Book Anxiety, Part 2: Untamed by Anna Cowan

• Title: Untamed
• Author: Anna Cowan
• Genre(s): Historical
• Publisher: Penguin Books Australia, May 2013
• Source: NetGalley
• Length: 432 pages
• Trope(s): Heroine Who Says the F-Word, Hero Who’s Prettier Than The Heroine, Evil Gambling Father, Tragic Pasts, Sibling/Parent Issues, Deceit & Manipulation
• Quick blurb: A dandy in disguise changes the lives of a disgraced and debt-ridden family.
• Quick review: Again with the Book Anxiety, but a better outcome this time.
• Grade: C+

“I will write a book of bad ideas,” she said, pulling viciously at the buttons on her sleeve, “and the final chapter will be dedicated to this epic, gravity-defying feat of stupidity. And in a hundred years a celebrated English wordsmith will come across it and write a poetic tribute to the very bad idea that malformed in the brain of one demented duke. His work will run to eleven volumes before his vocabulary has even begun to do justice to how extremely bad this idea is.”

Oy. I need to quit whining for new and different, because more like this is going to kill me.

This is the Cross-Dressing Duke book. The author’s brilliant blog has had me captivated by her insights on the romance genre, and her tweets about research and characterization sent me to the “request” button on NetGalley within minutes of availability.

And then once again, I got my knickers in a knot by glancing — A MERE GLANCE, I TELL YOU — at glowing and scathing responses from reviewers I respect.

Based on those discussions, along with the author’s essay on the gender dynamics, I was more than a little surprised to see how little the seemingly touchy cross-dressing issue impacted this story. The Duke of Darlington is essentially just a “not very manly man” in a dress and a close shave, hiding from his peers until a scandal blows over. We learn that he’s a master of disguise in many forms, with a “cataclysmic” ability to influence the way others see and respond to him. I saw Jude’s dress-wearing not as a form of self-expression, but as a much-planned tactic in an ongoing campaign of strategic deceit and manipulation.

What makes Untamed such an antithesis to the much-bemoaned Regency fluff is the way every other character allows themselves to be deceived and manipulated. We know the duke will slowly unravel Kit’s mistrustful control of her heart. But as he draws the rest of her family into his thrall, the extended relationship dynamics take on a life of their own – with Kit (and the reader) desperately trying to make sense of it all.

However…there were a few elements that didn’t work for me, such as the random and unsustained POVs from secondary characters popping up at odd times throughout the story. At the halfway mark, we get Kit’s brother for a page or two. At some point, we get the brutish brother-in-law for a few paragraphs. And later, for some unknown and completely inexplicable reason, we get into the head of a barely-there-before ditzy squire’s daughter as she flirts her way through her first dinner party. Each time it kicked me out of my reading trance, and each time it was completely unnecessary.

What I struggled with most was the voice. I whine for a strong authorial voice, and Cowan’s knocked me flat – and it took me a while to recover enough to fully engage with the characters. The sheer abruptness of the tone worked great at establishing the angsty, edgy atmosphere, but it also left me…I don’t know…maybe “cautious” is the best word…for much of the story. Combine that with inconsistent sentence, paragraph and section breaks in the ARC I was reading, and I had a hard time getting past the writing itself and into the adventure.

However (and yes, I can totally use “however” twice and negate my own arguments because it’s my blog so just shut up about it)…like, Raybourn, Cowan took a huge risk with this story, and I’m thrilled that a major publisher is taking chances on The New & The Different. I cannot wait to read what Cowan writes for me next. Because it’s ALL FOR ME.

One-Quote Review: The Seduction Hypothesis by Delphine Dryden

• Title: The Seduction Hypothesis
• Series: The Science of Temptation, Book 2
• Author: Delphine Dryden
• Genre(s): Contemporary, Erotica
• Publisher: Carina Press, May 2013
• Source: NetGalley
• Length: 97 pages
• Trope(s): Nerds/Geeks, BDSM, Big Misunderstandings
• Quick blurb: A group outing to a fan convention allows a former couple to reignite their relationship — with the help of a few costumes and props.
• Quick review: Despite their frustrating Little Big Misunderstandings, it’s a helluva of a lot of fun to read about kinky nerds who can laugh in the bedroom.
• Grade: B+

Oh God, the eyebrow thing again.

I adore love stories about geeks, and even more so when both main characters are equally smart and nerdy. Lindsey and Ben’s lack of communication was annoying, but believable and necessary to the story, and Dryden makes the most of it in rebuilding their faltering relationship into a funny and wickedly sexy kinkfest.

As with the first entry in the series, the only thing keeping this story from an A grade was the heroine — Lindsey comes across a little too self-righteous for much of the story, blaming Ben’s confusion rather than her own for their estrangement, and I had a little trouble accepting her insistence on being in the lifestyle for life after only one awkward sample.

A plea for a third in the series:  Ms. Dryden, write us female dom/male sub story — pretty please??? *bats eyelashes*

Backlist Binge: Sophia James

This took me longer than I thought, because I wound up doing a full re-read of one, and I had to buy and read the newest because it finished off a series.

