January 27th, 2010 — 4.5 Stars, A-C, ARC, Contemporary, Dukes and Earls, Entrepreneur, Ghost, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Memory Loss, Regency, Rogues and Rakehells, Scarred Hero, Survival, Teacher, Time Travel
WWJAD is quick fun read. The story is flirty and cute just like the hero, Lord James Shermont. Read it in the bathtub, on the beach, while waiting in line at the post office, wherever, it’s sure to make you smile and leave you eager to turn the page.
Eleanor Pottinger (yes it is unfortunate that is her real last name) is a fan of Jane Austen. We meet her trying to get a room at a Jane Austen convention only to be told the room she booked has been given to somebody else. Luckily there was a newly renovated suite that was available…if she didn’t mind ghosts!
Of course Eleanor changes her mind about ghosts the minute they materialize. Sisters Deidre and Mina from the time of Jane Austen need Eleanor’s help. They are stuck as ghosts and can’t move on without her help. Eleanor jokingly offers to help if they can guarantee she can meet Jane Austen. They agree and before Eleanor can cry “Just Kidding!” Deidre and Mina have transported Eleanor back into the past.
When Eleanor wakes up she is stuck in the Regency era and is believed to be the girls’ widowed cousin Ellen who was arriving from America. Eleanor plays along and gets away with it because they haven’t seen the real Ellen since childhood. The ghosts tell Eleanor her tasks are to keep them out of the clutches of Lord Shermont, a rakehell of the worst sort, and to make sure their brother, Teddy, doesn’t enter into a duel with Shermont over their reputations.
Eleanor was once foolish enough to try and make a Mr. Darcy out of a Wickham, is she smart enough not to do the opposite? What would Jane Austen do?
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Buy: What Would Jane Austen Do?
Originally posted 2009-04-28 05:47:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 19th, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, ARC, Artist, Bastard, Contemporary, Doctor, J-L, Mistaken Identity, United States of America
Robin Kaye’s second book, Too Hot to Handle is witty and enchanting. Too Hot to Handle is the sequel to Romeo, Romeo. It follows Rosalie Ronaldi’s sister, Annabelle, on her tumultuous journey into love. Luckily for her, she has a sturdy cast of lively friends and a dog there to help her figure it all out. Her journey starts with this humorous first line: Ghosts don’t have sex, do they?
Of course the answer is no, but the distressingly dashing Doctor Mike Flynn looks almost exactly like her late boyfriend Chip Larsen. They could have been twins. Sure, his mouth is a little different, his nose broken and healed could have once been Chip’s nose, his eyes the same shape if different colors and his package is certainly better equipped… but other than that the similarities are shocking.
Annabelle’s past with Chip was rocky at best. Chip was not a very good boyfriend, even his sister thought so, but Annabelle never got the chance to really figure that out on her own. When the cancer came back, Chip refused to go through chemo again despite Annabelle’s and his family’s begging. Despite the heaviness of the emotional issues, this is still a romantic comedy.
Mike Flynn is working at a dead-end practice. His research though thorough wasn’t enough to prepare him for the realities. He’s going to be blackballed for bringing notice to a sloppy ill-informed partner. His only shot is to get out before it becomes common knowledge about his disagreements. Meanwhile his love life is pitiful, he’s tired of seeing the girls that Nick has let go, he wants a girl of his own and believes he struck gold with Annabelle who he met at her sister’s/his best friend’s wedding.
Mike’s background and Annabelle’s history will do their best to keep them apart. Life is messy, but with the help of a domestic god and busybody friends, family, and neighbors can it be cleaned up?
Rating: 3.5 - 4 Stars
Buy: Too Hot to Handle
Originally posted 2009-05-06 05:49:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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December 23rd, 2009 — Defining the Genre, Paranormal, Time Travel, United States of America, Vampire, Werewolf
What is paranormal romance?
Well we can easily define paranormal romance as subgenre of romance. But what is it really? Paranormal romance combines the supernatural world with that of the real, the natural, the plain. One lover is sure to be something special and the other lover is special because they are so plain; something is found in their ordinariness that strikes a cord with the extraordinary lover.
More than not these stories take place in America, especially when dealing with vampires, but it's not a requirement for the genre. Paranormal romance usually blends mystery, thriller, or suspense as part and parcel of its tale. You could consider these novels to be more than a bit Gothic in theme. Anita Blake Vampire Hunter and the Twilight Saga are two such series that can be found within the category of paranormal romance.
