It is the essence of a romance novel that there is something keeping the couple apart, and it is the challenge of the author, therefore, to make the cIt is the essence of a romance novel that there is something keeping the couple apart, and it is the challenge of the author, therefore, to make the characters and plot as believable as possible, within a framework where the reader knows in advance that whatever is keeping the couple apart will be overcome, and there will be a happily ever after.
This is harder than it sounds, and the long-time reader of romance novels eventually grows tired of tropes and cliches, yearning for come kind of novelty or simply characters and plots that MAKE SENSE.
I loved "A Lady Awakened" because it did all these things well, and it also provided me with some of my *catnip* (as we call it). For example, I just won't read a book with a virginal heroine anymore (been there, done that), especially--so tiresome--a feisty and independent virginal heroine. Ugh, yawn. So I was pleased that although this heroine is the widow of a loveless marriage (trope), she was still perfectly capable of (ahem) taking care of herself solo (gasp!). MAKES SENSE.
The hero is a beta male sent to the country by a father wanting him to grow up and learn some responsibility. He is charming and handsome, but mostly ordinary, just a guy who's had too much given to him. He is not a dark and moody sensualist, debauched, or a wastrel. Just young, spoiled, and learning to be a grown up.
At any rate, the reason for these two getting together makes sense, and the reason for keeping them apart makes sense, and the way it's all resolved especially makes sense. There is some far-fetched behavior of the neighbors near the end of the book, but I put that in the category of "willing suspension of disbelief" more than I do "ridiculous."
The potential weakness of the book is that the heroine is very high-minded and moral, while her hooking up with the hero is not especially high-minded or moral (though she thinks it is), but thankfully, that paradox is not ignored, and is ultimately resolved.
It's been a long time now since I've even read a romance novel because I'm so hard to please, but finding a good one was delightful, and I read this one in one day. Enjoy!...more
This is the best contemporary romance novel I've read in a long time. What fun. I can't wait for the next book by this author. Finally, something fresThis is the best contemporary romance novel I've read in a long time. What fun. I can't wait for the next book by this author. Finally, something fresh and new in romance!...more
I think Julie James is the best author of contemporary romances writing right now, and I love all her other books. This oProbably more like 3.5 stars.
I think Julie James is the best author of contemporary romances writing right now, and I love all her other books. This one was a let down mainly because there was almost no suspense whatsoever. Will they or won't they? They WILL, right away, and then they'll mope around for a while trying to get their personal s*** together. Not so riveting.
James' other novels have included more crime solving/mystery as the suspense that keeps things moving. I can understand not wanting to always repeat the same story lines, but this one swung too far in the opposite direction, with very little keeping things moving.
So on the one hand, this was a VERY realistic story of what it's like to meet someone, be attracted, and then dance around trying to figure out how compatible you really are and how serious you might really be. On the other hand, I don't read romance novels to be bored.
What I do LOVE about Julie James characters is that they are consistently great at their high-powered jobs, and they like their work. As someone who loves my own job, I enjoy reading about people who are passionate about what they do....more
I really enjoyed reading this book, and read it quickly, but pondering what rating to give it, I realized how little the plot holds up to any kind of I really enjoyed reading this book, and read it quickly, but pondering what rating to give it, I realized how little the plot holds up to any kind of reality check. The heroine works for a Martha Stewart-type television personality, and there's just all kinds of ridiculousness as Martha Stewart makes the hero and heroine cater engagement parties and such as some kind of TEST she doesn't really want them to win. Just silly.
I enjoyed the characters of the hero and heroine, and I particularly enjoyed the hero's commitment to his brothers. There were several times when there could have been ridiculous misunderstandings between the brothers, but because they know each other so well, they'd just shrug and say, "What's wrong with you? You're not normally like this."
So..I was able to hold onto my suspension of disbelief while I was reading, but not afterward....more
I was disinterested in this book based on the summary (uptight banker meets "bad girl"), but it got enough glowing reviews and then turned up on a lisI was disinterested in this book based on the summary (uptight banker meets "bad girl"), but it got enough glowing reviews and then turned up on a list of feminist romance novels, so I had to read it. I'm glad I did!
The summary doesn't do justice to the complexity of these characters. Cath is not a "reformed bad girl;" she's actually someone with a very troubled past. Nev is an artist working at his family's bank, trying to sort out what he wants to do/be in life. What is particularly delightful is that Nev is confident and clear-headed, seeing early that Cath has intimacy issues. He decides to just play by her rules, pursue her unabashedly, and wait for the relationship to deepen. How refreshing that he doesn't get caught up in her angst and drama!
