books

Schooling the Viscount- Maggie Robinson

/ Erin Kelly / Leave a comment

 This is my first book by Maggie Robinson, but the idea of a romance set in the Cotswolds really appealed to me. “Schooling the Viscount” is the first book in the Cotswold Confidential series and, despite the silly name, Robinson delivers a satisfying romance.

The Story-
The tiny village of Puddling-on-the-Wold, which is in the Cotswolds, is a Regency/Victorian rehab of sorts. When family members go off the rails or need some sort of intervention, they get sent to the village where everyone in the village conspires to help cure them of whatever ailment they possess. If he’s a drunk, there is no liquor to be found in town. If they need to lose a few pounds, only healthy food is available. (Can someone please send me on a diet in the Cotswolds?) Our viscount, Henry, got caught by his father with a couple of prostitutes so… every young woman must stay hidden from his view during his visit. Of course, Henry wanders where he shouldn’t and comes across the young schoolteacher, Rachel.

My Thoughts-

As innocent and innocuous as all this sounds, it actually has some great spice and tension. The best thing about the book is that Robinson allows her characters depth and true humanity.  Rachel isn’t a cookie-cutter schoolteacher; she is a passionate woman who fantasizes about being swept away in naughty ways. Henry is dealing with some PTSD from his wartime experiences.  Yes, there are some hijinks and silliness here and there: for some reason, the hero keeps bumping his head or falling down. Even so, I felt that the build of the romance and the relationship was strong and satisfying. Also, the secondary characters are interesting and well-developed. They add to the story rather that just being space fillers. I loved Rachel’s dad!  
Bottom Line-

If you like your romance with some humor, this is a good choice. The characters are well-developed and interesting. I visited the Cotswolds this past year, and this book was such a fun return to a beautiful and unique setting for a romance. I hope publishers and authors keep producing books that take place somewhere other than the typical 5 or so settings. I will definitely be looking forward to Cotswold Confidential Book #2!  4 stars

Wicked in His Arms- Stacy Reid

/ Erin Kelly / Leave a comment

wicked-in-his-arms

I love when I find a new (to me) author to get excited about and read all her new books when they come out. Stacy Reid has a fan in me with “Wicked in His Arms”. I’ll admit to a little light Internet stalking where I found Reid’s story about how she came up with the idea for this series. She said that she was rewatching “Pride and Prejudice” (love) and said to her husband “why doesn’t Jane just get herself caught in a scandal with Mr. Bingley?” or something to that nature. And he suggested that she write books about characters forced to marry because they get caught together or are involved in scandal. I love that! Even better, this isn’t a typical marriage-of-convenience trope where they got caught, but it was a mistake or something. These two have serious passion! But, I am getting ahead of myself…

The Story-
Livvie didn’t have a successful first season out because of the scandal surrounding her father’s suicide. In order to make sure she marries properly, she is sent to the estate of a Duke whose mother is supposed to help Livvie. The Duke in question, Tobias, is known as a cold and calculating man. He never lets his feathers get ruffled or loses his temper: he is like a pressure cooker which is constantly simmering, but never bursting. He refuses to let a woman make a fool of him like the previous men in his family. Oh, and he’s a writer! Swoon!

My Thoughts-
I identified with Livvie- her temper, her love of reading and doing things her own way made her a very appealing heroine. Tobias was maddening, but so lovingly redeemed in the end that it made his journey worth it. Still… up to that point, I was like “poor Livvie should not be putting up with this emotionally unavailable jerk.” I found the dialogue very strong and loved how Livvie put the other women in their place. Some of the back and forth in the second half of the novel got a bit redundant to me, but the characters and the development of their romance won me over.

Bottom Line-
If you enjoy historical romance with savvy dialogue, I recommend fun and unique read. The characters just fly off the page into the imagination and make you root for them so hard. Isn’t that what all romance strives to be? I will be checking out the first book in this series and am looking forward to the next one! 4 1/2 stars

Married to Her Enemy- Jenni Fletcher

/ Erin Kelly / Leave a comment

51krprvahrl-_sy344_bo1204203200_

“Married to Her Enemy” is the debut book by Jenni Fletcher, and it is a historical romance for those who love history. This is not your typical historical romance; the scope of the story and the history set it apart.

The Story-

Aediva is a Saxon lord’s daughter is in the midst of the Norman invasion. Her sister, Cille, has returned from her castle which has been sacked, only to give birth just as their family home is being invaded.  When the invading Norman mentions taking her back as a bride for the Norman commander, Aediva decides to stand-in for her sister to protect her. Svend is not truly a Norman, but he cannot return to his homeland, and he is searching for a home and for a place to put down roots. When he begins to bond with his prisoner, past betrayals remind him to guard his heart.

