CROSSROADS by Glory Rabenaugh proffers an interesting plot idea wherein a teenage coven has to figure out how to save its High Priestess from certain death. If that were the story illustrated in this novel, I might have enjoyed a small part of it. However, that is not the story told; rather this novel seems to be about how a young woman is caught in between several men and gets manhandled throughout. I did not enjoy this novel and would not recommend to any reader.
In the novel, Reece and her twin brother, Hunter, attend a private boarding school in New England. Reece is the High Priestess of her coven, made of up 13 other students, one of whom is her best friend and former boyfriend, and another who is her present boyfriend. The tragic love triangle is further complicated by the appearance of a vampire who is fated to save Reece from certain death, but is the vampire really her savior?
I felt utterly cheated by this novel; I felt like I was promised a teenage paranormal romance, and I got an erotic, paranormal violent drama where women are not treated respectfully. The plot was simple, which isn't a bad thing, necessarily, except that to make up for the dearth of plot, sex scenes, violence and submission/domination were used to fill the pages.
The novel begins in such a way to suggest this is a young adult novel, with all the main characters being in high school. However, this is anything but a YA novel. There is entirely too much sex for this novel to be appropriate for teens. There is also a lot of physical violence by young men against Reece--she's attacked by football players and almost raped, her boyfriend gets rough with her and hits her, her new boyfriend nearly strangles her. There is so much body-checking--shoving Reece up against something--that it could have been a game of ice hockey.
The violence against Reece also highlights her shallow character. Reece's character doesn't develop. If anything, she regresses. For someone who is supposed to be so powerful, she seems to have no sense of control over her own body. She also isn't a very nice person. Despite the narrator's assertion that she is a popular student because she treats everyone with respect, she's superficial and inconsiderate. Even though she knows that Nathan is in love with her, it is even verbalized, she is entirely too touchy feely with him, going so far as to sit on his lap. When you are sensitive to someone's feelings, you try to do whatever it takes to spare them hurt. Reece's actions simply reflect her lack of consideration of Nathan's feelings.
Also, despite her noble decision to wait to sleep with a guy, she sleeps with two guys within two weeks' time, showing her to have no better morals or decision making ability than any other teenager.
Moreover, there is no romance in this novel; it really is all lust and magical connections. There was no substance to the relationships, and given the bondage, submission and domination attitudes, this novel earns a rating of 5 out of 5 on the heat scale. It really should be labeled as an erotic novel instead of romance.
Along with Reece's character issues, the only character that actually changes over time is Piers, and his change isn't for the better, either. There doesn't seem to be any other kind of character development.
Certain aspects of the novel were also perplexing. First of all, where are Reece's parents? They actually allow her to spend the night at Nathan's house? We know nothing about them except that they don't supervise their children. How do they fit into the Coven? There is no mention of their connection except that the Book of Shadows was passed down to Reece from her family. What Book does her family use? Do they stop belonging to a coven once they graduate from high school? And why don't her parents get involved if her life is in danger? It just doesn't make any sense.
On the technical side, it seems as if the novel was originally written in first person, but when revised, the perspective was changed to the third person and the novel wasn't cleaned up. The words and pronouns used were inconsistent, e.g., myself instead of himself and we instead of them. There were also pervasive subject-verb, verb-object and verb tense disagreements, e.g., using "had went" instead of "had gone"
If all of the foregoing hadn't disappointed me, the ending is a cliffhanger. While the immediate issue of Reece's safety is resolved, the ending of the novel just hangs there waiting for the next installment to explain the newly introduced character. Clearly you need to read all of the books in the series to know what's going on, but honestly, after this book, I am not interested in any other book in the series. If you like erotic novels, you may like this book and series, but if you are looking for a bit more substance in your reading material, this is not the book for you.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=11034.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
The Inconvenient Duchess by Christine Merrill - 3 stars
THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS by Christine Merrill provides a classic early Regency period romance that can be enjoyed by any fan of romance. I give it three stars.
In the novel, Lady Miranda Grey shows up on the doorstep of Marcus Radwell, the fourth Duke of Haughleigh, in the middle of a storm, expecting to meet and possibly marry the duke. The machinations of Marcus' mother induced Miranda's visit, but unbeknownst to Miranda, the dowager duchess died six weeks before her arrival.
Stranded in the Haughleigh house with two unmarried men, Miranda has little choice but to accept Marcus' reluctant and unromantic proposal. A marriage is hastily conducted, and with only a note to inform his vulnerable new wife, Marcus immediately travels to London to take care of marriage legalities.
While Marcus is away, his exiled and bitter younger brother, St. John, uses his charm and good looks to sow discord in the already fragile marriage. When Marcus returns home, Miranda is so suspicious of him and insecure in the marriage that drama and misunderstandings abound.
