What A Rogue Desires by Caroline Linden

I don't feel like writing a full review today so I decided to take a leaf out of Dear Author's book and write my thoughts in a nutshell through poetry (or nursery rhyme, more like)

After a wayward youth, David Reece, the youngest scion in a noble family, has been called one of the most scandalous rogues of the ton. What he wants to be called is trustworthy and a true gentleman. To prove he has reformed he's agreed to watch over his absent brother's estate and signet ring. All is going swimmingly until highwaymen waylay his coach and steal that precious ring...

Street orphan Vivian Beecham has grown up a pickpocket, and a very pretty one indeed. Now she and her brother have reluctantly graduated to highway robbery. And handsome David Reece has become their victim - until he tracks her down and makes her his prisoner. Locked in a spare bedroom, Vivian vows to hate her captor. Instead she becomes a former rogue's greatest challenge: the object of a passionate seduction. But David and Vivian are playing a dangerous game in which forbidden love is a wild card...

There was a thief named Viv
 Who stole goods to live
 She encountered a chap
 who she took for a sap 
and robbed him blind of his ring.


 There was a rogue named Reece 
Who only wants for some Peace 
He kidnapped a girl 
Who thought him a churl 
then proceeded to fall in love. 

There was a reviewer named reader
 Who reads novels as a breather
 She picked up a book
 and not once thought the hook
 would be Stockholm Syndrome in historical romance.

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The Courtship Dance by Candace Camp

Lady Francesca Haughston had given up on romance for herself, finding passion instead in making desirable matches for others. So it seemed only fair, when she learned she had been deceived into breaking her own long-ago engagement to Sinclair, Duke of Rochford, that she now help him find the perfect wife. Of course, Francesca was certain any spark of passion between them had long since died - her own treatment of him had seen to that. The way Sinclair gazed at her or swept her suddenly into his arms.well, that was merely practice for when a younger, more suitable woman caught his eye. But soon Francesca found his lessons in love scandalously irresistible - and a temptation that could endanger them both.

Francesca is a formulaic heroine as far as widows in historical romances go. Her deceased husband is the typical dead jerk-off who paraded his paramours, bequeathed her a crap load of debt, and left her sexually unsatisfied. She thinks she is frigid and accepts the blame for her husband's infidelity. that said, Francesca is actually quite likable. there were a few times I found her annoying but she never crossed over to the TSTL territory. Her internal monologues was one of the things that got to me but I suppose that that is true to how someone in her position would react. Rochford fares slightly better. He is one of the most un-dukeish dukes I have ever read. He uses his brain more than the typical Hero but did not stay true to this when it came to dealing with the villain (a very minor quibble on my part). I can lay the blame for that on arrogance's door though so no big issue there. Character development (or lack thereof) nit-picking aside, I had a good time getting to know these two. From the get go the reader can tell that Rochford knows what he wants and what he's up to. He and Francesca have a good foundation. They've known each other a very long time and the unfurling of their history is well wrought out. Their repartee is fun and charming and their chemistry is tangible. What I didn't enjoy was the whole business with the villain; it was just unnecessary for me. The resident baddie is a caricature of evil and the handling of the subplot seemed a mite heavy handed. I got into the novel blindly. I've never read any of Ms. Camp's books but I was able to tell within the first chapter that this one is part of a series. Considering that The Courtship Dance is a series finale, it does pretty well as a stand alone book (i.e; just the right amount of information about the history/secondary characters without me getting overwhelmed by it). The writing is engaging and witty and I'm interested enough to bump the first three books in the series up my TBR. I'm guessing this book suffers from the *Esme-Sebastian syndrome (see Eloisa James and her Duchess series). Who knows, maybe I'll enjoy this story more once I've read the backlist. Grade: B Reader

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What A Gentleman Wants by Caroline Linden

What A Gentleman Wants is the 2nd book I've read by Caroline Linden and I admit I didn't get into it with high expctations. I've even put off reading it for a while based on my reaction to the one I read before it. I'm not saying the other one was bad, only that it was something I wasn't inspried to write home or the internet about. Who knows though, maybe I can get a review of it up sometime within this lifetime. Now, back to the topic at hand. The Blurb

Marcus Reese, Duke of Exeter, has spent most of his life pulling his twin brother out of trouble. An occasional thank you would suffice; instead, his resentful sibling forges his name to a marriage license and presents him with an unwanted wife. She's a vicar's window with a mind of her own who may be the first person in Marcus's well-ordered life to make him feel...completely out of control. Hannah can't help but curse her own idiocy. Dire straits have led her to the altar with a gentleman she hardly knows. Played for a fool, she's embarrassed, furious, and worse, married to an equally outraged stranger - an exasperating man who unleashes all manner of emotions in Hannah, not to mention unwanted desire. Reluctantly, she agrees to play the wife until he can sort out the mess. But the nearness of the undeniably attractive Duke and the passion in his black eyes unsettles her well-guarded heart - making her want to do so much more than "act" the role of blissful bride...

