The Rogue Steals a Bride by Amelia Grey

September 23, 2013 By 1 Comment

ROGUE
The Rogue Steals a Bride by Amelia Grey
Publisher: Sourcebook Casablanca
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (338 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Plumeria

A Promise Can Be a Terrible Thing

All heiress Sophia Hart’s father wanted was for her to marry a gentleman with a title. She promised him on his deathbed she would do just that. But the only man Sophia wants to spend time with is Matson Brentwood, who makes up for the lack of a title by being dashing and decidedly dangerous. Since Matson crashed his way into her life and her heart, that vow to her father has become an awful burden.

Can a promise to a dying man and life long hatred for another keep true love apart?

Ms. Sophie Hart is a wonderfully vibrant character that leaps off the page. Her determination was at time frustrating, but her loyal and love for her family was deeply admiring. I adored the way she handled her twin aunts, Mae and June, whom were lovely secondary characters. They brought a lot to the story including humor and aggrivation.

Mr. Matson Brentwood is the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. I instantly was drawn to him and was empathic to his family drama. When he and his twin, Iverson, return to England after making their fortune, they are faced with scandal. After a chance meeting with the beautiful Sophie, Matson is smitten. Knowing she must marry for a title, and he not wanting to marry at all, we see their struggle to fight their attraction that sizzles the page. A few stolen moments shows them that sometimes there are more important things than pride and honor and that love and conquer all.

This is the sixth and final installment in the Rogue’s Dynasty series by Amelia Grey. I really loved this historical. The couple were well suited, and were surrounded by a cast of characters that helped paint this tale of love and family. I wish we could have seen more of Iverson, but we were able to see the end of his story as well. I had not read the previous books in this series, but I didn’t feel as though I was missing anything as I read. However, I will be going back to the beginning to start the adventure that so many fans have loved.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

A Lady’s Secret Weapon by Tracey Devlyn

September 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

WEAPON
A Lady’s Secret Weapon by Tracey Devlyn
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (353 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Sydney Hunt and her extensive system of spies have worked hard to improve the lives of London’s less fortunate. Hearing of strange occurrences at a nearby orphanage, Sydney is forced to join ranks with a notorious rake known for charming his way into the beds of wives and mistresses across Europe. Ethan deBeau, Lord Danforth, is headed to London to locate a missing child, and soon he and Sydney are entrenched in London’s dark underworld. She harbors more secrets than the Foreign Office and he’ll uncover each one, kiss by kiss

Spies, suspense, child abuse, and secrets on top of secrets keep the reader on alert for something catastrophic to happen that will send both Sydney Hunt’s and Ethan de Beau’s worlds tumbling down.

Set in a time when Napoleon would love to gain control of England, A Lady’s Secret Weapon has spies in the most unsuspecting places for both sides of the struggle. They use all the leverage they can get and tell themselves that the end justifies the means.

Ethan de Beau, one of Nexus’ best spies, is a specialist in seducing women to get information. His weapons are charm, gorgeous looks, an aura of raw power, sensuality, and a devil-may-care attitude. He is an expert in his field but he also secretly rescues prisoners which nobody seems to be aware of. Ethan is a complex character with layers and layers of personal and professional beliefs and hopes that fuel his actions. How Tracey Devlyn creates a hero out of this boudoir spy makes riveting reading.

Sydney Hunt has just as many, if not more, layers of beliefs and driving needs that cause her to venture into situations that most women would avoid at all cost. Her strength of resolve, her many faces, her need to help the disenfranchised take the reader on a multi-faceted journey. She and her three never-failing cohorts take the reader on scary night deeds, uneasy spy missions, and to social events of note. Trying to figure out all the secrets keeps one’s mind fully engaged. Ms. Devlyn’s ability to keep the reader in the action is remarkable.

The antagonists seem to be in every nook and cranny from orphanages to top government and military positions. Whether they act voluntarily or under duress, they do create havoc on many lives.

