Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale

*I received this book via the publisher as an ARC*


I was lucky enough to get this book ahead of time. The first reading was a true romp; fun and lighthearted. Then it came time to do my review & I couldn't find my review copy, so I bought the book and read it in one night. And I shouldn't have done that.

Lessons in French is the story of Callista & Trevelyn, childhood friends who haven't seen each other in years. Trev's been in France & Callie is a spinster. Trev's mother is dying and Trev comes home to see her.

That's just the beginning. This story is full of adventures; too many adventures. This book is LONG...very, very long. I think if the story had been half the length it would have been better.


The Good:

Trev: He was such a fun hero. And when he realizes how he feels about Callie, it's a sweet scene

Trev's Mother: She's a hoot. Very French and very...sneaky.



The Bad:

Callie: She got on my nerves in a very short amount of time. She went from being a spinster to being a bit ridiculous. I had a hard time empathizing with her, which makes it hard to root for someone when you don't really care for them. *sigh*

The Plot(s): As I stated above, this story is long and full of basic overall nonsense. Schemes and romances and broken hearts and...well, it got to the point where I just wanted it to end already.


Is the story bad? No, it's actually not bad at all. I liked it overall, I just wish it had been shorter. If the story had focused a bit more on Callie & Trev, it would have been a lot better. The love scenes weren't very erotic and were over quite quickly. The most erotic scene has to do with a pair of stockings, of all things.

All in all, it wasn't a bad story, just not as good the second time around. I will definitely not be rereading it.


Overall Grade: B-

My Dearest Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan

*Received ARC via the publisher*


I've been a big fan of Ms. Lathan's since the first book in her Darcy Saga came out. First of all, it's based, not only on my favorite book, but one of my all-time favorite movies. My Dearest Mr. Darcy takes off where Loving Mr. Darcy ends.

The Darcy's lives are going in directions I don't think of them expected. A baby on the way, a marriage that's still so very new and a love that's more powerful than just about anything.

Whereas the first book was about the very beginning of their marriage and them getting to know eachother and the second book was about them travelling, MDMD is more about them getting ready for their new baby and how they go about doing it.

Ms. Lathan works with babies in her real life and you can see that in how she writes about the Darcy's preparation for their new arrival. Where most books only hint at the baby and then boom it's there, she really goes into detail about not only Lizzie's physical changes, but also the emotional ones that both she and Darcy are going through.

Ms. Lathan also makes the Darcy's pretty forward-thinking and progressive when it comes to how they want to handle the birth.

I'm thankful that this book doesn't have anything bad happening to Lizzie like the first 2 books did.

There are two things I really enjoy about Ms. Lathan's books. One-the true expression of feeling between Lizzie and Fitzwilliam. Their love is something you really believe in. You want them to be happy and to live a long, fulfilling life together. Two-the secondary characters. There are quite a few of them and usually I'd find myself confused, but she's able to pull it off. My favorite secondary character is Fitzwilliam's Uncle.

His uncle is a doctor who spent many years in India and whose past is rather tragic. He's going to be there for the delivery of the baby and the way he interacts with both Lizzie and Darcy brings some much-needed humor to the story.

The end will bring a tear to your eyes, especially if you've invested your time into this world that Ms. Lathan has created. To see how powerful and meaningful the end is and what it does to bring the two of them even closer together...*sigh*

All in all, I have to give two big thumbs up to Sharon. She did an excellent job...again and I can't wait to see where she takes this family that I've come to love.


Overall Rating: B+/A-

Mr. Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds

*I received this ARC through the publisher*


Hi, all! First, I must apologize for the delay in my reviews. I was having some horrible issues with gmail and blogger. Thankfully, they seem to be figured out now. yay!


I received the ARC of this book and I was SO excited to read it. I thought the idea was unique and that it would be interesting to see what would happen. See, the idea of the story is that Lizzie says yes the first time Mr. Darcy proposes.

Instead of all that wonderful tension you get after Lizzie calls Mr. Darcy out on not behaving like a gentleman, she accepts his proposal.

And...then I opened up the book. Started reading. And...in the first few sentences, I was completely turned off by the book. Was it due to bad writing? No. It was due to the fact that the book starts out talking about how Mr. Darcy had been most ardent on their wedding night and how she wasn't sure how she felt about it.

I don't know; maybe I need to stop reading these P&P redos, because more often than not, I'm disappointed in what I'm reading. P&P is the most well-known romance in the world and is probably the most rewritten story. Everyone has their take on how Mr. Darcy and Lizzie Bennet's life will be like after they marry.

In my mind's eye I see them happy and having a very passionate marriage. I don't know why I couldn't continue after reading how Lizzie felt about their wedding night. Maybe it was the terminology used?

I have no clue, but sadly, this book is a DNF for me. :( Maybe some day I can open it and really WANT to read it, but right now it's not working for me.

Now I feel guilty. Sometimes reviewing books is hard work.



Overall Rating: DNF

The Other Mr. Darcy by Monica Fairview: A Review, An Overview and a Giveaway!

*disclaimer....I received this book from Sourcebooks as a Review Copy*

Back Blurb: When Caroline Bingley collapses to the floor and sobs at Mr. Darcy's weeding, imaginer her humiliation to discover that a stranger has witnessed her emotional display. Miss Bingley, understandably, resents this unknown gentleman very much, even if he is Mr. Darcy's American cousin.

Mr. Robert Darcy is as charming as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is proud, and he is stunned to find a beautiful young woman weeping broken-heartedly at his cousin's wedding. Such depth of love, he thinks, is rare and precious. For him, it's love at first sight. Alas, regaining her good graces seems an impossible mission, and he is left to hope that someday their paths will cross again...

My thoughts on The Other Mr. Darcy...hmm...I admit it's a bit of a conundrum for me. I hated Caroline Bingley in Pride & Predjudice. Hated her with a passion. I thought she was an obnoxious spoiled brat and that Mr. Darcy was lucky to have escaped her clutches. So, I'm surprised that Ms. Fairview not only got me to sympathize with her, but to actually kind of like her.

Not to say that she's a completely different person in this book. Oh, not at all. She's still an obnoxious, spoiled brat. However, she's humanized in this book in a way that she wasn't in P&P.

After Fitzwilliam & Lizzy marry, Caroline runs to the privacy of another room and bursts into hysterical tears. She knows her chances with Mr. Darcy are dead and gone, devastating her to her core. What she doesn't realize is that her hysterics are witnessed by someone else. Of course, when she finds out that he's in the room with her, she freaks out and basically makes an idiot of herself.

And thus begins the courtship of Caroline Bingley & Robert Darcy. To say that this book was easy to read would be a lie. Caroline really did bother me throughout 99% of the book. It seemed like her bratty behavior was going to ruin something that would be the best thing for her. It wasn't until the very end that she got her comeuppance and realized just what she would be missing in her life.