So… Here are the highs and lows of Harlequin Historical author Sophia James, presented in chronological order (minus the anthologies). Cover images link to Goodreads.

In summary: James is on the dark and angsty edge of Harlequin Historicals — her characters are complex and conflicted, and when she stays away from rakes and pirates, her storytelling skills are memorable. But it’s hit or miss whether all the pieces and parts coalesce enough to suck me into a full-on book trance.

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Fallen Angel (2005)

“He’s the problem, don’t you see? I can’t love him and I can’t not love him, and he won’t let me stand up any place in between.”

The happy couple….

Nicholas Pencarrow is the Duke of Westbourne. Brenna Stanhope is the mysterious young woman who saves his life and then disappears.

The set-up….

The duke relentlessly tracks down his rescuer, and when he finds her managing a London orphanage, he refuses to take no for an answer.

The conflicts….

Brenna has a Tragic Past. The duke won’t take no for an answer.

The romance….

During the first two-thirds of the book, Nicholas is a typical infatuated rake, and Brenna falls for his charms. But then for some unknown reason, he crosses the line into stalking and obsession.

The recommendation….

The hero veering off into alphahole territory derailed what could have been a really good debut.

Grade: C-

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Masquerading Mistress (2007)

One night. All night. The clouds and the moon and the darkness rolled into one and the clenching want made her shake, made her sweat, made her say his name in the wildness of passion.

The happy couple….

Thornton Lindsay is a scarred, reclusive war hero – and also a Reluctant Duke. Caroline Anstretton is a desperate runaway who tells a London ballroom that the duke is her lover.

The set-up….

When the duke hears of Caroline’s outrageous claim, he propositions her, and naturally she accepts, gets pregnant and runs away again.

The conflicts….

Caroline has a Tragic Past, and she’s also trying to keep her younger brother away from the gaming hells. The duke is a grumpy loner who’s mistrustful of everyone.

The romance….

There’s chemistry, but unfortunately our happy couple is separated for much of the book – and when they’re finally reunited, some rather strange war-related intrigue gets the duke all mistrustful again. Fortunately, the Revealing of the Tragic Past works its usual wonders and all is forgiven.

The recommendation….

Better pacing and characterization than Fallen Angel, but the unnecessary suspense stuff relies on more than a few Very Convenient Coincidences.

Grade: C+

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Ashblane’s Lady (2007)

He was not gentle and she was glad. His lips met hers in a searing, blistering explosion of lust, weeks of wanting sandwiched between this very moment and a future stretching only into difficulty.

The happy couple….

Alexander Ullyot is a Scottish warlord. Lady Madeleine, aka The Black Widow, is his enemy’s sister.

The set-up….

He takes her hostage. She’s tall and has fiery red hair. You do the math.

The conflicts….

See “set-up” above.

The romance….

It’s all about the fiery red hair. And the witchcraft thing.

The recommendation….

Despite the snarkage, this isn’t bad — just an enjoyable Highland romance with a bit of light magic thrown in.

Grade: B-

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High Seas to High Society (2007)

The Wellinghams, Book 1

She was cold and he warmed her. She was hot and he cooled her. He was of her and she was of him and there seemed no place that they were separate or solitary in the heady secrets of the flesh.

The happy couple….

Asher Wellingham is the Duke of Carisbrook. Emma Seaton is a lady — or is she???

The set-up….

He sees her swimming naked in a cove. You do the math.

The conflicts….

Pirates.

The romance….

In between all the piratical plot shenanigans, there’s some pretty good chemistry.

The recommendation….

Kind of all over the place story-wise, but I re-read it solely for the backstory of the duke’s younger brother Taris (see below).

Grade: B-

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Mistletoe Magic (2009)

A maid came in with a large unruly bunch of orange flowers and her breath was caught. ‘Is there a card?’

‘Indeed, miss, there is.’ The maid broke the envelope away from a string that kept it joined to the bouquet, speculation unhidden in the lines of her face.

‘That will be all, thank you,’ Lillian said, waiting until the door was shut before she slit open the card.

I FELT SOMETHING.

The words were in bold capitals with no name attached.

The happy couple….

Lucas Clairmont is a brawny and brawly American in London. Lillian Davenport is a near-spinster revered by the ton as “a paragon of good sense, good taste and good comportment.”

The set-up….

Lillian has a Christmas deadline to bring a man up to scratch, or she will be forced to marry the “eminently sensible, infinitely suitable,” suitor her father has chosen. Just as she’s losing hope, she overhears Lucas threaten to kill her cousin — but before she can sneak away, he makes eye contact and gives her a “licentious and untrammelled” wink.

The conflicts….

Lucas is in England to settle the affairs of his adulterous late wife, and he learns that two nieces he’s never met are now his wards. Lillian’s father is pushing her towards a “safe” husband because his own marriage was volatile and unhappy.

The romance….

The orange flowers. Ohhhhhhh, the orange flowers.

