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This three hour BBC miniseries is just precious. It’s lighthearted, humorous, and perfect. Pride and Prejudice is revisited and reintroduced. Lost in Austen pays homage to Jane Austen’s original masterpiece while reinventing it. My friend, who is not a Pride and Prejudice fan—blasphemous I know!—loved this film. My other friend, who is a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice, to the point of being a purist, loved it also. Two endorsements right there! Make that three as it has mine also!

It starts with the heroine, a representative for all modern women, reading the classic tale. She has read it so many times, she can say it by heart, practically see herself there at Pemberley running to Darcy—wait hold up!

Amanda Price thinks she’s going crazy what with Elizabeth Bennet showing up in her bathroom and all. It is just one more sign of impending institutionalization. Really, how could a fictional character appear in her bathroom? The lives of those in Georgian England are made up after all… right?

When a wall opens up in Amanda’s bathroom and Elizabeth affirms it is her house on the other side, Amanda can’t resist stepping through. Like Alice, Amanda has gone through the rabbit hole and is trapped in Wonderland. The door swings shut behind her, but Amanda is filled with only a slight trepidation as she descends into the madness that is the Bennet house right at the beginning of the story.

What follows is a fabulous, wonderful, delicious story of a modern girl trying to make the story happen only to mess it up. Every time Amanda attempts to fix things, it gets worse. Some end up married to the wrong person, new background on characters is revealed, and more. Who could imagine blustering Mrs. Bennett as a ball-buster? One of the things that I loved was how Wickham is redeemed in this version. How? Watch and find out!

I’ve been told that the American version is missing a scene where Amanda is singing. I noticed a jerky transition where it should have occurred. There are also a few minor things left out, so I’ve been told. I wish they hadn’t taken it out, I mean once you’re at three hours, what’s another fifteen or so minutes right? Anyway, it was marvelous. Get it from your library or buy a copy – you’ll love it!

PS: Elliot Cowan, who plays Mr. Darcy, in looks is a cross between Colin Firth and Heath Ledger. Yum! His wet white shirt scene… double yum! Take a look:

Rating: 4.5 Stars!

Buy: Lost in Austen

It is just Hoyt’s terrible bad luck that I read the The Raven Prince for the very first time just two days before I got this book from the library. I know it’s in bad form to judge a book based on another book, but as both are by the same author, I figure this could be the exception to the rule. To Beguile a Beast read like a poor man’s version of the Raven Prince. There were so many similarities between the too, it was astonishing.

Some of the similarities include: the fairytale story at the beginning of each chapter, the conditions of the poor heroes, and the positions of the women in the hero’s life. They are all the same or at least very, very similar. Proof (spoilery):

TBAB = To Beguile a Beast
TRP = The Raven Prince

Fairytale:

Truth Teller soldier fairytale in TBAB.
The raven prince fairytale in TRP.

Heroes:

Hero is scarred in TBAB: Missing eye, missing fingers, facial scars.
Hero is scarred in TRP: Pox marks all over face and body.
Both heroes are gruesome looking.

Hero in TBAB writes on flora and fauna of New England.
Hero in TRP writes on agriculture.

Heroines:

Heroine works as housekeeper in TBAB.
Heroine works as a secretary in TRP.

Similar Hero Character backgrounds:

Hero in TBAB lost his fiancé to fever.
Hero in TRP first wife died in child birth.

The only big difference that I saw was:

Heroine in TBAB has two children.
Heroine in TRP has no children.

I was bored with To Beguile a Beast. It may be because I read Raven Prince so soon before reading this book. I believe, however, that I would have disliked it even without reading Raven Prince. The magic in the tale simply wasn’t as enthralling as the Raven Prince. I closed Raven Prince feeling satisfied and happy. I struggled to make it through each chapter of To Beguile a Beast. I was glad to finish TBAB, simply so I could move on to another story. If you read it, do you feel the same way?

Rating: 1.5-2 Stars

Buy: To Beguile A Beast

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I have wanted to read this book for a while. I can’t tell you how happy I am that I finally did read this book! As I closed the book, I was gushing. There were so many aspects of this story that I liked, it’s hard to find any to point out as negatives, but there are two side plot arcs that could have been left well enough alone and the story would have been tighter focused and undiminished.