Tracey Devlyn weaves in a captivating love story as she reveals unconscionable ways children were used and abused at that time in history and how the bitter enmity between France and England made life miserable for so many who could not help themselves but were at the mercy of the powers that be.

Since I read Checkmate, My Lord, I was delighted to get to caught up on some of the characters I met in that novel, especially the widow Mrs. Ashcroft and her irrepressible little seven-year-old daughter Sophie—she’s a darling.

Tracey Devlyn creates an incredible story with a heroine that dislikes nobility, is secretive, independent, shrewd and successful in her dealings along with a hero that is of noble birth, secretive, driven, and a user of women. How she brings these two together to create a happy-ever-after is mind boggling. There is mystery, danger, deception, sensuality, and more that make A Lady’s Secret Weapon great entertainment.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Lady Jenny’s Christmas Portrait by Grace Burrowes

September 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

LADY
Lady Jenny’s Christmas Portrait by Grace Burrowes
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (372 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

What Lady Jenny wants for Christmas…

For Christmas, soft-spoken Lady Jenny Windham craves the freedom to pursue her artistic ambitions, though it will mean scandalizing her ducal parents and abandoning all hope of a family of her own. She confides her plans to successful artist Elijah Harrison when he’s commissioned to paint a portrait of her small nephews, because assisting Elijah will bring Jenny that much closer to her heart’s desire—won’t it?

…Will break both their hearts

Elijah Harrison finds in his unlikely assistant not only an inspiring muse and unappreciated talent, but also a lovely and passionate woman. If Elijah supports Jenny’s career, his own professional interests will suffer, but more significantly, he will lose Jenny forever. Both Jenny and Elijah must choose between true love and a lifelong dream.

Reading Lady Jenny’s Christmas Portrait was like eating one of my favorite cookies. It was good to the very last crumb. The melty, dark chocolate chips of love gave that little ‘high’ and the taste lingered long after the story was read. The events that added interest and gave the story strength are like the crunchy bits of pecan. The oatmeal hints of both rough and easy daily living. It gave the story a texture full of how life was during that time of history in England. The other ingredients, so familiar and blended together to perfection, are the compelling Windham family members. Extra special is the unique flavor of a new character—Elijah, a gorgeous, sensitive, remarkable man who enhances it all. Yummy good!

Jenny is the only unwed sibling in the close-knit Windham family. She doesn’t want to marry. She wants to give full rein to her “artistic inclinations”. Her talents are great, but no one in her family really takes her “little pictures” and dabbling seriously.

When Elijah Harrison, the portrait painter, comes to paint his first juvenile portrait in the home of Jenny’s sister, he and Jenny start an emotional journey together that seems unlikely to last for long. He is world-weary and wants to go home, while Jenny wants to escape from her loving, controlling family and study art in Paris. How they rub along together and how Elijah recognizes Jenny’s underlying need to pursue her art is a delicious story to savor. Her deep-down hurt, her biddable nature, and sensitive, artistic nature make her complex, with many layers to her personality.

Lady Jenny’s Christmas Portrait stands alone as a wonderful, complete book all by itself; but, if you’ve had the good fortune to have read earlier books of the Windham series, it will enrich Jenny’s story. I felt as if I had been invited to the Christmas open house at the country home of the Duke and Duchess of Moreland. Like a boisterous family reunion, all the exciting, multifaceted Windham siblings along with their families celebrate the holiday together. While Jenny loves them all dearly and they her, she feels lonely and even more determined to take herself away from them. She grieves for her two dead brothers Victor and Bartholomew in a brokenhearted way that is heart wrenching. Her guilt about their deaths reveals so much about her character..

Elijah’s self-imposed estrangement from his family because of a hot-headed, youthful declaration to his father has reached its limit. A seemingly impossible situation about his art and his responsibility of being the next Marquess of Flint has him struggling to find a way to bridge the gap between them. His family is a side story that intrigues. How Jenny fits into his struggle and how he comes to the realization of what is absolutely the most important thing in his life is absorbing reading.