My Thoughts-

All of the characters in this story are well-developed with realistic motivations and actions.  One of my favorite things about reading books set in a different time period is the chance to learn something about that time. This book accomplished that as I really hadn’t considered the people involved in the Norman invasion of England before.  You visit these big crumbling towers, and it isn’t always easy to imagine the lives of the people who lived there.  Fletcher does a great job of bringing them to life.  My only issue was something near the end that I’m not sure was needed, and that the heat level, while not closed door, is somewhat tame in comparison to many current releases. That being said, I enjoyed this book thoroughly.

The Bottom Line-

Jenni Fletcher has written a very good debut novel, and I look forward to reading more from her.  This historic romance is a fresh departure from our beloved rakes and rogues with realistic characters that breathe life into another time.  It whisked me off to another place and time: a perfect escape, which is exactly the reason I read romance. 4 stars

Buy it on amazon here

 

Conquering William- Sarah Hegger

/ Erin Kelly / Leave a comment

“Conquering William” is my first book by Sarah Hegger, and is the third in the Sir Arthur’s Legacy series of medieval romances.  I love historical romance, particularly medieval, but usually they don’t really transport me to that time period. Sure, they mention riding horses and having servants “draw baths”, but other than a few basic setting mentions, the stories are like any historical. Thankfully, this one is different. 
The Story

Alice has just married her 4th husband and has low expectations for this match since the others didn’t exactly make marriage an enjoyable state for her. Her plan is to “grin and bear it” until she can conceive a child, then ignore her new husband and carry on. William’s marriage to Alice was arranged for a land deal, but he plans to make the best of it.  Alice’s advisor/keeper (jailer), Sister Julianna, continues to get in the way of his potential happiness. Additionally, the more he learns about his new home, the more he finds that needs fixing. 

My Thoughts

I think that the historical setting really informed the characters here.  Alice is more the product of her environment and raising than a strong, sassy medieval heroine that we often encounter, but she is probably a more realistic representation of women in that time.  It was incredibly rewarding to see William win her over as he emboldens her to take her place in the household.  William is a great character; he is the perfect representation of a pretty boy turned responsible. The only thing that took me out of the book was Sweet Bea and the couple of times she took her anger out on Alice. Perhaps I would understand her personality better if I went back and read her book, but it seemed a little rash and over-reacting. This one quibble is not enough to take away from my enjoyment of this book though, and I had trouble putting it down. The story in this one doesn’t let up and continues to reveal surprises up to almost the last page. The secondary characters enrich the story, and as I’ve said, the setting is completely realized and is the perfect backdrop to tell this tale.

The Bottom Line

If you enjoy medieval romance, this is a must!  It is a true medieval with great characters and a captivating plot that clips right along. There were many well-thought-out, witty moments, and I will definitely read this author again. 5 stars

Drakon’s Promise- N.J. Walters

/ Erin Kelly / Leave a comment

“Drakon’s Promise” is the first book in the Blood of the Drakon Series by N.J. Walters, and was my first book by the author as well. (Searching through her back list now…) It is a great beginning to a series AND it was my first paranormal/fantasy in a little while, so I really enjoyed being swept away to a different world with mystery and intrigue.

The Story-

Sarah is a research librarian in a new job that happens to be an introvert’s dream: poring over old books, alone, for hours on end. Can that be my second job when I retire from teaching? She also has a unique gift with items, especially books, which enables her to envision their past.  When she stumbles onto a mysterious conversation that threatens a man and finds an evil book which holds secrets that could destroy this man, an intense chase is on. Darius Varkas is the man in question, and when Sarah shows up to warn him, his protective instinct kicks in like never before. 

My Thoughts-

This was an exceptionally quick read for me: I was immediately sucked in and along for the ride.  This book does what I enjoy best about paranormal/fantasies; it transports me to another world by great characters with high stakes and high interest. Darius is an intense alpha-male and a no-nonsense attitude that gets straight to business. Sexy business.  Sarah was easy for me to identify with, and I liked her immensely. She is one of those heroines that you can easily put yourself in the shoes of, instead of going “what are you thinking, girl?!” or “quit the second-guessing!” She is refreshingly real and likeable, even in crazy situations

The Bottom Line-

I haven’t mentioned it yet, but this is a dragon-shifter book, and the mythology and handling of that feature is seamless. If you like your paranormals or fantasies with an edge of danger, high intensity, and a sexy alpha, this is a great pick. It honestly read a little like one of Nora Roberts’s paranormals (and I love those). I will be reading the rest in the series, especially since I can’t wait to read more about Darius’s brothers. (Didn’t I mention his hot brothers?) 5 stars

My Rogue, My Ruin-Amalie Howard and Angie Morgon

/ Erin Kelly / Leave a comment

mrmr_1600_cover

“My Rogue, My Ruin” is the first book I’ve read by Amalie Howard & Angie Morgan, but I am a sucker for historical romance, so I figured I would try it out.  I was not disappointed.  With a unique hook and interesting, well-developed characters, this one was a pleasure.