The book was well-written, pretty entertaining and more of a historical-romantic view of the P&P world. All in all, I truly did enjoy it. If you liked Caroline Bingley, this is definitely the book for you. If you like the idea of Caroline Bingley getting her comeuppance AND falling in love...this is also the book for you. :)

Overall Grade: B-

Below is a piece written by the author, as well as her picture. You can win a copy of The Other Mr. Darcy (US & Canada only...)

Monica Fairview Guest Blog, author of The Other Mr. Darcy

Picture a young teen who is enamored of Pride and Prejudice. Not just Mr Darcy and Miss Bennet, but of the Bennets, Mr Collins, Lady Catherine, and the Bingleys. Picture this teen growing up and reading and rereading Pride and Prejudice, and, like many people, trying to imagine what happens beyond that quiet affirmation of love at the end. Then finally, a story takes shape, one that isn’t about Mr Darcy and Miss Bennet, but about one of the characters that has been consigned to the corner. Lo and behold, The Other Mr. Darcy is born.

In some ways, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is part of me. I’ve known it for so long it feels like part of my growing up. Though I should say I’m definitely the odd person out, because I don’t think Jane Austen’s success in Pride and Prejudice is only about the romance. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Darcy & Elizabeth part of the novel. But I also love the other parts. I can hear Mrs Bennet’s histrionic fits in my head. I can see Mr Bennet smiling sardonically (In fact, I have an uncle that is quite a bit like him). I love the chaos and disorder the Bennets bring to the well-regulated society around them. I love their sheer unconventionality (for that time), and I think, despite Elizabeth’s typical teen embarrassment about her family, Elizabeth could never have grown to be who she is without them.

So when I came to write my Austenesque sequel, I knew it wasn’t simply going to be about Elizabeth and Darcy. Elizabeth and Darcy are in there, but it’s not their story. It’s the story of a character who is (in my view of things) unfairly represented in the novel. I feel that everyone takes her at face value, and very few people notice that even Elizabeth gives her a break later in the novel. In Chapter 45 Elizabeth knows she is intruding on Caroline at Pemberley, and she is able to put herself in her rival’s situation: “Convinced as Elizabeth now was that Miss Bingley’s dislike of her had originated in jealousy, she could not help feeling how very unwelcome her appearance at Pemberley must be to (Caroline).” Elizabeth recognizes here that she has been unfair to Caroline. Which is really my starting point, because if Caroline’s behaviour wasn’t really typical, and has been motivated by jealousy, then I want to know more about what she is really like when she doesn’t feel threatened. Who hasn’t behaved badly in a fit of jealousy?

I was aware, of course, that I was treading new ground even thinking that way. And then, by introducing an American Darcy who is quite patriotic in his way, despite having roots in England. But I wasn’t trying to depart from Austen. I was trying to introduce new factors and a new angle into her familiar world and see what would happen.

I couldn’t wait to see how the Bennets were going to react to the new situations they were encountering, especially Mrs Bennet and Lydia. I carefully studied the novel before I started, looking at their speech patterns so I could follow the way they talked as closely as possible, while at the same time using my own language. Of course, they couldn’t say the things they already said, not unless they were stuck in a loop. But I tried my best not to let them say anything that was out of character. I asked myself throughout the process of writing The Other Mr. Darcy: what would they typically say in such a situation?

But because the situation is new, even if the characters are doing what they typically would be doing, they are bound to change. After all, I didn’t want them to be simply people from someone else’s novel. I wanted to bring them to life, to move them on, to live up to the new experiences they are dealing with. Elizabeth and Darcy have to respond to Miss Bingley in a different way now, and Darcy’s response is, I think, typical in that his family pride kicks in when faced with an uncomfortable situation. Mrs Bennet’s reactions in a crisis are typical, too, but we see a slightly different side of her that perhaps was unexpected. And of course, Caroline undergoes a long journey, both physically and psychologically, before she can become the new person she’s destined to be.

It’s a fine line, because one can easily go too far and make the people of Pride and Prejudice unrecognizable in the new novel. Writing an Austen-inspired novel is like walking a tightrope. You’re in the middle of the rope. Behind you, you have Pride and Prejudice, with its brilliant characters, its exquisitely polished style, and its sharp wit. In front of you, at the other end of the tightrope, you have your unfinished novel. It’s a thin line to cross, but you’ve got to do it if you want to get to the end.

Above all, I think, it’s about not setting yourself up to rival Pride & Prejudice, because you can’t, of course, not even in your wildest dreams. To think so would be arrogance of the worst type, the type Mr Darcy was guilty of at the beginning of the novel. The Other Mr. Darcy is simply some kind of continuation, some kind of tribute to a writer who has brought me so much joy. In more than one sense, it is ultimately about love.

The Other Mr. Darcy—in stores October 2009!
Did you know that Mr. Darcy had an American cousin?!

In this highly original Pride and Prejudice sequel by British author Monica Fairview, Caroline Bingley is our heroine. Caroline is sincerely broken-hearted when Mr. Darcy marries Lizzy Bennet— that is, until she meets his charming and sympathetic American cousin...

Mr. Robert Darcy is as charming as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is proud, and he is stunned to find the beautiful Caroline weeping at his cousin's wedding. Such depth of love, he thinks, is rare and precious. For him, it's nearly love at first sight. But these British can be so haughty and off-putting. How can he let the young lady, who was understandably mortified to be discovered in such a vulnerable moment, know how much he feels for and sympathizes with her?

About the Author
As a literature professor, Monica Fairview enjoyed teaching students to love reading. But after years of postponing the urge, she finally realized what she really wanted was to write books herself. She lived in Illinois, Los Angeles, Seattle, Texas, Colorado, Oregon and Boston as a student and professor, and now lives in London. To find out more, please visit http://www.monicafairview.co.uk/

Review #2

Loving Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan


Happy Release Day!!! *ahem*

Now that I got that out of the way...on to my review!


I am a Pride & Prejudice fan-girl. It is a sick, sad fascination I have with all things Lizzy & Darcy. Reading Sharon’s continuing saga of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth is enough to make my fan-girl heart beat just a little bit faster.

In Loving Mr. Darcy, we start out where Book 1 left off. After 5 months of marital bliss at Pemberly, the Darcy’s are off to visit London. Georgiana is thrilled at the idea of going to town, Lizzy just wants sleep and Darcy is concerned, not only with his wife’s health, but also introducing her into society.

Whereas Book 1 was focused on their honeymoon, Book 2 is focused more on the introduction of Lizzy into Darcy’s world. Lizzy has always known that Darcy is a man of circumstance, but to see it in reality boggles her mind. Lavish parties, fantastical birthdays…the list goes on and on.
The introduction of new characters, old characters showing up to visit...it's like visiting old friends.

The thing I love most about Ms. Lathan’s style is her ability to inject humor, even in tense situations. Where a lot of authors would take the seriousness of a situation and make it worse, she throws in little turns of phrase or a moment that gives an uplifted feeling to it all.

