Dear Author » arranged-marriage

REVIEW: Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O’Connell

Janet — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:00:20 +0000

Dear Ms. O’Connell:

When I saw that Kristie J. highly recommended your self-published Western, Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold, I admit I was excited but also trepidatious. I’m always a bit wary of Romance novels featuring Native American protagonists, because the stereotypes seem so entrenched in the genre. The opening scene of the book was so suspenseful and compelling, however, that I knew early on that this was not the book I was expecting, which turned out to be a good thing. Despite the fact that I think the book would benefit substantially from additional editing and less telling, I found the voice fresh, the characters engaging, and the storyline emotionally satisfying.

Anne Wells does not want to marry any of the men her father wants; in fact, she has proven so resistant that her father has locked her in her room and is starving her, hoping he can weaken her will enough to wed her to his latest pick. Anne is already more desperate than her father could ever guess, but her desperation drives her to escape her home and run to the one place she hopes she can hide in safety. And when Cord Bennett finds a wet, cold, sleeping woman in his barn, it seems Anne is correct, because Cord merely sends her into his house for a warm meal and a frank conversation.

Anne knows it’s not Cord Bennett she has to fear, despite his reputation for being a “half-breed bastard,” Cord is merely a man tired of living under everyone else’s prejudices, and who now keeps to himself and to the horses he trains to support himself on his family’s Colorado ranch. Cord and Anne met as children, and they developed a mutual affection and respectful trust early on, even though it never really went anywhere. Still, Cord is willing to help Anne escape her father’s tyrannical marriage plans, which gives her great relief. Until, that is, some men her father hired manage to track her to Cord’s place, where they proceed to force Cord and Anne to marry on the spot, celebrating the event by beating both of them brutally, believing they have killed Cord and almost raping Anne (she saves herself by accidently vomiting on her attacker).

Anne’s father, Edward, who has been present for the whole disgusting event, merely admonishes his daughter, who is lying on the ground near her would-be savior:

“You brought this on yourself, daughter. Honoring thy father as commanded would have spared us all this disgrace. . . You are filthy in every way and I won’t have you on a horse with me. You get yourself cleaned up and consider how you’re going to convince me to allow you back under my roof.”

Not surprisingly, Edward’s stubbornness is matched by Anne’s own, and thanks to her tenacity and nothing short of a miracle, both Cord and Anne manage to survive. For days following the attack, Anne is solely responsible for Cord’s animals and for Cord’s care. She has no idea if he will survive, or even what is wrong with him internally. And she doesn’t know when the men who tried to kill them will return, or what will happen when they do. Still, the experience emboldens her:

Anne had lived her whole life following the dictates of others. Now all the decisions were hers. What to do, when to do it. How to do it, so much depended on her, but instead of feeling weighed down, minute by minute, hour by hour, this new life wove a spell around her, leaving her feeling lighter and freer than she had ever dreamed possible.

So when it becomes clear that Cord will ultimately heal from his injuries, Anne is determined to protect him and Bennett Ranch from any and every predator, including Cord’s mistrustful brothers, her own brother and father, and myriad townspeople who think that Cord’s Indian blood and proud, defensive personality make him a virtual savage. In fact, Cord’s sister (his father married twice, and his second marriage, to an Indian woman, yielded Cord and his sister), Marie, married a white man and moved away from the family at her first opportunity, leaving Cord to fend for himself against the town’s ambivalent attitudes. Cord had spent some years in Texas, but homesickness brought him back to Colorado, where he has become a talented horse breeder and trainer, work that brings him enough income to live somewhat isolated from the townspeople.

Some of those people, like Sheriff Noah Reynolds Cord’s older sister, Hannah, and his sister-in-law, Martha, respected Cord and wanted to protect him. Others, like his brothers, Ephraim and Frank, kept their distance from Cord, and were not sure what to think of his violent reputation. No one really knew what to make of the purported marriage between Anne and Cord, including Anne and Cord themselves:

He could smell the slightly spicy scent of her. “Mm.” He wondered what would happen if he just put an arm around her here and now and tried holding her. If she made a face in the darkness, he’d never know.

What happened was she nestled in the curve of his arm, head on his shoulder, and whispered, “This is the nicest Christmas I’ve ever had.”

It sure as hell was.

I have always been a fan of the arranged marriage device, because I think it forces an emotional intimacy between characters who might otherwise have only a physical attraction or who would likely walk away from each other because of a difficult relationship. In Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold, however, the device serves a dual purpose. It forges the natural alliance the characters have with each other, and with the reader, who immediately sympathizes with their persecution. But it has a deeper narrative purpose and effect. Because Cord’s racial identity is so much a part of the town’s distrust and dislike of him, it would be easy for the reader to identify Anne and Cord’s relationship purely in terms of that prejudice – to root for the success of their marriage merely because of the unfair discrimination against Cord. While that might be emotionally satisfying, it would not necessarily challenge a lot of the racial stereotypes leveled against Cord (or the stereotypes the reader might bring to the book from other Romance novels featuring Native American characters, namely the “noble savage” hero-type).