As both arcs together make the bigger blackmail arc in the story, I’ll just detail them really quickly. One was the woman who slept with Anna’s late husband, and wanted that information hidden. The other was the lover of the woman who wanted his pockets lined. Of the two, the male lover blackmail arc was completely superfluous and unnecessary.

What I liked:

• Anna working as Edward’s secretary.
• Edward’s internal monologues.
• Anna masquerading herself and claiming Edward at a “luxury” brothel.
• Edward’s proposals.
• The sex. Hot stuff, I tell you.

Anna is a respectable widow. Her late husband a complete scoundrel and adulterer. She can’t have kids, or so she thinks (as is the way with most romance novels - the heroes just have mightier seed - it’s a fact!).

Edward’s late wife died in childbirth. He found out after he married her just how much he disgusted her. He won’t make that mistake twice. He’s currently wooing a baron of an old family line for his daughter, and reassuring himself more than once that the daughter wants to be wed to him. This side arc makes sense for the time period, but it was just another unneeded obstacle in the story.

Meanwhile, Anna has gone to work for him. From the moment he meets her officially, he can’t take his mind off of Anna. She’s invaded his senses so much, he runs to London to seek release in a high end brothel so he won’t ruin her respectability. Little does he know… evil grin.

In parting I want to add just how much I loved the wren and raven symbolism and it’s correlation to the fairytale posted at the beginning of every chapter.

Review: 4 Stars

Buy: The Raven Prince

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Some Like it Wicked by Teresa Medeiros is truly an exceptional read. She’s done it again creating characters that I love and a story line that makes me laugh and close the book with a happy sigh. The sex was tantalizing, decadent, and sizzling hot. The end has a bit of a cliff hanger as this is the first story of a sibling set.

Catriona Kincaid first met Simon when she was sixteen years old. He was seducing her prickly older cousin in the barn at the time. Of course she was discovered and her cousin throws a tantrum, but Simon intervenes between the two cousins with an easy charm and a devilish smile. His heroic actions placed stars in young Cariona’s eyes and she gave her heart in that moment.

Simon Wescott, bastard son of an earl, became the heir to that earldom when the legitimate son died. However, he wants nothing from his father, the man was too hard to impress and Simon was through being a disappointment. When Catriona storms his cell in debtor’s prison with an outrageous bargain, he calls her bluff with one of his own and is beaten at his own game.

He finds himself out of prison and chained into a marriage to the beguiling and bewitching Highland princess. Now if only he could break the trust she held in him and prove to her that he was nobody’s hero, Simon might be free of the spell she was throwing over him. After all, love doesn’t last and it’s the riskiest bet in the business to make and Simon is no one’s fool.

Also based on the dates mentioned in the book this novel falls under Georgian Romance.

Rating: 5 Stars

Originally posted 2008-08-28 05:58:48. Republished by Old Post Promoter

How I felt about Scandal by Carolyn Jewel in 140 characters:

@cjewel I just finished Scandal & it was completely wonderful. Thx for the past hours spent happily reading. Luv the “I hate you” love scene

I finished the book just before midnight with a happy glow. My favorite scene was in fact the scene after they got married. She was telling him how much she hated him, despised him, and deplored him with every breath as he brought her to orgasm. What makes it so hot is that we know as the reader the heroine really does love the hero, even if she’s unwilling to face it just yet. It’s toe-curling yumminess.

When it came to Scandal, I savored it. At first because it took me a bit to get into the story, which is entirely my fault and not the fault of Jewel’s writing. I’ve been a bit scatterbrained and have read several books all in a short period of time. It was good to slow down, read slower, linger longer on passages.

The way Jewel weaves the story is different than most historicals in that fact that it feels truer to life in several aspects with its depictions of personal tragedies and interwoven story of two people engaged elsewhere slowly coming together. The story takes place in the present and in the past, where the characters are now and where they were. I was expecting this divergence in the timeline and still it tripped me up once or twice. If I’m correct in my calculations Sophie is about twenty-five and Banallt is thirty-four or thirty-five in the present timeline. Or perhaps that was in the past timeline? In any case they’re a bit older than the usual romance couple.