The Story-

Briannon seems to be on the path for an average life: not exciting, not terrible.  A robbery by a masked man changes everything and kicks her world into overdrive.  This dangerous attraction may prove to uncover more about herself than the man who is winning her heart. Archer has been dissatisfied with his life for a long time, and has chosen a “Robin Hood” type of rebellion.  But, he cannot get Lady Briannon out of his mind, and a mysterious letter threatening to expose him is causing him to rethink his chosen path.

My Thoughts-

I loved how different this book is from most historical romances.  The highwayman storyline and subsequent mystery add a level to this book that brought it up a notch.  The most surprising thing is the way the authors are able to fully flesh out the characters, even with the mystery and involved plot.  I especially like Briannon and the more surprising aspects of her personality.  My only complaint is that the number of hoops our main characters are forced to jump through to finally get together almost make it anti-climactic when they finally do.  The sexy scenes earlier and midway through the novel are extremely hot.

The Bottom Line-

If you like your historical romance with a touch of mystery, you should enjoy this one.  The characters are intriguing and complex.  One plot twist toward the end seemed a bit contrived, but overall, this was a fun read beyond the standard fare of historical romance.  A strong 4 stars!

Unmasking Miss Appleby- Emily Larkin

/ Erin Kelly / Leave a comment

emilylarkin_unmaskingmissappleby800-683x1024

“Unmasking Miss Appleby” is the first book in Emily Larkin’s Baleful Godmother Series, and let me tell you- if the other books in this series are anything like this one, I am IN!  Larkin is a new author to me, and, to be honest, the book description is what particularly caught me with this one.  Read on…

The Story-

Charlotte, in a very Cinderella-type set up, has been mistreated ever since the death of her father. On her 25th birthday, Charlotte is visited by a fairy “godmother” of sorts, and is offered one magical wish.  She chooses metamorphosis, which means that she can change into any living creature at will for the rest of her life.  Charlotte decides to use this new gift to live as a man so that she can be employed as a secretary to a prominent man.  So much craziness ensues.

My Thoughts-

I could not put this book down.  I expected it to be interesting, based on the description, but I didn’t expect to be completely captivated by the story.  The writing is very good, and the pacing is just right.  There is a great side mystery which helps the plot to click along, as well as allowing for character development along the way.  I especially enjoyed the reactions of Charlotte as a guy, being exposed to things that a woman of that time-period normally wouldn’t be exposed to.  I thought the author handled the whole “woman in a man’s body” well with realistic reactions.  I wish that the intimate scenes had been from Charlotte’s perspective so that we could have a better understanding of the effect they had on her and future decisions.

The Good-

Marcus is a great character, especially because he is a very real man.  There are acknowledged flaws and weaknesses, as well as goodness and kindness, sweat and tears.  He came alive on the page for me, and I wanted nothing more than for him to end up with our heroine.  I also liked how Charlotte was not a great beauty; she’s just an ordinary girl with some ambition and creativity.  She’s so easy to identify with, and allows any woman who reads this book to picture what it would be like to peek behind those “male only” doors.

The Bottom Line-

While not perfect, this book was so enjoyable and intriguing that it will stay with me for a long time. I will be waiting for the rest of the series with anticipation. This was such a nice departure from typical historical romances: just a dash of fantasy thrown in to make it interesting. 5 stars

Her Unexpected Engagement- Kyra Jacobs

/ Erin Kelly / Leave a comment

unexpected

“Her Unexpected Engagement” is the second book in the Checkerberry Inn series by Kyra Jacobs. I read the first one and enjoyed it, so I was more than ready for this book.  The Checkerberry Inn is the perfect backdrop for romance; it’s like a Hallmark movie with a touch of extra spiciness.  Like a cup of warm cider with just a splash of bourbon.

The Story-

Stephanie has had a crap time of it.  Her jerk ex-husband is a famous golfer who cheated on her in a very public way, which has made her suspicious, self-conscious, and defeated.  When a chance at a great new job and new start presents itself, she doesn’t expect to come face to face with her almost past. Miles has been spinning his wheels while everyone else’s lives seem to be sprinting by.  He wants a new shot at being his own man, but when Stephanie comes back to town, he must decide what that change will be.