Lady Jenny’s Christmas Portrait is a celebration of family love and family struggles to stay together while allowing each member of the family to grow in his or her own uniqueness. Ms. Burrowes fits them all together like the pieces of a picture puzzle—each piece is important to make the picture complete AND she does it beautifully.

Grace Burrowes slips in metaphors in just the right places to enrich one’s reading experience. Her subtle humor and her understanding of family dynamics make the story pulsate with life. Best of all, her remarkable ability to create sizzling love scenes that tantalize the senses and set the body and heart racing, while slipping in that caring, nurturing love, makes one believe in a “happy-ever-after” love that endures.

Lady Jenny’s Christmas Portrait is a delicious treat that, while satisfying, leaves one hoping there are more just as good to come.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone

September 12, 2013 By 2 Comments

HER
The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (321 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed Camellia

His best gift this holiday is her.

In the small town of Crystal Lake, Christmas is a time for sledding, hot chocolate, and cozying up to the fire. For Jake Edwards, it shouldn’t be a time to give in to the feelings he’s always had for Raine–especially since she’s his brother’s widow.

No one annoys Raine quite like her brother-in-law does. But when Jake brings home a tall blond thing from the city who’s bad news, Raine needs to stop him from making the biggest mistake of his life. Does Raine want this woman to leave Crystal Lake because she’s all wrong for Jake? Or is it because she wants him for herself…?

Want, need, desire, pain, guilt, and soul-wounding grief make The Christmas He Loved Her an emotional, heart-engaging experience.

Raine, a widow swamped with depression, feels abandoned even with the loving care of her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marnie and Steven Edwards. At first I was impatient with her for not facing reality and getting on with her life; but, as the story unfolds, I feel heartbroken for all she’s lost—so much more than just her husband. Her strength to hold on and hope for a better time had me cheering for her. I wanted to explain a few home truths to Jake, her deceased husband’s twin and her life-long buddy that she’d always been so close to. Adding to Raine’s misery is her mother with her ‘too-much-too-late’ efforts to do the mother thing. As Raine’s back story unfolds and she struggles mightily to find her balance and live again, the story enthralls.

As an Army Ranger in Afghanistan, Jake Edwards saw horrors that haunt his nights and bedevil his days. He saw how his twin Jesse died, how Blake St. Claire, a friend and fellow Ranger was mortally wounded along with so many others. Jake is plagued with survivor’s guilt. His PSTD drives him to his limit. Also, another time, a time with Raine when they were both devastated with grief at Jesse’s death keeps his emotions in an uproar. “Doing the right thing”, at least to his way of thinking, has cost him immeasurably for a year and a half as he absented himself from family and old friends. He returns home still broken, angry, and overwhelmed with life in general. He knows settings things right with Raine is a MUST—but finding the courage and emotional strength to do it has him on edge. He has no idea just how much damage he has done.

Lily, Blake St. Claire’s sister, is a unique character that the author brings to life vividly. Even though Lily is super rich, looks it, and like to stirs things up, she is steadfast in her care for her dying brother while the rest of her elite family are too busy to be bothered. She and Jake form an unusual relationship. She becomes a catalyst for a lot of the pivotal action.

To me, Marie Stevens, Jake’s mother is the most enduring, steady, ‘keep-on-keeping-on’ character in the unfolding of the plot. She has a strength that helps her as her husband recovers from cancer, as she deals with the death of one son and the absence of another, and all the times tries to help Raine cope with her grief.

On a just-plain-fun note, Gibson, Raine’s puppy, is a sweetheart, Juliana Stone reveals him in such a way one can almost feel his warm, squirmy little body and hear his happy little barks in his exuberance for life.

The Christmas He Loved Her is a “A Bad Boys of Crystal Lake” novel. If you’ve read previous books of this series, you’ll probably remember MacKenzie, the rich boy with an abusive past, and Cain Black, the singer who married Maggie. These two are forever friends to Jake and to Raine and set things up for some significant events.