Sophie Evans is a tragic character. She made the worst choice possible in her youth and eloped with a scoundrel. Tommy had her convinced he loved her for herself when in truth Tommy loved only himself and the money his new wife brought to his pockets. Her marriage caused a rift between her family and herself that wasn’t mended until after her husband’s and her parent’s deaths.

The Earl of Banallt, whose first name I am currently unable to locate in the book, was exactly like Tommy if not worse when he first encountered Mrs. Evans. Her plain features and intelligent blue-green eyes arrested him and featured in his dreams. He too was married and unfaithful to his wife. With the deaths of loved ones Banallt grew up, but not before making an utter mess of things with Sophie.

They meet again, a few years after Tommy’s death and Banallt is quite determined to prove himself to Sophie. He wants her, desires her, loves her but Sophie is equally determined not to let another man hold power over her heart. She is good at denial and self-denial. The book nearly ends with Sophie refusing to give ground and admit her feelings, but happily she does and the result is spectacular if a bit hushed.

Rating: 4-4.5 Stars

Buy: Scandal

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This sweet and ultimately upbeat story has elements of abuse that form the background of the heroine. Catherine Fullbright, the eldest daughter of Edmund Fullbright, is the Cinderella to this tale. Treated abysmally all her life, Catherine has determined she will never marry, never put herself in the power of another man.

Catherine’s sister Elizabeth Fullbright is everything she is not: loved, blonde, petite, graceful. When Elizabeth gets engaged to Quint Childers, Lord Valentine, Catherine knows it’s only a matter of time before her father forces her into a marriage with a horrible man.

Attempts to persuade Valentine that her sister is as selfish and soulless as a girl could be backfire. Edmund thinking his youngest daughter could snag him an even better prospect for a son-in-law concocts a plan that switches the two daughters at the altar.

Quint is angry and a tad relieved if he would admit it to himself. Elizabeth might be the perfect society wife with all her charm and beauty, but it was shy and sweet Catherine he imagined in his bed. Despite that, he’s not sure if can ever forgive Catherine her part in the whole affair. How can he trust her after this?

For Catherine she fears he will continue to think the worst of her, that he lusts after Elizabeth and the worst part of being tricked into marry her… is her. Everything unfolds neatly, predictable in some ways and not in others. It will leave you smiling fondly as you close the book.

In addition, I really enjoyed Catherine’s spunky cousins who are all unique in their very own way. I believe they will be the subjects of future books in the Misadventures in Matrimony series.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Buy: No Man’s Bride

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Q - I had so much fun reading Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark; what was your inspiration for the book? Do you have any photos you worked from for the imposing castle and grounds?

A - Thank you, Keira… I appreciate the kind words! I am a rational person, and so is Lady Anne. When she hears a werewolf has been spotted, she thinks, ‘big dog on the loose’. Once I saw that, and put it together with the Georgian era, when there was a lot of superstition (not that there isn’t that now!) the rest flowed from there. As for photos of the castle… what actually inspired Darkefell Castle is a pen, ink and watercolor picture I bought at a rummage sale; it is of an old castle with a modern (Georgian modern, probably mid-1700s) addition, and it is exactly Darkefell Castle! I’ve searched and searched online, but I can’t find the original that the artist worked from.

Q - What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Thinking up the plot.

Writing it.

Editing final drafts.

Depends upon what stage I’m at working, what I would answer to that question. Right now I would say, final editing is agonizing, because you know that after it’s gone, sent off to your editor, you will likely not have any opportunity to substantially change the course of the book again. You have to be sure of it!

Q - How did Sourcebooks find out about your novel?

I have a great agent with his nose to the ground, looking for intriguing new opportunities. When we were looking about for a publisher for the Lady Anne series, he included Sourcebooks Casablanca among the recipients, as he found their recent acquisitions interesting. We took it from there, sending it to the acquisitions editor, Deb Werksman, and she like it!

Q - How much time do you spend writing each day (or each week, if you prefer)?

It depends on a) what I’m writing and b) what else is on my plate. If I have a book due, it’s full-time days writing. If I have a book being released, then promotion takes over. But most days, overall, I tend to write about five hours a day.

