The Constant Heart - Mary Balogh

THE ROGUE'S RETURN


Miss Rebecca Shaw had lost her heart once in her young life - lost it and had it broken.

At last it had mended - mended enough for her to say yes when the handsome, high-minded young Reverend Phillip Everett asked her to be his wife and share a life of the purest propriety and best of good works.

But now Christopher Sinclair had returned. He was fee now of the marriage that had given him fabulous wealth at the price of leaving Rebecca behind and betrayed. He was free now to turn Rebecca's head again... away from the man who soon would be her lawfully wedded husband. And Rebecca was also free to change her mind - but was she foolish enough to turn toward a love that had proven faithless once and now could be utterly ruinous. . . .?

Another one of Balogh's oldies The Constant Heart tells the story of Rebecca Shaw, a young woman who suffered a big disappointment a few years before when her beau tells her that he is marrying a rich heiress he met in town and leaving her behind. Now she is engaged to be married to the village Reverend but the return of the man who betrayed her, now a rich widower, does make her heart feel divided.

 

Besides her disappointment with him Rebecca keeps hearing about how Christopher mistreated his wife. But she can't seem to stay away from him as they keep seeing each other everywhere and he is always very civil to her. When they meet by accident in the forest and Christopher tells her he still cares for her Rebecca has a hard time dealing with the feelings that his declaration bring to surface.

 

But soon she finds out that maybe not all that has been said about him is true, that he has been helping her through the years without her knowledge and the real reasons behind his actions.

 

I thought this plot had great potential for an angst ridden story. Unfortunately, although there are some emotional moments, that potential is not fulfilled. Maybe because we only know Rebecca's side of it or because Christopher actually does seem like a nice guy and there isn't much misunderstanding on that score. That lack of emotion prevented me from being totally engaged in the story and it didn't quite work as I was expecting it to.

 

The secondary characters were really nice and the love stories they developed also made for a good read. They were the kind of people I wouldn't mind revisiting at a later date to see how well they deal with each other.

Grade: 3.5/5

My Lady Domino - Sandra Heath

Miss Adele Russell knew it was sheer folly to attend the Duke and Duchess of Bellingham's grand masquerade. A year ago, she would have been an honoured guest - before the disgrace and death of her father. Now she was a penniless shop girl, scorned by society and mocked by the memory of her broken engagement to the elegant and handsome Lord David Latimer.

But when by chance she found an invitation to the masquerade, the temptation was too great. What danger could there be in going masked to this dazzling affair? She soon found out. First, in the arms of a stranger as mysterious as he was attractive. And then, face to face with the same David Latimer who had broken her heart once and still had the power to do it again . . .

Adele lost everything, including her fiancé, when her father died in a fire leaving her penniless and in disgrace after some irregularities where discovered in his bank. She now lives with her former governess who manages a shop in Bath where Adele works. She is unable to accept that her father might have been more than the victim of two dangerous man and despite her resentment at how he left her she can't forget her feelings for David Latimer her former fiancé.

When the action starts she receives a visit from her father's former secretary, and one of the men responsible for his ruin, telling her not to interfere when the announcement of the new engagement of Latimer is announced, he is supposedly marrying the daughter of the other man involved in her father's death.

Revolted, Adele decides to have a taste of her former life and attend Lady Bellingham's ball. In disguise she snubs David and makes a conquest of another young gentleman. Although she still loves David she is unable to resist going to meet the young gentleman again and her identity is soon discovered by both the gentleman and Latimer.

In a way this story reminded me of Mary Balogh's earlier books, very emotional with intense scenes where the characters mistaken their feelings and remain at odds when they are clearly in love. Adele finds herself in a dangerous situation as the young gentleman proves himself to be a villain but Latimer rescues her and helps her find the evidence that her father was innocent and the other two men were responsible for stealing the money. They don't seem on the right path to happiness though and they need a little push from Latimer's mother who gets her son to think on what really happened five years ago.

