Curl up in February

Romantic_L_eads Recommendations and reviews of romantic fiction

Curl up in February

FEBRUARY IS A good time of year to read some good historical romance. I decided to try and include reviews of some current Canadian writers and as a result found long-time Harlequin novelist Margaret Moore’s latest offering. Another Canadian, Mary Balogh, has written the anchor in a wonderful collection of sweet short stories from Topaz.

A Scoundrel’s Kiss
By Margaret Moore (Avon – 1999, $7.99)

A classic character, the misunderstood hero is at home in this Restoration-era royal romp.

Lord Neville Farrington has been nothing but a disappointment to his straight-laced, judgmental father, the Earl of Barrettshire. The Earl has arrived in town unexpectedly a beautiful new ward, Arabella Martin in tow, and announces that she will be his heir upon her marriage. Outraged, Neville decides to live down to his father expectations, betting he can seduce the stuffy interloper before she can snap up a husband from among the courtiers of King Charles’ court.

The licentious attitudes of the London scene are a shocking revelation to Arabella after her sheltered country upbringing. Even more shocking is the change in Neville from the young neighbour she knew in the country. He has become a scoundrel in every way and seems bent on enticing her. Unfortunately, he’s a bit too good at it for her peace of mind.

Other than the too-tidy ending this consistently entertaining Ontario author spins a fun and fanciful yarn.

Untamed Time
By Susan Plunkett (Jove – 1999, $7.99)

This is a prime example of too much space, too little story.

The story itself is rather neat, if a bit silly. A modern, hardened soldier is about to be killed on a covert mission in Bolivia. His last resort to prayer yields an unexpected trip to California, circa 1847. Rafe Stricter (where do they buy these names?) and his gravely injured partner are found by two “gifted” women living by their wits in the Sierra Mountains.

Lorilie McCaully’s gift for mentally controlling and communicating with wild animals has suddenly extended to include Rafe. This, of course, is an excuse for animal attraction.

As expected there are some rather heated scenes. Unfortunately, the book could easily have been a few chapters shorter since the long drawn out sex scenes really did very little to progress the plot.

Valentine Wedding
By Jane Feather (Bantam – 1999, $8.99)

Sometimes a sexy historical really works. This one does.

It’s December 1810 and Emma Beaumont’s late brother has named her ex-fiance, Alasdair Chase as her guardian. Since Emma has been effectively independent for three years, she chafes under the guardianship of the man she left at the altar. The characters of Alasdair and Emma set sparks flying.

In a temper, she swears to find a husband and a lover by Valentine’s Day, which would free her of Alasdair’s supervision. Alasdair decides he might as well fill at least one of the roles himself, and the games begin.

The recipe for this book goes like this: throw in legitimate rivals, a depraved fortune hunter to spice things up and bring the plot to a roiling boil.

Typical of Jane Feather, this is a tightly written, fast-paced plot with feisty characters.

Captured Hearts - Five Favorite Love Stories

By Mary Jo Putney, Joan Wolf, Edith Layton, Patricia Rice and Mary Balogh (Topaz – 1999, $8.99)

This smorgasbord of historical-romance styles and subgenre is a lively feast of five love stories by five famous authors, which is a pleasure to read.

- Mary Jo Putney’s Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know is a bitter-sweet Wild West one-night stand.

- In The Antagonists, Joan Wolf pulls you into her first person narrative so the reader is quickly rooting for the irreverent red-haired Dinah and her pursuit of happiness in Regency England.

- Buried Treasures is the tale, written by Edith Layton, of a nefarious pirate intent on taking advantage of a sweet, innocent Long Island landlubber.

- Carolyn Thorogood is too good to marry the presumptuous spendthrift Lord Jack in Patricia Rice’ Fathers and Daughters. Carolyn’s father acquires Lord Jack’s debts and sends him packing only to have him return five years later to throw his newfound wealth and his hat back in the ring.

- The anchor of the book, Precious Rogue by Ontario writer Mary Balogh, is a warm winsome story of a lady’s companion taming a notorious rogue.

Definitely add this compilation to your pleasurable read pile.

Janine Taylor is a Halifax writer and can be reached at romanticleads@hotmail.com

Send mail to thetaylors@canada.com with questions or comments about this web site.