Innocence and Impropriety

Author: Diane Gaston
Published: March 2007 (Harlequin)
Category: Historical Romance
Rating: 8/10

Ah, forbidden love. Jameson Flynn, secretary to the Marquess of Tannerton, is required to aquire Tanner's latest mistress. The Vauxhall Gardens singer, Rose O'Keefe has captured Tanner's attention, and once Flynn hears her song, he's fallen as well. But falling for Rose isn't an option, as Flynn has higher aspirations than being secretary to a marquess. He'd like to work in the government, or serve royalty, and he's definitely qualified to move up. Tanner has the connections to get him one of these coveted positions, so Flynn decides to put his career before his heart.

Rose, living with her father and his doxy (a horrible harridan of a woman), is being pushed to becoming Tanner's mistress, as he will protect her from other men and line the pockets of her father and the doxy. She's been told that the marquess could make or break her career, and with his sponsorship, she could sing in King's Theatre, a long-standing dream of Rose's. She knows she'll have to accept Tanner, who's known to be generous to his mistresses, but is torn because she has feelings for Flynn.

Because Flynn's handling the negotiations to acquire Rose, he spends a lot of time with her, supposedly singing Tanner's praises, but he and Rose fall even more deeply in love with each outing. Gaston writes these lovely, heartbreaking moments for them, where they're together for just a moment, but duty makes them step away, like when they dine with Tanner and one of Rose's friends in Vauxhall. They switch partners on the dance floor and Rose and Flynn waltz this perfect and passionate waltz, only to have Flynn escort her back to Tanner's side afterward. Despite trying to keep his distance, Flynn can't help caring for Rose, even arranging Tanner's gifts to truly suit her. For example, Rose isn't the kind of woman who craves jewels. Instead, Flynn arranged singing lessons for her at King's Theater, and she knew that he was behind it, not Tanner.

One annoying thing: With all the time and conversation spent together, Rose never mentions that she's never been with a man before. It's not like she had to say that she was a virgin, but she could've said she's never been a man's mistress. But that was part of the book's conflict, and it was resolved quickly enough when Flynn gets over it. I think he was more upset that he had almost given a virgin to Tanner (but that was before Rose wanted him for just one day before she officially became Tanner's mistress) than the fact that she hadn't told him about it.

The villian is the Earl of Greythorne, a cruel man with an affinity for sadism. I think he was the weakest part of the book because as a villain, he was a bit cartoonish. I was imagining one of those silent film villains who ties the girl up to the train tracks while stroking his mustache, holding his cape for dramatic effect. But yet again, he was a means to an end, serving as a not-so-deep source of conflict in a short book.

The resolution was fantastic, and I found myself falling a little in love with Tanner, because he's really a good guy; he just needs to find the right woman. He's even jealous of what couple has together, but supports Flynn's career decision and stays in touch with them after Flynn leaves his employ.

I'd definitely read more Diane Gaston in the future, and she also writes under the name of Diane Perkins as well.

The Ramshackle Suitor

Author: Nancy Butler
Published: March 2000 (Signet)
Category: Regency Romance
Quote of Choice: "Stop squirming. More ill has come of women squirming than from any two countries spatting over boundaries."
Rating: 9/10

I'm so glad I gave Nancy Butler a try! She was a completely random pick (most likely because I liked the cover), and I'm going to look for her other titles.

Lucy Parnell, governess by trade, has come to the Isle of Man on a personal quest. She believes her dead sister's bastard child is calling for her to find him in her dreams. While walking in the countryside, she finds a man in a ditch, dressed in attire from the time of King Charles II. And it appears he's made an enemy of an angry ram, forcing him and Lucy up a tree for safety, and she shares the story of her quest to him. So begins the acquaintance of Lucy Parnell and Roderick Kempthrone, gentleman of leisure. Lucy's odious stepbrother tracks her down and tries to force her to quit her quest. When she refuses, he steals her trunk, which contains her money and clothes. Roddy is kind enough to offer her a place to stay with his friend, the Earl of Steyne and also wishes to help her find the long-lost nephew, resulting in lots of time spent with her in the process.

This has to be one of the most passionate Signet Regency Romances I've ever read. Not in that smutty historical romance way, but in the stolen kisses way. Lucy winds up torn between the ramshackle Roddy, with no job or money, and the man who's been courting her back in Manchester, Sir Humphrey Dumbarton. Roddy calls him Sir Humpty Dumpty, and does his best to make her see that her life would be happier if she chose the ramshackle fellow instead. Oh, and Roddy is conveniently rich, even as the youngest child of the most wealthy family in all of Cornwall.

The background story is very compelling as well, with the mystery child and the horrible stepbrother who definitely gets his comeuppance in the end. The book felt like it was a lot longer than its 214 pages, as I've slogged through 400 page books that didn't accomplish half as much as this one in terms of reader satisfaction. It's also one of those romances where the hero and heroine are not the only match made, as two other couples find each other, and new families are brought together.

An excellent cozy read. Now please excuse me, as I hunt for more Nancy Butler books.

Marley & Me

Author: John Grogan
Published: October 2005 (William Morrow)
Category: Memoir
Rating: 6/10

There was so much hype about Marley & Me that I think my expectations rose to unrealistic levels. The book isn't really about Marley the badly behaved Labrador retriever, but about John Grogan. The thing is, I didn't really care about Grogan, or his experiences beginning a family. Sure, some of Marley's escapades are funny, and I've been through some of them myself, having grown up with a rowdy beagle with a penchant for escaping at any given opportunity.

One part of this book really bothered me. After giving birth to their second child, Grogan's wife Jenny suffers from post-partum depression and she begins lashing out at Marley, saying she wants to get rid of the dog. Grogan even comes home one time to find Jenny beating Marley (ineffectually), screaming and crying. It just made me think about all those family dogs that are given up when newborns arrive, and Marley just happened to get lucky in his situation. He was so close to being given up by the family that took him in, and that was so sad.

Would you give away your child because he was being difficult? But yes, I know that most people would say that you can't use that kind of comparison. I'll use the example provided by an idiot I used to work with. Chuck had a cat, but then Chuck got a dog, and the cat didn't like the dog, so they gave away the cat. So it's easy to handle your problem like that, by giving it away? It's the most cowardly, loserly example of giving up and I can't stand when people do that. When you take these animals into your home, you promise to give them a home and they trust you. What choice do they have? It's not like they can reason with you or plead their case to you if you think it'd be easier to ditch them.

The serious tearjerking moment is in the last few chapters of the book, describing Marley's decline. I'm not sure if it's just from the story or thinking about my old dog who's approaching the end of his breed's lifespan. After reading the book, I didn't care any more for Grogan or his family than I did at the beginning. Marley was everything a dog should be: an unconditional best friend.

However, if you're looking for a great animal story, read James Herriot instead. It's funny and less fluffy, and I felt like I actually learned something after reading his books. After reading Marley & Me, I thought there was a possibility I'd lost a few brain cells because it really didn't go anywhere, and Grogan didn't seem like a real person until he had to deal with his dog dying.

Glory in Death

Author: J.D. Robb
Published: December 1, 1995 (Berkley)
Category: Romantic Suspense
Series: In Death #2
Rating: 8/10

These J.D. Robb books are really fast fluffy reads (with a more serious twist)! A famous prosecutor has been murdered and Eve is put on point again at the special request of her commanding officer, a close friend of the victim. It's a delicate case because it's personal to her boss's family and Eve isn't treated very well during the course of the investigation as another well-known woman is murdered, and an attempt is made on a third woman, but she's saved because another victim is stabbed by mistaken identity.

While Eve is under attack for lack of progress, she's dealing with her growing relationship with Roarke. Unlike the usual male, Roarke is eager for their relationship to go to the next step, and he's upset when Eve goes back to her apartment to sleep when he goes away on business. They practically live together in his mansion, but she's not comfortable with the idea of moving in officially, as it might take away her independence and she's afraid to let get that close to someone, as she was abused her own father.

To me, the crime portion of the book isn't as important as the story of Eve and Roarke, which is the constant in the series (so far). It serves as an interesting backdrop to the romance. The relationship reminds me of Christina and Burke of Grey's Anatomy, where the hero is more giving and girl-like in terms of romance than the heroine, who focuses so much on her job. Roarke decides to present Eve with an ultimatum: All or nothing. So they separate for a while and Eve suddenly finds that she's hurting without Roarke, and they get back together and she admits she loves him. Roarke, like an utter romantic, had already declared his love long before she did. And it certainly doesn't hurt that her boyfriend is a billionaire with the ability to jet off to foreign locales at the drop of a hat.

