RomanticLeads Recommendations and reviews of romantic fiction
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RomanticLeads Recommendations and reviews of romantic fiction
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April/99 REGENCY ERA romance is such a popular genre that some of the offerings have been less than fulfilling. But before avid readers of Regency abandon the genre altogether and start reading how-to books, they might want to investigate a new offering from Julia Quinn. It is a Regency-era spoof of the 1995 best-seller on how to capture a man called The Rules. How to Marry a Marquis is captivating and as a result, it has joined the Westerns and contemporaries currently finding favour on my book shelf. How to Marry a Marquis Quinn will pull smiles and occasional snickers from the most callous among us. Elizabeth Hotchkiss is the conscientious companion of Agatha, Lady Danbury, living in genteel poverty with her three siblings. Elizabeth happens upon a husband-hunting handbook in her employer’s library entitled How to Marry a Marquis. Reluctantly following the book’s edicts she decides to practice her wiles on Lady Danbury’s new estate manager. The estate manager is really Lady Danbury’s nephew James Sidwell, Marquis of Riverdale. He has arrived incognito to suss out a blackmailer. Elizabeth turns out to be adept at capturing herself a Marquis, albeit unknowingly. If you are among the regency readers who enjoyed Quinn’s definition-loving heroine of To Catch An Heiress, you will find her newest book an absolute delight. The only problem is that her stories are page-turners. Just when you are happily ensconced in her wacky world you get the happy end. The only recourse is to hope that Quinn remains productive. Joe’s Wife One of St. John’s best, Joe’s Wife is full of strong emotional scenes that evoke reality in a style reminiscent of famous romance writer, LaVyrle Spencer. After the U.S. Civil War Tye Hatcher returns to Aspen Grove, Col. to resume his role as town pariah. However, widow Meg Telford sees more than the town’s ne’er do well, she envisions a strong back and an ally. Marrying Tye means she can keep her late-husband Joe’s dream ranch, but she doesn’t count on the instant rejection of her former friends. Nor was she expecting an instant family arriving on her doorstep in the form of Tye’s daughter by local “working-girl”. Meg expects to make things work with Tye but they both find it hard to think of her as anything but Joe’s wife. St. John takes a standard marriage-of-convenience plot and instills it with some bittersweet moments. The Sweetest Thing The psychology of coping with absentee parents is a common theme in contemporary romance these days, but this book offers some magical moments to brighten up this Easter story. Alex Carrigan is an insecure workaholic loner trying to extricate himself from being saddled with his estranged grandfather and a newly discovered smart-mouthed daughter. To top things off, his melodramatic grandfather, Julian, believes he has brought a curse upon the Carrigan family. To lift it, he must find his true love and make peace with the ancient Anasasi before he dies. Enter Faith Christopher, local baker, who is drawn in by Julian’s story and decides to help him on his quest. Faith, a former child of the foster system, sees Alex rejecting the permanent family that she always wanted. The interaction between Alex and Faith is great sensual drama. The end-of-life search for Julian’s lost love is a tearjerker, especially for those with elderly relatives. Freethy manages to pull off healing resolutions without being trite or too sweet. Janine Taylor is a Halifax-based reviewer. She may be reached at romanticleads@hotmail.com *30* |
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