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1. I'm with you, what happens to Abigail makes me so angry. Every time I read it, I'm willing Claudine to come back in time, but she never does.

3. I also liked the way the ghost references were introduced. It really made me understand how it felt to Declan, just having these incongruous thoughts pop into his head as if it was something he'd already known, seeing things that aren't there but when he's seeing them it feels natural. Somehow that gives it a whole different feeling than if he'd been immediately startled by them.

4. LOL on the "women in packs" reference. I've learned quite a bit about men from Nora's books---she definitely has a handle on what makes them tick.

7. Declan's genuine affection for Odette is one of his best traits, IMO.

8. Wow, good eye, Jill! I was completely thrown by the idea that Declan was Abigail, much later in the book. But you're right, there are hints.

10. Yes, a little misdirection there, and I fell for it.

12. I think you're right. I know I picked up more the second time around, and probably if I'd reread it immediately, I'd have picked up even more.

16. Well, probably authors do that to add conflict, but I think it made a lot of sense that Lena would pick fights with Declan. She's trying to protect herself, and to keep a little distance between them.

20. Jill, you were definitely more on the ball than I was.

His memories of giving birth were priceless. Too bad we don't have a way to induce memories like that in more fathers.

I always appreciate your notes, Jill! I knew you'd have good ones for this book.

One thing that's different about this book is that the focus is much more on the hero than on the heroine. I find myself identifying with Declan instead of Lena. Not that she's not a complete, well-drawn character, but Declan's even more so, at least for me. I liked his manners, that were so deeply ingrained that they were a part of him. And I liked his courage in leaving a career that wasn't right for him.

Labels: books, flashback, ParanormalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 12/18/2009 03:08:00 AM 2 comments

To truly appreciate this book, I probably should have read the first Carson Springs novel, Stranger in Paradise, first. Not that Taste of Honey wasn't a complete story in itself, but I'd like to see how some of these characters' stories unfolded before I met them in Taste of Honey.

Gerry's intention of becoming a nun was derailed when she became pregnant by a priest. Twenty-eight years later, after a marriage, divorce, and two more children, she finds the daughter she'd given up for adoption.

Claire had been raised by loving, but overprotective adoptive parents. The story of her being torn between two families is very poignant and real.

While they get to know each other, Gerry and Claire also learn more about themselves, and open their hearts to love.

The next Carson Springs novel, Wish Come True, is out in hardcover now, but first I'm going to catch up on events in Stranger in Paradise.

Labels: books, ContemporaryRomance, flashback

// posted by Darla @ 12/11/2009 03:30:00 AM 0 comments

I'm so glad that paranormal romance has become popular lately! I've always read fantasy and science fiction, and am only a recent fan of romance, so it's nice to combine the two. If I'd known of stories like this one years ago, I'd have been reading romance longer than 6 or 7 years.

Harn, Hartley, Cornelius, whatever name he goes by, he's an interesting character. He has the Fane outlook---superior, selfish, powerful, and he believes himself incapable of and above the emotion of love. It's interesting to watch him slowly get caught up in emotion. He keeps telling himself that it's practicality or his own whims that drive him, when really, he's falling in love. Always fun watching romance heroes delude themselves, and The Forest Lord is better at it than most.

Eden began as a naive girl, turned into a rather jaded young woman, then matured almost overnight when her husband died. It was understandable that she believed her father responsible for taking her son away---after all, he'd disappeared himself. Finding her son, providing a good future for him, and restoring Hartsmere gave her a purpose she'd been lacking before. She was deluding herself as much as Hartley was, thinking that she'd make a better life for Donal by marrying Rushborough and getting Donal accepted in society. It became clearer every day that the sort of life she envisioned wouldn't be good at all for Donal, but it was the life she knew.

I kept trying to see Aunt Claudia as someone who just wanted the best for Eden, someone who truly believed that Eden was happier with her previous social life in the city, and only wanted to help her return to that life with Lord Rushborough, but she made me so mad! I didn't suspect that she was responsible for sending Donal away, but I did feel vindicated when I found out! Very interesting ending to that part of the story, I thought. I wonder if her husband was the fox who'd been hunted earlier in the story.

I loved that Donal had inherited his father's magic. The scene with Hartley teaching him in the woods was very sweet.

