And the Miss Ran Away With the Rake, Rhymes with Love by Elizabeth Boyle

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Historical Romance

Goodreads Summary:

"Daphne Dale never could have imagined that when she answered an advertisement in the newspaper that she would find true love. Now she has the opportunity to meet her unknown suitor, but it means traveling to Tabitha’s wedding, and into the heart of her family’s sworn enemies. Everyone knows the Seldons are terrible rakes and bounders, but Daphne will risk anything to gain the happiness she is certain is right around the corner.

Lord Henry Seldon is aghast at the latest addition to the house party guest list—one would think after the unforgettable scandal Daphne Dale caused at the duke’s engagement ball, she wouldn’t dare show her face at the duke’s wedding. But here she is, poking her nose where she shouldn’t and driving Henry mad . . . with an unforgettable passion that will turn enemies into lovers"

Elizabeth Boyle writes some of the best comic dialog around.  If you want a book with lots of laughs, fun characters and exciting ending And the Miss Ran Away With the Rake is for you.

The two main characters are wonderful.  Daphne Dale wants a sensible husband.  She is in London for the wedding of her friend Tabitha Timmons to the Duke of Preston and plans to find that husband while she is there. 

Lord Henry Seldon is the sensible one of his family.  Uncle to Preston (the Duke) he has managed the family business and keeps everything from falling apart for his entire life.  He has never been considered a rake before.

Letter writing brings them together and when Daphne and Henry first lay eyes on each other at the ball for Tabitha and Preston they know they are destined to be together.  That is until they find out that she is a Dale and he is a Seldon.   It seems their families have been enemies for generations.  Each reacts with horror and then the fun begins.  This is where the great dialog comes in. The book was filled with too many scenes where I could not stop laughing to keep count.

Watching the two of them fight their attraction was wonderful.  They went to great lengths to try to stay apart.  It did not help.  They would be in the same place and their interaction always deepened the attraction. Daphne sees sensible Henry as a rake.  Henry sees Daphne as anything but sensible. They are made for one another.  They have to fight both of their families and that adds to the fun.  Even how they finally manage to get together is unique.

Look for a really fun filled read in the second Rhymes with Love book from Elizabeth Boyle.   Along Came a Duke (click to see my review) is the first book .

Avon published And the Miss Ran Away With the Rake by Elizabeth Boyle in 2013.

A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare

Historical Romance

From Tessa Dare’s website ( Goodreads description just did not fit this book):

"After years of fending for herself, Kate Taylor found friendship and acceptance in Spindle Cove--but she never stopped yearning for love. The very last place she'd look for it is in the arms of Corporal Thorne. The militia commander is as stone cold as he is brutally handsome. But when mysterious strangers come searching for Kate, Thorne steps forward as her fiancé. He claims to have only Kate's safety in mind. So why is there smoldering passion in his kiss?

Long ago, Samuel Thorne devoted his life to guarding Kate’s happiness. He wants what's best for her, and he knows it's not marriage to a man like him. To outlast their temporary engagement, he must keep his hands off her tempting body and lock her warm smiles out of his withered heart. It's the toughest battle of this hardened warrior's life...and the first he seems destined to lose."

Tessa Dare keeps coming up with mismatched couples in her Spindle Cove series.  In  A Lady by Midnight Kate Taylor and Corporal Samuel Thorne seem to be another two who would never get together.  For over a year Samuel has ignored Kate and Kate has taken pot shots at him.   Then everything changes.

Characters:  Kate is a joy to meet.  She is independent and in spite of everything does not feel sorry for herself.  Corporal Thorne on the other hand is a very closed off man and it is fun to watch Kate chip away at the wall he has built around himself.  Most of the previous characters appear in A Lady by Midnight as well as introducing an entire new family to the mix.

Plot:  Like the other Spindle Cove novels part of the plot revolves around the apparent mismatch between the two main characters.  Throw in a mystery about Kate’s background and you have a recipe for either happiness or disaster.  Both things keep the tension up. Tessa Dare keeps the story fresh and new and makes this a fun journey toward a know destination. 

Tension:  Throughout the book there is the tension between Kate and Corporal Thorne.  There is also the added tension as Kate finds out her background.  Everything with her new family seems to good to be true and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Of course it near the end of the book it did.

Writing:  While some of the book is written in the passive, most is in the my favorite, the active voice.  There are times we are in a character’s head (the passive voice) and it the only way to know what is happening with that characters so it works and does not slow the story down.

A Lady by Midnight can stand alone but it is more fun if you have read A Night to Surrender, Once Upon a Winter’s Eve  ( a novella) and A Week to be Wicked first.  The next book in the series is not out until 2013.  That gives you plenty of time to read all three books and the novella while you wait for the next book.

