On My Radar!!

Upcoming books that will be purchased by me for the purpose of reading, enjoying, laughing, crying or maybe even throwing at the wall and not finishing. Of course, they could remain on my TBR pile forever and ever, in which case I will not write about them. There are a number of them that I am looking forward to reading, the Boscastle family reappears and the last in the House of Rohan. However, I really am excited that there are a couple of debut authors in the batch who sound promising...so here's hoping for couple of months filled with excellent reading.

For a more complete list of upcoming books, please check out my Upcoming Book, Hey Delia list.

September/October 2010

Elizabeth Boyle
http://www.elizabethboyle.com/
Mad About the Duke: Bachelor Chronicles, release date September 29, 2010: 9780061783500

Celeste Bradley
http://www.celestebradley.com/
Scoundrel in my Dreams: Runaway Brides series, release date September 28, 2010: 9780312943103

Liz Caryle
http://www.lizcarlyle.com/
One Touch of Scandal: Fraternitas Aurea Crucis series, release date September 28, 2010: 9780061965753

Madeline Hunter
http://www.madelinehunter.com/
Sinful in Satin: the Rarest Blooms series, release date September 28, 2010: 9780515148442

Sabrina Jeffries
http://www.sabrinajeffries.com/
A Hellion in Her Bed: Hellions of Halstead Hall series, release date September 21, 2010: 9781439167571

Courtney Milan
http://www.courtneymilan.com/
Trial by Desire: spin-off of Proof of Seduction, release date September 28, 2010 9780373774852

Tamera Lejeune
no website
Christmas with the Duchess, release date October 5, 2010: 9781420108736

Ashley March
http://www.ashleymarch.com/
Seducing the Duchess: The Bridal Pleasures series, release date October 5, 2010: 9780451232366, debut

Anne Stuart
http://www.anne-stuart.com/
Breathless: House of Rohan, release date October 1, 2010 9780778328506

October/November 2010

Suzanne Enoch
http://www.suzanneenoch.com/
Rules of an Engagement: the Adventurers' Club series, release date October 26, 2010: 9780061662225

Julia London
http://www.julialondon.com/
The Year of Living Scandalously: the Secrets of Hadley Green series, release date October 19, 2010: 9781441849359

Sarah MacLean
http://blog.macleanspace.com/index.html
Ten Ways to be Adored When Landing a Lord: sequel to Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, release date October 26, 2010: 9780061852060

Kristi Astor
http://kristiastor.com/
A Midnight Clear: release date November 1, 2010: 9781420105476

Evangeline Collins
http://www.evangelinecollins.com/
Seven Nights to Forever: release date November 2, 2010 9780425236833 (trade paperback book which means it's one of those large paperbacks)

Jillian Hunter
http://www.jillianhunterauthor.com/
A Duke's Temptation: the Boscastle Family series, release date November 2, 2010: 9780451413000

Kieran Kramer
http://kierankramerbooks.com/
When Harry Met Molly: the Impossible Bachelors series, release date November 2, 2010: 9780312611644, debut

Margaret McPhee
no website
Unlacing the Innocent Miss, release date November 2, 2010: 9780373296163

Anne O'Brien
http://www.anneobrienbooks.com/
The Virgin Widow: historical fiction about Anne Neville, release date November 2, 2010: 9780451231291

Emma Wildes
http://www.emmawildes.com/whatsnext.shtml
His Sinful Secret: Notorious Bachelors series, release date November 2, 2010: 9780451231666

Pay-dirt

Just so you know...Six of my books came in...I can get back to some serious reading!!!

Panic is setting in!

What's the deal with September? I am going into panic mode because I had a number of DNF book's this month, in fact I believe I've had more this month than ever before. I believe I am going to take the plunge and cross some auto-buy authors off of my list, even if they have a series going. And, while I'm in panic mode, wouldn't you think that when you order your new shipment of books and the person on the other end says "confirmed" (they either say confirm or back-order) that would mean you would see those said books in a couple of days. Seems I'm wrong...if you're not going to send those books to me, don't confirm them - say "yes, they are at our warehouse, but we cannot release them till the release date." Don't play with me, especially when I've had a horrible read month - when I've experienced slogging through title after title of books that go nowhere. I'm going to be like a spider waiting for my prey when I order my books next month...just wait until I hear that word "confirmed"...you false hope doers you.

