Friday Five: Historical Romance Edition (#06)

Book: Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley
Series: Highland Pleasures, #2
Published: July 6, 2010 (Berkley Sensation)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: The first book in this series, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie is a favorite of mine, and I really enjoyed Mac and Isabella's build-up in it. Unfortunately, they did not quite live up to that in their own book, but they did possess a magic all their own. I loved how art was so big in this story, with Mac being a painter. I also appreciated how realistically Ashley addressed marriage, with it requiring things beyond simply love, such as trust and respect. By the end, I absolutely, 100% believed Mac and Isabella's HEA.

If you thought your dare would make me blush like a schoolgirl, then you do not know much about schoolgirls.

Book: Your Wicked Ways by Eloisa James
Series: Duchess Quartet, #4
Published: March 30, 2004 (Avon)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: Perhaps my favorite thing about this book was the focus on music. I love how it provided a reason for Helene and and Rees to interact even when they did not desire to. I loved watching them grow together and discover they could make the marriage work. The low point was that it unfortunately had a pointless epilogue that weakened what would have been a hilarious, strong, and memorable ending. It was still good, though. Also, it should be noted that I listened to this on audiobook, and it was very well done!

And when the Reverend Holland brought himself to use a word like damn, he really meant it.

Book: Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan
Series: Carhart Series, #1
Published: January 1, 2010 (HQN)
Rating: Stay Up 'til 2 AM
Thoughts: Jenny is one of my all-time favorite historical romance heroines; I love her spine and strong sense of self-worth. There were great twists, a fantastic side storyline with Ned (who had his own book after this one), and a beautiful romance. Garreth simultaneously broke my heart and made it beat faster, and he and Jenny were simply perfect for one another for myriad reasons. I loved this book so much!

I don’t care what your title is. When I see myself, I see a woman worth more than a modicum of your respect. And don’t you dare touch me if you disagree.

Book: A Night Like This by Julia Quinn
Series: Smythe-Smith Quartet, #2
Published: May 29, 2012 (Avon)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: I love that I can always, always count on Julia Quinn for a fun historical romance that is guaranteed to make me giggle and swoon in nearly equal measure, and this one was no exception. It had great witty banter, and my cheeks actually hurt from smiling so much. Also, I was begging for Hugh and Sarah's book while reading this one, so I'm happy to announce that it comes out this October!

Time stopped. It simply stopped. It was the most maudlin and clichéd way of describing it, but those few seconds when her face was lifted toward his...they stretched and pulled, melting into eternity.

Book: Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
Published: February 20, 1989 (Putnam Adult)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: Oh, this book. Racquel made me read it after she fell in love with it, and I am so thankful! It was such a beautiful story. It moved incredibly slowly, but the friendship that formed as these two lived together was simply wonderful. I cried so often at this book, I honestly don't even understand it. Everything just moved me so much; it was that powerful. Rgardless, it was amazing. I highly recommend it, especially since it is set in such a unique time period.

You’re the first thing I ever had to come back to. How could I not come back to you?

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Friday Five: Fever Series Edition (#05)

The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning
(Spoiler Free)

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….

I started this series reading along with Racquel. While she did enjoy the ones she read, she was far less enthralled. I, however, was utterly addicted. I fell into this world for several weeks and didn't emerge unless it was absolutely necessary.

INDIVIDUAL BOOK FEELINGS:

Darkfever: This was my first non-YA Fae book, and it was such an interesting take! I really liked it. With perspective of reading the series, though, even though it was fantastic and addicting and things actually happened, it was totally like Fever Series 101. Here are the characters (be intrigued, be very intrigued), here is the world (Dublin!), now prepare for me to blow your mind in future books (it will happen).

Bloodfever: This book was definitely darker than the first, but still enjoyable. Mac and Barrons had crazy amounts of chemistry. There were some really interesting story developments!

Faefever: This book had such intriguing story progression! This book had an interesting way of bringing some things around full circle, and it was crazy addicting. But it ended with a huge cliffhanger, so be warned!