If an action or a place can be considered a character then hard, backbreaking labor and Wyndham Place certainly qualify. They have a strong influence on Both Jake and Raine as they strive for ‘normal’, albeit a new normal. Both of these things help then two broken-hearted characters find their way back to a solid footing so they can live again.

Juliana Stone writes love scenes that sizzle, heat the blood, and send the heart racing while revealing the truest, most heart-felt love one can imagine as she gives the reader a special vicarious experience with Jake and Raine in The Christmas He Loved Her.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Seal Wolf Christmas by Terry Spear

September 11, 2013 By 2 Comments

WOLF
A Seal Wolf Christmas by Terry Spear
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Holiday, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (282 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Can an Alpha Wolf Who’s Met His Match…

Navy SEAL Bjornolf Jorgenson has had tough missions before, but going undercover with feisty gray wolf Anna Johnson could top the list. She drives him crazy—in more ways than one. Now he has to investigate a murder, supervise a wild teenage wolf—and handle Christmas with Anna.

Survive the Holidays with Her?

For Anna, the only thing worse than staging the perfect family Christmas is having to do it with Bjornolf posing as her husband. Anna is a serious undercover operative who isn’t afraid of a fight, even with a hunky SEAL shifter. With a killer on the loose, Anna just wants to focus on their mission, but the one thing she can’t fight is her sizzling chemistry with Bjornolf.

Adventures with hunky alpha werewolves continue with this latest fast paced, exciting and completely entertaining romp by the talented Terry Spear. She’s one of my favorite authors and she continues the tradition of well written tales with A Seal Wolf Christmas. The novel has the quality of dialogue, descriptions and storytelling that I’ve come to expect. I had so much fun!

This time, I finally get to officially meet Bjornolf! I remember him from A SEAL in Wolf’s Clothing and I was incredibly intrigued by him. Do you want to talk about a secondary character that was so shrouded in mystery, had cojones and macho attitude to make Chuck Norris proud and snagged me hook, line and sinker into wanting to know more about him? Bjornolf is that man and this novel does him justice. I still chuckle at his method of restraining Anna in that previous book. He tied her up with her own pantyhose! I never forgot his character and neither had Anna. In fact, I consider myself very fortunate that Ms. Spear also remembered him because this book is the result.

Because of that prior history between Anna and Bjornolf in the previous novel, I was very curious as to how they’d interact when they got together again. One good thing for new readers is that they don’t have to read the previous book, A SEAL in Wolf’s Clothing, to completely enjoy this story. Ms. Spear touches base about the pantyhose event so it catches them up to speed right away. It sets the stage for readers to understand that there is a connection simmering from the past because right off the bat, the attraction is starting to heat up at a fast clip. The hunt begins.

My favorite aspect of Anna is that she isn’t a pushover. She’s military just like the hero and can shoot, punch, evade and plan just like the rest of the guys on the rescue team. Much to my amusement, there are times when a man’s upper body strength becomes a hindrance and Anna experiences a double whammy. Then, there are the times when it’s downright delicious and it’s because that strength belongs to Bjornolf.

I tip my hat to Ms. Spear for doing something that made me appreciate her all the more. The author showed her sensitivity to readers by helping out with explaining how to pronounce Bjornolf’s name. It was done in a delightful and sweet manner even when the situation was far from sweet or safe. Foreign names look exotic and can add an air of mystery or intrigue to a book but I always find it frustrating because my mind plays games with the pronunciation when what I should be doing is concentrating on the plot. By doing what she did insured that I had a better, smoother reading experience.

Speaking of plot, what a roller coaster! The conflict reaches into the past and warps the present. As the mystery is unraveled, readers learn just how evil the culprits are. In an odd twist, Ms. Spear shows that even the most warped individual can have their good side and their moments of tender humanity. Unfortunately, the ugly truth shreds those memories into tatters because it’s that profound and demented. I felt bad for one of the secondary characters but on the bright side, that innocent person ended up with an awesome and terrific, although still maturing, support system.

