In the Bookcase A Literary Christmas Challenge 2017 Part I

Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan--Women's Fiction

The description on the back of the book is so wrong and misleading! Here's the best summary I can give without spoilers. Christmas is coming to Mount Polbearne and business is booming for Polly's bakery. She's been so busy she hasn't had a chance to connect with Kerensa in awhile. Polly and Huckle are looking forward to a quiet Christmas together snuggled up under the covers, drinking hot chocolate and watching movies (with Neil of course). The village has other ideas. Not only is Polly expected to donate her baked goods to the village fair on top of regular holiday baking, Ruben wants Polly to cater his Christmas party. Cater for a bunch of demanding rich people? Um no! Then Polly learns some things that make her reconsider the offer while Huckle is urging her to step back, relax, take some time to work on their relationship-perhaps get married and/or start a family. Ghosts from Polly's past creep up until she's forced to confront her demons head on.

Jenny Colgan has a formula and if you like her formula, you'll enjoy this book. As with the others in the series, I had a problem with the relationship drama. I could have done without all that. I was expected a nice holiday story about a village coming together in a storm with some cute Puffin drama thrown in for good measure. This story is set at Christmas and has a theme of forgiveness but lacks Christmas charm. The drama went on longer than necessary and involves marital infidelity, pregnancy and Polly's past. I was interested in Polly's history and her parents' story but thought she was awful to Huckle, who is the world's best boyfriend. There isn't enough Neil in the story to please me. His eeps and antics are what makes this series my favorite of all Colgan's books.

Polly is super annoying in this book. She's over analytical, takes too much on herself and isn't a good friend and girlfriend. She gets guilted into being a good friend through something that is in no way her fault. Kerensa has always annoyed me and here she reminds me too much of Bridget Jones. Ruben is more than a putz. He's a self-centered, rich, selfish jerk and I don't see why everyone loves him so much. Huckle is the best character in this book. I love him! He's the sweetest and the best boyfriend to Polly.

New characters include Ruben's family who are all just awful. Polly's mom plays a big role too. I felt bad for her. She seems to have depression and anxiety that have held her back and given Polly a lot of issues.

It was nice to catch up with the gang and see what is happening in the village but this isn't my favorite of Colgan's books or even the series.

What I Read in December 2016 Part II. . .

What I Read in December 2016 Part II. . .


The Boy Is Back by Meg Cabot--Austenesque Women's Fiction

Becky Flowers owns a successful senior relocation business in her hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. She enjoys helping seniors transition to a new life and wine tastings at her boyfriend Graham's wine and cheese bar. When she learns that local bigwig Judge Stewart and his wife have been arrested for trying to defraud a local casual eatery, she believes she can help. The Stewarts were very kind to her in the past and she wants to repay that kindness, certain this is all a misunderstanding. However, the Stewarts children know things have gotten out of hand and they need Becky's help. Her sister Nicole urges her NOT to take the job; the Stewarts sound like hoarders and the job may bring back Becky's high school boyfriend, Reed Stewart, whom she hasn't seen or heard from in 10 years. Becky is sure she can maintain a professional working relationship if Reed returns. Riiight.... Reed Stewart, pro golfer and ladies man, hasn't spoken to his parents since prom night 10 years earlier. He's happy to send a check to help them if that's what his siblings want, but his sister-in-law Carly has other ideas. She wants Reed back in town and back in Becky's life. Reed's uncle believes he has unresolved issues and should return to his hometown. Reed isn't sure what he wants, but if he returns, it will be to help his parents only- right?!

Meg Cabot does Persuasion *SQUEAL*! I'm sure all of you know Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen novel and dear Jane one of my favorite writers. Meg Cabot is my favorite contemporary women's fiction author ("chick-lit") and the marriage of the two is the perfect combination. I loved the previous "Boy" books, especially Every Boy's Got One so of course I had to read this one. The book had me with the epigraph from Persuasion.

The texting/chatting/e-mail format is a little weird. She doesn't use Twitter's limit on characters though so the messages are long enough to get in plot and dialogue. The discussions are lively and funny, especially Marshall's attempts at using bad language which autocorrect overrides. The plot develops nicely despite the limitations of the format. The one message format I didn't care for were the long-winded reviews of items purchased. They didn't really add anything to the story and neither did the Stewart grandkids' antics, though they did add to the humor, which Meg Cabot always does well.

Another thing Meg Cabot always does well is create memorable and quirky characters. At first I didn't like Reed. He seemed like a "douche" as the modern Bennet sisters in the "Lizzie Bennet Diaries" would say, but then I fell madly in love with him for the same reason Becky did. He reads Jane Austen! He quotes from Jane Austen's novels! Then when Becky reveals what actually happened on prom night, it made me love him even more. I ended up with a big cheesy grin on my face and swooning with delight as I finished the book. Though there is one moment where he sounded like Darcy in the first proposal scene but that was quickly cleared up.

Becky isn't quite as memorable as Reed. She's a girl-next-door type character who is content to live in her small town and date a boring guy she isn't compatible with. I admire her for taking over her late father's business and running it successful with her mother and sister. She handles the Stewarts very well and even the junior members of the family respond to her. I guess she's supposed to be a modern Anne Eliot, but she has a little more spunk and of course, a modern life where she has choices and freedoms Anne doesn't have. I like the relationship between Becky and Reed. I wasn't sure the limitations of the format would be enough to develop the love story, but it works. The multi-character point-of-view helps develop the story instead of just getting Becky and Reed's sides of the story.

The secondary characters are so much fun! I loved the Stewarts. At first I thought they would be the usual rich, snobby people found in the previous Boy books and Reed would be the black sheep, but this story breaks from the mold. The Judge and his wife are entirely likable with all their quirks and faults. They're very kind and obviously love their family and their community. Their house and obsessions were cringe-worthy but it could happen to me or anyone who collects anything, or anyone who uses ebay. It seems at first like Carly would not be likable but I enjoyed her very much. She keeps her family in line while still allowing their natural unique qualities to shine. She loves her family and wants them all to be happy, especially Reed. She is NOT Mary Musgrove. She's more like Sophia Croft but all her own person. Her husband is a bit of an idiot, but he's funny. Their daughter Bailey is hysterical but not necessary to the plot. Trimble is the only Stewart I didn't like and she was written as unlikable. Her siblings can't stand her and neither can I. Her kids are awful but Ty has some good insight into the family dynamics.

Becky's family is also quirky. Her mother, Beverly, is a hippie-like woman trying to fight injustice. I admire her fight, I question her methods! Nicole is a bit sarcastic, feisty and protective of her sister. She always tells it like it is. She's the younger sister but sometimes acts like an older sister to Becky. Becky's best friend Leanne doesn't add anything to the story except as a confidant to Becky.

I'm marking the book clean and technically it is kisses only but there is some suggestive dialogue and references to sex.

This story is best appreciated by Janeites, especially Persuasion fans. I don't know if people who don't know Jane Austen's original work will enjoy this one. They might like it but probably not as much as #TeamWentworth would!


