Thursday

A Proposal to Risk their Friendship by Louise Allen

June 24, 2021
Hey! Guess what! The title and story are simpatico!

https://www.louiseallenregency.com/
A Proposal to Risk Their Friendship, is the fifth book in Louise Allen's Liberated ladies’ series. I don't remember the other books in the series, which in my case doesn't really count for anything. I do intend to refresh my memory, and either read, or reread the others.

Our heroine is Melissa Taverner, a part of the liberated ladies. Somehow, she has managed to talk her family into letting her live on her own in London, with only an odd, forgetful chaperone for company. My eyebrows did go up when the chaperone was on the page. She was a pretty loose chaperone, and I was puzzled as to how Melissa’s despot of a father allowed this to happen. But oh well. The lack of supervision did allow our heroine the ability to run all over London saving damsel’s in distress. When Melissa isn’t saving damsels, she’s a want-to-be-writer. It is at one of these damsel-saving events that our hero, Lord Henry Cary, first spots her. He's mighty impressed by her tactics, and introduces himself.

He is intrigued with Melissa, and invites her for a walk. She accepts. And, they walk, talk, and become involved in each other’s lives. Their friendship grows, and becomes all encompassing. Henry even goes so far as to include Melissa in some of his government spying activities. Henry’s “let-me-talk-about-spying” business also happened to raise my eyebrows. My eyebrows were very busy during this book. But, I will be honest with you, I overlooked all the eyebrow raising moments in this story. Why's that, you may ask. Well, my little Petunia's, I really enjoyed watching Melissa and Henry form a friendship. They had some great chemistry. They talked, laughed, discussed, and were fun to listen to. This story created a tension in me, because I knew that sometime, someplace, something would happen to ruin their friendship. That something was called sexual attraction. Neither Melissa or Henry wanted to ruin their friendship by admitting they were attracted to each other. So, it was interesting to see how they handled everything.

If I were to look at this story logically, the hoops which Melissa and Henry jump through are way over the top. But, this is not a logical story.  This is a love story. A Proposal to Risk Their Friendship, is a well-written, character driven romance. The friendship formed between our two main characters was delightful, and a pleasure to read. Even with all the eye-brows at the top of my head, I found this a refreshing story. I enjoyed reading about the amazing friendship formed between a man and woman. I do highly recommend this story.
 
Time/Place: Regency England
Sensuality: Warm Hot

Tuesday

Holy Ice Cold Cherry Slush!!! Upcoming Historical Romance!! July 15 to August 14, 2021

June 22, 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 July 15, 2021 and August 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


Alyssa Clarke
https://alyssa-clarke.com/
Ruin Me If You Dare, ebook
Wagers and Wallflowers
July 19



Amanda McCabe*
http://ammandamccabe.com/
Playing the Duke's Fiancee  
Dollar Duchesses series
July 27


Carole Mortimer
http://www.carolemortimer.co.uk
Wayward, ebook
Regency Scandal series
July 30


Caroline Lee
http://www.carolineleeromance.com/
The Scholar and the Scot
Second Chance Manor series
July 15


Caroline Warfield
http://www.carolinewarfield.com/
The Wayward Son, ebook
The Ashmead Heirs series
July 22


Catherine Tinley
http://www.catherinetinley.com
Captivating the Cynical Earl
July 27



Christi Caldwell
http://www.christicaldwellauthor.com
It Had to be the Duke
All the Duke’s Sins, ebook, novella
July 23


Christine Britton
http://christinabritton.com/
A Duke Worth Fighting For
Isle of Synne series
August 10


Diana Quincy
http://www.dianaquincy.com/
The Viscount Made Me Do It
Clandestine Affairs series
July 27


Eliza Knight
http://www.elizaknight.com
The Scot is Hers
Scots of Honor series
July 27


Erica Ridley**
http://www.ericaridley.com
Lord of the Masquerade, ebook
Rogues to Riches series
August 6



Eva Devon
https://twitter.com/evadevonauthor?lang=en
The Wedding Wager, ebook
July 19



Fiona Miers
https://www.facebook.com/fionamiersauthor/
Lord Melton and His Duchess, ebook
The Duke’s Brothers series
July 15


Helen Dickson
https://www.hdicksonrnweebly.com/
Enthralled by Her Enemy's Kiss
July 27



Jenna Jaxon
http://jennajaxon.wordpress.com
Almost a Countess, ebook
Captivating Countesses series
July 28


