Holy Chocolate Covered Raspberries!! Upcoming Historical Romance!!!

 January 25, 2021

Authors with an asterisk*, I'm picking up! Authors with **asterisks have either fallen off my radar or new to me, and I'm might read them this time around. Release dates mostly between February 15, 2021 and March 14, 2021. 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. 

Historical Romance

	Amy Jarecki https://amyjarecki.com/   Highland Raider The King's Outlaws series March 9
	Anna Harrington http://www.annaharringtonbooks.com/   An Unexpected Earl Lords of the Armory series February 23
	Betina Krahn* http://www.betinakrahn.com/   Hero Wanted February 23
	Carol Arens To Wed a Wallflower February 23 - paperback, March 1- ebook
	Darcy Burke http://www.darcyburke.com   A Rogue to Ruin The Pretenders February 23
	Emily Sullivan** https://emilysullivanbooks.com A Rogue to Remember, debut League of Scoundrels series March 9
	Emma V. Leech http://www.emmavleech.com/   Dare to be Wicked Daring Daughters series February 19
	Eva Leigh* http://evaleighauthor.com Waiting for a Scot Like You Union of the Rakes series February 23
	Grace Burrowes http://www.graceburrowes.com/ The Last True Gentleman True Gentlemen series February 23
	Grace Callaway https://www.gracecallaway.com Olivia and the Masked Duke Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels series February 18
	Jenni Fletcher http://jennifletcher.com The Duke’s Runaway Bride Regency Belles of Bath February 23 - paperback, March 1 - ebook
	Joanna Shupe http://www.joannashupe.com/ The Heiress Hunt The Fifth Avenue Rebels series March 9
	Julia Justiss* http://www.juliajustiss.com/ The Bluestocking Duchess Heirs in Waiting Book February 23 - paperback, March 1 - ebook
	Julie Johnstone** http://juliejohnstoneauthor.com   Lady Constantine and the Sins of Lord Kilgore Scottish Scoundrels: Ensnared Hearts series February 25
	Kathryn LeVeque http://www.kathrynleveque.com   WolfeBlade de Wolfe Pack Generations series February 18
	Kerrigan Byrne** http://www.kerriganbyrne.com   The Devil in Her Bed Devil You Know series March 9
	Lauren Smith http://www.laurensmithbooks.com Earl of Morrey The League of Rogues Wicked Earls' Club series March 2
	Lauri Robinson http://www.laurirobinson.blogspot.com Scandal at the Speakeasy Twins of the Twenties February 23 - paperback, March 1 - ebook
	Louise Allen http://www.louiseallenregency.com   The Earl’s Reluctant Proposal Liberated Ladies series February 23 - paperback, March 1 - ebook
	Meara Platt Earl of Alnwick Wicked Earls Club February 23
	Michelle Styles http://www.michellestyles.co.uk Betrothed to the Enemy Viking Vows and Vikings series February 23 - paperback, March 1 - ebook
	Sasha Cottman http://www.sashacottman.com   Stolen by the Rogue Rogues of the Road series February 22

Historical Fiction

	Alexis Landau      https://www.alexislandau.com/about Those Who Are Saved February 23
	Bella Ellis aka Rowan Coleman https://rowancoleman.co.uk/about-rowan-coleman/ The Diabolical Bones Bronte Sisters Mystery     February 16
	Harriet Young The Hellion, debut  March 4
	Hope Adams Dangerous Women February 16
	Jennifer Ryan http://www.JenniferRyanAuthor.com The Kitchen Front February 23
	Kate Quinn http://www.katequinnauthor.com      The Rose Code March 9
	Lauren Willig http://www.laurenwillig.com      Band of Sisters March 2
	Ruth Druart     While Paris Slept, debut February 23
	Steven Pressfield   http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/       A Man at Arms March 2
	V. S. Alexander aka Michael Meeske http://www.michaelmeeske.com      The Sculptress February 23

Bridgerton Rambling Continued.

 January 21, 2021

O’ to be a spoon

Yes, I never thought I would want to be a utensil, but after watching Netflix’s Bridgerton I decided maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Hand me a fan, puleese. 