Avon published A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare in 2012.

I received an ARC of A Lady by Midnight from Edelweiss.

Royal Bridesmaids by Stephanie Laurens, Gaelen Foley, and Loretta Chase

Historical Romance

Each of the three authors of a story in Royal Bridesmaids was given the same framework and each wrote a story around that framework.  In each story someone is marrying the Prince of a small country and her best friend or sister is one of the bridesmaids.  The story is about the bridesmaid not the bride.

You can see the different twist that each author gave the story when you read what Goodreads has to say about Royal Bridesmaids. 

Now, in this original anthology, "New York Times" bestselling authors

Stephanie Laurens
Gaelen Foley
Loretta Chase

tell us what it really takes to get the bride to the royal altar.

They need to do more than "smile, wave, and look delighted"

Stephanie Laurens: "A Return Engagement"
Lady Nell Daughtry has her hands full getting her reluctant bride sister safely married to the Prince of Lautenberg. Then she learns she's paired with Robert Knightley . . . the fiancE who walked away.

Gaelen Foley: "The Imposter Bride"
Lady Minerva must ensure her country's princess is wed to handsome Prince Tor. Then the bride bolts, and bridesmaid becomes--bride

Loretta Chase: "Lord Lovedon's Duel"
When Chloe Sharp hears the handsome Earl of Lovedon say her sister's royal marriage is a match made in money, she challenges him to a duel--for love and honor.

I received a free ARC of Royal Bridesmaids from Edelweiss and if I had purchased the book I might have been a little upset.  The stories take up less than half of the book.  Sample first chapters from books by the three authors and sample chapters from books by other authors take up the other half.  It is available for 1.99 as an ebook and if you love these authors that is the way to go.  I would never recommend paying for the mass market paperback priced at $5.99.

The stories, while fun, can only be classed as short novellas or even short stories. 

 I enjoyed all of the stories but it should be no surprise that Lord Lovedon’s Duel by Loretta Chase was my favorite.  There were mentions of characters in some of her novels and that added to the enjoyment.  She is one of my favorite authors and the reason I asked for the book.

A close second was A Return Engagement by Stephanaie Laurens.  Her story had an interesting twist to it and even though it involved the bride it gave a new insight to the brides sister.

Other than the price my only objection to the Royal Bridesmaids was that the stories were too short.  All of the authors did a good job of developing the stories and building the main characters.  Stephanie Laurens’ story even has the possibility of further stories featuring two of the side characters.  Even so I would have loved additional scenes in each story.  However, if you are looking for a good short quick read any of these stories will do.

Avon published Royal Bridesmaids by Stephanie Laurens, Gaelen Foley and Loretta Chase in 2012.

Between the Duke and the Deep Blue Sea by Sophia Nash

Historical Romance

Between the Duke and the Deep Blue Sea is the first book in a new series by Sophia Nash.  I received an ARC of the book from Amazon Vine.

Alex Barclay, the new 9^th Duke of Kress provided the liquor for a bachelor party attended by several dukes and the Prince Regent.  All of the attendees had a night to remember except they had so much to drink they could not remember.   This is the event that starts the Royal Entourage series and the first book is Alex Barclay’s story.

It seems that the group’s good time was witnessed by many and chronicled by a reporter resulting in a groundswell of public outrage.  Because Alex provided the liquor he is the first to be punished.  He is banished to his country estate, told to fortify the estate and marry a heiress to shove up his fortune.  When he is almost home he comes across a woman, Roxanne Vanderhaven, clinging to a cliff face.  Her husband, a local peer, left her to die and Alex arrived in just the nick of time to save her.  The story develops from there. 

I loved the first part of the book.  The dialog was filled with understated humor.  The situation was set up for a comedy of errors.  The characters were varied and had the possibility of being interesting.  With all of that it just did not work well for me after the first 100 pages.  I have always said that in a romance we all know the destination so it is the journey that is important.  In this case the journey kept changing and it was about 100 pages too long, In addition there was not enough character development for the characters to work for me.  All in all, the entire book was a disappointment.

Avon Books published Between the Duke and the Deep Blue Sea by Sophia Nash in 2012.

The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James

Historical Romance

The Duke is Mine is another book using fairy tales as a part of the story.  Somewhere in the book there is a huge pile of mattresses but no pea under the bottom one.  There is also a prospective Mother-in Law conducting tests that the bride to be must pass. 

