The Accidental Wedding by Anne Gracie

Contrary to the average reviews for this book, this was the only Anne Gracie book I LOVED.  This is also my FIRST Anne Gracie book and after reading it, I went in search of her other ones but they all fell flat so either this book is a fluke for the author or this is a new her since it is currently her latest one out.  I truly hope it is the latter and will give her next book a chance before writing her off.

What I loved about this story....I loved that Maddy was a poor heroine and Anne Gracie illustrated her and her lifestyle with her younger siblings so richly. There was so much detail, subtly given to illustrate her world and her little home. It made me feel cozy and immersed in that world with them. As for the hero, Nash, I felt all his actions and reactions were real.  I loved the chemistry and interaction between the two.  She was sweet, innocent of a man's anatomy and curious and he was a sly, diplomatic rake who still stumbled with his dialogue with Maddy because men are sometimes goofs when it comes to love despite their profession.  This is a Cinderella-like story but with a much stronger Cinderella, since Maddy is anything but dependent. 

I usually speed-read books but this is one of the few where I read every single word.

A Lady's Lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran

I really wanted to like this story, as it started off promising, but somewhere along the line, I just lost interest.  I admired the detail and attention given at the beginning of this book to the poor during this time, but after the hero and heroine got together, I no longer cared.  The way this book is written is very detached and matter-of-fact sometimes and for a romance book, it just doesn't work well.  I came from reading Brenda Joyce's A Lady at Last and  The Masquerade which were gripping and captivating page-turners.


To briefly summarize, we meet the heroine who is poor and barely scraping by.  The hero is a poor nobleman.  The hero finds that it is possible that the heroine could be a long-lost twin to a huge inheritance and decides to take a chance on her to see if he can marry her and gain the fortune.


I know there isn't much to this review but I really just don't have much to write about it. I neither hate or love the book.  It is just a boring and neutral for me, which I think..makes it even worse.

A Taste of Desire by Beverley Kendall

Ms. Kendall steams up the Regency romance scene with this hot and passionate story between (what seems to be) a spoiled brat and a hardworking lord. Lady Amelia Bertram is the only daughter of a widowed, workaholic lord so although she gets everything she wants with money, she doesn't get the attention and love she yearns for from her father. Lord Thomas Armstrong was a somewhat impoverished nobleman who, with the help of Lady Amelia's father, has been able to replenish the family's estate, funds, and status..and is very grateful to Amelia's dad for his guidance and generosity.

The problem exists when Amelia's father asks Thomas to look after his daughter while he goes away on a business trip to America, as both hero and heroine did not get off on a very good start. Sparks fly the wrong way when readers first enter the story, but as the two grow to tolerate and love each other, a blazing romance blossooms that is sure to keep readers up until the wee hours of the night/morning, as it did for me!

Readers will initially not like Amelia (who likes spoiled, beautiful brats?), but I'm sure that is the appeal and intention of this book, as Amelia matures in character and more is revealed about her behavior and past. Thomas' attempt to tame the "Princess" is also a very fun read, as there are moments where she admits defeat. The characters are not the usual two-dimensional sort usually found in this genre with the goody-two-shoes heroine and perfect hero.

Although the premise isn't completely unique (in fact, it is somewhat similar to her first book, Sinful Surrender), the writing and development is very entertaining and captivating. I am glad to know that the author is keeping up her writing standards of engrossing and above average historical romances ;) I am most definitely looking forward to her next one!

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