September used to be my favorite month...and where are my books?

Memories Schmemories, Continuing Saga Update, Warning!!

Warning Will Robinson!!! Over the weekend I perused a couple of the cutesy Kasey Michaels books Rambunctious Lady Royston, 1983 and The Lurid Lady Lockport, 1984 and found some things that touched off my ick alarm. Both women/girls in these books are 17, get a spanking, and are called infant by the much older heroes throughout the book. I'm checking out The Questioning Miss Quinton, 1987, so far no alarms are going off. So, go ahead and read The Tenacious Miss Tamerlane, 1982, but the others may not pass any eewww moments or ick factors.

Memories Schmemories, Continuing Saga, The Tenacious Miss Tamerlane by Kasey Michaels, 1982

A feel good book!
http://www.kaseymichaels.com/links.html

Kasey Michaels, aka Michelle Kasey, aka Kathie Seidick, has been around for a long time and during that time she's published over a hundred books. She's an author I've been reading from the beginning and her earlier books remind me of Georgette Heyer, with sensual overtones. Between the years of 1982-1992 she wrote a series of books that were connected by their cutesy titles: The Belligerent Miss Boyton, 1982; The Tenacious Miss Tamerlane, 1982; The Rambunctious Lady Royston, 1983; The Lurid Lady Lockport, 1984; The Savage Miss Saxon, 1985; The Mischievous Miss Murphy, 1987; The Questioning Miss Quinton, 1987; The Anonymous Miss Adams, 1989; The Dubious Miss Dalrymple, 1990; The Chaotic Miss Crispino, 1991; and The Wagered Miss Winslow, 1992. Now, granted, I don't remember each and every one of these, but I do remember them being some great light reading. I also remember The Tenacious Miss Tamerlane as being one of my favorites and also having one of my favorite romance laugh-out-loud moments in it.

I loved everything about this book - the language, the dialogue, the characters, the story. As I was rereading this book, I found it amazing how much the written romance language has changed in just twenty or so years. Even Ms. Michaels writing has changed. This book is full of wonderful, archaic, rich words and phrases: "cut line, you great booby," "cozen," "faradiddle," "the gel was a positive quiz," "pish-tosh," "or is it that you are simply a nosey busybody who delights in sticking her fingers into everyone else's pie?" From the moment I sat down to reread this book I had a smile on my face. Tansy and Avanoll were a wonderful couple... loved every minute of their exchanges. The secondary characters were great, not a distraction to the story. The aunt had me chuckling.

And of course, the scene... you must remember that Avanoll is one of my favorite types of heroes, a better-than-everyone, stuffed-shirt kind of guy. Here's the set-up - Avanoll has just bestowed a kiss upon Tansy:

"Deeper pondering of this incident would come easier at his Club, with a glass or two of port to hand. For now he contented himself by simply dipping his head quickly and kissing the tip of her nose before making for the door, leaving a bemused Tansy staring at his retreating back - one hand absently touching her lips.

Avanoll turned at the door and - in celebration of his startling discovery of a new and vastly intriguing side of his cousin, not to mention his superior handling of a sticky situation the girl could have mushroomed into an ugly tale of compromise if not for his quick talking - jauntily saluted her.

Be good to give the girl a little romance to dream about, he congratulated himself. The incident wouldn't be repeated, for that could lead to problems, but now that she had had a taste of womanhood, perhaps she would join Emily in her husband-hunting and he would be rid of her. Strangely, that thought destroyed some of his good mood, but he refused to let it ruin his day.

As he made to turn away again Tansy suddenly called out his name but he merely smiled, letting her know that although romantic dalliance had its place, it was time now for other pursuits. He shook his head in the negative and wagged a finger at her that meant "Naughty puss, I must be off," and turned once more for the door, "the hero making his exit," and with one step tripped over Horatio and went sprawling head-first onto the black and white tiles of the foyer."

And, that's just the beginning of a my favorite funny scenes. By the way Horatio is a dog.

If you've never read any of Ms. Michaels' early works, I suggest you choose one of the cutesy title series; these are all fast reads and very charming and they are what romance writing is all about.

