Review: The Best Intentions by Candice Hern

Well, it seems that Ames and I are on a roll buddy reviewing-wise and we intend to keep it that way :) Of course, I probably just jinxed us, but who knows :P

Lately, Ames and I haven't been reading the same books. It just hasn't happened. However, we talk daily about the books we are reading and we'll check out the books that have the other excited :) Lucky for me, I got to The Best Intentions by Candice Hern quick enough that Ames hasn't had the chance to review it yet and voila, buddy review! So let see if this book worked as well for me as it did for Ames :)

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The Best Intentions by Candice Hern
self-published in May 2011 (first published by New American Library in June 1999)

The Earl of Strickland is a handsome widower in search of a new wife to be a mother to his two young children. Having lost his one true love, he is determined on a practical, dispassionate match with a mature woman. Young girls in their first Seasons, their heads full of romantic notions of love, are not for him. When his sister comes to visit bringing along a beautiful widow, Miles thinks he may have found the perfect match. But the widow is chaperoning her gauche, much younger sister, an artless girl who causes Miles's best intentions to go awry as he finds himself falling in love with precisely the sort of woman he sought to avoid. Set at a grand country estate in the Midlands, this sweet love story of the reserved and dignified Miles and the delightfully guileless, clumsy, outspoken Hannah is sure to charm readers.

Genre: Historical romance
Series: Country House Party, Book #2

The Story: Miles is a widower who is looking for a mature woman to marry to provide some guidance for his young daughters. He’s against marrying a fresh out of the schoolroom debutante. And then there’s Hannah. She may not be fresh out of the schoolroom, but she is young, too young for Miles. Or so he thinks. But Hannah is not an empty headed deb. Nope, she likes architecture (to the detriment of her sister) and she prefers to be outdoors. She’s also the kind of person to say whatever that pops into her head without a filter. And she’s exuberant enough that she tends to be a bit clumsy. Which is the opposite of Miles. He’s the kind of guy who’s mantra could be “a place for everything and everything in its place.”

Hannah and her sister Charlotte are invited to Miles’ country estate by his sister, who is trying her hand at matchmaking. The intended recipient of Miles’ affection is Charlotte, not Hannah. But matchmaking doesn’t always go the way one wants it to...

Ames: So Nath, what did you think of The Best Intentions? Was my excitement over it warranted? :P

Nath: Hmmmm, trick question! LOL. I can see why you were so excited about The Best Intentions, Ames, and I did enjoy the book, but not as much as you. I think as a whole, the story was very cute and Hannah’s character, so likable... However, I’m not sure I buy the romance at the end of the day.

Ames: I loved Hannah. I thought she was refreshing and I felt bad for her - her older sister was always trying to drum rules about polite society into her head, to no avail really.

“Put your books away, my girl,” she had said to Hannah on more than one occasion. “Never let a gentleman believe you to have a brain. They are insecure creatures at best and are threatened by the very idea of an intelligent woman.”
What rot.

And I liked how the relationship with Miles grew over the course of their stay at Miles’ country estate.

Now Nath - what about the romance did you not buy into?

Nath: My feelings for Hannah are similar to yours, Ames. I really liked Hannah, she was a breath of fresh air and I can see why Miles fell in love with her. She was unconventional, true, but she was real, genuine and without artifice... unlike her sister. So yes, I understand why Miles was charmed :) However, I can’t say the same as to why Hannah fell in love with Miles and that’s why I had difficulty buying into the romance. Yes, Miles was handsome and he listened to her when she spoke of architecture... I can buy infatuation, but love? Not sure.

Ames: That’s a good point! I think part of it was that he accepted her the way she was - compare that to her sister always seeming to criticize her. Another thing is that these two don’t even realize that they’re attracted to each other. Miles thinks he wants Charlotte and Hannah thinks he wants Charlotte too! LOL But in their interactions with each other, we can plainly see that Hannah is the better fit for him. And he’s a good fit for her too. He knows himself, he’s comfortable in his skin, and that’s the only kind of man who could suit Hannah, in my opinion. Someone who is insecure or into taking part of the ton (not merely being a member of it) would not suit her because like her sister, they could be critical. Does that make sense?

Nath: I definitely agree that Hannah was a better fit for Miles. I think he was a bit put off by how aggressive Charlotte pursued him. I have to wonder, had Miles not be previously rejected by a debutante, would he had recognized that Hannah was the one he was attracted to earlier?

Also you make sense LOL. Miles being comfortable in his skin and accepting her the way she was allowed Hannah to be who she truly was in his presence. She wouldn’t have fared well with someone who was insecure, but then again, she never had any intention to find a husband.

I have to say, poor Hannah, being all confused as to Miles’ true feelings ^_^; He really didn’t make it easy for her :( And I think that’s another reason I didn’t buy the romance, the lack of courtship. Ah well.

Ames: Well it wasn’t an overt courtship. And I think if Miles did recognize Hannah as the one he wanted and did court her overtly, it might have scared her away, because you are right, she wasn’t looking for a husband. Remember that scene when she gets out of the carriage at Miles’ house and says he’s not as old as she thought he’d be? LOL

But yes the ending when she thought Miles still wanted her sister. Poor thing. AND remember when she was stuck in the hole for hours and how mad Miles got on her behalf? I loved that part!!

Nath: LOL, that was really cute, especially since Hannah was so absorbed she didn’t even realized it’d been hours! And hmmm, I think you’re right. Had Miles overtly wooed her, she probably would have bolted. So I guess it’s good the way it happened :)

I know the whole point about The Best Intentions was that Hannah was young and therefore, not the one Miles should have been attracted to, which makes the whole story quite ironic, LOL. However, I have to say, at times, I felt like Hannah was really young and immature ^_^; Like the part where she played with the kids... I usually love characters who get along well with children, but in this case, with her youthful appearance, it felt like she was almost one and I don’t see how Miles would be attracted to her. Also, the whole ball was very uncomfortable... I wished she had stuck to her individuality and the “didn’t care” attitude.

Ames: I liked her interactions with the children. I didn't think it made her seem younger but it did highlight her carefree nature. She could get creative and imaginative with them. Also, I like to play with my little cousins on that level. :). Its fun Nath.

What do you mean about the ball?

Nath: No, I know what you mean, Ames. I like playing with small children too! As I said, I usually really like that in heroes and heroines. I think my problem here is that Miles’ first impression of Hannah is that she’s not even out of the school room, so very young. And the way she played with the kids, I feel it would only have reinforced that impression... and I can’t see Miles falling in love with that image. Of course, in the end, it works out because Miles fell in love with Hannah more for her personality... but it’s something that bothered me.

As for the ball, I meant how she wanted to appear as a lady, impress Miles. To a certain extent, I understand why she was upset at the accident, especially since Miles was the one to witness it. However, I felt her reaction was a bit extreme and that in the end of the day, she shouldn’t have cared as much, she shouldn’t have to change to please someone... Does that make sense?

Ames: But I don’t think Miles does fall in love with that image. Because there are other images of her playing with his kids as well, like her teaching them through her drawings and taking them with her to the church. I don’t know - he’s in denial about how he feels about her for so long, I don’t think he would fall in love with her at that point either.

As for the ball, I disagree. LOL I think her reaction is spot on. She put pressure on herself to start acting like the lady her sister wants her to be and that she thinks would impress Miles. Yes, it’s not a good thing to try to change yourself, but she learned that lesson, didn’t she? She got a bucketful of embarrassment heaped on her head for her troubles and the one man she tries to impress is the one to witness it. I would freak out if that happened to me! LOL

LOL I think we’re just going in circles here. I am going to argue with you on every point because I enjoyed this book so much! But you’re really making me think about it more. :P

Ooh you know what I liked? This is a bit spoilery, but Charlotte’s reaction to her sister taking her man out from under her nose. I thought it was nice that she didn’t freak out. I think that showed that despite her trying to make Hannah more of a lady, she truly cared for her and wanted her to be happy. And she was mature enough to realize that things weren’t going to work between her and Miles so she wasn’t going to make a fuss.

Nath: I know I’m being picky here, but contrary to what it seemed, I did like The Best Intentions! It was just the romance that I thought could have been a bit better... I’m glad that by bringing up my issue is making you think about it more :)

As for Charlotte’s reaction, once again, I agree with you. I admit that I didn’t like her very much throughout the story, but she earned my respect with how well she took Miles’ decision. I think part of it is she knew already that she had failed to capture Miles’ interest. Still, I think she was happy for Hannah and I feel she learned something out of it :)

Ames: All right then, I’m glad you enjoyed it. What would you grade it? I’m going with a B+. I was totally engrossed in the story and I thought Hannah was a refreshing character.