This was a great read and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read the next in the series, Immortal in Death.

Naked in Death

Author: J.D. Robb
Published: July 1, 1995 (Berkley)
Category: Romantic Suspense
Series: In Death #1
Rating: 8/10

This is my first Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb book and after reading Naked in Death, I wonder what took me so long to give her a try! I absolutely could not put down this book. I was also surprised that this book is set in the future, as the cover blurb did not hint at that and the cover image looks like a present-day police precinct with normal squadcars, none of the flying cars with autopilot mode described in the book.

A serial murderer is on the loose in future Manhattan, and Eve's point on the investigation. The murderer has an affinity for licensed companions (futurespeak for prostitutes/escorts). One of the suspects is Roarke, billionaire extraordinaire. It's just Roarke— no first name. I wonder if we'll ever find out. I bet it's something like Gaylord. He's not the stereotypical alpha male character, because he's quite smitten over Eve. His alpha nature comes out in his attitude when it comes to pursuing her, showing her his collection of firearms (they're illegal in the future, and owned primarily by collectors) even though he knows he has the same model weapons as the murder weapons.

Eve gives in to Roarke after a romantic evening of target practice, which is a career-endangering decision as she's the leading officer sleeping with a suspect. When she later questions Roarke following the discovery of a planted piece of evidence pointing bloody fingers at him, there seems to be a moment where their new relationship may die before it even started crawling. But Roarke is a different kind of hero, understanding that Eve's job is part of who she is and she was doing her job. So there's no drawn-out struggle of "this is who I am, why can't you accept it?" which was a breath of fresh air for me after reading romances where people don't communicate and the conflict is stretched as thin and long as possible and I'm wishing I could knock the characters upside the head.

Anyways, great story, characters, and setting. I can't wait to read more about Eve and Roarke!

Something Wonderful

Author: Judith McNaught
Published: April 1988 (Pocket Books)
Category: Historical Romance
Rating: 5/10

Arrogant nobleman gets rescued from certain death-by-highway-robbery by a young girl from the country wearing an old suit of armor and when all is said and done, must marry her. Sounds like a good start right? I certainly thought so, and it was a lovely start to what could have been a flawless romance. Unfortunately, the followthrough was not what I expected.

The cover blurb didn't tell me that Jordan Townsende, Duke of Hawthorne, would be attacked just four days after his marriage and assumed dead. He was survived by his wife, Alexandra Lawrence, new Duchess of Hawthorne, ignorant to society's rules of decorum. To be honest, I glazed over most of the part where Alexandra is on her own. To me, the building of the relationship between hero and heroine is vastly important, and it was jerked away from me just when it was getting good.

Jordan returns after heroically saving a bunch of people he was impressed with (sold to work on a navy vessel), about thirteen months after his disappearance. He finds that his wife is about to marry his cousin, Anthony, the new Duke of Hawthorne, and rushes in to stop the wedding. He also finds that his wife isn't all smiles about his return. Automatically, he thinks two awful things: 1. His charmingly innocent country girl of a wife is actually power hungry and wants to continue holding the title of Duchess of Hawthorne or 2. She's in love with his cousin for real.

While Jordan and Alexandra are hashing out the details of their marriage, someone's making attempts on Jordan's life... most likely the same person who got Jordan impressed a year before. Alexandra keeps going on with her "I will not love my husband even though I really love him" stance and Jordan barrels his way through re-romancing his wife. That means he's really brusque and arrogant all over again, not acting like the man Alexandra fell in love with. To compound the problem, Fawkes, the man hired to investigate the attempts on Jordan's life believes that Alexandra and Anthony have the most to gain by offing the duke. Anthony would gain the dukedom and the duchess.

Of course, Jordan believes Fawkes and doesn't bother discussing things with Alexandra, even believing that she's an accessory to the murder plot at the very end when he's faced with the true perpetrators. I wanted to smack him upside the head! And of course, it takes Alexandra's near-death to snap him back to a loving husband. Ugh. Talk about wanting what you can't have.

Agh! So frustrating and aggravating when it could've been so much better! It's not like the writing was bad; the story was awful.

Slave to Sensation

Author: Nalini Singh
Published: September 5, 2006 (Berkley)
Category: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 7/10

Singh has created a futuristic world (though not heavy on future technology so that it may as well be an alternate reality) where there are three types of humanoids. There are the Psy, which are humans with varying types of psychic powers (i.e. telekinetic, telepathic, teleporting, etc.). Then there are the Changelings, which are humans with the ability to change to a particular animal form. There are different clans that represent a multitude of species (i.e. DarkRiver is a leopard clan and SnowDancers are wolves). And then there are plain ol' humans. No special powers except their stupendous ho hum mundanity.

Anyways, Sascha Duncan is the daughter of a powerful Psy council member. She believes she's defective, as all Psy have been trained to feel zero emotion, and she's got all these feelings that she's had to hide all her life. After over two decades of this hiding, her shields are starting to fall apart, and being introduced to Lucas Hunter, head of the DarkRiver Changeling clan, doesn't help her situation at all. He's all about feelings and oozes sensuality and he and Sascha are having a hard time staying unattracted to each other.

Lucas has entered into a business deal with the Duncans and Sascha is to be the liaison. Normally, Changelings would avoid dealing with the Psy, but a serial murderer smelling like a Psy has been killing young Changeling women. When working with Sascha in close quarters, Lucas finds that she's unlike any Psy he's ever known or heard of, seeing that she displays emotions (though she tries to hide them), and she also has the hots for him.

Upon learning about the supposed serial murderer Psy, Sascha doesn't want to believe it, but she comes across information that there have been dozens of murderers amongst the Psy. The Council quietly takes care of the problems, erasing the minds of the less important criminals and controlling the more important ones by supplying them with fresh victims. The council hides these crimes so they can continue perpetuating the idea that suppressing all emotion is the way to live. With this knowledge, Sascha decides to help the Changelings and she figures it's a suicide mission anyways to hack into the Psy mind network (sort of like Professor X on X-Men!) and they'll kill her when they find out she's "defective."

I really like the way Singh writes and I loooooooved Lucas. He was a great alpha male character without being overly macho. I think the fact that there was an animal instinct behind all of his alpha male actions tempered the manliness. I didn't like Sascha very much as a heroine though. Too much of this "Woe is me, I'm broken and refuse to think that there might be a way to live through this," like Peter Parker.

Something I really noticed though was a similarity to some elements of Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy. At the end, they say that the new network of minds created with Sascha's help looks like brighly colored stars in the night sky, some shining more brightly than others. That's very much like the different colored jewels people wore in Bishop's world, and the different colors indicated the levels of power. Sascha also identified people based on their "stars" of Psy power, like when Jaenelle identified Surreal because she was the only gray-jeweled witch in the realm. Anyways, if you've read Anne Bishop, you won't have problems grasping this world created by Singh.

Fool Moon

Author: Jim Butcher
Published: January 1, 2001 (Roc)
Category: Fantasy
Series: Dresden Files #2
Rating: 7/10

To those who watch The Dresden Files on the SciFi channel, this book will appear as a bigger and better version of the show's "Hair of the Dog" episode. In the TV episode, the FBI agents investigating the case are the werewolves and they're committing all the murders because they're trying to break the curse, which involves killing a certain number of werewolves created by the one that wishes to break free. There was none of that in the book, and I thought that was better because I'd never heard of a way to break the curse and it seemed contrived just so the show could wrap up easily.

In Fool Moon a serial murder is running wild, killing people and using tools to make it look like it was done by a giant wolf. That's what the police believe, but Harry Dresden, called in by Lt. Murphy, knows better. The nice thing about the books is that Murphy acknowledges the existence of magic and the creatures associated with it. Bob (doesn't have a human form in books, just a voice from the skull) gives us a thorough education on the various forms of werewolves, including a type of werewolf-by-option, where a person obtains an enchanted belt of wolf pelt that enables them to change to a werewolf when they wish, rather than by the command of the moon.

