Monday

Pondering

While waiting for new books to come in, I am rereading, rereading, rereading. I'm not reviewing my rereads because I've already reviewed my rereads during the last "wait for new books." Anyway, I came across a passage which has the heroine dressing up in boys clothing in order to break into a house. I tried to envision myself wearing an 11 year old boys jeans/trousers/pants. It wasn't pretty. I would not be able to pull them up over my knees, let alone my hips. Even 20 years ago, when I was in my best shape, it would not have happened.  Even when I was 21, and in my skinny stage, it would not have been possible. Maybe historical clothing had more give to it...Yes! I bet that's it!!! There must have been more give to cloth in the 1800s. Now my mind can be at rest.

That's all my pondering...for now.

Saturday

Holy Lemonade Ice!!! Upcoming Historical Romance!!

June 27, 2020
Authors with an asterisk*, I'm picking up! Release dates mostly between July 15, 2020 and August 14, 2020. For more Upcoming Releases that aren't historical see HEY DELIA!!

Series indicates a series, spin-off, sequel, trilogy, brother/sister, secret society/spies, good friends who attended Oxford/Eton, vampire/werewolf - anything that has something continuing - even if written 20 years ago. Anthology/novella/short stories could be an anthology or a bunch of books in one print or novella - one tiny book or an anthology with a bunch of novellas - could be a short stories by one author, could be short stories by multiple authors - could be - I'm getting a headache. Ebook, only sold electronically for now. Debut - congratulations!

By the way, it is not my fault if a publisher changes the release dates - just so you know, they do not consult me. Let me also add this warning - since I am now using different sources, I am finding that one person's genre isn't necessarily another persons - sorry if your book is in the wrong genre.

**Book by an author who is either new to me or has fallen off of my list and I might read.


Historical Romance

Amy Jarecki
https://amyjarecki.com/
Highland Warlords
The King's Outlaws series
August 11

Anna Harrington*
http://www.annaharringtonbooks.com/
Winner Takes All
July 20, novella
Beverley Oakley
http://www.beverleyoakley.com/
The Countess and the Cavalier
Hearts in Hiding series
July 25

Carol Townend
http://caroltownend.co.uk/
The Warrior's Princess Prize
Princesses of the Alhambra series
July 21 – paperback, August 1 - ebook

Cheryl Holt
http://cherylholt.com/
Someone to Love
Lost Girls Trilogy series
August 11

Christine Merrill
http://www.christine-merrill.com
Vows to Save Her Reputation
July 21 – paperback, August 1 - ebook

Danelle Harmon
http://www.danelleharmon.com
My Saving Grace
Heroes of the Sea series
July 28

Darcy Burke
http://www.darcyburke.com
A Secret Surrender
The Pretenders series
August 11

Eva Leigh*
http://evaleighauthor.com
Would I Lie to the Duke
Union of the Rakes series
July 28 (according to author’s website – we’ll see)

Eva Shepherd
https://www.evashepherd.com/
Aspirations of a Lady's Maid
July 21 – paperback, August 1 - ebook

Julia Justiss*
http://www.juliajustiss.com/
The Enticing of Miss Standish
The Cinderella Spinsters series
July 21 – paperback, August 1 - ebook

Kaitlin O'Riley**
http://www.kaitlinoriley.com/
The Unexpected Heiress
Hamilton Cousins series
July 28

Karen Ranney
http://karenranney.com
My Highland Rogue
Highland Flings series
July 28

Kathryn Le Veque
http://www.kathrynleveque.com
Lord of the Sky
Executioner Knights series
July 23

Madeline Martin
http://www.MadelineMartin.com
How to Start a Scandal
July 21 – paperback, August 1 - ebook

Mary Jo Putney
http://www.maryjoputney.com/
Once Dishonored
Rogues Redeemed series
July 28

Michelle Willingham
http://www.michellewillingham.com
The Highlander and the Wallflower
Untamed Highlanders series
July 21 – paperback, August 1 - ebook

Olivia Waite
http://www.oliviawaite.com
The Care and Feeding of a Waspish Widow
Feminine Pursuits series
July 28

Patricia Rice
http://www.patriciarice.com/
An Illusion of Love
School of Magic series
July 21

Stephanie Laurens
http://www.stephanielaurens.com/
The Obsessions of Lord Godfrey Cavanaugh
Cavanaugh's series
July 16

