Review: Emma

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Emma
Emma by Jane Austen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Great Romance Part Doesn’t Compensate for the Too Wordy Book

“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich, with a comfortable home and happy dispostion, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.”

FINAL DECISION: Jane Austen is one of the great writers, but not for me. I love the romance part of the book but it takes too long to get to the connection between the characters.

THE STORY: Emma Woodhouse is young, spoiled and too sure of herself and her matchmaking abilities. She makes some good matches and becomes too confident in herself and proceeds to make some terrible attempts at matchmaking. Emma’s neighbor and friend, Mr. George Knightley cares enough about her to criticize her and warn her of the attempted matchmaking. He tells her the truth, including her faults.

OPINION: The first thing I want to say is that after reading both Pride and Prejudice and Emma, I think these books aren’t for me. That doesn’t mean that I cannot recognize that these books are well written or that they are not classics. For me, the books are too wordy and interested in social conventions for me. There is not enough deep conflict for me to accept these as my deep literature reading and not enough active romance to fall within my romance books. I loved the romance of this book, but there were too many pages of other stuff to get through.

WORTH MENTIONING: I think I am not the right audience for the Jane Austen books. I love the romance of these books, but I am bored silly by the long winded way to get there. I am a big fan of contemporaries of Austen so it’s not the period, there is just nothing about the minute detail to social customs and conventions that appeals to me.

CONNECTED BOOKS: EMMA is a standalone book.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.

Review: Backward Glance

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Backward Glance
Backward Glance by Robyn Carr
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sweet Little Romance IF You Can Get Past the Heroine’s Secret

FINAL DECISION: I liked this story but had to put aside my dislike for the heroine’s past actions and secrets. Carr always writes such good stories about small towns and the personalities that inhabit them.

THE STORY: Leigh Bracken, a genius scientist, has come home to care for her mother who claims to be ill but ends up running into her old flame, John McElroy instead. John has a handyman business and is doing work for Leigh’s mother. Five years ago, the two had a relationship that ended badly with Leigh’s inability to communicate on a social level and John’s feelings of intellectual inferiority.

OPINION: This novella is at times sweet and funny as the two opposites have such a strong connection and so many misunderstandings. Leigh’s mother and her friends are also a hoot as they try to bring Leigh and John together.

My complaint about the novella is a spoiler:

Leigh had twins by John after their affair and yet she doesn’t tell him in the intervening years nor does she tell him when the two renew their relationship. I have a real moral problem with that. The redeeming part is that John and Leigh end up specifically addressing the issue.

I really enjoy the small town characters that Carr includes in her stories and this novella has fun characters in funny situations.

WORTH MENTIONING: BACKWARD GLANCE was originally published as part of the anthology TO MOTHER WITH LOVE.

CONNECTED BOOKS: BACKWARD GLANCE is a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.

Review: Wicked Lies

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Review: Wicked LiesWicked Lies (Men of Summer, #2) by Lora Leigh
Series: Men of Summer #2
Published by St. Martin's Press on September 1st 2015
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 352
Goodreads
four-stars

“They knew she was here now. They knew, and they wouldn’t stop until they killed her, just as they had killed her mother and her uncle. And she still hadn’t figured out who it was or why they wanted her dead.”

FINAL DECISION: I enjoyed this book and it is good for readers who want a very hot read. I especially liked the relationship between Jazz and Kenni. Kenni is strong and able to take care of herself. Despite her troubles, she is a survivor and no shrinking violet. The book was emotional because Jazz had loved Kenni for so long and had been grieving for her.

THE STORY: Jazz Lacing had loved Kenni Maddox even when she was too young for him. Then she was gone, killed in a fire with her mother. In the decade since, Jazz has grieved the spunky, determined young woman. He had begun to think about the new Kindergarten teacher, Annie Mayes, however. Jazz knows that something is off about Annie and he is determined to uncover her secrets. What he finds out, however, is that Annie is really Kenni in disguise. She has been on the run for ten years trying to hide from those who are determined to kill her. Jazz knows that he won’t let Kenni go again and he will make her stop running and start trusting.

