THE FOLLY AT FALCONBRIDGE by Maggi Andersen is a wonderfully crafted mystery that will appeal to any historical fiction reader. The story definitely has a Cinderella quality to it, with some clever symbolism shown via Lord Falconbridge's study of butterflies. I enjoyed it immensely and give it 4 stars.
In THE FOLLY AT FALCONBRIDGE, destitute Vanessa Ashley, niece and granddaughter of an earl, takes a governess position at the home of Julian Grieve, Viscount Falconbridge, who has had a difficult time keeping a governess for his ten year-old daughter, Blythe. Vanessa and Blythe connect quickly, and occasionally, Vanessa thinks that she may be receiving heated looks from Lord Falconbridge. Of course, those must all be in her imagination; or are they? She certainly receives unwanted heated looks from the head groomsman, gypsy Lovel.
Life at Falconbridge falls into a routine for Vanessa and Blythe. Add some strange lights at the folly, late night run-ins with her employer, dangerous woods, a snobbish husband-hunting neighbor, and Blythe's uneasiness over her mother's death, her father's imminent expedition to the Amazon, the disappearance of her last governess and that of an unremarkable household painting. All in all, Vanessa feels as if something odd is afoot. In order to provide some security for Blythe, Julian asks Vanessa to marry him. Should she accept him given all of her questions about his family? And what would life at Falconbridge Hall be like without him around for months and months?
I definitely enjoyed THE FOLLY AT FALCONBRIDGE. Life at Falconbridge Hall was described in such a way that it was easy to imagine the house, the grounds, and the ability to get lost and separated from your fellow horseback riders. The dialogue is well done, especially that between Julian and Vanessa. The reader can easily feel the awkwardness Vanessa feels in her interactions with Julian and the restraint Julian exhibits as her employer. The character development and that of the romantic relationship in the novel were also believable. I never felt like there was a question about a character's motives or actions. This book has a heat level rating of a 2, only the occasional adult content, but nothing too graphic. Still, given some of the subject matter, this book is probably appropriate for those 17 years of age and over.
On a technical note, I would have liked to have seen a bit quicker pace in the pre-proposal time period. Once the proposal is out there, the book moves fairly quickly. There were also some typographical and grammatical errors that detracted from the story, but for the most part, it is easy to get past them.
Overall, I really enjoyed THE FOLLY AT FALCONBRIDGE, and definitely recommend it for your summer reading list.
**Since writing this review, I have discovered that some of the grammatical errors I noticed can be attributed to a difference between US English and UK English.
*Original review written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=8950.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
A Lesson in Presumption (Lesson #5) by Jennifer Connors - 3 stars
A Lesson in Presumption by Jennifer Connors follows Ginny,
our favorite romance novel heroine, to the Caribbean where things get hot in
more ways than one, and where Ginny must learn that things are not always as she
presumes them to be. I give A Lesson in Presumption three stars
because the action equals the drama and Ginny’s romantic notions are
disproved.
In A Lesson in Presumption, Ginny wakes up
in 1775 England in the body of Lady Corliss Gammage, as she is being attacked by
her sadistic alcoholic husband. While Ginny is trying to get away
from him, he trips, hits his head, and dies. Lady Corliss is
blamed for the murder by her mother-in-law and shipped off to the West Indies to
become a slave on a plantation.
A friend
of Corliss’ family, Jeremy Northwood, is a British Naval Captain and agrees to
take Corliss to the West Indies. Instead of taking her to the plantation,
though, he takes her to his home on another island before heading to
Massachusetts to deal with the rebellious colonies.
Lord Gammage’s cousin and British privateer, Nathanial
Webster, locates Corliss in her comfortable accommodations, kidnaps her and
heads to the island where her new owner awaits.
Throughout the novel, Ginny sleeps with several men in an attempt to
prevent her heart from being engaged, and identifies Nathanial as her
“mega-hunk.” When another woman arrives on the scene and turns
Nathanial’s head, Ginny is forced to reassess whether she and Nathanial are
meant to be together.
This
fifth installment in the Lesson Series shows Ginny determined to have fun with
her circumstances. There were many funny parts and some
stereotypical pirate scenes. One of my Favorite quotes is “…they
had to be victorious. A book ending where everyone dies is sick
and depressing and very, very unromantic.”
The
dialogue was nicely done, but I wasn’t convinced that Ginny actually learned the
lesson in this novel. The pacing was a bit off, and the ending was
a bit too quickly wrapped up. I would have liked to see more of
Ginny’s life with her mega-hunk.
On a technical note, the book needed another round of
editing addressing grammatical issues.
Overall,
A Lesson in Presumption is a nice
read, and give it 3 stars.
*Original review revised for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10217. |
Dangerous Waters by Anne Allen - 3 stars
DANGEROUS WATERS by Anne Allen is a gentle stream, enjoyable and not difficult to negotiate. While the pace is slower than I would have liked, the plotline and island descriptions more than make up for that issue, and I give it 3 stars.
In DANGEROUS WATERS, Jeanne Le Page returns to her beloved Guernsey after a bad break-up and miscarriage, in order to deal with an inheritance received from her grandmother. While determining what to do with her grandmother's cottage, orchard, garden and possessions, Jeanne resolves to put the mystery of her parents' deaths to rest, but then she unwittingly digs up more mysteries to solve. Add in some romantic drama and new employment opportunities, and Jeanne definitely gets more than she bargained for by moving back home.
I enjoyed DANGEROUS WATERS, even though it took me some time to get into the story. The pace is a little on the slow side, but one could consider that as part of illustrating the pace of life on Guernsey. I was determined to press on because of the fabulous descriptions of the island and island living. I definitely want to visit now.
Other than the pace, the book was remarkable, with some lovely historical aspects interwoven with the drama of Jeanne's efforts to build a new life. The characters were authentic and well-illustrated. I could have used some extra scenes developing the successful romantic relationship in the book, but what was provided was blessedly free from the typical romance novel melodrama.
The romance seemed to be part of the backdrop to the other mysteries in the book, and as such, love scenes were appropriately brief and nondescript. DANGEROUS WATERS rates about a 2 on the heat level scale, appropriate for those 16 and over.
The editing was also done well, but the reader must also recognize that the spelling and grammar were British.
Overall, I liked DANGEROUS WATERS, and definitely recommend it for your summer reading list.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10095.
In DANGEROUS WATERS, Jeanne Le Page returns to her beloved Guernsey after a bad break-up and miscarriage, in order to deal with an inheritance received from her grandmother. While determining what to do with her grandmother's cottage, orchard, garden and possessions, Jeanne resolves to put the mystery of her parents' deaths to rest, but then she unwittingly digs up more mysteries to solve. Add in some romantic drama and new employment opportunities, and Jeanne definitely gets more than she bargained for by moving back home.
