Rating: 
Summary: Descriptive, emotional, mystery, and second chance at love
Review: This book is filled with anachronisms and some tenuous historical research, including the author's constantly getting the hero's title wrong (she keeps having other characters refer to him as Sir "Donally" instead of Sir Christopher, and also as just plain Mr. Donally). If I'm reading a historical romance novel, I like the research to be thorough & accurate. It just didn't ring true that Alexandra could have reached the position at the British Museum that she held, in Victorian England of 1865, even with her father's influence, and also that she would have a female secretary, AND male underlings working under her.
That being said, the first part of the book moved along quickly and sensibly, and I liked the hero, who is a self-made man, and not full of himself but not a pushover, either. The heroine was interesting but not entirely believable, given the plot device set forth above...
This book had its good moments and some flashes of good writing, but I kept thinking, while I was reading it, how much better it could have been. The characters had a lot going for them, but the plot & its resolution just didn't jell into a really good read. So I can't really recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Ehh, OK, but not great
Review: This book is filled with anachronisms and some tenuous historical research, including the author's constantly getting the hero's title wrong (she keeps having other characters refer to him as Sir "Donally" instead of Sir Christopher, and also as just plain Mr. Donally). If I'm reading a historical romance novel, I like the research to be thorough & accurate. It just didn't ring true that Alexandra could have reached the position at the British Museum that she held, in Victorian England of 1865, even with her father's influence, and also that she would have a female secretary, AND male underlings working under her. That being said, the first part of the book moved along quickly and sensibly, and I liked the hero, who is a self-made man, and not full of himself but not a pushover, either. The heroine was interesting but not entirely believable, given the plot device set forth above...This book had its good moments and some flashes of good writing, but I kept thinking, while I was reading it, how much better it would have been if someone like Laura Kinsdale was writing it. The characters had a lot going for them, but the plot & its resolution just didn't jell into a really good read. So I can't really recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Ehh, OK, but not great
Review: This book is filled with anachronisms and some tenuous historical research, including the author's constantly getting the hero's title wrong (she keeps having other characters refer to him as Sir "Donally" instead of Sir Christopher, and also as just plain Mr. Donally). If I'm reading a historical romance novel, I like the research to be thorough & accurate. It just didn't ring true that Alexandra could have reached the position at the British Museum that she held, in Victorian England of 1865, even with her father's influence, and also that she would have a female secretary, AND male underlings working under her. That being said, the first part of the book moved along quickly and sensibly, and I liked the hero, who is a self-made man, and not full of himself but not a pushover, either. The heroine was interesting but not entirely believable, given the plot device set forth above...This book had its good moments and some flashes of good writing, but I kept thinking, while I was reading it, how much better it would have been if someone like Laura Kinsdale was writing it. The characters had a lot going for them, but the plot & its resolution just didn't jell into a really good read. So I can't really recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Descriptive, emotional, mystery, and second chance at love
Review: This is a second chance love story with a mystery subplot. I enjoy books with a mystery element and was pleased with the twist at the end of this book. Mostly this is a love story about second chances and learning to accept the things that can't be changed. The chemistry between Lady Alexandra and Sir Christopher burned the pages on every level for me. The love scene in the carriage was fun and had me laughing. I always wondered how two people could really pull off something like that in a carriage. The secondary characters were fun and I'm looking forward to reading their stories. My only complaint is that I felt like some of the ending was rushed. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Lady Alexandra and her father grow beyond the confines that had constricted her for so many years, and I was cheering as I watched her break free. I liked that her father wasn't all bad and that there was no black or white to that relationship. Her father did what he did because he believed that he was protecting his daughter. Sir Christopher Donally is one of the best heroes I have read in a long time. He embodied all the spirit of an Irishman who had risen through the ranks of society, and he had always loved Lady Alexandra, no matter what he tried to believe. He has sexy blue eyes, while his brothers have dark, Colin Farrel dark, dark, dark brown eyes. (Can't wait for their books) Overall, I would give this story a four and three quarters stars, because like I said, the ending felt somewhat rushed. But I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. It has a place among my many favorite books, and the author is one I'm going to watch for her next book.
Rating:
Summary: Give me more, give me more
Review: This is one of the best books I've read this year and I've found a new author to fall in love with. You'll love Christopher and Lady Alexandra as they fight for their love and for a second chance to begin a life that had been stolen from them. Ms. Thomas captured the class distinction between the pair. The love scenes were sensual. The mystry worked and didn't take over the story. The book pulled at my emotions until the end. If you are looking for fluff, this is not the book to read. If you want to fall in love with two characters that will stay with you long after you put down the book then buy this book now. This is one of the best books I've read this year and has gone directly to my keeper shelf for me to read again and again and again. I just love it when I discover new authors. Thank you, thank you, thank you for a great read.
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