The Good Master by Kate Seredy--Middle Grades Historical Fiction

Jonsi, a boy from the Hungarian Plains, is unimpressed when his cousin Kate comes to stay from the city. She's pale and skinny and insults his clothing! Kate's father says she has come to recover from the measles, but the truth is, Kate is dreadfully spoiled and headstrong. Her father can not control her and is hoping is brother will be able to guide Kate with a firm, but loving hand. As weeks turn into months, the cousins have many adventures together and Jonsi may decide that having a girl for a cousin isn't so bad after all.

This is a charming book. It is the Hungarian version of Little House on the Prairie! The ranch is presented as a healthy, good place to grow up. The cousins have many fun adventures but at the same time, the harsh realities of life on the plains are described in detail. Instead of Pa's fiddle and country dances, we have folk tales, gypsy music, and folk dancing. I liked the adventures of Kate and Jonsi and the folk tales were interesting. The folk tales give a better look at Hungarian culture and beliefs than the main narrative but they are very weird. I loved all the period details about life on a pre-industrial ranch, especially the brief mention of preparing and spinning flax. Mother and Kate must be very strong! The cover image is gorgeous. It reminded me of the Moravian Easter egg designs in , which makes sense. I wasn't crazy about the interior illustrations. The author illustrated the book herself and chose a stylish, sleek, modern style of illustrating her book. The style was not cozy or friendly.

At first I found Kate too headstrong and crazy but I grew to like her. If you like Pippi Longstocking, Anne Shirley and Laura Ingalls, you'll like Kate too. Jonsi isn't as memorable as Kate. He is a little goody goody at first but he and Kate bring out the best (and sometimes worst) in each other.

What I Read in August 2016 Part III . . .

What I Read in August 2016 Part III . . .

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan--Women's Fiction

Two years after moving to Mount Polbearne, things are finally going well for Polly. She and Huckle (and of course, Neil) have moved into the lighthouse (so it needs major work, it's still charming and it's hers!), she's managing the two bakeries and business is booming since Mrs. Manse retired. Then, in one fell swoop, everything that could go horribly wrong does! Tarnie's widow Selina returns and befriends Polly. Polly wants to be friends but how can she with the terrible secret hanging over her head? Hucke's brother, Dubose, arrives from America, shirking his duties, which will have repercussions for Huckle. Then, Mrs. Manse dies suddenly, leaving nothing to Polly. Her sister Janet, the executor, sends her "businessman" son Malcolm to manage the bakeries. Malcolm can't tell the difference between fine, hand-crafted artisan bread and plastic-wrapped sandwich loaves and furthermore, he doesn't care! He's all about the bottom line and wants to turn Polly's beloved bakery into a factory. If that weren't bad enough, Patrick, the vet, is on Polly's case to release Neil into the wild. When tragedy happens, Polly realizes it's time to let go. How can she possibly move on after this series of devastating blows?

Jenny Colgan's books are "chick lit" done right. There's small town charm, humor, pathos and a sweet romance. (Anything more than kissing is implied or happens off page with brief mentions of characters having sex ). I really enjoyed revisiting Mount Polbearne and the characters. The setting is amazing and being a New Englander, the setting wasn't entirely exotic but I loved the causeway and the lighthouse and the homey feeling of Mount Polbearne. It reminded me a bit of how Cape Cod must have been before the canal and the Kennedys. What stands out about the town is again, when something terrible happens, they all band together. Even Polly and Hucke are now considered locals and form part of the community. Neil, the puffin, is like a little ambassador for the village. The descriptions are so rich and detailed I can feel like I'm right there.

The plot kept me engaged but at the same time annoyed me. I like a good happily ever after and I was a bit nervous to read this one but the lure of baked goods drew me in. I loved watching Polly bake. The author does an amazing job of filling Polly with passion and enthusiasm for baking. Polly has finally branched out a bit into pastries, which is good because I actually don't like artisan bread and DO prefer "plastic" sandwich bread (Wonder Bread-yummm!). Though Polly's true passion is for bread. This story is a little less happily ever after and more realistic than I would have preferred for the characters but at the same time, it did keep me reading. I wondered how Polly would overcome all those obstacles and what would happen. The ending is heartwarming and just lovely. It may bring tears to the eyes of some readers.

Neil is hands down my favorite character. I love charming animal companions and he's no exception. While I understand and agree with Patrick, it is tough to think about letting Neil go. He's such an integral part of the town and he's Polly and Huckle's child. What happens to him in this novel will have any animal lover gasping in shock and rooting against the odds. The author's note says Neil has a Twitter account but I've not looked at it yet.

I really wanted to like Polly because I did like her in the first book. However, I just really found her annoying. She was so whiny and never stood up for herself. I would have lost my temper more than once. I understand how she feels, failing once, and ashamed of failure, anxious to not fail again. I related to her determination to be independent but I felt she was being stupid at times. I would have made difference choices but that's OK because it's part of her character development. Huckle kind of annoyed me too. While Polly was all "woe is me", at least he was proactive in changing his life, though I felt he wasn't quite supportive enough of Polly. Huckle really felt bad for Polly and all she was going through but he never really voiced his feelings out loud. It was too hard. They didn't really communicate well about anything.

I wasn't crazy about Selina at first either. I did feel sorry she lost her husband but I think she lost him long before he died. She's trying to expel her demons the wrong way. Her character growth is good. She's trying to come to terms with Tarnie's death. I kept wondering how she would react to Polly's secret and how she would find out. I wasn't a big fan of how that played out.

I feel as Polly did towards Malcolm, however, Polly didn't handle things well with him. I felt a tiny bit sorry for him, especially at the end. Only a tiny bit though.

As I'm writing this, I am about to begin another sentence about another character who annoyed me so I'll just say the supporting characters were not my favorite but Kerensa and Reuben add some comic relief.

This book is meant to stand alone but I think readers should read the two books in order and I hope we get to catch up with Polly, Huckle and Mount Polbearne again.


Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen--Historical Cozy Mystery

As Georgie and Darcy are about to elope to Greta Green (so Darcy can make an honest woman of her when they finally have some alone time), they run into some major obstacles. First, a major snowstorm bars their way and then Darcy reads some shocking news in the paper : his father, Lord Kilhenny is accused of murdering the American who purchased his estate. Darcy sends Georgie back to Kensington and heads off to Ireland to be with his father. When he feels that it is inevitable his father will be hanged, he tries to push Georgie away so she won’t be tainted by scandal. Fortunately, Georgie is made of sterner stuff and she barges in on her fiancé’s family troubles. It’s a good thing because two minds are better than one when it comes to solving crimes. Darcy, Georgie and their friend Princess Alexandra Zamanska soon get to work to clear Lord Kilhennys name.

The plot of this book is pretty good. It’s not great though. I figured out the American man’s secret pretty quickly though I did not know which of the suspects did it and why. There was a big surprise at the end I didn’t quite see coming. The mystery was left a little bit unfinished. It lacked some of that adrenaline rush or excitement that comes when Georgie investigates alone. I just loved the literary references to Pride and Prejudice, of course, Darcy’s namesake. There are others as well that made me smile. I’m not sure how I feel about Darcy’s actions at the end. I hope it all works out for them.
The real stand out of this book is the excellent character development. Georgie has really come into her own. I feared a star-crossed lovers plot but she is determined to be the heroine of her love story and lead her own life the way she wants. Queenie haters will be happy she is absent from most of the story. I missed her comic relief. She is also growing and changing like Georgie. Even Binky’s character is developing. Fig is still Fig though.

