Anita Mills

Cute fluff. It leans heavily on misunderstandings, which I normally dislike, but here the misunderstandings are generally short, then the problem is extended by pride. Which ought to be annoying too, but they're so cute it didn't bother me. Actual (approximate) quote - "...saw no reason why five people should be miserable instead of two...". Abductions that aren't quite (and she abducts him, once), getting engaged to the wrong person (three different engagements), an emotional declaration to show more a completely uninvolved person, and of course a happy ending. I wonder what he did about the bet? There also seem to be links to other stories - I think I'll keep an eye out for this author. I don't particularly want to reread this one, but it was fun to read once. show less

This is a American Civil War book which I very seldom read which is probably the reason I've had this on my TBR shelf for 14 years. For some reason it appealed to me yesterday. I'm glad it did. The book was very well written and researched which I find is typical of Anita Mills. The hero, Spence, is a surgeon who became tired of medicine after 5 years in the Confederate Army cutting off limbs. When he goes home to his wife and child after the war, he discovers she had run off to San show more Francisco with another man taking Spence's son with them. He heads west to find them. Along the way he runs into the widow of a soldier he had known and stops to help her. Laura is alone and pregnant in the railroad workers camp where her husband was working when he died. Spence, trapped by the winter weather, stays with her over the winter and they fall in love.

This was a lovely story. There were large sections that took place before they got together that might drag for a reader who insists that the two main characters be together in every scene. But I didn't even really notice. It made the story seem more real. They also fell in love and got married before the end and the last third of the book showed them adjusting to their marriage and searching for Spence's son. I particularly enjoyed that as I like to see a new couple learning to adjust to marriage. I like it when stories aren't over just because the principles said "I do".

Laura was a nice character. She was strong and proud, practical and loving. Spence was pretty injured and it took Laura to help him heal.

This was not just a wall paper historical. You got a real sense of time and place. I recommend it for lovers of true historically correct romances. show less

A wonderful medieval. It is part of a series but can be read alone. It is very good historical fiction. The feel for the times is right on, not just wallpaper history. I absolutely love William. He is a rough but kind man who is very aware of his bastardy and who wants a woman of his own and a family. Arabella is also a strong character. Much of the book revolves around her love for her son and what she'll do to protect him. William becomes her ally in this even though he thinks the boy is show more the result of adultry while she was with her first husband. William is basically incapable of cruelty to those weaker than himself. He is a wonderful example of a strong man who is constantly aware that he must be gentle to those less strong. His love for Arabella is very well drawn and believable. Arabella is strong but within the framework of what women were allowed to be at the time. Highly recommended. show less

Plucky half-American heroine, Kitty, kidnaps the new Lord Haverville, Red Jack Rayne, tortured war hero. She thinks he is the nasty, old Lord Haverville, that compromised and married her friend& cousin Jessica and left her alone for the last six years. Her goal was to convince him to give Jess an annulment, so Jess can marry her love, Lord Sturbridge. Lord Sturbridge has been pretending to court Kitty so he can spend time with Jess, since Jess is married. Of course, the kidnapping does not show more go smoothly and things happen. Meanwhile, the hero finds that he cares for Kitty and tries to manipulate matters to spend time with her, etc. This is a cute story, there is no major angst. Pluses: red-haired hero, great, plain-speaking heroine and interesting cast of characters. Minus: virtually no heat, which is pretty typical for a regency, but it could have used some. Also, it could have used an epilogue. I give it three and a half stars. show less