C2’s review of Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Historical Romance published by Avon 31 May 11

The Smythe-Smiths are here!  The Smythe-Smiths are here!

Who are the Smythe-Smiths?  Ask any Julia Quinn fan and they will tell you – the Smythe-Smiths host an annual musicale.  An infamous musicale. Why infamous?  Because *whispers* the Smythe-Smiths are not particularly musical.  Readers of Ms. Quinn’s books have often attended the musicale, but the Smythe-Smiths remained a bit of a mystery.  Finally, we get to meet them and, maybe, find out what in the world they are thinking with the whole musicale thing.

Honoria Smythe-Smith is a violinist in the Smythe-Smith quartet. Girls in the family are expected to be part of the quartet after they make their debut in society.  The only escape is marriage.  Some of the Smythe-Smiths really have no idea the damage they do to the ears of the ton during their annual musicale.  Others, like Honoria, are very aware but continue to do their familial duty.  Honoria even manages to do it with a smile on her face, because she loves her family and enjoys the time she spends with her cousins (even if the rehearsals really don’t help).

Honoria’s brother, Daniel, left England under a cloud of censure after wounding another peer in a duel.  Since he knew he wouldn’t be around to look after Honoria, Daniel asked his best friend, Marcus, to watch over her.  Marcus Holroyd, Earl of Chatteris, grew up very quietly with his stern father.  His life changed drastically when he went away to school and met the outgoing Daniel Smythe-Smith.  Marcus frequently went home with Daniel and was quickly absorbed into the loud, fun-loving Smythe-Smith family.  Marcus met Honoria, the youngest of the family, on his first visit – she was seven and he was twelve.  Oh, faithful reader, I do enjoy stories where the hero and heroine have known each other since childhood.  It lends an extra sweetness, says me.

When Honoria and some Smythe-Smith cousins are visiting the country – well, Cambridge, which isn’t so country – Honoria runs into Marcus (his family estate is nearby).  Since one of the reasons Honoria and the other young ladies are visiting is to meet eligible young men, her hostess insists that Marcus be invited to the house party she is planning.  Honoria is reluctant – she knows Marcus will hate it – but agrees to send him a personal invitation.  Best invitation ever!

…  I beg of you, do not accept.  You shall be miserable, and then I shall be miserable, fretting over your misery.

With affection, et cetera & et cetera,
Honoria

A few days later, Marcus runs across Honoria in the woods near his property line.  She is plotting – she plans to twist her ankle (faker!) in order to get and keep the attention of one of the young men attending the house party…one Mister Gregory Bridgerton.  When Marcus finds her, she is digging a foot-sized hole.  When Honoria explains her plan to him, even Marcus (who over the years has quietly and without her knowledge discouraged unacceptable young and not-so-young men from pursuing Honoria) cannot find any real fault with Gregory.

Still, plans don’t always work out as they are meant to.  Instead of Honoria have a fake sprained ankle when Gregory is around to rescue her, Marcus really does sprain his ankle. Honoria has to rescue him…or at least hurry back to the house and send word to his staff so someone can assist him.  And, of course, there is an epic downpour while he is waiting for help. Poor Marcus! He catches a horrible cold and loses a favorite pair of boots because his ankle is so swollen one boot has to be cut off.

Before returning to London, Honoria visits Marcus to be sure he is on the mend and all seems well – or as well as a sniffly, limping earl can seem.  However, just after returning to her mother’s house, Honoria receives a message from Marcus’s housekeeper – he has taken a turn for the worse and she is worried.  Since Marcus has no family, Mrs. Wetherby didn’t know of anyone else to contact.  Of course, Honoria and her mother race back to the country to see what has happened.  They find a very sick young man.  Marcus is out of his head with fever and no one knows what happened.  Finally, they find the problem and Honoria’s mother knows what to do – or at least what to try – while they are waiting for the doctor to arrive. Yikes! Poor Marcus. Such unpleasantness.

As Marcus’s condition improves, he and Honoria get to know each other as adults and grow closer.  But just as Honoria and her mother are getting ready to return to London, Honoria finds a letter from Daniel to Marcus thanking him for looking after her and getting rid of some icky suitors.  Honoria decides that Marcus doesn’t really care about her, after all, and is just doing Daniel a favor by being nice.

Will Honoria hook Gregory Bridgerton?  Will Marcus follow Honoria back to London and win her heart?  Will any eardrums rupture during the musicale?  Don’t you want to find out, faithful reader?  Of course you do!

If you are already a fan of Ms. Quinn, you will enjoy Just Like Heaven. If you have never tried one of her books (OMG, do you live under a rock?!) but enjoy light Regencies with banter and heart, give Just Like Heaven a try. Does this book stand alone?  Yes, although the Bridgerton series is tons of fun and there are several familiar faces in this book…there’s even a slight connection to the more recent Bevelstoke series.  Why not read them all?  :-)

Grade: B+

Summary:

Honoria Smythe-Smith is:

A) a really bad violinist
B) still miffed at being nicknamed “Bug” as a child
C) not in love with her older brother’s best friend
D) all of the above

Marcus Holroyd is:

A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) not in love with his best friend’s younger sister
D) all of the above

Together they:

A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) survive a deadly fever and the world’s worst musical performance
C) fall quite desperately in love
It’s Julia Quinn at her best, so you know the answer is . . .
D) all of the above

Read an excerpt.

Connected books:

C2’s review of The Lady Most Likely…A Novel in Three Parts by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway
Historical Romance published by Avon 28 Dec 10

Based on the author firepower behind “The Lady Most Likely”, I’m sure reader expectations are high. I mean, Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway working together in an anthology-ish book? It’s gotta be awesome, right? Actually…yes!

The book is described as a novel in three parts so there aren’t actual breaks between the stories but they aren’t all told at the same time either. I like the structure – it flows quite nicely, I think. Maybe because the authors’ voices are similar enough that nothing jars when reading. I didn’t check before reading to see who wrote what so as I read, I tried to guess. Heaven knows, I have read plenty of books by all three ladies. Pardon me while I brag but I guessed right. Yay! Ms. Quinn’s portion was the easiest to spot but, if you’re familiar with the writings of Ms. James and Ms. Brockway it isn’t too difficult to figure out. Of course, I’m going to tell you so you won’t have to tax your brain, faithful reader.

The set-up is that the horse-mad Earl of Briarly has decided it is time for him to marry and produce an heir. Since he isn’t out and about in Society much – he prefers to be in the country with his horses – his sister decides to throw a house party and invite eligible young ladies she thinks her brother might like (I do enjoy a house party story, I must say). To balance out the numbers, she also invites some other eligible bachelors.

One of the young ladies invited is Miss Gwendolyn Passmore. She has been hailed as the diamond of the season. She has a reputation for being calm and aloof but no one realizes she is actually very shy. The other young ladies are not glad to see that Gwendolyn has been invited to the house party. One, Miss Octavia Darlington, even asks her brother, Alec (Earl of Charters) to distract Gwendolyn so the other young ladies will have a chance to shine. He reluctantly agrees, even though he doesn’t like his sister’s attitude.

Since Gwendolyn and Alec’s story is Julia Quinn’s contribution, you know there is quick, snappy dialogue and a great deal of humor. The only problem I had with the story was the brattiness of the sister. Even though she sees the error of her ways (sort of), I just wanted to pinch her. Really hard. Ignoring that, Alec is very sweet and Gwendolyn isn’t shy with him – and isn’t that every shy person’s dream? To find that one person – preferably rich and attractive – that you aren’t shy around?

Next up we have Ms. Brockway’s portion. Our heroine is the take-charge, outspoken Miss Katherine Peyton. Since she prefers life in the country, she has decided that she and Lord Briarly might suit. What she doesn’t know is that her childhood crush has also been invited to the house party. Captain Neill Oakes, recently returned from the war, unexpectedly has to assume responsibility for Katherine after her brother abandons ship. What Katherine doesn’t know is the reason Neill bought a commission all those years ago – and his honor won’t let him tell her while acting as her chaperone.

Katherine and Neill’s story is the one that feels rushed to me. It would benefit the most from being given more pages. As it is, this story is my least favorite. It’s good but I didn’t get as good a feel for the characters. Also, characters using honor as an excuse for stupid behavior annoy me.

Finally, Ms. James gives us the Earl of Briarly’s story. Attending the party is his sister’s best friend, Lady Georgina Sorrell. Georgina is a widow and has no interest in marrying again. Her marriage was okay but not something she feels a need to repeat. Hugh, Lord Briarly, has always been attracted to Georgina – he just didn’t realize (read: pull his head out of the stables) until it was too late. Now Georgina is skittish and Hugh knows how to deal with skittish females. I enjoyed their story – although, really, was the hinting that Georgina’s hubby might have been gay needed? I don’t think it added anything to the story…maybe if it had been in a full novel it would have. Maybe. That aside, Hugh and Georgina made a good couple.

So, what’s my final take? Gwendolyn and Alec’s story: B+; Katherine and Neill’s story C-; Georgina and Hugh’s story: B-.

Overall Grade: B-

Summary:

Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, needs a wife, so his sister hands him a list of delectable damsels and promises to invite them— and a few other gentlemen—to her country house for what is sure to be the event of the season.
Hugh will have time to woo whichever lady he most desires . . . Unless someone else snatches her first.
The invitation list includes:
• The horse-mad but irresistibly handsome Earl of Briarly
• The always outspoken Miss Katherine Peyton
• The dashing war hero Captain Neill Oakes
• The impossibly beautiful (and painfully shy) Miss Gwendolyn Passmore
• The terribly eligible new Earl of Charters
• The widowed Lady Georgina Sorrell (who has no plans to marry, ever)

And your hostess, Lady Carolyn Finchley, an irrepressible matchmaker who plans to find the lady most likely . . . to capture her brother’s untamed heart.

Read an EXCERPT. Or another EXCERPT. Or still another EXCERPT.

Liviania’s review of Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
Historical romance released by Avon 25 May 2010

I will freely admit to being partial to Julia Quinn.  The Viscount Who Loved Me was one of my first romances and you don’t forget the books that first brought you to the genre. But I’ll also admit that Julia Quinn isn’t the most consistent author.  I either love one of her books or find it utterly meh.   I loved Ten Things I Love About You.

Ten Things I Love About You showcases Quinn’s talent for comedy.  Despite how disgusting Sebastian’s uncle is, the story remains light-hearted and funny.  Lady Vickers is brilliant.  I had a feeling she might be, regardless of Annabel’s opinion at the beginning, and my instinct proved true.

Sebastian Grey is the heir presumptive to the Earl of Newbury.  He’s a loquacious sort who uses his talent with words to write gothic novels.  Due to his popularity as an author, he has a decent amount of money even if he isn’t ridiculously wealthy.  (He also enjoys trying to figure out whether his friends and family like his novels.  He is wonderfully unsubtle, like a puppy.) Therefore, he doesn’t care much whether he gets the title or not.  Lord Newbury hates Sebastian and is determined to produce a son before he dies.

