Entries Tagged 'Runaway' ↓
March 21st, 2010 — 3 Stars, Book Review, Category, Counts, Marquis, Viscounts, Great Britain, M-O, Mistress or Courtesan, Rape/Abuse, Regency, Rogues and Rakehells, Runaway, Widow or Widower
A more accurate title would be Unclaimed Mistress, as the heroine has certainly been touched before the hero gets to her and throughout the book by the hero.
Helena McGregor runs away from her abuser Stephen Tayburn. She can’t stay with him another moment and takes her first opportunity to escape, fleeing across the water and into a storm. She washes up on the beach Guy Tregallas, Viscount Varington, is meandering down. Her first impression is that he’s an angel and just before delirium sets in she reveals her name.
When she wakes three days later, Helena knows to protect those who’ve helped her and herself she must concoct a story. Living under Stephen’s thumb for five years has taught her that lying is the least of man’s sins. She tells everyone she is the widow Mary McLelland, never knowing Guy is aware of her true identity.
Determined to dig into her past and figure out who the beautiful young woman is, Guy whisks her off to London with plans to seduce her along the way. His plans crumble into dust with every break in her façade, but not before he secures her promise to be his mistress in exchange for his help… when he learns the truth about Helena, he is more determined than ever to make the woman his!
The story despite the ugly background for the heroine (see Stephen Tayburn, villain) is very chaste. There’s no sex until the very end of the story. One of my favorite scenes is the carriage wreck. I won’t spoil it, other than to say it’s in the middle. It was very good.
Rating 3 stars
Buy: Untouched Mistress
PS - Great cover - both models fit the character descriptions and so did the scenery!
Originally posted 2009-07-16 03:49:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
March 13th, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, Arranged/Forced Marriage, Artist, Big Misunderstanding, Book Review, Captain, G-I, Georgian, Great Britain, Kidnapping, Low Self Esteem/Confidence, Pirate, Pirate, Rape/Abuse, Runaway, Sailing, Seas, Secret Baby, Survival, Travel, United States of America, Virgin Heroine
I first heard about Crimson Rapture
from a HaBo post over at Smart Bitches: Trashy Books. I can’t remember now if this book was the actual book or just one of the suggestions, but I guess it hardly matters. It sounded cool and I got it immediately from Paperback Swap.
It was originally published in 1986 and definitely has forced seduction in it—the kind where he does it for her own good and because he desires her too much to let another moment pass. There’s a lot of it, but it is well written, so if you’re in the mood for it, I would highly suggest this novel. A warning though… the comeuppance of the uppity bitch in the story is gang rape by the pirate crew which the pirate captain (hero) sanctions because she tried to kill someone (no, not the heroine.)
The story is one of those that goes everywhere (Boston, London, open seas, remote island in the Phillipines, Jamaica) and does everything (kidnapping, monsoons, shipwrecks, runaways, fake marriages, babies, plots and betrayal, and so on.)
It starts when the ship the heroine and hero are on is caught in the doldrums. The heroine is headed for Australia to live with her cousin and his family after her father’s recent death. The hero, Justin Phillips, is locked up in the hold somewhere on his way to his execution. He spies her presence one day and strikes up a conversation. He can’t really see her, but he figures she’s extremely plain.
Christina Marks is actually very beautiful. As the daughter of a reverend she is kind, naive, and innocent. Also, she is terribly shy except when she talks to Justin through the small opening. She gives him her rations to help him keep his strength up. When the wind breaks and Justin’s crew comes to his rescue he kidnaps Cristina determined to ensure her safety and wellbeing.
The adventure has only begun though and passion can’t be denied.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
No items matching your keywords were found.
Online Stores
February 8th, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Counts, Marquis, Viscounts, Friends, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Regency, Runaway, Spinster, Virgin Heroine
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
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $7.77 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $9.10 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $12.99 |
Sale |
Originally posted 2008-12-05 09:04:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
February 6th, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, Book Review, Bride Stealing, Dukes and Earls, Friends, Great Britain, Heiress, J-L, Medical, Mistaken Identity, Regency, Runaway, Soldier, Virgin Heroine
If you're looking for a light happy read though you will like this novel. It's a perfect companion for a long flight or car ride and will keep you entertained.