Why do people like it so much?
The sales of paranormal romance have risen over the years. It is not uncommon to find several titles of paranormal fiction in romance aisles. Why is that? As I said when discussing Edward and Bella in the Twilight books, I believe it is because we are all craving that extraordinary romance.
As with time travel romances, paranormal romances that involve vampires have that glorious advantage of a love out of time. One person waits, separate from the time stream of the normal world with all its stresses and hectic schedules just for you. Waters run deep in the one that has been waiting, he (or she) knows just what it is like to live a small eternity in loneliness and now that you've been found, you won't be let go. He (or she) will love you forever.
Besides vampires what fits into this category?
Magic users, lycanthropes (like werewolves), selkies, fairies, ghosts, superhuman capabilities (like flying), gods and goddesses, and angels and demons are all perfectly acceptable.
If you have more on the subject of paranormal romance feel free to add!
Originally posted 2008-07-01 08:32:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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September 12th, 2009 — 3 Stars, Barons and Baronets, Book Review, Ghost, Great Britain, J-L, Lycanthrope, Older Woman/Younger Man, Paranormal, Spinster, Victorian, Virgin Heroine, Werewolf, Working with Land
This was an impulse buy. The cover was pretty (I only saw the front b/c this was an online purchase) and I was fairly certain the inside would give me a wounded/scarred/brooding hero because of the title. To my surprise it was a historical paranormal!
Nicodemus Wulfson is as you guessed it, a werewolf. His brother is being tormented by ghosts, something he emphatically does not believe. He decides the best way to help his brother is to go to London and obtain a person who claims to hold an affinity with ghosts and winds up with Philomena, a ghost-hunter/communicator with spirits.
The mystery behind the haunting was fairly predictable but contains several unique elements. I easily narrowed it down to the two major suspicious persons but was undecided as to which one it was until much later in the novel.
Philomena is a much older heroine than we are used to seeing in romance. She’s forty years old and a spinster, though she’s not unaware of what takes place behind closed doors due to the ghost of a prostitute named Fanny.
Nicodemus is twenty-seven and is determined to claim Philomena. Around her his wolf practically demands he get on with making her his in every way. At first he thinks it is just lust but quickly concludes that he wants more than an affair; he wants a wife and mate.
This book is quite possibly part of a series involving Merlin’s Relics but is well written enough to be a stand alone. Kennedy has marvelous world building skills. We are introduced to this alternate reality of the world where the aristocrat are descendants of Merlin and hold magical powers. The most powerful are royalty followed by the other noble ranks in order. It is the baronets that are lycanthropes or weres and they can be many animals from the more traditional werewolf to snakes, ducks, horses, etc.
Another element that I liked but wasn’t a major factor in the story was the idea of hedge witches (and wizards) who were the bastard children of the nobility. Even if they were claimed, most of them lack the power to be associated with rank.
Rating: 3 Stars
Buy: Enchanting the Beast
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April 12th, 2009 — 2.5 Stars, 3 Stars, Book Review, Farming, Gentry, Great Britain, J-L, Victorian, Virgin Heroine, Widow or Widower
Great start. Mediocre middle. Great ending.
There was one discrepancy that was glaring to me... how probable was it to have two people to get married to cover a brewing scandal, get divorced/separated after a year (claiming annulment maybe?), and go about their lives as if nothing happened? It wasn't something I thought too much about because with romance you know they're going to stay together and find love so it wasn't really an issue.
What I didn't like was that the book spent too long repeating the same things. I was eagerly and desperately waiting for the point when Annabel McBride smartened up enough to realize she couldn’t make a man love her if he wasn’t willing or that she couldn’t compete with a dead wife and kids.
The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell is one of those widower plots that combine brooding hero and a fresh untried miss. I did like that Simon Blackwell generally and truly loved his late wife, but it was hard to read Annabel’s determination to win him over. She can’t if he isn’t willing to let go and the book took too long for Annabel to reach a quitting point that would force Simon to either give up his ghosts or to give her up.
This is too bad because I honestly love reading about heroes who find a second at love or get a second chance to find their first love as the case sometimes is. However I did believe Simon falling in love with Annabel even if he was a stubborn fool about the whole affair. If it wasn't for the middle section I would say this book was just about perfect.
