REVIEW: The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey
Stevie‘s review of The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey
Women’s Historical Fiction published by Thomas Dunne Books 10 Dec 19
I loved Iona Grey’s debut novel, particularly its time-slip elements, so I was delighted to discover quite early on that this story followed a similar story, albeit with the two timelines separated by only one decade rather than several. The novel’s present day takes place in the 1930s as nine-year-old Alice struggles to keep up with her lessons from the governess appointed by her grandparents after she came to stay with them. Alice’s father is abroad on business – inspecting his ruby mines in Burma – and Alice’s mother has gone with him. Alice is an accomplished artist, but that doesn’t please her grandparents who would rather she excelled, or even was averagely good, at more academic subjects. Fortunately Alice has an ally in the form of Polly, her mother’s former maid, who has returned to the household to take care of Alice in her mother’s absence. Polly comes up with the idea that Alice should write more interesting letters to her mother than those supervised by her grandmother, and soon a reply comes to Alice’s first one – via Polly – with exciting stories and the prospect of a treasure hunt.
REVIEW REVISIT: How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holquist
LauraJ’s review of How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holquist
Contemporary Romance released by Grand Central 4 Aug 09
Original Review posted 5 Sep 09
I rely heavily on blurbs on the back of books to get me hooked on a story. This is an author that I have been told by many I should try because I would probably like her books and I do have several of her older books on my TBR shelf. So with those recommendations and from the blurb on the back, I decided I should give this book a try. The premise was intriguing. So I figured, why not. read more…
REVIEW: Love is in the Heir by Jenny Gardiner
Dinca’s review of Love is in the Heir (It’s Reigning Men, Book 4) by Jenny Gardiner
Contemporary Romance published by Jenny Gardiner Books 18 Sep 15
I have got to meet Jenny Gardiner someday. She has to have the best sense of humor ever. Her characters are unique and funny to the very end.
REVIEW: The Lost Ones by Anita Frank
Stevie‘s review of The Lost Ones by Anita Frank
Historic Gothic Mystery Fiction published by HQ 31 Oct 19
I do enjoy a good gothic novel, with or without an actual supernatural element, and the horrors of the First World War lend themselves just as well to the genre as do any number of bleak moors and crumbling, isolated mansions in the 19th Century. This story is set in the latter years of the war, and its heroine has certainly experienced many of the horrors first-hand, as we will gradually learn. Sent home from her VAD posting in France after witnessing the death of the man she planned to marry, Stella Marcham is staying with her mother, who is becoming increasingly frustrated at Stella’s inability to let go of her grief for someone to whom she was never officially engaged. When she is invited to stay with her newly pregnant younger sister, who has recently announced her pregnancy, Stella assumed she is required merely to provide some company in a house full of older women – her brother-in-law is working in London while Stella’s sister stays at his country residence – but she soon finds her sister has much more pressing reasons for wanting her there.
REVIEW: The Rise of Magicks by Nora Roberts
Sandy M’s review of The Rise of Magicks (Chronicles of the One, Book 3) by Nora Roberts
Paranormal Romance published by St. Martin’s Press 26 Nov 19
With the third book in this trilogy, we get to witness the beginning of a new world for those who have survived the Doom, which began in Book 1. From Fallon Swift’s birth to her leading that new world beyond evil and its aftermath, Nora Roberts has once again kept readers entranced with a compelling storyline and unique characters. Fallon is The One, and in this story she comes into her own after training, vulnerabilities and doubts, and finding love amid war and evil.
REVIEW REVISIT: Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
Birdie’s review of Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
Historical Romance published by Avon 25 May 10
Original Review posted 22 Jun 10
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 her newer books.
REVIEW: Meant to be Yours by Susan Mallery
Veena’s review of Meant to be Yours (Happily Inc, Book 5) by Susan Mallery
Contemporary Romance published by HQN Books 22 Oct 19
Jasper writes suspense novels, but lately his readers, or perhaps more importantly his editor, want him to build a love interest for his swashbuckling mystery-solving detective character. His first attempts at a female character has his beta readers in splits, definitely not a winner. Can Renee be his salvation in creating a three-dimensional female character for his series?
While Jasper is delightful, Renee didn’t exactly endear herself to me from the get-go, but then the magic of the story catches up, and, before you know it, it’s the end of another delightful chapter in the Happily Inc. series. read more…
REVIEW: Don’t Breathe a Word by Christie Craig
Sandy M’s review of Don’t Breathe a Word (Texas Justice, Book 2) by Christie Craig
Romantic Suspense published by Forever 5 Nov 19
I have loved Christie Craig’s romantic comedies for years. A sense of humor is one of those elusive things that happens in romance less often than not, but she has it down pat. Thus, that’s my entire reason for taking my time reading her foray into romantic suspense, which turns out to be a really idiotic idea. So my apologies to Ms. Craig for selling her short. Don’t Breathe a Word is a terrific book, the edge-of-your-seat kind – great storyline and mystery and the characters will work their way under your skin in no time at all.
REVIEW: A Cowboy Like You by Donna Grant
Dinca’s review of A Cowboy Like You (Heart of Texas, Book 4) by Donna Grant
Contemporary Western Romance published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks 26 Nov 19
Danny Oldman is truly a heartthrob. He was defiantly in the right spot at the right time to save Skylar Long, his old high school flame, the one who got away and is now back in his life and under his protection. I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s too good a story to pass up.
REVIEW REVISIT: Jinxed by Inez Kelley
LauraJ’s review of Jinxed by Inez Kelley
Contemporary Romantic Comedy published by Samhain Publishing 9 Jun 09
Original Review posted 9 Aug 09
I think every woman wants to find a man who is “perfect” (and it’s okay if your idea of perfect is different than mine, etc), and in this light-hearted romance I think Ms. Kelley has managed to get at least several “perfect man” qualifications on most women’s checklists in the hero Francis “Jinx“ Sullivan. Yes, that is his name and how he got the name is quite cute, especially if you are the older sister of younger brothers.
