And with the beginning of a new month comes our next installment of The Romance Garden, in which the library’s genre devotees and self-proclaimed romance experts share with you some of our favorite reads.
Both of our recommendations this month come as the result of overcoming our previous expectations or assumptions, and realizing that beyond our prejudices lurked a story that captivated us. Which is my terribly clumsy way to encourage you to try a new book, or a whole new genre–whether it’s for a Reading Resolution, or just because life is too short not to give something new a try. Either way, we hope that these books give you a few suggestions where to start!
Bridget:
Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster
We all know that I love Dracula, perhaps a bit more than is healthy, but I’ve always had troublesome relationship with romance novels that feature vampires (or some creature that goes by a different name with similar traits). Similarly, I am something of a steampunk geek, which makes me very picky about my steampunk authors. So when I came across Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk Series, my hesitations were legion. The premise sounded so good: an alternative London where steam power rules, and where vampires reign–there had to be a catch, right?
Allow me to state here and now: There is no catch.
McMaster puts a great deal of effort crafting her London, from its grimy, fog-shrouded streets to its decadent finery covering a thin veneer of decay and distrust. And her characters are stunning–conflicted and troubled, and genuinely at the end of their rope, making each scene increasingly intense.
Everyone knows to stay out of Whitechapel. Not only is it a notoriously dangerous place, but it is ruled by Blade, the master of a rookeries. The man who faced down the entire ruling Echelon single-handedly, and proved himself ruthless and cunning enough to win. But if Honoria Todd is going to save her family, Whitechapel, and Blade himself, might be her only hope. When Honoria and Blade come face-to-face, they are both in for a surprise. Honoria is far stronger and far more determined than Blade ever imagined, and Blade himself is losing his battle with the cravings that plague all those like him–but could Honoria hold the key to curing him?
The atmosphere and the tension in this book were superb, but at it’s heart, this book is about the relationships we make that save us. Honoria and Blade’s story is one about trusting others, and learning to trust ourselves in the process, and the side plots, particularly the one involving Honoria’s younger brother, is simply touching, and adds to the quest that Honoria is undertaking enormously. Better yet, this book is only the first in a growing series, and each installment is a smash-hit, too!
Kelley:
Mad, Bad, and Dangerous in Plaid by Suzanne Enoch
“To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart, and to sing it to them when they have forgotten.” ~Thomas Chandler
The first thing I will say about this novel is don’t judge a book by its cover. The titles of most romance novels make me laugh out loud, and this one was no exception, but the thing that made my eyes roll and avoid taking it home to read was the “Scot rhymes with HOT…” tagline emblazoned on the cover’s upper left corner. Seriously?
So what changed, you may ask? It’s that time of year when all of the book review journals, blogs and websites post their “Best Books of the Year,” and Mad, Bad, and Dangerous in Plaid featured repeatedly on the romance lists. Being a sucker for a good Highland romance, all of those terrific reviews were too much for me to resist, so I finally decided to give Suzanne Enoch’s latest entry in the Scandalous Highlanders series a chance, and I’m pleased to say I’m glad that I did.
Rowena MacLawry grew up in the Scottish Highlands, and spent much of her time with her three older brothers, who raised her, and their friend, Lachlan MacTier. From the time she was a child, she adored Lachlan, but even as she came of age to marry, he still saw her as the little girl who drove him crazy with her theatrical bids for his attention. Fed up with the pursuit of an uninterested man, Rowena takes herself to London to shed her wild Highland ways, become a proper lady, and rid herself of her feelings for Lachlan MacTier.
When Rowena returns she is much changed, and in addition to a fancy wardrobe, Lachlan finds she’s abandoned her Highland upbringing, covering her brogue when she speaks, showing more interest in poetry than riding horses, and considering potential husbands from a pool of polished London dandies. It’s time for both Lachlan and Rowena to see each other as they really are, not as the young girl’s perfect image of a knight in shining armor, or an older gentleman’s irritated impressions of a young girl. Enoch develops their romance beautifully, and perhaps the loveliest part of all is that in the process of learning about each other, Lachlan also helps Rowena rediscover herself as she remembers her pride in her Highland heritage.