It was perfect that Hartley did take Donal to Tir-Na-Nog. I always worry when characters just end up changing their minds, that they'll have second thoughts later, after the book ends. I think it was important that he did follow through with what he planned, and thought it was so appropriate that he couldn't enter because of the love in his heart. It made me laugh when the fairy offered to get rid of it for him!

And what a nice little jolt at the end, finding out that Mrs. Byrne, who I'd thought was just a nice housekeeper, turned out to be Nuala---I'm imagining Mother Nature.

All in all, a wonderful, entertaining story. Definitely a keeper!

Labels: books, flashback, ParanormalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 12/04/2009 02:57:00 AM 0 comments

The Puzzle Bark Tree is an intriguing puzzle. Grace's parents have always been cold and distant, and she has been plagued with nightmares of drowning and a fear of water for as long as she can remember.

Her parents' dual suicide and their bequest to Grace of an island home she'd never known they owned suggest a clue to the answers she needs.

The crisis also puts a spotlight on Grace's shaky marriage, forcing her to contrast it with her sister's happy one. When she travels to the island against her husband's wishes, she finds someone who provides her with some of her answers, as well as the compassion, comfort, friendship, and passion she'd been missing.

Beneath Grace's story of the discovery of her own past is the story of how tragedy changed and shaped the lives of her family, particularly those of her parents.

The Puzzle Bark Tree is intriguing and thought-provoking, making me wonder how different personalities would react to the same tragedy, and particularly how I would react.

Labels: books, flashback, WomensFiction

// posted by Darla @ 11/27/2009 03:24:00 AM 0 comments

It's been a long time since I've read a Western historical romance. Didn't they used to be more common? Seems like they've been replaced by Regencies in popularity lately. Anyway, it was a nice change of pace, and a fun story. I never watched many Westerns on TV (well, except the Wild Wild West, but somehow I don't think that's quite the same.)---if they were anything like this story, though, I missed out on quite a lot!

I wasn't sure what to expect from the beginning of the story---at first I was expecting the drifter to end up being a rough-around-the-edges cowboy who'd end up just needing the right woman to tame him. Have I mentioned I don't read the backs of books so as not to prejudice my reading of the story? Boy, was I wrong! I liked the teamwork between the 3 women---all of them taking a whack so that Bailee wouldn't be the only one guilty of murder.

I really felt for the sheriff. He had his hands full with 3 women confessing to murder, and a town full of single men. The lottery was inspired.

Once again, I wasn't sure what to expect from Carter. He took me by surprise with his silence. I was thinking macho, strong silent type. Well, he was strong and silent, but not because of being macho. Once I started understanding him better, I just wanted to give him a hug. Awwwwww....

Loved the sign language parts--I'm picturing Bailee learning it and them using it quite frequently. And his thoughts about wanting the first thing he said to his wife to be something special nearly made me cry.

Bailee really stirred up his life, and, as in the best romances, they both saved each other. The gypsies were just hilarious. I loved how he accepted their presence for her.

Another thing that surprised me was Carter's secret room---I thought he'd end up telling Bailee about it eventually, but too late, and that she'd be hurt and upset with him, etc. I'm really glad it didn't turn out that way.

I'm also glad we got the little teaser for Sarah's story at the end---I'd been worrying about her, and I'm eagerly awaiting it. Too bad there wasn't a title attached.

Labels: books, flashback, HistoricalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 11/20/2009 02:46:00 AM 0 comments

It's hard to say anything without giving away the twists that happen at the end. I like twists, and a couple of them I really didn't see coming.

What an idyllic way to fall in love---secluded in a cabin, just the two of them.... of course, the injuries weren't fun, but that gave them the excuse to stay where they were and spend time with each other.

I had the impression that Brianna's brother Ian and his wife Moira had a story of their own--or was that wishful thinking?

Labels: books, flashback, HistoricalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 11/13/2009 03:17:00 PM 0 comments

It's been quite a while since I've read a romantic suspense---odd, since it's one of my favorite kinds of books to read. I fell into this one right away. It reminded me of Barbara Michaels' books, with the creepy house with all those mirrors, and I was hooked from there.

Labels: books, flashback, gothic, RomanticSuspense

// posted by Darla @ 11/06/2009 04:34:00 AM 0 comments

Originally written in 1982, this is a good introduction to Martha Grimes's Richard Jury mysteries.

