The Falcon And The Flower by Virginia Henley

The Falcon And The Flower
Virginia Henley
Medieval Romance, 470 pages

Read For:
Historical Fiction Challenge
ROR Summer Challenge
RYOB Challenge
What's In A Name Challenge 3

Synopsis:
Promised to him in marriage, she vowed not to surrender her body or her soul.

AN ANGEL WITH HELLFIRE IN HER HEART

Astride her white palfrey, surrounded by a nimbus of silver-blonde hair, Jasmine was a vision to strike a man mute with desire. But the violet-eyed love child of King Richard's half brother had vowed that no man would ever rule her heart. Until she saw the face of the Devil himself in her crystal ball -- the dark, brooding knight who would kill to make her his own. She would risk a dissolute court and a maddened, lustful king to keep destiny at bay, anything to keep her from the hypnotic eyes and burning caresses of... THE FALCON

A BLACK KNIGHT WHO VOWED TO MAKE HER HIS WIFE

A wickedly handsome warrior who lived by blood and the sword, Falcon de Burgh wanted to wed no woman -- until he laid eyes on the exquisite Jasmine, and he vowed to possess her, to teach her all the wondrous ways a man could love a woman, no matter what it might take to conquer her fiery, unyielding heart. Falcon knew only blind, reckless passion as he swore to tame, at the risk of his life... THE FLOWER.


My Review:


A great old school"bodice ripper" 80's historical romance. The hero, Falcon, is way alpha male and the heroine, Jasmine, is pretty much a stubborn twit who continually gets into scrapes that the hero must rescue her from. All that being said-the back story of King John and the machinations of his court were such that the book was still quite enjoyable.


This book would have been 5 stars if not for the stupidity, stubbornness, and just plain bit@hiness of the heroine. The book constantly goes on about her "exquisite, flaxen beauty" and the heroine uses that to manipulate most around her. The most unusual, and implausible thing, is that, even though Jasmine is supposedly a skilled white witch, she has virtually no knowledge of the marriage act and is literally terrified of bedroom relations for over two thirds of the book? She actually cringes when the hero touches her! The hero is crazy about her but at several points he wonders why he puts up with her abuse.


 And yes-he does strike her a couple of times in the book-after her selfish antics put many others in jeopardy and in one instance almost get a man killed. While I don't at all support violence-this heroine was SOO selfish and mean spirited she almost makes ME want to slap her-LOL!


 I give props to Virginia Henley's writing that she can make two leads who are VERY unlikable but still weave an interesting story in spite of them. This is my first Virginia Henley and I hope that most of her heroines are not dingbats like Jasmine, if so I'll skip those books as she is cringe worthy.


3.5 stars.

At The Sign Of The Golden Pineapple by Marion Chesney

At The Sign Of The Golden Pineapple

Marion Chesney

Traditional Regency Romance

227 pages, 1987

Read For:

1000 Regency Challenge

RYOB Challenge

What's In A Name Challenge

Synopsis:

"I DO NOT THINK I WANT TO BE MARRIED AT ALL. I WANT TO BE RICH. VERY RICH..."

Miss Henrietta Bascombe's bosom chums gasped to hear a well-bred lady talk of going into trade. For Henrietta was hell-bent on turning her pittance of an inheritance into a fortune by opening a London sweet shop to rival the famous Gunther's!

Undaunted, Henrietta proceeded to hang out the traditional confectioner's sign of a golden pineapple and soon earned the custom of the entire haute ton. That is, until the proud Earl of Carrisdowne took exception to his younger brother and his best friend ogling the girls behind Bascombe's counter. Miss Bascombe would have to be put out of business, and quickly.

But somehow, the earl looked forward to tangling with the fiery-eyed proprietor much more than he was willing to admit....

My Review:

Another excellent Marion Chesney Regency-though not one of her best. The book has an interesting premise-of three genteel but poor young ladies who, out of desperation to literally survive, open a confectionery shop in London.
I enjoyed Henrietta as a heroine, though Rupert, the hero was a bit of an ass several times in the story. This story seemed more comedy than drama, and I learned several things about life in Regency England that I'd never heard before. 3.5 stars.

Emily Goes To Exeter by Marion Chesney

Read For:
Romance Reading Challenge
RYOB Challenge
ROR Spring Challenge
What's In A Name Challenge


The Travelling Matchmaker Book 1

As always, Marion Chesney never fails to deliver. I love the premise of this series-a maid inherits a considerable sum from her mistress upon her death. The maid, who has grown up in service and who always dreamed of traveling, goes upon the stage coach to various places, meeting wonderful characters and in this book, solving a crime and matchmaking.

4 stars!

Nightingale's Lament by Simon Green

Read For:

RYOB Challenge

Fantasy Challenge

Countdown Challenge

What's In A Name Challenge

Synopsis:

In the Nightside, the hidden heart of London where it's always 3 AM, Detective John Taylor must find an elusive singer known as The Nightingale. Her silken voice has inexplicably lured many a fan to suicide--and Taylor is determined to stop her, before the whole neighborhood falls under her trance. But to catch the swift-winged Nightingale, he'll have to hear the deadly music--and survive.

My Review:

this third book in the nightside series was enjoyable but "skipped around" a bit, as John had several "mini crimes" to solve before the main mystery. Which is not necessarily good OR bad, just different than the first two. All in all, this series is a great "palette cleanser" and fun getaway if you are looking fun action and adventure-but be forewarned they are pretty graphic violence.

3.5 stars.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

The Duke and I

Julia Quinn

2000, 371 pages

Read For:

ROR Winter Challenge

RYOB Challenge 2010

What's In A Name Challenge 3

2010 Romance Reading Challenge

Royal Reviews Romance Challenge

Synopsis:

Relentlessly pursued by match-making mamas and their charges, Simon Bassett, the handsome Duke of Hastings, has grown tired of the societal chase. Tired too is the lovely Daphne Bridgerton, whose matrimonially minded mother is set on finding her daughter the perfect husband. Neither Simon nor Daphne is happy with this annoying state of affairs and both would give anything for a little peace and quiet. Their mutual wish for a respite from the ton's marriage mart leads to a pretend engagement--a scheme that is threatened with exposure by Daphne's suspicious older brother, who happens to know Simon's way with women very well. The two never anticipated that a mutual attraction would lead to the very thing they set out to avoid--a wedding. But Simon fears that his painful past may keep him from being able to truly love anyone. And though Daphne cares for him deeply, she won't settle for anything less than his heart.

My Review:

Good, solid 4 star book.

What's In A Name Challenge 3

I enjoyed this challenge last year so I'm glad to see it still on for 2010. Join here

So here's how it works: Between January 1 and December 31, 2010, read one book in each of the following categories:he book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.

1. A book with a food in the title: Clockwork Orange, Grapes of Wrath, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
2. A book with a body of water in the title: A River Runs through It, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, The Lake House
3. A book with a title (queen, president) in the title: The Murder of King Tut, The Count of Monte Cristo, Lady Susan
4. A book with a plant in the title: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Wind in the Willows, The Name of the Rose
5. A book with a place name (city, country) in the title: Out of Africa; London; Between, Georgia
6. A book with a music term in the title: Song of Solomon, Ragtime, The Piano Teacher

1-At The Sign of The Golden Pineapple by Marion Chesney-3.5 stars

2-

3-The Duke and I by Julia Quinn-4 stars

4-The Falcon and the Flower by Virginia Henley-3.5 stars

5-Emily Goes To Exeter by Marion Chesney-4 stars

6-Nightingale's Lament by Simon Green