Justin Sterling, the hero of Samantha James’s A Perfect Groom, is a tortured sort. We meet him in a long prologue, in which we see that his mother was unfaithful and died while trying to run off with a lover. Justin’s abusive father constantly told him that because he looks like his mother, Justin must…
Just when I thought I’d read almost every variant of Western romance, along comes Lynna Banning’s latest. Forget cowboys and ranchers, this is the tale of a town fundraiser and a mail-order bride competition. While the initial set-up of the story is rather contrived, the story does have some rather unexpectedly touching moments. Leora (Lolly)…
Lawrence of Arabia meets Sylvia Pankhurst? Though this is the Victorian rather than the Edwardian era, the idea of a be-robed English soldier and fiery suffragist falling in love in Egypt is undoubtedly an intriguing one, and one ably executed by Melody Thomas. Brianna Donally, a photographer, and her sister-in-law, Lady Alexandra, a renowned archeologist,…
I thought long and hard about this review. I knew the book didn’t draw me in as completely as Ms. Bradley’s earlier books had, but the reasons for that had me stumped. There were a couple of problems in the plotting and characterization, but that still didn’t account for my overall lack of engagement in…
I am astonished by how much I didn’t like this book. Victoria Alexander is an author I can usually count on to be witty and cozy; I have never before associated the word “maddening” with her. A Visit from Sir Nicholas, though, features turgid prose and a self-satisfied, smirking hero who is putting up a…
Been longing for real jerk of a hero? Someone who will treat his true love like dirt and blame it on her? Well then, read on! Lucy Abbington is attending the London Season under protest. She’s never been much interested in society or marriage, as she sees them as incompatible with her dream of becoming…
Zebra’s Debut program is a great idea. Readers get to try brand-new authors at a special price and so far several of the authors featured in this program have turned out rather good books. Kristina Cook is certainly no exception to this. The characters in her debut novel, Unlaced are likable and, while it does…
Richard, Viscount Mallory and heir to his grandfather’s earldom, is home from the Peninsular War answering a summons from his grandmother. She wishes him to recover a lost family heirloom, the Mallory Heart, a magnificent ruby brooch given to the family by Queen Elizabeth. The earl’s health is quickly fading and Grandmother believes he is…
As regular visitors to AAR know, an ever-growing chorus of readers are continually complaining that far too many historical romances these days are far too formulaic. Anyone reading My Own Private Hero would certainly be hard pressed to argue with that. Frankly, you can read this one with about half your brain engaged and, lest…
The best parts of A Perfect Gentleman are the small ones. It is so filled with funny one-liners that my book was seriously dog eared after I finished reading it. Unfortunately, the plot is a total mess; but for lovers of humorous romances, this will be prime stuff. Viscount Aubrey “Stoney” Wellstone is handsome, charming,…
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