Judith Lynne
https://judithlynne.com
The Caped Countess, ebook
Cloaks and Countesses series
July 22



Kate Pembrooke
http://katepembrooke.com
Not the Kind of Earl You Marry
The Unconventional Ladies of Mayfair series
July 27


Kathleen Ayers
http://www.kathleenayers.com
The Marquess Method, ebook
The Beautiful Barringtons seires
July 22


Kathryn Le Veque
http://www.kathrynleveque.com
Highland Legend
Scots and Swords series
July 27


Laura Martin
https://lauramartinromance.com/
Falling for His Practical Wife
Ashburton Reunion series
July 27


Lisa Kleypas*
http://www.lisakleypas.com/
Devil in Disguise
The Ravenels series
July 27


Lotte R. James
https://www.goodreads.com/lottejamesbooks
The Housekeeper of Thornhallow Hall, gothic     
July 27


Mary Jo Putney
http://www.maryjoputney.com/
Once a Laird
Rogues Redeemed series
July 27


Olivia Drake
http://oliviadrake.com
When a Duke Loves a Governess
Unlikely Duchesses series
July 27


Scarlett Scott
http://www.scarlettscottauthor.com
Lady Brazen, ebook
Notorious Ladies of London series
July 22


Sophie Jordan
http://www.sophiejordan.net/
The Duke Goes Down
The Duke Hunt series
July 27


Stephanie Laurens
http://www.stephanielaurens.com/
The Secrets of Lord Grayson Child
Cynster Next Generation series
July 15


Suzanne Allain**
http://www.suzanneallain.com
Miss Lattimore's Letter
August 10


Tamara Gill
https://www.tamaragill.com
A Royal Proposition, ebook
The Royal House of Atharia series
August 9


Terri Brisbin
http://www.terribrisbin.com/
The Highlander's Inconvenient Bride
A Highland Feuding series
July 27



Vanessa Kelly*
http://www.vanessakellyauthor.com
The Highlander's Irish Bride
Clan Kendrick series
July 27
Historical Fiction


Addison Armstrong
http://www.addisonarmstrong.com
The Light of Luna Park - debut            
August 10


Amy Belding Brown
http://amybeldingbrown.com
Emily's House
August 3


Jennifer Chiaverini
http://jenniferchiaverini.com
The Women's March
July 27



Tamara Goranson
https://www.tamaragoranson.com/about-me/
The Voyage of Freydis
July 22

Monday

A Midsummer Nights Romance by variety of authors

June 14, 2021
All together now - Shakespeare - AAAAAkkkkkk

Why do I keep reading books that refer to Shakespeare? I don’t know! Someone stop me…
puleese! What an overrated playwright! I'm in a mood - especially when it comes to classical "male" writers.

There are 15 short stories in A Midsummer Night’s Romance, and as you might guess from the title, they are all tied to Midsummer Night’s Dream. Actually, it’s a masquerade ball that the stories are tied to, but you have to come as your favorite Midsummer Night’s Dream character. Tapping my chin…do I have a favorite character from Dream?  Maybe, Puck. He seems to be the only one in the whole play in control of anything. Since there are 15 short stories, I will attempt to make short comments on each story.

1.  Season of Scandal, by Alyssa Alexander. http://www.alyssa-alexander.com/
This is about a couple who were in love when they were teenagers, promised each other stuff that teenagers wouldn’t be able to do. Then he went his way to the military, and she was left behind, and could never forgive him. They meet at the ball, in disguise, don’t recognize each other, quote Shakespeare, play finger puppets, unmask, get mad at each other, and quote more Shakespeare. Warm – C

2.  A Kiss for Luck, by Jennifer Ashley. https://jenniferashley.com/
Another meeting at the ball, which extends beyond that initial meeting. Not too many misunderstandings, charming hero, and delightful heroine – B+

3.  Love Disguised, by Grace Burrowes. https://graceburrowes.com/
Why does one go to a party if one wants to avoid society? Rupert and Marie are disguised as servants, not sure why. They are actually engaged to each other, but don’t know each other. This was a fast, clean romance. B-

4.  Until You, by Gina Conkle. https://ginaconkle.com/
The beginning of this story reminded me a little of the beginning of Lord of the Scoundrels. Emma is fascinated with Intaglios, and Rufus has one he wants investigated. At the party, she thinks he is disguised as a servant, but actually he is a working man. He is also the illegitimate son of a duke. However, at the end of the story, he doesn’t magically change into a Duke. Much to my surprise, Emma and Rufus find their happily ever after in Italy, as part of the working class. Clean – C+

5.  Ill Met by Moonlight, by Eileen Dreyer. https://eileendreyer.com/
Well, it had to happen, an engaged couple who don’t know each other at a masquerade party.  Should be interesting since they don’t know each other, and they are in disguise. This is the first appearance of someone dressed as Nick Bottom (say donkey head). We have Anastasia and Hugh. She’s short, there are a lot of short women in these stories. I don’t have a problem with it, unless it’s used to diminish the character, and I think we have a little bit of that going on in this story.