I enjoyed DANGEROUS WATERS, even though it took me some time to get into the story. The pace is a little on the slow side, but one could consider that as part of illustrating the pace of life on Guernsey. I was determined to press on because of the fabulous descriptions of the island and island living. I definitely want to visit now.
Other than the pace, the book was remarkable, with some lovely historical aspects interwoven with the drama of Jeanne's efforts to build a new life. The characters were authentic and well-illustrated. I could have used some extra scenes developing the successful romantic relationship in the book, but what was provided was blessedly free from the typical romance novel melodrama.
The romance seemed to be part of the backdrop to the other mysteries in the book, and as such, love scenes were appropriately brief and nondescript. DANGEROUS WATERS rates about a 2 on the heat level scale, appropriate for those 16 and over.
The editing was also done well, but the reader must also recognize that the spelling and grammar were British.
Overall, I liked DANGEROUS WATERS, and definitely recommend it for your summer reading list.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10095.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Heiress Bride by Cynthia Woolf (Matchmaker & Co. #2) - 1 star
HEIRESS BRIDE by Cynthia Woolf picks up the story of Nathan Ravenclaw (introduced in Capital Bride) as he meets and falls in love with his mail order bride, Ella Davenport. The plot is slightly stronger than Capital Bride due to a clearer description of the antagonist, but the book delivers a similar plotline with similar contrived scenes and dialogue as in Capital Bride. I give this book one star and hope that a revised version will be published.
Ella Davenport is an heiress to the Davenport shipbuilding empire built by her father who died in a carriage accident. That same carriage accident left Ella with serious scars on her face and body. Given her notoriety in New York society along with her fortune, she is convinced that being a mail order bride is the only way she will be able to have a husband who is not a fortune hunter.
Nathan Ravenclaw is the son of an Arapaho Indian and a white Pennsylvania lawyer, and so he is ostracized by both the Native Americans and the white settlers in Colorado. He is looking for a wife who accepts him as he is. Trouble follows Ella to Colorado, though, and wreaks havoc on Ella and Nathan's life.
From the beginning of this novel, I recognized the plotline as being so similar to that in Capital Bride that it is virtually the same story. Even though the characters have different issues, the ways the characters speak, interact, kiss, make love, get pregnant, fight against psycho relatives, fall in love and have babies are all the same. The challenge of writing books in a series is in creating different characters and maintaining their individuality throughout the book. Here, the insecurities and hang-ups of the characters are too similar for their divergent backgrounds. This book also had a happy ending, but the resolution was unnatural and forced.
There are several parts where issues in the plot could be expanded to add depth and authenticity to the story: the carriage accident that killed Ella's father, the introduction of bodyguards into the Davenport household, Ella's life as a wealthy woman, her interactions with fortune-hunting suitors, Nathan's history with his last love interest, his ostracization from society and his tribe, and qualities of Nathan and Ella that cause them to fall in love with each other. The expansion of these parts of the book would add credibility to the romantic relationship between husband and wife, showing the development of the characters' feelings. The book also needs another round of editing for grammar, spelling and punctuation in order to convey the story clearly.
Issues aside, I think the ideas behind the plot have merit and would make a great book, but the book must be unique enough to hold its own place on the bookshelf. I would be interested in reading any revised versions that are published.
Ella Davenport is an heiress to the Davenport shipbuilding empire built by her father who died in a carriage accident. That same carriage accident left Ella with serious scars on her face and body. Given her notoriety in New York society along with her fortune, she is convinced that being a mail order bride is the only way she will be able to have a husband who is not a fortune hunter.
Nathan Ravenclaw is the son of an Arapaho Indian and a white Pennsylvania lawyer, and so he is ostracized by both the Native Americans and the white settlers in Colorado. He is looking for a wife who accepts him as he is. Trouble follows Ella to Colorado, though, and wreaks havoc on Ella and Nathan's life.
From the beginning of this novel, I recognized the plotline as being so similar to that in Capital Bride that it is virtually the same story. Even though the characters have different issues, the ways the characters speak, interact, kiss, make love, get pregnant, fight against psycho relatives, fall in love and have babies are all the same. The challenge of writing books in a series is in creating different characters and maintaining their individuality throughout the book. Here, the insecurities and hang-ups of the characters are too similar for their divergent backgrounds. This book also had a happy ending, but the resolution was unnatural and forced.
There are several parts where issues in the plot could be expanded to add depth and authenticity to the story: the carriage accident that killed Ella's father, the introduction of bodyguards into the Davenport household, Ella's life as a wealthy woman, her interactions with fortune-hunting suitors, Nathan's history with his last love interest, his ostracization from society and his tribe, and qualities of Nathan and Ella that cause them to fall in love with each other. The expansion of these parts of the book would add credibility to the romantic relationship between husband and wife, showing the development of the characters' feelings. The book also needs another round of editing for grammar, spelling and punctuation in order to convey the story clearly.
Issues aside, I think the ideas behind the plot have merit and would make a great book, but the book must be unique enough to hold its own place on the bookshelf. I would be interested in reading any revised versions that are published.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
A Lesson in Friendship (Lesson #4) by Jennifer Connors - 3 stars
A LESSON IN FRIENDSHIP by Jennifer Connors, the fourth relationship lesson for Ginny, our favorite romance novel heroine, illustrates how important it is to be a true friend and consider other people's needs above your own. I really enjoyed this installment of Ms. Connors' Lesson series, but only give it three stars due to numerous distracting editing issues.
A LESSON IN FRIENDSHIP follows Ginny into the body of Lady Sarah Dunworthy, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Weston, sometime during the 19th Century. Lady Sarah is a spoiled, selfish debutante in her first season, and the lessons that Ginny has learned so far help Lady Sarah gain some maturity and care for others. Ginny's lesson in friendship pertains not only to her "mega-hunk," Lord Conway, but also to widowed half-sister Mrs. Charlotte Stevens, and incredibly shy friend Lady Penelope Hammersmith.
At the beginning of the novel, Ginny's frustration with having to become a new character and her depression from being homesick are clearly evident throughout this novel. Ginny is grieving the loss of Colby from A Lesson in Patience and so decides not to fall in love in this novel. While seemingly not following the romance novel script, this decision gives Ginny time to focus on the needs of Charlotte and Penelope, both of whom have been overlooked by society or their families in one way or another. While helping them obtain their own individual "happily ever after," Ginny keeps Lord Conway at arm's length for several weeks until he is compelled to declare himself in love with her.
Overall, I really enjoyed A LESSON IN FRIENDSHIP. Besides illustrating how important it is to be a friend with any romantic interest, it also illustrates how important it is to care for friendships with family members as well as same-sex friends. This isn't just a lesson that Ginny learns; rather, each of the main characters in the book faces a situation where friendship is important in some way. As a romance novel, this element is unique and refreshing.