Grade: 4.5/5

Lord Rotham's Wager - Ann Elizabeth Cree

HIS BRIDE BY LOTTERY...
Lord Jack Rotham was not a betting man when it came to marriage. But when his great-uncle's will ordered Jack to marry, a bride by wager seemed the logical solution. And so Jack picked the winning wife out of a lottery. However, fate dealt him a cruel hand, for his new bride was the woman who'd left him broken-hearted to marry another man!

HER SECOND-CHANCE HUSBAND...
Claire Ellison had suffered a miserable marriage and didn't want to repeat the experience, particularly to a man who wasn't sure whether he hated her -- or loved her! But when a devious element threatened their new marriage, could Claire finally fight for the man she'd always loved...?

And another story about a second chance at love!

When Lord Rotham meets Claire again - at a ball where gentleman chose the lady by choosing her fans (I had never heard of this)- he decides he wont let her escape again. He had once proposed marriage only to be refused by her brother and learn that she was promptly married to another man. Now he decides he will court her again and convince her to marry him.

The premise was good but it seemed to me that there were too many misunderstandings keeping them apart that could have been easily explained if they had only talked to one another. Instead the problems and tension between them seems to go unresolved for too long. Besides I never really understood why her brother refused him in the first place, yes he had a bad reputation but he compromised her and he proposed. Wasn't that the right thing to do? And her friend who kept sabotaging his efforts and interfering was pretty annoying too.


Grade: 3.5/5

The Rogue's Seduction - Georgina Devon

CAPTURED FOR REVENGE – KEPT FOR PASSION

Ten years ago Lillith, Lady de Lisle, was forced to stand up the man she loved at the altar in favor of a richer husband. Now a widow, she suddenly finds herself the target of her thwarted lover's revenge. In return for Lillith's cruel rejection of him, Jason Beaumair, Earl of Perth, planned to abduct and seduce the beautiful woman who'd haunted his dreams for so long. He'd certainly never fall for her again. But nothing can prepare him when their night of passion turns into an all-consuming desire...

I have been in the mood for a few “second chance at love” stories lately and that is why I picked up this one.

Jason is a very tortured and bitter hero. In the past, not only Lilith left him at the altar but he also suffered horribly at the hands of her brother. Now, since she is a widow, he is determined to get his revenge now and, maybe in a tiny bit of his heart, he hopes to make her love him again.

His bitterness leads him to do rash things however and he does abduct Lilith by force, which doesn’t endear him to her. This is a very intensive story because despite Jason being a very alpha male and somewhat abusive Lilith can’t help being has attracted to him as she was years before. She is, however, unable to face the accusations he throws at her and to believe the worst of her brother. After a few nights of passion, which, we realize was Jason’s attempt to win her back, they separate again.

While Jason reveals himself he is a lot more sensitive than his earlier actions show, Lilith seems to need to grow up a bit and see her family and especially her brother for what they really are. There is a lot of heartache and unhappiness here just because they are unable to discuss the past and put it to rest. Readers who like intense stories and occasionally overbearing heroes will love this one.

Grade: 4/5

The Lost Legacy - Vanessa Gray

THE BEASTLY SIR BELLAMY

A chill went through Miss Jessamine Dalton when she heard the name Sir Ivor Bellamy. Memories stirred o f the time when she had fancied herself desperately in love with this incredibly handsome and extravagantly wealthy lord--before his arrogance gave her pride no choice but to break off the match.

Now Sir Ivor Bellamy was entering her life again--to claim as his legacy, the great country estate that was the Dalton family's last refuge against ruin.

Somehow Jessamine had to best this man who had everything in his favor--including the power to rekindle the flames o f past folly and to melt a heart that had already betrayed Jessamine once...

I got this book because it had a “second chance at love” theme. I have to begin by saying that I was very disappointed in it. After being 4 years apart it seemed odd that the hero devises a plan to get the heroine back as if they had just met a week or two ago. Since they split with harsh words being exchanged it seemed to me that they would at first be uncomfortable around each other and then have to spend some time speaking of past actions and healing the rift. Instead they are thrown into a gothic mystery with ghosts and furniture appearing and disappearing, this could be the backdrop for them to engage in a common investigation, spending more time together they could have talked of what separated them and heal but not only that doesn’t happen as in the beginning the heroine suspects that the hero is the one behind the odd events.

