I can’t say that 2011 was a classic reading year for me. So many train wrecks and meh books. But I read a lot, and even in a good year I’ll have something to celebrate.

Sooo, here we go.

The Good

Doukakis’s Apprentice by Sarah Morgan – a quirky heroine and a staid hero makes for an amusing book, but also a love story you can follow from start to marriage.

The Highest Price to Pay by Maisey Yates – an African hero and a scarred heroine. Lovely. The story wasn’t about his color. He was happy about that, and so was everyone around him. The heroine is a fashion designer with some bad burn scars. The story doesn’t make light of them, but a yummy hero and some good research made for an absorbing read.

Loose Ends by Tara Janzen – The wonderfully imperfect and implausible Steele Street boys end their series with this book. I have read them all, and loved every one, and this last book didn’t disappoint. I had such a good time with this series.

Too Proud to be Bought by Sharon Kendrick – I love that Kendrick takes risks. Not all her books work for me, but she works on a theme of sacrifice, and sometimes for my taste, the heroine gives up a bit too much. But this book was great, not least because the heroine doesn’t take all the crap the hero wants to shove her way. She fights back.

The Man She Loves to Hate by Kelly Hunter – a ski hut, a steaming affair between two people who really shouldn’t be together and a plot that just works.

The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton by Miranda Neville – my big historical discovery of the year. I hadn’t read Neville before, but I discovered a new-to-me author to love. I did enjoy this book, and I have a review copy of her next one, which I’m saving for when I’ve done something really good. It’s funny, accurate historically, and believable.

Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase – so good. Chase back on form. Her sassy and adult heroine is more than a match for her hero, who needs to grow up a bit before he’s worthy of her.

Inside by Brenda Novak – romance light, but an intriguing story about an insider working in a high-security prison and the deputy governor. Exciting, edge-of-your-seat stuff, and the other three in the series are great, too.

Shameless Playboy by Caitlin Crews – one of the Bad Blood books, notable for taking some chances with the Harlequin Presents usual fare. This one took typical tropes, the playboy and the southern belle with a past, and made it memorable, and a book I just dived into and didn’t stop until the end.

Front Page Affair by Mira Lyn Kelly – a traditional style Presents that does it right.

I just noticed – no paranormals this year, although I read a fair few. That’s a shame, because I love me some good paranormals.

The Bad

The Crown Affair by Lucy King – Such a shame, after a great debut this one read rushed and contrived, as if the characters were being crammed into a plot.

One Night in London by Caroline Linden – the strangest cover of the year, beating anything Harlequin put out, and characters I could never warm to.

Star Crossed Seduction by Jenny Brown – a diatribe about astrology masquerading as a historical novel. I have nothing against it, have even tried it myself a time or two, but I prefer my historicals without lectures. And without a brain-dead heroine.

The Marriage Betrayal by Lynne Graham – the kind of Modern Romance you don’t get very often these days. Just as well, really.

The Bed and the Bachelor by Tracy Anne Warren – repeated date rape by the heroine on the clueless, supposedly brilliant hero. She gets the inexperienced man drunk and drugged and has sex with him. But the villain is holding her family to ransom until she steals a cipher from the hero. So that’s all right then.

Guarding a Notorious Lady by Olivia Parker - I didn’t believe in the premise of this book for a minute, and the heroine was beyond irritating.

His Unknown Heir by Chantelle Shaw – secret baby of the worse kind. The mother thinks she has the right to keep her pregnancy secret, because the hero has humiliated her. Then she’s surprised when the hero is angry.

Taken by Desire by Lavinia Kent – I never felt connected to the characters and by the end (it was a dnf for me) the heroine was annoying me no end.

Meddling with a Millionaire by Cat Schield – clunky storytelling and characters I really didn’t like. They were the entitled kind.

Unworldly Secretary, Untamed Greek by Kim Lawrence — secretary/boss romances are a guilty pleasure for me. I know I shouldn’t like them, but I still seek them out. This had a “take your glasses off, Miss Smith – my, you’re beautiful” heroine who I immediately hated, and head-hopping that hurt my neck.

The meh

So many. That was my problem this year. I read a lot of forgettable, average books. I want authors to take a chance, even if it ultimately fails, and I am so heartily tired of the “high concept” book that ignores everything – characterization, plot, historical accuracy, logical plot development – in favor of the god High Concept. Stop it, already. Tell me about people and the problems they have to face in finding true love. I don’t care if he’s a Regency duke or a CIA agent, I want the romance.

