Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig

I was talking about this book in recent podcasts, and was anticipating reading it because I was so curious about the setting in both location (England and Kenya) and the time period (early 1900s) - and because Willig writes lovely espionage mysteries.

I expected this book to be good. It was. 

Sometimes my thoughts on a book don't coalesce until days after I've finished it, and such was the case with The Ashford Affair. If you'd asked me right after I finished it what I thought, I'd have been able to give you meaningless replies like, "It was good," and "I liked it," and then I'd trail off while a fourteen minute plot summary and random sentences about the characters stampeded the exit to my brain at the same time. This book is a blend of historical fiction, contemporary mystery, romance, and sweeping family saga - and thus this is a difficult plot summary to write. So much happens in this book that it's difficult to summarize without sounding too bland - except that adding more detail spoils the discoveries that… read more »

Kentucky Home by Sarah Title

Kentucky Home is a fast read that initally appealed to me in a few ways: I liked the idea of a book set in Kentucky, especially on a horse farm. I liked the description of the heroine, I liked the idea of a romance about folks starting over, and while the part of the cover copy where the heroine "wins the hearts" of the hero's family one by one gave me a pause, I wanted to read more.

Unfortunately, the book had wildly huge jumps in emotional development that I did not believe in the least, and was mostly populated by one-note characters who served a purpose to the story instead of being actual people.

Mallory Thompson gave up a lot, little by little, at the behest of her surgeon husband. If you've ever heard things about how surgeons are egomaniacal douchebags who care for no one else but themselves and their own egos, those are the elements that made up Mallory's husband. She leaves him, finally, and, posing as the fiancee of her sort-of friend Luke, arrives on his family's horse… read more »

A Royal World Apart by Maisey Yates

I picked up this book when I read on Maisey Yates’ Facebook page that she’d written a Harlequin Presents with a virgin hero. The what you say?

Most of the Presents I’ve read featured trembling, doe-eyed, virginal heroines who’ve never bothered to locate or think about their hoo-has until the hero shows up. If Yates wrote her hero in the same mold, then they’d spend half the book sitting on a king-sized bed in front of the ubiquitous fireplace staring at each other with panicked, glazed-over eyes trying to figure out what the hell they were supposed to do.

Wrecked by Shiloh Walker

If this book were a person, and had it introduced itself to me, I would have felt exceptionally positive towards it, like a Sim™ with a whole string of ++++ above my head. I love the cover, I love the copy, I love the premise. It makes an excellent first impression.

This is a friends-to-lovers story, the kind where one of the two buddies (in this case, Zach) has Had It Bad for his best friend and has never let on - despite everyone in his immediate circle of family and friends knowing about The Bad he Has. It's a semi-permanent state of Has It Bad, but his best friend Abigale has no clue.

Zach and Abigale are best friends who go way back: they are both former child stars from a popular tv program that went off the air long ago. Neither of them really kept their Hollywood careers, though Abigale's mother, who is horrible, tried to keep Abigale's career going as best she could.

Abigale has become very hesitant to make friends or accept people, and a lot of that… read more »

Upstairs and Downstairs:  A Guest Review by CarrieS

Upstairs and Downstairs is a lovely non-fiction coffee table book describing the lives of the rich and of their servants during the Edwardian Age.

The first thing you'll notice about the book is that it is gorgeous to look at.  It is packed with drawings, paintings, and photos.  It's organized by time of day, and in keeping with its focus on describing all the work that happens to keep a country estate running, the first time of day mentioned is Before Dawn. 

Each chapter includes a description of what the rich were doing, and what the servants were doing, and a profile of a famous personage of the time.  In general, there are more details regarding the activities of the servants than those of the wealthy.  This book gives a very detailed picture of what a day on an estate would be like.

To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl and Carol McD. Wallace:  A Guest Review by CarrieS

Downton Abbey's season finale is Sunday 17 February here in the States, and the next season will not arrive until January 2014. Carrie S. is here for you though - with some reviews of nonfiction that should more than tide you over until then, provided you read slowly and practice what you've learned!

This non-fiction gem is a must-read for any fan of Regency, Victorian, or Edwardian romance.  It is juicy, wonderful, educational fun!

To Marry an English Lord is a riveting look at the world of American heiresses who married, or attempted to marry, into the English aristocracy.  It covers the middle and late Victorian Age through the Edwardian Age.  The book covers the stories of individual people and had inserts with details about historical processes. 

This means that you have the following (and much more) at your disposal:

The Mammoth Book of Futuristic Romance:  A Guest Review by CarrieS

In futuristic fiction, it's often a challenge to create a believable situation.  The most unbelievable thing about The Mammoth Book of Futuristic Romance is that someone had the nerve to charge $13.95 for this lackluster short story collection.

The Mammoth Book of Futuristic Romance is a collection of nineteen short stories about romance set in the future or involving futuristic elements.  Probably the most famous author to contribute is Linnea Sinclair.  All the other authors were new to me.

Tempting The Bride by Sherry Thomas

Well, I just don't know what to say.  Sherry Thomas took a generous handful of my very least favorite tropes and said, "Carrie, my book has an asshole hero and a selfish heroine and several plot devices that you loathe.  Go on, read it.  I DARE YOU", and I loved it.

