Elizabeth Rolls

Fantastic book and an intriguing change from the usual Regency aristocratic balls and house parties. This is the story of Psyché, a Black coffee shop owner from Jamaica, and Will, the Marquess of Huntercombe's private secretary. They meet when thrown together to help a young woman escape a forced marriage. Their immediate connection forms the basis for an unexpected relationship.

I loved Psyché. Born into slavery, she came to England at the age of eleven, brought by her white father. He show more died, and she was raised by her great-uncle, Viscount Staverton, along with her white cousin, Hetty. Though treated as a daughter by her great-uncle, Psyché's treatment by society and even some family members was decidedly unequal. By the time she was an adult, Psyché was determined to create her own place in the world. Her coffee shop, The Phoenix Rising, does precisely that. Flashbacks to Psyché's life, both in Jamaica and her early years in England, vividly illustrate the obstacles she faces and how she overcomes them.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Will and Psyché. From the moment they met, Will saw Psyché as a strong, independent, and kind woman. Their teamwork in helping young Catherine was outstanding. I laughed out loud at Will's interpretation of causing a "distraction" while Psyché hid Catherine and how it led to them spending even more time together. I loved the slow growth of their feelings, from friends to lovers. While the physical expression of those feelings was great, I especially enjoyed the look at their ordinary everyday interactions of washing dishes, talking, and just being together while involved in their own activities.

It isn't long before Will wants more, but convincing Psyché is an uphill battle. Though she knows marriage is different than being enslaved, Psyché's reluctance to give a man power over her freedom and independence is believable. I loved Will's patience and understanding as he works to prove she can trust him. His visit to Psyché's great-uncle was terrific and demonstrated how well both men knew her. There was a short rough patch when Will told Psyché why he is estranged from his family, but they talked it through like adults. I loved how everything came together for them at the end.

There was intense action at a few places in the book. In the beginning, hiding Catherine creates complications and danger for Psyché. There is an unexpected link between Catherine and Psyché that adds to Psyché's determination to keep the girl safe. When the Bow Street Runners get involved in the search, a complex plan is devised and successfully carried out. After a deeply moving scene where Psyché and Hetty reunite at their great-uncle's deathbed, Psyché faces her father's brother Lucian, who has always resented her. In a nail-biting turn of events, Lucian attempts to kidnap Psyché with the intent of sending her to Africa and back to slavery. He received quite a shock when Psyché resisted, and I loved seeing her take him down. Will's arrival was perfectly timed, and the icing on the cake. I liked the epilogue and its wrap-up of the events of the book.

I liked how Psyché's challenges because of her race were deftly woven throughout the book. From the little digs to the kidnapping attempt, each occurrence was believable. Psyché's flashbacks were especially vivid as they portrayed critical moments in her life. I enjoyed the author's note on her inspiration for Psyché's character.

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Terrific book with the unusual plot point of having older main characters, a very nice change of pace. Hunt has just turned fifty and finds himself in the position of needing an heir. He lost his wife and children to smallpox eleven years earlier and recently lost his younger half-brother. His sisters are happy to assist him, but he vehemently rejects their list of simpering young debutants (one of whom was his goddaughter - shudder). He'd much prefer to marry a widow of mature years, who show more understands that it won't be a love match.

Emma is thirty-two with two young children. She had loved her husband very much. Theirs was a love match, though opposed by their feuding families. As a result, Emma was disowned by her parents, and they were ignored by his. When Peter died, Emma was left in financial straits, and making ends meet is a challenge. She adores her children and is very much a hands-on parent with their care. Her life is complicated by men who believe a widow is fair game and who take it badly when Emma rejects their advances.

I loved the first meeting between Hunt and Emma. Both were visiting Hatchard's bookstore and library, where Hunt was drawn into a conversation with Emma and her children. Hunt was intrigued and attracted and took the chance to walk with Emma, Harry, and Georgie when the children begged to play with his dog. Hunt was puzzled by Emma's coolness until later when it occurred to him that she mistook his intentions. I appreciated the fact that he called on her to apologize for the misunderstanding. He hadn't been able to forget her and broached the subject of his search for a wife, and his belief that they would suit. Emma, being a practical woman, did not reject him immediately and agreed to them spending time together to pursue the idea. She never planned to marry for money, but taking care of her children is a priority.

I loved seeing them spend time together, and could see the feelings and attraction growing. There were some marvelous scenes of them together and with the children. At one point, Emma pulls back, believing that her (undeserved) reputation would do him no good. She quickly changes her mind when an unexpected visit from her father-in-law results in a threat to take her children away from her. Her visit to Hunt, begging for his help, was immensely moving. I loved Hunt's protectiveness and care for Emma and his speedy solution to the problem. The scene at the wedding was priceless, as Hunt threw a wrench into Keswick's plans.

Though Hunt and Emma are now married, there are still challenges to overcome before they get their happy ending. Hunt closed himself off emotionally after the deaths of his family and believes that he is too empty to offer his heart to Emma. Though Emma accepted the conditions of Hunt's proposal, she isn't so sure she can abide by them. I loved watching the development of this marriage. On the plus side from the beginning is the attraction between Emma and Hunt. The heat between them is intense, and both are enthusiastic about their physical connection. Hunt is a bit wary, as he feels himself wanting more than the emotionless bargain, and tries desperately to keep that distance between them. Though she had agreed to the "no love" stipulation, Emma quickly realizes that she is falling hard for Hunt. I ached for both of them as they worked through the things that were keeping them apart. I loved Emma's courage as she took charge of her feelings. It took a near-tragedy for Hunt to be able to let go of the past and embrace the future that was waiting for him. He came through with flying colors, and his big moment with Emma was intensely emotional. I loved the epilogue, too, showing how different his life became.

