Dove's Way by Linda Francis Lee

Dove's Way
Linda Francis Lee
Historical Romance-Victorian Era
Rating 5 stars

Read For:
RYOB Challenge
What An Animal Challenge
Spring 09 Challenge
Victorian Challenge
Themed Reading Challenge
1st In A Series Challenge
Chick Porn Challenge
Serial Readers Challenge
Romance Reading Challenge 2009



Synopsis: "Even months after that day on the train, her face still haunted my dreams. And I was sure the feel of her in my arms would stay with me forever. But then one night, she stepped back into my life as if walking into my dreams. . . ."

Matthew Hawthorne saved Finnea Winslet's life one day on a train in Africa. But Finnea didn't know that on that day she saved his soul. Destroyed by scandal, Matthew would have been ostracized completely by the unyielding society of his birth had he not been such a powerful man. Matthew doesn't let himself care about anyone or anything, until Finnea arrives unexpectedly in Boston.

Raised in Africa, Finnea is as foreign to Bostonians as they are to her. Yet she is determined to make a life for herself there, so she turns to Matthew to learn the ways of that rigid town. But can Matthew help Finnea without losing what is left of his heart?

From the jungles of Africa to the heart of Boston society, DOVE'S WAY is an extraordinary tale of redeeming love that will rescue a man, and release a woman from the pain in her heart.

My Review: Dove's Way is a very moving and heartfelt Historical Romance. The storyline is set in Boston but is also halfway in Africa as that's where the two characters meet and where the heroine grows up. Finnea and Matthew are both "tortured" characters in their own ways. Finnea is very insecure in her familial relationships and Matthew was horribly injured and scarred in an accident. This story is very "high drama". You won't find yourself laughing or smiling during this book but it will probably make you tear up.

Some sexual chemistry, including a few fairly hot love scenes, nothing that should offend, in fact the scenes are more emotional than anything.

I'm looking forward to reading book two, Matthew's brother's Grayson's story in Swan's Grace.

5 stars.

Rebel Lady by Dawn Lindsey

Rebel Lady
Dawn Lindsey
Regency Romance
Rating 3.75 stars

Read For:
RYOB Challenge
Spring 09 Challenge
Read Your Name Challenge
Romance Reading Challenge 2009 Challenge



Synopsis: The Insufferable Englishman

Sir Sebastian Hilliard was everything that beautiful, young, Scotch noblewoman Skye Crawford detested in an Englishman. He had wealth and power, and the arrogance to use them to get what he wanted. He had good looks and charm, and the ability to use them as well.

What he wanted now was to put Skye's brave brother in prison for defying British might, and hold her in bondage in his London mansion as his ward. Spirited Skye's personal war of independence had begun--against this lord who assumed he merely had come to conquer, and against the tremors of surrender in her own treacherous heart…

My Review: Rebel Lady is a relatively good "old school" Regency Romance. The story revolves around a young Scottish woman, Skye, and her older brother Colin. Colin has committed low level treason by helping the Jacobite cause, and is in hiding. Skye's guardian, whom she's never met, is an Englishman, Sir Sebastian, who is a distant cousin, and a loyal English man and works for the British home office. After hearing of his rebellious Scots relatives antics, Sebastian decides he must go to Scotland and bring Skye back to London before she get's charged with treason herself.
There begins a high drama, high action Regency. The story was overall well written but low on Romance. Skye is also an extremely annoying heroine who is stubborn and naive all the way to the end of the story. Her stupidity almost gets both her and Sebastian killed several times. All that being said, the story carries along enough to make Rebel Lady worth reading for any Regency fan looking for a different storyline.

One Night To Be Sinful by Samantha Garver

One Night To Be Sinful by Samantha Garver
Historical Romance
Rating 4 stars


Read For:
RYOB Challenge
New Author Challenge
Themed Reading Challenge
A to Z Reading Challenge
Romance Club Reading Challenge
Romance Reading Challenge


Synopsis:

A fine and true friend, Calvin Garrett never anticipated what he would undertake in the name of loyalty to Lord Wolcott. Posing as a butler, he appears at the door of Wolcott’s fiercely independent sister, Abigail, charged with uncovering the strange and sinister happenings at her country home. Certainly, he hoped playing servant to an unconventional woman would be a short-lived task. But when he meets his stunning new mistress, the scheme he had in mind takes a turn for the tempting... Abigail has never encountered a butler so...magnetic. However, he comes highly recommended and she is desperate for help. The troubles and danger plaguing her estate are enough to make a sane woman cling to strong shoulders, but her awareness of her new employee has much more to do with a longing from deep within her heart. Clearly, she has bigger problems than a dizzying attraction to a male. Soon, though, sleepless nights filled with danger and desire form a volatile mix that promises to turn Abigail from a confirmed spinster into a woman ready for love…

My Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this Historical Romance. I like that the "wounded" character in the story was the heroine and not the hero. Abigail is a strong, smart heroine who has come back from tragedy to make a life for herself. The hero, Calvin, is a Marquis, born "on the wrong side of the sheets", raised in a workhouse, not knowing about his father until he inherits the estate on his father's death. Both leads are wounded souls-Abby physically and Calvin emotionally. The relationship was sweet and very romantic and the love scenes are in turn Romantic yet very hot:). A villainous side story completes this good book. The ending was a bit rushed, hence 4 stars, but I'd still recommend this book.

