Bachelors of Bond Street/ J. MacGregor, S. Galen, M. Spencer/ 287 pgs

This was a fun anthology with nary a duke or an earl in sight:-) I enjoyed the stories by Janna MacGregor and Shana Galen more than the third story by Minerva Spencer, but all had something unique to offer and all had ties to shops on Bond Street. In MacGregor's story, a misplaced love letter leads to romance between a wealthy merchant's daughter and a bookshop owner. In Galen's story, the runaway daughter of a plantation owner and an enslaved woman finds love with the owner of a coffee shop. And finally in Spencer's story, a groom who clawed his way up to wealthy businessman finds a second chance with a governess he once knew. If you've never tried any of these authors, this anthology is a great way to start.

The Good, the Bad, and the Duke/ Janna MacGregor/ 356 pgs

I was very much looking forward to this book as the hero is the same guy who was a villain in the first two books of the series. It's always interesting to see how an author plans to redeem a character. I was not disappointed. Paul, the second son of a duke, wreaked havoc on the lives of his two best friends wives-to-be and he is persona non grata, despite inheriting a dukedom when his father and his older brother die in quick succession. Daphne has known Paul for most of her life as her older brother is one of the men now shunning Paul. When Daphne's family prepares to leave London to spend the Christmas holiday at their estate, she accidentally gets left home alone. Yes, it's a take on the movie, but other than the initial setup, the similarities end there. When Daphne's private journal is stolen by a street urchin, Paul steps forward to help her get it back. I feel like MacGregor hits her stride in this book. Both characters are fully fleshed out, are flawed, and have a way to go to set their lives back on track. The emotions are fully formed and Paul and Daphne's friendship is a delight. A job well-done on redeeming bad boy Paul.

Bringing Down the Duke/ Evie Dunmore/ 356 pgs

There was a lot of hype surrounding this book. It's very well written and I appreciate that the mores of the time were followed instead of playing fast and loose with the way things were during the Victorian period. Annabelle is a poor relation of an even poorer vicar. Her vicar cousin expects her to be a maid/nanny for his wife and five children. Annabelle would prefer to do anything else and when she's offered one of the first spots for women to attend Oxford, she talks her cousin into letting her go (for a price, of course). At Oxford, Annabelle is properly chaperoned and not really allowed to mix with the male students. She becomes involved with a suffragist group as they are providing her with a scholarship. As the group fights for changes to the rights of married women, Annabelle meets the Duke of Montgomery. He's very stuffy and unemotional but there is a spark between them. Of course they spend more time together and fall for each other, but Annabelle wisely refuses to become his mistress. He flat-out refuses to offer her marriage. Much angst ensues until Montgomery finally comes to his senses (a fall from a horse helps:-)). This is the first in a series and I am interested in reading the other stories as I loved the writing in this one as well as the historical authenticity.

The Luckiest Lady in London / Sherry Thomas / 276 pages

This is one of those books that the man and the woman don't ever express themselves and if they did, so much heartache could have been avoided. It seems somewhat trite, but it worked here. My only complaint is that I think when it comes to romances, I like my male leads to be nearly perfect. There were times when I wanted to slap the male romantic lead and thought the "luckiest" lady in that book would be better off with someone else.

Louisa is approaching spinsterhood when she is sponsored by a distant relative to be introduced in London as a debutante in circa 1885. She hopes to bag one of two possible matches, neither of whom she is romantically attracted to, but both with enough money to support her mom, her sisters (one of whom is epileptic) and herself. She doesn't want much, but she wants enough that she has a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. What she didn't count on was the most eligible bachelor in London making passes at her and asking her to be his mistress. Could she give up a respectable life and be a mistress to the best looking man in all of England in exchange for her every creature comfort taken care of, or will she turn him down to remain respectable in the eyes of society?

American Dutchess: A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt by Karen Harper / 357 p.

