I haven’t had a lot of luck with 2013 books so far – but this one was at least promising… Love Irresistibly by Julie James (2013, Contemporary)  6/18/13 Grade: 4 Brooke Parker is the general counsel for a restaurant chain, and usually she enjoys her work – even though she spends most of her time… Continue reading Love Irresistibly by Julie James

I read several Regencies when I was on vacation – none of them really outstanding. Her Hesitant Heart by Carla Kelly (2013, Regency)  6/10/13 Grade: 3.5 Susanna Hopkins left an abusive husband and fled West to a garrison town in Montana.  She plans to serve as a schoolteacher to the officers’ children.  But she is… Continue reading Vacation Reading

Since I haven’t found very many 2013 books that I want to buy, I’m trying to read some of the older books in my TBR.  I first read Megan Chance back in 1996, when I read The Portrait.  Since then I’ve bought her books, but only read one other (A Season in Eden).  I was… Continue reading The Way Home by Megan Chance

I’ve really enjoyed Sarah Mayberry as a new Harlequin author.  (Well, she’s not so new any more.)  I usually prefer her Harlequin Superromances to her Blazes, but I always find her books worth reading.  And it’s fun to read a book set in Australia! The Other Side of Us by Sarah Mayberry (2013, Contemporary Series) … Continue reading The Other Side of Us by Sarah Mayberry

I miss Regencies – even when they weren’t perfect, they had a certain charm.  Thankfully Harlequin Historical is still publishing a few of them. A Countess by Christmas by Annie Burrows (2010, Regency)  5/25/2013 Grade: 3.5 Helen Forrest has accompanied her aunt to the Christmas house party of the Earl of Bridgemere.  Her aunt has… Continue reading A Countess by Christmas by Annie Burrows

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Karina Bliss, but this is the first book I’ve read by her.  It’s always interesting to read a book set somewhere different – in this case, New Zealand. A Prior Engagement by Karina Bliss (2013, Contemporary Series)  5/18/13 Grade: 3.5 After two years, SAS soldier Lee Davis… Continue reading A Prior Engagement by Karina Bliss

Although I like some of Jo Beverley’s books, her Malloren books have never worked quite as well for me as her Regencies.  There is always more focus on the external over the internal.  But I picked this one up because I love a marriage of convenience story. An Unlikely Countess by Jo Beverley (2011, Georgian) … Continue reading An Unlikely Countess by Jo Beverley

So far I’ve been impressed by Ruthie Knox, although this short story is probably my least favorite of the ones I’ve read so far. How to Misbehave by Ruthie Knox (2013, Contemporary)  5/9/13 Grade: 3.5 Good girl Amber Clark has been admiring contractor Tony Mazzano from afar, but when the tornado warning siren goes off,… Continue reading How to Misbehave by Ruthie Knox

I’m having such a hard time finding historicals this year!  This is one of only two historicals I’ve bought so far this year (the other one is the Carla Kelly book).  Is this the death of the historical?  (Or am I just being picky?) The Typewriter Girl by Alison Atlee (2013, Turn of the Century) … Continue reading The Typewriter Girl by Alison Atlee

It’s always fun to read an old book by an author who became famous later.  Evidently Joanna Bourne didn’t write any books between 1983 and 2008 so it’s fun to see how her writing developed. Her Ladyship’s Companion by Joanna Bourne (1983, Regency)  4/28/13 Grade: 3.5 French teacher Melissa Rivenwood leaves her school in London… Continue reading Her Ladyship’s Companion by Joanna Bourne