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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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Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer is one scrumptious romp of trouble after the next. It all begins when Miss Charity Steane was found wandering the hillside, luggage in one hand and very sore feet. She is picked up by Viscount Ashley Desford and whisked away in his curricle as blasé as anything you please. He knows he can’t convince her to return to her miserably wretched aunt and so must take it upon himself to see that she is taken care of.

Cherry (Charity) is of course pleased beyond measure that he is not putting her through a lecture and more than willing enough to carry her the rest of the way to London. She has high hopes of running down her grandfather and begging him to take her up. Even if she has to resort to another menial position like the one she held at her aunt’s inside his home.

But the pickle of it becomes when Cherry and Desford find out that her grandfather is not in town. The neighbors do not know his direction, and the sole man inside the home refuses to speak about his master. Desford immediately sets about getting Cherry off his hands and into some more respectable ones. He doesn’t want to damage her reputation and as a single bachelor he can’t feasible continue to keep her in his care. So he settles her at Lady and Miss Silverdale’s home.

Miss Henrietta Silverdale and Desford were once a long time ago thought by their fathers to be an excellent match. They of course both knew better. Now Henrietta is entertaining new suitors and Desford seems to have his eye on Cherry. He is certainly gong well above and beyond the call of duty to locate her grandfather and find her a respectable situation.

What will happen when Desford confronts her grandfather with the charge of his granddaughter? Will Cherry remain in the good graces of Lady Silverdale? Will Henrietta’s brother, Charles, whisk Cherry off to call his own? What will Henrietta’s suitor think of the whole affair? Full of messes as well as larks, Charity Girl will have you alternately tutting like an old hen and giggling like a schoolgirl over all the crazy shenanigans.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Buy: Charity Girl

Originally posted 2008-12-05 09:04:24. Republished by Old Post Promoter

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn was a fairly decent story. There were times in the story when I wondered if the main characters would ever fall in love before the pages ran out. The sex scenes were scrumptious and more than counter balanced the long wait to get to them. Also the scenes where Eloise’s brothers participate are quite hilarious from when they darken Phillip’s doorstep to when Eloise joins them in a shooting contest.

Sir Phillip was in desperate need of a wife. Since Marina’s death, Phillip had come to the conclusion that he wanted his wife to be happy, not melancholy like Marina. Plus his two children were out of control and he had no idea how to handle them. So what he really needed was a mother for them and who better than a desperate spinster?

Of course, poor Phillip had no idea that Eloise Bridgerton had turned down half a dozen proposals. By his letters, Sir Phillip seems the perfect man so when his daring invitation to visit him in the country arrived; Eloise made plans to escape her overprotective family.

Upon her arrival to Sir Philip’s home, Eloise is bitterly disappointed. Why Phillip could hardly speak to her! He was a grumpy moody sort, not at all the dashing charmer she’d pictured. He certainly never mentioned his two children in their letters! Reluctant to turn around and go home with her tail between her legs, Eloise decides to stay and stick it out to see if the two of them would suit.

Warning: This book contains mentioning of child abuse. While one can never call child abuse lightweight, it was not graphic. The nanny, Nurse Edwards, was caught beating the children with a book and action was taken.

Rating: 3 Stars

Buy: To Sir Phillip, With Love

Originally posted 2008-12-02 14:44:15. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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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I literally couldn’t put Vexing the Viscount down. I devoured the book in just two days. For those on Twitter, this was the book I was talking about not too terribly long ago. So what’s it about?

Romance treasure, naughty sculptures, and pagan adventures are the pursuits of the impoverished Viscount Rutland and curious Miss Daisy Duke. But even more scrumptious than the thrill of finding lost treasure is watching Daisy Duke attempts to win over the reluctant Viscount.

The man won’t budge! Ever since Lucian Beaumont’s run-in with her pike while playacting when they were younger. (Despite the past acquaintance they are not childhood friends.) If her deadly aim weren’t enough of a detraction, clearly there must be something dreadfully wrong with her as she is a lovely unwed heiress… must mean she is nothing less than socially unacceptable. He needs a fortune, but he does not need hers! As if his own reasons weren’t enough of a deterrent his father’s particular disliking for the Dukes, especially her uncle, must be taken into consideration.

Still, Daisy remains undaunted. Adventure she craves and adventure is what she’s going to get. The girl takes the mistaken identity plot device and runs with it - playing herself by day and courtesan by night. It’s wicked good fun! Plus Lucian Beaumont is a virgin hero. Yes, that means what you think it does… a virgin hero going to a virgin heroine for love lessons. Squee!

