While visiting London, a beautiful young woman becomes homesick for the West Indies. Unfortunately, her only available chaperon for the perilous journey is her rakish, hot-tempered cousin.

What I liked: The fact that the book was fast paced and steamy.

What I didn't like: Parts of the story just didn't add up and the ending was a bit contrived. My other complaint with the novel was some of the dialogue. It was meant to be witty banter but it often times just came across as flat.

Details:

• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Pub. Date: January 2004
• 416 pgs.
• Author website: Catherine Coulter

Plans: Added it to historical romance bookbox

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2 March 1810 . . .
Today, I fell in love.

At the age of ten, Miranda Cheever showed no signs of Great Beauty. And even at ten, Miranda learned to accept the expectations society held for her—until the afternoon when Nigel Bevelstoke, the handsome and dashing Viscount Turner, solemnly kissed her hand and promised her that one day she would grow into herself, that one day she would be as beautiful as she already was smart. And even at ten, Miranda knew she would love him forever.

But the years that followed were as cruel to Turner as they were kind to Miranda. She is as intriguing as the viscount boldly predicted on that memorable day—while he is a lonely, bitter man, crushed by a devastating loss. But Miranda has never forgotten the truth she set down on paper all those years earlier—and she will not allow the love that is her destiny to slip lightly through her fingers . . .

Review: While I enjoyed this book I didn't feel that it was one of the better ones from Julia Quinn. There was humor and tension in the book but the execution of the story did not feel completely right. Some of the story was too rushed and underdeveloped.

The relationship between the two main characters, Miranda and Turner is somewhat juvenille. I love Quinn's books because the characters are likeable and the story is believable. Less so with this book.

Details:

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Pub. Date: June 2007
• 384 pgs.
• Series: Avon Historical Romance Ser.

Plans: Added it to historical romance bookbox

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Meagan Fenwick hasn't had a happy Christmas since the death of her parents. Any hopes of this season being different are dashed when her stepbrother Harold informs her that he's gambled away their estate - and her hand in marriage. Terribly shy, Meagan would rather die than wed Lord Barrett Rothchild, a complete stranger and a notorious rake . . . until she meets him and discovers she cannot refuse his charms.

Lord Barret Rothchild was on a secret mission for Her Majesty's Secret Service to trap Lord Harold Fenwick, a suspected member of a dangerous, underground organization. He was determined to succeed and what better way to keep an eye on Harold than by taking part in a sham marriage to his sister - a woman rumored to be so unattractive she hid herself away from society. But when Barret sees Meagan, he's astonished by her beauty. Bound by duty, but tempted by desire, he is now torn between playing the charade of his life . . . or surrendering to a passion that could make his Christmas and his nights merry all year round.

Review: Although I was never compelled to give up on this book I would definitely not say that it is one of my favorites either. The story sounds interesting, Lord Rothchild marries Miss Meagan Finwick in a fake ceremony in order to maintain a link to her brother Lord Harold only to discover that he very much loves his "wife" and cannot image a life without her. In truth I felt that the story was a bit too forced and some of the key elements of the story, such as the priest at their wedding being an actor as well as an actually priest, were just too convenient. I don't want to give too much away but most of the novel follows in this fashion.

And while I understand that it is a romance novel and typically this genre is regarded as somewhat of an escapist genre (ie light and fluffy) I prefer my novels to be a bit more substantial and natural for lack of a better term. Natural for me means that the story flows and there aren't too many coincidences that make the story so unbelievable that there is no longer any way to relate to the characters and their circumstances. I just didn't feel that this novel was as well written as it could have been and that is always a bit of a disappointment.

Details:

• Publisher: Zebra Books, 1999
• Pages: 398
• Author: Constance Hall

Plans: To be included in my historical romance bookbox

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When a small plane carrying FBI Special Agent Jackson Jack Crowne makes a crash landing in mountainous Parlow, Ky., his friends FBI Special Agents Dillon Savitch and Lacey Sherlock fly by helicopter from Washington, D.C., to the scene. Jack survives the crash, aided by Rachael Abbott, a young woman who's returning to Parlow, her childhood home, after escaping an attempt to drown her in a Maryland lake. After Rachael reveals that she's the illegitimate daughter of the late Maryland senator John James Abbott, whose siblings she suspects are trying to kill her, the FBI agents agree to help. As further attempts on Rachael's life occur, the attraction grows between her and Jack.

Review: Overall predictable but not a terrible read. Generally, Coulter's books have enjoyable characters, clear plots and precise timing for lack of better phrasing. In this book, I felt that she was trying to tie too much information into the plot and as a result the book feels a little sloppy and rushed, not to mention that the characters are one dimensional. I am not a happy reader if I can't connect to the characters and the characters in this book just did not feel at all real to me. Dillion and Lacey are the perfect couple with the perfect child and the only issues they have are work related, what with Dillion almost being shot and Lacey actually being shot. As for Rachel and Jack, both characters are flat and for lack of a better term, boring.

The story in itself had a lot of potential with a money obsessed family attempting and succeeding in murdering those standing in their way as well as the side story of Dr. MacLean and the attempts on his life that ultimately end in him committing suicide. I just felt that Coulter could have spent a little more time letting everyone get to know the characters which in turn would have made the reader more in tune with the characters trials and would have made the book much more suspenseful in my opinion.

Plans: Sending the book on to the next person in the ring.

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