Romance Thursday: "The Inconvenient Duchess" by Christine Merrill

Genre: Historical Romance. 304 pages.

Price: $5.49 ebook (at time of post)

Publisher & Date: Harlequin Historical, April 1, 2013.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:  . 2

Price I Paid: $0 (got it FREE on March 7, 2013)

My Rating:   

My Thoughts: Unsuspecting But Perfect Fit

      Full honesty I'm a huge fan for gentry historical fiction, so obviously by the title I was interested to read about a girl falling into a duchess position. Now this particular novel I've managed to read twice, because it was reprinted through a new romance publisher. As far as I can tell the story is the same except for being cleaned up a bit, but it's basically the original with all its drama intact. 

      With no prospects, save for being a servant or falling prey to becoming a Lord's mistress, Miranda, is sent away by her ward and father to an old friend. Miranda has the birth title of Lady, but her father's debt left them destitute. Hoping only to be given housing until introductions to a prospective husband can be made, Miranda instead finds herself in a compromising position. The lady of the house is now longer alive and now only the Duke with his rakish brother reside at the manor. The Duke of Haughleigh, Marcus Radwell, finds Miranda to be an inconvenience, but ever the gentleman offers his hand to save her honor. So when Miranda decides to become a proper duchess and the Duke learns to love again, What seemed like a convenient proposal is anything but, especially when someone is set on disrupting their possible happiness.

      Overall, nice read. Maybe it was the two times I read it, but I wasn't overly into the book. The drama was there but honestly I was so irritated by the jerk of a brother half the time I wanted the Duke to just throw his butt out and bye-bye problems. Miranda is probably my favorite in the story because she just minds her business and takes names. She may have landed the best title and husband by mere accident, but she goes to work on ensuring she is a Duchess and the manor is fit for a Duke, even if said Duke isn't home. The Duke you may eventually come to like, he has a heart its just locked down, because of past hurt. However, when he does show love to Miranda it's so endearing. So if you are looking a story about a girl finding love after entering a marriage by circumstances and a Duke learning to open his heart on the chance it may be broken for the last time, then try this novel.

"Wed's Wonderings & Wanderings": Historical Fiction vs. Historical Romance

History is a subject that is very near and dear to my heart. I seriously don't remember the time when I began my interest in history but it has always been there. In all honesty I was definitely the nerdy kid who read the encyclopedias for fun, because learning something new excited me.

So when I was in 3rd grade I remember finding this one book in the 6th grade section about Cleopatra the Great. It was unlike any book I read before, it was written in a way as if she had wrote it instead of it being written about her. Suddenly I found myself introduced into a new genre called Historical Fiction. Years later I would find myself rifling through books to read and stumbling into another genre Historical Romance. Definitely by accident mind you, but one I'm not too disappointed about.

All that to say, to this day I'm still conflicted as to the complete merit of enrichment the genres of Historical Romance and Historical Fiction are for readers young and old, but I do see their worth in a pros and cons type fashion.

Historical Fiction is a story based in a historical event or persons and is then embellished to elaborate a certain storyline or person, all of which is mostly fictional. This genre is helpful I believe in capturing readers attention to history usually without overstepping too much historical context. However it's when the story is only hinting at history as a foundation and springs from there that I would say the book is more fantasy that just Historical Fiction. Why be so nitpicky, because if one was to read a book about Cleopatra (aka my fav girl) and it goes off script telling of false facts; One day that reader may actually wants to learn of Cleopatra, and will find that book a complete sham, eventually becoming judgmental towards fiction. Sure the book sparked something, as all books should, but the story at its core should keep close to the truth unless stating it's fantasy. This problem is the reason why if you were to bring up Historical Fiction in a collegiate setting they'd diss, argue or laugh at you (trust me). 

And then there is Historical Romance, which entails love and passion in a past era where the rules and morals are the spark of intrigue. Most of the time I find this genre taxing on history, because though it draws a lot of woman for taboo relationships found with past time periods the writers often miss the opportunity to present the actual history. Of course most authors in this genre aren't too focused on authenticity when it comes to anything more than the romance, which is saddening because history really is grand.

Ultimately, I'm more a champion for Historical Fiction than Historical Romance, but if both genres happen to help spark a readers interest in learning more about history than Yay! a tie shall be called. The more interested in History the better for society. History is an invaluable subject to the world as everything and everyone has a history. Think of it this way everything from yesterday is history, that's a lot of time to look into. 

"Romance Thursday": Salt Bride (Salt Hendon, Book 1) by Lucinda Brant

Genre: Historical Romance, Regency, Romantic Suspense. 329 pages.