I must confess that while Martha Grimes is a familiar name to me in the mystery genre, I'd never read any of her books until now.

This story is filled with the atmosphere of British mysteries, and features a mystery within a mystery--not only whodunit, but who-was-it-done-to.

A clever mystery with an engaging cast of characters, The Old Fox Deceiv'd has ensured that the next time I'm in the mood for a British mystery, Martha Grimes will be on my list of authors to look for.

Labels: books, flashback, mystery

// posted by Darla @ 10/30/2009 04:28:00 AM 0 comments

Wicked Lies is definitely a good title for this book. Lies and deception are behind almost everything that happens in it.

It was fascinating watching these two very loyal, responsible, determined people dance around each other and slowly untangle the net of lies surrounding them.

The circumstances of their first meeting hardly inspired trust. Catherine protecting her brother, Julian protecting his identity. I loved the irony of neither one trusting the other, yet having to rely on each other to escape and survive.

Laura pushed the boundaries here by making their first sexual encounter more about affirming that they're still alive than about falling in love. Not that I think Catherine would have had sex with just anyone at that point---there was an attraction---but I think it mostly a matter of needing to connect to someone after being in such danger.

The boundaries get pushed again when Julian turns out to be Catherine's brother-in-law. I was surprised that they had such different memories of Patrick, but he, too, wasn't what he seemed.

I don't want to get into too many details in case someone's reading this who hasn't read the book yet, but Julian and Catherine aren't the only ones deceiving each other.

What I liked so much about this book is that it took one of my least favorite conflicts---one of the characters keeping a secret from the other---and turned it into one of my most favorite types of story: a convoluted tale in which nothing is what it seems. And of course Merlin is very like the Scarlet Pimpernel, my favorite story from my childhood.

The secondary characters are engaging as well. I was very upset with Catherine's family in the beginning, but they redeemed themselves, especially Daniel.

Labels: books, flashback, HistoricalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 10/23/2009 04:16:00 AM 0 comments

The cover of this book say it's a debut novel. So I thought I'd read it with a kind eye. I didn't have to. In fact, I had to force myself to put it down a couple of times.

And now I'm not quite sure what to say--so many things are going on in this book.

Nicci seems to be like any other 20-something single, dealing with work, dating, and family. And like others, she's not quite satisfied. Through the events in the book, she begins to realize who she is and what she wants out of life.

It sounds pretty ordinary, describing the plot like that. But what makes Coffee and Kung Fu special is the characters. Nicci, of course, with her habit of judging dates by the type of movie they like, but also the large cast of secondary characters, from her friend Carol to the mysterious guy at the coffee shop. They're all very vivid and three-dimensional.

I enjoyed the snippets from Jackie Chan movies that Nicci uses to illustrate greater truths. I'm really feeling the urge to watch some Jackie Chan movies.

Coffee and Kung Fu is a perfect title for this book, even though Nicci doesn't drink coffee. The coffee shop and kung fu movies are the two things Nicci can count on while everything else is crashing in on her.

Labels: books, ChickLit, flashback

// posted by Darla @ 10/16/2009 04:09:00 AM 0 comments

This is one of the funniest books I've read in a while. Colin has such a unique and.... manly way of looking at things.

Alienore was different from the usual heroine who's masquerading as a man---she wasn't a tomboy, and she didn't particularly like the masquerade, but it seemed the only way out of her predicament.

I loved the irony of two years of running leading her to exactly what she was trying to avoid.

Alienore was a very believable and admirable heroine. It was fun watching her learn fighting with Colin. She started having a lot of pride in what she'd learned.

And Colin's wooing of her.... He took her out in the lists, cleaned her gear, & couldn't think of anything else she'd like better.

Obviously Alienore was the perfect match for him.

It's hard to say too much about this book without giving away all the funny stuff. I've been recommending this one.

Labels: books, flashback, HistoricalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 10/09/2009 04:00:00 AM 0 comments

This is a trade paperback reprint of After Dark and the novella "Bridal Jitters", but since I hadn't read either of them before, it was new to me.