My two cents: The H/H Hannah Preston is an intelligent, competent, and pragmatic heroine. She is a widow who sincerely loved her deceased husband (a good man - a rarity in itself) and was not sexually awakened (both literally and figuratively) by the Hero. A refreshing change in these widow type of stories. She isn't a self-sacrificing martyr either, thank Norris. I wasn't immediately empathetic to her plight or character but it didn't take very long for that to change. Marcus is a very Darcy'esque hero. Not necessarily in an "ooh it's Darcy *swoons*" type of way but there certainly is some of that going on. He is high in the instep, extremely haughty, and his snobbery is genuine. Hannah is not exempted from his elitist verbal barbs and if anything suffers from it more than any other character in this novel. She is, however, no shrinking violet. She refuses to be intimidated and takes him head on. I do so love a cold cold (brr) man as a hero. When done right, it makes the romance even sweeter. And that's what this story is, sweet, without being overly saccharine. At the beginning of this book I felt unconvinced by Hannah's reasoning to stay, if she truly wanted to leave she could go, guns blazing if necessary, but it didn't take me long to understand that her decision was based more on her and her daughter's future rather than plain ol' helplessness. That and the fact that there wouldn't be an actual story had she gone. Heh. There were parts where I was uncertain if Marcus and Hannah could find a convincing (to me, at least) way together. After the two establish which way is up and where they stand there are no silly misunderstandings that serve as ridiculous plot devices. The Secondary Characters Let me start with David aka The Sequel Bait. David acted just as I had come to expect sequel baits to act. He's not a bad guy, just flakey and reactionary. He doesn't use the old noggin quite as often as he should and you know he's simply begging to be redeemed. I think he got off from his transgressions very lightly but I'm fine with that because, once gone, I really didn't want to see him around all that much. It's not even that I dislike David. I'm more on apathetic. Then we have Rosalind, the stepmother. Not quite evil but certainly scheming. She falls into the category of indomitable matchmaker. I've seen it in one for every two romance novels I read but I suppose it could have been worse. She could have been a cartoony cruel stepmama who refuse to be pushed out into dowagership. She is charming and likable for the most part but there were moments where I didn't buy the whole accepting of a provincial nobody into the Duchy without any complaint, qualm, or concern. It's just not consistent with how an aristocratic matron of a grand noble family would react but that's just a minor quibble. Celia, the irrepressible romantic half-sister, on the other hand is not quite as charming as her mother. She is annoying at parts; largely due to her behavior which is better suited to a pre-pubescent girl rather than a young woman on the verge of her season. She did serve her purpose well to distract young Molly (Hannah's daughter) from interfering with the story for the most part so this is something I can easily overlook. The Villain. I don't want to spoil the identity but it's pretty easy to guess who it is. Let's just say that the villain turns out to be the typical entity prevalent in these books. There are only 3 kinds so it's pretty easy to deduct. There is no characterization whatsoever. Simply put, the antagonist is nothing but a caricature of evil. The Plot What A Gentleman Wants begins with a BOO!-I-Married-The-Wrong-Man but quickly moves on to a story where two adults try to make logical and practical decisions in a situation they didn't want or expect. Before you know it, it's a full blown romance. Complete with the genuine restraint one does NOT come to expect in Historical Romances of late. The two doesn't even share a single kiss until more than halfway the story. I didn't care for the suspense/mystery aspect (yes, there is one of those) of What A Gentleman Wants but fortunately it does not interfere much with the story. Grade: Higher than a B, but not quite an A-, so a B+ (if our rating system allowed it)

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Ransom My Heart by HRH Princess Mia Thermopolis

Ransom My Heart by HRH Princess Mia Thermopolis by Meg Cabot is part medieval road romance and part gimicky marketing ploy which I absolutely fell for hook, line, and sinker. I really wanted to love this book in fact I was part in love with it waay before I even turned the first page. I've been trying to get my grubby little hands on it since it was released last January 6 and when I finally did, I did a little happy dance. I locked myself in a vacant room in the house with explicit instructions that I am not to be disturbed come hell or high water. Part of what I love about this book is the grand marketing scheme of it; I liked both the Princess Diaries books and movies (I can see your eyes rolling) and I have always enjoyed Mia's voice which I hoped to hear in Ransom My Heart, however, that's not the only reason why I assumed I'd love it. The synopsis is awesome too:

He's a tall, handsome knight with a secret. She's an adventurous beauty with more than a few secrets of her own. Finnula needs money for her sister's dowry, and fast. Hugo Fitzstephen, returning home to England from the Crusades with saddlebags of jewels, has money, and lots of it. What could be simpler than to kidnap him and hold him for ransom? Well, for starters, Finnula could make the terrible mistake of falling in love with her hostage.

Ooh. Fun. Strong heroine with criminal tendencies? Yes, please! So the question is, did the book hold up to it's premise? Err. Not so much. The Backdrop: 5 words for you: Robin Hood Men In Tights. That's how I pictured the setting for this story. I mean that as no insult; I adore that movie. The Hero: During the first part of the book, I couldn't help picturing Hugo as Hagrid (Harry Potter series). All that bushy facial hair and height. I really couldn't help it. Color me shallow but I really can't get into a hero when he looks like our favorite gentle half-giant. At the second part of the book, after he shaves, he came to me as a freakishly large Aaron Eckhart (maybe because I saw No Reservations on HBO before reading); better, but still didn't do it for me. His appearance is only a small part of the problem though. He was pretty assholic towards everyone (except the heroine, I'll grant him that) in the story. He is unnecessarily mean to his squire and was, for the most part, a barbaric boor. He has a tendency to grab and use his sword (both literal and figurative) rather than his brain. I'm not sure if this is done for the sake of historical accuracy but, really, why bother when you aren't historically accurate in other aspects of the story. The Heroine: Finnula had all the makings of an awesome character. She did, however, turn out to be a Mary Sue. True, she was disliked by a lot of the villagers but what made her unlikable to the characters in this story made her even better for the reader. She, truly, is too good to be true. A great beauty (even more beauteous than the comeliest Crais sister), the best markswoman in the Shire (even better than the hero), Honorable, Noble, Charitable, Intelligent, blah, blah, blah. There really was no end to her list of virtues. Which can be pretty annoying at times. She did come off as immature when she and Hugo argued which, unfortunately, was not a redeeming imperfection. The Villains: Big Surprise. Not. You can tell who the villains are within the first chapter of this book. I know I did. Nothing can be said about them other than they're evil. EEEEVIIIIL I tell you. No depth, no characterization, no nothing. Those are just a few of the things that came to me while reading Ransom My Heart but I'm going to stop there before I give anything away (I'm trying to learn how to review without spoiling). I have a bit more to quibble about but, to be fair, there are also some truly entertaining moments where I laughed out loud a little bit. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for me to really enjoy the book. *sighs* I'm gonna go and watch Princess Diaries now. Grade: C

