historical

Unmasking Miss Appleby- Emily Larkin

/ Erin Kelly / Leave a comment

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“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

Rules for a Rogue- Christy Carlyle

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“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!

The Rogue’s Wager- Christi Caldwell

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Christi Caldwell is a new author to me, and “The Rogue’s Wager” is the first book in the “Sinful Brides” Series, so it was the perfect book as my introduction to her writing.  This is a Regency romance, but it differentiates itself by having a nice mix of characters from a variety of levels on the social ladder. 
The Story-

This one starts off with a bang. Literally. I don’t want to give away who is banging whom, but I just had to write that sentence. It made my husband laugh; sue me!  Robert, a future Duke, whose heart has been broken, is being coerced into marriage by his father who has run into some money problems.  Helena is the bastard daughter of a different Duke, and has spent most of her life keeping the books at a not-quite-reputable club.  Her overbearing brother has kept her hidden away, but a chance meeting will throw her life off the course she had originally intended.   

My Thoughts- 

The story drew me in immediately, and I sympathized particularly with the heroine.  Any smart chick that won’t take crap from anyone but still has a heart, is totally my kind of person. (Veronica Mars is my favorite television heroine of all time!) Her past and situation very clearly make her the person she is, and all her interactions flow seamlessly.  I wish there had been a fish-out-of-water scene or two when she first arrives in society, but that is my own particular fave trope, and perhaps the author wanted to make sure we didn’t laugh at Helena or her situation.  I also would have liked to see more of the comeuppance for our villain(s).  Revenge is fun to read.  The love scenes, while timed well, were on the lower end of the hotness thermometer for me, but there was nothing wrong with them at all.

The Good-

I think the best thing about this book is the characters.  I felt as if I got to know both the hero and heroine enough to really root for their relationship.  The build felt real, not rushed, which made the payoff more satisfying.  Ms. Caldwell had me believing that these characters truly needed each other and loved who the other person really was, not just a quick and pretty snapshot of a person.
The Bottom Line-

I will be reading more of Ms. Caldwell’s books and am happy to take recommendations on which series I should start first.  As for this series, I am excited to read the next story, especially with the hero that has been identified. If you like Regency, pick this one up. A super-strong 4 stars!

A Dangerous Damsel- Kimberly Bell

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“A Dangerous Damsel” is the second book in Kimberly Bell’s Countess Scandals series, but works just fine as a standalone book.  Ms. Bell is a new author to me, but I always love to read new authors, especially those who write in the historic Scotland genre in hopes of finding books for my particular catnip.  This one did not disappoint.

The Story-

Ewan has just been informed of his father’s death, which means he is the new laird.  Add to that the surprise of being robbed naked by a bewitching nymph, and he is having an odd day.  Deidre has always used her sexuality to deceive men, and it has worked very well for her until now.  She can no longer protect her brother from the seedy underworld that she has introduced him into.  When threatened by her former lover, she must rely on the man she just robbed and endangered. But, she must never forget her first rule: never trust anyone.

My Thoughts-

This is the most overtly sexual heroine I have read in historical romance, and I liked it.  It was just the change I needed after endless first timers and shocked blushing. There is a scene by the river that is some seriously brave writing for a heroine.  I also liked that her sexuality is never a source of embarrassment to her and isn’t really used as a plot conflict at all.  The hero, Ewan, is a big highlander, which is always fun, but doesn’t have near the intrigue of the heroine.  The plot was well-paced and fun with only a slight stall near the very end.  I was somewhat confused by the character of Rose and wonder if she will appear in future books.

The Good- 

Deidre is one of the best female romance characters I’ve read. I kept picturing her as Esmeralda in Disney’s “Hunchback of Notre Dame”, and I always wanted to be like her instead of short, cute and fair.  The rules that the siblings have set for themselves were great because the reader always knows that rules are made to be broken.  I liked many of the minor characters like Angus, Rose, and Darrow because they had so much more personality than you usually see.

