This book is the sixth in Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series and in my opinion the strongest to date in this 18th-century storyline. Of course, I must confess I have not read Winter’s story yet, and if that novel is better than Duke of Midnight then it would deserve a solid A because it was…
While not terrible, Seduction in Silk is thoroughly undistinguished. The premise is unoriginal, the motivations of the characters are unclear, the hero is bland, the kindest possible word for the heroine is “prickly,” and the plot is meandering. Jo Beverley is a competent writer, but I need those competent words to contain an actual story….
Narrated by Nicholas Boulton It’s finally here. Romance listeners have eagerly awaited The Prince of Midnight, the first audio release from Laura Kinsale’s fascinating backlist. Earlier this year, Ms. Kinsale announced that her entire backlist (twelve titles) would be released in audio during 2013 and into 2014 and now we have a taste of Kinsale’s…
Thief of Shadows is the fourth book in Ms. Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series. Three of the books, including this one, feature siblings who run the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children in the London slum of St. Giles. The hero of this book, Winter Makepeace, is by day a grave, severe man soberly devoted…
In 1763, England passed a law fixing the minimum age for marriage at 16, with parental consent needed for anyone under 21. During the Georgian Period, the average age of marriage was 27. Teenage brides were anomalous. One can understand why when reading Jo Beverley’s latest novel, A Scandalous Countess. Her heroine, Georgia, is just…
I divide C reads into Mehs and Buts; this is a But book. No, it’s not a 370-page snapshot of posterior extremities (sorry); instead, it’s a book that epitomizes contradictions. It’s a story filled with “Yeah, but…” statements. It’s a novel that hits good points, some bad points, and all in all irritates me sufficiently…
Elizabeth Hoyt’s latest is like a glass half filled with water. Some people are able to see redemption, reformation, and the power of love. Others, like me, see Stockholm syndrome, blackmail, lack of character, and honor with no restitution or punishment for past transgressions. On a whim, “Charming Mickey O’Connor,” the most disreputable river pirate…
Lord save me from C reviews. Neither fish nor fowl nor good red herring, they take ages to read, ages to review, and generally leave me thinking What was the bloody point? Ripe for Scandal is a perfect example. It’s not a bad book. And it’s not offensive. Yeah, it does some things wrong, but…
I have very few authors on my auto-buy list. Susanna Kearsley – who writes haunting, lyrical works which combine romance and history – is one of them. In her latest novel she mixes time-travel and history to tell us a tale of love and murder. It’s a compelling story and one I am thrilled to…
Isobel Carr’s debut romance has an unusual heroine in Viola Whedon. Viola, an extravagantly beautiful woman with tumbling red-gold curls, has been one of London’s most sought after courtesans for the past decade. She is currently on the outs with her protector – he was incensed when he discovered she planned to include him in…