Nath: I enjoyed the story and Hannah’s character, but I wasn’t into The Best Intentions as much as you and the romance bugged me a little for the reasons we discussed. For me, it’s a B- :)

Review: Almost a Scandal by Elizabeth Essex

Wow, I just took a look at our archive, I was curious to see how many buddy reviews we've posted this year. We've done at least one each month, except for May! So much better than last year LOL. Hopefully, we can keep it up! If there's a book you'd like to buddy review with one of us, please feel free! :)

(Ames here. I'm too shy to email people out of the blue and ask for a buddy review.  So hit me up!  I don't bite.  Unless you want me too. hehe)

In the meantime, today's review is Almost a Scandal by Elizabeth Essex. This book came to my attention when I was looking for new releases for the New Releases post :) It also caught Ames' eye and voila, a buddy review. I love it when it happens! Hope you enjoy!


Almost a Scandal by Elizabeth Essex
published by St. Martin's in July 2012

Bold, brazen, and beautiful, the Reckless Brides refuse to play by society’s rules of courtship. But—come hell or high water—they always get their man..

For generations, the Kents have served proudly with the British Royal Navy. So when her younger brother refuses to report for duty, Sally Kent slips into a uniform and takes his place—at least until he comes to his senses. Boldly climbing aboard the Audacious, Sally is as able-bodied as any sailor there. But one man is making her feel tantalizingly aware of the full-bodied woman beneath her navy blues...

Dedicated to his ship, sworn to his duty—and distractingly gorgeous—Lieutenant David Colyear sees through Sally’s charade, and he’s furious. But he must admit she’s the best midshipman on board—and a woman who tempts him like no other. With his own secrets to hide and his career at stake, Col agrees to keep her on. But can the passion they hide survive the perils of a battle at sea? Soon, their love and devotion will be put to the test...

Genre: Historical Romance
Series: The Reckless Brides, Book #1

The Story: Sally Kent's father and older brothers are all serving the British Royal Navy. As such, nobody understands Richard's, the youngest Kent, desire to become a man of God... And on the eve of his enrollment as a midshipman, Richard runs away. To preserve the family reputation, Sally decides to disguise herself as Richard and takes his place aboard the Audacious. However, family pride is an excuse... Having grown up on a ship and raised in a family of such tradition, Sally yearns for the sea and life on a ship. She also knows that she'll be better at it than Richard too. The only obstacle to her charade is Lieutenant David Colyear, her brother's best friend who has actually spent time at Sally's home and thus, has met her. And indeed, it doesn't take Colyear much time to recognize Sally, who used to tag along in her brothers' adventures - but will he rat her out or keep her secret?

Nath: So Ames, did you enjoy Almost a Scandal? I hope so because I sure did! :)

Ames: You know I did too! It has a cross-dressing heroine and it takes place at sea. Those are two things I absolutely love in my historicals. I don’t know why I enjoy naval adventures so much, but something about that setting really floats my boat. haha

Nath: LOL, nice wordplay! And I know you enjoyed it :) I’m really happy too because as soon as I read the blurb, I thought of you... Perhaps because the setting is quite similar to Sea Change by Darlene Marshall which you absolutely adored :)

As for me, I admit I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Almost a Scandal. I like cross-dressing historicals and it was definitively the key element of the book and Ms Essex sure pulled it off. I liked how Sally had an affinity with the sea, how she loved it and had she been a man, she would have gone into the Navy, just like her father and three older brothers. She has also grown up on a ship and helped her brothers study for the lieutenant examination. With all this, I really believed that Sally could pass as a man and as a midshipman and so the book worked for me :)

Ames: Yes, I loved that aspect of Sally’s character. She was ideally suited to life at sea except for the fact that she was born female. I like how she became a protector to the other young midshipmen on board as well. She wasn’t someone to take something lying down - her character was very much a go-getter. Sometimes that can be unappealing, especially if she’s too goody two-shoes, but Sally was just the right amount of gumption and fortitude.

Nath: Oh yeah, I agree with everything you’re saying Ames :) I thought it was cute that she took the younger boys under her wing, a mix of maternal and older sister instincts. Aside from her guts, you know what else I liked? That she wasn’t a whimpering, simpering, virginal missus. She grew up with brothers, held her own against them, was included in their antics and as a result, not only was she knowledgeable with boats and the navy, but she knew about life and men and that means sex. I really liked that she wasn’t offended when she first stepped on the ship and witnessed the debauchery and instead, joked about it! :) That was definitively refreshing LOL.

As for the romance, I enjoyed it too. I thought the prior connection with the hero was a good idea - it made all the subsequent events more plausible and believable :) And Sally and Colyear made a good couple.

Ames: Yes! I love that she was the younger sister to his friends and actually knew Sally from before. It gives them history. Another thing that made them work so well for me was their partnership. Sally could keep up mentally and could actually predict some of the things he’d need on board. She was a true asset and did not put anyone in jeopardy with her presence.

Now what did you think of Colyear? I liked his character. But I felt that he was somewhat overshadowed by how awesome Sally was. LOL

Nath: The fact the two were equals and matched so well definitively made the romance :) As for Colyear, I like the man he was. I mean, what’s not to like? Fair, upstanding, competent and charismatic :P However, as you said, he was overshadowed by Sally and as a result, I find he wasn’t that well-developed. Although in the scope of things, I didn’t really mind because Almost a Scandal was really Sally’s story. And it was a really good story. I have to say that mid-way through the book, I got a bit confused in the action, especially the part when Sally and Colyear sneaked on the island. However, that really is my only complaint in the book. I liked the way Ms Essex spinned the story around and Sally’s revelation that she is a woman. I also liked we got to see the aftermath when Sally returns home.

Ames: I agree with you about Col. He was a good character, a good man for Sally, and I liked his connection to her family. But it was about Sally. My only complaint about him (and thus the writing) was the overuse of the phrase “damn her eyes” or “damn her fine eyes.” At first it was cute and I liked that he said it, but then it was used too much and even another character used it at one point. That was too much.

I liked the action bit that had to happen for Sally and Col to come together without an audience. It was necessary and it showcased how well they really work together.

I also liked that we saw the aftermath of Sally’s adventure and her going home. I was a bit annoyed at how she reacted to Col’s return though. I wished she’d stood up for herself a bit there.

Nath: It’s funny that you picked up on Col’s “damn her eyes” because I didn’t. Instead, I picked up on Sally’s phrase - which I can't remember at the moment ^_^; But the result is the same, the repetition got tedious and annoying.

Oh and you’re right. The action involving Sally and Col allowed them to come together without an audience. Gotta say, it was a clever move on Ms Essex’ part and much more believable than if they had been able to sneak somewhere on the boat. As you said, it was necessary and well executed.

I liked the reunion with Sally’s family. LOL, so funny how her brothers were all: “It’s not much of an injury.” Men, LOL. The ending with her younger brother was interesting. I liked that it was not kiss and hugs and we forget everything. Instead, both were still a bit angry at each other and they still didn’t see eye to eye; however, family prevailed :)

And what do you mean by wanting her to stand up for herself?

Ames: I found her very passive when she went home. I didn’t like that.

Nath: Oh okay, I know what you mean now :) I agree with you, she was kind of passive, but at the same time, it made sense. She’s come back from a life that she loved, surrounded with people, to an empty house... with a scar on her face. I think what hit the hardest for her is that she was home alone, none of her family was there. This makes it more real. It would have been weird for her to come home and be all happy and cheerful. And what matters in the end is that she stood up again and on her own when she was ready and not because Colyear showed up :)

All in all, I really enjoyed Almost a Scandal. I’m giving it a B+ :) I can’t wait to read William’s story, A Breath of Scandal, which comes out in December! I hope Sally and Colyear make an appearance!!

Ames: I enjoyed Almost a Scandal as well. It was a solid read with a strong heroine and it was set at sea. Win win. I’m giving this a B.

Review: The Proposal by Mary Balogh

Nath and I are back! With a review!  It's been over a month since the last buddy review was posted, but never fear, we've got some more coming down the line.  :P

Today, we're discussing The Proposal by Mary Balogh.  We're both Balogh fans and we know many of you are as well.  Let us know how our thoughts compared to yours on The Proposal.


The Proposal by Mary Balogh

published by Random House Publisher in May 2012

Gwendoline, Lady Muir, has seen her share of tragedy, especially since a freak accident took her husband much too soon. Content in a quiet life with friends and family, the young widow has no desire to marry again. But when Hugo, Lord Trentham, scoops her up in his arms after a fall, she feels a sensation that both shocks and emboldens her.

Hugo never intends to kiss Lady Muir, and frankly, he judges her to be a spoiled, frivolous—if beautiful—aristocrat. He is a gentleman in name only: a soldier whose bravery earned him a title; a merchant’s son who inherited his wealth. He is happiest when working the land, but duty and title now demand that he finds a wife. He doesn’t wish to court Lady Muir, nor have any role in the society games her kind thrives upon. Yet Hugo has never craved a woman more; Gwen’s guileless manner, infectious laugh, and lovely face have ruined him for any other woman. He wants her, but will she have him?