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Fallen Angels Series by Mary Jo Putney Part Deux

I'm finally finished reading all the books in the Fallen Angels series and, I have to say, it's gonna be a mad scramble to get my hands on more Putney. The books mentioned in these condensed reviews aren't part of the series exactly (none of them are named after an Angel, fallen or otherwise) but they feature the sequel baits from the main books and they just spun off from there.. Click Here To Read More.. Angel Rogue:

Lord Robert Andreville, a master spy with the face of a fallen angel and a darkly heroic past, crosses Regency England with a half-Mohawk beauty. As they evade pursuers and circle each other in a dance of desire, their idyll is shattered by dark secrets. Only love has the power to heal the past.

Robin is noble, handsome (in a dandyish diletantte way), charming, intelligent, likable, and a surprisingly candid guy (although he lets the heroine think he's lying). If I liked him in Petals Of The Storm, well, I found him utterly charming in Angel Rogue. He finds a worthy heroine in Maxima (ugh) aka Maxie (not much better) who can be a pretty blood-thirsty wench when provoked ( my favorite kind!). The two are attracted to each other from the beginning and there are undertones of passion early on but it's not one of those wham, bam, I love you forever, let's get it on, thank you ma'm sort of things. They start as friends and things develop from there. From distrust to respect to friendship, to caring, and then eventually to love, the love story between the two just flows and takes it's natural course. In simpler terms, these two, genuinely like each other. The intrigue sub-plot throws Robin and Maxie together but it doesn't detract from the romance. I liked that the villains in this piece aren't necessarily villains but simply people who make honest mistakes rooted from noble intentions. I also greatly enjoyed the sub-romance between Robin's elder brother, Giles, and Maxie's aunt, Desdemonda. In Petals in the Storm Robin Andreville, no matter how likable, was merely sequel bait. In Angel Rogue he was a wonderful hero in a worthy story. River Of Fire:

In exchange for his subversive skills, a dashing sky attempts to find financial salvation through Regency England's greatest artist by solving a heinous crime. But he soon discovers that the greatest danger of all lies in the irrestible attraction to a woman who may prove his undoing. From the bestselling author of Dancing On the Wind.

We first meet Kenneth in Shattered Rainbows and, unlike the other Heroes in the series, he is the only one in the bunch who wasn't begging for a sequel. That didn't stop me from wanting to know more about him though. In River of Fire, Kenneth still brings with him all the emotional baggage from having seen war. He struggles for peace but is haunted by the past as well as the present. When a mission brings him to Seaton House, he is immediately attracted to his quarry's daughter, Rebecca. She is a somewhat temperamental artist who's rather hermitic due to a decade old indiscretion. Rather like Angel Rogue, their relationship evolve naturally from friendship and respect to love. They struggle through it occassionally but what couple doesn't? River of Fire is at times dark and angsty. Fortunately, it never crosses the line to downright depressing and is always compelling. Chalk it up to the vivid imagery of revealing a soldier's soul and an artist's insight. The intrigue sub-plot, again a device to throw the hero and heroine together, stews in the back burner and doesn't overwhelm the romance. Kenneth doesn't really actively pursue his investigation until later in the story but it provides a good backdrop for the romance. Even if this book is considered as the least important in the Fallen Angels series, River of Fire is definitely one of my favorites. One Perfect Rose:

Stephen Kenyon, Duke of Ashburton, has always taken the duties of his rank seriously-until shocking news sends him running from his isolating world of wealth and privilege to roam the countryside as an ordinary man. When he meets the lovely Rosalind Jordan, a foundling who has grown into an enchanting, compassionate woman, she stirs the deepest desires of his heart. Yet how can Stephen declare his love when he is haunted by the knowledge that made him flee his old life? And how can Rosalind risk loving a man who fulfills her secret dreams but can never be hers?

Stephen and Rosalind are two very nice characters. Unfortunately, that may be the reason why they are slightly less memorable than the other couples in the series to me. I do, however, remember thinking that Stephen is evidence that romance novel heroes don't always have to be growly broody alphas (although I occasionally have the taste for those too). The story chronicles Stephen's last months and his budding friendship and romance with Rosalind which was really very sweet but not overly saccharine. Rosalind's real identity bit made my eyes roll over though; I would have preferred it if she stayed as we had known her. Turning her into a French Countess + Heiress came off as contrived and unnecessary IMO although when Stephen's real identity was revealed, she didn't get half as pissed as I expected her to which I did like. Very refreshing cos they always always get pissed. The plot is less in depth as the other books in the series but it takes on a very serious subject; mortality. The read is surprisingly light, considering Stephen's death is always in the forefront, albeit slow. One Perfect Rose is certainly well written but it won't be gracing my keeper shelf anytime soon.

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Defiling The Classics: River Lady by Jude Deveraux

The universe has made poor unfortunate Leah it's bitch. She's poor, starving, overworked and abused. The only man she's ever loved doesn't even know her name and he's about to get married, then head for the wild frontier never to be seen again. What's a girl to do in such dire circumstances? The correct answer is A) give him the nookie immediately

Handsome plantation owner Wesley Stanford would barely recall the poverty-stricken young girl named Leah Simmons who adored him from afar years ago?.Now, in an unexpected twist of fate -- a chance encounter on the Virginia riverfront -- he will become Leah's reluctant husband. Determined to forge a new life in untamed Kentucky, Wesley discovers that the bride he hopes to abandon is passionate, proud, and brave -- and may be the woman he cannot live without.