Dreamfever It's very difficult to talk about this book without being spoilery. Suffice it to say, it was addicting. I loved it. I grew to like characters I wasn't crazy about before. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT finish this book without Shadowfever sitting next to you, ready to be opened. I have no idea how the people who read this series live did not go completely insane in the wait between these two books.

Shadowfever. You know how we say "ALL THE FEELS" about books all the time? This book makes that look like an understatement. I elated, crushed, enthralled, repulsed, confused, amused, and surprised. I cried both sad and happy tears. Quite the emotional roller coaster, but hands down, my favorite book of the series.

SERIES FEELINGS:

Mac. For one, it was awesome to read about a heroine who is actually my age. Although there were things about her I wasn't crazy about, I really liked the fact that Mac was a pretty realistic character. And she had some great development over the course of the series.

Jericho. Freaking. Barrons. I really have no words. I haven't swooned so hard over a fictional guy in...okay, so I swoon over a lot of fictional guys. But this was different. I can't really explain it unless you've read the books; he was just so mysterious and enigmatic and freaking sexy. I love that he used words like "pernicious" and that he owned a bookstore and that he called Mac "Ms. Lane." And I shipped him and Mac SO HARD, I cannot even put it into words.

The world building was so great! This series was my first introduction to urban fantasy, and it made me see why people like it. I also much prefer Fae stories to vampires/whatever, and I have a mild obsession with Ireland. So, this series was pretty much perfect for me.

The writing style of the series really worked for me. It was different, but enjoyable. Very matter-of-fact and nearly diary-like. I just loved this series overall. There were, of course, some predictable elements. But I was pleasantly surprised by all the total "WTF" moment I had, because I did not see some of the twists coming AT ALL. Basically, it was awesome. I definitely plan to continue with the spin-off series eventually.

Movies tell you what to think. A good book lets you choose a few thoughts for yourself. Movies show you the pink house. A good book tells you there’s a pink house and lets you paint some of the finishing touches, maybe choose the roof style, park your own car out front.

---

You want to believe in black and white, good and evil, heroes that are truly heroic, and villains that are just plain bad, but I’ve learned in the past year that things are rarely so simple.

---

Sometimes I worry that there’s not enough room in my brain for both my dreams and reality, that I’m a hard drive with limited gigabytes and one day I won’t be able to maintain the firewall between them. I wonder if that’s what senility is.

---

Some people bring out the worst in you, others bring out the best, and then there are those remarkably rare, addictive ones who just bring out the most. Of everything.

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Friday Five: YA Edition (#04)

Book: The Wild Orchid: A Retelling of "The Ballad of Mulan" by Cameron Dokey
Published: February 10, 2009 (Simon Pulse)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: I like fairy tale retellings when they're well done, and The Wild Orchid was such a good one! The story of Mulan has always been a favorite of mine, so I was excited to stumble across this at the library. It read super fast, and I enjoyed it. The author built a believable world and culture in the short number of pages. The writing was gorgeous, which was a very pleasant surprise!

While our heart’s rhythm may seem steady, so steady that we take it for granted, this does not mean the heart is not also full of wonders and surprises.

Book: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
Published: January 1, 2010 (Point)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: Confession time: I don't like the Beatles (though I do love the Across the Universe soundtrack). I had no idea this was a Beatles reference, or I probably would not have picked it up. Thankfully, though, even though Penny was Beatles-obsessed, that in no way turned me off the book! I like it quite a bit. While some of the dialogue seemed a little stilted, Eulberg had a really great cadence to her writing that I thoroughly enjoyed. Penny stood up for some great things and learned a lot of good lessons throughout the story. It was a cute one!

I wondered if it would’ve been too subtle to wear a T-shirt that said Thank you for your interest, but I am no longer dating.