As for the holiday end of things, I liked how the author tied in the festive season with Anna and Bjornolf’s personal internal conflicts. For many, Christmas signifies new birth and beginnings, giving from the heart and self, forgiveness and hope, love and for some, healing. All of these special holiday qualities are played out between the hero and heroine as they learn about each other, face their fears and realize that the future is not only brighter but totally doable because they’ll be doing it together. The word ‘together’ takes on a whole new meaning towards the end and I thought it made the happy ever after that much more powerful and complete.

I liked the attention to detail for the Christmas decorations. Anna was actually ready to embrace the holiday; all it took for her to make that life-changing step was the hero. Bjornolf provided the means, the motivation, and a young teenager about to become a man as the catalysts to the holiday being more than just songs on a radio or shopping for deals with crazy people. I enjoyed watching her rediscover what it’s all about.

When it comes to showing the love, Ms. Spear has Anna and Bjornolf experiencing it in their human forms and in their wolf forms. I love her descriptions of them running, and sensing the world around them; and an occasional ‘woof’ always makes me smile. I like the sense of building anticipation and the joy of they’re finally coming together. Those scenes are always well written, filled with the best forms of romance.

A Seal Wolf Christmas is a complete, adventure-filled romance overflowing with the best of what keeps me addicted to books by Ms. Spear. It has characters that I love getting to know, action to keep me riveted, fun and silly moments to make me smile and fast paced and often witty dialogue to keep those pages turning. This is another strong addition to a sexy and fun series that keeps the craving alive and well for all of Ms. Spear’s wonderful werewolf series’ heroes and heroines.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

To Wed a Wicked Highlander by Victoria Roberts

August 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

WED
To Wed a Wicked Highlander by Victoria Roberts
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (291 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

She Always Wanted to be One of the Boys…

Sybella would do anything to prove she’s just as valuable to the MacKenzie clan as her brother is. She’d go on any hunt, take any dare. But her father has a different sort of mission in mind: marriage. It’s simple, he explains. All she has to do is marry Alexander MacDonell and report back on his family’s secrets. It will be easy, he says, as long as she doesn’t do anything foolish…like fall in love.

Until She Got a Man…

As laird of the McDonell’s, Alex has a duty to produce an heir. It’s a duty he won’t mind with the lovely Ella as his wife—even if she is one of the dreaded MacKenzies. He’s wooed and won many ladies, but Ella is a challenge like no other. He can tell she’s holding something back. But not for long. Because inch by inch, he plans to expose everything she’s been hiding and claim the ultimate prize: her heart.

I’m happy to say that this book surprised me in a most pleasant way. For long time historical and romance fans, they’re going to think they’ve found a typical story formula with its tried and true plot conflicts, which after a while, border on annoyance. Do not fall for it. Do not be lulled into thinking the heroine is TSTL as I did. Ms. Roberts put some starch into the spine of the heroine that I wasn’t even sure was there, but showed itself with startling force. The author also surrounded the hero with some wonderful supporting characters that figuratively whacked him aside the head when he needed it. To Wed a Wicked Highlander concluded with an amazing and surprising smack-down of the stereotype by showing that love inspires strength which in turn is capable of amazing feats of clarity, justice and breathtaking acts of heroism.

Sybella wants what many lone daughters in a house filled with men wants; unconditional love and acceptance from her father and wants him to be proud of her. The heroine’s struggle from blind adoration to mature awareness of what her father was really about was not an easy journey. It was a delicate see-saw balance of ‘will she or won’t she’ through the entire book. I can assure readers that they are going to like the woman and wife that Sybella eventually becomes. The author has a reader walk the path of uncertainty with the heroine in order to get the emotional effect as she discovers what really matters in life.