The dialogue and character development were both absolutely believable. There was no melodrama that so often saturates romance novels. Those parts that seemed to approach melodrama status were identified by Ginny as being somewhat cheesy, and so there was some nice humor in the novel.
The only disappointment with A LESSON IN FRIENDSHIP is the editing. The punctuation errors, subject/verb disagreements, spelling mistakes, and other grammatical issues were pervasive and often painfully obvious. This novel definitely needs a fresh pair of eyes for another round of editing.
Issues aside, I enjoyed this fourth installment in the Lesson series, and highly recommend A LESSON IN FRIENDSHIP for your summer reading list.
*Original review revised for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10178
A LESSON IN FRIENDSHIP follows Ginny into the body of Lady Sarah Dunworthy, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Weston, sometime during the 19th Century. Lady Sarah is a spoiled, selfish debutante in her first season, and the lessons that Ginny has learned so far help Lady Sarah gain some maturity and care for others. Ginny's lesson in friendship pertains not only to her "mega-hunk," Lord Conway, but also to widowed half-sister Mrs. Charlotte Stevens, and incredibly shy friend Lady Penelope Hammersmith.
At the beginning of the novel, Ginny's frustration with having to become a new character and her depression from being homesick are clearly evident throughout this novel. Ginny is grieving the loss of Colby from A Lesson in Patience and so decides not to fall in love in this novel. While seemingly not following the romance novel script, this decision gives Ginny time to focus on the needs of Charlotte and Penelope, both of whom have been overlooked by society or their families in one way or another. While helping them obtain their own individual "happily ever after," Ginny keeps Lord Conway at arm's length for several weeks until he is compelled to declare himself in love with her.
Overall, I really enjoyed A LESSON IN FRIENDSHIP. Besides illustrating how important it is to be a friend with any romantic interest, it also illustrates how important it is to care for friendships with family members as well as same-sex friends. This isn't just a lesson that Ginny learns; rather, each of the main characters in the book faces a situation where friendship is important in some way. As a romance novel, this element is unique and refreshing.
The dialogue and character development were both absolutely believable. There was no melodrama that so often saturates romance novels. Those parts that seemed to approach melodrama status were identified by Ginny as being somewhat cheesy, and so there was some nice humor in the novel.
The only disappointment with A LESSON IN FRIENDSHIP is the editing. The punctuation errors, subject/verb disagreements, spelling mistakes, and other grammatical issues were pervasive and often painfully obvious. This novel definitely needs a fresh pair of eyes for another round of editing.
Issues aside, I enjoyed this fourth installment in the Lesson series, and highly recommend A LESSON IN FRIENDSHIP for your summer reading list.
*Original review revised for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10178
Friday, July 19, 2013
The Incorrigible Mr. Lumley by Aileen Fish - 4 stars
THE INCORRIGIBLE MR. LUMLEY by Aileen Fish is a sweet Romeo and Juliet-esque romance championing the virtues of honesty and humility in relationships. I give it 4 stars for the happy ending achieved by the characters through earnestness and diligence.
In THE INCORRIGIBLE MR. LUMLEY, David Lumley is the second son of the Earl of Bridgethorpe and happily manages the family's stud farm. One day while exercising his prized stallion in Hyde Park, he meets Lady Joanna Hurst, the daughter of Bridgethorpe's supposed nemesis, the recently deceased Earl of Northcotte. Mr. Lumley suspects that both the former and current Earls of Northcotte have somehow been involved in the death of his family's prized stallion six years ago. Mr. Lumley sets out to get to know Lady Joanna so that he can obtain some information about her father and brother to use as evidence against them. Little does he know that Lady Joanna will prove to be the perfect life partner for him.
Lady Joanna is embarking on her second Season in London, but wants nothing more than to attend the races to see the colt that she's trained. As far as marriage goes, Lady Joanna wants a husband who will allow her to continue training horses, but her options are slim. Her brother gives her an ultimatum – find a husband this Season or he'll choose for her. Of all her choices, Lady Joanna can only imagine spending the rest of her life with Mr. Lumley, but he has already declared that he isn't looking to get married. Her brother's "choice" is a creepy, conniving moneylender to whom their father indebted the estate.
David and Joanna must deal with the past before they can move on, but what are the odds that they'll succeed in working things out before someone has a chance to separate them permanently?
I enjoyed THE INCORRIGIBLE MR. LUMLEY a lot. The characters were deliciously complex and faced equally as complex issues, i.e., how can you want to marry a woman whose brother you suspect of murder? That question definitely has a complicated answer. Working out the family issues while getting to know each other, David and Joanna demonstrate great personal growth, through which the virtues of honesty and humility are promoted. It's not often that a romance novel achieves this level of education. Here, the reader can absolutely walk away and apply to his/her own life the life lessons learned by the characters. Bravo!
As for the romantic development, I liked the fact that David and Joanna's relationship was built on consistent social interactions. It might have progressed quickly, but there were a great many opportunities to get to know each other. This novel has a heat level rating of 1, appropriate for teenagers and adults alike.
The pace of the book was good, but there were some editing issues that need to be addressed. Some of the sentences were structured oddly, causing a few reads to understand the sentence. I was able to get past the editing issues without too much effort, though.
Overall THE INCORRIGIBLE MR. LUMLEY is a sweet romance and definitely a great addition to your summer reading list.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at
http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10210
In THE INCORRIGIBLE MR. LUMLEY, David Lumley is the second son of the Earl of Bridgethorpe and happily manages the family's stud farm. One day while exercising his prized stallion in Hyde Park, he meets Lady Joanna Hurst, the daughter of Bridgethorpe's supposed nemesis, the recently deceased Earl of Northcotte. Mr. Lumley suspects that both the former and current Earls of Northcotte have somehow been involved in the death of his family's prized stallion six years ago. Mr. Lumley sets out to get to know Lady Joanna so that he can obtain some information about her father and brother to use as evidence against them. Little does he know that Lady Joanna will prove to be the perfect life partner for him.
Lady Joanna is embarking on her second Season in London, but wants nothing more than to attend the races to see the colt that she's trained. As far as marriage goes, Lady Joanna wants a husband who will allow her to continue training horses, but her options are slim. Her brother gives her an ultimatum – find a husband this Season or he'll choose for her. Of all her choices, Lady Joanna can only imagine spending the rest of her life with Mr. Lumley, but he has already declared that he isn't looking to get married. Her brother's "choice" is a creepy, conniving moneylender to whom their father indebted the estate.
David and Joanna must deal with the past before they can move on, but what are the odds that they'll succeed in working things out before someone has a chance to separate them permanently?
