Being behind on reviews has had an unexpected plus side.

By having that gap between finishing the book and when I actually sit down to put my thoughts on paper, I have a better take on which books stay with me.  Since I have to refresh my memory on some points, I usually have to do a little re-reading.  If I really love the book, I tend to keep reading after I found whatever it was that prompted me to refer to the book.  That’s a bit annoying, since I should be writing, not reading.  The harder it is for me to put aside the book, the more likely the book is going to be a 5-star book, flaws and all.

With that in mind, I’m going to go ahead and give ratings to the books I’ve already posted.  I’ll eventually update the individual review posts.  Reminder: anything I give a 3-Star or above is a guarantee that I will try other books from the author.

Five Stars:  LOVED!

• Dawnkeepers (Jessica Andersen)
• Bedded for Diamonds (a.k.a. Priceless) (Kelly Hunter)
• Ravenous (Sharon Ashwood)
• Dark Crusade (Lori Devoti)

Four Stars: Liked a lot!

• Driven (Eve Kenin)
• An Unladylike Offer (Christine Merrill)
• Ace is Wild (Penny McCall)

Three Stars: Enjoyable Read

• Slave to Sensation (Nalini Singh)
• Cousin Kate (Georgette Heyer)
• Shadow Game (Christine Feehan)

Cousin Kate

Author: Georgette Heyer
Copyright: 1968 (original)’ 2000 (Harlequin); 396 pgs.
ISBN: 0-373-83446-2
Series: NA
Sensuality: Kisses

Who: Kate Melvern and Philip Broome
Where & When: England, 1817/1818

As author Teresa Medeiros states in the Forward, this book is a departure — more Gothic suspense than high comedy — yet it is not as dark as other Gothics, because it still contains Heyer’s trademark secondary characters and humor.

The lovely orphaned and penniless Kate Melvern is at the end of her rope, so to speak. Released from her governess position for being too young, too pretty, and not accomplished enough, Kate has returned to her own nurse, Sarah Nidd and is seriously considering hiring herself out as a lady’s maid or seamstress. Sarah won’t hear of it and she writes to Lady Broome, half-sister of Kate’s father. Estranged, Kate has never met her Aunt Minerva and only knows what her father has told her of her ambitious relative. Kate has serious doubts that Lady Broome will help to her, so she is doubly shocked when her aunt comes in person to invite her to Staplewood.

Staplewood is the ancestral home of the Broome’s. The current baronet, Sir Timothy, is many years older than Aunt Minerva — who is his second wife — and his health is in decline. Their only child, Torquil, is a bit of an oddity. He has never been sent away to school and he has no friends. Prone to mood swings and severe headaches, his health is considered delicate and the young man is hardly ever out of the sight of his doctor or some member of the household.

Though Lady Broome is very kind and generous, Kate begins to feel crushed by such generosity and wonders how she will be able to ever repay her aunt. Though Kate has begged her aunt to allow her to be useful, Lady Broome has reassured her that Kate spending time with Torquil is ample repayment. Kate is bored with the idle lifestyle. There are no balls or other house parties — except the one dinner party attended by only Sir Timothy’s friends — to break up the monotony, and Torquil’s behavior makes him a poor companion.

The arrival of Mr. Philip Broome, Sir Timothy’s beloved nephew, adds some excitement and change to the household. Philip and Lady Broome do not like each other. She resents the influence Philip has with Sir Timothy and the high regard Sir Timothy has for Philip. Torquil is alternately happy to see him and convinced that Philip is out to get him. For his part, Philip is leery of Kate and believes her to be a fortune hunter with an eye on Torquil. After a couple of uninterrupted conversations with her, he soon realizes that he’s mistaken in regards to her character, and that she is unaware of the real situation at Staplewood.

I really enjoyed this book. Kate is one of the more level-headed, practical, Heyer heroines. Philip is strong, but not unduly arrogant and can admit that he may be wrong about what’s going on at Staplewood. Of course, they are perfectly suited for each other and the scene in which Philip proposes to Kate is the highlight of the book.

And one final note: Torquil? Seriously??

Started: 25 January 2009
Finished: 2 February 2009

Rating:
TBA

I don’t normally look at my stats. WordPress makes it easy for me to do so — and occasionally I glance at what search terms my blog popped up for, or which site most of my visitors were referred from — but for the most part I ignore them. Just for giggles though, I’ve been looking  at them a little more closely lately and had noticed a few trends, especially in regards to the searches. Out of curiosity, I dug a little deeper.