OPINION: I liked this book much better than the first in the series. The relationship between Jazz and Kenni is very sexy and very emotional. Jazz is an extremely strong and confident man but it is clear from the beginning that he is completely committed to Kenni. Their story when she was sixteen is incredibly sweet, but that sweetness becomes hot and sexy and adult very quickly when the secret of Kenni’s identity comes out.

Kenni’s character is especially strong. She is frightened and uncertain, but she is not helpless. She knows how to take care of herself and she is a perfect match for Jazz. She refuses to succumb to his demands. She insists that she deserves the right to make her own decisions and not to wait to be saved. I liked her spunky personality as it came out as she reclaims her own identity.

There is an interesting plot regarding who is out to kill Kenni. I figured out the culprit early on but that was okay. What I didn’t like was that the resolution was really rushed. I never got an identity from the villain and that made it hard to be satisfied in the ending. I also kept wondering in the beginning what is the Kin? It doesn’t get defined until well in the story and it kept interrupting the flow of the story when the reference appeared.

WORTH MENTIONING: I can guess who the next couple is and I can’t wait.

CONNECTED BOOKS: WICKED LIES is the second book in The Men of Summer series. It has overlapping characters but this book can be read as a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

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four-stars

Review: Loving Lies

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Review: Loving LiesLoving Lies (Men of Summer, #1) by Lora Leigh
Series: Men of Summer #1
on February 14th 2006
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 259
Goodreads
two-half-stars

Just Felt Disjointed to Me

FINAL DECISION: This book was a disappointment because of the unrealistic reason for the hero deserting the heroine and then his continuing to keep secrets after his return. On the plus side, the story is hot, the characters are well drawn and at times there is deep compelling emotion.

THE STORY: Jessie Benton has loved Slade Colter forever. He had been putting her off until she grows up. Finally, when Jessie is twenty-one, they have a weekend exploring and satisfying their sexual fantasies. At the end of the weekend, however, Slade walks away and marries another woman. Five years later, Slate returns intending to reclaim Jessie.

OPINION: I was disappointed in this book. I really liked the characters and the story was at times very sad and painful in its powerful emotions. The best part of the book was the heartbreaking scenes when Slade and Jessie had to be parted. If the entire book had been that powerful, this would have been a great book.

Unfortunately, the story turns on a stupid plot device. The reason that Slade left Jessie is never strong enough to justify the pain he put her through. Then he returns and instead of groveling and explaining himself, he is arrogant and continues to keep secrets. Jessie should have slapped the guy and found someone else. Most of the time I can suspend disbelief even with outrageous storylines, but this one just didn’t feel well done to me.

The story is also really hot and the focus is definitely on the sexual relationship with the exception of the parting and the end of the book where I really felt that these characters loved one another.

WORTH MENTIONING: The ending of the book hints at the romance in the second book.

CONNECTED BOOKS: LOVING LIES is the first book in The Men of Summer series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 2.5 stars.

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two-half-stars

Review: The Duchess War

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Review: The Duchess WarThe Duchess War (Brothers Sinister, #1) by Courtney Milan
Series: Brothers Sinister #1
Published by Courtney Milan on December 8th 2012
Genres: Historical
Pages: 270
Goodreads
four-half-stars

Very Enjoyable Book

THE DUCHESS WAR is the first novel in the Brothers Sinister series. It is the story of Robert Blaisdell, the Duke of Clermont, who suffers from the evil that his father did. Robert is a good man, and a radical, who wants to use his position for changing the world. He meets Minerva Lane, who has made a point of hiding because of her scandalous past.

This book took a while to really grab me. There is a lot of set up involved in the story and at times the threads of the story just went on and on. However, by the middle of the book, I began to really love the character of Robert, who is sensitive and caring. He lived such a sad life but did not become hardened.

These two characters have a slow building relationship that I really enjoyed. These were two people who had seen a hard world and yet found in each other a kindred spirit.

Spoilers: I really loved that Robert and Minerva were both virgins on their wedding night and that things did not go perfectly, but that they worked through learning together. There was something really real and sweet about them.