The hard, dour ex-military officer who so gently carried Gwen to safety is a man who needs a lesson in winning a woman’s heart. Despite her cautious nature, Gwen cannot ignore the attraction. As their two vastly different worlds come together, both will be challenged in unforeseen ways. But through courtship and seduction, Gwen soon finds that with each kiss, and with every caress, she cannot resist Hugo’s devotion, his desire, his love, and the promise of forever.

Genre: Historical romance
Series: The Survivor's Club, Book #1

The Story: Hoping to offer comfort, Gwendoline is visiting a friend in Cornwall who recently lost her husband. However, the visit has been horrible so far and wanting to escape for a little while, Gwendoline goes for a walk on the beach. Unfortunately for her, she sprained her ankle from her bad leg quite badly. Luckily, Hugo Emes, Lord Trentham and the newest member of the ton thanks to his heroic leadership during the war, is present and brings her back to the Duke of Stanbrook's country estate. Forced to stay at the estate to recover, Gwendoline makes the acquaintance of a group of survivors of the Napoleonic Wars who have named themselves The Survivor's Club.

A member of the club, Hugo is staying at the Duke's estate for their annual meet. He doesn't really know what to think of Gwendoline as she's a lady of the ton and he doesn't think highly of the aristocracy - despite his new title as his family roots stem from trade. One thing he is sure of though is that he's attracted to her and so is she.

After they both succumb to temptation, Hugo proposes to Gwendoline out of duty. However, Gwendoline wants to be courted. She decides to take Hugo's half-sister under her wing and launch her into Society, giving Hugo the opportunity and time to woo her. Coming from two different worlds, will they be able to compromise and be happy?

Nath: So Ames, what did you think of The Proposal? I went into this book with no expectations - luckily ^_^; It’s not that The Proposal was a bad book, but it just didn’t grab me. Everyone loves a book that focuses on the characters - and Hugh and Gwen were likable characters; however, that means you need to have a really good conflict for development and growth... and I don’t think it was the case here. Actually, I feel that The Proposal’s main purpose was really to introduce the Survivor’s Club and pave the way for future books ^_^;

Ames: I went into this one with no expectations either. And I agree, it’s not a bad book, but I felt like it was lacking passion. There was chemistry between the characters, but that didn’t result in any passion. It was a slow book that unfolded in a slow, meandering way. Nothing wrong with that, but that kind of story just doesn’t grab me.

I agree that it was also setting up the other characters. But that again is not a bad thing. They were interesting characters.

Nath: True, they are interesting characters and I’m looking forward to some of the stories, but I think my problem is that it was just a bit too obvious ^_^;

As for the lack of passion, I have to agree with you. It’s interesting how characters can have chemistry, but lack passion. I think one of the reasons for it is because both Hugh and Gwen knew they were all wrong for each other - their way of lives and also their status, and yet, they still had sex together... but the sex was meant to be meaningless. It felt like they didn’t even like each other... but were just feeling “lusty.”

Ames: Also, I hate to say this, but I think their age had something to do with it. Age and personality. These were two level-headed characters who realized despite everything they were attracted to each other and so had sex. Hugh was a recent member of the ton - his exploits as a soldier garnered him a title. So he has his attitudes towards aristocrats and even after he gets to know Gwen, he still stubbornly holds on to those ideas. And that bothered me. I wish these two had communicated more. Gwen somehow magically expected Hugh to know what she wanted and these two really needed to get to know each other.

And thinking about it some more, Gwen got on my nerves. She was too passive for my tastes.

Nath: I think you’re onto something, Ames, about Hugh and Gwen being level-headed. It’s refreshing to have more mature characters, but in this case, Hugh and Gwen let logic dictates the course of their relationship instead of their feelings, their heart. Always doubting, always thinking they knew what the other was thinking - that’s why passion was missing.

Something that surprised me as well is how Ms Balogh introduced some issues and conflicts, but did not develop nor resolve them. For example, Gwen’s husband death and the role Grayson had in it, the way Grayson tried to smear Hugh’s reputation and Hugh’s stepmother. Any of these conflicts, if developed, would have made the book more interesting and could have showcased different sides of Hugh and Gwen’s personalities... but Ms Balogh didn’t. In which case, I wonder why introduce these issues/conflicts at all?

Ames: I know what you mean! And I also feel like Hugh wasn’t the most understanding character about Gwen and her relationship with her husband. I think these two had their biases and they were firmly entrenched and I did not like that about them. Hugh felt judgemental. I just wish that Hugh and Gwen told each other what they were thinking.

Nath: I hear you about the biases! It really bothered me as well, especially since the book wasn’t about overcoming those biases. I felt that with all the prejudices and biases they both felt towards each other and their classes, Hugh and Gwen shouldn’t have gotten together. And when they overcame that biases, instead of feeling “yay, what an accomplishment!” it was more “meh, just get on with it” ^_^;

LOL Ames, I think this is probably our shortest buddy review ever! But really, I’m having difficulty finding things to discuss about this book ^_^; And I definitively think it says something about The Proposal. I originally gave it a C, but now, a C- seems more appropriate.

Ames: I originally gave this a B- but I think I need to lower it to a C. It was just ok. I hate that I didn’t enjoy it more because I really love Balogh’s writing - but sometimes you just strike out.

Nath: Sometimes, it happens... and it proves that authors are humans too :)

Review: My Wicked Little Lies by Victoria Alexander

Another week, another buddy review! Yay! Hopefully, we'll be able to keep it up :)

Today, my buddy reviewer is Hilcia from Impressions of a Reader.  I was planning to write a review of My Wicked Little Lies when I found out that Hils was reading it. Immediately, I begged her to join me in this review LOL. The more the merrier right? :) This buddy review is probably the fastest one we've put together LOL. I hope our feelings come across well and that you will all enjoy it!


My Wicked Little Lies by Victoria Alexander
published by Kensington in January 2012

Evelyn Hadley-Attwater has it all--a genteel Victorian life replete with loving husband, ball gowns and elegant parties. No one, including the man she married, suspects that she was once "Eve," a spy for England's most enigmatic intelligence agency. Summoned for one final assignment, the excitement of her former life and memories of her mysterious, flirtatious boss "Sir" prove too tempting...

Adrian Hadley-Attwater is a respectable, dignified gentleman. But even the most proper gentlemen have secrets of their own. Secrets from the rest of the world, from their families, from their wives. Secrets that have a price. Now, as a veil of secrecy frays, a tantalizing game of cat and mouse will test the bounds of unfailing love...

Genre: Historical romance
Series: Sinful Family Secrets series, Book #2

The Story: Evelyn Hadley lost her parents at a young age and spent her formative years in a boarding school. Afterwards, she went on a grand tour with a schoolmate. Once she returned to London, she was recruited to become a spy for England, which suited her well as she was at loose ends. She spent 5 years in service to her queen and her country before retiring to marry Adrian Hadley-Attwater, the new Earl of Waterston.

It has been two years now and Evelyn has enjoyed married life. Everything is perfect... until she receives a summon from her handler - Sir Maxwell Osgood. A file containing documents revealing the structure of the organization and true identities of many spies has been stolen. Because her record has been completely wiped off, Eve becomes the perfect candidate to retrieve this file. Eve is none too happy about the situation, but she has no choice... plus, she owns ‘Sir,’ her superior who looked out for her and whose true identity is revealed in the file. However, she’ll have to proceed very carefully as she has no intention to jeopardize her marriage... and it won’t be easy as Adrian is very clever and observant.

Nath: Oh, I’m so happy I read My Wicked Little Lies! Ms Alexander is my go-to author when it comes to historical romances, but her last two releases were so-so. Thus, I was so happy to hear she started a new series, albeit connected to the other two releases. Anyway, My Wicked Little Lies was a gem! What did you think of it Hils? :)

Hilcia: Nath, I found My Wicked Little Lies to be an amusing, witty historical romance with lovely central and secondary characters. The main protagonists are a happy married couple very much in love with each other. Yet, their life together is also full of those little secrets that eventually lead to misunderstandings, lack of trust, impulsive actions and hurt feelings.

Nath: That's a really lovely way to describe the book, Hils, and definitively spot on! One of the reason I was looking forward to this book was because it featured a married couple - a loving couple that is not newly-weds - as main characters. I thought it was a refreshing premise :) And it worked out really well.

Hilcia: I agree, it’s a great premise! I enjoyed this book, and I loved this couple. I loved the way they loved each other and were willing to do those crazy things to keep each other. Lying included. I thought that Adrian was quite dashing and in all his glory when he was all jealous... even if it was all done because he was insecure. LOL! And I loved that Evie was willing to forgive him even when she was hurt because he didn't trust her. And let’s not forget that she was lying to him too. What a pair!