Was it perfect? No, but it was still greatly enjoyable. I think my only really big pet peeve is the…flowery tones when it comes to the pet names. I’m not a big fan of pet names. They drive me insane. And when I think of the time period, sometimes it throws me off because I honestly cannot imagine these two people speaking to each other in the ways that they do.

All in all though, I really did enjoy this book and am greatly looking forward to the next one. If you loved the 2005 movie version of P&P as much as I did and want to know what happens next, I cannot recommend these books enough. Trust me…it’s worth it.


Overall Rating: B+

Lord of Pleasure by Delilah Marvelle

I am a horrible friend. I have to put that out there. *sigh* Delilah was sweet enough to send me an E-ARC of Lord of Pleasure and I dropped the ball. *headdesk* Thankfully, the book's only been out for a short time, so it's not like I'm MONTHS overdue. Still. *sigh* Sorry! :(


Anyway, on to the book.

Lord of Pleasure is book 2 in her School of Gallantry series. LoP tells the story of Charlotte, an impoverished widow with some interesting ideas on how to avoid going to the poorhouse and Alexander, Earl of Hawksford. They meet in a very unique way, when Charlotte basically propositions him and he refuses.

If you knew the history of Alexander, you'd know this is WAY outside the way he usually is. See, up until about a year ago, Alexander was known as the Lord of Pleasure. He loved women and women definitely loved him. Then his father died, he got full responsibility of his mother and five younger sisters and realized that he had to become more responsible. Hence, him turning down Charlotte's offer.

But, that's not the end of the story. What started out as an act of desperation Charlotte's part turns into something much, much more.

This is what I love about this series. Delilah introduced Alexander for just a second in Mistress of Pleasure (book 1), but he made such an impression that I wanted to know more about him. She wrote (or is writing) a total of 5 books for this series. Each book is written at the exact same time (as in all of the events happen all at the same time...sorry for lack of clarification). So, events you see in one book, happen in the next book but in a completely different perspective. It's a very unique take on historical romance, but I think it works.

In LoP, the things I enjoyed the most were the...well, almost comedic perfection of the interplay between Alexander and Charlotte, Alexander and his sisters, and Alexander and his friend, who plays a pretty significant roll in this book.

Was it perfect? No, but the good much outweighed the bad and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series. *crossing fingers*


Overall Rating: B



PS. I'm planning on a little...treat for one lucky reader of this blog. It's going to take me a couple of days to put together, but I hope to announce the contest and the prize by Sunday. Keep your eye out. :0

What Happens In London by Julia Quinn

Today I was a bad, bad girl. I spent $ on books. Bad me! *sniffle*

I bought and read What Happens in London and it was lovely. It's one of those books that makes your insides melt (in the best possible way). It was a light treat; kind of like ice cream on a hot day. Sweet and delicious and...well, when I finished it, I finished with a happy sigh.

This is the story of Olivia & Harry. Olivia is the beauty of the Season(s) and is bored with her life. Olivia may be a beauty, but she's also a thinker. Harry is the eldest son of a Baronet and as such, had to do other things to support himself. After 10 years in the military fighting against Bonaparte, he's now working for the War Office translating. See, Harry is super smart and is fluent in multiple languages.

Anyway, Olivia gets some juicy gossip about Harry and decides to spy on him. This is easily achieved because Harry is her next door neighbor and she can see his office from her bedroom.

Hilarity ensues once Harry "confronts" her.

As I stated up above, this is a very light and airy book. It's got some LOL moments and some sweet moments. There's not a lot to think about when it comes to this book. As always, Ms. Quinn specializes in her dialogue and I found myself tipping down numerous corners with the thought that I would use them in this review. However, I find that I've found too many and cannot settle for one.

My only quibble, and it's a minor one, is the "suspense" subplot that pops up at the end of the book and has no real use at all. I found myself scratching my head over that one.

All in all, this was a great book. It wasn't perfect (not enough substance), but it was a great read and a sweet treat.


Overall Rating: B

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

There has been a lot of talk about this book throughout the blogosphere and when I stopped by B&N today to pick up the other books I had on hold, I decided to pick it up. Here's the back blurb:

It was whispered all through London Society that he was a murdered, that'd spent his youth in an asylum and was not to be trusted--especially by a lady. Any woman caught in his presence was immediately ruined. Yet Beth found herself inexorably drawn to the Scottish lord whose hint of a brogue wrapped around her like silk and whose touch could draw her into a world of ecstasy. Despite his decadence and intimidating intelligence, she could see he needed help. Her help. Because suddenly the only thing that made sense to her was "the Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie".


Okey-dokey, now to put into words what I felt about this book. I wasn't horribly impressed with the book, but am going to do my trusty Good/Bad list for your enjoyment.


The Good:


I thought Lord Ian was interesting. The fact that he has Asperger's Syndrome is quite unusual, esp. for a historical romance. Did I like him? Eh...but I understood him.

Beth-For what she found herself in the midst of, I thought she handled things quite admirably. Being thrown into the middle of the Mackenzie family wouldn't be easy on anyone, but she handles it with aplomb.

The basic overall storyline: It wasn't...bad.


The Bad: The Mackenzies. We know that each of them is going to get their own story, since most of them have their heroines introduced within this book. Obvious sequel bait. Whoot...not.

The Villain: Times 2. Neither worked for me. One was just ridiculous and the other was just annoying.


I dunno...maybe it's the funk I'm in. I'm not sure. All I can say is that this book just didn't work for me. It wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't the best book I've ever read. Maybe I'll try again at a later date and like it more.

As for right now?


Overall Rating: C+

Pemberley Manor by Kathryn L. Nelson

I’ve been trying to figure out exactly how to review this book. I don’t think I’ve ever been so conflicted over my impression of a book before. Pride and Prejudice is probably my all-time favorite love story, which is pretty ironic since I’d never read the book until last year. I’ve seen the movies (both the A&E version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle and the one w/ Matthew MacFadyen and Keira Knightley). Loved them both and loved the book as well.

So why am I so conflicted? Well, it’s because I do love the story of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett so much. When P&P ends, so does the story. Well, it doesn’t but I knew in my heart that they would go on to have a wonderful loving relationship.

In this book, not so much. The book starts on the day of the wedding. It shows how happy Mr. Darcy & Lizzy are to finally be married. Then, everything changes and not for the better. Honestly, while reading this book, I felt like I was in the middle of a gothic novel. Everything fell apart on the wedding night and it took the rest of the book to get everything resolved.

It’s not to say that this book is bad. On the contrary, it was actually a really good book. It just might have been better if it had NOT been the “sequel” to Pride & Prejudice. It felt like the author had taken the humor and passion from P&P and the gothic feel of Northanger Abbey and tossed them together.

This book had a LOT of angst. A LOT! Every time you felt things had finally gotten resolved, something new was thrown into the fray and the insanity started all over again. I have to say this book was one of the most exhausting books to read due to the up-and-down emotions throughout the ENTIRE story. It got to the point where I was just…tired!

I think I can sum this book up better doing my standard good & bad list, so here you go.