Olivia and Georgiana are twin sisters but not at all alike.  Olivia is the oldest and is very full figured.  Georgiana is the studious one and tall and slender.  Their father went to school and was fast friends with the Duke of Canterwick.  The two made a pace to join the two families by marriage and in spite of the difference in rank they Olivia, the first-born daughter, is betrothed to Rupert the first-born and only child of the Duke.  This is not a marriage made in heaven.  Rupert is 5 years younger than Olivia and is not the brightest blub in the chandelier.   There is one good thing about the marriage.  Olivia will be able to provide a large dowry for Georgiana allowing her to marry well.

Then as fate would have it before the marriage Rupert goes off to war and Olivia goes with Georgiana to meet the Tarquin, the Duke of Sconce.  He and Georgiana are perfect for each other.  There is just one problem.  Olivia and the Duke fall in love.  Olivia does not want to betray Rupert or hurt her sister.  It looks like a hopeless situation. 

The first of The Duke is Mine is filled with humor.  Olivia, Rupert, Georgiana and Tarquin are all great characters.  Olivia and Georgiana are not only sisters but also best friends and their talks are fun to read.  The dialog between Olivia and Tarquin is priceless.  I liked the action and how it played out.  Of course there is a HEA for Olivia and Tarquin.  I just wished that it had happened in another way.  The last part of the book was sad not humorous.  I won’t say anything more to prevent a spoiler.

Avon Books will release The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James December 27, 2011.

I received an ARC of The Duke is Mine from Amazon Vine.

Silk is For Seduction by Loretta Chase

Romance

Marcelline Noirot is the daughter of Mr. Edward Noirot and Miss Catherine DeLucey.  Both the Noirot’s and the DeLucey’s are noted for “seducing and swindling every dupe who crossed their path”.  Since Edward and Catherine carried on this tradition you would think that their children would follow the same path.  That is not what happened.  Their three daughters are making an honest living as dressmakers.  Marcelline is the oldest and determined to make her shop the one the highest echelons of the ton use.   Her plan is to lure the bride of the Duke of Clevedon into becoming a customer.  When she meets the Duke of Clevedon nothing works out as she planned.  Can a shopkeeper find happiness with a Duke?  Read and find out.

Loretta Chase is one of my favorite romance authors.  Mr. Impossible and Lord Perfect are two books I never get tired of reading.  Silk is for Seduction continues in the same line.  It was fun to see another one of the Dreadful DeLucey's .  The story was good, the characters fun, and the romance hot.  However, for me it was a little to close to the story in Lord Perfect.  It often felt like only the characters names had been changed.  Even so I enjoyed the book.

Avon Books published Silk is For Seduction by Loretta Chase in 2011.

I purchased Silk is For Seduction.

Lord Langley Is Back in Town by Elizabeth Boyle

Romance

Elizabeth Boyle found that she had three Lady Standon’s who became widows and were left out in the cold when their husbands died before inheriting the Hollindrake dukedom.  None of the widows got along so she decided to put them all in the same house and then give each their own love story.  Lord Langley Is Back in Town tells the story of Minerva Hartley, the last Standon Widow.

The other two Standon widows have married and Minerva is enjoying the peace and quite now that she has the house to herself.  That only lasts until four of Lord Langley’s former mistress’s arrive and move in.  They all insist that Minerva is hiding Lord Langley and they will not leave until she produces him.  Minerva insists she cannot produce him because he is dead.  However, the news of his death is premature.  When someone tried to kill Lord Langley he ended in a Paris prison with no memory of what happened.  To make matters worse that same someone has framed him for treason.  He is out of prison and back in town. Unknown to Minerva he has been living in her attic while trying to find out who wanted him dead.  When he is discovered in Minerva’s bedroom he arranges a false engagement.  Both Lord Langley and Minerva have secrets.  How will they ever get everything straighten out and will their engagement become real?

Lord Langley Is Back in Town is a cute story.  All of the previous characters make an appearance when they decide to help Minerva out.  Nothing goes as planned but in the end everything works out.  The book is a great end the Standon Widows series.  It is more fun if you have read the first two books but you can read Lord Langley as a stand-alone.

Avon published Lord Langley Is Back in Town by Elizabeth Boyle in 2011.

I purchased Lord Langley Is Back in Town.

It Happened One Season by Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, Jacquie D’Alessandro and Candice Hern

Romance

It Happened One Season is a series of four stories with the same theme by four different authors.  The theme, a younger son must marry and produce an heir because the older brother has only daughters and can have not more children, came from a fan.   The author’s invited fans to submit ideas and the best were put up for a vote.  This theme was the overall favorite and won the vote.