The biggest thing that annoyed me was the repeat of the distrust Murphy has for Dresden. She had him arrested at one point and her dependence on really circumstantial evidence was tiring. It wasn't even the evidence that made her angry; it was the fact that Dresden didn't mention something that happened before the case even started, one of those miscommunication things that I hate in books. How was he to know it was relevant until a victim he knew turned up dead?

Overall, a nicely written fantasy/mystery. It was surprisingly complex, but maybe I feel that way because I watched the TV episode based off this novel. But the show is good. You should watch it!

Goddess of the Sea

Author: P.C. Cast
Published: October 7, 2003 (Berkley)
Category: Romance
Series: Goddess Summoning
Rating: 7/10

Air Force Sergeant Christine Canady ("CC") is about to start a several-month-long post in the Middle East when her plane goes down on the way to her destination. Fortunately for her, she summoned the goddess Gaea a couple days before she left during a solitary drunken birthday night. In her ritual, she wished for more magic in her life, and when she fled the plane wreckage into the Mediterranean Sea, she meets the mermaid Undine, daughter of Neptune and Gaea. They strike a bargain, and for CC to continue living, she agrees to switch places with Undine.

However, Undine didn't tell CC that a 'roided up merman named Sarpedon, who happens to be Undine's half-brother (eeeeeuw) is set on mating with her. He's macho and controlling, saying that Undine will be his, like she's chattel. To protect Undine/CC, Gaea gives her a human form, but she must return to the sea every three days to change back to a mermaid or she'll die. If Undine finds her true love, she can wear her legs permanently.

When the change to human form takes place, it's sudden and Undine is struggling to stay afloat when another merman, Dylan, rescues her and helps her to shore. He is kind to her, and realizes that this Undine is not the mermaid he's known since childhood, and that another soul inhabits her body, but he is attracted to this new soul. So Undine pretends to be a shipwreck survivor and is picked up by a knight named Andras and taken to a nearby monastery. As they are living in the medieval times, men are in charge, women are chattel, and beauty and magic are the work of the devil.

While Undine believes the handsome knight could be her true love, his views on women (they should be seen not heard, pious, dependent on their husbands, etc.) severely offended her modern-day woman's sensibilities. Plus, Andras's occasional bursts of irrational anger were frightening, and some of these incidents were due to Sarpedon's influence. He possessed the knight and used Andras's lust for Undine to his advantage, twisting it into something evil.

Undine turns to Dylan and finds her true love in him. It's a sweet just-add-water romance (ha ha, they're merpeople!) that comes out of nowhere without much of a foundation. And what follows over the next couple weeks is some far from traditional lurving. Merpeople sex, merman-woman sex, regular human-human sex. I can now say that after reading this book, I know how merpeople do it!

Too much manly oppression in this book. There was Andras, Sarpedon, and Abbot William. I know that they're not real people, but every time they said something about how women who act independent are wild and need discipline from their menfolk, I'd get really annoyed.

It all comes to a head when we have a battle royale between Sarpedon and Dylan with divine interference, as Gaea and Neptune appear to pass judgment on the participants in the story. The servant women who helped Undine are justly rewarded for their bravery and the manly jerks got their comeuppance. CC returns to her own time now that Undine no longer has to fear Sarpedon, and she finds her own happiness back in the future.

It was a sweet story, but I was annoyed during much of the book.

The Rejected Suitor

Author: Teresa McCarthy
Published: April 2004 (Signet)
Category: Regency Romance
Rating: 6/10

This book had a lot of promise, but it got too complicated for its own good. Basically, Lady Emily Clearbrook's four older brothers have returned from the war and have decided to marry her off to a suitable gentleman. They are unaware that she was almost engaged to Jared Ashton, Earl of Stonebridge, three years prior, but due to the machinations of their father, Jared was set up to appear as though he'd compromised another woman, and they had to marry to save both their reputations. Emily's brothers are also unaware that she served as a spy called the Silver Fox during the war, and in the course of her missions, she indirectly saved Jared's life and took a bullet in the shoulder for her troubles.

Emily still loves Jared, and she is thrown in his way when her brothers send her to a more remote estate under the care of her great aunt Agatha, who also happens to be her boss at the War Office. Jared is amazed at how much he's still attracted to Emily, and at how angry she is with him. When it seems like the romance will take off, Emily is swept off to London for the season.

She keeps complaining that she doesn't want her husband chosen for her, but she gave up so easily. For God's sake, the woman was a spy, and she couldn't even stand up to her own brothers. That's what made this book so difficult to enjoy. And four brothers? That was too many and I lost track of the middle two brothers because they were so unremarkable. They more often served as yes-men to the eldest (the duke), and the youngest brother was on Emily's side sometimes, but followed the rest of the boys when he most needed to stand up for his sister.

Then it gets crazier, what with the addition of the jealous Susan Wimble, who thinks she's about to become engaged to Jared. Of course, Emily overhears this after Jared declares his love and asks her to marry him. She gets pissed and refuses Jared. Then they reconcile. Then she finds out that he didn't tell her about his hidden daughter, and refuses him again. Then she almost marries her mother's former beau (eeeuw), but Jared climbs through her window to convince her he's really trustworthy, etc.

After all the trouble and the announcement that there will be a double wedding (Jared and Emily with Emily's mother and her former betrothed), there isn't even a description of how the dowager duchess handles the announcement that she will get a chance with true love after all!

Too much back and forth for a 217-page regency! There was also a lot of male dialogue, what with four brothers and Jared taking much of the stage. I should've found a lot of it amusing, but it was a little over the top with the juvenile testosterone and I couldn't believe them calling each other "nincompoops."

Mr. Darcy's Diary

Author: Amanda Grange
Published: March 27, 2007 (Sourcebooks)
Category: Historical Romance
Rating: 8/10

First, I have to point out that I did not read this book as a die-hard Pride and Prejudice fan. I love the story, but I have not reread the book since my sophomore year in high school. Every time I mean to pick it up, I get about as far as Elizabeth going to Netherfield to nurse Jane back to health. So, as someone who's not a big stickler, I can say that I really enjoyed reading this alternative version of P&P. The format in which it's written is extremely fast to read, and I'd say this is a way for students to cheat their way around reading the real version of P&P, but they wouldn't be able to tell what's from the actual book and what's from Grange's version alone.

I've said before that I love epilogues, and Mr. Darcy's Diary provides a very satisfying account of events following the established end of P&P, even providing Lady Catherine's letter in reaction to her nephew's marriage. The language was abusive indeed! However, the letter doesn't ruin their happiness and we hear about how Elizabeth and Georgiana become great friends, and how the young Darcy girl blossoms in the company of her new sister.

One of the biggest problems I had with Linda Berdoll's interpretation of events post-P&P was the marriage of Georgiana Darcy to Colonel Fitzwilliam. In Mr. Darcy's Diary, instead of deciding Georgiana's choice of husband, we get to know Anne de Bourgh better and understand the root of her illness, which is quite believable, based on what we know of her overbearing mother. And we get to see Anne find a husband in her cousin (ugh), the colonel, and begin to stand up to her mother, which satisfied me to no end.

I do wish there was more about Caroline Bingley. Darcy does realize that she is not the genteel woman he thought she was, but I have to say that I thought there could've been more on that. Darcy just says that she sucks it up and pretends to be polite so she'll be welcome in Pemberley. I found that after reading Mr. Darcy's Diary, I disliked Caroline much more than before.
The diary entries gave me a peek into Grange's version of Darcy, and I don't think her idea is an unbelievable one. She doesn't present Darcy as a hugely emotional and passionate man pouring out his heart to his diary (I would've found that more unbelievable). Instead, I saw a man who was used to controlling every aspect of his life and struggling with his confusing feelings for Elizabeth Bennet... against his better judgment.

I really didn't want this book to end, as Grange's description of events following P&P were excellent. I melted a little when Darcy brings Elizabeth to her new home, and tells her that she is free to redecorate Pemberley as she wishes, but she says she will change nothing because the rooms remind her of her first visit to the estate. Awwww.

Lie By Moonlight

Author: Amanda Quick
Published: June 2005 (Putnam)
Category: Historical Romance
Rating: 9/10

It's another book where the heroine is a teacher! Miss Concordia Glade has recently taken a post at a charter school for orphaned young ladies. However, she soon catches wind that there is a darker reason for her four students' presence in the remote castle. Apparently, a London crime lord with aspirations to higher social standing is going to sell the four young ladies off as classy courtesans. Concordia concots a plan of escape - a plan that includes setting the castle on fire (they didn't mean for the explosions to be that effective) and a midnight flight on horseback.