The recommendation….

Yeah, I FELT SOMETHING too. *ahem*

Grade: B+

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The Border Lord (2009)

They did not speak afterwards, each locked in a silence that was their own, a thin and tenuous bond against the secrets that would divide them.

The happy couple….

Lady Grace Stanton is a political prize, but she’s less than a beauty. Lachlan Kerr is the reluctant laird of a neighboring clan.

The set-up….

Arriving a week late for the ceremony, Lachlan takes his late brother’s place as groom within an hour of meeting his plain, stammering bride.

The conflicts….

Lachlan is still bitter and deeply distrustful over the betrayals of his late wife and his late brother, and his pride flares against Grace’s unexpected stubbornness, outspokenness and sense of honor. Meanwhile, he ignores the machinations of his jealous ex-mistress, who turns the clan against the new lady of the manor by blaming Grace for every illness, injury and accident. Also, the dead brother might not be dead.

The romance….

They’re great together in the bedroom, but out in the cold, hard keep, it’s a slow buildup from resentment to grudging respect to fierce loyalty to love.

NOTE: There is a brief bit of infidelity, but nothing comes of it (heh).

The recommendation….

It’s a bit heavy with the political and family intrigue, but it’s satisfying to watch Grace become a strong and vibrant heroine.

Grade: B

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One Unashamed Night (2010)

The Wellinghams, Book 2

When he stretched out and groaned she felt the control of a woman with power. Feminine power, the feeling unlike any she had ever experienced.

She did not feel guilty as Frankwell had said that she must, she did not feel sullied or soiled or befouled. Nay, she felt the sheer and utter wonder of it, the bewildering rarity of rightness.

Here. With Taris Wellingham. For this one storm-snowed freezing night.

‘Thank you.’ The words slipped out without recognition as to what she had said. A beholden contentment that broke through all that she had believed of herself or all that a husband steeped in damning religion had believed. In just one touch Frankwell’s hold on the tenure of her moral pureness was gone, replaced simply by comprehension and relief.

She smiled as his fingers began to unlace her bodice and the thin lawn fell away.

The happy couple….

Taris Wellingham, once popular and outgoing, is now a virtual recluse because of his worsening blindness. Newly-widowed Beatrice-Maude Bassingstoke is moving to London to explore her hard-won independence.

The set-up….

When the public coach they’re traveling in crashes into a ditch during a blizzard, Taris and Bea wind up spending the night together (wink, wink) in a barn.

The conflicts….

Beatrice-Maude is not a beauty, and she’s recovering from the horrors of an abusive marriage. Taris is a bit touchy about his blindness – to the point of preferring that people believe he’s a stumbling drunk.

The romance….

Their titular one-night stand in the barn is soooo good, and their relationship evolves to the much-deserved happy ending in a believable and completely swoon-worthy way.

The recommendation….

Oh lordy, I love this book.

Grade: A

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One Illicit Night (2011)

The Wellinghams, Book 3

Watching a dam break in the circle of flesh, tipping into utter need, his grip tightening in her hair as an anchor, no breath or ease or quiet exploration. Only five years of apartness and ten thousand hours of regret.

The happy couple….

Third son Cristo Wellingham is the black sheep of the family, finally returning to England after a lengthy, mysterious absence. Eleanor Westbury is the young countess of a much older earl.

The set-up….

Five years before the main action, a disguised-as-a-prostitute Eleanor attempts to deliver an all-important letter to a disguised-as-a-degenerate-but-really-a-spy Christo in the Chateau of Ill Repute where he lives, but she wakes up drugged and naked in his bed.

The conflicts….

He fled England because of some youthful wildness, and when he returns, he has to earn the trust of his estranged family. She winds up pregnant from their one-night stand and is desperate to protect their daughter and her dying husband from scandal.

The romance….

The initial not-meet-cute is more than a bit squicky, but when they’re reunited in London five years later, their attraction is palpable and affecting because they’re both too honorable to betray her kindly, protective husband.

The recommendation….

I had to do a full re-read because I couldn’t recall anything beyond the titular encounter, and it wasn’t very satisfying. This story has some serious pacing problems, with a Total Drama Moment happening much too early and resolving much too quickly. Even worse, the all-important letter that Eleanor risks her life to deliver in the proloque — involving the death of her brother at Christo’s hands — is a huge, gaping plot hole that is never addressed again.

Grade: C-

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The Dissolute Duke (2013)

The Wellinghams, Book 4

Lust ignited, an incendiary living torch of need burning bright, like the wick of gunpowder snaking down through his being. Unstoppable.

The happy couple….

Youngest sibling Lady Lucinda Wellingham is a careless flirt who relies on her three older brothers to rescue her from various “scrapes.” Taylen Ellesmere is an Impoverished Duke of Ill Repute with “numerous and shocking depravities” to his name.

The set-up….

Lucinda gets talked into crashing one of Ellesmere’s notorious house parties, and attempts to hide in his bedroom to escape a drunken horde. The duke, wearing nothing but spectacles, decides she’s more fun than reading Machiavelli while his houseguests debauch themselves.

