The Duke Who Loved Me is a friends to lovers romance between James Cantrell, the new Duke of Tereford, and Miss Cecelia Vainsmede, the daughter of the man who acted as his guardian during his minority. It has some fun and interesting things going on in the background to the story, but it missed the mark for me for two reasons. The first was James’s insufferable self-centredness, and the second was the failure to resolve … Continue reading The Duke Who Loved Me by Jane Ashford →
Content warning: Kidnapping, rape, violence against women. All off-screen, but you do see the results of it. Also, the heroine’s past contains, essentially, forced seduction by someone to whom she went for help. Earl’s Well that Ends Well is a romance with a fair bit of adventure and melodrama – it reminds me a little of some of Heyer’s early works in both good and frustrating ways. I liked the fact that both Arthur and … Continue reading Earl’s Well That Ends Well by Jane Ashford →
I feel like this was an experiment of a book: take a girl, make her a surprise heiress, and don’t tell the reader which of three potential gentlemen is the actual hero until the last act of the book. I don’t think it really worked. Elisabeth Elham is a penniless governess when her estranged and extremely rich uncle dies and leaves everything to her, because when her parents died, she did not beg him for … Continue reading Last Gentleman Standing by Jane Ashford →
RECOMMENDED: Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare is $1.99! This is a historical romance and the second book in the Castles Ever After series. The first book is also on sale! Elyse reviewed this book and gave it a B+:
I had a raging head cold and cough when I read Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare. I think under normal circumstances it might have ventured into “too cute” territory for me, but since I was feeling like absolute crap, it was just what the doctor ordered.
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The Wicked Wallflower by Maya Rodale is 99c at most vendors, though $1.99 at All Romance! This is a historical romance that’s part of Rodale’s “Bad Boys & Wallflowers” series. The hero and heroine have a pretend engagement, and you know those always work out the way the characters intend. Elyse reviewed the book and wound up giving it a C-:
I liked how Blake and Emma finally come together in the end, but getting there was a little rocky. The Wicked Wallflower wasn’t a bad book by any means, but with so many Regencies out there, it failed to stand out from the rest of the pack.
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Oftentimes the romance novel ends when the special license is procured and the vows are said, and the happily ever after is assured. This one begins when the very traditional courtship is over and the vows are said and the heroine goes, “Thank fucking god now I can be myself” and the hero goes “Wait what.” Nathaniel Gresham is a Viscount and the heir to a duke, and he has five rambunctious younger brothers. “And … Continue reading Heir to the Duke by Jane Ashford →
The Duke of Tereford is accustomed to getting his own way, but she’s going to teach him a thing or two about love… James Cantrell, the new Duke of Tereford, has inherited a dukedom in disarray and is overwhelmed by his unaccustomed responsibilities. Then he gets an idea. Cecelia Vainsmede served as liaison between James and her father, and she knows a great deal about business matters, his own in particular. She’s also quite pretty. … Continue reading The Duke Who Loved Me →
A fun, witty Regency romance from bestselling author Jane Ashford. Young heiress Lady Elisabeth Elham has no need for marriage, but warding off London’s most charming suitors is easier said than done. Miss Elisabeth Elham is an unlikely heiress. She never knew the curmudgeonly uncle who died suddenly and left her a fortune. She’s proud, outspoken and independent—a definite challenge for London’s fortune hunting suitors. As various determined gentlemen vie for her attention at balls, … Continue reading Last Gentleman Standing →
We have some exciting news for all you romance audiobook listeners out there! AudioFile is letting us exclusively announce their Best of Romance list. For those who don’t know, AudioFile is a magazine available in print and online that reviews audiobooks. Now to the good stuff. Here is AudioFile’s Best of Romance list, along with links to their reviews and a few audio excerpts: BEAUTY LIKE THE NIGHT by Joanna Bourne, read by Kirsten Potter … Continue reading AudioFile’s 2017 Best of Romance Audiobooks →
Zoe Archer has been one of my favorite authors since that one time she basically saved my sanity (even if she was also the indirect cause of one of the worst reading experiences of my life). No matter what, I can always count on her for strong, determined heroines with all sorts of agency, and heroes that also were strong and worthy and respectful of the women that chose them. While I like the adventure … Continue reading Forever Your Earl by Eva Leigh →
Things to announce! 1. Last call for brackets for the tournament! Bracket entries for the DABWAHA tournament will close tonight, 19 March 2014, at 11:59pm ET. Yup, entry time is extended – I misread the NCAA schedule, which we try to adhere to, and they have two days of play-in matches. We just get down to business on the first day, 20 March 2014. To fill out your bracket, go to the tournament site, and click … Continue reading DABWAHA Update: Voting and Last Call for Brackets! →