Alex is the laird who took Sybella to wife. He didn’t expect much and ended up with a mate that drove him to distraction on many levels. She was the daughter of his enemy and must woo her to his side but how can he do that with the secrets she hides? He knew she was holding back something but never fathomed what. The hero was tasked with learning to trust his wife and by falling in love with her, made it much easier and at the same time harder to do so. The pain he goes through is mitigated by the clarity he receives by his friends, the secondary characters that the author wisely gave him. They let him make his decisions because he is laird, and by doing so, Alex experiences the joys of good decisions and the pain of bad decisions. Only when he was faced with the results of his actions did his friends hold up a figurative mirror and made him look. The results of the hero’s reactions to those revelations are what made me like him. He’s not perfect by any means but he has a good heart and it’s balanced by his strength of character.

The villain was typical. His demise was not. That really impressed me, and I tip my hat to Ms. Roberts for a quick and surprising solution.

The dialogue was well paced and I liked the practice of using the Gaelic phrasing but right after translated it for the reader so I didn’t have to guess what in the world was being said. It provided the otherness of a different culture but didn’t jar me out of the story. There was humor and lighthearted moments to convince a reader that the love between Alex and Sybella was growing and it gave credence to their positive future as husband and wife.

For the first half of this book, I know I mentioned it to a couple of people how dissatisfied I was by the heroine’s choices because it seemed like it was following an overused plot conflict. The author completely enchanted me with her solution – she gave the heroine a brain. And her brain talked to her heart and they both were onboard with what truly mattered. Sybella was a woman of her time, so she had to work within its confines. She did awesome.

To Wed a Wicked Highlander is a well-rounded romance with a happy ever after that completely satisfies. I may not have been fond of the first half of the book because of my assumptions, but the last half was exactly what I needed to read in a romance book. I enjoyed myself and can say with assurance that I’m glad I read it.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

How to Date a Dragon by Ashlyn Chase

August 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DRAGON
How to Date a Dragon by Ashlyn Chase
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (324 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Let the Sparks Fly Bliss Russo thought nothing exciting ever happened in her life. Until her building caught on fire and she had to be carried out of the flames in the arms of a gorgeous fireman. Sure, her apartment is now in shambles and she’ll have to start her huge work project completely from scratch. But at least her love life is finally looking up…if only she can find her red-hot rescuer again. Dragon shapeshifter Drake Cameron is the last of his clan, and the loneliness is starting to claw at him. He’s met only one woman who might be able to stand the shock of his true nature. After all, she barely batted an eyelash when her home burned down. And feeling her curves against him was just as hot as the inferno. Just when he thinks he’ll never track her down, she walks into his firehouse—with no idea what she’s about to get herself into…

She stokes his fire and he loves it!

Ashlyn Chase is a guaranteed good read for me. Why? The writing flows, the characters are interesting and I know I’ll be in for a good time while I’m reading. This book was no different. Once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. I had to know what would happen next.

Dragon shifters aren’t new. The dragon being a fire fighter? Now you’re on to something. Drake is a hot guy. Literally. Being a dragon shifter has to be a lonely existence. I mean, he can set things on fire and that’s not always a good thing. I could relate to his loneliness and his need to find that one person to make him whole. I liked reading about him going through the journey. The thread of acceptance running through this book is particularly strong and I thought about it and the characters long after I finished the book.

There were a couple things I had a hard time with. There are a lot of characters. Sometimes it was hard to keep things straight and I had to reread more than a few times. Another thing that sort of bugged me was the different genres at play in the book. I love Ms Chase’s sense of snarky humor. That worked well, but there were moments were this book felt like a couple different pieces placed together. Sometimes the juxtaposition of fantasy and contemporary worked. Other times, I lost interest.

Still, this was a good book and totally full of heat. I recommend Ms Chase’s work. Check it out!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Outlaw Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick

August 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

TOK
The Outlaw Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (560 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

A Deadly Rival.

An Ancient Family Dispute.

An Impossible Love.

He should have known better than to fight with the future King John. Ruthless and feared, John is not one to forget or forgive. But Fulke FitzWarin couldn’t help himself, and now the vindictive John has insured that Fulke will never become lord of the castle he loves.