Vexing the Viscount is engaging, spicy, and delightfully intricate… a must read for the adventurous at heart.

Rating: 4 Stars

Have you worn out your copy of Pride and Prejudice? Are Colin Firth and Matthew MacFayden in need of a little healthy competition? Richard Armitage is just the man to sooth your hunger for another hunk of delicious brooding male. You will melt. Mr. John Thornton is a new Darcyesque figure to fall in love with over and over again.

Richard Armitage is not only singularly fine; he’s also a terrific actor. When he proposes, you’ll die. Loved Mr. Darcy’s fumbling attempts at wooing Elizabeth Bennet? You’re going to enjoy watching Mr. Thornton try to win over the forthright Miss Margaret Hale. Daniela Denby-Ashe does a beautiful job portraying the vicar’s headstrong opinionated daughter.

The story is about a retired vicar and his family moving to the North to Milton, a fairly large factory town. Here they confront illiteracy, poverty, ignorance, and social mores their life in the South leave them unprepared for, especially the mother and daughter. Mr. Hale befriends Mr. Thornton soon after Mr. Thornton makes a singularly bad impression on Miss Margaret Hale. Misunderstandings and stubbornness are rife throughout the miniseries as the protagonists dance around each other trying to understand one another.

If you come into this knowing nothing, you will love it. If you have read the Elizabeth Gaskell novel by the same name, you will love it. Trust me, if you borrow this instead of buying it outright you’re going to be bummed at the thought of returning it. Sandy Welch’s screenplay is phenomenal—four hours of 100% heart-warming goodness can’t be beat. This may just have replaced the BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries as best BBC miniseries.

Rating: 5 Stars

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Seduce Me at Sunrise is darkly passionate, sensual, and utterly devastating. Kev is the type of hero that is pure indulgence. He’ll make your hips grow just looking at him… or should I say reading him. In summation he is fierce, broody, and desperately in love. Half Romany, half Irish, Kev was raised by his abusive uncle. The man turned him into a cruel heartless Romany warrior, hurting him emotionally and physically until everything soft inside him died… or so Kev thought. Left for dead by his clan and taken in by the Hathaways provides Kev with another chance. It’s unclear his exact age when this happens, I would say sometime between his teens and early twenties. While recovering under the Hathaways’ roof Kev notices Winnifred, young, delicate, and fragile. She is everything good and kind and gentle. In her presence the vicious side of him quietens. He decides to stay and in doing so changes his whole life.

Tragedy strikes the Hathaway a few short years later leaving the older siblings in charge of the younger ones. Fate takes a hand again when scarlet fever strikes two members of the family. One is Win. Both survive, but Win is left weakened. Two years of being weak and helpless watching others live life while she stays in bed incite Win to get herself better at all costs. She makes plans to go to France to a unorthodox clinic (they make you exercise gasp!) which Kev tries to stop from taking place. Win offers him a choice - tell her he loves her or she goes. He can not bring himself to say it, because if he did he could never refrain from claiming her… which he doesn’t want to do because he doesn’t think he’s good enough for her. Lots of circular logic, but there you go.

Win is at the age of spinsterhood upon her return from the clinic. She’s twenty-five if I remember correctly and more than ready to begin her life. She refuses to take anything for granted and plans to marry (Kev) and have children (his).

The emotional drive of this novel is completely fulfilling and can get you high on endorphins. For example:

When Win leaves to go to France she says to Kev:

“I am running after you, and life, in desperate pursuit. My dream is that someday you will both turn and let me catch you. That dream carries me through every night I long to tell you so many things, but I am not free yet I hope to be well enough someday to shock you again, with far more pleasing results.”

Or Kev when he finally declares himself:

“All the fires of hell could burn for a thousand years and it wouldn’t equal what I feel for you in one minute of the day. I love you so much there is no pleasure in it. Nothing but torment. Because if I could dilute what I feel for you to the millionth part, it would still be enough to kill you. And even if it drives me mad, I would rather see you live in the arms of that cold, soulless bastard than die in mine.”

Edward Cullen eat your heart out. Blissed out sigh.

