Mass Market
-- Publishers Weekly, 3/19/2007
Boxed and starred reviews indicate books of outstanding quality.
Boxed, unstarred reviews indicate books of special interest.
Not Quite a Lady
Loretta Chase. Avon, $6.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-06-123123-0
In her latest Regency romance, Chase deftly weaves a tale of passion, sacrifice and growth with humor and charm to spare. Handsome, charming and an intellectual of the first order, Darius Carsington, fifth son of the earl of Hargate, spends his life in two pursuits: "(1) studying animal behavior, especially breeding and mating behavior, and (2) devoting his leisure hours to emulating this behavior"—with women. But his demanding father finds Darius's interests worthless and gives him a choice: either marry or go to work renovating his father's recently acquired countryside estate. Darius chooses the latter, making him neighbors with Lady Charlotte Hayward, a beautiful woman who's vowed never to marry, and the young pair's clumsy, comical first meeting does nothing to diminish the immediate chemistry between them. Behind her vow, though, Charlotte hides a shameful 10-year-old secret that she's loathe to reveal—and which a marriage would surely uncover—but nonetheless finds herself falling hard for Darius. Meanwhile, Darius is struggling to maintain his longstanding belief that there's no such thing as love. Amid all the reluctance, trysts and unexpected devotion, a hidden rival steps up to capture Charlotte and threaten to expose her. Chase knows what her fans want—strong characters, a swift pace and plenty of heated encounters—and once again she delivers, with considerable wit. (May)
The Secret to SeductionJulie Anne Long. Warner, $6.99 (432p) ISBN 978-0-446-61688-1
Sabrina Fairleigh, adopted daughter of the vicar of Tinbury, "counts herself fortunate to be possessed of an even temperament" and imagines it must be a terrible inconvenience, and quite uncomfortable, to be at the mercy of one's passions. Not surprisingly, these views change when she meets the Libertine, otherwise known as Rhys Gillray, earl of Rawden, in this amusing Regency romance. Rhys, author of a seductive poetry volume that has both scandalized and enthralled the women of the ton, has grown bored of debauchery and decides that de-thawing the chilly Sabrina is the perfect project to keep his mind occupied and his skills sharp. As he gradually breaks down Sabrina's composure with seductive innuendo and impassioned bickering, drama unfolds elsewhere: a prisoner finally faces trial for the 17-year-old murder of a revered politician. Unbeknownst to Sabrina, the murdered man holds the key to reuniting her long-lost family. Though a bit wordy, Long's sharp leads keep this witty tale of love, passion, family and betrayal moving nicely. (May)
When I Fall in LoveLynn Kurland. Jove, $7.99 (464p) ISBN 978-0-515-14296-9
In the newest from veteran romance novelist Kurland (Star of the Morning), Manhattan concert violinist Jennifer McKinnon fears that she will never find a decent man—a tough enough prospect even without the "otherworldly things" in her family tree. Namely, her mother's side of the family has a history of marrying people from outside their own time period, and her ghostly relatives have conspired to get Jennifer married off to the perfect knight: Nicholas de Piaget, of the 13th century. After Jennifer is hurled back into his world by means of a time gate, she falls instantly in love with the handsome knight. Though the feeling is mutual, Nicholas is tormented by her desperation to find a way back to the future. Though the setup is promising, Kurland fails to deliver any meaningful conflict. The leads never seem to be in any real danger of losing each other, as nearly every character works to get them together and keep them that way. Moreover, the exceedingly chaste romance—with just a few passionate kisses between the leads—will leave many romance fans frustrated. (May)
NightsongCarolyn Davidson. HQN, $6.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-373-77285-8
Davidson's western historical, about a hunted man and the half-Indian with whom he takes refuge, is a mixed bag. Davidson's lyrical, almost ethereal prose never quite fits the harsh western setting of 1888, in which racism has isolated Debra Nightsong from both her tribe and the world of white men. Tending to the Dakota territory farm where she lives alone, Debra is surprised one evening to find an armed man in her house: Ethan Tyler, a man on the run for reasons he won't reveal. Though he imposes himself on her household—making Debra a virtual prisoner—he proves charming, good-hearted and a valuable worker. Davidson is at her best chronicling the day-to-day of farm living, and her prominent supporting characters—including Debra's half-brother and the bounty hunter pursuing Ethan—give the story extra dimension. Unfortunately, those characters show little complexity, functioning more like saints than citizens of the Wild West. Frustrating matters further, Debra and Ethan are separated for a full third of the book, carrying on an epistolary romance that barely satisfies the characters, much less the reader. Though Ethan's everyman quality and the genuine caring he and Debra share hold promise, Davidson's muted storytelling and odd choices result in a lackluster tale. (May)
