October 22nd, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, Book Review, Category, Cinderella, Contemporary, Dukes and Earls, Farming, Governess / Companion, South America, V-Z, Virgin Heroine
I would never pick this book up in a secondhand bookstore because the title is strange and the cover is weirder. No wonder Harlequin puts the money and effort into consumer research. It’s all about pretty covers and catchy titles!
The romance takes place in Brazil with references to England and Portugal. Goldenhawk is the name of the hero’s best estate.
The heroine is a very plain girl. Her name is Jaine, appropriate for the phrase plain Jane. Quite often in the novel she is mistaken as a boy. I wanted to jump into the novel and tell her to grow her hair longer and wear less concealing clothes because it’s obvious she’s plain only so much as her aunt and cousin made her so.
Jaine is basically an indentured servant to her cousin and aunt. She’s an orphan and poor relation. Jaine is sent off to take the wrath of the hero as her cousin and aunt depart days before the cousin’s wedding to Pedro de Ros Zanto, a very wealthy landowner and a Duque.
Pedro is amused and determined to hire Jaine out from under her aunt. He promises a life outside of the colorless drab world she’s in and enough money to make it lucrative. Jaine accepts and becomes his son’s companion and caretaker. The son, quite frankly, reads as an excuse for her presence because even with his disability the boy never really makes a big splash or seems to have purpose.
The story is very chaste. We never see anything beyond some passionate kisses. It ends in a bittersweet way similar to Sound of Music. They’re together, but they’re leaving a lot behind in their effort to make it to safety.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Buy: The Girl At Goldenhawk
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October 4th, 2009 — 3 Stars, Arabia/Middle East, Book Review, Category, Contemporary, Gambling, Interracial, Kings, Princes, Sheiks, Chiefs, M-O, Racing, Rogues and Rakehells, Sheik/Desert
My only complaint is that this novel isn’t longer! I feel like this was a good start and now the author should flush it out with more details, more scenes, more, more, more. The ending was much too rushed to wrap everything up to my satisfaction. I felt like I read half a book only to get about four paragraphs of the ending. I feel very deprived. Pout.
This story is very chaste, no sex and only a few passionate kisses. The build up was there and could have developed further. I did enjoy the line about her response to him making a mockery of her modesty.
Pollyanna (Polly) has devoted her energies into Shelton, the historic seat and castle of the ducal Missenden family. Polly’s mother, had been the family’s housekeeper for years and married into the Missendens, but Richard’s offspring do not approve. Anthony the heir puts up the most fight and subsequently Polly has never felt she belonged. She does not have any rights on the castle that has always been her home and Anthony would just as soon be rid of her and the castle. (He gambles and the money would help him pay his debts.)
It’s time for a change. Joining her friend Minty’s documentary production crew Polly is off to Amrah, the Arbian kingdom her great-grandmother fell in love with (at a price.) Polly is also instantly drawn to Amrah’s playboy sheik, Rashid.
For his part, Rashid wants to keep a close eye on Polly. He’s determined to find out if she knew and was behind her stepbrother’s plot to swindle him on a thoroughbred horse. Of course his intentions and attentions get muddled as his motivation changes from revenge to lust.
Rating: 3 Stars
Originally posted 2009-01-20 05:21:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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August 8th, 2009 — Reader Highlights
Isabel G. is Susan's sister and the subject of this reader highlight. Isabel is incredibly active on Love Romance Passion, always commenting with fun witty responses. The conversation on this blog wouldn't be the same without her and now I have the pleasure of introducing her to everyone. Say hello to Isabel!
Keira: What is your secret guilty plot or character trope that you love beyond reason?
Isabel G: I am guilty of reading books about werewolves or vampires falling in love with a human. Arrest me now for my guilty pleasure!
Keira: Haha, if I did, you'd have to arrest me too because I like those plots also! Where were you when you got your first kiss?
Isabel G: This might get me in hot water with my husband! LOL I was sixteen years old and a friend from high school came over to watch a movie at my parent’s house. My mother was in another room so he must have thought it was the perfect opportunity. I turned to face him one second to ask a question and he grabbed my face with both hands and leaned in to give me one of the most passionate kisses of my life. We are no longer friends but it was a memorable kiss!
Keira: That's so sweet. What do you look for in a heroine? Do you like her to be similar to you, or do you want someone completely different?
Isabel G: I like a heroine to have some similarities and some differences to my own characteristics. It is inspiring to read about a heroine who can support herself, is not afraid to voice her opinion, and is not afraid to flirt. However, every now and then I also like to read about female characters that are shy and the male takes the lead.
Keira: The perfect heroine might then be the oxymoron of a shy-flirtatious female. What makes up your idea of the perfect hero?
Isabel G: What an important question indeed! After all this is why we read romance, no? The hero, in my opinion, should be secure and exude confidence. He should be able to laugh at things and yet be serious enough to take charge in the bedroom.
Keira: Ooo lala! What is your favorite romance novel right now?
Isabel G: I just finished reading Lori Foster’s Hard to Handle
and it was amazing!
Keira: Guest review? Hehe. What romance novel are you reading now?
Isabel G: Midnight Desire
which my sister bought for me as a birthday gift.
Keira: Which book do you plan to read next?
Isabel G: It’s part of Harlequin Blaze by Kate Hoffmann. The title of the book is The Mighty Quinns: Brody
.
Keira: How big is your TBR pile?
Isabel G: There are currently 14 books sitting on my nightstand! It is difficult to find time to read after starting college but I try to make time every night to grab a book, take a bath and disconnect with everything else.
Keira: Good plan! Bring one in your purse for downtime between when you arrive at class and before the instructor starts teaching. That's how I got a lot of reading done. How do you define love?
Isabel G: Love makes you do things you would have been afraid to do otherwise. I lived in Florida with my parents and my friend of five years was in the military at that time. He returned to the states and was going to be stationed in Kentucky. I turned to my parents and said I want to go visit him. It was a big deal because before that moment I was terrified of traveling anywhere alone! A few days later I was on a plane to visit him and while I was there he asked me to marry him.
Keira: Wow! That's so amazingly sweet! Okay, last question, Isabel. What is your favorite feature at Love Romance Passion?
Isabel G: My favorite feature is that we are allowed to write comments, duh! Another thing is that it is updated regularly and there is always something good to read. There is also variety as far as what is posted. You can expect everything from humor, contests, to being engaged in a debate of the minds.
Keira: 
Thanks so much Isabel for sharing with us! Be fabulous!
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