So, he chooses Annabel, a voluptuous young woman from a fertile family who needs money to pay for her many siblings’ education and dowries.  Annabel isn’t very interested in marrying a dirty old man, but her grandparents (Lord and Lady Vickers) are pushing her into it.  Then, she meets Sebastian and the sparks fly.  Then she figures out who he is.  Then he figures out who she is.  Then everyone in town knows Lord Newbury’s nephew flirted with Lord Newbury’s prospective fiancée.

In many author’s hands, Annabel would be a martyr heroine.  She has the set-up for it.  Yet Annabel really does consider her options, instead of throwing herself on the sword for her family. (And she does this with family pushing her towards the marriage, instead of begging her not to do this for them.)  She clearly stands up for herself against Lord Newbury instead of silently suffering.  At the same time, only her grandparents have a presence in the novel.  I would’ve liked to see more of her siblings, since they are integral to her motives.  (I did love her cousin.)

Ten Things I Love About You managed to take a few twists I wasn’t expecting, mostly due to the characters acting more like reasonable people than the leads in a romantic comedy.  Plus, I adored the ending, which is pure slapstick.  And it wouldn’t be half as funny if the tone didn’t darken a bit first.  Quinn is still one of my favorites, and reading Ten Things I Love About You reminded me that I really do need to finish reading her backlist.

Grade: A

Summary:
Ten Things You Should Know About This Book

1. Sebastian Grey is a devilishly handsome rogue with a secret.

2. Annabel Winslow’s family voted her The Winslow Most Likely to Speak Her Mind and The Winslow Most Likely to Fall Asleep in Church.

3. Sebastian’s uncle is the Earl of Newbury, and if he dies without siring an heir, Sebastian inherits everything.

4. Lord Newbury detests Sebastian and will stop at nothing to prevent this from happening.

5. Lord Newbury has decided that Annabel is the answer to all of his problems.

6. Annabel does not want to marry Lord Newbury, especially when she finds out he once romanced her grandmother.

7 is shocking, 8 is delicious, and 9 is downright wicked, all of which lead the way to

10. Happily. Ever. After.
Read an excerpt here.

My thoughts on RomCon are all over the place. If you want an extremely detailed minute by minute playbook, this is not where you’ll get that. RomCon? Well, I’d do it again. I’ve never been to any conferences/conventions before 2010, but this year I’ve hit up RT, Lori Foster’s get together, and now RomCon. I think of the three, RomCon was my favorite. It just has more. (I really enjoyed Lori Foster’s get together, and I have to say RT was my least favorite.)

Incidentally, most of the pictures have nothing to do with my rants – I just needed somewhere to put them. So for the second one there, I have nothing but nice things to say about Nalini Singh et al. Also, I’m not in any of these pictures, in case you were Lime hunting.

Straight off the bat, however, I vehemently, 100%, completely, cannot tell you how much I disagree with people saying there were too many authors. [I cannot help but say this snarky thing: apparently there was a lounge for authors. Well, maybe if there hadn't been one, or if authors didn't go to it, they would've been out there mingling with readers. Not to say there wasn't enough of that. But I mean, hello. If you're going to be in an author only room, of course it's going to seem like all authors and not enough readers. And that's my snarky bit. I of course understand that authors who went to the lounge weren't there the whole time and a lot of them did interact with readers and I pretty much saw every author I wanted to.] Did I get enough time with each and every one? No. And guess what? If more more more more more readers go we’re not going to be able to interact with the authors at all.

And on a different note, there were a lot lot lot of scheduled conflicts. Like a lot. I don’t know if I can stress this enough. The conference is short – something like 48 hours, and you know sixteen of those hours are allotted for sleeping. It depended on what event you were going to. For example, the teas were filled with what looked like  60 people.  Likely most readers. At the same time there were intimate chats with authors, which generally had 10-15 readers in the room. The teas and intimate chats being the “coveted events” as they were ticketed, all other panels I’m sure had less people, and it made it appear as if there were no readers. Well, based on what I observed, say during the day 150 readers were at “closed” events and the remaining were sleeping, meeting with people, or otherwise attending one of 2-4 scheduled panels. Yes, I can see how it seemed that readers were thin on the ground. However, I don’t think that’s the case and really really really hope the numbers don’t shift too much. (And here’s more snark – come on now authors. Do you really need that much more of a rockstar feel?)

Some of us were discussing – readers do talk to each other. Yes some people don’t know about the online community, but that seems to be the exception to the rule these days. And you know – maybe we’re just not that interesting. I don’t know. I feel completely fulfilled without going to conferences in my book talk and gushing. That’s what blogs, twitter, chat, texting, and phones are for.

So that’s my rant. Sure, let the conference get bigger. But don’t limit the number of authors. That’s probably at the top of my list for reasons to not come back to RomCon

Now, I will say I was unimpressed with the panels that I attended. Admittedly, I’m not very much of a panels type girl. I “just” got out of school. I don’t need to sit and be talked at. However, I dutifully followed friends to the controversial Fairy Godmother one, and felt as if I was being lectured and reprimanded. Every single person in the room I talked to felt the same way. (And as I hear it, there was only one person who thought the panel was enjoyable. Telling.) It could have been interesting, and fun and interactive, but that’s not the tone of the panel. It made me quite angry. I had to use the restroom, so I left, but after that, I didn’t want to, and was told not to bother going back in. Some people I hear were tweeting about it, but I went straight to texting my WTF feelings. Why was I annoyed? Piracy was brought up immediately after introductions, and the way it was approached and discussed we all felt like we were being attacked, and that we were all pirates. It only got worse. I truly felt that this was a[n understandable] pet peeve but those on the panel had finally gotten a captive audience/a trapped room of human bodies and faces that they could yell at. Not amazing. I ran into Sarah (from Smart Bitches) that evening and she was still unhappy. Of course I later found out she’d also gone to the book reviewer panel with Jane (from Dear Author), and that one was full of head exploding material was well – and led to the “books are not babies” discussion and hashtag on twitter. I’m still curious as to the results of Tessa Dare’s “experiment.”

I will say that in a way, coming to RomCon (I’m sitting in the hotel lounge/lobby as I write this, because I’m staying two extra days in Denver) was to play with friends. I didn’t know originally that they were going to be here, but I figured I’d meet fun people anyway. (It worked well enough at the Lori Foster event.) However, Ali and Joy did come, and that basically was the highlight for me – seeing friends. But in a more conference centered manner… meeting authors I’d interacted with online, but never met in person.

My list would be Julia Quinn (admittedly I’ve never interacted with her online but I always read her books and it was so cool to meet her. And talk about Outrageous Tacos.) Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook, Carolyn Jewel, Pamela Clare, Leanne Banks, Melissa Schroeder… There are more but I’m realizing this is turning into a something I don’t want, and anyway not really – I guess I talked to the same people/nobody. (And I’d met Carolyn Crane and Coutney Milan previously at RT.)

My random fun things and highlights? I tried to hang out with Carolyn Jewel all weekend, and it never worked. On Friday night for cocktails just when we were about to sit it was time for dinner- and Julia Quinn was at the table so I walked over to dinner with her (and ran into Ali and Joy and Eli) so we all sat together. We got there late. Bad us. I also sat next to Sally MacKenzie, whose books I’ve enjoyed, and had no idea who she was. (Sorry! I think I need to put in here that I’m just… not much of a fangirl. I barely recognized Julia Quinn and actually hadn’t recognized her the first time I saw her in the hallway. There. My secret shame.) Anyway, Sally MacKenzie is a fun, fabulous lady. We were bad and chatting throughout dinner and the “performance” because we were sitting in the back, the acoustics were bad, and we couldn’t hear a damn thing. This is also where the No Ordinary Taco discussion started. (Somehow Julia heard that instead of No Ordinary Cowboy. I don’t know either.) I didn’t know who the other two ladies  at our table were either, but I had a lot of fun with them. [Erm, Lavinia Kent was one of the them. So sorry to the third!]

Saturday was full of events – intimate chats with authors, and author sponsored teas which were ticketed events  – you entered a raffle to get into them. The historical one was fabulous, with a goody bag and prizes for all. I also went to the contemporary author tea the previous day, where it was more of a Q&A panel. I didn’t go to publisher spotlights on Friday, but had heard they weren’t that impressive. Saturday just seemed to be a more fun and worthy day all around. And I have to say the publisher spotlights on Saturday were extremely generous with the swag. (Swag is stuff we all get – and we all got books. It was nice.)

I also got to spend more time with Courtney Milan, because she sat with us at the HCI launch party. I have to admit, I had thought she might not really care for me – but I knew that was equally likely not to be true as nothing had happened to make me think that. So I figure if Courtney Milan didn’t like me, she wouldn’t have chosen to subject herself to my company during something she couldn’t leave. (I also didn’t know another author at the table was an author but she was incredibly gracious. Sorry!) Anyway, our table talked about dogs, and there was a girl across the table from me (sorry, woman) and she was the most adorable thing and I wish I’d gotten her name. So – Courtney showed me pictures/video of her dog. I’d heard of him before and seen pictures via twitter, but I want to meet him! (I love dogs.) He’s an Australian Shepherd and so adorable.

On Saturday night I sat next to Elizabeth Hoyt for dinner. I had no idea who she was (she looked familiar but I couldn’t remember, and I’m horrible about names and faces, so I’m pretty sure I committed some sort of faux pas and asked her what she did.) I also joked with her in a way I might not have if I had known she was Elizabeth Hoyt at the time, but I’m actually glad about that. Being too restrained isn’t fun – and not really how I am.

I do wish the hotel had been one downtown. I’m actually shy, and hate people. (Heh.) So it’s important for me to be able to leave a conference hotel and go do something. This was not possible at the Crowne Plaza and their concierge was not accommodating on Saturday night. I have/had mad love for Crowne Plaza concierge services (especially for the one in Columbus – I love you!) but this one disappointed. Of course I also became annoyed at a few of the hotel staff, but that’s all tied into the being trapped here issues.

Something I’d like to make a note of that every single person [reader] I spoke with mentioned – yes we were getting books, and that’s wonderful, but we were getting the same books. It seems like we were getting the same books over and over again. I know there a bunch I have two of – so guess what? I’m going to give them away. [At the moment I'm still figuring out how I'll do that.] I also gave away a number of books as soon as I got here – Jessica and Carolyn Crane were nice enough to let me stash stuff in their room, and when I went to pick it up I gave them books I already owned in hopes that they’ll read them. This process was repeated throughout the weekend.

Um… oh and this is totally a personal thing non-conference related. But a lot of people complimented me on my purse (and thank you! You’re all too sweet) – so I want to say, it’s the Lorca bag from Hayden-Harnett, and I think they’re such a fabulous company that I’m giving them a shout out. You should buy from them. Get your own Lorca. Really – and their customer service is basically unmatched. In excellence. And I also wore a flower ring that I’d just gotten as a birthday present – and that was Kenneth Jay Lane. Just in case you wanted to know O_o. (Well, if you want it, I think you should get it, right?)

