Mini Reviews - XXIX (Susan Carroll)

Brighton Road

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Despite the common basic theme - the reticent, brooding hero meets plain, irrepressible heroine - it turned out to be a truly hilarious, entertaining book. The heroine is an imaginative, day-dreaming author of gothic novels, and the hero is a stiff and upright baron (so correct that he has been nicknamed "Sobersides"). And therefore, they inevitably make an incongruous pair that ends up in one scrape after another. There are no mean relatives, no repulsive villains, but a cast of quirky and endearing characters, from hero's elderly valet to heroine's eccentric family and her mischievous dog.

The sequence of events, the way heroine manages to annoy the hero (intentionally and unintentionally), as well as the writing, was full of humor and left me laughing out at several points. This was my first book by this author, and I definitely look forward to reading more.

The Wooing of Miss Masters

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very enjoyable book, with several amusing moments, some of which actually had me laughing out loud. I liked that the characters are a little different from usual. The hero is not quite handsome with charming manners, but a little awkward, gruff giant. The heroine is a financially independent woman, a bookish introvert. Their first encounter is described in an entertaining manner, and their verbal and not-verbal dueling is hilarious. The way their relationship grows through their sparring is fun.

I have two quibbles about the story - The heroine behaves like a doormat, pandering to the whims of her younger sister, who is utterly selfish until the end when she does stand up for her. The responsibility is well in its place, but I don't like heroines whose kindness of nature manifests in bending over backwards for insensitive family. The character of uncle Matthew is brought in only for one purpose - to escort them to the ball, with no explanation of the previous history (why the quarrel with the aunt) and no conclusion to the arc (what happens with him afterwards).

The Bishop's Daughter

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It was tedious ... Can't believe its written by the same author whose two books I read earlier were a laugh riot. Didn't enjoy the writing style - lengthy inner monologues and descriptions were boring. The heroine is so stiff, going on an on about bishop's daughter and duty. I cannot stand such stupidity - she chooses to suppress her own feelings and ignore the hero's kindness - just because papa would have disapproved. The hero was really wonderful, charming and witty, and his amusing puns and dialogs made this bearable.

The Sugar Rose

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The book had its moments - the banter between the MC in the beginning, and some quips (sparsely scattered though) by the heroine throughout were really amusing. However, on the whole, it was predictable and problematic, and the underlying theme is more like a modern movie than a RR.

The first problem is The Ugly Duckling transformation - in the regency era, it is unbelievable that a man who is not a relative takes charge of the lady's transformation - diet (which in itself was an unhealthy extreme), clothes and appearance. The trouble here is the emphasis that one needs to be thin and very well groomed to be appreciated/loved.

The other problem is the heroine's attitude towards his original fiance, Justin, who is terribly selfish and insensitive. But the heroine never seems to realize this - despite the fact that he fails to turn up for his own engagement party, abandons her for months, does not even recognize her upon her Transformation, and only takes pride in showing her off once her appearance becomes dazzling. She should have ditched him with or without Everard, in no uncertain terms. She should have trusted her godmother rather than believing the evil scheming Suzy. But no, heroines have to be beautiful fools.

Mini Reviews - XXVIII (Mary Balogh)

The Temporary Wife

- Mary Balogh

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a typical MoC tale, full of common tropes of the genre, and yet I enjoyed it. The heroine is one of the stock characters of the genre - impoverished gentlewoman burdened with the care of her siblings, loving and generous. She not only more than overcomes the bias her husband's family has against her, but also mends his own relationship with each of them. Such a perfect heroine usually annoys me, but not here. The hero is also a typical character - a serious man with a troubled history, bearing the burden of suppressed feelings for a very long time. In a way, his emotional growth is the primary theme of the book.

I found the story heart-warming and even somewhat amusing. It is a story about emotions, family, perceptions and misunderstandings that can damage lives and relationships. And also about warmth and redemption. I liked it for some interesting complexities of human relationships it explores.
I understand that this short a book does not have the luxury to dwell too much on one particular aspect, but the issues between the hero and each one of his family members were resolved very quickly - essentially, years of resentment was addressed by just thrown them together once to talk. One thing that annoys me about these stories is the extremely foolish way the supposedly intelligent heroines behave towards the end - why else, after all is said and done, would the heroine just leave without speaking to the hero. It is, as if the authors are compelled to throw in a little misunderstanding, however unnecessary, to make it worthwhile for the readers to see them united at the end. It's my view that instead of that lost-and-found scene at the end, the page count would have been better used to repair the feelings between the family (which was somewhat rushed).

Lord Carew's Bride

  - Mary Balogh

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It started off well, with the heroine mistaking the identity of the hero, and liking him for himself. There is a wonderful warmth in the gradual development of their relationship, each of them finding an enjoyable companionship with the other. I liked the heroine's family and friends, and the relationship they have.

What I really didn't like was the portrayal of the villain of the piece. This is the second of Mary Balogh's novels with this same theme - where an utterly detestable man rejects the heroine, and years later, when she is in a happy relationship, starts stalking her. The heroine, on her part, becomes ambiguous about her feelings about this man, who she knows to be evil. Apart from the repetition, what troubles me is this "hate masks love" thread.

I am not fond of the "big misunderstanding" trope, but the way the lead pair allow the villain to mess up their lives is stupid to the core. They both know that he is mean and evil, yet they believe his lies, particularly the hero, forgetting that he is completely untrustworthy. A most troublesome aspect of this genre is the typical portrayal of masculine strength - here, the hero, who was shown as a kind and understanding man, suddenly turns rigidly authoritative and asserts his power to hurt his wife. He eventually realizes his mistakes and avenges her, but IMHO, he does not make a sufficient apology to her. Instead, she is the one who apologizes and makes the first approach towards reconciliation.

Mary Balogh's writing style involves long inner monologues of the MC, but I tend to find them boring after a point. Further, in this book (or I didn't notice it earlier), the author has inclined to too much repetition - by projecting the same events through two perspectives, or adding several phrases with repeating words for emphasis. There is also an excess of interjected qualifying phrases. More than the story, her style has put me off and I would not read more of her works any time soon.

