"Lord Calthorpe's Promise" by Sylvia Andrew

Lord Calthorpe's Promise by Sylvia Andrew 2002

Description from back of book:
"Lord Adam Calthorpe had been rash to promise to look out for a fellow soldier's sister when he was killed at the battle of Waterloo. Katharine Payne was a golden-eyed virago who flouted Adam's authority at every turn! Maybe taking her to stay with his mother for the Season would absolve him of his responsibilities - that that such a headstrong chit, however endearing, would ever find herself a husband. Only when an unscrupulous man started pursuing her did Adam come to realise that fulfilling his promise might involve marrying the girl himself."

This book has the same basic set-up as Mary Balogh's "Slightly Married." However, Andrew takes it in a completely different direction. This book is charming in its own way, the classic story of how two people who hate each other from the beginning end up loving each other at the end. It's well written and rather clever, although it is important to state that there is no sex whatsoever in this book. And I found it a bit annoying at the end how it went so obviously into the next story instead of ending this one with a nice satisfying sex scene. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading this book, and would pick up the other ones in the series if I see them.

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"Under the Mistletoe" by Mary Balogh

Under the Mistletoe by Mary Balogh 2007

Description from back of book:
"Dear Reader, Christmas has always been my favorite holiday, celebrating as it does all that is finest in the human experience - love, generosity, peace, and joy. I am delighted that this volume makes available again five of my novellas. They are love stories in which Christmas is shown to have the power to heal all the wounds of the human heart. "A Family Christmas" brings together a couple estranged since just after their arranged marriage the year before, and gives them the perfect chance to start over. "The Star of Bethlehem" features one betrothal ring lost but three that are mysteriously found as a broken marriage is abundantly mended. "The Best Gift" is the tale of a teacher who has never known family, love, or Christmas - then finds all three when asked to chaperon one of her pupils over the holiday. In "Playing House", a lonely aristocrat and his daughter are drawn to an impoverished young woman and her siblings, who are celebrating their last Christmas together with brave gaiety. An assortment of unhappy travelers stranded by bad weather at an inn on Christmas Eve encounter love after a young couple arrives to find that there is "No Room at the Inn" just as their child is about to be born. I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I did writing them. Happy Holidays! Mary Balogh."

This is a charming collection of short stories. My favorite two were "A Family Christmas" and "Playing House." While these are quite good stories, I must say that I prefer her longer novels, where she takes the time to truly go in depth with the relationship between the characters and make their love real to the reader. I think Mary Balogh's true strength lies in doing that, and I think it's obvious in these short stories. While they're enjoyable and worth reading, certainly, the love sometimes seems to pop out of nowhere because it seems she just doesn't have time to develop it properly in sixty pages. Still, I enjoyed this fun holiday collection.

RATING: 1/2

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"A Masked Deception" by Mary Balogh

A Masked Deception by Mary Balogh 1985

Description from dust cover:
"Richard, Earl of Brampton, is under orders from his mother to produce an heir. Dutifully he marries dull, proper Margaret Wells but his heart belongs to a girl he met six years before at a masked ball. All he knows of her is that she was disguised as Marie Antoinette. Richard and Margaret's marriage settles into comfortable boredom, until the myseterious 'Marie Antoinette' appears again. Richard cnnot stop himself from embarking on a passionate love affair with his lost love, but all the while he is tormented by guilt at betraying the wife whom he has come to love with all his heart."

This is Mary Balogh's first book, and I quite enjoyed it. It has much the same feeling as some of her early books, such as "The Secret Pearl" or the "Web" series. In other words, it's quite emotionally bleak, and has quite a sad feel to it. Balogh is good at portraying hopelessness and desperation, and this comes out through Meg's character, who is trapped in a loveless marriage with a man she secretly adores. I quite enjoyed this book!

RATING: 1/2

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"The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever" by Julia Quinn

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn 2007

Description from back of book:
At the age of ten, Miss Miranda Cheever showed no signs of ever becoming a Great Beauty. Her hair was lamentably brown, her eyes the same muddy colour, and her legs, which were uncommonly long, refused to learn anything which might remotely be called grace. Only, in 1811, the nineteen-year-old Viscount Turner - eldest brother of Miranda's closest friend - had kissed the hand of an awkward ten-year-old girl and promised her that one day she'd be as beautiful as she was clever. Now, eight years later, Miranda is a grown woman, and Turner an embittered widower. But she has never forgotten his kindness. Indeed, it is only in her diary that she confides the truth: she has never stopped loving Turner, and she has never stopped hoping that one day he will see her as more than a naive girl."

As are all of Julia Quinn's books, this one is charming and fun. Miranda is a loveable heroine, and Turner is so nasty and tortured you just have to love him. Although he is certainly attracted to her, and she loves him dearly, you can't help but feel sorry for him when he's forced to marry her - convinced that marriage is evil and that it can never make him happy. Although Quinn turns to a rather overused plot device at the end, it still made me cry and tugged at my heart, so I suppose I can forgive her for using it. This book is cute and witty, like all of her other books, and I look forward to reading more!