The new characters include Darcy’s father, Lord Kilhenny, making an appearance at last. Darcy fears his father’s temper and crotchety nature will take a dislike to Georgie if they meet under these circumstances. He doesn’t know his father very well and it’s a shame. Zou Zou sizes him up right away and even Georgie know his bark is worse than his bite. His development was a bit much at the end. I’m not sure I buy that interesting development. I just loved batty Aunt Oona and Uncle Dooley. They’re classic British eccentric characters but also warm, welcoming and a lot of fun. The last new major character is Zou Zou, Princess Alexandra Zamanska. I didn’t really like her for the same reasons Georgie doesn’t. She’s the kind of person you want to hate but can’t because she chooses to ignore any negativity. The one other character in this book is Mr. Roach’s manservant. He seems weasely to me. Typical bad guy character but did he have it in him to kill his employer? Read the book to find out.

What I Read in July 2016 Part II. . .

What I Read in July 2016 Part I. . . 

Professor Love by Nikky Kaye--Women's Fiction (Contemporary Romance)

Warning This romance is not clean and is not at all PG. PG-13 would eve be pushing it a bit.

I received this free book in exchange for my honest opinion

so here it goes....

Sophy Hadden alias Violet Honeypot is a romance writer with writer's block. She needs some hot heroic inspiration and her current boyfriend just doesn't cut it in the romance department. He even has the nerve to unceremoniously dump her over the phone! When Max Wright shows up on her doorstep, she thinks he's the answer to her problem. However, Max is a cynical psychology professor writing about the effect romance novels have on women. Needless to say, he is not a fan- has never even read a romance novel and doesn't even believe in love! It's up to Sophy to teach him how to be the hero of every woman's dreams while he tries his hardest to knock the hopeless romantic out of her. When their worlds collide, sparks fly!

This book sounded cute from the description. The author had me at screwball comedy and Regency clothes. Sadly, this book didn't quite meet my expectations. There's not enough attention paid to romance. Sophy is all about teaching Max about romance but he's right about love and desire not equaling the same thing. He shows her exactly how tempting desire is but when the a-ha moment comes, it's too sudden and out of the blue.

Max is an arrogant jerk who only likes to listen to himself drone on and on and ogle Sophy. He deliberately sets out to seduce her to prove his point. I found that really creepy. I couldn't stand him at all.

I wasn't overly fond of Sophy either. She is a starry-eyed romantic who won't listen to anything but her own vision of what love and romance is. Sophy and Max should have sat down and watched Love Actually together. Then Sophy needs a ticket to Austenland and Max needs to meet up with the characters in From Notting Hill with Love... Actually.

There were some funny moments in the book, especially when Sophy dresses Max in Regency clothes. The wine and cheese party scene is pretty funny but not enough to bring the book up beyond a generous 2 stars (more like maybe 1 1/2). With a little more polishing and more focus on the characters and less focus on desire and lust, this story has potential to be a cute "chick lit" novel.


The Boy Is Back by Meg Cabot--Women's Fiction (Chick Lit)/Austenesque

Becky Flowers owns a successful senior relocation business in her hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. She enjoys helping seniors transition to a new life and wine tastings at her boyfriend Graham's wine and cheese bar. When she learns that local bigwig Judge Stewart and his wife have been arrested for trying to defraud a local casual eatery, she believes she can help. The Stewarts were very kind to her in the past and she wants to repay that kindness, certain this is all a misunderstanding. However, the Stewarts children know things have gotten out of hand and they need Becky's help. Her sister Nicole urges her NOT to take the job; the Stewarts sound like hoarders and the job may bring back Becky's high school boyfriend, Reed Stewart, whom she hasn't seen or heard from in 10 years. Becky is sure she can maintain a professional working relationship if Reed returns. Riiight.... Reed Stewart, pro golfer and ladies man, hasn't spoken to his parents since prom night 10 years earlier. He's happy to send a check to help them if that's what his siblings want, but his sister-in-law Carly has other ideas. She wants Reed back in town and back in Becky's life. Reed's uncle believes he has unresolved issues and should return to his hometown. Reed isn't sure what he wants, but if he returns, it will be to help his parents only- right?!

Meg Cabot does Persuasion *SQUEAL*! I'm sure all of you know Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen novel and dear Jane one of my favorite writers. Meg Cabot is my favorite contemporary women's fiction author ("chick-lit") and the marriage of the two is the perfect combination. I loved the previous "Boy" books, especially Every Boy's Got One so of course I had to read this one. The book had me with the epigraph from Persuasion.

The texting/chatting/e-mail format is a little weird. She doesn't use Twitter's limit on characters though so the messages are long enough to get in plot and dialogue. The discussions are lively and funny, especially Marshall's attempts at using bad language which autocorrect overrides. The plot develops nicely despite the limitations of the format. The one message format I didn't care for were the long-winded reviews of items purchased. They didn't really add anything to the story and neither did the Stewart grandkids' antics, though they did add to the humor, which Meg Cabot always does well.

Another thing Meg Cabot always does well is create memorable and quirky characters. At first I didn't like Reed. He seemed like a "douche" as the modern Bennet sisters in the "Lizzie Bennet Diaries" would say, but then I fell madly in love with him for the same reason Becky did. He reads Jane Austen! He quotes from Jane Austen's novels! Then when Becky reveals what actually happened on prom night, it made me love him even more. I ended up with a big cheesy grin on my face and swooning with delight as I finished the book. Though there is one moment where he sounded like Darcy in the first proposal scene but that was quickly cleared up.

Becky isn't quite as memorable as Reed. She's a girl-next-door type character who is content to live in her small town and date a boring guy she isn't compatible with. I admire her for taking over her late father's business and running it successful with her mother and sister. She handles the Stewarts very well and even the junior members of the family respond to her. I guess she's supposed to be a modern Anne Eliot, but she has a little more spunk and of course, a modern life where she has choices and freedoms Anne doesn't have. I like the relationship between Becky and Reed. I wasn't sure the limitations of the format would be enough to develop the love story, but it works. The multi-character point-of-view helps develop the story instead of just getting Becky and Reed's sides of the story.

The secondary characters are so much fun! I loved the Stewarts. At first I thought they would be the usual rich, snobby people found in the previous Boy books and Reed would be the black sheep, but this story breaks from the mold. The Judge and his wife are entirely likable with all their quirks and faults. They're very kind and obviously love their family and their community. Their house and obsessions were cringe-worthy but it could happen to me or anyone who collects anything, or anyone who uses ebay. It seems at first like Carly would not be likable but I enjoyed her very much. She keeps her family in line while still allowing their natural unique qualities to shine. She loves her family and wants them all to be happy, especially Reed. She is NOT Mary Musgrove. She's more like Sophia Croft but all her own person. Her husband is a bit of an idiot, but he's funny. Their daughter Bailey is hysterical but not necessary to the plot. Trimble is the only Stewart I didn't like and she was written as unlikable. Her siblings can't stand her and neither can I. Her kids are awful but Ty has some good insight into the family dynamics.

Becky's family is also quirky. Her mother, Beverly, is a hippie-like woman trying to fight injustice. I admire her fight, I question her methods! Nicole is a bit sarcastic, feisty and protective of her sister. She always tells it like it is. She's the younger sister but sometimes acts like an older sister to Becky. Becky's best friend Leanne doesn't add anything to the story except as a confidant to Becky.

I'm marking the book clean and technically it is kisses only but there is some suggestive dialogue and references to sex.

This story is best appreciated by Janeites, especially Persuasion fans. I don't know if people who don't know Jane Austen's original work will enjoy this one. They might like it but probably not as much as #TeamWentworth would!

What I Read in February 2016 Part II

What I Read in February 2016 Part II . . .

Declaring Spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel --women's fiction
 Emma Bailey has once again been the bridesmaid at a wedding - this one for her younger brother. Her nosy family members feel free to ask her about her love life and push her to marry and have a family. Her mother even sets her up on blind dates after Emma has already said no. She had her heart broken once and ins't ready to be hurt again. The only thing she can think of to stop her family in their tracks is to declare spinsterhood. Her best friend Brian thinks she's so brave and strong and is fully supportive. The only problem is, Emma has just realized her feelings for Brian. How can she be a spinster and have Brian in her life? The only thing to do is continue with their friendship.

I loved the concept of the story but it was very poorly executed. Emma only decides to declare spinsterhood as a reaction against her family's meddling. She makes a poor job of it though. Her epiphany comes way too soon and the rest of the story is filled with misunderstandings and more family meddling. Then there's the tired love-triangle plot and some random drama thrown in for good measure. Are there actually families like that out there? I can see Uncle Richard but her mother was so nosy and involved. A mother should want her child to be happy no matter what and stand by her decisions. Emma is an adult and a business owner for goodness sake. She's almost 30 which isn't that old. Brian's family is better but his mother has some weird methods for getting what she wants.

I disliked Emma very much. She's whiny and self-pitying. Instead of declaring spinsterhood because she's happy being single, she's constantly whining and complaining. She's a successful businesswoman and should have the confidence to stand on her own but she doesn't. She's a poor judge of character. She poo-poohs self-defense and goes for a gun instead but self-defense may have been helpful for a moment before she found her gun. She was sometimes cruel to Brian. The one thing I did like about her is that she's strong in her resolve not to sleep with a guy she isn't sure she's making a commitment with.

I found Brian a little creepy. The only character I really liked was Kath. She's strong, confident, loyal, and fun. 

Hopeless romantics may not see this book in the same light I did. Spinsters beware and do not read this book. Also, who uses the word spinster anymore?

This book has a mild Christian element. Emma is a preacher's kid and going to church is a big part of her life but this doesn't appear to be a specifically Christian novel.

This isn't a squeaky clean read but it is clean. There is some sensuality in the story. 

Hannah 

The Eligible Miss Elliott by Victoria Hinshaw --Regency Romance

Miss Rosalind Elliott enjoys the quiet life in Bath with her grandmother. An orphan and an heiress, Rosalind has no interest in the fortune hunting men who court her. While accompanying her grandmother and her grandmother's pet spaniels to the portraitist, her life is turned upside down when she encounters Captain Philip Caldwell, late of his Majesty's navy and her childhood playmate and tormentor. Rosalind's grandmother and Philip's great-aunt Isiline used to be the best of friends until a bitter feud tore them apart. Rosalind's grandmother forbids her from speaking to Philip, who has a rakish reputation. When Philip helps rescue one of the pups, Rosalind takes matters into her own hands and soon the two are conspiring to get their elderly relatives to make up, but they must meet in secret. Rosalind can't wait to see Philip again. He makes her heart flutter. Philip agrees to meet Rosalind again and again, but is he really meeting for the sake of his relative or does he want to see Rosalind in her own right? Rosalind is warned away from Philip due to his reputation and presumed lack of fortune. Is he just another fortune hunter or should Rosalind put her trust in him?

Yawn. This is one of the most boring Regency romances I've ever read. There's not much plot here. Rosalind and Philip meet in secret for a few moments, they are physically attracted to one another and work to get their elderly relatives to make up. The big misunderstanding isn't so big and there's another complication where the hero decides to fall on his sword (metaphorically) for the heroine. The feud between the old ladies is wrapped up too quickly and the rest of the book is devoted to Rosalind and her feelings for Philip. It ends very abruptly and I was expecting more. The dogs were cute and livened up every scene they were in. I liked the Bath setting and this book shows why Jane Austen hated the city so much. It was full of sick, elderly people gossiping about ancient scandals and pretentious social climbers.

Rosalind is an OK heroine. She's pretty much perfect. She's rich, beautiful and kind to old people, children and animals, which is why Philip loves her apparently. He is a good looking, alpha male with a sense of humor, a sense of honor and is kind to old people and animals. This is why Rosalind loves him and trusts him. Philip is probably supposed to be a Hereresque hero like Miles in Black Sheep or Damarel in Venetia but his story is not that developed. He was the youngest son, got a reputation, etc. etc. and decided he didn't care what people thought of him. Rosalind decides she doesn't care what others think either and she trusts Philip. They're just SO BORING together.

There wasn't enough substance in this mediocre novel for me. I'm sorry I made the library waste money buying it.

What I Read in April 2015 Part IV

What I Read in April 2015 Part IV ...

Mrs. Jeffries and the One Who Got Away by Emily Brightwell -- Victorian Mystery

Inspector Witherspoon is surprised to be called to another district for a consultation. When he arrives at Highgate Cemetery to see the murder victim he is shocked to discover they had crossed paths before. The victim claiming to be Mrs. Robinson, a respectable boarding house owner, is actually Edith Durant, a clever and devious murderer and the one who got away. Mrs. Jeffries and friends are faced with a moral dilemma: do they hunt for the killer or do they let personal feelings get in the way?

I really liked the idea of this novel. It bugged me that there were loose ends to be tied up. They were all tied up at the end. I also liked the ethical dilemma the characters faced. The book has a slight Christian bent so of course Inspector Witherspoon and Mrs. Jeffries decide to do the right thing. I didn't guess who the murderer was until pretty late in the book. I was surprised no one had thought of it but then again I didn't remember all the fine details of the characters' back stories and Mrs. Jeffries sort of did. There are actually two mysteries to solve in this novel and one I thought I had figured out but I was partly off a bit but overall I figured them both out. There's less humor in this book and more serious content about ethical questions, depression and some minor violence.

As always the characters are delightful. I was proud of Inspector Witherspoon in this novel. He's really come into his own. Phyllis also has developed a lot since her introduction. Luty Belle remains my favorite character for her hysterically inaccurate "Wild West" attitudes. 

Dinner with Mr. Darcy: Recipes inspired by the novels of Jane Austen by Pen Vogler

This cookbook is more than a cookbook. It's a social history, commentary on Jane Austen's novels and a cookbook. I appreciate the author including the original period recipes as well as modern adaptations. I also really like how she includes meals for different times of the day AND social classes as well as the history behind it. The full color photos are stunning. I can't wait to try out some of the recipes as soon as our oven is fixed! I may upgrade to 5 stars if the recipes are easy enough to follow.

Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread by Mary Jane Hathaway

Ever since Lucy Crawford's Mama died, Lucy's life has become a futile struggle to keep the family home that dates back to the late 1860s. Though her family is old and proud, they have all the privileged and none of the wealth. The debt collectors are calling non-stop and Lucy's father only seems to care about his golf game and her younger sister spends money like it grows on trees. When her Aunt Olympia announces the Tupelo Free Clinic is looking for a new home, the obvious solution is to rent out part of the house to the clinic. Lucy has mixed feelings. If it was just the clinic she would be fine but her old flame Jem Chevy, now Dr. Jeremiah Chevy, has returned to town to work at the clinic. Ten years ago Lucy and Jem bonded over poetry, literature, history and spent a wonderful summer together, then facing family disapproval, Lucy dumped Jem. How can she face him again? How can she ever get over him if he's always around? Jem has returned to his hometown to give back. The child of an unwed teenage dropout, Jem knows how it feels to struggle just to survive. Nothing he went through as a child prepared him for the heartbreak of Lucy's rejection. He's tried to move on but she's always there in his heart. How can he forgive her and move on if he can't forget her?

This is another beautiful entry in the Jane Austen Takes the South series. It's almost a direct parallel of the original but it works. I found it interesting that the race issue was also a factor in the break-up. I applaud the author for opening my eyes to the existence of proud, old-money Black families. It was an unusual twist to the story I didn't expect. A lot of time is spent on Jem's background but not much on Lucy's family except for the present generation. I'd love to know more about her family story and how her ancestors survived Jim Crow and thrived to become prominent citizens. I was also surprised religion played a factor in the story as well. I come from a heavy Catholic area and the thought never occurred to me that there were places that had a very small Catholic minority and that minority were not treated well by the majority. Is any of that even realistic in this day and age? The way Lucy's Aunt Octavia carried on, I kept thinking the story was set in the 60s. The romantic plot felt realistic and I liked knowing why they fell in love, which dear Jane Austen never bothered to share with her readers. The pacing was pretty good but the plot lacked the pivotal action of the original. It could have been there since it was hinted at more than once but it wasn't so the story felt a little flat without it. That's my only major complaint. The Mr. Eliot character got dropped along the way and I felt that was a little unresolved. Another character is also left on the chopping block which also left me a little disappointed in the conclusion. I loved seeing Rebecca again and her super awesome Jane Austen wedding. Rebecca is Lucy's cousin and ties the three stories together as Shelby and Caroline make cameos as bridesmaids. The Christian content is very very minimal and worked into the story unobtrusively. Lucy and Jem are strong in their faiths but don't go preaching to others or relying on God to show them the way. Towards the end Lucy sends up a few quick prayers. Jem recites grace at dinner but it's only summarized.

Lucy is an interesting character. Like Anne, I think she was a bit too self-denying. She didn't think so because her father felt she was being disrespectful for telling him off about not paying the bills. Umm what? What century is this? Lucy also spends a lot of time trying to respect her family's wishes but also trying to do the right thing. As a result she's kind of wearied and old before her time, like Anne. On the other hand she's intelligent, has a lot of common sense and is caring towards her sisters who don't deserve it. I can see some modern readers not liking Lucy but I think she's in a tough spot. She's torn between duty and desire and apparently in the South they still think it's the 1860s and duty wins.

Jem is a perfect hero. He's worked his way up from the trailer park, is now a doctor and giving back to his community. He understands and doesn't pass judgment on any of his patients because he's been there. There's only one scene where I felt he acted out of character where the author tried to stick too close to the original. Jem is not vain, proud or selfish like my beloved Wentworth claims to be. Jem loves poetry, literature and history. Any family should be PROUD to have their daughter marry him. I can see how he feels hurt at Lucy's rejection and how being around her brings back old, unhappy feelings as well as the flame that burns inside him. He handles himself very well considering the circumstances.

My favorite characters were Dr. and Mrs. Stroud. They are the updated versions of Admiral and Mrs. Croft in the original. They have the same kind of loving relationship and unlike the original, Theresa actually befriends Lucy and acts as a mentor. Plus, Theresa is a Janeite and introduces Lucy to Jane Austen through Persuasion. I disagree though, Persuasion does have humor. Mary Musgrove and Sir Walter's humbris, his toadying to Lady Dalrymple are all supposed to be funny. Dr. Stroud gets a little too gory for me but I love his passion for the Civil War and he inspires that passion in others.

The characters who don't work are Paulette and Regan. Is anyone REALLY that stupid? They were complete stereotypes and Regan was rather superfluous. Since there's no real action scene, they're not necessary except to make Lucy look even better but she's fine on her own. Lucy's father annoyed me. I can tolerate Sir Walter because he reminds me of my own dad but Mr. Crawford was just blind and he wasn't even in the plot at all. He just passes through. I couldn't stand Aunt Octavia either because she's deliberately cruel and snobby. She hurt Lucy and can't even see it. The reverse racism idea was an interesting concept but the social snobbery just made me want to yell at her.

This series keeps getting better and better!

What I Read in April 2015 Part V

What I Read in April 2015 Part V ...


Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan -- Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction

The only thing Issy Randall really enjoys about her job in real estate administration is bringing freshly baked cupcakes to work. She loves experimenting with new recipes and trying them out in her perfect pink kitchen with her roommate Helena. Though she's dating Graeme, who is technically her boss, he prefers to keep the relationship quiet so they don't even live together. Issy likes cooking dinner for Graeme and soothing him after a long day. So when she's laid off from her job, she's shocked. She's lost her job and her boyfriend in one fell swoop. The only thing she's left with is cupcakes. When a haughty blond woman plans to turn a local empty shop front into a healthy foods cafe, Issy feels it would be a tragedy. The building with all it's quaint charm would make a lovely bakery. With her generous severance pay, Issy jumps in with both feet opening the Cupcake Cafe. The only person who believes in Issy is her beloved Gramps, a former baker now dying of dementia. Secretly, her banker, Austin, wants her to succeed for some reason. Perhaps because he can sense her passion, something he lacks in his own job since becoming "dad" to his younger brother Darny. Issy's employee Pearl, a single mother from the projects, needs the cafe to succeed. Her son's future depends on it. With eternal optimism Issy sets out to accomplish her dreams.

The plot of this book moves fairly slowly. I thought it should have been done about halfway through. I wasn't fully engaged in the story until some plot twists 3/4 of the way through. Then I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I loved the bakery and the recipes included. They make me want to try them. As a romance this novel fell flat. There's very little romance or even love involved. It's mostly about the bakery and the secondary characters' romance. There is some mention and hints of sex and some swearing but no actual sex appears on page. I disliked the fact this book was told from multiple points-of-view. It was jarring to go from Issy's thoughts to someone else's on the same page. It doesn't really add to the story to get inside the heads of secondary characters. It complicated the story and bogged the plot down.

I disliked Issy. I wanted to like her and was rooting for her to succeed but she is annoyingly naive and too fixated on wanting a baby. Her desire for children clouds her judgement and makes her too stupid. What's with Jenny Colgan's characters having absentee mothers? I wasn't crazy about Austin either. He's a terrible father-figure for Darny. He's stuck in a job he hates and never disciplines the kid. They're just existing without living. Plus his interest in Issy's bakery is motivated by his interest in her. I also did not really like Pearl. She had a huge chip on her shoulder and worried too much about how others saw her and her child when she should have been motivated by doing what was best for her son. She exhibited some nice character growth by the end but like Issy, she's stupid when it comes to matters of the heart. I loathed Graeme. Everything about him screamed sleaze and yet Issy didn't listen to her friends. He needed his mother and not a girlfriend/wife, much like the boyfriend in the last book I read by this author. Caroline, though excessively annoying in a sort of Caroline Bingley way, actually ended up growing on me. As her character experiences change she experiences growth and I liked that. The only characters I really liked were Helena and Gramps. Helena is a woman who knows what she wants and doesn't dwell on future plans. She tells it like it is and people respect her. She's full-figured but happy with herself and I found her much easier to tolerate than Issy. Gramps sounds like a special guy. He meant everything to Issy and it's sad to watch her lose him. I expected to cry but I didn't really. I'm not sure dementia actually works that way or if the author has read/seen The Notebook one too many times. My grandmother never remembered where she was and she was happy just existing and having people around her. If prompted, she would remember things from her distant past but she never was lucid then confused like Gramps. Anyway, I liked his story a lot, especially his devotion to Issy and her grandmother.

Read this if you love cupcakes and like Sophie Kinsella.

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan-- Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction

After an accident in the chocolate factory where she worked, Anna Trent developed a super bug in the hospital. When she wakes up in the hospital she discovers she's lost a couple of toes. While recovering, she reconnects with her high school French teacher Claire Shawcourt, who is in for cancer treatment. To pass the time, they practice French together. Claire sees potential in Anna and wants Anna to make the best of her life. She also sees Anna as being much like her younger self and decides to make sure Anna pushes herself to reach her full potential. It is Claire who arranges for Anna to work with a premier chocolatier in Paris, an old friend and flame, Thierry Girard. Nothing in Paris is what Anna expected. She can't understand a word, she lives in a tiny garret room with an omnisexual, bohemian giant and working at Le Chapeau Chocolat is vastly different from the mass-produced chocolate factory in England. In France, chocolates are individually and carefully handmade, flavored with just the right combination of ingredients to keep locals and tourists begging for more. A shocking event forces Anna into a tough spot to rise to the occasion and show what she can do. She enlists the aid of Laurent, Thierry's headstrong son, who is estranged from his father. Anna feels an attraction to Laurent but he remains elusively out of reach. When Claire learns the news, she insists on returning to Paris, where she hasn't been in 40 years. Back then she was a shy, naive school girl, until she met Thierry. He taught her to live, love and enjoy life and best of all, she inspired him for one glorious summer.

This story seems to be an homage to La bohème. I've never seen the original but I've seen Moulin Rouge and part of Rent. If you're not familiar with those stories, grab a box of tissues before you read this book. "Come What May" kept running through my head ... "I will love you til my dying day!" At the very heart of this novel is bohemian Paris. A slice of life most tourists do not get to see. Bohemian Paris lives at night, in garrets and small theaters. It is colorful, loud and eccentric. Paris is very much a character in the novel, specifically Île de la Cité,. The author lives in France and so the scenery feels very realistic. The plot is well paced. I couldn't put it down. I was more interested in Claire than Anna and what had happened to her up to this point and how her story would end. This is where you will need the tissues, especially if someone you know has cancer or died from cancer. Anna's romantic plot is a little lacking in emotional impact. It starts and stops too much and is overshadowed by Claire and Thierry and other events. Claire's past was revealed in bits and pieces, making me eager for more. I had to know what happened. The ending works well and the Epilogue wraps up everything nicely. I would have liked a little more action before that though and not just a summary of what happened next. There's a big reveal towards the end that really surprised me. It brought the narrative full circle and wrapped up some loose ends. Break out the tissues again because you'll need them from that point on.

The characters in this novel are largely memorable. Anna is the least developed of them all. I liked her character growth from scared, small-town girl to confident woman but a lot of it was summarized and told to us in the Epilogue. We do get to see her grow in confidence bit by bit but I felt that a lot of her growth was just explained in passing and Claire's character development was more important. They deserved equal treatment. Claire's story was excellent in the beginning. The plow shows her transition from school girl to woman but again a lot is summarized and most of her character growth is shown in present day when it should be the opposite. The dual narrative maybe wasn't the best way of telling the story.

Thierry is larger than life, charming and full of fun but also very driven and very stubborn. He is so intently focused on chocolate and the enjoyment of life's simple pleasures that he ignores everything else. His son is almost exactly like him but the difference is Laurent shows growth and change over time. It happens very suddenly when I think it should have been developed more but it worked for me. He recognizes his character defects and how he can change. He does something incredibly sweet for Anna and Claire which probably makes him different from his father. His back story is a bit confusing. He was counting backwards at one point and then later when he told his story it didn't add up to the earlier math he was doing in his head.

The minor characters are good too. Alice was a character who could have used some back story or been eliminated all together. I don't really know what her purpose was. The absolute best character was Sami, Anna's bohemian roommate. He belongs in the movie Moulin Rouge. He's a lot of fun and adds some comic relief to the story and really forces Anna to become French rather than sit in her room eating Ramen noodles and moping.

This is the best of the three books I've read by this author so far.

The romances reference making love but nothing is shown on the page. Because of the bohemian nature of Paris, some of the characters and references are not what some people would label clean (cross-dressing, drinking, smoking, cursing, references to sex with both women and men).

What I Read in March 2015 Part VI

What I Read in March 2015 Part VI ...

Sweetshop of Dreams  by Jenny Colgan -- Women's Fiction/Contemporary Romance


Rosie Hopkins enjoys her work as an auxiliary nurse in London and her boyfriend Gerard, so why would she want to leave to take care of an old great-aunt she's barely ever met? So what if she's between jobs right now and so what if Gerard hasn't proposed in 7 years of dating? Well, great-aunt Lillian helped provide for Rosie's family and now she needs help selling her house, sweet shop and finding a nursing home so Rosie heads to the wilds of Derbyshire to care for Aunt Lillian. Rosie finds a caustic old lady in need of more care than she's willing to admit, unpredictable weather and unfriendly locals. She'll be out of there in two weeks - tops. As the weeks go on and the seasons change, Rosie slowly falls in love with the sweet shop she's restoring with her own sweat and tears. She also discovers Aunt Lilian is actually happy to have Rosie around and the locals aren't quite so unfriendly, with the exception of Stephen, a deeply wounded young man who refuses to get help for his problems. Rosie sets about to fix all her problems before going back to her life in London. What if part of her doesn't want to go back? In the 1940s Lilian was a motherless girl helping in her family's sweet shop and wishing boys would notice her. A local farm boy continues to tease Lilian and she's puzzled by his behavior. It takes a tragedy for her to realize her true feelings but by then it may be too late for another girl has her sights set on Henry as well. Then there's the war which has taken too many young men. By the time the war is over, Lilian feels years older and nothing will ever be the same again.

I liked parts of this book but not the whole story. I really liked the informational blurbs about candy, candy shops and recipes. We don't have any stores like that here in the U.S. where I live. There are a few "penny candy" stores around but they sell commercial retro candies which are largely different from the luxury, hand made sweets in the novel. The Hopkins' shop reminded me of Honeydukes in Harry Potter. I want to go there! I also really liked Lilian's story and would have preferred a novel just about her. It is an emotional coming of age journey that almost made me tear up in places. I did not like Rosie's story all that much. Not only was the end predictable but the central romance promised didn't arrive until too late. By that point I didn't want Rosie to have a romance. It happened too fast to make a lot of sense and wasn't developed well. The story was cute until about 3/4 of the way through. There's a semi-graphic sex scene that felt out of place in an otherwise sweet story. It ruined the novel for me. If the relationship had been developed better the scene would have been touching.

Lilian is the only character I really liked in the novel. She's strong, resilient and wise. I liked her caustic wit and how she constantly had to be in charge no matter what. I felt really bad for her when circumstances did not make for a happy life. Actually, the big thing was kind of stupid and I didn't like it but it gave the story extra depth and kept it from being too cliched. I liked Rosie when she first arrived in Derbyshire. She was awkward at times, but kind and always meant well. She really started to come into her own. She's very much like her Aunt Lilian. However, the story went downhill whenever her love life was brought up. She's stupid about men and doesn't know what will make her happy. She never had a dad in her life so she didn't have a functional relationship to model hers after but that doesn't excuse putting up with what she did. She comes across as a whiny loser. If the story had focused on her job and what she wanted out of life, it would have worked better for me.

I hated all the men in this story. Gerard is an overgrown child who creeped me out with his petulance and constant comparisons to his Mum. Jake is a player; Moray is kind of a jerk at times Stephen is whiny and self-centered, and Henry was kind of a player too. I wasn't rooting for Rosie to get together with any of them. The only male character I liked was Simon, a six year old boy. He's so nerdy and socially awkward it makes him endearing.

If you have as big a sweet tooth as I do, you may want to read parts of this book! 


A Mortal Curiosity (Lizzie Martin #2) by Ann Granger-Victorian Mystery/Historical Romance

After the events of the first novel, Lizzie Martin finds a new, temporary situation in Hampshire as a companion to the young Mrs. Craven. Lucy Craven has recently lost a child and her husband is in China on business. She's in the care of her elderly aunts and in need of some young companionship. Along the way Lizzie meets the charming, dandyish Dr. Lefebre, a man who notices as much as Lizzie if not more. She's not sure what to make of him but he's an enjoyable travel companion. Upon arriving in Hampshire Lizzie discovers that all is not right. Lucy insists her child was stolen and not dead but no one believes her. Lizzie is horrified to discover Dr. Lefebre is a doctor of the mad and believes he has come to inspect Lucy. When Lucy discovers the itinerant rat catcher dead in their garden, she panics. Lizzie is sure Lucy didn't do it or at least she doesn't think so, but when Lucy's previous behavior comes to light, along with other family secrets, Lizzie wonders whether Lucy is guilty after all. Inspector Ben Ross is uneasy about Lizzie going so far away. When he gets the summons to investigate in Hampshire he's convinced Lizzie is in trouble. Will he be able to solve the mystery so far from his home turf and get Lizzie back in London where she belongs?

This mystery is less captivating than the first. I figured out the mystery pretty quickly and wondered why Lucy or Ben didn't see it sooner. I guess I read too many 19th century mysteries! I think at least Ben should have figured it out. I wasn't surprised by who or why at all but I still stayed up late to see how it all turned out. Lizzie's relationship with Ben takes a back seat to the mystery but Ben is ready to take their relationship to the next level. Lizzie is less sure she wants to be married to a policeman. Most of the book is told from Ben's point-of-view, which I didn't really like. It's his statement and very matter of fact. He doesn't like the descriptions of scenery or seemingly unrelated indictments that Lizzie is fond of recalling. One small section is told by Sergeant Morris, which I also didn't care for. The author is excellent at describing how everything looks, sounds and smells and I prefer Lizzie's point-of-view. There's also too much info dump in this novel. The bits of history are often unrelated and told in long passages, usually inside Ben's head or from one character to another. I skimmed over that part since I read the first novel and wanted to get down to the mystery.

I still really like Lizzie. She's more forthright than before and not willing to hide it. I like that she speaks her mind and she's willing to keep an open mind. She deals with difficult circumstances quite calmly and rationally. I like how she knows just how to deal with other people and get them to open up to her.

Ben is a little less rational. He's more matter-of-fact when it comes to investigating but when it comes to Lizzie, he loses his head. I find him a little cold and impersonal. I'd like more interaction with Lizzie and to see a softer side of Ben.

As for new characters, Lucy is difficult to like. She's very young and childlike. She's innocent yet not. She acts spoiled but she's not. I ended up feeling sorry for her. She's never experienced a loving family or a functional relationship. She's moody and temperamental as most teenagers are, but she's had a tough life. I hope she finds happiness in the future. Her aunts are soooo stereotypical. They're plucked from Victorian tradition: A Little Princess, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Emily of New Moon, Cranford - in other words one is the alpha sister and the other is meek and mild. Or so we're meant to believe. I wasn't sure that all was as it seemed at first. I didn't care for either of the aunts anyway. I wasn't sure what to make of Dr. Lebebre. On one hand he seems charming and kind but on the other hand, he's an "alienist." I think he's a modern psychologist struggling to be understood in the Victorian era when common practice was to take social deviants, especially women, label them mad and lock them up forever. He seems compassionate and caring. I think Lizzie was rather unfair to him at the end.

Those who are interested in the history of mental illness and what constitutes behavior indicating someone is mentally ill will like this book. It raises good questions.

I'd like to read the other books in the series if I can to find out what happens next.

Content:
mention of inappropriate reading material for a young lady found hidden in uncle's desk
grisly murder details
discussion of mental illness -minor violence

Jane Austen TV Movie Alert

Jane Austen TV Movie Alert

Dear blog readers,

I usually hear about these sorts of things long in advance but I haven't heard anyone mention this one yet. A modern update of Pride and Prejudice called Unleashing Mr. Darcy (based on the book by Teri Wilson) will air on Hallmark Channel on Saturday January 23, 2016 at 9:00 PM. Hallmark is known for their family-friendly movies so I have high hopes for their revision of the novel. I can't wait to see the dogs anyway!

My book review:

Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson -- Women's Fiction/Austenesque