For the most part, I enjoyed this novel. The marital challenges seem authentic for a hastily arranged marriage. The insecurity and uncertainty about what the other partner thinks and feels is typical for any relationship, and certainly magnified in this arranged marriage. The romance is graphic, appropriate for adults only.
The characters and dialogue tend to be believable, but there is a feeling of overreliance on narration to convey the thoughts and feelings of the characters. There is also a bit too much rumination of those thoughts and feelings (at least on Miranda's part), and occasionally, those thoughts seem contrived. For example, after a serious heart to heart conversation about how terrible Marcus' first marriage was and how shallow, deceitful and opportunistic his first wife was, Miranda walks away with the message that she needs to be more like Marcus' first wife. This just did not make sense to me, especially after Marcus repeatedly says that he wants Miranda to be herself, honest about what she thinks and feels. If I skip all the parts like this that annoy me, I have no problems enjoying the book.
I definitely enjoyed the ending - how the issue with St. John was resolved, and what Marcus gives Miranda as a Christmas gift.
If you are a fan of the classic Harlequin romance novels, this is the novel for you, and if you prefer something a bit more substantial, you can still enjoy this novel with a little self-editing.
**Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=7923..
In the novel, Lady Miranda Grey shows up on the doorstep of Marcus Radwell, the fourth Duke of Haughleigh, in the middle of a storm, expecting to meet and possibly marry the duke. The machinations of Marcus' mother induced Miranda's visit, but unbeknownst to Miranda, the dowager duchess died six weeks before her arrival.
Stranded in the Haughleigh house with two unmarried men, Miranda has little choice but to accept Marcus' reluctant and unromantic proposal. A marriage is hastily conducted, and with only a note to inform his vulnerable new wife, Marcus immediately travels to London to take care of marriage legalities.
While Marcus is away, his exiled and bitter younger brother, St. John, uses his charm and good looks to sow discord in the already fragile marriage. When Marcus returns home, Miranda is so suspicious of him and insecure in the marriage that drama and misunderstandings abound.
For the most part, I enjoyed this novel. The marital challenges seem authentic for a hastily arranged marriage. The insecurity and uncertainty about what the other partner thinks and feels is typical for any relationship, and certainly magnified in this arranged marriage. The romance is graphic, appropriate for adults only.
The characters and dialogue tend to be believable, but there is a feeling of overreliance on narration to convey the thoughts and feelings of the characters. There is also a bit too much rumination of those thoughts and feelings (at least on Miranda's part), and occasionally, those thoughts seem contrived. For example, after a serious heart to heart conversation about how terrible Marcus' first marriage was and how shallow, deceitful and opportunistic his first wife was, Miranda walks away with the message that she needs to be more like Marcus' first wife. This just did not make sense to me, especially after Marcus repeatedly says that he wants Miranda to be herself, honest about what she thinks and feels. If I skip all the parts like this that annoy me, I have no problems enjoying the book.
I definitely enjoyed the ending - how the issue with St. John was resolved, and what Marcus gives Miranda as a Christmas gift.
If you are a fan of the classic Harlequin romance novels, this is the novel for you, and if you prefer something a bit more substantial, you can still enjoy this novel with a little self-editing.
**Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=7923..
A Lesson In Love (Lesson #9) by Jennifer Connors - 5 stars
Cue the fireworks! A LESSON IN LOVE concludes Jennifer Connors' Lessonseries with a long awaited happily ever after. I give it 5 stars and recommend to all lovers of the romance genre.
In this ninth installment of the Lesson series, our romance heroine Ginny is thrust into her last romance novel. The year is 1813 and Ginny is thoroughly confused when she finds herself in Miss Samantha Rylan's fourteen year-old body at her father's funeral. Life quickly gets very rough for Ginny, but she uses all that she's learned over the years and her many lives to escape from dangerous situations and build a great life. At twenty-one, she travels to England from America to meet her only living relative, the ailing Earl of Carlisle, and almost immediately meets her mega-hunk, Andrew Blake William Clarke, the seventh Duke of Rutland.
Drew has only had the Rutland title for a couple of years and must learn to live his own life and make his own decisions, despite his mother's toplofty temperament. He and Samantha/Ginny strike up an unlikely friendship, and after some life-altering experiences, fall in love. The only problem is that Ginny doesn't get to stay in 1820; she has a life to return to in 21st Century America.
