Reading at Dawn - Book Review Blog

I got this one from the library as I searched for a regency romance. I couldn’t remember the word regency, so I just went by covers. The cover got my attention, then the whole gem ability interested me enough to check it out.

About the Book: Lady Viola Preston is careful to wear gloves when she steals jewels. When she touches a gemstone with her bare skin, it speaks to her, sending disturbing visions. Still more disturbing is the handsome rogue who catches her red-handed.





The book wasn’t quite what I expected. It did have the gem part which is the focus of the book description and an adventure to try and steal a precious diamond. There was also romance, of course. I’m just not very familiar with the genre. In fact, it made me wonder where they draw the line between romance and romance/erotica, because the sexual element was quite prominent in this one.

Not that I’m against erotic elements to a story. I write erotica on occasion and run a contest that requires such. Just when expecting to read a romance novel, I didn’t quite think the very beginning of the novel would be guy learning kama sutra. And the sexual relationship that develops takes up a fair amount of the story.

I did like Viola. She had quite the personality, which made the story interesting. She’s struggling to fit in the place she expected to have in society after trouble came upon her family. With both personal and social issues to handle during times where certain expectations are hard to follow. The guy, Quinn, I wasn’t sure about at times. Not my type but they had a good dynamic that developed throughout the story.

The conflict escalated well near the end of the novel in particular as the stakes became raised. I was uncertain when I first started reading this book since I tend more towards fantasy and such, but towards the end I couldn’t wait to read more. People who are looking for a bit of a different approach to the regency romance, I recommend this one. The visions from touching gems did have an interesting development that worked with the characters presented. Though not quite accurate on the historical levels (according to other reviews I've seen posted), it’s enjoyable as just a fiction story for those who enjoy the genre. If romance is your genre, maybe check this one out.

Three Weeks with Lady X by Eloisa James

Book 24 in A to Z challenge

Three weeks with Lady X is a historical romance by Eloisa James and, I admit, was chosen because the character Lady X would fit this challenge. The other choice would have been Xenophon - but I decided you all would thank me if I skip the obscure Greek philosopher from 430 BC for some more modern regency romance.

I admit I dreaded it. I had read another book by Eloisa James and had hated it - so I did not relish a repeat. But then I told myself: Get on with it. To my own surprise, I loved it. Enough so that by now I have read the other six books in that series.

So, what is it about? Three Weeks with Lady X is the last in a long series called the Desperate Duchesses. It is the story of the illegitimate son of a Duke who decides he needs to marry - and Lady India, who specializes in bringing unsuitable houses, and Dukes, up to scratch. And whilst she tried to turn him into a man who would be welcome in the highest houses even though his birth is questionable, she... well, you can guess it.

As yet, that sounds like a fairly standard historic romance without anything special to it. What is special is the characters. They are not fragile little flowers - or stupid aristocrats who we are told are highly intelligent but who fall into one stupidity after another. They have wit and honour, humour and a fine sense of being alive. What the author manages is to create characters we can laugh with, we can understand, even from our 21st century perspective - but without letting them lose their regency life.

There are some historical inaccuracies - that is why it is called fiction, not a documentary. But overall she manages to show us the small practicalities of life, through the eyes of loveable, and loving, characters. These books are a welcome change for those who want to laugh, not cringe, when they read a regency novel - aware that what they are reading is some light entertainment, without being stupid. I thoroughly enjoyed it.


Reviewed by:
Christine Blackthorn
www.christineblackthorn.eu

Anne Golon, Author (also known as Sergeanne Golon)

Book 7 in A to Z challenge

Anne Golon is a historical romance author of French descent who wrote a series of book around the character Angeligue and her life in 17th century France and Canada. She is the daughter of an impoverished French noble who is traded away in marriage for the price of a mine. She is terrified and shocked when she meets her new husband, Joffrey de Peyrac, the Duke of Toulouse, whose face is disfigured by a horrific scar and whose sharp whit and intelligence mock her. But besides being a proud and influential nobleman, Peyrac is also one of the foremost scientist, troubadour and renown lover of his time.

Angelique falls in love with him after a well planned, and well executed, seduction of body and mind and all seems well - but this is when the wider political influences intrude. Joffrey de Peyrac is burnt as a witch by the young Louis IVX and Angelique, pregnant with his second son, now has to make her life, and protect her children, alone.

Over the next two decades, and 13 books, we follow her through the thieves court of Paris and the royal court of Versailles, through the dangers of the Mediterranean and middle east to the wilds of Canada. We see her love a King and a beggar, enchant a sultan and a pirate, she leads a rebellion and becomes one of the most successful traders in France. And we see her find something she thought she had lost …

These books are rich in detail and texture, written in the more lyrical style of earlier times. The historical detail is fascinating and the author managed to interweave historical truth and happenings with her fictional heroine letting us see a world full of danger and love, loyalty and betrayal.

This is a book for historical romance lovers who like the depth and historical detail, who can revel in their own sensual appreciation of characters and intricacies of action, without losing their attention span. For me, these were the books that made me love historical romance. I was nine and found them in my great-grandmother’s bookshelves - and have never put them down again. At the age of nine, I was caught by the adventure and the strong female character - today I appreciate the male characters we are handed and just cannot help falling in love with.


Reviewed by:
Christine Blackthorn
www.christineblackthorn.eu