The Good:

Lizzy. Lizzy was written so well. Kept true to the character created in P&P, but new quirks have been thrown in, giving her more depth. The fact that she was able to put up with the nonsense Darcy put her through and the fact that she had the ability to laugh in the face of such adversity makes her outstanding in my book.

Georgiana-In P&P we don’t get to know Georgiana all that much. She likes music and adores her older brother. Okay, but what else? In this book, her character is delved into and she becomes something that actually really impressed me. She’s strong when others are weak and she grows up a LOT in this book.

Charles & Jane-Written just as you’d expect them to be.

The Secondary Characters (for the most part)-They all play a major part in the story. Some were just plain annoying, but they were needed for the way the story was written.

The Setting: It’s PEMBERLEY! ‘Nuff said.


The Bad:


Darcy-I never thought I’d see the day where I would hate Mr. Darcy, but I’ve got to tell you…I HATED him in this book! Whiny and disturbed. He was either crying or having a temper tantrum. It got to the point where I just wanted to slap him upside the head and yell “Get over it already!” His personality kept changing as well. One minute he was so in love and happy and the next he was a freaked out lunatic raving about town. It was like he had multiple-personality disorder or a very serious case of manic depression. I loved Darcy in P&P, but he drove me completely up the wall in this book.

Caroline Bingley-*icky shiver* Oh my goodness! Okay, so I hated her in P&P, but I also kind of understood her. She loved Darcy and wanted him for herself. That a woman of lower social standing “won” him royally screwed with her head and basically, in this book, she lost her mind. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a more psychotic character than her. And how her story was resolved? It totally did NOT fit with how the character had been established in either P&P or in this book.

The “Drama”: The drama that ensues in this book is completely and totally insane. Every time I turned around, the insanity just kept going. There seemed to be no quiet time. It was a constant barrage of bad things over and over and over and over again. Just as I thought things were resolved, BAM another drama hit. It was exhausting. I know, I used that word before, but it totally fits.

And so, by this point, you probably think that I hated this book, which is not the case. That’s why I said I was so conflicted. I think if this book had just been about any old couple, it would’ve been phenomenal. Angsty, yes, but phenomenal. But, because it was written about one of my all-time favorite couples, it’s harder to like it.

A conundrum, I tell you! Argh! But, it was well-written (even though it was an unedited edition, the typos were minimal and the writing was very clean) and you could tell that the writer was really enjoying herself.

My final grade: A B+ for the idea and overall story, a D for Mr. Darcy (poor Mr. Darcy) and a C- for the romance, which tallies up to a C for the book. I think if Mr. Darcy had been written a little more like he had in P&P, this book would’ve been a lot better. Instead, his inability to control his emotions and the lack of communication between him & Lizzy almost ruined this story completely.

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One by Sharon Lathan

So, remember when I was raving about a book, but couldn't talk about it? Well, here's the review. :)


MY THOUGHTS ON MR. & MRS FITZWILLIAM DARCY

Ever since I agreed to begin reviewing for publishers, I’ve been hoping for that “dream” book. The one you read that makes you sigh a little inside as you put it down because you don’t want it to end. I was lucky enough to find that book with Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Sharon Lathan.

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy is the continuing story of Lizzy Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. It says in a note from the author that she watched the 2005 movie version of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen and was inspired to continue their story. And this book is that story.

Using certain quotes and moments from the movie in the book gives it a more…intimate setting than something coming straight from the book. In my head all throughout the book, I was picturing Matthew MacFadyen as Darcy and Keira Knightley as Lizzy. I’m not usually one for having actors in my head, but because I loved the movie, I don’t mind.

I admit to having a hard time NOT having a fan-girl moment while writing this review. I’ve been a fan of Pride and Prejudice ever since I saw this movie in the theater when it first came out. Obviously I’d heard of Jane Austen and her books. I knew what P&P was all about, but had never watched any of the movies or read the book.

I remember seeing a snippet of the promo for this movie and thinking “I HAVE to see this!” I sat in the theater with my eyes glued to the screen. The passion and chemistry between these two characters was just downright awe-inspiring. I loved Mr. Darcy’s taciturn, but sweet personality and the way his love for Lizzy made him seem all the more human. I loved how Lizzy wasn’t afraid to stand her ground, even when it meant losing (for the moment), the love of her life.

I took one of my BFF’s to see this movie and to this day, it’s one of our favorites. I’ve also seen the A&E version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle and finally read the book last year, but in my heart, the 2005 version of this movie will always be Lizzy & Darcy’s story.

That being said, I admit to a certain amount of trepidation going into this story. I’d just finished reading Pemberley Manor, and though I liked it, it had also traumatized me a bit. I was hoping that this story would follow more along the lines of the story I saw in my head as to how the Darcy’s life would be together after P&P was over.

And I was not disappointed. From the moment the story starts, it’s like a continuation of the movie. I love the fact that it starts from Darcy’s POV and you can just see the love shining from him as he looks at his beloved wife.

Maybe it’s naughty of me, but I admit to wishing someone would delve a bit more into the passion so evident between the two. Ms. Lathan does that well. It’s obvious the two of them have sex, but it’s not fully modernized to the point where you have every single mention of body parts and tab-a-into-slot-b like 99% of the romances out there. This book isn’t chaste by any means, but it’s also much closer to what I would expect. I know, that doesn’t make sense, but I’m doing my best here.

Ms. Lathan gives a richness to the story and details that you could almost expect Ms. Austen to have had them waiting just for this story. As I was reading, I could see what was happening in my head. The sights, sounds and emotions were so clearly detailed that I didn’t want this story to end.

And that’s what’s so great! She’s doing a full series on the life of Lizzy and Darcy. This is just book 1! *happy dance*

I can’t remember the last time I fell in love with a book like this. I can’t wait to share this with you and I’m hoping I’ll be lucky enough to speak to the author and maybe even give away a copy or two of this book. If you love Pride and Prejudice (especially the 2005 version of the movie), then I cannot stress to you enough how much you should go find a copy of this book. It’s awesome!


Rating: A-


*Edited to add* I wrote this review the minute I'd finished the book and was still on the "good book high". I just recently reread the book and while I still love it and think it's amazing, the one thing I could've done without is the syrupy names they call each other. THAT got annoying very quickly.

And...Sharon is coming to the blog! She'll be one of my special guests. And...I get to give away a copy of the book. Unfortunately, I'm limited to the US and Canada for the giveaway, but still! So, come back in a day or two and I'll have the interview with her on here. *happy dance*

Broken Wing by Judith James

Back Blurb: Abandoned as a child and raised in a brothel, Gabriel St. Croix has never known tenderness, friendship or affection. Although fluent in sex, he knows nothing of love. Lost and alone inside a nightmare world, all he’s ever wanted was companionship and a place to belong. Hiding physical and emotional scars behind an icy façade, his only relationship is with a young boy he has spent the last five years protecting from the brutal reality of their environment. But all that is about to change. The boy’s family has found him, and they are coming to take him home.
Sarah Munroe blames herself for her brother’s disappearance. When he’s located, safe and unharmed despite where he as been living. Sarah vows to help the man who rescued and protected him in any way she can. With loving patience she helps Gabriel face his demons and teaches him to trust in friendship and love. But when the past catches up with him, Gabriel must face it on his own.
Becoming a mercenary, pirate and a professional gambler, Gabriel travels to London, France, and the Barbary Coast in a desperate attempt to find Sarah again and all he knows of love. On the way, however, he will discover the most dangerous journey, and the greatest gamble of all, is within the darkest reaches of his own heart.