Mini Reviews - XXVI (Joan Smith)

 Winter Wedding

  - Joan Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book had a nice premise. I liked Clara for her spunk and humor, and that even in the situation where she was left dependent on others, she managed to carve out a life of some independence. She visits only those of her friends and relatives who need her help, and never for long - it deprived her from settling roots, but also prevented her from becoming an unwelcome burden to anyone. I liked Ben for his obvious charm and even more for his feeling towards Clara, but his actions regarding his ward Nel left much to be desired. In the times when direct means of communication were not available to them, it was sad to see their drawn out longing for each other, but the efforts made by Ben were heartwarming.

It is a gentle, sweet story but marred by the antics of Nel - she is a truly selfish and spoiled girl. Her recent tragedy is not sufficient excuse for her behavior, particularly the disruption of someone else's wedding as an uninvited guest. Ben's indulgence of her rudeness is even less acceptable (not to mention his blaming others for inconveniencing her rather than reprimanding her). I understand that cast in the role of OW she provides a required tension in the story, but the space devoted to her over-the-top tantrums is too much to be enjoyable and becomes rather jarring.

Valerie

  - Joan Smith
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

It is difficult to believe this is written by the author of 'Imprudent Lady' or 'Talk of the Town'. Although the publication date of Valerie is later than these (and some other ones I really enjoyed), it felt like a very early attempt by the author. There were moments of wit, but they were sparse and few. The writing style was very immature - very short, trivial sentences, that were somehow made worse by first person narrative. The modern terms and sensibilities peeped out time to time, jarring with the time period it is set in.

Of the characters, the hero was quite good, even though something of a cardboard cut out of a RR ideal. The heroine, on the other hand, was quite foolish (She kept on wavering from one suspect to other and back, and spilling the beans to whoever she trusted at the moment. In a real mystery novel, that cuts one's life shorter immediately). I skipped a lot in the second half, just to see it end and confirm my suspicions.

Mini Reviews - XXVII (Mary Balogh)

Lady with a Black Umbrella

  - Mary Balogh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The premise of the book is not new - two sisters come from countryside to London intending to make a 'brilliant match' for one (and sometimes both) of them. In fact, I have recently read two others with the exact same theme. But they usually end up with a number of comedic situations, and therefore provide good entertainment.

It starts off quite well - the initial scene, with the eponymous umbrella, is hilarious. The heroine, with her indomitable spirit, keeps landing into scrapes and bringing the hero in with her. However, I felt her outpouring became progressively shrill, and her actions more stupid than naive. Her repeated assertions regarding the undesirability of her spinster status (by men, particularly the hero) became annoying. The hero was also more irritating than the kind soul or misunderstood gentleman that usually feature in these stories. So, given the theme and what I heard about the author, I expected it to be much better than in turned out to be.

A Certain Magic

  - Mary Balogh
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The book started off well, with a lifelong friendship between the MC and their banter. Their banter continues intermittently through the rest of the book and I enjoyed it. But I didn't like the rest of the plot. No spoilers, as its quite outlined in the blurb - they have been in love with each other forever. I find that less palatable than if they had grown to love each other, because it gives a tinge of unfaithfulness even if they believed and behaved with loyalty while their spouses were alive. Their restraint in confessing their feelings to each other is foolish but pardonable, but the hero is a big idiot for falling into a trap that he himself senses and everyone else knows, and even more so for continuing the farce after certain truths are brought home to him. Moreover, he comes across as a weakling, failing to stand up for anything he believes in.

Though I have been enjoying the genre, especially the ones with subtle, charming novel and witty banter, certain patterns of deep prejudice that keep recurring (with different authors), troubles me. One of the most prominent of these is the portrayal of the non-titled people - they are referred to as 'not gentleman', 'not genteel', or most degradingly, 'cit', and they are most often characterized as vulgar, scheming, dishonorable or immoral.

Mini Reviews - XXV (Joan smith)

Talk of the Town

  -  Joan Smith
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

The first half of the book is wonderful - one of the best repartee and a thoroughly entertaining battle of wits between the MC. I enjoyed that the hero kept ending up meeting the heroine and bested by her, despite his determination not to do so.

The heroine's character is a bit inconsistent - a young, inexperienced, country lady, moving with so much poise and confidence in the London society does not make sense. It would have been better of the author could had defined her personality in a manner that made her interactions with the top elite more believable (fun as they were!).

The second half lets the book down. The characterization of the aunt, Effie - she is supposed to be smart, but her actions contradict this - she lets people take advantage of her so much that she falls from affluence into abject poverty, she refuses to see that her "friends" are self-serving parasites, and also gets back with her unfaithful ex who continues to be a jerk. In the latter part of the book, the heroine starts behaving in an increasingly annoying manner, and the hero makes stupid mistakes, leading to a totally unnecessary misunderstanding (my least-liked trope).

In all, the premise was entertaining, but the characterization was lacking.

Lady Hathaway's House Party

  - Joan Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was not as amusing as I expected it to be - I was looking for more banter between the MC, even if it was to be a trading of insults. But it rather turned out to be domestic fights, more or less one-sided (justified as it was - I sympathized with the heroine). It was redeemed by the efforts of the hero, who made genuine attempts to understand and rectify his mistakes. There was humor in the writing though, which I enjoyed.

However, a lot of entertainment was derived from the antics of two completely inappropriate characters, which didn't work for me. I especially wonder at the characters like Lady Dempster - whose inclination to gossip goes so far as to almost manufacture it, regardless of the cost to the people involved, and who don't even shy away from barging into personal and private conversations. I suppose its a caricature, but still wonder whether the etiquette in that society went so far as to not even insult such people.

Mini Reviews - XXIV (Joan Smith)

Aunt Sophie's Diamonds

- Joan Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun romp, an entertaining farce of a plot and a good deal of humor. It has a likeable MC and a secondary pair, and a wide array of other characters. I really liked the characterization of the heroine, who showed wit and intelligence not expected by others. Aunt Sophie of the title comes across as delightfully eccentric. The standard "mean relative" is played by the heroine's mother, and her selfish and stupid behavior was one of the deterrents to the enjoyment of the book - despite knowing that this is an over-the-top farce, such behavior manages to annoy me. This was my first book by the author, and encouraged me to look out for more of her work.