Q - What do you think is the greatest creative risk you’ve taken?

Blending mystery and romance so thoroughly in the Lady Anne series. I adore romances with mystery elements and love mysteries with a strong thread of romance, and I hope readers do, too. I mean, both romance and mystery are parts of life, why can’t they co-exist in a novel genre?

Q - What are some plot devices you like? Can’t stand?

I don’t know so much if they are plot devices, but I despise emotionally manipulative writers, the ones who set you up to have certain expectations, then dash them. I think they believe that it’s more ‘literary’ to put characters (and readers) through pain than to give them a happy ending. Not necessarily.

Also, I hatehatehate (I feel so strongly about this I had to repeat it three times!) writers who aren’t true to their characters. When I close a book, I want to know, even if the end is sad, that it makes sense, that how the characters acted was true to their soul as the writer created them, and not some behavior that feels superimposed by the author because he or she had a certain ending in mind.

As for plot devices I like, all I ask of a writer is that they are true to their characters, and I’ll go with almost anything!

Q - Could you provide a picture of your bookshelf?

I don’t have just one bookshelf! They’re kind of scattered all over the house!

Q - Share some of your favorite books!

Favorite books… ah, the list is endless! A Flaw in the Blood, by Stephanie Barron blew me away… such a great writer. People know her from her fabulous Jane Austen as a detective series, but she’s good at everything she writes. I like classics, of course. Who hasn’t been inspired by Pride & Prejudice? But for day-to-day reading, I love mystery novels! Anne Perry, Victoria Thompson, many others!

Q - What do you do to relax and get away from writing? Is there something that really gets you away from it all?

Mostly, just ordinary stuff. I love to read; I can’t imagine there’s an author alive who wouldn’t say that! Reading is such a great escape, and that’s what I try to write for my readers, a great escape from care and worry. I do have a few hobbies - including karaoke - and hanging out with friends on the weekend. That is about it. I’m a very simple gal. A good book on the patio and a glass of wine or cup of tea is about the perfect end of a day.

Q - I have a spoiler question… Will there be a sequel so that Darkefell can win over Lady Anne? Oh please say yes!

Okay, I’m not one to release spoilers, but I will say this much, in Lady Anne and the Ghost’s Revenge (August 2009) things heat up considerably between Darkefell and Anne, and in Lady Anne and the Gypsy Curse (November 2009) the passion reaches bonfire proportions on the heat scale! Some do like it hot!

Q - How do you define love?

Love: wow, definitions are tough, but my idea of love is caring so much about another person, that you put them first in your thoughts. You know their faults and don’t give a damn. You would make any sacrifice to make them happy.

Q - Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

I had a great time with these characters; they often did quite unexpected things! And I hope readers enjoy them as much as I did writing about their adventures.

Visit me at http://www.donnaleasimpson.com for more information on the Lady Anne series, and if you’d like to learn more about the Georgian era, in which they are set!

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I have a funny story with this book and by story I mean an epic fail. I was returning some books back to the library and somehow Lady Anne sneaked back with them. When I realized what I’d done it was as if I’d been amputated! So painful. Of course I returned the books on a Sunday; the only day in the week the library isn’t open until late in the afternoon or early in the day.

After a pretty good freak out, I waited until I could call. Ended hanging up once because I was on hold for five minutes and called back. Then I had to wait on the phone for twenty plus minutes before somebody from circulation got to me. They either forgot me or they were busy. I told them about the book and the person I talked with probably never got a call like this before because I was given a hard time.

Finally, I managed to convince them that the book was mine and not a library book. I don’t understand how this was so difficult as 1) it is not stamped with the library name nor was it 2) tagged with a detector strip or that pocket thing and 3) clearly says advance review copy on the cover! This is why I write in books to identify and claim them.

In the end they put the book on hold for me and now it was a matter of getting back over there. The library where I dropped the books off while on errands was all the way across town. I really didn’t make this easy on myself. Luckily I got there, but it was close! One more red light and it would have been better luck next time. Needless to say I was very, very pleased to get this book back and finish it… which I did later that night.