Nath: I loved them too! They made the book for me. Adrian and Eve matched each other very well, not just physically, but also intellectually and it made for some very witty and fun banter. What stood out for me was their chemistry and dynamics :) And I also really liked how Eve and Adrian knew each other so well and how attuned they were. They notice those little distractions and knew something was up. It's a sign that they paid attention to each other :)

Hilcia: Nath, you said it very well – “they paid attention to each other,” that’s very important for a married couple. It is lovely that the two never really question the fact that they love each other and would never let each other go, even while they work out their "misunderstanding." On the other hand, this deep believe by both of them take away a lot of the tension from the story. As a matter of fact, although there's definitely love and passion, there is no real sexual tension in this story at all, at least not from Evie and Adrian.

Nath: I like it the way Ms Alexander wrote it though. Yes, there was no tension between Evie and Adrian, but it was nice to see a married couple being so solid. Yes, there was a misunderstanding, but it wouldn't drive them apart like it would so many other couples in other books. That's the difference. Also, I thought that the chemistry and the witty banter between Eve and Adrian made up for the lack of sexual tension :)

What did you think of the characters? I really liked Eve and Adrian :) Although I admit that as individuals, I didn’t get much of a sense. But the little I got showed likable and genuine characters. On the outlook, Eve and Adrian are the ultimate aristocrats LOL. Dashing, smart; him fulfilling his duties as an earl and a member of the Parliament, her, her duties as countess and worrying about what to wear, and attending to balls :) However, you usually think of aristocrats as haughty, but Eve and Adrian weren’t. As I mentioned, they were genuine and warm, loved their family... they were normal, everyday people and that’s what I appreciated most. I like tortured, dark characters and angst as much as any other reader... but sometimes, it’s nice to have something different. Plus, writing normal characters and still delivering a great book is something really hard to do :)

Hilcia: I really liked the witty banter between Eve and Adrian. :) And, I think you hit the nail on the head about the characters in this story, Ms. Alexander did a wonderful job of portraying characters that are essentially happy, but working out issues to reach a better understanding.

What did you think about all those lies of “omission,” though? The lies are the central conflict here and the ones that get the ball rolling. They bothered me in the beginning, particularly coming from Evie, later on those niggles went away and that has a lot to do with how Alexander deals with this issue.

But I’m going to begin with Adrian whose actions can be looked from the point of view of being "unforgivable." Yet, for me, his actions reflect those of a man who has always been in control, and because of the love and passion he feels for his wife and some niggling questions about Eve's real reasons for marrying him, acts in a rash and impulsive way when unexpected jealousy strikes. I think the point here is that even the most sensible of men can be irrational when he loves and thinks he might lose.

Nath: I actually didn’t mind the lies of “omission.” I think that everyone - between married spouses, friends, family - have some kind of secrets. Plus, in this case, Eve and Adrian had agreed that the past was the past... and these lies of “omission” in the beginning were related to the past. Also, Adrian wasn’t innocent either :)

While I agree with you that Adrian's actions were "unforgivable," I felt that his actions didn't stem from his lack of faith in Eve... but more doubts in himself. They love each other, he knows that... but even after two years of marriage, Adrian wonders if he was Eve's second choice... And that's what pushed him to act rashly. Also, he was very repentant and so to me, it lessened the severity of his actions. However, have Eve really been unfaithful to him... I think Adrian would have fought for her. Don't you think?

Hilcia: Oh yes, agreed! Adrian would never let Eve go. Eve is lovely and also very much in love. No one blames her for her reaction to Adrian's behavior, but she keeps secrets too. She lies. They are lies of "omission" and she's very good at rationalizing those away. So is Adrian. They both keep secrets and fail to be honest with each other, making them equality guilty in what becomes a mutual "game" of love. A serious one. They are equally at fault for what happens to them.

In the beginning, Eve is deliberately misleading with Adrian, and I believe not a little insensitive. I mean, who tells their man that he is reliable, steady, steadfast, and... well... dull, and expects him to take it as a compliment? And Adrian is just downright devious with Eve.

Nath: No one blames her reaction and really, that's the way she should react. What Adrian has done was really "serious" and he needed to realize that it had consequences :) 


The game between them was actually fun for the readers :) So witty LOL. And you're right, no husband would think that dull is a compliment. Plus, knowing her penchant for adventure, it only furthered Adrian's doubts.

You know Hils, we’ve only talked of Eve and Adrian so far! While the storyline My Wicked Little Lies was very focused on our H/H, there were a lot of other characters and I thought they contributed to make this book better :)

Hilcia: I think the secondary characters are wonderful! Right? I love Max and Celeste and how they work slowly but surely to reach an understanding. This secondary romance is the one that I think provides a slight sexual tension and passion to this romance while Evie and Adrian work out their issues. I think this secondary romance is rather well done, and it doesn’t take away from the central characters.

Max is more than devious! I really like him. And Beryl certainly adds a bit of oomph to certain scenes with her floozy-like behavior and her mindset. Oh, and the Hadley-Attwater family is great! I love the interaction between the siblings and the way they indulge their interfering and very insightful mother.

Nath: Yes, they were wonderful! And I liked their dynamics with our H/H. LOL, it was fun that Celeste didn't want her best friend disturbing her whole world.lifestyle and therefore pushed for Eve and Adrian’s reconciliation. And Max was indeed devious! But it was necessary and actually very cleverly done! Had he gone directly to Adrian, I don't think it would have worked. And I think it was well-done by Ms Alexander to introduce this couple to spice things up :)

I also loved the Hadley-Attwater family. They were boisterous, had great bonds between each other and I liked how they were really open to each other and all the in-laws have really been well accepted :) Oh and the mother! She’s really a force to be reckoned and I liked her insight and advices to Eve.

But really, it’s Beryl who stole the show when it came to secondary characters :) Ohhh how I liked her!! She's the type of character that you really dislike and that is too often mean and condescending and all... But once again, Ms Alexander turns the table on the readers and actually makes us love her! :) She was so funny and I think a great friend for Evie :)

Hilcia: Yes, yes, and yes on Beryl’s characterization. Ms. Alexander turns it all around on us and it is so very well done! The whole premise for this story got my attention, and I like the fact the "secret agent" thread is well integrated with the romance -- as a matter of fact it is flawlessly integrated with the romance.

Nath: You know, I wasn't sure how I'd like the “secret agent” aspect of the book. There are just so many spies and agents in historicals nowadays... and upon reading the blurb, I was imagining something like a historical version of Mr.& Mrs. Smith. However, it wasn’t the case - yay! - and it actually really worked well in My Wicked Little Lies. Like you said, it was well integrated with the romance... Also, it wasn't the focus of the book and had nothing to do with the Crown. By the way, what did you think of the twist concerning “Sir” identity? I wished it wasn’t hinted in the blurb... because I think Ms Alexander handled the first part “Lies of Omission” really well and it would have really been a shock :)

Did you have any issues with the book, Hils?

Hilcia: Well, that whole “Sir” identity twist and the “lies of omission” thread are both very well done, they really are. Those could have been a no-no for a lot of readers, but I think Ms. Alexander covers her bases there quite well. I agree with you. However I did have a couple of problems along the way. That lack of sexual tension I mentioned above, plus there is a time when Evie and Adrian are separated for a short period of time, and frankly in my opinion the story suffers and the pace slows down during this section -- it’s around the middle of book. I put the book down and it took me a while to pick it up again when I hit this spot. Thankfully after that it all goes rather quickly and ends up satisfactorily.

Nath: I actually liked the short period they were apart, because they yearn for each other and I thought it was so cute :)

For me, I didn’t really have issues with the book. As I said, it have been more fun if the blurb had given away less... And I also think some parts of the story could have been tighter and more interesting like the intrigue/mystery. But that’s about it for me :)

Hilcia: Well Nath, overall I found the book to be fun, and a bit of a different romance with a married couple that although they think they know everything about each other, find out there's always something new to learn, even after a few years of marriage. It’s a lovely historical romance that left a smile on my face.

Nath: Definitively. It was refreshing, witty and lovely :) I loved Adrian and Eve, their chemistry and banter, as well as all the secondary characters :)

Hilcia: Okay Nath, getting down to the tough part, grades. LOL! I dithered back and forth between a B and a B+ (because it left that smile on my face). However, I thought about it and in the end this is really a B read for me. It is a solid romance with a few problems here and there, but definitely not enough to dim my overall enjoyment of the characters or the story. I recommend it. How about you?

