The Vicar's Daughter by Deborah Simmons

http://www.deborahsimmons.com/
At last success!! After my disappointment with the Sandra Hill story, I was a filled with just a tad bit of trepidation when I decided to continue my project of rereading old books that I remember with fondness. Well, let me tell you Deborah Simmons The Vicar's Daughter, published in 1995) will stay on my list of 10 favorites.

Loved this story. There is nothing better than a stuffed-shirt hero meeting his downfall. I had forgotten just what a stuffed shirt he really was and how everything had to be on this really tight schedule, how tidy he was, how orderly he was. Of course, Charlotte turns his world upside down. This is a really great story and what I remembered as a food fight was instead a champagne fight. There are more books in this series, one of them Tempting Kate, which I reread as soon as I finished Vicar's Daughter...and it was also delightful. I'm now rereading the next one in the series The Last Rogue, this has been great fun. I think I can highly recommend these books.

This is not a complicated story, it's witty and fun watching another man sputter his way to love.

Time Period: Regency
Place: England
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Hot
Also: Tempting Kate,
published in 1997

Highland Scandal by Julia London

http://www.julialondon.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
This is the second in Julia London's "Scandal" series. Remember Jack from the other one, he's on the run from the Regent and he's running in Scotland. Och! Do'n ya know. There was almost too much Scottish twang in this one.

Highland Scandal was an interesting read for me because while I was reading it I was enjoying it, however when I would put it down, it would completely leave my mind.

I love the character of Jack Haines, and he really has a number of bad days in Scotland. The character of Lizzie I'm not really too sure of because she came awfully close to being one of those irritating feisty women who won't listen to reason. She was stubborn for way to long. There was a secondary romance between her crippled sister and her guard, however, there wasn't enough of the secondary story to suit me. There were some parts of the book that seemed a little choppy and Jack's sudden mood change toward the end of the story startled me. I had no idea why he was turned into a jerk for about 10 pages.

So, this book had parts that I enjoyed, but it also had parts that were a bit uneven and even unbelievable. I struggled with giving it a C but because I did like Jack's character I'm giving it a B-.

There is a third in the series, A Courtesan's Scandal coming out in October, so dinnae fash yerself.

Time Period: Regency
Place: Scotland/London
Rating
Sensuality Rating: Hot

Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride by Elizabeth Rolls

http://www.elizabethrolls.com/

Warning! There are no regency spies, pirates, secret brotherhoods, women disguised as men or kidnappings in this book!

However, there is the regulation cuddly kitty and rescued dog.

It's been awhile since I've read what I would call a traditional Regency, but that's what I'd call Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride by Elizabeth Rolls. Now, Elizabeth Rolls has been around a long time, I've just never read her and since this book is the third in a series, I just might have to read the other two, even though this one stands on it's own.

There are a number of topics touched on in this story: illegitimacy, class division, moral standards. All of the characters reacted to the topic of illegitimacy according to the class they were in. This book created a atmosphere that was really true to the time period. If any of the characters were close to 21st century sensibilities it would be Christy. She is written as a very strong person and doesn't take too much crap from anyone, however she has a very sensitive side that get's hurt by those around her quite a lot. Julian is a man of his time, he's very autocratic and through the course of this book, he is the one that has to change the most and break almost every rule in his aristocratic world to arrive at his happy ending.

The book has some very funny moments and some very touching ones. This was a very nice love story and if you like traditional Regencies, I highly recommend this one. It's very good. And, I'll have to keep my eye on Elizabeth Rolls.

Time Period: Regency
Place: England
Rating: Strong
Sensuality Rating: Warm

Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore

http://www.jenniferhaymore.com/

Wallbanger alert!

I really wanted to like Hint of Wicked, especially since I always like to find new authors. However, one of my many pet peeves is male hero's who can't make up their minds and think they are in love with one woman while bedding another. So, having the heroine in the book do that doesn't make it any better just because she's a woman. I thought the plot was interesting and was excited about how it would be worked out, but Sophia just waited too long to make up her mind. Not only couldn't she make up her mind, but she was inconsistent. One minute she's mad at Garrett and the next she's massaging him. One minute she's fiery, the next she's passive. And, how long can you love a guy who locks you up and keeps you a prisoner in your own house? Even if you have wonderful memories of him.

