Review: The Duke & I by Julia Quinn

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Genre: Historical Romance, Regency

Format: Paperback 

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Synopsis:

Can there be any greater challenge to London's Ambitious Mamas than an unmarried duke?
— Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1813

By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend's sister, the lovely—and almost-on-the-shelf—Daphne Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth—it's all an elaborate plan to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.

But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it's hard to remember that their courtship is a complete sham. Maybe it's his devilish smile, certainly it's the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her... but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke... for real! And now she must do the impossible and convince the handsome rogue that their clever little scheme deserves a slight alteration, and that nothing makes quite as much sense as falling in love...

Review:

Ah, Julia Quinn, one of the geniuses behind historical romances of our generation. For the last three years, I have been meaning to pick up a book by her but never got the chance until earlier this month and I am speechless. I fully understand why she's such a big hit all over the world.

'The Duke and I' is the first book of the Bridgerton Series. A series that each represents a member of the Bridgerton Family. In this case, 'The Duke and I' was all about Daphne, the eldest daughter of the family.

For Daphne the one thing she hated the most was when her mother introduces her to every amiable bachelor at every ball they went to. Don't get her wrong, Daphne wants to marry but every gentleman she likes turns out to only want her as friend and all the men who would even think about marrying her seemed to be the odd ones with weird habits and weird faces. Hence, she has her moments of self-doubt, unrequited love and so much more. In the end, she can't take anymore of suitors she can't see herself happy with and the indirect rejection with the bachelors she actually sees herself marrying.

But then one day, Simon, a friend of her eldest brother comes back into town and after running away from his share of single women. He confides in Daphne and comes up with the wonderful idea of faking their 'interest' for each other to keep the women and men at bay. And it worked!

I adored the plot! What kind of hopeless romantic woman wouldn't? It had all the characteristics of the best historical romances I have ever read. It had your unrequited love pains, the steamy moments, the snarky banters, the shy romantic scenes, and most of all, the conflict that brings the couple closer than ever. And honestly, I would love to see this romance in the big screens.

Julia Quinn built her characters around hardships that each and every one of them faced. In this book, we were made to hate Simon's father for disowning him because of his son's disability. Likewise, we were made to love every one of the Bridgerton children from the eldest to the youngest. Their bond and love for each other is as realistic as it gets. Imagine bickering in the sophisticated dialogue of the 1800's.

This book was page-turning and is one of those books that keeps you up all night with its sweet moments, and hilarious banter. And no matter how many historical romances I manage to read. I will always enjoy them. And this book was no different. If you're a romance junkie waiting for your next fix, why not try the historical kind? Julia Quinn might surprise you with her amazing Jane Austen writing. I'm definitely getting the rest of the series.

5/5 stars

Review: Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

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Genre: Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Regency, Fantasy
Format: Paperback
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Synopsis:

In this Jane Austen inspired comedy, love story, and exploration of identity and destiny, a modern LA girl wakes up as an Englishwoman in Austen's time.

After nursing a broken engagement with Jane Austen novels and Absolut, Courtney Stone wakes up and finds herself not in her Los Angeles bedroom or even in her own body, but inside the bedchamber of a woman in Regency England. Who but an Austen addict like herself could concoct such a fantasy?

Not only is Courtney stuck in another woman's life, she is forced to pretend she actually is that woman; and despite knowing nothing about her, she manages to fool even the most astute observer. But not even her love of Jane Austen has prepared Courtney for the chamber pots and filthy coaching inns of nineteenth-century England, let alone the realities of being a single woman who must fend off suffocating chaperones, condomless seducers, and marriages of convenience. Enter the enigmatic Mr. Edgeworth, who fills Courtney's borrowed brain with confusing memories that are clearly not her own.

Try as she might to control her mind and find a way home, Courtney cannot deny that she is becoming this other woman and being this other woman is not without its advantages: Especially in a looking-glass Austen world. Especially with a suitor who may not turn out to be a familiar species of philanderer after all.

Review:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that it is human nature for our subconscious to wish for an escape when the going get's tough and Courtney Stone's subconscious didn't just "wish" for an escape. It conjured it. The hows and whys of the situation is still remains at loss for me even after I finished the book. 

Courtney Stone's life is in the gutter and at the end of the day she releases grief and takes refuge in all of Jane Austen's work. Somehow between the world of waking and dreaming, Courtney get's teleported 200 years back in time. She didn't land in the 1800's century as herself but as Jane Mansfield, a beautiful, slim, refined, and unmarried woman in her thirties. She doesn't know who Jane is except for the reflection she sees in the mirror and only gets glimpses and fragments of Jane's memory to help her blend in.

Courtney/Jane was first convinced that all she was experiencing was a dream caused by her obsessive readings of everything Jane Austen. But as days, weeks and months passed on, she just had to accept and take her Jane Austen training and put it to good use to please Mrs. Mansfield and shoo the Lords and Dukes, who are great big horn-dogs.

In this century, the author explains to us that there's more to the world Jane Austen has written. And that Austen only sugar coated the real happenings within a distinguished family, town balls, and overall, men of that time. Yes, mothers only think about their daughters marrying rich. Yes, they go to balls and dance way too much. Yes, there are rich handsome gentlemen who court and flirt. But Austen and many other authors of that age didn't tell us about the obsessive and urgency of the mothers, or that a lot of harassments occur during balls and most of these rich handsome gentlemen have nasty attitudes and only have one thing in mind. Courtney realizes this as she starts getting accustomed to the simple routine of an accomplished woman and starts traveling with her suitors sister to Bath and London.

I enjoyed coming to terms with the reality of how the 1800's is really like and how suffocating it is to be seen with a male underclassmen unchaperoned. And at the end of the book, I came with the conclusion that I didn't really know if Courtney's life in the 21st century was real or where the real Jane Mansfield is. It was a good end but an end that still made you ask what really happened to Jane and Courtney.

Rating: 4/5

Review: Rouge by Leigh Talbert Moore

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Title: Rouge 
Author: Leigh Talbert Moore
Genre: New Adult, Mature Young Adult, Historical Romance
Format: eBook ARC 

Trapped in the underground theater world of 1890s New Orleans, Hale Ferrer has only one goal: escape. But not without Teeny, the orphan-girl she rescued from the streets and promised to protect.

Freddie Lovel, Hale's wealthy Parisian suitor, seems to be the easy solution. If only his touch could arouse her interest like Beau's, the penniless stagehand who captures her heart.

Denying her fears, Hale is poised to choose love until an evil lurking in their cabaret-home launches a chain of events that could cost her everything.

If you've read Leigh's first book The Truth About Faking, you should probably be warned. This book is a lot more edgy, mature and serious than the YA contemporary romance. This is for the older YA readers.

Leigh took a risk, a risk that takes you on a swooning and raging ride up and down. A risk that every author should take to enhance their writing skills before they hit it big. And this risk is Rouge.

You know you've experienced something so different when you come out of it feeling confused and all together absent-minded. That's exactly how I felt when I finished this book. I was like : Woah. Did I really just read that? And I mean this all in a good way.

I loved how different Leigh's writing was in this one. It was a lot more deep and advanced and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed all the characters, especially Roland, who is constantly there for our protagonist, Hale, when she gets in trouble. Hale is a troubled 18-year-old who only thinks about how to make her and her "Ward's" (Teeny) life better. She always thinks about ways to escape a life on stage and a life living in a secret Brothel where no one knows when she'll be the next body they'll sell. I loved Hale's determination and strength even though she made me react negatively a couple of times. But hey! All protagonists do that to a reader when they make bad choices. Likewise, I harbored dislike towards Teeny and Beau (Hale's Poor Lover), they were both so frustrating. They were the main reasons of Hale's drama in her life and I can't help but dislike them both.

Despite all the terrible things that happened to Hale. She manages to put on a straight face and continue on living to her best ability even if she doesn't want to anymore. Of course, she had a pillar to hold onto and that pillar was Roland. Her long time best friend and first real crush. Roland was my favorite character, who was the only one with real smarts throughout the story. That guy can get you out of anything with one of his trustworthy plans. I couldn't get enough of him.

The plot as mentioned in the synopsis, had so much depth and darkness that I couldn't believe Leigh wrote it. Makes a reader really stop and think that your favorite authors will always manage to surprise you when you least expect it. My hats (all of them) are off at Leigh's brilliance! (Yes, I'm that impressed).

Overall, Rouge is an unexpected experience of the drama and troubles of a teenage female singer in the 1890's, New Orleans and how she provides for herself and the little girl she took under her wing. The story is deep, dark with enough realism to make you so glad you weren't of that time. Leigh is one step closer to being a master story-teller!

Review: Hearts Restored by Prue Phillipson

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Title: Hearts Restored
Author: Prue Phillipson
Started: 08/2/12
Finished: 18/2/12
Publisher: Knox Robinson Publishing
Medium: eBook (ARC from Publisher)
Genre: Historical Romance / Paranormal Romance
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What can a young man of fifteen do when he is told by his mother that the three cousins he is about to meet all want to marry him?

Daniel Wilson Horden has arrived in London with his parents from their home in Northumberland on the very day of King Charles II’s triumphant return to his capital. Receiving his own personal wave from the king, Daniel longs only to serve him, but first he must keep at bay the threat of marriage.

His two French cousins are adamant in their pursuit of him, but Daniel is intrigued by his English cousin, Eunice, whose Puritan father snatches her away from the reunion celebrations. Unaware that his gallant attempt to save her has endeared him to her, Daniel only just escapes the marriage trap which his younger French cousin lays for him and is sent off to study at Cambridge University.

Once she returns to her father’s home, Eunice is condemned to a life of austerity. Heart-sick, she is assured by her grandmother that Daniel will come for her when he graduates from university.

But, unaware of his cousin’s feelings for him, Daniel goes off to join the navy only to find that fighting in the king’s service is not as glorious as he had imagined.

While the navy suffers at sea, London passes through plague and fire.

Will Eunice survive the hardship? And will Daniel return to fulfil the promise in his eyes on that fateful day in London?

If I could describe this book in just one word it would be brilliant. Never in my life have I ever read a book that had so much happening in a few pages. It was like someone’s entire life all in a span of 300 – 400 pages. Okay, maybe it was about someone’s entire life. Make that two someone’s.

The synopsis of this book was sort of misleading. As a historical romance, I remember it saying something about how Daniel (the protagonist) visits his family and immediately after he captures the attention of his 3 female cousins who are all after his attention and courtship. But that was just in the beginning, after awhile it was barely about that point. It went around other characters point of views, which got me confused at first until I got used to it.

As much as I’d like to mention all the characters, the only one that truly stood out was Eunice. She was the youngest of the cousins who fell in love with Daniel instantly but denied herself the ‘sin’ of thinking about him. This was mostly in her fathers favor, who was a clergyman who deliveries a sermon for everything even a household chore. I didn’t like him at all but he was a needed thorn in the rose bush. Nat and Bell were the ideal couple in the story and Daniels parents. Despite the fact that they were old, their love for each other always surfaced as they did everything together.

I didn’t have a hard time going through the book as I thought I would after the first hundred pages. The entire book kept me on my toes. There was so much happening that I simply couldn’t keep up. It was a mix of every calamity that befell London during the time of Napoleons escapades (so to speak).

Watching both Eunice and Daniel grow and fight through life’s battles was an added pleasure that kept me reading.

Overall, the book was written so smoothly (though my kindle killed the formatting a bit) that you can’t help but notice the perfect flow of events from one chapter to the other.  It was the perfect combination of mild-romance, calamities, self-growth and independence rolled into one book. I felt like I was reading a classic, or a soon to be one. A unputdownable book from Prue Phillipson. 

 Thank you Knox Robinson Publishing for the review copy. 

Quick Review: The Vampire Narcise (The Regency Draculia #3) by Colleen Gleason

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Title: The Vampire Narcise (The Regency Draculia #3)
Author: Colleen Gleason
Started: 18/2/12
Finished: 26/2/12
Publisher: Mira
Medium: Paperback
Genre: Historical Romance / Paranormal Romance
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Goodreads Synopsis:

Regency England stands defiant against Napoleon.

But battles among men mean little to those who live forever – especially when the Dracule are waging their own war.

Skilled in the seduction of men, both mortal and immortal, Narcise Moldavi is the greatest weapon in her twisted brother's war among the Dracule. Until she falls for Giordan Cale.

Her first searing encounter with Giordan brands them with a passionate love. But Giordan's vow to help Narcise escape her brother's rule is followed by a betrayal more agonizing than sunlight.

Wounded but determined, Narcise ensnares vampire hunter Chas Woodmore in her quest for revenge and to reclaim her life. He wants her, worships her, will kill for her. And the Dracule never forget a wrong – nor do they forgive.

I was hesitant to read this third installment of the Regency Draculia, particularly because of Narcise and Chas. I never liked them in the first two books and when I started this one, I just ended up disliking them both. What made up for my dislike of the two characters was Giordan Cale and his hotness. Even at the end of the book, I still disliked Narcise, and HATED Chas. Out of all the Woodmores Chas was my least favorite.

On the bright side, the plot was good, the writing was fabulous and Giordan Cale is hot. Haha. I didn't have much expectations for this one so I wasn't disappointed. It was what I thought it was. Other than that, the book was okay. Nothing I enjoyed but kept me occupied.

 

Review: With this Kiss by Victoria Lynne

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Title: With this Kiss by Victoria Lynne
Author: Victoria Lynne
Started: 18/2/12
Finished: 21/2/12
Medium: eBook (from Sizzling PR)
Genre: Historical Romance
Buy: Amazon /  Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Synopsis:

Beauty and the beast--they were the scandal of the ton....

All eyes feasted on the beautiful flame-haired gambler in London's most infamous club. But Julia Prentisse was interested only in the rake-turned-recluse whom they now called "The Beast." She lured him out of the crowded club to a deserted warehouse, where she made her scandalous offer: If he married her and protected her from her uncle, she would help him catch the arsonist who had ruined his life.

An act of heroism had left Morgan burned, scarred for life. But Julia's bold gaze lit other fires he had long suppressed. And now this glorious stranger was his bride. But when he tried to claim his husbandly rights, she demanded three months grace--three months to know a stranger's mind, to touch a stranger's soul, to go where no woman had ever gone before. Into his lonely heart . . .

‘With this Kiss’ is based on the basic concept of Beauty and the Beast. And along with it came a charming, rich, hateful, beast of a man called Morgan and a winding, witty and headstrong beauty with fury colored hair called Julia. The story began with a tragedy, flowed along in zigzags of realistically written calamities together with the unpredictable end.

It was written beautifully, plotted perfectly and kept up at the right pace with amazing 1800’s dialogue that reminds a reader of Mr. Darcy and Elisabeth or Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre. A side from that, it held its own mysteriousness as they (Julia and Morgan) make an arrangement that lands them at THE aisle fighting to find who is behind London’s Fires that claimed many lives even people close to them.

I adored how “push and pull” Morgan and Julia’s relationship was and the fact that Morgan has never met anyone like Julia (go figure) in his dreadful life as a ‘rake’, a man who finds it easy to find a woman every now and then (this was before the fire that scarred him).

With this Kiss was a straight up unputdownable book. It's the right arrangement of delicious mystery, steamy moments and heart-lurching moments that's an instant five star book that’ll simply quench a historical romance junkie thirst to read more of the genre.

 

Quick Review: The Vampire Dimitri (Regency Dracule #2) by Colleen Gleason

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Title: The Vampire Dimitri (The Regency Draculia #2)
Author: Colleen Gleason
Started: 9/2/12
Finished: 11/2/12
Publisher: Mira
Medium: Paperback
Genre: Historical Romance / Paranormal Romance
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Goodreads Synopsis:


Dimitri, also known as the Earl of Corvindale, should be delighted that the headstrong Maia Woodmore is getting married. His mortal ward and houseguest has annoyed--and bewitched--the Dracule nobleman too long, and denying his animal cravings grows more excruciating by the day.
Miss Woodmore's family has a rather...complicated history with the immortals and she herself possesses a keen sensibility far beyond mere women's intuition. Marriage will give her safety, respectability and everything else a proper young lady could wish for. Everything, that is, except passion.
In the looming battle between Dracule factions, all pretenses will shatter as Maia and Dimitri come together in an unholy union of danger, desperation and fiercest desire.

This is the first book I've ever read that actually started out like the first book but in someone else's point of view. Its safe to say that anyone can read any part of the series without reading the first few books. 

I loved this better than Vampire Voss. I think it was the concept of the Beauty and the Beast that made it all the more intriguing. I really love all the love and hate relationship. Its so fun to read! Plus, Dimitri is waaaaay hotter than Voss. And Maia is waaaay better than Angelica. Haha, that didn't make much sense. 

Okay, so I kind of skipped some parts in this one because there was repeated conversations and events that was in the first book. That bit kind of put me off a bit. But when I continued reading on, I just couldn't stop reading. 

Another 5 stars to Colleen. I'm hesitant on reading Narcise. Mainly because I didn't like her much in the first two books. She just seems so "evil in disguise". BUT I'm looking forward to reading Colleens other work. 

Review: The Vampire Voss (The Regency Draculia #1) by Colleen Gleason

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Title: The Vampire Voss (The Regency Draculia #1)
Author: Colleen Gleason
Started: 6/2/12
Finished: 8/2/12
Publisher: Mira
Medium: Paperback
Genre: Historical Romance / Paranormal Romance
Buy: Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Synopsis:


Regency London – a dizzying whirl of balls and young ladies pursued by charming men.

But the Woodmore sisters are hunted by a more sinister breed: Lucifer's own.

Voss, also known as Viscount Dewhurst, relishes the sensual pleasures immortality affords. A member the Dracule – a cabal of powerful, secretive noblemen marked with a talisman that reveals their bartered souls – the mercenary Voss has remained carefully neutral ... until Angelica.

Angelica Woodmore possess the Sight, an ability invaluable to both sides of a looming war among the Dracule. Her very scent envelops Voss in a scarlet fog of hunger – for her body and her blood. But he is utterly unprepared for the new desire that overcomes him – to protect her.

Now Voss must battle his very nature to be with Angelica ... but this vampire never backs down from a fight.

Its been about almost more than a year since I've read a full on historical romance/regency book. And reading this was extremely refreshing. As a lover of all things Austen and Bronte this was almost of its like but with its own originality. Of course, this was more simple in terms of descriptions and dialogue. But all together great!

Okay fine, vampires are overrated. But come on! We've all contributed to its "overratedness" and you can't deny it at all. In this first installment in the Regency Draculia series, Vampire Voss likes playing games and sneaking around observing his peers and learning about their dirtiest and darkest secrets, which he uses against them. In all his years as a vampire, he has gained more enemies than friends. Throughout the entire book he had probably only one friend, who eventually turns on him somewhere. That wasn't a spoiler!

As handsome, dark and alluring Voss may be, he has met his "match" in the opposite gender. Angelica is stern, not all that kick-ass but someone you can realisticly connect with. I loved how her demeanor was portrayed and enjoyed her urge to go against society's morals.

As much as I liked the characters, the dialogue was even better, especially when everything was written so smoothly. The book was filled with many elements. My favorite being the historical bit and maybe the splash of paranormal here and there.

The plot had a wonderful introduction, peak and everything in between. It really does keep you reading and may seem a little rushed in places but that usually can't be helped.

Colleen Gleason has written an excellent book about duty, propriety and unconditional love. Along with her wonderfully written dialogue and sprinkles of humor, she almost had it perfectly. Definitely a good read for the historical lovers.