Based on the life of Consuelo Vanderbilt, this fictionalized novel of her life was interesting. I don't know how accurate it is, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless.
Consuelo was an only child. Her mother was strict and arranged a marriage for Consuelo with the Duke of Marlborough in England that would profit both families - a title of Dutchess for Consuelo and Vanderbilt money for the Duke. It was a loveless marriage, however Consuelo produced two male heirs (and heir and a spare) that pleased everyone and provided the love Consuelo was missing from her husband. She was well-received in England and used her status and wealth to help the common people. Consuelo did find her voice and strength later in her life. She also found love, redemption and forgiveness for her mother.

The Luck of the Bride/ Janna MacGregor/ 372 pgs

This is the third book in the Cavensham Heiresses series. March Lawson's parents died when she was 17, also leaving behind 3 younger siblings including her year-old brother, the heir. When the appointed guardian ignores the orphaned family, March takes on the responsibility of running the estate and raising the other children. Eight years later, things come to a crisis financially. When her letters to Lord McAlpin, the new trustee of the money her parents left her, are ignored she makes the risky decision to forge his signature to request money from her trust fund. Her crime is soon discovered and she's summoned before Lord McAlpin. These are two great characters set in a well-crafted story. McAlpin has a secret that has made him vulnerable for much of his life and as indicated, March will do just about anything for her family. The author delivers a number of emotional punches on the way to the Happily Ever After.

My One and Only Duke/ Grace Burrowes/ 346 pgs

In some ways, this book is your typical marriage of convenience historical romance. However, trust Burrowes to make it different in her own way. Our hero, Quinn, is a wealthy banker who made his way up from poverty and an abusive father. Unfortunately, he's made an enemy who has framed him and he's now in prison awaiting execution by hanging. By chance he meets Jane, the pregnant daughter of a supposedly do-gooder man of the cloth. Quinn marries Jane at the prison, so that she can get away from her father and raise her child decently. The rope is around Quinn's neck when we get the twist. Turns out he's the long-lost heir to a dukedom. He's saved from the noose and now he and Jane are stuck married to each other. As usual, the author's style is one of subtle sentimentality and decent people (at least the main characters) stuck in tough situations. Though the circumstances might stretch credulity, Burrowes has a way of making sure every question is answered satisfactorily.

Stone Devil Duke/K.J. Jackson/262pgs

Set in London, this book is about a woman named Aggie who witnesses her father being murdered and sets out to kill her fathers killers. One night while out trying to find some of the men she comes across a Duke, who helps her fight off some of the men and save her life. Hoping that that would be the end of it, she drops him off and goes home. But she soon realizes that she will not be able to get rid of him that easily and the two make a deal to work together to find the remaining men. As the story progresses the two eventually come to realize their true feelings towards one another and they get married. But the peaceful life they thought they were going to have comes to an end when the leader of the group of killers kidnaps Aggie and tries to slowly kill her. This book was one I could not put down until i finished it. If you are someone that enjoys romances, thrillers, adventures, and a strong female character this book is definitely worth a read.

Dangerous/Minerva Spencer/ 360 pgs

Lady Euphemia, daughter of a duke, has recently returned to London society after escaping from a harem in North Africa. She'd been captured by pirates and sold as a slave and lived there for 20 years, giving birth to one child, a son. Her son, now a teenager, stubbornly stayed behind when she escaped but she has plans to go back and get him. Her father, the duke, has other plans. He thinks she's an embarrassment to the family (the scandal!) and wants her married off to absolutely anyone as quick as possible. Enter the Marquess of Exley, a mysterious, private man who is rumored to have killed his first two wives. The first half of this book was pretty good. Mia and Adam are at least partly honest with each other and this was refreshing. They establish a fairly solid relationship by the midway point. And then things just kind of went south. Mia, who rarely thinks about her son except when the reader is supposed to feel that she's so devoted to him, decides to go rescue him with the help of some pirate friends of hers. Adam decides to follow. The whole second half just didn't work for me but I was still impressed with the writing.