Here, though, the arranged marriage between Cord and Anne places their own relationship – one that exists within an awareness of the racial hatred aimed at Cord – above the stereotypes. In other words, it draws the reader into a position where they must confront Anne and Cord, as well as the difficulties in their relationship, within the context of the individual characters. Cord, for example, has certainly been affected by the negative views of his Indian heritage, but some aspects of his personality are intrinsic. He is independent, quiet, assessing, and scarred by personal loss in a previous relationship. Like Anne, he is hardworking and straightforward, inexperienced with love and expectations that go beyond physical intimacy and the daily responsibilities of a shared life. That Anne has to stand up for both herself and Cord both builds her confidence and increases her sensitivity to the attitudes Cord has encountered his whole life.

Watching them struggle with the uncertainties and discoveries of a strong emotional and physical connection is made more poignant by the misconceptions people have about Cord, but for me the novel struck a nice balance between focusing on racism and developing a romantic relationship between two complicated, multi-layered individuals. The sub-plot around Anne’s father’s revenge (and her brother’s racism and her mother’s weak betrayal) was nicely executed, with several unexpected turns away from easy melodrama to something more interesting.

The way the book handles the relationship between the town’s prejudice and Cord and Anne’s relationship is one of its greatest strengths. There were moments in the book where I felt that given the book’s setting, Mason, Colorado, the late date, 1885, that the profoundly negative views of both Anne and Cord were not nuanced enough for the changes the second half of the 19^th century had wrought on American multiculturalism and intermarriage. There was also the use of the word “haters,” which threw me out of the book every time I read it and belittled the serious issues the book was contemplating. Further, the overall language was relatively plain, sometimes downright flat, which sometimes weighed the narrative down but, at the same time, fit well with the Western setting and ethos of the novel.

The book’s real weakness, however, is that it is overwritten. In fact, it reminded me a lot of the first Judith James book I read, which was fresh and compelling but way too long. Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold shares that problem to the point where the telling sometimes threatens to overwhelm the emotional impact of the story:

Edward Wells had been angry when he’d realized his daughter would not come home. When he realized she was not in Chicago as everyone supposed, his fury knew no bounds. In Edward’s opinion Anne needed to spend the rest of her life living like a recluse in Chicago to mitigate the disgrace she had brought on the family . . .

Having for years been obsessed with seeing his daughter married, Edward was now obsessed with seeing her marriage ended. He would have like to just ride out to the ranch with another mod and take her, but Edward knew that when the Double M men left town two of them had gunshot wounds. He had heard rumors about how they got those wounds.

There are a total of seven in a row detailing Edward’s obviously villainous perspective on Cord and Anne, and the mix of omniscient third person narration and interior monologue can sound pedantic and even rambling. With some good content editing, though, I think Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold could have been an A read for me. I enjoyed the protagonists, was engaged with the large cast of characters and the negotiation of so many different relationships, and appreciated that the issues around Cord’s race were not, for the most part, simplistic and heavy-handed. And while the somewhat undisciplined narration served as a periodic distraction, it wasn’t enough to ruin my interest and make me put the book down. B-

~ Janet

Book Link | Kindle | nook

REVIEW: Married by June by Ellen Hartman

Jane — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:00:19 +0000

Dear Ms. Hartman:

This turned out to be such a lovely book and in a way that totally surprised me. The story opens with Cooper Murphy proposing to Jorie Burke after knowing each other for six months, in a totally romantic and kind of scary way (come on, it was kind of creepy because the reader doesn’t really know Cooper and Jorie and you get the idea that they don’t know each other either). Frankly, I don’t know if the proposal was the best place to start even though there is some nice synchronicity in the end.

The story is about Cooper and Jorie actually falling in love which, unfortunately, happens after the marriage proposal and not before. Jorie’s mother dying wish was for Jorie to get married and she got The Wish Dream to agree to pay for the wedding. (I called “Make a Wish” in my head). As she was dying, she encouraged Cooper to ask Jorie to marry him, not wanting Jorie to be alone. Cooper, caught up in the idea of being the white knight on the charger, does so. As he attempts to write his vows six months later, he realizes that he can’t marry Jorie. As a speechwriter, his inability to articulate his commitment to Jorie on paper is meaningful and he breaks it to Jorie almost immediately.

Jorie’s life is falling apart. Her job as a wedding planner is struggling because since her mother’s death, she’s not been able to connect with her brides. Wedding planning used to be effortless and at one time she was called the “wedding whisperer” by one happy bride. Now her bridal themes include movies where every one dies at the end.

But Jorie isn’t the only one who is reeling. Cooper finds out that he has to write a resignation speech for his brother, the US Senator, who has gotten someone other than his wife pregnant. Worse, his father wants Cooper to serve out his brother’s term so that the seat can be set up for their cousin Theo. Cooper’s whole world has been laboring for his father, then his brother, writing campaign speeches and position statements.

