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savvyliterate's reviews
634 reviews
The Widowed Bride by Elizabeth Lane
3.0
This book is a fairly quick read, and I read all of it on a train ride back from New York City. It's set in the 1920s in a remote part of the west, so it has a mixture of Western with a little modern touches. I enjoyed that the book touched on things such as the beginning of forensic evidence, Prohibition and more.
Ruby was a good heroine for this time period, although I do feel that the intimacy between her and Ethan was a bit too rushed. Ruby's children wind up playing a big role in how the romance turns out, but I don't think there was enough time spent with Ethan developing a relationship with them. There is a good reason for Ethan's reticence, but I would have loved to see a bit more with how he deals with Ruby's daughters. The mystery that anchors the book dragged out a bit too much, and I think that time could be used to develop Ethan's relationship with the girls.
Ruby was a good heroine for this time period, although I do feel that the intimacy between her and Ethan was a bit too rushed. Ruby's children wind up playing a big role in how the romance turns out, but I don't think there was enough time spent with Ethan developing a relationship with them. There is a good reason for Ethan's reticence, but I would have loved to see a bit more with how he deals with Ruby's daughters. The mystery that anchors the book dragged out a bit too much, and I think that time could be used to develop Ethan's relationship with the girls.
The Devil in Disguise by Stefanie Sloane
3.0
I received this book as a "First Reads." This is the first book in Stefanie Sloane's "Regency Rogues" series. It's funny how there's an endorsement from Julia Quinn on the cover of the book, because I kept thinking wistfully of "The Duke and I" as I read.
Sloane succeeds in creating two leads - The Duke of Clairmont and Lady Lucinda Grey - that I like a lot. She also succeeds in creating a hilarious supporting cast in the form of Lucinda's aunts, whom I really hope make return appearances later in the series. She did a good job in making me emotionally invested in Will and Lucinda as individuals. However, she failed to sell me on them as a couple.
A large part of it is that their emotional growth really doesn't take place together as a couple, especially on Will's part. One of the key revelations and emotional lynchpins in the series takes place between Will and one of Lucinda's aunts, not Will and Lucinda. The passion between the two feels very artificial. Their moments of intimacy don't feel very intimate, and I felt a sense of detachment. It's not like say ... Simon and Daphne in "The Duke and I," where there is emotion, laughter and true enjoyment in their time together. Their intimate moments are truly emotional. The intimacy with Will and Lucinda lasts a couple pages at the most. It seems almost thrown into the book and not a natural progression of their feelings for each other. It's the lack of chemistry between the leads that keeps this from being a repeat read for me.
Sloane succeeds in creating two leads - The Duke of Clairmont and Lady Lucinda Grey - that I like a lot. She also succeeds in creating a hilarious supporting cast in the form of Lucinda's aunts, whom I really hope make return appearances later in the series. She did a good job in making me emotionally invested in Will and Lucinda as individuals. However, she failed to sell me on them as a couple.
A large part of it is that their emotional growth really doesn't take place together as a couple, especially on Will's part. One of the key revelations and emotional lynchpins in the series takes place between Will and one of Lucinda's aunts, not Will and Lucinda. The passion between the two feels very artificial. Their moments of intimacy don't feel very intimate, and I felt a sense of detachment. It's not like say ... Simon and Daphne in "The Duke and I," where there is emotion, laughter and true enjoyment in their time together. Their intimate moments are truly emotional. The intimacy with Will and Lucinda lasts a couple pages at the most. It seems almost thrown into the book and not a natural progression of their feelings for each other. It's the lack of chemistry between the leads that keeps this from being a repeat read for me.
To Defy a King by Elizabeth Chadwick
5.0
This book dropped in price on Amazon, and the thread carried a lot of recommendations. All of them were worth it, as I stayed up until 7 a.m. devouring the book. I greatly enjoyed the fictionalized version of the life of Mahelt Marshal, daughter of the infamous William, and her first husband, Hugh. I had not read all that much into the lives of the Marshals before, therefore I was dismayed - but not surprised - to read the afterword of the book and find that Hugh only survived a few years beyond the end of the book and Mahelt went on to marry again.
Elizabeth Chadwick did such a good job in creating believable personalities and a grand marriage between Mahelt and Hugh that you forget that these are actual historic figures. But, the backdrop of their time is exquisite, and you know Chadwick spent a great deal of time researching the era. It's part of a historic series that I want to seek out now.
Elizabeth Chadwick did such a good job in creating believable personalities and a grand marriage between Mahelt and Hugh that you forget that these are actual historic figures. But, the backdrop of their time is exquisite, and you know Chadwick spent a great deal of time researching the era. It's part of a historic series that I want to seek out now.
In the Highlander's Bed by Cathy Maxwell
3.0
While the beginning of the book was enough to draw me into the story, I found myself wanting to shake all the females at some point. There was far too much emphasis on Constance fighting Gordon and running away again and again and again and not enough on developing any believable relationship between Constance and Gordon as well as on Fiona's subplot. I did not realize this was the last book in a series, but it makes sense why there was a lack of emphasis on developing Gordon's camp beyond a convenient plot point.
Despite the drawbacks, I do like both Gordon and Constance and the relationship they have when they're not fighting and she wasn't trying to run off. I'd like to have seen one of those scenes cut out and more time devoted to Fiona's healing. I also liked Constance's sisters and their husbands, as well as the Duke of Colster. I understand all of them have their own stories, so I wouldn't mind seeking those out.
Despite the drawbacks, I do like both Gordon and Constance and the relationship they have when they're not fighting and she wasn't trying to run off. I'd like to have seen one of those scenes cut out and more time devoted to Fiona's healing. I also liked Constance's sisters and their husbands, as well as the Duke of Colster. I understand all of them have their own stories, so I wouldn't mind seeking those out.
As an Earl Desires by Lorraine Heath
5.0
I didn't intend to stay up all night reading this book, but I did. It was a great read with a wonderful hero and heroine. It's also an intriguing look into the changing penal system in Great Britain during the 1800s and how people were trying to make it better, but there was a lot of negative aspects as well. I also enjoyed seeing the hero of one of Heath's later books as a little boy in here.
The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
2.0
Unlike "Flowers from the Storm," I was able to get through this book. I really liked all the detail, especially the sections that give keen insight into the Japanese migration to Hawai'i and how the culture influences the hero. I also like that despite what happens to the hero in the book, he maintains a love for the culture. Sadly though, the heroine goes from being very likable at the beginning to a naive caricature toward the end. While I didn't skim through this book, there's enough here to put me off of reading any other of this author's books.