I look forward to the other books in the series. There is a great introduction to them here.

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four-half-stars

Review: Birthday Gift

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Birthday Gift by Courtney Milan
Series: Turner #0.5
Genres: Historical
four-stars

BIRTHDAY GIFT is a very short vignette found on Milan’s website that tells of an incident at Eton between Richard Dalrymple and Smite Turner. Readers of UNVEILED will recall that Richard and Smite were once friends. This short vignette gives insight into their friendship. This story is pure extra and will only be significant to readers of the series. For fans, however, this is a nice add on scene.

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four-stars

Review: Driven by Fire

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Driven by Fire
Driven by Fire by Anne Stuart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“He was going to kiss her. This man, her enemy, was going to kiss her, and she wanted him to. Desperately.”

FINAL DECISION: Action filled romantic suspense, this book kept me guessing as to the identity of the villains until the very end.

THE STORY: Jenny Parker is a pro bono lawyer and the daughter of a crime lord. She is trying to live her life apart from her family but she keeps being pulled back. When her father calls her to tell her that her younger brother has gotten mixed up in white slavery, Jenny knows that she has to protect her brother from the mess he has accidentally gotten involved in. She meets Matthew Ryder, a member of the Committee, a covert anticrime agency. Matthew knows that Jenny is lying about something and intends to discover all her secrets.

OPINION: The second book in the Fire series continues the stories of the men of the Committee in the United States. DRIVEN BY FIRE is about human trafficking. The plot is complex and goes in unexpected directions which pushes the story forward to its conclusion. The book is romantic suspense and the suspense is predominant here.

Jenny is an interesting character because she makes some morally questionable decisions. Often in Stuart books, the hero is steeped shades of gray while the heroine is bright and innocent. Not so here. Jenny’s family and her decisions make her more morally complex from the beginning. This allows a bridge between her and Matthew. Indeed, Matthew himself is a lighter hero than most of Stuart’s Committee heroes. He’s no Boy Scout, but he doesn’t seem poised on cold homicidal tendencies. While I am a big fan of Stuart’s antiheroes, Matthew is more a traditional hero and perhaps more palatable to those who find her more difficult heroes difficult to embrace.

For me, because Matthew is less dark and more normal, less time spent with him compared to Jenny and therefore he remains a mystery throughout the novel and I felt less connection with him and also less connection between him and Jenny. I enjoyed the book but it felt more suspense than romance to me.

WORTH MENTIONING: I loved the Easter egg reference to ON THIN ICE.

CONNECTED BOOKS: DRIVEN BY FIRE is the second book in the Fire series. It can be read as a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Review: Indigo

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Indigo
Indigo by Beverly Jenkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lovely Romance Anchored Deeply in a Little Examined Time and Place

“You always this combative, Miss Wyatt?
“Not as a rule, no.”
“That’s too bad. A combative woman is usually a passionate woman.”
“I thought you stole slaves. I didn’t realize you were also an authority on women.”

FINAL DECISION: Beautifully weaving in historical fact, this novel tells the story of two people living their lives and finding one another while in a constantly precarious position. I loved the deep sense of time and place in this book along with fascinating characters who are simply lovely together.

THE STORY: Hester Wyatt escaped slavery as a child and is now a member of the Underground Railroad. When an injured man is brought to her to hide, she agrees to care for him despite his surly behavior. Galen Vachon aka Black Daniel is from a wealthy free black family in New Orleans but has now dedicated his life to helping slaves escape to the north. The sweet and independent Hester intrigues Galen who finds himself drawn back to her. The dangers of slave catchers and a potential spy in the railroad threaten both Galen and Hester.

OPINION: This was a book that I found fulfilling on many levels. It tells the history of a place and time and a people that are not often given voice in romance novels. I thought that Jenkins perfectly balanced the giving of information and historical context without allowing the history to overwhelm the personal story of Hester and Galen. These are not modern character plopped down into some historical context. Instead, these characters are complex, fully formed and grounded within the history depicted in this book.