Price: $0 FREE (at time of post)

Publisher & Date: Springleaf [2nd Edition]. February 2, 2011.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating: . 3

Price I Paid: $0 (got it FREE on April 25, 2012)

My Rating:  

My Thoughts: Great Historical Romance Full of Imagery and Plot

       As a lover of history I'm not one who loves historical romances most of time because the romance usually overshadows the plot and leaves me wondering: why have it set in the past if its all about sex? But Lucinda Brant is one of the few authors I enjoy reading particularly when it comes to Regency Romances. Case in point, this story has heartbreaking misunderstandings, threatening situations, great characters, well devised plots, and the HEA all set in Regency Era England.

     Fresh out into society Jane Despard is the beauty all talk of and suitors begin lining up for, so when she is found with child her father knows it is not only her ruin but the family's name too. Jane is given something to expel the child from her womb, after the deed is done she is disowned and sent to live in the country with her step uncle in disgrace. Four years later upon her relatives death Jane is forced to accept a marriage proposal from the Earl of Salt Hendon as stipulated in her later step uncle's will to allow her stepbrother inheritance to be released. Becoming a countess should be a joyous occasion for a disgraced woman, but Jane and the Earl have a history that none know about. . . or so they think. It's their relationship and history that maybe the end of one of them especially when titles are on the line.
     Overall, I just love how imaginative this historical romance is! Both characters are just so stubborn thinking this and that about the other because of their pain all the while as the reader you're like OMG! Just Freakin Talk!! But that's the good part because as you read how they unravel all the hurt and pain, they will finally begin to admit that they really do love each other. *Sigh, so romantic. Jane and Salt are so intense together its strangely wonderful, because all you want is the HEA they were deviously robbed of. Ugh! HATE that St. woman who is sooo not a saint. My only regret about this book is the perspectives change mid paragraph sometimes which makes it difficult to realize who is speaking, but it's a minor issue that you get used to, especially when caught up in the story. So, if you like a story were each wanted the other but someone stopped the message and dangerously meddles in the affair making the couple prolong their happiness, than this book is worth a read after all it is free for now.

"Romance Thursday": Blood and Treasure: A Romancing the Pirate Novel by Jennifer Bray-Weber

Genre: Historical Romance, Military. 219 pages

Price:  $0.99 ebook (at time of post)

Publisher & Date: sold by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. May 15, 2011

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating: . 3 

Price I Paid:  $0 (got it FREE on May 30, 2012)

My Rating:  

My Thoughts:  Classic Pirate and Damsel Romance With A Few New Twists.

    So I will admit I grabbed this book solely due to the cover. It screamed classic pirate romance novel and I wanted to read a contemporary story to see how it fairs in comparison to my Grandma's romance novels from the 80's, you know the kind with the shirtless rogues on the covers. What I got was exactly that, there was a few twists thrown in to try and make the story more a novel than just a simple romance book, but it was still a struggle to get through this book. Pirate romances apparently aren't my genre. 

    Captain Zane Fox is the privateer pirate of the sea. He absconds with a tavern wench Miss Lianne Whitney who by chance has in her possession the special Serpent medallion. Zane was hired to retrieve the magical medallion but when he is faced with stealing it or grabbing Lianne and the medallion, he does the later and begins a strange adventure. Lianne is not a simple tavern wench who faints when scared. Instead Lianne is a tough woman from her years of life circumstances that have made her the perfect match for a pirate captain like Zane. Now perhaps the two could find happiness at long last if only enemies like Commodore Bennigton and ex-mates like Sadie Greene would leave them be then maybe a HEA would be on the horizon.

    Overall, after giving the story time I found it okay, definitely not impressed or overly excited about the story. In fact I almost stopped reading after the first couple chapters. The story fluctuates between the perspectives of the main characters and its not shown you're switching character perspectives, so that was a bit off putting. The story itself was just cheesy at too many parts, such as a couple girl fight scenes, one of which literally included a pillow fight. I mean really?! It made me wonder in those scenes if the book was written as a RomCom or for men, because it was just sad, in a pathetic kind of way. Lianne was supposed to be the heroine but she was always talking about how her resolve was broken because of how hot he was or looked. And the "love" scenes were also awkward to read because the words exchange were just, I hate using the same word, but they were cheesy. So no I wouldn't read this book again and will not be grabbing another book that screams classic pirate romance novel. I've leaned I'm not into pirate romances. But hey if you want a pirate romance where a girl wants the man but doesn't yet does and they get it on during a roaring storm, then this book could be right for you, but it wasn't for me. 

