Short and Sweet Book Reviews #46 - Shooting at Loons by Margaret Maron, Shadow Rider by Christine Feehan, The Widow's Auction by Sabrina Jeffries

Shooting at Loons by Margaret Maron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My library had just received several of the Deborah Knott Mysteries on CD. I had never read any of the books so I picked the one with the earliest copyright. I enjoyed the story. It was a very easy going mystery. There was a lot of background about the location and the people who live there. Nothing moved at a fast pace. There was plenty of time to enjoy the story and the characters while wondering who did what. There were several twist as the story progresses. There were things in the story that dated it but it did fit the time when it was written. It is a good read when you want something a little light with a mystery attached.


Shadow Rider by Christine Feehan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Shadow Rider follows the same path as other Christine Feehan books. The main female character is slightly needy. The main male is over the top with looks, sex drive and dominance. Stefano Ferraro also has a hidden talent; the ability to ride the shadows. That is a talent he has know from birth so he is surprised when he meets Francesca Capello and sees that she has that same talent. From there the story follows the pattern in other books. He wants her, she wants him but has questions. She has a problem that he promises to solve. There is a lot of sex, a lot of redundant prose that I skimmed when I read one of Feehan's books. Since I was listening to this on CD it really hit home how much was repeated and repeated. Not a book I will re-read or listen to but since I knew what to expect I enjoyed it for what it was.


The Widow's Auction by Sabrina Jeffries
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We have all heard "Don't judge a book by its cover" In The Widow's Auction two people learn not to judge each other by their public face. Isobel Lamberton, the widowed Lady Kingsley and Justin Antony, Lord Warbrooke seem to always be on opposite sides. It takes the night of the widow's auction to bring them together. There they both learn that they have more in common than either suspected. A nice easy read with great characters and good action.

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A Most Devilish Rogue by Ashlyn MacNamara

Historical Romance

What Goodreads says:

"Fans who adore Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Sabrina Jeffries will savor Ashlyn Macnamara’s sensual new novel, which proves that two hearts are better than one.
Years ago, when Isabelle Mears was still a young miss too infatuated to know better, she surrendered her innocence to a dishonorable man. Though ruined and cast out from society, she has worked hard to shelter her illegitimate son, Jack. Having sworn off men in her quiet but dignified life, Isabelle is unprepared for the deep longing that rips through her when a handsome stranger rescues her rambunctious six-year-old from the pounding ocean surf.
George Upperton is a man in trouble with debts, women, and a meddling family. He is, by all accounts, the last gentleman on earth Isabelle should be drawn to. But loneliness is a hard mistress, and caution gives way to desire . . . even though Isabelle is convinced that happiness can’t be found in the arms of such a devilish rogue. Only when Jack is kidnapped does Isabelle discover the true depth of George’s devotion—and how far a good man will go to fight for the woman whose love is all that matters."

Main Characters:  George Upperton has lived his life playing the part his Father required.  He was not that likeable.  During the story he begins to develop those traits that are most natural to him and he becomes a much different man.  Isabelle starts and ends very strong.  There are some side characters that help move the action along but the story depends on George and Isabelle.

Plot:  This was a little short on real plot to me.  George saves Jack, Isabelle’s son, Jack is kidnapped, George is drawn to both Jack and Isabelle,  They rescue Jack and separate.  They finally have an HEA.  I did not find much mystery in who did the kidnapping and that meant that everything moved without a lot of tension.

Tension:  The kidnapping, the fact that Isabelle is a ruined woman, George and Isabelle’s attraction to each other all provide both internal and external tension.

Writing:  In spite of the other weaknesses in A Most Devilish Rogue this is very well written with great dialog and interesting interaction between the characters. 

For me this was a three star book.  I enjoyed it but it is not a keeper.  I liked MacNamara’’s first book A Most Scandalous Proposal much better and I enjoyed seeing several of the characters from that book in A Most Devilish Rogue.

Ballentine published A Most Devilish Rogue by Ashlyn MacNamara in 2013.

I received an ARC of A Most Devilish Rogue from Netgalley.