Do You Want to Start a Scandal (Spindle Cove: Book Five, Castles Ever After: Book Four): Tessa Dare

"On the night of the Parkhurst ball, someone had a scandalous tryst in the library.

"Was it Lord Canby, with the maid, on the divan?  Or Miss Fairchild, with a rake, against the wall?  Perhaps the butler did it.

"All Charlotte Highwood knows is this:  it wasn't her.  But rumors to the contrary are buzzing.  Unless she can discover the lovers' true identity, she'll be forced to marry Piers Brandon, Lord Granville--the coldest, most arrogantly handsome gentleman she's ever had the misfortune to embrace.  When it comes to emotion, the man hasn't got a clue.

"But as they set about finding the mystery lovers, Piers reveals a few secrets of his own.  The oh-so-proper marquess can pick locks, land punches, tease with sly wit...and melt a woman's knees with a single kiss.  The only thing he guards more fiercely than Charlotte's safety is the truth about his dark past.

"Their passion is intense.  The danger is real.  Soon Charlotte's feeling torn.  Will she risk all to prove her innocence?  Or surrender to a man who's sworn never to love?"

One word to describe this book:  fun.  I was thrilled to see Piers have his own story (I'd been keeping my fingers crossed for as much when I read the story of his former betrothed and his younger brother), as much as I was excited to see the merger of Dare's highly-creative Spindle Cove and Castles Ever After series.  I absolutely adored being able to see the characters and plots coming together.  Charlotte had been a consistent character in many of the Spindle Cove books and Piers had made such an impact in "Say Yes to the Marquess" so I found it thrilling when these seemingly self-sufficient worlds Dare created, collided.  The book was fun, well-paced, and more light-hearted than I expected to find a story with Piers as the male lead.  He was so cool and calculated that I loved seeing the realistic shift in his character as he learned and grew.

Charlotte was a ball of energy; all over the place, messy, disorganized, yet intelligent and endearing.  I liked her a great deal and she was a very believable character.  Sweet, caring, and determined and reckless to a fault, I found her to be an excellent foil to the staid seriousness of Piers.  They were wonderful counterparts to one another.  Piers, on the other hand, was remarkably well-written.  I will say that I found marked "James Bond" influences in his speech and some of his mannerisms -- especially in the latter part of the book, "darling."  However, this didn't deter my enjoyment.  I found the book fun and took it for what it was:  A giant game of "Clue" set in Dare's eloquent, imaginative world with lively characters, amusing situations, and passionate lovers.  The premise of the book, itself, is pretty straightforward, but the complexity and entertainment comes in with the characters she crafts.  As I mentioned, I really enjoyed Charlotte...though I truly believe Piers made this book the success that it was.  Dare managed to craft him in such a way that he 1) stayed true to the Piers I knew from her other book, 2) was allowed to grow and change in a plausible way, and 3) was still supremely sexy and attractive as a male lead, with far more complexity than I was expecting from a Bond-esque character.  The plot is a little bit silly and a couple of the characters are slightly over-the-top, but (remember) it's supposed to be an enjoyable read.  Take it for what it is and you'll love it.

By far, one of my favorite parts of the book was getting to relive anecdotes and revisit characters from both of the series of which this book is a part.  It's no secret how much I enjoy this little "Easter eggs" and I get all giddy excitement whenever an author successfully incorporate such information (by successfully, I mean stays true to the characters I know and love from previous installments in the series.  Another author particularly good at this is Sherrilyn Keyon - she has a vastly-different writing style and a completely different setting/time-period than Tessa Dare, but I wanted to mention her because she's another author noteworthy for writing complex series (see her Dark-Hunter series for an example).

I absolutely recommend this book, but with the disclaimer that you ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY MUST be current on BOTH the Spindle Cove and Castles Ever After series or you will not be able to appreciate or understand this installment.  It seems silly to say this of a book in this genre, but Dare puts a lot of time and effort in writing her books, weaving a story that is rich and multifaceted, that you really need to follow the reading order in order to do it justice.

Happy reading!

Lord Dashwood Missed Out (Spindle Cove, Book 4.5): Tessa Dare

"A Snowstorm hath no fury like a spinster scorned.

"Miss Elinora Browning grew up yearning for the handsome, intelligent lord next door...but he left England without a word of farewell.  One night, inspired by a bit too much sherry, Nora poured out her heartbreak on paper.  Lord Dashwood Missed Out was a love letter to every your lady who'd been overlooked by gentlemen - and an instant best seller.  Now she's on her way to speak in Spindle Cove when snowy weather delays her coach.  She's forced to wait out the storm with the worst possible companion:  Lord Dashwood himself.

"And he finally seems to have noticed her.

"George Travers, Lord Dashwood, has traveled the globe as a cartographer.  He returned to England with the goal of marrying and creating an heir - only to find his reputation shredded by an audacious, vexingly attractive bluestocking and her poison pen.  Lord Dashwood Missed Out, his arse.  Since Nora Browning seems to believe he overlooked the passion of a lifetime, Dash challenges her to prove it.

"She has one night."

Another little gem by Tessa Dare.  She has a knack for these short, sweet little novellas.  I always tend to approach these less-lengthy works with some reservations:  How could an author possibly make her readers care enough about her characters in such a finite expanse of time, all while developing the story in a way that makes sense and, as a whole, fits in well with the series?  It is no secret that I wasn't the biggest fan of the first novella in the series (there are currently three, counting Lord Dashwood), but this one was quite good - leaps and bounds better.  I can see how it worked out so well with the rest of the series.  Nora is intelligent, self-sufficient, and longs to show women that they should not lose themselves, nor should they apologize for their accomplishments - not to anyone.  I thought that suited Spindle Cove quite well.  I like how she's carved out a life for herself in the "real world" outside of Spindle Cove.  It's nice to see a "spinster" doing so well without claiming a spot as one of the residents of the relative "bubble" of the seaside retreat.  She is proof that Dare believes -- while there is a safe place for everyone -- that everyone can find their niche.  The backstory was understandably and necessarily brief, but Dare did manage to cram enough into this short story to make me care about her characters.  I feel like there could have been so much more to the death of Nora's brother and her acquired fear of riding, but I can understand why she omitted the information. As far as male leads go, I found George extremely likable.  He started out gruff and overconfident.  I thought I would find this overdone or obnoxious, but I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't.  His Dare-trademarked "quirk" was definitely a new one (see my other reviews of Tessa Dare for an explanation of these oft-endearing quirks) and one about which I'm feeling just okay.  I think it's more believable only because George is a cartographer and spent so much time traveling.  I understood the logical explanations with which he provided Nora, but I'm a bit on the fence.  It didn't keep me from liking George or the plot in general, I just think it's worth mentioning.

By far, one of my favorite parts of the book is the fact that we see SO many characters from her other books!  I grinned from ear-to-ear when I realized that Dare was incorporating so many plot threads and amazing personalities.  I liked the framework of the novella, how it jumped around between different points of view.  It certainly made for a well-paced read.

Overall, I read this book very, very quickly.  It was a fun, light-hearted read with mild drama, relatively steamy romance, and fun twists.  This was the definition of short and sweet.