This book has been making its way around the review blogosphere thanks to KristieJ and her campaign for this book. When it came to buying my own copy, I admit to being a bit nervous. It’s only been within the last year or so that I’ve gone back to reading historicals. I’ve had some great experiences (Julia Quinn & Lisa Kleypas) and some not so good experiences.

Thankfully, I won some books from the Book Smugglers and Broken Wing just happened to be one of the books in my stash. I kept it for last and it kept calling my name. I finally sat down to read it and here are some of my thoughts.

Though it is nothing like Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, I found some similarities between it and Broken Wing. It’s hard to articulate why I see similarities. The books are written in a completely different way. I think it has to do with the way the books tend to jump thru history rather abruptly. One minute it’s spring, the next it’s three years later.

Gabriel is a very complex character. On one hand he’s very cynical and hard, but on the other he’s almost a total innocent. It’s an odd juxtaposition and makes him seem very unique in the romance world.

Sarah is also an interesting character. She’s a heroine that we see in so many historicals, but she’s also unique in the sense that she isn’t scared of intimacy. She had a bad experience with her husband, but she doesn’t let that rule her life. She sees Gabriel as he truly is, not as he presents himself.

The relationship between the two of them is sweet and innocent. Who knew that a former male prostitute could be so innocent when it comes to romance and all that? Watching the two of them fall in love was very sweet, though I do have a complaint. We see Gabriel fall in love with Sarah. It’s written from his POV and all that. Sarah, on the other hand, seems to fall in love with him pretty abruptly. One minute, he’s a friend and the next she’s declaring her love for him.

I really enjoyed the book up to when Gabriel left. The innocence of the love story was so sweet and gentle. Then Gabriel left and the entire tone of the story changed. It went from being sweet and innocent to dark and jaded. It was such an abrupt change, but that’s okay. It was such an enjoyable story that I couldn’t put down the book.

Gabriel really annoyed me at the end. I understand why he did what he did (at the end of the book), but I felt that he didn’t do Sarah any justice in the way he behaved.

Davey, Ross, Valmont…I cannot wait to read their stories. They BETTER get their own stories. The rolls they played weren’t very big, but they definitely made an impression.



So, what did I actually think of the story? I really enjoyed it. The romance was sweet, the adventure was fun, and I really liked the characters. Was it the best book I’ve ever read? No…I’ve read better, but I thought the story was great, especially for a debut novel. I will definitely read the next book she writes. Here’s hoping it’s one of the characters from this book.


My Rating: A-

Charity Girl and Faro's Daughter both by Georgette Heyer

I was given the opportunity to read a couple of Ms. Heyer's books. I'd never read anything by her before and was curious, but not curious enough to spend my money on her (if that makes sense). I'm always a bit leery about reading historicals, because honestly? I'm never really sure where it'll take me. Will I like the book or hate it? It's kind of a weird dilemma to find myself in, but there you go.

As for the two books I was given to review, I'll start with Charity Girl. I actually read Faro's Daughter and enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to reading Charity Girl. And that's when I hit a snag. If I have one complaint about Ms. Heyer (and it's a pretty major one), the woman LOVED her slang. She used it over and over and over again. None of the words used are words we use in our current venacular, so honestly? I had no idea what on earth any of the characters were talking about in 99% of the book. It got so bad in Charity Girl that I actually skimmed to the end (which I never do) just to see what happened. I just didn't like it!

Which surprise me considering the fact that I did enjoy Faro's Daughter so much. Is it the best book I've ever read? No, but it made me laugh and had a lighthearted bent to it that was quite enjoyable.

The basic idea of FD is that Deborah Grantham, a young woman of questionable breeding is being romanced by the only son of a peer. His cousin, Max Ravenscar, offers her a ridiculous amount of money not to marry his cousin (it says on the back cover it's his nephew, but in the book it's his cousin). Offended and affronted, Deborah then goes about doing her best to one-up Mr. Ravenscar and that's when the insanity begins.

I've gotta tell you, this book was completely and totally nuts. I don't know if Ms. Heyer intended for me to laugh out loud as much as I did or if that was completey unintentional, but I don't think I've laughed that hard in a long time! This book has everything: tempers, arrogance, kidnapping, big misunderstandings, etc. etc. Basically, it was a hoot!

Do I recommend it? Yes, but only if you can handle the ridiculous language used. I know she was trying to be current for the time period she was writing about, but if she were still alive and writing I would have recommended she quit with the crazy verbiage and just concentrated on the romance.


My Rating:

Charity Girl-DNF
Faro's Daughter-C+

The Lady Flees Her Lord by Michele Ann Young

She's desperate for peace and safety...

Lucinda, Lady Denbigh, is running from a husband who physically and emotionally abuses her because she is unfashionably plump and has failed to produce an heir. Posing as a widow, she seeks refuge in the quiet countryside...

He's returned from the wars, wounded and tormented...

Lord Hugo Wanstead, with a wound that won't heal, and his mother's and Spanish wife's deaths on his conscience, finds his estate impoverished, his sleep torn by nightmares, and brandy his only solace. When he meets Lucinda, he finds her beautiful--body and soul--and thinks she just might give him something to live for...

Together they can begin to heal, but not until she is free from her violent past...



Another review book! I'm such a lucky duck. :~) I enjoyed this book; I really did. It was a fast read (I started it at around 3 and it's now almost 7) and was quite entertaining. Let's see if I can do the story any justice, shall we?

Lucinda is a pleasingly plump woman who was seduced into marrying Lord Denbigh. She thought it was for love, only to find it was all a sham and that he had married her for her money. She's stuck and has nowhere to go. At the beginning of our lovely story, she is told that he is throwing a party at his country estate and that she must attend. After finding out just what type of party he is planning, it is the last straw. She packs up a few belongings and makes a run for it in the dead of night.

Jump forward 3 months. She is now settled in a small house on an estate in Kent. While on the run, she finds herself being given the care of a small girl. Instead of giving the child away, she takes her and adopts her. Now, she is claiming that she is a widow to keep advances to a minimum and to be allowed to be somewhat independent.

Lord Hugo is your basic clod of a hero. A man who is too big, too broody, too...everything. After a disasterous engagement with the enemy, he finds himself going home to an impoverished estate after his father has died, his only solace being alcohol. He meets Lucinda by accident and is intrigued by her (of course).

Over the next few chapters there is your basic cat-and-mouse one-upmanship that you usually find in a romance as the two of them acknowledge their attraction and try to figure each other out.