Oh and my plug – if you haven’t read Julia Quinn, do so. Not only do I love her books, but she’s fantastic. She’s incredibly nice and fun – but not like nice in the way you’re scared you’re going to be bad and really have to be on your best behavior. She’s sarcastic and has a great sense of humor. The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever was a book I got here and gave away in hopes the person will enjoy it. That’s one of my favorite books by her. Also The Duke & I, The Lost Duke of Wyndham, Splendid, and I think my favorite book by her is Brighter than the Sun. (Ok and/but since I’m me, I will say I don’t love love love all her books. Some people also got What Happens in London here, and that didn’t work for me. Nor did I go for Mr. Cavendish, I Presume, even though Liv tells me I’m wrong.) Anyway, not only are Julia’s books great, but she’s nice. I was going downstairs and had a book I wanted her to sign – there was a historical authors event. However we ran into her at the elevators, and she actually got back off and came and signed a book for me. I mean, I know not a huge deal and like she gave me a kidney or anything, but I thought it was super sweet. Because I was like “oh wait-  oh no!” I did meet some authors who gave me the “I don’t want to talk to you but we’re so close to each other in passing it’d be rude not to acknowledge you and I’m a professional here so I’ll give you the curt hello.” So you know, I’m that much more thrilled with Julia Quinn’s awesomeness.

So, I hope RomCon is essentially the same next year as it was this year, with some tweaks. The entertainment ” ” was… not amazing- and most people seemed to flee the dance parties. There is that – I didn’t really talk about them because it wasn’t so much worth going. [Oh and along the same "keep going what you're doing line - reader focused. Please. Please please please don't assume all readers are wannabe writers. I know some readers are aspiring authors. But not all of us. Do not, for all that is good and holy on this Earth, turn this into another RWA/RT thing. Because let's be honest- RT is now more like RWA than anything else. I almost felt more like an intruder than anything else there.]

And I did like the format of the signing. With books elsewhere, you don’t feel a sense of obligation to buy a book just by looking at it. (It’s so awkward to pick up and book and put it down – unless you tell the author you already own it.) And with the ability to book browse people do buy more books, I heard at RT some people didn’t buy books they were curious about because they didn’t want to check out the book then realize it wasn’t for him/her and be obligated to take it. Also, it got rid of the whole ridiculous sticker business of RT. If you walked into the signing with books at RomCon, they were obviously yours. That was amazing. I think it would just help or be nice to let authors know this is the format, so they could have something in front of them at the signing – swag, little props, extra books, what have you.

So again, I have to say, I really hope the book signing format remains the same. But you know, I‘m just a lowly reader. What do I matter? [Sarcasm!] Also an author had a fantastic idea – of panels with readers sitting on the panels, answering questions. I love that. So… maybe not panels because that’s a lot of pressure, but how about round tables? I think that would also really fit in with the idea, concept, and spirit of RomCon. Incidentally, Carolyn Crane had this idea – and I think it’s amazing. [Incidentally NO those aren't all the books I got at RomCon. A few pictured, yes, but this is why I'm not too torn up about not getting books. And why I'm so avidly going for ebooks. Don't need to add any more to my book graveyard.]

And… those are my rambling wandering RomCon thoughts. If you’d like to know more about something [anything] I’ll do my best to answer any questions. Or gossip more

Birdie’s review of Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
Historical Romance published by Avon 25 May 10

SIDE NOTE: I’m a JQ fan. Just getting that out there before I start the review. But if I say that I am a JQ fan, I also have to say that as of late I have found myself less than satisfied with the newer books. END SIDE NOTE.

Ten Things I Love About You stared out slow for me. And by slow, I mean it took me three weeks to read it instead of the usual 2 days (2 because I do have to go to work and I can’t read there). The first 50 pages sloughed along and then, suddenly, as if by magic, the story took off and I tore through the pages with my usual glee. I’m going to take a page from Sebastian and Annabel and use lists to describe how I felt about the book.

Because I have to, THREE THINGS I DID NOT LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK

1. One time, at the very beginning, Annabel fell for a very stupid trick and I couldn’t quite get over that (although she redeemed herself nicely)
2. I kept waiting for Sebastian to lose control and when he did, it was just “eh” for me
3. Lord Newbury’s motivation was clearly lacking

TEN THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK

1. Sebastian made me smile on every page
2. Annabel’s “plain speaking”
3. Louisa – please tell me she gets her own story!
4. Lady Vickers – oh she comes through, don’t you worry!
5. The lists of tens which usually turned out to be more or less than ten
6. The scene in Lady Olivia’s drawing room
7. Some plot points were tired plot points but the author gave them a good twist
8. There was no big misunderstanding
9. Turkeys and Rocks

10.  Sebastian (‘nuff said – he’s adorable) (and yeah, I know he made the list twice, but he deserves it!)

Overall, Ten Things I Love About You did not disappoint. Sure the start was a little rocky, but once the plot hit a stride, it never slowed down.

Grade: B

Summary:

Ten Things You Should Know About This Book

1. Sebastian Gray is a devilishly handsome rogue with a secret.
2. Annabel Winslow’s family voted her The Winslow Most Likely to Speak Her Mind AND The Winslow Most Likely to Fall Asleep in Church
3. Sebastian’s uncle is the Earl of Newbury, and if he dies without siring an heir, Sebastian inherits everything.
4. Lord Newbury detest Sebastian and will stop at nothing to prevent this from happening
5. Lord Newbury has decided that Annabel is the answer to all his problems.
6. Annabel does not want to marry Lord Newbury, especially when she finds out he once romanced her grandmother.
7. Is shocking, 8 is delicious, and 9 is downright wicked, all of which lead to

10. Happily. Ever. After.

Read an excerpt. (scroll way down)

You’re in for a treat today! Welcome to Duck Chat!

Ohmyohmyohmy!  Squeeeeeeeeeeeee!  Kathryn Smith is here!!!!!

As most of you know, Kathryn’s vampire series, Brotherhood of the Blood, is a favorite of fans everywhere, but the really big news lately is that she’s writing straight historicals once again, and Kathryn will be talking about that and so much more today.

So no more lollygagging! Let’s chat!

DUCK CHAT: Kathryn, of course, the big news, the happy news for your fans is that you’ve returned to writing historical romance. Was it just time? Did something specific happen to prompt you to write that next one?

KATHRYN SMITH: The simplest answer is that yes, it was just time. I’d been writing a lot of paranormal, and even though most of it was historical, it wore on me. I loved my vamps, but they couldn’t go out in the sun! Actually, the sad truth is that historical paranormal just does not sell like contemporary paranormal and while I had some success, the move didn’t really help my career. It was upsetting to say the least, but historical was always my first love and it took me back with welcome arms.

DC: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

KS: Where do you get your ideas from? Only because I never know how to answer it. It’s not like I have a magic hat or anything! My ideas can come from anywhere.

DC: And fans will not get just one new historical from you, but an entire series. Lots of happy dancin’ is going on out there! Tell us about the new series, please.

KS: Thank you! I’ve dubbed the new series a ‘Victorian Soap Opera.’ I’m introducing lots of recurring characters that will appear in some or all of the books, and there will be secrets and intrigue afoot. There’s even a gathering place – a hub – where all the characters go to be social, much like Ruby’s on General Hospital. I even have a ‘love to hate’ character that I hope readers will embrace. It’s going to be difficult keeping track of everyone, but I think I’m up for the task.  The series begins with a trilogy, and after that I’m treating it as a world rather than a series. That way I don’t feel locked in to write books about specific characters. Anyone could have a book! And just like on soaps, a new character could arrive on the scene at any time.

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

KS: Yes! I’m mostly a plotter, but I like to leave room for my characters to express themselves. That sounds slightly psychotic I’m sure, but once you’re in their heads, writing from their POV, you start to understand what they’re all about. That’s when they surprise you.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

KS: No. I trust them to do the right thing. LOL. I let them do what they will and if it doesn’t work, I do it my way. There’s no arguing because either way I win.

DC: The first book of your new series is When Seducing a Duke and it will be released later this month. Would you tell our readers about Grey and Rose and how their story came about?

KS: Grey and Rose are a little bit Phantom of the Opera and a little bit Luke and Laura. He’s a little older, jaded and a little tortured. He’s had an awful past that haunts him still, and he doesn’t want the taint of that to touch her, but it’s going to just by association. He promised her father he’d look after her and to him that means NOT giving in to his feelings for her. Rose on the other hand is determined and slightly naïve. Part of her is convinced that if she can make Grey confront the attraction between them everything will magically be wonderful.

I have no idea now where the idea for them came from! I’ve always loved the kind of hero who has been ‘rode hard and put away wet.’ Grey is definitely one those. He feels awful for his past, but he also knows he’d still be the same if not for the event that changed his life. He didn’t change willingly, and he’s not sure what kind of man he is anymore. I think Rose is a little bit like me – she thinks if she wants something bad enough and works at it hard enough, she’ll get it. That doesn’t always work out for the best! It’s a ‘be careful what you wish for’ situation.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

KS: Email. Phone calls. iTunes. YouTube. Twitter. Cats. Shiny things.

DC: How’s work coming on the second book in your Victorian series? May we have a little sneak peek?

KS: Currently I’m working on revisions for When Marrying a Scoundrel, the second book in the series. It’s about Jack Friday and Sadie Moon. He’s a self-made man with a secret and she’s a tea leaf reader – with a secret. The secret is that they married when they were very young, but then Fate tore them apart. Now, the two of them are reunited and neither one of them is very happy about it.

DC: What has been your favorite book cover from all of your releases and why?

KS: Wow, what a difficult question. The lovely man who runs the Avon Art Dept is one of my favorite people in the entire world. He’s been so very generous with me over the last few years. I’ve always loved the cover for Into Temptation painted by Diane Sivavec. More recently I think the cover for Dark Side of Dawn, which comes out in December – but that might just be because of the gorgeous nekked man on the cover!  Of the Brotherhood covers I think Let the Night Begin is my favorite. I love the golden color of it and the fact that she’s going for his neck.

DC: How about your least favorite cover? Why?

KS: Wow. I’ve never had a cover I hated. I’ve been very lucky. Although if I had to choose it would be In Your Arms Again. I’m not a fan of the pose where the hero is behind the heroine and she has her skirt hauled up. Not sure why. And then, if you don’t look closely it looks like the hero isn’t wearing pants – just a belt and boots. His trousers are almost the same color he is. Still, I’ve seen much worse.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

KS: Oh yeah! I think my heroines have gotten more realistic. They’re not entirely good little girls. Nothing interesting in that. My heroes have changed as well. I used to think I had to write Alpha guys, but I’m not good at that. I like guys who can be both tough and sweet. Real people have uncharitable thoughts, absurd thoughts, insecurities and vanities. That’s what I’m interested in writing now.

DC: Your Nightmare Chronicles is also a fairly new urban fantasy series, one book out last year and the second due out in November. Would you tell us about the series over all and and then we’ll talk about each book.