"Romance Thursday": Intentions of the Earl (Scandalous Sisters Book 1) by Rose Gordon

Genre: Romance, Historical Romance, Regency. 242 pages

Price: $0 FREE (at time of post)

Publisher & Date: Parchment & Plum, LLC [2nd edition]. December 30, 2013 

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:  . 9

Price I Paid: $0 (got it FREE on May 16, 2012)

My Rating:  

My Thoughts: Scandalous Sure But Also Dreary 

     This book was sooo long winded and full of dialogue. Normally I've had to write reviews concerning an author's writing being to descriptive about scenery or a sex scene. Instead this book was just to much dialogue after dialogue that made this book seem really long. There was so much said that could have been condensed. Into a smaller plot, especially since the story itself was rather cliche. 

      The Banks girls: Brooke, Madison, and Liberty, are all know for different things and are currently all out in English society fresh from America. Their parents, mother America and father English, only want the best matches in marriage for them but also want them to be married for love as they were. This story is essential about Brooke and her time in courting an Earl Andrew Townson. Brooke lets me go a little far with her and doesn't heed the social norms on how to behave with men, so she is labeled a tease. Well one Duke she teases does not take it well and plots to ruin her by sending the Earl Andrew Townson to her as a possible suitor only in the hopes to woo her, compromise her then disgrace her by not marrying her. Andrew, not one to do such wicked things only agrees to the Dukes proposal so he can gain back some of his estates. However Andrew did not realize he could lose his heart in the scheme of things as he finds himself falling for the victims of this horrible plot.

      Overall the book was not my cup of tea. I've read this genre many times and this one just didn't do it for me. Perhaps it was the underlying idea of Andrew always trying to ruin Brooke that made this book feel off since I couldn't really root for him as a good guy. And as for Brooke well she wasn't much a victim to me since she was overly flirtatious and a tease putting herself in those positions sooo it made it hard to be on her side too. The bright side in the book was the witty banter that occurred between Brooke or Andrew, though it felt more contemporary than regency. My only other fault with this book is the length. I think the length could have been cut had the author not written a lot of the forthcoming info and extra character devil omen concerning the Brooke's sisters for the next books in the series. It's was distracting and seemed like idle talking from the main story. So like I said not my favorite historical romance and will not be reading this series further.

"Misc. Monday": The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble

Genre: Historical Romance, Fairy Tales, Folklore & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, 237 pages

Price: $4.99 ebook, $9.18 paperback (at time of post)

Publisher & Date:  March 1, 2015

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating: .2

Price I Paid: Zip, Due to Amazon Prime subscription.

My Rating: 

My Thoughts: To Wish or Not Wish?

       This book was such an interesting very imaginative story that was wonderful to read from beginning to end. I am extremely close to my sister, so I must admit that is one thing that drew me to this book. Another was just the premise, the girls turn 16 and her sister begins turning into a mermaid?! (okay not exactly the plot but close) So I thought let's try this one out. Immediately when reading this book I felt like I was reading a Tolkien-ish kind of journey with Wizard of Oz type fantasy meets Peter Pan like adventure and mischief type stories meshed into one book for Y.A. So if you like stories with mermaids, spells, potions, faeries, dragons, circus, and wishes, Oh and maybe a HEA, you should pick this book.

         The heroine of the story is 16 yrs old when first introduced, her name is Clara. She lives with her Auntie Verity and sister Maren in the Llanfair Mountains of Pennsylvania in 1870. However, you are quickly told that Clara and Maren were brought to their Auntie in strange ways. Auntie Verity is half Fairy and an apothecary master, but was alone for a time until she was mysteriously delivered a huge conch shell, which held Maren, and a stork carried Clara to her a little later. Maren obviously being from the sea, never really seemed to be an issue for the family till the girls 16th birthday (darn that puberty) then Maren begins to show her true nature, which is a mermaid and starts changing daily little by little. Poor Clara is left with this problem of wishing nothing more than to help her sister be well and have what she wants, which is to be of the sea, but to do that means Clara will not get her wish, which is to always have her sister with her.

         Overall, I loved this book and I'm sooo sharing this with my sister. It's clean refreshing and unique which are rare traits for a lot of Y.A. books. Plus the world it's set in but not really set in makes it all magical and I just really like the fairy tale aspect not being written in a cheesy Disney princess way but in a more semi-real sojourner kind of way. I must say I will definitely read more from this author in the future, especially if she does more from this unique world she has created.