After waking from her coma, Ginny is given a clean bill of health and returns to work. However, in addition to having seriously weird and vivid dreams that include characters from her friend's romance novels, Ginny has acquired some unlikely talents. Ginny can now speak fluent French, ride a horse, and fence. She has also grown in self-confidence in inexplicable ways. Finally, she decides to make some changes in her life and travels to London to meet Dr. Westhaven, a university professor doing research on people like her who have awoken from comas with some new skills or talents. Is this professor The One? No spoilers here; you will just have to read the book to find out.
I loved this book, mostly because I've been looking forward to seeing what happens to Ginny when she returns to her real life. I also like that the "lesson" in love seems to be a culmination of all the previous lessons Ginny learned through her various romance heroines' lives, underlining the fact that relationships take more than just passion or friendship, but trust and selflessness, etc.
The dialogue and plotlines--both in the novel and in Ginny's real life--were believable, and the pace was excellent. I am so glad that the book was 300 pages long because I started to become sad around page 200, anticipating the end of the novel and series.
As with the other books in this series, the romance is graphic and detailed, making the book appropriate for adults only. In so many of the books in the Lesson series, Ginny makes fun of romance novels, and here, in an amusing turn of events, when Dr. Westhaven reads her journal detailing her dreams since waking from the coma, she tells him that her journal is very detailed. Dr.Westhaven is not expecting just howdetailed it is, though, and tells her, "You weren't kidding about it being detailed." To which Ginny responds, "No, I wasn't. Should I have warned you more vehemently?" Dr. Westhaven then says, "Perhaps. I was beginning to think you might have a future as a romance novelist."
All in all, followers of this series will not be disappointed in this last installment. It is a must read.
**Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13705.
In this ninth installment of the Lesson series, our romance heroine Ginny is thrust into her last romance novel. The year is 1813 and Ginny is thoroughly confused when she finds herself in Miss Samantha Rylan's fourteen year-old body at her father's funeral. Life quickly gets very rough for Ginny, but she uses all that she's learned over the years and her many lives to escape from dangerous situations and build a great life. At twenty-one, she travels to England from America to meet her only living relative, the ailing Earl of Carlisle, and almost immediately meets her mega-hunk, Andrew Blake William Clarke, the seventh Duke of Rutland.
Drew has only had the Rutland title for a couple of years and must learn to live his own life and make his own decisions, despite his mother's toplofty temperament. He and Samantha/Ginny strike up an unlikely friendship, and after some life-altering experiences, fall in love. The only problem is that Ginny doesn't get to stay in 1820; she has a life to return to in 21st Century America.
After waking from her coma, Ginny is given a clean bill of health and returns to work. However, in addition to having seriously weird and vivid dreams that include characters from her friend's romance novels, Ginny has acquired some unlikely talents. Ginny can now speak fluent French, ride a horse, and fence. She has also grown in self-confidence in inexplicable ways. Finally, she decides to make some changes in her life and travels to London to meet Dr. Westhaven, a university professor doing research on people like her who have awoken from comas with some new skills or talents. Is this professor The One? No spoilers here; you will just have to read the book to find out.
I loved this book, mostly because I've been looking forward to seeing what happens to Ginny when she returns to her real life. I also like that the "lesson" in love seems to be a culmination of all the previous lessons Ginny learned through her various romance heroines' lives, underlining the fact that relationships take more than just passion or friendship, but trust and selflessness, etc.
The dialogue and plotlines--both in the novel and in Ginny's real life--were believable, and the pace was excellent. I am so glad that the book was 300 pages long because I started to become sad around page 200, anticipating the end of the novel and series.
As with the other books in this series, the romance is graphic and detailed, making the book appropriate for adults only. In so many of the books in the Lesson series, Ginny makes fun of romance novels, and here, in an amusing turn of events, when Dr. Westhaven reads her journal detailing her dreams since waking from the coma, she tells him that her journal is very detailed. Dr.Westhaven is not expecting just howdetailed it is, though, and tells her, "You weren't kidding about it being detailed." To which Ginny responds, "No, I wasn't. Should I have warned you more vehemently?" Dr. Westhaven then says, "Perhaps. I was beginning to think you might have a future as a romance novelist."
All in all, followers of this series will not be disappointed in this last installment. It is a must read.
**Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13705.
Midnight Hunt (Bonded by Blood #3) by Arial Burnz - 4 stars
MIDNIGHT HUNT by Arial Burnz provides a tumultuous roller coaster of a plot and, depending on a reader's disposition, will provide thrilling twists and turns or will cause vertigo and disorientation. Either way, I give it 4 stars.