Finding out his older brother was fallible, seeing his family turn on the older brother, is creating a rift in Cooper’s world. Nothing really makes sense anymore. And now, in order to hold the seat, Cooper has to go and convince Jorie that he isn’t quite ready to call off the wedding because “bride jilter” is not much better than “cheater.” He doesn’t really want to do this to Jorie and he tries to remember what led him to the path of engagement in the first place.

He remembered it from their first blind date. They’d been set up by their mothers, who’d met at a spa in Arizona. Chelsea had been living there and Rachel had gone for a reunion with some college friends. He’d asked Jorie where she’d like to go and she suggested a trip to the Antietam Battle Museum with that same challenge in her eye. She told him later she’d hoped the museum would scare him off. Her mom had a habit of setting her up on blind dates and she’d developed a strategy of boring the guys to death so they wouldn’t call again. Instead, he’d told her he loved the Antietam Museum and she’d given him her first genuine smile, putting one hand on her hip and leaning toward him just enough that he noticed her breasts. He’d realized in that second that he was going on a date with a beautiful history geek who had a hot body and a killer smile and he’d started scheming right then to get closer to her.

Once the engagement was on, though, Jorie didn’t talk to Cooper about anything but the wedding and whatever connection they had slipped away. Jorie and Cooper flip flop positions more than once through the story as we trace their path from meeting to engagement to break up to falling in love, for real this time, because they both learn a little more about themselves, what it means to love someone else and how to juxtapose that love with life’s obligations. Cooper wants his life back to normal and Jorrie is grieving for her mother.

The farther I got into the story, the more I appreciated it. One thing I like about straight up contemporaries is that it focuses on the characters and in good straight contemporaries, you really get to explore the concept of love being buffeted by reality. There is no soul mate connection telling Jorie and Cooper that they have to stay together, no metaphysical imperative driving them to be one, and no serial killer forcing their emotions to a fevered pitch. Instead, it’s two ordinary people trying to figure out their way in life.

There were a couple of other scenes in the book (particularly one that is designed to show Cooper’s manly side) that seemed out of sync with the rest of the story, as if I was supposed to be convinced that Cooper’s testosterone level was sufficient for him to be cast in the part of “leading male, romance hero”. And I wished that Jorie, at times, would have been a bit more proactive. Cooper really lead the romance dance, even when he was breaking up with Josie for her own good. (or maybe particularly so).

However, I particularly loved how Cooper would write in his little speech book every one of the promises he wanted to make Jorie. It was truly like watching someone fall in love which is part of the magic of romances. I just hope other readers won’t be dissuaded by the opening scene. Perhaps I am the only one it bothered. B

Best regards,

Jane

PS for those who have trouble envisioning a hot speechwriter, let me help you.

REVIEW: The Bartered Virgin by Chevon Gael

Jayne — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:30:20 +0000

Dear Ms. Gael,

I almost didn’t read your novel after a title mistake on the blurb page. The hero is described as Sir David Knightsbridge, Earl of Wolshingham. Um, just no. Thankfully, this is corrected in the text. Now, on to the review.

Winnifred Percy doesn’t want to become the next New York heiress auctioned off to an impoverished English lord. But unless she acts quickly and manages to convince David Knightsbridge, Earl of Wolshingham that she’s unsuited to be his bride that’s just what’s gonna happen. So with the advice of her best friend Kitty, a few ciggies, some coarse songs – which the two women have heard during their clandestine trips to Coney Island – and a pillow book written in French by a now deceased New Orleans madame, Winn makes her move.

Only to be countered by a determined Lord who needs a lot of money pronto and who is astonished and delighted at the suggestions innocent Winn makes while reading the book in front of her oblivious mother who doesn’t speak a word of French.

Feeling trapped by the social faux pas which David threatens to make public which would ruin her family in New York high society, Winn grudgingly agrees to the arrangement only to discover in David a man who will let her be what she wants and who promises to take her to all the exotic foreign places she’s always longed to see. And who explains, very well, all the naughty things in the book which up until then Winn can only guess at. But there’re a few roadblocks still in the way which David will have to deal with before he can take his bride back to England.

In addition to the slight title mishap, a few other things initially bothered me and might make other readers think, ‘WTF?’ For instance it took a while before it’s revealed why the heir to an English Earldom would be attending university in the US in 1902. I don’t think I ever understood why David approached Winn’s father to sell David’s English estate. David tells Winn all about his ancestral home which was once home to two Queens – Anne of Cleves and Queen Charlotte. Later he mentions how he knew Winn would fit in there since she has the strength of these two women who fought their husbands’ tyranny and won. Except – now I’m finally getting to the point – Queen Charlotte was loved by her husband George III and adored him back. Okay, call me a nitpicker but I’ve always liked how those two were so fond of each other. Was there another Queen Charlotte in England?