KS: Dawn Riley is the half-mortal daughter of Morpheus, God of Dreams. That’s the crux of it. Dawn is able to walk between both worlds, something no one else can do. It makes people fear her. The veil between the dream realm and our world is thinning, strange things are happening. And no one is sure if Dawn is the solution to the problem, or the cause of it.

DC: First in the series was Before I Wake, which was out last year, and next month Dark Side of Dawn is being released. Would you give a look inside each book, please?

KS: In Before I Wake, Dawn has repressed who she is. She’s working in a sleep center and crushing on one of her ‘clients,’ Noah Drake. One night Noah is attacked in his dreams and somehow Dawn gets pulled into that very dream. She becomes the target of a Night Terror and the only way to stop it is to accept what she is and use her abilities. This means reconciling with Morpheus and her mother. It also means telling Noah the truth about who and what she is.

In Dark Side of Dawn, Dawn is working on honing her abilities and dating Noah. But then someone close to Noah is attacked and Dawn has to use both her professional skills as a psychologist, and her skills as a Nightmare to help. But this puts her in the path of another monster – an earthbound one this time. She’s also in trouble with the Nightmare Council for something she did in book 1. Dawn just can’t catch a break, and if she doesn’t do something fast, she might not live to stand trial in the Dreaming!

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

KS: Hmm. Young Adult. Historical. Paranormal. Urban Fantasy. I think I’ve written everything I’ve wanted! Actually, I would love to write mysteries, but I don’t think I’d be very good at it. I really want to do more Young Adult. I had two historical YAs out in 2001-2002, and I’ve wanted to do more ever since. So, while there’s not a genre I would like to try, there certainly is one I’d like to do more in.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

KS: Don’t date him. LOL. Actually, I think everything we’ve done has led to where we are, so I don’t think I’d encourage myself to do anything differently. I might, however, tell myself to have more confidence and not take quite so much attitude from other people.

DC: If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

KS: She’s a big girl with a big mouth and an even bigger heart, but does she have what it takes to make the big time?

LOL. That’s so corny, but it’s the best I can do without sounding totally bollocks.

DC: What would be your “voice’s” tagline?

KS: Realistic characters. Fantastic passion. I’d actually have a ‘wink’ after that too. I have a hard time talking myself up.

DC: Your vampire series, The Brotherhood of the Blood, is a favorite with readers. There’s five books in the series so far, with Night After Night being released earlier this year. First would tell those one or two people who aren’t familiar with the series what it’s about?

KS: The Brotherhood was originally six mercenaries who found what they thought was the Holy Grail, but it was actually the Blood Grail, made from the silver paid to Judas, infused with the essence of Lilith. When they drank from it they were turned vampire. 6 centuries later the group who originally had the Blood Grail wants it back – and they want the Brotherhood as well.

DC: Is the series evolving as your originally envisioned it?

KS: Yes. It played out exactly as I’d planned book-wise. I had an arc and I followed it. Success wise, I have to be honest and say that I was much higher hopes for it. Maybe someday paranormal historical will become what I’d hoped it would be and I can give fans of the series some new books.

DC: Please tell everyone about Night After Night.

KS: Night After Night was Temple’s story. He was the leader of the Brotherhood of the Blood once upon a time. In Be Mine Tonight, you discover he’s gone missing, and throughout the series the mystery of what happened to Temple runs through every story. This is also the book that reunites the Brotherhood. It is a romance, however. Temple meets Vivian, who is far more than she seems – more than she even knows. And she’s part of the group that would see the Brotherhood destroyed. That’s conflict, huh?

DC: Are there more books planned in the series? What can we expect next?

KS: As of right now, there are no more books planned for that series. That story line ended with Night After Night. If I do anything in the future, it will be with a new group of vampires or other supernatural creatures.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

KS: I’d be a rock star. Actually, I once wanted to be a makeup artist. I love makeup.

DC: Who’s your favorite author(s)?

KS: I have so many. I love Julia Quinn, Laura Lee Guhrke, Connie Brockway. Sherry Thomas and Meredith Duran are two new authors that I do not feel worthy of when I read them! Lorraine Heath is another favorite, along with Jenna Petersen, Sophie Jordan, Sabrina Jeffries, Loretta Chase, and Liz Carlyle.

DC: How about a favorite book or two?

KS: Stranger in My Arms by Lisa Kleypas. Love that book. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase. Secret Desires of a Gentleman by Laura Lee Guhrke is a current fave, as well as When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn. Those are the first that come to mind.

DC: What else is on the horizon for Kathryn Smith?

KS: More Victorian soap opera books. I’m currently outlining the third, which I’ve tentatively titled When Tempting a Rogue, but that will probably change to better suit the story. I’m hoping to perhaps continue on with the Nightmare Chronicles, and I do have a little something else I’m working on, but I’m keeping mum until I see what happens. That makes me a tease, doesn’t it? Sorry!

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?     – milk
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?     – chunky
- heels or flats?      – heels
- coffee or tea?      – both
- summer or winter?      – Actually, autumn
- mountains or beach?      – beach
- mustard or mayonnaise?     – mayo
- flowers or candy?      – flowers
- pockets or purse?      – Purse – anyone who knows me is laughing at this, because they know I collect purses.
- Pepsi or Coke?     – Coke
- ebook or print?     – Print – but I want to try an e-reader.

And because folks still like seeing the answers:

1. What is your favorite word?    – friend
2. What is your least favorite word?     – nourishing
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?     – nature
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?      – willful ignorance
5. What sound or noise do you love?      – the sound of Steve’s voice
6. What sound or noise do you hate?      – a cat coughing up hair balls.
7. What is your favorite curse word?     – I don’t curse! Right. I say fuck a lot, but I’d like to use the word twat more. I can’t believe I just admitted to that.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?     – makeup artistry. Maybe teaching.
9. What profession would you not like to do?      – anything where I’d have to put my hand in another person.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?     – “I’ve read all your books.”

DC: Kathryn, it was such a pleasure to have you here today! Thank you so much!

Lawson’s review of What Happens in London by Julia Quinn
Historical romance released by Avon 30 Jun 09

This book is the sequel to The Secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever, following Miranda’s best friend Olivia. I don’t know how many have been wanting this story, but I’m glad to see that Olivia got her story and perhaps her twin brother Winston will get his as well. There are some comic elements in this story, but don’t be scared away if you’re not a fan of “teh funnah” as it’s well done and not of the slapstick variety.

Olivia learns from her friends that her new neighbor, Sir Harry Valentine has a dreadful rumor passing around about him. Supposedly he may have killed his fiancee and Olivia could be living next door to a murderer. Olivia doesn’t believe it, but she decides to watch Harry from her bedroom window to see if she can discover anything about him. What she sees is him sitting behind his desk reading lots of papers, and sometimes wearing a silly hat. When she meets him in person after many days watching him, she takes a near instant dislike to him.

Harry knows his neighbor has been watching him for a number of days, but he doesn’t know why. Thinking she’s no more than a spoiled debutante, he writes her off, but when their paths keep crossing he doesn’t do anything to try to change his opinion of her. Instead he’s ordered by his superiors at the Home Office to watch her, as she is being courted by a Russian prince who possibly is in England to be up to no good. With Harry and Olivia thrown together more than either would like, their feelings of animosity change rapidly, though it’s possible the danger tied to the Russian could ruin everything.

I’ve never been a big fan of the dislike turning to love sort of story. What works in this one is that even though at first, and for a bit of time, Harry and Olivia don’t like each other, they still talk to the other. In this talking they start to learn about each other and the romance is able to blossom in a believable fashion. There are some hiccups along the way, but it doesn’t hamper the sweet and at times funny story.

Olivia, having been introduced in Secret Diaries as the opposite of Miranda. She’s bubbly, charming and very pretty. She feels though that people see the outward beauty and not what’s on the inside. Olivia, though, has her own quirks that make her a good character. Instead of reading gothic novels, she likes to read the newspaper, isn’t dazzled by a Russian prince just because of his title, and likes to get the better of Harry when she can.

Harry is someone of depth himself. He works as a translator for the War Department and his skills with language is why he’s ordered to watch Olivia and the Russian prince. He’s funny as well and has a good friend in Sebastian, whom he joined the army with to get away from his father, a drunk (though not a mean one). He has fun when he sees Olivia watching him through her window and his attempts at teasing her tend to not go as planned.

There’s a great scene involving the Russian prince, Sebastian, Harry’s brother Edward and the recitation and enactment of a lurid gothic novel that possibly could go over well in Russia. It’s a bit of comedy that’s not slapstick and a great moment that had me laughing out loud and chuckling over long after I’d finished the book. Comedy aside the intrigue with the Russian prince is placed in as more of a plot device and in the end doesn’t really seem to fit in the rest of the book, but it’s so minimal that it’s not overwhelming to the rest of the story.

Though the first half is a bit choppy, with the not liking each other, when Harry and Olivia talk enough to get past that it’s a charming story with some good comedy and a little bit of intrigue that delivers.

Grade: B+

Summary:
.
When Olivia Bevelstoke is told that her new neighbor may have killed his fiancée, she doesn’t believe it for a second, but still, how can she help spying on him, just to be sure? So she stakes out a spot near her bedroom window, cleverly concealed by curtains, watches, and waits… and discovers a most intriguing man, who is definitely up to something.
.
Sir Harry Valentine works for the boring branch of the War Office, translating documents vital to national security. He’s not a spy, but he’s had all the training, and when a gorgeous blonde begins to watch him from her window, he is instantly suspicious. But just when he decides that she’s nothing more than a nosy debutante, he discovers that she might be engaged to a foreign prince, who might be plotting against England. And when Harry is roped into spying on Olivia, he discovers that he might be falling for her himself…
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Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

No, that’s not a typo. I’m unique. And the rogue duckie – so instead of making my own “Best of 2008″ list… I’m going for the new year. These are the 10 books I’m most looking forward to in 2009. (You’ll notice some books don’t even have cover art yet.) 

N.B. I’d like to issue the caveat that… this is only based on books/lists that I could find. I’d also like to note that… just because I’m excited about it, doesn’t mean its a guarantee I’ll like it. (Color me picky.)

I also haven’t been reading romances that long, and it seems my tastes/author choices differ from a number of people. But that’s ok, because this is my list and I’m sticking to it.