The romance is a little overblown and the plot devices a little too farcical. There is a whole gamut of standard plots can be found within this romance:
The hero gives up his title and fortune to become a baron’s head groom in a pointless act of revenge against his father. Next our jaded hero falls in love with the artless ingénue. The heroine sucks at female domestic stuff like sewing and refinement. Instead she wants to be a doctor in a time period where that’s impossible… Unless you were a gypsy. There’s gypsies. The hero and the gypsies both approve of her becoming a healer.
A semi-evil ex-mistress turned dowager duchess, having married hero’s brother. A fortune hunting shmuck that pursues the heroine who thinks he’s in love. Our hero finds out he doesn’t mind his fortune and prestige. No, really? He’s happy to take back control and if not lovingly then kindly and open-mindedly looking out for his tenets.
Heroine gets mad at hero just before the resolution because he’s been keeping stuff hidden from her. It’s a pretty ridiculous argument because she’s agreed verbally and nonverbally to his withholding information for the first five sixths of the novel.
What’s nice though is that despite the shortcomings the narrative is extremely engaging. Julie has a talent for drawing you into the story. I was reading it pretty happily. It’s very indulging and fun. Not a runaway success, but highly enjoyable nevertheless. I know, bad pun.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Buy: The Runaway Duke
 |
|
US $4.99 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $1.00 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $1.00 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $4.97 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $1.00 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $1.00 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $1.99 |
Sale |
Online Stores
January 23rd, 2010 — 3 Stars, Book Review, Children, Comedy of Manners, Dukes and Earls, France, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Kidnapping, Regency, Runaway, Snowed-in, Virgin Heroine, Writer
Sylvester was recommended to me by Laura Kinsale because he botches his proposal to Phoebe and his character is like that of Mr. Darcy.
Now, I have read Pride and Prejudice by Austen (and find the movies easier to follow and love) and as a whole the novel of Sylvester was easier to read and twice as engaging. However, like Pride and Prejudice, I think a movie/film version of the novel would make it more endearing.
I sympathized from the beginning with Sylvester. I really saw nothing overtly wrong with him despite him being repeatedly labeled extremely arrogant and was only polite because of inborn pride in his dukedom and that is what he expected of himself and others of similar wealth. Sylvester hands down makes the novel. He's truly the character you fall a little bit in love with and root for even if his choice of a heroine is terrible.
Honestly, I had a hard time liking Phoebe let alone accepting her as Sylvester's heroine. She is grossly irritating and ill mannered. Repeatedly she declares that whatever incorrect and presumptuous thing she says or does must have done Sylvester some good. Her best friend, Thomas Orde is clearly horrified by some of what she does and it’s no wonder! Phoebe is clearly in need of a set down and deserves one. When getting it she breaks into tears and runs away leaving Sylvester clearly rebuffed and humiliated in public.
Ianthe is hilarious in how vapid, insipid, and vain she is. She's a terrible mother, obviously doesn't want to be a mother, and continuously tries to push how wonderful a mother she is. Ianthe latches onto the Lost Heir, a novel Phoebe secretly publishes because it so clearly puts Sylvester in a bad light and herself in a good one. While the ton gossips over this novel and try to decide how much is accurate, Ianthe marries on the sly and kidnaps her son (he’s officially left in Sylvester’s care) following the plans Phoebe laid out in the story.
Rating: 3 Stars
Buy: Sylvester
, Sylvester (audio book with Richard Armitage narrating)
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $4.52 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $4.50 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $3.77 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $5.99 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $4.99 |
Sale |
January 4th, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, A-C, Barons and Baronets, Book Review, Great Britain, Mistress or Courtesan, Prostitute, Regency, Runaway
I got this novel from the library when MagdalenB recommended it for a hero who bumbles his first declaration of love/marriage proposal:
Balogh's A Precious Jewel. Gerald tries to explain why marriage is good idea; forgets to mention "love." Twice!
Read it in a day because it was so different than any courtesan romance I have read to date. While reading it I simply couldn’t put it down and I liked it a lot. Writing the review pointed out to me all the things I didn’t like about the novel so you’ll have to excuse the overly negative approach. This novel was not without flaws, but if you’re like me you’ll enjoy it anyway.