I enjoyed THE INCORRIGIBLE MR. LUMLEY a lot. The characters were deliciously complex and faced equally as complex issues, i.e., how can you want to marry a woman whose brother you suspect of murder? That question definitely has a complicated answer. Working out the family issues while getting to know each other, David and Joanna demonstrate great personal growth, through which the virtues of honesty and humility are promoted. It's not often that a romance novel achieves this level of education. Here, the reader can absolutely walk away and apply to his/her own life the life lessons learned by the characters. Bravo!
As for the romantic development, I liked the fact that David and Joanna's relationship was built on consistent social interactions. It might have progressed quickly, but there were a great many opportunities to get to know each other. This novel has a heat level rating of 1, appropriate for teenagers and adults alike.
The pace of the book was good, but there were some editing issues that need to be addressed. Some of the sentences were structured oddly, causing a few reads to understand the sentence. I was able to get past the editing issues without too much effort, though.
Overall THE INCORRIGIBLE MR. LUMLEY is a sweet romance and definitely a great addition to your summer reading list.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at
http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10210
Marriage Not Included by Lynn Cahoon - 3 stars
MARRIAGE NOT INCLUDED by Lynn Cahoon respectfully presents love, actually, with all its complex issues, and is a good read when you are looking for a realistic romance. I give it 3 stars.
In MARRIAGE NOT INCLUDED, Miles Hamilton, the heir to large corporation HN Seeds, meets single-mom Lauren Simpson at her farmers' market booth one afternoon. A few hours in the company of Lauren and her daughter, Emma, and Miles is hooked. It's too bad his dad's company is trying to buy Lauren's family farm, a farm which Lauren hopes to turn into a heritage seed farm in a few years' time.
While they go out on a few dates, life happens; family health issues intervene, and Lauren feels so out of Miles' league, she cannot see a future for them. Miles can't see anything BUT a future for them and has to figure out how to solve everyone's problems so he can get the girl.
I liked MARRIAGE NOT INCLUDED. To say that I enjoyed it would be a little inappropriate, though, since the book deals with difficult real life situations. The characters and their problems are well-illustrated, e.g., when a single mom dates someone, there are 3 people involved in that relationship – mom, child and significant other. The worries and concerns of each of the characters are different based on their individual situations and histories. I really appreciate that kind of character illustration; it makes the book more realistic and relatable.
As for the romantic development, I felt it was a little on the hasty side. I didn't get a clear picture of the time frame, but it seemed like Miles was in love at first sight, with Lauren following about a month later. I would have liked there to be a few months in between meeting and falling in love, maybe with New Year's being the ending, but I generally tend to be suspicious of claims of love at first sight, even though I know it happens to a lucky few. Love scenes are brief and generalized, giving this novel a heat level rating of 2, appropriate for those 14 and up.
The pace of the book was a little slow for me, and there were some glaring editing issues. The editing issues were easy to get past, but the pacing definitely detracted from the substance of the story. This could just be an effect of the heavy, emotional subject matter, though. So reader beware; this is not a light and easy read.
My only other comment pertains to the cover art, which I felt wrongly characterizes the novel as a stereotypical, fluffy, unrealistic romance. This book has way more depth than the cover art suggests.
Overall, MARRIAGE NOT INCLUDED is a sweet romance and definitely a good book for when you are tired of ridiculous, unbelievable romance novels.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at
http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10159
In MARRIAGE NOT INCLUDED, Miles Hamilton, the heir to large corporation HN Seeds, meets single-mom Lauren Simpson at her farmers' market booth one afternoon. A few hours in the company of Lauren and her daughter, Emma, and Miles is hooked. It's too bad his dad's company is trying to buy Lauren's family farm, a farm which Lauren hopes to turn into a heritage seed farm in a few years' time.
While they go out on a few dates, life happens; family health issues intervene, and Lauren feels so out of Miles' league, she cannot see a future for them. Miles can't see anything BUT a future for them and has to figure out how to solve everyone's problems so he can get the girl.
I liked MARRIAGE NOT INCLUDED. To say that I enjoyed it would be a little inappropriate, though, since the book deals with difficult real life situations. The characters and their problems are well-illustrated, e.g., when a single mom dates someone, there are 3 people involved in that relationship – mom, child and significant other. The worries and concerns of each of the characters are different based on their individual situations and histories. I really appreciate that kind of character illustration; it makes the book more realistic and relatable.
As for the romantic development, I felt it was a little on the hasty side. I didn't get a clear picture of the time frame, but it seemed like Miles was in love at first sight, with Lauren following about a month later. I would have liked there to be a few months in between meeting and falling in love, maybe with New Year's being the ending, but I generally tend to be suspicious of claims of love at first sight, even though I know it happens to a lucky few. Love scenes are brief and generalized, giving this novel a heat level rating of 2, appropriate for those 14 and up.
The pace of the book was a little slow for me, and there were some glaring editing issues. The editing issues were easy to get past, but the pacing definitely detracted from the substance of the story. This could just be an effect of the heavy, emotional subject matter, though. So reader beware; this is not a light and easy read.
My only other comment pertains to the cover art, which I felt wrongly characterizes the novel as a stereotypical, fluffy, unrealistic romance. This book has way more depth than the cover art suggests.
Overall, MARRIAGE NOT INCLUDED is a sweet romance and definitely a good book for when you are tired of ridiculous, unbelievable romance novels.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at
http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10159
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Once An Innocent by Elizabeth Boyce - 4 stars
ONCE AN INNOCENT by Elizabeth Boyce is a fantastic espionage romance that has some surprising action and gripping drama. If you are a 007 fan, you will be entertained by this novel. I give it 4 stars and look forward to reading more of Ms. Boyce's work.
ONCE AN INNOCENT is set during the brief period of peace when Napoleon was imprisoned on the island of Elba. Jordan Atherton, Viscount Freese, is a Foreign Office secret agent chomping at the bit to get back into the field, but the only field Jordan's boss will send him to is his own.
Unbeknownst to all but a few select people, Jordan has been housing a VIP at his home in Yorkshire. Concern over Bonapartists getting closer to the VIP's location forces Jordan to team up with eleven other Foreign Office agents and create a good reason for them to be spending time at his home.
Enter Naomi Lockwood, sister of Jordan's best friend, Marshall, Duke of Monthwaite. Jordan has known Naomi since she was eleven, but something has changed in his feelings for her. When he creates an extended house party for the Foreign Office agents and their women, Naomi and her Aunt Janine are included in the party to lend credibility to the gathering.
Naomi thinks there is something odd about the house party and is determined to find out what it is, which means that she will ignore all of Jordan's orders to the contrary. Jordan and Naomi finally discover and give in to their mutual attraction, but it certainly costs them in the end.
