Baby bloom by Erika Knight

***

Interesting angle on the baby knitting book, this also includes patterns for maternity clothes for the expectant mother. I was expecting more from this than it gave. After looking at sites like Knitty, the patterns here are written in a somewhat old-fashioned style (lots of piecing together) and there isn’t really anything really new. The maternity clothes were alright, but perhaps didn’t make as much of being for pregnant-shaped people as I was hoping for. Empire line stuff from elsewhere would be just as good for me, and probably have a lot less seaming!

Also known as “Knitting for two”

genre: knitting

read: 17/05/2008

An offer from a gentleman by Julia Quinn

*****

Good re-working of the Cinderella story. Fluffy, but doesn’t cop out on reality entirely (as we find out in later books).

genre: historical romance

read: 17/05/2008

Wild Worlds (WildC.A.T.s) by Alan Moore

**

Pretty to look at but the characters didn’t make much of an impression. Perhaps a familiarity with them was essential. The stories were ok though.

genre: graphic novel

read: 17/05/2008

The Copenhagen connection by Elizabeth Peters

****

You can tell how much I like Elizabeth Peters from the fact I am reading this in Large Print from the library. Yuck! Anyway, another solid performance. A standalone set in Copenhagen, theres some historical background, a silly girl and an emotionally conflicted man. A Mary-Sue of a writer character strained my patience but the rest is good.

genre: mystery

read: 17/05/2008

The jackal’s head by Elizabeth Peters

****

Typical Elizabeth Peters standalone mystery book. Reliably entertaining, well-written and slightly brain-stretching in places. I’m starting to get a feel for how these all work out now, but even so its still a good read.

genre: mystery

read: 17/05/2008

The ideal bride by Stephanie Laurens

**

Somebody stop me reading any more of these!

They’re alright. Solidly written but boring. Shes a diplomatic widow. Hes planning to go into diplomatic work and needs an appropriate wife. A more boring pair I cannot imagine. She understandably has had enough of the diplomatic life but he is determined to marry her and drag her back into it. Its a tragedy really.

There was a mysterious subplot going on but it turned out to be a damp squib. If this didn’t come from the library I’d be asking for my money back.

genre: historical romance

read: 17/05/2008

Married in a rush by Julie Cohen

***

Not brilliant but good. Its a Julie Cohen after all.

genre: romance

read: 17/05/2008

Sex, straight up by Kathleen O’Reilly

***

Not sure about this one. Chance meeting in the Hamptons followed up by another chance meeting at work. Characters have no sense of humour, but there is a lot of interesting background detail about auction houses. I was bored. Oh and there was a series in the offing too – the smug married brother was all over it. Not to mention the feckless brother who is obviously next in the series. Well-written enough, just not my kind of thing.

genre: romance

read: 17/05/2008

The Duke & I by Julia Quinn

****

Bridgerton book number 1.  Daphne meets up with a Duke. There is some pathetic bullying by her brothers (which makes you glad not to be a Bridgerton but is surely supposed to have the opposite effect) and la la la typical ending. A firm start to the series, but not all that great. Plus she drags out father issues in the Duke, which also happens in another Bridgerton book. However, she does every ounce of story out of the situation even if it does go on a bit at the end.

genre: historical romance

read: 17/05/2008

It’s in his kiss by Julia Quinn

*****

This is one in the longish Bridgerton series. Less annoying than such series usually are – perhaps because the smug marrieds keep mostly out of sight. Perhaps I just like the characters. This time one of the youngest Bridgertons (H) meets up with a man with father issues (didn’t that already happen in one of the earlier books?) and there is some enjoyable chasing about after treasure.

As un-historical as ever (the cover picture gives you an idea of how accurate it is likely to be!), this is enjoyable fluff.

genre: historical romance

read: 17/5/2008