Is There Anything Worse Than Having A Child Disappear?

An artist reluctantly agrees to look for a missing teen. Enjoyed the interaction of the teen's mother with the two women trying to help find her daughter. The condition of Laura's apartment and her lack of appetite are very real and reflect her sense of helplessness and her despondency over the whereabouts of her child. That part of the story was the most real . The description of teen secrets and ability to circumvent parental restrictions was both amusing and alarming. While the abusive relationship that caused the girl and her mother to be in hiding to begin with is not highly developed it is clear enough to make the dangerous situation real and the need for secrecy from police understandable. One thing I would suggest is that the author review more closely her description of Freddy's outfits--I just don't see her holding a purse in her lap while wearing a windbreaker like the one worn by James Dean. There could be more editing for repetition even in places where two sentences say exactly the same thing, All in all, a captivating read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Tulip Fever

Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The best part of this book was its cover! It is beautiful but the story is not. The reference to tulipomania is hardly touched up although the onion eating scene was perfect. Found this difficult and plodding for the first half. Not until the deception of pregnancy did the writing pick up. The atmosphere was moody, dark--like ill lit rooms filled with heavy wood furniture. Even the art studio and painting scenes were dark and moody. The author kept stressing the illusionary aspect of life and so the story seemed dream-like. Other than Cornelis, the old man married to a unfaithful young wife, and Maria, the unfortunate young maid, I found the characters unlikeable and their selfishness intolerable. Jan did not deserve his success but if Cornelis found happiness with his native girl that is a happy ending. Maria's love story and its ending was far more satisfying than the relationship between Sophia and Jan.

Twenty plus years ago this was a best seller, didn't miss much by taking so long to get around to it.

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Lizbeth's Sister is The Next Enchantress--Marries a Duke

The Duke and The Enchantress by Paullett Golden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Second installment of the Enchantress series--having read it, must urge that readers start with the first book. Though some series repeat enough of preceding plots this one does not. Much of the involvement with Aunt Hazel, Lizabeth etc requires the backstory from the first book. That is not a weakness but just a tip. Though I truly loved the first book and its characters I found this one less satisfying. Mama Charlotte is a bit much to take even though from the first story you understand the rat her father was. Still her nastiness to the new Duchess shows no love for her or the Duke, despite the claim toward the end that she loves them both. So far as the Duke's life before marrying is concerned, it is totally far-fetched and unbelieveable. Not only that, I'm not sure the exploitation of his young self by middle-aged women is very different than this 33 year old man marrying an 18 year old. Especially since he has made no effort to know or understand her as a person. Definitely common in those days and even now. What I question is why the reverse situation is shown to be demeaning and damaging to him in his youth--enough to keep him celibate for ten years--from 23 to 33--very questionable. So, finding the subplots too fanciful and contrived, I did not totally enjoy this book. That said, however, once the couple begin to know and understand each other and their interests, they became interesting. The idea of a composer having to hide his talent for fear of seeming effeminate was horrifying--but his music reflecting his emotions and that of his wife and their shared enjoyment of his musical efforts ( in more ways than one ) rescued the book for me and kept me reading.
On to the third installment, which I've already started and which is much like the first--engrossing. Must be the Sebastian side of the family that I like!

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Can a Self-Proclaimed Spinster and A Emotionally Wounded Earl Find Happiness?

Just an enjoyable book that on the surface is another mindless romantic story of an independent woman before her time and a emotionally wounded man finding each other, overcoming their individual reluctance to commit themselves and managing to work their way to happiness. And yet, I could not help but be moved by the heartlessness of Sebastian's father and the strain of cruelty that ran through his family on his father's side. ( His mother , who died when he was young, obviously was a more warm-hearted and loving parent!) The struggle that Sebastian lived in order to prevent himself from continuing the cruelty was so enormous. That he succeeded and that he found, in Lizabeth, a woman as strong as he was every bit as satisfying as the light-hearted love story that is the main plot. I'm a convert and this series is one I shall persue. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What Happens When Your Fictional Knight Steps Off the Page?

A Dash of Romance by Paullett Golden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a fun romp for an almost 100 degree day staying comfortably cool in an air-conditioned sitting room. What starts out as an irritation to a worldly London dandy and a horrible embarrassment to a quiet small town vicar's daughter turns into a warm and humorous relationship. Sometimes the man of one's dreams actually appears in one's life as a fully formed and confusing tease. Although the former is totally a product of the heroine's pen, the latter has a mind of his own and won't always do what is expected of him--how irritating!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Breaking the MacLaoch Curse

The Legend of Lady MacLaoch by Becky Banks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When she eloped with the man she loved, the Lady's male relatives killed him before her, brought her home and gave her to their chosen husband. She cursed them and all their descendants, but left room for the breaking of the curse. American, Cole Baker, finds herself at Castle MacLaoch researching she Scottish heritage. She also finds herself in the midst of the legend and curse. But how does she figure in all that history and what does it mean for her future?

A page turner of a mystery, two romances and maybe the breaking of the curse is filled with interesting and sometimes maniacal characters. Just a truly fun read

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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The Ashford Affair ( I Miss the Napoleonic Spies,Myself )

The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tale of two cousins--one rich, pampered, beautiful, confident; the other rich, less pampered, less beautiful, insecure and the poor relation, reluctantly taken in. Close as sisters and yet Bea, the daughter of the house, definitely the leader and dominant cousin to Adeline, known as Addie. The girls come of age in the post-war 20's in England but time and circumstances takes Bea to Kenya and a coffee plantation and marriage to Frederick, whom they both love. Addie, turned out on her own, makes a life for herself in London.
In 2000, New York City, Clementine, Addie's grand-daughter makes her way as a 30 something lawyer, working her tail off to become partner in her firm. Her mother Marjorie and her Aunt Anna are another set of sisters in a new age. Family secrets have created a distance between the women and a definite difference in their life choices. Grammy Addie's ( a name that is repeated ad nauseum throughout the book) demise opens the can of worms that will reveal Bea's death, Anna's reasons for lack of children and headlong multiple marriages, Frederick's role in all their lives and Clemmie's long-time relationship with Jon, Anna's foster son.

Interesting portrait of pre-war and post-war aristocracy in Britain and how some members adapt or don't to the changes of 20th Century high society throughout the world.

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