put this book aside, but I slugged along until I finished it.  It never got any better, though. The negativity in this book is overwhelming and even though there are a couple of unfettered scenes here and there, that’s just not enough to save it. Not even close.

The hero rapidly vacillates between insulting the heroine to wanting her naked. This is supposed to be part of his plan to dupe the princess into not fulfilling the stipulations of her father’s will.  But there isn’t enough guilt or remorse from him about those actions when he begins to fall for her. His emotional vacillation happens so often that it loses impact, if there was any to begin with. There’s just no romance between them the way it’s written.

The heroine, of course, gets upset, angry, humiliated, and so on when the hero treats her in such a manner — and she still wants him, she’s still attracted to him. I never once felt the hero was arrogant. He’s just mean and wants what he wants. Even when we find out why he’s doing these things to the princess, that never lessened my feeling about him one whit.

Also, the imagery in this book is just as negative. An example:

He spit a bit of tobacco from his mouth into a potted bush. The conifer dusted in a pretty white powder of snow, now had an ugly brown stain on it.

Please. This is the hero’s action, for heaven’s sake. Couldn’t something with a little more decorum have been used? He’s not masquerading as a dirty rogue; he’s introduced himself as a duke. Even if I look past his attitude and insulting nature, he doesn’t strike me as a person that would do something like this. First, why would he spit tobacco in front of the heroine? Next, why spit it into a potted bush in her castle? This just isn’t his character up to this point. And, lastly, why give us the image of an ugly, dirty stain? Makes absolutely no sense.

The continuity in the book is also lacking. A simple example is when the two characters meet in a receiving line, the hero is close enough to the princess to be whispering his inane dialogue to her, but just a little later it’s stated he never got close enough to her to know how sweet she smelled. In addition, I always had the feeling I was reading a futuristic-set story, not just a straight historical. The names themselves (Volda, Maltar, Alluvia) of the “far-away” lands is the main example of that.

I also never felt a connection between the hero and heroine, at least not one of love. There’s plenty of lust, but there’s never anything really positive between them until the very end where it’s forced because it is the end of the book. Even the relationship between the hero’s sister and the heroine’s brother goes through a negative stage, although it’s not nearly as bad as what’s between the main characters.

Two or three times I found myself thinking, “Oh, that’s not a bad passage,” but there’s no way anything could save this book by that time. The fact that I could be pulled out of the story and think about individual passages doesn’t bode well for any book. So this read gets my very first really, really bad grade. But deservedly so.

Grade: F

Summary:

     She’s a princess desperate for a husband. He’s a duke…or is he?

     With her uncle poised to steal her kingdom, Princess Katerina must marry. Miraculously, a new handsome duke appears on the scene. His sexy charm makes her tingle from head to toe. But can she overlook his arrogance?

     The future of Dax’s country is at stake. Forced to masquerade as a duke to seduce Katerina and prevent her from marrying, he courts the princess with great success. But when someone tries to kill Katerina, his instincts are to protect the passionate lady no matter the cost.

     With Dax’s deception revealed and her life at risk, can Katerina still surrender her heart?

     Read an excerpt.

Gwen Reviews some truly bad, or truly so-so, books
Various types of romances from three different publishers

As most of you bloggers know, writing a review post is a labor of love.  It’s time-consuming and requires no small effort.  It’s a true pleasure to write a review post for a book you love, or a book you think others may love (but perhaps you only liked).  Sometimes it’s also a pleasure to write a review post for a book you hate – you want to warn others and, hey, if we’re honest with ourselves, being snarky can be fun in small doses.

So this post has short reviews for six books that fit somewhere in between “love” and “snark.”  Six books that don’t deserve a whole post of their own, but also don’t deserve to be completely ignored – for good or, heh heh, bad.

Here goes nuthin’…

Review 1:  Taboo – Taking on the Law by Cheyenne McCray
Erotica eBook published 27 Apr 07 by Ellora’s Cave



This novella is about a woman who, after a laughably bad day, is pulled over by the town sheriff – a sheriff who is a former boyfriend, is supposedly into BDSM (along with his roommates), and who has a serious hard-on for our heroine.  Go here for the book blurb and excerpt.