In this third installment in the Bonded by Blood Vampire Chronicles, Broderick spends eighty years mourning the loss of his wife and soulmate, Davina, only to be drawn to the Kingdom of Germany during a time of religious and social unrest. Not only do the characters deal with the Inquisition, but werewolves are known to roam the countryside killing and cursing unfortunate villagers. The Elementals--those people who control a natural element such as earth, air and fire-- have gone into hiding, but it doesn't take long for Broderick to meet a Fire Witch, Monika, who reminds him of his beloved Davina. Together, Broderick and Monika fight against the werewolves, the Inquisition, and an old foe in hopes of fulfilling The Prophecy and providing redemption for all Vamsyrians.
Overall, I enjoyed MIDNIGHT HUNT. I like the new female protagonist, Monika. She is not timid or weak, but she is still soft and feminine. The werewolf aspect of the book is also interesting, and enough lore is described to make this piece of the puzzle fit nicely in the overall series plotline.
The romance was believable, and I liked how Broderick continues to show his faithfulness to Davina while attempting to figure out if Monika is really Davina reincarnated. The romance is graphic, though, earning a heat rating of 4 out of 5, and sex scenes are pervasive and detailed throughout the entire novel, making this novel appropriate for adults only. I felt like there were about 3 sex scenes too many for the plot, but that is more of a personal preference. The scenes did not detract from the plot, though I felt they slowed the pace a bit.
On the technical side, overall the pace of the novel was good, but there were some editing issues that tripped me up and detracted from my enjoyment of the novel. Overall, though, this series continues to be worth reading for any vampire lover. So don't miss out!
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10987.
In this third installment in the Bonded by Blood Vampire Chronicles, Broderick spends eighty years mourning the loss of his wife and soulmate, Davina, only to be drawn to the Kingdom of Germany during a time of religious and social unrest. Not only do the characters deal with the Inquisition, but werewolves are known to roam the countryside killing and cursing unfortunate villagers. The Elementals--those people who control a natural element such as earth, air and fire-- have gone into hiding, but it doesn't take long for Broderick to meet a Fire Witch, Monika, who reminds him of his beloved Davina. Together, Broderick and Monika fight against the werewolves, the Inquisition, and an old foe in hopes of fulfilling The Prophecy and providing redemption for all Vamsyrians.
Overall, I enjoyed MIDNIGHT HUNT. I like the new female protagonist, Monika. She is not timid or weak, but she is still soft and feminine. The werewolf aspect of the book is also interesting, and enough lore is described to make this piece of the puzzle fit nicely in the overall series plotline.
The romance was believable, and I liked how Broderick continues to show his faithfulness to Davina while attempting to figure out if Monika is really Davina reincarnated. The romance is graphic, though, earning a heat rating of 4 out of 5, and sex scenes are pervasive and detailed throughout the entire novel, making this novel appropriate for adults only. I felt like there were about 3 sex scenes too many for the plot, but that is more of a personal preference. The scenes did not detract from the plot, though I felt they slowed the pace a bit.
On the technical side, overall the pace of the novel was good, but there were some editing issues that tripped me up and detracted from my enjoyment of the novel. Overall, though, this series continues to be worth reading for any vampire lover. So don't miss out!
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10987.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
The Price of Desire by Joe Goodman - 5 stars
THE PRICE OF DESIRE by Jo Goodman weaves a beautiful, dark and complicated tale about love, tragedy, betrayal, and redemption in post-regency England. I give it five stars and highly recommend it to all romance readers.
In THE PRICE OF DESIRE, Olivia Cole spent nearly half of her life being used and controlled by wicked men. After escaping their clutches, she is taken in by her brother, Alastair, who ultimately falls into the same pattern as their father when he "gives" her to a London gaming hell owner as collateral for his debt, in place of his emerald and diamond ring, a treasured family heirloom.
Viscount Breckenridge may operate his establishment of questionable morals on the fringe of high society, but he has a strong reaction to Alastair's actions. His admirable response to having a "guest" has a far-reaching impact and changes many lives. Ultimately, each of the characters learns exactly how much desire has--or will--cost them.
First and foremost, I have to say that I loved this book, not because it was a happy and "feel-good" novel, but because it was raw and dealt with some hard truths about how much evil there is in the world. I appreciate how, whether lustful, lecherous, greedy or righteous, each major character is faced with the cost of their desires. Not all receive their comeuppance, but as compared to the usual romance novel, this one actually deals in reality, however harsh it may be.
Given the thematic elements and graphic nature of the novel, it is suitable for adults only. I almost feel as though the title should have been a bit more reflective of the gritty nature of the book.
The characters are well-illustrated, and I liked how the characters' lives and backgrounds are revealed gradually through dialogue. Romance books often succumb to the weight of narration, so instead of being told a story, it feels as if the reader is being told about a story. Not so here; in many instances, the reader doesn't get all the facts up front, or a character may lie at first about an event, only to give the real version later, after trust has been developed with the other character. These kinds of interactions are more realistic than the cookie cutter contrivances that dominate the world of romance novels, which makes me a huge fan of Jo Goodman and this book.