Valerie Bowman*
http://www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com
Duke Looks Like a Groomsman
The Footmen's Club series
July 28
Historical Fiction

Diana Giovinazzo
http://www.dianagiovinazzo.com
The Woman in Red
August 4

Ellen Feldman
http://www.ellenfeldman.com/
Paris Never Leaves You
August 4

Ellen Marie Wiseman
https://ellenmariewiseman.com/
The Orphan Collector
July 28

Emma Donoghue
http://www.emmadonoghue.com/
The Pull of the Stars
July 21

Finola Austin
https://www.finolaaustin.com
Bronte's Mistress
August 4

Kathleen Rooney
http://www.kathleenrooney.com/
Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey
August 11

Kristin Harmel
http://kristinharmel.com/
The Book of Lost Names
July 21

Lily Woodhouse, aka Stephanie Johnson
Jarulan by the River
July 28

Stephen P. Kiernan
http://www.stephenpkiernan.com
Universe of Two
August 4

A Royal Kiss and Tell by Julia London

June 27, 2020
What can I say?

https://julialondon.com/
I tried, I really tried. I will admit I am not a big fan of stories with princesses and princes. So, I was prejudiced going into this story. You never know…some authors can rise above it. But, usually their characters are likeable.

I could not get past a heroine who is full of herself. She’s obnoxious not quirky. She also doesn’t seem to have any concept of court etiquette, or how one is supposed to talk to royalty. Even I know, there are procedures one follows when one is in the same room with a royal person…and, I’ve never been close to one. There are all kinds of rules one must follow. I found the whole routine of a pushy, obnoxious woman irritating. She was like a bad rendition of the Unsinkable Molly Brown. Brash, rude, and unlikable.

While not as bad as the heroine, the hero was a whiner. He is the second son; he is a boo-hoo-I-don’t -have-anything-to-do-because-I’m-second-in- line-to-the-throne. Like the heroine, he is also full of himself, but in his case it’s because he is royal and expects to be treated as one…unless he’s whining about being treated like a royal. He wants to be treated like a royal, but whines about being royal. I just couldn’t get past the first few chapters, maybe it got better later on, but honestly, I didn’t have the patience to continue.

I cannot recommend this book.
Time/Place: 1846 Alucia, I guess
Sensuality: Don't know

Tuesday

Marry in Scarlet by Anne Gracie

June 16, 2020
An-ti-ci-pa-tion time!
 
Marry in Scarlet, Anne Gracie’s latest, is an anticipation book. Why is that you ask? I’ll answer that with one word: Hart. Yes, Hart the intriguing man from Marry in Secret; the one left behind at the altar. You know, usually when time passes I forget about some of the books I’ve read, especially those I was not all that fond of. Unless!!!! Unless there was a scene-stealing, secondary character screaming to have their own story. That is what happened for me in the case of Redmond Hartley (Hart), Duke of Everingham. There is nothing better than an uptight, cold-hearted man who has a plan. We all know that waiting in the wings is a peppy, strong-willed woman who will barge into their life, and ruin all of their well-thought-out plans. That is exactly what happens in this book. It was such a joy to watch! I was very happy with this book, especially because I was not all that fond of Marry in Secret. 

Let me say this about Marry in Scarlet, there were a number of annoying characters scattered throughout the pages. Aunt Agatha, and Hart's mother are two of the main annoying people. While both of them were put in their place, I think that neither one of them received their just desserts.

As we know, all heroes need heroines, and in this case Ms. Gracie has chosen Lady Georgiana Rutherford. Georgiana is the complete opposite of everything Hart wants, needs, likes. She wears pants and rides astride. She saves animals. She abhors foxhunting, which is one of Hart's favorite pastimes. Let me tell you, the confrontation about the foxhunting was wonderful. Most of the time in their skirmishes; Hart is left with his mouth hanging open. Georgiana does not back down from a fight, and she doesn't care where she is when she's expressing herself. This led to numerous funny moments. One such scene was when she was enjoying the opera, or trying to. Much to her chagrin, there are some obnoxious, loud, drunks in the opera box next to her. She tries to shush them, but to no avail. When it comes to what Georgiana believes is right, she abides by her own rules, not societies. Spoiler: one of Georgiana’s fans is broken in the opera encounter.

