Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of The Border Lord by Sophia James
Historical romance released by Harlequin Historical 1 May 09

While I know some readers who can’t get enough Scottish historicals, I am not one of them. Oh sure, I like them, but only occasionally. As a pallet cleanser if you will. I picked up Sophia James’ latest because I was ready for another Scottish historical, I love discovering new Harlequin Historical writers, and I’m a complete and total sucker for the marriage of convenience trope. Unfortunately, after a bang-up first half, I found the second half of this novel to be muddled with too much external conflict.

Lady Grace Stanton is no beauty. Scarred by fire, with flaming red hair, an unfortunate skin condition, and a stutter, she’s hardly worth the trouble if not for the fact that she has quite a bit of money. So, hoping to settle unrest along the Scottish border, the King decrees that she’s to marry Laird Malcolm Kerr. Then Malcolm dies under mysterious circumstances. This hardly changes matters though. The King needs the families to unite, the Kerrs need money, and Lady Grace doesn’t have a lot of options. The new Laird, Lachlan Kerr will just have to stand in for his dearly departed brother.

Lachlan has already had one disastrous marriage, and he’s not real anxious for another trip down the aisle. But his land is in disrepair, and he desperately needs the money that Lady Grace’s dowry will provide. Yep, marriage is the only way. However once the deal is done, it’s only the start of their problems as a couple. Both of them are hiding secrets, and traitors are all around.

The first half of the novel is used to focus on the romantic couple and set the wheels in motion for their romance. While Grace is no beauty, her husband is quickly captivated by her, and drawn to her bravery. Grace doesn’t want this marriage any more than he does, and while she doesn’t have many friends among Lachlan’s people, she does win some hearts with her backbone and quick thinking. Certainly Lachlan and Grace intrigue each other, and that only intensifies once they take to the marriage bed.

Unfortunately I felt this story floundered in the second half. It takes place in 1360, which was certainly an unsettled time in Scottish history. However, all the political intrigue and secrets gives the story a schizophrenic feel. This isn’t helped by the small matter of dead brother Malcolm who flits from villain to hero so often that I could barely keep up. Also, it got more than a tad annoying after a while that Grace and Lachlan seemed incapable of talking to each other. 90% of the issues in this story could have been resolved had they just laid all their cards out on the table from the get-go. Certainly, that’s probably not likely to happen – but one would think after the mind-altering sex that they would have been a bit more willing to have some frank discussions.

Ultimately it’s the second half that dragged this story down for me. Up until that point, it was a wonderful trip down memory lane, reminding me of the historicals I loved as a teenager featuring “plain” heroines who catch the eye of the beautiful, hunky hero. Too much external conflict, and too much politicking ended up sucking most of the fun out of it for me.

Grade: C

Summary:
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Ordered to marry, Laird Lachlan Kerr thought a betrothal to homely, timid Lady Grace Stanton was hardly worth the trouble of protest. Yet, despite everything, he found there was something about her that was…brave. All his life he had been surrounded by betrayal, and this woman, who believed there was still goodness in him, was special indeed.
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Grace knew that the safety of her home depended on her betrothal—signed, sealed and delivered! Lachlan’s strength and unexpected care of her were dangerously appealing. She could fall for this man with secrets in his eyes….
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Read an excerpt here.

Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of Kidnapped: His Innocent Mistress by Nicola Cornick
Historical romance released by Harlequin Historical 1 Mar 09

When I was a wee little Super Librarian, I spent many Saturday afternoons browsing the shelves of my hometown public library. It was there that I discovered the gothic novels of Victoria Holt and Barbara Michaels, which I devoured. One reason I think these books worked so well for me was because, coming from a mystery reading background, I adore first person narration, and so many of those books were narrated in first person by the intrepid heroines. It was these books, and my growing sense of nostalgia, that had me falling hard and fast for Nicola Cornick’s latest. It probably won’t work for every reader, but damn if it didn’t work for me.

We meet Catriona Balfour on a dreary day in 1802 Scotland as she’s burying her beloved father. He was a respected teacher and scholar, which means young Catriona now has a whole lot of nothing. Currently staying with her godfather, the local minister, Catriona is more than slightly shocked when handsome Naval officer, and the heir of the Earl of Strathconan , Neil Sinclair, shows up at her godfather’s door to spirit her to her family’s estate. Catriona had no clue that her father had a brother, but he apparently does and the man has agreed to take her in. Neil, a charmer and rake of the first order, is there to escort her. Not seeing much of an option (other than marrying one of the local boys, which she doesn’t want to do), Catriona agrees to travel to Glen Clair and meet the long lost family she didn’t know existed. Naturally, adventure ensues.

Nicola Cornick fashioned this story after one of her favorite books, Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, and certainly there are similarities (including the name of Balfour!), but she makes it her own by adding a compelling romantic storyline. Neil is the stuff of romantic dreams. Charming, rakish, and not above making outrageous propositions to our heroine, who flatly turns him down. Our girl Catriona is made of sterner stuff than that, and what I so enjoyed about her was that she has believable gumption and backbone. She’ll stand up for herself, and say one or more cutting remarks, but it’s not like she’s running around in trousers and getting into random sword-fights with thugs. She behaves like a young lady would in 1802, although those of higher station and rank find her totally unacceptable. The girl has nerve, and darn if I didn’t fall madly in love with her.

Cornick crams a lot into this story without making it feel stuffed or frantic. The romance does take a back seat for a good portion of the novel, which the author uses to lay the groundwork on the flirtation between Neil and Catriona, and also to introduce her long-lost relatives. The plot is a bit soap-opera-like, which worked extremely well for me, and only kicked up my nostalgia another notch. It’s the second half where the real adventures begins, with Neil and Catriona having to spend a lot of time, in close quarters, together. Here is where the romance blossoms, and the novel concludes with them dealing with the societal demands of Neil’s station, and finally admitting their true feelings for each other.

I just adored this story from start to finish, and I want everyone else to read it and adore it as well. Certainly first person narration is a hard sell for many romance readers, but for those of us who cut our teeth on those fabulous first-person books of yesteryear, this is really a must read. I couldn’t get enough of it, and darn if I don’t want to drop everything and reread it right this minute. Brava!

Grade: A-

Summary:
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If I accept his offer to be his mistress, I could have the finest silks, the best carriage and be transformed from ugly duckling to a pampered, pretty swan! And although I would feel a virtuous pride in turning down the wicked rake, I also have an unmaidenly interest in exactly what the role would entail….
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Catriona is doing her best to resist the skillful seduction of the scandalous heir to the Earl of Strathconan. But kidnapped and shipwrecked with only this rake as company, her adventure has just begun….
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Read an excerpt.

Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of Bound to Please by Hope Tarr
Historical romance released by Harlequin Blaze (#407) 01 July 2008

I’ll admit when I first heard that Harlequin was interested in publishing some historicals under the Blaze line I didn’t get it. I mean, why? We already have the Harlequin Historical line. Why not just sex some of those up a bit? But after reading Bound to Please, the first ever Blaze historical, I think I now “get it.” Since the line launched in 2001, Blaze has become synonymous with sassy, sexy reads – which is exactly what Bound to Please is, albeit set in the Scottish Highlands and not a hip, contemporary world.

When Brianna MacLeod and Ewan Fraser met as children it was puppy love at first sight. Both children of clan lairds, they vowed to marry each other when they were grown. Instead, as the years pass, Brianna finds herself marrying the man her father chose for her. With her father now dead, and her husband murdered by Ewan’s twin brother, Brianna has sworn revenge. While she didn’t love her husband, the shock of his murder caused her to miscarry their baby. Eager to stop the brewing feud between their clans, Brianna decides the best way to do that is to have Ewan’s baby. So she dispatches her men to kidnap him, chain him to her bed, and there he will stay until the deed is done.

Ewan has carried a torch for Brianna since the day they met as children. So much so, that even at 22, he still hasn’t married (some kind of record for 15th century Scotland). The fact that she didn’t honor their oath to wed still stings, as does the fact that she never answered his letters, and that she’s had him kidnapped for the sole purpose of playing stallion to her brood mare. However, as much as he tries to resist, he cannot. He’s always loved Brianna, and this is his opportunity to prove to her they are meant to be together.

It should be noted that when it comes to historicals, I’m not the sort of reader who analyzes every detail for accuracy. Also, what I know about 15th century Scotland could fill a leaky thimble. That being said, I suspect there will be some readers who will take issue with Brianna being her clan’s laird. Could it have happened? Did it ever happen? That will be up to others to ponder. Me? Not so much. I fell into the story and just rolled with it.

I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, and this book was just what the doctor ordered. It was fun, sexy and spicy enough to keep the pages turning. Brianna is a woman bound by duty, so much so that she’s not quite sure how to be “just a woman.” Ewan is my favorite type of hero, the man who has carried a torch for the heroine for years and is now realizing that the fantasy doesn’t hold a candle to the real thing. When these two get together it’s enough to peel paint off the walls.

Readers looking for a rich, meaty, historical doorstop of a read won’t find it here. Tarr doesn’t have the time given the short, snappiness of the Blaze line. But she does craft a quick, sexy read, ideal for lounging on the beach or taking an afternoon break while the kids are napping. Hopefully this won’t be a one book experiment and readers will have more historical Blazes to look forward to in the future.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Fifteenth-century Scotland is a tough place to be a woman in charge. Brianna MacLeod, new laird of her clan, needs a child to establish her position. And the best way to do that is to demand the sexual services of her sworn—and very sexy—enemy!

Ewan Fraser never foresaw being kidnapped, tied up and expected to perform stud service. Yet being bound for the delicious Brianna’s pleasure isn’t all bad. In fact, the more time he spends in her bed, the more he’s determined she’ll be the one who ends up enslaved…

Read an excerpt.