In no particular order…

	1. What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Contemporary romance, Wm.Morrow, 27 Jan 09).  Case in point – I’m not 100% sure how I feel about Ms. Phillips’s last few novels. But I bought them – in hardcover. The premise for What I Did For Love sounds interesting, but hasn’t gripped me. (Then again – I wouldn’t have thought I’d *love* Nobody’s Baby But Mine, based on the plot summary.) So we shall see. But still. It’s Susan Elizabeth Phillips – and she’s one of my favorite authors.
	2. Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas (Contemporary romance, St. Martin’s, 31 Mar 09). She’s one of my favorite authors – and… don’t kill me, but Seduce Me at Sunrise and Blue-Eyed Devil were good reads, but not AMAZING. I’m already more excited about Smooth Talking Stranger based on the blurbs. Ms. Kleypas is also one of the few authors that can make me enjoy first person point of view. (Cuz FPPV and I? We are not friends.) But the Travis’s! And… even though it’s a secret baby book, which makes me chuckle, I WANTS it.
	3. Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole (Contemporary paranormal romance, Pocket, nodate Jan 09). I discovered Ms. Cole relatively early in 2008, not too long before I started reviewing, and I think she has the one series I’ve reviewed in total (thus far). And, the hero, Rydstrom, has horns. Horns! I never thought I’d be into horns, but… Ms. Cole has won me over. I love her kick ass heroines who *actually* kick butt -and they’re super hot to boot. And the heroes. Yum. This is a great paranormal world. Fun, scary, violent, full of lore- but one that doesn’t take itself too seriously. My kind of books.
	4. Naked Edge by Pamela Clare (Contemporary romantic suspense, Berkley, 3 Nov 09). I heard about Ms. Clare, and first read Extreme Exposure, which is probably one of my favorite books. Extreme Exposure is extremely well written, great plot, and the hero is one of my favorite types. A good politician. More rare than… well something you’d think is outrageous but I’m sure is in a number of paranormals. Thus, Extreme Exposure (and the subsequent books by Ms. Clare I’ve read, have prompted me to put Naked Edge on my list). I have been waiting for this new I-Team book – and… I don’t know. The heroine Kat is Native American. I think that’s pretty nifty. (Major understatement.)
	5. Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh (Paranormal romance, Berkley, 7 Jul 09). I discovered Ms. Singh early on in ’08, and read all her Psy/Changeling books – in proper Psy/Changeling chronological order, even – serendipitously. Ms. Singh’s book world is intense, and amazing. It’s so well developed you believe it’s real. Scary. (But oh so cool!) Thus, this book edged out Angels’ Blood. (That and the blurb talks about lots of violence and I’m kinda squeamish about teh violences.) AND more importantly, when I read the excerpt for this book my reaction was pretty much “SQUEE SQUEE SQUEE!”
	6. True Love and Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson (Contemporary romance, Avon, 28 Apr 09). Yes, another one of my favorite authors. And a book back to/dealing with Hockey. I read See Jane Score  – and I was hooked. I was even willing to get into hockey. (SEP‘s Chicago Stars, along with college, were what got me into football. And if you click around in my posts, you’ll see I can be a football nut. Especially College.) Although… I will say I DO NOT like all the Flash stuff on Ms. Gibson’s web page. Yay for her designer and all – but it takes forever and I can’t get to the information I want. Does not like! The book, however… *happy sigh*
	7. Deeper by Megan Hart (Contemporary erotic romance, Spice, nodate Jul 09). I love the title. I love the cover. I really like Megan Hart’s writing. There’s something about it. Like crack. It also often depresses the hell out of me – which I hate – but I love her books. They’re so raw, yet well written. And this book blurb. *shivers* I’m going to smack myself if the ending isn’t relatively happy. (I know not to expect bubblegum yay.)
	8. What Happens in London by Julia Quinn (Historical romance, Avon, 30 Jun 09). Yet another author that goes on my “best of” lists – and… while others didn’t like it as much, I adored The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, and I hope to like the sequel just as much. (Especially if, you know, it is its own book.) So joy for another book more like The Secret Diaries!
	9. Written On Your Skin by Meredith Duran (Historical romance, Pocket, 28 Jul 09). This one looks more interesting than Bound by Your Touch – although I’m a little skeptical about some of the settings. Though I expect if anyone can win me over to parts written in Hong Kong, it is Ms. Duran. I hope not to be disappointed. This book also makes the list because had I done an ’08 list, Ms. Duran would have made it with her debut novel Duke of Shadows.
	10. Hard and Fast by Erin McCarthy (Contemporary romance, Berkley Trade, 5 May 09). First, it’s Ms. McCarthy. Second, it’s Ms. McCarthy writing a contemporary novel. Third, the heroine’s name is Imogen. I really like a number of Imogen Heap’s songs – so I have a major positive association with her. And – Ms. McCarthy may even win me over to NASCAR. At least in fiction. I read the excerpt, and I am in love. I love it. I want this book. I don’t even want to see when this book comes out (May 09) – because I don’t want to wait.

—

Honorable Mentions/if I squint just right are included/still within the number 10…

	10a. Tasting Fear by Shannon McKenna (Contemporary erotic romance, Brava, 28 Jul 09). Okay, so I have to admit, I know nothing about this book. I think it’s Kevin McCloud’s book – and how exciting will it be for a McCloud book to actually star a McCloud? (See? I can good naturedly mock my favorite authors/self.) I also know that Ms. McKenna is one of my favorite authors, and she is one of the few authors I will venture into adventure/suspense for. (And once I buy Ultimate Weapon, Ms. McKenna might have the sole and honorable distinction of being the only author whose entire back list is in my possession and my property…)
	10b. Relentless by Lauren Dane (Sci-fi romance, Berkley Trade, 5 ay 09). I don’t read scifi/fantasy or futuristic novels. I haven’t read scifi/fantasy since middle school. I’ve never particularly enjoyed futuristic novels. BUT! But! I read Undercover, and I loved it. I can see why Undercover took Ms. Dane to the bestseller’s list – and if you haven’t read it – you should. I enjoyed Undercover so much I had to pace myself, and used it as a way to treat myself. And Ms. Dane’s writing (in my humble opinion) only gets better.
	10c. This Duchess of Mine (Historical romance, Avon, 26 May 09) and…10d. A Duke of Her Own by Eloisa James (Historical romance, Avon, 30 Jun 09). I, being the lowly peon I am, do not know what these books are about (other than This Duchess of Mine is Jemma’s book). I have been waiting for Villier’s book, so hopefully he’s healed at some point in the near future. And you know, I love Ms. James’s books. I read Duchess in Love and fell in love. There’s been no turning back since.

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11. The book I don’t know about by the new author (whoknows, someone, date TBD). I know a lot of people will say that’s a cop out, so that’s why I listed 10 books, then have this one. I mean, I’m sure there are books I don’t know about – and/or what about that one newbie author that writes an amazing book?

The End. Seriously.

Out of all the books coming out in 09 (that I know about – and I found some lists of hundred of books.) These – *these* I want. I will do much to get my hands on these books. What did Scarlet O’Hara say? “Lie, cheat, kill or steal” right? Well… take out the third… and you’ve pretty much got me

Liviania’s review of Mr. Cavendish, I Presume (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 2) by Julia Quinn
Historical romance released by Avon 30 Sep 08

The Lost Duke of Wyndham told of a highwayman and a servant falling in love. Julia Quinn appropriately approaches its companion Mr. Cavendish, I Presume in a different manner. It’s a bit more arch, and somehow feels less like a modern romance without truly being old school. While most reviewers seem to prefer whichever of the two they read first, I prefer Mr. Cavendish, I Presume. 

The first reason is the hero. Thomas Cavendish was my favorite in the first and he remains in that place. His responsibility is a good trait, but the Duke takes duty a bit too far and doesn’t know who he truly is. Possibly losing his dukedom to the highwayman who accosts his grandmother and her companion gives him the space he needs to find himself. (Too often he finds himself in his cups.) He acted like a jerk a few times in the first, but this one really fleshes out his motivation. It also shows that he had friends besides Grace.

The second reason to prefer this one is the heroine. In The Lost Duke of Wyndham, Thomas’s erstwhile fiancée Amelia had little color. In this one she’s vibrant, snarky, and clever. She has hobbies. She’s quite angry with Thomas for putting off their marriage for so long and happy that he’s finally getting to know her. Even knowing how the story would turn out I felt for her because she deserved her happy ending.

Of course, many people had a problem with knowing how things would turn out. The two books follow the same plot but one from the point of view of each couple. Quinn recycles some conversations, but I read the two books far enough apart (with enough between) that only two conversations struck me as overly familiar. A lot of it felt like new material to me and I really relished getting to explore Thomas and Amelia’s courtship. (I did remember the Hebrides, which still makes me laugh. Despite being made repeatedly, the joke does not wear out its welcome. Perhaps it is simply because the dowager really does deserve it.)

I first forayed into romance with authors like Julia Quinn. She’s such a wonderful place to start – likeable characters, humor, drama, and a sensible plot. She tells a story and does it well. Mr. Cavendish, I Presume was a perfect novel to accompany the comfort food of Thanksgiving Break. And it’s the comfort of knowing I’ll get a high quality read that will make me continue to pick up Quinn’s work.

Grade: B+

To read more reviews of this and other books in the series, follow the Two Dukes of Wyndham series tag.

Summary:
Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting…for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all…
It’s true. He doesn’t. Thomas rather likes having a fiancée—all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay—and he does intend to marry her…eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas’s world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he’s not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love…with his own fiancée!

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Sandy M reviews The Two Dukes of Wyndham Series by Julia Quinn
Historical romances released by Avon 27 May 08 and Sept 08

There’s been a lot of talk since the release of the second book of this duo, Mr. Cavendish, I Presume, about readers being disappointed it is only a regurgitation of scenes word for word that have already happened in this first book, The Lost Duke of Wyndham. I’ve read some pretty harsh comments from some folks about that fact. While I agree with the sentiment to a point, this second book is still a good story, even while told from another set of characters’ point of view. 

There is literally the exact same characters discussing the exact same issues in the exact same circumstances, but those scenes are interspersed with the hero’s and heroine’s thoughts and actions. That didn’t bother me all that much, mostly because I enjoyed the first book more mainly due to Jack, the hero, and also because that’s where all the action in the the arc of the story was. Ms. Quinn was obviously trying something a little different, and, for the most part, I think she succeeded.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham (The Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1)
Released 27 May 08

As much as I liked Thomas, the current Duke in this first book, I liked Jack Audley the would-be duke, because he’s witty and rakish, which, of course, he has to be considering he’s a highwayman.  But he also gives his ill-gotten gains to the poor, keeping just enough for himself to get by on, so you know early on he’s not really a bad sort and has a wicked sense of humor.

Thomas is the usual straight-laced nobleman, respectable and responsible, which I usually like in a hero, but up against Jack, Thomas just didn’t stand a chance in my eyes.  Jack is just as dumbstruck as Lady Cavendish when it comes out that he is her grandson, although they show it in two absolutely different ways.  He wants nothing to do with the old woman, expect maybe her companion, Grace Eversleigh, and the Dowager Duchess wants nothing but Jack installed as Duke and will do anything and use anyone to get her way.  Jack goes kicking and screaming along for the nightmarish ride with only Grace to keep him sane.

The one thing that is needed in the whole farce is proof of Jack’s legitimacy, so at the Duchess’ insistence the lot of them, including Thomas’ fiance Amelia and her father, board an Ireland-bound ship to scour clergy records for the ironclad trap that will change both Jack’s and Thomas’ lives forever.  Even though we know Jack hasn’t told all concerning his upbringing, we see his reluctance and his nervousness at returning home the closer he gets to his homeland.  Of course, all is finally revealed there, all his secrets as well as the truth surrounding his birth, and his resulting emotions is what also caused me to love Jack’s character.  We’re also thrown an unexpected problem concerning Jack and it’s interesting how it all plays out.