C2’s review of Guarding a Notorious Lady (Devine Series, Book 2) by Olivia Parker
Historical Romance published by Avon 31 May 11

What happens when a self-proclaimed matchmaker is thrown into close contact with the object of her affection? Especially if that object is her older brother’s best friend and has never shown any interest in her. Lady Rosalind is about to find out.

Lady Rosalind Devine is highly sought after by the gentlemen of the ton. However, year after year she eludes them. Still, just because she hasn’t made a love match for herself doesn’t mean she isn’t interested in helping others find their perfect match. There is little she enjoys more than helping couples find true love and happily ever after.

The gentlemen pursuing her are not so happy. The matter of who will catch the lovely Lady Rosalind and when has become the subject of many bets placed in betting books around London. So much so that her brother Gabriel is concerned that the would-be swains might resort to desperate measures – not that he is unable to control love-sick dandies. But Gabriel is getting ready to take a trip to the Continent – his wedding trip – and he decides reinforcements must be called in to make sure Rosalind is protected while he is away.

Nicholas Kincaid lives near the Devines’ country estate. When he comes to London after inheriting a title from a distant relative (he is now the Marquess of Winterbourne), Gabriel talks him into looking after Rosalind during the Season…and insists she not know he is her guardian. Of course, neither of them knows Rosalind has loved Nicholas from afar for ages.

I’ll admit the beginning of the book was a little silly and I was afraid that Rosalind was going to be one of those annoying, immature heroines. But she ended up having more depth than I originally expected. And Nicholas is a very nice hero – growly, trying his best to do a favor for a friend while fighting a losing battle against his growing attraction to the very person he is supposed to be protecting.

The sub-plot (I use the term loosely) is mostly a waste of time. The relationship between Rosalind and Nicholas is entertaining and doesn’t need the silliness or the distraction. Plus the character that is used is kind of creepy and borders on stalkerish.

So, faithful reader, if you’re in the mood for a light, entertaining read with a fun relationship between the lead couple and don’t mind that there isn’t a lot of unneeded plot to get in the way, check out Guarding a Notorious Lady. I enjoy Ms. Parker’s voice and her heroes and heroines are always entertaining.

Grade: C+

Summary:

Exquisite trouble . . .

A woman of pristine breeding, Lady Rosalind Devine is also an unrepentant meddler and snoop— which is why her brother refuses to leave her to her own devices while on his wedding trip. But Rosalind will not make things easy for any unseen, unwanted “nursemaid”—and vows to use her considerable wiles to expose her mystery guardian.

Nicholas Kincaid, the Marquess of Winterbourne, agreed to secretly guard his friend’s spoiled, stubborn sister, though her infuriating penchant for mischief is causing him to question his decision. Though bound by the rules of society—and friendship— Rosalind’s spirit and sensuality have sparked a fierce desire in Nicholas to play a very different role in her life, one that entails passion, ecstasy . . . and unavoidable scandal.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

LynneC’s review of Guarding a Notorious Lady by Olivia Parker
Historical Romance published by Avon 31 May 11

I’ve never read Olivia Parker before, and while this is a pleasant read, it’s instantly forgettable, so gossamer-thin that if I don’t write this review now, I’ll probably forget about it. I put this book down half an hour ago, and if I hadn’t made notes, knowing I was going to review this one, I wouldn’t remember it.

This is an ARC that I received from NetGalley, and in my desperate hunt to find a new historical author to love, I thought I’d try this. It’s not for me, though it may well be for you. It’s an airport book, and God bless anyone who can help the poor traveler to wile away those tedious hours after security and before takeoff.

The heroine, whose name I’ve forgotten already and have to look up, Rosalind (oh whoops, Rose of my Richard and Rose series is a Rosalind, I should be able to remember that name!) is a scamp rather than notorious, so the title seems a little inappropriate and far too melodramatic for the tone of this book, which is charmingly light. Anyway, Rosalind is in London for the season when she meets a neighbour, Nicholas (with the unusual surname of Kincaid – an Irish name for a Scot living in England? Ah well, could be. After all, Billy Connolly is Scottish). She has no idea he’s in London and no idea that he has recently inherited the title of Marquis until Chapter Two.

That wasn’t my first “Eh?” moment, but it did stop me a bit. She would have known. She’d have known he was in line, and she’d have known when he inherited. But this is a light-hearted story, and it would be a shame to spoil it, wouldn’t it?