The Lover: Marguerite Duras

This book is yet another of the ones assigned in my graduate-level global literature course.  I wasn't sure what I was getting into; I had never heard of this book before and -- being the British literature buff I am -- was the odd woman out amongst my classmates.  This didn't discourage me.  I ended up getting through the book fairly quickly.  I thought the story contained a great deal of cultural, sexual, and societal commentary.  It was astonishing how the main character is able to get away with the things she does, how her family treats her lover as they do, mostly due to racial prejudices and the leeway society allows them because they are white in an Asian land.  The lack of morality, the coldness...it all served to make for thought-provoking commentary which resonates even in today's American society.  What felt at first to be a story very far-removed from my own, modern life became very poignant and, I feel, important.  I cannot say that I liked a single character, which is very interesting.  To tell the truth, I disliked each and every character for one reason or another, but not to the point where I had to stop reading.  I think this is an art form in itself.  Duras crafted a very deep story and it's one I do recommend to anyone wanting to, perhaps, branch out and try a classic piece of global literature which remains relevant to this day.

The Stranger: Albert Camus

This was one of the assigned readings for my graduate seminar on global literature. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but it turned out to be one of the books I used to write my final essay for the course. Meursault was a compelling character. Even months after reading the book, I am still trying to sort him out. I think he had a definite issue with his grasp on reality. I had a very good discussion about how his character represents fighting against the rules and impositions of society and the establishment. I'm considering posting that essay here so you can all see how I was so inspired by the book, but I don't want to bore anyone. Overall, I thought this particular translation was very well done. I think it flowed well and was easier to follow than I thought it would be. There were still some passages I had to reread, but it wasn't bad for my first real foray into truly global literature. I think the message was deep, the characters were complex, and this was definitely a book that made me think. I wouldn't have chosen this book on my own, but it definitely opened my eyes and broadened my horizons. Personally, I don't see it as a book I would read for fun, but that doesn't mean it's a bad read - just a different type of read. It was one that made me think, made me consider norms and societal constructs. I was impressed by the depth achieved by Camus in this short of a story and I recommend it as a thought-provoking read.  It's a pretty short read (I read it in a couple of days), so there's not too much for me to say without giving away too much of the plot.  I found the insight into the mindset and culture of the characters to be absolutely fascinating, so much so that I chose to write my final essay for the course on this book.  I think the absurdity surrounding Meursault's life and experiences was key to this work's success and its deep commentary on society's expectations and the power it has over the individual.  This book it work the read and it will definitely get you thinking about your life and the way in which your world interacts with you, and you with it.

Love in the Time of Cholera: Gabriel Garcia Marquez

This was another book I was assigned to read in my graduate seminar in global literature. This was a book I had heard a lot about, but didn't know much about or have an opportunity to read. I found the story sad, engaging, and it was easy to become invested in the characters.  The story jumped around a little bit, but I was able to keep up.  To be brutally honest, I probably would not have picked up this book on my own, and, if I had, I don't know if I would have persevered and finished it were it not for the impending deadline of graduate school discussion board posts and essays.  One thing I have learned is that I can appreciate a work of literature for what it is even if it is not my usual cup of tea.  This is the case with this book.  I can appreciate the lyrical style and intense descriptiveness, the complex way in which the story is told, and the development of characters who, while not always moral, tug at the heartstrings in some odd, intriguing way.  I experienced a curious vacillation between pity, hate, disgust, and "cheering for" Fermina and Florentino.  This is probably what I appreciate the most about this story.  No character was perfect; no character was without sin or questionable behavior.  The story has love, loss, and tragedy, all set against the discombobulating backdrop of the Columbian coast in flux.  The juxtaposition of life and death is a constant undertone of the book.  It's not a happy read, to be sure.  If you're expecting one, then you're going to be sorely disappointed.  I think it's worth the read if you don't mind a darker story which makes you question your own existence and appreciate Latin culture and mentalities a bit more.  Overall, the story was elegant.  It took some getting used to the style, but I adjusted.  I wish I had more to say, but I originally read this a few months ago in the middle of a term and I'm just now able to get around to writing this review.  I suppose I could post the journal entries I made regarding this book (I think they have some excellent analyses in them), but they might give away a bit too much of the plot.  I suppose you'll just have to go read it for yourself!

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: Lady Fiona Carnarvon, The Countess of Carnarvon

"Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration and setting for Julian Fellowes's Emmy Award-winning PBS show, Downton Abbey, and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon.  Drawing on a rich store of materials from the archives of Highclere Castle, including diaries, letters, and photographs, the current Lady Carnarvon has written a transporting story of this fabled home on the brink of war.

"Much like her Masterpiece Classic counterpart, Lady Cora Crawley, Lady Almina was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist Alfred de Rothschild, who married his daughter off at a young age, her dowry serving as the crucial link in the effort to preserve the Earl of Carnarvon's ancestral home  Throwing open the doors of Highclere Castle to tend to the wounded of World War I, Lady Almina distinguished herself as a brave and remarkable woman.

"The rich tale contrasts the splendor of Edwardian life in a great house against the backdrop of the First World War and offers an inspiring and revealing picture of the woman at the center of the history of Highclere Castle."

I originally picked up this book some time ago because it was on a list to read "if you enjoy Downton Abbey."  Unfortunately, I have yet to watch the show (I've been interested in it for a long time, but my schedule hasn't permitted it - I may definitely have to watch it now that I've read this book!), but I thought this non-fiction work might be an interesting read.  I was a touch skeptical because it was penned by the current Countess of Carnarvon, Lady Fiona Carnarvon.  Without sounding too harsh, I wasn't sure that this lady's aristocratic credentials necessarily meant she should be the one to write such a book - her status as a Countess doesn't make her an expert on the topic of her husband's ancestry, nor does it mean she can produce quality writing.  I will follow this up with a statement that I was impressed.  The writing was extremely well done and thoughtful.  The details were beautiful and there was a great deal of care and love put into it.  Any misgivings about the suitability of the current Countess of Carnarvon as an author have been laid to rest.  The history was rich and she really brought Lady Almina and her family to life.  I will say, however, that part of the reason this book took me so long to read was that the beginning dragged a little bit.  A great deal of time was spent on Almina's background (which, having finished the book, I can now see is integral), and this slowed the pace a bit.  It picked back up once Almina and her new husband -- the famous Earl of Carnarvon who, with Howard Carter, discovered the intact tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt -- moved to Highclere after their wedding.  Lady Carnarvon truly makes the house come alive.  She clearly appreciates the beauty and history of the house.


***It took me so long to complete this review that I actually finished watching the entire Downton Abbey  series a couple of months ago!  I hope my reviewing gets back on track now that I'm finally done with grad school (yay!!!).  My biggest takeaway was how much more I feel I appreciated the television series after having read this account of Highclere.  The setting was spectacular and it felt so much more alive.  I have to believe the creators and writers of the series read the current Lady Carnarvon's accounts, worked very closely with her and her family, or did an astounding amount of research.  I saw threads of real people from Lady Carnarvon's book woven into the series and I found myself thrilled each time I caught a reference or tidbit.  I think it's an excellent idea to read this book and then watch the television series; it makes for a much richer experience.


Back to the book review:  Overall, I found the writing easy to read (even if the first few chapters slowed down a little bit - I do encourage you to persevere because it really is a very interesting nonfiction read) and the anecdotes were very interesting.  It breathed life into one of the most stunning houses England has to offer.  It made history come alive, which is one of my absolute favorite things about literature (it's the reason my undergraduate degrees are in English and history).  I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in England, history, WWI, British aristocracy, or the Downton Abbey television series.  I loved the photographs, the stories, and the enthralling history of this stunning house and its fascinating family.  This was a great non-fiction read and I recommend it to fans of history, England, wartime stories, and, of course, Downton Abbey.

House of the Rising Son (Dark-Hunter Series: Prequel): Sherrilyn Kenyon

"The eldest son in a family of three boys, Aricles had no desire to be soldier, even though his fighting skills were among the best in the world.  He was more content on his small Atlantean farm, living a quiet, uneventful life.  But when his brother is determined to don a soldier's uniform, Aricles joins him with a promise to their father to bring his brother home in one piece.  What he never counts on is how much their new lives will forever change them or what the risk of a forbidden love will ultimately cost him."

This was a recent addition to the Dark-Hunter Series and it appears to be intended as a sort of prequel, much like Fantasy Lover.  I was very happy to locate it in a Kindle collection of Kenyon's short stories; it made for a quick purchase while I was on vacation and had just finished re-reading Fantasy Lover.  One of my greatest complaints back when I first began reading Kenyon's works was how difficult it was to track down a lot of the short stories.  Not only did I have to find the anthology, but it was really annoying for a poor student like myself to have to purchase all of these books when, chances are, I would have little to no interest in the other short stories contained in the anthology.  The Dark Bites collection is brilliant!  I can't believe it took until somewhat recently for this to come out!  There was some wonkiness in FantasticFiction.com and where this particular short story fits in, but, like I mentioned, it seems to be a prequel.  Having read it, I am not entirely certain where it stands and how it meshes with the rest of the series.  Chronologically, it is clearly the earliest of the books; other than that, I'm not so sure.  The story started out interesting (even if I am a bit confused about the whole premise behind the necessity of the special task force of warriors from different nations)  I initially liked Bathymaas and her stoic nature.  As I read on, however, I lost a little bit of respect (I don't think this is the right word, but I am going for it) for Ari.  He was too childlike.  I get that he's young and inexperienced on so many levels, but I don't think that's a good enough excuse.  Whereas I liked this childlike naiveté in the early Bathymaas, it was a touch to overdone in Ari.  I just didn't find him up to the same quality of Kenyon's other male leads.  I think my biggest issue with the story was the dialogue; it felt a bit too awkward.  It was formal, but in a stilted way rather than elegant.  It was mixed in with some word choices that were far too modern (i.e. "Sweetie").  I love books that transport me to another world, but the dialogue in this particular story took me out of that escape.  This was probably my least favorite of Kenyon's books.  I'm waiting to see where it fits into the grand scheme...maybe I'll like it more if I can understand/appreciate her character choices.

Say Yes to the Marquess (Castles Ever After, Book Two): Tessa Dare

"Your presence is requested at romantic Twill Castle for the wedding of Miss Clio Whitmore and...and...?

"After eight years of waiting for Piers Brandon, the wandering Marquess of Granville, to set a wedding date, Clio Whitmore has had enough.  She's inherited a castle, scraped together some price, and made plans to break her engagement.

"Not if Rafe Brandon can help it.  A ruthless prizefighter and notorious rake, Rafe is determined that Clio will marry his brother - even if he has to plan the dratted wedding himself.

"So how does a hardened fighter cure a reluctant bride's cold feet?

"He starts with flowers.  Ladies can't have too many flowers.  Or harps.  Or cakes.

"He letters her know she'll make a beautiful, desirable bride - and tries not to picture her as his.

"He doesn't kiss her.

"If he kisses her, he definitely doesn't kiss her again.

"When all else fails, he puts her in a stunning gown and vows not to be nearby when the gown comes off.

"And no matter what, he doesn't fall in disastrous, hopeless love with the one woman he can never call his own."

This is the second book in Tessa Dare’s “Castles Ever After” series.  Like the first book, I read this one quite some time ago and – for some mysterious reason – the review no longer exists.  I don’t know if this was a glitch on the part of the site or human error (which is entirely likely).  Therefore, I had to do the unthinkable:  I reread this book.  Those of you who know my reviews know that I never reread books – not even my favorites (not because I don’t want to, but more so because I don’t want to “waste time” rereading something when I can experience a totally new adventure contained in a new book).

I cannot quite recall when I first read this book, but I definitely remembered more of it than I did the first in the series.  This, however, did not really lessen my pleasure.  I thought the characters were lively, the story was sweet, and the writing – as always – was very well-done and enjoyable to read.

I’ve said this before, but I find the premise of the overarching series to be fun and interesting.  Dare has a knack for creating the wonderful little realities in which to base her series (her “Spinster Cove” series is another excellent example of this).  She has a knack for interweaving her stories, characters, and plots with one another, while leaving them open enough to continually add more (much to my joy).

This particular installment felt more believable (realistic?) than the first.  I’ve read a couple of other books with rough-and-tumble male “leads” with a knack for fighting, but I enjoyed Rafe (even though I’ve probably read several dozen books where the male leads have this name) nonetheless.  I thought it was interesting that he was a disowned second son of a rather high-ranking peer; I don’t think I’ve experienced quite that twist.  The books with similar male leads in my recollection usually have men who grew up on the streets.  I did like his “flaw” (see some of my other reviews of Dare for more on this; I always love how she brings her characters to life with realistic flaws and trials).  It explained why he had conflict with his father, why he was so different from his father and brother, and why fighting was his outlet and his salvation.  It all made very good sense.  His difficulty with reading and attention issues, as well as his almost desperate and insatiable need for physical activity and movement ring of ADD; however, I loved that Dare didn’t make it seem like there was something “wrong” with him (not that there is anything wrong with anyone who has ADD – I married into a family with a couple of cases of it), but Dare could have so easily crossed the line and she didn’t.  I liked how she made him so different from his elder brother, Piers, in so many different ways; mentality, education, affectations, behavior, temper, and appearance.  I also thought all of the history between him and Clio was very sweet.

I think I enjoyed Clio so much because she was so relatable.  She spent so much time caring what others thought and whether or not she fit into the neat little box that everyone expected of her that she forgot about her own wants and desires.  Her anxieties about perfection and the well-meaning but oft-hurtful comments and behavior of some of her family members were all easy to connect to.  I think Dare has really mastered the creation of believable characters to which so many of her readers can connect.  I loved that Clio was tired of waiting around and made the leap to doing what shewanted instead of what was expected of her.  She showed tremendous bravery to finally go for something she desired, face her own challenges, and have a hand in her own fate.

The story was filled with sweet touches that showed a much deeper side to Rafe than I expected; it also told so much about how long he had feelings for Clio.  I don’t think it would have been nearly as believable had they not grown up together.  The shared history (along with his constant rivalry with Piers) makes for such a great love story.  My criticism lies in Bruno.  I realize he was meant to be over the top, flamboyant, and odd, but it was a bit much.  I may be getting a bit too technical, but allow my history nerd a little bit of a voice.  Bruno not-so-subtly talks about sex with men and women alike (go for it, buddy, if that’s your desire), but the fact that he discussed sex with a man would have been highly taboo.  Sodomy was a crime and one could be hanged for such an offense (Lord Byron suffered from these accusations) and many men fled to the Continent or the exotic East to A) indulge in curiosities, B) live as they pleased, or C) to escape persecution for and accusations of sodomy.  Even literary references to sodomy and sodomites had to be veiled.  The ease with which Bruno talked about sleeping with a footman was a touch too unbelievable from a historical standpoint – even amongst a very close friend like Rafe was to him.  Rant over.  I hope I didn’t sound too pretentious.

I’m a sucker for a big, strong man with a big, soft heart and Rafe fulfilled this role perfectly.  (Actually, I may be reading too much into this, but I know Dare likes to pick names that also describe her characters – could she have chosen his name because it sounds like “rage”?  Very fitting for a champion fighter!)  I thought having Ellsworth as a part of the story was a very nice touch.  I was pleased with the way everything wrapped up and the acknowledgment that it was a good thing both Clio and Rafe learned from the years it took them to finally come together; I enjoyed it much more than had they just continued to pine for lost time.  The setting of Twill castle was a great backdrop for this story as well.  I enjoyed the story overall and it fit in very well with the rest of the series.  Now I just find myself hoping that Piers gets a story of his own – I think Dare was hinting at it and I hope I’m right!  This book was a fun, sweet installment in this series.  I don't know if I could put the three books from this series I've read thus far into any sort of "favorite" order.  Each one of these books has been so different with such different, vibrant characters.  Dare impresses yet again.

Side note:  I looked into it and Piers DOES get his own book!  Not only that, but it's actually a crossover book between her "Castles Ever After" series and "Spindle Cove"!!!   I can hardly contain myself.  I love Dare's series when they're separate, but together?!  How will I manage?!  Now I just have to make sure I'm caught up on my "Spindle Cove" series before I snatch it up.  Happy reading to all!

Romancing the Duke (Castles Ever After, Book One): Tessa Dare

"In the first in Tessa Dare's captivating Castles Ever After series, a mysterious fortress is the setting for an unlikely love...

"As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens.  She never doubted romance would be in her future, too.  The storybooks offered endless possibilities.

"And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off.  One by one.

• Ugly duckling turned swan?
• Abducted by handsome highwayman?
• Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?

"No, no, and... Heh.

"Now Izzy's given up yearning for romance.  She'll settle for a roof over her head.  What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who's never even been kissed?

"This one."

I set a new reading record with this book:  The Kindle version states it's 404 pages (there are some additional pages that include an excerpt from the second book of the series, but I'm not counting those) and I started this book on my lunch break at work (12:45) and finished reading it just a few minutes after 10:00 pm the same day.  I think my prior record was a 600+ page book by Teresa Medieros that I read within 24-hours, but the reading pace for this Tessa Dare book would have beaten that had it been double the length.  What can I saw?  I am a little bit of a sucker for a good Tessa Dare romance novel.  However, I have to admit that I have read this book before (I think it was at least a couple of years ago, but still a re-read, nonetheless).  I don't know if that fact aided my reading speed this time around, but I must say that I read this one long enough ago that I was still pleasantly surprised by some of the twists.  If you read my review for When a Scot Ties the Knot (the third book in Dare's "Castles Ever After" series), then you know I was shocked to discover that my reviews of the first two books in the series were missing from this site!  I know I read them (my Kindle account has them bookmarked at the last page of each book), but I can't remember when I did so!  I remember enough of the plots where I couldn't have imagined it all.  So, I did something you know I NEVER do...I reread this book.I have the second book in the series queued up on my Kindle account, so that one will be next.

I stumbled across some unfavorable reviews for this book on Amazon.com when I had to look up the back-cover-text for this review.  It's not one of Dare's most popular books, but please do not let this deter you from giving it a chance.  You have to get past some of the fanciful notions and nods to popular modern literary and film fandoms (yes, I admit I recall finding these references jarring the first time I read the book, but I was far more accepting this time around) and then you should be fine. I think that the negative Amazon reviews crucifying Dare for these fandom references fail to realize (or just don't know) is that there were clubs and societies for like-minded people during that time in England; therefore, the fandom created by The Goodnight Tales wouldn't have been that far our of the realm of possibility.  Cos-play, clubs, and societies are not just modern phenomena.  Granted, Dare has still created a borderline ridiculous situation, but I was still able to get lost in the story and enjoy myself.

Part of this aforementioned "borderline ridiculous situation" is attributed to the way in which all of the other characters treated Ransom (my opinion of his naming will be discussed later).  I feel like it would have been a bit more believable had he had any other rank than duke.  I don't know if this was because this book was one of Dare's earlier works, but she seemed to disregard (I'm not sure if this is the proper word for what happened in this case, but it'll have to do) the fact that a duke is an extremely high-ranking peer.  There aren't many of them and they're typically very high in the line of succession to the throne.  They're practically royalty.  I get that she wanted to emphasize the budding relationship and intimacy between Izzy and Ransom, but it was almost too casual.  I don't recall an actual significant moment where he was shown the deference due to him because of his rank -- not even when he and Izzy were "properly" introduced.  The casual way in which he was addressed, spoken to, and treated felt a tad more unrealistic than they could have been.  Don't get me wrong; I completely understand that he had resigned himself to living out his days in isolation in a decrepit castle and Dare was trying to create a juxtaposition between the warm way in which Izzy treated him and  the impersonal way he was addressed in correspondence from everyone else, but there was still a bit too much quick familiarity.

I liked Izzy as a female lead, but the aforementioned familiarity between her and Ransom occasionally suspended my belief in the story and her character.  It didn't matter that she'd been to Court or that she'd interacted with any number of fans of her father's stories, I am still convinced that encountering a duke (even a broken and battered one like Ransom) would have intimidated her more than she was in the story.  At the very least, I think she would have attempted to show him more deference (at least in the very beginning).  Going along with this, I occasionally struggled with the informality of some of the dialogue.  While the internal dialogue was brilliantly well-paced and engaging, some of the actual dialogue between the characters felt "off."  I think there were too many contractions and some of it was too simplified (and I don't mean the parts where Izzy was intentionally altering her speech to make her "fans" happy).  Part of reading an historical romance is being able to escape into the time period; part of this is to have dialogue that feels authentic to the past rather than the present.  While I didn't find the dialogue to be overly-off-putting, I obviously took note enough to comment on it here in my review.

I did enjoy Izzy's inquisitive personality.  She was clearly intelligent and it was very easy to relate to her (i.e. her insecurities, the way she has to deal with preconceived notions everyone has of her, and how she feels the need to protect everyone's perception of her deceased father).  She was a unique blend of practical and fanciful.

I also liked Izzy's unique "flaw" (I always praise Dare's ability to craft unique characters with "flaws" that make them stand out in this genre and add new depth to her character development); however, I enjoyed Ransom's "flaw" more so.  While the "flaw's went hand-in-hand rather well, Ransom's overshadowed Izzy's in its complexity and severity -- blindness is no simple flaw.  I think Dare did a spectacular job describing Ransom's point of view and disability.  The foreword mentioned the research she did to write the book (she's taken these steps in some of her other works -- must be the librarian in her) and I really, sincerely appreciate this about her.  She never fails to impress me with the attention to detail she pays to things like this (I was particularly impressed with her maritime knowledge in Surrender of a Siren).

Where do I start with Ransom?  I did mention I wanted to discuss his name, didn't I?  Dare has a knack for very appropriately naming her characters -- something I've noted in past reviews as well.  I think she was testing the waters with this early book of hers.  A duke named Ransom?  It feels a little bit too contrived and romance novel-esque (like she tried a tad bit too hard).  I didn't hate it, but it's not her best work (though I adored Izzy's full name).  Dare, however, did a spectacular job of describing Ransom's senses and his blindness.  I recall thinking it got a bit "Daredevil"-y (think the film version with Ben Affleck) the first time I read this book, but I feel less like this the second time around.  I can appreciate the research Dare did in an effort to try to get this type of blindness right.  I have read another book with a blind male lead (I don't have time at this precise moment to go back through my reviews, but I think it was a book by Lisa Kleypas), but this story was made unique and fun by the underlying plot with The Goodnight Tales.  Overall, I really did love Ransom as a battered male lead.  He was rude, crude, vulgar, and didn't give a damn.  Like Izzy, I liked him a lot for this rather than in spite of this.  I thought his backstory was tragic, though I could have used a bit more information on why he didn't have any friends.  He said a few times that no one liked him, but I don't feel like I got a really good explanation of why.  I get he can be cold and unfeeling because of his past, but I din't think that necessarily made him a terrible person.

I found this book enjoyable because I didn't take it too seriously.  It's fiction.  Lighten up, people.  Sure, I found a few things that rubbed me the wrong way a little bit, but I would not have devoured it had I not found a lot to enjoy despite my little criticisms.  Dare's characters are rich and creative, it's hard not to develop a connection with them; the plots for her books (and overarching series) are lively, exciting, and engaging; her writing style is well above-par for this genre (especially her later works).

Do I recommend this book?  I am a huge fan of Tessa Dare, so of course I do.  I will, however, say you must take this book with a grain of salt.  It is a work of fiction.  It's meant to be fun, so just take it for what it is and enjoy it.  Is this my favorite book by Dare?  No, and it's not even my favorite of the series thus far, but I did like it.  I think the premise for the series is very fun and intriguing.  I'm definitely going to reread the second book in this series next, so be on the lookout for that review!

When a Scot Ties the Knot (Castles Ever After, Book Three): Tessa Dare

"On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shy, pretty, and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen.  She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart.  So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done:  she invented a sweetheart.

"A Scottish sweetheart.  One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around.  Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter...and by pretending to be devastated when he was (not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely.

"Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh.  The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep--handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable.  He's wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters...and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep."

You guys...something tragic has happened...I KNOW for a fact that I read the first two books in this series and I went back to read the reviews for those for fun, but they're not here!?  I have both books in my Kindle account and I KNOW I read them (not only do I remember the plots rather clearly, but I can SEE that I finished them, thanks to the tracker on Kindle).  What the heck?!  Man that's really disheartening...  I don't think I've ever just "lost" reviews like that before.  I know I read these books, I know I enjoyed them; I cannot remember when I read them or all of the details.  I may just have to go back and re-read them *gasp* (something I NEVER do) to be able to write decent reviews of these books.

Anyhow, off to my review of this book (hopefully it doesn't ghost on me too).  I was excited to read this book because I specifically remember really enjoying the other two in the series.  I devoured the 376 page paperback in 24-hours...so I think it's safe to say I really, really, really enjoyed this one too. This may well be one of my absolute favorite books by Tessa Dare.  I may have chucked at a few of her books or smiled at a funny or awkward situation, but this one genuinely had me laughing and grinning like an idiot on quite a few occasions.  This reason alone earns this book extremely high marks in my mind.

The plot was tremendously creative and unique.  I am so impressed with Dare's daring (no pun intended) storyline.  There was an enormous chance for it to go very wrong, cheesy, or way too "out there" to be at all believable, but she managed to pull it off with flying colors.

Logan MacKenzie is now up there on my list of favorite male leads.  I love the way Dare wrote his dialogue (I've read quite a few books in which there are characters with Scottish brogues and the ones in this book were some of the most readable and believable ones I've ever read (also, I love the little nod Dare made to the oft over-the-top brogues some authors feel compelled to include - well played, Dare, well played)) and gave him a personality that was definitely more than meets the eye.  I wondered if he would turn out like a few of the male leads in her "Spindle Cove" series (being a soldier with a very strong sense of duty and loyalty to his men), but she made him unique.  I loved his banter with Maddie; it definitely seemed to fit both of their personalities, but his, especially.  I got a very good sense of his character and physical appearance (something I've noted in a few of Dare's older books were a lack of physical descriptions (i.e. hair and eye color) of some of her characters, but she did a very good job of this in this book - for both characters).  I will say that I wanted a tiny bit more of his backstory, but what snippets that were provided were rich enough to suffice and gave me a good sense of how he was shaped into the man he had become.  I found him captivating, endearing, attractive, and a highly-enthralling male lead.

Maddie was sweet.  I loved how Dare included some of the letters she wrote to the imaginary Captain Logan MacKenzie in the very beginning of the book.  It really made the story come alive and said a lot about Maddie's character.  Like Logan, I was a touch worried I would find Maddie, a naturalist sketch artist, too similar to Minerva in Dare's "Spindle Cove" series or Sophia in her "Toby and Isabel" series, but I am happy to report that Maddie was made unique enough so I didn't feel like Dare was "recycling" characters or plots.  I will say that her "flaw" (which I will not directly give away) was a bit similar to one I encountered with a male lead in her "Stud Club" series, though it differed slightly.  I enjoyed Maddie (and I liked her last name; it suited a woman who tended to be as withdrawn and quite as a church mouse - Dare has a knack for having rather appropriately-named characters) and, despite her timid personality, I still found her strong and brave in her own way.

I especially loved the setting.  I got a very good sense of Scotland and the people and politics of the time.  This may be a romance novel, but I can still appreciate a good setting and sense of historical time period.

Overall, I'm so pleased with this book.  The banter between Logan and Maddie was definitely what made the story come to life.  The plot was unique and extremely captivating.  I highly recommend this book and, as always, I am absolutely in love with Dare's writing.  I never want her books to end.

The Virgin's Lover (Tudor Court, Book Six): Philippa Gregory

"Elizabeth I has ascended to the throne of England, a position she has waited and schemed for all her life.  She is surrounded by advisers, all convinced that they know what would be best for the country and certain that a young woman cannot form political judgements.  Elizabeth feels that she can rely on just one man:  her oldest friend, Robert Dudley.  it is soon plain that he is more than merely a friend.  In a house in the countryside waits a very different woman, Amy Robsart -- Robert's wife.  She has no taste for life at court and longs for the day when her husband will return home and attend to his family.  She has loved him since she was a girl, but now they are adults she hardly sees him.  Meanwhile, the pressure grows for Elizabeth to marry, for it is unthinkable that a queen should rule on her own.  Elizabeth's preference is clear, but he is unavailable.  But what if the unthinkable were to happen...  Philippa Gregory blends passion, personalities and politics in this stunning novel of the Tudor court and a country divided."

This installation in Philippa Gregory's Tudor Court series took me a bit longer to read than I thought it would (and I'm not entirely sure why).  I very much enjoyed and appreciated the way in which Gregory tied together all of her prior books (even The Queen's Fool, which focused on the life of a fictional character to insert the readers into the time period and give them a better "insider's" view of Mary and Elizabeth, as well as the time period).  Readers were introduced to Robert Dudley in The Queen's Fool.  While I liked his character there, I found him to be very different in this book - perhaps because the readers are given insight into his mind and machinations instead of a rather biased opinion from a besotted young girl (i.e. Hannah from the book prior to this).  Knowing what I know about the real Robert Dudley (being the British history buff that I am), I found this portrayal to be very interesting and fairly in-line with what I know of him.  I struggled a little bit more with the portrayal of Elizabeth I; maybe because I've seen her presented as a powerful, self-sure woman in a man's world so many times over in both fiction and non-fiction.  This specific portrayal and her character quirks were also introduced in The Queen's Fool, but this book really made them evident.  I understand that Elizabeth was still a young woman when she took the throne, but I have long had such a high opinion of her as a queen that this was occasionally difficult for me to swallow (perhaps this is why it took me so long to read?).  Amy, on the other hand, was the character who garnered all of my sympathies.  I didn't care for her at all in The Queen's Fool, where she was portrayed as irrational, clingy, and borderline-insane (granted, this also came from the point of view of a very young woman (Hannah) who fancied herself in love with Amy's husband).  Maybe she seemed more sane and pitiable in this book because we got to see things from her point of view (I wonder if the difference was intentional on Gregory's part because what madwoman really sees her own madness?).  The amount of loyalty, devotion, and love she felt for Robert regardless of his faults and incessant slights against her - his veritable abandonment of her - was truly heartbreaking.  Gregory's artful juxtaposition of Elizabeth and Amy - two very different women in love with the same man - was extremely well done.  This is, I believe, what made the book a worthy read.  There was still a great deal of politics and religious issues, which - though necessary - made the reading a touch dry at times; however, I will say it did not get quite as dry as The Taming of the Queen (the amount of religious information in that book made it a bit of a struggle at times).  I will have to say that The Other Boleyn Girl is still my favorite of all of Gregory's books.  I can absolutely appreciate the common threads and characters Gregory was able to weave into this series (I especially enjoy seeing Mary Boleyn's daughter and granddaughter in this book).  My disclaimer is this:  The Other Boleyn Girl can be a standalone read for almost anyone, but that is not the case for the rest of the books in this series.  The time period becomes more and more complex and, to understand the subterfuge, familial relations/rivalries/interplay, and have any chance of grasping the politics and religious turmoil, one must read all of the books in this series.  This is not for everyone.  Be prepared to delve very deeply into English politics, policies, and religion(s) - yes, that plural was intentional - when reading these books.  I don't want to scare you away, but simply make you aware that not all of the books in this series are as easy to read as The Other Boleyn Girl...this book included.  I recommend this book as a must-read for the series (it's very interesting to see so many things converge), but I didn't love it as much as others (though I will say I liked parts of it much better than some of Gregory's other books).

A Lady of Persuasion (Toby and Isabel, Book Three): Tessa Dare

"Tessa Dare spins a witty, wanton tale of passion and conquest, as a reformer and a rake find unexpected love.

"Only one thing could convince Sir Tobias Aldridge, an incorrigible libertine, to profess undying fidelity to a woman he's just met.  Revenge.  What better way to get back at an enemy than by stealing that scoundrel's sister?  Not that Toby finds it a chore, seducing a beguiling, sultry beauty freshly arrived from the West Indies.  When the prize is Isabel Grayson, vengeance is doubly rewarding.

"Isabel is determined to marry a wealthy, powerful lord and become a lady of influence, using her rank and fortune to fight social injustice.  Sir Toby, with his paltry title and infamous reputation, is unsuitable husband material--but he makes her blood race, her heart pound, and her long-buried passions come to the surface. If she can reform the charming devil, she'll get exactly what she craves:  society's respect.  But it's a dangerous gamble.  For if Toby wins this battle of persuasion, Isabel could lose her heart."

Another gem from Tessa Dare!  A Lady of Persuasion is the culmination of this trilogy and I thought it fitting and appropriate.  Dare’s worlds are lately my absolute favorite into which to escape.  She writes such vivid stories and lively characters!  Her style is highly-readable and extremely enjoyable.  She is definitely a notch above even a large number of non-romance authors.  In fact, I would gladly read any book of hers if she decided to branch out and write other genres.  For now, however, I’m very happy to be reading Dare’s romance novels.

I went into this book very happy to finally see Toby get his own story (side note, I really fell in love with the name “Toby” – I struggle a little bit with the proper name “Tobias” because of the Divergent series, but Toby is so sweet).  He was essentially absent from the second book in the series (Sophia and Grey’s book following Sophia’s flight from her marriage to Toby), but he had a larger role in the first book (Jeremy and Lucy’s story where Lucy fancied herself in love with him, but he proposed to Sophia instead).  Toby felt a bit flat in the first book – probably just because he was not actually the “male lead” in that story.  I absolutely loved him in this book, however.  He was charming, witty, fun, intelligent, and devoted; such a dynamic character.  I love seeing characters grow throughout the duration of a story or series.  We were introduced to Isabel (Bel) at the end of the second book in the trilogy; she is the younger sister of Joss and Gray, and Sophia’s sister-in-law.  (The complex character- and family dynamics make for a very interesting overarching plot.)  Personally, I’m not a very religious person, so that little taste of hyper-religious and philanthropic Bel from the second book made me apprehensive about what her part in a romance novel would be and just how much Bel would talk about God.  She seemed so pious and goody-goody that I became nervous that Dare had pigeonholed her too much to make for an interesting “female lead” in the third book.  Thankfully (for my personal tastes, that is) Dare seems to have toned her pious nature down quite a bit for this book.  It certainly helped make the story more palatable and believable.  I came to enjoy Bel's selflessness.  While a bit extreme, it added character and made her quite unique in this genre.

Along the same lines of the other books in this early series of Dares, I've noticed she tends to leave out a lot of physical descriptions that I, personally, find necessary to "play out" the book like a film in my head (and no, I'm not talking about that kind of physical descriptions...).  For Toby, she seemed to rely upon minor physical descriptions from the first book in the series because very little time is spent on his physical description in this book.  I think she mentions his hair color, but I can't recall what color his eyes are.  Bel is only slightly more developed, but, again, I doubt I could recall her eye color if asked.  This is a trend upon which Dare improves in later books (and I can say this from experience).  Personally, I like when authors use these kinds of things to help bring the characters to life.  To be sure, Dare provides her characters with some of the richest backstories I've ever encountered, but I still need a way to be able to shape them in my mind.  She did a great job of this in the second book of this series (likely because of Sophia's artistic eye), slightly less so in the first book, and this third one in the trilogy was the least proficient in this field.

Additionally, I have to note how a little romance for Joss was brought into this book (don't worry, I won't give too much away).  While I liked what Dare did (I really wanted to see Joss come out of his shell), I found myself wondering if its inclusion was because she didn't have enough material for Bel and Toby, or she crammed it into Bel and Toby's story because she knew she couldn't come up with enough for Joss to have his own book.  However, the little snippets were well-placed and broke up some of the tenser parts of the book, which was nice.