The conflicts….

After a near-fatal carriage accident, amnesiac Lucinda accuses Ellesmere of ruining her. The duke gets the crap beaten out of him by her brothers, takes their bribe to marry her and then flees to America. He returns three years later to claim his bride and sire an heir, and she’s more than a little reluctant to acquiesce.

The romance….

He’s blinded by her sensuous innocence, her lady parts tingle when they touch, blah, blah, blah.

The recommendation….

Again, some serious pacing problems. But even worse, there is nothing new or different about this “ruined by a rake” story. It’s a boring, predictable Regency that only perpetuates the “historicals are dead” genre drama.

Grade: D+

One-Quote Review: The Other Side of Us by Sarah Mayberry

• Title: The Other Side of Us
• Author: Sarah Mayberry
• Series/Category: SuperRomance
• Genre(s): Contemporary
• Publisher: Harlequin, January 2013
• Source: Harlequin.com (currently free on Amazon)
• Length: 304 pages
• Trope(s): Rebound/Starting Over, Obnoxious Exes, Beta Hero
• Quick blurb:  TV producer recovering from horrific accident clashes and clinches with her soon-to-be-divorced new neighbor.
• Quick review: Loved the mature characters, but over all it’s too tepid for a re-read — and I had to take points off for misuse of canine characters.
• Grade: C

“So be afraid. Be angry. Be jealous. Be possessive. Be whatever you need to be. But please, let me come along for the ride.”

I suppose I was expecting something more vibrant like Her Best Worst Mistake, so this was kind of a letdown — and I have yet to find a Harlequin SuperRomance with any sort of “wow” factor.

While I loved that both main characters were in their late 30s, the arc of the relationship-building never really grabbed me. Oliver’s crucial episode of irrational jealousy, and Mackenzie’s reaction, were realistic and just angsty enough without being overwrought — but then the utterly useless epilogue threw me out of my short-lived happy place.

Also…what in the hell was the deal with the “haha, oops, puppies!” plot device? Is spaying and neutering not recommended in Australia as it is in the U.S.? The hero doesn’t remember that his beloved schnauzer spent quality time with a Doberman? And the workaholic heroine is going to breed her dog because “wire-haired dachshunds are really hard to come by…”? I need a few more question marks here — ?????

Maybe I’m overly sensitive because I’m still grieving for my shelter dog, but the irresponsible breeding is probably the one thing I will remember most about this book — and I doubt that’s what the author or the publisher intended.

One-Quote Review: Making Him Sweat by Meg Maguire

• Title: Making Him Sweat
• Author: Meg Maguire
• Series/Category: Wilinski’s, Book 1 (Blaze)
• Genre(s): Contemporary
• Publisher: Harlequin, February 2013
• Source: NetGalley ($3.82 ebook)
• Length: 224 pages
• Trope(s): Lust in the Workplace, Sweaty Beta Hero, Heroine with Father Issues
• Quick blurb: Aspiring matchmaker inherits estranged father’s boxing/MMA gym
• Quick review: Likeable all the way around, pretty much what I expected for a Harlequin Blaze
• Grade: B

Ten minutes? Ten minutes wasn’t nearly enough time to decide what to do. Then again, ten minutes was plenty of time to change into cuter underwear, and wasn’t that her answer, right there?

It seems like all the contemps I’ve chosen for this binge feature Lust in the Workplace, with the obligatory “This is such a bad idea” pre-sex banter. Fortunately, Maguire is really good at all the out-of-bed banter too, and she threw in some realistic conflict, so this one fulfilled all my expectations of a light and sexy Harlequin Blaze.

And I’m pretty sure I’ll read Prince Richard’s book.

One-Quote Review: Seven-Night Stand by Nicole Helm

• Title: Seven-Night Stand
• Author: Nicole Helm
• Series: N/A
• Genre(s): Contemporary
• Publisher: Entangled, February 2013
• Source: NetGalley ($2.99 ebook)
• Length: 217 pages
• Trope(s): Lust in the Workplace, Brooding Hero, Emotionally Uninvolved Heroine
• Quick blurb: Reclusive pilot tries to keep reality TV scout out of his flawed family’s business
• Quick review: A little iffy in the beginning, but the heroine’s panic attack saved the story
• Grade: B-

“Don’t look at me like that!” She wanted to slap him away. She wanted to hold on to him and cling. She wanted a million things her mind couldn’t find the words for.

“Like what?”

Like you care. Like you want to care.

During the first few chapters, I was in the throes of an “OMG, what if I don’t like this, the author is a Twitter friend and I’ll feel so guilty and she’ll stop tweeting pictures of half-naked baseball players for meeee” flail. Then the heroine had her own flaming panic attack which made me like her much more and my Book Anxiety calmed to a tolerable level. But the heroine’s panic attack was induced by a brain-melting Storage Closet Sex Orgasm, which has never happened to me, so I’m still a little bitter about that.