The all-time top search term my blog popped up in is not “babbling” as one would think.  It’s “Mr. & Mrs. Darcy”.  I suppose I should stop procrastinating and finish the rest of the series, considering how often some variation of the search term pops up in my stats.

You’d think, based on the above stats, that the review for “Pride and Prescience” would be the most viewed post or page on my blog.   It’s not.  It’s the 6th most viewed book review post (this excludes  “About Me” and the various challenge pages/posts that had higher view counts).

The top most view book review?

“These Old Shades”.  Georgette Heyer, and search terms referring to her books or characters, appear more frequently than almost any other subject. The other most frequent topic is Star Wars. There are three book in the top 10 most viewed reviews:

01. These Old Shades (G. Heyer)
02. Star Wars: Labyrinth of Evil (J. Luceno)
03. Nicola and the Viscount (M. Cabot)
04. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (M. Stover)
05. Lady in Waiting (A. Herries)
06. Pride and Prescience (C. Bebris)
07. Darth Bane: Path of Destruction (D. Karpyshyn)
08. Maid of Honor (P. Marshall)
09. Magic Burns (I. Andrews)
10. Murder in the North End (P. Ryan)

This wealth of data tells me I should ditch the reading challenges that can’t accommodate Heyer, Star Wars, and the Darcy’s mystery series. Regency England and A Galaxy Far, Far Away. Wow.

Those were the all-time stats. Lately, I’ve been noticing that my blog pops up in searches for anything related to the Kate Daniels series or its author. Inquiring minds want to know if the main character hooks up with a certain Beast Lord in book three. Me, I think she’s in denial.

And people seemed to be anxious to learn the title of the third book in the White House Chef mystery series.  No idea.  Sorry.

And where do most of my visitors come from?

Brie’s blog, Musing of a Bibliophile.  I bet she voted for “Slave to Sensation” in my poll and will be stopping by to see what I think of it.  And I’m sure she’ll be by to see what I think of “Silent on the Moor“. So, I owe Brie and her readers a big “THANK YOU” for their many visits.

That’s all the fun I could handle for one day.

April Lady

Who: Lady Helen “Nell” Irvine and Giles Merion, Earl of Cardross

Summary: Despite the scandalous blemish on her family’s name, Lord Giles Cardross was convinced his lovely young bride cared for him. But as the bills and extravagant debts begin to mount up, Giles begins to suspect that perhaps his adored wife isn’t as innocent as he supposed. Especially since, as of late, she’s been unable to look him in the eye.

Comment: It’s been over a year – in fact 2 years this month – since I read a Heyer. The last was Bath Tangle. So far, I’ve enjoyed most of the books I’ve read.

I liked Nell. A sweet person, who over-spent her quarterly allowance when she loaned her roguish brother money. She then over looks a bill for a very expensive dress and is afraid to tell her husband about it. Her behavior has made Giles question whether she married him for love or for his money. Poor Giles. Here’s a man who’s truly in love, and is confronted with the possibility that the naysayers were right after all. And when he thinks Nell is responsible for what happened to the Cardross necklace, I really felt his anger and heart break.

I also liked Dysart. Even with all his crazy schemes, he’s a decent guy — if somewhat directionless. He’s a much better character than Letty, since he does try to help (in his own way) when all Letty cares about is getting her own way. I did not like Letty, Giles’ spoiled, self-centered half-sister, at all. Her thoughtless remarks served only to reinforce Nell’s insecurities regarding Giles’ true feelings for her. Yet Nell continued to be sympathetic to Letty’s cause. Her behavior throughout made me wish that Giles would like her up in the attic!

Started: 5 April 2008
Finished: 16 April 2008

Liked A Lot

Rating:

Flashback . . . from my 2005 reading list. I fell out of the habit of posting my older reviews. I thought this would be a good way to experiment with the way I format my posts.

The Convenient Marriage

Author: Georgette Heyer
Copyright: 1934 originally; 2000, Harlequin
Series: N/A
Sensuality: Kisses
Violence: some dueling, if I remember correctly.