I really enjoyed ONCE AN INNOCENT. In fact, after reading the first page, I knew I would like it, so I went back and read the first two novels in this series, Once a Duchess and Once an Heiress. I always prefer to read books in chronological order so that I fully understand the characters, but here it wasn't necessary to understand. Enough information is provided for the development of the romantic relationships to be believable, and also for the reader to understand why Jordan makes some of the heart wrenching decisions he makes. The reality of the lonely life of espionage is well-illustrated.
The characters were also well-illustrated and maintained their individuality. Occasionally, I'll read a series and find that the hero/male protagonist in book 3 is just like the one in book 1. Not in this series. Ms. Boyce does a great job of keeping the integrity and individuality of her characters.
The action scenes were also realistic. There was no Disney-esque danger; it was gritty and bloody. People died. I definitely appreciated the suspense and mystery elements, too. There were unlikely heroes and traitors. I did not know who the bad guy was until the end! I love it when that happens.
As for the love scenes, the content lends itself to a heat level rating of 3, appropriate for those 18 years of age and older.
The only disappointment I felt was in the editing. There were some typos and grammatical issues that were a bit distracting, but I was able to redirect my mind back to the story without too much effort. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and definitely recommend it for your summer entertainment.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9971.
ONCE AN INNOCENT is set during the brief period of peace when Napoleon was imprisoned on the island of Elba. Jordan Atherton, Viscount Freese, is a Foreign Office secret agent chomping at the bit to get back into the field, but the only field Jordan's boss will send him to is his own.
Unbeknownst to all but a few select people, Jordan has been housing a VIP at his home in Yorkshire. Concern over Bonapartists getting closer to the VIP's location forces Jordan to team up with eleven other Foreign Office agents and create a good reason for them to be spending time at his home.
Enter Naomi Lockwood, sister of Jordan's best friend, Marshall, Duke of Monthwaite. Jordan has known Naomi since she was eleven, but something has changed in his feelings for her. When he creates an extended house party for the Foreign Office agents and their women, Naomi and her Aunt Janine are included in the party to lend credibility to the gathering.
Naomi thinks there is something odd about the house party and is determined to find out what it is, which means that she will ignore all of Jordan's orders to the contrary. Jordan and Naomi finally discover and give in to their mutual attraction, but it certainly costs them in the end.
I really enjoyed ONCE AN INNOCENT. In fact, after reading the first page, I knew I would like it, so I went back and read the first two novels in this series, Once a Duchess and Once an Heiress. I always prefer to read books in chronological order so that I fully understand the characters, but here it wasn't necessary to understand. Enough information is provided for the development of the romantic relationships to be believable, and also for the reader to understand why Jordan makes some of the heart wrenching decisions he makes. The reality of the lonely life of espionage is well-illustrated.
The characters were also well-illustrated and maintained their individuality. Occasionally, I'll read a series and find that the hero/male protagonist in book 3 is just like the one in book 1. Not in this series. Ms. Boyce does a great job of keeping the integrity and individuality of her characters.
The action scenes were also realistic. There was no Disney-esque danger; it was gritty and bloody. People died. I definitely appreciated the suspense and mystery elements, too. There were unlikely heroes and traitors. I did not know who the bad guy was until the end! I love it when that happens.
As for the love scenes, the content lends itself to a heat level rating of 3, appropriate for those 18 years of age and older.
The only disappointment I felt was in the editing. There were some typos and grammatical issues that were a bit distracting, but I was able to redirect my mind back to the story without too much effort. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and definitely recommend it for your summer entertainment.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9971.
Star Crossed by Rhonda Laurel - 4 stars
STAR CROSSED by Rhonda Laurel is an entertaining, quick read that will leave you grateful you don't work in an industry "where personal lives are public information," but it really needs a better title. Definitely add this novella to your summer reading list. I give it 4 stars.
In STAR CROSSED, music mogul Kate Garrison is trying to divorce her cheating husband, Jack, who is directing a film starring Hollywood hunk Chris Cavanaugh. One evening, while out with her girlfriends, Kate has to use the men's restroom because the women's is out of order, and who does she run into but Chris Cavanaugh. Add some drugs and paparazzi, and Kate and Chris have to act as if they were having a lovers' quarrel to get out of the restroom unscathed. When Chris later suggests that they perpetuate the belief that they are a couple, Kate agrees, but both of them end up getting more than they bargained for.
I really enjoyed STAR CROSSED, but from the outset, it was obvious that the title did not adequately reflect the drama within the novella. The term "star crossed" refers to Romeo and Juliet, the original pair of lovers from enemy families who end up dying for their love. In this book, there is little resembling Romeo and Juliet's predicament. There certainly is no double suicide in the end, and there are no warring factions, unless you consider Kate and her soon-to-be ex-husband at war. "The Queen of Hollywood" might have been a better title as the book focuses more on Kate's life.
I liked the development of Kate and Chris' relationship, even though it doesn't follow the traditional sequence of events. What I liked was that they became friends while playing house for the paparazzi. The growth of their real relationship was illustrated by their conversations and care and concern shown for one another. The reader can easily see why Chris and Kate are well-suited. I would have liked to see more of their down time, more of Chris' atypical Hollywood hunk qualities. This novella could easily have been made into a full length novel with some expansion of those aspects of the book, as well as some more interaction with their families, and perhaps some added drama with minor character Henry Weismann.
On a technical note, both the pacing and editing were good. No pesky issues to distract the reader. Given the content, I'd give STAR CROSSED a heat level rating of 2, appropriate for those 16 years of age and older. Add it to your summer reading list and you won't be disappointed.
In STAR CROSSED, music mogul Kate Garrison is trying to divorce her cheating husband, Jack, who is directing a film starring Hollywood hunk Chris Cavanaugh. One evening, while out with her girlfriends, Kate has to use the men's restroom because the women's is out of order, and who does she run into but Chris Cavanaugh. Add some drugs and paparazzi, and Kate and Chris have to act as if they were having a lovers' quarrel to get out of the restroom unscathed. When Chris later suggests that they perpetuate the belief that they are a couple, Kate agrees, but both of them end up getting more than they bargained for.
I really enjoyed STAR CROSSED, but from the outset, it was obvious that the title did not adequately reflect the drama within the novella. The term "star crossed" refers to Romeo and Juliet, the original pair of lovers from enemy families who end up dying for their love. In this book, there is little resembling Romeo and Juliet's predicament. There certainly is no double suicide in the end, and there are no warring factions, unless you consider Kate and her soon-to-be ex-husband at war. "The Queen of Hollywood" might have been a better title as the book focuses more on Kate's life.