And while some of the motivation is a little hard to grasp, it’s so good, you can’t help but be drawn in by the magic spell Kleypas weaves.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

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One of the first romance novels that I ever read was the Gamble by LaVyrle Spencer. I snuck it out of my mother’s collection because I was curious about all the fuss. I am glad I did, because it rates as one of my dearest favorites, set during the Temperance movement.

Scott Gandy dresses smartly, behaves politely, and smiles cheekily at Miss Agatha Downing. She can’t stand him! Scotty Gandy owns a saloon, sells alcohol, promotes gambling, and why he even hangs nude portraits over his bar! Ever proper, Agatha is a touching heroine because she is handicapped.

Made lame by an abusive alcoholic father, Agatha has come to terms with the sorry little life she leads; dinner every night at Perry’s down the street, a slowly dying millinery shop, and Miss Violet Parsons as her only friend. She isn’t expecting a man or any children in her future, but that doesn’t keep her from dreaming.

Then one day that infuriating Scott Gandy brings three saloon singers into town and nothing is dull again. Agatha is given a job that just might save her business. She is to make each of them a can-can dress. What follows is a colorful tale about friendship, love, and one woman’s fight against alcohol. Agatha is determined to see Kansas dry, save the little boy Willy Collinson from his abusive father, and to not fall in love with Scott Gandy. She will succeed at all but one of this goals.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Happy Readings!

Originally posted 2008-11-20 04:38:34. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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To Scotland with Love is about 2 to 2.5 Stars. The rating depends on how well you can stomach the side characters. I personally thought they were annoying and too much. As I go into depth here you’ll see what I mean.

How Sir Blubbering Ravencroft got the gumption to kidnap Venetia, the heroine, is beyond me. He’s weak-willed and weak-chinned with watery eyes, a ton of debt and on the run from a duel. Unfortunately for him, Venetia is a strong woman and quite capable of throwing off his professions of devotion and grabby hands with her deadly brooch pin. Ravencroft in a hurry to place Venetia in the midst of a scandal races them to Gretna Green while telling her that her mother is ill and might be dying… the faster the carriage goes the more certain Venetia is of something not quite right going on and then the carriage tips on the icy snow covered ground leaving them stranded in the middle of North Road. Luckily an inn is nearby.

Venetia’s father, who was the fool to condone Ravencroft’s behavior, however only if she agreed to it, beseeches Gregor MacLean to rescue his daughter. Gregor is angry at the news. He has been Venetia’s lifelong friend and was on the way to meet her for a morning ride. Gregor like the rest of the MacLeans is cursed to always have his anger visible to the world in a most duex ex machina way. His anger takes the form of a snowstorm and the angrier he gets the longer it lasts and the colder it gets. If he can manage to make his way through his own stormy feelings he might just get to her before it’s too late.

Gregor reaches the inn and receives a cool reception from Venetia. It would have been warmer if Gregor hadn’t been so highhanded. This is where the real fun begins as the cast of motley members begin to make themselves known. The first of the lot is a Mrs. Bloom, blind as a bat, is critical of everything and rude beyond bearing toward her servant Miss Platt or Flatt or something like that.

Miss Platt fancies herself abuse, mistreated, and indentured is convinced by a poorly informed Venetia of the girl’s true circumstances that she deserves better. Miss Platt immediately makes goo-goo eyes at Ravencroft or Mr. West as he and Venetia are now the sibling Wests and are Gregor’s charges.

If that wasn’t enough a squire and his daughter arrive at the inn. The daughter fancies herself in love with a farm-boy from back home and doesn’t want to go to London. The squire is decent, but his daughter is a drama queen of the first sort. She puts on airs, snores, and is indecently messy with her belongings in a space meant for one but was squeezing three due to the weather.

It’s a wonder there’s any romance at all considering how much of the time is focused on the side character drama. Somehow Gregor proposes to Venetia, but it’s mostly out of duty and she refuses… she’s long past marrying age at 34 years old and she marries at all it will be for love and Gregor hasn’t proven anything beyond fondness and lust. Will he come up to snuff?

Rating: 2 Stars

Originally posted 2008-09-22 08:09:28. Republished by Old Post Promoter

By: Zarabeth, guest reviewer

This is a fantastic spinster story set in 1836 England. Our heroine, Amanda, is a 30-yr old spinster supporting herself as a novelist who has decided to do something for herself, for once in her life. As we well know a never-married 30 yr old woman is quite on the shelf, but this does not prevent her from having the same sexual needs as any other woman. So our heroine, and my heroine for this, hires a male prostitute for her 30^th birthday completely disregarding social conventions of virginity and premarital sex.