Where & When: England – 1776
Who: Horatia Winwood and Marcus Drelincourt, Earl of Rule

Summary: Marcus Drelincourt, Earl of Rule, decides to make an offer of marriage to Elizabeth Winwood, oldest daughter of the late viscount. The Winwoods are in dire straits, so Elizabeth accepts, though she is in love with a young army officer, Edward Heron. However, Horatia, the youngest sister, does not think this is fair. She goes to the earl with a plan: marry her instead. Intrigued, the earl agrees, though there is a big age difference between them. The seventeen-year-old new Countess of Rule is naive and makes mistakes. The earl, however, is patient and kind. He’s also falling in love with her. His gentle wooing is confounded by the fact an old enemy is trying to ruin Horry’s reputation. It doesn’t help that his former mistress has got her own scheme to drive a wedge between the earl and his countess. Horry gets herself into a pickle that she fears may spell the end of her marriage. She enlists the aid of her brother and his best friend, with hilarious results.

Comments: One of my favorites. I love it! Horry, with her stammer and faults, is still a girl with many good qualities. She loves her family, speaks her mind, and owns up to her mistakes. She’s brave and resourceful, too. Marcus, whom I’m madly in love with, is everything a hero aught to be: he did not have to accept Horry’s proposal to take her instead of Elizabeth. He’s a true gentleman, giving Horry the chance to explain herself and make her choices, even if he knows they aren’t the best for her. He gave up his mistress when he took a wife, which many men of the age did not. The supporting cast is exceptional. The villain, Lord Robert Lethbridge, is not-over-the-top. He’s a man with a grudge. Lady Massey, the former mistress, behaves like a jilted woman, but she never goes as far as Lethbridge in her revenge. Crosby Drelincourt, provides some comic moments as the dandified heir presumptive who feels his future has slipped away the day Marcus married Horry, though they have no child yet. But the best comedy comes from Viscount Pelham Winwood and his friend, Sir Roland Pommeroy. Their efforts to help Horry is a great piece of comedy. I was laughing so hard, I cried. I could not pick one quote from the entire escapade, so I chose something from earlier.

Favorite Quotes:
“You shouldn’t keep the front door open. What’s to stop people coming in and hitting you over the head? It’s preposterous.”
“I wish you would go home.”
— Viscount Winwood, Lord Lethbridge

Rating:

LOVED IT !!

Flashback. . .2005

During her return to Spain with her father, the lovely Dona Dominica de Rada y Sylva is horrified when their ship is set upon by pirates. Far worse is her discovery that their captor isn’t just any pirate — he is the notorious Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, an Englishman with a scandalous reputation for plundering Spanish ships. But Dominica’s pride braces her determination to be no one’s hostage . .

Author: Georgette Heyer
ISBN: 0-373-83604-X (Harlequin)
Finished: 2005
Who: Dona Dominica de Rada y Sylva and Sir Nicholas Beauvallet
When: 1586 — mentioned in book

For a book that starts off with a sea battle and has several escape and chase scene, I was not that impressed with the story. Dominica is not as proactive as other Heyer heroines. The fact that she fell in love with Sir Nicholas too quickly also bothered me. I’m used to Victoria Holt’s heroines, who are a little more strong in their resolve to hate the hero of the book before falling in love with them. With the exception of Dona Beatrice de Carvalho, all the other were stock characters. Dona Beatrice, determined to have Dominica marry her son, Don Diego, is a worthy adversary. She is polite and genteel, but she controls her husband and she keeps a tight rein on her niece. Dominica’s only hope are her uncle from her mother’s side of the family and Sir Nicholas. Dominica can only sit back and wait to be rescued again.

Favorite Quotes:
Dona Beatrice was confronted by Flaming Indignation in a charming form, and blinked at it.
— Dominica, in a right royal rage, comes to she her aunt

Just Ok

Flashback. . .2005

Prudence and her brother Robin, lately involved in the failed attempt to put Bonnie Prince Charlie on the throne, switch roles and flee to England on their father’s orders. Outside of London, they encounter Letitia Grayson, a heiress who is having second thoughts about eloping with Gregory Markham. Kate (Robin) and Peter (Prue) Merriot rescue the girl, and deliver her into the capable hands of Sir Anthony Fanshawe, family friend of the Graysons. Prue finds herself attracted to the likable Sir Anthony as Robin is falls in love with Letty. The siblings’ plans to lay low in London are dashed. Sir Anthony has taken an interest in the young Peter, especially since “he” has gained an enemy in Gregory Markham. Prue is worried that Sir Antony might suspect they are fugitives. To complicate things even more, the Old Gentleman, Prue and Robin’s father, arrives in London claiming to be the true Viscount Robert Tremaine of Barham.