Priscilla Wentworth lost her father and brother within a very short span of time and became a ward of her uncle. Her uncle is a lecherous creep and to avoid his advances she runs away to London to meet up with her former governess. She had planned to get a job at her finishing school. In actuality it was a high end whorehouse. Prissy tried for two months to get a job as a maid, a servant, or a governess and could not because she had zero references. Too prideful to take a made up position by her old governess she chose instead to become an honest whore. No virgin prostitute novel here.
After two months working, Sir Gerald Stapleton, becomes her client. One night he comes to her and finds her beaten by her previous costumer and decides to set her up as his mistress. Gerald has very simple tastes in bed – he likes his partner to be unmoving and receptive. He has never made love to a woman, just used them. The love scenes are very detached because of this, even when he comes to Prissy and tries to learn.
Gerald is not really romance hero material. He has zero redeeming traits. He is not bright, or adventurous, or particularly good at anything. He is not handsome. He is not good in bed. He makes no grand gestures (except screwing up his marriage proposal twice) and his idea of romance is buying her pieces of jewelry (something most men did for their mistresses anyway). He tells Prissy she’s a “good girl” and “you have pleased me” more often than he should. In bed he takes and does not give. He doesn’t know how or care really to learn. He believes (and it’s true) that he’s inadequate.
However, he cannot help but love Prissy. She’s the backbone of the novel. Her warmth, unfailing kindness, and presence in his life draw him in and won’t let him go. Gerald must overcome his anger at the betrayals by his mother and stepmother in order to truly acknowledge his need for Prissy. Until then he treats her like a mistress and like their time together is strictly business.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Buy: A Precious Jewel
 |
|
US $1.00 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $5.49 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $7.99 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $15.56 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $1.00 |
Sale |
Online Stores
December 9th, 2009 — 4.5 Stars, Book Review, Contemporary, Erotica, J-L, Kidnapping, Musician, Paranormal, Rape/Abuse, Runaway, United States of America, Vampire
Listening to the Maestro’s Butterfly is an experience that will leave you flushed and begging for more. You’re in luck too because there are two more books after this! Rebecca Rogers is a truly phenomenal narrator. Her character voices are a treat and she’s a real actress. Quivering sighs, harsh words, moans, groans, she does them all without ever breaking form. Rogers draws you into Jones’ secret world of vampires and you can not escape… just like Miranda you are trapped, captivated and set a fire.
Jones' mythology is unique. Her vampires have heartbeats, never get sick, can't reproduce, and fangs that extend. The feeders once bitten become the perfect meals, producing more blood, become slightly stronger, and live longer younger. Holding one's breath even ruins the flavor of blood. To be taken by a vampire is to know the true meaning of sex as they love to combine feeding with intercourse.
In the Maestro’s Butterfly, Rhonda Leigh Jones sets a sexy stage and does not fail to deliver. If you’re into dominant/submissive power plays, vampires, and kinky sex you will love this story. There are elements of S&M, including whipping, public/stage sex, voyeurism, sex with multiple partners (not at the same time unless you count in sync with watching others), and anal sex. Very hot!
Miranda wants to be dominated. She wants to include fear, surrender, and the unknown in the bedroom. She longs for it and is afraid of her desires. Her dreams involve running down darkened streets and being caught and forced upon by the mysterious hunter. In her day life she’s a musician and with a lucky break gets Claudio du Fresne to tutor her for half price. One night after a performance of his, he invites her back to his place and along the way they strike a bet. He will be the partner she has always dreamed of and if at the end of 30 days he will make her his forever… if not she will allowed to leave and he will continued to tutor her at the prearranged deal.
But there is a darker side to this story. Miranda is unaware of Claudio being a vampire. That’s not all… in addition Claudio has struck another bet, this time with his brother, Victoire "Jack" du Fresne. If at the end of 30 days Miranda stays with Claudio, Jack will pay for Claudio quarter of a million dollar performance piece. If however, she bolts like Jack suspects, Miranda will belong to Jack… whether she wants to be or not.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Get the audio version here.