ANYWAY. I found it really hard to connect with the first half of the story because heroine Vivvy is so purposefully “cool and detached” that I wasn’t feeling the romantic or sexual chemistry at all. But when she starts opening up after the panic attack and lets all the feelings in, she’s a much more compelling character.

Plus, you know, a brooding hottie pilot and Storage Closet Sex.

Backlist Binge: Julia Justiss

As promised, the highs and lows of Harlequin Historical author Julia Justiss, presented in chronological order (minus the anthologies). Cover images link to Goodreads.

In summary: Justiss does widows, courtesans and angsty heroes really, really well. Her debutantes and rakes, however, are generally just wallpaper.

A word of warning: You can’t have Hal Waterman. He’s MINE.

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The Wedding Gamble (1999)

“Marriage to the
marquess was a risk!”

The happy couple….

Sarah Wellingford is the eldest sister of a family impoverished by their late father’s gambling. Nicholas Stanhope, Marquess of Englemere, is engaged to Sarah’s wild-child best friend.

The set-up….

After Englemere’s fiancee throws the ring at him one too many times, Sarah steps in to smooth things over. Her calm demeanor and family sob story impress him so much that he offers a marriage of convenience to help her save her family’s estate.

The conflicts….

The conflict alluded to in the title is Sarah’s understandable reluctance to marry a man who recouped his family’s fortune at the gaming tables. But the real drama arises later in the story when Sarah’s Long-Lost Love reappears, and the Evil Baron who attempted to blackmail her into marriage stages revenge.

The romance….

The marriage of convenience trope is done really, really well in the first third of the book, and the last third has some very strong scenes involving the Lost Love and the Evil Baron. But the middle drags with too many forced Big Misunderstandings in the early days of their marriage.

The recommendation….

Despite the pacing problems, this is a memorable and well-written Regency, and it’s a must-read as a starting point for Justiss’ backlist.

Grade: B

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A Scandalous Proposal (2000)

The happy couple….

Emily Spencer is a struggling soldier’s widow trying to make a life as a London milliner. Evan Mansfield is the slightly rakish but honorable Earl of Cheverley.

The set-up

The earl is stunned stupid by Emily’s beauty when he accompanies his mother to the shop, but he soon comes to her rescue when she’s accosted by ruffian attempting extortion. After some angstifying, she decides to show him just how thankful she is.

The conflicts….

Evan is quietly jealous of Emily’s war-hero late husband, but that’s nothing compared to the Secret Son she’s hiding from her Evil Father-In-Law.

The romance….

The initial chemistry between Emily and Evan makes their affair seem inevitable, but Justiss gives equal focus on the relationship-building that turns their insta-lust into an emotional, messy love.

The recommendation….

The only thing that keeps this from being an A grade is the fairy-tale-ish resolution, in which our shopkeeper heroine is revealed to be Of Noble Birth and is Restored to Her Proper Place in Society – a trope that always seems like a cop-out to suddenly achieve the equality they need to get married.

Grade: B+

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The Proper Wife (2001)

Series: The Wellingfords, Book 2

The happy couple….

Clarissa Beaumont is the wild-child ex-fiancee of the Marquess of Englemere, hero of the first book in the series. Colonel St. John (aka Sinjin) Sandiford is the Long-Lost Love of Lady Sarah, heroine of the first book in the series.

The set-up….

When Sinjin returns from war, his first objective is to find a wife with the same serene personality as his first love. Instead, he finds himself fighting his overwhelming attraction to rowdy Lady Clarissa.

The conflicts….

Clarissa’s recklessness puts Sinjin’s protective instincts into overdrive, and she chafes at his constant reminders of her lack of propriety. A rather unexpected bit of melodrama involving a jilted suitor pops up towards the end of the book.

The romance….

A true enemies-to-lovers relationship, with a lot of steamy mental lusting and behind-the-garden-hedges smooching.

The recommendation….

Clarissa comes *thisclose* to being TSTL by accepting a wager in the beginning of the book – but KEEP READING. Justiss allows her to evolve from a hoyden into worthy heroine.

Grade: B

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My Lady’s Trust (2002)

Series: The Spymaster, Book 1

The happy couple….

Laura Martin is a local healer who lives a solitary life to keep her Secret Past a secret. Hugh “Beau” Bradsleigh, Earl of Beaulieu, is a sometime-spy known as “The Puzzlebreaker” for his skills with mathematical proofs and traitor-hunting.

The set-up….

When his younger brother is accidentally shot while hunting with friends, the earl is immediately intrigued by the mysterious nurse who refuses to answer his questions.

The conflicts….

Laura has a truly compelling reason for her disguise and deceptions, but Beau’s need to solve her problems leads her into greater danger.

The romance….

Beau slowly earns Laura’s trust (hence the title), and when they finally get to the good stuff, the imminent Black Moment makes it even sweeter and angstier.

The recommendation….

Although the supposedly brilliant earl has a MAJOR fuck-up moment, he grovels appropriately and redeems himself heroically – and Laura is a truly memorable heroine.