Their plan seems to be going very well up until they reach the stables, when two unsavory men try to stop them, but Concordia kills one of them with her lantern (not realizing she'd actually kill him), and the mysterious Ambrose Wells, gentleman thief, dispatches the other and helps the ladies escape.

Both Concordia and Ambrose have dirty laundry in their armoires. Concordia is actually the daughter of two famous forward-thinkers. Her parents believed in equal education for men and women. They even had some sort of free-thinking hippie commune. Concordia changed her name so she'd be able to obtain teaching jobs, as no proper society family would want their daughters tainted by a woman from her background.

Ambrose, on the other hand, comes from a family of thieves and con artists, but they were all considered gentlemen because of their family name. His father was murdered and Ambrose escaped, starting a life on the streets. Then he was caught by a wise gentleman named John Stoner (heh, stoner) who wanted a pupil to teach this ancient Asian art called Vanza. So he became Ambrose's Obi-Wan (without the dying at the hand of Darth Vader) and made him his heir. Ambrose no longer needed to steal for his living and used his skills to help people. He would take on assignments, like the one that led him to Concordia, in exchange for favors, not money. For example, this assignment was from a parasol maker who wanted to know who murdered her sister. The police ruled it as an accident, but she knows there was foul play. Ambrose said that for his fee, he would probably need a parasol or two someday.

Ambrose kindly takes Concordia and her students into his luxurious home as his guests, as it is unsafe for them to go off on their own while the crime lord is searching for his stolen "property." Concordia, being an independent, forward-thinking woman, insists on helping with his investigation, and to ensure her participation, she "hires" Ambrose to find out what's going on, and demands that, as his employer, she get to go along. At this point in a so-so book, the heroine would bumble along in investigations, being as NOT slick as possible and get caught snooping in an office. Concordia is not so stupid, and very smart in her role as Ambrose's assistant, although there were a couple close calls, one in which she was almost raped. Ambrose saved the day, of course, and refused to let her participate again. She disobeys him anyway, and saves Ambrose's life.

And you know, Ambrose and Concordia have to discuss their findings and speculations in the library at night with no chaperones or students hanging about. And you know what follows when you're reading an Amanda Quick novel....

Supporting characters are well crafted. You'd think with four young ladies, they'd all blend together, but I didn't feel that way and I liked all of them. They were even similar to Concordia, since they were her students, and stood up for her romantic interests, telling Ambrose that he should marry her lest Concordia wind up like a sensation novel heroine, disgraced after being ravished. So Ambrose, knowing Concordia's independent nature, proposes an unconventional proposal. He lays the onus upon her, saying that Concordia should be the one to propose marriage to him. He even jokes when she asks to speak to him alone, that he doesn't think they should speak in the library, as she might ravish him again.

The ending is most happy and the solution to the mystery is a nice twist indeed. I loved this book.

Jack of Clubs

Author: Barbara Metzger
Published: March 7, 2006 (Signet)
Category: Regency Romance
Series: House of Cards Trilogy #2
Rating: 9/10

Captain Jonathan Endicott has returned from the war and doesn't quite know what to do with himself. He doesn't want to follow any of his older brother Ace's suggestions, or his wife Nell's for that matter. They suggest the usual things, like becoming a man about town, or an assistant to Ace's estate, etc. Jack has know interest in those things.

So he opens up a gambling parlor called the Red and the Black. He intends to use it to bring attention to the Endicotts' continued quest to find their long-lost sister Charlotte. He figures that he'll interview blond women responding to the posters around the city. He's also looking for some female companionship, but to avoid sleeping with a woman who could be his sister, he decides to hire only redheads and raven-haired ladies to work in the parlor, and he can flirt with any of those he chooses.

While Jack is preparing for his opening, he doesn't realize more responsibility is headed his way. Miss Allie Silver is escorting his new ward Harriet to his doorstep due to the wishy-washy will of one of his former fellow soldiers. Harriet was supposed to go to her grandparents due to a series of unfortunate events. Her mother was murdered by her uncle, and her father died in the war. She was supposed to go to her grandparents, but her grandfather just passed away and her grandmother was placed in a looney bin.

Of course, Allie is appalled at the idea of Harriet living in close proximity to such debauchery, but they have no choice. Jack also isn't too happy about this development, as he'll surely lose his license if a child is discovered in the public rooms of his house. However, the naughty, conniving little imp soon worms her way into his heart, and little does he know, but Harriet has a plan for Allie to marry Jack, so she can have a real family that can't ship her off on a whim.

Unfortunately, Jack's ladybird doesn't take kindly to the intrusion of teacher and pupil. She concocts a story that Allie is a former lover of Jack's trying to pass off Harriet as their bastard. The ladybird is so vicious that she leaks the story to one of the biggest papers in London, thereby ruining Allie's chances of finding another respectable teaching position. There are positions aplenty in the homes of less-than-honorable gentlemen, but Allie's smarter than that. So it seems as though there's no choice but to stay with Harriet in the house of loose morals.

Allie actually saves the Red and the Black from arson, rousing the house and helping to put out the fire in good time, and it's after this near-tragedy that Jack kisses her for the first time and they realize how much they're attracted to each other, despite the doubts and warnings in each person's mind. Jack even tries to send Allie and Harriet away to stay at Carde House so Allie can save what's left of her reputation.

Harriet is not to be thwarted by a change of location. She goes "missing," visiting Allie's estranged grandfather. Apparently, Allie's mother had the nerve to marry for love rather than fortune and prestige, and the grandfather has wanted nothing to do with Allie, having the paper declare her dead in reaction to the gossip provided by Jack's ladybird. In reaction to the falsehood he had printed, Allie stood up to her grandfather with a smart speech about being a true gentleman. Anyways, Harriet went to Lord Montford to convince him to give Allie the dowry that was intended for her mother, as Jack needs to marry someone with a fortune. The child is so cunning that you can't help but smile at her schemes.

And so there's a humorous and happy ending, with Jack proposing to an unwitting Allie, who thinks he's actually asking her to become his mistress. At this point, she figures she'll take what she can get, and agrees, thinking she's the new ladybird. The shortlived confusion is especially hilarious when Allie blurts out her surprise in front of Lord Montford, who's decided to welcome Allie back into the family.

An excellent reformed rake read :)

The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires

Author: Katie MacAlister
Published: April 3, 2007 (Signet)
Category: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 7/10

This entry into MacAlister's "Dark Ones" books is a stand-alone novel and you don't need to read previous titles to understand what's going on in LOTRHV.

Portia Harding is touring the English countryside with her best friend Sarah, a best-selling author, researching paranormal phenomena. The only problem is: Portia is a die-hard skeptic, believing on things that can be proven with science. Think of Agent Scully on the X-Files, before she got abducted by aliens and all that stuff. However, Portia soon finds herself in possession of weather-controlling powers after some time in a faerie ring. Right after that, Theo North, a nephilim (son of an angel), is chasing after her and then supposedly protecting her. Of course, she doesn't believe him.

As a new virtue, Portia has to undergo a series of tests to see if she should be allowed into the Court of Divine Blood, which humans have a based their idea of heaven upon, and it is the opposite to MacAlister's Abaddon (Hell). I was really interested in the development of the idea of the Court, as we've read about Abaddon in many of MacAlister's paranormal romances, but no real mention of a heaven-type of place. Hopefully it will appear again in a later book, and we'll get to see it in a less-turmoil-filled light.

Portia is supposed to be a physicist, but I think there's a problem with trying to make your main character have a career that is so far removed from the author's experience. You have to make the character sound convincing in such a technical field, so you can't be too simple in your references to physics, but at the same time, when referring to really complex and obscure physics facts, the reader can't relate.

Anyways, she spent the first third of the book denying that anything magical or unexplainable by science could occur, even though a raincloud following you around is a pretty good sign of something odd. Once she admitted that there are some things beyond logical explanation, the book really took off.

Poor Theo gets turned into a Dark One as punishment for the unorthodox way Portia handled one of her trials, and so they've to to get his soul back through the 7 steps of joining. So amid Portia being accused of murdering a virtue (the one who bestowed the weather-control powers on her), they've got to get Theo's soul back and solve the mystery of the missing virtue.