Author: Georgette Heyer
ISBN: 0-373-83606-6 (Harlequin)
Finished: 2005
Who: Prudence Tremaine and Sir Anthony Fanshawe
When: 1746 — failed attempt to put Bonnie Prince Charlie on the throne of England

Delightful book! So far, it is one of my favorites. The cross-dressing plot is put to good use: the pair are fugitives and adventurers, used to assuming a different identity. This allows for the heroine to do and say things she would never be allowed to as a woman. It also shows what a capable person she is. Prue is calm, level-headed, strong, and brave. These are the qualities Sir Anthony loves about her. Her maturity and good sense are more attractive to him than all of Letty’s beauty and femininity combined. As for Sir Anthony, he is likeable, sensible, and laid back. He’s friendly, humorous, and takes everything in stride, even going so far as to dance with Kate, knowing full well it’s Robin, and then springing Prue from the law enforcement officials who are escorting the erstwhile Mr. Merriot back to London on murder charges. Then there is the Old Gentleman, the most comical and over-the-top character in the book. The word “simple” has no meaning to him. His schemes are complicated to the point that Robin must rescue Letty from Markham again. He leaves even Sir Anthony dumbfounded and speechless!

Favorite Quotes:
“I have never met the man who had vision large enough to appreciate my genius. Perhaps it was to be expected.”
“I shall hope to have my vision enlarged as I become better acquainted with you, sir.”
“I shall stand alone to the end. It is undoubtedly my fate.”
— The Old Gentleman and Sir Anthony

LOVED IT !!

 A gentleman was strolling down a side street in Paris, on his way back from the house of one Madame de Verchoureux.   The gentleman in question is Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, known by friends and enemies alike as Satanas–the devil. On this particular evening, the dangerous rake crosses paths with Léon, a red-headed youth of low birth who is fleeing a certain beating at his brutal brother’s hands. On a whim, Avon buys the boy and makes him his page. It soon becomes clear, however, that Léon is not what he seems, and that Avon has an ulterior motive for bringing him into his household.

Author: Georgette Heyer
ISBN: 0-373-83559-0 (Harlequin)
Finished: 2005
Who: Léonie de Saint-Vire and Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon
When: 1756

These Old Shades is a vast improvement over The Black Moth. This book is not a sequel, as all the characters have been changed, but it is a “rethought”. Justin is more developed as a character than the Duke of Andover. The history of between Justin and the Saint-Vire family helps shed some light on why a high-ranking nobleman would kidnap a woman in order to force her to marry him. The arrival of Léonie changes the duke, though it is not apparent at first. Justin seems to have little use for his siblings, Lady Fanny Marling and Lord Rupert Alastair. He tells his friend Hugh that he does not know (or care) about Rupert’s current situation. However, we learn later from a comment Rupert makes to Lord Anthony Merivale that Justin has been sending his younger brother a generous allowance for some time and so far, it has kept him out of debtor’s prison. Justin goes so far as to entrust Léonie’s grooming to his sister, acknowledging her abilities to instruct the girl in the ways of Polite Society. Later, when it looks as though Rupert and Léonie have eloped (they hadn’t: she was kidnaped and he is in pursuit), Justin is confident that they have not, and his faith in his brother is well founded when he learns that Rupert is trying to rescue her. Léonie is not the only one reunited with family. She has helped Justin, Fanny, and Rupert grow closer and helped smooth the breech between Justin and Anthony.

Favorite Quotes:
“By the way, what did you do with Mr. Manvers’ roan?”
“Lord, is there anything you don’t know? Who told you that?”
“Mr. Manvers himself. I arrived at Avon on the evening of the day you — er — left. Mr. Manvers came to retrieve his property.”
“Curse his impudence! I left him a message! Does the fellow think I’m not to be trusted with a horse?”
“That was rather the impression he gave us. What did you do with it?”
“Well, to tell the truth, I sold it.”
— Justin, discussing the rescue attempt with Rupert, learns the fate of a horse.