I enjoyed how each author took the theme and made it their own.  While each story had some similarity the actual stories were very different.  I was more familiar with Stephanie Laurens and Mary Balogh than with Jacquie D’Alessandro and Candice Hern.  As it turned out while I liked each story Candice Hern’s was my favorite.

If you like romance and want something a little different pick up It Happened One Season.

Avon published It Happened One Season by Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, Jacquie D’Alessandro and Candice Hern in 2011.

I purchased It Happened One Season.

Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

Historical Romance

Just Like Heaven is an ARC that I received free from Amazon Vine.  I loved Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series and when I saw that the Bridgeton’s know the Smythe-Smiths I picked Just Like Heaven as one of my two free books.  I was not disappointed with my choice. 

In Just Like Heaven Julia Quinn has created a hero and heroin that are both very likeable people.  The start of the series revolves around that Smythe-Smith Musical that we heard about first in the Bridgerton series.  Marcus Holroyd has known Honoria Smythe-Smith since she was 6 and he was twelve.   Honoria was a six-year-old pest who wanted to go everywhere with her brother Daniel and his friend Marcus.  Now that Honoria is twenty-one and Marcus is twenty-seven things are different.  It is such fun to watch these two realize that they are not only friends but are also falling in love. 

Just Like Heaven is also full of humor.  I challenge anyone to read the scene where someone’s mother is pecked to death by pigeons and not laugh so hard they hurt.  Just Like Heaven is a great start to a new series.  I like to guess who will be featured next.  I wonder if it will be the governess that Marcus thinks he has seen before?

Avon published Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn in 2011.  The book will be released May 31, 2011.


Giving me a free book does not guarantee a recommendation.  I will not recommend a book if I do not like it. 

The Countess by Lynsay Sands

Romance

Christiana, The Countess, in the book by the same name is married to Dicky, an Earl who wooed her with soft words and turned into a monster after the wedding.  Now after almost a year of marriage she is a shadow of her former self.  Escape comes when her husband drops dead but at the same time a complication arises.  Her sister must find a husband immediately to save their Father from his gambling debts.  Christiana cannot help if she is in mourning so she and her sisters decide to put Dicky on ice until she has helped her sister find a husband.  It might have worked if other complications had not arisen.  It seems that Dicky has a twin who is the real Earl and determined to reclaim his position.  His arrival sends the story in a whole new direction.

The Countess is a twist on mistaken identity.  Lynsay Sands has filled The Countess with engaging characters, an action filled plot and since it turns out that Dicky did not drop dead but was murdered, a mystery that must be solved.

There is a companion book, The Heiress, that tells the story of Christiana’s sister and her search for a poor husband.  When you read The Countess you will find out why she wants a poor husband not a rich one.

Avon published The Countess by Lynsay Sands in 2011.

I purchased The Countess from Borders.

Scandal of the Year by Laura Lee Guhrke

Romance

The year is 1903 and Lady Julia Yardley has just testified that “On the afternoon of August 21, 1903, I had intimate relations of a sexual nature with Aidan Carr, the Duke of Trathen”.    Julia is granted a divorce from Yardley and becomes The Scandal of the Year.

Fast-forward six months and Lady Julia is back out in society.  Adrian, the Duke of Trathen, is trying to put the scandal behind him and is looking for a wife.  He should forget Julia but finds that he cannot.  As they are thrown together sparks fly and both must come to terms with the past if they want a future.

It was interesting to read a story set in this time period.  Cars were just taking the place of the horse and buggy, electric lights were replacing gas and these and other changes are woven into the story.  It was a different setting from many romances and a reminder of how the world was changing in the early 1900’s.

Avon published Scandal of the Year by Laura Lee Guhrke in 2011.

I purchased Scandal of the Year at Borders.

Made About the Duke by Elizabeth Boyle

Romance

I purchased How I Met My Countess, the first book in this series, at a used books store in Chattanooga, TN. I saw the book when it first came out, passed on purchasing it new but decided it was worth a try when I could get it for half price. Reading How I Met My Countess hooked me on the series and I purchased Mad About the Duke when it came out new. There are three-widowed Lady Stanton’s and this series tells story of each. The last pages of How I Met My Countess sets up the story in Mad About the Duke.

When Elinor, the second Lady Stanton, mistakes the Duke of Parkerton for a solicitor the fun begins. Mad About the Duke is a entertaining romp where mistaken identity allows two people to fall in love without the influence of wealth and position getting in the way. It can be read as a stand-alone but is better read as part of the series. Lord Langley is Back In Town, the third book in the series, is due out in May of 2011.

Avon published Mad About the Duke by Elizabeth Boyle in 2010.

I purchased Mad About the Duke from Borders.