New author! Juliana Gray is a very strong historical romance writer with a wonderful turn of phrase, a gift for simile, and great smolder. It is such an unexpected pleasure when a book randomly selected from the romance spinner at one’s library results in a new novelist to enjoy. I went back the next day, and the next, to get more of her books. Gray will be going on my woefully short good authors list and may well end up as an autobuy. The Princesses […]
Mad about Milan
Historicals aren’t my go-to romance genre of choice, but I sure am drawn to the silk Courtney Milan is spinning. Unlocked is a novella in the Turner series (aka the BEST series) and it’s only tangentially related because some character is casually acquainted with one of the Turners, but no matter. It’s a great little I-hate-you-but-I-love-you story that transcends its somewhat cliched underpinnings due to the strength of Milan’s writing. Plot-wise, it’s very simple: Lady Elaine was the subject of some pretty harsh Regency-era bullying (“Your […]
“Although at the moment, I may be coming a bit unraveled.”
Okay, guys, so this is a big step for me. I have never reviewed a straight up “bodice-ripper” romance novel* on CBR before, and I’ve only done a couple small reviews of them over on Goodreads. In fact, I usually don’t even mark them as ‘read’ over there because it has been a life-long habit for me to conceal my romance-reading from everyone. But this lovely review from Mrs. Julien finally gave me the excuse I needed. *Better known as historical romance. A large part of […]
Another Historical Romance, But a Delightful Novella
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright is a gem. A delightful Regency romance pared down to its bare bones, this quick read is a perfect of example of what a novella can be and why I love them. There are no machinations, diversions, or distractions. Tessa Dare provides a witty, bright, engaging love story focused entirely on the winning main characters. Owing to a pubescent scandal, Eliza Cade has been sentenced to wait to enter society until her older sisters are married. Hers is an […]
Another Historical Romance, But Really a Romp
Road trip! I first read A Week to Be Wicked about two years ago when I started devouring every historical romance I could get my hands on. It is a wonderful romp and an entertaining read. It hits on all of Tessa Dare’s best aspects as a writer: Smolder. Really, really, good smolder. Lisa Kleypas level smolder. Funny of the laugh out loud variety. Witty, too. Sincere emotion successfully balanced against the aforementioned humour. At least one hysterical turn of phrase describing a man’s specific […]
Another Historical Romance, But with Tartan
There is an entire historical romance sub-genre based around Scottish Highland lairds and the tartans that love them. You can recognize the books instantly by the swathe of kilt and bare, muscular chest on the cover. I don’t read them because I get preoccupied with how cold everyone must be in Northern Scotland. Hitting on two genre quadrants, the new Scandalous Highlanders series from historical romance novelist Suzanne Enoch features members of a Scottish Highland family looking for love in Regency London. It’s kind of […]