My Sweet Folly/ Laura Kinsale/ 407 pgs

This book dates from 1997 and in some ways that shows (hero did something extremely questionable to his first wife) and yet Kinsale clearly knows how to write fascinating characters and smart dialogue. Robert and Folie (whom he calls Folly) first meet through letters when he is stationed in India and she is in England, married to a much older husband. These letters are probably the best thing about the book. The two of them are clearly falling in love over the years that they write but obviously such a relationship is not going to work. Eventually Robert breaks things off and we skip ahead five years. Folly's husband has died. Robert is now back from India, has inherited an estate from his father, and is the guardian of Folly's husband's daughter (from his first marriage). Robert summons Folly and his ward, Melinda, to his estate but it's clear to her from the beginning that something is not right with him. He's rude and almost demented. The story takes off from there and the plot gets a little wild and convoluted. This story has some flaws but I'm now curious to read some of Kinsale's other, more notable books, such as Flowers from the Storm.

Passion Favors the Bold/ Theresa Romain/ 294 pgs

This is the second book in the Royal Rewards series but it stands on its own very well. Hugo is a duke's son, not the heir, who studied medicine because his twin brother died when they were teens. He's uptight and intent on building a hospital to honor his brother. Georgette is essentially alone in the world. Her parents, who rarely paid her or her brother any attention have passed away. Her much older brother was injured in the war but is now on a quest to find some gold coins stolen from the Royal Mint. Georgette decides to strike out on her own, locate her brother, and help him find the treasure. Except that Hugo, a friend of her brother's, will not let her travel alone. Reluctantly, the two embark on a road trip to find Georgette's brother and the treasure. Romain writes truly likable characters and witty dialogue that I love. This one is highly recommended.

Counting on a Countess/ Eva Leigh/ 370 pgs

This was my first time reading a book by Leigh who also writes as Zoe Archer. The story was serviceable but I was rather indifferent to both main characters so it wasn't a favorite. Kit, an earl and a former soldier, finds out he is to inherit a goodly sum of money from an old friend/mentor--but only if he marries. So he sets out to find a bride. Tamsyn is in London from Cornwall. She's a lady but she's also running a smuggling operation out of her village. She needs money to buy back her family's home from an awful relative. She and Kit agree to marry to get the money but neither tells the other that they have plans for the money. After the marriage, the will is read and it turns out that once married, Tamsyn is put in charge of the money. This does not sit well with Kit. As I said, there was nothing wrong with the story or writing, this just wasn't my cup of tea.

Unmasking Miss Appleby/ Emily Larkin/ 392 pgs

This is a historical romance with a tiny dash of paranormal thrown in. Charlotte is an orphan who has reluctantly been taken in by relatives. They don't treat her very well. On the night of her 25th birthday, a faerie visits her and grants her one magical power. Charlotte chooses "transfiguration," meaning she can turn into other people or animals. She searches the newspaper and finds an ad from an earl seeking a secretary. So Charlotte changes into a man, calls herself Christopher Albin, and applies for the position. She's hired by the Earl of Cosgrove, whose former secretary was injured when the two men were attacked. It seems someone is out to hurt or kill Cosgrove. He and Charlotte, disguised as Christopher, set out to figure out which of his enemies is out to get him. Charlotte begins to fall for Cosgrove and figures out a way to meet him as herself. While this was a decent story, I didn't like how Charlotte lied about her identity to Cosgrove for almost the entire book (I recently read another book with this same situation for the "hero" and I did not like that one either). Also, Cosgrove really didn't have much time to get to know Charlotte herself so I felt the romance was superficial. It was also strange that there were no other paranormal elements in the book. Charlotte changes into two different men, a dog, a sparrow, and a bear but there is no other "magic" in the book.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation / Lauren Willig / 388 pages

Bonus Categories: Audiobook, Historical Fiction

"The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, a wildly imaginative and highly adventurous debut, opens with the story of a modern-day heroine but soon becomes a book within a book. Eloise Kelly settles in to read the secret history hoping to unmask the Pink Carnation's identity, but before she can make this discovery, she uncovers a passionate romance within the pages of the secret history that almost threw off the course of world events. How did the Pink Carnation save England? What became of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian?"

This is a historical romance. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's not a realistic interpretation of  battles on the home front against Napoleon. I just want to get that out of the way in case you were expecting something different, since there are some negative reviews of this one due to mismatched expectations. But it's a great series starter for the right audience!