Time/Place: Regency England
Rating:
Sensuality: Warm

Memories Schmemories, Continuing Saga, Rules for Being a Mistress by Tamara Lejeune, 2008

What I wouldn't give for some hip boots!
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/

Yes, children, you will need hip boots when you read Rules for Being a Mistress. Why would I need hip boots, you ask. Oh, my unsuspecting innocents, you will need them as you attempt to wade through the quagmire of disjointed plots and believability stretched farther than the milky way!

I'm not sure what I was thinking when I decided to reread the third book in the Rayburn family series. Well, actually I am sure. I thought that because I loved Simply Scandalous and Surrender to Sin so much it would only be natural that I love this one. W-r-o-n-g!

This had all the ingredients for a good story. There is the standard Lejeune non-hero hero, Benedict. He's missing an arm, he has an extra hairy furry chest, he has a scar, he's a prig and he has a wry wit. Soooo, what went wrong? Let us turn our eyeballs toward the heroine, Cosima for an answer. She doesn't like Benedict, no wait she does, no she doesn't, yes she does, no she hates him. She's not a whore, but she will sneak across the street at night to be with Benedict - but, wait... he's not allowed to touch her - or is he - touch me, don't touch me, may I touch you, I hate you, I'll lay my head on your shoulder, don't touch me, I'm not a whore! No, I won't marry you, no, I won't be your mistress, I will be your lover... I know what I'll do, I'll dye my hair red and cut it really short and you won't know I'm the same person - I'll wear a yellow wig and you won't be able to tell it's a wig made in the 1800's, you won't be able to recognize me. Of course, Benedict, the poor schlep, doesn't recognize her.

I did not like the heroine! And then there was the cast of thousand secondary nasty characters. There's Dalrymple, Carterets, Kellynch, Westland, Ludham, Matlock, Redfylde, on and on. They all moved in and out of scenes in such rapid succession, I was quite woozy trying to keep track of them. It was a Robert Altman production gone wrong.

ALLS I know is I'm so very happy this wasn't a debut book. So, my children, go ahead and read Tamara Lejeune's other books, for they are truly well-written funny tales, but tread gently around this one.

Time/Place: Regency England
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Hot

Memories Schmemories, Part XIII, Surrender to Sin by Tamara Lejeune, 2007

Humor is interesting the second time around.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk

I remember finding this book hysterical when I read it the first time and this time it was still funny. However, I was able to look at it with more analytical eyes and I was truly amazed at the writing skill of the author. I am a big fan of all those screwball comedies from the 30's and 40's... My Man Godfrey, Bringing Up Baby, Twentieth Century, The Awful Truth, etc. The similarity in all of these is even if the main characters in these stories are good looking, they are just a little off, quirky and not really hero/heroine material. And, that's what this book is. This is the story of two characters who would be the secondary goofballs in some other story.

This has so many misunderstandings and side stories that if you are a skip reader, this is not the book for you - you will miss some delightful dialog. The banter between Abigail and Cary is wonderful, bright, crisp and funny. The story never slows down and when Cary's sister shows up at his estate, the story accelerates at an amazing pace. I was truly amazed at the writing skill; I love good comedy writing. I found myself wondering about how Ms. Lejeune plotted her story. This story reminded be a lot of My Man Godfrey with all of those wonderful things going on in the background. One of my favorite scenes in My Man Godfrey is when Carlo has been insulted, all of the main characters are close to the camera and talking but in the background almost out of focus is Carlo sulking... funny scene. Watch for it if you ever see the movie. And, by the way turn off that nasty colorization and watch it in black and white. I digress.

I do have a minor quibble with the book, even though the couple was wonderful and they had chemistry, at least comedy chemistry. when Abigail announces she's in love, I was taken by surprise - I didn't see her fall. Abigail is also a bit of a doormat, but in this book it is written in such a way that her timorous personality plays well.

I highly recommend this book, however, as I said before this isn't a book you can read with only part of your attention turned on. This is a zany, zany book.

And, by the way, why doesn't Tamara Lejeune have a website? She's written four books and another is coming out this year, but her web presence doesn't exist. Ms. Lejeune, you need a website.

Time/Place: Regency England
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Hot

Problems

AAAKKK!!! Had some problems lately getting into a few books...here they are...I've picked up, read a bit, put down, picked up, put down, picked up...take it from here.