I read a lot of science fiction, so I didn't have any trouble with the different world scenario. I did drive myself a little crazy trying to figure out when the books take place, since the inhabitants of Harmony were cut off from Earth 200 years before the story starts---is it 200 or more years in the future, or did they lose contact with Earth 200 years ago? I finally had to just ignore that. (OCD much? me? )

In both stories, the hero is a ghost-hunter, and the heroine is a tangler. Tanglers apparently have a deep distrust of ghost hunters, who are kind of like Harmony's version of the maverick cowboy, or a fighter jet pilot---sexy, arrogant, not reliable. I really liked that the strength these men had was mental strength, rather than just physical strength, although they did have nice bodies, of course. And what was really nice is that tanglers & hunters have complementary skills---they have to work together, which crosses over nicely into their personal lives.

Also interesting in "Bridal Jitters" were the two forms of marriage---the MC, or marriage of convenience, and the covenant marriage. Nice idea. The MC was for a limited period of time, renewable---basically conferring legal benefits to an affair, while a covenant marriage was considered permanent. I was thinking it would be a good solution to the high divorce rate, but then I realized that everyone thinks it'll be forever when they get married. Maybe in 200 years....

Anyway, these were fun, entertaining stories. I'm glad I read them.

Labels: books, flashback, ParanormalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 10/02/2009 03:48:00 AM 0 comments

I was so angry at Robert's father. Sacrificing seven sons to take a little girl hostage for Argyll. Sure, he was loyal, but his loyalty was so misplaced! This is one of those times when modern culture conflicts with historical culture. I can't think of very many things that would be worth sacrificing my children for, even if they were adult males used to fighting . He knew they didn't have a chance. What was worse was knowing this incident was based on a true story.

So ironic that Robert is known as the Devil's Cub---his father's son---and his father sees him as the least of his sons.

I liked how Judith stood up for herself and Mairi---because she didn't have anything to lose. Very practical woman. Then the attraction, and Robert running off with her to save her from being tried as a witch. When he told her he didn't have anything to give her....

Simon and his account-keeping were a lot of fun.

And Payton. He thought he wanted the best for his sister. But he also thought she should do her duty by her family. Definitely a sign of the strength of her love for Robert that he was more important to her than her family, especially in those times.

I'm curious to find out how Mairi grows up---if she marries Argyll's son or not, & what kind of man he is.

Labels: books, flashback, HistoricalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 9/25/2009 08:48:00 AM 0 comments

Moonlight and Shadow covered a period of history I've seen in other books, but not this close up. The hero was literally a 'power behind the throne'. Thankfully, Ms. Martyn gives us a cast of characters at the beginning of the book, because the political maneuvering in the middle got me a little confused, and I had to refer back to the cast of characters to straighten myself out. To anyone who's familiar with the rise to power of Richard III, I'm sure it would have all been crystal clear.

I liked how it blended a wealth of historical details with two very interesting characters. Heloise, with her prematurely gray hair and her premonitions, and Miles, with his ambition and scarred face.

I don't think I've read many romances with ambitious heroes who didn't give up their ambitions. The only one I can think of off-hand is All the Possibilities by Nora Roberts, the hero of which becomes President. Ambition often seems to be seen as a negative trait in romance novels, and it certainly can be negative, but not always. This is one of those times. Miles's ambition makes him seem very strong and attractive, and even though he's the power behind the throne, he doesn't deny that the ambition is for himself as well as for Buckingham. As for his smallpox scars, I mostly forgot about them, and I think Heloise did too.

I've read other books where the heroine, dressed as a man, fights the hero, but this book put a twist on it. Heloise didn't make a habit of doing this, but only disguised herself to save her family's honor. And I was really amazed that Miles was determined to apologize for it, instead of being angry.

I don't remember reading another book where neither the hero nor the heroine wanted to marry the other but were forced into it. Usually one or both of them doesn't really want to marry the other, but is willing to for practical reasons. It's definitely to Miles's credit that he doesn't really blame Heloise for it.

What happened to Dionysia in the end really shocked me. I'd expected something much different.

I always like when books surprise me, and take turns I didn't expect, and this book definitely did that.

Labels: books, flashback, HistoricalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 9/11/2009 02:10:00 AM 0 comments

I just have to mention that I look forward to this anthology with great pleasure every year. They're fairy tales for grown-ups, and don't we all need a little more magic? I know I do.

• "A World Apart" by Nora Roberts
  Dara Joy, Annie? Hmmm. That didn't occur to me, but I will say this is one of the few stories that I wouldn't have identified as Nora's if it didn't have her name on it.
  
