Holy Macaroni! Upcoming Historical Releases Are On There Way!!!!

April 25, 2018

Authors with an asterisk*, I'm picking up! For more Upcoming Releases that aren't historical see HEY DELIA!! May 15, 2018 to June 14, 2018. By the way, it is not my fault if a publisher changes the release dates - just so you know, they do not consult me.

Historical Romance

	Amanda McCabe http://ammandamccabe.com/ Secrets of A Wallflower Debutantes in Paris series June 1
	Amelia Grey http://www.ameliagrey.com/ It’s All About the Duke The Rakes of St. James series May 29
	Amy Sandas http://www.amysandas.com/ The Gunslinger’s Vow Runaway Brides series June 5
	Carol Arens https://www.harlequin.com/shop/authors/23485_carol-arens.html A Ranch to Call Home Paperback, 5-22 - Ebook, June 1
	Christine Merrill http://christine-merrill.com/ A Kiss Away from Scandal   Those Scandalous Stricklands series Paperback, May 22 - Ebook, June 1
	Elisabeth Hobbes http://elisabethhobbes.co.uk Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight Paperback, May 22 - Ebook, June 1
	Elizabeth Elliott* http://www.elizabeth-elliott.com/ The Princess - written in first person The Montagues Series June 5
	Ella Quinn http://www.ellaquinnauthor.com You Never Forget Your First Earl The Worthingtons series May 29
	Eloisa James* http://eloisajames.com Too Wilde to Wed Wildes of Lindow Castle Series series May 29
	Georgie Lee http://www.georgie-lee.com Captain Rose's Redemption Paperback, May 22 - Ebook, June 1
	Jo Goodman http://www.jogoodman.com/ A Touch of Flame The Cowboys of Colorado series June 5
	Karen Gerrard http://www.karyngerrard.com Scandal with a Sinful Scot Men of Wollstonecraft Hall series June 5
	Katharine Ashe http://www.katharineashe.com/ The Prince Devil's Duke series May 29
	Lara Temple https://www.laratemple.com Lord Stanton’s Last Mistress Wild Lords and Innocent Ladies series Paperback, 5-22 - Ebook, June 1
	Lorraine Heath http://www.lorraineheath.com/ Texas Glory Texas Trilogy series May 29
	Paula Quinn* http://pa0854.wix.com/paulaquinn Laird of the Black Isle Highland Heirs series May 29
	Renee Ann Miller http://www.reneeannmiller.com Never Deceive a Viscount The Infamous Lords series May 29
	Vivienne Lorret http://www.vivlorret.net How to Forget a Duke Misadventures in Matchmaking series May 29

Historical Fiction

	Jenna Blum http://www.jennablum.com The Lost Family June 3
	Jenni L. Walsh http://www.jennilwalsh.com Side by Side June 6
	James MacManus http://www.jamesmacmanus.com/index.asp Ike and Kay June 5
	Kevin Powers http://kevincpowers.com/ A Shout in the Ruin May 15
	Michelle Gable http://michellegable.com/ The Summer I Met Jack May 29
	Sally Koslow http://www.sallykoslow.com/content/index.asp Another Side of Paradise May 29
	Sandra Dallas http://sandradallas.com/ The Patchwork Bride June 5

A Most Unconventional Match by Julia Justiss, Thank-You All About Romance Project Continued.

April 18, 2018
Nice guys don’t always finish last

http://www.juliajustiss.com/
Well, I really liked this book. While I sometimes consider books a way of escaping the real world, I think sometimes we are bombarded with stories which stretch credibility just because authors think they must do that to make the story “fresh.” While I occasionally may read a book which is silly or nonsensical and the actions of the characters are way over the top, I also love reading romance which can take normal everyday life and create something unique. It takes a special writer to take the mundane and turn it into something engaging. That’s what we have here in Julia Justiss’ A Most Unconventional Match - 2008.

Let’s start with our hero, Hal Waterman. Hal was always a disappointment to his mother and an object of fun to his schoolmates. Why? Because he stuttered, and on top of that he grew into a big hulking fellow. Over time he was able to overcome that stutter. Now he speaks in a slow, stilted cadence, sort of like Yoda but more understandable…and with a deeper voice. He has also become somewhat of a financial success and has a few men he actually calls friend. Beautiful women still manage to flummox him and he avoids them at all cost. Which is why he is surprised at his own decision to help the beautiful widow Elizabeth Lowery. He has loved Elizabeth, from afar, for a long long time. For years he has avoided her. But now she has lost her husband and Nicky is out of town. Who’s Nicky? Well, he’s a connecting character. He is married to Elizabeth’s sister and he is also one of Hal’s bestest buddies. So you see, Hal feels a responsibility toward his friend and must offer any kind of help to Elizabeth he can – at least until Nicky returns to town. Good excuse. Hal has an enormous sense of loyalty. He is really a nice guy and yes, he is a beta hero.

