I used to be a great fan of Stephanie Laurens and her Cynster family series. But it has been almost four years since I read a Stephanie Laurens novel. I am one of those who felt that her writing had become derivative, just a rehashing of the same characters and plot and I tired of…
Liz Carlyle is, undoubtedly, one of the very best authors today of historical romance who, even when she’s not quite at the top of her game, writes consistently good – and sometimes great – novels. So, even though Three Little Secrets isn’t among the author’s best, it is still vastly superior to the majority of…
Sally Mackenzie is gradually undressing the peerage. First we had The Naked Duke, now The Naked Marquis and next year we’ll have The Naked Earl. If this title trend continues, we may end up with The Naked, Untitled But Wealthy Man Of Property. Charles Dalrymple, the younger son of a marquis, went into the army,…
I keep picking up western romances, hoping I’ll find one as good as those I used to read in the nineties. Since virtually all of them I’ve read in the last five years are terrible, I’m not sure if my behavior is optimistic, or just stupid. Sadly, Luck of the Draw is yet another of…
Sometimes I’m just in the mood to read a completely over-the-top romance. Those are the times when I’m looking for characters who are larger than life and have all kinds of vivid adventures. Pamela Clare’s latest novel, the first in a new series, has its rough spots, but her tale of romance set during the…
At about 35,000 words, Love’s Golden Embrace by Charlene Leonard is a rather short story in which you won’t find much detail in either setting or characterization. However, the feeling of nostalgia, comfort and my affection for both leads (especially for hero Luke) make Love’s Golden Embrace a pleasant, quick read. In 1829 the recent…
I am torn about this book and the grade it should receive. I really liked this book. And I really disliked this book. Unfortunately, I disliked it for a good hundred pages, and, if I wasn’t reviewing the book, I wouldn’t have bothered reading far enough to get to the good stuff. Lady Amelia Plume,…
Good-hearted, virtuous but poor heroine? Check. Roguish man of good family in search of a purpose for his life? Check. Roguish but somehow charming villagers and/or servants? Check. Well, many of the usual Regency romanceland features are certainly present here, together with a plot that revolves around smuggling (as opposed to spying – the other…
I know this is romance sacrilege, but when I read Lord of Scoundrels about ten years ago, I traded it back to the ubs. I don’t remember that I hated it, just that I didn’t particularly want to keep it. This was before I started reviewing romances, or even interacting with other readers online, for…
This is a deliciously charming Victorian-era historical, appealing in both storyline and writing style. Upon her father’s death, Juliana Holcott and her mother became poor relations dependent upon the kindness of distant relatives who grudgingly provided them with housing at Lynchwood Hall in order to preserve the family image. Although Juliana’s aunt and uncle look…
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