What I liked best about Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark was its tribute to Gothic romance, followed swiftly by a capable intelligent heroine. The hero liked that best about her too so how could you not fall in love with him? Lady Anne is very plain and a spinster to boot, which are some of my very favorite things to read in romance.

Simpson writes in a witty and engaging voice. I loved Lady Anne. She was such a treat. Her musings on Lord Darkefell are particularly fabulous:

It was either that or go back to pondering the feel of Lord Darkefell’s too-perfect lips pressed against hers. And his too-perfect body against hers. He was entirely too perfect—if there was such a concept as overabundant perfection—in a physical sense and entirely too maddeningly imperfect in every other way.

Without giving anything else away I will say this: if you like mystery, intrigue, werewolves, and Gothic you will love this book! Oh and chances are you’re going to jump to conclusions about the mystery and be totally wrong - I was!

Rating: 3.5-4 Stars

Buy: Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark

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Joanna Bourne takes the old plot of wartime enemy spies turned lovers and sticks it on its head. This novel is a seriously fantastic tale that you would be fool not to pick up and read. It contains a wonderful plot twist that should be as surprising as it is satisfyingly delicious. The male is a strong, powerful, but very plain lead. The female is cunning, resourceful, and beautiful. The cover depicts a young handsome man, the type of man that Robert Grey would eat twice a week for breakfast. It is pretty and attention grabbing however, which is what the publishers are after.

Annique Villiers is a French spy in the middle of the Napoleonic Wars (adjacent to the Georgian period in England.) She was captured and thrown into the bad guy’s household prison alongside two British spies, Grey and Adrian. Annique uses her cunning and limited resources to get the three of them out of trouble. Unfortunately for Annique, Grey (and Adrain) knows of her and captures her just when she thinks she’s free. Angry and determined to escape, Annique puts up one hell of a fight. She has kindness in her you would not expect of a spy. As a matter of fact, all of the agents except the bad guys, show a remarkable kindness.

The safety of two nation’s people rest in Annique’s hands. She must decide what to do and whether her choice will keep her loyal to her homeland or turn her traitor, she does not yet know. Annique will have to war between her head and her heart all the while danger, intrigue, and madness follow behind her nipping at her heels.

Rating: 4.5 Stars to midpoint, 4 Stars overall.

Hello and good morning readers! This post is going to be a short break from our usually scheduled programming to update everybody on the blog. There are a few new features up in the header, LRP’s forum and contests are now their own section.

The forum is ready to go. We’re still in the process of editing it to fit the rest of LRP’s color scheme, but it is now available for readers to use! There are several sections including one for site notices, in which information like this post will be kept instead of stated on the blog. Use LRP’s forum to start group readings, trades and exchanges, discussion on blog posts, books, authors, yourselves. Find others like you who love romance novels!

The contest section will keep a list of all the contest winners. Speaking of contests, we have a new one! I got in contact with Teresa Medeiros a short time ago for an interview. Sadly, she is very busy and could not complete one with LRP at this time. However, she did send me a signed autographed copy of her novel Some Like It Wicked!

The inside cover reads, “Dare to Dream! – Teresa Medeiros”

If you would like to be the lucky receiver of this romance novel enter the Teresa Medeiros Blog Giveaway Contest. Details below!

Teresa Medeiros Blog Giveaway Contest - Rules of Submission:

• Read and review a romance novel written by Teresa Medeiros between now and Sunday, September 14th, 2008. Submit to reviewromancenovel[at]yahoo[com].
• Review must be at least 250 words long and be entirely unique content. Unique content is defined as content not seen on another website.
• Accepted reviews will be posted as they are received onto the blog.
• Reviews on previously posted novels by Teresa Medeiros do not count. Make sure to keep an eye out on the posts coming out between now and Friday the 22nd of September as this rule includes them.
• Clarification of rule above: Should more than one review of the same novel be received before time of posting, both will be posted and count as eligible submissions.
• Previous winners are eligible for this contest as winners are chosen at random.

Odds of winning are dependent on the number of eligible submissions received.

Winner will be declared Monday, September 15th, 2008, and must leave a comment on the post before midnight east coast time, nine at night west coast time.

Good luck and many happy readings!

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