On the way to the wedding by Julia Quinn

***

Shades of The Graduate here in a climactic wedding scene. Overall, very predictable and the whole wedding thing seemed out of character. Just didn’t work for me. Unfortunate ending for the Bridgerton saga.

Genre: historical romance

Read: 31/05/2008

The Viscount who loved me by Julia Quinn

***

I don’t know what happened. I loved this one last time, but now it is boring. Bridgerton fatigue has set in. Anyway, one of those where the hero falls for a girl then falls for the sister. Entertaining but blah.

Genre: Historical

Read: 31/05/2008

Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

****

This book solves the great mystery of the Bridgerton series. Who is Lady Whistledown? There is also a story of unrequited love. A little implausable but fun.

Genre: Historical

Rad: 31/05/2008

When he was wicked by Julia Quinn

***

More of the same chick-lit historical. A bit of a change for the Bridgerton series. This is one sibling that apparently doesn’t fit into the family so much. All the same, I am tiring of the Bridgertons.

Genre: Historical (barely)

Read: 31/05/2008

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

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

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

The gifts of Christmas by Mary Balogh et al

I can barely face reviewing this collection of short stories, it is so bad. Perhaps the name Merline Lovelace on the cover should have stopped me picking this up at the library altogether – it is practically diabolical in itself.

A handful of gold by Mary Balogh
** out of *****
She can write much better than this. Virginal showgirl shows rake meaning of Christmas. Makes you want to take up paganism.

A drop of frankincense by Merline Lovelace
* out of *****
Arranged marriage consumated by sneaky feisty wife, then they go to fight the Spanish and meet Queen Elizabeth I. Reads like a parody.

A touch of myrrh by Suzanne Barclay
** out of *****
Some interesting detail about the spice trade, however once again the heroine shows the hero the meaning of Christmas and makes us all sick with her feisty goodness. She would not have lasted 10 minutes in reality and the author cannot make us believe otherwise.

genre: historical romance

read: 12/4/8