As always, Dare provided her fans with an extremely well-written and well-thought-out book.  She has found a lifelong fan in me, to be sure.  I will say this, however:  The conclusion of this book (prior to the epilogue) was awkward.  Jem and Gray (somewhat inexplicably) show up at the official closing of the polls in Toby's borough.  Dare seems to realize the awkwardness and nonsensicalness of this situation and voices it in Jem's bewildered and annoyed commentary.  It's as if she's saying, "I get it, it's strange that all of the men would be here in this place because there's no real reason, but here they are."  I wonder if she was told to write it this way, because their presence was not really integral to the conclusion.  It seemed uncharacteristically awkward for Dare - especially because Jem and Gray didn't even seem to behave as I would have expected them to, given all I'd learned about their personalities from the prior books.  I will say that I really enjoyed the epilogue.  I love a good, clean wrapping-up of a series, and this served that purpose perfectly.  I loved the conversation between Lucy and Toby; it was really amazing to think how differently everything could have turned out had Lucy gone to Toby as she'd intended instead of Jem.  It's amazing how many lives one little decision can change!

Overall, I love Dare's writing.  This book was not one of my favorites of hers, but that should by no means deter you from reading it.  She's eloquent, creative, and captivating.

After You (Me Before You, Book Two): Jojo Moyes

"How do you move on after losing the person you loved?  How do you build a life worth living?

"You're going to feel uncomfortable in your new world for a bit.  But I hope you feel a bit exhilarated, too.  Live boldly.  Push yourself.  Don't settle.  Just live well.  Just live.  Love, Will.

"Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life.  After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him.  When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can't help but feel she's right back where she started.

"Her body heals, but Lou knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life.  Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies.  They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding--the paramedic whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her.  Then a figure from Will's past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her  into a very different future....

"For Lou Clark, life after Will Trainer means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings.  But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and for whom both changes and surprises await.

"After You is quintessential Jojo Moyes--a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and rejoice at being back in the world she creates.  Here she does what few novelists can do--revisits beloved characters and takes them to places neither they nor we expected."

I know, I know…  I did exactly what I said I wouldn’t do and read the sequel to Me Before You very soon after finishing the first book.  I know I said I wanted to “sit” with the characters a bit more before I delved into the sequel, but I went to my local library and After You just so happened to be sitting in a prominent place on a display; it kind of seemed meant to be.  Mind you, I put off reading it right away and instead opted to read this little number by Tessa Dare instead.  That one was a great quick read, however, so it wasn’t very long before it was time to read After You.  I had the choice between reading the third book in Dare’s trilogy or diving back into the world created by Jojo Moyes.  I opted for Moyes.

Let me start off by saying I had my reservations about a sequel like this.  Moyes made it very clear that she wrote this book following the wave of interest and success of her first and the subsequent excitement over the film adaptation (which I have yet to see; I may force my husband to watch it with me this weekend).  Books spurred by these fan-driven questions rarely live up to the first.  I was nervous about reading After You because I didn’t want it to destroy my enjoyment and remaining “high” from Me Before You.  After reading it, however, I will say that I was only slightly right.

I enjoyed Lou a lot less than I did the first time around.  I get that she’s grieving for Will, probably dealing with some really serious depression, and her world has changed dramatically after Will’s assisted suicide, but she seemed to change too much – almost to the point where she seemed like a completely different character.  Her mannerisms, habits, and even her speech felt different to me.  I was hoping to see even a glimmer of the Lou I’d so enjoyed from the first book.  While we eventually get to see some of it, I missed her quirkiness and perception of the world.  Don’t get me wrong, I can see where Moyes was going with it – losing Will changed Lou’s entire outlook – but the change was so dramatic to the point where I almost didn’t enjoy it.  Parts of her life felt like they dragged on far too long, which is probably why this book took me so much longer to finish.  Some of it felt rather forced and beaten to death…

Sam, on the other hand, was an excellent character.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about having someone take Will’s place because I’d loved Will so much, but I grew to love Sam.  He was very caring and so much of what he did endeared him to me.  He showed another way of handling grief that provided relief from Lou’s all-consuming depression.  Like the Moving On group, he demonstrated that there is more than one way to grieve (and that some ways are healthier than others).

The purpose of the book seemed to be that Moyes wanted to convey an undercurrent/underlying message:  grieve, but move on and live.  The story sometimes felt more didactic than “for fun” because of this.

Like so many other readers out there, I enjoy pondering what happens to characters after a book ends.  Epilogues can provide snippets to guide these imaginings, but some authors take it a step further and pen a sequel.  This is what Moyes did.  As she said, she wrote this book after receiving an outpouring of interest in what happened after the conclusion of Me Before You. As a result, it sometimes felt as if she was forcing it; like she was trying to answer a million questions asked by fans instead of writing for the characters' sakes.  I enjoyed some of the characters (who will remain unnamed because I don’t want to give the plot away), and others were not as organic.  There were a lot of rather obvious metaphors (especially with Sam and Lou’s blossoming relationship and the circumstances of their meeting) and some over-the-top situations that lessened my enjoyment because of their heavy-handedness.

I understand and appreciate what Moyes was trying to do and where she was trying to go with this book, but it did not even come close to my enjoyment of Me Before You.  Don’t get me wrong, I did like the book (even though the above seems like I’m being critical of it), but the first one in the series was just too big of an act to follow.  Parts of this book were sweet, parts were funny and painfully awkward (in an amusing sort of way), but others just didn’t live up to their potential.  I liked this book less than Me Before You, but that doesn’t mean I’d warn readers off of it.  It’s still worth the read if you’re interested in seeing where Lou ended up.  I found her lack of motivation and misplaced priorities to be maddening (I suppose I felt much the same way her family did).  Don’t think I’m unsympathetic to Lou’s depression and sense of loss, because I am.  I merely think she made poor choices in this sequel and was lucky to have things pan out as they did.  Lou’s difference in character from the first to the second book was probably the biggest hurdle for me.  I know her life was forever changed after her time with Will, but she felt like a completely different person.  I couldn’t connect with her as much as I did before.  Overall, the book was well-written and easily readable.  While I had some difficulties connecting with Lou and one or two other supporting characters, I enjoyed Sam very much.  I didn’t understand why so much time was spent on Lou’s current job, but it began to feel a little bit unnecessary and excessive - we get it, it sucks and she has to wear a terrible uniform.  As a follow up book, this was fine.  I still like the author’s style.  If this were a standalone book, however, I don’t know if would have been so forgiving.

Side note:  I did find a couple of typos in this book.  One was a quotation mark where it should not have been, the other was "th" instead of "the" toward the latter half of the book.  I caught these errors without looking for them, so I wonder how many others there were without me noticing them.

Surrender of a Siren (Toby and Isabel Trilogy, Book Two): Tessa Dare

"New author Tessa Dare takes passion to the high seas in this steamy tale of a runaway bride and a devilishly disarming privateer.