Book: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Series: Sweet Trilogy, #1
Published: May 1, 2012 (HarperTeen)
Rating: Stay Up 'til 2 AM
Thoughts: Sweet Evil was a super-quick, super-addicting read. I sped through it in a flash. It had an interesting premise. The two main characters had some great chemistry. Higgins had an interesting habit of combining two words into one such as "bloodred" of "superfast," which I actually wound up liking, because it made Anna's voice more authentic. I could totally hear her thinking like that. However, Higgins was entirely too fond of pronouns; there were two scenes (one of which was possibly on purpose) where I had no idea who it was who was actually speaking the lines. It really took me out of the story. Other than that, though, I liked it.

Wowza. He was smokin’ hot. As in H-O-T-T hott. I’d never understood until that moment why girls insisted on adding an extra T. This guy was extra-T worthy.

Book: Ripple by Mandy Hubbard
Published: July 21, 2011 Razorbill/Penguin
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: Ripple fell smack dab in the middle of "average" for me. It wasn't by any means terrible, but it wasn't great. My favorite thing was probably the premise, followed closely by the fact that it had an older heroine (18). The romance was good, although I wanted more from it. In fact, I really wanted more from several aspects of this book. More characterization for the MC, her best friend, and the love interest. More character development from the MC. It had a pretty good twist and a fairly enjoyable story, though.

I pretend to be apologetic, but I suspect my dopey smile counters that impression.

Book: Being Friends With Boys by Terra Elan McVoy
Published: May 1, 2012 (Simon Pulse)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: I had conflicting thoughts on Being Friends With Boys. The summary was extremely misleading, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. One of the things that I didn't like about this book was that it always felt like something was about to happen. But nothing really ever did. There was all this (really subtle, relying on guesswork) build up around the supposed love triangle, and by the end, I honestly didn't care about the romance. Not a bit. I honestly think I would have enjoyed the story more without it (aaand there was the sound of jaws dropping around the world because YES, I JUST SAID THAT). My favorite thing about this book is how McVoy sneaks up on you with some original, lyrical turns of phrase you totally aren't expecting. It kind of reminded me of Elizabeth Scott. I also think Char was an interesting character, and I liked reading about her, her friendships, and the whole band element.

Oliver smiles. That slow, full-lipped, wide-mouth one he has that takes up half his face, not showing any teeth. The one that crawls into his deep blue eyes from the bottom.

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Friday Five: Contemporary Romance Edition (#03)

Book: True Love and Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson
Series: Chinooks Hockey Team, #4
Published: April 28, 2009 (Avon)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: I had wanted to read this book for quite some time before I actually got my hands on it. Even though I know next to nothing about hockey (and still don't, even after reading this book), it was an enjoyable read. The beginning was extremely similar to It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips; I half expected the heroine's name to be Phoebe. But it was about Faith and hockey, not Phoebe and football, and the similarities pretty much ended at the premise. The book was good, but nothing about it was overwhelmingly wonderful. The heroine was attractive, and the hero was Alpha (and his name was Ty Savage, which should not be sexy but totally is). One thing that bothered me was that there were some awesome secondary storylines happening, but we really didn't get any resolution for them at the end. Overall, though, it was a cute and fast read.

"That might be inappropriate."
"The things I'm going to do to you are very inappropriate." He lowered his mouth to her ear. "You should probably be afraid."
"Are you planning anything illegal?"
"Not the first two or three times."

Book: Take on Me by Sarah Mayberry
Series: Secret Lives Of Daytime Divas, #1
Published: March 1, 2007 (Harlequin)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: I really liked the premise of this one because I used to love soap operas (Guiding Light specifically), and I am fascinated by the idea of how the making of them actually works. I know Mayberry used to (or still does?) work on an Australian soap opera, so it was nice to know what I was reading was at least fairly authentic. I just really enjoyed the whole atmosphere of writing and producing. Dylan and Sadie had great chemistry, and I believed the development of their relationship. I wish parts of it could have been dragged out a little longer, but I know Harlequin has pretty strict word limits for their category romance titles. I definitely liked how their history was woven into the story. I thought Dylan was a very complex character, but I enjoyed getting to know him. I could understand him more after seeing his struggles and what he had gone through to overcome them. Overall, while not my favorite Mayberry, Take on Me was still an enjoyable read.