The child he once gave a gold coin has grown into broken young women. The only thing getting her through the hell she calls life are fantasies of Wesley, while she rubs the above mentioned coin like a genie's lamp. When she learns of his impending marriage she grasps at her only chance to "be" with the man she loves, even if only for a moment. Sweet right, too bad his response to her offering is: taking her virginity roughly, calling out his fiancé's name while he gets his jollies off, making a snide remark about her hygiene ,and walking away throwing a coin to the ground sans a single look back. Cut to his wedding day where the scandalous drama unfolds as romance drama often does. A pregnant and barely recognizable Leah is dragged into the chapel. Her evil religious father has beaten her within an inch of her life and if the father of the baby doesn't marry her; he'll blow her brains out. "Wonk Waaah" is the sound of Wesley's dreams dying as he condemns himself to " that thing". Saving her through marriage is Wesley's the only unselfish act. After marrying her, Wesley (whom I'll now refer to as Dubyah) dumps her on his relatives claiming he needs time to come to terms with his burden. He leaves for months, during which she has a miscarriage, endures a painful my fair lady makeover, and through it all is willing to brave anything to become a wife he can be proud of; the wife he deserves. Of course she turns out to be the most "beeeeeauuuutiful & graceful woman evah". But that's not enough for Dubyah, his time away has bred his disdain into intense hate. When he's not ignoring her existence, he treats her like shit. When he's not treating her like shit, he has public hissy fits about how much he hates being tied to her. Privilege be damned, she refuses to remain when she's not wanted. Leah's pride, the only thing not beat out of her, prompts her to make him a offer. They'll travel to Kentucky (with his ex- fiancé, I've nicknamed her Priss) pretending to be relatives. When they reach Kentucky they'll get their marriage annulled and both be free. So they set off for the frontier spitting venom and longing all the while. Wesley is a fickle and selfish jackass. After taking an interest, then dropping her like trash too many times to count; he decides to keep her. Then instead of wooing her or attempting to prove he's trustworthy and loyal; states (Me paraphrasing) "Forget about the deal, you izz mine. I don't love you, but Priss is boring. This is what you wanted, so you're welcome." When she flips his edict the bird, he forces her on a hunting trip that will last until she submits to stay his wife. By the way, he knows she's terrified of the woods, wild animals, and hunting. Awwwww, romantic gestures cause me to cry glittering crystal tears... of "Whatevz Sparky". Although I can emphasize with being mulishly stubborn and wanting what you want, how you want it; my gag reflex cared naught. His dumb and cruel plans lead to him being wounded and her blackmailed for his safety into slave drudgery; under the constant threat of rape and worse. Yet even as she suffers while he heals, Dubyah's still all bitchy bitch about her being too competent and never asking for help. Just shut it Dumb Dumb, maybe she doesn't let you help because you're dimwitted and eff everything up. At some point he informs her that her problem is that she has too much control and starting now she's going to take the obey part of her vows seriously. Then more sex (where as foreplay, he at times insinuates she's a evil Ho), drama, mystery, and couplings (that IMO outshine the main story) unfold; the end. This book rawked my socks as a tween. I recently recommended it to Jen the Ginger Kid and since I'm now on friendly terms with Historical Romance as a genre; the time seemed right to check if the magic was still there. This reread was illuminating, the magic in question has been replaced with snarky amusement on my part. And it demonstrates more how I've changed as a reader and a woman, instead novel quality. What sold me in my youth is still present, but the many vomit inducing elements are impossible to overlook. The Good: * Leah's Pluckiness. Her willingness to move on with her life when Dubyah casts her aside and not waiting for, nor needing to be saved. * Mz Deveraux's writing style is always full of win. I would read a story about a dog falling in love with a paper bag if she penned it. The Bad: * The constant harping on Leah's lack of worth since she comes from a family known as for whores. I get it she's from the wrong side of town, enough already * Wesley's method of wooing stank suspiciously of date rape logic * W's ex fiancé was a so one dimensional she wasn't believable * Dubyah's brother goes from despising Leah as a conniving gold digging whore (that marked his bro as her first client); to adoring her within a week… all because she turns out purdy, gag me. * Yes, we all have our Achilles heel, and Leah's is shouldering too much responsibility. But at times the way she allows Dubyah to address her or outright bully her, doesn't fit. * I don't think a clear case is made why she stays with him. It's obvious how she won his love, but IMO he never earns her love or respect in earnest. But I guess that doesn't matter since in his own words " Whether I deserve her or not, She's mine!". My Apoligies Mz Deveraux, I still wuvs ya , but this is "defiling the classics" ; )

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Fallen Angels Series by Mary Jo Putney

I have a confession to make...although I claim to be an avid romance reader, prior to 2009, I have read only one Mary Jo Putney book. Feeble, I know, but it was an error immediately rectified when Mistress picked up Thunder and Roses for her overcoming genre prejudice exercise. It was so good for her that she shot Wanderer and me a quick e-mail mid-book squeeing that it was, in her words, rawking her world. High praise indeed coming from one of the biggest historical romance haters out there. So I decided to give it a shot too. Initially I was intent on just reading Thunder and Roses (the first in the Fallen Angels series chronologically) but I found it compelling enough to read the rest of the series. Since there are 7 books in the series I decided to condense all my thoughts in two separate posts as opposed to writing one long ass review for each. I didn't read the books in order so I'm just writing my thoughts in the order of how I read them. Thunder and Roses

Fantastic Fiction Product Description: They called him the Demon Earl. Nicholas Davies was a notorious rake until a shattering betrayal left him alone and embittered in the Welsh countryside. Quiet schoolteacher Clare Morgan, in desperation, asks the Demon Earl to help save her village. Unmoved, Nicholas sets an impossible price on his aid--one that will cost Clare her reputation . . . and possibly her heart.