Instead of accepting his fate, Fulke rebels. He begins an affair with Maude Walter, the wealthy widow desired by John himself. Negotiating a maze of deceit, treachery, and shifting alliances, Fulke’s route to success is blocked at every turn. And when the turmoil of the Magna Carta rebellion combines with a shocking tragedy, everything Fulke has fought for is thrown into the path of destruction.

THE OUTLAW KNIGHT is a magnificent, vibrant story set in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries—a time that boiled with trouble to the point King John, under duress, signed the Magna Carta.

While this is a tale of fiction, it brings out the king’s excesses, childishness, shameful ways, and his misuse of power that finally bring a longstanding problem to a head.

The characters Elizabeth Chadwick creates to go along with the historical characters make this a book that brings that time in history to life. Adrenaline-pumping action, enduring love, daily living activities, and how honorably or dishonorably characters deal with each other create emotional highs and lows that sweep the reader along into the thick of things.

Fulkes FitzWarin, an outlaw knight, tries to forge a life, stay an honorable man, hold on to his properties, and make a life for his family. But a set-to with Prince John in their youth dogs his tracks relentlessly. John’s vindictiveness seeps into every aspect of Fulke’s life. But, early on in his life, his mother instilled confidence in him and taught him not to fear challenges. His father instilled in him the need to reclaim Whittington keep and lands that were rightfully their near the Welsh borders.

Fulke’s tutor in arms, Theobald Walter, Theobald’s brother Hubert the priest at court, and Theobald’s squire Jean de Rampaigne are strong threads in this tapestry of yhis tale. They impact Fulkes’ life on many levels. The undercurrents in their relationships intrigue.

Elizabeth Chadwick weaves the women into THE OUTLAW KNIGHT in unique ways. True to the times, many of them were married as soon as they reached childbearing age. Maude, the daughter of Robert le Vavasour is offered to Theobald, a man old enough to be her father, but their properties join and it seems advantageous for both families. How Fulke figures into this marriage is a subtle thread that is scarcely visible, but is ever present. After Theobald’s death, Maude and Fulke are wed. Theirs is a fiery relationship at times and the suggested love scenes that one can imagine or sizzling. But the love they have endures; it is patient, and withstands adversity with unfailing strength.

Oonagh FitzGerald of Ireland, even though compelled to marry men of others’ choosing, knows how to use men to get what she wants out of life. Her connection with Fulke is a growing up experience for him. It is surprising who she ends up with.

Clarice, a ward of Hubert the priest, comes to live in Fulke and Maude’s household when she is eight years old and stays unwed long past her ‘prime’ even though she is wealthy and desired by many. She is one of the most unique characters in the story.

Elizabeth Chadwick has a magical writing style that lures the reader in and sweeps her along on a vicarious adventure in a time of history that brought out the best and the worst of human nature. Her memorable characters—protagonist, antagonist, and all the characters in between are so well developed, the reader feels as if they are acquaintances that stir emotions that range from hate to love and admiration. Excellent reading!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

The Shivering Sands by Victoria Holt

August 23, 2013 By 1 Comment

SANDS
The Shivering Sands by Victoria Holt
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (331 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

In 19th Century England Caroline Verlaine, a young widow, travels to the Coast of Kent in search of her sister who disappeared while investigating some nearby ruins. She finds work at an old estate overlooking the shivering sands, powerful quicksands that have been known to swallow entire ships. Her employers are a strange, distrustful family, haunted by the past. Caroline nonetheless finds herself drawn to them and to the son, Napier Stacy, in particular. The further Caroline becomes involved with the family, the more she learns about their secrets and, even more shockingly, about what happened to her sister.

Victoria Holt’s The Shivering Sands is an absolute classic of the genre. The story is set in an isolated spot of England’s coast in the late nineteenth century. The host family is slightly aristocratic, but has seen tragedy. The son of the household is a dark character that insists he did not commit a terrible crime, but we are forced to wonder. The main character is a lovely, yet somewhat tragic figure herself. All of the key ‘classic’ points are there.