Grade: B+

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My Lady’s Pleasure (2002)

Series: The Spymaster, Book 2

The happy couple….

Valeria Arnold is a soldier’s widow struggling to keep her late husband’s small estate running while fending off her neighbor’s ambitious mother. Teagan Fitzwilliams is a half-Irish gambler who’s been disowned by his aristocratic family.

The set-up….

Although she’s a widow, Valeria is a virgin – until Teagan shows up on her property while escaping a raunchy party at a nearby hunting box. They’re unexpectedly reunited at a ball in London where, thanks to her late husband’s cranky grandmother, Valeria is making her very belated come-out.

The conflicts….

They both want more than friendship, but she must respect her dying patron’s wishes and he believes himself to be unworthy. A quiet but determined alternate suitor appears at opportune moments to make our unhappy couple rethink their lusty thoughts.

The romance….

The virginal widowed heroine seduces the reluctant rakish hero. And the sexy times are indeed very pleasurable. Need I say more?

The recommendation….

I originally gave this a B, but after re-reading I realized how unique and complex these characters are, and how skillfully Justiss re-invents common Regency tropes.

Grade: A-

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My Lady’s Honor (2002)

Series: The Spymaster, Book 3

FULL DISCLOSURE: I did not actually re-read this one because I’m still pissed off from reading it the first time two years ago.

The happy couple….

Newly-orphaned Gwennor Southford needs a proper marriage to prevent her younger brother from being sent to an asylum. Gilen de Mowbry, Viscount St. Abrams, is a self-righteous, whiny WANKER.

The set-up….

As they flee from their “odious cousin,” Gwennor and her brother find temporary safety with a local Romany clan. Gilen sees her dancing, decides she’s a Gypsy Slut, attempts to shame her into being his mistress, and then accuses her of being a thief and a con artist.

The conflicts….

An irrational, stupid, and ENDLESS Big Misunderstanding from start to finish. Because the hero is a self-righteous, whiny FUCKWAD.

The romance….

It’s hard to call this a romance because there’s NOTHING romantic about a hero who’s a self-righteous, whiny ASSHOLE.

The recommendation….

If the words wanker, fuckwad and asshole didn’t clue you in, I didn’t like this book. AT ALL.

For a more coherent description of this anti-romance, the Publisher’s Weekly review sums up the horror without quite as much NSFW language.

Grade: F

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Wicked Wager (2003)

The happy couple….

Jenna Montague Fairchild is the widow and daughter of war heroes who has followed the drum all her life.  Lord Anthony Nelthorpe is a repentant rake, suffering from a painful war injury and determined to distance himself from his infamously debauched father.

The set-up….

The night before Jenna’s marriage to her late husband, Tony lured her to an isolated spot to attempt a seduction – but he wasn’t expecting the knife in her boot. When they meet again in London, Tony attempts to pull her out of her grief and depression by wagering that she can make him respectable again.

The conflicts….

She’s still grieving for her husband and father, and she doesn’t trust him, for good reason. He must hide the extent of his father’s alcoholism. Oh – and all the murder attempts.

The romance….

While Tony’s transformation and redemption is believable, it was difficult to view him as a hero because of the off-page “forced seduction.”

The recommendation….

This was an unexpected and unusual premise for a historical romance, but when the suspense bits devolved into a Kidnapping Melodrama, I lost faith a little. Luckily, a lovely – and very romantic – ending raised the overall score.

Grade: B

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The Untamed Heiress (2006)

The happy couple….

Helena Lambarth is a 21-year-old waif who has been a virtual prisoner in her father’s house for nearly 10 years. Adam Darnell has recently inherited his father’s title and his ruinous gambling debts.

The set-up….

When Helena’s father dies, she finally escapes her captivity and travels to London to live with her missing mother’s distant cousin Lady Darnell – Adam’s stepmother.

The conflicts….

The heroine’s Extreme Makeover from malnourished ugly duckling into Regency swan turns Adam’s head and unleashes his fiancee’s vicious jealousy.

The romance….

It’s there, but it’s primarily repetitive mental lusting followed by self-shaming until the last few chapters.

The recommendation….

The opening was brilliant – but Helena’s transformation was nearly nauseating, especially when it showcased her perfect recall of the literature, music and horsemanship she mastered at AGE TEN.

Grade: C-

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Rogue’s Lady (2007)

The happy couple….

Allegra Antinori is the orphaned daughter of an aristocratic English mother and an Italian musician father. William Tavener is an impoverished rake who has inherited a run-down estate.

The set-up….

Will is on a bride hunt for an heiress, but he can’t keep his eyes off Allegra – despite her “dubious lineage and humble dowry.”

The conflicts….

The Evil Step-Mother (or step-distant-aunt-in-law or something like that) puts the moves on the hero, while the heroine insists on pining after her stodgy cousin.

The romance….

The chemistry is there, but the relationship-building is just a series of encounters at balls, musicales and carriage rides in Hyde Park.

The recommendation….

