Welcome to Decemberrrrrrrr! Mother Nature decided to usher in the new month with a cold snap, so I’ve been huddled up inside with hot soup, soft blankets, and cozy romance novels – including a couple of Christmas books! But don’t worry, it didn’t get too warm and fuzzy in here because I balanced it out with some all-out angst. So all in all, I’m a happy camper.
On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn: Last of the Bridgertons! After reading the books all summer, finishing up is bittersweet, but Gregory and Lucy’s story gives a satisfying conclusion. From light and fluffy, it takes a pretty dramatic turn in the second half, but by then, of course, I loved the characters so much that I was willing to go along with it. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton still remains my favorite of the series, but this one is up there. And now I’m left counting the days for the show to drop of Netflix. *twiddles thumbs* *checks calendar*
Friends and Foes by Sarah M. Eden: I read Eden’s The Lady and the Highwayman this fall, which was a true delight, so, naturally, I went looking for more. Friends and Foes is one of her older books, and it shows – her prose is clunkier, but I did find the whip-smart, unique characters I expected after The Lady and the Highwayman. And as a bonus, it takes place over Christmas! I don’t see myself reading more in the “Jonquil Brothers” series (or… well… maybe, but not right away), but I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment of the “Dread Penny Society” series, The Gentleman and the Thief – so look out for a review of that!
The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann: I don’t reach for action dramas often, but my friend Amrita knows I love Angst with a capital “A,” so she recommended Brockmann’s “Troubleshooters” series. As usual, she was right on-target. These books are filled to the brim with the kind of angst I devour with a spoon. As far as plot and character types go, it’s pretty cookie-cutter, but it’s what Brockmann does with the characterization that I like – even when her macho heroes are shooting up bad guys, they’re still as human and emotional as the heroines, and they’re not too stoic to show it when it matters.
A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas: Another series finished! The “Wallflowers” series has been great fun, and this one had a lot of the elements I loved from its predecessors… but sadly, it still fell a little flat. Rakes are always a hard sell for me, but Kleypas has gotten me invested in rake heroes before. So when I walked away from this book amused but not really buying the hero’s profession of undying love, I was disappointed. Ah well. At least I liked the heroine and got to read more about all the other couples I fell in love with in the series.
My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh: Fun and frustrating by turns, this story begs the question – how can two people who understand each other so well misread each other so badly? Subtlety does not seem to be Leigh’s strong point, but she makes up for it with entertaining, likable characters and plenty of hijinks. My Fake Rake won’t make any of my best-of lists, but it’s a pleasant enough way to pass the time.
The Defiant Hero by Suzanne Brockmann: *beat boxing* Angst angst angst angst!
–b
Book It With Becca 