We’re like the three musketeers – if one of us has to pee hiding behind a bush in the woods, the rest of us will have to, as well. It’s an unwritten rule of our friendship code.

Book: Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Series: Chicago Stars, #2
Published: April 1, 1995 (Avon)
Rating: Stash in the Glove Box
Thoughts: There seems to be a lot of love for this book floating about, and if you feel that way, I advise you to put on your big girl pants or skip my comments. I usually really like SEP, but I didn't get the appeal of this book at all. The heroine, Gracie, was spineless and "homely" (which she handily mentions 473,892 times, just in case you somehow miss it). She was self-deprecating like whoa and not in a humorous way. And then we have the hero, Bobby Tom. The guy was a sexist pig, and his behavior was too much for me to forgive, even if there had been a strong redemption element. But there wasn't even that. But he had a good side seemed to somehow be a good enough excuse for it. Guess what? Pedophiles and serial killers have good sides, too. THAT MEANS NOTHING. The side story was enjoyable in theory, but it took up too much of the book and got boring. The book did have some redeeming qualities, such as a fairly interesting main storyline and the fact that all the 90s references were totally cracking me up. As a whole, though, I was not impressed.

With the exception of that one unfortunate incident when he’d stopped the car on a bridge, dragged her to the side, and threatened to toss her over, they’d gotten along very well.

Book: Born in Shame by Nora Roberts
Series: Born In Trilogy, #3
Published: January 1, 1996 (Jove)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: Okay, singular complaint out of the way first: I don't enjoy random large paranormal/mysticism/whatever elements in books that are billed as straightforward contemporary romance. Much less in the third of a trilogy which has had none of it before! I'm still peeved about this, because I think the characters could have had a tremendous love story without the unnecessary elements that were included in the book. I do appreciate that Roberts did not go overboard with it, though. That aside, I loved so many things about this book! I could sympathize with Shannon and eventually grew to like her. I absolutely fell head over heels with Murphey, and I loved how he called her by her full name (Shannon Bodine) all the time like it was a term of endearment to him. I liked watching the bond between the three sisters grow, and I just love the Ireland setting in general. Also, I'm still in love with the voice of the guy who reads these audiobooks. Just saying. If you love a good Irish accent, look up the audiobooks of this trilogy!

Any woman who worked out three times a week should be able to outrun a cow.

Book: Double Play by Jill Shalvis
Series: Pacific Heat, #1
Published: July 7, 2009 (Berkley)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: My love of Jill Shalvis and her fabulous books continues! After reading Slow Heat, #2 in this series (yes, I read them backwards), I was excited for this one. It didn't let me down! I loved both the hero and the heroine. I enjoyed the way baseball was woven into the story, even though it is not my favorite sport. There were some great friendship portrayals, from Pace and Wade's close but easygoing and fun friendship to the one developing between Sam and Holly throughout the story. The dialogue was snappy and hilarious, and the chemistry between Pace and Holly was smoking. I could also totally relate to Pace and his Dr Pepper withdrawal. Poor guy! The love confession at the end was original and cute and fabulous. It also made me really happy to see the pre-set up for Wade and Sam, the h/hr from Slow Heat. All-in-all, Double Play was a great read, and you don't even have to love baseball to appreciate it.

The guy was edible. No other word need apply.

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Friday Five: Bridgertons Series Edition |#02|

The blog has been dead but for a good reason! Sharon has found a new obsession: Doctor Who (and she just started school) and I started the Bridgertons series and I cannot stop. Absolutely cannot. So I'm sharing with you mini reviews of the first five books in the Bridgertons Series. Seriously, I'm OBSESSED with it.

The Duke And I by Julia Quinn 
Series: Bridgertons #1
Published: January 5th 2000 by Avon
Rating: B-
Thoughts: The Duke and I is well loved, even by non romance readers so I've been scared to read it because I usually dislike books everyone loves but *phew* I really, really loved reading The Duke and I. I didn't love the book but reading it was a blast. It's surprisingly laugh-out-loud funny, and the dialogue was just great. Daphne and Simon relationship was even better! They became friends and then more and I totally believed it. Anthony, who's Daphne's older brother and Simon's best friend was just the icing on the cake. He was the father figure to the Bridgertons so of course he wanted to protect his sister from everything, especially men and especially his best friend so the scenes with him made me laugh so hard, my face was hurting. What's keeping me from giving The Duke and I an A rating is Daphne's actions in the end. What she did really annoyed me and I felt like the resolution was tied up too nicely for my liking. Otherwise, this is a must read!