A predictable and disappointing Cinderella story – complete with an “Oh, wait, never mind! She’s really a duchess!” cop-out ending.

Grade: C-

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A Most Unconventional Match (2007)

Series: The Wellingfords,  Book 3

The happy couple….

Elizabeth Wellingford Lowery is a sheltered young widow overwhelmed by the sudden loss of her protective older husband. Hal Waterman is an aristocrat, but he’s also a financier and entrepreneur – and he’s physically ginormous with a speech impediment.

The set-up….

Hal comes to Elizabeth’s rescue when she’s accosted by a conniving debt collector, and he overcomes his shyness enough to volunteer his expertise in putting her estate to rights.

The conflicts….

Hal’s ambitious mama is determined to marry off her embarrassing lunk of a son. Elizabeth is still grieving and struggling with her young son, her late husband’s slimy best friend is trying to make her his mistress, and she’s a talented artist with no outlet for her work.

The romance….

Ohhhhh, the romance. When Hal learns Elizabeth is a painter and arranges a private viewing at the Royal Academy exhibition…. *~*SWOON*~* And when Elizabeth finally decides to seduce Hal and asks him to pose in a toga…. OMG *~*SWOON*~* <thud>

The recommendation….

I love this book sooooooo much. It’s on my DIK list.

Grade: A

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From Waif to Gentleman’s Wife (2009)

Series: The Wellingfords, Book 4

The happy couple….

Joanna Merrill is a young soldier’s widow (are you sensing a theme here?) unfairly dismissed from a governess position. Sir Edward (Ned) Greaves is a gentleman farmer who’s taken on the management of a neglected estate as a favor for a friend.

The set-up….

When cast-out governess Joanna arrives starving and penniless at the estate where her brother is supposedly working, she learns he’s been missing for months.

The conflicts….

In addition to restoring the tenant farms that Joanna’s brother left to ruin, Sir Edward must also find the instigators of local Luddite uprisings. While disguising himself as plain ol’ untitled Ned.

The romance….

In amongst the political unrest, there’s some good chemistry – but because all the conflict is external, neither Joanna nor Edward grow much as characters, and the relationship-building suffers.

The recommendation….

I gave it a B+ the first time I read it, but it doesn’t hold up as well on re-read.

Grade: B-

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The Smuggler and the Society Bride (2010)

FULL DISCLOSURE: I did not actually re-read this one because I remember some significant eye-rolling the first time around. And not just over the dopey title. Or the dopey cover.

The happy couple….

Lady Honoria Carlow is a disgraced debutante living in exile in Cornwall with her equally scandalous aunt. Capt. Gabriel Hawksworth is an Irishman doing temporary duty as a smuggler as a favor for a friend.

The set-up….

Honoria stumbles across Gabe’s gang of free-traders in action, and he’s forced to draw her close to shut her up.

The conflicts….

The usual “clueless maiden vs manly man” nonsense.

The romance….

All I remember is thinking “what in the HELL does he see in her???”

The recommendation….

This is the only other Justiss book that I recommend AVOIDING.

Grade: D+

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Society’s Most Disreputable Gentleman (2011)

Series: The Wellingfords, Book 5

The happy couple….

Amanda Neville is a baron’s daughter about to make her belated debut in London. Greville Anders is the brother of From Waif to Gentleman’s Wife heroine Joanna – the man who royally fucked up his one shot at being an estate manager.

The set-up….

Amanda is looking forward to her debut at age 25 after spending years caring for her family through several tragedies. When her father agrees to play host to an injured veteran at the request of a marquess, she’s expecting a decorated officer – not a half-dead common sailor.

The conflicts….

Amanda’s main source of angst is her obnoxious teenage cousin. On the other hand, Greville is all angst, all the time, and Justiss makes good work of it. Instead of hanging on to his bitterness about being press-ganged into the navy, Greville wises up and attempts to restore his honor.

The romance….

While the chemistry is strong, the road to happiness is disappointingly repetitive and predictable.

The recommendation….

Not the best of the series, but worth reading for a great hero redemption story.

Grade: B-

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The Courtesan (2012)

The happy couple….

Lady Belle is a former courtesan rejoicing in her hard-won freedom after her vile protector dies. Capt. Jack Carrington is a newly-returned war hero who wants nothing more than to return to his mother and sister.

The set-up….

As he’s unpacking his bags in London, Jack’s friends drag him off to view a fencing master’s latest protégé – who just happens to be Lady Belle. The rake-filled crowd of spectators challenges Jack to a match with Lady Belle, and she winds up nearly killing him when the cork tip comes off her foil.

The conflicts….

Jack is fully conscious of his mother’s status as an earl’s daughter, and knows he must avoid scandal during his sister’s come-out. Lady Belle has the angst overload this time, what with her disgraceful past and her penchant for protecting waifs from evil brothel owners.

The romance….

Ohhhh, the romance. Watching Jack learn to admire Lady Belle and earn her trust is ever so swoon-worthy. And Lady Belle is such a deliciously complex heroine.

The recommendation….