And Garrett, husband 1, what a creep. He's gone for 8 years, suffering from amnesia, he comes back, he is still able to think like a human person. However, it never crosses his mind that maybe his wife has moved on, maybe she thought he was dead, maybe she remarried, maybe she loves someone else, maybe this is the 1800's where a woman alone might have a tough time. Here's what I'll do, I'll lock her up and brow-beat her and then she'll love me.

I didn't buy the daughter from this union, the 7 year old child who has Albert Einstein residing in her body. Pet peeve: children that don't act and talk like children.

The only person in this book that I liked was husband number 2, Tristan. He was everything a romance hero should be, he even saved Mr. Jerk Garrett's life. And he continued to love Sophia throughout her Garrett is my soul mate, Tristan is my soul mate, Garrett is my soul mate, Tristan is my soul mate, oh only 25 more page in the book! I guess Tristan is my soul mate, I think. Poor Tristan, he gets stuck with Sophia and Garrett gets his own story.

Anyway, I wish Ms. Haymore the best and I think that this book is going to be one that the public will either love it or hate it. I also think that Jennifer Haymore will be around for quite awhile, it's just this book is not my personal cup of tea.

Time period: Regency
Place: England
Rating:
Sensuality: Scorching (bondage warning)

The Tarnished Lady by Sandra Hill

http://www.sandrahill.net/
I have been recommending this books for years, obviously all based on a faulty memory. The Tarnished Lady by Sandra Hill is filled with so many things that are my personal pet peeves, I find myself dumb-struck. It's only been 15 years, where was my brain? The only good thing about this book, was the representation of the time period. The really dirty filthy time period.

The heroine was annoying; she was one of those feisty women. You know, feisty as in really really stubborn and doing numb things like disguising yourself as an old woman, putting yourself in needless danger and not being honest. And the hero! AAAKKKK! Let me get my hands on that neck. After hot sex, he mistrust her because he discovers a letter from her former paramour. After hot sex, he mistrusts her because she's been in disquise. After hot sex, he mistrusts her because she disobeyed him (she's feisty remember) and returns to her old home. He will not trust her till she can prove that she is worthy of him. He plays tricks on her, like that oh so funny pretend interlude with another woman. Why does he do that you may ask? Because, he wants to see if she will get jealous, doesn't care whether it might hurt her. What a jerk! Argh!

With every page I turned, I keep waiting for that book that I had fond memories of, but noooo. I'm really surprised that this book is only 15 years old, because it really seems like something written 40 years ago.

So with a sad sniffle, I must bid adieu to The Tarnished Lady, and banish it from my recommendation list. And jumpin jiminies! I really have to start reading some of the others that are decades old and on my list of beloved books.

Time Period: 945 AD
Place: Saxon England
Part of Viking Series I
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Hot

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

http://www.jennifersromances.com/index.html
Gee willickers! Loved this book! I haven't read about a damaged hero like this since Laura Kinsale.

The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie is the first in a series about the MacKenzie brothers. And, let me tell you, the three remaining brothers all seem interesting and I'm hoping the author can keep up the momentum. I'm very interested in seeing how she turns Hart (the oldest) into a hero; he really seemed like a creep in this one.

The heroine, Beth and the hero, Ian, were very complex characters. I was especially fond of Ian, who has some kind of Savant/Asperger syndrome. So, he isn't your standard hero and there is no miraculous cure at the end of the story.

This is a book that you are either going to hate or love, but there won't be any middle of the road. I found this particular romance story to be a very fascinating journey to a happy ending.

Time period 1880's
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Scorching

Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas

http://sherrythomas.com/
I'm going to say right off that I'm really disappointed. I was very excited about reading this book, because I loved Sherry Thomas' other books, so I thought this one would be just as good. Now, don't get me wrong, the writing is wonderful and I think Sherry Thomas is one of the better writers to come along in the last few years. The problem I had with Not Quite a Husband was the heroine Bryony.