Light bulb moment! A light bulb went off while I was reading.  There seemed to be something familiar. Something just out of reach. Then it dawned on me. Bridgerton!  I started to wonder if some of these authors were watching Bridgerton while they were writing.  This one has the heroine slugging a bonehead male before the hero can save her. Just pondering.

Anyway, nice hero in this story. He gives the heroine some space to decide whether she wants him. Oh, by the way, there is a rather charming end to the book, when the hero appears at the wharf in a donkey head. Clean – B-

6.  She Walks in Scandal, by Elizabeth Essex. https://www.elizabethessex.com/
Another small woman, and a really horrible father. Violet’s father is forcing her to marry, of course she doesn’t want to. She’s got plans! Don’t all Romanceland heroines have plans? Her plan involves her fencing teacher. There was an awful lot going on in this story. Horrible families galore! She has a horrible father!  He has a horrible father! He’s also has bonehead step-brothers and a downtrodden mother. He wants to marry Violet, but he has no money, and he’s not of her class. There was way too much going on in this story, especially when one considers the word count. There is a silly let’s-solve-our-problem-with-a-sword-fight moment. There is also a mighty convenient “save” the heroine and hero ending. There was too much going on for this story to succeed. Clean – C-.

7.  The Awakening of Lady Flora, by Bronwen Evans. https://www.bronwenevans.com/
This one has a woman who will never luv another man because her husband was just soooooo wonderful. But she will take on a paramour. Which is why she’s at the masquerade. Our hero, James, has loved Flora forever, and ever. He has a lot of guilt because her husband was his bestest friend. Now, he must fight the ghost of his friend and win the woman he has luved forever. There is a dumb Romanceland plan in this story. There is another woman who wants James, but when she can’t have him, she tricks James and Flora into a compromising position…and James and Flora marry. According to her, that was her plan alllll along. If she can’t have James, Flora can. This story reminded me of some of the over-dramatic old novels…jealousy, conniving, lying…over the top drama. And, the epilogue…we get to hear the other woman’s Romanceland plan recap. This was a real groan story (and, not in a good way). Warm – D-

8.  One Enchanted Evening, by Anna Harrington. https://www.annaharringtonbooks.com/
At last it happened! A story in which I said to myself, “this really needed to be longer.” Great couple, a wonderful child, and a scene stealing dog – Rufus. The hero is the neighbor to Lord and Lady Whitwell. The Whitwell’s are the one throwing the masquerade party. Evidently, they are the neighbors from hell, cause our hero is not happy. Anyway, I wanted more from this couple: Mason and Nora. They were delightful, and their story of their romance was wonderful. Warm – A-

9.  Her Wildest Dreams, by Jade Lee aka Kathy Lyons. https://kathylyons.com/
This one is about a half-Chinese woman, who also happens to be illegitimate, and is trying to fit into English aristocracy. This one has a blackmailing bonehead character who tells his family he is going to marry the heroine…unless they give him some money. Our hero, Lord Turrock, the cousin of the bonehead is sent to chase the heroine away. The good thing about this book, is that the heroine realizes that she needs a man to survive the world she lives in. The bad thing, there was a lot of heavy-handed prejudice scenes. The romance was relegated to the back seat, and the epilogue was non-existent. I’m sure there are short stories which can address the injustice perpetrated on a race of people, but this one didn’t succeed. The romance was lost amongst verbiage. I also think there should be a law that requires allllll authors of short stories to include an epilogue. Clean – C-

10.  Unmasking the Earl, by Madeline Martin. https://www.madelinemartin.com/
Another Bridgerton moment! Remember the “call me by my name” dance scene? Remember Simon’s hand between Daphne’s shoulder blades? Guess what’s in this story? Yep, you guessed right. Those manly man fingers gliding up the back while our couple dances. Which reminds me, I have a question about rakes. Do innocent women really know what a rake is, and what rakes do? How can they accuse the guy of being a rake, if they don’t know anything about the mechanics of a Timothy Toad, and his finger puppet friends? I digress.