Imprudent Lady

  - Joan Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book has one of the wittiest banters I have read, and I have read quite a few RR books that involve witty exchanges between the MC. Moreover, the banter in this book is neither a battle of wits nor a trading of insults, just a delightful conversation between two like minds. It had me laughing out quite a bit, so that the family asked me a few times to share the funny things!

The hero and the heroine are so very likeable from the start (and well suited to each other, as we readers know ;-)), and I was really amused by his subtle flirtation. It does not even have any real villains, only the heroine's uncle who is somewhat oblivious to everything except his own purpose but is kind enough to her.

The unnecessary, avoidable misunderstanding before the HEA can be achieved, is a plot device that I don't care for, even though it is a fairly standard trope in the genre. That part of the book prevented it from being an almost 5-star read to me. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot, and encouraged to explore more works by this author.

Escapade

  - Joan Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The heroine is an anonymous columnist of society, and depends on the help of her mother and aunt to 'cover all the bases'. I am not interested in celebrity gossip myself, but I don't dislike this as a premise of the novel. However, the big disconnect is the unerringly stupid way she acts, for all her intelligence we are told about - first she takes it upon himself to pull down the hero without any real insight into his character, and then she prints an unverified gossip from an unreliable source without a single thought. Her seeming to thrive upon gossip undermines both her intelligence and her likeability.

Another negative was the characterization of the potential matches for the hero - all three of them are single-dimensional stereotypes of society ladies the heroes of the genre despise. Typically, the books will have one of these in the role of the ow, but all these in the same party with the single objective of forcing the hero's hand is quite over-the-top. Which brings me to another grouse with the genre - why don't these heroes simply make their stand clear instead of being cornered into situations they despise.

Despite these drawbacks, it was fairly entertaining, with some witty dialogs and amusing incidents - which is what saved this book. And the hero is quite a honorable and sensitive gentleman, with a wonderful sense of humor making the readers root for him.

Mini Reviews - XXIII

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall

- Julie Klassen

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I found it too long and boring. It seems to go over same ground repeatedly, and take much time doing that. The auxiliary plots also take a lot of space, and some of them didn't make much sense. There is a lot of drama and contrivance, but no humor.

I didn't quite like the heroine, even though she is reformed very soon. The hero seems to be a sincere person, but I do not see that she gives him any reason to move beyond his earlier infatuation and disappointment. In fact, I hardly liked any of the characters, except perhaps Hudson.

An Accomplished Woman

  - Jude Morgan

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It had its moments of wit and humor, but overall it was too long and winding. The author may be commended for a writing style inspired by Jane Austen, but terribly long sentences with many clauses made me either read them a few times to make sense, or skip them altogether. The pseudo-philosophical pondering and prosy bouts of sensible advice from one character to another, bored me. I felt that the author was trying too hard.

The story was nice by itself, though predictable as expected, but the humor was scattered sparsely. I would have enjoyed it far better if the prose was more comprehensible in places, and the length was under 300 pages.

The Village Spinster

  - Laura Matthews

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was perhaps nice enough, but I didn't find anything remarkable about out it. It was quite a run-of-the-mill story, with neither humor nor much of conflict to make it interesting. The only conflict was provided by a cheerful second cousin of the heroine (whose presence the very 'proper' hero found objectionable), who turns out to not just be married but expecting a baby! I didn't warm up to the hero - he was well meaning, but not really sympathetic to people, and worse, did not realize it until the end. Development of his affection for the heroine was not well done - it seemed sudden and without much cause, except perhaps guilt. Later on, their one fleeting contact in the past was much focused on, but it seems to be to small a thing to have so much of impact after so many years; it also contradicts the heroine's initial lament that he had never noticed her.
Overall, a very average writing and forgettable story.

Lady Elizabeth's Comet

  - Sheila Simonson

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

This book was more enjoyable than entertaining, and I really liked this story of two sensible people who come to regard each other deeply. This is a gentle story about family and complex feelings, and the understated romance with touch of humor is delightful.

I liked the independently minded heroine, who is more inclined towards science than social conventions. Her passion towards her interest, and her intelligence is admirable, though her conviction that her scientific pursuit is unnatural in a woman, is jarring to the modern thought. The hero is simply wonderful - honorable, intelligent, sensitive and kind, and with a sense of humor. His strength lies not in subduing others but in exerting himself. Dark, brooding, glaring heroes may be all the rage, but something is to be said about a gentle soul who respects and encourages his lady's talent and takes the trouble to befriend her gauche teenage sisters. The cast of secondary characters is wonderful too, and gets ample focus.

The first person narrative was a bit lacking in style at times, but worked well to provide emotional depth. There are some instances of telling-and-not-showing, e.g. at a point the heroine states that she and Clanross indulge in verbal sparring whenever they meet, but I did not see much of sparring matches prior to this and some amusing exchanges later on.

Mini Reviews - XXII (Carla Kelly)

Miss Grimsley's Oxford Career

  - Carla Kelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first book by the author, and it enchanted me. There are many things that I liked about it.

In a way this is one of the rare RRs, in having a heroine who is just not independent-minded, but also an intellectual. At the core of the story is her love for learning, in a period where education of women was decidedly frowned upon. I loved the hero, also in a different mold than usual - an eminent scholar - squeezing out a last year of studies before duty beckons. I appreciated that he encouraged the heroine in her pursuit of knowledge and admired her for her spunk as well as intellect. His courtship is sweet and unique, progressing from a friendship based on their mutual interest. One of the most wonderful aspects of the story is the heroine's growth as a person, learning a good deal about love and life.It has the usual mix bag of characters. Other than the lead pair, who are both adorable, there is her aunt, who is spirited and highly supportive. We have a toad-eating parent in her father, and a tyrannical fool in the schoolmistress. A terribly selfish relative is one of the stock characters of the genre, and here the role is played by the heroine's brother, though he redeems himself in the end.