The main character, Caroline, is very much a character of her times. She’s clever, but careful, she’s investigating (and very motivated) but not a demanding or confrontational person. I found her believable. She’s suffered her own tragedies, but nothing like the Stacy family. She’s an enormously easy character to sympathize with, although the modern reader might wish for her to be a more take-charge woman.

Much of the story is revealed in conversation, and this is certainly an older ‘style.’ Modern readers might find the action a bit slow, and the discussions slightly unrealistic (phrasing meant to reflect the time). However, the writing is beautiful, and I find that the style helps create and maintain a haunting aura. Suspense builds as the story continues; both in the romantic sense, and in the sense of impending danger. We slowly grow more and more sure that there is a malevolent force out there…

The intrigue is complex and very well done. One part, our initial motivation, is Caroline’s missing sister, Roma. Caroline wends her way into the Napier home in an effort to find Roma. There are family secrets, scandals, and a piece of coastline famed for shipwrecks. You have a sense that anything could happen and be covered up – and soon, we readers are worried for Caroline. Usually, romance readers worry that the romance will work out as hoped – in this case, we are hoping for survival really.

Holt was a true master though: There are points in the plot we are hoping for, while others, we cannot guess.

This is not a light romance with a hint of suspense, but truly an evocative (even eerie) page-turner with a strong sense of imminent danger.

If you haven’t read Victoria Holt before, this is truly a change of pace. If you are familiar with the author – then this might seem a touch ‘in the formula,’ yet it is still intriguing. The Shivering Sands is a great read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

It Takes Two to Tangle by Theresa Romain

August 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

TANGLE
It Takes Two to Tangle by Theresa Romain
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (338 pgs)
Heat Level: sensual
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

He barely survived the war, but he’s ready to throw himself back into the ballroom’s line of fire
Though he lost the use of an arm in the Napoleonic Wars, Henry Middlebrook returns to London society and begins an ambitious courtship with the ton’s reigning beauty. When he experiences limited success, he decides to ask for assistance from the beauty’s companion, Frances Whittier. A soldier’s widow with a murky past, Frances admires Henry’s courage and sends him a secret letter. But he thinks the letter is from her mistress, and Frances must correct his mistake if she wants to engage his heart.

Frances, a widow, is acting as a companion to her cousin. Her cousin, Caroline, is also widowed but she has money. Add the money and her good looks together, and she has suitors from everywhere. Even Henry, home from the war, is trying to win her favor…

Ms. Romain creates a “tangle” when she has Frances write a letter to Henry telling him that she likes him and would enjoy seeing him again. Frances doesn’t sign her name, and Henry thinks the note is from Caroline. Thus begins a game of cat and mouse. Henry is the cat ready to jump forward and claim the prize; Frances is the mouse writing the letters and trying to stay ahead of Henry.

The romance grows slowly and the dance the two characters do around their true feelings is a bit fretful. I just wanted to give them both a good shake and say follow your heart, you fools! It takes a lot of words and angry scenes before Frances admits what she has done. Henry has his own ghosts. He also has a lot of pride, as does Frances. When Henry ends up in a duel, Frances is afraid she has lost him. He only has his left arm left to shoot with; how can he win? And, even if he does, she’s afraid he won’t be back to see her.

The story was good. I think it could have been tightened up and made a shorter story and it wouldn’t have to wander so far before it got to the heart of the matter. I really liked the duel; the author totally solved that in a way that I would never have thought of. She did an excellent job with that. She also is well acquainted with that time period and the way of the ton and accurately portrayed the time period.

Why not settle in your favorite chair and begin to follow Henry’s journey to woo the right woman so the loss of use of his arm won’t fetter him or make it hard to be accepted by the ton again. Frances is the best thing that’s ever happened to Harry, but he has to learn it the hard way…

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »