For the First Time

Rating:
Summary: The Best She's Done!
Review: I don't usually read Kathryn Smith's books, (and I don't usually write reviews) but decided on this one as it sounded better than her others. It was one I read all the way through in one sitting. In fact, I might just go back and look over her other books one more time - maybe I missed something the first time! Anyways, this one is very good.

Rating:
Summary: The Best She's Done!
Review: I have read all of Kathryn Smith's romance novels and think, by far, this is her best. It's one of those books that you hate see come to an end. Hopefully, she will write more books involving the other three Ryland brothers.

Rating:
Summary: Best of the Best
Review: I have read all of Kathryn Smith's romance novels and think, by far, this is her best. It's one of those books that you hate see come to an end. Hopefully, she will write more books involving the other three Ryland brothers.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I just finished the book, and I loved it! The story and the characters were done great. The author does a great job drawing you into wanting to know more about the main characters, Blythe and Devlin. They both are strong, tall, and insecure when it comes to emotions. They both run away from their problems til they get to know one another physically and emotionally. Blythe left London 2 years ago after her heart and engagement was broken by Earl Carnover, Carny, who fell in love with another woman and married before arriving in London. She didn't want to face society after being jilted. She is insecure with her height and looks. Devlin is a rough, strong man who lived through wars and lives with guilt for killing a soldier during war. They both discover what love is really about as well as helping with each other's insecurities. They both grow confident with their trust and love towards each other. There are a few obstacles for them to face, there's a lot of heated moments with the couple. This is a book worth buying, a keeper. I just hope the author writes more about Devlin's brothers.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I just finished the book, and I loved it! The story and the characters were done great. The author does a great job drawing you into wanting to know more about the main characters, Blythe and Devlin. They both are strong, tall, and insecure when it comes to emotions. They both run away from their problems til they get to know one another physically and emotionally. Blythe left London 2 years ago after her heart and engagement was broken by Earl Carnover, Carny, who fell in love with another woman and married before arriving in London. She didn't want to face society after being jilted. She is insecure with her height and looks. Devlin is a rough, strong man who lived through wars and lives with guilt for killing a soldier during war. They both discover what love is really about as well as helping with each other's insecurities. They both grow confident with their trust and love towards each other. There are a few obstacles for them to face, there's a lot of heated moments with the couple. This is a book worth buying, a keeper. I just hope the author writes more about Devlin's brothers.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I just wanted to add that this is a great book. I hope Kathryn Smith continues and writes about the other three brothers. I love it when an author has books that are a "family" series. I don't want to say good-bye to Blythe/Devlin just yet.

Rating:
Summary: Kathryn Smith goes right to the top of my must read list!!!
Review: I love it when I find a new author!!! I won't write a storyline for this book since others have done so but I will say that this book was truly one of the most enjoyable historical romances that I have read in a long time. I tend to be a very picky reader but Kathryn Smith had me from the first chapter in this book! I read it in one sitting! I enjoyed this book so much that I ordered all of her other books immediately after I had finished For The First Time. Other lovers of historical romances will not be disappointed with this book!!!

Rating:
Summary: these characters should be psychoanalysts
Review: If you're looking for a guilt and self pity party, step right up to this one. These characters don't just wallow in it, they climb right up to the 10 meter platform then do a reverse 2 1/2 somersault dive right into the pity pool then dog paddle around until they've saturated themselves. Then they climb out and proceed to endlessly think about how little they deserve love and how they can't allow another human being into their lives because they *know* they're going to end up rejected. Then after they think all this, they head out to their friends' and relatives' homes and
talktalktalk about it some more. It's like reading a bunch of budding psychoanalysts the way this group searches for the deeper meaning of their childhoods, war time experiences and sex and love lives. Then when all the problems are solved with an afternoon discussion and trip down memory lane, it makes me wonder what they've been self-flagellating themselves about for 10 years and more!

I had been looking forward to trying this author because her plots sounded a little more intricate than the standard Avon stuff now but after reading reviews of her
works at all the major review sites, I'm going to trade this one in and probably
the other two I have as well. They all seem to have Wounded Heroes with
Tortured Childhoods who make their heroines prove over and over and over
how much they love them. Life is too short. D


Rating:
Summary: Regency romance readers will enjoy this delightful tale
Review: In 1817, Lord Miles Christian hosts a party to honor war hero Devlin Ryland who saved many lives during the fight against Napoleon. Perhaps the only one unhappy with the gaga events is Miles' sister Amazonian Lady Blythe whose former fiancé Lord Carnover and his wife will attend.

After helping neighbors with building a roof, a disheveled Blythe returns home. At the stable she sees a beautiful horse. The owner is Devlin who informs her that his steed is Flynn before he introduces himself. Devlin and Blythe are attracted to one another and cannot keep their eyes off on another at the evening's soiree. As their attraction grows over the next few days, he struggles with his need for Blythe and a disbelief that love exists. Worse he also concludes the object of his dreams seems to still pine for her former betrothed making anything permanent between this couple appears impossible.

Regency romance readers will enjoy this delightful tale due to strong lead protagonists especially the 6-foot Blythe. The secondary cast provides insight into the personalities of Blythe and Devlin. Though an incident with Carnover seems inappropriate fans will appreciate Kathryn Smith's wonderful historical love story.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: She Stirs My Imagination and NOT for the First Time
Review: In this first novel in the Ryland Brothers series, Devlin Ryland, Waterloo war hero has returned to London in triumph, acclaimed for his courage and daring as he saved the life of one of England's officers. Devlin is embarrassed by the attention, as he wants no part of this, his newfound glory, nor reminders of a war and the part he played in it. A very good friend (from ELUSIVE PASSION) invited him to a house party on the outskirts of London, mentioning that he might be interested in looking at a property nearby to settle down in. It was at this house party that he would discover a woman who kindled his interest and desires like none he had ever met before the sister of his host, the tall and beautiful Lady Blythe Christian.

Unfortunately, the lady who brings all his yearnings to the forefront, and stirring passions and feelings he is too afraid to recognize, wants nothing at all to do with England's heralded champion. This hero, Devlin, saved the life of the man who was Blythe's betrothed...who after he recovered, heartlessly married another. No matter how devastatingly handsome, kind and gentle he appears to her, Devlin is a constant reminder of the pain and humiliation she felt at being betrayed. As a result of this betrayal, Blythe, has sworn to never marry, never trust her heart to another man only to run the risk of having it broken again. Devlin, dealing with his own feelings of inadequacy for all the adulation of being a hero, didn't believe he knew what love was. The only thing he knew was that no one made him feel like this and with Blythe, for the first time he found himself wanting something more.

This was a fabulous 'love' story. It was honest, it was passionate and it pulled at my heartstrings. This author writes with a lot of 'soul' and it is the type of book you can get emotionally involved in - WOW! Not only do you feel for the central characters, but she will have you feeling emotional over the joys and heartbreaks of her secondary characters as well. This was a total read for me and I am eagerly anticipating the release of the sequels on the remaining Ryland brothers. Outstanding imagery and great sensual love scenes - what more can you ask!