My Thoughts-

While not earth-shattering, this story feels very real.  I identified with Stephanie and loved seeing her regain her confidence.  Miles is the kind of “hero” that almost any gal could see themselves settling down with: kind, funny, adores you, and helps make you a stronger, better person.  I loved their relationship and really felt like the history justified how it develops.  I would have liked to see more from the secondary characters, particularly the ones we met in the original Checkerberry novel, but when they were there, they brought a nice depth to the story.  I also could have used even more description of the scenery and the inn.  As someone who is enduring the longest summer of my life in southern Louisiana, a beautiful B&B in Michigan sounds like a slice of heaven.

The Good-

Like I said, Miles is wonderful.  He’s the hot “guy next door” that we wish we actually lived next door to.  Stephanie’s journey and progression was compelling, and I loved the outcome at the party.  Everyone wants that moment in their lives. The Checkerberry Inn is a great backdrop, especially for people who love quaint and comfy settings. (Like me)

The Bottom Line-

I enjoyed this read. It was relaxing and happy and comforting: all the things I look for when I pick up a Bliss novel.  At the same time, it deals with some very real issues in a very satisfying way. I will definitely be reading the next books in this series! 4 stars

Rules for a Rogue- Christy Carlyle

/ Erin Kelly / Leave a comment

“Rules for a Rogue” is the first book in Christy Carlyle’s Romancing the Rules series, and I have to say that it was the cover that got me to read this one.  That blue dress reminded me of Scarlet’s portrait in Gone with the Wind, and the setting looked like somewhere I wanted to be.  So pretty! Imagine how excited I was to find out that this book is not Regency (although I do love some Regency, I love historicals that depart from that particular time period) AND the main couple take part in my two main passions in life: theatre and books. 
The Story

Kit is a playwright/actor who is forced to take responsibility for his family’s interests due to his father’s death.  This new responsibility brings him home where he faces a former sweetheart that has never been far from his mind: Ophelia.  Ophelia, or “Phee” as her friends call her, teaches young ladies the ways of society while secretly authoring a book which brings all that into question.  She must support her family, though, and those pressures are leading her to consider a proposal from a rich neighbor for which she feels nothing.  

My Thoughts

This story unfolded a little slowly for me, but the slow build did allow for the character’s emotional connection to feel more real than it sometimes does.  I wish I knew more about why it didn’t work out for them in the past; it makes no sense that he would have left her.  Also, what prompted Phee to write the book, and how did she go about getting it published? What are Kit’s plays about? These things niggle at my mind.  I was so glad to read something in the Victorian time period and thought the author could have done even more with that.  I was never bored while reading, but felt like the book was full of “almosts”.  There was almost a really sexy scene; there was almost a real revelation about how he held onto her all those years, and there are more examples. 

The Good

Both Ophelia and Kit are great characters that you really root for.  The subplot about her book was particularly interesting to me, and I loved the openings of each chapter.  Some of the secondary characters grew in interest to me toward the end of the book, and I look forward to seeing who she writes about next.  

The Bottom Line

This is a pleasant historical with a great “second chance” trope for two enjoyable and well-developed characters.  It is nice to visit a different time period, and I will definitely be looking forward to the other books in the series.  4 stars

How the Duke Was Won- Lenora Bell

/ Erin Kelly / 1 Comment

Lenora Bell is a new author to me, but I love historical romance, the cover is on point, and the series is titled “Disgraceful Dukes,”… how could I go wrong? Answer: I couldn’t.  This one caught me very quickly and didn’t let up. Let’s get into it!
The Story-

Charlene is the bastard daughter of a Lord, brought up in a whorehouse, but is not a whore.  She is smart, and wants to get herself and her younger sister out.  When her legitimate half-sister (who looks exactly like her) gets an invitation to a house party from a very available Duke, but cannot attend, Charlene is “hired” to impersonate Dorothea to win the Duke for her. Since the Duke is, indeed, disgraceful, he is drawn to Charlotte’s bold and bawdy ways.  Fun ensues.  SO. MUCH. FUN.

My Thoughts-

I loved the plot; I loved Charlene; I loved that the Duke was drawn to her, even though he didn’t want to be. This story felt entirely fresh in a very familiar setting, and Bell found unique and interesting ways to have Charlene stand out. I laughed out loud on at least two occasions, and the sex scenes were so very hot.  The writing is engaging, and I loved how there is a sense of what is going on in the rest of the world.  This is one of the only romances I have read where I really had a difficult time figuring out how the author was going to bring them together. And that is a very good thing.  

Bottom Line-

Unpredictable, funny, with excellent world-building. Like watching a historical version of “The Bachelor” with one of the contestants having grown up in a whorehouse.  (Although many episodes of The Bachelor seem that way; I digress.) Plus, there’s chocolate. If that sounds like fun to you, this is definitely a book you want to read. I’ve found a new favorite author for historical romance, and I intend to read the next book in the series very soon. 5 stars for being so much fun!