  This one took me by surprise. It's different in tone from Nora's other Once Upon A... stories. I've been waiting quite a while for another hilarious story like Art of Deception, and I finally got it. I laughed at least once a page, & interrupted whatever my husband was watching on tv at the time to repeat "this is just a perfect story!" over & over again.
  
  Kadra was a great heroine---strong and confident, even when faced with a world so different from the one she knew. I loved her fascination with the gun.
  
  Harper was a good match for her. He was strong and confident as well, and because of that, not intimidated or put off by Kadra's strength. His disadvantage in not knowing what was going on was balanced by Kadra's disadvantage in not knowing his world, and they both were intelligent enough to accept the other's help where it was needed.
  
  While I'd of course love to read more about these two, and about Kadra's world, I didn't feel that the story was unfinished. It worked very well in the novella format.
  
  Still, I think if J. D. Robb needs any more projects, more about this world, or even just about Kadra & Harper, would be a good place to start. Well, that & the comic book series about Nemesis.



• "Impossible" by Jill Gregory.
  Annie, you're sounding like cover blurbs again! I'm in awe.
  
  A story within a story---pretty good trick in novella-length! I always like the chain-of-events stories, where you change one thing and the end result seems completely unrelated. Butterfly flaps its wings resulting in a thunderstorm on the other side of the world. In this case, a spell on the castle resulting in Erinn and Tynon falling in love and ending the feud between their clans.
  
  More humor here---Erinn being a bumbling, frustrated witch. I liked her right away. She knew she was inept, but she kept trying. That, and her compassion, made her a heroine worthy of the name.
  
  The spell on the castle was very interesting. The real castle could only be seen in glimpses at sunset, and life went on as usual for the people still in the castle, except that they couldn't leave it. I'd initially thought the woman Erinn saw in the mirror meant they could see into the real castle through the mirror, but it was the spirit of Olivia.
  
  Even when the castle was restored, their impossible tasks weren't over---they had to convince Erinn's family to end the feud and accept Tynon into the family. I was surprised when Erinn's magic seemingly worked properly for once when the swords all flew away, but laughed aloud when they came back, not surprising Tynon.



• "Sealed With a Kiss" by Ruth Ryan Langan.
  This one starts out sad , with Arianna, as the oldest daughter, bartered off for her family's safety. It's especially tragic, because there's no bad guy. She's resistant, of course---what 17-year-old would want to be married to an elderly man? But her father's only trying to protect his family and his people, and while the old man could have asked for something else in trade, he is promising to defend them.
  
  It stays sad when Arianna's plan to get out of the marriage could end up with Lachlan being beaten or worse. I cringed when she apologized to him, then screamed. She was so desperate. And then to find that it was for nothing anyway.
  
  When they finally made love, it was bittersweet, with the knowledge that it would be the only time they'd have together.
  
  The man she thought was Lachlan saving Arianna at the cost of his own life, and her vow to fulfill her duty, brought tears to my eyes.
  
  But of course all was well in the end, and Arianna was able to follow both her duty and her heart. Ahhhh.... Very satisfying in the fairy tale tradition.



• "Kiss Me, Kate" by Marianne Willman.
  I need to preface this by saying I've been a fan since I read Court of Three Sisters back in.... 1994?? Was it that long ago? Anyway, I was thrilled when the first Once Upon A... book came out and included stories by two authors I already liked. (I learned about Jill & Ruth's wonderful stories from these anthologies---better late than never, right?)
  
  And we're back to funny again.
  
  Good eye, Annie, catching all the clues Kate should have caught that something out of the ordinary was going on.
  
  The frog's ongoing efforts to get Kate to kiss him just cracked me up. As did Miss Golunka (!!) trying to get Kate to fall in love with Michael so that she could have the prince for herself, and the flies disappearing in the store.
  
  I kept being surprised by Michael. I first thought he was supposed to be a distraction, and Kate was meant to fall in love with the frog prince (hey, it happened in The Frog Prince!). Then I thought he just wanted Miss Culpepper's land to restore his family's estate. When it turned out that he was the new Guardian, all the pieces fell into place.
  
  Poor Sophie! She must have been so frustrated when after the double spells on Kate & Michael, they stubbornly refused to act on them and fell in love on their own instead.
  