Georgiana's reaction to her attraction to Hart is very funny, and I had a laugh-out-loud moment when Georgiana asks her Aunt Dottie how long women are in heat. Georgiana is a great combination of innocence and yearning. Both Hart and Georgiana fight against their attraction with equal force. It was all great fun.

Hart was an arrogant bonehead, but not a bad one. Occasionally, I found his beliefs in all women being manipulative annoying, but then Ms. Gracie gives us a chance to see his mother in action. This is not a fake manipulative mother; one who we later find out is only protecting her child. No, Hart’s mother is a reeeaallll schemer. Her actions have formed the bedrock of Hart’s opinions of women. He does not want to be like his father. I was satisfied with the explanation as to why he is the way he is.

Along with all the fun, there were moments of growth. Hart is the one who is affected the most by the relationship. He gains a completely new perspective of himself. He sees himself through her eyes, and he doesn’t like what he sees. So, then Ms. Gracie has the two of them getting married, and they settle in. At this point, the story had some lovely character building, and it drifted along. Yikes! It’s kidnap time!! Then Ms. Gracie threw in the kidnapping of Hart's young ward. All of a sudden, the lovely romantic insights came to a screeching halt.

Then the story turned into a wild ride through the country, a search for the boy, and a goofy surprise. All of this happened pretty close to the end, and I should have seen it coming. After all, his ward was briefly mentioned earlier in the book. Then he vanished from the pages. Until, right between the eyes! Zowie! He's kidnapped. I found it to be a bit of a jolt. There are more unpleasant characters, an eye-brow raising surprise, and then it’s over. Everyone is happy.

Overall, Marry in Scarlet was a delight to read. I loved both Devin and Georgiana. For the most part, the secondary characters were all quite strong; I even saw a need for the annoying aunt and mother. I do recommend this book, and if there had not been an annoying kidnapping, I would have given it a higher rating.


Time/Place: Regency England
Sensuality: Warm/Hot

Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James

June 16, 2020
This book goes great with homemade bread.

https://www.eloisajames.com/

I think I might have added a few pounds during this time-period. However, I managed to experiment with lots of yeasty homemade bread. Yum!!

Once again we are returning to Eloisa James' Wilde family, and that wonderful big-skirt time-period, Georgian England. Say Yes to the Duke is about Viola, who has always felt that she does not really belong. The Wilde family has never done anything, which should make her feel as if she is not one of them. I was scratching my head as to why she was so pouty-faced about not being a "real" Wilde.  Of course, it has been awhile since I read the last book in the series, so I do not really remember what the theme of the series was. I do remember that I may not have been too fond of some of them.

Viola is a shy heroine. I have a fondness for shy heroines, being one myself. Also, being one myself, I can spot a fake shy heroine from miles away. So, when Viola says some snide comments, and gains attention from our hero, rake, handsome guy, Devin, the Duke of Wynter, I could only shake my head and smile. Shy people only dream of saying mouthy, clever things to handsome rakes. I also believe that most handsome guys usually only have eyes for giant bazookas, and tend to ignore the shy mouse in the shadows. But, I moved past that issue, and continued on with a delightful read.

Here is the set-up. Shy Viola is in love with the local studly minister. That minister is engaged to the stories requisite battle-ax. Devin is the books cold, unlovable hero with a secret. He also has a bloodless marriage plan. When Viola confronts Devin with some snappy verbiage, Devin’s interest is piqued. He decides to pursue Viola, even though he still intends his marriage to be a, you-go-your-way-I'll-go-mine plan.  While not an uproariously funny couple, Devin and Viola made me smile.

It is not long before Viola and Devin become friends. Then they are caught in a compromising position, and are forced into a betrothal. They fall in love quickly, so most of the book is without a lot of tension. For me, at this point, I was ok with things being resolved pretty early on. There was still more in the book, a little bit of a distraction created by a secondary character romance. While at times the secondary romance provided some screw-ball comedy, it was also a bit of an irritant. I found the two secondary characters to be a little spineless, and I'm not sure how exciting their sex life is going to be. For all I know, they may never have one. It took Viola an awfully long time to stop mooning over the minister with a noodle for a backbone, but eventually she does.

For me, at this time, this book hit the spot.  Say Yes to the Duke was a sweet story. Who knows, maybe in later years when I reread it, I'll wonder why I liked it, but there wasn't any huge moments of stress in this story. And, that's just what I needed.

Time/Place: Georgian England
Sensuality: Warm/Hot