This book is nearly perfect until the end, when Lady Belle is miraculously Restored to Her Proper Place in Society. A single anecdote in the first chapter makes this scenario wildly unbelievable.

Grade: B

All Roads Lead Home by Christine Johnson

• Title: All Roads Lead Home
• Author: Christine Johnson
• Series/Category: Love Inspired Historical
• Genre(s): Historical (1920s US), Inspirational
• Publisher: Harlequin, January 2012
• Source: Harlequin.com (part of the Holiday Haul of Half-Off Harlequins)
• Length: 288 pages
• Trope(s): Rich Girl & Poor Boy, Unrequited Love, Big Misunderstandings, Plot Moppets
• Quick blurb: Auto mechanic must escort the social worker who rejected him on a cross-country drive to an Indian reservation to investigate an orphan’s mysterious birth father.
• Quick review: Ignore that last one — this is my favorite Harlequin Love Inspired so far.
• Grade: B+

His lips brushed her forehead and then her temple. The waves of emotion tossed, their tops windblown, and she lifted her face as if struggling for breath, but it wasn’t air she needed. She required something far more nourishing. She needed to know she was loved, and, with the gentlest touch of his lips to hers, he gave her that.

I felt compelled to purchase this because the title and cover were actually unique and relevant to the story. Add in the 1920s road trip setting, along with the Poor Boy/Rich Girl Unrequited Love premise, and I was doomed.

Fortunately, I wasn’t disappointed. There was nothing flashy about the writing or the characters; like The Maverick Preacher, it was just a really good story told really well. But the two books are very different in their presentation of the faith messages, and I generally prefer inspirationals where the spirituality is a strong undercurrent and not a battle of Bible verses, so All Roads Lead Home gets the edge with the B+ grade.

The suspenseful stuff went in a direction I wasn’t expecting, with intrigue on an Indian reservation, but I thought the sensitive issues of prejudice, land ownership and education were handled really well. The author never resorted to whitewashing the history or resolving the conflict with “White People to the Rescue!”

The only thing that bugged me were the Big Misunderstandings. This is my least favorite plot trope, because it always makes the inner conflicts feel so forced and contrived. From what we’re told of their backstories, Mariah and Hendrick should be intelligent and mature enough to avoid the predictable fits of jealousy and not-smart decision-making.

An unrelated minor disappointment…. The hero’s younger sister flirts with a resident of the Indian reservation, and I was so hoping their story would continue — but apparently she goes back home and marries a cranky rich white guy. Pfft.

The Maverick Preacher by Victoria Bylin

• Title: The Maverick Preacher
• Author: Victoria Bylin
• Series/Category: The Women of Swan’s Nest, Book 1 (Love Inspired Historical)
• Genre(s): Historical (Western), Inspirational
• Publisher: Harlequin, January 2009
• Source: Amazon ($3.79 ebook)
• Length: 288 pages
• Trope(s): Heroine with Big Secret, Beta Hero with Tragic Past, Evil Banker, Soiled Doves
• Quick blurb: When a troubled preacher shows up at her door, a boardinghouse owner must choose between keeping her secrets and trusting her heart.
• Quick review: The best Harlequin Love Inspired I’ve read so far.
• Grade: B

Did he answer as a minister or a man? The minister had words for her. The man wanted to draw her into his arms.

While Maverick Preacher has many of the same basic elements as Lady Outlaw, this book offers more complexity in both characterization and spirituality. The primary faith message is “casting stones,” and — believe it or not — the central theme is the hypocrisy and double-standard of slut-shaming.

The only issues keeping this from an A grade were the rather predictable and lackluster Evil Banker Villain, some repetition in the internal monologing, and the author’s confusing and contradictory choice of relating the hero to the Apostle Paul, whose writings are the gospel of Bible-thumping misogynists.

ALSO: The dude on the cover reminds me of an actor, but I cannot think of who, and it’s driving me crazy.

Lady Outlaw by Stacy Henrie

• Title: Lady Outlaw
• Author: Stacy Henrie
• Series/Category: Love Inspired Historical
• Genre(s): Historical (Western), Inspirational
• Publisher: Harlequin, September 2012
• Source: Amazon ($3.82 ebook)
• Length: 288 pages
• Trope(s): Cowgirl in Peril, Beta Hero with Tragic Past, Evil Banker, Bad Guys in Salooons
• Quick blurb: Desperate rancheress rethinks her dangerous ways of acquiring money when she hires an ex-bounty hunter with a tragic past as her new cowhand.
• Quick review: Good — but recommended only for dedicated inspie readers.
• Grade: B-

“Is that what this is about? Making sacrifices?” He leaned forward. “A sacrifice is only worth something if it’s right. Sacrificing your integrity, your happiness, your freedom — that won’t bring you anything but misery. I know, because I tried.”

A strong-but-vulnerable heroine, an honorable beta hero with a believable tragic past, and a great set-up for the spot-on faith messages. But compared to my last read, Henrie’s storytelling and voice sagged. This was her debut novel, and I’d be willing to try her second.