Nath: LOL, I grade with my feelings, so My Wicked Little Lies definitively deserved a B+ in my opinion. Yes, there were some minor flaws, but in the end, I had fun reading and it left me smiling as well :) Really, what can you ask more from a book? :)

Review: Conor's Way by Laura Lee Guhrke

Welcome to our buddy review of Conor’s Way by Laura Lee Guhrke for the February’s entry of the TBR Challenge 2012! Joining me is Leslie ! It all started Leslie told me she was leaning towards Conor’s Way as her pick for this month’s challenge. See, the theme of this month is “Recommended Read” and if there’s any book that fit this bill, it’s Conor’s Way LOL. Kristie has been recommending this book for years and it comes up almost every time she sees a review for one of Ms Guhrke’s book... and when she meets Wendy! So when Leslie told me her choice, I thought of my own copy - a gift from Kristie! - languishing in my TBR pile and decided to give it a go as well :) Then this past week-end, I asked Leslie what she thought of the book and how she liked it... and it just seemed natural that if we discuss it, to turn the discussion into a buddy review :) Voilà, here’s the result! This review is for you, Kristie! And we hope everyone else will enjoy the review and pick it up!


Conor's Way by Laura Lee Guhrke

published by Harper Torch (Harpercollins Publisher) in April 1996

A courageous woman

In the aftermath of the Civil War, beautiful and stubborn Olivia Maitland was determined to save her family and their new-bankrupt Louisiana plantation no matter what - even if it meant taking in cynical ex-boxer Conor Branigan in exchange for help. It wasn't long before she discovered the secret pain hidden beneath his rugged ways. And his ache touched something in her, lighting a fire in her heart.

A hard-fighting man

Conor Branigan had seen his family and his hopes destroyed in Ireland and had sworn never to care for anyone again. But now he dared hope for a love greater than any he'd ever dreamt of, with Olivia and her three adopted children - and a future that he would fight to keep forever.

Genre: Historical romance, post Civil War
Series: None

The Story: Conor Branigan earns a living as a prizefighter. As such, he tours the circuit 5 months a year and roams the country the remaining months and that suits him just fine. Unfortunately, Conor gets beaten up and is left on the side of the road, injured, after he refused to fix a match and caused the local bookie to lose big.

Olivia Maitland is on her way to town, asking God for a man who could help with her farm and the upcoming harvest, when she stumbles across Conor. She takes him home and nurses him back to help. The cynical, jaded man with a vile tongue who's been to prison, is not exactly what she asked for... But as her three adopted daughters becomes attached to him, as Conor regains his strength and helps out around and as Olivia glimpses the real Conor and his motives, she is appeased. She also has other problems to deal with, namely someone who wants to buy her land for a new railroad and is tired of playing fair.

Nath: I finished Conor's Way for the TBR challenge!... and I enjoyed it! :) What about you Leslie?

Leslie: I really liked it. I do think I was in the perfect mood for a nice, slow romance. It took a long time to develop but for me it felt right for the characters. Good thing I wasn't craving lots of action. LOL

Nath: I think there was some action, but it didn’t come across because of the way it was written. Although Conor’s Way was definitively about the characters. I loved Conor!! :)

Leslie: Let's talk about Conor then! I think the title was perfect since Conor is really the center of the story with the other characters connecting to him. His back story was well written and explained so much about how he thought and acted. Even right up to the wedding he didn't think he could stay. The thought of having a wife and children and no chance of leaving really scared him. His belief that it was just another type of prison emphasized how important his freedom was to him. I think his history let him believe that any ties, whether they be people or places, would cause him to loose that freedom. He's the anti-hero hero that I love so much.

Nath: Conor was definitively what made the book for me :) I agree with you, his past was really well written and I liked the way it was shared with the readers. The flashbacks were short and concise, but poignant and powerful. They also occurred at the right moment in the narration and uncovered Conor, making us understand why he was the way he was. Personally, I can't blame him for his attitude and his desire of freedom. I think that he lost so much in his life, everything he cared about has hurt him in one way or another... But I think it wasn't really freedom that he craved. Deep down, he was afraid to care and have ties, afraid to lose and be hurt again... and also, the problem with having ties is that he couldn't run again, escape his torments.

"[...] Besides, most folks who think things are better someplace else are just running away from something, and they usually find that whatever they're running from is still with 'em when they get there."

When Olivia said those words, it really hit Conor, and yet, he seemed to still want to run. In any case, Conor was a great hero in my opinion. I'm not sure if he's really an anti-hero... but I liked that he wasn't overly tortured. I know readers like dark and tortured hero, but sometimes, it feels so forced. In the case of Conor, it really rang true.

Leslie: Agree that he wasn't portrayed as overly tortured. What he suffered was horrible, especially as a child and losing his family. He didn't like to dwell on it but it was always there in the background, driving him to keep moving.

Nath: Seriously, what he went through was so horrific, I don't think he could ever forget. However, I think that now, he can let go and focus on something else.

What did you think of Olivia? I really admired Olivia. She was a great woman and had a very big, good heart. She did a great job raising three young girls and running the farm. However, I can’t help but think something was missing. She just came across as too nice and selfless... I didn’t get a sense of who she really was. Also, someone who has gone through so much would be a bit more hardened I think, especially given her background. And really, I felt the drive, what made her push herself, was missing...

Leslie: I did like Olivia and how she tried to do the right thing even if it might get her criticized. Her relationships with the girls showed both her serious side and her playful side. I think her sense of purpose was to hold onto the farm and raise the girls. Those were to two main focuses of her life. Really the only focuses.

I did like how she interacted with Conor while he was recovering from his injuries. She was sassy and smart while still being kind to him. I liked seeing how her innocence regarding men and life outside her small town played against Conor's worldliness. He seemed so jaded. Olivia knew about running a farm but she didn't have any experience with the more social aspects of men and women. Olivia's character may seem less complex than Conor but I think that might have more to do with Conor having experienced more of the world.

Nath: Seriously, after the Civil War, times had changed and so many women were left without men... Those people criticizing Olivia were really just clinging to the old ways, not conscious of the changes. Everything Olivia did was indeed for her home and the girls and there was really nothing wrong. I think the reason she maintained her innocence is that even now, years after the Civil War and her running the farm, she's been isolated. It felt to me that she's innocent even when it comes to life in her small town.

Leslie: Yep. Her isolation from the town helped to not only keep her innocence but her positive outlook. She still had that deep seated fear that anyone she cared for would leave her but overall, she only socialized with people she liked and who liked her in return. The girls helped with that innocence as well. Even though they themselves had gone through a lot, they still enjoyed playing and including Olivia in that play. I really liked all three girls and thought they were well developed for children.

Nath: You think she had a fear of being left behind? I didn't see it.

Leslie: She had been left behind. If it hadn't been for the girls, Olivia would have been the only one left. Everyone else in her family either died or left and died while away. All her family, her best friend and even old Nate. I think those girls were her salvation in a way. Then Conor completed the family.

Nath: I got that she feared loneliness... but in this case, fear of loneliness and being left behind is the same. Even then, she wasn’t like her father nor did she cling to the girls or Conor.

You're right though about how the girls contributed to the innocence :) At the same time, that innocence wasn't always a boon. It was touching to see Olivia struggles with motherhood when she hasn't gone through so many experiences.

And I really like the girls - Becky, Carrie and Miranda - in Conor's Way. They were a big part of the storyline and very likable, but at the same time, they didn't steal the show. I think Ms Guhrke did an awesome job with the balance and keeping the readers engaged. However, I think that everything - the characters, the dynamics, the story and the setting - overshadowed the romance a little. I liked the friendship that built between Conor and Olivia, I understood Conor’s attraction for Olivia... but I felt passion was missing from their romance. That would be the weakness of this book in my opinion.

Leslie: For me, it was Olivia not taking the threats from Vernon more seriously as they began to escalate. She did get the guns out but to believe he wouldn't hurt her or the girls was putting them in danger. Maybe she took her belief in the goodness of people a little too far. Even after her friend warned her about the telegraphs and that he thought Vernon was getting more pressure for results, Olivia continued to think that simply saying “No”, she would keep her farm. That was a frustration for me.

Nath: Well I found that Olivia not taking the threats from Vernon more seriously was consistent with her character. There's the innocence and naivete, the Christian seeing the good in everything and the fact that she knew Vernon was sweet on her.

One thing that I really enjoyed about Conor's Way was the life Olivia and the girls were living. Yes, they had chores and the farm to take care of, but at the same time, it seemed to me their life was serene... The difference with today was so jarring where everyone is pressed by time. Or even with the regency historicals. You'd think Olivia would be overwhelmed, but she still had time to go on picnics, play with the girls and everything. Perhaps that’s why I felt like she was missing drive, but in the end, it worked for me :) Also, I think one of the reasons I put off reading Conor’s Way for so long is the story takes place post-Civil War, so I expected a misery, sadness and hardship... and while some of it was present, it was subtle instead of shoved in our face. As a result, I enjoyed the time period a lot more :)

Leslie: It was very serene. Perfect word to describe their life on the farm. Again, their isolation played a role in that. When it was just Olivia, Conor and the girls it was as if none of the bad of the world could touch them. I liked how Guhrke showed both sides of that life and how Olivia was so desperate to hang on to it. It was just the farm she refused to give up but the way of life it provided for her and the girls. The security that Conor seemed so quick to throw away. Loved how they both came around in their thinking of what was truly important in life.