The Bottom Line-

This Highland historical sets itself apart because of its sassy heroine.  It was a quick read that I enjoyed, and I will be reading more from Ms. Bell.  This is totally worth it for fans of historicals, particularly the Scottish historical genre. 4 stars

Good Earls Don’t Lie- Michelle Willingham

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“Good Earls Don’t Lie” is the first in Michelle Willingham’s Earls Next Door Series, but Willingham has tons of experience in the genre and category with many books set in Regency and Medieval time periods.  The cover was an immediate draw for me, mainly because of the beautiful dress, but I was somewhat afraid it would be a typical bodice-ripper. It was not.
The Story- Iain is a down-on-his luck Irish Earl, struggling to rebuild after the potato famine.  He has nothing left to offer but himself in marriage to any rich English heiress who will take him.  Rose is also attempting to put her life back together after an illness has left her unable to walk and her mother has started showing signs of dementia.  Their paths cross when Iain visits her grandmother’s estate in hopes that the woman will introduce him to English society. 

My Thoughts- I didn’t expect to love this story as much as I did. Both characters were so sympathetic and wonderful that I was rooting for them almost immediately.  I loved Iain within half a page. He is the perfect alpha hero because while he has confidence and snark, his circumstances make him a real person with issues to deal with. The story progressed organically and never felt rushed or like something was thrown in to add pages.  I also particularly loved that these characters develop as such good friends before falling in love.  Taking the time to bring them together in that way made the payoff even better, and the love felt complex and real. 

The Good- Not only were the main characters wonderful, but many of the secondary characters shone as well, such as Iris and Lily.  I liked that both main characters had some rather large obstacle to overcome; it made the outcome more satisfying.  And can we talk about Iain again? He is one of my favorite romance heroes in a long time: the perfect mix of confident, yet humble, caring, yet not a pushover, romantic, but not a rake. 

The Bottom Line- Yes, the title is a bit silly, but the book is anything but. It is not a typical bodice-ripper; it is simply a very well-written historical romance with great characters. 5 stars

Any Duchess Will Do- Tessa Dare

/ Erin Kelly / 1 Comment

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I’ll admit it: I judge books by their covers.  Something about seeing a big, beautiful dress on the cover of a book brings me back to my childhood when I went rifling through my aunt’s closet.  Perhaps this is the reason that I am stuck in a Regency rabbit-hole.  Each time I read a new book, I see another one that is just as pretty that I am dying to try.  Regency books are my Pringles.  So, after finishing a Lisa Kleypas and a Sarah MacLean, I just had to try out Tessa Dare.  Let me tell you, while the cover might be like the others, this is no ordinary Regency book.
The Story

Pauline is a farmer’s daughter and a barmaid/serving girl who has a head for numbers, tons of pride, and is fiercely protective of her disabled sister.  To me, she feels a little like Belle in the beginning of Beauty and the Beast: everyone in town thinks she’s weird, but she has big dreams. Enter Griff, a duke whose mother is desperate to marry him off to literally anyone.  She brings him to this town full of unmarried women and wants him to pick one for her to train into a duchess ala My Fair Lady.

My Thoughts 

Y’all, I can’t even. This book was so good and so funny. I laughed out loud at several parts, and I just LOVED Pauline. Griff initially selects her because she is so disheveled to spite his mother,  and his mother calls his bluff. Almost immediately, he starts backpedaling , making plans to leave for London saying that surely Pauline can’t drop everything and leave. Pauline replies,

“Certainly I can[…] I can leave my post anytime. […] I don’t need a post at all, do I? Not if I’m to be a duchess. […] Mr. Fosbury, […] I’ll be leaving now.  I don’t expect I’ll be coming back today. I’m taking the duke ‘round to the cottage so he can ask for my hand in marriage […] Shall we, your grace?”