  I'm with you, Annie---it made a nice circle when Kate & Michael had their own twins, and named them Honoria and Trixie (nice that she didn't get stuck with Agatha!). Wonder if one of them will marry a fairy prince?!

Once again, the Once Upon A... anthology is just a real treat. Not only are all the stories entertaining on their own, but they're in an order that makes it a pleasure to read the book straight through. It starts out with a bang and a lot of laughs, then keeps a bit of the humor and adds the seriousness of a feud, then moves us into a more emotional, bittersweet mood, and then pulls us up into humor again with a more serious undertone. I'm probably babbling, and I know I'm not saying this as well as I could---hopefully I've managed to get across the gist of it.

Labels: books, flashback, ParanormalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 9/04/2009 08:50:00 AM 0 comments

Sara was right about this one. This mystery set in a pizza joint is a page-turning treat.

The small community of employees at Carlo's pizza place are well-drawn individuals--three dimensional characters you'd expect to meet at your local pizza joint.

And if I were single, boy, would I like to meet some of these guys.

Labels: books, flashback, mystery

// posted by Darla @ 6/05/2009 02:12:00 AM 0 comments

Wow, we've been here long enough to have another sequel on the Book of the Week list! We started too late to catch the first book in this trilogy, but got the second and third books. This one is more a sequel to the first book, Once a Mistress, than the second Ever a Princess.

It was lovely seeing Drew and Wren again, if a little disconcerting, since the last time I saw them, they'd just gotten married! (I read Once a Mistress after reading Ever a Princess, and to tell the truth, I can't remember if they were in Ever a Princess or not.

So sweet, Kit promising Mariah as a child that he'd marry her, and then never eating cake again because of remembering a little girl who wasn't allowed to eat cake because she lived in a convent. Rather ironic that when he first sees her again, she's made him strawberry tarts. Did anyone else get really hungry when reading about those??

I was really afraid that Kit would just assume Mariah knew he loved her and that she'd refuse to marry him because he hadn't said he loved her, without telling him why. Obviously I've read too many books where that happens. Very glad it didn't turn out that way.

What a convoluted string of relationships tied them together---familial relationships and friendships. It took me a while to piece it all together, and I had a few bad moments there when it looked like Mariah had a locket from Kit's father.

It was fun watching Kit do all those things he'd left England to avoid.

And The Squire! Did anyone see that coming?? I sure didn't. What an evil, evil man!!

I can't believe this trilogy is over. I want to know if Dalton marries Iris, and Ash is just crying out for a story of his own. Poor guys! You can't just leave them like that!

But did you read the excerpt from Barely a Bride in the back of the book? That should cheer me up for a bit, until we get back to Ash and Dalton. I can't wait to see these three boys eat their words.

Labels: books, flashback, HistoricalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 5/29/2009 01:46:00 AM 0 comments

Isn't it interesting how certain themes show up in several books at the same time? It's like there's something in the air prompting different authors to write about the same topic. And it's also interesting how different those books can be.

Not to quibble, but I'd really call Family Album more "women's fiction" than "romance". There's a love story, with Hannah and Simon renewing their relationship after the upheaval, but it's more about the entire family and what happens when the son she gave up for adoption comes looking for his birth mother.

It felt very real. Nobody was a bad guy, nobody was more right than anyone else, they were just all caught in the situation, and it was interesting to explore those emotions.

I had to laugh at what you said, Annie---as soon as I read in a book that someone has been keeping a secret, I know it's going to turn out badly for them. In real life? I don't know. I can understand Hannah's not telling Simon she'd had a baby she'd given up for adoption when she first met him---it's not the sort of thing you just blurt out until you know someone better. And then when she did know him better, he had such a vehemently negative opinion of women who gave up their babies for adoption that she was afraid to. And I can also understand how years can go by and she was still telling herself that someday she'd tell him.

I had a harder time understanding Simon's anger toward women who gave up their babies for adoption. I understand he felt rejected by his birth mother, but surely he'd have preferred that to abortion. Was it because he didn't have the kind of love he wanted from his adoptive parents and felt that something was lacking that his "real" mother should have given him? Still, there's no one right answer to this problem. Of course, ideally, all babies would be wanted and loved and raised by their biological parents who love each other. But it's not a perfect world, and thank heavens for women courageous enough to have a baby they for whatever reason cannot or feel they cannot raise and give it up for adoption to people who can't have a child of their own.