 
This is my second meandering excursion into Netflix’s Bridgerton, a show that I am now obsessed with. I am not alone in this. If you don’t believe me just do some Googling, YouTubing, or TikToking. I’m thrilled that a romance novel has been brought to life in this manner. Random thoughts ahead:

 
Wouldn’t Lord of Scoundrels make a great series? Beside the main story, there are four books in that series: The Lion’s Daughter, Captives of the Night, Lord of Scoundrels, and The Last Hellion. Lisa Kleypas also has some great books which would transfer wonderfully to the screen. I also think Ms. Kleypas has connected each of her historical series books to each other. A large number of her historical books connect to each other.

To the writers and actors of Bridgerton. I’ve been listening to your interviews. Love them. However, let me explain a few things to you. 

1.. Julia Quinn has some great comedic writing in her books, I wish more of that would be used in the screen adaptation. 

2. The literary Anthony would never force his sister to marry a toad. In fact, while overprotective, he allowed Dapne to make up her own mind. 

3. To Rege-Jean: Romanceland novels have HEA endings, the hero of one book becomes the wise adviser in the next book. That would mean that Simon will pontify all the things the next hero is doing wrong. He will do it in a funny, clever way. Sometimes he will do it in a sarcastic way. He will also have scenes where he is viewed in the bedroom talking to his wife (the previous heroine). Their connubial bliss will make future heroes in the series sick to their stomach. That is how heroes work in Romanceland. By the way, your characterization of Simon is spot-on.

4. Infidelity is a big no, at least in romance books. If there is any, then if would be classified in a different book genre. Or, it could be found in a Mary Balogh, or older bodice ripper story.

5. Loved Lady Danbury. Loved the Lady Danbury, Bridgerton brother’s scene. Adjoa Andoh played Lady Danbury exactly how I pictured her in the book. 

6. Loved the Queen Charlotte with King George scene. It was very poignant, great subtle acting on Golda Rosheuvel’s part.

7. Benedict. If there is more in the Bridgerton series, I will be very interested in seeing how they treat Benedict’s book. I love the way Benedict is being betrayed on the screen, but in his book, I found him to be a bit of a Bonehead. He’s a bit obsessive, and has no problems with using an underling for his own pleasure. He had no qualms about seducing someone in his employ, and that is a problem. So, we will see how that translates, if the series continues. 

Anyway, Lady Whisteldown just announced that the second season will start production in the spring of 2021. Here’s hoping I’m still around to see it.

The Worst Duke in the World by Lisa Berne

January 19, 2021

Well, I hope this year gets better. 

 

https://lisaberne.com/

My second DNF of 2021. What can I say, other than I just could not get into this book. The only characters that grabbed me were the young boy, Wakefield and a pig named Duchess. Even though I found Wakefield to be the star of the show, he had a saying he kept repeating. At first it was clever, but when I found myself saying it before he did.  I became irritated. I found the sister, Margaret, to be horribly mean. Anthony and Jane were just plain bland, and had no chemistry. Anthony was also a hot and cold kind of guy who could just not make up his mind. Besides that, he used the heroines innocence against her. He'd kiss her, then back away from her. He was not my kind of hero. I also found the writing to be rather stilted. I tried to keep reading, but wasn't able to become interested in the book. Eventually, I found myself skipping around looking for something to grab me. Alas, I finally gave up. Disappointed - again.

 

Time/Place: Regency England

Sensuality: Not anywhere I could find. 

Graced in Scarlett by Sandra Sookoo

January 14, 2021

Not my cup of tea.
 

http://www.sandrasookoo.com/

Couldn't get past Regency spinster/sisters/twin speaking about sex in 21st Century cadence. The heroine, Grace, seemed to be pretty unlikable. she also appeared to have a nice sister/mean sister thing going. I couldn't connect to her disagreeable personality. Jumping to the end of the story didn't help either, so I quit.

 

Time/Place: 21st Century Regency England

Sensuality: I have no idea.

Bridgerton

January 6, 2021

But, what about the necklace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Someone save it!!

https://juliaquinn.com/
https://www.netflix.com/

I wasn’t going to do this, but then I changed my mind. Yes, this is a book review site, a mainly romance book review site. So, why am I saying anything about Netflix’s Bridgertons? Puleese! I, like a lot of readers love Ms. Quinn's Bridgerton series, even with all of its anachronisms. I am not going to go into a lonnng drawn out review of the reworking of our beloved Bridgertons, except to just mention a few things.