The story was good, but Portia annoyed me for that first third of the book too much. Once she stopped being so stubborn, I was able to fully enjoy myself.

To Rescue a Rogue

Author: Jo Beverley
Published: September 5, 2006 (Signet)
Category: Historical Romance
Rating: 8/10

My first Jo Beverley, and it was pretty good!

Adamara St. Bride is on the verge of scandal, walking down a London street wearing nothing but a shift and stockings, covered with a blanket, and she needs help fast. She's quite aware that she's on the verge of being ruined should she be discovered, and takes refuge outside the front door of an old friend, Lord Darius Debenham. He finds her in front of his door and brings her inside and gets her cleaned up and clothed with one of his sister's old gowns, and is rather incensed at the idea of a man (old enough to be Mara's father) taking advantage of Mara and imprisoning her away from home sans clothing (so she can't escape), but that didn't stop the daring Mara.

She's cursed with what the St. Bride family calls "devil hair," inherited from the ancestor, Ademar St. Bride. It's very dark hair with red highlights, and only she and Simon, her older brother, have it. In short, it dooms Mara to a life of passion, recklessness, and obstinance. Mara's object of obstinance is now Dare. She realizes, after he rescues her, that she's loved him for the longest time, as he was always around when they were children. He has become a strong and kind man, but went through a tragic experience in the war. He was trampled by the cavalry when his horse was shot out from under him, and an evil Belgian widow nursed him back to health, but kept him captive by addicting him to opium. He's now trying to break away from the addiction, but the previous times he's tried, he's failed and almost died. This time, it's all or nothing, and Mara is going to make sure he succeeds... so they can live happily ever after.

There's not much more to the story beyond Mara and Dare trying to get through his addiction. There's a bit of intrigue when a spurned lover (Mara's old dude), tries starting a nasty rumor about Dare, saying that he was hiding from the fighting and that's why he was trampled by cavalry. They solve the problem quickly, with the help of the Rogues, a group of twelve men formed while youngsters at school. Jo Bev has a series of titles for these Rogues, and apparently, this is the final story to be told. I was confused sometimes, overwhelmed by the sheer number of new characters being thrown at me, as there are 10 living Rogues and most of them are married, so you meet their wives as well. Everyone feels it's honorable to be one of the Rogues, and even though some of their friends want to be in the group, you can only be a Rogue if you were in the original group, or if you marry into the exclusive club. So, that closes the doors to their male friends, even though they joke about it.

It was a great love story, but I didn't feel like it was very wildly passionate. It was a deep, steady love, and that's good too. Mara declares her love for him very early on, which I appreciate, and Dare admits his love and desire to marry her soon as well, which I appreciate even more. I get annoyed when the hero and heroine decide to love each other and live happily ever after in the last 5 pages in the book, making it feel like the end was far too abrupt. This is why I'm so fond of epilogues.

I will definitely read more Jo Bev in the future.

Violet

Author: Lauren Royal
Published: September 3, 2002 (Signet)
Category: Historical Romance
Series: Flower Trilogy #1
Rating: 10/10

It seems Lauren Royal's trilogies always get off to strong starts! I absolutely fell in love with the hero and heroine of Violet. Ford Chase, Viscount Lakefield, the youngest brother in the Chase family of the Jewel trilogy finally has his story told, and we're introduced to the Ashcroft sisters who live near his estate. Violet, the eldest and least beautiful (in her opinion), is the latest subject to one of her matchmaking mama's schemes, although she doesn't know it.

While on his way to Lakefield, Ford stops by Greystone, Colin and Amy's estate (from Amethyst), only to find that he won't be admitted because there's an outbreak of measles in the house. As their daughter Jewel hasn't caught it yet, Colin is begging Ford to take Jewel and her nursemaid to Lakefield. Ford, being an absentminded professor type of man (albeit a hot geek), isn't too crazy about having to take care of Jewel, but he figures the nursemaid will do all the work. Unfortunately, they realize the nursemaid's come down with the measles during the trip to Lakefield and drop her off in her home village to recover. Ford suddenly finds himself responsible for his little niece when he'd really like to be working on a new version of the pocket watch (one that has a minute hand).

Thanks to a rather coincidental visit by Lady Trentingham (Violet's mother), it's arranged that her son Rowan would make an excellent playmate for Jewel, a rambunctious and strong-willed little girl. And of course, she sent Violet along for the playdates. Violet is a shrinking violet, not one for being the center of attention, and Ford is attracted to this serious young woman who talks freely of her philosophical studies and shares actual conversation with him. He doesn't realize it yet, but he's falling for her, and it'll take him a while to realize this because he's so dense when it comes to women, even though he's acting like her beau. Soon after they first meet, Ford makes a pair of spectacles for her, as she is extremely nearsighted. This simple gesture changes Violet's world and she begins having feelings for the handsome viscount despite her determination to marry someone who doesn't want her for her inheritance... and Ford, with his dilapidated estate, is clearly in need of funds.

Their relationship is one of supporting each other's growth. Ford takes Violet to a ball honoring the Royal Society, introducing her to greats such as Isaac Newton and John Locke. Violet in turn, helps patent his newly improved pocket watch, which he has no inclination or ambition to sell. All he cared about was seeing if he could do it, and when it was done, it was time to move on to another project, like the deciphering of an ancient alchemical text that supposedly holds the secret to turning lead into gold.

Ford finally realizes that he'd like to marry Violet and have a family with her, but she rejects his marriage proposal, still believing that Ford wouldn't want to marry a plain girl like her unless it was for her fortune. To be fair, Ford doesn't really present a good picture to a girl with that idea in her head. He'd rather spend time working on his inventions and experiments than care for his property and the tenants. So Ford decides to fix up his house and lands, and make the ultimate sacrifice to show Violet that he means business when it comes to marrying her NOT for her money. He decides to sell the alchemy text, and when she finds out about it, she realizes that Ford really does love her and they're married shortly after that, as Violet's parents think she might be with child. She could've been, considering the times her mother schemed to get the unwitting lovebirds together alone.

We also see what could be a future novel, perhaps a trilogy about Colin and Amy's three children, for Jewel and Rowan. Jewel, as the precocious, confident little girl she is, has declared she will marry Rowan and that she loves him. Rowan doesn't exactly object, but he didn't like the kiss that Jewel pecked on his cheek. They didn't get off to the greatest of starts, with Rowan refusing to play, so Jewel gets revenge by playing a prank on him (she takes after her father, the official Chase prankster) and glued him to a chair rather cleverly.

This book made me giggle more than once, and it was really hard to hold it in on the subway. I have the rest of the Flower trilogy, which tells the stories of Violet's two younger sisters, but I'm going to ration them, rather than inhaling them all in a couple days. I have proofreading to finish anyways.

Emerald

Author: Lauren Royal
Published: October 10, 2000 (Signet)
Category: Historical Romance
Rating: 7/10

In Emerald, we follow the romance of Jason Chase, Marquess of Cainewood, and eldest of the Chase family. He's always been the responsible one, acting as father to his three siblings since their parents died when he was sixteen.

The story begins with Jason pursuing two criminals, the Gothard brothers, who've severely injured a little girl in one of his villages. He feels responsible for little Mary and wants to bring the brothers to face justice. In his first encounter with the brothers, he fights a duel with Geoffrey Gothard (the brains of the operation), and when he's about to overcome Gothard, the scoundrel pulls an innocent bystander from the crowd to use as a human shield. Jason is unable to stop his charge in time and accidentally kills the man, giving Gothard time to shoot him in the shoulder. Stubbornly, Jason leaves his sickbed after two weeks, unable to escape the nightmares of little Mary and the innocent man, and continues his search. While following a lead, he discovers a woman dressed as a man confronting the brothers inside an inn. He thinks it's Emerald McCallum, the female Scottish bountyhunter responding to the reward he's offering for the Gothards' capture.

However, it's really Caithren Leslie of Scotland. Her father passed away recently and she stands to inherit all of Leslie, if she marries within a year. If she does not comply with the will, the estate will go to her irresponsible brother Adam instead. Cait knows that Adam is not suited to care for the land and the people, but she has no desire to marry and have her independence taken away from her. The solicitor suggests that Cait find Adam, who's currently visiting with friends and about to attend a wedding in London, and have him waive any rights to the estate in exchange for a living allowance. After tricking her hired traveling companion to leave her when they've reached England, she overhears the Gothards' plot. Geoffrey is planning on killing their brother, Lord Scarborough, and then Walter would inherit. She later confronts the men at the inn, and Jason rushes in to apprehend the Gothards.