See? No wimpy heroine here, just one who knows herself and knows her mind and refuses to be talked down to or underestimated.  Don’t get me wrong, she has a tough road, and pure pluck isn’t enough to overcome every obstacle in her way, but she is so real and original that I had a blast reading her story.  There’s even a nice little callback to Pretty Woman that, even though it’s been done before, makes me smile every time.  I think my only disappointment was the first sex scene because of the lack of foreplay, but that is corrected in later scenes. One scene in particular is like OMG: hot and fun.

The Good

There is so much good here.  Obviously, the heroine was my favorite, but the hero, his past and how it was handled is lovely.  Even the duchess is a sympathetic, full character rather than a broadly-drawn stereotype.  The story is compelling,  well-written and, even though it presents tropes we are comfortable with, the author does it in new and interesting ways that makes them feel new.

The Bottom Line

I feel like any romance reader, Regency fan or not, would enjoy this book.  It is universally enjoyable: both funny and heart-wrenching.  I cannot wait to read Ms. Dare again, and indeed, this book again as it will become one of those special books that I will return to when I need to smile.  5 stars

A Rogue By Any Other Name- Sarah MacLean

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Yes, I am on a bit of a Historical run lately, but that seems to be a rabbit hole I have difficulty climbing out of because I love them so much.  But that is another topic for another blog post! This one is all about Sarah MacLean’s “A Rogue By Any Other Name” which is the first book in the Rules of Scoundrels Series.  This is my first MacLean for reasons which I know not of, but it will not be my last.

The Story– Penelope (I have always loved that name) is practically an old maid because of a previous broken engagement and the scandal that followed.  In fact, she’s so hopeless that her father has attached a large parcel of land to her dowry to attract suitors. How crappy would that be? “Please! Marry my pathetic daughter for lots of money!” Bourne is her childhood friend who happened to lose the previously mentioned land in a card game to a dastardly villain (not Penelope’s father). He’s spent the past several years planning revenge, acquiring a fortune, and looking for an opportunity to get his land back. Wow! This should be easy, right? Penelope gets to marry her childhood friend, and Bourne gets his land. Not so fast… Of course, it isn’t that easy!

My Thoughts– Penelope certainly has reason to doubt herself and the character with her motivations was well-created, but I have rarely felt so badly for a romantic heroine. I felt her disappointment so acutely, I wanted to slap Bourne for his idiocity.  I guess there wouldn’t have been enough conflict without his moronic actions and attitude, but it left me wondering whether or not he deserved her love up to very close to the end.  She walked the line of desperation and letting him use her a little too long for my taste.

The Good– Since I’ve gone on and on about Penelope, obviously she is a compelling character. I loved the letters she had written Bourne over the years which opened each chapter.  The story clicks right along, never boring, or lagging.  The sex scenes are hot and sometimes unexpected, and a couple of the kissing scenes stand out.

The Bottom Line– I wanted to plop Penelope down in a Nora Roberts book with all the girlfriends and coffee just to give her someone to talk to and maybe knock some sense into her. That being said, I really enjoyed this book. It is a true “bodice-ripper” as two different outfits get destroyed, but the characters have real depth.  Any fan of historical romance would certainly enjoy this book. 4 stars

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Devil In Winter- Lisa Kleypas

/ Erin Kelly / 2 Comments

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While I have been a romance fan for about 25 years, until recently I hadn’t actively sought out new authors.  I followed recommendations of friends and always bought the newest Nora Roberts.  Other than that, I skipped around between a wide variety of books whose covers and descriptions appealed to me.  I assume that most of my friends and the casual romance reader are like I was, so if you are a romance fan who follows every new release and knows all the names in the biz, I apologize if this review is rehashing what you already know.  But, I simply couldn’t NOT review this book in case someone who hasn’t found Lisa Kleypas yet happens to come across my humble website or review.  Yep, it’s that good, and if you enjoy historical romance, I almost suggest that you dispense with reading the rest of this review and just go get this book.
The Story– Evie has some seriously screwed up relatives who are keeping her from her dying father and like to beat her every now and then for fun.  She decides that the only escape from these horrible people is to elope so that her new husband can protect her.  Fortunately, she knows a desperate rake who will overlook her stutter and shyness in favor of marrying her for her fortune.  Sebastian is proud of how many notches he has compiled on his bedpost. In fact, I’m not sure how the bed would still be standing with that many notches, but he is willing to settle down, at least in name only, in order to set up a comfy future for himself.