Poor Elizabeth. She needs help – lots of help. While she isn’t exactly a pampered woman, she isn’t a woman who has ever done anything in the household. She doesn’t know how to manage a household, she doesn’t know anything about finances, has never seen a bill. Her entire married life has been spent letting her husband handle everything. He has kept everything from her. So, now she is totally lost, trying to raise her son. Her servants are taking advantage of her and she is being threatened by money-lenders. So, when Hal offers his help, she readily accepts. She has a lot of growing-up to do.

I like Elizabeth and Hal a whole lot. The story is not moved by outside forces. There isn’t a lot of drama. There are no kidnappings, spies, or over-the-top-villains. There is a sleaze-ball guy who tries to take advantage of Elizabeth, but he is just a normal everyday slimy guy, a smooth operator. He reminded me a little of George Sanders in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. This is a very unexceptional love story told in an extraordinary narrative. I became enchanted as Elizabeth and Hal stumble and grow. It’s magical, yet believable as Elizabeth becomes a strong, independent woman and Hal overcomes his insecurities. Don’t get me wrong, these characters have weaknesses, they are flawed and they don’t always have the right answers. They make mistakes. But they are careful with each other and as they become strong individuals, they also become a solid couple. They were a delightful couple, they were friends and very supportive of each other.

This was a gentle romance. Maybe some might consider it slow, but I thought it was lovely. I highly recommend it.

Time/Place: Regency England
Sensuality: Warm

Born in Sin by Kinley MacGregor, AAR Project Continues.

April 12, 2018
Connect the dots.

https://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/book-series/macallisters/
I used to read Kinley MacGregor aka Sherrilyn Kenyon, but then I lost track of all the character connections. Kinley MacGregor is one of those authors who has an AKA and has written so many books it boggles the mind. I’m always amazed at the amount of stories which come out of these prolific writers. Her stories have so many characters connecting from book to book I finally gave up on her. I also found myself getting lost when I visited her website trying to connect the characters. It was all too much for my little brain to handle.

Anyway, Born in Sin (2003) is a real departure for me because I traveled back to the court of Henry II instead of the Regency. We are introduced to Lord Sin, the hated illegitimate son of a MacAllister. He was born in sin from a one night stand. His English mother shipped him to his father in Scotland. This meant his father’s wife hated his guts because he was a constant reminder of her husband’s infidelity. If not for his half-brothers, his life would have been beyond miserable. During one of the Crusades he is eventually sold to the Saracens, who in turn educate him in the art of a top-notch assassin. One of the people he is told to assassinate is Henry II. Well, Sin sees this as his chance and instead of killing the King becomes Henry’s trusted you-got-a-problem-I-can-take-care-of-it lethal friend. Henry is having problems with Scotland, but he comes up with a solution. He will marry his bestest friend/assassin to the handy Scottish hostage Caledonia MacNeely.

Caledonia, aka Callie, is one of those heroines who is sweet and innocent, but amazingly spouts out wisdom beyond her years. She also isn’t afraid of Sin – everyone else is. Once she agrees to marry Sin, she is determined to teach him how to love. She has a tough job ahead – sort of. Sin is a very angst-filled hero. How do we know Sin is a troubled person? Because everyone who knows him tells us. The secondary best friend of our hero and other heroes from other books, Simon, informs us over and over and over of Sins woes. Sin’s brothers show up to let us know of Sin’s boo-hoo past. Sin’s horrible mother is there to shout at him in front of everyone. Sin’s step-mother is there to ignore him. All of this led to an angst over-load.

Innocents. Born to Sin gives us an interesting look into innocence. Both Sin and Caledonia are innocent – on a number of different levels. First of all they are both virgins. One would think with Sin’s rough years and angst-filled persona, somewhere along the way he would have partaken in a barmaid or two. But he hasn’t because he doesn’t want to leave an unwanted child behind. Sin was such an interesting character, all that angst, coldness, wisdom, and innocence in one body. There is a pretty funny scene in which he needs to leave evidence behind that his marriage has been consummated. He does this because he wants to save Callie from a humiliating examination by Henry. Anyway, Sin opens up one of his recent wounds and smears the blood all over the bed. Needless to say, the entire castle is abuzz with gossip about the amount of blood and all kind of rumors fly concerning the size of Sin’s Mr. Toad. If the people in the castle were not afraid of him before, they are after news of his consummation makes the rounds. Callie is more of a typical Romanceland wise/innocent character. She is an 18 year old wide-eyed innocent who somehow knows how to overcome the bad things which have happened to Sin over the years. She eventually succeeds in changing his world to butterflies and birds chirping - like all good heroines.