Originally posted 2009-03-15 05:57:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
October 24th, 2009 — 3 Stars, Book Review, D-F, Historic America, Interracial, Kings, Princes, Sheiks, Chiefs, Native American, Poor Eyesight, Runaway, Spectacles, United States of America, Virgin Heroine, Warrior, Widow or Widower
Forced by her father, Mariah has learned to live like a boy. She dresses like one and shoots like one, but it is not enough. Her father can tell she’s too pretty for her own good and too feminine as well. He cuts her hair to ruin her looks and demands her presence at an Indian raid. Helpless to defy the whims of her father, Mariah tags along an unwilling participant in the savage murder of the peaceful Indians. Horrified by what she sees, Mariah stoutly refuses to draw her weapon until an Indian brave threatens her father’s life. She shoots to wound, not kill, but her father follows up and bashes the young warrior over the head. The raiders leave to celebrate a glorious victory and Mariah runs away to seek help for the Indians.
Chief Echohawk, the young warrior Mariah shot and her father fell awakes on the battle field unable to see clearly. His vision is blurry and dark but he won’t let this weakness hurt him or his people. His pride won’t allow him to accept help and as he moves his people to the shelter of a neighboring tribe he succumbs to fever. In his heart stirs a dark thirst for revenge… on three white men, the one from the last raid on his people with yellow eyes, and the man and his son for the latest raid, and on White Wolf. He will ensure the sorrows of his people are avenged.
Meanwhile, Mariah manages to lose her horse and is brought to the Indian village where Echohawk sought sanctuary for himself and his people. First looked upon as an enemy, Mariah earns their respect and a new name for herself. She is now Nodin, woman of the wind. Following the lead of Neekah, Chief Silver Wing’s wife, Mariah learns the ways of the Chippewa and comes to tend and eventually love Chief Echohawk during his days of recovery. She fears the regaining of his eyesight for he will no doubt see her as the young boy he wants to kill and he fears letting go of his hatred for the white men to love a white woman.
Overall it’s not a bad read. Certainly Savage Wrongs is more engaging than the last Edwards novel that I read, but there’s a story telling quality that is lacking. I can’t put my finger on it, but the result is that I’m not drawn into the unfolding of the tale and am found skimming and skipping forward in hopes to find something that will make me stick to the page.
Rating: 3 Stars
Originally posted 2009-02-20 05:36:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
October 21st, 2009 — 4 Stars, Book Review, Bride Stealing, Children, Farming, Gentry, Historic America, Lisa Kleypas, Revenge, Runaway, United States of America, Virgin Heroine, Widow or Widower
The more I read of Lisa Kleypas the more I want to read. When Strangers Marry was a sinful delight to sit down and read. I enjoyed every moment thoroughly. If you're looking for some scintillating sex scenes, I would book right over your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy. Some of the bedroom interactions are enough to singe your eyebrows off. I'd tell you my favorite but then you'd be deprived of the surprise.
Lysette is running away. She refuses to marry the man her stepfather wants her to marry. Gaspard can beat her to death before she gives herself over to Etienne Sagesse. Her escape is thwarted at the river by two twin boys, the sons of Maximilien Vallerand. They bring her disheveled form before their father for punishment of attempted theft. Lysette is determined not to be sent back home and Max is drawn to her spunk. Even if he wasn't, Max would never return Lysette to Etienne, his most hated rival.
Max uses Lysette to thwart Etienne and get the duel he's been craving for nearly a decade. Etienne had slept with his late wife and murdered her. Of the first, Max knows for certain, of the second, Max is very sure, but lacking evidence. In fact all evidence of his late wife's murder points to Max, the cuckolded and angry husband. Nobody believed Max's protests of innocence, but the police let him off because of the circumstances. (Apparently killing a wandering and wild wife is completely understandable.)
When the excuse that Lysette is ill and can't possibly go home turns into a real sickness Max nurses her through it. His mother protests his presence but gives in because she and the housekeeper alone can't keep up their energies. During that time (3 weeks) he decides to make her his and as satisfying as it is to steal Etienne's young bride, Max is going to find out how satisfied he can be... but can such satisfaction last?