Nath: I think you're right. It wasn't just the farm and the land she was holding on to or the memories, but the lifestyle. At the same time, I understood why Conor told her not to be too attached, that some things were not worth losing your life holding onto it. And really, I don't think Conor recognized that security.

So, final verdict, Leslie :) What is your grade?

Leslie: I'm giving Conor's Way an A. This story hit all my sweet spots. The hero was wonderful. The heroine was strong, smart and a match for the hero. The kids really worked well in the story line and had relationships that felt real with both hero and heroine. And I liked the setting of small, post Civil War southern town. Which surprised me because like you mentioned, I generally shy away from post Civil War stories set in the south because they tend to be too dark and depressing. But I didn’t find that the case with Conor’s Way.

Nath: Initially, I was going to give Conor’s Way a B because while I loved Conor, the girls and their dynamics, I didn’t find Olivia or the romance particularly gripping. However, the more I thought about the book and this review, I came to the conclusion that it deserved a B+. I need to merit Ms Guhrke for writing something different - even after 15 years, it feels original and refreshing - and for the balance of Conor’s Way, especially when it came to Conor’s characterization and the setting :)

Review: Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

Last week, Ames and I reviewed Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas. We thought it'd be great to follow it up by Love in the Afternoon, especially since we enjoyed it so much :)

The review might be a bit less detailed and coherent than usually. That's entirely my fault, sorry ^_^; I wanted it to finish it before Ames flies off to California, so I might have rushed the process a bit... Hope everyone enjoys it nonetheless! :P


*Warning: The are spoilers in this review. Read at your own risk!*

Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

published by St. Martin's Press in June 2010

As a lover of animals and nature, Beatrix Hathaway has always been more comfortable outdoors than in the ballroom. Even though she participated in the London season in the past, the classic beauty and free-spirited Beatrix has never been swept away or seriously courted.and she has resigned herself to the fate of never finding love. Has the time come for the most unconventional of the Hathaway sisters to settle for an ordinary man-just to avoid spinsterhood?

Captain Christopher Phelan is a handsome, daring soldier who plans to marry Beatrix's friend, the vivacious flirt Prudence Mercer, when he returns from fighting abroad. But, as he explains in his letters to Pru, life on the battlefield has darkened his soul-and it's becoming clear that Christopher won't come back as the same man. When Beatrix learns of Pru's disappointment, she decides to help by concocting Pru's letters to Christopher for her. Soon the correspondence between Beatrix and Christopher develops into something fulfilling and deep.and when Christopher comes home, he's determined to claim the woman he loves. What began as Beatrix's innocent deception has resulted in the agony of unfulfilled love-and a passion that can't be denied.

Genre: Historical romance
Series: The Hathaways, Book #5

The Story: I thought the blurb was a bit misleading as in, Beatrix did not set out to take up Pru's correspondence with Christopher Phelan. Instead, it all starts when Pru shares the content of Christopher's letter with her friends. Normally, Beatrix wouldn't be interested, especially since Christopher has not hidden the fact that he finds Bea odd with his friends, until she hears the mention of Albert, a dog that Christopher has rescued but who's misbehaving. Concerned for the dog, Beatrix has some advices for Christopher, but Pru is no longer interested in continuing a correspondence with Christopher since his letters are so unromantic and his uniform, hideous. However, Pru does give permission to Bea to write under her name if that pleases her... and so Bea does. One thing leads to another and Bea finds herself writing and sharing more than one letter.

The correspondence allows Bea to get to know Christopher better. Friendship soon turns into deeper feelings and when Beatrix realizes that she's fallen in love with Christopher, she ceases the correspondence. Once back from the war, Christopher is determined to reach out to Pru, but soon realize that something is off...


Nath: So Ames, I know you've been looking forward to Beatrix' book for a long time and your anticipation was contagious! Because of it, I did something that I rarely do: I read Ms Kleypas online excerpt and I was hooked. I couldn't wait to get my hands on Love in the Afternoon... and so ended up with two copies! LOL. However, it was definitively worth it as I really enjoyed Love in the Afternoon. It was just so much fun :)

I really liked Beatrix and how unconventional she was and I thought Christopher was a great hero as well. What really made this book for me is that Ms Kleypas didn't fall in the predictability or stereotyping. I liked that Christopher was smart enough to figure out that Prudence wasn't the one who wrote the letters and I liked that he wasn't angry at Beatrix. Okay, yes, he was a bit angry, but he didn't turn into a pighead because of it. Instead, he grabbed onto Bea refusing to let her go :P

Ames: I know!! I love that about Christopher too. I like how he came around in his thinking towards Bea. Like before he knew she wrote the letters, he was already thinking about her differently. Definitely liked that!

Ok - so the whole series Beatrix has been my favorite sister because she is the animal lover. And I love how the war and the post traumatic stress made Christopher very similar to a wounded animal which is the perfect kind of hero for Beatrix. These two characters were just perfect for each other!

Nath: What you say about Christopher is right, he was like a wounded animal. However, Ms Kleypas wrote it in a subtle manner and Christopher PTSD wasn't the focal point of the story. Also, there was the fact that Bea was already in love with him when he came back from war.

You're right though. It was nice that Christopher's opinion of Beatrix did not change because he found out she was the one who wrote the letters, but came from their interaction. I think it's because of the war and his brother's death. These events have changed him as a man and how he views certain things. He definitively had no time for frivolity when he came back.

What else did you enjoy?

Ames: Christopher's dog, Albert! I loved him!!

Nath: LOL, it was so funny that there was an actual drawing of the dog in the book! But yes, Albert was very cute :)

Ames: Everything with Albert was super cute. And you know, sometimes authors get dog behaviors wrong or they make them totally unrealistic but LK definitely got Albert down right. And I like how he attached himself to Beatrix and Christopher just knew where Albert was when he got home. Hahaha.

Nath: LOL, it proves how smart Albert was :P

Another great element in Love in the Afternoon was the Hathaways family interactions. I really enjoyed those and I think the family was more present in this book - as a group, than in any of the first 4 books. They're really an interesting lot and we got to see more of their dynamics. I thought the scene where Christopher goes to the Hathaways to discuss marriage was really good.

Ames: Oh that scene when Christopher joins them for supper and Beatrix tells everyone he doesn't want to talk so they all just talk around him? I love that scene. The humor in this book was good too - Beatrix was just so perfect.

Nath: LOL, perfect in an unconventional way :P While most people thought Beatrix unconventional, she's probably the most clever though. She's a good judge of character and she knows how to manage people... like Christopher's grandfather.

Ames: She is the most clever and practical heroine. Her only unpractical thing she did was pretend to be Pru in those letters but it had a happy ending - but in every other way, she was practical and I loved her for it. :P

Nath: Nod nod.

This book was great fun, but I thought there were a few unnecessary things, such as the mother issue. It was sad for Christopher that his mother was clearly not able to love him. However, there was nothing really done about it. I was actually surprised that she didn't oppose to Christopher and Bea's marriage, but I guess she didn't really care ^_^; Lucky for Bea, she won't have to deal with her.

Still, Christopher had a great brother. The letter at the end from John was very touching.

Ames: Yes, it was! And I'm glad we didn't have to deal with Christopher's mother that much. Whew. Sometimes family can get messy and the Hathaways are more than enough, thank you very much. haha

Nath: LOL, true.

My other quibble with this book would be the ending. I'm assuming that Love in the Afternoon is the last book in the Hathaways series and as such, I'd have liked a little more wrap-up. Otherwise though, I pretty much think this book was perfect :)

Ames: I have to agree about a bit of a wrap-up, that didn't feel like the last book, you know? But yes, this book was almost perfect.:P I can't get over it. LOL Halfway through I was thinking - this is going to be a top reads for 2010. Definitely re-read material!

Nath: Definitively a contender for 2010 and definitively re-read material. It's the kind of book that just cheers you up and put a smile on your face :P Love in the Afternoon is a A- for me. Not perfect, but sure close to it! :P

Ames: It's an A- for me too! LOL It feels like it's been a while since we've agreed on a book.

Nath: : True. I'm glad that when we finally do, it's on such a good book :)

Review: Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas

It seems like it's been a while since Ames and I buddy reviewed a book... but in truth, we always have one in progress. It just takes forever for us to complete them ^_^; For example, we started Married by Morning back on July 14, despite both having read it in June ^_^; Oupsie, LOL. We do hope that you enjoy our hard work! :P

*Warning: The are spoilers in this review. Read at your own risk!*

Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas
published by St. Martin's Press in May 2010

For two years, Catherine Marks has been a paid companion to the Hathaway sisters-a pleasant position, with one caveat. Her charges' older brother, Leo Hathaway, is thoroughly exasperating. Cat can hardly believe that their constant arguing could mask a mutual attraction. But when one quarrel ends in a sudden kiss, Cat is shocked at her powerful response-and even more so when Leo proposes a dangerous liaison.

