After reading My Fair Concubine (one of my favorite books from last year), I was curious to see if the author had written a book about Dao, the servant girl who ends up as a princess.  I found out that she had, but it was a Harlequin Undone – their line of short, sexy ebooks. … Continue reading An Illicit Temptation by Jeannie Lin

I thought I was done with 2012 books, but since this book appeared on so many Top 10 lists among my friends, I thought I had to give it a try. Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal by Grace Burrowes(2012, Regency Historical)  1/27/13Grade: 3.5 Lady Maggie is the daughter of a courtesan, but she was adopted by… Continue reading Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal by Grace Burrowes

Sherry Thomas is one of those authors I want to like – readers who share my tastes love her, and the descriptions sound like books I’d like to read.  But I think her books verge too far toward literary fiction for me – they may be worthy books but I don’t find them especially romantic. … Continue reading Beguiling the Beauty by Sherry Thomas

There are many romance authors that I enjoy, but very few that really work for me, book after book.  Based on her last two books, Miranda Neville may be joining that small group. The Importance of Being Wicked by Miranda Neville(2012, Regency Historical)  1/25/13Grade: 4.5 Thomas, Duke of Castleton, has every intention of wedding a… Continue reading The Importance of Being Wicked by Miranda Neville

I heard mixed things about this story, but I wanted to read it since it’s the beginning of her new series. The Second Seduction of  Lady by Miranda Neville(2012, Regency Historical)  1/24/12Grade: 3 Eleanor Hardwick and Max Quinton shared one night of incredible passion . . . that was shattered the next day, when Eleanor… Continue reading The Second Seduction of a Lady by Miranda Neville

I’ve read a couple of short stories by Courtney Milan, and I’ve read her comments online, but this is the first full length book I’ve read by her.  I’m not quite sure what I think. The Duchess War by Courtney Milan(2012, Victorian)  1/20/12Grade: 3.5 Robert Blaisdell, the Duke of Clermont, wants nothing more than to… Continue reading The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

I used to watch soap operas faithfully when I was in middle and high school – I was a third generation fan of Guiding Light.  I’ve read a few books set in the world of soap operas, but surprisingly enough, not that many romances (with the exception of Again by Kathleen Gilles Seidel – one… Continue reading Love in the Afternoon by Allison Packard

I’m always a little wary of reading a book in a long running series.  Even if I’ve read other books in the series, I just don’t remember books that closely, especially when I might have read 40 or 50 other books since I last picked up the series.  I think authors assume readers have an… Continue reading A Notorious Countess Confesses by Julie Anne Long

After reading About Last Night, I decided to try another book by Ruthie Knox – even though I have very little interest in cycling! Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox(2012, Contemporary Series)  1/12/13Grade: 4 Tom is planning to bike cross country, but he’s not looking for a traveling companion – until his sister pairs him… Continue reading Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox

One of my biggest frustrations with romance is that publishers try to make the books all sound alike – generic covers, generic titles, and all too often, generic plots and characters.  This book sounded like it had the potential to overcome that… but didn’t quite succeed. How to Romance a Rake by Manda Collins(2012, Regency… Continue reading How to Romance a Rake by Manda Collins