This book is terrible on several levels: the characterizations are awful, the sex scenes are laughable, and the premise is so flawed I think I saw the San Andreas in there somewhere.  I mean, the sheriff having sex on the side of the road may not be that unusual, but in broad daylight, outside, and right on the side of the road?  Nuh uh.  As hot as that scene may be in my fantasies, it was just stupid in this book and I was never able to suspend my disbelief long enough to enjoy the eroticism.

Nevertheless, ignoring for a moment the truly silly relationship between the hero and heroine, let’s look McCray’s superficial and, to be honest, insulting treatment of the Dom/sub lifestyle.  While it’s not my cuppa tea, the reasons behind a Dom/sub choice are often profound and, from what I gather, have more to do with emotions than simple sexual titillation.  Ms McCray fails to see that and abuses the premise beyond all rationale.  (For what I think is a more honest view into this lifestyle, check out the third story in Jaci Burton’s “Wild, Wicked, & Wanton“.)

This novella was simply porn that really wasn’t worth the effort to read.

Grade: F

Review 2: Spin Devil by Red Garnier
Erotica eBook published 1 May 07 by Ellora’s Cave



This book is about friends who meet again at a class reunion and rekindle relationships.  The title refers to a “spin the bottle” game where they use a stuffed devil instead of a bottle.  Read the book blurb and excerpt here.

This story, a.k.a. piece of offal, uses gang rape as an acceptable means of seduction.  ‘Nuff said, I think.  Don’t bother with this one.

Grade: F-

Review 3: Naughty Nuptials – Tentacles of Love by Margaret Carter
Paranormal erotic romance eBook published 30 May 07 by Ellora’s Cave



This short story is about a young couple celebrating their engagement by visiting the groom-to-be’s brother.  This brother lives in the attic of a remote house that has the appearance of being abandoned.  The groom-to-be also has a secret to reveal to his proposed bride.  Read the blurb and excerpt here.

This book wasn’t as bad as the others I’m reviewing here, but all it got from me was a “meh” so I didn’t feel like bothering with a full review.  It’s a cute story with some rather silly, bizarre elements.  If you like a little fantasy/sci-fi with your erotic romance, this is the story for you.  Just don’t expect much.

Grade: C-

Review 4: Whisper of the Blade by Anya Bast
Paranormal erotic romance published 16 May 07 by Ellora’s Cave



I dislike when someone qualifies their opinion before they give it.  I think everyone should stand by what they say – good or bad.  Even so.  Let me start this opinion piece by saying that I really like Anya Bast’s work.  I’ve never before been disappointed by it.  But, then I read this short novel and that changed.  It left me wanting.  Oh, and I hate the cover.

The book’s premise is an alternate plane of existence where extrasensory Talents can be found.   Emmia, our heroine, is an empath and a Justice Mercenary – a kind of judge, jury, and executioner all rolled into one.  She is hired by one of our heroes, Quinn, to find out if the other hero, Magnus (another empath), is guilty of murder.  There’s some nice emotional development and hot sensuality, all wrapped up with an interesting story.  Good so far.

There some seriously steamy scenes between Quinn and Emmia, Emmia and Magnus, Quinn and Magnus, and then between Quinn, Emmia, and Magnus.  That’s all fine and good, but somewhere among all the hot, hot sex scenes, we lose the story.  Emmia seems to forget why she’s there – to judge Magnus.  The resolution to the murder mystery literally falls on top of the sex-crazed trio. There’s no Nancy Drew moment.  How disappointing.

Grade: C-

Review 5: A Much Younger Man by Veronica Wilde
Erotic romance eBook published 1 Feb 07 by Liquid Silver Books



This book’s pemise is, wait for it, an older woman who meets a younger man.  They supposedly fall in love and have an HEA.  Read the blurb and excerpt here.  Sybil reviewed it here.