David actually admires Winn for her spirited resistance to their arranged marriage even if he is determined to get her down the aisle if only for the money. She at least has the candor to tell him what she really feels instead of just going along like a placid cow about the whole thing. And he also finesses her into it rather than using strong-arm tactics. Not only could Winn feel the moment her feelings toward David and the marriage changed, I could too.

The story has what I feel is a good period feel despite the initial overuse of the positive adjective “bully” in deference to then President Teddy Roosevelt. Winn and David’s excursions around the city serve to tell readers about newfangled foods such as hot dogs, then risque sea bathing, what 23 skidoo means and how English Lords were treated as sideshow attractions even by the “Four Hundred.”

Winn’s abysmal ignorance about sex, the male physique and her own body makes sense based on the eye rolling “talk” her mother finally gives her. Violet Bridgerton’s pre-wedding marital talks with her daughters are models of open frankness in comparison. Good thing David is there to teach her all about what she needs to know and makes sure she enjoys her lessons. Between that and the readings from the pillow book, there’s a lot of hot sexing going on here.

This turned out to be a cute, enjoyable, fun read. The two leads are actually intelligent and I can believe how much they come to love each other. I’m still not sure about the issue brought up at the end of the story and why it was needed but I like that Winn immediately believes David when he tells her he’d never have left her. One last question. Would any English Lord call his son and heir, Jr? B-

~Jayne

Book Link | Kindle | nook
| Sony| Carina Press

What’s wrong with the arranged marriage trope?

Jane — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:00:53 +0000

I guess my title should be why isn’t there any arranged marriage stories? Or maybe it should be why isn’t there any arranged marriage stories portrayed in a positive light? Two young adult books have been released in 2010 that dealt with arranged marriage. One, Passion Play presented the gang rape of the female protagonist and the position as camp whore as the preferable alternative to arranged marriage. Another, Nightshade, presents the arranged marriage as a catalyst for rebellion, particularly when the female protagonist meets a boy who challenges the societal structure of the arranged marriage. Even in Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin, the idea of arranged marriage is met with resignation at best by the heroine and in the end she runs hard from it, choosing love over duty.

The arranged marriage is presented a bit more positively in Cold Magic by Kate Elliott as the female and male protagonists try to navigate their way around each other and their lives as they face the inevitability of their marriage.

In romance, however, I can’t think of a book in which arranged marriages are positively portrayed even though there are hints of it. For example, in the Loretta Chase’s Carsington series, the Carsington papa secretly finagle their sons into marriage. The whole subtext is that they are maneuvering in the background:

SOME HOURS LATER, after the bride and groom had retired to their assigned apartments, their eldest son joined Lord and Lady Hargate once more in the garden.

"Well, well," said his lordship. "It appears some unfortunate assassin got his head cut off for nothing."

"And the prodigal son returns triumphant," said Benedict. "Married. To Cousin Tryphena's brilliant and handsome young widow friend. The one with the handsome fortune." He smiled a very little. Smiles had never come as easily to him as to Rupert, and less easily still in the last two years.

"Tryphena will be delighted," said her ladyship.

"I had wondered why you sent him to Egypt, of all places," Benedict said.

His father merely lifted an eyebrow.

"Well, I am happy for him," Benedict said. "They suit each other very well, and naturally, the end justifies the means. At any rate, he's settled at last. Now you may give your full attention to Darius."

With that he took his usual distant leave.

His parents stood looking after him.

"Not Darius, I think," said Lady Hargate.

"No," said his lordship. "Not Darius."

As I understand it, one of the basic philosophies behind arranged marriages is that the parents of the children understand them best and are thus able to make the best matches for their children. Some of the largest cultures in the world still observe the practice of arranged marriages.

In thinking about arranged marriages, I’ve come to the conclusion that the practice of arranged marriage is unromantic for three reasons:

1) No free will.

2) Disadvantaged individuals, mostly women, treated as property.

3) Union not based on love.

Marriage of convenience tropes depend, primarily, on one party not having a good option to not marry. For example, in Madeline Hunter’s Rules of Seduction, the heroine is forced into destitution by the hero and he offers her marriage to “save” her. In Jane Feather’s Almost a Bride, the heroine is again driven to destitution by the hero and he marries her in revenge against her brother, to obliterate the family name. In other books, the hero will often blackmail the heroine into marriage. But arranged marriages? They seem to be a no no.

Romance already has a plethora of books that feature marriage not based on love, treating women as property (the women as paid debts for the gambler father or brother), and marriages when women have no other option than to sell themselves or to marry. So all the reasons that I could think of that are drawbacks for arranged marriages are already prevalent within the romance genre.

The publishing world is becoming smaller in that books that are written by people from other cultures and other worlds are already, or are going to become, readily available. One of the reasons I’m excited about the penetration of romance in other world markets is because I hope to find new and different tropes or even new views on old tropes.

Are arranged marriages disliked because they are culturally foreign? Is it because the idea seems unromantic and if so, how does it differ from tropes that are already in the genre? Why is it often so villianized when marriage of convenience or blackmailed into marriage are not? Do you have a recommendation for arranged marriage stories?