Leo must marry and produce an heir within a year to save his family home. Catherine's respectable demeanor hides a secret that would utterly destroy her. But to Leo, Cat is intriguing and infernally tempting, even to a man resolved never to love again. The danger Cat tried to outrun is about to separate them forever-unless two wary lovers can find a way to banish the shadows and give in to their desires.

Genre: Historical romance
Series: The Hathaways, book #4


Nath: Ames, we've been dragging our feet too long. Let's get on with this review! :)

I went into this book, not really excited, mainly because I didn't like Catherine Marks' character from what I've seen previously. After reading the book, well my opinion hasn't really changed. There's just something in Marks that leaves me indifferent. I did really enjoy Leo's character though :)

Ames: I went into this book with no expectations. I wasn't really a fan of Marks from the other books and I didn't really care about Leo. But I knew I had to read it anyway (to get to Beatrix's book). LOL So I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that I did enjoy it! I didn't love it, but it wasn't the hardship I thought it would be. And we did get to know Marks and Leo better and I ended up liking both their characters more by the end of the book. So that was good, right?

Nath: Indeed, that's very good. Actually, lucky you! LOL.

I actually really liked Leo's character and thought the layers to his personality were very interesting. He hid his sharp mind and competence behind a layer of laziness and nonchalance and made me believe that he was raised as a lord. He has plenty of charm, but the most refreshing was his honesty about himself. Like the fact that he admitted that his behavior now has nothing to do with Laura anymore... and that yes, he was in love with her in the past, but not anymore. I liked that he wasn't a lost soul.

By the way, what was Catherine's beef with Leo? Okay, so he's a rake... but no worst than any other lords out there... I really didn't understand what she reproached to him.

Ames: Well I think Catherine's experience with men in the past made her biased towards Leo - and then seeing the way he was and acted, it all justified that feeling she had towards him. And he did his best to annoy her whenever he could. I think just like little boys in the schoolyard, when they pulled the hair of the girls they liked, that same kind of dynamic was going on with Leo and Catherine but both of them were too afraid to admit that they were attracted to each other, but they couldn't leave the other person alone. LOL

Nath: There were a few things I thought pointless however... The whole will thing about the house. Seriously, I don't get it. If it wasn't entailed, then why not leave it to your wife and daughter right away?

Ames: If the house thing didn't happen, we wouldn't have had the book we did. LOL I didn't mind the house stuff. It didn't really add or detract either way. It did create some tension for Leo and it did give some conflict for the rest of the family, like not everything was going perfectly in their lives (although since it is a romance, it does in the end). But I bet the relative who died didn't realize the house wasn't entailed because the main house was a ruin.

Nath: As a conflict, it was seriously very, very weak in my opinion. It brought absolutely nothing to the story itself. I mean, the sisters organized a ball with potential wife candidates. Frankly, it's a surprise they haven't played matchmakers earlier! actually had very little impact on the book itself. I just thought it was a far-fetched excuse and I don't feel like it fit the Hathaways. Okay, so the house has some sentimental value, given that Rye was born in it. However, Hathaways are far from being materialistic and in addition, Leo is an architect! I thought he would relish the opportunity to build his own house. It just didn't make sense to me.

Ames: I think the sisters didn't try matchmaking earlier because they were focused on their own love lives and they probably didn't want to push Leo before he was ready - he did lose someone he really loved and the sisters are very compassionate so they probably left him alone because of that.

And you are right about Leo being an architect! Why wouldn't he want to fix the old house up? LOL

Nath: Exactly! Wouldn't that be an interesting challenge? You're right about the sister being busy with their love lives. Still, now that all of them (except Bea) are married though, I think it was just a matter of time. There wasn't any need for the house ruse.

Another thing I didn't like was the fact that Catherine was Harry's sister. I don't mind when characters find a long-lost sibling, but in this case, it felt overused in this series, since Cam and Merrypen already turn out to be brothers ^_^; Plus, she was in hiding. Ugh. I mean, it was obvious that once she got her book, her hiding days would be over.

Ames: LOL. Too many siblings in this series, I'll give you that.

For Catherine, the hiding makes sense. She didn't want to come across her tormentor ever again. And it worked, until that guy showed up at the ball. But that was good too because it explains why Marks was the way she was (like her family's background) and then it allowed Leo to play the protector to this very independent, strong woman. Also, if she didn't have the past she did, WE wouldn't have had a book to read. Quit being so nitpicky! LOL

Nath: Sorry ^_^; But I'm still not feeling it! If Catherine didn't want to come across her tormentor ever again, why take a position in an aristocrat family. True, in the beginning, she was just a tutor... but when she became Beatrix and Poppy's companion, that meant going to events with them and having the chance to run into the bad guy since he's from the ton. I mean, yes, it was explained why Catherine took the position and that she fell in love with the family, but I thought it was just too predictable - the events. Although I did not foresee her background (like that her father's side ran a brothel) - I did like that twist :P

Ames: Well Catherine did disguise her looks a little bit. And who else would she have taken a position with? Aristocratic families was where the money was back in the day. LOL They were the bread and butter.

Nath: The thing is she doesn't need money. She has a rich older brother, perhaps not a loving one, but one that stepped in already to save her life and wouldn't have minded to provide for her I'm sure.

Ames: Ok I have to disagree with you about her needing the money. She may not have - but she's an independent woman and she wasn't going to go crying to her brother for charity. She states that she wasn't his responsibility and that he didn't know what to do with her when he rescued her. So she went to a finishing school where she even ended up teaching for the last two years. So the headmistress there asked her to leave so she would see a bit of the world and that the headmistress had a friend who knew of a family of unusual circumstances. That's how the characters' personalities worked out. For Catherine to ask her brother to support her, that would have been contradictory to her character. And the Hathaways really needed her.

Nath: Okay, you're right. Catherine would never rely on Harry for money. Still, she could have chosen a family on the continent, far far away from London. Yes, Ms Kleypas explained the circumstances of how Catherine came to be employed by the Hathaways... but I'm just saying LOL.

By the way, she is discovered... and who is the first person she runs to? Her brother. This though is probably due to their relationship getting better. Two months ago, she probably wouldn't have ^_^;

Ames: One thing that I didn't get? When Leo returned from London and was all gung-ho after Marks. There was no internal dialogue on his part on why he decided to give into his attraction, he just does. I would have liked to have known why he changed his mind.

Nath: Are you talking about the beginning of the book? I feel that he just realized that he was attracted to her and decided to go ahead ^_^;

Ames: AND! Another kidnapping plot at the end? That happened with Harry and it seems a wee bit lazy that Lisa Kleypas would use the same thing in the very next book. I didn't like that.

Nath: Surprisingly, I didn't mind the kidnapping that much in this storyline, because it worked (unlike Harry's book). I mean, Catherine has been hiding for a reason, right? :P

Ames: Both kidnapping plots didn't work for me. But again, it worked for Leo because he got to be the protector, he got to save Catherine. But it also showed Catherine she was strong on her own. She was making a break for it.

Nath: I did like that Harry and Poppy had "big" roles in this book. It was so funny when Harry and Leo's eyed each other... Brothers-in-law squared LOL. And loved the part where Leo was jealous of Harry because he thought there was something between the two. Ha. Man - there's only one explanation for them :P

Ames: Overall, because I went into this book with no expectations, I was pleasantly surprised. I did come to like Leo and Marks. I could see why he didn't want to love again (after having lost a fiancée) and why she was afraid of the events of her past. I thought it all came well together in the end. Even though I was a bit bugged by the repeat kidnapping plot, it didn't bother me that much.

Nath: I liked the fact that Leo wasn't still in love with his dead fiancée... but it was more a case of afraid of loving so much again. It made Leo very human and I think, Catherine saw him in a different light after that.

Married by Morning was a C for me. I liked Leo, but the rest of the book didn't really appeal to me except for Harry and Poppy's scenes. Didn't like Marks and I think you're right, in some aspect, Ms Kleypas was lazy with repeated ideas throughout the series. Plus, I don't know, I just have a feeling the storyline didn't fit with the characters, didn't make sense.

Ames: I have to give Married by Morning a solid B. It exceeded my non-existent expectations and I really enjoyed getting to know these characters better - it made me like them more in the end.