The pace is fantastic, and each major character seems to have a subplot attached to them, giving the novel a richly complicated and suspenseful feeling.
If you can deal with the difficult elements in the novel, THE PRICE OF DESIRE is a must read.
Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13164.
In THE PRICE OF DESIRE, Olivia Cole spent nearly half of her life being used and controlled by wicked men. After escaping their clutches, she is taken in by her brother, Alastair, who ultimately falls into the same pattern as their father when he "gives" her to a London gaming hell owner as collateral for his debt, in place of his emerald and diamond ring, a treasured family heirloom.
Viscount Breckenridge may operate his establishment of questionable morals on the fringe of high society, but he has a strong reaction to Alastair's actions. His admirable response to having a "guest" has a far-reaching impact and changes many lives. Ultimately, each of the characters learns exactly how much desire has--or will--cost them.
First and foremost, I have to say that I loved this book, not because it was a happy and "feel-good" novel, but because it was raw and dealt with some hard truths about how much evil there is in the world. I appreciate how, whether lustful, lecherous, greedy or righteous, each major character is faced with the cost of their desires. Not all receive their comeuppance, but as compared to the usual romance novel, this one actually deals in reality, however harsh it may be.
Given the thematic elements and graphic nature of the novel, it is suitable for adults only. I almost feel as though the title should have been a bit more reflective of the gritty nature of the book.
The characters are well-illustrated, and I liked how the characters' lives and backgrounds are revealed gradually through dialogue. Romance books often succumb to the weight of narration, so instead of being told a story, it feels as if the reader is being told about a story. Not so here; in many instances, the reader doesn't get all the facts up front, or a character may lie at first about an event, only to give the real version later, after trust has been developed with the other character. These kinds of interactions are more realistic than the cookie cutter contrivances that dominate the world of romance novels, which makes me a huge fan of Jo Goodman and this book.
The pace is fantastic, and each major character seems to have a subplot attached to them, giving the novel a richly complicated and suspenseful feeling.
If you can deal with the difficult elements in the novel, THE PRICE OF DESIRE is a must read.
Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13164.
My Steadfast Heart (Thorne Bros. Trilogy #1) by Jo Goodman - 5 stars
Jo Goodman knocks it out of the park again with MY STEADFAST HEART (Thorne Brothers Trilogy #1). In this complex and difficult tale of family, love and loss, the author makes you laugh and cry and immediately download the next two books in the trilogy. I give it 5 stars.
In this first installment of the Thorne Brothers trilogy, Colin Thorne has lost his entire family after his parents are murdered by highwaymen and his brothers are adopted by different families. Colin is sold to a sea captain just weeks before a solicitor arrives at the workhouse searching for him.
Captain Colin Thorne wins a wager made with the Earl of Weybourne on how fast Colin can sail his clipper roundtrip from London to Boston. The Earl challenges Captain Thorne to a duel, accusing him of cheating to win the wager, and then forces his niece, Mercedes, to keep Colin from showing up to the duel. What follows is a richly embellished plotline where nearly every major character has an agenda.
I loved this novel. I've read several series of books based on the heart-wrenching scenario of separated or lost siblings. This is one of the best, and is distinct from those other trilogies.
One of my foremost thoughts about MY STEADFAST HEART is "This is a romance novel?!" The romance in this novel is so unconventional that the novel might be better categorized as historical fiction instead of a romance. One hundred pages into the novel, and no romance in sight. The focus of the novel is clearly the drama and intrigue, not your stereotypical warm and fuzzy relationship between Mercedes and Captain Thorne, and in my opinion, the novel is the better for it.
The romance is graphic and the circumstances are not for the faint of heart, so the novel is appropriate for adults only.
The characters in the novel have depth and complexity that can rival any daytime television drama. The pace and suspense were fantastic. I kept guessing how the story would proceed, how the characters would react, but I was wrong every time. It was so refreshing.
The conclusion of the novel leaves you eager to read the next novel. I highly recommend MY STEADFAST HEART to all.
*Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13267.
PS - the other books in the series are just as good!
In this first installment of the Thorne Brothers trilogy, Colin Thorne has lost his entire family after his parents are murdered by highwaymen and his brothers are adopted by different families. Colin is sold to a sea captain just weeks before a solicitor arrives at the workhouse searching for him.
Captain Colin Thorne wins a wager made with the Earl of Weybourne on how fast Colin can sail his clipper roundtrip from London to Boston. The Earl challenges Captain Thorne to a duel, accusing him of cheating to win the wager, and then forces his niece, Mercedes, to keep Colin from showing up to the duel. What follows is a richly embellished plotline where nearly every major character has an agenda.