Historical inaccuracies and skimming period and setting are legion. Kilts and whisky in the Regency period? Not for fifty years did they make an appearance in polite society, but, eh, I told myself. At least whisky is spelled right (big sigh of relief there!) or maybe it wasn’t Regency. Since there’s no mention of Napoleon, Wellington, or any other reference to ground me in the period, I wonder if it might be early Victorian, except no mention is made of her, either. Not that I noticed, anyway. There doesn’t seem to be a mention of the period in the blurb, either. So I decided the whole thing is taking place in America in the 1850s. Somewhere like Boston (is there anywhere else like Boston?) and since I know very little about this time and place, it works much better. Because Britain it isn’t. Neither is it Regency.

I can actually take a lightly written novel if the author makes me care about the characters and their dilemmas. But there doesn’t seem to be any dilemmas. Rosalind spends the whole book falling into Nicholas’ arms, tripping, stumbling, falling off ladders and so on. Accident prone doesn’t begin to describe it unless, of course, she is doing it on purpose. That’s about it, really. The plot, I mean. Rosalind spends a season falling into his arms and he spends the season kissing her and then pushing her away, either because of basic honor or a promise he made to her brother or because he has a Tragic Past. Take your pick. None of them seem to matter come the sex scene.

There is a little kissing, a little heavy petting, and one sex scene in the book. It’s a book written by numbers in that respect.

Rosalind is in love with Nicholas from page one and he’s in love with her, so the whole book could actually have ended at the end of Chapter One. Or Chapter Two, if you like a ball scene. She meets him unexpectedly, he’s inherited a title, her family approves, and they announce their engagement. There’s no conflict, no believable reason for staying apart, no reason why they should resist each other.

So, as I do when I start getting bored, I note the inaccuracies and plough on. If I weren’t determined to find one historical I liked, and I knew I’d decided to review this one, I would have given up.

Am I hard for commenting on inaccuracies in what is essentially a romp? No, I don’t think so, though I do feel a tad mean. But hey, remember Georgette Heyer – unforgettable. She wrote romps, scads of them, and in every one she gave the reader a reason to turn the page and in every one she made serious efforts to ground the reader in the period she loved, giving details without swamping the characters in it. They just belonged there, as surely as the Baluchistan Hound belonged in Green Park. But with the Parker book, it would have been any dog in any park, and it wouldn’t have had the same impact, or the same comedic effect. And the fact that I can remember that and the scene effortlessly should really show the difference. Heyer’s Frederica is deeply memorable and very funny in parts. The Baluchistan Hound and Dr. Ratcliffe’s Restorative Pork Jelly are indelibly marked in the minds of anyone reading it. It’s the superficiality of the Parker book that I find tedious and, I think, why it doesn’t have the same effect on me.

And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, go and get a copy of Georgette Heyer’s Frederica and read it now. You won’t regret it.

Don’t get me wrong. Parker’s style is delightful and has enchanted many a reader, but it isn’t a book you’d put on your keeper shelf. Or you might, remembering that you enjoyed it, and then pick it up six months later and think, “I don’t think I’ve read this one.”

So for an airport read, it’s probably a C. For review purposes, it’s a D. Sorry. And I did enjoy the first chapter, and I thought I’d found something interesting. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out.

Grade: D

Summary:

Exquisite trouble . . .

A woman of pristine breeding, Lady Rosalind Devine is also an unrepentant meddler and snoop–which is why her brother refuses to leave her to her own devices while on his wedding trip. But Rosalind will not make things easy for any unseen, unwanted “nursemaid”–and vows to use her considerable wiles to expose her mystery guardian.

Nicholas Kincaid, the Marquess of Winterbourne, agreed to secretly guard his friend’s spoiled, stubborn sister, though her infuriating penchant for mischief is causing him to question his decision. Though bound by the rules of society–and friendship– Rosalind’s spirit and sensuality have sparked a fierce desire in Nicholas to play a very different role in her life, one that entails passion, ecstasy . . . and unavoidable scandal.

Read an excerpt.

C2’s review of To Wed a Wicked Earl by Olivia Parker
Historical romance, released 25 August 2009 by Avon

The earls of Rothbury have long been known for decadence, rakishness and all manner of things that made them dangerous to the young misses of the ton and Adam Faramond, current Earl of Rothbury, is no exception.  Maybe.  Why, then, has his attention been snagged by a shy, sometimes stuttering, wallflower of a lady?  And it isn’t a passing interest – oh not at all! – for six years he has watched over Miss Charlotte Greene from afar.  Rothbury knows he isn’t the right sort of man for her.  Still, watching her pine for his best friend, Lord Tristan Devine, has not been easy.

