chez_jae: (Archer book)
Christmas in CamelotChristmas in Camelot by Brenda Jernigan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


View all my reviews

There's been a dearth of reading this month, but this evening I finished Christmas in Camelot by Brenda K Jernigan. It's historical romance with a dash of fantasy. Main characters are Lady Noelle and Sir Nicholas.

Noelle has been spurning suitors ever since Merlin himself told her she'd marry her one true love, but when her oldest brother gets exasperated and promises her to Sir Gavin, Noelle is set to be wed on Christmas Day at Camelot castle. Nicholas has no use for love. He enjoys women and leaves them, but when he meets Noelle, he can't help but be drawn to the headstrong beauty. Too bad she has been promised to another. However, Christmas is just around the corner, bringing miracles of its own.

The story was charming enough. Noelle got herself into enough scrapes, most of which Nicholas had to save her from. The setting was lovely, and characters were portrayed well. What I found disappointing, however, is that the villain of the piece escaped without any justice being meted out. I'm vindictive by nature, and I dislike seeing someone get off scot free like that. Hmpf.

Favorite lines:
♦ "The concern was not so much for me but for the inconvenience of the fight."
♦ "When one will sacrifice his happiness for another, then I know of no truer love."


Ye olde breath line: Noelle realized she'd been holding her breath, which she promptly let out.

A decent enough story, fitting for the season. Four stars.
chez_jae: (Books)
Cassie's FortuneCassie's Fortune by Linda Shertzer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I very nearly finished my "work" book at the office today. I brought it home and read the last of it this evening. The book was Cassie's Fortune by Linda Shertzer. It's part of the "Magical Love" line from Jove.

According to family lore, a gypsy cast a curse on the Bowen family so that each woman born in the family was doomed to wealthy spinsterhood. When Cassandra (Cassie) Bowen pays a visit to her maiden aunt Flora, Flora reveals that the key to breaking the curse is that one of the Bowen women must lose something she can't afford to lose, trust someone she has no reason to trust, and love a man with no hope of him ever loving her in return. Despite the family history of spinsterhood, Cassie is dubious. However, when Flora passes not long after Cassie's arrival, she learns that her wealthy aunt bequeathed everything to her...including an odd crystal ball that Flora called Sebastien. Now that Cassie is in possession of Sebastien, she begins having visions of the future, including rather intimate scenes of her and her scoundrel of a neighbor, Brent Conway. Unfortunately, when Cassie tries to warn the townspeople of what has been revealed to her of things such as war, everyone thinks she's just as crazy as Aunt Flora was.

Brent doesn't seem to think Cassie is crazy, or at least he doesn't say so. As they spend more time in one another's company, Cassie finds herself falling in love. Too bad Brent had a prior commitment, leaving Cassie heartbroken and wondering if she is slated to share the same fate as every other Bowen woman before her.

This was an interesting story. It read like more of a historical romance, even with the elements of the curse and the crystal ball added in. Some parts were sobering to read, including how Jerusha, the black woman who took care of Cassie's laundry, never felt comfortable coming into the house through the front door, and how some of the men in Cassie's life conspired to have her declared unstable so they could swoop in and claim her fortune. Unfortunately, that was all too plausible in the 1850's, when women could be consigned to insane asylums merely for reading or not being "biddable" enough. Made my blood boil. All that aside, the characters were portrayed well (Jerusha was a treasure!) and the plot flowed smoothly. However, considering the drama that the author spent so much time building, it was somewhat disappointing that each point of conflict was neatly resolved in the final two chapters without much conflict at all.

Favorite line: "...you can't buy people's good opinion of you."

An enjoyable story, overall. Four stars.
chez_jae: (Books)
Summer KittensSummer Kittens by Janice Bennett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Yesterday, I had only one chapter left in my work book, so I brought it home to finish. It was an anthology called Summer Kittens, and it featured three Regency romances that involved kittens.

In the first story, lovely young widow Lady Stanyon is shepherding her step-daughter through her first Season, when she encounters Viscount Breydon. The attraction between them is immediate, and Emma may be on the verge of making her own match. The only problem is, cats seem to be attracted to her, and she fears it will drive Nicholas away.

The second story was about Miss Anne Tandridge, who is about to be married to stuffy Sir Arthur Ide. Her plans are upended, however, when her first love, Richard Kingsley, returns from India to claim her hand in marriage. Anne has a dilemma on her hands, but with the help of two rescued kittens, she will decide which gentleman to spend the rest of her life with.

In the final story, Miss Margaret Denby is stranded at an inn while awaiting her brother. There, she encounters Mr Jonathan Holm, a member of Parliament. Seeing that Miss Denby is alone causes Jonathan to believe she is a lightskirt. Nevertheless, he finds her attractive, intelligent and charming, if not marriage material. When this misunderstanding threatens to tear them apart, it is Anne's kitten that comes to the rescue.

I don't read historical romance any more, but all of these stories were entertaining, with lively heroines and crafty cats.

Favorite lines:
♦ Cats seemed to sense her presence from miles away and come running to surround her.
♦ ...Tyger was wailing as though consigned forever to feline perdition.

OMGatos, I can relate to both of these lines!

Although no longer my cuppa, I did enjoy these stories. Four stars!

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