I loved this novel. I've read several series of books based on the heart-wrenching scenario of separated or lost siblings. This is one of the best, and is distinct from those other trilogies.
One of my foremost thoughts about MY STEADFAST HEART is "This is a romance novel?!" The romance in this novel is so unconventional that the novel might be better categorized as historical fiction instead of a romance. One hundred pages into the novel, and no romance in sight. The focus of the novel is clearly the drama and intrigue, not your stereotypical warm and fuzzy relationship between Mercedes and Captain Thorne, and in my opinion, the novel is the better for it.
The romance is graphic and the circumstances are not for the faint of heart, so the novel is appropriate for adults only.
The characters in the novel have depth and complexity that can rival any daytime television drama. The pace and suspense were fantastic. I kept guessing how the story would proceed, how the characters would react, but I was wrong every time. It was so refreshing.
The conclusion of the novel leaves you eager to read the next novel. I highly recommend MY STEADFAST HEART to all.
*Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13267.
PS - the other books in the series are just as good!
Saturday, February 22, 2014
A Rogue by Any Other Name (1st Rule of Scoundrels) by Sarah MacLean - 4 stars
A Rogue By Any Other
Name (The First Rule of Scoundrels) by Sarah MacLean tells the tale of
two childhood friends reunited after more than a decade of trials and
tribulations, ultimately finding that true friendship never dies. I give it four star and recommend to all.
In the novel, Michael Lawler and Penelope Marbury are childhood friends who correspond after Michael leaves for Eton. Many letters are provided as introductions to each chapter, giving the reader a deeper understanding of what the characters were going through during that time. Michael’s parents die and he becomes the Marquess of Bourne, and later he loses the entirety of the marquessate’s unentailed holdings to a man named Langford in one hand of blackjack (vingt-et-un), leaving him with a cold and empty manor house. He vows to get his properties back and his revenge on Langford.
In the novel, Michael Lawler and Penelope Marbury are childhood friends who correspond after Michael leaves for Eton. Many letters are provided as introductions to each chapter, giving the reader a deeper understanding of what the characters were going through during that time. Michael’s parents die and he becomes the Marquess of Bourne, and later he loses the entirety of the marquessate’s unentailed holdings to a man named Langford in one hand of blackjack (vingt-et-un), leaving him with a cold and empty manor house. He vows to get his properties back and his revenge on Langford.
Penelope has suffered her share of heartache, as
well, being jilted by her fiancée, the Duke of Leighton, then later having no
success in finding a suitable husband amidst the disparaging gossip of the ton.
At twenty-eight, she feels firmly established as a spinster and gives up
hope of finding a husband until her father forces her to do so in order to
salvage her younger sisters’ chances at matrimony. Her father wins the land around Michael’s
manor house from Langford in a card game and attaches it Penelope’s dowry,
assuring her of many proposals to come.
Michael and Penelope meet, in a way by chance, and he abducts her
holds her hostage in his manor house so that she will be forced to marry him. The deed is done, and the two have to figure
out how to be married before either or both of them is destroyed or runs mad.
I must say that I liked this book the first time I read it,
but a staggering revelation at the
end of No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (The Third Rule of Scoundrels) made me decide
to re-read all the books a second time. Now
I will say that I really liked this
book. I think with this series the old
adage about the whole being greater than the sum of its parts is true. My enjoyment of the first book in the series
was increased exponentially when considered in light of books two and
three. Now I am eagerly awaiting book
four!
The pace of the novel is great; there is always something
happening to move the plot forward, and there are no superfluous scenes. I really liked how the reader is given the backstory
of Michael and Penelope’s friendship through their letters – much more
interesting than heavy narration and occasionally even adds some comedic relief
to an otherwise heart-breaking relationship history. To wit, when the declarations of love are spoken, the reader
can more easily accept the feelings as having depth and duration. The development of the romantic relationship
is believable. It is also on the graphic
side, so appropriate for adults only.
The plotline is simple, but not mind-numbingly so, and the other owners of Michael's gaming establishment, The Fallen Angel, provide excellent depth to the plot. Character development is also well done. Narration mixed with direct communication of
the characters’ thoughts show how the character come to think the way they do
and how their motivations and reasoning changes.
This series is a must read.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Resolutions by Teri Riggs - 3 stars
Hold on to your seats, RESOLUTIONS by Teri Riggs will take you on one wild ride. I give it three stars for the fabulous action, but also for the numerous grammar issues.