Favorite quote: "I think it's nice. If they're laughing now, they'll probably be laughing forever." 

 

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Series: Bridgertons #2

Published: December 5th 2000 by Avon

Rating: C+

Thoughts: I definitely started this book as soon as I finished The Duke And I because it's Anthony's book and I couldn't wait to see what Quinn had in store for him and I'm happy to report back that The Viscount Who Loved Me was delightful and I was really happy with it! The Viscount Who Loved Me was not as laugh out loud funny as The Duke And I but it really was delightful. I was wondering who Julia Quinn was going to pair Anthony with since he made a big impression in The Duke And I but Quinn knows her characters best and Kate Sheffield was just perfect for the "rake" Anthony. If possible, the relationship between Anthony and Kate had even more chemistry than Daphne and Simon's relationship. Don't let the mere C+ rating fool you, I loved reading this book and I can even say that I'll reread it in the future and it IS a must read but like I was telling Sharon, how obsessed I am with this series even though even though I'm not giving the books 5 stars. Her perfect reply?

They're not all even 5-star material by any means, but they're just fantastic. 

This is very true. This book doesn't have all the elements that make up an A+ rating but nevertheless, it's very, very, very much worth the read. P.s. did this book make anyone tear up? It made me tear up. Several times. Like a ridiculous amount of several times. I don't even know why.

Favorite quote: “The ranks of society are once again filled with Ambitious Mamas, whose only aim is to see their Darling Daughters married off to Determined Bachelors.”

 
An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
Series: Bridgertons #3
Published: July 1st 2001 by Avon
Rating:  C
Thoughts: An Offer From a Gentleman is a Cinderella retelling and while I think all retellings are quite awesome, there is just something about Cinderella retellings that I love. The Cinderella plot is quite sweet and so is this story. Benedict has been the least mentioned Bridgerton brother so far and I even contemplated skipping this book to read book 4, Colin's story (Colin's appearance in the previous two books is made me fall in love with him. I already know I'm going to love his book). However, I'm sure Quinn did this on purpose because Benedict struggles with being just "Bridgerton Number 2" instead of having an actual identity like Anthony or Colin. 

Sophie was a lovely heroine and I was rooting for her from page one. Her and Benedict were very well suited (of course!) and this book possessed the charm and wit of the previous two books that is making me obsessed with this series. Also, kudos to Benedict for not going out and getting drunk when him and Sophie hit a rough patch. That truly made him a hero in my eyes and I dare say even better than Anthony and Simon (heroes who go and get drunk when they "lose" they're woman piss me off. Man up, you pussy! Hardy Cates is excluded from this though. Ha.)

Favorite quote: "His name was Benedict Bridgerton, he had seven brothers and sisters, was rather skilled with both a sword and a sketching crayon, and he always kept his eyes open for the one woman who had touched his soul.”

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Series: Bridgertons #4

Published: July 2nd 2002 by Avon

Rating: B-

Thoughts: Colin, Colin, Colin. I definitely was most excited to read his book from the moment he was introduced in the first book. Colin is just so charming (he really is despite the fact that he hates that title) and in my opinion, the brother with the most common sense (he doesn't jump into fights like Anthony and Benedict). Colin is paired up with Penelope who was introduced in the previous books as a shy girl who's dressed in the most ill suiting dresses for her and men go out of their way to avoid her and her Ambitious Mama. However Penelope is bestfriends with Eloise, Colin's sister and she and Colin have a friendship of sorts since he's one of the few people who are friendly to her. I loved Penelope. She might have been shy, men might avoid her but she knew herself.

"Deep inside, she knew who she was, and that person was smart and kind and often funny, but somehow her personality got lost somewhere between her heart and her mouth,"

I love confident and badass heroines but these shy heroines who don't pity themselves? They most definitely fall under the badass category. Colin and Penelope are perfect for each other and even though the book begun with Penelope describing the moment when she fell in love with Colin she always accepted the fact that it will always be unrequited love so it was nice to see the friendship between the two and Colin as he grew to notice Penelope more than a friend. It was quite sweet!

Favorite quote: "And so, on an otherwise unremarkable Friday afternoon, in the heart of Mayfair, in a quiet drawing room on Mount Street, Colin Bridgerton kissed Penelope Featherington. And it was glorious.”

One thing I didn't like about this book is the end and how perfectly it wrapped up. It was way too smooth and happily ever after especially after unnecessary drama and I would have liked the Big Secret to remain a Secret.

Also, there is a LISA KLEYPAS reference in this book. Penelope was reading Mathilda by S. R. Fielding which happens to be the book the main heroine, Amanda, from Suddenly You, wrote. I have no shame in admitting that I contemplated giving the book an A for that fact alone.

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn 
Series: Bridgertons #5
Published: January 1st 2003 by Avon
Rating: B
Thoughts: To Sir Phillip, With Love is this far, my favorite Bridgertons book! I really liked the plot of this one and I couldn't sleep because I kept thinking of how Quinn will unfold this story. First of all: the reasons why this is not an A read is because I felt like some things just took place too soon. The first kiss was too soon. A scene with Phillip and his kids took place too soon and while I could understand why some of these things couldn't wait until the middle of the book, I was still annoyed. I also was not a fan of Eloise. I didn't hate her, but I didn't love her either which is odd because I adore the previous heroines. I love all of them but I couldn't muster up the same love for Eloise. Phillip really stole the show. He goes through a lot of change and lets go of a lot of things that were haunting him. I really, really loved him. He was taciturn (taciturn heroes are my favorite!). Preferring the company of plants and flowers over people and he also didn't sleep with all and every woman in the country of England which is refreshing in a hero in any romance novel. Phillip is also a father to twins which is another thing I love. And the end, my god, the end was beautiful. I was in class and I teared up and I didn't even care. It was a beautiful and perfect last chapter! I closed the book with a huge grin on my face after swooning a few times. Also, this quote is now one of my all time favorite quotes EVER. Actually, this whole speech from Phillip to Eloise broke my heart, put it back together, made me tear up, made me hug my Kindle and it's what made this book my favorite from the Bridgertons series:  

Favorite quote:  “Until you've lived through all that," he said, "don't you ever complain about what we have. Because to me... to me..." He choked on the words, but he barely paused before he continued. "This - us - is heaven. And I can't bear to hear you say otherwise.”

I have three books left in this series and I'm so excited to read them yet so sad because I have been reading and thinking of nothing else but this series. It will be so so so hard to say goodbye to this series! Also, I LOVE these cartoon/caricature or WHATEVER they're called covers. LOVE THEM. Do they have a specific name? You would save my life if you tell me!

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Friday Five: Historical Romance Edition (#01)

I read a lot of books. Shocking, really! Unfortunately, though, I am fairly consistently behind in reviewing. And taking a few months off last year did not help. Basically, there are books I would love to review, but I don't really have enough to say about them for a full-out, detailed review (most likely because I read them too long ago). But they still deserve to mentioned! Rather than trying to force stiff, fluff-filled reviews, after some contemplation, I came up with this feature. One Friday a month, I will be posting these mini-review batches, each featuring books from a specific genre. This will help me catch up on reviews, but it also won't clog up everyone's reader with short, separate posts. Now, without further ado, behold the first Friday Five, featuring the Historical Romance genre.

