Then Comes Seduction (Huxtables book 2)

by Mary Balogh.

The second in the series of 5, this one follows the youngest sister who is almost ruined at the age of 18 by a complete rake. He can't go through with it however and 3 years later finds himself wagering her that he can make her fall in love with him and vice versa. I did enjoy this one and I like the strong family connections between the books so you get to see where the previous characters are in life. Quite a bit of time passes between books too which makes things more realistic.

Anne of Avonlea (Anne book 2)

by L.M. Montgomery.

I finally got started on the second book which picks up right where the first left off. These books are easy to listen to in the car because even if I drift off and think of other things I don't miss much (she rambles quite a bit) but they are lovely books and I love the characters.

This book brought in some new characters and a little love story for them. I really enjoyed it. It also prepares for the next book when Anne returns to her own schooling, I can't wait!

First Comes Marriage (Huxtable book 1)

by Mary Balogh.

Aimee loaned me a new series that takes place in victorian times! This series revolves around the Huxtables (3 sisters and one brother) who come into an inheritance (the brother comes into a title) and start moving in new circles.

This first book is the story of the middle sister who is widowed and asks an Earl to marry her because she thinks he's about to ask her sister and she knows her sister will say yes but be unhappy in the marriage. It's always neat how many plots can be thought up to place 2 people in a marriage before they know each other and then they fall in love.

The story is a good one though and it led me right into the second which is about the youngest sister who is falling for a complete rake.

A Compromised Lady

by Elizabeth Rolls.

I've been sick the last two days, the only good that came of it was some reading time, although Monday I mostly just slept, yesterday I was able to at least read. And the kindle doesn't bother my headache like the computer!

So I finished up A Compromised Lady and I have to say, it's probably my favorite of the 3 (it's technically the second book but I read them out of order). I loved both characters, both such good people that this has to be my favorite. Although I already like Richard from the first book where his twin Max fell in love.

It's another Victorian romance. I'll have to try some more Elizabeth Rolls soon but for now my sister just dropped of a stack of new books (new authors) that are all Victorian age so I must give them a try!

Blue Smoke

by Nora Roberts.

Another change after Anne of Green Gables. I hadn't yet purchased Anne of Avonlea so decided to try out Blue Smoke which has been sitting on my ipod for a while. It was a long one but i liked it. It had a lot of mystery/danger, reminded me of her JD Robb books in that sense (but not a futuristic book) :)

It also followed the main character through her whole life, from a child, through college, mid twenties to early thirties where the main mystery takes place. I enjoyed it very much.

Not sure what's next - just got Anne of Avonlea so I may go back to that.

Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride

by Elizabeth Rolls.

Turns out this is kind of a third in a series. Luckily I had read the first in the series so I recognized the characters when they were referenced and it was just in passing so it didn't affect anything.

After the first book (His Lady Mistress) I decided I liked the style and purchased a few more of her books on Kindle and I'm glad I did. This one was hard to put down and I read it within a 24 hour period. Makes me think twice about starting the other one I bought before bed tonight :)

This one revolved around a Lord who finds a woman in need of a job and hires her as a governess for his siblings and companion for his step-mother. Eventually (obviously) falling in love with her. There were lots of characters and complex relationships which made for a good read. It dealt a lot with bastard children (unclaimed) which was an interesting viewpoint and theme throughout.

All in all I definitely liked it and look forward to reading the "second" in the trilogy especially now that i know it's tightly linked to the first book (the main character's brother is the main character in the second).

The Apothecary's Daughter

by Julie Klassen.

Well that was another good book. It was hard to tell where it was going to end up which can be frustrating but it was a good ride. These books are not romances, they are just straight fiction novels set in the Victorian age.

My one complaint would be that while it is overall a type of love story, you never really know what's inside the main character's head as far as who she may be falling in love with. She doesn't really know but she doesn't agonize over it "out loud" so you really don't know what her feelings are. That's the reason you don't really know how it will end up.

Overall a good book though and I really enjoyed it throughout. I finished up last night after watching "Northanger Abby" and "Persuasion" (Jane Austen movies). I will say there was more than one line in Julie Klassen's second book that was pretty much straight from an Austen book. So she was definitely inspired a bit by Austen.

Lady of Milkweed Manor

by Julie Klassen.

A new author for me, and another free book on Kindle I thought I would give it a try. I am really glad I did. This is not the typical romance that I thought it would be (at all!). It's set in Victorian times in England and follows the life of a young girl/woman who becomes pregnant and is outcast from her family (her father the vicar). She goes to the "Manor" for her lie-in and the book follows her whole life, the decisions she makes and the changes she goes through. I really enjoyed it a lot.

I'm going to continue on with Julie Klassen's second book The Apothecary's Daughter since I like her style so much!