Connie Brockway

This book had one of the more misleading covers I’ve seen in quite a while. It looks like a contemporary romance romp with a young beauty queen. It’s not. Both of the protagonists are around 40 years old and they spend most of the book trudging around snowy Minnesota in parkas. And it's not really a romance, either. The plot has lots more to do with blackmail, a sculpted head made out of butter a.k.a “the butter head,” incredibly incompetent thievery, and the heroine’s resentment show more of her home town than romance.

I’m actually not sure if the book is as entertaining as I recall or if I’m just biased because it kept going in the opposite direction of where I thought it was up to the very last page, and I really liked that. I am certain, though, that the constant use of the phrase “butter head” made me laugh. A lot. Also, having a somewhat goofy and relaxed male lead was really refreshing since the vast majority of romance males tend to be of the “suave dude” archetype. show less

It was my misfortune to read the Kindle version of this book. It contained so many egregious typographical howlers that I was tempted to ask for a refund -- until I consoled myself that the fault probably lay with the original publisher, not the retailer.

I feel sorry for Ms Brockway, that such a fine book should be such an eyesore. It would be untrue to say I enjoyed reading it. It was painful. My four-star rating reflects my reaction to the content.

The Victorian seance was a masterful show more opening attention-grabber. The shift of location from the salons of London to a village somewhere in the Scottish highlands was as refreshing as a mountain stream.

The romantic leads of [b:So Enchanting|5262503|So Enchanting|Connie Brockway|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267371905s/5262503.jpg|5329816] are a bluntly boorish aristocrat lawyer who has devoted much of his adult life to exposing spiritualist frauds, and a victim of one of his exposures who has transformed herself into an equally blunt but sharply articulate companion to an under-aged lady. The dialogues between Lord Grey and Fanny sizzle and sparkle, reminiscent of the cut-and-thrust of two equally matched swordsmen. The vapid romance between Grey's nephew Hayden and Fanny's charge Amelie is a perfect foil to the overpowering adult attraction between Grey and Fanny.

As if this wasn't enough, Ms Brockway throws in several witches, real and imagined, a deranged stamp collector willing to murder to acquire the funds for a rare stamp, and a supporting cast of bats, birds, and animals.

The lack of a fifth star in my rating reflects the length of the book and a few patches in the narrative that might have done with some firm editing. show less

4.5 stars

Lucy's parents died when she was seven years old forcing her to be passed around to her father's relatives. Feeling as if each time was an audition of sorts Lucy becomes whatever she feels her new guardian wants her to be. After a term of this she is pawned off to her mother's side. Her two spinster great aunts Lavinia and Bernice take her in despite having no clue about children and having strained pockets. They might not understand their vivacious niece but they love her. When show more Lucy becomes old enough to move out and find work she takes the skills from her childhood and becomes a singer in an operetta. This just manages to pay the bills and become a place of fulfillment for Lucy. When Lavinia has a health scare, Lucy rushes home to play nurse. Purse strings get pulled even tighter but with a fifty year old treasure about to be paid out, things could be looking up. It seems Lavinia in her youth had a dangerously romantic moment worthy of a penny dreadful. The ending result of this was a lost love and a pouch of rubies to be divided up after fifty years. Gathering their resolve and meager funds Lucy, Lavinia, and Bernice plan to set off to travel to France to claim the inheritance.

Ptolemy Archibald Grant is a young cultural anthropology professor on the rise. He is set to propose and gain a promotion at a prestigious college. After an expensive pen of his is "borrowed" he has a run in with our Lucy. His normally uptight straight edge self can't seem to get the hazel eyed loony imp out of his mind. Summoned to his grandfather's side he learns that due to a dangerously romantic moment from the grandfather's past, he is about to inherit a portion of rubies. By request of his grandfather, he sets off to deliver a letter to a woman named Lavinia where Ptolemy's grandfather states he is giving Lavinia his portion and Ptolemy will accompany her to France as guide. As Ptolemy has always secretly loved being in the field and new caves with pictographs has been discovered in the area they will be in, he is looking forward to the short trip and freedom before he is confined to an office. However, he doesn't count on Lucy answering the door. Thus, Lucy and "Archie" are born and our road romance begins.