Now, I have to be upfront here about something. I seriously despise reading books that contain adultery. I understand why Lucinda did what she did and why she decided to go with Hugo, but it really bugs me that the husband wasn't killed off first. Instead, there's more drama and it makes it hard for me to be happy for the couple once they do consumate their relationship. And especially for that time period. Flirting I could have handled, but the fact that they had sex while she was still married really bugged me.

Of course, this being a romance, everything was tied up nice and neat, but that MAJOR part of the story really bugged me.

All in all though, the story was quite entertaining. I enjoyed the strength of Lucinda, especially when her husband does show up. Vale...he grew on me and I hope he does get his own story some day. At first there's no redeeming quality to him, but by the end of the book I find that I have hope he finds his happy ending.

So, where does that lead me? If you enjoy a quick read with some emotional turmoil, then this is the book for you. The sex was decent, though I would've liked to see more description in the bedroom. I think you'll know what I mean when you get to that point.


My Rating: C

My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne

Raised as a poor but cunning pickpocket, Jess Whitby maybe have grown into a wealthy young woman, but now she must once again rely on her guile. Her father's been wrongly accused of selling secrets to Napoleon, and he's going to hang--unless Jess finds the real traitor in the London underworld. She never dreamed her search would begin by waking up naked in a rude captain's bed. Or how little she'd mind...

When Captain Sebastian Kennett prevents a kidnapping on the London docks, he takes the headstrong would-be victim home. He's infatuated with her courageous spirit. She's enthralled by his commanding strength and the sexy saprt in his eyes. Then she discovers something else about the spellbinding seaman: He could be the traitor she's hunting, the man whose next move could determine her father's fate--and her future as well.



The Spymaster's Lady was one of the most talked about historical romances of 2007 and My Lord & Spymaster is one of 2008's most talked about books. Why are they so popular with us?

For one thing, the storylines for both books have been fascinating. Ms. Bourne specializes in the give-and-take/push-and-pull between 2 very different characters as they try to figure out who the other really is.

Sebastian is fascinating as the hero of the story. He is not a good man; in the sense that he's not afraid to kill to get what he wants accomplished. He kills to save Jess at the beginning of the book and doesn't regret it, because otherwise she would have been taken.

He's fascinated by her from the get-go. He's intrigued by the fact that she was there specifically for him. It's a fascinating look at a man who has never really had anything good happen in his life have something good basically laid at his feet.

Jess is a great heroine too. She's another one of those characters with a lot of dark areas from the past. She's strong and smart and not afraid to put her neck out to save those she loves.

Betrayal is a big plot device in this book. Is she betraying me? Is he? Who actually is? Etc. etc. It was a never-ending ride of oneupmanship that was a blast to read.

Was it perfect? No. It was very easy to figure out who the villain was. I figured it out almost immediately. Also, the sex was extremely lacking. It was never fully delved into (so to speak) and I never really got the sense that there was any love between the two characters.

I do have to say that I enjoy Ms. Bourne's voice immensely. She's a very talented writer and you can tell that she has a blast when writing the stories.

And so, I have to say that I did greatly enjoy this story...as a romp through history. I found Adrian to be the most fascinating character in the book and hope that he gets his own story some day. He deserves it.


My Rating: C+

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn

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 fiancee-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 fiancee!


Ah, Julia Quinn. You know, I actually became acquainted with her writing with The Lost Duke of Wyndham, the first book in this duology. And that's when I fell in love with this wonderful, fantastic writer.

MC, IP, actually takes place at the exact same time as TLDoW, but told from the POV of Thomas and Amelia. And amazingly enough, it didn't confuse me in the least! How's that for amazing writing?! Usually, in circumstances like this, it's either very confused or makes no sense. Here's to Ms. Quinn's talents that that didn't happen at all.

At the beginning of the story, Thomas arrives at a country dance that his grandmother browbeat him into attending. He goes because he feels he has no choice and is expected to dance with his fiancee just like he does at every dance they both attend.

Amelia, on the other hand, is fed up with being the long-standing fiancee of a man who barely even acknowledges her existence, let alone the fact that they are to get married. Everything changes the night of the dance. Instead of saying yes like she usually does when he asks her to dance, she says no. One step towards independence! Yay!

Thomas is shocked by this completely unexpected turn of events and finally realizes that the woman he's been engaged to since he was seven years old, actually has a backbone. There's the obligatory a-ha moment (as there is in every romance), where he notices that she's a woman. And it's about time.

Things progress, she leaves and then everything changes.

As we found out in TLDoW, Thomas's future becomes unclear when his cousin Jack is found and forced into the family fold. Thomas's whole life has been dedicated to being the Duke of Wyndham, and in fact, that is what he bases his identity on. The idea of losing everything he holds dear and himself is almost more than he can bear...at first.

It is so fascinating to watch how Thomas and Amelia's romance progresses. They become friends first, which is something I really appreciate. There's no groping (well, a little bit) and it's quite entertaining to watch Amelia rip him a new one, especially when he deserves it.

It's also interesting to watch the romance between Jack and Grace grow via other perspectives.

Knowing what happens to Thomas, makes it especially interesting to see how he handles it all. In some aspects, he's almost a martyr, because he makes a really stupid decision when it comes to Amelia that could have ruined the entire story. Thankfully, he redeems himself, but it was still a head-banging moment for me.

And it's been said by numerous people that JQ is the queen of phenomenal dialogue. I'd like to share just a bit with you, to showcase this woman's talent. This is as they are on their way to Ireland. Thomas has come across Amelia on the boat and after apologizing about previous foot-in-mouth syndrome, they proceed to have this really amazing conversation. I'm dropping you right in the midst of it, but whatever. :~D


"We could have been friends," she heard herself say.

"Could?"

"Would," she corrected, and she was smiling. It seemed the most amazing thing. How was it possible she had anything to smile about? "I think we would have been friends, if not for...If all this..."

"If everything were different?"

"Yes. No. Not everything. Just...some things." She began to feel lighter. Happier. And she had not the slightest clue why. "Maybe if we'd met in London."

"And we hadn't been betrothed?"

She nodded. "And you hadn't been a duke."

His brows rose.

"Dukes are very intimidating," she explained. "It would have been so much easier if you hadn't been one."

"And your mother had not been engaged to my uncle," he added.

"If we'd just met."

"No history between us."

"None."

His brows rose and he smiled. "If I'd seen you across a crowded room?"

"No, no, nothing like that." She shook her head. He was not getting this at all. She wasn't talking about romance. She couldn't bear to even think of it. But friendship...that was something else entirely. "Something far more ordinary," she said. "If you'd just sat next to me on a bench."

"Like this one?"

"Perhaps in a park."

"Or a garden," he murmured.

"You would sit down next to me-"


I won't tell you the rest of that, because it's pretty important to the story & I don't want to spoil it. Just wanted to showcase why this woman amazes me with every book she writes.

