Rating: 
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: I'll admit to being a bit confused about some of the vehemently negative opinions on this book. I found it intelligent, delightful and a refreshing change from the generic romance books that have flooded the market lately. Perhaps because this author is making her debut in hardback? We are entitled to expect higher quality in a hardback, and I think this author delivered.The book was reminiscent of Judith McNaught and Amanda Quick.... intelligent characters, richly nuanced storyline and sparkling dialog. I did not rate it a "5" because I found the momentum of the plot to sag in places. This is a forgivable sin, so long as the author loads the story with humor, emotion and captures the sense of time and place. This book certainly did that, and I will look forward to more from this author. Let's hope that the publishers of romance novels will deliver more beautiful covers like this book. I think the books would sell to a wider audience if they abandon the cartoon-like quality that mars many romance covers.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply wonderful. A page turner.
Review: At first I was a little discouraged to buy this book, after reading so many bad reviews, pointing to errors and historical inaccuracy. At the end I decided to buy it based on one reviewer that explained that those errors were only on the hard cover edition, not in the soft cover. Besides, I had already read "Enchanting Pleasures", the third novel in this series, and found it pretty decent. So I decided to take a risk with this one. I'm so glad I did!
This is one of the best novels I have read in a while!
It reminded me somewhat of Judith McNaught's "Something Wonderful", a novel and a writer that I love.
The story is full of passion, love, misunderstanding, jealousy, regrets, and forgiveness. What more can you ask for in a romance novel?
The only error I found is that in one part of the book I read that Charlotte's brother is 25 years old, and in another part, it says that, 3 years later, her mother (who apparently, since there is no mention of a previous marriage, is also his mother)is 41. By that math, she must have had him when she was 13! Not physically impossible maybe, but very improbable.
But that is a very minor mistake, I only noticed it because by coincidence, I had been wondering how old Charlotte's mother would be, since she appeared to be still young, and fun loving and understanding. I had calculated that she must be around 46 at least, based on Charlotte's brother's age. So I was surprised when I read that she was 41.
But this doesn't take away from a story that is heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
If you like a good romance, in the Judith McNaught style, I really recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting read.
Review: I borrowed the book from the library reading about how it was from the victorian type era, I had no clue that it was a romance novel. I guess I should have read the flap more intently. Aside from the cheesy romance things it was a decent read. It isn't historically accurate in the least, but who ... cares? If you want accuracy watch the history channel. They call it fiction for a reason. The author is a decent writer. Its definately worth a shot reading. Kind of a rainy day read.
Rating: 
Summary: A trifle rough... needs a bit more polish.
Review: The cover of this book is lovely-- I hope publishers take note of how tasteful and appealing such covers can be. The book itself has some power, some emotion, but reads pretty much like a first draft. I'm not a big Regency reader, but even I noticed mistakes everywhere, like the major who is about to become an admiral (presumably he's going to have to switch from the army to the navy first), and all the British girls in the latest French fashions when they've been at war with France for 10 years. The whole feel of the book was kind of weird because there was no attempt to create a plausible Regency-era backdrop. I kept being yanked out of the story to ask, "Did anyone do any research here?" But there were also problems with the book's scenes. There was one scene that was sort of like a flashback in the hero's point of view, back to the night before, and I got so confused about where we were and who we were with-- at one point, we're in the heroine's head, and how could that be, since the whole scene is a flashback in the hero's head? It was hard keeping track of when things happened. There were also a whole bunch of scenes that had to do with minor characters, and I didn't find those very interesting. I also didn't think the hero was much fun. He kept being really mean to the heroine because he believed she was sleeping with his brother, and he never had any evidence of that. It made him seem sort of psycho. I also didn't really like that the heroine had sex with a guy she hadn't even spoken to and thought was a servant on the ground in a garden surrounded by other people. I know you can be swept away by passion, but even my wildest acquaintances in the dissolute 1970s wouldn't have done that. But I thought the friendship between Charlotte and Sophie and Sophie's fierce loyalty and intelligence were admirable. I thought that was the really healthy, nurturing relationship in the book. Alex was more "good for one thing" and when she needed a friend, a helper, a comrade, a supporter, she turned to Sophie, who always helped her and believed in her. I think Sophie would make a great heroine. I hope the editor helps more with any future books, because the author has talent but maybe needs a bit more training in things like history, point of view, and scene structure. I don't blame her though. I think it's hard to do that "on-the-job" training in public, to have your first book out there before maybe you're completely in control of your talent. I hope in the future she'll put into practice all she's learned.
Rating:
Summary: As With OUTLANDER People Will Either Love It Or Hate It
Review: I must say I am astonished at the venom being unleashed upon this book for historical inaccuracies and political incorrectness. Heavens! If I want a lesson in history, I will buy a history book, and if I want to be entrenched in 21st century political correctness I will watch Geraldo! If I want fantasy and escape, I am not interested in whether or not the waltz was invented during a particular period, I just want the romance and sexual tension and thus I am overjoyed to find a book such as this. For a first novel, I thought it had all, humor, a LIKEABLE heroine (so many of them are tiresome one-note concertos, all indignation, page after page) and a likeable, if somewhat dumb hero. I WILL agree with the reviewer who took issue with the "question mark" eyebrows...I think the writer's editor should have reeled her in on that one...but there was an awful lot to like in the story. And I, too, initially bought the book because I was drawn to its beautiful cover, as I was with OUTLANDER, too. I am looking forward to the day publishers retire Fabio and all of those over long-haired, big-pec'd bronze men and do away with the embarrassing "bodice ripper" covers. Our own imaginations serve us quite nicely, thanks.
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasurable Read!
Review: I was drawn to this book (the paperback version) by the beautiful cover. When are publishers going to figure out that romance readers are tired of "bodice ripper" covers? Once I began reading, I was captivated by interesting characters, and writing that contained both wit and emotion. While the hero of the story (Alex) did grow a little tiresome by the end of the book, all in all I felt the book was well worth my money and time. It was a little bit "off the beaten path" of regency romances. I look forward to reading more work by Ms. James. I am sure she will only get better!
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I'd heard a lot about this book and so perhaps I came to it with unfair expectations, but I never really got into it, and by the end I was reading it because I'd started it rather than because I wanted to find out what happened. The characters seemed to act in the way the story demanded, rather than remaining true to themselves, and I wasn't keen on the plot. The writing is light, though, and there are some good moments. I'll give her other books a try.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I am an avid romance reader. After going through every other genre I have have fallen in love with romance novels. This book is one of the many I have read. But unlike some of the others this one is one I will never forget. I have read the only other two by this authour and I recommend them fully, with all me heart. I am constantly searching for more books by Eliose and have yet to see any more. I hope she writes again soon because the a novel can only be savoured for so long.
Rating:
Summary: A new favorite author!
Review: Wow! I really loved these books -- there are three in the series and they are excellent. Eloisa James is a professor of English literature and clearly knows her stuff. Her writing is delightful. She bases her stories on history -- loosely! She creates a complicated but delightful tale. The three books are interwoven with characters that you come to care about quickly. Hope she's working on #4!
Rating:
Summary: Great,Great,Great
Review: This book is great. My sister and I fell in love with this book. It had a wonderful plot. It was a very descriptive novel and had a very good story to it. I did not think it was going to be a good book, because my sister picked it out...but it was evne better than good it was great! So good that I ordered the rest of the series a couple of months later! Eloisa James is an excellant writer and she should never stop writing!
|
