I like nothing better than watching a tortured hero develop into a man who’s worthy of the love a warm heroine offers him. If you’re like me and have a weakness for angst-filled heroes, look no farther than this book. With the exception of a rather unbelievable plot twist and a heroine who borders on…
In Fairest of Them All, Josette Browning has written an updated nineteenth century potboiler, reminiscent of Edgar Rice Boroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes with a Pygmalion twist. This highly unusual romance novel imitates a Victorian popular novel including its sensibilities about sex and social rank. The result makes for a sometimes disturbing read. The book…
In love with her cousin Emily’s husband, Laura Hewitt travels to India in the winter of 1856-1857. She does not want to travel with Emily and Charles on their honeymoon trip, but family pressure and family affection compel her to accompany the newlyweds as Emily’s companion. Laura is, above everything else, a resilient and pragmatic…
Many medieval romances seem like they were written by authors who did all their research at the Medieval Times dinner-theatre show at the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas. Luckily for me, Bartered Bride wasn’t one of those books. The characters act like real people straight out of medieval society. As you might expect, the setting…
Imagine not showing up for your own wedding because you figured the person you were marrying wasn’t going to show up either! That’s exactly what happened the first time Isabel De Quincy and Benedict Costigan were scheduled to wed. Both were from rival fireworks-making families, and convinced that the other was only out for personal…
This is a book that feels like it was written according to my private list of preferences for medieval romances. It features a non-aristocratic hero who lives by his wits rather than by his brawn, a sensible heroine, a marriage of convenience and plenty of historical detail. Oh, did I mention that the married couple…
I knew I was in trouble when, after having read a third of this book, my husband asked me about it and I instinctively answered: “Well, it is rather blah.” When finished with Damask Rose, I realized it was still a blah read, and I’m not quite sure why. The setting could have contributed –…
I have to admit that when I first read the back cover blurb of this book, I was not impressed with yet another story involving “the pretender” to the throne of Scotland, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. I didn’t think I could endure another tale about the downfall of Scotland and his large part…
When publishers print the genre of a book on the spine, they really ought to call a spade a spade. Twin Willows is clearly labeled as a romance, but in my mind it most definitely isn’t. Similarly, the back cover has a synopsis that sounds like a romance, but it is actually nothing like the…
One of the great things about being a reviewer is that every once in awhile you read a book that makes you think, “My God, what a fantastic book!” I am happy to say that The Wedding Night made me think just that. The year is 1858 and Mairey Faelyn is continuing her father’s legacy….
End of content
End of content