The Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas

The Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas - 384 pages
Book 3 - The Wallflower series

"I'm Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent. I can't be celibate. Everyone knows that." Desperate to escape her scheming relatives, Evangeline Jenner has sought the help of the most infamous scoundrel in London. A marriage of convenience is the only solution. No one would have ever paired the shy, stammering wallflower with the sinfully handsome viscount. It quickly becomes clear, however, that Evie is a woman of hidden strength-and Sebastian desires her more than any woman he's ever known. Determined to win her husband's elusive heart, Evie dares to strike a bargain with the devil: If Sebastian can stay celibate for three months, she will allow him into her bed. When Evie is threatened by a vengeful enemy from the past, Sebastian vows to do whatever it takes to protect his wife . . . even at the expense of his own life. Together they will defy their perilous fate, for the sake of all-consuming love.

I loved this book.  I would recommend this to regency romance fans.

It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas - 400 pages
2nd in the Wallflower series

Headstrong American heiress Lillian Bowman has come to England to find an aristocratic husband. Unfortunately, no man is strong enough to tame the stubborn beauty's fierce will. Except, perhaps, the powerful and arrogant Earl of Westcliff-a man Lillian despises more than anyone she's ever met. Marcus, Lord Westcliff, is famous for his icy English reserve and his supreme self-control. But something about the audacious Lillian drives him mad. Whenever they're in the same room, they can't stop themselves from battling furiously to gain the upper hand. Then one afternoon, a stunningly sensuous encounter changes everything . . . and Lillian discovers that beneath the earl's reserved façade, he is the passionate and tender lover of her dreams. What neither Westcliff nor Lillian suspect, however, is that a sinister conspiracy threatens to destroy any chance of happiness. After a shocking betrayal endangers Lillian's safety-and possibly her life-will Marcus be able to save her before it's too late?

I liked this one better than the first one in the series.  It is definitely worth reading if you enjoy regency romance. 

Rational Creatures edited by Christina Boyd

Rational Creatures: Stirrings of Feminism in the Hearts of Jane Austen's Fine Ladies edited by Christina Boyd with a Foreword by Devony Looser --- 465 pages including  Acknowledgements by the editor.

Rational Creatures is a collection of short stories providing another look, from a different angle, at a number of Jane Austen's characters. The sixteen modern authors who appear here are part of the "Quill Collective." In this, the third volume by the Quill Collective, sixteen modern authors examine the nascent feminism of Mary Wollstonecraft displayed by Austen's strong female characters in their determination at least to have a voice in deciding who they would marry.  Previous volumes by the Quill Collective include The Darcy Monologues: A Romance Anthology of "Pride & Prejudice" Short Stories in Mr. Darcy's Own Words and Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen's Rakes and Gentlemen Rogues.

For those who love Regency romances, and for those who admire Jane Austen.

Click HERE to read the review from Publishers Weekly.

Click HERE to read the review from Austenesque Reviews.com

Click HERE to read the review from Austenprose.com

Once a Rake by Eileen Dreyer

Once a Rake: Book Four in the Drake's Rakes Series by Eileen Dreyer --- 386 pages

Eileen Dreyer is a St. Louis author I've encountered before. She has a background in nursing and her earlier books tended toward contemporary medical-based thrillers I quite enjoyed.  It seems she's currently working in the genre of historical romance, the classic Regency romance updated with a generous dollop of eroticism.

Mostly fun and froth, as a high spirited, downtrodden heroine and a Scottish berserker defending his honor join forces to rescue the Duke of Wellington from assassins and traitors.

T by Pamela Minglehe Pursuit of Mary Bennet

The Pursuit of Mary Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Novel by Pamela Mingle --- 299 pages

Harper Collins seems to be building a cottage industry of Jane Austen knockoffs. By far the most popular of the original novels, Pride and Prejudice also seems to encourage the most imitations. I've lost track of the number of books I've seen offering further adventures of the Bennet daughters, as seen from a variety of perspectives. Pamela Mingle here presents us with a tale of Miss Mary Bennet, the "ugly duckling" of the five Bennet sisters in Austen's novel. It's a few years later and Mary is struggling to outgrow her awkwardness and lack of social address. But she is acutely aware that she is the daughter everyone assumes will never marry and will spend her life taking care of her aged parents and making herself useful, with her future dependent on the charity of her more fortunate sisters and their affluent husbands. But Mary wants more from life --- the question is: can she too find true love and happiness to equal Jane's and Elizabeth's?

A Place of Confinement by Anna Dean

A Place of Confinement: The Investigations of Miss Dido Kent by Anna Dean --- 414 pages

The fourth in the entertaining series of Regency Period mysteries, featuring Miss Dido Kent, an intelligent, inquisitive and independent-minded gentlewoman of a certain age and limited means. Kirkus Reviews has observed, "If Jane Austen had written Miss Marple, she would have been Dido Kent."

In this the fourth volume in the series, Dido has been banished by her sister-in-law Margaret to act as an unpaid companion to their hypochondriac (and childless and wealthy) Aunt Manners on a visit to her relations at Charcombe Manor. It is Margaret's hope that time spent at her aunt's beck and call will make Dido reconsider her refusal of a marriage proposal from the sanctimonious Doctor Prowdlee. Of course Margaret is unaware that Dido harbors a secret attachment to Mr. William Lomax. But although Mr. Lomax reciprocates Dido's affection, he is not in a financial position to take on a wife, as he is burdened with the gambling debts of his ne-er-do-well son Tom.