I also really enjoyed Grace.  She’s an orphan of country-bred parents, was thrown out of her home by an evil and nasty cousin, which is how she came to be the companion of the Dowager.  She at least has a roof over her head, a slight income, and friends to enjoy in the very limited free time she gets from her duties to the woman, and, despite all that, she’s the only one who tolerates the old bat, as her grandsons call her.

This lady is a doozy.  Both Thomas and Jack stand up to her as much as possible, don’t let her get away with all of her antics, and now both look after Grace when the Duchess gets a little too mean.  But Grace always keeps her cool and does her job with an understated elegance and dignity.  She has a way of understanding everyone’s feelings and does her best to do right by them but never loses her integrity in the process.

I think Jack and Grace made a perfect fit for one another, and I knew I was right when I read the epilogue.  They complement each other in a way that keeps them strong and happy.  By the end of the book, we know that Thomas is in for the fight of his life and can only hope he opens his eyes sooner rather than later for the answer that will get him through his living nightmare.  I also loved the humor, of course, typical Quinn, inserted in all the right moments.

Grade: A-

Read Lawson’s and Devon’s reviews.

Summary:

Will the real Duke of Wyndham please stand up?

Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine… until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she’s not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have…

Read an excerpt.

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume (The Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 2 )
Released 30 Sep 08

Ah, Thomas.  He’s destined to be overlooked by a lot of readers.  That’s unfortunate.  He’s not nearly as rakish as Jack and is honest to a fault, which could make him boring, but I think he holds his own, considering what he’s put through with the appearance of his heretofore unknown cousin, who could take everything last thing from Thomas, including his identity, who he is, that which makes him him.  He learns a couple of lessons, though, once he’s just Mr. Cavendish.

We know from Lost Duke that Thomas has never really paid much attention to Amelia, really seen her in all the years and times they’ve been around each other.  Then finally when she decides to grow somewhat of a backbone, Thomas does sit up and really takes a look at his betrothed.  Thank goodness on both counts.  If Amelia hadn’t awakened as early as she did and decided to not let people, especially Thomas, trod all over her without regard for her wants and feelings, this would have been a very long story to get through.

And though Thomas finally looks at Amelia as a woman, that’s when all the dust is kicked up with Jack’s arrival and the dukedom is in question.  He feels if he has to give up his title, he also has to give Amelia up since she is to be given to the Duke of Wyndham, even though his feelings are certainly turning the corner where she’s concerned.  But if he weren’t so upstanding, he wouldn’t be Thomas, the Duke.  He has to learn to be Thomas, the man, and with Amelia he can do that, even though he doesn’t realize it.

Since there’s comparisons between Thomas and Jack, there have to be comparisons between Amelia and Grace.  Although Amelia does gradually become her own woman, it’s too little too late.  She’s always taken the dressing down she gets from the Duchess, always lets her father decide what’s best for her, and lets Thomas ignore her for far too long.  Of course, she’s been a pawn since her birth, so she does act according to her destiny.  She finally gets thrown for a loop with the two-Duke business, which is what she needs to start steering her own destiny.

Grace, on the other hand, received her eye-opening life experience much earlier and has had longer to deal with it, so she just has that extra strength and grace that Amelia is just discovering.  But Amelia eventually comes into her own just in time to get what she really wants, despite her father, the Duchess, and even Thomas himself.

As far as Quinn using the same dialogue for the same scenes in this book, I didn’t find it that disconcerting.  As long as she gave me extra thoughts and actions of Thomas and Amelia in those few places, I found that cast just a little different light on those scenes just from the change in point of view.  Granted, maybe the fact that I knew what was coming helped; I wasn’t tossed into it blind, thinking I was getting a totally new book when in actuality it’s only a partial new book.

Okay, spending good money for a partial new book isn’t the best of circumstances, but, again, I give Quinn kudos for trying it, despite the grumblings about it all.  It still works for what it is.  One comment I read that sticks out for me is that Thomas’ feelings weren’t delved into enough after he’s lost all, but I felt we got that all along.  We knew how he was feeling the moment everything comes to light when Jack first arrives in his life, and we get even more in this book.  His excessive drinking comes to mind, along with his erroneous thoughts that he can no longer have Amelia and other small details.  Even his reaction when the truth is confirmed, “I am Mr. Cavendish,” tells us a lot, especially when he has difficulty saying it.

So, as usual, I enjoyed both stories.  I preferred Lost Duke, as I said, but Mr. Cavendish deserves its due for what it turned out to be.  It started out as a one-sided love story that grew into a full-fledged one, albeit a little later than we’d normally like to see, but a nice one nonetheless.  I like that Ms. Quinn tried to step outside the box and give us something different and hope she continues to look at her craft in such different ways in the future.

Grade: B-

Read Lawson’s review here.

Summary:

There went the bride…

Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting…for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all…

It’s true. He doesn’t. Thomas rather likes having a fiancée—all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay—and he does intend to marry her…eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas’s world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he’s not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love…with his own fiancée!

Read an excerpt.

Lawson’s review of Mr. Cavendish, I Presume (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 2) by Julia Quinn
Historical romance released by Avon 26 Sept 08

The second book in the Two Dukes of Wyndham series, which follows The Lost Duke of Wyndham, picks up where the last one left off. Or maybe it should be, it picks up what Lost Duke left out. I’ve got to say the cover on Mr. Cavendish is interesting. Is it supposed to inspire the feeling of a sort of gothic style? Or is it just supposed to be the opposite of the lighter Lost Duke cover? It is a bit more striking, at least to me though. But on to the story.

Mr. Cavendish, of course, the same story from Lost Duke, but this time from Amelia and Thomas’ point of view. For a quick recap, the Dowager Duchess of Wyndham thinks she recognizes her long lost grandson when her coach is beset by a highwayman. Her grandson, Thomas, is the current Duke and engaged to marry Amelia, the second daughter to the Earl of Crowland. The highwayman, Jack Audley, is brought into the duke’s home and takes an interest in the dowager’s companion, Grace Eversleigh.

The question then comes, who is the real Duke of Wyndham. Due to some succession issues, the characters head to Ireland to investigate and prove whether Jack is the true Duke and the legitimacy of his claim. Along the way, secrets come out and Grace and Jack have a very sweet story. And the Dowager Duchess is rather mean to people who don’t do what she wants.

As told from Thomas and Amelia’s point of view, there are a few different scenes, and some of the mysterious things from the first book about the two are revealed. They have some good scenes together, and I liked the dynamic between Thomas and Amelia. From their first scene, there’s a sizzle between the two when Amelia decides to act as her own person, rather than as the Duke’s intended.

When Thomas starts seeing her as Amelia instead of just an obligation to be fulfilled, things definitely heat up. All while he could loose everything that he’s ever known. Both Thomas and Amelia have to figure out who they are, instead of who they were supposed to be. It’s refreshing to see so much growth in a story, by both characters. The epilogue, however, makes things a bit clichéd.

What really is the drawback to the story is the charming scenes between Thomas and Amelia are cut short. Since the events of the book happen at the same time as Lost Duke, it rehashes the storyline and some things that happened in the first book. In fact, it seemed as though I was reading the same book over again, except for the few scenes that weren’t included because they were from the different points of view.

Quinn’s humor, as always comes through, and I liked Thomas and Amelia much more than Jack and Grace, but with the repetitions of the last book and the less time spent with scenes between Thomas and Amelia made this probably one of the weakest Quinn books I’ve read. The idea of having two books that deal with the same time and different characters is an interesting one, but this second book just didn’t work that well for me.

Grade: C

To read reviews and other information about this and other books in the series, follow the Two Dukes of Wyndham series tag.

Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting . . . for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all . . .

It’s true. He doesn’t. Thomas rather likes having a fiancée—all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay—and he does intend to marry her . . . eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas’s world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he’s not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love . . . with his own fiancée!

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Well, it’s taken me a week to recuperate and get back into the swing of things since I got home from San Francisco.  Was it all worth it?  Damn straight!

I was supposed to be at the RWA National Conference as a writer.  I started writing only a year or so ago, so I was really looking forward to learning more about the craft.  But who was I trying to kid?  I was 99.9% reader in San Francisco.   I couldn’t help myself.  Everywhere I looked were authors I’d been reading for years, authors who I just discovered, and even newer authors who I hadn’t yet discovered while at the conference.   And the books!  You’ve all seen my TBR mountain.  You all know how bad my addiction is.  There was no way in hell anyone could have kept me away from the books in the city by the bay, no matter how they tried.  So while I did learn a little, I had a dream of a week just schmoozing and staring in awe the majority of the week.

I had some wonderful highlights during the hustle and bustle of the conference.  The first was meeting two of my all-time favorite authors, who have also become friends.  First is Sandy Blair.  I started reading her books because of the time travel elements that appear every so often in her Scottish historicals.  But I joined her fan club because she’s one of the nicest, sweetest ladies I’ve ever met.  So it was a thrill, indeed, to meet her in person.  We had lunch together a couple of times, had drinks together, just chatted, laughed our tails off — she’s a great storyteller even outside of her books — and I enjoyed my time with her immensely.  I will remember each and every one of those moments forever.

Added to all that, I found some friends to get re-acquainted with while schmoozing with Sandy B.  It was great to meet author Tracy Garrett since getting to know her when I interviewed her online last year, and soon-to-be-published-I-just-know-it Suzy Welsh from the Romance Bandits is a hoot and a half and it was nice to chat with her outside Sandy B’s group.  I also met author Jo Davis, who just had her debut book, Trial by Fire, released last week.  You know, I started talkin’ with a southern accent after spending time with all those Texas ladies!

My next highlight came when I met author C.L. Wilson.  We’ve been chatting online for the last year or so after the release of her first two books, Lord of the Fading Lands and Lady of Light and Shadows.  Her series of Fae and magic and flying jaguars has captured not only my imagination, but the world’s.  It was so enjoyable meeting this lady who has such a lyrical voice when writing, an imagination that takes you away into fantasy so that you never want to leave.  Cheryl is a delight.  She’s so friendly, open and honest, and getting to know her was a pleasure.  She also joined Sandy B. and me for lunch on our first day in San Francisco. Let me tell you, I haven’t laughed so darned much and so darned hard in a very long time.   Author Susan Edwards also joined us at lunch, along with several other friends, and a good time was had by all and another wonderful memory was made.

If you haven’t read Cheryl’s books yet, you should.  There’s very few authors out there who can string ordinary words together and make them sing like Cheryl.  The next two books in the series, King of Sword and Sky and Queen of Song and Souls,  are being released this October and February 2009, respectively.  Start now and I guarantee you will be mesmerized and anxiously awaiting those new release dates.