I’ll set this up for you. It’s interesting to watch a filmed version of a hot romance novel with your daughter. There were moments that were a little squirmy, but we’re all grownups here. We soldiered on. Although, she did have some questions, and I will cover some of her questions, as well as some of my thoughts.

1. Daphne! You forgot that necklace! You ripped it off of your neck, and just left it lying there on the pedestal. OMG! What were you thinking? Both I and my daughter noticed that Daphne left that necklace behind. Daphne! Grab the necklace! Then race off to the dark garden for your first kiss!

2. Anthony! What were you so angry about? Maybe my memory is foggy, but I don’t remember Anthony being such an angry grumpy-gus in the book. Oh sure, he was an irritating older brother, but in a few film scenes his anger was way over the top. I did enjoy him in the last few episodes, especially the scenes where he was interacting with Eloise and Benedict. That’s the Anthony I remember. If we have a season two, I’m hoping for a fantastic Pall Mall game. And, the bite to Anthony’s leg from Kate Sheffield, while she is hiding under the desk. He deserved it!

3. Simon! Hand me a fan! I loved the character of Simon, and I loved the way he was played. It helped that the actor who played him was/is one hot potato! No wonder fans are obsessed with him. I also thought that the chemistry between Simon and Daphne worked, he brooded, she drooled. Seriously, I thought the acting between Rege-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor worked because of their reactions to each other. It was their reactions which created the chemistry, and the chemistry succeeded. Great job!

4. Penelope and Eloise! I loved these two characters, and the way they were played. It was wonderful seeing females who actually like each other. While I loved the scenes between them, I also enjoyed their interaction with others in the cast. They were fun characters, who also had hidden depths. Fantastic interaction!

5. Eloise and Benedict! Loved this brother and sister act.

6. Anthony, Benedict, Colin! Loved the scene in the closet. I wish that Anthony had been less angry. The relationship between the brothers was so much better in the last episodes when he was less angry. I always thought of Anthony as a more sardonic person, instead of a fuming individual. 

7.  Polly Walker was great fun.

8.  Loved the Violet Bridgerton empty pillowcase scene.

9.  My daughter questioned as to whether Penelope would have written about the pregnancy in her Lady Whistledown paper. She found it puzzling that an innocent woman would have known how things worked enough to write about it. She had suspected Penelope was Lady Whistledown in the beginning, but the Whistledown pregnancy article threw her off the track. My daughter thought that article would have been out of character for Penelope. My answer – it wasn’t in the book. I used that statement a number of times during the show. Things are changed in all books to film projects, sometimes for a good reason, and sometimes not so much. It all depends on the screenwriter, how well they know their subject matter, and how much power they have to bring the original artwork to life.

10. I could have done without the opera singer, didn’t get Anthony’s “love” for her.

11. So, is Marina going to die? She’s dead in the book To Sir Philip with Love. Although, I guess we could have flashbacks of her troubled life. But not tooooo much, because the Eloise character is a delight.

12 Just how does an Intimacy Coordinator work, and how much does it pay? Is it offered as a college course?

In the past, whenever a romance book as been brought to film, the screen-writing doesn’t do well in translation. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s because the screen-writer doesn’t understand the genre. In the case of Netflix’s Bridgerton, I think the transfer from book to film worked. The way this movie was filmed made it possible for me not to be embarrassed that it was from a romance novel. There were no cringe worthy words coming from any of the actor's mouths. I was happy with the interpretation of Julia Quinn's, The Duke and I.  At no time did I feel belittled because I am a lover of the romance genre. I hope that future installments of the Bridgerton series will have the same smooth transition. I still have a fear that there are people who are not familiar with the genre, and do not know the difference between romance novels written now, and the ones which would be classified as a bodice-ripper type novel. Even though, those older novels broke new ground for women, there is a big difference between an old pot-boiler, and what we are now reading. One of the big differences is the hero, and what he does or doesn’t do. We expect more from our heroes. We have grown to expect a certain “trust” issue with our hero. We do not want a Steve Morgan who claims to love the heroine/wife in one book, but in the next book is sticking his wick in someone else, and hurting the heroine in the process. While we may like hot heroes, we also like trust, respect, and honor. We have fought a long battle for our romance genre to be respected and understood as more than just a “smut” book. We like modern romance, but it must be “romance” in the true sense of the word. Why am I rambling? Because I was nervous when it was announced that the Bridgerton’s were coming to life. I was hoping that the sense of family, loyalty, trust, and honor would be translated smoothly. I’m happy with the way Julia Quinn’s art work has been handled. In my opinion it has been handled with…respect.

