To put it kindly, the novels of Michele Jaffe have not done well with my fellow AAR reviewers. Either she’s gotten better, or my sense of humor is in sync with hers, because I think Lady Killer is a hoot. The plot is complex and openly ridiculous. The heroine is Lady Clio Thornton, a female…
While I wouldn’t say I’m in a romance reading slump, I have had less than stellar luck with my review picks of late. Even books I think I will really like end up being ho-hum. Jane Feather’s new book, To Kiss a Spy, is the latest addition to my string of mediocre reads. I chose…
You say you like dark romances? Romances with a tortured hero, one who has a horrific, mysterious past and therefore cannot ever be worthy of the heroine? Have I got one for you! Sir Adrian Thorne does indeed appear to be raving mad when he arrives at Bedlam. Yet Lady Claire Darren is drawn to…
I chose this book because of the title – Isle of Lies – isn’t it great? It implies intrigue, seduction, mystery, and an island. Unfortunately, this book has none of those things; the hero and heroine don’t even go near an island! Once again, I found myself searching for a more appropriate title, and in…
The Clachan Fala, commonly referred to as the Blood Stone, is at the root of decades of feuding, raiding and death. This legendary stone is rumored to bestow powers of invincibility in battle upon its owner and began a bloody battle between the Graham and Maxwell families. The English Grahams and Scottish Maxwells have been…
Luscious Corinna Huntington is the youngest and prettiest of all the ladies at Queen Elizabeth’s court. Elizabeth is a great statesman, a hardened ruler with nerves of steel – but she is also an embittered, lonely woman. Proud Elizabeth knows all about lying men. As a result, the queen is strict and watchful, always keeping…
Having enjoyed several of Susan Wiggs’ recent books (especially The Charm School) I’ve been picking up her older works whenever I find them. And in Lord of the Night, I found a real treat. Sandro Cavalli is a Lord of the Night, one of the aristocratic aids to the doge of Venice who investigate crime…
On the surface, Abducted Heiress seems like a traditional period romance involving familiar elements such as warring nobles, an impregnable castle, and a guardian-ward relationship that spirals into passion. Thanks to a refreshing supernatural angle, the tale stands out. Too bad the same cannot be said for the hero. The legend of Molly Gordon’s vast…
It’s got a charming hero and one unexpectedly humorous interlude. But between the nebulous back story and the two main characters’ stubborn mistrust of each other, The MacGowan Betrothal couldn’t hold my attention for more than thirty pages at a time. The year is 1535, and lovely Isobel Fraser is the cook at a castle…
Despite plot problems, character inconsistencies, and a carload of anachronistic language, I ended up liking His Betrothed more than I thought. The quote on the cover vaunts this as a riveting emotional read. While it’s neither riveting nor emotional, it’s a quick read with a hero and heroine who really are a perfect match. Lady…