The challenge of this couple's story is that the only thing keeping them apart is Cath's personal issues, her feeling that she's not good enough for him (oh THIS cliche! yawn), etc. It's fairly well done, given her past. What really doesn't work is Nev's confidence that because the sex is so good, their relationship must be pretty special. Yeah. That's not advice I'd give to a friend.
But if there weren't something keeping this couple together and then apart, there wouldn't be a book to read. This kind of tension is harder to pull off in contemporaries than historicals, and with some small suspension of disbelief, this was a really good book. I was tempted to give it 5 stars, but I really do reserve that for perfection....more
This is almost a three-star book, except that Elizabeth Hoyt is such an excellent writer that even her "not her best" titles are still better than mosThis is almost a three-star book, except that Elizabeth Hoyt is such an excellent writer that even her "not her best" titles are still better than most romance novels. I really, really loved the predecessor to this one, "Thief of Shadows," so maybe it was inevitable that this would pale in comparison.
The "mystery" portion of this plot was almost identical to Thief--lassie-snatchers AGAIN, child labor AGAIN, lace stockings AGAIN--and our hero is the Ghost of St. Giles AGAIN. Yawn.
There just wasn't enough suspense for me. It all felt very flat. And why does a novel with a 37-year-old hero have a baby-faced 20something on the cover? C'mon....more
I read the first few pages of this book and then returned it to get my money back. The premise is that this couple shared a scorching hot kiss a year I read the first few pages of this book and then returned it to get my money back. The premise is that this couple shared a scorching hot kiss a year ago, and ever since, the heroine has been in a noticeably bad mood. FOR A YEAR?!? Ridiculous. I'm not interested in immature characters whose odd behavior I'm supposed to find quirky and fun....more
Didn't finish this one, barely made it to halfway. Our heroine dresses like Abby on the television show NCIS, and this is all the evidence we are giveDidn't finish this one, barely made it to halfway. Our heroine dresses like Abby on the television show NCIS, and this is all the evidence we are given for how "feisty" and one-of-a-kind she is. Other than that, she spends her time acting like either a helpless baby or a completely irrational and mean-spirited bitch. Who wouldn't fall in love with her?
I also just couldn't take how, after knowing each other for less than 24 hours, the two main characters are mired down in a swamp of angst and confusion. They barely know each other but think things like, "Why did she always have this reaction to him?" ALWAYS!?! You just met him. Give it another day, maybe you'll have a different reaction.
Thank heavens I was able to get my money back....more
This is my favorite kind of story: a plain jane heroine and a hero who has no idea she is a plain jane because he sees her as beautiful. As soon as I This is my favorite kind of story: a plain jane heroine and a hero who has no idea she is a plain jane because he sees her as beautiful. As soon as I finished this book I went right back to the start to read my favorite parts all over again.
Particularly delightful is that our hero actually SEEMS CHARMING. Instead of just being told he's charming and charismatic, we're SHOWN that he's charming and charismatic. He makes truly witty remarks! They made me laugh out loud! And although our hero and heroine are immediately physically attracted to each other, we also get to see all the ample reasons they have to fall in love with each other.
Some of the drama that keeps them apart skates right up to the line of being too much and too far-fetched, but I had such affection for the story and the characters that it wasn't too over-the-top for me. And there was some gratification in having there be real stakes; our heroine comes from an abusive home and risks everything to save herself and her sisters from having to return. This is vastly preferable to much of the trumped-up nonsense that often passes for drama in romance novels.
I'm waiting for my niece to tell me if any of the other ones in the series are any good....more
Tessa Dare's Spindle Cove series is currently one of my favorites, and this entry did not disappoint.
Our hero is the strong, silent type, not unusual Tessa Dare's Spindle Cove series is currently one of my favorites, and this entry did not disappoint.
Our hero is the strong, silent type, not unusual in romance novels, but something about this hero struck me as particularly realistic. I know men who have a hard time expressing themselves, give monosyllabic answers, and don't like to read. This hero has a particularly traumatic background, congruent with his inability to express himself well. He seemed less like a romantic stereotype and more like a real person than is often the case.
The trope, therefore, is that he considers himself not good enough for the heroine. The danger of this kind of setup is that the only thing keeping our hero and heroine apart is just emotion, and that can be hard to realistically sustain. Dare does a good job of it here, with only the ending going on just a little too long for two people who clearly love each other.
