The Au Pair by Emma Rous is a slightly Gothic psychological thriller that focuses on one woman’s suspicion that she might not be physically related to her own family. The premise is excellent and while I kept turning pages well into the night, I found that when I finished the book, I was only slightly satisfied with the resolution. Part of that is because the final reveals are executed a little clumsily. The other part … Continue reading The Au Pair by Emma Rous →
Newstead Abbey is beautiful and full of history. Its story features royal crimes, scandalous owners, and Lord Byron, the infamous poet. If, like me, you think Lord Byron was a jerkface and not romantic in the least, you can still enjoy the estate for its beauty and history. On the other hand, if you do find Byron to be romantic, then Newstead Abbey is about as romantic as a place could possibly get. This is … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: Newstead Abbey →
Once again we pack our bags for a Romance Wanderlust trip. This month we are off to Hever Castle in England, which is primarily famous for having been the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. History buffs will recall that Anne’s romantic life did not end well, and yet this is a popular wedding site because it is incredibly beautiful and romantic in a “but then she was decapitated” kind of way. The oldest part of … Continue reading Romance Wanderlust: Hever Castle →
Jane Austen’s England: Daily Life in the Georgian and Regency Periods is a great resource for fans of Austen who want to know more about daily life in her time. This book is not concerned with the global or political situation in England during Austen’s lifetime except inasmuch as politics affected daily life. Instead, the book starts with how people married and proceeds through childhood, work and leisure, religion, crime, medicine, and death to paint a … Continue reading Jane Austen’s England by Roy and Lesley Adkins →
Obvious questions first! Is Pretty Face as good as Act Like It? Alas, no, I don’t think it is. It’s close, but not quite. The hero and heroine are tremendous, but the obstacles for the characters are not as seamlessly integrated into the story, and there are secondary characters in this book whose portrayals are inconsistent from chapter to chapter. Is there a “But?” HECK YES there is a “But.” Lucy Parker’s dialogue is top-notch, and the London … Continue reading Pretty Face by Lucy Parker →
The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James (winner of a RITA for The Haunting of Maddy Clare) is a historical mystery set in post WWI England and it features a psychic heroine and a scarred and wounded hero. PUT IT IN MY EYEBALLS. Also the heroine on the cover? Her hat game is strong, girl. This book could be used to bait an Elyse-trap. Put it under a box being held up by a … Continue reading The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James →
This HaBO is from Jacqui, who is looking for a WWII romance she read and lost long ago: Many years ago, back when I was unencumbered by mortgages, debt and other responsibilities, I came across in my local library this book set in World War 2 (or perhaps just before, my memory is a little hazy) about a young woman who sets out from her country home to go to university in the big city … Continue reading HaBO: WWII Heroine Finds Herself and Possibly Medicine →