I did not like Bryony! She was like a dog with a bone and she had a TSTL moment toward the end of the book that made me want to punch her lights out. She is represented as a cold fish in bed with Leo and with reason. You see, while they are engaged, Leo does a romance land no no. Uh oh! But one of the very first things she does after three years of separation, with no clearing up of the situation, is have sex with him...and not cold fish sex, but hot sex. Why? Don't know, it's never explained. And the TSTL moment, I saw it coming but still didn't like it; there could have been another way to put the couple into danger. She became the Too Stupid Too Live heroine.

I love the troubled marriage theme and this is one book in which she really does see what she thinks she's seeing, but the resolution of the problem was too contrived and didn't work for me. I was left with the feeling that if there hadn't been this big traumatic event they would have went their separate ways; so I don't buy the happy ending.

Regardless of some of these short comings, there is some really fine writing in this book. I guess I giving it a half-hearted recommendation with a warning that you may not like this one. Or, you might.
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Scorching

McAlistair's Fortune by Alissa Johnson

http://alissajohnsonromance.com/

I'll make this short and sweet. DNF, sorry to say. It's unusual for me to let one go, but this book was going no where. The writing style is good, but the story just doesn't go anywhere. And the funny parts were just not funny. The chemistry between Evie and McAlistair was not there. Cannot recommend this book. I was really bummed out.
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Have no idea, since I wasnt' able to finish.

This Duchess of Mine by Eloisa James

http://www.eloisajames.com/
I love Eloisa James' Duchess series and I've been waiting for Elijah and Jemma's story a long time. This Duchess of Mine is their story and if you have been following the other books you are going to like this one. And, you really should read the other books in the series just so you can get their background story.

In this one we learn all of the why's in their relationship, some of them we may not like, but oh well we are not the published author. Villiers also shows up as the strong secondary character, setting us up for his book coming out in July. I'm really looking forward to that one and the explanation of the five illegitimate children.

Back to Elijah and Jemma. It took me awhile to warm up to Elijah. Why, you ask? Because he is a passive kinda guy when it comes to doing anything about his love life. Why did it take him nine years to try to work things out with the woman he loved? And even when he came back, he plays that stupid chess game for a year. But, he did start to grow on me after awhile. I wasn't too keen on the game that Jemma was playing with him to make him not be so stodgy; throwing another woman at him was a plot device that I thought was rather adolescent. But, other than that, I found their relationship fascinating.

The love scenes were hot and the first love scene is hot and touching at the same time. And Jemma's reaction to her husband's illness is very realistic, I would probably react the same way she does.

Ms. James does a great job with the Georgian time period, the wigs, hair powder, beauty patches, men in heels, men dressed in brilliant colors, women in panniers. You must read this book, in fact read the entire series! I can hardly wait for the Duke of Villier's story!

Also, if you are at all familiar with Ms. James, you know that she always writes a follow-up chapter after her book is out, which she posts to her website. I find this rather amusing, because she bases this chapter on the whining of her readers.
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Scorching

The Naked Baron by Sally Mackenzie

http://www.sallymackenzie.net/
This is a silly book! But, sometimes everyone needs to read a silly book. All of Sally MacKenzie's books have made me smile, and the Naked Baron by Sally MacKenzie is no exception to that rule. In fact, I would say that this is one of her better tries.

There isn't any angst ridden hero in sight, but there is David, who loves big girls with big chesticles and Grace fits that description to a t. From the moment these two see each other, he cannot control any of his organs (if you get my drift.)

Plus, there is another romance going on between his Uncle Alex and her Aunt Kate. This story isn't really a secondary story because it takes up quite a bit of the book. I had to refer back to the blurb on the back to make sure who the story was about. But don't whine too much about that either, because this story about an older couple (she's 40, he's 45) was also great. There was really quite a funny scene involving pebbles thrown against a window.

This is a fast paced, lighthearted read filled with hot sex.

Sometimes I give stories high marks because they blow me away, this story didn't do that, but it was FUN and that is the reason I'm giving it a such a high mark, even with some of the 21st century vernacular.
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Scorching