Undressed by the Earl

Undressed by the Earl by Michelle Willingham

David Hartford doesn't really want to get re-married, but there are two things keeping him in London in search for a wife:  he is the Earl of Castledon and in need of an heir, and he promised his daughter she would have a new mother after this Season.  His only stipulation is that she can't be someone he could fall in love with.  That pretty much eliminates the beautiful and lively Amelia Andrews from the list of eligible debutantes.  The problem is, he keeps getting pulled in to her schemes.  Why can't he just walk away from her?

Amelia Andrews has been in love with one man for four years.  Yes, this man is a known rake who ruined her sister's reputation by crying off their wedding, but Amelia was in love with him first.  Now that Viscount Lisford is finally showing interest in her, she is starting to realize that her family was right about him all along.
When Lisford kidnaps her in an attempt to elope, Amelia finds herself married to save her reputation.  Unfortunately, it is to the man she was trying to match with her sister; the man whose personality she once likened to a handkerchief; the one man she might actually love, but who will never love her:  the Earl of Castledon.

Much like all of Ms. Willingham's previous work, this story is gut wrenchingly emotional and full of many plot twists and turns.  Some might see this book as a challenge to keep track of all of the "balls in the air", but Ms. Willingham is a masterful juggler and none of the balls hit the ground during the performance.

Perhaps the greatest attribute of this book is the trove of characters that have been built up and carefully cultivated throughout this series.  While a new "villain" needed to be introduced for this story, the reader was kept on guard, waiting for the true villain to emerge.  It was only when this character was once again wrecking havoc on the world that the main and supporting characters were allowed to truly flex their proverbial muscles.  I might be sadistic, but there is something innately more interesting about characters in crisis than otherwise.

Outside of the crisis area, though, the story falls a bit flat.  The hero was not my favorite of the series, and came off not very heroic.  I did like the story between Amelia and David's daughter, and also of Beatrice and her husband, but, again, those were mostly during crisis.

Over all, I simply felt that the first half of the book was good, but the second half was spectacular.  If you are one of those readers who only read the first five chapters before deciding to finish or not, don't cheat yourself out of an amazing experience.  Stick with it.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 4

Sex – 4 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

Make-Believe Wedding

Make-Believe Wedding by Sarah Mayberry

Andie Bennett has been in love with Heath McGregor forever, too bad he doesn't actually see her as a woman.  To Heath she is just one of the guys.  His best friend's kid sister and the best electrician on his crew.  Not exactly dating material.  After yet another attempt to catch Heath's eye falls flat at the Valentine's Ball, she drunkenly fills out an entry for for the Great Wedding Giveaway, never intending to actually turn it in.  Unfortunately, her intentions didn't matter to the person cleaning her table after she left.

Heath McGregor is holding out for the right woman.  He knows she is out there, and would rather remain a bachelor forever, than settle for anything less than meant to be.  In the mean time, dating attractive women and hanging out with the guys seems like a great way to pass the time.  That is until the Chamber of Commerce announces that he and Andie Bennett have been made finalists in the Great Wedding Giveaway.  To save Andie from utter humiliation, Heath agrees to a fake engagement until the contest ends.  Now Heath is seeing a new side to his best friend's kid sister, and he is wondering if the right woman wasn't "out there", but "right here" all along.

What a great end to a fun concept!  While not the first series that I have reviewed from beginning to end, this is the first series that I reviewed all of the books as they were released.  It was a test in patience, but I persevered.

This was just a plain, old-fashioned, sweet book.  It was funny and thrilling, but when it boiled down to it, the idea of falling in love with your brother's best friend (or best friend's brother) is a universal concept that most women can relate to.  I'm pretty sure half of the women who read this book can think of a million times they have fantasized about marrying, dating, kissing - jumping - said guy.  Tons of paper every year is covered with "Mrs {brother's friend}", and tons of make-up is applied in hopes of catching this elusive one's eye.  Andie did nothing that every teenage girl in history class hasn't done a hundred times.  The only difference is she forgot to cover up her "doodling" and now the whole "class" is privy to her fantasy.

The characters in this story are all mostly likable.  Even Beau, who is pushy and overbearing, is endearing in his desire to protect his sister.  I loved the initial conversation between Beau and Andie.  It truly showed that they love each other, but are not above taking the mickey out when it is needed.

Overall, this was a fun read that made me smile and laugh and whole lot.  I am sad to see the series come to an end, but I look forward to seeing more from Sarah Mayberry, including a possible story between Beau and Lily.  One can only hope.

 Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Cowgirl Come Home

Cowgirl Come Home by Debra Salonen

At the age of eighteen Bailey Jenkins was cursed by her broken-hearted boyfriend at the top of a Ferris Wheel.  Told that if she went through with the gut wrenching decision that she was about to make, then he would call down his grandmother's gypsy curse on her for the rest of her life.  Unfortunately, it seems like the curse might have been real, because Bailey has had nothing but bad luck ever since.

Fifteen years later there is nothing Paul Zabrinski regrets more than cursing his first love...whom he has never really gotten over.  But how can he still love a woman that made a decision that affected them both all by herself?  Now that she is back in town, broken in every sense of the word, to help her mother care for her cantankerous father, can both of them find it in their hearts to forgive each other and move on?  Or is the curse too strong to allow love to win?

This was such a refreshing book.  Not exactly a "feel good" book, it transcends its own concept and comes out as a shining example of great writing and masterful character building.  With its heavy subject matter, it was always going to be an emotional book.  You can't discuss subjects like abortion, addiction, theft, grief, and recovery and still remain shallow and lighthearted.  But this book takes those subjects and removes the melodrama, making them raw and powerful without making them sob-worthy.  In a word, they are honest.

The main characters are both flawed and broken by a life that proved that life itself is not fair.  However, they are both strong and willing to pull themselves up by the boot straps and keep trudging along.  These are admirable qualities and very well received in this book.

The supporting characters are where the true magic in the story lies.  Ms. Salonen took a character who is basically an abusive bully on a power trip, and is candidly described as "the town drunk", and completely makes him likable.  She is actually quite fearless when it comes to making unlikable characters sympathetic.  That kind of gumption is just too admirable not to recognize and applaud.

Overall, I needed this story.  I had been rather disappointed with my own opinion of the last few books I had read, and was actually worried that I was burning out.  This book revived my soul and gave me a reason to keep on reading and reviewing.  Thank you, Debra Salonen!

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

The Other Side of the Bridge

The Other Side of the Bridge by Katharine Swartz

Ava Lancet's world has completely fallen apart.  After losing her baby, her job, and her marriage, she discovers that her late grandmother has left her a house in Greece.  Hoping fervently for a chance to separate herself from the emptiness around her she jumps on a plane and heads out to investigate her inheritance.  Little does she know that so much more is involved than a rustic, abandoned house and one broken life.  She embarks on a journey of not only self-discovery, but discovery of a life she never knew her grandmother led.

For the sake of full-disclosure, I am not a big women's fiction reader.  There are a lot of big emotions involved in women's fiction that sometimes I find a bit overwhelming.  That being said, this book doesn't disappoint on the emotions front.  Dealing with everything from grief and marital strife, to fear, hunger, and post-traumatic stress, this book is a clear-cut, "how to deal" story, with one major, over-arching moral tying everything together nicely.

Overall, I actually did like this story.  It might not be my regular cup of tea, but the story is memorable, in a good way.  I think I walked into this with a different expectation, so it took me a while to adjust my perception.  After I finally did, I discovered that it was an enthralling book filled with mystery, and ending with excitement and adventure.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 4

Sex – N/A 

Language – 4

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

After the Rain

After the Rain by Lillian Darcy

Casey Jay Brown never thought he would return to Marietta, Montana.  Not after the prom night that changed his life forever.  During a drug-fueled night of partying and excess Casey's girlfriend, Neve Shepherd, lost her life in a freak accident.  The only problem is Casey has always questioned just how responsible he was for that accident.  Consumed by guilt he has abused his body to it's breaking point and still has never found release from his demons.  When a once in a lifetime job opens up half an hour from Marietta, Casey decides to take it.  After all, what are the chances that he will ever need to set foot in town?

Kira Shepherd Blair has been angry most of her life.  Even before her sister's death  eighteen years ago she felt the sting of resentment and anger brewing beneath the surface.  There has always been someone to direct the anger at, too.  Her sister, for the unfair treatment she received when Neve was around; Jay Brown, for Neve's death; her ex's first wife, for treating her like trash even though she had no part of that marriage's demise; her ex, for constantly disappointing her and their son.  But when she is faced with a horrifying truth, she is forced to realize that it might just be time to let go.

Like most of Ms. Darcy's offerings, this story is a mixture of sweet, emotional, and mysterious.  Casey truly is tortured by his past, but he has also learned to move past the guilt and live with the questions.  Kira has never learned to do that.  Her personality is such that she thinks if she lets go of the anger then she will fall apart.  I found it interesting that she saw her mother as weak, when the truth was that her mother was stronger that everyone else.  Not because she "got over it", but because she learned to cope with it.

I really liked the transition from the other books in the series and the foreshadowing of Gemma's story.  There really was a sense of closure for Tully in this book and a promise that Kate and Harrison will be involved in Gemma's story as well.  There was also a lot of information in the book that checked out in real life and made me as reader appreciate the amount of research that really goes in to writing a contemporary book.

