While fleeing the advances of her brother-in-law, she runs into his identical twin brother. While trying to repair the family rift, they stumble upon...moreWhile fleeing the advances of her brother-in-law, she runs into his identical twin brother. While trying to repair the family rift, they stumble upon a mystery involving a revival of the Hell Fire Club. The story was sweet, the sex easy to skip, and the mystery rather intriguing. The denouement was rather fast, and the quick change of the villain almost unbelievable, but it was an enjoyable read. On an interesting side note, this was the second book I picked up at the library that week which involved the Hell Fire Club.(less)
A cute Christian romance where a fun-loving Jazzercise teacher falls for the preacher next door, quite an unlikely match. It may be a clean romance, b...moreA cute Christian romance where a fun-loving Jazzercise teacher falls for the preacher next door, quite an unlikely match. It may be a clean romance, but it was most annoying to read all of the euphemisms for sex--either write it in so I can skip it or keep it out! (less)
I spent all weekend reading Carla Kelly novels and this was by far my favorite, as much as I loved reading the others. Sally Paul suddenly finds herse...moreI spent all weekend reading Carla Kelly novels and this was by far my favorite, as much as I loved reading the others. Sally Paul suddenly finds herself without a position as companion or money to pay for her journey back to Bath. She uses her last coins to buy herself a cup of tea. As she sits musing over her tea, trying to make the moment last, retired Admiral Sir Charles Bright is restlessly waiting across the room, a hen-pecked man who contracted a marriage with the spinster sister of his friend just so his sisters would stop bothering him. He's waiting over an hour for her and the homely spinster has yet to put in an appearance. Recognizing her plight, he kindly buys dinner for Sally, eventually deciding he might as well make the best of the situation and ask him to marry her. After some coercion and a fruitless day trying to find work, Sally agrees and finds herself married by morning. They immediately journey to Admiral Bright's newly-purchased home by the sea and amazingly discover how alike they really are. Even after only a few days of being married, already people take them for a long-standing couple quietly in love. They find happiness in each other, but Sally's past quickly returns to haunt her. This is my favorite novel of the weekend simply for how much it made me laugh! Their new home needs to be gutted simply because the old rue who owned the house before them loved his orgies--and all the decorations and books show it blatantly. Their neighbors are utterly delightful people who quickly attach themselves to the reader's heart. This is a beautiful book, with great jokes, and great characters, and a great pain that can eventually be lifted. The worst I can say of this book is that the Prologue was utterly superfluous.(less)
The third and last novel in Greens' Three Disgraces series, I found it the most engaging. The heroine is sweet, the hero willing to learn and change,...moreThe third and last novel in Greens' Three Disgraces series, I found it the most engaging. The heroine is sweet, the hero willing to learn and change, and the relationship between them blossoms most satisfactorily. The attempted murders are a little bizarre and connected by a truly thin thread, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the story.(less)
Another Anne Gracie read in one sitting. Miss Thalia Robinson is the poor relation reduced to looking after her cousin Laetitia's three children. Laet...moreAnother Anne Gracie read in one sitting. Miss Thalia Robinson is the poor relation reduced to looking after her cousin Laetitia's three children. Laetitia, though, is too much of the society woman to worry about her children, so Tallie gets to pretend they are her own and futilely daydream of the knight who will one day sweep her off her feet, loving and cherishing her. The reality is that her cousin throws a house party for the Icicle, Earl of d'Arenville, who decides that among all the simpering society misses present, only Tallie would ever be able to love and care for the children he is so set on producing, having become quite enchanted with his friend's young daughter. The spiteful Laetitia does all she can to make the wedding a failure, but marry they do, with the understanding that they will tour the Continent before he relegates her to the country. Tallie is determined to visit Italy to find her half-brother and equally determined to think the worst of her husband's motives for marrying her--though not without some foundation. She easily falls into love with him, but he is determined not to repeat the disastrous footsteps of his loving, cuckolded father. I went through every imaginable emotion while reading this novel (though I blame the tears on pregnancy hormones like I always do), but I shouldn't be surprised at the emotional depth Anne Gracie can create within her novels. Tallie and Magnus (the Earl) are so sweet, but they continue to mistrust the actions and motives of the other, even as they grow closer together. This is more than a 'cute' romance and I found it one of the most moving I've read to date. Now I have to decide whether it replaces The Perfect Rake as my favorite Gracie novel...(less)
I actually heard about this book on an Historical Fiction thread and decided I'd branch out from my Regencies. Married off young to an abusive husband...moreI actually heard about this book on an Historical Fiction thread and decided I'd branch out from my Regencies. Married off young to an abusive husband, Lady Johanna has become a scared, withdrawn woman, but with her husband dead, Prince John is determined to marry her off to another so her information will stay within his control. Her brother, however, marries her off to a Highland lord, gentle but very commanding and reticent. He's intrigued by her beauty, but annoyed at her cowardice, thinking she will not last a year in the harsh Highlands. As Lady Johanna begins to feel safe in her new home, she soon loses her fear and blossoms into the woman her first husband tried to beat out of her. Peace, however, cannot last and the secret she carries will bring trouble for all. Fantastic! Both characters are strong and independent, creating perfect foils for one another. There are a few love scenes, but they seemed to me to be more matter-of-fact than sensually stimulating--a consideration I certainly prefer. It was fun to read more romances of the country and time, for I haven't read much since Jan Cox Speas, which was probably ten years ago.(less)
It was interesting to read a Regency novel published in the LDS world, but I found it a lot better than the last one I tried to read. It was engaging...moreIt was interesting to read a Regency novel published in the LDS world, but I found it a lot better than the last one I tried to read. It was engaging and fun, but with some heart to it. Occasionally, I became frustrated with the characters, Chrispin for his boorishness and Catherine for her perfection, but I am a huge fan of stories about two individuals getting to know each other in an unwanted marriage and found the book satisfying and cute.(less)
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