And I've got to say, there are few authors who can make me laugh out loud and then sigh with either sadness or bliss right after the other, like this writer can. :)

So, all in all, I can't recommend this book enough. And even if you haven't read TLDoW, you won't be lost. I haven't read that since it first came out and I wasn't remotely confused. Another wonderful story, by an amazing writer.


My Rating: A

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

First off, I cannot believe I've never blogged about this book before. How is that even possible? It's one of my all-time favorites & all that good stuff. *headdesk* Oh well, it doesn't hurt to do it now. :)


Back Blurb-They call him many names, but Angelic isn't one of them...

Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain, is big, bad, and dangerous to know. No respectable woman would have anything to do with the "Bane and Blight of the Ballisters"--and he wants nothing to do with respectable women. He's determined to continue doing what he does best--sin and sin again--and that's going swimmingly, thank you...until the day a shop door opens and she walks in.

She's too intelligent to fall for the worst man in the world...

Jessica Trent is a determined young woman, and she's going to drag her imbecile brother off the road of ruin, no matter what it takes. If saving him--and with him, her family and future--means taking on the devil himself, she won't back down. The trouble is, the devil in question is so shockingly irresistible, and the person who needs the most saving is--herself!


Aw, how I love this book. There are so many things about it that just make me sigh.

We are first introduced to Sebastian (or Dain as he is usually called) on the day of his birth and the subsequent events that make him into the man he becomes. Poor Dain hasn't had the easiest of lives. Not that he is the easiest person to be around, but he has his reasons.

As a grown man he has made a name for himself as the most debauched man & though he loves women, he will not have sex with anyone but whores (with good reason, in his mind). He's never really been tempted by a good woman until one day.

While shopping, he meets one of his comrades. Bertie isn't one Dain would call a friend; more a hanger's on. Bertie introduces him to his sister and that's when everything goes to hell in a hand basket.

Instant attraction, misunderstandings and ingrained beliefs seem to be the biggest parts of this story.

You've got a tough, strong Alpha-type hero who deep inside is very unsure of himself. You have a heroine who is just this side of being a bluestocking, but is sexy enough to get away with it. Their relationship definitely has it's ups and downs, but that's what makes it so much fun.

There are sweet and tender moments. Moments where you want to smack Dain upside the head. Moments where you're not sure if the relationship will survive.

And best of all? You have a relationship that's beautiful when it all comes down to it.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It's on a lot of romance readers top romance books of all time with good reason. It's a great historical romance, without the horrible purple prose. It's sweet, it's funny and it's well worth the money.


My Rating: A

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

I figured that since I've got Ms. Gleason on my blog this weekend, I would review the first three books in the series (especially for those of you who haven't read her yet). I'm a big fan of this series. It's funny, sexy, heartbreaking...the list goes on and on. The world that Colleen has created is very unique. In some ways, it's our own history, but she's tweaked it and that's what makes it so fun. So, without further ado...here is my review of book 1. :)

Beneath the glitter of dazzling 19th-century London Society lurks a bloodthirsty evil... .
Vampires have always lived among them, quietly attacking unsuspecting debutantes and dandified lords as well as hackney drivers and Bond Street milliners. If not for the vampire slayers of the Gardella family, these immortal creatures would have long taken over the world.
In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake.
But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous, moonlit streets, Victoria's heart is torn between London's most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her enigmatic ally, Sebastian Vioget.

And when she comes face to face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make the choice between duty and love.


Okeydokey...where to begin. At first, TRFA seems like your typical historical romance. Victoria is your basic society miss who is looking for a husband. It is her first season (though she is a bit older...family deaths & mourning caused it to be delayed). She has also just found out that she is a Venator, a vampire slayer.

Her family (the Gardella branch) has a very long history of slaying vampires. Her great aunt is the head of the Venator's, but she is getting quite elderly and it's time for someone to step in to take over the reins (so to speak). So, while Victoria is doing the usual society things like balls and the like, she is also training in kicking vampire butt.

She meets the super hunky Marquess of Rockley and is quickly swept off her feet. It is a mutual thing and they soon agree to marry. However, she also has this pesky attraction to Sebastian who is...not all that he seems.

Juggling her two lives is nothing but trouble for poor Victoria. If it's not one thing, it's something else. In some ways she would love to be just a wife and mother, but her responsibilities are too important to just walk away. How is she going to balance everything?

What I love about this story is how she goes about balancing this double-life she is leading. Yes, she makes some mistakes, but she is so young! You forget that while reading the story, but she's still a girl in a lot of ways. As the book progresses, her choices begin to be harder and have more ramifications. How does she go about protecting her husband and still get her job done?

This book has it all. An intriguing setting, a unique twist on the whole vampire thing, sexy men and a strong heroine. The characters that play a major part throughout the rest of the series are all introduced here (most of them anyway), but it doesn't feel like they've just been dumped into the story just because. Each character that is there is meant to be there. Their part in the story just makes it all the more intriguing.

Is TRFA my favorite in this series? No, but it is an excellent start. I can't recommend it enough. I will be reviewing Rises the Night tomorrow.


My Rating: B

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn

The Back 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 duek, then he is the one man she can never have...





I have never read a Julia Quinn. Pick yourself up off the floor please. :) I know it's surprising, but it's true. I've heard wonderful things about her, especially her Bridgerton series, but as I've said, I'm just recently getting back into historicals after a long hiatus.



I decided to pick up this book when I was at B&N yesterday. I thought the blurb sounded interesting & I'm nothing if not adventurous, so I bought it. Boy am I glad I did!



TLDoW was a wonderful book! It looks like it's a new series & was wonderfully entertaining. I found myself laughing out loud quite often. At one point I got the snorts, which (I'm thinking) is a good thing.



The story starts out when Grace and the Dowager Duchess are coming back from a party. They are set upon by highwaymen. Things gets all haywire, identities are revealed & insanity begins. This is a very cut&dry version of what happens.



I love mistaken identity stories & at first, this book seems like a classic case of that. Jack has no interest whatsoever in finding out if he is the Duke or not. He's happy with the life he leads & he doesn't want anything to change.



Unfortunately, he has absolutely no control over anything that happens. His life is now in the hands of the Dowager Duchess, who is a complete & total psychopath.



It's hard for me to explain exactly why I loved this book so much. There were very few things about it that bothered me, which is amazing in & of itself. The humor, the people, the sheer insanity of the whole story captured my fancy from the beginning & I did not put the book down until it was finished. I think the better way to say that is I couldn't put it down!



What I loved:





Grace-Her life changed drastically 5 years ago when her parents were killed. She has been the Dowager's constant companion ever since & her life has not been easy. Instead of whining & feeling sorry for herself (or being a martyr), she does her job with a sense of humor and an ability to ignore the Dowager that I envy. She is intelligent, funny and not a bluestocking! Yay!

Jack-He is perfect! Funny, sarcastic, handsome and just all around entertaining. There are moments in this book that totally had me laughing out loud. He has his faults, but he's the kind of hero, especially in historicals, that I adore. I wish more heroes were written like him.