I liked the subtle and amusing banter between the couple, and their time stolen together made possible by the unique situation. However, I did not care for the PDA in the college square at the end, which was completely uncharacteristic and unnecessary. It was lovely and enjoyable, though quite improbable (but are any romances ever believable? :D) .

Reforming Lord Ragsdale

  - Carla Kelly

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a moving story, with more substance than the usual, fluffy RRs. The hero and the heroine, both have a deeply troubled past - something of greater significance than a broken heart. I really liked the characters, and the slow development of their relationship - from trust to respect, friendship and more. Emma's character is created particularly well - strong, resourceful and intelligent - though I think making her a bit older would have been more credible. Lord Ragsdale, wasting away his life as he is, is kind and honorable, and impressed me as being more than the standard reformed rake.

The author makes the story realistic by including a glimpse of the historic event of the war, and not tying up everything neat and tidy at the end. Yet, there are some aspects that are truly unrealistic - Emma's cheerful character despite all she suffered and her sophisticated learning despite the young age she had to leave her home. The overnight cure of Ragsdale's alcoholism by simply withdrawing his supply of liquor is too optimistic (whatever about the thing called withdrawal symptoms?). Sadly, the author fell into the trap of a last-minute, filmy conclusion. I definitely prefer happy endings, but they shouldn't be so uncharacteristic and dramatic.

Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand

  - Carla Kelly

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

This wasn't much fun, and I didn't like it as much as the two books I read by this author before this. It's perhaps a cute and cozy enough romance, but that is not what was looking for. so, despite being heart warming, it left me a bit disappointed. Low on humor, rather saccharine, predictably predictable. The language and the interactions felt too modern for the era at many places.

The Lady's Companion

  - Carla Kelly

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was very different from a traditional regency - the hero is neither a peer, nor rich, nor English (he is Welsh). The setting is rural, with farm-work consuming his time and energy. The usual balls and morning visits and other pastimes of aristocracy have no place here. The instant attraction between the lead pair is not something that I digest easily, but their banter is fun.
We get glimpses into the Napoleanic wars, including some battlefield action - I found that interesting. There is also more than the usual lovemaking, and more intimate in nature, which I didn't quite care for.
It gives a significant focus to emotions and relationships, and I like that most of the characters are nice and sympathetic, and care for others. The heroine's family is cruel and despicable, but for the most part we are treated to human kindness, and the end was particularly moving.

Mini Reviews - XXI (Barbara Metzger)

An Affair of Interest

- Barbara Metzger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is perhaps one of the most entertaining story of this genre that I have come across so far. It uses several many of the usual tropes, but the sum total is absolutely hilarious. We have a young, intelligent and spunky heroine - spirited enough to devise outlandish (at least for the times!) schemes, and innocent enough to keep falling into scrapes. Then we have a stiff and sensible hero, who always ends up rescuing her. And add to the mix, a bunch of most comical villains. So what you end up with is a series of madcap adventures! The writing is very amusing, though by the end of this, the third book I read by this author, it kind of feels forced. The plot is a big hoot, and I found myself laughing out several times.

My first exposure to regency romance was through Georgette Heyer, and have only recently started exploring other authors. I am not sure if Heyer's interpretation of the language and mannerisms of the period are most authentic, but in comparison, the tone and and style of Metzger feels much more modern.

Where I certainly appreciate Metzger more is, that her heroines are much more enterprising. Sydney here shares some similarity with 'The Grand Sophy' and 'Frederica'. Like Frederica, she wants her sister to have a London season, but instead of appealing to a rich, distant relative, she tries to raise funds on her own. Like Sophy, she keeps on creating elaborate, outrageous schemes. Sophy is confident, worldy-wise, and backed by her father's support and resources, and most of her plans are prompted by doing what she believes is best for other people (meddling indeed). Whereas Sydney had nothing going for her, and all her ideas are prompted by a desire to support her family. So, I definitely find Sidney most creditable of all.

Lady Whilton's Wedding

- Barbara Metzger

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an entertaining comedy of errors - with the body of a despised uncle disappearing and reappearing, a couple of terribly inept thieves, and chaos reigning in the wedding of the lead couple's parents.

The plot is as contrived as can be, but the situational comedy and the witty dialogs make it a good fun read. I liked the heroine, sensible yet a little naive, but the hero is a bit of a jerk. Rest of the cast is quite engaging, including the bumbling villains. I would have preferred it if the hero's character had rectified his ways after his first error, but I suppose it would have been a blow to the situation created in the story.

Another downside to the book was the long time spent on relating the back story, done in an intrepid manner with only occasional witticism to break the monotony. It was about 30% mark when any events of interest take place.

A Worthy Wife

  - Barbara Metzger

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was glad to find in Barbara Metzger another regency author I like, but very soon her work has become a hit-or-miss with me.

The start of this novel is a bit strange, but not inconceivable for a regency novel - Kenyon, an earl marries a commoner Aurora in order to save her reputation. The rest of the plot consists of a sequence of predicaments that Aurora handles with great ease. She looks such an epitome of sense and perfection, that I couldn't assimilate that she landed in the trouble that she did at the beginning. Kenyon's character didn't endear himself to me, starting from his behavior towards Aurora on their wedding night. He later keeps distrusting her yet wanting her, and his laments to himself become intrepid. Eventually, there are reasons for him to appreciate Aurora, but I see no reason why she should place such confidence in his ability to settle everything.

The suspense that was, was evident since the question first arose. There are not very explicit scenes, but more sensuality that usual, or at least my expectation. There were some amusing antics, but overall I didn't much like the characters or the plot.


An Enchanted Affair

  - Barbara Metzger

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I did not like this much, particularly because there was too much of abuse (not graphic) at the hands of greedy relatives. RR as a genre have some very standard tropes, and this one employed two of my least favorite - MoC and MisUnderstanding (I feel MU has to be the most idiotic things; just a little bit of communication, even in the times of that high degree of formality should have easily avoided it).
I found it quite average, with run-of-the-mill plot and no humor to redeem it.

Mini Reviews - XX (Barbara Metzger)

Miss Lockharte's Letters

- Barbara Metzger

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

After going through nearly all the Heyer novels, and some of them twice, over last couple of years, I was looking for some authors who wrote in the similar vein - set in regency era, light/chaste romance, and lot of wit and humor. This one had been popping up on GR in a few "readers also liked ..." automated recos, had a very interesting theme or at least the start, and had highly favorable reviews.