Review: Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

Another anticipated book for me in May was the new Julia Quinn :) Somehow, she's made it to my auto-buy list :) Ten Things I Love About You sounded really cute and I think everyone wanted Sebastian's book, after the scene where he he was so into his read that he fell down the desk/table and injured himself in What Happens in London. LOL. Joining me for today's buddy review is Isabel from All About Me :) Thank you, Izzy :P


*Warning: The are spoilers in this review. Read at your own risk!*

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
published by Avon in May 2010

Ten Things You Should Know About This Book

1. Sebastian Grey is a devilishly handsome rogue with a secret.
2. Annabel Winslow's family voted her The Winslow Most Likely to Speak Her Mind AND The Winslow Most Likely to Fall Asleep in Church.
3. Sebastian's uncle is the Earl of Newbury, and if he dies without siring an heir, Sebastian inherits everything.
4. Lord Newbury detests Sebastian and will stop at nothing to prevent this from happening.
5. Lord Newbury has decided that Annabel is the answer to all of his problems.
6. Annabel does not want to marry Lord Newbury, especially when she finds out he once romanced her grandmother.
7. is shocking, 8. is delicious, 9. is downright wicked, all of which leads the way to
10. Happily. Ever. After.

Genre: Historical romance
Series: Bevelstoke, Book #3

The Story: Annabel Winslow is being sponsored by her maternal grandparents for her first season. As the eldest of eight children, Annabel’s goal is simple: find a match that will be able to support her family and send her brothers to Eton. To her grandparents’ great pleasure, Annabel has attracted the attention of their good friend, the Earl of Newbury. The Earl of Newbury has recently lost his heir and therefore must beget a new one, as he doesn’t want his nephew, Sebastian Grey, to inherit the title. Thus, he has been looking for a “fertile” woman and if Annabel’s figure is any indication… As for Sebastian, he’d like the whole heir issue to be settled.

Nath: What did you think of Ten Things I Love About You, Isabel?

I really liked Sebastian’s character; however, I really had issues with Annabel and it really affected how I enjoyed this book :(

Isabel: I also liked Sebastian. I didn’t mind Annabel.

Nath: Really? I thought Sebastian was a great character. I liked how charming he was. It was a bit sad that nobody looked beyond the surface, but then, I guess that's what he wanted. I really liked that he had many layers and he was aware of them and chose what to show to the public and what to keep for himself.

Isabel: I loved how charming he was. It’s like how Annabel described him. That he had a secret and she wanted to know what it was. Not just the books but the many parts of his personality.

Nath: That comment really nailed Sebastian :)

Now, Annabel. Hmmm. My problem with her was I wanted her to stand up for herself and be more pro-active. Instead, she just sat there, pitying herself.

Isabel: I didn’t get she was pitying herself. I think she just saw herself as stuck in a situation she couldn’t get out of. The whole, “I want to marry for love but I need to do the right thing for my family,” I think is what made her be the way she was. Once Newbury said those nasty things to her at the party, she realized she wouldn’t be able to go through it.

Nath: All right, perhaps saying that Annabel was pitying herself is a bit harsh. However, I maintain that she could have been more pro-active. From the beginning, Annabel didn't need a titled gentleman, just one with money. She could have found other options to Newburry. She could have made a deal with someone... True, she couldn't have brought much to it, but hey, she had that body! LOL. How many times did we read such plots? Or blackmail her grandparents into paying her brothers tuitions, steal jewels, something. It was clear that Annabel didn't want to marry Newburry, but she didn't do anything to get out of that situation. Everyone around her had plans, did things... but Annabel was like a pawn, just sitting there and letting other move her around according to what they planned. She never even got up to Newburry to bargain for the money. Also, love didn't have anything to with this whole situation at first.

Oh and I disliked the fact that Annabel founds herself in a pickle of her own doing and Sebastian had to do all the work to get her out of that situation.

Isabel: But her body is the reason why it attracted Newbury. He wanted an heir and he wanted it now. I think had he not been so desperate, Annabel could have found someone different with money. Someone more tolerable. I mean, Newbury got that special license. He could have made it difficult for anyone else who had interest in her.

Nath: I know her body is what attracted Newburry. However, I think she could attract other men too... I mean, Edward kept drooling about her LOL. So perhaps she could have found someone more tolerable with more money... And really, after Newbury thought there was something between Annabel and Sebastian, he wasn’t interested in her anymore… At the end, it had less to do with the heir and more to keep Sebastian from having her.

Isabel: Yeah, but being attracted and actually wanting to marry her are two different things. Also, we wouldn’t have a story if she did. And remember, most girls wouldn’t have been able to do anything. Most just accepted their fate.

But now that you mention it, yeah everyone else had ideas where Annabel just kind of sat there not knowing what to do. And… she should have told Sebastian who she was when she met him. I mean, his uncle is courting her. They were bound to run into each other.

Nath: True, but I still think she was too wishy-washy through the whole book. Not only didn't she make her own opportunities, she didn't even seize the one that were offered to her. I mean, personality-wise, Annabel was fine. She's a nice girl with a good sense of humor and filial... but her inaction just ruined her character for me.

I thought the plotline was okay, but not substantial enough. I liked that it was between Annabel, Sebastian and Newburry... that there was no mystery involved. However, I think that a few scenes at the end were superfluous such as the sex scene and Annabel's discovery at Sebastian's identity. I think the story should have ended after the grandmother and Newburry departed from the room and then the epilogue.

Isabel: I like that Annabel found out Sebastian was the author. I’m glad we got to see that. However, I almost wished they kept it a secret about who it was. Like not reveal it was Sebastian until maybe a little later. Like with Miss Whistledown. I also think it’s funny Sebastian is the author of those books. I love how he prods people for info about if they liked them.

Nath: LOL, that was cute indeed. I’m glad Annabel found Sebastian’s secret, but I thought it could have been earlier in the book. I'm kind of disappointed though that it never became public knowledge that Sebastian was Sarah Goreley...

Isabel: I would have like for Harry and Olivia to at least find out also. But oh well. I’ll take what I can. Did you think Olivia left Sebastian and Annabel alone together on purpose?

Nath: I do think that Olivia left them together on purpose. For some reasons, she had chosen Annabel as the wife candidate.

Isabel: I think Olivia could tell there was something between them. She was giving them a little push.

Nath: Probably.

LOL, one of my favorite moment of Ten Things I Love About You was the last scene with the grandmother! Quite hilarious, especially when she said: "I thought you'd die soon!” I didn't like her much, but she livened up the book for sure :)

Isabel: Lady Vickers was awesome. Ha ha. Didn’t I say for all we knew she was after Newbury when he was too? And turns out they did hook up. Wow. But I loved how she basically gave them permission to spend the night.

Nath: LOL, yes, you did call it! :)

One of the issues I had was the fact that the grandparents were pleased about the match between Annabel and Lord Newbury. Especially the grandfather - how can you expect your friend to marry your granddaughter?!?! I mean, does he think a little bit that it would be as if he had sex with his granddaughter?
I mean, when her grandmother was telling her that in her time, some of her friends were after Lord Newbury and Annabel goes “Your friends” – that says it all for me.

Isabel: Oh I know. that part was funny. I was like.. ewww telling your granddaughter that your friends were once after the guy you might marry is not a good thing. But that’s what they did in those days. It was probably really common back then. And no one thought different. Icky though.

Nath: True, you're right... What made it worst though was that Lord Newbury was really an unlikable character. I really didn't like the part where Annabel got mauled by him, he was such a lecherous pervert ^_^; Plus, the last bit where he wanted to ruin her? Despicable!! Bleh :( I think it would have been more interesting if he wasn’t. That the only factor would have been his age.

Isabel: Yeah I didn’t like that either; it made me dislike the earl even more. Like ewww.

Nath: Another issue is I didn't really buy the love between Annabel and Sebastian... I understand that they got to know each other when Sebastian was calling on her... and he appreciated her humor... but one minute, he doesn't want to propose to her and the other, he's in love. Nope.

Isabel: I bought it. I think deep down he did but just didn’t know it. It’s like not knowing what you got till it’s gone. I think once he pictured her with the Earl or anyone, he realized just how much he did want to marry her. I think Olivia knew too and that’s why she left them alone.

Nath: You’re probably right. I just didn’t feel much chemistry between the two :(

Also, I might be nit-picking, but anyway. Throughout the book, Annabel and Sebastian processed some of their thinking by making a list of ten things. I thought it was cute; however, I think it'd have been better if it was a characteristic proper to either Annabel or Sebastian. Not both. There are very few people who process that way and suddenly, you have two? I mean, if Sebastian picked up the habit from Annabel, fine... but both of them? ^_^;

Isabel: I can also buy the list thing. My only issue is I did not care for the cover. The lady just looked kind of annoyed. Like.. ugh.. another letter or whatever she’s holding.

Nath: I think it’s a list. Personally, I would have preferred a cover along the lines of What Happens in London... Simply to make the books in this series fit together.

Finally, Ten Things I Love About You is a C for me... Really loved Sebastian, but it couldn’t make up for all the issues I had ^_^; What about you?

Isabel: For me, I’d give it a B. I enjoyed the story. I love Sebastian. Loved that it was low key drama. It was just a cute story. Also loved how poor Annabel was described as fertile and how everyone had heard it. Ha ha.

Nath: LOL, poor Annabel indeed. The part where she wondered how once goes to give the air of infertility was just too funny :)