The supporting characters in this book were a mixture of filler (the artists and party goers) and secondary-mains (Lindeen, Corrine, Neve's parents, Kate, and Gemma).  I felt they were handled quite deliberately, and it worked beautifully.

Overall, the book was well balanced and beautiful.  A worthy continuation to captivating series.  

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

The Escape

The Escape by Mary Balogh

Sir Benedict Harper was not made for an idle life, but that seems to be all he can manage since his dream of a military life was taken from him on the Peninsula, along with his ability to walk and dance.  His restlessness leads him to agree to help a recent widow escape from her late husband's family, and escort her on a mad dash to Wales where there may, or may not, be a cottage waiting for her.  As he fights his feelings of inadequacy he finds himself wondering if this fierce widow might understand him better than anyone else.

Samantha McKay has been trapped for six years.  First at the home of her tyrannical father-in-law for a year while her husband was at war and then taking care of her dying husband for five years.  Now under the threat of returning to a life of suppression and misery under her father-in-law, she concocts a plan to steal away in the middle of the night and make her way to Wales, where her mother was raised.  She enlists the help of Sir Benedict, her neighbor's brother and a man she has not always thought of fondly.  Can she keep their partnership purely business?  Or will she find herself once again falling into the arms of a wounded and demanding reminder of a war she wishes to forget.

I have read many books about Wales, but I honestly believe this one contains the most descriptive images of the country and atmosphere.  I have always thought of it as a foggy and craggy country (a lot like Wuthering Heights), where most Gothic novelists obviously find their inspiration.  This book, however, completely changed my perception.  The descriptions remind me a bit of the Pacific Northwest (where I live) and I found that charming and comforting.  The people seemed friendly, if a little hesitant to welcome visitors who look down on them.  I love that the musical aspect of the country was regaled upon, and the descriptor of the singing raising the roof of the church was memorable.

This the fourth story set in the world of the Survivors (The Suitor was a novella that occurred concurrently with The Arrangement), and the sixteenth story set in the world of the Bedwyns.  Starting with One Night for Love, the story that first introduced us to Gwen, Lady Trentham (formerly Lady Muir), this serial keeps getting better and better as it goes.  Ms. Balogh has managed to keep the stories fresh, while still finding a way to tug our heartstrings and make us smile simultaneously.  This story is a powerful reminder of her signature romantic trope, damaged heroes (or heroines) finding the power of love stronger than their own obstacles.

The characters in this story shine.  Ms. Balogh is an expert of creating memorable characters, whether they are in the forefront or the background.  Even the lawyer who handled Samantha's business and the owner of the inn rated important enough to actually have a personality.  This attention to detail really makes a difference in creating a captivating story, but so does knowing when to pull back and let the lead characters take center stage.  There seemed to be a seamless quality to this differentiation in this story.

Overall, I found this a pleasant and happy read.  It didn't make me laugh hysterically, or grit my teeth in suspense.  But not all books need to do that to be great.  Some books just need to tell a good story well with no distractions or additives.  That is exactly what this book did.  

 Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Beauty and the Cowboy

Beauty  and the Cowboy by Nancy Robards Thompson

After ring shopping with her long-term boyfriend, Charlotte Morgan knew that a proposal was just around the corner.  Unfortunately, so did everyone else in Marietta, Montana.  Uncomfortable with the gossip, and unsure about the distance she has been feeling from Tom, she calls him up to get some reassurance.  Instead she gets some news she didn't see coming by a long shot.

Jesse Guthrie has always hated Tom Tucker.  Everything always came easy to Tom.  The career Jesse wanted, the notoriety, and the girl.  Neighbor and playmate Charlie Morgan was the one thing from his childhood that he cherished more than anything, but the timing was never right, so Tom was able to swoop in and take her away.  Now Charlie is showing signs of a possible opening, and Jesse knows that he would be a fool to ignore those signs.

This was a super sweet story.  Humorous and poignant at the same time, it gives a slight peek into the world of beauty pageants, and proves that not all pageants are Toddlers in Tiaras and Stage Mom fodder.  There is also the aspect of "always a bridesmaid" that appeals on many levels in this story.

I think my favorite thing about this story was that Charlie was actually learning her lessons from herself as she helped Maddie through the motions of pageant life.  It's one thing to hear advise from other people, but when you realize that you are spouting off wisdom that applies to you as well, the moment is literary gold.

Overall, this is a feel good story that leaves you realizing that there is no shame in finishing second in a contest, but settling for second best in life should never be an option.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 3

Storyline – 5

Overall – 4