Book: A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare
Series: Spindle Cove, #2
Published: March 27, 2012 (Avon)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: This was the very first book I ever pre-ordered, because I was SUPER excited about if after the build-up between the couple in the first book. It did not disappoint! I do like road trip books set in modern day, but they have nothing on the carriage/hackney/mail coach road trips in historicals. I just love them so much, and this was no exception. Plus, the two leads were still superbly fabulous; the snappy banter and fierce attraction made for a great dynamic. Dare really just takes witty to a whole new level. Colin's comments and inner dialog were hilarious, and I really liked Min. Overall, a fantastic addition to one of my favorite historical series!
Favorite Quote: "Oh no. Oh God. I couldn't possibly be so stupid." - "Don't limit yourself. You can be anything you wish."

Book: Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right by Kieran Kramer
Series: Impossible Bachelors, #2
Published: November 30, 2010 (St. Martin's Paperbacks)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: I will give this book points for originality; it had one of the most original and hilarious h/hr meetings ever. The heroine belonged to a group of friends happy to be spinsters, and they were all great. The spy plot was there, but it thankfully did not take up too much of the story. The book also had great vocabulary, which always makes me happy! I learned the words sinecure, rout, and nonce. Unfortunately, the story dragged quite a bit toward the beginning and end, and there was some over-the-top drama I didn't really appreciate.
Favorite Quote: She had an obsession with his mouth now. And his hands. By God, and everything else about him, too.

Book: The Capture of the Earl of Gelncrae by Stephanie Laurens
Series: The Cynster Sisters Trilogy, #3
Published: January 31, 2012 (Avon)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Thoughts: This book was not exactly what I expected from the summary, but I wound up mostly enjoying it nonetheless. I had two main issues with this book: the necklace Angelica had that apparently could tell you your ~hero~ when you wore it, and the fact that it was so long I got seriously bored. There were many unnecessary scenes of her family reacting/plotting about her kidnapping, but I am sure that someone who followed Laurens' books would love them. If they were, for instance, the Bridgertons, I would have loved to see the family all interacting together. But I digress. Enough with the negativity. There were quite a few things I liked about the book, too. Namely, the whole basic plot: Angelica is kidnapped by a man she thinks is her hero, but is really the guy who orchestrated the kidnapping of her sisters. Oh, and he's supposed to be dead. He also happens to be swoontacular, so romance commences. (I seriously love historical romance for plots like these.) I also like that Angelica was confident in the fact that he wanted her. Admittedly, it stemmed from the ridiculous necklace, but it added a nice dynamic to their relationship I enjoyed.
Favorite Quote: Never tell any male that he’s sweet.  It’s an invitation to be anything but.

Book: Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath
Series: London's Greatest Lovers, #3
Published: June 28, 2011 (Avon)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: This is one of the most original plots I have ever heard of, and I was completely intrigued by the thought when I discovered it. I've never read anything like it, before or since. It was a recipe for a deliciously angsty romance, which is one of my favorite things ever. The book overall was not as good or as angst-filled as I had anticipated, but it was incredibly addicting. I believed Ransom (Yes, that's his name. Not one of the high points of the story.) and his motives for agreeing with his friend's proposal. Their relationship development was slow and beautiful. Although there was a pointless side story and some little details that bothered me, I enjoyed the main one. My emotions were quite engaged throughout the entire book, and it made me cry more than once.
Favorite Quote: As far as bloody awful things go, it’s one of the best I’ve experienced.

Book: Beguiling the Beauty by Sherry Thomas
Series: Fitzhugh Trilogy, #1
Published: May 1st 2012, (Berkley Sensation)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Thoughts: I had an odd sort of relationship with this book. Objectively, I enjoyed everything about it. But for some reason, I spent most of the story feeling rather detached from the characters. I don't know if it was me or the way it was written, but that feeling was disconcerting. At the same time, though, I did not want to put it down at all. The actions that set the plot into motion were rather overdramatic and ridiculous, but the plot itself was fantastic and original. I enjoyed the uniqueness of it, especially how the hero fell in love with the heroine without ever seeing her face. I also read this book after the second in the series, so it was interesting to see the Book 2 couple before their "romance" took place.
Favorite Quote: When she laughed, nothing was impossible.  He could climb Mount Everest, cross the Sahara, and raise the lost realm of Atlantis all in a day.

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