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman approaching thirty must be in want of a husband. Not so for Elizabeth Scott. She's a career woman content with the love of her Cavalier King Charles puppy Bliss. After being forced out of her job (temporarily, she hopes) at an expensive private school, Elizabeth decides to enter Bliss into a dog show for fun. She thinks her puppy is pretty great and hopes the judge will think so too. There's a last minute judging change and the new judge is one Donovan Darcy, an upper-class British dog breeder and a young Daniel Craig look-alike. Elizabeth is transfixed and them humiliated as Mr. Darcy seems to be teasing her and tormenting her while she tries to show Bliss and maintain her composure. Dononvan can't help but be charmed by MISS SCOTT (not exhibitor number five, thank you). She's the first woman he's ever seen that looks at him as if he's a worm. He feels badly about their exchange but for some reason, she gives him the cold shoulder. Typical, haughty rich man, thinks Elizabeth, he doesn't give a care for anyone except himself. Well, she wants nothing to do with him and will never see him again. When her new friend Sue Barrows, a British dog fancier, invites Elizabeth to move to London to be a nanny to her four beloved Border Terriers, Elizabeth gladly accepts. London is a huge place and Mr. Darcy lives in the country so their paths will never cross, right? Wrong... Donovan Darcy spends most of his time in London across the street from the Barrows. Why does Elizabeth feel Sue is playing matchmaker? Elizabeth wants nothing to do with Donovan Darcy, despite his adorable dog. Donovan won't let Elizabeth go without trying to make amends. He's most certainly not falling in love! She can't decide whether he infuriates her or makes her heart beat faster. She could never fall in love with a haughty, idle, rich man, despite what her beloved sister Jenna and her friend Sue think. I thought the premise of this book sounded great. A single 30-ish woman who prefers the love of her dog to a man- sound like someone you know?! Unfortunately, even the cute dogs couldn't save this book. Where do I start with my review? I suppose with the "romance." Elizabeth willfully misjudges Donovan all the time for no real reason except one past bad experience. A bad experience which she never ever shares with Donovan, showing that she never fully trusts him. She is the one who has to overcome her prejudices and change. I found her attraction to Donovan silly and it made her go from an intelligent, strong woman (sense) into a silly, stupid woman (sensibility). Sure she lusts after Donovan but the relationship doesn't quite develop the way it should. Donovan is actually a good guy. He's not much like his original counterpart except he's wealthy, takes care of his little sister and has an overbearing aunt. He's used to being hunted for his wealth and Elizabeth intrigues him. However, I found him just as stupid as Elizabeth. He lusts after her and tries hard to ignore his heart, yet at the same time, he tries hard to please her. Every time he turns around she's rude to him. He likes to tease her and get her going which makes the relationship rocky at best. The characters spend too much time being physically attracted to one another without really getting to know each other. Donovan never opens up to Elizabeth either. She learns about him second hand, like in the original, but that comes too late in the novel for it to work well. The rest is rushed. There also needed to be an epilogue involving Bliss and Finneus and a parallel to Elizabeth and Donovan. The premise was great but the execution was not. The subplot with Helena (Caroline Bingley) is so transparent. I knew right away what she was going to do. Elizabeth should have figured it out. The subplot with Jenna and Henry is pointless. It's a very minor part of the story unlike in the original. It wasn't necessary. Neither was Donovan's aunt who plays a very minor role in the story and isn't a direct copy of her original. There's also no plot with Donovan's sister so she's a superfluous character. I liked her though and found her relationship with her brother charming and wished there had been more scenes together. The dogs are the best characters of them all. I'm not sure all the dog show information is accurate. I think Mr. Darcy behaved quite properly at the first show and Elizabeth took it personally, which makes the plot even more silly. There's also a lot of breaking of the rules, which is glossed over for the most part. There's a lot of politics in dog shows, from what I've been told, and I don't think Elizabeth would like that sort of thing. Now, the writing. The story isn't a direct parallel of Pride and Prejudice, which usually works better, but the story doesn't make a lot of sense the way it is. The author copies Jane Austen's phrasing and bits of dialogue at times. It sounds silly coming out of the mouths of modern characters. Elizabeth even utters a non-sequitur because it comes from the book and the author obviously liked the line. There's even an infamous scene from the BBC adaptation. That's becoming a cliche. This is a modern romance and there are some makeout scenes and a love scene but nothing super smutty. It's not worse than a typical romantic comedy movie these days (strong PG-13/mild R). A more detailed love scene with dialogue might actually have gone a longer way towards making the relationship work but we're told what happened so that's fine. I need to learn to stay away from Austen adaptations. I know I don't like them but I couldn't resist. This isn't the worst book I've read but it's not one I'd read again or recommend

What I've Read Recently

What I've Read Recently . . .

Just Say Yes by Phillipa Ashley -- Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction

Lucy Gibson is the plant and errand girl at a prestigious law firm on London. She frequently grabs bagels and sandwiches at a local sandwich shop. One day, a Greek god comes running after her and asks her out. She's flattered and attracted so why not? When he stands her up, not once, but twice, she swears she'll never see him again, but he manages to worm his way into her apartment and her bed. Nick reveals he's a contestant on an Apprentice-like reality show and he's convinced he's going to win. In order to win, he needs Lucy by his side. Sure he's irritable and angry at times, but that's just the stress of the show right? When Nick accomplishes his dream, he decides the only thing to make his day better is to propose to Lucy. Lucy isn't sure Nick is the ONE and she doesn't want to make the same mistake her mom did, so she says no. Lucy becomes public enemy #1 with paparazzi chasing her and camping outside her building. She asks her best friend Fiona to help her get away somewhere where no one will bother her. Fiona and Lucy go off to stay at Fiona's retreat in Cornwall. The beach community is relaxed and doesn't seem to have heard of the scandal. Then she meets Josh. Local landlord, handyman, surfer and sex god all rolled into one. At first they don't get along but then she begins to see Josh in a new light. Unfortunately he's seeing Sara, equally beachy and good looking. Josh also can't stand liars and Lucy can't bring herself to tell him the truth about herself. As Lucy falls in love with the beach community and with Josh, she tells him part of her story, about feeling hurt by her dad's betrayal. Josh shares his story of his tragic past but there are still secrets and of course her job and lurking paparazzi back in London. Will she ever be able to find happiness and true love?

This book should be called Just Say No. It would serve a dual purpose: one to tell the characters what to say and two, to warn the reader away. The characters are awful. They're very cardboard people. Lucy claims she refuses to be like her mother and accept a lying, cheating man in her life and then she jumps into bed with a good looking near stranger who fits all her requirements for a man to stay away from. She claims she doesn't like liars and she lies to the hero. Nick is a sleaze bag of the first degree. He's dangerous and somewhat predatory. He uses Lucy for sex and to help him on his goal to fame and fortune. Sure she lets him use her and she says no when he asks her to marry him but she feels bad saying no and convinces herself that it's just because she's not SURE they belong together instead of realizing he's a creep. Lucy has two best friends who are stereotypical characters that appear in many rom coms and chick lit novels: the mad, bitter best friend and the mad gay male best friend. I liked Fiona and found her refreshing and amusing until the very end. I think I like Charlie though he's so stereotypical. He isn't in the book much but I wish he was because he was a good friend for Lucy. I was hoping he would turn out to be the love interest and not the gay bff. The characters in Cornwall aren't much better. Sara is a stock character: pretty, skinny, insecure, witchy, clingy, etc. etc. She doesn't have much personality and appears in the plot to complicate the romance. Josh is a character who sees the world in black and white. He had a rough childhood, became a modern rake and is now ready to settle down but only with someone he can trust. He suspects Lucy isn't telling the whole truth yet he enters into a relationship with her anyway. Their relationship isn't based on much. There's no real connection between them. I didn't care if they got together or not. Actually I didn't think either of them deserved each other. The romance was just not there. . The characters who live there are so obsessed with the beach and can't imagine living anywhere else. We're told Lucy falls in love with her new home but there's no real showing. There are are two graphic love scenes I wasn't expecting. Usually in this sort of novel the love scenes are closed door.

The writing is hit and miss. The descriptions of Cornwall scenery are beautiful. The author knows the location she's writing about and creates a picture of a beach community. I hate the beach and I had known, I wouldn't have read the book. The plot is very thin. It's based on a lot of non-communication, something I can't stand. I skimmed past the love scenes and ended up without much plot. The ending was way too rushed and that was the most interesting part of the book. I liked the direction Lucy was heading in and wanted more of her journey of self-discovery.

I didn't like this book very much and wouldn't recommend it to those who like well written books by Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding.