Four new books by Enoch, Alexander, Balogh, and Boyle

On April 28th four new historical romances came out:

1. Suzanne Enoch's Always a Scoundrel (Amazon.com)
   
2. Victoria Alexander's The Virgin's Secret (Amazon.com)
   
3. Mary Balogh's At Last Comes Love (Amazon.com)
4. Elizabeth Boyle's Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress (Amazon.com)

So far the reviews seem to say that all of the books are a hit except for Boyle's Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress, which is apparently a universal disappointment -- though I think Boyle was asking for trouble stringing out a romance across two previous books only to have the hero and heroine finally get their own book where they finally get together ... and are in their 40s and 50s. Bought them all through Amazon (minus Boyle's) and once finals are over we all know what I'll be doing ;-).


Suzanne Enoch's Always a Scoundrel (The Notorious Gentlemen, Book 3)
writer's homepage | book page | excerpt

"Never a gentleman ... until now.

Lord Bramwell Johns, the second son of a duke, is an unrepentant scoundrel. Now that his two closest friends are disgustingly ensconced in domestic bliss, Bram is feeling strangely restless. And not even relieving London's least deserving artistocrats of their ill-gotten jewels is enough—until the night he overhears an argument. It seems that Lady Rosamund Davies is about to be forced into marriage with a rogue even worse than himself.

Rose is well aware of Bram's scandalous reputation, so any reason for his sudden interest in her is suspect; more so since he's close friends with the man about to ruin her family! She has her own plan though, and Bram may be just what she requires—as long as she remembers that he is only looking out for himself. As long as she remembers that his kisses and caresses don't mean anything. As long as she can keep from wondering whether she can trust a scoundrel ... with her heart." (Amazon.com product description)

[Best positive reader reviews on Amazon.com: Andrew W and Debra Fitch]


Victoria Alexander's The Virgin's Secret
writer's homepage | book page | excerpt

"Even the least sensible woman knew, upon meeting his gaze, that here was a man who was more than he might at first appear, who might steal the heart of even the most resistant woman. But oh, what a lovely theft!

Adventurer Nathanial Harrington would never steal another man's discovery. And he'd never be so dishonorable as to tempt an untouched woman into his bed ... even one as stunningly beautiful as Gabriella Montini. Yet she intrigues him. What is her secret? Nate would do anything to find out.

Nathanial is an earl's son -- but Gabriella knows he's not to be trusted! He's more than just a mere thief of hearts, he's also stolen her brother's good name. Determined to restore his reputation, she'd even masquerade as a destitute orphan and be taken into his family's home. But how can she continue her ruse when she fins herself succumbing to Nathanial's passionate charms?" (Victoria Alexander's website)

[Best positive reader reviews on Amazon.com: Irene M., Andrew W., and Debra Fitch]


Mary Balogh's At Last Comes Love (Huxtable Quintet, Book 3)
writer's homepage | book page | excerpt

"Step into a world of scandal, intrigue, and enthralling passion as New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh sweeps us into the lives of an extraordinary family: the Huxtables. Margaret, the eldest, embarks on the most risqué adventure of her life and agrees to marry the most notorious man in London ...

Only desperation could bring Duncan Pennethorne, the infamous Earl of Sheringford, back home after the spectacular scandal that had shocked even the jaded ton. Forced to wed in fifteen days or be cut off without a penny, Duncan chooses the one woman in London in frantic need of a husband. A lie to an old flame forces Margaret Huxtable to accept the irresistible stranger’s offer. But once she discovers who he really is, it’s too late -- she’s already betrothed to the wickedly sensual rakehell. Quickly she issues an ultimatum: If Duncan wants her, he must woo her. And as passion slowly ignites, two people marrying for all the wrong reasons are discovering the joys of seduction -- and awaiting the exquisite pleasure of what comes after ..." (Amazon.com product description)

[Best positive reader reviews on Amazon.com: C. Klaassen and polydegmon "polym"]


Elizabeth Boyle's Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress (The Bachelor Chronicles, Book 5)
writer's homepage | book page | excerpt

"What if all you have are the memories of a pirate ...

... and the scandalous red dress that nearly brought you to ruin? Remembrances of the kisses he stole? Or his seductive, rakish smile as he charmed his way into your bed, stole your innocence and your heart? To proper and respectable Philippa, Lady Gossett such memories are best locked away. At least so she thought until a stranger arrives on her doorstep and offers her a chance to tempt fate once again ... to tempt Dash back into her life and quite possibly into her bed ...

But the man Pippin loved all those years ago, and the man she discovers are hardly the same. Captain Thomas Dashwell has a score to settle with the now widowed Lady Gossett, the vision in red who has haunted his life for so long -- ever since that fateful night when she betrayed him and married another. She's the one woman he's vowed to hate until the end of his days ... and the one woman he can never forget ..." (Elizabeth Boyle's website)

[Best critical reader reviews on Amazon.com: Rolo and C. Garrabrant "Katiebabs"]

Lisa Kleypas: Blue-Eyed Devil

Read May 1-2, 2009
Second in Lisa Kleypas's Travis Family series is Blue-Eyed Devil (ISBN 978-0-312-35165-6, paperback, 352 pages, St. Martin's Paperbacks, list price: $7.99), which recently came out in paperback (March 2009). It features the only daughter of the Travis family, Haven, and the hero is Hardy Cates who appeared in the first book of the series, Sugar Daddy. The book is available on Amazon.com in hardback for $14.93 and paperback for $7.99. Lisa Kleypas' website's page about Blue-Eyed Devil can be accessed here and Romantic Times has a review.

I did not read Sugar Daddy because I was at first so outraged that Kleypas was going contemporary -- though relieved to later find out she will still be writing historicals -- and then after reading people's reviews, the story just didn't really appeal to me. However, not reading the first Travis book is not an impediment to enjoying Blue-Eyed Devil.

Kleypas tackles some heavy issues in her second contemporary novel as Haven's boyfriend-then-husband at the beginning of the book is physically and emotionally abusive. Haven is a compelling heroine who is easy to like and despite what she has suffered from her husband (then ex-), she's strong and resilient. Hardy is absolutely *delicious* -- as Kleypas' heroes always are! -- and the chemistry between him and Haven will singe your fingers as you turn the pages.

Their connection is believable and they are a great pair, but once I finished the novel I realized Haven and Hardy did not really have that many conversations before they decided they were unbelievably attracted to one another. The attraction is compelling, the physical side of their relationship is sexy, and once they open up to one another we do see that Haven and Hardy are a good fit for one another -- it's easy to believe that love develops between the two -- but getting to that point was not as well-developed as I would have liked.

Look out for: the hot first kissing encounter between Hardy and Haven in the first few pages (whole mistaken identity thing).

EN BREF: "Scenes of domestic abuse and the journey to recovery make Kleypas's modern romance anything but fluff. A Wellesley grad and daughter of a Houston energy baron, Haven Travis is an unlikely romantic heroine until her brief but ardent encounter with a man who turns out to be Hardy Cates, the East Texas roughneck from Sugar Daddy who worked his way up from poverty and then outmaneuvered the Travis clan in a business deal. Haven's engaged to Nick Tanner—a man her dad thinks is unfit for her—and though she and Hardy have a charged interaction, she elopes with Nick, and her father cuts her off. Nick turns out to be a bad guy, and a beaten and bruised Haven returns to Houston, where Hardy's still at odds with her family. Their passion proves as fervent as ever, but demons from Haven's recent past—as well as strife with her family and troubles at work and in bed—stand in the way." (From Publishers Weekly)