I disliked this book. Let me revise that: I liked the heroine but found the hero, the story and the writing objectionable. The story starts with our hero – let’s call him Douche Canoe – cut off from funds by his asshole older brother and about to leave society to become a Bow Street runner. He is scheming to get his fiancé, Jane, to jilt him because he assumes that she will not be able … Continue reading If the Viscount Falls by Sabrina Jeffries →
The issue with Sweetest Scoundrel is that while it is well-written and has generally likeable characters who behave honorably, it was colossally boring. Eve Dinwoody is a quiet person with an unattractive face who enjoys being alone. She is prim and proper and she paints miniatures. Her half brother asks her to oversee an investment he’s made, so she ends up crossing paths with Asa Makepeace, the roguish proprietor of Harte’s Folly – a pleasure … Continue reading Sweetest Scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt →
This was one of Sarah’s picks for this month’s Hide Your Wallet, and boy howdy, was it cringey. (Sarah: “DAMMIT.”) Edward, younger identical twin brother of the Earl of Greyling has come home from a trip to Africa where his brother has been killed in an accident. Instead of coming home as Edward, though, he’s pretending to be his brother (Albert), because Julia, his brother’s wife, is pregnant, and Albert, as he lay dying, told Edward to pretend … Continue reading The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath →
I read Mad about the Marquess while at RT 2016, and the book was so good that it left me having sweaty anxiety about wanting to hide and read and go to all the panels all at the same time. Fortunately I was among my people at RT so sweaty reading anxiety is something everyone understood. “Elyse! Why are you sweating and breathing hard?” “I AM CRAMMING AS MUCH READING AS POSSIBLE INTO EVERY SPARE … Continue reading Mad About the Marquess by Elizabeth Essex →
‘Til Death Do Us Part is a gothic Victorian romance that features a shrewd businesswoman and a scarred, brooding mystery novel author. There’s a creepy mansion, lots of feminism, and a plot that revolves around Victorian mourning customs. It had me at “tear catcher.” Calista runs an agency that introduces single people to each other in a series of salons held at her home. In order to keep the business thriving, she has to be … Continue reading ‘Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick →
Prepare for squee, because Courtney Milan has a new novella out. I feel I can safely say that we Bitches lost all our objectivity regarding Milan’s work ages ago – we are gibbering fans. That being said, while all Milan works are ahead of the general curve, some Milan works are better than other Milan works. I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, but felt it was, quality-wise, in the middle of the pack: interesting, moving, and … Continue reading Her Every Wish by Courtney Milan →
This is one of those frustrating books where there’s a good idea but it gets bogged down in a total and utter lack of tension or conflict. As a result, it’s an eye-rolling read. Lady Grace Carpenter is guardian of her seven younger brothers and sisters- something she had to fight for after her mother’s death in order to keep all the kids together. Because she would lose guardianship should she get married, she’s decided … Continue reading Three Weeks to Wed by Ella Quinn →
This is the final book in Caroline Linden’s Scandalous series (vaguely inspired by the existence of 50 Shades and what makes a cultural zeitgeist, as discussed in the podcast she did with Sarah several months ago). It wraps up the story of the last Weston sibling, the plot that’s been working through the entire series, and the mystery of who’s been writing the Lady Charlotte erotica that’s everyone has been reading. Olivia Herbert and James Weston grew up … Continue reading Six Degrees of Scandal by Caroline Linden →
The best thing and the worst thing about a Julia Quinn novel is that you know almost exactly what you are going to get – an enjoyable, light, funny Regency romance. Some Julia Quinn novels go the extra mile (I adored The Sum of All Kisses, and What Happens in London is one of my favorite books of all time). Some contain huge missteps (What the hell is going on in The Duke and I?). … Continue reading Because of Miss Bridgerton By Julia Quinn →
This was a HABO from like, two years ago, and a book on sale earlier this month, and someone described this book as a “historical romance Weekend at Bernie‘s” and that was like putting a plate of cookies under a box held up by a stick and the box was labeled “RHG Trap” and how could I not? This is RIDONKADONK. Christiana is married to Dicky, Earl of Radnor, and it is not a good … Continue reading The Countess by Lynsay Sands →
This is the second book in the Scandalous Sisters series, and the first Greenwood I’ve read. Elizabeth, the heroine, is one of those young women who had very little in the way of boundaries while she grew up, and uses the attention she got as a purveyor of ridiculous schemes as a substitute for parental love. Caught up in this whirl of gaiety is Tommy Halifax, who, at the ripe old age of 23 decides that … Continue reading How to Handle a Scandal by Emily Greenwood →