On her birthday a suitable man with an association to the escort service does appear on her doorstep and we assume that this is her prostitute. As the reader we are mortified to learn that this man is not a prostitute despite his sexual actions with our heroine. Later in the book Amanda and the not-prostitute Jack meet at a social/publishing event.

The story as a whole involves Jack doing everything he can to get Amanda back in bed and eventually convinces her to have an affair with him. I very much enjoyed the affair and the experiences of our main characters in public and in private (rating: 5). Once Amanda decides that the affair must end, things get pretty complicated and despair ensues. Months into this unfortunate depression we discover that Amanda is pregnant. Again, our never-married 30 yr old woman has just discovered that she is pregnant- this is a problem. Our Amanda must now decide whether to move to the continent or marry below her standards and whether or not to tell Jack about his child (rating: 4).

I call this a solid 4.5. There are 2 reasons that this review is not a full 5: there is some rear-entry stuff (gags and feels uncomfortable) and there is a bit too much time spent on inner-turmoil instead acts based on inner turmoil.

Rating: 4.5

Today I have the pleasure of presenting the first of the Highlander Novel Cover Contest entries. Be sure to vote by leaving a comment on the entries that you enjoy! The winner is determined by the amount of vocal support they receive before the end of the month!

Model: Alex, who is really Scottish.
Designer: Zarabeth

Romance Novel Title: The Highlander’s Heir

The Tale:

Patrick Kelley, the bastard grandson of the Laird Joseph Kelley knew only two things. He needed a wife and he needed an heir. The passing of Laird Joseph Kelley left Patrick with a dilapidated castle in Edinbourough, a stack of debts, and responsibilities he couldn’t ignore. The fields needed new tenants and tenants meant new homes built with money he didn’t have. Despite his severe loathing of London Society he would have to venture there to find and wed an heiress.

Emiline Pembroke was a plump cousin and companion of the beautiful Jessamine Pembroke, the only heir to the fortune of the Earl, Byron of Pembroke. The Earl’s estate in Wales was Emiline’s preferred setting for her quiet and uneventful life as a spinster at the age of 26. Her cousin’s coming-out ball would only be the 1st tiresome event of the next season in London, where she would dutifully sit and sip in the companions’ corner, unnoticed and unwanted.

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Welcome to RRN Amy! I am so happy to have you with us today! Amy is the first entrant into the current blog giveaway contest here at RRN. She’s hoping to win a signed copy of Teresa Medeiros’ Some Like it Wicked. Below is her review of Teresa Medeiros’ novel Yours Until Dawn.

Hi everyone! I’m Amy and I decided to review Teresa Medeiros’s Yours Until Dawn, for the blog giveaway contest. This Regency set novel follows the troubles of a blind lord and a plain miss as they journey toward love. I really enjoyed this novel and quite loved everything about it from Gabriel’s angry bear behavior to Samantha’s waspish retorts. I would have given the novel five stars except for the ending, which I won’t spoil, but I was unsatisfied even though it was a HEA (happily ever after).

Naval war hero and English Earl, Gabriel Fairchild was blinded in his last battle at sea. A flying piece of shrapnel hit his eyes, forcing this proud man into acute darkness. The doctors say it’s permanent – well all but one who thinks it might be hysterical blindness. However, the very idea of a grown man like Fairchild having hysterics is hard to imagine.

Miss March, Gabriel’s sweetheart, leaves him lying alone in the hospital bed with a gasp of frightened sensibilities. The shrapnel has done more than take his eyesight, it has also taken his looks. Angry and hurt at her flight, Gabriel retreats to the countryside and terrorizes everyone around him for the abandonment of his family and of his love.

The novel starts with the tart Samantha Wickersham applying for the job of being Gabriel’s nurse. She finds the task eagerly handed to her despite her lack of solid references and immediately sets to work ignoring all of Gabriel’s blustering. Reeking of lemon verbena, capable prim Miss Wickersham sets about taming the wounded man hiding behind the lion façade.

Not unexpectedly, she wins his heart, but complications arise and she is forced to flee. Gabriel must find the woman of his dreams before it is too late – but how does one find a woman one has never seen?

4 Stars

To be considered for the autograph copy of Some Like it Wicked, send your review of on one of Teresa Medeiros’ romance novels to reviewromancenovel[at]yahoo[dot]com.