Lord of the Privateers

Stephanie Laurens' Lord of the Privateers is a 2016 Harlequin from their Mira Books imprint. Mira appears to be a premium line for established authors. Although the web address (www.mirabooks.com) redirects to Harlequin, the book does not mention that it is a Harlequin. This particular story is a historical romance, but I've got another Mira …

Salvation in the Sheriff’s Kiss

I liked Kelly Boyce's historical western Salvation in the Rancher's Arms, and was looking forward to Salvation in the Sheriff's Kiss (Harlequin, 2015). Happily, I was not disappointed. This time the couple, Sheriff Hunter Donovan and Meredith Connolly, are former lovers. When her father was sent to jail for cattle rustling, Hunter dumped Meredith, telling …

One Unashamed Night

One Unashamed Night, by Sophia James, is a Harlequin historical, first published in 2010. The cover includes the tagline "The Undoing of a Lady," but this is selling the sizzle. The story open in the English countryside, on a dark and snow stormy night, in 1826. Lord Taris Wellingham, suffering from failing eyesight, is traveling …

Rose of Acadia

Rose of Acadia, by Margaret Marshall Saunders, is a historical romance. It's not set in the past - it's set in the present - but it was first published in 1898, as Rose à Charlitte. Out of print for many years, it was reprinted in 2002. To fully appreciate this book, some historical and literary context …

Heartless

Heartless, by Kat Martin, is a 2001 release from St. Martin's, though still in print. Having just finished the sombre and low stakes When He Was Wicked, I wasn't sure about tackling another regency era romance. Heartless has a much different tone, with action and threats aplenty. Ariel is the teenage daughter of a tenant …

Seduced at Sunset

Seduced at Sunset, by Julianne MacLean, is a 2013 release, and the sixth of the Pembroke Palace series, a mix of novels, novellas, and shorts. Some, including this one, are self-published, but others are published by Avon. I haven't read any others. This one was a freebie I picked up from the Romance Writers of …

Salvation in the Rancher’s Arms

I've read and reviewed several cowboy romances, and have a grudging admiration for the genre. I'd rather read about cowboys than billionaires. I've also read and reviewed several historical romances, and they have a lot of appeal. The distancing of time is a great tool for suspending disbelief. Kelly Boyce's Salvation in the Rancher's Arms(2014) …

The Penguin Book of Infidelities

Having just read a couple of novels where the plot involved adultery, I found myself keen to re-read this collection. The Penguin Book of Infidelities, edited by Stephen Brook, is a rich collection of literature on the subject of marital and/or sexual infidelity. The selections include poetry, fictional accounts, letters, and historical records. Brook's stated …

Accidental Princess

The Accidental Princess (2008), by Nancy Robards Thompson, is a charming mix of reality and whimsy. This is part of the Harlequin NEXT line, generally featuring older women such as divorcees and widows, who "discover that an unexpected fork in the road can be exactly what you need." Sophie Baldwin was married for fifteen years …

Sex and Punishment

No, this book is not an imitator of Fifty Shades of Grey. Sex and Punishment: Four Thousand Years of Judging Desire is a history of laws about sexual relationships. The author is a lawyer, which explains the case law perspective, and a journalist, which explains the easy readability of what could be a very dry …