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books read
Loretta Chase, Mr. Impossible
She's an intellectual widow with a passion for heirogyphics and, um, passion, although right now she's obsessed with finding her kidnapped brother. He's a big lummox with a heart of gold, who has spent his life bumbling into trouble and having fun, but he's brighter than he seems, I think. They fight international intrigue and local banditry in the hunt for Egyptian antiquities all up and down the Nile.
I was sore afraid when I began, because I know something about 1820s Egypt. Happily Chase does too, so I wasn't maddened by inaccuracies left and right. However, this still didn't grab me - and I've seen it raved about elsewhere. The only big problem I had with it was the hero's voice, which I didn't buy - so was he dumb or not?
Jo Beverly, Skylark
She's a passionate widow with a past as a society star, now afraid for the life of her son and newly a little more grounded. He's the serious boy next door who loved her 6 years ago, and went on to a bright career in parliament as a radical. They investigate a family mystery that she hopes will, if resolved right, protect her little one.
SPOILERS: The only unusual bit in this was the inclusion of a homosexual male couple, which seems to be a trendy development in romance these days - having a gay B-story or background story. A fascinating development to me, goven romance's stereotypical audience of housewives from Topeka.
General romace novel note: I am tired of Rogues, families with 5 brothers, secret societies formed at Eton, etc. Yes, I know series sell well. I don't have to LIKE them though.
She's an intellectual widow with a passion for heirogyphics and, um, passion, although right now she's obsessed with finding her kidnapped brother. He's a big lummox with a heart of gold, who has spent his life bumbling into trouble and having fun, but he's brighter than he seems, I think. They fight international intrigue and local banditry in the hunt for Egyptian antiquities all up and down the Nile.
I was sore afraid when I began, because I know something about 1820s Egypt. Happily Chase does too, so I wasn't maddened by inaccuracies left and right. However, this still didn't grab me - and I've seen it raved about elsewhere. The only big problem I had with it was the hero's voice, which I didn't buy - so was he dumb or not?
Jo Beverly, Skylark
She's a passionate widow with a past as a society star, now afraid for the life of her son and newly a little more grounded. He's the serious boy next door who loved her 6 years ago, and went on to a bright career in parliament as a radical. They investigate a family mystery that she hopes will, if resolved right, protect her little one.
SPOILERS: The only unusual bit in this was the inclusion of a homosexual male couple, which seems to be a trendy development in romance these days - having a gay B-story or background story. A fascinating development to me, goven romance's stereotypical audience of housewives from Topeka.
General romace novel note: I am tired of Rogues, families with 5 brothers, secret societies formed at Eton, etc. Yes, I know series sell well. I don't have to LIKE them though.
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Skylark isn't Beverley at her best, though an off book for Beverley is still better than 90% of what's on the shelves these days, IMO.
Totally with you on being tired of secret societies, large families, etc. I put up with them if they sell well, and am more forgiving of authors who got in on the trend early than their legions of imitators. (In particular, I always enjoy Julia Quinn, but I swear if I read another Julia Qlone writing about a tiresome crew of Bridgerton Lites, I'ma go howl at the moon.)
That said, I am writing a trilogy, only the character linkages are looser. James, hero of the first book, is brother to Anna, heroine of the second. Portia, heroine of the third, is sister to Anna's late and unlamented first husband, and her eventual husband and Anna's well-loved second husband are on good terms after having saved each other's lives in battle. My secondary characters keep insisting they have stories of their own, you see.
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This should read "if they work well."