These two characters have strength and character and also a fear of love and the risks that come with that emotion. The two begin with a somewhat adversarial relationship that begins to change as the two are forced into close quarters and begin to learn about one another. I found Galen adorable as he becomes entranced by Hester and his desire to spoil her leads him to make her life more comfortable and then to spoil her. Hester fears love because of the loss of self that might accompany devotion to another.

There are serious storylines in the plot of this book including kidnapping back into slavery, attempted rape, and, of course, the big issue of slavery itself. This is not a glossy falsely romantic view of these events but rather a story that feels real and oftentimes dark. The juxtaposition of these horrible events with a sweet, beautiful and sometimes silly relationship between Hester and Galen made the joy and love the two discover together feel strong and life affirming. A keeper.

WORTH MENTIONING: I fell I love with this story when the explanation for the title is revealed. Simply lovely and beautiful.

CONNECTED BOOKS: INDIGO is a standalone book.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

Review: Hard Ever After

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Hard Ever After
Hard Ever After by Laura Kaye
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

A Valentine for Fans of the Hard Ink Series

“Only. Always. Forever.”

FINAL DECISION: A novella that allows readers and extended epilogue to see the characters happy. While there is a dramatic plot involved, the heart of this novella are the happy endings of the characters.

THE STORY: After the events in the Hard Ink series, things are getting back to normal. Nick Rixey and Becca Merritt are getting married. As they and the other couples begin to adjust to normality, a shadow from the past arises to threaten their future.

OPINION: This book is for fans of the Hard Ink series. It is an extended epilogue with some dramatic plot events but there are no threats to the existing romances. The story assumes knowledge of the events and characters in the Hard Ink series. For fans of the series, however, this book will bring great satisfaction. The novella understand the fans and takes pains to hit all the highlights that you might want. The perfect ending to the series.

WORTH MENTIONING: Sexy, sexy tattoo scene.

CONNECTED BOOKS: HARD EVER AFTER is book number 4.6 in the Hard Ink series. The story is a coda to the series and operates as an extended epilogue and therefore should be read by those familiar with the characters from the series.

STAR RATING: I give this novella 4.5 stars.

Review: Almost a Scandal

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Almost a Scandal
Almost a Scandal by Elizabeth Essex
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Filled with Historical Details this is a Unique Look at the Royal Navy

“Whatever it was, this friendship, this affinity between them, she was not alone. He felt it, too. It only remained to see what they were going to do about it.”

FINAL DECISION: Totally immersed in the historical period and setting, ALMOST A SCANDAL is more a story about the journey of the heroine than it is truly a romance. There is a romance but the amount of time and detail paid to it pales to the heroine’s task in impersonating a man in the Royal Navy.

THE STORY: Sally Kent comes from a family of naval men. When her younger brother runs off to avoid service, Sally decides to take his place by dressing as him and joining the British Royal Navy. Sally loves being on the ship and being part of the crew except for Lieutenant David Colyear. Sally fears that David will recall the girl who tagged after her older brothers so Sally wants to avoid David and yet she is captivated by him. If David finds out her secret, she will lose her opportunity to serve and bring ruin upon herself and her family.

OPINION: I enjoyed this book because of the unique story of Sally. While I have read books about women masquerading as men before, few have done it as successfully as Sally. She is strong and clever and entirely capable. The world the characters inhabit is detailed and realistic and I know so much more about the Royal Navy and sailing after reading this book. The author’s research and dedication to the topic is admirable. There are certainly documented instances where women masqueraded as men especially during wartime so there is real life precedent for Sally being able to maintain her disguise.

I also at times really enjoyed the romance between Sally and David. I thought there was great tension and intense drama between them. My disappointment was that the ultimate resolution felt rushed and forced. As a result, I felt the romance in the book was diminished in favor of the personal journey of Sally.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book is incredibly detailed about the workings of the ship so readers who are not interested in such history might become bored.

CONNECTED BOOKS: ALMOST A SCANDAL is the first book in the Reckless Brides series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3.5 stars.