I liked the development of Kate and Chris' relationship, even though it doesn't follow the traditional sequence of events. What I liked was that they became friends while playing house for the paparazzi. The growth of their real relationship was illustrated by their conversations and care and concern shown for one another. The reader can easily see why Chris and Kate are well-suited. I would have liked to see more of their down time, more of Chris' atypical Hollywood hunk qualities. This novella could easily have been made into a full length novel with some expansion of those aspects of the book, as well as some more interaction with their families, and perhaps some added drama with minor character Henry Weismann.
On a technical note, both the pacing and editing were good. No pesky issues to distract the reader. Given the content, I'd give STAR CROSSED a heat level rating of 2, appropriate for those 16 years of age and older. Add it to your summer reading list and you won't be disappointed.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Almost Magic by J.M. Kelley - 4 stars
ALMOST MAGIC by J.M. Kelley is a funny and lighthearted novella that is guaranteed to make you smile. Between the sweet heartwarming romance and the humorous characters, you'll be whistling a happy tune when you are done reading. I give ALMOST MAGIC 4 stars and recommend to all.
In ALMOST MAGIC, widower Jack Riley takes his sister's advice and moves himself and his daughter, 7 year-old Elizabeth, to a quaint little town called Essex Woods. There they meet local "witches" Vivian Burroughs, her mom, Winifred, and her aunt, Lillian. Vivian notices immediately that Elizabeth is gifted with some special abilities, and Winifred notices that Jack is plagued by the spirit of his late wife, who broke her neck in a household accident.
Between Jack and Vivian's constant run-ins and Elizabeth's affinity for Vivian, Jack and Vivian become friends. They both desire more from the relationship, but there are some challenges they must overcome.
I really enjoyed ALMOST MAGIC. It was interesting from the very beginning, and it is a short, quick read. Even though the book is a nice afternoon pick-me-up, I was left wanting more. There was a big jump of time between the main story and the epilogue that could have been (and still can be) utilized to add greater depth to the plot and the romantic relationship.
The characters were well-written, which surprised me because most of the novellas I've read have been skimpy on the character development. Not here. J.M. Kelley does a great job using all aspects of the story to advance the reader's understanding of the characters, and the reader is left with little doubt about the characters' motivations.
The humor in this story is also a definite plus. One of my favorite lines in the book is when Jack describes his daughter to Lillian and Winifred as an "underachiever black widow. She corners her prey and then chats them to death." Also, the dialogue between Elizabeth and Vivian, where Vivian is trying to explain grown-up things, is hilarious, not only because of the explanations, but also because of how Elizabeth describes adult things.
Other than wanting the novel to be full-length, the only disappointment I felt was in the existence of a sex scene. After such a sweet build-up to the first date, I felt like the whole scene could have been removed, and the book would have been better for it. It just seemed out of place and gratuitous given the tone of the rest of the book. On a heat scale, this novel rates about a 2, but without that scene, would have been a 1.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to all those 16 years of age and older.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10100
In ALMOST MAGIC, widower Jack Riley takes his sister's advice and moves himself and his daughter, 7 year-old Elizabeth, to a quaint little town called Essex Woods. There they meet local "witches" Vivian Burroughs, her mom, Winifred, and her aunt, Lillian. Vivian notices immediately that Elizabeth is gifted with some special abilities, and Winifred notices that Jack is plagued by the spirit of his late wife, who broke her neck in a household accident.
Between Jack and Vivian's constant run-ins and Elizabeth's affinity for Vivian, Jack and Vivian become friends. They both desire more from the relationship, but there are some challenges they must overcome.
I really enjoyed ALMOST MAGIC. It was interesting from the very beginning, and it is a short, quick read. Even though the book is a nice afternoon pick-me-up, I was left wanting more. There was a big jump of time between the main story and the epilogue that could have been (and still can be) utilized to add greater depth to the plot and the romantic relationship.
The characters were well-written, which surprised me because most of the novellas I've read have been skimpy on the character development. Not here. J.M. Kelley does a great job using all aspects of the story to advance the reader's understanding of the characters, and the reader is left with little doubt about the characters' motivations.
The humor in this story is also a definite plus. One of my favorite lines in the book is when Jack describes his daughter to Lillian and Winifred as an "underachiever black widow. She corners her prey and then chats them to death." Also, the dialogue between Elizabeth and Vivian, where Vivian is trying to explain grown-up things, is hilarious, not only because of the explanations, but also because of how Elizabeth describes adult things.
Other than wanting the novel to be full-length, the only disappointment I felt was in the existence of a sex scene. After such a sweet build-up to the first date, I felt like the whole scene could have been removed, and the book would have been better for it. It just seemed out of place and gratuitous given the tone of the rest of the book. On a heat scale, this novel rates about a 2, but without that scene, would have been a 1.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to all those 16 years of age and older.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10100
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Playing the Part by Robin Covington - 4 stars
PLAYING THE PART by Robin Covington portrays the difficulties inherent in having a genuine relationship while under intense scrutiny by paparazzi. Intense attraction and invasion of privacy make this a HOT romance - bordering on erotic romance - with a heat level rating of 4 for how often and how graphic the sex scenes are. Sex scenes aside, this was a well-written book, and I give it 4 stars.
In PLAYING THE PART, romance novelist Piper James is tasked by her publisher to consult on the film adaptation of one of her best-selling novels. The assignment is mandatory after a difficult year in Piper's personal life - she nearly had a very public breakdown after her fiancé cheated on her with her best friend. The problem with her assignment is that she must work with the hottest Hollywood hunk, Mick Blackwell, a man who will never settle down with one woman.
Afraid of having her heart broken, Piper does her best to keep from falling in love with Mick, but she fails miserably. Meanwhile the paparazzi has been following Mick, and when one of them publishes extremely personal and graphic photos of them, the money trail leads back to Mick. Is Mick just like Piper's ex-fiancé, or is someone else trying to sabotage Mick and Piper's relationship?
From the outset, PLAYING THE PART captures and takes the reader on an intensely emotional rollercoaster. The pace is quick and the dialogue believable. The novel only occasionally slips into the melodramatic repetition of hyperbolic narration that plagues typical romance novels. The characters' backgrounds supported their actions, so there was no question about their motivations.
I would have liked to see more of what Piper calls "ordinary, in between times." While there were a few of those scenes that helped establish a more credible romance, the sex scenes were so much more frequent and explicit. Sex scenes aside, I enjoyed the book.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9854
In PLAYING THE PART, romance novelist Piper James is tasked by her publisher to consult on the film adaptation of one of her best-selling novels. The assignment is mandatory after a difficult year in Piper's personal life - she nearly had a very public breakdown after her fiancé cheated on her with her best friend. The problem with her assignment is that she must work with the hottest Hollywood hunk, Mick Blackwell, a man who will never settle down with one woman.