Friday Film Review: The Swan

Jayne — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:00:33 +0000

The Swan (1956)
Genre: Historical Dramedy
Grade: B-

Here’s a golden oldie, or moldy oldie if you don’t care for it. The movie is based on a play written by Ferenc Molnar and was filmed twice before this final one was made. It’s Grace Kelly’s next-to-the-last film made before her marriage to a real Prince and she never looked lovelier.

It has always been the overriding ambition of Princess Beatrix (Jesse Royce Landis who also played GK’s mother in “To Catch a Thief”) to see her daughter Princess Alexandra (Grace Kelly) become a Queen. Their family was forced from the throne of their tiny middle European country by Napoleon (whose name Princess Beatrix will not allowed to be mentioned in her presence) and she’s aware that it’s probably their last hope to regain some stature by cementing the ties between their dispossessed family and their cousins, the reigning royal family headed by Queen Maria Dominika (Agnes Moorehead) and her son and heir Prince Albert (Alec Guinness).

When Beatrix gets word that Albert is on his way to visit them, she immediately pulls out all the stops and whips the palace staff, and her family, into a frenzy in order to present Alexandra in her best light. But after Albert arrives for his short four day stay, he spends more time duck hunting, inspecting the modern dairy and with Alexandra’s younger brothers than with the slightly shy Alexandra. What’s a mother on a deadline to do? Use a little old fashioned jealousy, that’s what.

She instructs Alexandra to invite the boys’ young and handsome tutor Dr. Nicholas Agi (Louis Jourdan) to the final night ball in the hopes that it will spur Albert to a proposal. Instead, to her horror, things backfire as Agi, emboldened by this chance of which he never dared dream, confesses his secret love to Alexandra. Now whom will she choose?

As I’ve seen mentioned in other reviews, the plot for this story is obviously dated even by the fifties. The world it depicts was long gone even then – either during WWI or by the end of WWII. But while I’m watching it, I try and lose myself in what it shows as still existing among a people who have no clue that their way of life is in its twilight. And yet, the film does hint at what is to come.

It’s all about the differences in classes – the old class of royalty who are shown doing little beyond ceremonial duties and being instructed in how to “be royal” and the rising middle class who will take over due to their drive, education and ambition. We see the best and the worst of both classes and are left to decide on our own if Alexandra makes the correct decision or not.

There is a great deal of dry comedy throughout the story which Alec Guinness pulls off in style. But he also shows great tact, after an initial spell of pique, in dealing with Alexandra’s conflicting feelings. Another surprisingly fun character is Symphorosa (played by Estelle Winwood) whose pithy one liners often embarrass Beatrix as she’s trying to make a good impression on Albert. Agnes Moorehead is regally grand and imperious in a role that had little time on screen but which she made the most of.

Landis beautifully balances Beatrix on the knife edge of likability. We can see her as a woman just trying to see to the future of her family – the scene when she offers contradictory advice to Alexandra on how to behave around Albert is quite funny – as well as a pushy, slightly snobby royal who is obviously shocked when one of the lower orders dares to have feelings for her daughter. Kelly floats coolly through her role until the moment when her passions are aroused and she comes to life. There’s a late scene when she lets Albert “have it” for the way he’s acted towards the family and of course the final scene where she comes to terms with the direction her life will take.

The movie has a slightly bittersweet ending. One might wish for it to end another way but given the way Alexandra has been raised her entire life, I wasn’t surprised. I’m not entirely convinced that her protestations of love for Agi are real. Perhaps or perhaps not. As Albert reminds her, she just kept her feelings so controlled and beneath the surface for so long that when they finally burst free, she’s not sure how to handle them.

As far as I can tell, “The Swan” isn’t available on DVD but there are two ways for it to be viewed. Someone has loaded it on youtube (type in “The Swan-part 1″ — note the hyphen is important). I’d love to know which language it’s subtitle in. It’s also being shown on Turner Classic Movies in November (right now it’s scheduled at midnight on the 26th/27th but check closer to the date to be sure).

~Jayne

FTC discloser – I watched this on television.

REVIEW: Sheikh’s Forbidden Virgin by Kate Hewitt

Jane — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:00:54 +0000

Dear Ms. Hewitt:

Thank you for sending me a copy of your book. The thing that stuck out most in my mind at the end of the story was how apt the title was. The story really was about the sheikh’s forbidden virgin. This is part of The Royal House of Karedes miniseries. These series books generally don’t work for me because so much of the story is dependent on the overall arc. Fortunately, while the miniseries theme and arc was present in this story, it didn’t dominate.

Aarif Al’ Farisi lost a brother when he was young. He believes himself to be at fault for this and since that time, he has devoted himself to his family, allowing no room for failure. His brother, King Zakari of Calista, is to be married to his betrothed, Princess Kalila Zadar and Zaraq. Zakari and Kalila have been betrothed since they were young as the dynastic pairing will bring the richness of Calista to Kalila’s people and the stability of rule from Zaraq to Calista.

