I never used to think a bland medieval was possible. The time period is so lush, the possibilities for drama and conflict so numerous. The temptation would be to overdramatize, if anything. Then I read The Enchantress, the second book in the Highland Treasures trilogy, and discovered that the bland medieval is not a mythical…
As early as 1769 there have been those that argue that an actor from Stratford-upon-Avon, with no University education, could not possibly have written the wondrous plays attributed to William Shakespeare. People have offered such alternatives as: Francis Bacon, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, and even Queen Elizabeth I. In this book, Malia…
In Bride of Hearts by Janet Lynnford, romance grows amidst the gossip, danger, and political maneuverings of the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Matthew Cavendish, Baron Graystock, is a successful sea captain and a widower. Upon returning to England after two years at sea, he spies a lovely woman, Cordelia Wentworth, swimming in the Thames…
While I’m not a complete stickler for historical accuracy, I prefer that real historical figures, when present in a novel, are presented in an historically accurate fashion. For example, I wouldn’t expect Queen Elizabeth I to get married if her character were included in a story. After the death of King Henry VII in 1509,…
One of the first romances and the first time travel I ever read was Jude Deveraux’s A Knight in Shining Armor. This book made a lasting impression on me, in a good way. Since then I have come to realize that as a sub-genre, the time travel is a difficult one. Believable romances are hard…
I made the mistake of judging My Lady’s Guardian by its cover. Not the front one, which is actually quite attractive, but the back one, which touts the book as a romance between two long-time friends. I enjoy romances in which friendship blossoms into love, so I opened the book with great expectations. Unfortunately, instead…
Some books can almost be summed up in a single word. For Michele Jaffe’s The Water Nymph, that word would be convoluted. Picture a rough draft of an Amanda Quick novel with the pages all mixed up, and you have The Water Nymph. <!– var browName = navigator.appName; var SiteID = 1; var ZoneID =…
Ever feel like you have entered a conversation half way through and missed some crucial details? Even though this is the first book in a new trilogy, that’s how I felt while reading it. The author’s writing style is such that many characters’ motivations were not revealed until very close to the end of the…
At times, I wanted to throw tomatoes at the hero of Only in Your Arms. (This bad boy was so bad he was good.) At times, I wanted to pelt the heroine’s father with onions. Sometimes, the plot of seemed too busy. But darn it, I enjoyed this book, and recommend it heartily, flaws and…
Amanda Scott has clearly done her research. Unfortunately, though Scott knows her border law, Border Fire lacks heat. The story opens with the capture of the infamous Scottish raider known as Rabbie Redcloak. Hugh Graham, an English deputy, plans to hang Redcloak without a trial. Knowing this may bring dishonor to her family and trouble…