I wasn't disappointed at all, and quite enjoyed it. The writing style is engaging - full of humor and wit, even when the heroine describes or ponders over her miseries, and the plot is a fantastic sequence of adventures and misadventures and hilarious situations. In short, a complete entertainer.

It seems to be set in the same time frame as Heyer novels, But my mind, more attuned to the flowery and formal language of Heyer, found the language and style more modern comparatively. I have, of course, no idea which one is more authentic to the time.

 Miss Treadwell's Talent

- Barbara Metzger

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

For most of the book, there is a flow of witty and sarcastic exchange of dialogues between the lead pair, which is what I was looking for. I enjoyed the banter, and thought it was going on well, until the end, where it became full of fantastic coincidences, supernatural intervention, and inexplicable tidy closures.

I would have preferred to see a greater role of Maylene's well-advertised talents in solving the mysteries than the supernatural guidance from the seances held by her mother. We hear a lot about her abilities, but see little in actual action, and even less done without the hero's assistance. I could not warm up to the hero - Hyatt keeps insulting Maylene throughout. He may be excused for his cynism, but not for failing to apologizing to her even when his presumptions are proven false.

In order to provide a cut-and-dried solution for the heroine's happily-ever-after, one innocent girl is deplorably forced to marry her lecherous cousin, Lady Crowley marries Shimpson for no reason we could see, and Lady Tremont is paired off with the duke unnecessarily (not to say weird!).

A highly unsatisfactory conclusion, for which i subtracted a point from the rating.

A Loyal Companion

 - Barbara Metzger

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

This is a simple romance, though with over-the-top action, and sometimes language, for a regency. In most regency novels of my experience, duchesses don't spout curses, and evil lords fall just short of kidnapping a high-born girl (commoners are fair game for them, with no-one raising an eyebrow).

The plot is typical - a headstrong but kind and thoughtful girl falls instantly in love with a wronged but charismatic hero (not to say titled and rich); and an impoverished nobleman (who is not really noble in his actions) wants to marry the girl for her money to pay his debts. The heroine is just too sweet and perfect, and manages to solve all of the hero's problems. And he, in turn, turns a knight in shining armor or rather a major in dress uniform, and rescues her from the nefarious villain.

What raises it above the par is the dog, who is the narrator of the book. Each chapter starts with his voice, sometimes philosophical thoughts but often sarcastic observations of the human society. What would have been a run-of-the-mill sugary romance otherwise, is lifted to a quirky adventure by this loyal companion.

Mini Reviews - XIX

A Countess Below Stairs

  - Eva Ibbotson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have heard a lot about Eva Ibbotson’s books for children, but I haven’t read them yet. In my current regency binge phase, I came across this and based on the recommendations, it seemed to be a good one. However, it left me very disappointed.

The plot is entirely predictable at every stage. The main character (the countess of the title) is a Mary Sue (a new phrase I have learnt!) type, annoyingly perfect. Anna and Muriel are both completely one-dimensional - Anna is kind to and loved by everyone, whereas Muriel is despotic and cruel to one an all, and this includes not just the adults, but a kid and a dog. For each and every person, their respective behaviors are constantly set in contrast, and I don’t think a reader needs so many reminders to understand how evil a person Muriel is. The hero, Rupert, doesn't have much to do in the book, except play a martyr to his commitment. He is willing to sacrifice everyone's life because, you know, he gave his word to Muriel. However, he also gave a promise to little Ollie, which he can't be bothered to keep - utterly despicable character, who has to be rescued by others by devious means.

It seems to include nearly all of the tropes of the genre, including the heroine being high nobility and a misunderstanding separating the lead pair. It is also too verbose, and I skipped pages of examples or illustration to make the same point.

Lord Sidley's Last Season

  - Sherry Lynn Ferguson

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I chanced upon this book, while trying to find clean regency romance with humor, besides Heyer. It certainly fulfilled my expectations, and perhaps more.

I loved that the heroine is not just an independent, sensible girl, but also a talented artist. She does aspire for love and family, but her art is a passion which she does not want to give up. This is a kind of aspiration I haven't come across in my limited view of regency era heroines. The hero is titled, wealthy and handsome (as in all the stories in this genre!), but also considerate, and he respects the lady's talent enough to promote it whether or not he is able to win her.

The witty exchanges between the couple is usually amusing, but their conversation is engaging otherwise also. However, I don't care for fall-in-love-at-first-glance, which is the case in most of such stories. Also, the resolution of conflicts was a little too tidy, even though that is what I expected in case of the heroine. Overall, an entertaining, breezy read.

The Honorable Marksley

  - Sherry Lynn Ferguson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I must say I have a thing about regency heroines who are sensitive, intelligent and witty, and heroes who are kind and honorable and have a sense of humor. I enjoyed the gradually developing trust and fondness between the leads, the subtle humor and interesting conversation, and the underlying poetry.

The misunderstanding - a quintessential trope of the romance genre - annoyed me as usual, but I found it more forgivable in this case. The premise was unrealistic - a near infatuation with the anonymous poet, so much so that the hero wanted to shut down the magazine because he felt that 'his' poet had betrayed him.

I really liked both the books I have read by this author, and it's sad that she has written so little.

Mini Reviews - XVIII (Georgette Heyer)

April Lady

  - Georgette Heyer

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The romantic plot is based on misunderstanding between a couple, a usual trope in romance novels. The misunderstanding is not particularly interesting, at least in the current times, yet better than another of her novels (The Nonesuch), where it was just plain stupid. The heroine is kind-hearted and sensible, but something of a doormat who allows everyone to walk over her. The hero is foolish, and I disliked him for not apologizing enough to his wife for his unjust and harsh remarks, and also for not chastising his sister for causing his wife so much trouble and pain. The entire plot is a big farce, but there is not much of humor, which is what I like best in Heyer novels. 

 

Why Shoot a Butler?