I'm not going to write excerpts of dialogue or any of that, though this one tiny little piece cracked me up! The Dowager is reading the newspaper and finds out there's been a fire at a neighboring estate...The dog perished. Oh my, that is a shame. Why that hit my funny bone, I don't know.


Page 137-138 had some very funny dialogue between the Dowager & Grace (who is thinking about Jack)


Pages 321-323...the joys of English swearing. Truly one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. :) Your opinion is always welcome! :)


Anyway, this book was just wonderful. Funny, sweet, heartwarming...I'm sure I could think of more adjectives, but you get the idea. Julia Quinn is now an autobuy author. In fact *wincing* I went and bought the entire Bridgerton series. I'm on The Duke And I right now, but already the trademark Quinn writing is there. :)


My Rating: A...definitely

Three Nights of Sin by Anne Mallory

As I just stated in my previous entry, I'm trying to turn over a new leaf and broaden my reading horizons. When I first started really reading romance, I read nothing but historicals (usually the very euphamism/purple prose happy awful ones). Then I grew up, got sick of those and moved on.

About a year or so ago, I was introduced to the writing of Lisa Kleypas by Kristie J. Lisa Kleypas made me realize there are some very excellent historical romance authors out there who specialize in well-written, wonderful romances.

Now, on to my review for Three Nights of Sin. Here's the back blurb-


THREE NIGHTS OF DANGER...

When her brother was arrested for murder, the ton shut its doors to Marietta Winters. No one would help her save him from the gallows--no one but Gabriel Noble. In exchange for taking the case, Gabriel requests three favors from the desperate young beauty, and Marietta has no other choice but to make a deal with the sinfully handsome devil.

THREE NIGHTS OF PLEASURE...

Searching for clues in the rough underbelly of London, Marietta must masquerade as a shamelessly wanton wench--much to Gabriel's delight. But Marietta swears to herself that her passionate moans are just for show. She could never fall in love with such a maddening, arrogant, seductive stranger...or could she?

THREE NIGHTS OF SIN...

Night after night, she satisfies his wicked cravings. But soon Gabriel wants more from Marietta than just three nights of sin--and even a sordid secret in his past won't prevent him from trying to possess her forever.


First of all, I found the back blurb to be very, very misleading. Yes, Marietta's brother is arrested, she goes to Gabriel for help & he asks her for 3 favors in exchange for his help. But, the book isn't as...tawdry as the back blurb comes across.

This is why Avon books drive me nuts. They always seem to sex up the blurb 10 times more than they need to. If they'd just stick to the actual story idea, they'd do so much better (IMHO, anyway).

Marietta is desperate when she finds her way to Gabriel Noble's doorstep. Her younger brother has been arrested for murder, her elder brother is drinking his life away, and her home is...well, she's at the end of her rope. She shows up at Gabriel's home late on night and after seeing him, well, she's a bit stunned. He's a beautiful man and he has this way of carrying himself that totally distracts her from the reason she's really there.

Now, I've gotta say, I really enjoyed the character of Marietta. She's represented as pretty plain. She's not ugly, nor is she a beauty. Instead, she's the kind of woman who nobody really notices. But, she's not stupid, she's not a wuss, and she's quick-witted. All of these qualities are things I enjoy in my heroine's and it's what attracts Gabriel.

Mmm...Gabriel. What a hottie. *fans self* Dark, with green eyes. Yummy! He's a man of many facets and many secrets. He's not afraid to use Marietta to get what he wants &/or needs. But, he also never crosses the line to being a completely unsavorable man either.

Where this book shines is the prose itself. The chemistry between Marietta & Gabriel is apparent almost immediately. There's a lot of one-upmanship between the two as Gabriel tests her & Marietta fights back. It's all in the sexy dialogue and the reactions of the two of them towards each other and this passion that they can't seem to fight their way out of.

When they make love for the first time...it's perfect. Marietta (in typical historical fashion) is a virgin, but the way the love making is presented is beautifully done. The dialogue between the two of them is just wonderful as they get to that point. I was going to give you a bit of it, but I think you should just read it for yourself. It's sensual and sexy, but also kind of bittersweet in the end.

The murder mystery is compellingly done. Ms. Mallory throws quite a few people at the reader who could be the true murderer. I have to admit, I was actually rather surprised at who it ended up being. I'm usually pretty good about figuring it out and so the surprise was quite nice actually. :)

As for the sordid secret...boy, that was a twist. I kind of started getting an idea of what it was about a third of the way into the book, but when it was fully revealed...well, wow! It's a twist that really isn't seen all that often in historical romances, especially with male characters. Very much an "Ah-ha!" moment for me. :)

The book overall was just very well written. Sexy, fun dialogue, a nice fast pace, a spunky, intelligent (not TSTL...hallelujah!) heroine, and a hot hero. An intriguing mystery and a couple of twists. Can't go wrong there. All in all, a very satisfying read.


My Rating-A solid B+




PS. Pages 322 to 330...wowzer! That's all I'm going to say. :D

The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne

I first came across this book via the Smart Bitches...I think. I'm 99% sure of that, but anyway...:) It sounded interesting, so I decided to buy it the other day. Here's the back blurb-


She's never met a man she couldn't deceive...

She's braved battlefields. She's stolen dispatches from under the noses of heads of state. She's played the worldy courtesan, the naive virgin, the refined British lady, even a Gypsy boy. But Annique Villiers, the elusive spy known as the Fox Cub, has finally met the man she couldn't outwit...

Until now.

British spymaster Robert Grey must enter France and bring back the brilliant, beautiful and dangersous Fox Cub. His duty is to capture her and her secrets for England. When the two natural enemies are thrown into prison, they forge an uneasy alliance to break free. But their pact is temporary and betrayal seems inevitable. They flee, pursued every step of the way by ruthless authorities, caught in a net of secrets and lies. As the fates of nations hang in the balance, Grey and Annique fight the passion that flares between them-forbidden, impossible, and completely irresisible...


Aw, what to say about this book? I've read rave reviews all over the place, but had to put my two cents in too. This book really was wonderful. Annique is my favorite type of heroine-strong, smart, and able. She doesn't take crap from Grey, even when he's got her at the end of her rope. She's cunning and used to doing what's necessary to get the job done.

Grey is a great hero as well. He's strong, cunning and smart. Two peas in a pod is what they are! :)

This book is full of twists and turns. There are a few unexpected moments that are really surprising and give the story an added freshness that's nice. So many times when you have spy vs. spy, you end up with a ridiculous romp that's completely unbelievable.

With this book, you get a believable build-up to the romance itself. There's immediate attraction (of course), but there's also intrigue, mistrust and captive/captor issues as well. What I like is that you have two honorable people striving to do what they think is right.

This book is a fun and exciting story that's really enjoyable. The characters are great, the time period is sadly underused and the locations seem real. I strongly urge you to pick up a copy today!


My Rating: B+


You can visit Ms. Bourne here