This book just skeeved me out.  It wasn’t the younger man and older woman thing.  I kind of dig that.  I mean, who doesn’t want a young hunk warming their sheets.  What skeeved me out was how emotionally immature both the man and woman were.  I mean, what half-way smart 33 year old woman would let a 22 year old guy (who still lives with his parents) take erotic photos of her with a camera-phone?!  DUH!  How stupid can you get?  And she’s a 4th grade TEACHER!!  Ewww.

Couldn’t the author have picked a more appropriate couple?  The story would have been so much better with just ten more years on both characters.

Grade: D-

Review 6: The Stranger by Elizabeth Lane
Historical romance to be published 1 Jul 07 by Harlequin Historicals



Sybil will probably hate me for including this book in this dump post, but I can’t help it.  I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em.

This book’s premise is a “stranger” arrives on a widow’s ranch and helps her do repairs for food and a dry place to sleep.  They come to depend on each other, love each other, all while managing to overcome some common traumatic events.  She doesn’t know he’s one of the drifters who, 5 years earlier, was involved in her husband’s murder.  Read the book blurb and excerpt here.

This wasn’t a horrible book, but it wasn’t a terribly good one either.  Several of the plot elements were driven home again and again and again and again.  And again.  I got sick of reading about how she would hate him once she found out who he really was – enough already.  I also felt that Caleb’s characterization was inconsistent and he was portrayed as a bit of a coward on more than one occasion – very unattractive.  Too many trite plot devices were used (kid gets sick and is nursed back, hero gets sick and is nursed back, flood, wanted man, rich rancher wants the heroine, etc.)  I yawned big and wide a couple of times while reading this book.

Grade: C-

That’s all folks. For now…

Lawson’s review of And Then He Kissed Her (Girl-Bachelors, Book 1) by Laura Lee Guhrke
Historical romance released by Avon 27 Feb 07

Oh, how did women survive the Victorian Era? With the rules and etiquette one must follow, it is really rather amazing. Not just the fashions and making sure to wear gloves everywhere, either. 

Miss Emma Dove is a secretary who moonlights as a writer of etiquette books for what she calls “girl-bachelors”. These girl-bachelors are the nineties women who work, and are trying to support themselves. That is the women of the 1890s.

Emma’s boss is a publishing magnate named Harry, Viscount Marlowe and he is also adverse to the institution of marriage and so he parades his mistresses around and since Emma is his secretary, she has to buy them gifts and such, and being the sensible, well-mannered girl that she is, Emma is embarrassed by this task.

After Harry rejects her fourth manuscript and Emma realizes that he has not read a single word, she quits and embarks on her writing adventures, which Harry does not like because his life is thrown into turmoil when his efficient secretary leaves him high and dry.

For a modern woman of the 1890s, the advice that Emma rights is very straight-laced, but that is a product of the Victorian Era, and some of the things she does recommend does got in a more modern direction of social interaction. Poor Emma had a sheltered childhood with people out to protect her and she finally finds her voice in all her morals and rules.

In the interest of being objective, I the reviewer, don’t want to get on my soapbox, but this book (like so many others) to me has an undercurrent that’s going on in the country today. Emma is the conservative, guarded, “this is the way it’s always been and should be” sort of person. Harry is freer, wanting to move foreword and sees the benefit of change.

The problem as I see it is this: today there are girls around who act too much like Emma. As modern women, there are many who say they are freer, but they do not act as such. Emma has been sheltered and influenced by others on what is right and what she should do to the point where she loses herself in their rules and not her own judgment. And she worries way too much about what other people thing and embarrassing the memory of others rather than living her own life as she sees fit. Harry is cynical and overly into proving himself with women. There are too many references to older women thinking men are “beasts” and women are the ones that control chastity in the world.