Once again we have the very realistic nice but self-centered teenage girl. Not only is she mortified by having a crush on her half-brother, but she finds out she's not her mother's only child as she's thought for all her life. A lot to deal with.

I thought it was very realistic, too, that Simon admits at the end that they're not all going to be one big happy family.

Labels: books, flashback, WomensFiction

// posted by Darla @ 5/22/2009 01:40:00 AM 0 comments

This is a new twist on the marriage of convenience story. In this case, our hero, Lyon, is an invalid, and has been ever since the day his wife died and he was injured. The marriage is arranged by his mother, to Millicent, a widow in need of money.

Millicent's husband had been an evil man, and she has no desire to tie herself to another man, but agrees with the stipulation that there be an annulment when and if Lyon ever recovers his health.

There's more to it, of course, most notably Ohenewaa, a slave Millicent used the last of her funds to buy and then freed. Ohenewaa had belonged to and assisted a doctor, but was also a healer in her own right. Between Ohenewaa and Millicent, they set about healing Lyon.

However, Ohenewaa is at the center of a mystery--a Mr. Hyde seems desperate to acquire the former slave.

This was a fascinating story that kept me turning pages until the end. Lyon's increasing health corresponds with an increased interest in life, and an interest in Millicent, as well, although at first all he did was argue with her. I loved watching the two of them spar, pitting their wills against each other, and I loved watching their walls crumble.

When I met Nikoo and Jim at a book signing last summer, I bought their contemporary novels (written as Jan Coffey), saying I didn't care for historicals. I think next time I'll buy the historicals as well.

Labels: books, flashback, HistoricalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 5/15/2009 02:04:00 AM 0 comments

I was really happy to finally read Tempting, after all the teasers we got a couple months ago. The scene where Simon rescued the cat for Christine was even better than I'd imagined it.

What a dilemma for Simon! His political ambitions are already on shaky enough ground due to his Jewish heritage, and now he falls in love with a woman he rescued from a brothel he was responsible for closing down!

And then Christine, who had to escape from between a rock and a hard place more than once. She proved herself very strong in fighting for herself, first against Hareton, then the madam, then Mr. St. John. Three different kinds of fights---the first for her life, then for her spirit, and last for her.... okay, I can't think of a good word here. But I noticed it. Not accepting Mr. St. John's offer was a fight as well, even though he wouldn't have treated her badly, and she'd have had a comfortable life, but she wanted more for herself than to be a mistress to a man she didn't love. Nice contrast when she tells Simon she will be his mistress if that's the only way they can be together.

Anyway, Hope, you're very good at putting your couples in impossible situations. I love watching them overcome all the obstacles you put in their way. It's almost like they're rats in a maze, and every time they get close to the cheese, you put up another barrier and force them down another part of the maze.

Like Annie mentioned, the humor was just right. Tempting wasn't a comedy, but there's humor in life, and the humor in the story made it that much more real to me. One of my favorite scenes was when Simon had callers and Christine went out to work in the garden, and the callers went out to the garden and caught her at it. Such a poignant scene---I had the interesting sensation of laughing with a lump in my throat.

Margot was a wonderful friend to both of them. I felt so sympathetic toward her---just when she's thinking how she'd never found anyone better than Simon, he shows up, drunk, bent on seducing her, and she realizes it's because he's in love with Christine. So she does everything she can to help them get together. I'm so glad things looked hopeful for her and the police inspector at the end. She deserves some love and happiness.

And Rebecca---thanks so much for finding that village physician for her! I felt so bad that so much of her life had been wasted because of the attacks, and was afraid she'd go straight from a child-like dementia to spinsterhood.

I think I've covered everything I mentioned the first time I wrote this. It was much better the first time--no rat mazes, and I had a better way to talk about Christine's 3 challenges. Soon as I get that time machine working, I'll fix it.

Thanks so much, Hope, for stomping again on my illusion of the glamorous life of the romance novelist. I'll be stopping by www.hopetarr.com once I'm done here & checking out the ice breaker questions--maybe they'll jumpstart my brain a bit!

Labels: books, flashback, HistoricalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 5/08/2009 11:32:00 AM 0 comments