This story has Lord Chambrook and Cecelia, and many characters who will have their own books. There’s a silly misunderstanding with another woman. Unmasking the Earl  should not have been in a short story. Warm/hot B-

11.  A Prince in the Pantry, by May McGoldrick. https://www.maymcgoldrick.com/
This one was almost a wallbanger. Can a book full of short stories be a wallbanger? I guess one could always skip a story one doesn’t care for. Pondering. Anyway, this one has a woman who has a father in debtor’s prison. She was once part of the aristocracy, but now she is a servant. Pearl Smith is her name. All of her ex-friends belittle her, bully her, degrade her, because they are all better. She just hates English society. Coming to her rescue is Prince Timour Mirza from Persia. He is pretending to be a servant. There is another Bridgerton moment: she cleans his brow after he gets into a fist fight. He is soooo understanding. They talk of culture, art, books…they have so much in common. Through some shifty maneuvering, he proposes.  I guess they marry.  I guess, because we don’t really know.  Why is that, you may ask.  Because, my little Petunias, there is no epilogue.  We are left to assume that she will move with him to Persia, where she won’t have any problem with bullying, and prejudice. This story really needed an epilogue. Clean D-

12.   A Moonlight Kiss, by Ella Quinn.  https://www.ellaquinnauthor.com/
Not much to say about this one. The writing was rather choppy. We have a sea captain/commander/whatever. There is a captain and young boy/sailor who drown in the first chapters. Commander Octavius Trevor doesn’t like to write condolence letters…but let’s jump ahead and forget about the drowned people, and go to a party. Hey, all the guys need shore leave. Then we have Marcella Calder, who is descended from slaves. There is George, the villain, who threatens Marcella, then just sort of disappears onto the Island of Misplaced Villains. We have a bunch of lieutenants (can you say future heroes). Marcella and Octavius eat food and fall in love. Then he gives her a ring. Then he leaves and goes to England.  Three years later. Marcella goes to England to be with her sister. Evidently her sister has married into Octavius’ family. He is there ready to return to Marcella, but he can’t because his father is horrible. But then Marcella shows up, his family conspires, they eat a bunch of food, plan to marry. The end. No epilogue. Clean D-

13.   A Match Unmasked, by Erica Ridley. https://ericaridley.com/
This one has Kitty Stanley and her childhood sweetheart Nathaniel Baxter in it. They were in luv forever. He became scared, and ran off.  Kitty became angry with him. She could never, ever forgive him.  Then they meet again at the ball. The beginning was a slow start, and Kitty was a little irritating in her anger. But then they get locked in a room together by her conniving Godmother, and they finally talk. She is wearing a spoon mask and he is wearing a fork mask, and there is a wonderful tie in to the fork ran away with the spoon nursery rhyme. This story made me smile. Warm A-

14.  Lovers and Madmen, by Heather Snow. https://www.heathersnowbooks.com/
Another separation, this time for 11 years. Lord Edward Phillip Thomas George Walpole and Calliope have a past with a big misunderstanding. Then they go to the masquerade, and yearn for each other. We also have more Bridgerton moments, in this case it’s all about pretending. There isn’t too much excitement in this story. Of interest is the couple who threw the party. There is a chapter of them being a loving couple at the end of the story. I thought that scene was rather fun. I was puzzled as to why the scene wasn’t saved for the very end of the entire anthology.  It would have made a charming wrap-up. Warm C-

15. One Simple Kiss, by Sabrina York. http://sabrinayork.com/category/books/
There are a bunch of women named after flowers in this story. It was hard to keep track of which flower was our heroine. There was Violet, Lily, and Rose. Evidently Violet was in another story, and Lily has one to come…that left Rose. So, Rose was rewarded a short story, and her hero was Liam Mackinnon. This one was a standard tale of young people who grow up loving each other, a misunderstanding, and then getting over the misunderstanding. Warm/Hot - C

Overall. It took me a long time to get through this entire book of 986 pages. 15 authors contributed to the stories, and maintained the connecting thread of a masquerade party. As with all short story compilations, some are better than others. But, I did enjoy reading some of the stories, and there were some authors that are now on my radar.  

Bridgerton: all of these stories have a copyright of 2021, so I don’t know if some of these stories were written before or after Bridgerton hit Netflix. I say that because either there was some borrowing of scenes from the show, or Romanceland has some mighty standard set-ups.