My Take: Clare is pretty unique as Historical Romance Heroines go. She 1.) is not a noblewoman, 2.) struggles with her faith, and 3.) is convincingly pragmatic. Nicholas, on the other hand, initially comes off as a dickwad who couldn't care less about anyone, much less an entire village. As the story progresses though we learn why he's such an asshat and discover that he isn't as big of an idiotic jerk as he initially comes across. Their chemistry is palpable (strip billiards anyone?) and therein lies the strength of Thunder and Roses. There's a cheesy intrigue sub-plot and cartoon caricature of a villain but it doesn't overwhelm the romance and I've passed the point of quibbling. I did have a bit of trouble with Clare finding "God" through sexxoring with Nick. It just seemed so unnecessary to me and I thought Clare "inventing" the little rubber thing in the tip of billiard cue sticks ridiculous. All that said, I highly recommend this book if you haven't picked it up yet. Petals In The Storm

Fantastic Fiction Product Description: Set in opulent 19th-century France, here is the epic tale of Rafael Whitbourne, the Duke of Candover, and beautiful spy Countess Magda Janos. United to uncover a court assassination, Rafael is shocked to learn that Magda is a woman he loved 15 years before and had thought dead.

My Take: Maggie is an interesting heroine. She is a strong character with a shady past and I liked that she was no 30 year old virgin; although, of course, being the romance novel heroine that she is, her cherry had to be popped through some misogynistic shit but never mind that. I was, however, underwhelmed by Rafe as a Romance Novel Hero. I attribute it to the huge lack in setting up his background. There really wasn't anything there that set him apart from the bajillion of fictional aristocrats I've read about. He also had a rival for Maggie's (and my) affections. Robin is just as handsome, dashing, intelligent, and dare I say more honorable? I liked Robin. A LOT. And that's the pickle. I preferred him over Rafe (never a good thing when one is not the story's hero). How refreshing to have a third wheel that isn't a complete tool. It didn't help that Rafe and Maggie's story was completely underwhelmed by the political/intrigue subplot. That said, I have no doubt Maggie chose the right man (for her). I was a little disappointed with Petals In The Storm, though it's pretty solid in it's own right, it didn't stand up too well as a follow up act for Thunder and Roses. Dancing In The Wind

Fantastic Fiction Product Description: A tragic past has driven Lord Strathmore to use his formidable talents to protect his country from secret enemies, and he does it superlatively well - until he meets a mysterious woman. By turns glamorous and subdued, reckless yet vulnerable, she baffles his mind even as she captures his heart.

My Take: Kit is a daring and intelligent heroine that occasionally teeters over to TSTLdom. She has this unique talent of taking on different personas and confounds the hero at every turn. Her early encounters with Lucien were fun and intriguing but I admit I got a bit tired of it. Lucien, on the other hand, was a complete and utter delight in his own story. He comes off as an indolent rakish dilettante (my fave kind!) and we discover what led him to choose his lonely and covert path as a spy. He's a faux rake but he's written so well that I don't mind! Lucien's romance, although occasionally incredulous (ESP in a Historical, anyone?), is really quite riveting. There were a few aspects in the story that was hard to accept, but, as a romance, it is definitely more satisfying than Petals In The Storm. Shattered Rainbows

Fantastic Fiction Product Description: Catherine had saved Lord Michael Kenyon on the battlefields of Europe. Now, she is standing in his London drawing room asking him to pretend to be her mate. Catherine is in line to inherit a title, an ancient home, and heritage--if she arrives on the Island of Skoal with her husband, who unbeknownst to Michael is dead.

My Take: Catherine is called a saint but longs to be a woman. She could have been one of the Mary Sues out there but having so many facets keep her from crossing that line. She comes off as docile and submissive but she really isn't. She lacks the obvious spunk prevalent in the other heroines in the series but what she lacks in spunk she makes up for in quiet strength. I'm glad that Catherine's husband wasn't evil too. He was a good man in his own right and I liked that the blame for the disaster that was their marriage did not fall solely on his shoulders. Michael is one of Putney's most compelling heroes. He's the perfect example of tortured hero done right. He is a man trying to atone for his sins and his angst (thankfully given in small increments) is justified. The interaction between Michael and Catherine is done beautifully and the sexual tension between them is pulled off very well. I can't think of two characters more suited for each other. There are two parts in the book and I must confess that the 2nd part in the story was not as gripping as the 1st part. The first part featured a forbidden love set during wartime. The descriptive imagery of the time and setting did not overwhelm the romance. The 2nd part, however, came off as a plot device to throw Michael and Catherine together it also featured a caricature of a villain. All very unnecessary. Fortunately, it doesn't really detract that from the greatness that is Shattered Rainbows.

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When The Duke Returns by Eloisa James

Every once in a while one of my favorite authors writes a perfect book. Although this one is not it, it's pretty close. I've been following Eloisa James novels religiously and she's pretty hit or miss with me (disclaimer: more hits than misses) and this is the first one I found, well, kinda meh. It wasn't bland per se but I couldn't help but feel indifference towards the hero and heroine. It's not that they lacked chemistry, they actually had it in spades, which I really liked, but it wasn't the kind of chemistry that makes for an explosive romance. To be fair, it is possible that it would have been stand out if it were a stand-alone novel, however, it succeeds one of my top three Eloisa James novel, Duchess By Night, which raised the bar unreasonably high. All that said, lots of people really love this book and even prefer it over the book before it so don't just take my word for it. The Blurb:

The Duchess of Cosway yearns for a man she has never met . . . her husband.

