That’s exactly what I mean about moods. Case in point, I started a SFF romance one I’ve been waiting for almost a year to read, but I can’t decide if it’s been my mood or the book. If I’ve made a commitment, I’ll press on, but I won’t like it. Usually influences my thoughts on it, but sometimes you have to. At least I don’t have to review for a site like this one. Just randomly. Mostly if there’s been talk of it in my circles, and I throw mine in the kerfluffle, too. Except in the case of my last one, it went on for like four pages and no one in my circle wanted to review it or read, but wanted to know about it. Oops.

See, I like it when they struggle. I don’t like instantly happy books. Well, I like happy endings, I just like to see the characters work for it. *grins* And it seems like it’ll be a good contrast to the easy and hard entries into society. I like those. I must admit to not liking Simon and Jane, but I’m looking forward to Thea’s story.

I know what you mean about not matching your mood to the book. Sometimes I’ll’ve planned to start one book and when I finish the current one, the planned book just doesn’t “seem” right. I’ll press on if I’ve agreed to read it for some reason and maybe it’ll work out eventually but others….it’s a disaster and I realize it’s partly my fault for forcing a book.

Thea does have her own mind and I think contrasts nicely with Darien. She’s always been accepted in the loving circle of her family and society as the daughter of a Duke while poor Darien has had to struggle his whole life.

At least Ms. Beverley tries to change up the heroines. Beth is not like Blanche who isn’t like Felicity. You can see why the women match up to the men. They’re certainly not interchangeable, which I’ve noticed is an epidemic for some writers. Each have their own minds, a complete blessing, because I don’t like thinking about heaving a book against a wall…mostly because the upstairs neighbors would be pissed off.

Please don’t think I’m attacking the review. I’m not. I’m just speaking as someone that loves the series, and this review reminded me why I do. It also reminded me to put it on my library request list since I finished two books earlier this week. I knew I forgot to write a book down when my friend was talking.

I’m looking forward to your “nun and rake� book. There’s just something about the Georgian era….

Oh I do agree! That sounds like a very interesting book :o)

Quite a few readers are saying that the connection between the couple in my recent books is a bit weak and I am paying attention. So if anyone here feels otherwise, please say so! Obviously, I’m not trying to do that and I feel the intensity, so I’m very interested in this.

But I do have one comment. I clearly didn’t convey Thea’s mind well when she rushed off to help Maddy. Yes, it was a “don’t do it!” moment, but I saw it coming out of Darien’s pushing at her to be more adventurous, to take more risks. I think we’ve all seen that in real life. Someone’s encouraged to get out there and be bolder, but because they’re not used to it, they go crazy. Instead of dressing a bit more fashionably and meeting a wider range of men, they buy a leather mini-skirt, get a tattoo, and go off for a wild weekend with a biker gang.

Best,

Jo :)

I don’t mind if it’s subtle and if you have to read between the lines (hey, I’m a huge Dorothy Dunnett fan after all) but the tension, love and passion *have* to be there somewhere for me to believe in the relationship and to make me feel the magic.

Like you I don’t like the constant fighting and Co. but the sweet, gentle stuff just isn’t for me.

She gave us a fine balance between UST and realism in Devilish but I haven’t found another book by her in which she does that since.

But then maybe I’m too picky too. To each her own after all :o)

There is one scene at a masquerade that isn’t a consummation but it’s very intense. Then the two agree to separate for a series of months to see if they still feel the same about each other so things cool down again. That felt realistic for the times but I wish some tension had remained between T&D. Not that I want constant fighting or fireworks between a h/h (I usually don’t) but something more than I got here.

I prefer MsBeverley’s Georgians and Medievals too. None of the Rogues books I read have rated above a C so far.