Rating: 4 Stars
Originally posted 2009-02-22 11:49:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
September 24th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Book Review, Cooking, Cross-Dressing Female, Gambling, Gentry, Great Britain, M-O, Mistaken Identity, Mistress or Courtesan, Regency, Revenge, Runaway, Virgin Heroine
Cross-dressing and false identities comprise Jacobin de Chastelux life since her uncle tried to use her as his marker in a bet with Lord Storrington. Now she’s a cook in the Royal Pavilion at Brighton and is quite happy. She is saving her money to open her own pastry shop as soon as she can. But then the unthinkable happens! Her dish is accused of poisoning a man the next day when leftovers were purchased. And not just any man—oh no, the man is her hated uncle.
Lord Storrington does not know who Jacob Leon is, but knows that this chef could be the very thing he needs to lure Lord Candover back to the tables. Anthony is determined to ruin Candover for having an affair with his mother that led to her death. He thought he had the man three months ago when his niece eloped with the man’s pastry chef but somehow the bastard managed to get a hold of twenty thousand pounds.
This story was deliciously fun. When Anthony first feels attraction to the heroine she is disguised as a man and his mental Olympics is hilarious. I really enjoyed the mystery to the tale behind Candover’s poisoning and watching Anthony and ‘Jane’ figure it out. I also loved Jane’s lesson of French pet names. How weird they were! Also I had fun reading her reaction to the verbal slip Anthony says right after ‘finding out’ she was a virgin. She starts throwing things and cursing him in French.
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: Never Resist Temptation
August 29th, 2009 — 2.5 Stars, 3 Stars, ARC, Cross-Dressing Female, Dukes and Earls, Estranged, Friends, Gentry, Great Britain, Heiress, Ireland, J-L, Runaway, Scarred Hero, Soldier, Stuart, Survival, Virgin Heroine, Warrior, Wartime
Jamie Sinclair is a chameleon hero. He switches loyalties, sides, and professions to suit his needs. He once worked for Charles II. Now he works for his brother James II. Jamie is not enamored with his mercenary life. He does what he does to earn the monies needed to keep his impoverish and indebted estates and their people going.
So when he comes from a raiding party back to the camp and finds the men out to torture the young lad he faced momentarily on the battlefield, Jamie is reluctant to let them do it. When it turns out that the lad is a she, he’s determined to ensure her safety. The men are angry at the loss of their plaything and won’t easily let Jamie take her. The only way salvage the situation is to marry her.
Catherine Drummond is a quasi female laird. She should be in charge of her people, but her cousin rules the roost. Wounded from battle, she does not recognize what the priest is doing on the field. Her only thoughts are of escape or to take out as many of them as possible before her death.
I was really enjoying this Stuart period romance until about page three hundred. There was so much going on that it's hard to summarize. Friendship is a very important part for the hero and heroine's road to love and happiness. I began to loose interest with all the running around, side switching, and back and forth going on between the hero and heroine. The novel takes place over the course of two (and more) years with a lot of down time between meetings. In the end it was too much for me when all I really wanted was for both of them to act on their mutual love and lust for each other. I'm sorry to say that I ended up skimming the rest of the novel to find out what happened.
Rating: 2.5-3 Stars
Buy: Highland Rebel
Online Stores
August 19th, 2009 — 1 Star, Book Review, Category, Counts, Marquis, Viscounts, Great Britain, M-O, Regency, Runaway, Travel, Writer
I have surprising little to say about this book. I really don't have anything extremely negative to point out against the story. Suffice it to say that this story did not capture me at all.
The writing style of The Viscount's Kiss
really left me feeling unconnected. That is not easily forgiven by me.
It's a shame really as I thought there were plenty of great plot elements in place. There was a well traveled but shy intellectual hero (which upon further reflection might have been part of the problem, it's hard to explain) and a mystery surrounding the heroine’s rapid departure from her previous position. I was almost certain of the reason behind her flight, but alas didn't stick around to find out.
I thought it was vaguely amusing that the hero's father was so certain of his son's non-interest in women as to worry about his sexuality but wouldn't read the book that the hero wrote on his travels and study of spiders which also apparently alluded to his sexual congress with native women of another country. Though this might not be so unsurprising as it seemed everyone in the novel knew of his book, his travels, and the scandal/gossip from his book but hadn't read it. That includes the heroine!