One last thing, I thought Netflix’s Bridgerton was a feast for the eyes. Everything was vibrant, including the acting. I loved the diversity. The characters felt comfortable with each other. I, like a lot of other people, am now addicted to this series. I’m hoping that the next season brings us more delight, which at this point in time we need so very much.

Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase

Close but no cigar.

https://lorettachase.com/

It’s been a long wait, three years in fact, since Loretta Chase’s last book, A Duke in Shining Armor. Now it’s time for the second book in the Difficult Dukes series, Ten Things I Hate About the Duke. When it comes to Loretta Chase, I’m always excited for one of her new books. After all, she is the voice behind The Lord of Scoundrels, and in my opinion, nothing will ever top that book. Of course, there is a problem with being the author of one of the bestest romance books ever; there’s always that pesky comparison for each new book. Maybe authors don’t compare, but readers do. So, does Ten Things I Hate About the Duke live up to the greatness of The Lord of Scoundrels? Sorry to say, it doesn’t, it’s a pleasant read, humorous in spots, but just a little off.

Because this was a Loretta Chase book, I was tickled pink, excited, eager to begin. There is nothing better than a Loretta Chase character who is full of witty dialogue. And honestly, there is some splendid dialogue between the leading characters of Cassandra Pomfrey, and Lucius, the Duke of Ashmont. There are also some wonderful secondary characters, Cassandra’s sister Hyacinth, and their parents. Much to my surprise and pleasure, for once in Romanceland, Cassandra’s parents are loving. Oh sure, Cassandra’s father is often irritated by Cassandra’s antics, but there is a strong sense of respect for each other threaded throughout this story. For all of you who are interested, this story is loosely based on The Taming of the Shrew, not one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, it hasn’t aged well over the years. I’ve never been too fond of the “women in their proper place” theme. Lucky for us, Ms. Chase has given her female characters some back-bone, in Cassandra’s case, maybe tooooo much of a back-bone. When it comes to fighting injustices, it’s always been my theory, that sometimes you’re screaming so loud, you can’t hear what’s being said. That seems to be Cassandra’s problem, she wants to right wrongs, save people, stamp out injustices, but she wants to do it her way, regardless of the consequences, or what anyone else may think.

Let’s talk about Lucius. Our hero. You know, when Ms. Chase began this series, I wondered how she was going to turn the three men slated to be heroes, into mature, hero worthy men. She created quite a conundrum with their high level of immaturity. It’s not as if she hasn’t written heroes before who were not the smartest bulbs on the block. There was Bertie Trent, from The Lord of Scoundrels, and he eventually got his heroine, even though she was the smarter of the two. There was also Rupert, from Mr. Impossible. Lucius reminds me of those two, he even falls in love with Cassandra’s brain, and tries to figure out how to win her. It’s a struggle for him, because he is just not used to using his little gray cells. However, it wasn’t Lucius who didn’t work for me, it was the chemistry between Lucius and Cassandra which didn’t quite spark. I felt that Cassandra was tooooo much of a cold-fish for Lucius. While I had hopes that the chemistry between these two would work as the story continued, there was no connection. Their story had a rather disjointed feel about it, there wasn’t much going on. It just meandered along.

So, while I had high hopes for this story, after waiting for three years, I was sort of disappointed. It wasn’t all that bad, there just wasn’t anything that grabbed me. I didn’t think the romance between Lucius and Cassandra worked, the chemistry felt forced, and the story line didn’t seem to go anywhere. I love Ms. Chase’s books, she is a master of the witty dialogue, but the pacing of this story seemed disjointed to me. This was not one of my favorite Loretta Chase stories. The next book in the series should be about the third immature male in the group. He happens to already be married, and mention is made in this book that something is just not quite right with their marriage. Do I smell a marriage of convenience plot coming? What could be better? Just hope it's not another three years, I'm getting old.

Time/Place: 1833
Sensuality: Warm