Charlotte Greene knows she is not one of the most sought after young ladies.  She is quiet, sometimes painfully shy, and watched over by a very strict mother.  Charlotte has been in love with Lord Tristan since he rescued her and her mother from an overturned carriage.  When she is chosen as a participant in the Bride Hunt Ball, it seems her feelings might be returned – alas Lord Tristan proposes to another.  Charlotte is devastated but before she embarrasses herself by running out of the ballroom, Rothbury intercepts her and forces her to dance with him.  She understands that he is saving her from humiliating herself in front of the other guests and even begins to enjoy the dance.

After his kind gesture, Charlotte decides that she and Rothbury are friends. And friends help each other, right? So she offers to help Rothbury win the supposed object of his affection, her friend and neighbor, Lady Rosalind Devine. In return, Charlotte wants Rothbury to help her make Lord Tristan jealous and sorry he didn’t choose her and find a suitor to marry since this will be her last season and she doesn’t want to marry a friend of her elderly parents.

As it turns out, Rothbury does need her help – not to win Lady Rosalind but to keep his grandmother from selling the one solvent (but unentailed) property the family owns. His grandmother is not quite in touch with reality and has told Rothbury she will sell the estate if he doesn’t marry quickly. Rothbury invites Charlotte and her mother to visit the estate and tells his grandmother that Charlotte is his betrothed – in French…the only language his grandmother will speak and a language Charlotte does not speak. Maybe. During the visit, his grandmother begs Rothbury and Charlotte to have a pretend ceremony in the same spot she married his grandfather. To make grandmama happy, they agree. Oh, faithful reader, I’m sure you see where this is going.

I so enjoyed this book! I thought the prequel was a remarkably good debut and impatiently waited for the next book. And I wasn’t disappointed in the least. Watching Rothbury yearn for Charlotte – knowing he isn’t good for her and trying to stay away from her but completely unable to be mean or refuse to help her whenever she needed him – while she is completely oblivious because she would never imagine a man like him being interested in someone like her.

There are some interesting twists and turns along the road to their HEA. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, there is a twist that sends things off in a different direction. If you’re in the mood for a fun, sweet read you can’t go wrong with this one.

Grade: A

Summary:
He’s on the hunt for a bride . . .
Adam Faramond, Earl of Rothbury, needs to find a wife—immediately!—or his beloved grandmother will leave him penniless. But Adam, an unrepentant rake, would reform for only one woman, the woman he’s lusted after—and loved—for years. It’s rather unfortunate, then, that Miss Charlotte Greene would never consent to be the blushing bride of a rogue . . . or so he thinks.
Charlotte believes that the earl, the only man whose touch leaves her trembling, would never want a woman like her. Weary of her wallflower ways, Charlotte decides that a friendship with the earl just might give her the excitement she desires. Keeping their true feelings hidden, she and Adam plan a sham ceremony to placate the dowager. But when the “marriage of convenience” takes an unexpected turn, will Charlotte and her wicked earl finally reveal their irresistible, unforgettable love—and delight in a lifetime of passion?

Read an excerpt!

If you want to be completely up on the backstory (or just want to read another fun, sweet book), read At the Bride Hunt Ball. It isn’t completely necessary, though. To Wed a Wicked Earl stands alone quite well.

Other books in the series:

Are you tired of reading 2008 wrap-up lists yet?? Too bad! Read on, suckers gentle readers.

My top 10 books I read in 2008 (in no particular order): 

	Heart Fate (Celta’s HeartMates, Book 7) by Robin D. Owens Fantasy romance released by Berkley Trade Sep 2008 A series that just keeps getting better and better!
	Flat-out Sexy by Erin McCarthy Contemporary romance released by Berkley Sensation Nov 2008 Sweet, sexy, fun read! The internet buzz sucked me in and I’m glad. )
	Innocent In Death by J.D. Robb Futuristic romantic suspense released by Berkley Aug 2007I purposely keep myself behind in this series but I’m catching up – oh noes! I must pace myself better.
	Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, Book 1) by Larissa Ione Paranormal romance released by Forever Jun 2008 An excellent start to a new series! With a looonnngggg wait between books one and two. However, books two and three will be out back-to-back. Yay!
	Gabriel’s Ghost by Linnea Sinclair Sci-Fi romance released by Bantam Oct 2005  Sully! Does anything else need to be said? I didn’t think so.
	Grimspace by Ann Aguirre Sci-fi romance released by Ace Feb 2008
	A Lady’s Secret by Jo Beverley Historical romance released by Signet Apr 2008 I love the Mallorens and this was one secret I was glad to see revealed.
	At the Bride Hunt Ball by Olivia Parker Historical romance released by Avon May 2008An excellent Avon debut! Ms. Parker’s website says she is working on the sequel.
	Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James Contemporary romance released by Berkley Oct 2008 More online buzz I couldn’t ignore and another excellent debut.
	With Every Breath by Lynn Kurland Fantasy time-travel romance released by Jove May 2008One of my very favorite authors! She doesn’t get the attention she deserves, says me.

