Review: Great Collection - a few will be keepers to read again
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 4, 2014
Some definite read-again stories make this collection worth buying and reading. Highly recommend! There are several reviews with summaries of the plots, so my review will focus on what I liked and didn't like about each story.The Widow Vanishes - 4 starsAnnabel and William are both appealing characters and their chemistry practically leaps off the pages. However, vulnerable women who become mistresses is not a favorite story line for me. But it does allow William to shine as a hero and fortunately his intentions are honorable and all ends up well. There are also several violent scenes which is not a plus for me. This book is highly explicit and should probably be categorized as erotica, which will be good or bad depending on the reader. I mostly liked this story and it's well written, but probably wouldn't read it again so would rate as 4 stars.Scandal Before Sunrise - 3 starsThis story is about a fun loving girl and her flighty group of friends. She's trying to have a scandal-free season so she can find a husband or face ruination by her parents' bad behavior. I never warmed up to Elliott. His obsession with gossip and his dishonorable intentions towards Abby make him unappealing. Abby is likable enough, but I certainly didn't admire her. This is the fifth book I've read by Sabrina Darby and this is not her best (I highly recommendOn These Silken Sheetsif you like a steamy read). There's a lot of repetition of inner thoughts, very little character development and the plot is pretty boring.A Highlander's Heart - 4.5 starsClaire's and Rob's story of reclaiming their marriage is compelling! They make steady progress from their 10 month estrangement to falling in love again and there's plenty of plot to keep things interesting. The focus of the story is rekindling their marriage and introducing the heroes of the Highland Knights which I assume will be a new series. I loved the slight Scottish brogue of the men in this book, but Heymore doesn't go over the top with it. Claire's sister is also a main character and seems like a great future heroine.** Trigger/Spoiler **I'm disclosing a major spoiler because it may be a trigger for some readers. Claire and Rob lost a baby. I won't go into anymore details, but I will say it's not the focus of the book. Getting their marriage back on track is the focus. Also, the one scene is handled beautifully and though I had tears in my eyes it's not overly sad because we're so happy that Rob and Claire are working through it together.** End Spoiler **I'm not sure if I'd read this again so would rate as 4.5 stars, but there wasn't anything I disliked in this story and it's very well written. This is the first story I've read by Heymore and I would read more from this author.Lord Lucifer's Disciple - 4.5 starsI like a beta hero just as much as an alpha hero and I'm a sucker for a nerdy guy, so John is my kind of hero. Elisa is a woman who knows what she wants, and it's not an insipid, fortune-hunting Englishman fawning all over her. She's totally enamored with the dashing foreigner who kisses her at the masquerade ball. I love stories that are all about the hero wooing the heroine with honorable intentions, so this book was nearly perfect for me. There are a few anachronisms which sadly jolted me out of the moment, but the writing is otherwise good enough to make up for them. Excellent character development and entertaining secondary characters make this story totally enjoyable.How To Lose a Duke in Ten Days - 5 starsI've had this book in my wishlist for a while and felt like it was my lucky day when I noticed it's included in this anthology. I went straight to this story to read it first and it did not disappoint! Pippa is my favorite type of heroine - smart, resourceful and confident. Rich and beautiful are nice qualities too, and make it more believable that she's being sought after by a Duke, but her personality really shines in this story. Lucas is a typical autocratic Duke and he's used to telling everyone what to do and getting his way. But Pippa challenges him every step of the way and he admits he likes the chase.Lucas is determined to marry Pippa and she is just as determined not to marry into the "haute ton" and finds him incredibly arrogant. She does not think he will be a good husband for her. Too bad they're both so attracted to each other and can't seem to stop kissing each other. How is she going to chase him away? And does she really want to?There were several funny moments, especially with a hatpin and another scene with dogs. Well written and thoroughly entertaining! And though this is a novella, the character development of the two main characters is good. I understood enough about their past and present to believe their goals and motivations. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would read it again.Miss Amelia Lands a Duke - 5 starsSince I've enjoyed the other three books about the Caversham family, this novella was like the icing on the cake. Cav, the duke, is a dashing, confident man and Amelia is an intelligent, lovely woman. They are both appealing and I had no trouble believing their attraction, though he's over fifty and she's almost thirty. From reading the other books in this series, I already know they make loving parents and it was so sweet to see how they meet and he woos her to be his wife. Thoroughly enjoyed and would read this again.Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender - 3 starsAdvertised as erotica, this short story is mostly sex with very little plot. This will be good or bad, depending on the reader. I'm not a fan of misunderstandings, which is the basis for this plot. It was resolved quickly because the story is only about 55 pages, but the relationship running hot, then cold, then hot again was not that enjoyable to me. It's like having cold water dumped on my head in the middle of reading the story. I prefer romances with a slow and steady building of the relationship. Just personal preference. Rowena and Simon were perfectly nice characters and I was glad for their HEA. I didn't dislike this book, but I didn't really like it either, it was ok.