Married by proxy as a child, Lady Isidore has spent years fending off lecherous men in every European court while waiting to meet her husband. She’s determined to to accept him, no matter how unattractive the duke turns out to be. When she finally lures Simeon Jermyn back to London, his dark handsomeness puts Isidore’s worst fears to rest - until disaster strikes.

The duke demands and annulment.

Forsaking his adventuresome past, Simeon has returned to London ready to embrace the life of a proper duke, only to find that his supposed wife is too ravishing, too headstrong, and too sensual to be the docile duchess he has in mind. But Isidore will not giv eup her claim to the title - or him - without a fight.

She will do whatever it takes to capture Simeon’s heart, even if it means sacrificing her virtue. After all, a consummated marriage cannot be annulled.

Yet in forcing Simeon into a delicious surrender, will Isidore risk not only her dignity - but her heart?

My Thoughts : Spoilers Ahoy! What I Liked: The Heroine: I liked that Isidore, a virgin in historical romance, thrived on male attention but waited for her husband to come back. She was no wilting flower either. I like that. A Heroine with a backbone but, then again, I usually can rely on James for that. She's flirtations but is oddly conservative. A strange mix but it works. She also talked herself into accepting her unseen husband for what he was, whatever that may be [which could possibly include the lack of limbs] and that is.just.awesome. The Hero: I also enjoyed the fact that Simeon was a virgin [and wasn't shy about it!]. Not the first time I encountered a virgin hero but refreshing nonetheless. I enjoy a dissolute rake or two as much as the next romance reader but sometimes a girl needs a break. The friendship between the two was great also. They made a great team and it was a source of frustration for me when Simeon just couldn't see it. The Backdrop: The strong storytelling about how the duke's estate has fallen into complete and utter chaos during his absence which makes for great imagery. The way that Isidore comes in and takes charge of restoring the estate is highly enjoyable. This is my favorite part of the book. The Sub-Plot: The Jemma, Elijah, and Villiers side-story grows even more interesting. So Poignant! Oh, the things I would do for an ARC! How Eloisa James teases me so!! What I Didn't Like: Simeon came off kinda immature. He took his control issues a sliver too far for me. The character development was awesome but the romance part [which IS the point of a romance novel] seemed a smidgen rushed to me. It just lacked a certain je nais sais quois. The strong storytelling story about how the duke's estate has fallen into complete and utter chaos during his absence which makes for great imagery unfortunately that includes more attention paid to water closets than I cared for. In Conclusion: What I really like about James's characters are the characterization. They certainly aren't cookie cutter. In this case; the Dowager Duchess is a bitch. And not just any bitch, she's holy shit! A BITCH! but that's not what defines her. There are so many layers as to what makes her what she is and not just because she's evil. Strong but vulnerable. A rather sympathetic mix. The author also promises the next book to be Jemma's story [This Duchess Of Mine] which means I'll definitely be reading on with the rest of the series. I'm curious and a little scared to see what it turns out to be, based on events in this book. Plus the awesome set-up from book one in the series just sets the bar unreasonably high that I'm afraid it's not gonna live up to it. I can hardly wait for Villiers' book too [A Duke Of My Own], he's come a mighty long way from Desperate Duchesses, I've gone from loathing to loving him. All in all: A Solid B

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Duchess By Night by Eloisa James

I've always loved Shakespeare's Twelfth Night so upon reading the blurb of Eloisa James' newest offering, I figured that this book is right up my alley. I've pretty much read all of James' stuff and I find her stuff pretty hit or miss. And as much as I enjoy Twelfth Night, I usually don't like the tranny stories because it's so rarely done well. So how does Duchess By Night fare?? The third in her Desperate Duchesses series, Duchess By Night is about Harriet, the Duchess of Berrow, who attends a house party at the scandalous Lord Strange's estate. At the beginning, Isidore, Duchess of Cosway and friend to Harriet schemes to force her explorer husband home. Estranged from him for 14 years, she's lonely, pissed, and wants to have a true marriage with the errant duke. The plan is to attend his non-stop hedonistic and notorious house party with pals, the Duke of Villiers and Harriet. To preserve her unimpeachable reputation Harriet decides to go in drag and masquerade as a dude, Harry Cope, and pose as Villier's nephew and ward. When Lord Justinian Strange first sets eyes on the group of three, he gets an insta-boner for Harry. Awesome. Blaming his attraction for Harry at Harry's effeminate nature, Strange sets out to make a man out of him. Unfortunately, this means riding at dawn, rare steaks for breakfast, and fencing lessons for Harry. Except it doesn't work, he gets more and more attracted to Harry and starts questioning his own sexuality. Priceless! Before too long, Strange discovers Harry's little secret and goes about exposing her in the most delicious way at their private private fencing lesson. One of the things I love about this book is the fact that James' does an excellent job of showing how liberated Harriet becomes dressed as a man without shoving it down our throats. Another thing is that fact that Strange is smart, passionate, open, and really loves his daughter. I was really suprised by not feeling even mildly annoyed by her presence in the story cos I usually hate that Mary Poppins shit. The focus on Harriet and Strange and the gradual way in which they get to know one another shows James' skill. The writing is never heavy handed nor does it ever come across as contrived. The book is narrated from Harriet's point of view but we get occasional glimpses into Strange's thoughts which are rather disconcerted at the idea of being in lust with a dude. All that aside, the writing is engaging and vastly entertaining. The sense of humor is never contrived and the character development believable. The lack of resolution regarding the Beaumonts (Harriet's friends introduced in the first book in the series, Deperate Duchesses) is my only source of frustration in this book. The next in the series will be about Isidore and her errant husband. Eventually the Duke and Duchess of Beaumont will appear again, hopefully still together, and the Duke of Villiers with any luck, gets his own happy beginning..