An Eligible Connection by Elsie Lee

An Eligible Connection
Elsie Lee
Regency Romance
220 pages
rating 4 stars

Read For:
RYOB Challenge
New Author Challenge
Read Your Name Challenge
Romance Reading Challenge 2009




Synopsis: AN ELIGIBLE CONNECTION 1974 ISBN:0440128218 Society called it The Season, she called it a slave auction and refused to be sold...She never had vapors, never played the coquette like her ravishing sister Almina, "The Dark Incomparable" of London's haut ton. Fanny Cherill's flame-colored hair was a hopeless liability, her cheeky wit and daring thoroughly unladylike. But everything changed on the night handsome Lord Waterbury stole into her boudoir to capture her heart--and her reputation!

My Review:
this was my first book by this author. I wondered why Elsie Lee's Regencies are on so many's Regency fans wish list and now I know why. This author is great. She really knows how to write the flavor, the language, slang and feeling of the period. An Eligible Connection is the story of Fanny, who at 16 has been taken away from her governess and country home to live in London with her family. Her older sister, who is Fanny's opposite-dark haired, beautiful-an "Incomparable" for two seasons.
Fanny's family basically ignores her, leaving her alone with the servants nearly every day. One night alone, because of a small house fire, Fanny meets the hero, Charles, after she screams for help and he climbs into her bedroom to save her. Charles, thinking the petite redhead is much younger than she is (he thinks she's about 12), he's instantly captivated by her spunk and zest for life. He offers to take her about town, to a balloon ascension and the zoo, still thinking she's just a lonely child stuck in London without friends. This is where the adventure starts.

For those who love a fun Regency ala Georgette Heyer or Marion Chesney, I think you'll enjoy this book.
4 stars.

The Rules of Gentility by Janet Mullany

The Rules of Gentility
Janet Mullany
Regency Romance
Rating 3.75 stars
279 pages

Read For:
RYOB Challenge
2nds Challenge
A To Z Challenge
Chick Porn Challenge
Romance Reading Challenge








Synopsis: Regency heiress Philomena Wellesley-Clegg has rather strong opinions about men and clothing. As to the former, so far two lords, a viscount, and a mad poet have fallen far short of her expectations. But she is about to meet Inigo Linsley, an unshaven, wickedly handsome man with a scandalous secret. He's nothing she ever dreamed she'd want—why then can she not stop thinking about how he looks in his breeches?

Having read, and loved, Miss Mullany's first book Dedication (Signet Regency Romance), I eagerly read Rules of Gentility and for the most part was not disappointed.

This fast paced, funny and in moments, touching, Regency Romance is told in the traditional "Comedy of Errors" style. Ms. Mullany throws in every tried and true Regency plot device in biting satire form while bringing the reader back to the hard reality of Regency life by introducing the common, yet not talked about subjects such as adultery, affairs between "quality" and the working class, often resulting in "by blows",homosexuality, and the subjugation and idea of the times that women of all classes were basically non entities at the time.
Philomena and Igino grow and mature as lovers and as humans by the stories end.

A little more Romance needed as well as a silly, and not thought out "villain" at stories end brought the book down at bit but it was still quite good.
Looking forward to more from this author.
3.75 star-recommended.

Romance Reading Challenge 2009-FINISHED

I joined another challenge:)
If you'd like to join go here.

THE INFO:

Read on for the rules:
1. Now, "Romance" isn't limited to steamy Harlequin novels. There is a huge selection of books in this category such as contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance to name a few. As long as the story has romantic love between the two main characters your selection will fit this challenge. The novels do not need to have a happy ending either, there can also be unrequited love.
2. Choose at least 5 novels read them between Jan 1st though Dec 31st 2009. You can change your choices at any time. Crossovers between other challenges are fine.
3. Read them at your own pace in 2009 then come here and post the link to your review(s).
4. Link your "RRC" choices here with any of these graphics:
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/2008/11/romance-reading-challenge-2009.html

1-The Rules of Gentility by Janet Mullany-DONE-3.75 stars.
2-An Eligible Connection by Elsie Lee-DONE-4 stars.
3-One Night To Be Sinful by Samantha Garver-DONE-4 stars.
4-Rebel Lady by Dawn Lindsey-3.75 stars.
5-Dove's Way by Linda Francis Lee-5 stars.

FINISHED!