Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Cards and Caravans by Cindy Spencer Pape

The best way to describe Cards and Caravans is "comfortable".  This book is neither terribly exciting, nor thought provoking, and despite being part of a steampunk series, there's very little steampunk in it.

Still, I rather enjoyed this book in which two people who have outgrown their first loves move from friendship and attraction to love.  I was in the mood for a very light, affectionate book, and this fit the bill, although in another mood I would have found it to be unbearably dull. 

Cards is part of the Gaslight Chronicles series and I think it would work best for those who are fans of the series, as almost all of its charms involve resolving loose ends from other stories, setting up arcs for future stories, and basically just hanging out with the extended family that comprises the Order of the Round Table.

Scarlet:  A Guest Review by CarrieS

Scarlet is Book Two of the Lunar Chronicles Series.  This series, while not strictly a romance series, is a high-quality romance-friendly crossover, and its inventive steampunk/science fiction twists on fairy tales make it a must-read for genre fans.

The Lunar Chronicles series takes place in the far future, after World War IV.   These books combine elements from the genres of steampunk, science fiction, dystoptian fiction, young adult, romance, and fairy tales.  Cyborgs are common but discriminated against.  A plague, called leutomisis, is threatening humans and cyborgs.  There is no cure or treatment, and its method of transmission is unknown.  Furthermore, humans are threatened by war from Lunars, people who live on a colony of the moon and who have developed mind control powers. 

Switched by Helenkay Dimon

I loves me some romantic suspense; it's probably my favorite sub-genre of romance. The problem is, a lot of it isn't done well. It's hard to balance the competing tensions of "Omigod I'm gonna die" and "Omigod I think I'm love." Helenkay Dimon nails it in Switched.

The book is a homage to the original Die Hard movie, which is just awesome. I've got a not-so-secret crush on John McClane, receding hairline and all. Switched opens up with Aaron McCain (McCain/McClane--I figured that out on my own!) working security for Lowell Craft, doucebag CEO extraordinaire. Lowell hired Aaron after receiving death threats, and I can't imagine why anyone would want to hurt him. I mean, he alienates his only child, invites his wife and his mistress to the same event, throws a shitty company Christmas party in lieu of bonuses or raises, and hosts the party in the middle of friggin nowhere because it's convenient for him. I'm assuming he also hangs out in… read more »

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

It would be a lot easier to write a coherent review for Dearly, Departed if I hadn't been up all last night reading it.  This is the first book in the "Gone with the Respiration" series by Lia Habel and the plot starts slow but once it really kicks in, WOW.

Dearly, Departed is a YA novel with steampunky Victorian science fiction and zombies and a rebel group called "punks" and a great romance tying everything together.  I have to admit that in general, my love for Warm Bodies aside, I'm really grossed out by the whole concept of zombie/human romance and I wasn't sure this book would work for me.  I'm pleased to say that I was wrong.  It's an exciting and original and touching story and I loved the romance. 

Here's the plot description as provided by the author's website:

Rush by Maya Banks

I was leery about reading Rush for two reasons. First, there’s a glut of less than stellar erotic romance being published due to the Fifty Shades of Grey buzz.

Second, WTF is going on with the cover? Seriously, can we talk about the cover for a second? What is that? It looks like the mysterious blue water from maxi pad and diaper ads.

Bizarre cover art aside, this was a great read. It was the sort of fun, ultra-sexy, modern romance that can eat up an entire Saturday. I have already ordered the next two books in the trilogy. Be advised, this isn’t Fifty Shades of Grey, largely because it doesn’t suck.

It’s erotica without the apology, navel gazing, or shame. If you liked Fifty, you should definitely like this book because it’s better.

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress

The worst thing about The Friday Society is that it ends.  I'm not criticizing the ending; I'm just saying that I had so much fun reading this book that I felt considerably depressed when it was over.  It's that good.

The Friday Society is a steampunk adventure with three main characters, each of whom is a teenager.  Cora is the unappreciated assistant to a famous inventor.  She is brilliant and cranky. 

Nellie is a Magician's assistant.  She is fortunate in that her mentor does appreciate her, and she loves to perform.  She is by far the bubbliest of the women but she is also talented and intelligent. 

Michiko is a Japanese samurai who came to London in search of greater acceptance and instead is trapped as the unappreciated servant of an English charlatan.  Michiko speaks very little English, but is determined to pursue the path of samurai despite all obstacles (and there are many).  Each of the three main characters is introduced in their own chapter, and each of these chapters starts with the sentence, "And then there was… read more »

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell - A Guest Review by RedHeadedGirl

Like many people, after seeing The Hobbit with it’s remarkably, disturbingly hot dwarves, I have found myself fascinated with the ouvre of one Richard Armitage, and Zoe Archer helped (as she always helps) with her constant, steady, delicious stream of “Hot Dude Pictures” she posts on Tumblr. 