Cait gets a little injured in the scuffle, landing on Jason's sword, and the Gothards get away while Jason worries about yet another person he's responsible for. While tending her wounds, he realizes this must be Emerald McCallum, what with her confronting dangerous men alone and the emerald pendant she wears. He also does not believe Cait's claims that she is not Emerald and she's just trying to find her brother.

And so we spend most of the book with Cait and Jason traveling to London, each ragging on the other for being English/Scottish. Jason eventually realizes that Cait is actually telling the truth about her identity, but it takes him long enough to get around to it. I was starting to think he was a bit thick.

Blah blah blah, they get the bad guys in the end and Jason meets the real Emerald McCallum and gives her twice the reward amount he posted because he didn't want her leaving her two children again for this dangerous profession.

What I didn't like about this book? Cait's Scottish accent is painstakingly visible in all her dialogue and it got really annoying. I'm used to crones using "ye," but Cait always said "you" that way and all the "I dinna ken" for "I didn't know" was grating to me and kept me from enjoying the story. The other thing I didn't like? Jason's obstinance in believing that Cait was Emerald. He refused to listen to everything she said about why she was traveling to London, and a couple hundred pages later, he looked like a fool. I didn't think that was in his character make-up to be so narrow minded.

But I love the way Royal has her books set up. I got to see my favorite characters, Colin and Amy, again, enjoying their happy ending granted in Amethyst. It's so easy for me to read a bunch of Royal's books at the same time because I've already met and fallen in love with the characters in previous books. It's like reading a really long book instead of a trilogy, and incidentally, Ford Chase's story is told in Violet, the first book in Royal's second trilogy. Everything links together brilliantly.

Amethyst

Author: Lauren Royal
Published: February 1, 2000 (Signet)
Category: Historical Romance
Series: Jewel Trilogy #1
Quote of choice: "Men can be so stupid sometimes. Are you sure you want to marry this one?"
Rating: 10/10

I literally could not put this book down! I grabbed it off my bookshelf at home before leaving for work on Friday morning and finished it in the wee hours that same day (probably counted as Saturday morning though). This book had everything I like in a romance novel!

In this impressive debut novel, we meet the Chase family of the Restoration period. The eldest is Jason, Marquess of Cainewood (we meet his descendants in Royal's "Sweet Temptations" trilogy), then Colin, Earl of Greystone, and then the twins, Kendra and Ford. I've already read Kendra's story in Amber and it was good, but certain parts of the plot annoyed me too much to fully enjoy the story. Each of the Chases has his/her story told in a novel, but Ford was left to the end and wound up in the "Flower" trilogy instead.

Colin's title was bestowed as a reward for faithful services to King Charles and along with the title came Greystone, an estate in serious disrepair. To restore the property, Colin is engaged to Lady Priscilla Hobbs, or as Kendra quips, "Lady Priscilla Snobs." Clearly, the rest of the Chase siblings are not fond of Colin's choice, but he had sound logic in choosing an heiress with a title and all the right connections. Everything an earl should want for a wife, right? Perhaps not.

Amethyst Goldsmith (Amy to her friends) is the daughter of a prominent jeweler in London. She has a natural talent for her craft and her parents have (against the times), trained her and encouraged her skills, and their nurturing shows in her beautiful pieces and the frequent commissions she gets from their customers. Amy has also been betrothed to the shop's apprentice, Robert, although she has no feelings for him, especially since he's made it clear that no wife of his will work. His attitude is understandable for the time period, but he's also jealous of Amy because she's better at jewelry making than he is. Amy tries to bring this up with her father and express her distaste at the idea of marrying Robert, but her father, lost in his grief over his recently deceased wife, says that Amy must marry and carry on their family's trade, saying that Robert only says those things about Amy being forbidden to work because he's feeling impotent (heh!) as an apprentice.

Colin and Kendra visit the Goldsmiths' jewelry shop to buy her a birthday locket, and they choose one of Amy's design, as well as commission Colin's signet ring with Amy, making Robert jealous yet again. After the signet ring is delivered, Amy and Colin don't see each other for a few months, when the great fire of 1666 devastates London. The fire is visible from Greystone, and the Chase brothers race to London to provide what help they can. Colin rescues a dozen children and comes across Amy, dragging a heavy trunk, and rescues her from certain death when she tries to go back into her house to save her father. In a sort of suspension of ordinary social rules, Colin takes Amy with him to Cainewood, along with the children.

The two are attracted to each other, but each is aware that they have obligations. Colin needs an heiress with a title and Amy promised her father she'd keep their jewelry business alive. However, those doubts aren't strong enough to keep the two from stealing kisses, and to Colin's chagrin, their first night on the road back to Cainewood provides them with one inn room with two beds for a dozen children and two adults.

The book is long, and we follow Colin and Amy as they fall in love despite their rules and objections. Colin even gives Amy up in London when his family arrives, telling them to put her on a ship to France so she can join her aunt. I was a bit upset that Colin didn't want to marry her at that point because he found out about her inheritance, a huge stash of jewels and gold in the trunk she was dragging along during the fire. However, he understands that the gold is in her family for the business, and he wouldn't ask her to give it up to save Greystone. He's already spent part of Priscilla's dowry on repairs. I kept thinking that it would be awfully simple to propose to Amy and use some of the gold to pay back the money spent, but Colin's sense of honor is highly developed (to the point of being stubborn).

Soon after that, Amy's ex-fiancé shows up and attempts to convince her to marry him. She refused and Kendra had to punch the jerk so they could escape, but Robert kidnaps Amy in the middle of the night, intending to marry her in a church outside the city walls. In two particular churches, an impromptu marriage ceremony can take place without a license or consent from the bride, for the right price. Robert really wants Amy for her inheritance, and to control her as he was never able to do when he was an apprentice.

Of course, Colin rescues her and marries her that same day. Amy enjoys being welcomed to the boisterous Chase family. Hell, after reading this book, I wanted to be a member of the Chase family. The siblings have this amazing banter and camaraderie, and are fiercely protective of one another, even if someone hasn't married into the family yet. From the get-go, Colin's siblings voiced their opinion that he should marry Amy instead of Lady Snobs. Amy, the exact opposite of Lady Snobs, loves Greystone and uses some of her inheritance to restore the estate, bringing it to profitable status and ridding Colin of his debt to Lord Hobbs. Snobs refused to marry Colin until Greystone was fit for her luxurious style of living, and also hated his practical jokes. Amy heartily accepted Colin's jokes and laughed along, even pulling pranks on the so-called prank master. They were a lovely couple to read about and I look forward to their cameo appearances in later novels.

One of the best features of this book is the length of the timeline. The story doesn't just end at their marriage; we get to witness the birth of their first child and see a glimpse into their future six years from then. I loved this book, with its strong sense of family, from start to finish and it's a keeper, which means something to a girl with a small apartment and one bookcase.

The Boleyn Inheritance

Author: Philippa Gregory
Published: December 2006 (Simon & Schuster)
Category: Historical Fiction
Rating: 8/10

I'll admit that I had no interest in reading Philippa Gregory up until a couple weeks ago. I figured that she was just another one of those authors that people suddenly go crazy for and say that she's the best thing since sliced bread. Can a book about the wives of a fat tyrant be that interesting? Will I be disappointed like when I doggedly read the first three books of the Shopaholic series? But then a free copy of The Boleyn Inheritance fell into my lap, thanks to my boss, and I figured I'd give it a shot. After all, it's not like I wasted money on it, and I was pleasantly surprised very soon after I started reading it.

The story is narrated by three women: Jane Boleyn, Anne of Cleves, and Katherine Howard. Jane, widow of George Boleyn, is the sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn, and it was her testimony that sent the two to their deaths. She believes she made the incriminating statement to save George, but she was being manipulated by her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk (the most evil person in the story, in my opinion), who took advantage of Jane's jealousy of Anne. Anne of Cleves is King Henry's fourth wife, married for political reasons and quickly rejected by him when she shows her distaste for his appearance (he was practically as wide as he was tall, and smelled of rotting flesh from his old jousting wound). She reminded him of how old he actually was, when everyone else was pulling an "Emperor's New Clothes" on him, pretending that he's always the winner in everything and the most handsome man in court. Katherine is Henry's fifth wife, a silly girl of fifteen, and uses her beauty of whorish wiles to make Henry feel young again. She doesn't care for him, just the gifts he gives her.

