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 Colin has invited Eloise to his country estate for a week away together, and for a chance to look at the Selwick papers. She finds the letters of Lady Charlotte Lansdowne, an extremely romantic girl who has spent most of her life at her country estate, Girdings, reading books. Charlotte has been infatuated with the duke of Dovedale, Robert, ever since her father grew ill and his father arrived to take up the dukedom. She is thrilled at his return. Robert, on the other hand, views himself as a “rotten apple” and is only in England to catch the man who killed his commanding officer and father figure under the guise of war. His mission is too important for him to fall in love with his distant cousin, but Charlotte has no such resolutions.
At first, I couldn’t figure out how on earth this book was connected to the other Pink Carnation books, except for that Charlotte is Henrietta’s best friend. It appears, however, that the man Robert is after is yet another in the series of flower spies, although we learn very little about the actual Pink Carnation in this book. After The Seduction of the Crimson Rose, this story begins as almost unbearably sweet and I was actually pleased when reality hit and the romantic delusions ended. It feels inevitable anyway, and the book got much better afterwards. Both Charlotte and Robert had to figure out who the other person was outside of their own romantic misconceptions. They both fell off the pedestal, so to speak, and I think that’s a problem rarely dealt with in romance; too often both characters are flawless. Also, I really enjoyed the way both characters had their own “bad guy” to deal with and the way the stories neatly combined. And once again, I can tell this will be a frustration for those who treat this as an ordinary romance, but there is no love scene here either! I find it refreshing and I think trying to fit one in would have ruined the plot, so good judgment on Willig’s part. Furthermore, some interesting revelations about Colin in this one, and it’s nice to see Eloise without her obsession about being boyfriendless.
I’m looking forward to the next one! As I said in my last review of this series, it’s not ending any time soon and I’m still enjoying it. I just hope we learn more about the Pink Carnation soon. I’m anxiously awaiting Jane’s story!
Buy The Temptation of the Night Jasmine on Amazon.
 Eloise has finally scored a date with Colin, but more importantly, she’s found the Vaughn archives and is digging into Lord Sebastian Vaughn’s life. Miss Mary Alsworthy, essentially jilted by Lord Geoffrey Pinchingdale and her sister Letty, is at a loss. She’s older now and has no reliable husband prospects on the horizon. In a bid to gain more independence, she agrees to help Lord Vaughn by becoming one of the petals of the Black Tulip. After all, she has just the right coloring and she definitely needs more excitement in her life. Needless to say, she gets much more excitement than she bargained for.
This is my favorite Pink Carnation book so far. I found both characters to be stiff at first, but watching them soften – if only to each other – was possibly the best moment of the series. Mary went, believably, from self-serving to really caring about this man, and I could see how it happened. Best of all, this book is very much a meeting of the minds. Mary and Vaughn have the best snarky conversations of any characters and it seems as though their personalities just fit together perfectly. They are the cynics among a flock of impressionable romantics and it’s hard not to love them for it. As for the plot, I figured out who the Black Tulip was maybe halfway through the book, so the big reveal wasn’t all that much of a surprise, but that was okay with me; there were other exciting events going on. I also, contrary to popular opinion it seems, enjoyed that Willig left out the customary love scene in this one. It isn’t necessary and never really has been. There’s a spark between these two, but no need to follow it through when we all know how that goes. I think it works much better this way because it’s more about who they are as people.
Again, I think this is the best in the series. I have begun to accept that the series isn’t actually going to end any time soon, though, so if that bothers you, it may be worth staying away. Personally, I love these books, they’re perfect candy fare and I very much enjoy the history worked in and even the frame story of Colin and Eloise. Buy The Seduction of the Crimson Rose on Amazon.
 Unfortunately for Lily Raines, mob boss Castellano has chosen her as the juror who will end the murder case against one of his lackeys by voting “not guilty” even though the evidence is clear. Luckily, she has undercover cop Brand Gallagher on her side. He’ll do anything to get Castellano, but he can’t bring himself to kill Lily and instead kidnaps her, prompting a startling resolution and a new chance for both of them.
I haven’t read a Harlequin romance in years, and certainly never one of these “intrigue” series. It’s not my type, even though I read a bit of romantic suspense when I was trying to figure out what I liked. This book, however, is less than 300 pages long and was free, so why wouldn’t I read it?
I didn’t dislike it, I can give it that much. It definitely felt like a formulaic romantic suspense, though. Heroine is threatened, heroine feels safe with hero but he has that dangerous edge that makes him sexy, hero and heroine fall in love magically after spending two days together, etc. I guess you could say that about all romances, but this one isn’t far out from the mold, and I didn’t find the suspense part particularly suspenseful. I could tell what was going to happen because there just aren’t many ways this story can go. It was moderately entertaining and probably a good way to waste some time, but Mallory Kane isn’t doing anything new here, just providing a run-of-the-mill romance. I guess that’s why it’s a Harlequin.