Let's start honestly: I didn't love everything about The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. The level of emotional intensity and foolhardiness of both female main characters (Amy in the past and Eloise in the present) was a consistent annoyance for me, and there was a bit of lingering on physical attributes that I found unnecessary but in a smaller amount than other romances I've read. (Warning here if you don't like physical intimacy in your historical fiction--this has it but not to an extreme.)

Disclaimers aside, I really enjoyed this book. Great narration if you need an audiobook for a long drive or while doing some boring housework. I don't usually make "chick lit" or "beach read" recommendations, but this is a book I'd read again when I want a break from reality. It's cute and not stressful even in the dramatic chapters. Not to mention the attractions of the honorable Lord Richard Selwick!

Someone to Wed/ Mary Balogh/ 383 pgs

I have read a couple of Balogh's books from a different series but was intrigued by the premise of and praise for this one. Wren has a birthmark covering a significant portion of one side of her face and, after a tragic childhood, retreats to the peace and quiet of her aunt and uncle's estate to become a recluse. When her two beloved supporters pass away at nearly the same time, Wren finds herself the heiress to a large fortune. She's also thirty years old and lonely. She decides to make a list of eligible men in the surrounding area and interview them to see if she'd like to propose they marry her in return for her money as she wants a husband and children. Enter Alex, the Earl of Riverdale, newly inherited and in desperate need of money. The two don't marry right away. This is a slow romance, with much of the focus on Wren taking a chance and moving into the light of society while being supported by Alex and his family. His family--they wouldn't stop coming out of the woodwork. Many of these characters probably appeared in other Balogh novels but they overwhelmed this one. I wish there would have been more time spent on the two main characters.

A Christmas to Remember/ Anthology/ 294 pgs

This is a historical romance anthology from four authors:

*Lisa Kleypas-this story is a classic one of the bad boy and the strait-laced spinster. The writing was good but I thought parts of the plot were skimmed over too quickly.

*Lorraine Heath-the hero in this one is trying to woe the woman he loves away from her fiance. Despite how that makes him sound, I really enjoyed this one.

*Megan Frampton-this one's theme is a marriage of convenience between strangers. While the heroine repeated herself too often for my taste, the romance was really sweet and nicely done.

*Vivienne Lorret-I read the first chapter of this one but couldn't read any further. It just wasn't for me. I subtracted this story from the page total since I did not finish it.

The Affair/ Amanda Quick / 340 pgs

After almost a solid month of reading suspense, I turned to a twenty-year-old book by Amanda Quick to give me a break from the intense stuff. The Affair is a historical romance with a nerdy chemist hero and an independent heroine who is not afraid to make her own way.

Baxter is a scientist, a bastard (in the literal sense), and a man who just wants to be left alone in his lab. Or so he thinks. His aunt asks him to investigate a woman named Charlotte who just might have murdered his aunt's best friend. Charlotte also plans to investigate this woman's death and decides she needs a bodyguard and man-of-affairs while going about her business. Baxter and Charlotte realize early on that they are working toward the same goal so they band together to find the murderer. They also realize early on that are attracted to each other. In fact, their mutual attraction/affection/love came about all too quickly for my taste. The villain is a man coincidentally linked to both Baxter and Charlotte. I wouldn't say this is one of Quick's best books, but it is a nice solid read.

Some like it Scot / Suzanne Enoch /362 p.

     Finally, fourth book in the series (Scandalous Highlanders).  In this one, the last brother, Bear, finds his true love and match.  She can out shoot him and can stand up to him.  No one else has ever been able to do that.  She, of course, is running from an unwanted pre-determined marriage.  Catriona was raised as a boy which makes everyone view her as a bizarre oddity except for Bear who is smitten with her.  The story is about the relationship between them and between Bear and his brothers.  Can the clan take the change?  Will Bear have to leave his clan to keep his woman?  (of course not, but it is getting to the conclusion that is interesting.)  I wish the men in the books has fewer anger issues.  At least in this one, Catriona had as much trouble with anger as Bear.