I read Devil’s Bride when it first came out several years ago, and I absolutely loved it. I loved the brainy heroine, the masterful, determined hero, and the expressive love scenes. Eight books later, I’m still reading Laurens, although I’ve missed a title or two along the way. At this point, she’s become a guilty…
There’s a lot to be said for My Lord Jack, a romance that’s well-written and features characters who are far removed from the usual romantic heroes and heroines. I was disappointed when these original and interesting characters started going through the motions of a very routine plot. Claudia Valemont was the kept mistress of a…
Barbara Miller’s The Pretender is the story of a young woman who has a lot on her plate. In the course of the story she must find her beautiful sister a husband, contend with an evil relative who lives to cause trouble, and will meet a gallant man with a painful past. I’ve read stories…
Have you heard the one about the big, bad lord of the castle whose name strikes fear in the heart of every man, woman or child that hears it, and has his servants avoiding him like the plague? That is, of course, until the lovely and feisty heroine shows up and realizes he’s nothing more…
Many Scottish historicals are set either in medieval times or the period surrounding the Jacobite Uprising of Bonnie Prince Charlie, in the mid-1740s. When the Laird Returns gives the reader a glimpse of what the country looked like about a generation later than that, and for that it’s interesting. But an inability to connect emotionally…
There’s an awful lot not to like about this book, so why did I basically like it? Lady Margaret Wentworth supports herself and her contingent of servants by working as a part-time investigative reporter for a London journal. Under the pseudonym originally created and used by her brother, she anonymously exposes corruption in the manner…
Overwrought and overwritten. How can I even begin to describe the writing style of The Duchess’ Lover? I could, I suppose mention the fact that every noun has many adjectives – many, many, many adjectives. It’s enough to make Kathleen Woodiwiss envious. Then there are the characters. They are larger than life, and never calm….
Saving Grace is probably my favorite Julie Garwood book. That being said, I thought she gave the subject of abuse a pretty light treatment. It worked for Garwood. It wouldn’t have worked for many others. Which is why I began Once Forbidden with some hope. Terri Brisbin’s heroine endures a hellish wedding night with an…
As a title The Pretender has a double meaning. Jaclyn Reding’s latest is set (for the most part) in 18th century Scotland on the Isle of Skye and involves a hero who is pretending to be something he is not. But the title also refers to the larger issue of the royal Pretender, Bonnie Prince…
I’m certain it’s not the easiest thing in the world for writers to come up with new situations and characters when writing within the conventions demanded by books set in the Regency period. But I have to hope for more than Christina Kingston managed in this predictable and pedestrian story. Michael, Viscount Kantwell is tormented…
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