Recommended only if you like the formula of romantic suspense. Buy Juror No. 7 on Amazon.
 It’s not a secret that I didn’t really like my first foray into paranormal romance. So many people love it, though, that I had to give it another chance. I’m happy that I had The Darkest Touch on my shelf because, while it isn’t perfect, it is vastly better and was a very enjoyable read.
Angelique, an archaeologist, and Ryder, a demon hunter, shared a single kiss in Australia before their passion was cut short; when Angie’s touch doesn’t ignite the black diamond or cause her to become the Queen of Darkness, a power demonic figure, a war erupts between demons and humans. Terrified, Angie takes the diamond and hides it from everyone, including Ryder, who is sure that he can no longer trust her. They can only stay apart for so long, however, as the war rages on and becomes more personal than Angie had ever imagined.
Well, if you like romance, this is definitely one for you. It’s quite steamy (but in a more appropriate way between couples that should be doing it!) and involves two couples, the second of which I imagine will be starring in their own book soon as their story didn’t conclude. While it was predictable in the form of all romance novels, since romance goes in just about one direction, the author kept the demon plotline moving and threw in some twists to keep me interested. I’m a bit sorry I haven’t read Jaci’s previous novels, as I generally find attachment to characters really enriches reading romances. Regardless, I’m off to find them now, because I really did enjoy this. Romances are guilty pleasures for me and I think I’ll be happy to continue reading Ms. Burton’s work!
If you’re interested in trying paranormal romance, this is a good place to start! Check it out on Amazon .
 A couple of months back I asked Miriam Parker at Hachette Book Group USA for a review copy of The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks. She was extremely kind in sending me one, but it unfortunately arrived after I left for England, so my mom took on herself the task of reading and reviewing it. I’ll read it myself when I go back in a couple of months. My mom loves Nicholas Sparks and has read all of his books to date, but this is only her second book review since school and as such this is a very new experience for her. So here’s my mom, Carolyn, on The Lucky One:
This book is about Logan Thibault, a US Marine, on his third tour of duty in Iraq. He finds a photograph of a girl in the sand. He brings the picture back to base and puts it on the message board for someone to claim. The photograph is never claimed so Logan begins to carry it around with him all the time. This changes his luck and he begins to have good luck. His best friend, Victor, claims this is his lucky charm. After Logan is released from the military, he decides to go look for the woman in the picture by using the clues in the picture.
I loved this book. Once I started reading it, I didn’t want to put it down. It was a love story with suspense in it. You knew something was going to happen but you didn’t know what. This is a down to earth story as you might find in real life. Besides liking the relationship between Logan and Beth, I really enjoyed reading about the relationship between Logan and Ben. Reading this book brought me such joy. It’s what reading is all about. I think the lucky one is anyone who has the opportunity to read this book.
Check it out on Amazon.
 This is my first read by Georgette Heyer. I’ve heard a lot about her, and I mean a lot, both from the historical fiction and the historical romance readers I know. She is the favorite of many, many readers. I was expecting a lot, and the book didn’t disappoint. It is, in fact, a pleasing mix of romance and historical fiction.
Lady Barbara Childe is the female equivalent of a rake. She flirts with many men, but refuses to get married after her first atrocious attempt. Colonel Charles Audley, however, is determined, patient, understanding, and in love with Barbara. They quickly get engaged, but that isn’t the end of the story, although it had me confused for a bit, wondering where they would go next. On the other hand, there is the lead up to the Battle of Waterloo. As one of the Duke’s personal staff, Charles is bound to go to the fighting and a great deal of the book deals with the looming conflict and the battle itself.
I definitely was immersed in the period while reading this book. The beginning was a little slow because it takes time to get used to a whole different world. Heyer never slips out of it, and while the book was written a good 70 years ago, I still think that’s impressive. The characters surprised me and jumped out of the page; especially Barbara, who is incredibly compelling and understandable by the end, despite the fact that she is about as different from me as possible.
The best part, however, was definitely Waterloo. The book alternates between Charles’ family and the battle itself, giving us two viewpoints. Heyer does a brilliant job getting across the tension, the distress, and the complete alienation from the world that the patient loved ones are feeling. The battle scenes are astounding and even upsetting because the author puts you right into the army’s shoes. This is historical fiction at its best, showing us what the past may have been like.
So now I begin to understand why Georgette Heyer is so popular. I’ve got another of hers waiting in my TBR pile and I’ll be on the lookout for more. Her books are being reissued, so this may not be too difficult. The lovely cover above is the result of this reissue. Buy this book on Amazon.