Afraid of having her heart broken, Piper does her best to keep from falling in love with Mick, but she fails miserably. Meanwhile the paparazzi has been following Mick, and when one of them publishes extremely personal and graphic photos of them, the money trail leads back to Mick. Is Mick just like Piper's ex-fiancé, or is someone else trying to sabotage Mick and Piper's relationship?
From the outset, PLAYING THE PART captures and takes the reader on an intensely emotional rollercoaster. The pace is quick and the dialogue believable. The novel only occasionally slips into the melodramatic repetition of hyperbolic narration that plagues typical romance novels. The characters' backgrounds supported their actions, so there was no question about their motivations.
I would have liked to see more of what Piper calls "ordinary, in between times." While there were a few of those scenes that helped establish a more credible romance, the sex scenes were so much more frequent and explicit. Sex scenes aside, I enjoyed the book.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9854
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Dangerous Embrace by Dana Mason - 4 stars
DANGEROUS EMBRACE by Dana Mason contains both serious danger and lots of embraces, but could use a better title. The current title does not really reflect the domestic and random violence portrayed in the novel, and readers should be aware that if they are at all sensitive to violence against women, this is not the book for them. I give DANGEROUS EMBRACE four stars for the honest and real illustration of this grim topic.
DANGEROUS EMBRACE explodes out of the gate with the attempted rape of Sarah Jennings, an elementary school teacher in Santa Rosa, California. Sarah has some fight in her and is able to injure her attacker and escape, only to run into – literally – handsome ex-cop turned security specialist, Mark Summors. Sarah's attacker has both her house keys and address, and so Mark sticks by Sarah's side in order to protect her.
Sarah's past – abusive relationship with an ex-fiancé and a neglectful con artist mother – haunts her daily, and she does her best to keep Mark at arms' length. Between her nightmares, lack of familial support, and subsequent violent attacks, Mark must persevere to keep Sarah safe, but their proximity lends itself to an intimacy that neither one of them may be ready to accept.
Because of the subject matter, it somehow seems wrong to say that I enjoyed DANGEROUS EMBRACE, even though it is a well-written novel. It is certainly not light or happy reading. The heat rating is a serious 3 due to the graphic nature of attacks as well as the love scenes between Sarah and Mark. I appreciate the way in which the violence is handled, respectfully and honestly. The dialogue and narration are not cheesy in the least. The novel illustrates many aspects of rape survivors' psychological trauma as well as the obvious physical injuries. The plot is gritty, intense and complex; just when you imagine one issue is dealt with, another situation resurrects it.
On the technical side, I felt that the pace was a bit slow after the first attack, but perhaps this was a purposeful tool to illustrate a rape survivor's life immediately after the incident – almost painfully impressing upon the reader the "one day at a time" philosophy. The editing was fairly well done – no distracting grammatical issues or typos.
DANGEROUS EMBRACE is a well-written and serious portrayal of one woman's struggle to free herself from hurtful people, the injuries they inflict, and the inner demons of her own making. I recommend it, but reader beware: this is not a novel for the faint of heart or for the fun, summer reading list.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=7889
DANGEROUS EMBRACE explodes out of the gate with the attempted rape of Sarah Jennings, an elementary school teacher in Santa Rosa, California. Sarah has some fight in her and is able to injure her attacker and escape, only to run into – literally – handsome ex-cop turned security specialist, Mark Summors. Sarah's attacker has both her house keys and address, and so Mark sticks by Sarah's side in order to protect her.
Sarah's past – abusive relationship with an ex-fiancé and a neglectful con artist mother – haunts her daily, and she does her best to keep Mark at arms' length. Between her nightmares, lack of familial support, and subsequent violent attacks, Mark must persevere to keep Sarah safe, but their proximity lends itself to an intimacy that neither one of them may be ready to accept.
Because of the subject matter, it somehow seems wrong to say that I enjoyed DANGEROUS EMBRACE, even though it is a well-written novel. It is certainly not light or happy reading. The heat rating is a serious 3 due to the graphic nature of attacks as well as the love scenes between Sarah and Mark. I appreciate the way in which the violence is handled, respectfully and honestly. The dialogue and narration are not cheesy in the least. The novel illustrates many aspects of rape survivors' psychological trauma as well as the obvious physical injuries. The plot is gritty, intense and complex; just when you imagine one issue is dealt with, another situation resurrects it.
On the technical side, I felt that the pace was a bit slow after the first attack, but perhaps this was a purposeful tool to illustrate a rape survivor's life immediately after the incident – almost painfully impressing upon the reader the "one day at a time" philosophy. The editing was fairly well done – no distracting grammatical issues or typos.
DANGEROUS EMBRACE is a well-written and serious portrayal of one woman's struggle to free herself from hurtful people, the injuries they inflict, and the inner demons of her own making. I recommend it, but reader beware: this is not a novel for the faint of heart or for the fun, summer reading list.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=7889
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Two Lairds, One Lady by John C. Ryan - 2 stars
TWO LAIRDS, ONE LADY by John C. Ryan tells the story of how Sir Thayer MacCourt finds and obtains the one woman to whom he compares all other women, Elspeth Mourney. Unfortunately, the novel has such problems with consistency, contrivance and credibility that it needs major revisions to be readable. I give it two stars and hope that it is revised so all readers can enjoy the plot ideas.
Six years separate Thayer and Elspeth's first encounter from their engagement, and after having seen battle, Thayer is not interested in making another widow. So he comes up with the brilliant plan to have his twin brother stand in his stead as the groom. Thayer figures that after about six months, he and Faolin can come clean with their mother. She'll see how great Faolin and Elspeth are together and won't cause a ruckus. The switch is made, and then Thayer begins to get jealous, finally promising his fiefdom to Faolin if he'll give Elspeth up. Then Elspeth's castle is taken by the English, Faolin and Elspeth's brother imprisoned, and drama ensues.
TWO LAIRDS, ONE LADY promises an intriguing story, but falls tragically flat. From the beginning, the story is bogged down by minutia, leaving the reader wondering if the story will ever pick up. Unfortunately, the story never does, and until the end holds onto its daunting pace. (The book ends nearly 100 pages after the climactic battle.) While I appreciate a book that doesn't rely solely on narration to move the plot along, here, many of the dialogue driven scenes can be trimmed down to ease the flow.
Also, stories in which two characters change places are classic, but it is important that the misconception is kept consistent. There were many places where Faolin's name was used where it should have been Thayer's, and vice versa. Even at the end, the big reveal only happens to one person. Every other character just automatically knows who is who. If it were really that obvious, one would think the original switch wouldn't have succeeded.
Aside from the glacial pace and inconsistencies, scenes in the book are often contrived or contradictory, defying logic, reason, common sense, and even the laws of physics. For instance, in the dead of night and without a torch, Elspeth goes out to collect herbs in the forest, and Thayer is able to discern her hair color, eye color, and lip color, even though there is only enough moonlight filtering through the trees to glint off of Elspeth's blade. Scenes such as this one strain credulity.
