After I finished The Lady in Gray, I took a trip to the used book store to find more of Patricia Oliver’s books. I finished 1998 in a bit of depression because two of my favorite regency writers, Mary Balogh and Carla Kelly said they will no longer be writing the traditional Regency Romance, but…
The Unexpected Wife has some good points, but they can’t outweigh the fact that this is an utterly insubstantial read. Yes – it’s light, cheerful, and shows Austen’s influence in its description of the English country gentry. If I’d never read a Regency Romance before, it would have fared far better, but I’ve lost my…
One characteristic that I’ve always enjoyed about the Regency Romance is its wit and light-heartedness – those same characteristics that make Jane Austen’s books such a delight to read. A Regency Romance lacking these qualities is not half so fun to read, and that is the problem with A Clandestine Courtship by Allison Lane. James…
I just finished Carla Kelly’s Summer Campaign and have to spread the news to the few who haven’t had the joy of meeting Onyx and Jack; those of you who’ve already read it can sit back and say, “what took her so long?” Simply put, there has seldom been a hero and heroine who more…
Let’s say for a moment that St. Peter actually has the time to worry about each and every one of us when we arrive at the Pearly Gates (the waiting lines would be horrific). Through some sort of a mix up, could he actually condemn a few people to walk the Earth until they can…
I enjoy Regencies every so often, but of all those I have read, I have kept only three. The typical Regency is lightly humorous, full of witty dialogue and charming characters. Even the best ones tend to have an interchangeable quality about them. The Notorious Rake is different. First of all, it is darker and…
It took me two days to finish this little 229 page book because I wanted to savor every page, every paragraph, every word! If I were the Emperor of Japan, I would declare Carla Kelly a Living National Treasure. If I were the Queen, I would make her a Duchess. Since I am only a…
If there is ever a self-help group for people who feel compelled to buy Christmas anthologies, I will be a charter member. Every year I seem to read one or two. The Regency anthologies are especially alluring to me. I’m not sure what draws me to them – maybe it’s all that mistletoe. This year’s…
Mary Balogh can create some of the most thoughtful, complex conflicts around. She can also write “Big Misunderstanding” plots that make you want to knock the main characters’ heads together. Unfortunately, The Last Waltz falls into the latter category. While the book is enjoyable for its charming setting and well-developed secondary characters, the gloom of…
When I read a book and find myself gasping with delight as I read it, I know I have found a gem! When I almost hyperventilated as I read Forbidden Magic, I knew it was a keeper. Meg Gillingham has been left in a fine mess by the death of her parents. She has two…
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