On the eve of Zakari’s arrival, Kalila’s father reminds her “Tomorrow is not about you, Kalila. It is not even about your marriage. It is about tradition and ceremony, an alliance of countries, families. It has always been this way.” There could be no more emphatic punctuation than greeting Aarif the next day and not Zakari. Zakari cannot come to retrieve his bride as his is off chasing down a famous diamond (and I presume falling in love with some other woman). Instead, Aarif comes to carry out this duty on behalf of his brother because no task is too distasteful for Aarif on behalf of his family and the crown.

Kalila spent too much time in the West to accept these dictates meekly. She knows what her duty is and she hopes that Zakari and she will come to love each other. When he can’t even be bothered to meet with her only weeks before the wedding, she feels that such a relationship will be doomed. Frightened, Kalila runs off into the desert prepared to spend a least one night away from the Palace and her duties. She wants just a tiny reprieve from entering into this marriage.

Aarif is left to chase her down. He knows that spending the night with her in caves in the sand will not only jeopardize her reputation, for a King’s bride must be a virgin, but it also tempts him beyond what is appropriate. She is his brother’s wife to be, one that is necessary for political reasons. In the short time that Kalila and Aarif spend together, a forbidden longing between them develops.

Both Aarif and Kalila are bound by the obligations of their roles although Aarif clings more tightly to his. He cannot forgive himself for the death of his brother and his devotion is his penance, one that he must keep paying. Kalila, although mired in duty and family herself, seems ready to toss that all aside for Aarif, if he would but acknowledge their attraction.

Aarif’s forbidden longing for Kalila is very moving as is Kalila’s very real loneliness in the palace of Zakari who is still absent, even the night before the wedding. This book suffered in its shortness. I think it could have been even more emotionally gripping if Aarif and Kalila’s torment were more drawn out. The ending was quite abrupt and didn’t match the overall tone of the story up to that point. Still, there is no alpha asshole hero or doormat heroine. Kalila’s actions, at times, seemed impetuous but it was certainly understandable in light of the cavalier treatment of her intended groom. I love the unrequited love story and while both Kalila and Aarif had feelings for each other, their love was not supposed to be fulfilled. B

Best regards

Jane

This book can be purchased at Amazon or in ebook format from Sony or other etailers.

This book was provided to the reviewer by either the author or publisher. The reviewer did not pay for this book but received it free. The Harlequin Affiliate link earns us an affiliate fee if you purchase a book through the link and the Sony link is in conjunction with the sponsorship deal we made for the year of 2009. We do not earn an affiliate fee from Sony through the book link.

REVIEW: Dishonor and Desire by Juliet Landon

Jayne — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 09:00:17 +0000

Dear Mrs. Landon,

After my great experience with “The Warlord’s Mistress” I was in a quandary. I wanted to go out and read every thing of yours I could get my hands on and at the same time, I was worried that nothing would match up to that first book. I’ve been burned by the backlist glom before. Fortunately, “Dishonor and Desire” was already in bookstores and on ebook sites. I chose the mass market route this time courtesy of a store coupon and sat down to try a very different setting from the last book.

I think most romance readers have read our fair share of Regency books by this time. The ton, the Season, Almacks, waltzing, war heroes, period cant…we’ve seen it all and it takes something a little different to engage our attention. While you do include some of these standard elements, they are mixed with enough variety to keep me from muttering, “yeah, yeah, yeah” and skimming pages like mad. Sure the story starts with gambling debts, phaetons, a country party and a wager but it quickly moves to center on two very strong characters — the almost Renaissance like hero Sir Chase Boston and his determined song bird heroine Miss Caterina Chester.

I’m not sure if your usual hero is always so determined to get his way or if I’ve just only read books featuring this type of man but Chase Boston is a man who knows what he wants and goes after it 110%. Yet while Chase is an alpha, he knows better than to rush his heroine. He steps back and gives her time to get over her hurt and anger at her stupid brother for gambling beyond his means (or so she thinks) and her father for accepting Chase’s wager to win her in lieu of repayment of the debt. She’s got a reason to be angry but can’t blow her stack at her relatives hence he’s got to act as the scapegoat for the moment. But while he keeps up the pressure – so to speak – he also slowly lets her fall for him.

I like that he’s gentleman enough to state his intentions to Seton and ask him for reassurance that there’s nothing between Cat and him. As a friend, Seton must truthfully say no yet he cares enough for Cat as a friend to still keep looking out for her interests. I am looking forward to Seton’s story. Even after Cat runs for Brighton – and I like that she’s got a plan for why she’s doing this and to whom she’ll run, not just taking off like some heroines – and Chase follows, he still lets her have her space, while all the time keeping her safe, until she’s ready to admit that they’ll marry. He also shows some vulnerability since he wasn’t as sure of himself as he wanted Cat to think hence he rushed the wedding a bit and then was content to woo her some more. And any hero who can make and who wants to make his heroine smile can’t be all bad.