 Phillip Jettan is the unpolished son of a baronet.  He has resisted his father’s attempts to mend his country ways.  All that changes when Phillip’s childhood companion, Cleone Chateris, returns from her own efforts at gaining refinement.  The newly polished belle of the countryside is somewhat frustrated with his country manners and appearance.  Phillip, in love with her, proposes.  He is rejected.  After embarrassing himself in a duel with one of her courtly admirers, Phillip decides to grant the wish of his father and his love.  He departs for Paris, determined to acquire the social graces and airs of the genteel.  Once he’s transformed, he returns to England to learn which Phillip she really wants.

Author: Georgette Heyer
ISBN:  0-373-83602-3 (Harlequin)
Finished: 2005
Who: Cleone Chateris and Phillip Jettan
When: Early 1750′s — Sir Maurice was married in 1729.  Phillip is in his 20′s

This book is somewhat fanciful. Phillip acquires all his accomplishment within six months, including learning to speak fluent French. However, the basic theme of loving someone for themself, warts and all, is captured perfectly. Phillip and Cleone are much more develop characters, and they behave like real people. Phillip is hurt by Cleone, so he decides to teach her a lesson and become a “painted puppy”, the extreme opposite of what he is. Phillip’s transformation causes Cleone to feel he no longer cares for her, so she acts like she no longer cares for him. This sets off chain of events which leads Cleone to being betrothed to two men at once, neither of which is Phillip! To be fair, Cleone and Sir Maurice, Phillip’s father, were not completely wrong in wishing that Phillip acquire some refinement. Phillip is a nobleman’s son and he is a landowner. He has social obligations as well as land management responsibilities. He stubbornly resisted his father’s attempts at teaching him the social graces of a gentleman; graces he would need in the company of his equals.

The supporting cast was a mixed bag. I was not overly impressed with all the French characters. Lady Malmerstroke, Cleone’s outrageous aunt, makes up for this.

Favorite Quotes:
“An ode to my wig,” she told him, “written in French.”
“An ode to your what?”
— Lady Malmerstroke, Thomas Jettan, regarding Phillip’s handiwork.

“Clo has disgraced me,” she said comfortably. “Is it not exciting?”
— Lady Malmerstroke to Sir Maurice Jettan, regarding Cleone being betrothed to two men at once.

Disguised as a highwayman, Jack Carstares, the wrongly disgraced Earl of Wyncham, found himself again face-to-face with the wicked Duke of Andover. This time the Black Moth was attempting to abduct dark-haired beauty Diana Beauleigh. Once more Jack’s noble impulse to save the day landed him in trouble, but not before sending the villainous duke scurrying. Diana took her gallant rescuer in and nursed his wounds, and soon truer emotions grew between them. But Jack couldn’t stay, for a lady and an outlaw would make a scandalous pair. Torn between his tarnished past and the hope for Diana’s hand, Jack had one dangerous chance to reclaim his honor — by defeating the Black Moth for good!

Author: Georgette Heyer
ISBN: 0-373-83558-2 (Harlequin)
Finished: 2005
Who: Diana Beauleigh and Jack Carstares, Earl of Wyncham
When: 1751

The Black Moth has some great characters: Jack’s best friend Sir St. Miles O’Hara and his smart, sassy wife, Molly. Jim Salter, Jack’s much-put-upon valet. Richard and Lady Lavinia Carstares, Jack’s troubled brother and his flighty wife. Miss Elizabeth “Betty” Beauleigh, Diana’s maiden aunt and Jack’s nurse after his first duel with Andover. In fact, the supporting cast over shadows the hero and heroine: we see very little of Diana, and Jack takes a back seat to Richard and the Belmanoirs. The earl and his future countess do not actually meet until Chapter 13. However, Ms. Heyer takes time to establish the relationship of Jack and Richard. The brothers love each other dearly. Richard is not a bad person, just someone who made a bad choice. Jack refuses to return to his rightful place out of a sense of duty and honor. The Belmanoirs, on the other hand, are different. Tracy is a schemer. He threw his sister in the path of the Carstare brothers and knew all along that Richard was the cheater. Lady Lavinia is a spendthrift and has the family gambling habit. When the reader first meets her, there is an urge to strangle the woman. However, she evolves some during the story. This should have been a book about Richard and Lavinia, as it’s their relationship that takes up most of the story. As for the villain, the Duke is a bizarre, unbelievable character. Though he confesses to being a changed man, the reader is not given the same insight into his character as we did with his sister.

Enjoyed it!