There was never a feeling of an attraction existing between those two and another thing is that heroine wasn’t really a likeable person and I couldn’t see how the hero would spend 4 years mooning over her. The name of the book refers to a lost treasure of the family and at some point I thought that secondary storyline would be more interesting than that of the main couple but in the end it’s also not explained clearly who was doing what and why.

These type of stories usually have a lot of angst because there is a past relationship to work through, so bad feelings and possible misunderstandings to explain and heal but here all those emotions were absent and I really couldn’t care less whether they ended together or not.

Grade: 2/5

Miss Chartley's Guided Tour - Carla Kelly

THE BETRAYED BEAUTY

When lovely young Omega Chartley was left at the altar by the man she loved, her life turned from a dream into a nightmare. Penniless, she had to find employment far below her station. Heartbroken, she could not think of ever trusting love again.

When she again met Matthew Bering, the man who had betrayed her trust and shattered her life, Omega had every reason to despise his handsome person, dismiss his outrageous explanations, and reject his amorous appeals.

And she had no reason whatsoever to do what she did when she fell under his spell -- a second time.

After a few so so reads, I think I finally saw the light with this story by Carla Kelly. I will certainly pay more attention to the other books I have by her in the TBR pile.

When the story opens Omega Chartley has just been left at the altar by the groom, that scene is told by said groom’s point of view but we don’t know why.
Fast forward 8 years and Omega’s circumstances have been reduced and she is travelling to a new position. Unexpectedly she finds a young boy on the run from a wicked uncle and being chased by a Bow Street Runner. Decided to help him Omega runs away with him and on the way they meet Hugh Owen (an ex-soldier who has lost a hand at Waterloo) and Angela, a Spanish orphan who his young charge. They travel together to a nearby estate where Jamie, the boy they are trying to save, hopes to meet his maternal uncle who might save him from his guardian.

When they arrive, Omega realizes that Jamie’s uncle is none other than her ex fiancé. They are both surprised to see each other and since Jamie’s presence is the main thing explanations are left for a later date but those past events are discussed by them. I thought the explanation for what happened 8 years earlier could in fact have made Matthew run away from his obligation but honestly I feel he should have gone back and explained after a suitable period of time to gather his wits. The fact that for 8 weeks he left Omega the subject of evil gossip, not to mention heartbroken makes him a bit of a coward in my view.

To solve Jamie’s problem Matthew joins forces with the Bow Street runner who was following him and as the action develops we feel that the world is really small as the loose ties are binded and everything starts to make sense.

I think Kelly managed to do a wonderful thing with this book which was to mention difficult subjects in a light way. This is not a sad story despite the fact that it deals with such different things as the poverty of the lower classes in London, thievery, child prostitution, greed that leads to murder, the problems the soldiers coming home from the war faced, war orphans... . These are the sort of social injustice that usually doesn’t make an appearance in romance because, let’s face it, there can be no happy ending for those involved but Kelly doesn’t shy away from them.
She also does write wonderful characters, Omega, Hugh and Angela, Jamie… they were all real, fun, believable and likeable. Matthew was also a good one but with the problems I mentioned earlier. I can’t wait to start my next Carla Kelly book and see if it’s as good as this one.

Grade: 4.5/5

Lavender Blue - Sandra Heath

Flight of Fancy

Jovian Cathness, twelfth Luke of Chavanage, was one of the greatest prizes in the Marriage Mart. He had such charm that the ladies of the ton claimed he could coax the birds from the trees. Now he appears to spend all his time befuddled by drink. And the town prattlers have even spread rumors of the duke flying to the upper vyiudowy of his town house.

Despite the fact that Jovian's kisses once seemed to send her sailing high over Westminster Abbey. levelheaded Lady Anthea Wintour won't give credence to the whispers of magic. She wants all the world to believe shell have naught to do with the man who broke her heart. Yet when they meet again, she feels herself filling under the spell of an enchantment that could only be love.