There was a bit of suspense running through the book also. It began with Emma noticing someone following/watching her. Then there were the threats made by her father-in-law and his attitude toward her children. There were a couple of suspicious events, including a fire at their old house. But it was an attack by a supposed highwayman that put young Harry in the bullseye that exposed a deeper problem. There were some interesting twists and turns to the resolution of that issue.

The secondary characters were interesting. The two sets of parents were particularly horrible in their treatment of Emma. I liked seeing Hunt shut them down when needed, but would have liked something a little more drastic to make the point. Hunt's sisters were something else too. I liked that Hunt was firm but kind when he dealt with them - they could be pretty obnoxious with their attitudes. I liked Hunt's friends, the Cambournes, and have put their story on my want to read list. I loved Emma's children, Harry and Georgie. They are realistically portrayed, and I enjoyed seeing their antics. Harry especially won my heart with his determination to take care of his sister and mother. I also loved seeing their effect on Hunt and how they helped him find the ability to love again. show less

The Christmas Duchess - Christine Merrill

Her daughter recently jilted, widowed Generva feels anything but festive--until the unexpected arrival of Thomas Kanner, Duke of Montford, transforms the Marsh household. Might there be a Christmas wedding after all?

Good story. Generva is coping with the scandal created by the young man who was supposed to marry her daughter on Christmas Day. It turned out that he was already married, leaving her daughter to face the gossip. Two days before Christmas, show more his uncle, the Duke of Montford, appeared with the special license, having no idea of what had happened. Thomas is horrified at what his heir has done and offers to marry the girl himself.

Generva had been widowed for several years and was accustomed to dealing with things on her own. I loved the way she went after Thomas with the broom when he first got there. When she calmed down and heard Thomas out, she couldn't believe that he was willing to go so far. It was also disconcerting to her to realize that he could become her son-in-law, especially when she discovered that she was attracted to him herself. She couldn't see someone like him being interested in her, so tried to keep her emotions under control. It was a losing battle for her.

I really liked Thomas. He was a good man, had a marvelous sense of humor, and wanted to make things right. I loved the way he fit right in with the family. He was patient and fun with Ben, very kind to the jilted Gwendolyn, and very intrigued by Generva. He quickly becomes very glad that Gwendolyn turned down his proposal because Generva appeals to him much more. I loved the way that he spoke to Ben about being the man of the house and how he told Ben about his intentions toward Generva. His actions at the church were funny and sweet.

I really liked that Thomas and Generva are older than the usual hero and heroine. It's great to see more mature couples get happy endings too.

Russian Winter Nights - Linda Skye

Russian princess Ekaterina Romanova sees through the gilded facade of the Winter Court. An intimate encounter with Andrey Kvasov offers a moment of escape, and soon this Yuletide brings the promise of something thrilling…and forbidden.

Ekaterina is the niece of the Empress and stuck in the service of the Empress. She is a kind young woman, disgusted by the actions of her cruel aunt. One day she happens on a young man who is an apprentice architect, working on a special room in the palace. They are instantly attracted to each other, but any contact between them is dangerous.

Andrey is a good man stuck in a bad situation. He wants to be with Ekaterina, but the Empress wants him for herself. If he refuses, both he and Ekaterina could be sent to Siberia or even killed.

I liked the connection between them and the intensity of their feelings. The danger they were in was real, and I was curious to see how they were going to get out of it. Ekaterina had been at court long enough to learn how to be pretty devious, and I really liked the solution she came up with. I would have liked another chapter or an epilogue to show the completed resolution.

A Shocking Proposition - Elizabeth Rolls

Madeleine Kirkby must be married before Twelfth Night--or forfeit her family estate. After a chance encounter with the man she lost her heart to years ago, she has the perfect prospective husband in mind.

Maddy is desperate to save her home from being taken by her nasty cousin. She has until Twelfth Night to marry, but can't marry without his permission until she's twenty-one - on Christmas Day. That doesn't leave her much time to find a willing groom, especially since Edward has succeeded in trashing her reputation among the local men. An encounter with Lord Ashton, newly returned from the war and the man she adored as a child, gives her an idea.

Ash has returned from war plagued by nightmares. All he wants to do is find a small estate along Hadrian's Wall where he can indulge his love of searching for antiquities. He is surprised by the grown-up Maddy and his attraction to her, but feels that he's too damaged to pursue her. He's stunned by her proposal that they marry, saving her home and giving him the perfect place for his searching.

I loved Ash and Maddy. The heat between them was intense, and their shared history gave them the base from which their attraction could grow into love. I really liked the way that Maddy took charge of her own destiny. I loved seeing Ash adjust to the grown up Maddy. Besides her beauty he also loved her independence. His love for her showed through so strongly, especially in the ways that he protected and supported her. I loved seeing him stand up to Edward and the scene in the church was great. His determination to go through with the marriage, even as he worried about what Edward might have done to her, was fantastic. The final showdown with Edward was pretty intense, but it did force Ash and Maddy to admit their feelings to each other.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially the people who worked for Maddy. It was obvious how much they all loved her, which said a lot about her character. I also liked Ash's brother and his attempts to make Ash see that marrying Maddy was right for him. show less

Excellent! Justin, Lord Braybrook, is a managing man - but he manages himself into a very different situation with his latest scheme. Christy is great; she manages to be an independent, fiery woman without being at all an anachronism. She knows her place and her limits - and pushes past them, at times. Very solid characters; every choice and decision they make is based on who they are, not on author fiat or the needs of the plot. Loved it; I need to look for more Elizabeth Rolls.