Thank you for including some real reason for the conflicts between Chase and Cat. First she felt rushed into marriage to cover for her feckless brother and to allow her younger sister to marry. She’s mad and I think she has every reason to be. Then just before the wedding she discovers her father and brother’s involvement in some seriously shady dealings and due to the rushed marriage, is unsure if Chase is involved and if he is, to what degree. Does he want to expose her family to ruin? Blackmail them? Or is he a good guy trying to do the right thing? Cat has some major problems to work through and I like that she takes her time. She does rush to some conclusions about Chase before she gets to know him well yet she’s willing to change her opinion, even if it does take her a while.

Your obvious love of England and English countryside is very evident in descriptions throughout the story. While I liked these, towards the end of the book I was getting tired of them as many times they really didn’t advance the plot or serve any purpose beyond acting as a 19th century travel guide. Also I felt there were too many mushy, “my darlings,” “my dearests,” “my angel wuvie duvie sweetums” towards end of story.

Cat’s reckless, feckless, shown to be monstrous male relatives get their comeuppance and in believable ways. I had no problems with all the miseries heaped on them yet was glad that the innocent members of the family wouldn’t have to pay for the deeds — unknown to them — of the few. It’s also realistic that neither Mr. Chester nor his son looked like they will change overnight. I felt that the last little plot point was heaping a little too much on the story and could have done without Mara. By this stage, the point had been made and the spotlight already shone on what was going on in Liverpool.

Another nice thing was that while I tell that there was a previous book in this series, the enjoyment of this book wasn’t hindered by my not having read it nor did the past characters take over when they appeared. Though this book doesn’t quite live up to “Warlord’s Mistress,” I wasn’t disappointed in it and will still continue to gather your past books. B-

~Jayne

This book can be purchased in mass market or ebook format.

REVIEW: Samburu Hills by Jennifer Mueller

Jayne — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 10:00:52 +0000

Dear Mrs Mueller,

I don’t think any of your stories has been less than a B grade for me and “Samburu Hills” continues that tradition. The unusual settings and eras you choose for your books are heavenly for me. My blogging partner Janine once said if there were a romance set in Timbuktu, I’d be the one to read it and I think you’d probably be the author to write it.

When Celeste Reed steps off the boat in the fledgling colony of Kenya, East Africa she finds out the man that she was to marry doesn’t even care to get to know her let alone listen to a word she says. Life is miserable and then he has the nerve to die leaving her to run an estate without any money. It seems he spent all he had to impress the colony and she was just part of the package. Africa is unforgiving to the weak, but it can be the people that you least expect that make it.

And then there’s Edward.

Recently I watched the PBS miniseries “Heat of the Sun” set in 1930s Kenya and it jogged my memory that this book had been released. Your time frame is a little earlier than that but I imagine the type of characters hanging around in Nairobi were about the same: decadent, up to no good, and thoroughly snobbish. As if Celeste wasn’t up against enough trying to get her Kenyan ranch to break even against all odds, she has to deal with this lot whenever she ventures into the nearest town, two travel days away, to sell the crops, cattle and whatnot. I love Celeste, she’s so practical and down to earth. She’s a straight talker and straight shooter (love the scene when she tells her no-good husband off with the help of a shotgun), a hard worker and someone who finally gets a chance at a HEA after so many years of loneliness. The secondary characters were colorful and well used. I do have a question though. How could Celeste’s husband, the ninth child of a Marquess, be a Lord in his own right?

This book might look short but so much is told so economically. You can tell more with less words than most authors I’ve read, as if you’re paring a story down to its lovely, compact bones. The vivid descriptions of Kenya and her people put me right there. B+ for “Samburu Hills.”

~Jayne

REVIEW: Wish on the Moon by Barri Bryan

Jayne — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 22:00:07 +0000

Dear Mr and Mrs. Houston,

Now we’re back in business. After my disappointment in the contemporary book of yours I tried, I figured I’d better go back to a historical. And since I’ve been in the mood for westerns lately, this seemed a good choice.

Twenty seven year old Isabel Delaney listens in amazement as her dying older brother asks his best friend to marry her. Why, she doesn’t even know Myles Donovan nor he her. Myles is just as astounded but once he listens to Jim’s fears that Isabel will be taken advantage of by the slick preacher who’s cosying up to her and thinks about how a wife will help in his campaign for the Governor’s office in Texas, he decides why not.

Isabel takes a little longer to come around but in 1907 Texas, there’s not much for a woman to do except get married. Warily they agree to a marriage in name only until they feel more comfortable around each other. Isabel quickly discovers she enjoys being a mother to Myles’ daughter from his first marriage and that Myles is a man willing to listen to her sometimes outspoken views on politics and women’s rights. She’s still trying to figure out his family, especially his cousin who works for the local paper. There’s some bad history behind their animosity towards each other which ends up costing Isabel far more than she ever bargained for. Political scandals are nothing new and the one which explodes around Myles and Isabel threatens not only his career but their slowly budding romance. Can Isabel risk believing the word of a man who admits to having an affair and can Myles persuade her that that is all in his past?

