Title: Taming Her Forbidden Earl, Book One in the LadyLancasterGarden Society Series Author: Catherine Hemmerling Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC Genre: Historical romance Taming her Forbidden Earl is a sweet, charming and slightly saucy historical romance. It's a light read that doesn't stretch the boundaries of its genre. You get exactly what you would expect from a historical romance, a handsome male lead who is unobtainable in some way - in this case a strong aversion to the state of matrimony - a sweet sassy female lead with intelligence and courage, and a plot involving some intrigue and where our plucky heroine almost ends up with the wrong man - in this instance a total creep who tries to blackmail her into marriage. The main characters were very likeable and well fleshed out, and the story had no extraneous baggage. It moved along at a good pace and built to a satisfying, if not somewhat predictable, ending. Hannah did seem a bit too easy for a girl of the era, but … [Read more...]
Review: Courting Trouble by Jenny Schwartz
Title: Courting Trouble Author: Jenny Schwartz Publisher: Carina Press Gennre: Historical/steampunk romance Courting Trouble is a delightful romance with wonderful characters and plenty of action set in Swan River Colony, Australia, in 1895. Next time you’re thinking of watching a movie, pick this up instead. It’ll take a similar amount of time and it’s great entertainment. Unlike many romances, the story doesn’t revolve completely around the issue of two people getting together. This one has a plot which makes it suitable for a much wider readership. The romance is not cloying, and is chastely in tune with the era. Blurb All suffragette Esme Smith wants is respect. Her beau, American inventor Jed Reeve, may be more enlightened than most men, but lately his need to protect her is at odds with her need for independence. Esme begins to wonder if a modern woman can share her life with a man without losing some of herself. With his courtship of Esme stalled, the last thing Jed … [Read more...]
Review: An Heiress at Heart by Jennifer Delamere
Title: An Heiress at Heart Author: Jennifer Delamere Publisher: Forever - imprint of GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING Genre: Historical romance An Heiress at Heart is a gem of its genre, a delightful historical romance with wonderful characters and a unique story. The story A youthful indiscretion has cost Lizzie Poole more than just her honor. After five years living in exile, she's finally returning home, but she's still living a secret life. Her best friend Ria's dying wish was for Lizzie to assume her identity, return to London, and make amends that Ria herself would never live to make. Bearing a striking resemblance to her friend, and harboring more secrets than ever before, Lizzie embarks on a journey that tempts her reckless heart once again . . . A committed clergyman, Geoffrey Somerville's world is upended when he suddenly inherits the title of Lord Somerville. Now he's invited to every ball and sought after by the matchmaking mothers of London society. Yet the only woman to … [Read more...]
Review: Uneasy Fortunes by Mandi Ellsworth
Title: Uneasy Fortunes Publisher: Cedar Fort Imprint: Sweetwater Author: Mandi Ellsworth Category: Historical romantic fiction I’m not sure how I ended up with this book to review because I don’t usually read historical fiction, but I’m really glad I read this gentle rustic romance inspired by a true story of the post–Civil War South. When I discovered that there weren’t any fantasy elements in it, I almost decided not to continue reading, but somehow, despite the huge pile of exciting stories waiting in my TBR pile, I couldn’t move on to anything else. Eventually, I realised that I cared deeply about the characters and that no way was I going to leave them hanging. In the end, the book left me inspired by the healing power of love, the theme of this book. It was a warm and wonderful feeling that remained long after I read the last page. The writing was very simple which I wondered at, at first, but then I realised that it fitted the story perfectly, because it was about simple … [Read more...]
Review: The Hermetica of Elysium by Annemarie Banks
Title : The Hermetica of Elysium Author: Annemarie Banks Publisher: Knox Robinson Publishing Category: Historical literature/romance/fantasy When the publisher approached me with this book and asked if I’d review it, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to or not, because historical romance is a genre that doesn’t generally interest me. However, the fantasy element and the theme of the power of words and philosophy drew me in and I discovered a rich and surprising read that far surpasses what this books genre designation would have you expect. We meet the central character, Nadira in 1494 in Barcelona, where she is a servant to a wealthy spice merchant. A man badly beaten by mercenaries looking for the book, The Hermetica of Elysium is brought to the merchant’s stable. When his brother comes looking for him, the man is already dead, but he discovers that Nadira can read Ancient Greek, Latin, Arabic and Hebrew making her one of the few people who can read the book they seek. While the Black … [Read more...]