Upon arrival at Charcombe Manor, Dido makes the acquaintance of her aunt's nephews, also her rivals for Aunt Manner's favor, and their families and friends. Mr. Lancelot Fenstanton's house party at Charcombe has been unsettled by the disappearance of Miss Letitia Verney, an heiress on the brink of contracting an engagement with Mr. Fenstanton. Much to her consternation, Dido discovers that Tom Lomax is being blamed for persuading Miss Verney to elope with him to Gretna Green. Yet Letitia's bosom friend, Miss Gibbs, says that Letitia would never have agreed to an elopement, and Tom Lomax himself, discovered at an inn nearby, avows that he had nothing to do with her disappearance. Indeed he insists he watched Miss Verney walk through the front door of Charcombe at 5 o'clock in the afternoon --- but all the people assembled in the hall that afternoon avow that Miss Verney never entered the house.

Then a Mr. Brodie arrives from the West Indies and writes to Mr. Fenstanton, saying he has information about the whereabouts of Miss Verney. But before Mr. Brodie can make his information known he is discovered murdered; and the last people to see him alive testify that he was engaged in a game of cards with Tom Lomax that led to a furious argument. When Tom is arrested and charged with murder, Dido knows she has only a limited time to find the truth, discover Miss Verney's whereabouts, exonerate Tom and save his father from a disgrace that would make it impossible for them to ever marry.

The Dido Kent series is designed for fans of Jane Austen and Regency Period romances. Dido herself is closely modeled upon Jane Austen. Stephanie Barron's Being Jane Austen Series with a fictionalized Jane herself serving as sleuth will also appeal to fans of Dido Kent.

Those who enjoy Jane Austen and Regency Period romances might also want to check out AustenProse, a Jane Austen fan blog.

What Darkness Brings by C.S. Harris

What Darkness Brings: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery by C.S. Harris --- 353 pages

Harris' latest mystery is set in Regency London in September 1812. A London diamond merchant with an unsavory reputation has been found murdered and rumor has it that a magnificent blue diamond (said to have been stolen from the French crown jewels during the late revolution) also disappeared from the merchant's premises on the night of his death. Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, whose passion for justice has led him to take an interest in the solution of several notorious crimes, and his new wife, Hero Jarvis, become involved in the investigation when the husband of Sebastian's former mistress is taken up for the crime.

Although Russell Yates, Kat's husband in name, insists he is innocent, Sebastian knows that Hero's father, Lord Jarvis, will make sure Yates hangs for it unless Sebastian can discover the real killer. As Sebastian begins asking questions he quickly discovers the merchant had many enemies, a penchant for sexual intrigue and blackmail, and an obsession with black magic. A clever historical mystery series with a developing Regency-style romance at its heart.  

The Governess and Mr. Granville by Abby Gaines

The Governess and Mr. Granville by Abby Gaines, 283 pages

A short, sweet "Love Inspired" historical romance, the book follows the love story of Serena and Dominic with a side romance. Hired by Dominic to be a governess to his motherless children, Serena finds herself quickly fired for her interfering ways, yet rehired as a companion to Dominic's sister. As Serena makes it her mission to find the perfect wife and mother for the Granville family, she soon realizes that her heart is too involved and she'd love nothing more than to be that very woman. However, how does one go about obtaining that goal when both parties are soon engaged to other people? Absolutely delightful story and since it's a "Love Inspired" Historical, it's also very cleanly written.

The Bad Miss Bennet by Jean Burnett

The Bad Miss Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Novel by Jean Burnett --- 405 pages

A not very convincing attempt to turn vain, vulgar, conniving and selfish Lydia Bennet into a heroine in a series of misadventures as unoriginal as they are unconvincing. This is not imitation Austen but third rate imitation Austen. Adding insult to injury, a sequel is threatened. Jane would not be amused. Give this one and all its successors a miss.

Romancing the Countess by Ashley March

Romancing the Countess by Ashley March, 320 pages

Leah loves her husband, Ian, from an arranged marriage and is thrilled to be returning home to surprise him. Walking into his study, she discovers him with another woman. The memory forever haunts her as she continually sees the mistress every day ... Ian's best friend's wife, Angela. One year later Ian and Angela are killed together in a carriage accident. Suddenly Leah is free of her husband who pretended to love her all while continuing his affair with Lady Angela Wriothesly. Lord Sebastian Wriothesly receives the news that his beloved wife and his best friend both were killed in the same carriage accident. Pieces are quickly put together and he realizes he's been betrayed by the two people he loved most in life. Wishing to guard his 2 year old son's reputation by hiding the affair, he pursues Ian's wife, Leah, to keep her from making mistakes that would expose it. For one year she has to act the distraught widow and he'll ensure that she does. However, Leah doesn't feel so distraught. While the book does have some good points, it's mostly a slow and tortuous read. I couldn't wait to reach the end of the book. I would not recommend this book in any way.