I like the slightly old fashioned feel of Isabel and Myles’ initial relationship. Even after their marriage ceremony, he is still Mr. Donovan for a while. And though Isabel quickly takes to marital relations, she’s no instant expert who immediately figures out oral sex. I had to sadly shake my head at the way Myles’ powerful political backers were very quick to dismiss what he’d done and center their attention on whether or not Isabel would stand by her man. Some things just never change, do they? I also found it amusing how a fainting woman and “female problems” could so easily fluster the menfolk in the town. At times Myles seemed slightly overbearing to this 21s century women but he probably would have been seen as a progressive in those days. And the story also makes one think about what part private and past doings should take part in the current political career of an otherwise capable person for the office.

My main niggle would be how easily Myles overcomes the past scandal in his life to win his campaign. Would this have happened in conservative 1907? And how easily his main naysayer ends up leaving the field of battle. B- for “Wish on the Moon.”

~ Jayne

REVIEW: The Rules of Seduction by Madeline Hunter

Jayne — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 09:00:52 +0000

Dear Ms Hunter,

It was with reluctance that I tried to follow you to Regency era books. Your medievals were so good and (though I hate to admit it) the few Regency ones I tried just didn’t seem to cut it. I was disheartened. Then “The Rules of Seduction” started getting rave reviews. Jane suggested it for one of our dueling reviews and I thought, WTF, why not. So here goes.

Miss Alexia Welborne and Lord Hayden Rothwell don’t start out on the best foot. When Alexia’s father was ruined through bad investments, her cousins took her in. For a while, she had hopes that the eldest, Ben, would offer for her when he returned from fighting the Turks in Greece but when Ben was lost at sea on the way back, she abandoned those dreams. Now she finds her life about to be overturned again. Unknown to his family, cousin Tim has been stealing from the accounts of the family bank which looks like it might fail as have several others around the country. Hayden’s family has kept their massive holdings there despite rumors that it’s about to fail but when Hayden discovers the truth, he forces Tim’s hand. Tim can either sell almost everything the family owns and pay back those he swindled or Hayden will reveal his actions which could lead to Tim hanging for his crimes.

Tim takes the cowardly way out and tells his sisters and Alexia that the reason behind them losing everything they own is that Hayden did remove his family holdings from the bank. Hayden had given his word to Tim not to reveal the truth and has to endure the scorn of Alexia, her female cousins and several of his friends. With Tim out of the way, Hayden and his fellow bank manager begin to try and secretly repair the damage Tim has done. His first thoughts on meeting Alexia aren’t true love either but something about her catches Hayden’s interest. He decides to offer her a position helping to finish one of his cousins for her London Season and also to be a companion to her mother (Hayden’s aunt). Alexia wants to throw the offer in Hayden’s face but the practicality forced on her by the misfortunes of her life compels her to accept.

As the Season begins, Alexia takes up her new duties and finds herself trying to avoid Hayden while Hayden finds himself trying to see her. Their meetings usually lead to sparks and Hayden slowly sees that there is something different about this woman. She’s not the most beautiful woman of his acquaintance but she’s got depth and intelligence and for some reason, he wants her. This baffles the man who usually views the world through cool, mathmatical precision. When he finds himself comforting Alexia after she discovers some unpalatable truths, he gets his chance. Afterwards he finds himself offering her marriage. Now Alexia is really torn. Does she accept his offer and secure for herself a wealthy future free of the financial fears she’s lived under for 8 years but at the price of losing her cousins, the only family she has left? Or does she turn him down and try to carve out a precarious livelihood but one which is free of the man who ruined her cousins?

Brava for “The Rules of Seduction” which features an eminently practical heroine. One who is (Thank God) free of coyness and who doesn’t deny her sexuality. She’s practical enough not to turn down marriage just because “he doesn’t love me!” Well, as she tells him to his face, she doesn’t love him either so why let that stand in the way?

Some people might piffle about hero telling heroine what to do and not to do but the way you write it, it sounds realistic to me. Men in those days expected to take control of their wives, or at least major things like money or traveling alone around the country. Hayden allows a lot of freedoms but still will put his foot down when he feels it’s needed. And Alexia is smart enough and wise enough to figure out how to manage Hayden to get what she wants.

I enjoyed Hayden slowly discovering the fact that the logical precision involved with his beloved mathematics has no place in the feelings he’s beginning to have for his wife. And I also like the fact that though both start their marriage with the realization that they’re not in love, the love that does follow is based not just on the satisfying physical aspects they share but also on the emotional ties that slowly form. Theirs is a love I have more belief in and a future I have more faith in.

I do have one quibble though. Why do so many English villains end up shipping off for America? They wreak havoc in England then at the end of the book, the English characters satisfyingly send them off to us. Thanks but you can keep your own bank swindlers and other assorted criminals. B+ for “The Rules of Seduction.”

~Jayne