- Georgette Heyer

 My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Having binged on Heyer's regency books for last two years, most of which I enjoyed for their wit and humor, I wanted to give her mystery novels a try. The title and the blurb of this sounded interesting, something in the style of Christie's Poriot.

This didn't have much of humor, not even in dialogues, unless you count the sarcastic remarks of the Hero to all and sundry, specially the heroine. Then, it was quite predictable - the heroine's secret, the villain's identity, and the reason for murder(s) are evident quite early. The long chase sequence at the end, and the last-minute rescue was very theatrical, and jaded - I've read much better action sequences written in the same era. And finally, the lengthy, winding explanation of the entire plot bored me so much that I skipped most of it, just scanning to confirm what I suspected.

Okay, if you are a die-hard Heyer fan and enjoy very light mysteries. Avoid, if you are into intelligent murder mysteries or fast-paced thrillers (the non-gruesome kinds, because others are a different game altogether).

Mini Reviews - XVII (Georgette Heyer)

The Toll-Gate

  - Georgette Heyer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this for the second time, while on a spree of re-reading the Heyer novels I enjoyed most. This time I revised my review of this from 4 to 3 stars.

I found it rather slow, and skipped paragraphs of mundane and irrelevant details through out the book. The romance was hardly worth the interest, though the plot - a mystery - was different from the other Heyer works I have read. I love the Heyer heroines that are strong characters with a ready wit. But Nell seems to be rather passive and subdued, though we are told that she is very efficiently managing the estate. And the basis of attraction - the larger-than-life size of the lead pair - seems rather ridiculous.

 

 

The Reluctant Widow 

  - Georgette Heyer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Quite a bland offering from GH. I find tiresome the kind of her heroine who is so 'excessively good natured' that she is not disturbed much even when she is aware that she has been manipulated and terribly imposed upon. She is upset for only a moment before dissolving into a smile or giggle. She is 'just the right sort' to agree to schemes and pranks that the least bit of common-sense will counter. And her vocabulary is limited enough to describe most people and events as 'odious' or 'horrible' (I counted 25 of the former and 20 of the latter - thanks to kindle search).

 

Frederica

  - Georgette Heyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been re-reading some of the Georgette Heyer books I enjoyed the first time, and this is the only book that I loved as much the second time as well.

It is a thoroughly entertaining book, full of humor and witty exchanges, and a cast of many endearing characters who are not such paragons of virtue as to become insipid. Of course there are some dim-witted and repulsive ones, but the novel would be no fun without them! My favorite characters in this, or perhaps the whole of Heyer, are the irrepressible Felix and the irreplaceable Trevor - the former for his unconscious enthusiasm, and the latter for his quiet, sharp efficiency which doesn't preclude subtle humor.

Mini Reviews - XVI

The Man Who Died Twice

  - Richard Osman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I seem to be the minority here, but I did not like this very much. Murder mysteries in fiction usually require one to suspend the belief, but this is somewhat too facetious.

On the positive side, the murder mystery was tighter, and the resolution more rational than the previous book. I loved the insights into human behavior, especially his own, that Ibrahim brings in. The lead characters remain endearing, though unbelievable.

On the downside, this did not have the style reminiscent of Agatha Christie, that I found charming in the first book. It was rather sinister and gory, and somehow I can't imaging senior citizens in their 70s and 80s going about actively sleuthing such cases. They sound more like 50-something, with repeated references to frequent trip to the restroom to give an impression of an older age. I am okay with Donna, but I find the character of Chris just too ridiculous to be the chief of police.

 

The Child Finder

  - Rene Denfeld

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very well written thriller, where past and secrets are revealed layer by layer, the atmosphere is gradually built up so you can feel the beauty and menace of dense forests of upper reaches in Oregon. The background of the story is child abuse, and it gives one a sense of horrific abuse, without being gory or graphic, which I felt was a great skill on the author's part.

Skulduggery Pleasant

- Derek Landy

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I had put this in my TBR, as it was showing up with high recommendations in middle-grade/YA fantasy lists, and perhaps on my virtual reading group also. I have enjoyed several books in this genre, most notably Harry Potter and The Hobbit.

The story was just about okay, but I found the writing really childish in most places. The dialogues typically go like this: A said "lets do this", so B said "its a good plan". I have read and enjoyed a lot of children's fiction in last few years so I can say that it has less to do with target audience, and more to do with the style. It could have been fun had it been better written. I finished the first book, but though I had two more on kindle, I didn't want to continue with it.

Mini Reviews - XV

The Inimitable Jeeves

  - P.G. Wodehouse

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Blasphemous as it may sound, I think I am done with Wodehouse and Jeeves. I picked it up several months after I read the last Jeeves book, expecting that the gap would allow me to enjoy it. Well, I did enjoy it to begin with, but I had to make a bit of effort to finish it. I had also hoped that this being a novel may fare better that the first one (My man Jeeves), but it follows the same pattern - Bertie Wooster or one of his friends get into trouble, they all look to Jeeves for advice, who eventually bails them out with a clever trick.

I know it is quite exaggerated, but suppose in some way it should reflect on the real society. I am tired of the entitled,idle rich, with a lot of money and very little intelligence, who don't have any worthwhile work to do, so have to work hard to devise their entertainment. Young people with no passion or initiative, begging rich relatives for allowances to fund their extravagant tastes have no sympathy from me. 

The Bafut Beagles

  - Gerald Durrell

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I have marked this as read, though I had really abandoned it at about 60%, because I felt that I had got the picture by that time. And it was not a pretty picture. His racial prejudices scream out from every page, his 'humor' is derived from humiliating poor and not-suitably-english-speaking natives. It may reflect the reality of the times, but that does not necessarily make it palatable in current times. More so, because it was recommended as a wonderfully amusing book - I failed to find much humor in his condescending attitude towards everyone except White English males. I do not understand why people compare it with James Herriot's books, which are peppered with subtle humor, but show great empathy and sensitivity. 

A Street Cat Named Bob

  - James Bowen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The subtitle "How one man and his cat found hope on the streets" summarizes the story precisely. It is a warm story of hope and redemption. I am not an dog or a cat person, but I find that I loved the few animal stories that I have read, perhaps because they are essentially heart-warming tales of love and trust. This book reaffirms the belief that helping others can help yourself, and having someone to take care of can make you a much better person.