Many scenes also lacked continuity: Thayer is eating dinner with the mothers and leaves the table, citing a sour stomach. Several pages later, Faolin and Elspeth are coming into the dining room where dinner is waiting for the mothers' arrival to begin. Another scene has Elspeth on the ground giving physical support to her mother, and then suddenly Thayer is hoisting her off of his horse. It is one thing for the reader to have to suspend reality to believe a burgeoning romance, it is quite another when every facet of reality must be ignored to follow the book.
I was intrigued by the concept of twins switching places for a noble reason, only to have the reason fly out the window after the future bride has spent some time in the twins' company. It certainly puts the twins in a quandary with so many possible paths and outcomes. However, here, the book is in desperate need of thorough editing so that the concept can be realized.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=8035
Six years separate Thayer and Elspeth's first encounter from their engagement, and after having seen battle, Thayer is not interested in making another widow. So he comes up with the brilliant plan to have his twin brother stand in his stead as the groom. Thayer figures that after about six months, he and Faolin can come clean with their mother. She'll see how great Faolin and Elspeth are together and won't cause a ruckus. The switch is made, and then Thayer begins to get jealous, finally promising his fiefdom to Faolin if he'll give Elspeth up. Then Elspeth's castle is taken by the English, Faolin and Elspeth's brother imprisoned, and drama ensues.
TWO LAIRDS, ONE LADY promises an intriguing story, but falls tragically flat. From the beginning, the story is bogged down by minutia, leaving the reader wondering if the story will ever pick up. Unfortunately, the story never does, and until the end holds onto its daunting pace. (The book ends nearly 100 pages after the climactic battle.) While I appreciate a book that doesn't rely solely on narration to move the plot along, here, many of the dialogue driven scenes can be trimmed down to ease the flow.
Also, stories in which two characters change places are classic, but it is important that the misconception is kept consistent. There were many places where Faolin's name was used where it should have been Thayer's, and vice versa. Even at the end, the big reveal only happens to one person. Every other character just automatically knows who is who. If it were really that obvious, one would think the original switch wouldn't have succeeded.
Aside from the glacial pace and inconsistencies, scenes in the book are often contrived or contradictory, defying logic, reason, common sense, and even the laws of physics. For instance, in the dead of night and without a torch, Elspeth goes out to collect herbs in the forest, and Thayer is able to discern her hair color, eye color, and lip color, even though there is only enough moonlight filtering through the trees to glint off of Elspeth's blade. Scenes such as this one strain credulity.
Many scenes also lacked continuity: Thayer is eating dinner with the mothers and leaves the table, citing a sour stomach. Several pages later, Faolin and Elspeth are coming into the dining room where dinner is waiting for the mothers' arrival to begin. Another scene has Elspeth on the ground giving physical support to her mother, and then suddenly Thayer is hoisting her off of his horse. It is one thing for the reader to have to suspend reality to believe a burgeoning romance, it is quite another when every facet of reality must be ignored to follow the book.
I was intrigued by the concept of twins switching places for a noble reason, only to have the reason fly out the window after the future bride has spent some time in the twins' company. It certainly puts the twins in a quandary with so many possible paths and outcomes. However, here, the book is in desperate need of thorough editing so that the concept can be realized.
*Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=8035
Monday, July 1, 2013
Midnight Sun, Inc. by Debbie Vaughan - 3 stars
MIDNIGHT SUN, INC. by Debbie Vaughan is a fun read that will keep you fascinated. I give it three stars for its compelling plotline and hope this is only the first book in a series.
MIDNIGHT SUN, INC. tells the tale of how human Connie Bennett and her boss, vampire Tom Thornton, fell in love. The book is set in a world where vampires have come out of the coffin, and legislation and commerce cater to vampires as well as humans. Tom Thornton owns Midnight Sun, a tanning salon that caters to "all persuasions." The night manager, Rafael, is also a vampire, or is he? Connie becomes housemates with Rafael, who it turns out also lives with Tom.
As Connie gets to know Rafael and begins a romantic relationship with Tom, the three of them have to deal with strange events, a dead body in the salon's dumpster, spells on the tanning salon, revelations about Rafael's life, and Connie's odd health issues.
I enjoyed MIDNIGHT SUN, INC. The plotline is interesting and keeps you wondering what could happen next. The narration and dialogue are filled with humor and wit. I found myself laughing out loud several times.
A few issues detracted from my enjoyment of the book. I would have liked the pacing to be better. It seemed a bit off, as there was too much time spent on transitional and background scenes, and too little on the major plot and climactic scenes. The same applies to the development of the romantic relationship between Connie and Tom. That part of the plotline was a bit unbelievable and needed some extra attention.
The book also needed another round of editing. The typo and grammatical errors were distracting, and at times the storyline was a tad confusing. These issues can be overlooked, though, because the paranormal aspects of the book were so interesting.
Given the adult content, this book has a heat level rating of 3, appropriate for those 18 years of age and over.
MIDNIGHT SUN, INC is a fun read, and I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy the paranormal genre.
*Original review written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9833
MIDNIGHT SUN, INC. tells the tale of how human Connie Bennett and her boss, vampire Tom Thornton, fell in love. The book is set in a world where vampires have come out of the coffin, and legislation and commerce cater to vampires as well as humans. Tom Thornton owns Midnight Sun, a tanning salon that caters to "all persuasions." The night manager, Rafael, is also a vampire, or is he? Connie becomes housemates with Rafael, who it turns out also lives with Tom.
As Connie gets to know Rafael and begins a romantic relationship with Tom, the three of them have to deal with strange events, a dead body in the salon's dumpster, spells on the tanning salon, revelations about Rafael's life, and Connie's odd health issues.
I enjoyed MIDNIGHT SUN, INC. The plotline is interesting and keeps you wondering what could happen next. The narration and dialogue are filled with humor and wit. I found myself laughing out loud several times.
A few issues detracted from my enjoyment of the book. I would have liked the pacing to be better. It seemed a bit off, as there was too much time spent on transitional and background scenes, and too little on the major plot and climactic scenes. The same applies to the development of the romantic relationship between Connie and Tom. That part of the plotline was a bit unbelievable and needed some extra attention.
The book also needed another round of editing. The typo and grammatical errors were distracting, and at times the storyline was a tad confusing. These issues can be overlooked, though, because the paranormal aspects of the book were so interesting.
Given the adult content, this book has a heat level rating of 3, appropriate for those 18 years of age and over.
MIDNIGHT SUN, INC is a fun read, and I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy the paranormal genre.
*Original review written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=9833
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