The Boleyn Inheritance is rich with historical detail, and I found myself admiring Anne of Cleves for her courage. She knew Henry could execute her if he wanted to get rid of her, but she also didn't want to return to Cleves, as her brother was abusive (not sure if that's historically accurate). Because of the potential of insulting the Protestant nations, Henry could not execute her and instead annulled the marriage, claiming that her previous betrothal to a Duke of Lorraine's son was never canceled (it had been). She was given a generous settlement and made a Princess of England, and Henry called her his sister. Even after she survived the brief marriage to Henry, she remained cautious and prepared for the day Henry went back on his word and had her dragged to the Tower of London. Anne also used this time to grow into her own person, without having to worry about her brother or a crazy tyrant at her every step. People notice that Anne is actually a graceful and eloquent woman, far more suited to be queen than her successor.

I pitied Jane Boleyn, as it appears she's never been completely right in the head. She lived and breathed her service to the king and her uncle. She always believed she was doing her duty, whether it was right or wrong, and she was so easily manipulated by her uncle. It only stresses how much women were regarded as pawns in a gigantic power play.

As for Katherine Howard, I didn't pity her at all. She was a silly girl with no idea of what propriety was, and flirted with the king because he might give her sables or jewelry. She also didn't seem to consider the fact that she was in danger of execution like her aunt, Anne Boleyn, who died because of her supposed adultery. Katherine started having an affair (understandably though - Henry was old enough to be her grandfather and he stunk something awful) with Thomas Culpepper and they were both executed because of it.

The historical details and strong characters made for such a compelling story. The women's fear of being executed at the king's whim was almost palpable and I couldn't stop reading, even though I knew what was really going to happen to them. Well, it's been a while since I've had to study Henry VIII, so I did have to get a little Wikipedia refresher course.

Ace of Hearts

Author: Barbara Metzger
Published: September 6, 2005 (Signet)
Category: Regency Romance
Series: House of Cards Trilogy #1
Rating: 8/10

Alexander "Ace" Endicott, Earl of Carde, is in a predicament. It is unavoidable that an earl must marry and sire the requisite heir, but when he makes this known, he quickly finds himself with a three-of-a-kind; three women have decided that they're engaged to Ace. The only solution that comes to Alex is to run to his country house, only to find that he's followed quickly by one of his supposed fiancées. He's on the road again before his valet has finished unpacking, and this time, he's going deep into the countryside to search for his long-lost half-sister.

Alex's stepmother died in a tragic carriage accident and her toddler was not amongst the wreckage. Alex's father declined soon after that and swore Alex to a deathbed promise that he would not stop searching for little Charlotte. In his stepmother's hometown, he tries to interview her remaining family: her crazy aunt who claims she can talk to ghosts, and her two cousins, Nell and her stingy brother (whose name I can't recall). The brother has run off as soon as he hears Alex is in town, Alex calls on his stepgreataunt and cousin. At the end of his visit, he is attacked by a goose and Nell, and injured by his horse trying to protect Nell and the silly goose. He's also amazed at this time that Nell has grown into a beautiful woman (he hasn't seen her in over a decade, when she was a little girl).

So Nell nurses Alex and they reconnect and deal with the problems falling on their heads. For one, she's invited one of her old schoolmates, who also happens to be one of Alex's fiancées, as she didn't know the engagement was all in the deluded young lady's head. They're also trying to figure out why the estate is so poorly cared for. The tenants' homes are in disrepair and some tenants have left entirely, so where have all the profits gone? Apparently, Nell's brother is an absolute scumbag, and deserves to jump off the roof, which he attempts.

The mystery of the missing money is linked to the mystery of the missing sister, but there is no clear resolution to it at the end of Ace of Hearts. I'm sure the resolution is to come in the later books of the trilogy.

The romance was a bit slow to take off and I thought injecting the suitors for Nell was boring. One suitor? Fine. But a bunch? All the men suddenly find Nell interesting (despite living in a haunted house with a crazy old lady who claims she can converse with ghosts) because Alex seems to be interested in her. If she's good enough for an earl, she's good enough for them!

Alex eventually proposes marriage to Nell, but she wants him to be sure of his decision, saying that if he can go to London and purchase a special license and come back with his mind still made up, then she will marry him. I'm glad he didn't even make it all the way to London, as he realized that he wanted her to go with him and he couldn't be without her any longer, and turned the carriage around. It's a good thing he did, because Nell's brother was about to leap off the roof, and Alex had to save the scoundrel, doing so rather heroically and sealing the deal as Nell's hero thereafter.

Some people might complain that Alex was a horrible hero because he seems so cowardly, running away from his problems all the time. That's what I thought too at first, when I wasn't being amused by the idea of this man running away from three women in wedding dresses. Alex even admits that he's the scholarly one of the family. His younger brother Jack, who's fighting on the peninsula, is the brave one. Alex was actually terrified on the roof and preferred that Nell's brother just jump and be done with the act. However, he went on the roof despite his nerves and saved the man for Nell.

Everything ties together quite neatly, and Alex even manages to foist some of his fiancées off onto some of Nell's pseudo-suitors, which appeals to my very efficient nature.

Girl's Guide to Witchcraft

Author: Mindy Klasky
Published: October 2006 (Red Dress Ink)
Category: Chick Lit
Rating: 7/10

This is my first Red Dress Ink book, and I thought it was absolutely delightful. I wouldn't even call this a paranormal because it wasn't the main point of the book. It was more about the main character overcoming her problems. The magic just happened to be there and the story wasn't about her overcoming the control or training of her powers.

Jane Madison is a reference librarian at the Peabody Free Library, a library specializing in 18th century documents, so it's not the kind of library people come in for light reading. And since it's not one of those kinds of libraries, money's really short, and the board has just decided to cut Jane's pay by 25%. Since she can't afford to pay her rent with new salary, her boss Evelyn has offered her the cottage on the Peabody grounds, at no charge. Sweet deal, right? But Jane has to start wearing colonial costumes courtesy of Williamsburg, VA to attract more walk-ins.

On Jane's first night in her new home, she stumbles across a secret key that unlocks the basement door. Inside, she discovers a library of what looks to be magic books and a large statue of a black cat. She chooses a passage to read aloud and awakens the familiar housed within the statue. However, it doesn't take the form of a cat— instead, he takes the form of a very handsome (and very flamboyantly gay) man named Neko.

With her first use of magic comes the entrance of David Montrose, a warder (someone who enforce's the coven's rules), and Jane has used magic without registering with the coven first. After a couple times of catching Jane using magic while under the influence, he agrees to train her, but kisses her after one of the lessons. He quickly says that they have to stay away from that so their working relationship isn't ruined, so the romantic possibility sort of fades away, except for a slight tension hovering in the air.

The true object of Jane's affection is Jason Templeton, an assistant professor at a fictional university, a frequent patron of the Peabody. Jane calls him her imaginary boyfriend because she's always imagining their happy ending. After she discovers her magical ability and accidentally casts a love spell while drunk, Jason begins to see Jane and even attends her family reunion. But as in many a chick lit novel, he turns out not to be the man Jane dreamed him to be.

However, she doesn't turn to David Montrose, who is there for her when Jason disappoints her. The happy ending is one of those, "I'm going to be strong and dedicate myself to learning magic seriously." However, she said she'd take it seriously earlier and she didn't really do that because she was too busy making calf's eyes at Jason the scumbag.

There's a sequel scheduled for this fall, Sorcery and the Single Girl and I'm hoping there'll be more magic, but I have a feeling it'll be more of a chick lit book again.

Wait Until Midnight

Author: Amanda Quick
Published: February 1, 2005 (Berkley)
Category: Historical Romance/Mystery
Rating: 7/10

Adam Hardesty has discovered the murder scene of the woman who's blackmailing him. She's one of the mediums who've popped up on the scene as psychical studies have sparked Society's interest. Of course, all of the mediums are charlatans, employing cheap tricks to fool their customers. Unfortunately, the diary containing the details of Adam's past is missing and he must have it back or else the future of his younger sister will be ruined. He and his siblings aren't actually the long-lost relatives and heirs of Wilson Grendon, wealthy businessman. In fact, Adam isn't really related to his siblings. He used to live off the streets of London, selling secrets that belonged to the patrons of whores. He rescued his three siblings from their terrible fates on the streets, teaching them how to read and giving them a safe place to live. The eldest sister has married the Earl of Southwood in a love match (and he knows her true heritage); the brother is a scholar; the youngest sister is about to make her debut, and she is the one who would be harmed most by the blackmail information.