Although I´m finding that I do like the fantasy genre I really do prefer traditional regencies to be...well, traditional and without magic. I keep reading Sandra Heath in hopes of finding a story I enjoy as much as I did Lady Domino but these stories with magic just leave me cold for the most part.

Anthea was almost betrothed to Jovian, the Duke of Chavanage when suddenly he became a drunkard and their engagement was broken. Then, suddenly, her father remarries an soon after became a widower and left to Brazil leaving Anthea with a new stepsister. She goes about in society and keeps meeting Jovian, normally in his cups, and strangely he keeps warning her of great danger while weird things keep happening. It is fairly obvious from the beginning that Jovian is not drunk but pretending. And that there is a mystery surrounding Anthea’s stepsister Corinna.

Heath tries to mix romance, magic and Greek myths and it felt a bit like there were too many twist and turns to keep track of. It seemed odd that Anthea was reviling Jovian one moment and listening to him and following his advice in the other. They never really have a conversation on whether he is drunk or not and despite that she is soon ready to believe everything he says and willing to accept he is the only man she will ever love. I found that part a bit hard to believe and I was at times confused with so many details but I must admit Heath did write an interesting tale and I was looking forward to reach the end and know what was behind so many strange things.

Grade: 3/5

Mistletoe Mayhem - Kate Huntington

One of the ton's wealthiest, most accomplished beauties, Lady Madelyn Rathbone has turned down dazzling proposal after proposal – all because she simply cannot forget country squire Robert Langtry. Though Robert's modest birthright precluded a union between them two years ago, Madelyn is quite certain that he has now settled down and is unavailable to cure her silly longings for good. But a Christmas journey gone much awry and Robert's four mischievous wards are proving more than a match for Madelyn's firm resolve – and her heart!

Robert Langtry had convinced himself that his feelings for Lady Madelyn were youthful folly. But when they become stranded at his snow-bound estate amid one disaster after another, he is delighted to rediscover the vivacious, spirited woman he still loves – even though he knows he cannot let her surrender her life of glittering privilege just for him. Yet neither Madelyn nor Robert are aware that holiday magic is about to show them the sweetest joy of the season...

I had never read Kate Huntington but I love Christmas stories and decided to pick this one up. As soon as I started reading I realised that this book was part of series and that there were at least 2 books before this one. That did not detract from my reading however as the author provides enough information and the story develops for us to understand what happened earlier.

The story starts with guest arriving to a house party at the home of Lord and Lady Blakely. Among the guest are Robert Langtry and his four wards and arriving unexpectedly is Lady Madelyn Rathbone. The host are afraid of the meeting between them as Robert and Madelyn were in love once and broke up after her guardian refused the match due to their different stations and Robert refused to elope with Madelyn which leads to an angry separation.

When Robert and Madelyn meet again it obvious to us that they are still in love with each other, they do behave with the utmost propriety by we are privy to their feelings. It is also clear that Madelyn is not a well liked person, she seems to have a past history with both Viscount Blakely and Lieutenant Whittaker in which she was the other woman favoured by their families and who they rejected to marry their ladies. The complete opposite, Robert is well liked by everyone and in fact there is a plan to marry him to widow who is also spending the holiday season with Blakelys.
What I liked the most about the story is that creates characters that are definitely not black and white, they are human and they are not always likeable and nice.

Despite the fact that it is clear that Madelyn has matured from what the other characters knew of her previously she is still proud and arrogant sometimes. She and Robert “decide” to be just friends but there’s a growing attraction that they find hard to resist. However Robert doesn’t feel he has the right to propose marriage someone far above his status in society and Madelyn doesn’t think she can cope with their wards as she mentions time and again that she doesn’t know how to deal with children. She does seem to have some past history with his wards too and his oldest niece clearly dislikes her.

Some readers might miss seeing them falling in love (at least I saw those complaints in one review) but I was quite happy with the story and was quite blown away with how complex the characters were, that made feel for them and by the end I was quite rooting for their happy ending. Huntington does a good job of convincing me that what separates them can be overcome and in the end I knew I had a keeper in my hands. Looking forward to read the other books in the series.

Grade: 4.5/5