In the novel, Drug Enforcement Agent Eve Taylor is injured and captured during an operation at a Columbian drug lord's compound. She is rescued by her old boyfriend, Dillon "Mac" McKenna, and while recovering from her injuries, they reconnect romantically. The issue that separated them two years prior has not been resolved, though, and as they battle assassins and traitors, they must learn to work together in order to stay together and alive.
For the most part, I really liked the action in this novel. It was quick and dirty. At times, it could have been a bit more descriptive; the dots could have been more clearly connected. Overall, though, the action fit well with the plot and kept the pace of the book moving at a nice clip.
The romance was believable, but graphic and frequent enough to make the novel appropriate for adults only. The arguments between Eve and Mac are frustrating because they both seem to repeat themselves, but perhaps given their situation and their suppressed emotions, these repetitive arguments are realistic. In any case, the reader will certainly feel some of the characters' frustration.
On the down side, there were some significant and distracting grammar errors--adjectives used where nouns or adverbs were appropriate, and vice versa, in both the English and the Spanish used in the novel. There is also no explanation as to what "IDEA" stands for, which was seriously bothersome. Every time the acronym was used, my mind kept trying to figure it out instead of staying immersed in the action.
Overall, the book was fairly enjoyable and should be a nice afternoon read for any action lover.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12754.
In the novel, Drug Enforcement Agent Eve Taylor is injured and captured during an operation at a Columbian drug lord's compound. She is rescued by her old boyfriend, Dillon "Mac" McKenna, and while recovering from her injuries, they reconnect romantically. The issue that separated them two years prior has not been resolved, though, and as they battle assassins and traitors, they must learn to work together in order to stay together and alive.
For the most part, I really liked the action in this novel. It was quick and dirty. At times, it could have been a bit more descriptive; the dots could have been more clearly connected. Overall, though, the action fit well with the plot and kept the pace of the book moving at a nice clip.
The romance was believable, but graphic and frequent enough to make the novel appropriate for adults only. The arguments between Eve and Mac are frustrating because they both seem to repeat themselves, but perhaps given their situation and their suppressed emotions, these repetitive arguments are realistic. In any case, the reader will certainly feel some of the characters' frustration.
On the down side, there were some significant and distracting grammar errors--adjectives used where nouns or adverbs were appropriate, and vice versa, in both the English and the Spanish used in the novel. There is also no explanation as to what "IDEA" stands for, which was seriously bothersome. Every time the acronym was used, my mind kept trying to figure it out instead of staying immersed in the action.
Overall, the book was fairly enjoyable and should be a nice afternoon read for any action lover.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12754.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Take a Chance on Me by Jennifer Dawson - 4 stars
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME by Jennifer Dawson is a richly illustrated, character-driven novel that is definitely worth the risk. I give it 4 stars and recommend it to all lovers of contemporary romance.
In the novel, Maddie Donovan leaves her controlling fiancé at the altar, and with only fifty dollars in her tiny beaded purse and the wedding dress on her back, runs away from home. When her car breaks down, she schleps several miles in her wedding heels to the nearest sign of civilization, a bar owned by Mitch Riley.
Mitch Riley fled his own drama three years prior to Maddie's dramatic entrance, and has since been living quietly in his grandparents' farmhouse and running a dive bar. He falls in love at first sight with Maddie, and tries to keep her in town and in his home as long as possible. Both of their lives are upended, and both experience some significant epiphanies. Can they get it together before they push each other away?
I enjoyed TAKE A CHANCE ON ME. The characters were well-illustrated and developed. Despite the love at first sight aspect, which for me usually evokes incredulity, there is substantial support for the relationship, making it believable. There was plenty of humor and witty dialogue, and I loved how each of the characters was clearly unique.
The plot unfolds at a nice pace, and there is a nice balance between the dialogue and narration. I would have liked for the title to be found somewhere within the dialogue, to give it a more obvious connection to the substance, but that is just a personal preference. The relationships illustrated in the novel all have some sort of risk involved, making the title adequately reflective of the novel.
The romance is extremely graphic, including bondage and submissive/dominant aspects, earning a rating of 5 out of 5 on the heat scale. This is definitely an adults only novel.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel and am intrigued by how the characters fare in the next novel in the Something New series.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12987.
In the novel, Maddie Donovan leaves her controlling fiancé at the altar, and with only fifty dollars in her tiny beaded purse and the wedding dress on her back, runs away from home. When her car breaks down, she schleps several miles in her wedding heels to the nearest sign of civilization, a bar owned by Mitch Riley.
Mitch Riley fled his own drama three years prior to Maddie's dramatic entrance, and has since been living quietly in his grandparents' farmhouse and running a dive bar. He falls in love at first sight with Maddie, and tries to keep her in town and in his home as long as possible. Both of their lives are upended, and both experience some significant epiphanies. Can they get it together before they push each other away?
