Author Maya Rodale, who has previously inspired me to a lengthy defense of romance novels, is currently balancing two series. The contemporary group (Billionaire Bad Boys) features a character who is writing her first historical romance. The Wicked Wallflower, from the historical group, is that romance. I purchased The Bad Boy Billionaire’s Wicked Arrangement for the low, low price of 99 cents on my Kindle thinking it was a novella when it was actually just an installment in the novel. It made for interesting reading […]
Another Historical Romance, But with Whimsy
[stunned silence followed by vociferous string of profanity-laden expostulations] That was a change of pace. Well written. It seems historical romance author Tessa Dare is going in a new direction, one more whimsiquirkilicious than I had anticipated. I have never given my Kindle the side-eye before. And I did, in fact, resist the temptation to throw it across the room. That counts as a victory. And that was certainly the most expletives I have ever let loose while reading a love story. A lot of […]
Another Historical Romance with Bustles
I have read one Laura Lee Guhrke historical romance already, Scandal of the Year, and while it had some nice moments, I did not rush out to track down her catalogue. Guhrke does have a book on All About Romance’s Top 100 list, And Then He Kissed Her, that I keep meaning to read, but for now, I’m reviewing the book they happened to have at my library. When the Marquess Met His Match is the first book in Guhrke’s new “An American Heiress in London” […]
Sex and Dessert
Look! I found Laura Florand’s romance mission statement. The Chocolate Temptation is book six in Florand’s Amour et Chocolat series. I reviewed the first four books in a previous effort. I will review the fifth, The Chocolate Heart, when I can get my hands on it at my local library, as it is priced out of my willing-to-pay range*. The conceit of each novel is that an American woman is thrown into close proximity with a French chocolatier/pastry god. They fall in love quickly, get […]
A Historical Romance with Bustles
The Importance of Being Wicked is a romantic comedy of manners of the “you are everything I never knew I always wanted” variety. Victoria Alexander’s dialogue is wonderfully droll. I should have loved the book and yet it took me forever to get through. As my romance total climbs, I sometimes think I am losing interest in the genre, but the real issue is that it is taking better stories to claim my attention. Winfield Elliott, Viscount Stillwell, has been engaged and left at the altar three […]
A Lovely Meringue of a Romance
I regret returning The Sum of All Kisses to the library quickly, but I don’t want to buy my own copy. This tells me that while I enjoyed the book, it didn’t make a lasting impression If you are a historical romance fan, you already know who Julia Quinn is. If you are interested in trying historical romance, her Bridgerton series provides an excellent gateway. I use the words deft and witty every time I review one of her books because they are always apropos […]