You Only Love Once by Caroline Linden
Wicked Delights of the Bridal Bed by Tracy Anne Warren
The Unclaimed Duchess by Jenna Petersen

I've put them all back on by TBR pile, didn't throw them against the wall...after all it could be my mood...so, here's hoping.

The Devil Wears Plaid by Teresa Medeiros

Love those men in kilts!
http://www.teresamedeiros.com/

The Devil Wears Plaid has one of the best entrances by a hero I've read in a long time! Nothing better than a guy in a kilt crashing open the door of a church and charging his horse down the isle, grabbing the girl, throwing her over his saddle and riding away. I had a smile on my face from that moment on... what a guy!

I loved this book. It was a fast-paced, light, humorous read. I finished it in a day... full of adventure and great romance. Oh sure, it was full of och, bruidy, wee, auld, hinae, ken...etc., but this time I didn't find that irritating. In fact, I found the Scottish slang throughout the book amusing and even, dare I say it, charming. The Devil Wears Plaid was a refreshing change from some of the heavy duty books that have passed my way lately.

Emma and her highlander hero Jamie are a wonderful couple. And yes! We've seen this type of couple before. There was nothing new to the plot, but this book still worked. We have all the standard romance elements - the drunkard father, the sacrificial heroine, the idiot sisters, the Scottish hero - but it seemed fresh and new in Medeiros' hand. There was some strong chemistry between the main characters, a lot of great banter and funny dialogue being exchanged. There was a point when Jamie became stubborn, but mostly he was a wonderful hero. And, there was a twist at the end that I didn't see coming, which always impresses me. There was nothing new in the plot line of this book, but somehow it was a refreshing bit of artistry.

This book is a light, relaxing tale, but filled with some strong romantic moments and I think you'll probably love it as much as I did if you read it. This is Teresa Medeiros at her best!

Time/Place: Scotland/England Regency
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Hot!

Born to Bite by Lynsay Sands

All your questions are answered!
http://www.lynsaysands.net/

Think back... It's been over a year since that cliffhanger ending from The Renegade Hunter that sent me into a tizzy. Born to Bite answers all the questions that were left last year, and I will admit I did forget about everything, just like I knew I would! (Note to authors: I have a short memory, don't do cliffhangers!)

The 13th in the Argeneau vampire series continues with Armand's story. Poor Armand, just doesn't have any luck keeping a wife. He's had three - and they all met their ends in mysterious accidents. He believes they are accidents, but just in case, he has isolated himself from his family to keep them safe. This didn't make too much sense to me when I read it - if the deaths were accidents why would you be concerned about the lives of those around you? Actually I found Armand to be a tad bit boring.

The heroine, Esme, is some kind of immortal enforcer, who has been sent to Armand's farm to investigate those deaths and also find the person who framed Nicholas (from Renegade Hunter). Of course, Armand and Esme are life-mates. What this means is that there is hot sex in the book, but we don't get to watch people fall in love. Although, it did take some time for them to admit that they loved each other; evidently life-mates and love don't necessarily go together in Vampireland, but I might be confused on that point.

This is a fast read, with some amusing scenes. I thought the romance part of the book was a little underdeveloped and I knew right away who the killer was, so the mystery was a also little weak for me. This wasn't one of the best in the Argeneau series, but it wasn't one of the worst - it was just average. And, don't worry, there are plenty of other characters in this book that will all probably have their own tale... this series could go on for a l-o-n-g time.

Time/Place: Current time, Canada
Rating:
Sensuality rating: Hot!

Reckless by Anne Stuart

You say no, but you really mean yes!
http://www.anne-stuart.com/

It took me forever to read this book and there were a number of times when I thought about not finishing Reckless, but because I have such great respect for Anne Stuart, I sighed and drudged through. Reckless is the second in the trilogy of House of Rohan, and it is about Adrian the son of Francis and Elinor from Ruthless. So, we are now moved ahead in time to Regency England.