RATING: 1/2

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"Potent Pleasures" by Eloisa James

Potent Pleasures by Eloisa James 1999

Description from back of book:
"Reckless desire sends Charlotte Daicheston into the garden with a dashing masked stranger. He's powerful, unforgettable, a devastatingly handsome footman who lures her - not against her will - into a grand indiscretion at a masquerade ball. Then he vanishes. Several years later, after Charlotte has made her dazzling debut in London society, they meet again. But the rogue is no footman. He's rich, titled, and he doesn't remember Charlotte. Worse, he's the subject of some scandalous gas set gossip: rumor has it, the earl's virility is in question. Charlotte, who knows all too intimiately the power of his passion, is stunned by the gossip that has set society ablaze. At last, there can be a storybook ending...unless, of course, Charlotte's one mad indiscretion had not been with him at all."

This is probably one of Eloisa James's best books. Although her writing style has certainly developed since she wrote this book (her first), there are certain things about this book that make it better than her later ones. Mostly, there's no annoying secondary plot that threatens to take over the book and makes you want to skip chapters...this is definitely a plus! This book is a fun read. There is a lot of heat between the characters, and their fights are a good deal of fun. I'd read the other two in this series, and it's nice to see how it all started. Good for a light, fun read.

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"The Hazards of Hunting a Duke" by Julia London

The Hazards of Hunting a Duke by Julia London 2006

Description from back of book:
"When the young ladies of the Fairchild family learn that their stepfather has absconded with their late mother's fortune, Ava, the eldest, hunts down the notoriously wealthy rakehell Jared Broderick, the Marquis of Middleton and heir to a dukedom. Much to her shock and delight, the marquis sweeps her into a whirlwind romance and proposes marriage. But after their passionate wedding night, Ava discovers Jared has ulterior motives of his own. Not only does he expect her to deliver an heir while he continues to enjoy a rogue's life, but Ava also suspects she is a pawn in her husband's quest for revenge. Marriages of convenience work for some but for Ava, a loveless bond won't do. So she devises a bold plan to confront her husband's demons so that he might be free to choose to give her his heart for the right reason: because she is the only woman he will ever truly desire."

There are some books that you remember because they were either awful or spectacular, and then there are some books that you forget a week after reading them because they had no effect on you either way. This is one of the latter. This book is forgettable, and rather dull. I also want to know exactly what she means when she says that Jared earned his title (he's a marquess, and heir to a dukedom) by himself. What amazing thing did he do to be granted a marquisite? I think she's probably just mistaken and doesn't realize that the fact he's a marquess is most likely just a courtesy title he got from his father...just another one of the annoying things from this book. I don't reccomend.

RATING: 1/2

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"To Sir Phillip, With Love" by Julia Quinn

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn 2003

Description from back of book:
"Sir Phillip knew from his correspondence with his dead wife's distant cousin that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except...she wasn't. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her...Eloise Bridgerton couldn't marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking...and wondering...and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she he had hoped might be her perfect match. Except...he wasn't. Her perfect husband wouldn't be so moody and ill-mannered. And he certainly should have mentioned that he had two young - and decidedly unruly - children, as much in need of a mother as Phillip is in need of a wife."

I love the Bridgertons! This book is one of my favorites. Sir Phillip is sad and a bit brooding, while Eloise is bright and happy. Phillip is attracted to the fact that she's happy - partially because his late wife was depressed and had killed herself. While Phillip is not nearly as troubled as Michael, or Simon, or even Anthony, he is an injured soul and I liked seeing him brighten up as he came to love and trust Eloise. This is a sweet story, well written as all of Julia Quinn's books are. Well worth reading!

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"It's In His Kiss" by Julia Quinn

It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn 2005

Description from back of book:
Gareth St. Clair has a father who hates him and who is determined to ruin the St. Clair family fortunes. Gareth's sole heirloom is an old diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his past...and the key to his future. The problem is - it's written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word. All of the ton is agreed: there's no one quite like Hyacinth Bridgerton. She's fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken, and - according to Gareth - probably best in small doses. But there's something about her - something charming and vexing - that grabs him and won't quite let go. And Hyacinth - or so she claims - speaks Italian...

And so she claims? Er, Hyacinth does speak Italian. It's not like she's pretending...This book is fun. Gareth is Lady Danbury's grandson, and I've liked her all through the rest of the Bridgerton books. Gareth is a fun character, although he shares some characteristics with Simon from "The Duke and I" - although only vaguely - in that they have severe parental issues. They're still very different characters, though. Hyacinth is also fun, although sometimes she gets on your nerves (although I think she's supposed to, actually, so it's alright). A good book!

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"On the Way to the Wedding" by Julia Quinn

On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn 2006

Description from back of book:
Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton is a firm believer in true love. He'd have to be an idiot not to be: all seven of his siblings are happily married. Gregory figures he is just biding his time until the right woman comes along. And so when he sees Hermione Watson, he knows with every fibre of his being that she is meant to be his. But thorugh Hermione's closest - and slightly less beautiful - friend, Lucy Abernathy, he finds out that Hermione is desperately in love with another man. Sadly, by the time Gregory figures out that the right girl is actually the wrong girl, and the right girl was Lucy all along, it's too late. Lucy is to marry another! Now - on the way to the wedding - Gregory must figure out how to thwart the nuptials and convince Lucy that she was always meant to be his.

This is the last Bridgerton book, and like all the rest, I quite enjoyed it! Gregory is quite a bit unlike his older brothers - he's a total romantic rather than a rake - which I find to be quite adorable. Lucy, on the other hand, is a strong woman who tries to take care of all of her problems herself, even to the extent that she's willing to give up the man she loves to save her family. This book is charming, and I highly reccomend.

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