One clue found at the murder scene is a list of the last seance sitters, and one name has been underlined: Mrs. Caroline Fordyce, widowed author of serialized sensational novels. He pays her a morning visit, questioning her about the seance and suggests that Caroline and her aunts could've committed the murder, but takes it back . While Adam is speaking with her, Caroline decides to make Adam the model for the villain in her latest story.

They team up for the murder investigation because Caroline is determined to solve the crime herself, so Adam won't have cause to accuse her again. While Adam has secrets, so does Caroline, because she's not really a widow. She was invovled in a scandal in her previous hometown and changed her name and made up a dead husband. Her widowed status allows her to move more freely in Society, and her successful writing career supports her and her two aunts. Caroline is afraid that Adam will reveal her secret and the life she worked to build will be taken away from her.

In the course of the investigation, the two opposite personalities realize they get along and work together quite well. They attend a seance conducted by Irene Toller, the main competition of the the murdered medium. During the seance, Irene claims to have come in contact with the deceased Mr. Fordyce, and Adam trys consoling Caroline in the carriage, saying that the fraud (they know her tricks) shouldn't have preyed on her feelings like that. Caroline takes a risk and decides to trust Adam, telling him the truth about her marital status, or lackthereof. Adam begins to trust her and takes her to his old home where he raised his adopted siblings, telling her the secret of his family, the one he's being blackmailed for. They also get it on, which is no surprise because they're alone in a safe location, and they're attracted to each other. It's a good thing they were together, because it provides Adam with an alibi when Irene turns up dead and evidence planted at the crime scene pointing at him.

The murder mystery was rather good for a regency romance, and also surprisingly layered. Adam's dislike of being made the villain of a widely-read sensation novel makes for amusing reading, and you know that Caroline will make the villain the unexpected hero. There's the usual turning-down-the-marriage-proposal hooha, where Caroline thinks Adam is only offering to marry her to save her reputation. She wants to be loved, and Society believes she is a widow anyway, so there's nothing to worry about her reputation. Adam doesn't know that Caroline won't marry him because he hasn't admitted his love to her verbally. I sometimes wich that the heroine will just state the problem to her man and see how he'd react to that honesty.

Anyways, it was a good book to while away the time before Amanda Quick's new book, The River Knows is published.

Angelica

Author: Sharon Shinn
Published: March 2003 (Ace)
Category: SciFi/Fantasy
Rating: 7/10

Gabriel Aaron (Gaaron for short) is the Archangel-to-be in just a year and he has gone to an oracle to learn the name of his intended bride. An Edori woman named Susannah has been chosen, and he must find her while dealing with a strange new threat to Samaria. Men have been appearing across the land, but disappearing as soon as they're spotted. People have also started finding Edori and Jansai campsites scorched through some unknown means.

Susannah has left her birth clan and is following the clan of her lover, Dathan. However, he's a total hound dog, flirting with other girls frequently and he cheats on her. Gaaron arrives in her camp just as she and Dathan have a big old argument about the state of their relationship, and he talks to her kindly, and dropping the bomb on how she's supposed to be his Angelica. The next day, she realizes Dathan will never be faithful to her and allows Gaaron to sweep her up in his arms and goes back to the Eyrie with him.

Susannah has a hard time adjusting to the livestyle at the Eyrie and she's concerned with the fact that she and Gaaron aren't in love. She winds up falling in love with Gaaron after she sees what a kind and fair man he really is. However, they can't seem to talk to each other about their feelings, because he's fallen in love with her too. She refuses to marry him because he hasn't said he loves her, but of course, doesn't say that this is the problem. Gaaron has admitted that he's not good with handling women, and it never occurs to him to say that he loves Susannah. However, it's partially her fault too because she didn't tell him her true feelings either.

Because of this "I'm not going to say it first," we didn't really see the two as a happy couple until the last two pages of this book. I was a little disappointed by this. Don't expect a satisfying story about these two characters. Instead, look to the story of Gaaron's bitchy younger sister Marian. She winds up running away to an Edori clan and becomes instrumental in solving the mystery of disappearing strange men.

Susannah is a part of saving Samaria, but I really thought it was going to be something more exciting. She's got two kisses (a kiss is a small crystal implanted when a Samarian is a baby, and it helps Jovah keep track of them) implanted, and that is very rare. The second kiss by her ear has given her strange dreams filled with Jovah's voice for her entire life. She has been chosen to help Jovah get rid of the invaders. This isn't because she's got some special power or skill. Nope, it's really because she's gullible! After she helps Jovah get rid of the invaders, she's convinced that it was all a dream and I was disappointed in her for accepting it so easily.

Don't look to this book for romance. For a scifi/fantasy it's pretty good. It's far from the deepest one I've read, but it's entertaining and good for those who are just dipping their feet into the genre for the first time.

The Friday Night Knitting Club

Author: Kate Jacobs
Published: January 18, 2007 (Putnam)
Category: Fiction
Quote of Choice: We don't all love our jobs every day. And doing something you have a passion for doesn't make the work part of it any easier... it just makes you less likely to quit.
Rating: 8/10

Georgia Walker is a single mom to a twelve-year-old daughter, aptly named Dakota, and supports their tiny family by running the Walker and Daughter knitting shop. While knitting pieces on commission, Georgia opened the knitting store and it has become a well-frequented shop on New York's Upper West Side.

The Friday Night Knitting Club is the remarkable story of Georgia and the other women connected to her through her store. Slowly, a group of repeat customers made a habit of sticking around after hours on Fridays, partaking in Dakota's baked goods (she aspires to have her own show on Food Network) and give each other knitting advice and working out their life problems with each knot they work into their projects.

This is one of those books that is so multifaceted in terms of characters that it's hard to describe because so many stories are being told at the same time. If you asked me about any of the characters, I'd be able to tell you about her storyline, but it's hard for me to write about each of them. I got sucked into the book over two days, and it was one of those books. You know, the kind you read on the subway and don't realize that you're about to arrive at the end of your commute. You hurry to stuff the book back into your bag, but almost reluctantly do so, even though you know you have to get off at this subway stop or else you'll be late for work.

The women, of different levels of knitting skills, are also in different stages of life, and realizing that life doesn't always work out the way you expect. Georgia's boyfriend got her pregnant twelve years ago, and is suddenly back in her life, trying to become the awesome father to her daughter, and she's resentful. Is she resentful because of what happend in the past or the way James is practically buying his daughter's affection?

There's also Peri, the brilliant almost-law school student who chooses to leave her perfect GPA and LSAT scores behind to design pocketbooks. Then there's Lucie, who decides to have a baby by herself at the age of forty because she wants one, man in her life or no man in her life. There's also Anita, widowed after a loving marriage to a wonderful man. She was Georgia's first client and sponsored her knitting store with a loan. Anita now finds that she might want to start dating again at the age of 72 while her sons are trying to get her to move in with them, thus taking away her independence. How about KC, who loses her job in publishing and decides to go to law school in her middle age (doing a reverse of what I did). And last, there's Darwin, working on her dissertation for a Ph.D. in feminism; she's studying the knitting club, trying to understand why these women cling to an old fashioned skill that does nothing for their advancement in the modern world. She's trying so hard not to be the stereotypical "good Asian girl" that it's actually hurting her because her husband is so good and kind to her, despite the bumps in their young marriage.

Chances are, with so many different characters, you're bound to relate to at least one of them in some way. I enjoy knitting and baking, which are mentioned quite frequently, as they are always present in the club meetings, so I felt so cozy while reading this book. I actually curled up in bed on Friday night to finish reading it. The only reason this book didn't get a higher rating is because of the last 80 pages of the book. I'm not a fan of killing off a character just for the sake of drama and a life lesson, because it's not like there wasn't death present earlier in the book (Anita's husband passing away).

Still, even with that unnecessary death, I would highly recommend this book, especially to those who enjoy knitting!