How does she do that?   The lush writing and the layered, complex characters who are always far more complicated than they first appear, the attention to history, and the fun and lovely details of life help, but I'm also convinced that there must be some sort of magical influence at work.

Tempting is the third book in the Victorian Era Fitzhugh trilogy, but I think it would be fine to read this as a stand-alone novel.  There are a lot of descriptions of the other Fitzhughs being lovey dovey, and of course that's more emotionally satisfying if you know who these people are, but it's not necessary in terms of following the story.  Helena is the Fitzhugh sister who is a book publisher.  She has been… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Death Magic by Eileen Wilks

This review was written by Marguerite. This story was nominated in the Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements category.

The summary:     

Recovering from an attempt on his life by an FBI traitor, Lily Yu's boss forms a ghost unity that will operate in secret-and outside the law. Lily's conscience won't let her join. Her fiancé, lupi Rule Turner, has no such reservations. But when a senator is killed, Lily's decision becomes a matter of life and death-and all the magic in between.

And here is Marguerite's review:

I was excited to read this book. I love Urban Fantasy with romantic elements and most especially, I love me some shapeshifters like I love coffee and chocolate. I’ve never been down with Team Vampire, but give me some werewolves? I’m so there. I’d been meaning to try this series because hello, werewolves? This seemed like the perfect opportunity. Sure, there were some previous novels, but I was game to try. Previous novels. As in, this is book… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: The Welcome Home Garden Club by Lori Wilde

This review was written by Emily. This story was nominated in the Best Contemporary Single Title category.

The summary:     

Caitlyn Marsh stopped believing in happily-ever-after when high-school sweetheart, Gideon Garza, left for Iraq. Now she raises her small son while her matchmaking gardening club members drive her crazy. Then Caitlyn's world turns upside-down when Gideon swaggers back to Twilight. Gideon had left town in the middle of night with threats ringing in his ears.

A lot of things have changed since then. This bad boy-turned-Green Beret bears scars from the war, the timid girl he loved is an independent mother, and the father who refused to recognize his son in life has, in death, left him a vast cattle ranch. He still aches for Caitlyn, and now there's a dark-haired boy who looks exactly like Gideon did at that age.

Could the child be his? And can this war-weary soldier overcome the scars of the past to claim the family he… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Envy by JR Ward

This review was written by Michelle B. This story was nominated in the Best Paranormal Romance category.

The summary:     

As the son of a serial killer, homicide detective Thomas "Veck" DelVecchio, Jr., grew up in the shadow of evil. Now, on the knife-edge between civic duty and blind retribution, he atones for the sins of his father- while fighting his inner demons.

Assigned to monitor Veck is Internal Affairs officer Sophia Reilly, whose interest in him is both professional and arousingly personal. And Veck and Sophia have another link: Jim Heron, a mysterious stranger with too many answers... to questions that are deadly.

When Veck and Sophia are drawn into the ultimate battle between good and evil, their fallen angel savior is the only thing that stands between them and eternal damnation.

And here is Michelle's review:

Envy, by JR Ward, is the 3rd installment of the Fallen Angels series featuring Jim Heron and his fallen angel wingmen as they once again… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

This review was written by Emily A. This story was nominated in the Best Inspirational Romance category.

The summary:      


Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father's knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets...

Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence.

Yet as the mysteries of the town's new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart. Levi's renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she's finally… read more »

Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas:  A Guest Review by CarrieS

Of all literary genres, romance is the most personal.  Readers seem to connect to books less on the basis of writing quality as to how the nature of the characters and their relationship pushes their own emotional buttons. 

Keeping this in mind, Ravishing the Heiress is not my favorite Sherry Thomas novel because the nature of the character's relationship frustrated me.  However, her writing is as lovely and as nuanced as ever and the portrayal of a slowly growing friendship that comes from a shared life is beautifully done.

RITA Reader Challenge: My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren

This review was written by Emily A. This story was nominated in the Best Contemporary Inspirational Romance category.

The summary:     

Unknown to her quaint town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley is the star host of My Foolish Heart, a popular syndicated talk radio show. From her home studio, she gives listeners advice on romance . . . even though she’s never had a date. It’s not that she doesn’t want to, but since a tragic accident took her mother’s life, panic attacks have trapped her inside her small neighborhood.

And though she always reminds listeners that their perfect love could be right next door, it can’t possibly be true for her. Especially when a new neighbor moves in. Sure, he’s handsome, but with his unruly dog and Neanderthal manners, Caleb Knight is the last man she’d ever fall for.

To Issy, love isn’t worth the risk. Until she starts to have feelings for a caller—a man she’s never even met but finds honest,… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: The Texan’s Bride by Linda Warren

This review was written by Marika. This story was nominated in the Best Contemporary Series Romance category.

The summary:     

Sheltered her entire life, Jessie Murdock has rarely gotten her way. Until her dying father makes a deal with Cadde Hardin. Cadde will get shares of Shilah Oil on one condition—marry Jessie. In love with him for years, Jessie doesn't hesitate to sign the papers. But she didn't sign up for a completely absent husband.

Now Jessie has a counter offer. She'll give Cadde controlling interest of the business if he'll give her a baby…the natural way. Only he has a few caveats of his own. When life refuses to follow their written plan, Jessie and Cadde have to decide which is more important: their unspoken love or the family business.

And here is Marika's review:

The Texan's Bride has everything in it, love, passion, secrets and… read more »