Monday, November 29, 2010

Simply Unforgettable (Simply book 1)

by Mary Balogh.

I didn't realize that there was a series (Slightly) that came before this one. Although this first book doesn't really tie in closely with that series, the second one really did.
This first one follows a couple as they meet unexpectedly during a snow storm, then again later on at a social event. Neither of them really wanted a relationship for different reasons but in the end all works out of course.

This book also sets up the series where 4 women who work/live at Miss Martin's school will each find love in their own time.

A Secret Affair (Huxtables book 5)

by Mary Balogh.

The final Huxtable book follows Constantine so we finally get to find out his secrets. He starts an affair with the recently widowed Duchess of Dunbarton. We get to see all the other Huxtables in this one and Constantine and his cousin finally work things out and are friends again. It was a good ending to a series with good characters.

Sinful in Satin (Rarest Blooms book 3)

by Madeline Hunter.

I didn't think this one had as much political information and history of the time as the others but followed a character we met briefly in book one (Jonathan) as he investigates Celia's mother's prior clientèle after her death. Celia is trying hard not to follow in her mothers footsteps and still has a relationship with the women from the first 2 books.

The fourth book will follow Daphne and should be interested. It's hard to picture her as anything except a motherly figure even though she is supposedly only 27 or so.

Dark Angel (Dark book 1)

by Mary Balogh.

I read this book in one night. It was published along with Lord Carew's Bride in the same book because they follow 2 women who are cousins and have a come out season together. In book one, they are both hurt by one man but the older ends up marrying to save herself from scandal and of course falling in love.

I'm looking forward to the second book quite a bit now.

A Precious Jewel (ideal book 2)

by Mary Balogh.

This book follows the love story of Gerald and his Mistress, we met Gerald and knew about his relationship in book one but this book goes back to when he first met her and then set her up to be his mistress. I enjoyed this one quite a bit.

The Ideal Wife (ideal book 1)

by Mary Balogh.

The Ideal Wife follows Miles as he decides he must marry a very discrete, plain woman and Abigail shows up on his steps. They marry quickly and then slowly fall in love, during which time Abigail slowly reveals secrets, each one worrying her. This book had a couple of extra characters that you knew would follow up with more stories (hence the second book).

The Secret Pearl

by Mary Balogh.

A standalone book, this one follows a love story that twists and turns and doesn't quite seem like it will end happily. It doesn't start out promising, with the Duke meeting Fleur as a common street walker and then finding out she was actually an innocent. Feeling guilty, he arranges for her to become governess to his daughter and live with his wife in the country (a little Jane Eyre there for you anyone?). The characters are pretty deep though and the story intriguing so it kept me interested and I just held out hope that all would end well. All in all it was enjoyable!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

204 Rosewood Lane (Cedar Cove book 2)

by Debbie Macomber.

The second book follows more from Grace's point of view, solving the mystery of her husband Dan's disappearance and some new budding romances. It still deals with a lot of divorce though and I'm not enjoying this series because of that. I think this will be my last, the characters are interesting but I need a bit more happy endings in my books :)