It is a simple and short book, and didn't take long to finish. I loved it, but it did not give me an overwhelming feeling that I was expecting after the recommendations. Perhaps because I have read many stories along the same lines, or perhaps because I could not connect much with the context. The life of a drug-addict living on streets, of busking (I had to look up the word, though street performers were quite commonly seen in India while I was growing up), of organization behind selling a magazine on street (never heard of Big Issue) - it was all a bit distant, though I can imaging the horrors of a homeless existence in such a climate as London.

The language is very simple, as can be expected, but that is not a negative for me particularly in this background. It is also a bit repetitive, which could have been addressed better by the editors.

Mini Reviews - XIV

High Citadel

  - Desmond Bagley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful action thriller, with a lot of tension and suspense. It is basically a fight-to-survival story of a set of improbable characters, thrown together by fate and conspiracy (my words sound like a cliche, even to me!). So yes, it is a common trope of this genre, yet when well done, these novels can be quite entertaining.

Here we have a small plane hijacked and crash-landed in the Andes, and the ill-equipped passengers must survive not only the extreme weather, but also an army unit intent on killing them.

I have read quite a few novels on this theme, but the relatively lower rating is not due to lack of novelty value. Its because I have read almost everything by Alistair Maclean, some of them multiple times, and Maclean is superb in both - gritty tales of extreme, nearly inhuman, nature conditions, as well as those of resourceful protagonists. This one was so reminiscent of Maclean's plots that the comparison became inevitable. It also had too much violence, and though it was unavoidable for the plot, I don't like this much of gore, even though it is tamer compared to the graphic violence of contemporary thrillers.

The Scarlet Pimpernel

  - Emmuska Orczy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I remember reading this book twice earlier - the first time in my school library a long time ago. I recalled finding the story nice and entertaining. Sometime between then and now, thanks to the internet access and availability on the web, I was able to read it again, and still found it amusing. Since I did not remember much about the story, except the very basic plot line, I took the chance to buy an old print in excellent condition. As I held the book in my hands, I thought that the book I read in school must have been an abridged edition - my vague recollection is of a rather slim volume.

I still found the adventure readable and the story entertaining. However, my more mature outlook now discerns the shortcomings as well. I found the outlook in the story elitist and extremely racist. The loyalty towards the nobility, flawed as they are, is rather incomprehensible in these current times. I also observed that the author is quite prone to repetitions, so we encounter a number of "pretty Sally"s in the opening chapters, are told about the lazy eyes and inane laugh of Lord Blakney throughout the book and hear the exclamation "Odd's fish" a number of times in a single dialog exchange towards the end. An enjoyable time-pass read, and even though a bit dated, it hasn't aged badly.

The Dalai Lama's Cat

  - David Michie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a sort of an introduction to Buddhism for beginners, and is a lovely and light read. It is indeed commendable that the author has found such a unique and interesting voice to relate the Buddhist philosophy, interwoven with the story of the eponymous cat. His Holiness's Cat is a lovable character, who has her own faults but owns up to them, and who narrates the story sometimes with grave insight and usually with humor.

I really liked the story, yet I only gave it 3 stars, because although I could enjoy it, I did not find it life-altering in the way people who recommended it on my reading group did. Perhaps I was not in the right frame of mind, or it was not the right time for me.

Mini Reviews - XIII

 The Ghost of Blackwood Hall (Nancy Drew #25)
  - Carolyn Keene

1/5 stars

Picked this up on a whim from the book sale I went to, for two reasons - I haven't read a Nancy Drew book in perhaps three decades, and this original Armada publication copy was in quite a decent condition (I also hit a jackpot with a very good Three Investigators - The Vanishing Treasure, one of my favorites in the series).

So, I was reminded why I never liked Nancy Drew, even when I was in middle school and loved Three Investigators Series. First the plot that is completely illogical - grown women putting money in tree trunks to supposedly support an orphanage, people believing in seances and spirits telling them exact details of places to bury wealth and names of people to avoid. Then, the plot hole - how did the thieves know their victim's jewellery so well that they were able to create such great imitations upfront? Next - sleuthing - consisting of officials giving all information that a 18 year old asks for, lawyer father getting information for her, and her being rescued from difficult situations by father or boyfriend.

I don't think I felt this in my younger days, but now I felt that the writing was juvenile, and I am inclined to put it at the level of Enid Blyton's detective series for younger children.

The Golden Keel
  - Desmond Bagley

3.5/5 stars

Desmond Bagley is one of my favorite thriller writers, the old-school straightforward action/spy thrillers being the kind I like. I also feel a partiality towards treasure hunt/chase stories, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed this one that tells a tale of Nazi gold lost during WW2.
I did expect the 'twist' that came towards the end, as well as the final outcome, yet the pace and the narration kept me engaged. The build-up of the story and the execution was done well enough. I wouldn't call it a must-read for the genre, but its quite a nice one to keep one interested to see how it unfolds.

High Stakes
  - Dick Francis

3.5/5 stars

Like most of the other novels by Dick Francis, High Stakes is also a thriller set in the world of horse racing. It does involve a bit of the how the betting works, but I am glad it did not delved into much detail of jockeying or care of horses - one of his previous books I read went into these aspects too deep and bored with these, I skipped whole paragraphs to get to the main story.
The rich protagonist, Scott, gets interested in buying racehorses, even though he knows very little about racing and nothing about horses. The book opens to his realization that his trainer and adviser Leeds has been swindling him outrageously, playing on his generosity as well as lack of knowledge. From there starts a cat-and-mouse game, with Scott playing to safeguard his property and reputation, and Leeds, his ill-gotten gains and freedom.
It is a well written book, with a likeable protagonist you can sympathize with and an exciting sequence of events as he plans to protect his interests where he cannot expect to get help from the law.