 When she is a young girl, Maggie’s parents are killed in a raid on her home in Scotland. Luckily for her, she meets a wounded soldier that she can escort back to his wife, Hannah, who is a skilled midwife. When Alan, the soldier, dies, Hannah takes Maggie in and teaches her everything she knows, until she too passes away of consumption. When Maggie is left on her own, the town turns against her, calling her “Black Maggie” and deciding that she must be a witch. Maggie decides to immigrate to America as an indentured bondswoman to start a new life away from the rumors.
This book was a pleasure to read. I liked Maggie and I wanted her to do well in America. In fact, I liked all of the sympathetic characters – Maggie, Naomi, Seth, the children, and Tom. I enjoyed the image of frontier America that the book gave me; nearly everyone stood by one another when the Indians came. Something else that I particularly enjoyed was the insight into the Indians’ ways as well. They weren’t just villainized. Blevins did a good job of showing us that there were two sides to the conflict, and that white people could be just as savage as Native Americans. Furthermore, it allowed the author to introduce the challenges endured by those who were raised by the Indians but were biologically white, another fascinating feature of the story.
It was a challenge at first to get used to the Scottish dialect used in the book, but I did get accustomed to it in the end and it stopped bothering me. I’m not sure it added to the book, but it didn’t hurt it, either, and I was reminded of the characters’ origins every time they opened their mouths.
I would recommend this book, most likely to people who enjoy historical fiction as it sits firmly in that genre. I certainly enjoyed reading it. Buy this book on Amazon.
 Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation books are some of my favorite guilty pleasure reads. They’re the perfect mix of chick lit, historical fiction, and romance. I’m always amused by the modern day Eloise in her struggle to win Colin, the man of her dreams, and I think that her historical discoveries are well-timed. The historical stories are endearing and entertaining, if a bit unrealistic at times. Mostly, I love the way the books never take themselves seriously and always provide a quick, light, cheery read.
Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe is thrilled when the woman he has been chasing for months, Mary Alsworthy, agrees to elope with him. He is not as thrilled when her younger sister Letty turns up instead and is thus compromised, forcing his hand. Angry over the misunderstanding, he flees to Ireland, only for his young bride to follow him as they learn that nothing is quite what it seems, including the nature of the mysterious Black Tulip, while trying to avert a national tragedy.
I read this book in one night, mostly with a smile on my face. I liked both new main characters and Henrietta and Miles from Black Tulip make a comeback appearance. I was particularly fond of Letty here; I liked the way she developed, as well as her blunt personality. The romance was cute, if not entirely believable, and it certainly was enough to leave the reader charmed and happy.
As for the modern day storyline, Eloise is as usual self-deprecating, hilarious, and desperate. I never mind her interruptions in the story, although each time I find myself torn between wanting to hear more about her or about the historical tale. I think that’s a sign that both are written well. Overall, I think this series is a terrific combination of genres. It’s fluff, but it’s well-written, entertaining, worthy fluff, and I’m greatly looking forward to the next Pink Carnation novel, and thrilled to discover that a fifth will be released next year. Buy this book on Amazon.
 Claire Randall has just ended her tenure as a WWII nurse and is on a second honeymoon of sorts with her husband, Frank, in Scotland, when a stone circle whisks her back in time to the 18th century, a budding war between England and Scotland, and a love that makes her question where exactly she belongs in the world.
Almost everyone I have spoken to has fallen in love with this book and immediately dashed out to buy the sequels. It’s a bit strange to be the one person not so affected by it. I liked it, don’t get me wrong – I do enjoy romance occasionally and that is what this book is. It just wasn’t unique, except in its unnecessary length. Certainly unnecessary – there are plenty of scenes which are completely superfluous to the novel’s plot and purpose. It just keeps going and going. Moreover, Claire forgives him far too easily for certain transgressions around the middle, and I found the ending scenes extremely disturbing and at times, again, implausible. Their reactions never felt natural, much less how Claire completely forgets her husband of several years after mere weeks in the company of Jamie Fraser.
I did enjoy the book, though. After a while, I started to believe that there was actually something between Jamie and Claire, and for all my resistance to some of their behaviors, sometimes you do just know that a person is right for you. I don’t understand why so many women of the world are in love with Jamie, though, as I certainly wouldn’t leave my fiance for him.
As far as the time travel aspect is concerned, I did my best to ignore the fact that it was simply impossible unless the worlds existed in parallel – a certain person’s death date changes, which makes it completely impossible that they exist in the same world, unless the issue comes up in later books.
Despite my criticism, I did like the book and I actually have Dragonfly in Amber sitting in my Amazon cart, used for $4. What can I say? I did like it, and all the reviews promise that number 2 is heavier on the historical fiction. I tend to prefer that, so I think I will give it a try. I don’t know if I want to embroil myself in the series, so I haven’t ordered it yet, but it’s certainly a temptation.
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