Secondary characters. There are numerous supporting characters, scene stealers and soon to be heroes. There’s Callie’s adorable six year-old brother Jamie. He’s there to steal scenes and make sure we know that anyone who likes children can't be all bad. There’s Simon, Sin’s best friend. He’s there for comic relief and to fill us in on Sin’s angst-filled life. There are the handsome half-brothers, who are there to parade their handsomeness around and entice us to buy more books in the series. There’s Callie’s belligerent teenage brother. He’s there for Callie and Sin to sacrifice themselves for. And, don’t forget Henry II, he’s there so we can see if Peter O’Toole got it right.

Now you might think I didn’t like this book, you'd be wrong. I did like it. While it’s not an eye-opening fantastic read, it was a pleasant read and a nice change from all my Regency books. I found Sin a fascinating study of an innocent who by all rights should not be. I did lower my grade a little because of the last few chapters in which a number of problems are solved. I thought the whole Sin, Callie, and Callie’s brother riding out to confront Henry was silly and not how any real historical characters with brains would have acted. This let-me-sacrifice-myself-no-let-me moment struck me as pretty old school writing or maybe even just lazy. So, I’m giving this story a fair to middling recommendation.

Time/Place: Middle Age England
Sensuality: Warm/Hot

Rules of Engagement by Christina Dodd, the AAR Project continues

April 11, 2018
Sometimes 18 years shows its age.

https://www.christinadodd.com/
Isn’t it funny how some books age well and some books don’t? Have you sometimes questioned your taste? Have you sometimes asked yourself – did I really like books like this? In the overall scheme of things and the overall history of books, 18 years isn’t such a long time. But in the case of Rules of Engagement, 18 years is a long long time. As I read this book I harkened back to the romance books from the 1970s and as much as I love the unique world of Romanceland and have some fond memories of a few of the old books, I have learned to put to put them in their historical perspective. In fact, I would probably have a real hard time making it through Sweet Savage Love if it were published brand new today.

So, I reread Christina Dodd’s Rules of Engagement, and I must have read it in 2000 because she used to be one of my auto-buys – until she turned to the dark side and began writing contemporary. I must have liked it when I first read it, but this time around I didn’t and I can tell you the reason in one word – Kerrich – what a bonehead hero.

The whole problem, or as we say in the business, the reason for our couple to be together, is as follows: Kerrich has made a young Queen Victoria mad. She wants him to be respectable, so for some reason this selfish guy thinks that he will borrow an orphan and pretend to adopt that child. This will show what a wonderful guy he is and then he’ll be back in Victoria’s good graces and he’ll be able to…what will he be able to do? I have no idea. What being back in the Queen’s good graces would do for him I have no idea. Besides that, once his graces were restored his intention was to put the orphan back in the orphanage – I guess the Queen would not question that or ask – where’s that child you were showing off a few weeks ago?

Anyway, he hires an ugly governess. She’s really not ugly, she’s in the world famous Romanceland ugly-disguise. The reason he wants an ugly governess is because he’s tired of pretty women falling in love with him. What a conceited moron. I guess “ugly” women don’t feel. So he hires a governess who used to be a beautiful aristocrat, Pamela Lockhart – in fact she was so beautiful that a young Kerrich fell in love with her, followed her around until one night he lost his balance and was hanging upside down outside her bedroom window with his winky-dink hanging out. He was embarrassed. Anyway her disguise is so good, he doesn’t recognize her. She recognizes him though. And that’s just the beginning. Thrown into the mix of the conceited-bonehead-adopt-an-orphan plot is a suspense story about a counterfeiting ring – I use the term suspense loosely. Besides the wise Victoria and her noble husband Albert, there is the standard wise-beyond-her-years adorable orphan and a know-all-see-all grandfather who spouts wisdom at the drop of a hat.

Even with all the outdated Romanceland plots there is one more bright hero-making moment when Kerrich confesses he didn’t use a French sheath because he wanted Pamela to become pregnant so she would be forced to marry him. Doesn’t that just make your heart go pitter-pat? Doesn’t that make you all warm and fuzzy inside? Swoon with delight? What a guy! What a hero!

Bottom line – the Rules of Attraction shows its age; in fact if appeared to be older than what it was. I was surprised that such a dreadful hero was in a book written in the year 2000. I thought we had moved beyond such slimy actions in men a long long time ago. I guess not. I cannot recommend this story.

Time/Place: Early Victorian England
Sensuality: Warm/Hot