"Desperate to escape a loveless marriage and society's constraints, pampered heiress Sophia Hathaway jilts her groom, packs up her paints and sketchbook, and assumes a new identity, posing as a governess to secure passage on the Aphrodite.  She wants a life of her own:  unsheltered, unconventional, uninhibited.  But it's one thing to sketch her most wanton fantasies, and quite another to face the dangerously handsome libertine who would steal both her virtue and her gold.

"To any well-bred lady, Benedict 'Gray' Grayson is trouble in snug-fitting boots.  A conscienceless scoundrel who said the seas for pleasure and profit, Gray lives for conquest -- until Sophia's perception and artistry stir his heart.  Suddenly he'll brave sharks, fire, storm, and sea just to keep her at his side.  She's beautiful, refined, and ripe for seduction.  Could this counterfeit governess be a rogue's redemption?  Or will the runaway heiress's secrets destroy their only chance at love?"

I finally get to do my RAIR method again!  (Granted, I’m nearly done with the book, but I’m just going to say this counts because I’m not done yet!)  I was happy to see Sophia get a book of her own.  She was very flat and almost non-existent in the first half of Goddess of the Hunt.  She felt more like a doll than an actual human being; that was, until she and Lucy bonded over Lucy’s budding romance with Jeremy.  I was very surprised by the ending of that book – I hadn’t expected Sophia to run off like she did; especially after Toby finally showed some physical and romantic attention toward her, just as she’d desired.

Sophia is a far more complex character than she seemed in the first book in the series.  Her knack for lying/weaving tales is interesting – if a bit bolder than I would have thought her capable.  This is probably the only thing I find a bit shaky about the story thus far – the ease with which Sophia spins lurid tales.  It is one thing for her to imagine them and make up stories for Lucy, quite another thing for her to tell them to Gray.  I like that “Gervais” made another appearance in this book.  I get that Sophia was drawing a lot of inspiration for her stories from the “dirty” book Lucy had given her, but I think her boldness with some of her audiences was a bit unbelievable

I like Gray thus far.  Unlike Jeremy in the first book, I felt like I got a very good sense of what he looked like from the get-go.  I also appreciate how the descriptions of him are told from the mind of an artist; the details are managed very well and I think they keep very true to Sophia’s mindset and training as an artist.  As for Sophia, I already learned about her from the first book, though I still feel like Dare is doing a good job writing from Gray’s point of view.  She threw in a bit of a character quirk about him (I won’t reveal it here, even though it’s not some jaw-dropping revelation) which, thinking back on it, I realize Dare kept very true to throughout the story.  I’m impressed.  She clearly gives a lot of thought to her characters.

Thus far, I feel like both Sophia and Grey are well-developed characters.  Dare will sometimes develop either her male or female lead more than the other, but she has done a great job of balancing this out in this book.  When she does do this, the chemistry is excellent and it’s so easy to fall into the book and lose yourself.

I’m finding Gray’s self-deprecating behavior and statements a bit annoying.  I struggle with the fact that even I, the reader, don’t think Gray has done things “evil” enough to warrant his poor opinion of himself.  Maybe some worse confession is coming?  I’m not sure, but I’m nearly done with the book and I can’t quite see why Gray thinks he’s such a bad person.  He wasn’t a real pirate, but a privateer and sanctioned by the Crown.  Sure, he was sometimes selfish when it came to his brother, but he’s genuinely trying to make things right and it seems like he’s taken great strides toward doing so.  He’s trying to keep his promises, but I’m sometimes left frowning at the voracity with which he sometimes does this.  I guess his motivation is a little bit unclear and I’m wondering if it will be clarified as I read further.

I really like the book so far.  It’s a fun read and I’m having a difficult time putting it down.  I’m looking forward to finishing it and seeing how everything ends up!

…

Tessa Dare has done it again.  I sincerely enjoy her writing style, her storytelling abilities, her captivating plots, and the vibrant characters she weaves.  As a follow-up to Goddess of the Hunt, I thought this was a very appropriate book.

I will admit that I became a little bit annoyed at both Sophia and Gray.  Gray’s self-deprecating behavior felt a little bit overly dramatic and Sophia’s own self-deprecating behavior was overblown.  However, I will say that I got over this and really enjoyed the book nonetheless.  I realize there has to be some conflict and personality quirks to make the characters believable and create an interesting plot – Dare was only doing what she needed to do in order to create a unique story and (what I feel to be) her trademark captivating characters.  I’m always so impressed with how different her characters are from book to book.  I’ve read quite a few books by Dare (as I’m sure you can tell) and not once have I even sensed a hint of laziness or repetition in the creation of her characters.  This is a pretty remarkable accomplishment and one I think I’ve only ever experienced with Sherrilyn Kenyon’s works (very different branch of the romance novel genre – much darker and more paranormal).  A few authors I’ve read have fallen into this trap where they need to write another book and they recycle traits or personality quirks from other stories; part of me wonders if they always realize they’re even doing this because some of those authors are such prolific writers.  Still, Dare continues to impress me.

Overall, I thought the book was very good.  It’s definitely still one of Dare’s earlier works, but I enjoyed it a great deal nonetheless.  As I mentioned, there were points when I grew frustrated with some of the characters’ adamancy that they were “bad” people.  I never did quite understand why Gray thought himself such a wretched human being.  Sophia’s anxieties were a bit more solidified, but still a tiny bit frustrating.  I loved the chemistry between Sophia and Gray, though.  Gray was a powerful, confident male lead.  Sophia was so much better developed than she was in Goddess of the Hunt (of course, this is to be expected because this is, after all, her book).  I thought the dialogue was witty, the romance was sweet, and the characters were unique.  There was one bit toward the end that literally had me laughing out loud (I’m pretty sure my dogs thought I was crazy), but I won’t give it away so you can all enjoy it as much as I did.  I thought the last two chapters wrapped everything up quite nicely – even if I am a bit “unsatisfied” (for lack of a better word) about how Sophia chose to spend her trust (while a nice gesture, I don’t think it quite fit with everything else).  Sophia was brave, Gray was selfless, and we were introduced to Bel, a.k.a. Isabel – she stars in the final book in this trilogy.  As of right now, I’m a bit unsure about Bel.  While I realize she’s supposed to be selfless and pious, I just don’t see her being much of a romantic heroine at this point in time.  She was too good, too pure, too much a servant of God and missionary-like that I am unsure how Dare is going to pull off the final book.  I have faith in her abilities as an author, though, and that’s what’s driving me to read the final installment in the series.

I don’t think this is much of a spoiler, but I thought I would warn you just in case:  I liked how Lucy was brought back in at the end of the story.  I love seeing former “leads” return in other books in a series; it lends an air of realism and really rounds everything out.  I just thought Lucy might say something about how Sophia had changed because, at the very least, her appearance would be far different from when she’d last seen Lucy – before spending months at sea.  This is a small note, however.

I recommend this book.  Dare obviously did an insane amount of research after she decided to have this book set (at least 95% of it) on a ship.  She used excellent sailing terminology and it really helped to sell the story.  I already have the third book in this series waiting in my purse for me to read on lunch at work today, but I’m torn about whether or not I should dive into it just yet.  I love Dare’s writing, but I don’t know if I necessarily want to plow through this series in the span of a couple of weeks.  I should probably take a break and do some more of my Shakespeare reading for grad school.  While I absolutely love Shakespeare, I think I might love Dare’s writing just a smidgen more.