And then there are are the North and South gifs.  And there’s the eyes, and the nose and the jaw line and the cheekbones and dude.  The voice.  THE VOICE.  So I watched North and South.  And I may (I’m not admitting to anything, mind) have watched it three times in two weeks and I MAY have been able to note when scenes were cut from the version posted on Netflix Instant that are on the DVDs.

Maybe.

I admit to NOTHING. 

But I wanted to read the book and review it for the fine feathered flock at the Bitchery. 

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord:  A Guest Review by CarrieS

The Best of All Possible Worlds is a marvelous science fiction love story.  It's more science fiction than romance novel, but the strong love story at its core should keep any romance/science fiction fans more than happy.

This is the story of Grace (a Terran) and Dllenahkh (a Sadiri).  Grace is a native of the planet Cygnus Beta.  This planet has become a home to several groups of interplanetary refugees.  There are four different alien groups (Terrans and Sadiri included) in known existence.  They are distantly genetically related and have settled on several planets. 

Dllenahkh's people are the Sadiri.  When the Sadiri's home planet is destroyed, many of the survivors settle on Cygnus Beta.  While Grace has various complex scientific jobs, it's simplest to describe her role as one of cultural liaison between the refugee Sadiri and Terrans, who are the dominant group on Cygnus Beta.

Warm Bodies:  A Guest Movie Review by CarrieS

Warm Bodies is a delightful and moving film that succeeds because of its very engaging stars, despite a plot that, while sweet, does not make a ton of logical sense.

The movie is being marketed as a romantic comedy, and it is very funny, but only in a very dark, very understated way.  There were only a couple of moments where I laughed out loud, but there were plenty of things that I was still quietly chuckling over days later.  It's basically a variation on the Beauty and the Beast story, while also being quite overtly a variation on Romeo and Juliet. 

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:

Heart of Danger by Lisa Marie Rice - A Guest Review by Susan

Back in September, Susan contacted me about a Carla Kelly book she had reviewed. She emailed me again recently about her discovery that sometimes, paranormal elements in a contemporary romantic suspense novel can work. Here's her review of how and why that's true for her.

I discovered Lisa Marie Rice when I started to read hotter romances and she quickly became a favorite. I adore her earlier books, like the Midnight series, and her single titles. But her books have gotten a bit formulaic recently: super alpha ex-military heroes who have instalove for the less experienced and/or damaged heroines, heroes that protect the heroines at all costs, and hot sex with behavior and descriptions that are often repeated from book to book. However LMR remains my reading crack. The books are fast-paced and I look forward to the next one, always. I figured the first book in the new Ghost Ops series would be more of the same. When I realized that Heart of… read more »

A Kiss For Midwinter by Courtney Milan: A Guest Review by CarrieS

A Kiss for Midwinter is my new favorite novella.  It has a flawed but interesting heroine, it has a hero who is scientific, compassionate, and basically amazing, and it takes its characters through a powerful emotional journey with lots of angst but also lots of humor.

I never would have thought I'd find this line sexy, but I most certainly do... "Besides, the hymen is just a membrano-carneous structure situated at the entrance of the vagina".  I thought this book was just amazing and my only real criticism is that it is too short.

The Duchess War by Courtney Milan:  A Guest Review By CarrieS

The Duchess War is lovely - smart, touching, funny, sexy, and dizzyingly romantic.  Read it right away - yes, now.  Everything on your to-do list can wait, believe me.

The Duchess War is the first book in Milan's new Victorian Era romance trilogy, The Brothers Sinister.  There's a prequel, The Governess Affair, (A | BN | K | S | ARe | iB) (SB grade: B+) which is delightful reading but not at all necessary in terms of understanding The Duchess War. 

Anyway, in Duchess War, we have Robert Blaisdell, the Ninth Duke of Claremont, a man who is desperate to repair the wrongs committed by his father.  He meets the dauntingly named Wilhelmina (Minnie) Pursling, who has dark secrets.  Robert and Minnie are both involved in promoting the rights of workers, and they form what is simultaneously an enmity and an alliance.

Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold: A Guest Review by CarrieS

Lois McMaster Bujold is one of my favorite authors, so I'm grateful to commenters who told me that a new book in the Vorkosigan Saga is out as of today (it's been available as an eARC for a while).

While Captain Vorpatril's Alliance lacks the emotional punch of some of Bujold's other works, it is a lovely science fiction romance featuring none other than Miles' cousin Ivan.  If you've read anything else by Bujold, you'll recall the gorgeous and clueless Ivan, and if you've yet to read Bujold, you'll get the picture soon enough.  I never thought Ivan would get his own book and I swear, every time I saw his name on a page, I did a little happy dance.