Category Archives: Romance

Superb Georgian history/romance novel

These Old Shades

By: Georgette Heyer

Rating: 5 of 5

Georgette Heyer has been my favorite author, bar none, since I discovered her when I was a teenager. Her stories always engross me and give me laughs and leave me with a good feeling.

This story is different from most of her other romance novels in that it is set in the Georgian period rather than the Regency period of England’s history. Most of the action takes places in France.

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Funny Regency novel

Eugenia

By: Clare Darcy

Rating: 5 of 5

It’s been a long time since I read any book by Clare Darcy. I vaguely remembered enjoying them, so when I saw her books were now available in ebook form, I took a chance.

I’m very glad that I did. Eugenia is a very fun and funny read. Eugenia is a heroine and she seems to get involved in schemes fairly easily. She drags her best friend Muffet along with her which makes it easier for her but a tad more difficult for Muffet.

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Another winner by Georgette Heyer

Sprig Muslin

By: Georgette Heyer

Rating: 5 of 5

I found Georgette Heyer books a long time ago. There came a time (decades, really) when they were no longer published. I ended up buying hardbound books where I could find them, so I could read them over and over again.

Suffice to say, that I’ve since bought paperbacks and, then finally, ebooks of every single one.

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Meh, meh, and more meh

Sixteen Scandals

By: Sophie Jordan

Rating: 2 of 5

First of all, regardless of the blurb, there is nothing in this book that brings Jane Austen to mind. Miss Austen’s books dealt with her time and place. She skewered personalities with deft skill. This book is shallow and the characters are trite.

There is enough going on that I would not call the book wholesome and clean but, I am sure, compared to the normal steamy historical romances that Ms. Jordan apparently writes, it must seem so to her publisher.

The main character, Prim, turns sixteen. She was to come out in society but that was not to be. She sneaks off to Vauxhall Gardens and, bad decision after bad decision, proves that she is not really adult enough to be trusted. That is not what the author would have you feel but it is the truth.

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Laugh out loud funny

Brighton Road

By: Susan Carroll

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the first book I have read by Susan Carroll. They were published decades ago and are back in ebook format. Apparently she wrote Traditional Regency novels at the beginning of her career and then veered into writing historical romances (which are not sweet and clean as the earlier books.)

I thoroughly enjoyed this traditional book. It was hysterically funny as the characters moved from one crisis to another.

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A Proper Romance and more

The Gentleman and the Thief

By: Sarah M. Eden

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the second book in the Proper Romance series. In this story, Hollis Darby is infatuated with Ana Newport. She is a music teacher and he is a gentleman who without visible means of support but is able to live a reasonable life regardless.

He has a secret, he writes penny dreadful novels for children. Not only that, he is a member of a secret society that is determined to help those less fortunate who are in great need.

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Sweet and funny Christmas romance

Christmas Charms

By: Teri Wilson

Rating: 5 of 5

I had never read a novel by Teri Wilson before nor had I seen the movie that this book is based on. So, I read it with no preconceived notion and was wonderfully entertained.

The story is about Ashley, a small town girl, who just can’t wait to get to New York City. She thinks her life is perfect as she works for the most prestigious jewelry store and has a boyfriend who she thinks is about to propose. Add to that, she is going to Paris for the holidays.

Things fall apart and she heads home to lick her wounds and get ready to go back to work. The train ride back home is uneventful except for an interesting stranger and the discovery of an antique charm bracelet on her arm when she awakens from a nap.

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Fun and clean traditional Regency Romance

Poor Caroline

By: Elizabeth Mansfield

Rating: 5 of 5

I’ve recently been reading Regency Romances, both older and newer published novels. This is an older book that has been recently been published as an ebook. I had read other Elizabeth Mansfield books years ago but this is one that I had not read before.

The book is funny and has a cast of characters that keep bringing you back to it. Caroline Whitlow is a proud young woman. She has always been so. She can’t take “charity” from anyone. The problem is, she doesn’t always understand that what she sees as charity is, in fact, simple kindness.

She and her two younger brothers move out from the home they have been living in for twelve years when the new heir is coming home.

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Lots of fun in this Regency Romance

Mr. Malcolm’s List

By: Suzanne Allain

Rating: 5 of 5

Mr. Malcolm is a rich and eligible bachelor. He has females running after him all the time. In order to weed out those who are unsuitable (by his criteria), he creates and list and if a young lady doesn’t meet just one item on the list, she is out of consideration.

A young lady, Julia, takes umbrage at the thought, having read much more into an evening with Mr. Malcolm has her escort, and she makes plants to get even.

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Great, old-fashioned Regency Romance

The Firstborn

By: Quenby Olson

Rating: 5 of 5

I am so pleased to find a new author who writes in the style of the Regency Romances that I read when I was much younger. Actually, I found this book to be even better than most of those I read years ago.

The book has a romance that develops normally. It doesn’t have sex or profanity. That’s so unusual these days. I stopped reading Regencies years ago because they had morphed into something less appealing which included detailed sex scenes.

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