Lucy is a character that in real life you either are going to love her or hate her; she dances to the beat of her own drum. It may seem at times that she has her head in the clouds, flittering by in life, and putting on a show. Her light attitude and outlook on life comes from childhood insecurities that slowly become apparent as she spends more time with Archie and begins to open up. Her character becomes more real and deep when she explains that the applause at the end of the show is her favorite moment because it is all for her and not the character she was playing. As she gets closer with Archie and sees he likes her and more importantly understands her for her true self she begins to fall in love with him. Archie's childhood consisted of adults trying to stifle his natural exuberance. As a consequence he is now very restrained and easily allows his almost fiancée to steer him away from his inner desire to do more field work and join the ranks of higher up confined office goers. Lucy and Archie share the combined desire to be understood and be able to be true to themselves.

Their banter back and forth and situations they find themselves in are witty, funny, and delightful. If you're a fan of the screwball comedies of the 1930's (a'la His Girl Friday) then this is a must read for you. Archie and Lucy traveling to get to their destination help the story keep moving and pages turning at a quick pace. Secondary characters stay pretty much in the background with a few exception pages throughout that devote a few insights to their various backgrounds and motivations until closer to the end when the past relationship of Lavinia and Archie's grandfather, that present day Lucy and Archie are somewhat mirroring, culminates. Any complaints I have involve Brockway’s tendency to incorporate many storylines and threads for minor characters that distract from the main characters and make me wish for more. Should this even be a complaint as it leaves me wanting more? I’m not sure but it does split my interest.

The ending had me wanting to hug my kindle, my dog, and the whole world. Brockway has a way of writing light enjoyable stories that covertly interweave deep emotional themes that erupt at the end and leave your eyes surprisingly glistening. This story is different from a lot that is out there right now and so much better for it. The Songbird's Seduction is a screwball comedy that is quirky, upbeat, and lovely. Lucy and Archie were a delight to get to know and I'm once again reaffirmed in my belief that Connie Brockway should write all the books. show less

I could tell you to read this book for the fun adventure (think Indiana Jonesish or I guess nowadays people would think Nate Drake), Connie Brockway writing (effortlessly emotionally true, engaging, and always moving), or the characters (you’ll smile while weeping at how utterly crystal clear the hero sees the heroine’s authentic nature and is not afraid of it ;). However, the main reason you should read this book is for Chapter thirty-six. My god….chapter thirty-six. I didn’t show more realize how all the adventure, emotions, and feelings were working together to create such a scene, but my now overflowing heart is grateful. (sidenote: the um, action in Ch.36, I refuse to say more in order not to ruin it, is a tad similar and reminiscent of another book’s ending scene. Different setting but in the same idea, pulled me a little tiny bit out of the story as I thought back to that other book (I rated that book five stars, the only hint I’m giving) )

Read this book because there are sooooo many mediocre, regency ball saturated (I love this timeperiod! But I love took time, well written regency ball romances more) romance books out there that, trust me, you need to read this adventure romance where Brockway writes her characters so well they lose the title of character and become people (I hope you know what I mean) to cleanse your palate.

By the bye I didn’t rate this 5stars because there were tiny little slow moments and too many added in plot points (Brockway you had great characters you didn’t need the other hubbub of what turned out to be forgettable and pointless nemesis of Jim and the late love triangle), some instances where the actions/emotions were too similar to the prequel (I read the series back to back so it was fresh in my mind), and as much as I loved Jim and Ginny they didn’t quite have the superior spark that makes me want to read five star couples over and over.

Oh and you should read “As You Desire” prequel to this one so you fully understand why Ginesse is the way she is. Her parents Harry and Dizzy are the stars of that show. show less