Review: THE SINS OF VISCOUNT SUTHERLAND by Samantha James

The Lords of Sheffield Square #1

Historical Romance (Regency)
Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins

Claire Ashcroft is out for revenge. She plans to destroy the man who ruined her family. Yet when she meets the dastardly Viscount, she has to remind herself of her goal.

Grayson Sutherland is enchanted by the lovely widow who is trying to entice him. There is no room in his life for emotional attachment but that doesn't mean he must give up is his pleasure, and he's more than willing to share it with her.

Will Claire succeed in ruining the man who changed her life?

Grayson almost lost himself to a past sorrow, what will it take to make him chance it and reopen his heart?

*****

While I enjoy Samantha James's writing, I did not enjoy Claire and Grayson as a couple. I personally though that Claire's initial plan of revenge was stupid and melodramatic. She had good reason for wanting to ruin Grayson, but really, the whole trope of “I'll make him fall in love with me, and then laugh in his sorry face when I turn him down.” is just so silly. Especially considering the circumstances. If he'd ruined a friend or family member maybe that would have worked for me. But he supposedly murdered her brother, for that I would have expected her to be out for blood or to ruin him financially. I don't know.


All Claire and Grayson seemed to do was fight. Their enjoyable times together were few and far between the pages. I don't mind a few misunderstandings between couples, especially when they are first dipping into a relationship. But after awhile it just gets old. I understand that they both had some pretty hefty issues between them. The deck was stacked against them for finding happiness. I want to see more of them learning and trying to make their relationship work. I don't need love at first sight, but I want to feel like there is a believable future between them, and unfortunately I just wasn't feeling it. And don't get me wrong, I don't mind a good argument even after they've been together for awhile—you can't get along and agree with anyone all the time, but Claire and Grayson went beyond that. I didn't finish this book feeling that they would be happy with each other.

Rating: 3

Review: JACE by Sarah McCarty

Jace (Shadow Wranglers)JaceJaceJace (Shadow Wranglers)

The Shadow Wranglers #3

Paranormal (Vampire/Werewolves)

Berkley Sensation

377 Pages

Their love was forbidden, vampires and werewolves just don't mix. But when Miri disappeared from Jace Johnson's life, nothing could keep him from finding her.

Rescuing her from a year of imprisonment in the hell of a Sanctuary stronghold, he discovers that the woman he loves has suffered unspeakable pain, not only the physical and mental pain of torture, but also the pain of having her child ripped from her arms, a child Jace didn't know he fathered. Nothing will stop them from finding their daughter.

Can they find their baby girl and start anew? Can Miri overcome her pain and learn to trust Jace again?

*****

Okay, deep breath here, as I try to put my thoughts of this book into perspective. There was so much going on that I kept finding myself being distracted by the book itself. I know that probably doesn't make much sense, but with each new development in the story I would catch myself trying to put everything in order and attempt to bring it together. I think that was my biggest problem with this book, there was just too much going on, and by the end there were a few things that were left unresolved that had me completely dissatisfied. I could see it was leading to set up the next book, but that didn't make me feel any better.



I liked Jace, even though his over-protectiveness and major Alpha attitude was a bit overdone at times, but he wasn't a complete ass about it, I could feel his tenderness and caring coming through. Miri had me a bit more on a yo-yo string as she would waiver from feelings back and forth. Her refusal to listen to reason was very irritating. I can understand that she wanted to be part of the action in saving her daughter, but sometimes her actions were just plain stupid. I know that she lived through hell, and needed time to heal, but when she put herself and others in danger, I just got mad at her.



Something else that also irked me was that I felt there was too much time spent reintegrating Miri into life, first at the Johnson ranch and then into the pack, were the emphasis changed onto Jace being accepted as the pack leader, and not enough time was spent searching for Faith, or let me rephrase that, it SEEMED not enough time was spent searching for her, though apparently it was being done in the background. I wish that the story had been turned around, with the hot and heavy action of Jace, Miri, his brothers and friends striving to find Faith, and once that was accomplished to THEN focus the story on Miri and Jace's emotional reconnection and their family connections. I think that would have made the story work better for me. Though I can understand where Ms. McCarty was going when she wrote her book the way she did, there were some added characters and dimensions that kept the book going as it was, but I still feel that if the structure had been altered with Faith getting more attention it would have been a much greater reading experience (for me).

Rating: 3

Review: SCANDAL OF THE YEAR by Olivia Drake

Heiress in London #3

Historical Romance (Regency)

St. Martins Press

352 pages

Release: March 2011

Blythe Compton knows that if she can marry a duke she will guarantee her parents a strong social position. But when she meets the family's dashing new servant, she can't seem to remember why she ever wanted to marry so high.

 

James Ryding is determined to discover whether or not he's been robbed of his inheritance. Integrating himself into the Compton household as a servant, he sets out to prove that Blythe's parents are frauds. But what he doesn't count on is the deep feelings he acquires for her.

*****

I found it difficult to dredge up any passion for SCANDAL OF THE YEAR. The whole plot line just seemed to fall flat and neither James nor Blythe appealed to me. James was very arrogant and sure of himself, I know, so are most romance novel hero's, but he was supposed to be acting like a servant. I just never felt a connection with him, nor with Blythe, who I found to be a twit. She was an aspiring social climber, whose only real thought was that if she could marry well in the British aristocracy, she would ensure her parents a high place in society. I felt that the characters really lacked any depth, coming off as one dimensional.

The whole mystery of whether or not the Compton's were impostors wasn't even that interesting. Of course I wanted to find out, but it just seemed that most of the investigating took place off-scene. I was surprised that James wasn't more involved in the actually searching. Sure there were a few moments where he searched some spots, but nothing intense. All in all this was a very mediocre read for me.

Rating 3/5

Author's Website

Review: SEDUCING THE GOVERNESS by Margo Maguire

Historical Romance (Regency)
Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins
384 Pages

Release: February 22, 2011

The death of her mother reveals many things to Mercy Franklin. First, her parents aren't who she thought they were. Second, that she must now obtain a job to survive. Finding a position as a governess seems to be the answer to her prayers.

Nash, the new Earl of Ashby is in his current position due to the bad luck that seems to plague his family with misfortune. As he tries to correct the shambles he finds himself in, he is enchanted by his niece's lovely governess.

As his niece blossoms under the care of her new governess, Nash finds himself admiring Mercy for more than her nurturing skills. But what kind of future can a governess and Earl hold together? Will they let temptation get the best of them?

*****

SEDUCING THE GOVERNESS is one those books that, while I enjoyed it, there was just something that stopped me from loving it. I was interested in Mercy and Nash's developing romance, but I never felt a strong emotional connection that kept me engaged. I found myself more interested in finding the truth behind Nash's brothers' deaths, and frustrated that it took him so long to make the necessary links.


Also, I wanted to see more of Captain Gavin Briggs, he's one of those characters that even though he had a small role in the story, he just kept drawing my attention. I really hope he is the hero in Christina's story, especially since I was so drawn to him. Because of that I can guarantee I will be picking up Margo Maguire's next book.

Rating: 3/ 5

 

Author's Website

Purchase: Nook / Books On Board / Kindle