Then there’s the Goody Room that’s a highlight at every conference.  My heavens, what an oasis and/or cacophony, depending on how you look at it and when you were there, of activity and goodies that was.  And everything there was free!  Books, buttons, bookmarks, candy, ink pens, CDs enticing you with book excerpts, business cards and flyers advertising anything and everything, and so much more filled table after table throughout the room.  You had to be quick in that room too.  No thinking you can come back later and pick up whatever you were looking at.  No guarantees whatsoever.  You had to make quick decisions and stick with them!

The Literacy Signing on Wednesday night was almost ovewhelming.  500 authors just waiting for you to walk up, chat for a minute, and buy a book.  What reader wouldn’t be in heaven while in that room?  I met more authors there who I’d corresponded with online or had gotten a thank you for reviewing their book:  Melissa Mayhue, Nancy Haddock, Lorraine Heath, Jill Shalvis, Lisa Kleypas, Kresley Cole, Kathryn Smith, Lynda Sandoval, just to name a few.  Then there were the authors that I’d read and loved for so long and newer authors who have given me hours of reading pleasure: Shana Galen, Jennifer Ashley, Shana Abe, Susan Crandall, Marianne Stillings, Christina Dodd, Julia Quinn, Gena Showalter, Elizabeth Hoyt, Bonnie Edwards and the list goes on and on.  And so many more than I’ll ever be able to remember!  It was a spectacular night and all topped off quite nicely when we learned the next day approximately $60,000 had been raised for literacy.  Good show!

There were other book signings the last days of the conference, and I had been warned to take large totes, rolling and handheld, and to be prepared to ship box after box of books home.  Pffft.  We were able to drive to San Francisco, who needs to ship the books back home?  I did.  Four of them.  Four big, big boxes of books.  I’m glad I took all the advice given to me. I definitely went prepared and I’m sure I was a sight lugging all those books across that big old hotel for two days!

My last huge highlight was meeting author Melissa Mayhue for dinner at Bubba Gump’s on Pier 39 our last free night of the week.  What a lovely lady!  Not only is she a wonderfully talented author, Melissa is one of the sincerest, kindest people I’ve ever met.  And there’s something about authors and humor.  Twelve women together with writing in common and we laughed and laughed.  And laughed.  For several hours.  I made a few more new friends that night and hope to keep in touch in the future.

In fact, I made new friends throughout the entire week, even some from my area.  It was a great time to share experiences and knowledge and I’m so glad I was part of it.  It was a time in my life that will never be forgotten, even when I attend another conference in the future.  The first time is special and the people I met will always have just as special a place in my heart.

Oh, the writer in me?  Yes, I did go to workshops and I did learn some.  So maybe the next time I’ll have more percentage points on the writing part of it all.  I have a feeling, though, the reader in me will emerge once again because she just has to be part of the fun.

Liviania’s review of The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Historical romance released by Avon 27 May 08

Julia Quinn writes fluff. Pure, unapologetic fluff. I love her for it. Her novels go down easy and leave me with a smile on my face. Some days I don’t need an issue, intrigue, or other complication to my romance. I just need a sweet, simple relationship between two sympathetic characters. The Quinns I have read deliver this fix.

Companion Grace Eversleigh and her employer, the dowager Augusta Cavendish, are robbed by a highwayman one night. But the dowager recognizes this highwayman’s features and the highwayman recognizes her ring. Since she believes him to be the son of her favorite son, the dowager kidnaps Jack Audley when he shows no signs of coming to her. If she has correctly determined Audley’s identity and his parents were married, he will be the Duke of Wyndham rather than her grandson Thomas Cavendish.

Actually, one of The Lost Duke of Wyndham‘s flaws is that it could use a bit more weight when addressing Audley’s decision to make his living as a highwayman. He dismisses it so quickly as more of a game than dangerous as illegal that he comes off more like a sociopath than Robin Hood. Yes, it would be yes fluffy if Audley admitted he was morally ambiguous; however, it doesn’t make him seem more like a romantic hero when he dismisses any implication of wrongdoing.

I cannot hold Audley too much against Quinn because I loved the other characters so much. Grace does nothing to break out of a typical romantic heroine mold, but she is neither a martyr, silly, nor stupid and I wanted her to get a happy ending. She does deserve one for dealing with the dowager, who is now one of my favorite characters ever. She’s a crotchety old woman, too set in her ways to change, but with enough life in her to fiestily battle anyone who opposes her will. I know at least one of my relatives after whom she could be modeled. The dowager is not likeable, but she is sympathetic. (The Outer Hebrides. Hee.)

She fights the most with her other grandson, Thomas Cavendish. Might I say I cannot wait to read the story through his point of view in Mr. Cavendish, I Presume? Straight-laced Thomas begins to let loose and forget about appearances once the bonds of duty loosen. Audley may hate him at first, but Grace’s POV helps show what a truly nice guy he is. Many scenes in the novel hint at his own adventures that Audley and Grace remain unaware of and I am fond of his projected love interest Amelia. They act awkward with each other in front of other people, which is quite cute to me.

I enjoyed The Lost Duke of Wyndham thoroughly. It is a great novel to relax with after a hard day. (Especially if the hard day was caused by a specific person. You can imagine them instead of the dowager every time the Outer Hebrides are mentioned.)

Grade: B-

Jack Audley has been a highwayman.

A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine . . . until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she’s not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have . . .

Read all TGTBTU reviews and posts for The Lost Duke of Wyndham.

Marg’s guest review of The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Historical Romance published by Avon 27 May 08

Big sigh…. I just finished reading this book in a day. If I hadn’t had to go to work it would have been quicker, but apparently I don’t get paid to sit around and read.

I have again been reminded of how good Julia Quinn’s historical romances can be. One of the best things about reading one of this author’s better books is she has the ability to write a heartwarming, emotional story without any of the added fripperies so common in historical romances. You know the ones I’m sure. The mad cousin/uncle/stalker who has determined the beautiful young virgin must be theirs. The young virgin who yearns for a life of passion and adventure and will do anything to get it (secret spies anyone?) or the BIG misunderstanding. Those fripperies.

Don’t be mistaken by that statement though. There is plenty of drama throughout this book, mostly in terms of the question of who is the true duke, and what will the implications of that truth be. Along the way we find out what brought Jack to his current life of crime, and for at least one of the characters there is an emotional journey home, to deal with the events of the past. There was a big twist in the tail of this book which was emotionally touching, but did feel a little contrived in some ways.

When the Dowager Duchess of Wyndham and her companion, Grace Eversleigh, are held up by a masked highwayman whilst on the way home from the assembly, there is no way for the three of them to know their lives are about to change in an instant.

For the highwayman, Captain Jack Audley, his life of crime is about to come to an abrupt end, especially if the old lady’s claims are true and he should be the Duke of Wyndham. Jack doesn’t want the title for a number of reasons – one thing he does want however is Grace but if he is the Duke then she knows that he is far above her in the social strata and there can be no future for them.

Grace has been the companion to the extremely crotchety old Dowager for the past five years, having been left a penniless orphan. She is at the beck and call of the Dowager day and night, but she does know that without the position that she has been given in the Wyndham household, her life would have been a lot more unhappy.

As Jack and Grace come together, we are treated to a charming and sweet love story. Not cloyingly sweet, but the right balance of physical attraction, learning to know each other, lots of humour and lots of discreet glances and tender moments. I loved that Jack knew what he wanted, and was prepared to claim it, regardless of what society would think. Beneath his handsome visage, and underneath his flippant tones, there was a column of strength that shone through.

And what of the current Duke? As a man who has been raised to be a Duke, Thomas has a lot to lose. His reactions on being told of the possible loss of the title are not gracious, but then again, it would be unrealistic if they were. Thomas’s story is due out in October, and apparently is told concurrently with the events in this book. I must confess that I do find it a little strange that if the events are told concurrently that the books are not being released a bit closer together.

When reading this book it is impossible to forget that you are reading a Quinn book. All the trademarks are there in the witty dialogue, entertaining characterisations of two relatively normal people and a romantic love story.

Now I will just have to go back to those books I discarded so I could read this as soon as I got it.

Grade B+
You can read Devon’s review here and Lawson’s here. Our first Fly it Forward winner Elyssa Papa’s review is here.

From the back cover:

Will the Real Duke of Wyndham Please Stand Up?

Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine… until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she’s not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have…

Read an excerpt here.

Elyssa Papa’s review The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Historical Romance published by Avon 27 May 08

There are great romances and then there are great romances. Julia Quinn’s latest offering, The Lost Duke of Wyndham, is a great romance. What makes it great, you may ask?

Oh, reader, let me count the ways…

1. Meet the heroine: Grace Eversleigh, a companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. This is not a typical too-stupid-to-live-heroine. This one thinks, and she’s rational. Even after their coach is robbed by the delectable hero (see #2), Grace maintains a “grace” under pressure. She knows her lot in life and has accepted that this is her life-even though at times she’s not as happy about it as she may appear.

2. Meet the hero: Jack Audley, highwayman, soldier, charmer, etc. Jack Audley is not your typical Me-Hero, You-Woman. This one knows his charm and uses it to his advantage. Jack is going to have many women swoon at his words… his actions… him. It’s very hard not to fall in love with Jack, especially when he lets his vulnerability show.

3. Conflict: The dowager duchess thinks Jack is the son to her long-lost older son (now deceased) and that would make him the current Duke of Wyndham. Except… there’s Thomas Cavendish, the current Duke of Wyndham. Jack has no desire to be a duke for his own particular reasons, but since it means he can stay in the lovely presence of Grace Eversleigh, he agrees to remain in the dowager’s household.

4. Romance: Need I really go on here? Let’s just say Jack is hot. ‘Nuff said.

My list doesn’t do this book justice. Just know that when you read this book, you will be swept away. Julia Quinn manages to craft a story that not only engages you in what will happen next, but makes you invested in the book. I ended up caring about every single character in this book, even the waspish dowager Duchess of Wyndham. She makes you yearn for Thomas’ story, and she has the best ending I have read in a romance novel to date. Her development of Grace and Jack in the TLDOW is a masterpiece; Julia Quinn is a master chef at writing, and makes many look like mere apprentices.

I judge a book great by this alone: at the end of the story, how did I feel? Julia Quinn’s book made me feel as if I had just taken a long hot bubble bath and eaten a lot of chocolate from the happiness and contentment that was zinging through my body.

You ask… How great is this book? Well, let’s put it this simply:

If Julia Quinn doesn’t win the RITA next year, there will be need for a recount.

Grade: A+

You can read Devon’s review here and Lawson’s here.  Tomorrow we will have another Quinn review from another of our Fly it Forward winners!

From the back cover:

Will the Real Duke of Wyndham Please Stand Up?

Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine… until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she’s not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have…

Read an excerpt here.

Devon’s review of The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Historical Romance published by Avon 27 May 08

Julia Quinn is unusual in that she excels at writing nice people, and more importantly, making them interesting. Her heroines are women of the times. They don’t wear breeches, want to have adventures, or become lady novelists. They are practical, dutiful daughters who’d love to find happiness in marriage and children. Yet, Quinn always manages to imbue them with intelligence, strength of character and a sense of humor.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham’s Grace Eversleigh is such a heroine. The impoverished orphan of a country gentleman, she suffers numerous daily indignities as the companion to the hard-ass Dowager Duchess of Wyndham. She enjoys whatever tiny rebellions she can, and tries to keep her sense of humor hidden. But when an attempted robbery results in the Dowager claiming the highwayman as her long lost grandson, will Grace be able to keep her feelings for the dashing fellow hidden?