Not that I’m disagreeing with any of this, and Guhrke does a great job through the end of the book proving that the Victorian morals and rules have no place after the time, but all the snappy dialogue, great sexual tension (and even a food scene, yummy), and obvious caring by the main characters, these facts of real life distracted me some away from the story. The emphasis on etiquette as a theme didn’t bother me so much, however, because it’s true manners matter. But not to the point where you stifle yourself and turn your actions into those of someone else. Off the soapbox now. . .

Though it takes a full 200 pages for the titular kiss of And Then He Kissed Her, it’s well worth the wait for the characters are well matched and are very believable in their roles as employer and employee. Who really doesn’t love a good boss secretary romance? After the kiss it steams off the page and that makes everything worth the wait.

Grade: B+

From Leda Swann:

And then THE PRICE OF DESIRE, a full-length novel, comes out with Avon Red in February next year. Again it’s Victorian set, this time in the world of the workhouse.

Excerpt!

Caroline Clemens pasted a smile on her face as she gazed belligerently over the assembled company.Her insides cramped with fear, but she did not let any sign of her discomfort show on her face. Any sign of weakness, and the pack would race in for the kill. They did not deserve the satisfaction of watching her crumble. She would outface all the malicious gossip from those old spinsters who had always envied her and all the false condolences from pretend friends who had come to crow over her misfortune.

Heaven help her, but tonight she could even bear the unfeigned sympathy of the handful of people who genuinely loved her.

She cast her eyes over the sea of color in front of her, looking for the red and gold jacket of Captain Bellamy. He, at least, loved her well. The small matter of her family’s bankruptcy would not matter to him a whit. Only last week, when the rumors of her family’s financial troubles were starting to make the rounds, he had sworn to her that he would love her even if she were a pauper.

The Captain’s earnestness had made her smile at the time, but she clung wistfully to the memory now. Last week she had known only that she could not afford the new pair of kid gloves she needed, even though her old ones were worn and stained. Tonight she knew the whole nasty truth. Her entire family was ruined. Utterly and irretrievably ruined.

At the end of the month, their house in Mayfair and all their household effects would go under the hammer. Her father’s untimely death had made absolutely sure that nothing would be left for them to live on. Nothing.

Were it not for her impending marriage to Captain Bellamy, she and her all younger brothers and sister would be facing the workhouse. She shuddered. There was no point in dwelling on the horrors of the workhouse – the rough clothes, the hard labor, the poor food that scarcely kept body and soul together, and the disease that carried you off in the end if starvation and exhaustion didn’t claim you first. The Captain would save her from that. He would save all of them.

As she scanned the crowd looking for her savior, her gaze was arrested by that of another man. He was a stranger to her, which in itself was enough to catch her attention. Few strangers successfully braved the close-knit society of London merchant bankers to which her family belonged. Though they took carefully calculated risks in their business dealings, when it came to making acquaintances for their wives and daughters they eliminated any chance of risk. Only the most impeccably respectable personages were ever allowed to visit or to mingle with them in their infrequent evening soirees.

Caroline allowed herself a wry smile. Those same impeccable personages were now watching avidly from the sidelines, salivating at the thought of ripping her to shreds.

The stranger caught her smile and evidently thought it was meant for him. He raised his eyebrows at her in a friendly, if somewhat surprised, acknowledgment and returned her smile with one of his own.

Caroline caught her breath at the sight. His smile transformed his face from that of an eminently respectable personage into an enticement to sin. Devilry danced in his eyes, promising delights that she had never dreamed of. His face, tanned a deep brown by the sun, no longer looked weather-beaten and oddly out of place in an English autumn, but somehow full of dangerously alluring mystery.

He stepped forward as if he would claim the right to make her acquaintance. Though his figure was stolidly dressed in a dark suit similar to those worn by nearly every other man in the room, underneath the drab clothes he moved sinuously, gracefully, with the barely controlled energy of a panther. He radiated an energy too powerful to stop, wrapped in a gorgeous pelt that begged to be touched despite the obvious danger.

What caught her most about him, though, were his eyes. They hypnotized her, she could not look away. With deliberate focus he held her gaze with his, not allowing her any chance to move away as he came towards her.