Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich

Before Stephanie Plum, Janet Evanovich wrote romances for the now defunct Loveswept line. None were as successful as the Plum series, but they’ve been recently reprinted by HarperTorch to take advantage of Evanovich’s fame and to give demanding Evanovich fans more Evanovich to read.

In Back to the Bedroom, divorcée Kate Finn and her new neighbor, David Dodd, meet when part of a helicopter falls through the roof of Kate’s house. Fortunately, David is an unemployed, nurturing, take charge kind of guy who not only puts Kate’s house back together, but her life as well. Back to the Bedroom is a fun read, showing flashes of the quirky characters and humor which Evanovich perfected in the Plum series--Finn’s new boarder, Elsie, and Plum’s grandma have a lot in common. The plot is simple, the conflict easily and quickly resolved as befits a short category romance, but the writing lifts it above the simple plot. Three out of four bookworms.

Hot Dish by Connie Brockway

Connie Brockway's first contemporary romance has a promising start. Jennifer Hallesby desperately wants to win the title of Buttercup Queen so she can get out of small town Fawn Creek, Minnesota and back to her home state of North Carolina to go to college. Unfortunately, a technicality brought to light by one of her high school rivals gets her disqualified. Still she must have her likeness sculpted in butter by Steve Jaax, an up and coming artist currently hiding from the law. The law catches up with Steve just as he hides the key to his best work (hidden in a mausoleum to escape the clutches of his soon-to-be ex-wife) in the butter sculpture of Jennifer. Steve goes to prison, gets out, and becomes a famous artist. Jennifer becomes even more determined to get out of Fawn Creek. Twenty years later, all of her dreams are coming true. She is set to become the next Martha Stewert when she is forced to return to Fawn Creek’s sesquicentennial celebration where she once again runs into Steve Jaax. Steve wants to retrieve the key from the butterhead which he thought had been destroyed 20 years ago. Jennifer just wants to get in and out of Fawn Creek with all of her secrets in tact. The story becomes a Keystone Cops plot of people trying to take possession of the butterhead anyway they can.

As with all Connie Brockway novels, I was immediately drawn into the story. However, with all of the back story, my interest waned as I read. Other than her writing style, I love the sensuous romance in Brockway’s novels. I found that sensuousness missing in this novel. I didn’t feel any connection or sexual tension with Jennifer and Steve. Their romance seemed incidental to the story. I also had some problems with the plot. At the end of the story, Jennifer is playing Texas Hold ‘Em in a poker tournament. We are aware that there are five kings in play, yet we don’t know who is cheating—Jennifer or her opponent. I assumed it was her opponent, but I don’t know for sure. Jennifer knows there are five kings in play, but we don’t get any indication from her that this is even an anomaly. Of course, everyone lives happily ever after, but I really didn’t care. I finished the book, but will stick with Connie Brockway’s historical romances from here on out. I hope she keeps writing them. I hate it when my favorite historical romance writers abandon historical romance for contemporary mainstream! Two out of four bookworms.

The Taming of the Duke by Eloisa James

Yes, I’ve been reading a lot of romance lately. I’ve been in the mood. The Taming of the Duke is another Essex sister romance, one I’ve been wanting to read so I could find out what happened to the Essex sisters' guardian, the Duke of Holbrook.

Imogen, Lady Maitland, has decided that she has mourned the death of her husband long enough. She is determined to have a very brief, very discreet affaire. She finds the perfect man in her guardian’s illegitimate brother, Gabe Spenser. Gabe has other ideas. So does Imogen’s guardian who has secretly carried a torch for Imogen since he first met her just weeks before she eloped with Draven Maitland. A comedy of disguised identities ensues. I like Eloisa James’s sensuous writing style and quick dialogue. Although I enjoyed this book, I had some problems with it. I found it difficult to believe that Imogen, the heroine, couldn’t tell the difference between Rafe (the Duke) and his brother, Gabe, when they decide to switch places. After several passionate encounters with the Duke posing as Gabe, she still doesn’t get hot and bothered by the Duke when he is himself. Wouldn’t she still feel the sexual attraction? The writing, as always, is excellent and James includes a secondary romance, two for the price of one. Three out of four bookworms.

The Prince Kidnaps a Bride by Christina Dodd

The last book in The Lost Princesses series doesn’t disappoint. Dodd once again brings sexy and funny to the table with a hero who isn’t afraid to let a woman “do a man’s work.” Prince Rainger trusts no one, with good reason. Those reasons are revealed a little too late in the story for my tastes—my only complaint. Princess Sorcha trusts everyone. Her intelligence and openness charm not only the prince, but the reader. Can they overcome their differences, fall in love, and save their country? Of course, but with all of Dodd’s romances, getting there is all the fun! A nice ending to the trilogy. Four out of four bookworms.

Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James

I don’t know exactly how or when I stumbled across Eloisa James. I know that I found her a couple of years ago, and that’s it. I also know that I love her romances. The characters are intelligent, (as intelligent as characters in love can be) and her stories are fun, funny, and sensuous. Pleasure for Pleasure is no exception. This is the last novel in the “Four Sisters” series. I must admit to not having read the middle two novels, yet, but the first in the series, Much Ado About You, was my introduction to Eloisa James. I will read the other two, probably sooner than later.

The year is 1818, and Josie, the youngest Essex sister, has made a less than successful debut. A spurned suitor has labeled her “The Scottish Sausage.” Consequently, she spends a lot of balls dancing with her sisters’ husbands’ friends. I’m not going to tell you who the hero is in this novel because half the fun of the plot is waiting (in my case not so patiently) to find out who Josie will end up with. Unlike other authors, Ms. James often doesn't reveal who the heroine will end up with until well into the novel. My only complaint is the cover of the book. I like for the characters on the cover to look like the characters the author describes in the book. Neither the hero nor the heroine on the cover looks even remotely like Ms. James’ descriptions. The hero’s hair is the wrong color, and the heroine is way to thin. To all of you publishers out there, “Read the friggin’ book! Heck, you don’t even have to read the book, just the character descriptions. Give me a break.”

Thank you Ms. James for giving us two romances for the price of one. The Essex sisters’ chaperone, Griselda, finally finds the love of her life, and her story is every bit as compelling as Josie’s. Four out of four bookworms.

Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught

I love Judith McNaught. Her historical romances are my favorites. I’m always reluctant to read her contemporaries. I don’t know why. I always enjoy them. Every Breath You Take was no exception. McNaught understands that sexual tension does not arise from the characters having sex. It arises from the characters not having sex. Unlike many contemporary romance authors, she does not throw her hero and heroine into bed immediately. They get to know each other first. They don’t bicker. They have real problems and real obstacles to romantic happiness. Such is the case with Kate Donovan and Mitchell Wyatt. They meet while Kate is waiting for her boyfriend to join her on the island of Anguilla. In fact, Kate has just finished a list of pros and cons to help her decide whether to break off the four-year relationship. The attraction is instant. The sex isn’t, much to Mitchell’s disappointment. Unfortunately, Kate’s boyfriend shows up, and Kate trusts him more than she does Mitchell. She believes her boyfriend’s lies about Mitchell over what her heart tells her. I have to admit, the boyfriend is convincing—he is, after all, a very skilled lawyer. Three years later, a kidnapping brings Kate and Mitchell together again. But is it too late? Four out of four bookworms.

The Marcelli Princess by Susan Mallery

I loved the first four Marcelli books: The Sparkling One, The Sassy One, The Seductive One, and The Marcelli Bride. So when The Marcelli Princess came out, I picked up a copy with confidence. I knew I would enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I didn’t. As I’ve said before, I'm not real big on royalty in contemporary romances. However, that wasn’t my biggest problem with this book. My biggest problem was the hero planning to steal the heroine’s son. The only reason he didn’t get away with it was because he got caught. I’m sorry, but there are too many men out there stealing children and hiding them in countries where Mom will never find them. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an unforgivable offense unless the mother is abusing the child. That was clearly not the case here. I can’t imagine ever trusting such a man again, much less desiring him physically. However, Mia Marcelli doesn’t seem to have the same problem that I do. This man has lied to her twice—first when he lets her believe he is dead and again five years later when he tells her he loves her and wants to marry her. And she still wants to have sex with him, and she still loves him. It’s like a woman who still loves and desires the man who beats her or her children. It doesn’t work for me. How do you trust a man like that? Sure, he’s sorry, and he’s charming and kind and considerate and loving for a day or two, maybe even longer, but who knows when Mr. Hyde will strike again? With my child at stake, I wouldn’t want to find out. I finished the book because I wanted to know if Ms. Mallery could wrap things up to my satisfaction. She didn’t, and in truth, I don’t think there’s any way she could have. Yes, this is fantasy. But too many women live with abusive men whom they believe have changed or will change, only to be beaten again. Romances should not perpetuate that fantasy. One out of four bookworms.