There is also the introduction of a dynamic family that one suspects we will see in future novels, perhaps with their own series. The introduction of these characters sometimes felt like a distraction to me. I only need one brooding romantic hero per book, thank you.
But all in all, this was a delightful read that avoided a lot of silliness that would have been easy to fall into. It's not clear to me whose story is next, but regardless, I look forwarding to reading the next Tessa Dare....more
The hero and heroine are instantly attracted to one another (yawn). The heroine is inexplicably considered "on the shelf" despite being pretty, intellThe hero and heroine are instantly attracted to one another (yawn). The heroine is inexplicably considered "on the shelf" despite being pretty, intelligent, and kind (though opinionated). This is one of those books where the hero has NEVER had a woman stand up to him, and he is powerfully attracted to the one woman who will. This romance novel trope has the sheen of feminism (she stands up to him!) over a base of misogyny (and all other women are lying, unlikable whores). She falls into bed with him pretty fast, they're both in love soon after, and there's a happy ending. Pretty predictable, but worth the $2 kindle sale price I paid for it....more
I really enjoy this series, but this entry was just a little...eh. I found it pretty easy to put down, and I grew pretty tired of the vibe between theI really enjoy this series, but this entry was just a little...eh. I found it pretty easy to put down, and I grew pretty tired of the vibe between the hero and heroine: lots of things left unsaid, lots of interrupted conversations, lots of side plots with the town characters. Not my favorite couple, but I'm looking forward to the next one in the series....more
Wow! The hero of this book is a virgin! (Don't worry, Gentle Reader; he's a quick learner.) I love that this book turned a lot romance cliches upside Wow! The hero of this book is a virgin! (Don't worry, Gentle Reader; he's a quick learner.) I love that this book turned a lot romance cliches upside down: the hero is also younger than the heroine, and of a lower social class. The heroine is an experienced widow, not afraid to be assertive in her desire. I worried throughout my reading that the pursuit of the happy ending would ruin the unconventionality I was enjoying, but I was pleased and satisfied by the ending, and it felt appropriate to the characters. Anyway, thumbs way up! Elizabeth Hoyt is one of my favorite romance novelists, and this is surely one of her best....more
I really loved the relationship between the hero and heroine. First off, the hero KNOWS he needs to get married; he isn't one of these romance heroes I really loved the relationship between the hero and heroine. First off, the hero KNOWS he needs to get married; he isn't one of these romance heroes who abhors the thought of marriage (and that's supposed to be the main conflict for him). Rather, it's the heroine who doesn't want to get married, and though that's a tad flimsy, it's at least grounded in some solid emotional reasoning, combined with the fact that she's reasonably independent and well-off without being married. These two come to genuinely fall in love, make changes for each other, TALK. Just lovely. But I've marked this as only 3 stars because the mystery plot is so boring and tedious, and I honestly didn't care who the burglar was or why he wanted into the house, and that took up a LOT of time in this story. Skim-read those parts and enjoy the romance....more
What fun! Loretta Chase first introduced us to the idea of a lunkhead hero in "Mr. Impossible," and she gives us another one here. It can take a whileWhat fun! Loretta Chase first introduced us to the idea of a lunkhead hero in "Mr. Impossible," and she gives us another one here. It can take a while to adjust to a hero who isn't the brightest bulb on the tree, but it's charming and enjoyable fun once you do. As with all Chase novels, this is a well-plotted love story with well-developed characters and much to chuckle and sigh over. As others have noted, the idea that dressmakers in 1800s England could rather easily marry dukes and earls is a bit of a stretch--surely a duchess has responsibilities that would prohibit her from continuing to run a dress shop?--but this is a small suspension of disbelief in the grander scheme of things....more
Would I even classify this as a romance? This is actually a painfully realistic portrayal of alcoholism and how it impacts a person and his relationshWould I even classify this as a romance? This is actually a painfully realistic portrayal of alcoholism and how it impacts a person and his relationships. I would have enjoyed this book more if I had liked the heroine better: she was constantly described as being like a little porcelain doll, with tiny fingers and toes. Is she a grown woman or a baby? She never seemed like a three-dimensional character to me. But I liked that this wasn't a stereotypical romance, that people's actions in this book have genuine repercussions, and that the characters do grow and change over time. I will continue to read this author....more
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