A side note – I have got to change my rating system, dang it all. I suppose I’ll go back to numbers. I always have too many books with the same rating and then I can’t sort them properly.

Honorable Mention:

	Josh Lanyon’s Adrien English Mysteries – yup, I read them all in 08…I can haz moar, plzkthx?
	J.L. Langley’s Englor Series – just so fab!

Lawson’s review of At the Bride Hunt Ball by Olivia Parker
Historical romance released by Avon 27 May 08

This book is by a debut author at Avon. It also has an interesting and possibly eye-rolling premise. A Duke who, for personal reasons, has refused to marry, but is not above making his younger brother marry. He hosts a house party at the family castle of seven of the seasons most eligible ladies for his brother to pick from and make his bride. If you think this sounds like the plot of a reality TV show, you’d be on the nose.

[Ed.: doesn't this cover just SCREAM "I'm a 1980's recycled cover!"?]

Now this reality TV show premise also has the usual reality show suspects. The Duke of Wolverest, Gabriel Devine, is the show runner of the farce of a house party. He gets his sister, Rosalind and his Aunt Eugenia to go through the debutantes of the season to pick the ones best suited for his brother. His brother, Tristan, is a spoiled, selfish, shallow and callow youth that shouldn’t be getting married to anyone.

Invited to the ball as the prospective brides are the forgettable twin Fairbourne sisters, a Scottish heiress, a diamond of the first water, an earthy brunette (the heroine’s cousin), the heronine, Madelyn Haywood and her good friend Charlotte Greene. Most of the brides-to-be decide the Duke would be a better catch, and a few get shipped off early. Charlotte has been in love with Tristan for awhile, and works hard to get his attention. Madelyn just wants to get her stepmother off her back and so tries to give the idea that she’s somewhat pursuing the Duke while pining for her childhood home.

There are some clichéd aspects of the story. The Duke’s hardened heart softening and him laughing more because of the heroine. The heroine being clumsy and accident prone as well as a bluestocking and thus breaks through the hero’s shields. The heroine being ragged on by the matronly secondary characters such as her stepmother, her aunt (the earthy brunette’s mother) and the Duke’s Aunt Eugenia. She’s also chastised for having an American mother as the cause for all her societal imperfections. The hardened rake after Madelyn, Lord Rothbury, doesn’t follow his cliche, though, which was a nice surprise.

Though there are these clichés, and chemistry but no sparks, between the leads (and there’s so much promise too), Madelyn is generally likable except when she lets the criticisms get to her. Gabriel grew on me throughout the story going from overly arrogant and bossy to… ok so he doesn’t change much. But the fact that he realizes that Madelyn makes him laugh more and brings light to his life makes him decent.

For a debut, it’s not half bad. Parker shows promise as a lighthearted romance writer since she’s taken a wild premise and some stereotypical characters and makes some likable characters. I’d be interested to see where this author goes after this story. Maybe Charlotte will find that hero that deserves her and Rosalind will get trapped with Lord Rothbury.

Grade: B-

     Blurb:

     To Snare a Bride . . .

     To Gabriel Devine, Duke of Wolverest, the bonds of marriage are nothing more than shackles. But if he’s to remain a lifelong bachelor, that leaves only his younger brother to carry on the family name. Inviting the ton’s most eligible ladies to an elegant ball, Gabriel is certain any one of them would be all too eager to become the next duchess and provide an heir—leaving Gabriel to continue his ecstatic pursuit of pleasure.

     To Catch a Rogue . . .

     Her social-climbing stepmother would give anything to have Madelyn Haywood betrothed to a future duke. But Madelyn believes the brothers Devine to be nothing more than heartless rogues—especially Gabriel, whose rakish reputation precedes him. He is nothing more than a slave to passion, and she will not be conquered by his caresses­—and yet his wicked ways tempt her so . . .

     Read an excerpt.