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Noble Destiny by Katie MacAlister

Straight from the bat I am telling you that this book isn't for me. I found the heroine grating on my nerves - not tstl annoying, just plain old annoying - and the humor, at it's best, tiresome. To be fair, google for other reviews and will find many glowing things said about this book. It worked for them and I'm cool with that. It, however, didn't click with me and I can tell you now that I wouldn't recommend it to friends. What, you may ask, is it about Noble Destiny that turns me off so? Here's a little background.. Widowed Charlotte Collins is a social pariah because she's...erm...brain dead (there is literally no other way to put it). Some years back, out of sheer boredom, she runs off and marries an inappropriate dude in an inappropriate way. Now, he's dead and there's hell to pay. Obsessed with regaining her previous social standing (she was once the season's incomparable) she decides that the only way to gain back footing is by marrying well and marrying fast. She sets her sights on an earl, Alasdair "Dare" McGregor, and successfully entraps the poor sucker into matrimony. Except she doesn't want to marry him anymore cos dude refuses to spend his fortune marrying her at bloody Westminister Abbey (well, among other things). Anyway, whatever, long story short, they marry. In the first sentence I see what kind of a character Charlotte is, I figured; MacAlister was pulling a Cullman - slaughter the lead and then redeem, and I'm all for that, a good trouncing is always fun, so I mustered as much patience as I could and trodded forward. I kept waiting and waiting for blessed redemption but, thank god, I didn't hold my breath. Princess Charming acts like a whiny ass bimbo throughout the book. It's all about me, me, me, me, me. She truly is an incomparable, for there is no other heroine more vain, shallow, and selfish. She doesn't give a rats ass if what she wants is unreasonable. Her wanting it (whatever it is) is reason enough and it should be done now. Husband dear is nothing but a sap who scrambles around like a puppy trying to grant this brain dead brat her every whim. Unfortunately, redemption was half baked and came a little too late. The dead, black, frozen thing in my chest (occasionally called a heart) couldn't be induced to care. My second major quibble is the author's attempts at humor. The heroine's misuse of words is one such thing and it's agonizing to read. That shit gets old really really fast. Maybe it's just me. Maybe my pathetic little asian brain can't get it, that's why I'm the only person who seems to dislike this book. Maybe the author was just being really precise and delivered an accurate portrayal of women in 1800s England and I just cannot appreciate that much detail. I don't know. But like I said earlier, this was my first MacAlister book and am now disinclined to read the rest. *edit* For the sake of fairness I have now actually read the book preceding (Noble Intentions) AND succeeding (The Trouble With Harry) this one and I am happy to report that they were a joy to read. I may still not recommend this one to friends but I certainly would encourage them to read the other two. I may even go as far as beg the author to write a fourth one cos I am absolutely dying to read about Nick and Thom (secondary characters in the last book).

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Stronger Than Magic by Heather Cullman

Don't be fooled by the book's obscure author, unassuming cover, and multi-genre arc. This one belongs firmly on the keeper shelf. Nobody does tortured heroes like Heather Cullman and I've never read a TSTL heroine from her just yet and simple as my requirements are, they are not always easy to come by.

Beware: here be spoilers.

The year was 1315, Alys le Fayre is a beautiful much sought after maiden who got her rocks off pitting her suitors against each other. One such suitor was a hawt knight stud named Lucan de Thistlewood. A Battlefield prodigy, the only thing Lucan loves more than a good and bloody fight is manipulative Alys. However, as much (or as little) as she loves Lucan in her own way, the only thing Alys loves more is riling up the jealousy of her suitors. Obsessive in his quest to win her, one such suitor kills Lucan in a jousting (or something like it) tourney. Unknown to all, Lucan's father was Aengus, the King Of Faeries who was naturally infuriated by his son's murder. Other than the unnecessary death of his son, the reason why King Aengus is up in arms about it is because faeries, being fallen angels, have no soul, and as a result of being half faerie, Lucan only has half a soul which naturally bars him entry to heaven. The only way Lucan can complete his soul and gain entry is by loving and being loved back by his soulmate and one true love. As punishment Alys is kept captive by the fairy daddy for the next 500 hundred years (ha ha!) playing matchmaker to humans as practice for when Lucan is reborn. Time it seems have taught Alys humility, compassion, and understanding, but not the true meaning of love. Uh oh.

Fast forward to 1816, Regency England, Alys gets a brandspanking new assignment, the very one she's been waiting for, her one chance at redemption and the salvation of her mortal soul, to match 32 year old Lucian Warre, Marquess of Thistlewood with his one true love. Given 500 years of matchmaking experience, it should be easy as pie, except it's not. Lucian's faerie essence (the non-soul half of his soul) expires in 4 months and things aren't looking up for Alys. If she doesn't find him his one true love he will forever be in purgatorio and so will she. If she fails she is doomed to wander the earth as a ghost ad infinitum. Too bad for her, Lucian has a lump of wet coal in place of his heart. Or was it a smelly gym sock? I forget. Anyway, so how can Lucian feel if he's dead inside??

When her murderous suitor (like her, became a captive to the faeries) is sent to earth to protect Lucian in the battlefields against Napoleon, he takes a bullet and dies. This becomes her ticket into Lucian's home and heart. She becomes Alys Faire, sister to the deceased Bevis Faire, and ward to stone cold Lucian Warre. Lucian is naturally indebted to the Faire family so he takes Alys on, intent on giving her a proper season and fitting husband.