I tried to dig deeper into the book, but then thought who really wants to struggle like that? Not me! In the end I just wasn’t engaged and wound up closing the book on page 96. The book is 277 pages long.
Rating: 1 Star
Buy: The Viscount's Kiss
Buy on eHarlequin: The Viscount's Kiss
Online Stores
August 4th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Cross-Dressing Female, Gambling, Gentry, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Regency, Runaway, Travel, Virgin Heroine
The Corinthian ranks in my top 5 favorite Georgette Heyers to date.
My favorite things about this novel:
- The hero and heroine spend a majority of the book in each other’s presence.
- The heroine cross-dresses to look like a young lad for most of the novel with the hero helping her in her disguise.
- The heroine is not a fainting female and is intelligent, if a little young.
- The childhood sweetheart of the heroine has his own love match and is no way put out by the romance between the hero and heroine.
- The thief cant: snabble and snaffle are my two new favorite words.
- The kiss scene. How’s that for a tease?
Corinthian: a man about town, esp. one who lives luxuriously or, sometimes, dissolutely.
---dictionary.com
Sir Richard Wyndham reminds me a bit of Lord Worth. [Hopefully I’m recalling the right hero.] With Wyndham however it is easier to tell his amusement and enjoyment around Penelope Creed.
Penelope or Pen as she’s referred to when dressed like a boy, is escaping her aunt’s household. She won’t marry her cousin! She won’t! She will marry instead her childhood sweetheart, Piers Luttrell, with whom she’d made a secret engagement five years ago.
Richard is on the verge of making the worst mistake of his life. He’s planning to give his suit to Melissa Brandon, a cold practical woman, because his family is badgering him to marry. The idea drives him to drink. Imagine his surprise at seeing a young lad escape through a window via knotted bed sheets... and then to find out that the lad is in fact a young chit of a girl barely out of the school room.
I’ve noticed in the novels that I’ve read so far that Heyer likes to pair considerably older gentleman with young ladies still in their early teens, rarely in their twenties. It’s usually about a decade age difference. Why do you think she did this?
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: The Corinthian
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $3.77 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $6.87 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $4.99 |
Sale |
Online Stores
June 9th, 2009 — 1.5 Stars, 2 Stars, Book Review, Children, G-I, Gentry, Georgian, Great Britain, Housekeeper/Maid, Kidnapping, Mistress or Courtesan, Runaway, Scarred Hero, Widow or Widower, Writer
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
Online Stores
May 18th, 2009 — 4.5 Stars, Book Review, Contemporary, Cursed Lead, Demon, Enemies, Headaches, Interracial, J-L, Magic Users, Paranormal, Runaway, Survival, United States of America, Warrior
Do you like paranormal romance? Did you at one point enjoy Anita Blake? Well, My Wicked Enemy
just pwned Anita Blake
, but don’t take my word for it see for yourself! I read this in a day, I couldn’t put it down!
Our heroine is a terrified (rightly so) woman who experiences intense migraines. She’s seen something she shouldn’t (a ritual sacrifice) and it on the run from her guardian (the bad guy). Carson took nothing with her, and that includes her medicine, in hopes to escape. Being in a hurry might seem like a disadvantage now, with a pulsing multi-colored migraine rearing its ugly head and a man who’s stalking her through the streets, but it will in fact be a blessing in disguise.
Nikodemus is a warlord, a fiend with natural leadership, and he is the one stalking the pretty and petite Carson Philips through the streets. Killing her is on his to-do list, just below mage Magellan. He can’t believe how easy it is to track the witch. Her magic is fluctuating all over the place. One minute it’s there and the next it’s almost as if she were a human. When he corners her, Nikodemus asks just one question, “Why shouldn’t I kill you?”
The answer leads them through a dangerous adventure that spins out of control as they face mageheld fiends, evil mages, skitterish warlords, blood twins and more! The book starts out like it ends, by taking your breath away.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Marked interracial because the heroine is a witch and the hero is a fiend.
Buy: My Wicked Enemy
Online Stores