Even the most roguish of Quinn heroes can’t hide their inner decency. The possible true Duke of Wyndham, Jack Audley, is like the nicest highwayman that ever lived. He only steals from rich people, and gives much of his spoils to the poor. Jack is so charming and witty, so bright and affable, I couldn’t believe he had ever been a criminal. I completely put it out of my head.

Words like nice, pleasant, witty and charming are an apt description for The Lost Duke of Wyndham in general. I enjoyed it, it kept my interest, and I found the romance to be sweet and sexy, but I found it a bit lightweight. I fear I’ll forget the details really quick. To be honest, I found Grace and Jack’s relationships with the Dowager and Thomas (the other possible Duke) more interesting. The Dowager is a tough old bitch, and Thomas, who has been “The Duke of Wyndham” for a long time, is controlled, sarcastic and a bit mysterious. They provided a contrast to the charming and nice Jack and Grace, and provided much of the funny and the pathos.

Jack and Grace also have their private woes, which were a bit meh. Jack’s reasons for not wanting to return to Ireland and Grace’s belief that she couldn’t marry Jack were total historical romance clichés. I was like, get over it already. There was a twist late in the story concerning Jack which was a real surprise, but wrapped up so neatly and quickly, I found it odd.

All in all The Lost Duke of Wyndham was a fun read with a number of laugh out loud moments. It may not be one of Quinn’s most memorable, but it’s a pleasant way to while away a spring afternoon. And I am really looking forward to Thomas’ story, due in the fall.

Grade: B-

     From the back cover:

     Will the Real Duke of Wyndham Please Stand Up?

     Jack Audley has been a highwayman.  A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

     Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine… until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she’s not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have…

     Read an excerpt here.

Take a LOOK!!!!!!!!!!

You can get a great peek at The Lost Duke of Wyndham AND for a limited time Avon is letting fans READ THE DUKE AND I FOR FREE! How much awesomeness is that?!!?

Lawson reviewed The Lost Duke of Wyndham yesterday and we have another review coming on the release day. Get your Avon goodies here!

So what do you think?

Lawson’s review of The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn
Historical romance released by Avon 27 May 2008

This books starts the tales of the disputed Dukedom of Wyndham. The next in the series will come out in October and it’s called Mr. Cavendish, I Presume. I’ve always had a small fascination with Quinn’s titles, they tend to play on some different things and it’s rather fun. The first character we meet though is not one of the proposed Dukes, but rather the Dowager Duchess and her companion, Grace Eversleigh. And what a very non-Quinn character the Dowager is.

I say that for one reason only: usually embittered characters with no positive views of life are the villain of the piece in a Quinn novel. The Dowager is not really a villain, but just a woman who life handed a rough hand and as such she’s become kind of a viper. The fact that Grace puts up with her for so long with good humor and loyalty shows the best parts of her character. Grace has also had a difficult life, but with the Dowager’s meager largesse, she’s been saved from ruin and is rather comfortable, if not well cared for.

This is all thrown in upheaval when the Dowager and Grace are set upon by highwaymen on the way home from an assembly. The Dowager recognizes the highwayman as her possible grandson and, as it comes out later when he comes to the castle, the true heir to the Dukedom. Jack Audley is rather shocked by this information and then spends the rest of the book trying to get out of what could be a colossal mistake.

Jack, you see, has a secret he hides rather well. To give it away would be the height of spoiling things and what good hero doesn’t have some sort of secret he needs to overcome? Other than that, he’s a charming rogue, with an easy smile and a sharp wit that could melt a girls heart. Which he does very easily to Grace. Though she feels loyal to the Dowager and by extension her grandson Thomas, the current Duke, to see her fall for Jack is rather sweet.

By the end of the story, the reader knows who the true Duke is, but the story continues in the next book. Throughout there’s Quinn’s trademark humor and dialogue, but it seems a little hollow. At least until Jack comes clean with his secret and it helps to round his character. Will the Dowager seem less of a dragon in that one? Will the other contender for the Dukedom have a satisfying end to his life? It’s said it’s told concurrently, so we shall see the other side of the story.

Grade: B

     Summary:

Jack Audley has been a highwayman.

A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine . . . until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she’s not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have . . .

     Read an excerpt.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn

I can’t decide. I know shocking. So I need address for…

I wasn’t planning on flying ALL three. Two are ready to go now. One you will have to wait on, sorry. I will go in order of how the addresses come in. I will fly one out today. I think Devon is read and will fly one out (sorry Sandy you will have to wait for the finial, there there you get lots and lots of books to read early).This isn’t how the Fly it Forward was suppose to go but I will have a post on that later. And you guys can help us decide if we want to keep it like this or go back to how I wanted to do it before which would have the book be ‘flown’ to more people but would take a ‘bit’ of work on your part. (I have been told no no no to KEEP it simple or you won’t play)

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn will be our first ARC to Fly South for the Winter.

Well, that isn’t strictly true. I have no clue where yet to where the book will fly… THAT is up to YOU.

The contest starts NOW! Read on…

The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, Book 1) by Julia Quinn, blurb:

Will the Real Duke of Wyndham Please Stand Up?

Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine… until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she’s not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have…

Here’s the contest:

1. Review [MUST BE A NEW REVIEW DATED FROM 4/1/08 - 4/6/08] one of Julia Quinn’s books;
2. Comment to this post by midnight SUNDAY, 6 April (technically, 12:00am US Central on the 7th) with one of the following:
   - your review (just write it or paste it into the comments field); or
   - a link to the review on your own site, mentioning TGTBTU and the FIF contest; or
   - the Amazon.com ‘permalink’ to your review, mentioning TGTBTU (you’ll see the permalink just below your review once it goes live on Amazon.com).
3. We’ll review your review and pick the one we like best. We’ll announce winners next week.

THE PRIZE:

• If we pick your review, you win the Lost Duke ARC! We will “fly” (a.k.a. mail) the ARC to you and you will get to read the book!!! RIGHT NOW. And it doesn’t come out until JUNE!!! We’ll also turn your review into an official TGTBTU review post with your byline and everything (short reference to your blog if that’s the way you play)!

THE FLY IT FORWARD PART:

• Then guess what!! Email us your review of Lost Duke by 27 May, and we will ‘fly’ you another ARC, of a different book, for review! And if you review that one by the release deadline, we’ll send you another ARC! And so on and so on and so on…

We’ll do this same Fly It Forward contest with several different books, so keep your eyes peeled every week for more Fly It Forward contests.

So get your wings a’ flappin’! This is gonna be a blast! (no, no, no, no… keep your mitts off my Ward)

Julia Quinn, fantabulous author of the soon to be released two book historical series The Two Dukes of Wyndham (the first, The Lost Duke of Wyndham, comes 27 May 08) tells us which 12 historical novels she’s gotta have…

Twelve Historical Romance Novels I’m Looking Forward to in 2008

1. The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne (2 Jan 08, Berkley Sensation). Okay, I’m cheating a little, since I’ve already read this, but it’s so wonderful and unique–I’m looking forward to hearing what everyone else thinks.

2. Duchess by Night by Eloisa James (24 Jun 08, Avon). Because I am completely hooked on this series, which I think is her best. Which is saying something, since she is one of my all-time favorite authors.

3. Private Arrangement by Sherry Thomas (25 Mar 08, Bantam). Because Eloisa James said it was amazing. And I trust her.

4. Some Like it Wicked by Teresa Medeiros (29 Jul 08, Avon). By the time this comes out, we’ll have gone two years between Medeiros books, and that’s way too long. Plus, I happen to know that her editor said this was her best book yet, and I know her editor well enough to know that she does not pass out false compliments.

5. Her Every Pleasure by Gaelen Foley (25 Mar 08, Ballantine). I just read Her Secret Fantasy, and now I’m desperate for Gabriel’s story. Plus, I leave for India in less than two weeks, so I’m loving reading books with a strong Indian influcence.

6. The Wicked Ways of a Duke by Laura Lee Guhrke (26 Dec 07, Avon). Do I need a reason? I buy everything with her name on it. Her books are smart and romantic, and no one can write sexual tension as well.

7. The Stolen Princess by Anne Gracie (2 Jan 08, Berkley Sensation). I’m a sucker for royalty stories, and I’ve always liked Gracie’s writing.

9. A Notorious Proposition by Adele Ashworth (29 Apr 08, Avon). Adele’s books are always exquisitely written and beautifully textured.

10. Shadow Dance by Julie Garwood (reprint, 26 Dec 07, Ballantine). She returns to historicals! Now if only we could get Judith McNaught to do the same…

11. Let Sleeping Rogues Lie (School for Heiresses, Book 4) by Sabrina Jeffries (19 Feb 08, Pocket). We’re reading this one for the book club on my bulletin board. I can’t wait!

12. To Taste Temptation (The Legend of the Four Soldiers, Book 1) by Elizabeth Hoyt (1 May 08, Forever). Another book club pick. Plus, she’s one of the most exciting new voices in historical romances today. I can’t wait to see what she does next.

13. The Lost Duke of Wyndham by me. Because I’d lying, otherwise.

Gwen wants to Manga with you. Since I am prolly gonna bury the post in a bit do go talk manga with Gwen if you like it.

I do have to thank the ever delightful Julia Quinn for braving the blog yesterday. It was fab to have her on and we will announce a winner for her contest today.

I have a short Q&A with Jessica Bird (it can be a week of RITA winners *g*) that will be going up today! And a review for her August SSE.

ran into a snafu with the McKenna contest so I am double checking things…

just a note though:
Anyone that has a real reason to be posting from the same IP, six times, in a row, under different names is more than welcome to email me and explain. I am sadly cynical and when I see four to six names in a row, within seconds of each other, coming from the same IP, same location, with differnet names and emails (from ‘freebie’ accounts like yahoo, gmail, hotmail) I get to thinking socking is going on. For a free contest…. with 40! books being given away… blows the mind….

I need to figure out who all I have going overseas. I have a two winners in the UK and one in Canada. Since it seems to take an act of god to get me to the post office I want to make sure they are the only ones I need to send out. Once that is done I will double check and make sure I have all contest winner out in the mail.

I am sure there is something else I need to do today but for now I must go finish payroll.

I have been stalking Julia’s website getting info for the next post and found this very nifty. As I have said before I LOVE little extra’s on authors websites. Although if I had to pick – give me at least a bare bones site with a backlist and coming soon, please!

But Julia Quinn has a great site! Mucho info, easy to get around and Julia Quinn Recommends, even better she has an archive of rec’s! It makes my lil reader heart do a happy dance.

She also has a page for website rec’s. Very cool, I will have to go through them later because I am odd like that.