When we first meet Lucian he is a cold, cold man. Brrr. Heartless, unfeeling and completely unsympathetic. He is utterly repulsed by Alys' blonde hair and lack of cha chas. No insta-erection for this hero. Heck, he doesn't even enjoy the sexxoring with his mistress and only does it to clean his pipes. As natural as tea in the morning and brandy in the evening. What a charmer. Alys immediately recognizes this about him and goes about her business by teaching him how to feel. How does one teach a dead man feel, you may ask? Well, by pissing him off, of course! And boy did I have fun reading about her antics. She constantly yells at him, disobeying his every domineering command, pushes all of his buttons and before you know it his cold dead heart starts twitching a little bit. When he starts thinking that there's something wrong with her upstairs (he catches her talking to Hedley, a faerie only she can see) he decides to show a little sympathy for the grieving and traumatized girl. They become great friends (oh! how I love their nightly ritual of noshing in the kitchen) and although Lucian doesn't get it from the get go, he starts falling in love with Alys a little bit more every day. Alys on the other hand, has a little bit more self-awareness, she recognizes that she's in love with Lucian but has long deemed herself unworthy of his love. So she goes about matching him with whomever she can when she realizes that true love is supposed to be selfless and requires sacrifice. No canned awwws for this one.

Heather Cullman is one of the few authors who isn't afraid to massacre her hero and heroine's characters and she needn't be because the utter skill in how she redeems them is simply wonderful. No cookie cutter hero or TSTL heroines in this book.

Oh man, this book totally rocks my socks.

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A Perfect Scoundrel by Heather Cullman

The Redemption Of Scum Jane Wentworth is a shy, mousy, and all around pathetic creature who happens to be in love with Lord Quentin Somerville. Unfortunately, Quentin is besotted with perfection itself, perfection being her step-sister Clarissa. Now if you've read "For All Eternity" you know that Quentin is the pus that infects the mucus that cruds up the fungus that feeds on the pond scum. So poor, sad Jane is very unfortunate indeed. Jane and Clarissa have a very good relationship, they truly like each other and I'm utterly grateful for that cos if I read one more book with an evil step-sister I'm going to throw a bitch fit. In Quentin's pursuit of sunshine, he treats Jane with a modicum of respect which of course leads our heroine to think that this is her time to shine. When Clarissa falls ill one fateful day she makes Jane attend this masqued ball in her costume. Jane of course is both mortified and thrilled by the idea of going as her dazzling step-sister. She goes in pursuit of her first foot popping kiss even if the gentleman in question thinks she's somebody else. Wonderful. Unbeknownst to all, Lord Sack of Shit has plotted and schemed with his bestfriend to trap Clarissa into matrimony. See, he whines and whines about how he's just an untitled second son. No matter that he's prettier than all of ton-ville. No matter that he's so rich, he's convinced that every marriage-minded miss is only after his fortune. He's a bitter, envious, son of a - err - gun that he's positive that only Clarissa will do and that the only way she'll marry him is if she has no choice. Do you see where we're going now?? What a catch. At the grand ball Lord Slimebag traps Clarissa-costumed Jane in the garden and makes out with her. Like every unproper lady, Jane doesn't put up a fight and starts declaring i love you! i love you! like a half wit deb. With his audience in place he unmasks her and that's when the shit really hits the fan. Long story short, Quentin's daddy (who controls his purse strings) forces them to marry, but not before he calls her a lying, mercenary bitch. It wasn't the blissful union she expected. On the happiest day of her life, he (overcome with lust and rage) rapes her then sends her away to his decrepit estate somewhere in the wilds of England-ville. To do what? To wither away in misery of course! Quentin's character has been so thoroughly brutalized and mutilated that by the time the author was done with him there was no chance in Hades he could be redeemed. Or can he? dum dum dum dum... During their estrangement, Jane flourishes and grows a spine. She discovers her excellence in estate management and turns the once floundering town into a prosperous disney-like village. She even sacks his jack-ass thief of an estate manager. So when Quentin comes to take her back to London (under Dear Papa's strict orders) he's bitchsmacked to discover that his once meek doormat of a wife is now Queen Supreme in his barely recognizable estate (replete with dancing animals and adoring townfolk). His discovery makes him furious (of course!) How dare she make his estate self-sufficient! How dare she nurse the ill! Jane is none too happy to see the dickwad she married either. However, not long after his return Quentin, with much consternation, realizes what an ingrate scum bag he's been and begins to walk the straight and narrow into the path of redemption. Quentin's repentance was executed pretty well if not too quick. His reformation was truly fun to watch and the courtship of his wife a joy to read. It was infinitely satisfying when he realized that he was utterly useless as a human being and pushed himself to be a real man. Upon realization the he didn't know jack shit, he rid himself of his lordly airs and prejudice against the unwashed masses. He even asked farmers about things he doesn't know jack about and got down and dirty (working around town! - get your mind out of the gutter) with the rest of them. He also realizes what a scum bag he was to Jane and works extremely hard to woo and win her over. Admittedly, he doesn't grovel as long as I would have liked him to. He went from biggest.jack-ass.slime-bag.ever to male mary sue for the masses of all time in almost a split second. I do, however, like the fact that they become friends first and learn to trust each other before jumping right back into the sack. It's just that, I don't know, I suppose I would have enjoyed a little more nut-cracking. Other than the initial nastiness between Quentin and Jane in the beginning of the book there are no big misunderstandings or any other stupid plot devices. The prose flows very easily but it gets a bit dragging in the last couple of chapters. Everyone is so damn nice to each other that I found it overly-saccharine, cloying, and trite. I mean, ok, you love each other, we get it, enough. All that said, this book is on its way to my keeper shelf. It's rough at the start but if you stick with it, it grows on you. Like a fungal infection.

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