Let me begin my grouse-fest. Let's begin with Adrian, who like his father belongs to the Heavenly Host club and is also carrying a big chip around on his shoulder. The chip is his father. He's got some kind of grudge against him (his father was the hero from the previous book so it can't be too bad.) However, we don’t really know why he does, we are never told why, all we are ever allowed to see or hear is him moaning and whining about his father, the hypocrite. There is hardly any interaction between Adrian and his parents, which was disappointing to me, especially since he's got a problem with one of them. I didn’t like Adrian! He’s an overgrown spoilt, whiny, sullen frat boy who does not understand the meaning of “no”. He’s one of those: I know you want this, say you want this as much as I do, I’ll make you say yes. Anne Stuart usually can turn these "no" means "yes" jerks into wonderful heroes, but this time she failed, this time the hero came close to being a Steve Morgan jerky hero clone.

And then there is the heroine. Ah Charlotte, you know the type. She's a spinster virgin heroine, plain, at six feet tall with red hair. Now, how a six foot woman with curly red hair could ever be considered plain is beyond me. Maybe it’s the glasses, no wait a minute she only needs them for reading! I wish there were more heroines who would wear their glasses all the way through the book! I do remember one who did, it was rather charming because her lenses kept fogging up. Of course, I don’t remember which heroine that was, anyway back to Charlotte.

Charlotte was borderline TSTL. As I said before she’s a virgin, which means she yearns to experience the seamy side of life, because she’s a plain six foot red head and will never never ever have sex, because she's plain. Sooooo, she decides if she can never never have sex, she’ll go watch it. Yes, let’s dress up as a monk…what a good idea! The brilliant plan is then to accompany her cousin to a Heavenly Host party! Why? Because she is going to watch people having sex and maybe even see sullen Adrian there! Then she will get to see his fabulous body. You know she has been stalking him...I mean l-u-v-e-d him forever and ever! Why has she luved this selfish sullen boy? Because down deep, he is really really a wonderful person, he's just hiding behind that arrogant facade. Big groan!

Thank goodness there were some nice secondary characters, loved the dying friend Monty and the almost scene stealing cousin and her vicar. But the secondary characters are not what the book is about…the book is about a stupid heroine and a distasteful hero.

Reckless did not live up to its predecessor and I was pretty disappointed, I was really looking forward to the second in the series. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for next month and Breathless, the third in the series.

Time/Place: Regency England
Rating:
Sensuality Rating: Scorcher

Memories Schmemories...Sort of

I had an epiphany! Just this weekend I happened to be doing one of those jobs I hate - getting groceries. However, I was on a quest. I was pushing my cart, my mind puzzling over where the grocer might have hidden those lightly-salted cardboard flavored treats known as rice cakes, when what did my ears hear?

Why, it was that classic piece of music by Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, Wooly Bully! Talk about something triggering memories. Nothing better than a bunch of guys from Texas dressed up in costumes from "The Sheik" belting out a song that makes no sense. But you can dance to it! And, I might add, I was a dancin' fool a long time ago.

As I stood in the grocery store tapping my toes discreetly...God forbid any one should see me...my mind wandered back to the books I was reading when the song came out. You must understand that this was before the romance books of today - before I discovered Georgette Heyer. My favorite book at the time was James Michener's The Source. And, it still is my favorite Michener. But don't shed a tear for me because I was a very big fan of historical fiction and gothic novels.

In fact, Doris Leslie's Wreath for Arabella (published in 1948) is still in my bookcse. And if any of you are not familiar with gothic (in my opinion, the precursor to romance) almost all the covers had a woman in a long flowing gown looking over her shoulder at the shadowy castle in the background. Those were some humdinger books and if you have never read one you should. My favorite authors were Victoria Holt, Joan Aiken, Virginia Coffman, Dorothy Eden, Mary Stewart and Elsie Lee. Great books! So here's to you gothic ladies for making me what I am today and here's to you, Sam, Sham and Pharoahs, for the trip down memory lane.

I shall leave you with this lyrical prose:

Hattie told Mattie
About the thing she saw
Had two big horns
And a wooly jaw.

Wooly Bully, Wooly Bully, Wooly Bully, etc.

Hattie told Mattie
Don't take no chance
Let's not be L-7
Come and learn to dance.

Wooly Bully etc.

Mattie told Hattie
It's the thing to do
Get yourself a filly
To pull the wool with you.

Wooly Bully, Wooly Bully, Wooly Bully etc.