My Thoughts – Yes, it’s a marriage of convenience story, but it is so well-done that you will likely hold it as a standard for like stories in the future.  A couple of times while I was reading in the car rider line at my daughter’s school, I actually felt disappointment when the line started moving because it meant I had to put the book down. Now that’s saying something. The characters are well-developed, and motivations are brilliantly set up so that there is no confusion.  I was unaccustomed to reading a historic romance (other than Outlander) which incorporates actual historic tidbits and info as well as extremely detailed setting.  Often the only hint that you are in the past is that people use titles, attend balls, and cannot be left alone.  Not so with Ms. Kleypas.  I usually talk about world-building in response to paranormal books, but even though this is a historical, the world-building rivals anything I’ve seen elsewhere.

The Good– Although difficult to choose, my favorite element of this book is the characters.  They are fully developed and complex, which makes it feel like you are witnessing friends fall in love rather than broadly-drawn archetypes. The plot never lags, and the set-up doesn’t feel contrived.  The sex scenes are some of the best I’ve read with the perfect amount of heat (for me) with no odd descriptions that took me out of the story.

The Bottom Line– This is one of the best historical romances I’ve ever read, and I am almost afraid to read more Lisa Kleypas in case they don’t measure up. But then I realized, an even-slightly worse version of this book would be better than 90% of the other books I’ve encountered.  So, I will be diving into the back catalog, and I, like other romance fanatics will be waiting with bated breath for February when “Devil in Spring” is released as it features the son of these characters and has one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen.  This is one of those books that makes me grateful that I read romance.

Highland Deception- Lori Ann Bailey

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“Highland Deception” is the debut of author, Lori Ann Bailey, and is the first in her Highland Pride series.  As a fan of all things Scotland, I was predisposed to like this book although, while Bailey does a great job with her debut, it was a tale of two cities for me.

The Story- Maggie is set to marry a rapist/murderer/real jerk, so she decides to run away and join a nunnery.  On the road, she unwittingly falls in with a group of men from another clan while showcasing her healing skills.  Fearing that they will return her to her fate, she refuses to tell them who she is, which is a problem for their leader, Lachlan.  Lachlan falls for her; conflicts arise.

My Thoughts- This story began with a bang and hooked me immediately.  Unfortunately, as soon as they arrive at Lachlan’s castle about halfway through, it felt like the story began to flail and random conflicts arose here and there which seemed like an attempt to add drama. I also took issue with the idea that a priest’s niece could be bedded and discarded with no issue.  I didn’t swoon over the hero like I normally do when they are wearing kilts, and I think it’s because he did not treat her much better than the other men in her life. I did identify with Maggie, which could be why I took her mistreatment to heart.

The Good- Maggie is a great character: brave, kind, a woman who thinks for herself.  The sex scenes and preceding build-up scenes were very hot and well-written.  The Scottish brogue is just enough to hear the music of the language, but not over-done in a way that makes it difficult to read.  The setting is perfectly described and makes you want to be in Scotland yesterday.  The initial conflict and set-up is intriguing and captivating.

The Bottom Line- If you like stories set in Scotland, this is definitely one to pick up as it does a great job of bringing the history, culture and setting into the story instead of just plopping some random story down and saying that it’s Scotland and the hero wears a kilt and calls her “Lassie”.  I had some issues with story toward the end and the hero, but it isn’t enough to keep me from recommending this book and looking forward to more from this author. 3 stars