The Return of the Earl read like a traditional Regency stretched and padded into the length of a Regency-set historical. I was confused, then bored for a long stretch before finally things came together. But shortly after the book began to move, it was over. In the first chapter of The Return of the Earl,…
Babe in Toyland is rather more low key Chick Lit than I’m used to. It features a heroine who is easy to relate to, but it’s not a very exciting read. Toby Morris has an unusual job working at Toyland, a large toy company. She designs the directions and models that come boxed with the…
I love the type of romantic suspense that combines emotion with mystery. Rita Herron attempts this combination in Midnight Disclosures, but the final result is irritating, overblown, and borderline excruciating. There is a difference between emotion and cheap melodrama. This book traffics in the latter. Claire Kos was once in love with Army Lieutenant Mark…
I’m not sure what happened with Anne Stuart. Her books used to be fabulous, but her latest efforts have been quite disappointing. Hidden Honor is better than some of Anne Stuart’s more recent books, but still not up to par with my old favorites. This one was done in by the heroine. Normally I enjoy…
I started this debut novel with considerable anticipation. Sadly, however, despite the Georgian setting and back cover copy hinting at Gothic overtones, The Painted Rose didn’t come even remotely close to living up to the hype. Frankly, the story and setting here are so generic that the action could have taken place anytime from 1750-1920…
Donna Simpson used to be one of the few, the proud. Okay she wasn’t a marine, but she was a traditional regency romance writer who told good stories and played the clichés running rampant in other regency trads to good effect. But lately something’s changed. And it ain’t good. The Duke of Alban wants out…
The newest in Linda Needham’s series of Gentleman Rogues romances features all the elements of a fairytale – a beautiful princess in exile, a brave rescuing hero, history, folklore, and even the promise of a palace. And even though this one has a few plotting issues and runs out of steam towards the end, there…
Sabrina Jeffries is an author I can always count on for an enjoyable read. But to date she has not truly dazzled me. With each new book, I hope for excitement because of her very solid efforts in the past. And each time the enjoyment is there, but the thrill of a DIK is not….
Susan Peterson is a good example of why I always try an author more than once. I really disliked her first romantic suspense Concealed Weapon, which was published earlier this year, then loved her second book, Emergency Contact. I was curious to see how I would respond to her third 2004 release. All I can…
In Still Life, the newest installment in Melanie Jackson’s popular Wildside series, it becomes apparent that the human/fey forces of good are moving ever closer to their final battles with the goblins. The author’s familiar mix of brooding darkness and touches of quirky humor are present in this book, but problems with pace and timing…
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