Rating: 2.5-3 Stars
Buy: The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell
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April 2nd, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, Book Review, Dukes and Earls, G-I, Great Britain, Historical Romance, Virgin Heroine
Amelia Grey spins a sweet love story of ghosts, trapped marriages, thievery, and near misses. A Taste of Temptation is a pretty quick read. The book is wonderful to sit down with and read on a rainy afternoon, which is exactly how I read it.
Andrew Terwillger, Lord Dugdale, is the last of the Terrible Threesome. A confirmed bachelor, he doesn’t understand how his friends can be happy with their wives and marriages. All he sees is that they’re different. They no longer like to drink, gamble, and enjoy women like they used to and he vows no female will leg shackle him.
Olivia Banning is a kind girl who wants the best for her Aunt Agatha. Which is why she’s most concerned when Agatha tells her that Lord Pinkwater’s ghost is calling to her from the grave. Drawn to London on a ghost hunt, Olivia is worried her Aunt is out of her mind and that the ton will find out.
An urn falls at the Dugdale Ball, nearly missing Lord Dugdale. Agatha, convinced that this is the sign of Lord Pinkwater’s ghost presence is determined to set off and search the house. Olivia quickly nixes the idea and offers to go instead as she is not concerned at all with her reputation amongst the ton. Olivia is certain after the season she will be back in the country and marrying a nice non-aristocrat male, Mr. Yost.
However, in her search of the house she is caught by Lord Dugdale, no less. Worse, he’s caught her in his room sniffing his soap. He thinks she’s a thief and when she tells him of Lord Pinkwater’s ghost, he thinks she is crazy. But heaven help him if he wasn’t attracted to her and steals a kiss. Only to find four society women entering the room moments later and catching them!
Andrew is appalled, and forced to marry Olivia, but he will never love the conniving, title seeking, marriage trapping chit he now calls his wife. He’s determined to keep his life like it was in his bachelor days. Can Olivia melt his hostile exterior? Will Andrew let himself be swayed and give up the ghost?
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Buy: A Taste of Temptation
Originally posted 2008-12-03 03:04:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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August 18th, 2008 — 3 Stars, Contests, Dukes and Earls, Great Britain, Guest Reviews, Historical Romance, J-L
Marcia is the first person to respond to the $10 Gift Card Contest! Her review for us this week by Julia London and looks to be a devilishly wild ride across England. The story mixes modern language with historical settings which might turn you off reading, but the the thrill behind the tale should hook you back in easily.
Lady Greer Fairchild is on a journey to find her inheritance in this second novel of the Desperate Debutantes trilogy. She began her travels in London as the companion of Mrs. Smithington who wanted a little adventure and to see more than just London before she died. Unfortunately, Mrs. Smithington did die before Greer finishes her journey. A gentleman by the name of Mr. Percy has been traveling with them and has been a charming and helpful companion during the trip. After the death of Mrs. Smithington, he suggests that they continue the journey together, since their destination is the same.
Greer is desperate to continue into Wales where she has learned that her inheritance is in the hands of a distant relative of her deceased stepfather. It is for this reason that she agrees to continue her journey with just the company of Mr. Percy even though she knows that to do so would ruin her reputation. The distant relative is none other than the Prince of Powys, a man who is known to Mr. Percy as a thief. Mr. Percy has many a dark tale to tell of this prince, Rhodrick Glendower, Earl of Radnor, and Greer is terrified when they meet him riding a fearsome stallion on the road to the Earl's castle.
The setting is out of a gothic novel with the wild countryside of Wales, a large oppressive looking castle and a dark brooding prince. There are also strange dreams, ghosts and mysterious past crimes none of which really add up to a true gothic atmosphere since there is no real mystery or suspense. The reader knows immediately that Mr. Percy is no gentleman and Rhodrick Glendower is a kind loveable person depicted as a wolf in sheep's clothing. We also know that Rhodrick could never have committed the mysterious crimes and that they were probably committed by Mr. Percy. Instead of trying to imitate early 19th century speech, Ms. London has written the dialog a frank, modern style that may or may not appeal to readers. Even so, this is an enjoyable albeit light story.
Rating: 3 Stars
Thank you Marcia for writing to us! If you've just finished reading a romance novel and want to write review but weren't sure how check out RRN's submission guidelines for tips and advice to get started.
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