#187 (#123) - A Little Folly ~ Jude Morgan (New Author)

ISBN:  978-0-7533-0767-8
Published by:  Headline

Characters/brief outline:
Main charaters Louisa Carnell and her Brother, Valentine
Sub characters:  James Tresilian, Pearce Lynley, Francis Lynley, Lady Harriet Evershot plus others
Lousia and Valentine have been bullied, dominated and stifled by their Father, and therefore when he dies suddenly they are left rudderless and adrift.  It takes a while, but they both kick back in their own way.  Louisa rejects the man intended for her by her Father, Pearce Lynley, and then plays the field.  Valentine falls for Lady Harriet.and looses a great deal of money.  Happily though, they both find their way back on to the right path, but do either of them find love?

The cover promised that ".....reminiscent of a good Georgette Heyer", which was quite a bold claim in my own personal/humble opinion.  However, when all is said and done - or rather read from cover to cover - the statement did seem to still be a little optimistic, but just only a little.

That makes me sound like I didn't like it ..... I did, but really there can only ever be one Georgette Heyer (much the same as their can ever only be one Jane Austen) ... probably the statement should have been "....quite like a Georgette Heyer" instead.

I found it to be a little wordy, with a a very good go at being the real thing.  The wordiness meant that I had to concentrate (always a challenge with teenagers and pets working to their own unique agendas).  The plot too, didn't seem to move at much of a pace.   On the whole a 3.5 star read, and it certainly would not be put off from reading another of Miss Morgan's offerings any time soon.  Give it a go and see what you think, I'd be interested to find out.

Kay

#105 (#41) - The Long Way Home ~ Audrey Howard

ISBN: 978-0-340-89541-2

With her beloved a ill, and her Pa struggling to cope, Amy Pearson at the age of 10 is taken away by her Aunt Zillah, who has it seems effectively 'bought' her.

Zillah is a zealous methodist has every attention of turning her 'adoped' daughter into a mould of herself, and her every move is closely controlled and restricted.

If it wasn't for her Auntis husband, Caleb and the servants, especially young Joe, she would be have not know even the smallest portion of love.

Over the years the closeness between Amy and Joe grows to something closer to love, but Zillah pulls off a cruel stunt that leaves Amy married off to another Methodist a great deal older than herself in order to save Joe.

On her wedding night she's so badly raped and abused that she runs away, and then has to spent all of her time evading Zillah, who is determined to see her returned to her husband>

I can hear you thinking .... "but what of Joe" .... well you'll just have to read the book to find out.

Again, another well-written and compulsive read with a 4.5 ***** Star rating.

#103 (#39) - Last Night's Scandal ~ Loretta Chase

ISBN: 978-0-06-163267-9

There is a very good reason this book was awarded the top slot in 4 categories in All About Romance 2010 Reader Poll .... simply because it is completely and utterly amazing.

The story of two characters that appeared in Lord Perfect, Olivia Wingate-Carsington and Peregrine Dalmay, Earl of Lisle - the step-daughter and ward of Viscount Rathbourne.  Olivia was wild and could scheme, cheat and charm her way along and Peregrine quiet, orderly and determined to live his life hunting antiquities in Egypt.

Years later he has been called by to England on family business and gets re-acquainted to the whirlwind that is  Olivia.  Their adventures take them off to Scotland under the not very watchful eye of some of the Dowager Lady Hargate's cronies, where they find ghosts.  Do they find romance though, or does Olivia prove too much to handle for Lisle?

A 5 ***** Star read all round.  Loretta has now also written about three of the Dreadful DeLucey cousins ... which is sure to e another winner.  Plus, I've just read on her site that they digitalising the out-of-print books ....phew what a relief as I haven't managed to track them down yet.

Next book on my list is one by Evelyn Hood, from the preface it seems to be about a Scottish Fishing Village ... not my type of thing, but I've been pleasantly surprised in the past by Audrey Howard, so I will give it a go.

Kay

#87 (#23) - The Winter Journey ~ Cynthia Harrod Eagles

ISBN: 978-0-7515-2023-1

Book 20 of The Morland Dynasty

The continuing sage of the Morland Family, pretty much with with Charlotte - now the Duchess of Southport - as the pin-wheel.

I thoroughly enjoyed it a 4.5 ***** star read, and I can't wait to track down some more of them to continue the tale.  Hopefully Book 21 will have more of Fanny's story.

#82 (#18) - The Hidden Shore ~ Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

ISBN: 978-0-7515-1934-1

Book 19 in the Morland Dynasty


Continuing the story on from "The Abyss" this time concentrating on Charlotte Meldon, who is relation to Benedict Morland from Book 18.  The story also covers moves the story on for Benedit after he inherits Morland Place from his horrible brother Nicky.

With no family, and kept apart from the world when Charlotte Meldon's father dies, she fears that she will be left destitute and alone.  However, a letter eventually arrives from her father's man of business, where it turns out that this is far from the case....indeed, she inherits a title in her own right and vast wealth.

Eventually she learns to cope with the life-altering facts, of finding out that her mother did not die (as she'd be told since she was a child), and that she has a quite large family.  Being launched on Society she becomes engaged to a Duke's Heir, Oliver Fleetwood, but is shocked to find out at almost the last minute that it is not the love match she thought it.  The only thing she can do is jilt him and get on with her life.

Disillusioned she retreats to her little cottage on the Marsh and gathers her spirits.  Eventually returning to London to work amid the black slums, and will change her life (and those around her) in unexpected ways.

