I had to break my rule about not buying any more paperback books for this one!  Thankfully it worked well since I brought it to the hospital with me. The Gamble by Joan Wolf(1998, Regency Historical)  10/12/12Grade: 3.5 After her father’s death, Georgie discovers that he was blackmailing several  gentlemen for cheating at gambling.  She… Continue reading The Gamble by Joan Wolf

I’ve read several books by Julia Ross (aka Jean Ross Ewing) but none of them have been keepers.  Still, she had a unique voice – it doesn’t seem like she’s still writing, which is too bad. My Dark Prince by Julia Ross(2000, Regency Historical)  9/30/12Grade: 4 When Nicholas, prince of Glarien, arrives in her small… Continue reading My Dark Prince by Julia Ross

Another book from my TBR – I enjoyed some of Candice Proctor’s other books, but this one left me a bit cold. Whispers of Heaven by Candice Proctor(2000, Victorian Australia)  9/22/12Grade: 3.5 After studying in England, Jesmond Corbett has returned to her family home in Tasmania.  She is supposed to marry her neighbor, Harrison, but… Continue reading Whispers of Heaven by Candice Proctor

There were quite a few romances set during and after the Civil War in the 1980’s, but those books mostly disappeared in the 90’s and 2000’s.  It’s difficult to write about the time without mentioning ugly realities – and those realities might not mesh with a love story.  I think it’s still possible, but it’s… Continue reading The Bride Fair by Cheryl Reavis

There are some unrealistic romance conventions that I enjoy (marriages of convenience, tortured heroes) but others are just too far outside reality for me.  The “forced seduction” is one of those – no matter how much the author tries to convince me it’s true love, I keep thinking of Stockholm syndrome… To Have and To… Continue reading To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney

When you read romances that are 15 years old or more, you never know what you’re going to get.  Sometimes they are great and completely stand the test of time.  (Some of the best books I’ve read recently have been from the 90’s.)  But some of the books that seemed daring and new back then… Continue reading To Love and to Cherish by Patricia Gaffney

I thought Tessa Dare’s early books had a unique voice – they felt like something different from the usual Regency historicals.  Unfortunately, her Spindle Cove books are missing something – this one was OK but it felt very Avon-ized.  She’ll probably sell more books but I’m not running out to buy the next one. A… Continue reading A Week To Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

I’m glad to see Westerns making at least a small comeback, but even in the new Westerns, you rarely see a heroine like Jenny Jones.  Glad I got the chance to read this one! The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne(1997, Western)  8/29/12Grade: 4.5 Just when Jenny Jones is ready to die in front… Continue reading The Promise of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne

I really should take advantage of my Prime borrowing membership – I tend to just buy books instead of finding out if they’re available for free with Prime.  Not that I begrudge Theresa Weir her $3.99!  I’m just happy she’s still writing romance occasionally. The Girl with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir(2012, Contemporary)  8/28/12Grade:… Continue reading The Girl with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir

I wasn’t supposed to be looking for new backlist titles, but after reading two Joan Wolf Regency historicals, I think I’m going to be searching out her other first person historicals.  It’s odd that the two best-reviewed books in this series aren’t available in ebook form, but happily some of the others are so I… Continue reading The Pretenders by Joan Wolf