I enjoyed TAKE A CHANCE ON ME. The characters were well-illustrated and developed. Despite the love at first sight aspect, which for me usually evokes incredulity, there is substantial support for the relationship, making it believable. There was plenty of humor and witty dialogue, and I loved how each of the characters was clearly unique.
The plot unfolds at a nice pace, and there is a nice balance between the dialogue and narration. I would have liked for the title to be found somewhere within the dialogue, to give it a more obvious connection to the substance, but that is just a personal preference. The relationships illustrated in the novel all have some sort of risk involved, making the title adequately reflective of the novel.
The romance is extremely graphic, including bondage and submissive/dominant aspects, earning a rating of 5 out of 5 on the heat scale. This is definitely an adults only novel.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel and am intrigued by how the characters fare in the next novel in the Something New series.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12987.
Love in the Library (Brides of Bath #5) by Cheryl Bolen - 3 stars
LOVE IN THE LIBRARY, book five in The Brides of Bath series by Cheryl Bolen, is a sweet and easy to read romantic mystery, but lacks the depth and dimension to be enjoyable as such. I give it three stars for being too obvious.
In the novel, widowed Catherine Bexley is frantic to locate her late husband's only treasure, an extremely rare manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Having been left nothing but the book by her spendthrift late husband, Catherine hopes to sell the manuscript and live frugally off the proceeds for the rest of her life. The only problem is that the manuscript has been stolen.
Meanwhile, the bank has given her a two-week notice of foreclosure and eviction, and she is being pursued by the dreadfully dull and socially inept Mr. Longford, who has been in love with her since before her marriage. Having no idea how to go about finding the stolen manuscript, Catherine offers fifteen percent of the manuscript's sale price to Mr. Melvin Steffington, the younger twin to Sir Elvin Steffington and holder of a doctorate in classical literature from Oxford, to help her find it.
I have been looking forward to LOVE IN THE LIBRARY since I finished the last book in The Brides of Bath series. I love this series, but I was so annoyed by Catherine Bexley's giggling that I had a difficult time getting through this installment. Catherine is twenty-seven years old, but acts like she is thirteen. I understand the concept of a "location joke" for which you have to be at a particular location at a particular time to understand the humor, but there was not enough description of the setting and situation to transport the reader to the location. Hence, much of what Catherine felt was funny did not seem even remotely humorous to me.
I also correctly identified the thief in the first few chapters. It is always disappointing to guess "who dunnit" so early because it means that for the rest of the novel, I am bothered by the characters' failure to consider the motives of all the people in Catherine's world and figure it out. My early revelation also caused the pace to feel slow, and even though the overall plot is interesting, I felt like the character development was lacking.
Overall, this fifth installation in The Brides of Bath series feels like it is more appropriate for the young adult market. While the writing isn't bad, it just feels too simple to be written for an adult audience.
** Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12542.
In the novel, widowed Catherine Bexley is frantic to locate her late husband's only treasure, an extremely rare manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Having been left nothing but the book by her spendthrift late husband, Catherine hopes to sell the manuscript and live frugally off the proceeds for the rest of her life. The only problem is that the manuscript has been stolen.
Meanwhile, the bank has given her a two-week notice of foreclosure and eviction, and she is being pursued by the dreadfully dull and socially inept Mr. Longford, who has been in love with her since before her marriage. Having no idea how to go about finding the stolen manuscript, Catherine offers fifteen percent of the manuscript's sale price to Mr. Melvin Steffington, the younger twin to Sir Elvin Steffington and holder of a doctorate in classical literature from Oxford, to help her find it.
I have been looking forward to LOVE IN THE LIBRARY since I finished the last book in The Brides of Bath series. I love this series, but I was so annoyed by Catherine Bexley's giggling that I had a difficult time getting through this installment. Catherine is twenty-seven years old, but acts like she is thirteen. I understand the concept of a "location joke" for which you have to be at a particular location at a particular time to understand the humor, but there was not enough description of the setting and situation to transport the reader to the location. Hence, much of what Catherine felt was funny did not seem even remotely humorous to me.
I also correctly identified the thief in the first few chapters. It is always disappointing to guess "who dunnit" so early because it means that for the rest of the novel, I am bothered by the characters' failure to consider the motives of all the people in Catherine's world and figure it out. My early revelation also caused the pace to feel slow, and even though the overall plot is interesting, I felt like the character development was lacking.
Overall, this fifth installation in The Brides of Bath series feels like it is more appropriate for the young adult market. While the writing isn't bad, it just feels too simple to be written for an adult audience.
** Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12542.
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