Trouble in High Heels by Christina Dodd

Christina Dodd's historicals are my favorites, but I also read her contemporaries when I’m in the mood. Trouble in High Heels was my car book for the past week. I was so hooked at the beginning that I took my car book inside the house and read. I know. That’s cheating, but I couldn’t help it. About two-thirds of the way through, I took it back to the car and finished it there. I liked Brandi Michaels, for the most part. She becomes a little ditzoid around jewelry. In fact, she gets so ditzoid at a pawn shop that she doesn’t realize the salesman is in big trouble. It was so obvious that I was a little put out with the author at that point, but I got over it. (It is a fantasy, after all.) The hero, Count Roberto Bartolini, didn’t do a lot for me. Firstly, I’m not into royalty. Secondly, he was something of a door mat. No matter how bitchy and unreasonable Brandi got, he just smiled indulgently. (Yes, it is a fantasy.) Thirdly, we didn’t really get to know him. Still, the story was fast-paced, especially in the beginning. It didn’t keep me up all night, but it did keep me reading. Three out of four bookworms.

Lady Sophia’s Lover by Lisa Kleypas

I’m a big Lisa Kleypas fan. All of her books are fun, emotional, and sexy. Lady Sophia’s Lover is one of my favorites. Lady Sophia and Ross Cannon are mature characters who have some life experience behind them. I love that! Their conflicts do not arise from misunderstandings. They are so sensible and rational that you wouldn’t think they would make for much of a book. But they do. Sexual tension crackles from their first meeting . . . and it never lets up. They have real problems to solve, and they solve them together. This one kept me up all night. Four out of four bookworms.

The Knight Miscellany Series by Gaelen Foley

Ms. Foley’s novels are as rich in history and detail as they are sensuous and suspenseful. There are seven books in the Knight Miscellany series. While you can read them out of order without being lost, it’s best to start at the beginning. Of course, I didn’t. I began with the third book, Lord of Ice, then read the second, Lord of Fire, then went to the beginning with The Duke. She hooked me from the beginning with Lord of Ice, the story of Damien Knight, one of the brothers in the Hawkscliffe clan of brothers and sisters sired by different fathers to the same mother while she was married to the Duke of Hawkscliffe. Damien suffers from PTSD (although not called that during the Regency setting of this novel), and only Miranda FitzHubert can help him overcome the demons that have driven him to solitude. Emotional, sexy, and fun, as are all of the books in this series. Four out of four bookworms.

The Night Remembers by Kathleen Eagle

I don’t read Kathleen Eagle much, but when I do, I always wonder why I don’t read her more. Her characters have a depth that you don’t find in most romances. Her plots are gripping, her settings rich. And so it is with The Night Remembers, a contemporary romance. Angela Prescott is hiding from an abusive boyfriend. Jesse Brown Wolf is hiding from a tragic accident. Together, they learn to deal with their past and love and trust again. Sounds like a typical romance, but this novel is anything but typical. For one thing, it’s set in the blight of urban Minneapolis. The author shows us despair as well as hope in this inner city setting. She doesn’t sugar-coat anything. For another, neither the hero, nor the heroine has a glamorous job. This is not corporate America. No fancy clothes, no fancy cars, no fancy coffee—just two people who fall in love, even though they have every reason not to. Four out of four bookworms.

Sun Kissed by Catherine Anderson

I’ve waited a long time for the last Coulter man to find love! As with all the other Coulter men, Tucker Coulter is the perfect man. Handsome, hardworking, sexy, funny, and not turned off by a successful, independent woman. Samantha Harrigan is the wounded heroine he falls in love with. Anderson wastes no time with introductions, but gets right to the action—one reason I love her books. And she wastes no time with misunderstandings. Samantha’s internal conflict provides all the problems these two characters need to keep them apart. Throw in a deadly mystery to solve, and they have their hands full. Fast-paced and emotional. It kept me up way past my bedtime.

With the introduction of Samantha Harrigan’s four brothers in this book, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a new series of heroes as perfect as the Coulter men. I’m keeping my fingers crossed! Three out of four bookworms.

                                                                                             

Romance Favorites

Catherine Anderson’s Kendrick/Coulter series

For some reason, I always pick up a book in the middle of a series, read it, then go back to the first book in the series. Such was the case with the Kendrick/Coulter series. I started with My Sunshine. Loved it so much that I picked up the next one I could find in the bookstore, Phantom Waltz. I suggest reading them in order, if possible. Start with Baby Love, then Phantom Waltz (my favorite), and go from there. Real people with real problems, not misunderstandings. Sexy, funny, smart. Men the way we want them to be.

Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton Series

Another series that I started in the middle with When He Was Wicked. Start with the first book, The Duke and I. I haven’t been able to get excited about any of Julia Quinn’s other books, but the Bridgerton Series is funny and sexy.

Connie Brockway

Everything this author writes is gold. My favorite, My Dearest Enemy. Funny, passionate, sexy. Or maybe, My Pleasure. Tense, sexy, smart. Reading Connie Brockway is like eating Lay’s potato chips. You can’t read just one.



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