Yet another great book by this author.  They are quite long books, and take a bit of reading .... not in any hard to read way you understand, actually difficult to put down and compelling.  I would highly recommend you give the series a try a 4.5 ***** Star read.

Happy reading.

Kay

#80 (#16) - Seducing an Angel ~ Mary Balogh

ISBN: 978-0-7499-4296-0

I haven't got much time for saying too much about this one .... actually, not too much to say about it really .... not one of her best - it lacked passion and depth and not up to her usual standard.

Another in the Huxtable family series, this time the younger brother  Stephen, Earl of Merton and the axe-murdering widow Lady Cassandra Padget.

After the mysterious death of her husband, she is cast off without the pension and other provisions that she should have been entitled to, and given to believe that she is lucky that she has not met the hangman's noose.  Desperate therefore, and with her old governess and a unmarried mother cook/housekeeper to also care for she sets out to find a Protector, gate crashes a ball and snares Stephen on the first night of trying.

That single night alters her whole view on ever giving her self body and soul to another man in marriage, and also sets her on the path to undoing the evil self-doubt that being in an abusive relationship had built up .... alll in all a 3 *** star read.

Kay

#77 (#13) - One Night of Sin ~ Gaelen Foley

ISBN: 0-7499-0722-X

Another in the Knight Family series, this time about the  young brother Lord Jack Knight and Miss Becky Ward.

Lord Alec is the Colonel in Chief of the Lord Rakehells' and comes across the lovely Miss Becky asleep on a friend's door step.

Becky found her way onto that particular door step to shelter from the rain, after fleeing he evil Cousin, Prince Korkov and his terrible Cossack guard.

Now all they need to do is out run them, but will they find happiness?

You will have to read it to find out, but I highly recommend that you do ...... Lord Alec is a delicious piece of work, and he's met his match in the boldly spirited Miss Ward.

A 4 **** Star read.

Next is a Loretta Chase book ....... which I'm inordinately happy to get my hands on .... she's always a good read.

#67 (#4) - The Wicked Marquess ~ Gaelen Foley

ISBN: 978-0-7499-4274-8

Book 1 of the Inferno Club

A new author for me, and I have to say I now know why my Mother was raving.... Fabulous story, even more fabulous and totally to fall in love with bunch of Heros' all Members of the infamous and scandalous Inferno Club, which is a cover for a Secret Order.

The first book cover the story of Max, Marquess of Rotherstone and the patron stain of newcomers into the ton, Daphne Starling.

Max has decided to restore his family's good name and scandal is surrounding her, since she has become known as a jilt.

Max is totally fascinated by her and sets out to prove the Society gossips wrong.  What will he do to win her hand though, and show her that even the most wicked marquess can reform..... you'll have to read it to find out, but I am confident that you won't fail to be completely won over by these books.

I am reaching for Book 2, The Wicked Duke as soon as I have finished this review.

A 5 ***** Stars from me.

#55 - Seduce Me at Sunrise ~ Lisa Kleypas

ISBN: 978-1-44480-005-0

The second book in the Hathaway Series, telling the story of Winifred Hathaway and Kev Merripen.

Kev (a Romany) was taken in by the Hathaway clan when he was small, after being badly beaten and left for dead.  He stayed on with the family, and formed a close bond with Win.

In 1848 she suffered a terrible attack of Scarlet Fever and was left an invalid.  Unwilling to accept her fate, she persuaded the Family to send her off to France, along with the brother Leo, to a special clinic set up Dr Julian Harrow.

Kev's love for her is so fierce that he would do anything to protect her from harm ..... unfortunately, she has other ideas .... and wants Kev at any cost, and nothing can eventual stand in the way of that love.

Their story unfolds, along with the mystery ehind the tattoo of the Pooka both Kev and Cam Rohan Winifred's brother-in-law, another Rom).

It is perhaps quite possible to write Win off from the beginning as weak and helpless, but she is far from that, in the end showing extraordinary spunk to get the truth from Julian Harrow!

I would urge you to read it, not a greatly exciting story, but highly enjoyable never the less.

A 3.5. **** Star read.

Happy reading.

Kay xoxo

My review of At Last Comes Love ~ Mary Balogh

Yay, that's another review under my belt and published over at Love~Romance~Passion.

Happy reading.

Kay

#41 - Never Romance a Rake ~ Liz Carlyle

ISBN:  1416527168

The story of Kieran, Baron Rothwell and Camille Marchand, the illigitamate Daughter of the Comte de Valigny ....... or is she.

I would love to have written a review other than the basic star rating, but it's been swiped and taken back to library without me realising it, and I like to check the facts before I set finger to keyboard.

I will say though that I thoroughly enjoyed this the last in the Never Trilogy.  Kieran is the kind of dark and brooding hero I love, but I did feel so much sympathy for Camille.

A 3.5 star **** read, and I can thoroughly recommended you give it a whirl.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#37 - Book Review has been accepted for publication

Just got an email yesterday to let me know that my review has been accepted, and will be published on 27th November 2010 on Love~Romance~Passion.

This weekend has not been the busiest as we had a houseviewing, so no crafting of any sort for me ..... but I did get to read a good bit.  Three books and another just started a short while ago.

I'll review them separately.  Not many more days til I get my hands on a Kindle!

Happy reading

Hugs

Kay

First Book Review has been published

wooo hoo, my first book review for love~romance~passion was published today on Taste of Innocence by Stephanie Laurens.  Check it out HERE.

Happy reading.

Kay