Mini Reviews - XII

A Study in Sherlock (Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon)
  - Miscellaneous

Its quite a mixed bag of stories, set over a range of time frames, some featuring Holmes, many featuring people inspired by Holmes. Some of the stories were nice, while others were insipid. In fact, after reading the first story, I considered abandoning it (even though I loved the Flavia de Luce series by the Author Alan Bradley). There were a few murder mysteries written in the style of Doyle or Christie, I enjoyed those though I was able to figure out the solution - something that does not usually happen with either canon. Overall, I would rate it between 2.5 to 3 stars.


Andy Carpenter #5 (Dead Center)
  - David Rosenfelt

I had enjoyed the series so far, but looks like its time to part ways.
This installment had a setting that was too far-fetched, and the rest of the story has become to sound formulaic (but perhaps that's the norm and the selling point for series like this). After leading through obvious red-herrings (because when the murderer is too obvious from the start, you can be assured that it will not turn out to be the right solution), it appeared that the author was in a hurry to conclude.
The writing style is also not holding me any more. The humorous asides, that were entertaining earlier in the series, are now getting to me - too much of a good thing? I am no fan of high literature, I prefer engaging stories, related in a straightforward manner, but the language in this one has started feeling too juvenile even for me.


The Diva Runs out of Thyme
  - Krista Davis

About 30% into the book, I was fully inclined to abandon it. The author just tried too hard to tell us how mean and shallow Natasha is - every alternate chapter she gives useless and entitled advice to the readers in her column (how many people can afford to rent a limo for their guests to roam about the city in style?!) ... she is exactly a diva, throwing tantrums all around and expecting people to fawn over her. In contrast, the main character is too saccharine (or maybe a doormat) who lets everyone impose over her, and who can prepare a formal meal for 14 people without batting an eyelid. Her mother and sister are unbearable, the only likeable characters have a very minor role.
Eventually, since I cant not know who the killer was, I skimmed through it, skipping the advice columns and lengthy descriptions of food preps, through irrelevant sidetracks (what was that about the colonel and hearse!) to reach a convoluted solution.
Cant figure out why is it ranked so high on the GR cozy mystery lists.

PS: I don't remember why I started numbering these "mini reviews" collections in roman numerals. I hope I won't write so many of them to not be able to annotate the roman number easily :D

Mini Reviews - XI

Cleopatra's Daughter
  - Michelle Moran

It took me quite a while to get into the book, and perhaps because of the slow build-up and a saturation point in reading (had been reading at a frantic pace for few months then), it was almost 5 months before I picked it up again (or any reading at all).
Anyways, after the long break, I got absorbed into it quickly. The narrative was compelling, though I could see the plot twists that the author tried to create long before they were revealed .... the secret about Alexander, his fate, the identity of Red Eagle ....
I enjoyed it, but felt that there was something missing.

Read and Reviewed in Sept 2020

Blackberry Wine
  - Joann Harris

I love Joanne Harris's books, but this one didn't work as well for me as most of her other works. There always seems to be an underlying sadness in her stories, but this one felt melancholy to me, perhaps it was my state of mind when reading it, or the memories of growing up in a small town in a kind of isolated community (which were happy memories, the sadness comes from that part of my childhood being lost).
Her chocolate series is well loved for its magical realism, but this one bordered on supernatural, while I would have preferred a more logical explanation for the meeting in the later part of the book.

Read and Reviewed in Jan 2020

Angela's Ashes: A Memoir of a Childhood
  - McCourt, Frank

I had put off reading this for quite a while, as I was afraid it was going to be very taxing. However it turned out a great read. Although it is terribly sad, it doesn't drown you in misery (like Khaled Hosseni or Premchand's stories), as the heartbreaking tale of poverty and loss is related through a child's matter-of-fact voice, sometimes even with a little humor.

Read and Reviewed in Dec 2019

Mini Reviews - X

The Return of Moriarty (Professor Moriarty Book 1)
The Revenge of Moriarty (Professor Moriarty Book 2)
  - John Gardner
 
These offer an interesting take on Moriarty's exploits. However, it became repetitive after a point, describing the gangster's daily business of crimes. The major feats and character studu of Moriarty were more intriguing. In the second book also, the big plans and schemes and evolution of Moariarty's character were imaginative. However the descriptions of daily business felt even more repetitive. It is interesting to note that many of Holmes pastiche works have a PoV on Jack the Ripper crimes, and this novel also offered a decent twist on it.

Read and Reviewed in Oct 2020

My Man Jeeves (Jeeves #1)

  - P.G. Wodehouse

After receiving numerous recos for Wodehouse as the most wonderful work of english humour, I started with the Blandings Castle series and read six of them, after which it became kind of tedious. I think it is best to read them in between other works, to change the mood, rather than at a go.

Anyhow, these are tough times, and after reading a couple of other books, I thought I will give Jeeves a try. After all, he is perhaps the most famous creation of Wodehouse. My man Jeeves was entertaining and amusing alright, but I was also a bit disappointed. For one, I expected a novel, but it was a collection of stories. Secondly, only half of the stories featured Jeeves, the other half related the antics of another set of characters. Jeeves stories follow a similar pattern ... One of Bertie's friends gets into trouble, they seek Jeeves' advice, which backfires. Then when they give up, Jeeves manages to set it right. Not bad to cheer one up, but I feel they should rather be used as a palate cleanser.

Read and Reviewed in Apr 2020

The Woman in White
  - Collins, Wilkie 

Fairly good and entertaining suspense thriller, set in Victorian times. Though I found it a little too verbose .... there were lengthy descriptions, which I eventually skipped. I'm not particularly fond of reading a 7-page description of the heroine's beauty, or a character's tangential thought-line. It also was full of cliches, most of them non-endearing.

Read and Reviewed in Jan 2020

Bride of Pendorric
  - Holt, Victoria 

This was much better than the previous two Victoria Holt books I read (which were a huge disappointment to my memories of enjoying her books immensely). It was something of a typical Holt story - a titled, handsome hero, a young naive heroine, an immediate attraction and grave misunderstandings. It was an enjoyable read, even suspenseful during the middle, but by the last quarter I figured out what would be the big reveal.

What I don't understand is that why in all these 18th or 19th century romances, the young heroine, barely out of her teens, fall for a man 15 or more years older to her, practically double her age at the time.

Read and Reviewed in Jan 2020