Fun premise: a bankrupt orphan heiress goes looking for a husband, just as a retired Royal Navy captain must find a wealthy bride to salvage his famil...moreFun premise: a bankrupt orphan heiress goes looking for a husband, just as a retired Royal Navy captain must find a wealthy bride to salvage his family's fortunes. Of course, they meet.
Clever banter, strong secondary characters who provide several key plot twists... a cut above many historicals.(less)
Justin, the younger brother of Sebastian Sterling from THE PERFECT BRIDE, bets one of his buddies he can seduce "The Unattainable," the young woman wh...moreJustin, the younger brother of Sebastian Sterling from THE PERFECT BRIDE, bets one of his buddies he can seduce "The Unattainable," the young woman who has set all the ton aflutter, before he realizes that she's the one girl who ever put him in his place (years back). So of course he seduces her by being at turns emotionally abusive and entreating, but it's all because his father was awful, so Arabella finds it in her heart to forgive him because he'll learn how to love properly. The dialogue is fine, except I'm already tired of James's heroes referring to women as chits, but the situation wasn't terribly compelling.(less)
I liked the set-up: proud aristocrat decides that he's finally ready to take a bride just as he discovers an injured working class girl lying in the s...moreI liked the set-up: proud aristocrat decides that he's finally ready to take a bride just as he discovers an injured working class girl lying in the street in front of his carriage. But I found the whole "Why, this chit from the slums is NOT a thief and a harlot" theme got really annoying, really quickly.(less)
Your appreciation for this story will depend in no small part upon your familiarity with earlier Eloisa James novels -- the rekindling of the dead rom...moreYour appreciation for this story will depend in no small part upon your familiarity with earlier Eloisa James novels -- the rekindling of the dead romance between the Duke and Duchess of Fletcher four years after their wedding is central to the novel, but the side stories, such as the reconciliation between the Duke and Duchess of Beaumont, or the frail health of the Duke of Villiers, feel like they take up about half the novel. I'm a James fan of long standing, so this didn't really faze me, but I would definitely suggest you need to read Desperate Duchesses before picking this one up.(less)
The sheer rat bastardy of Rebecca's first (and long dead) husband has sworn her off marriage, even when she's caught in a compromising position with J...moreThe sheer rat bastardy of Rebecca's first (and long dead) husband has sworn her off marriage, even when she's caught in a compromising position with Jack Fulton. What she doesn't know is that Jack orchestrated the humilation hoping to wed her and get hold of her fortune so he can pay off an unhinged blackmailer -- but, of course, once that course is set in motion he winds up falling in love with her for real...
On the whole, it's a fairly conventional set-up, but Haymore's characterizations are effective -- except for the blackmailer, who reads more like a melodramati caricature of a psychologically unstable villain than an actual character with personality. And the chain of events that brings up about the final reconciliation, after all had seemed lost, didn't quite convince me, either.(less)
An effective story about a young Amish woman who uses her time among "the English" to become a registered nurse, and then is called back to her commun...moreAn effective story about a young Amish woman who uses her time among "the English" to become a registered nurse, and then is called back to her community when her father is injured in a buggy accident. Right off the bat, Annie has an abrasive encounter with Samuel, the man who serves as the community's medical advisor -- he still recalls the flighty girl who left, and treats her as such. Over time, their relationship changes, but both of them have a lot of self-doubt to overcome...
Vanetta Chapman writes honestly, if a bit didactically in spots, about her characters' emotional and spiritual struggles, and these are not cardboard "religious" characters; their faith is fully integrated into their personalities and not just a convenient plot device. The stories surrounding Annie and Samuel can be a bit sugarcoated, but not always. There's a few minor disappointments -- after all the hype about the school Christmas presentation, for example, I'd have liked to have actually seen it, along with a more conclusive resolution for one of the girls Annie was helping. And there's an apparently significant point made two-thirds in about a potential crisis affecting the entire community that just goes nowhere. Maybe Chapman's saving that for a sequel, though; it would certainly seem that there are more stories to be told about her Miflin County Amish.(less)
Two secondary characters from Guhrke's Wedding of the Season move to the forefront -- Aidan, the straitlaced duke who had the misfortune to be engaged...moreTwo secondary characters from Guhrke's Wedding of the Season move to the forefront -- Aidan, the straitlaced duke who had the misfortune to be engaged to a woman who was still in love with her ex-boyfriend, and Julia, the seemingly flamboyant libertine. Guhrke fleshes out the backstory for this pair and then moves it forward -- at the novel's start, Julia has seduced Aidan in order to provoke her hsuband into finally granting her the divorce she's desperately sought for years, and Aidan's second engagment collapses as a result. So Aidan still needs a wife, and Julia has massive debts, so -- admittedly, somewhat implausibly -- he hires her as a social secretary to help him find the appropriate woman.
For the most part, Guhrke does a fine job of taking two secondary characters and turning them into romantic leads with deeper, more complex personalities and motivations, but Aidan's transformation is a little less convincing than Julia's -- in part because it depends on this morally upright, honor-bound character who had previously displayed little if any evidence of a playful side suddenly making the conscious choice to become more flirtatious with a woman who has tarnished his public reputation. On the other hand, the ways in which Julia's public flamboyance mask a profound private pain are drawn out more effectively - -her plight is predictable, but not gratingly so.
The supporting cast remains strong, and there's some fine comedy scenes with a dog -- overall, "Abandoned at the Altar" is shaping up to be an entertaining series.(less)
The first decade of the 20th century adds some interesting twists to the traditional England-set historical romance, such as motorcars and ragtime and...moreThe first decade of the 20th century adds some interesting twists to the traditional England-set historical romance, such as motorcars and ragtime and the search for King Tut's tomb. The hero, you see, broke off his engagement several years before the novel begins in order to race off to Egypt to join the excavation teams, and the heroine, having finally "gotten over" the jilt, is now set to marry another duke. Except that Will has returned to England, and once he figures out that Beatrix is still just as crazy about him as he is about her...
A standard premise, but played through convincingly and with a believable supporting cast and a good sense of humor, although Guhrke tends to have Will analyze Beatrix's feelings out loud to her a bit much.(less)
A 25-year-old woman who's wasted years mooning over a man, only to have him announce an engagment to her cousin, recklessly accepts a proposal from a...moreA 25-year-old woman who's wasted years mooning over a man, only to have him announce an engagment to her cousin, recklessly accepts a proposal from a Spanish baron with a notorious reputation, rather than enter into the marriage her father has arranged for her. Andres takes her up to Scotland to elope, and then to his estate in Northumberland... which, of course, turns out to be nothing like he promised (or, for that matter, like he expected). Seemingly pushed to the brink of disaster, the couple decide to persevere and turn their convenient arrangement into a real marriage...
Cathy Maxwell's characters are engaging and their behavior plausible, although she does tend to push a little hard on explaining the emotional reactions at times (but that's probably just me and it is, after all, a romance novel). Fair warning: Only about 20-25% of this novel actually takes place during the Christmas season, but it's the right 20-25%.(less)
Nothing earth-shattering here, but still: A solidly constructed, engaging portrait of a cunning young woman who wants very badly to carve a place for...moreNothing earth-shattering here, but still: A solidly constructed, engaging portrait of a cunning young woman who wants very badly to carve a place for herself in the money-dripping art scene of the late 20th century. Dozens of color illustrations help set the scene.
Steve Martin's fiction has always struck me as a bit arch and mannered, and some aspects of that remain here, but it's also the most natural-sounding prose of his I've read. He sets up an interesting scenario, and you're curious to see how it plays out, and there are enough surprises along the way to keep engaging your curiosity, even given the rather subdued nature of the events.(less)
It takes some doing to pull off utterly convincing Wodehouse comedy in the Regency, let alone with an espionage plot layered on top, but Lauren Willig...moreIt takes some doing to pull off utterly convincing Wodehouse comedy in the Regency, let alone with an espionage plot layered on top, but Lauren Willig's latest "Pink Carnation" novel succeeds admirably. Not to mention that one-half of its romantic premise is drawn from the depressing novel Jane Austen never finished, and that Austen herself makes some well-turned cameo appearances.
If you haven't read any of Willig's previous novels, don't worry -- you can jump right into this one without any confusion, and it's all quite straightforward, in the usual roundabout way of the romantic comedy's version of "straightforward," that is. But for those of us who are familiar with Willig, there are other pleasurable aspects, including the development of bumbling "Turnip" Fitzhugh from a character type into a full-fledged (and rather appealing) personality.(less)
I got an advance copy of this in the mail, started reading it on the subway ride home, and apart from getting off the train and walking home, I pretty...moreI got an advance copy of this in the mail, started reading it on the subway ride home, and apart from getting off the train and walking home, I pretty much had to read it straight through. It's so awesome its awesome wears a hat and tie. Like most Hap and Leonard novels, it's pretty much a crime novel without any detectives, and though it starts to get a bit implausible towards the final chapters, it always feels right and true to its characters.(less)
One of the guys at my maildrop was raving about it and loaned me his copy -- I'm pretty sure I read it back in the '90s, but it was completely fresh t...moreOne of the guys at my maildrop was raving about it and loaned me his copy -- I'm pretty sure I read it back in the '90s, but it was completely fresh to me. Great office comedy about research scientists trying to navigate bureaucratic red tape and incompetent management.(less)
It may have helped somewhat if I'd read the first three books in the series, perhaps, but the story here holds up on its own quite well -- the only mi...moreIt may have helped somewhat if I'd read the first three books in the series, perhaps, but the story here holds up on its own quite well -- the only mildly frustrating parts are towards the very end where Laurens is clearly bringing in characters from a string of previous books, which is no doubt rewarding to those who are more familiar with her work than I am. Well, that and the fact that the sidekick characters are practically invisible.
Other than that, it's a straightforward romance, not quite outstanding but certainly entertaining enough to pass the afternoon.(less)
Heath returns to the characters she introduced in Passions of a Wicked Earl; at the end of that book, the middle brother, Stephen, was about to be sen...moreHeath returns to the characters she introduced in Passions of a Wicked Earl; at the end of that book, the middle brother, Stephen, was about to be sent off to the Crimean front -- now it is two years later, and he is back at home, suffering from an amnesiac form of post-traumatic stress disorder. A former nurse arrives with a baby she says is his, and duty compels him to marry her -- what he does not know, and what she is desperate for him not to discover, is that she is not the mother.
Heath's sense of character is strong, and the web of family relationships is quite intriguing. Her language seems to have a bit more polish than the genre norm, although I noticed this time around that there was a bit more repetition, as her close-third-person narrator would describe a character's thoughts, only to have the character voice the same sentiment in the same words just a few pages later. Also, two consecutive novels in which the final-act reversal of fortune/last obstacle is brought about by the heroine's rival for the hero's affections being a sociopath left me a bit flat, although it must be said Fancy in this novel is less implausible than Lady Anne in the first. (Also, I respect the shout out to the Bobbie Gentry song.) (And if Fancy ISN'T a shout out to the Bobbie Gentry song, I don't want to know that, so don't tell me.)(less)
A dry sense of humor on full display until seriousness is required, and diligent attention to all the characters. The slightly silly premise of Lord N...moreA dry sense of humor on full display until seriousness is required, and diligent attention to all the characters. The slightly silly premise of Lord Nicholas being named 19th-century London's equivalent of People's Sexiest Man Alive falls to the background rather quickly, and the emotional dynamics are, with few exceptions, vigorously plausible. (I thought Lady Isabel was a bit haughtier than quite believable during the meet-cute scene, but that might just be me.)(less)
This is actually the first Terry Pratchett I've ever read (unless you count Good Omens, the collaboration with Neil Gaiman) and it turned out to be qu...moreThis is actually the first Terry Pratchett I've ever read (unless you count Good Omens, the collaboration with Neil Gaiman) and it turned out to be quite delightful. A wry sense of humor, especially in the footnotes, and though it lays the messages on a bit thick, it's all still quite entertaining, and the first ending (that's right, the first ending) is both funny and moving.(less)
Not the instant masterpiece that everybody makes it out to be -- I'm too unconvinced by Franzen's decision to present the sections that focus on the f...moreNot the instant masterpiece that everybody makes it out to be -- I'm too unconvinced by Franzen's decision to present the sections that focus on the female protagonist as an "actual" autobiographical document, written in the third person, and some of the satirical points are a bit obvious -- but still it's a very, very good book, and if it gets bogged down sometimes, well, it also soars at others.(less)
Very strong character dynamics--the Earl of Westcliffe is compelled to reunite with the young wife he exiled to the country estate after catching her...moreVery strong character dynamics--the Earl of Westcliffe is compelled to reunite with the young wife he exiled to the country estate after catching her with his younger brother on their wedding night; as each of them discovers what their partner is really like, Westcliffe realizes that he must choose between his wife and a mistress to who he's grown accustomed, though not in love. The dilemma is played out convincingly on both sides, with equally believable portrayals of the supporting cast -- although I was a bit disappointed with the conveniently melodramatic turn events took in the final stretch. Actually, even then it wasn't the events themselves that were bothersome, because Lorraine Heath writes them with the same skill applied to all the previous chapters -- it's just the shift in one particular character, whose interesting relationship to the main characters is traded in for a spectacular finale. (And now that I think of it, too, there's an earlier moment that hints at just this type of ending, a moment which is allowed to lay unresolved perhaps a bit too long...)
Despite the quibbles, though, it was a rather enjoyable story.(less)
The story of the tiger that stalked a forest in the remotest forests of eastern Russia, killing hunters and terrorizing a community, is amazing enough...moreThe story of the tiger that stalked a forest in the remotest forests of eastern Russia, killing hunters and terrorizing a community, is amazing enough -- but John Vaillant's combination of reportage, historical background, and meditation about the relationship between man and nature is, at its best, reminiscent of the nature writing of John McPhee, which is to say it's a real treat to read, constantly offering up amazing and/or unsettling revelations about its subject. The things you learn about Siberian tigers-- in both their physical and their mental attributes--will stay with you long after you've finished this book.
I don't read a lot of nonfiction these days, because I read almost nothing but for five years and I decided it was time to tip the scales back into balance, but I'm glad I made an exception here.(less)
It is a powerful novel, with grand sweep, and a teeming cast of characters each of whom is sketched with impeccable detail. A true page-turner; once you plunge into the story, you'll wind up bargaining with yourself to read just one more chapter, and then another...(less)
I love this book. It's pretty much my favorite novel of 2010, although I'm still on the fence between it and The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. It...moreI love this book. It's pretty much my favorite novel of 2010, although I'm still on the fence between it and The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me laugh a whole bunch more times. I was a huge fan of Murray's first novel, An Evening of Long Goodbyes, and he's really outdone himself this time around.(less)
Sassy and sophisticated -- the heroine isn't a delicate flower, and the hero recognizes her appetites and plays up to them in his quest to win her aff...moreSassy and sophisticated -- the heroine isn't a delicate flower, and the hero recognizes her appetites and plays up to them in his quest to win her affections AFTER he agrees to become engaged to her in order to save her and her family from scandal. It's easily the snappiest historical romance I've read this year, and quite possibly the funniest.(less)
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