Look! I found actual flowers! It’s like it’s spring or something!
Yesterday was the first day of baseball season, dear readers, which, as far as I’m concerned, means that it’s spring, regardless of whether there is still a snow bank at the end of my driveway.
So, as you begin to think about your own gardens, about the pansies and the forsythia that will grace your pots, about the crocuses popping up through the winter-hard soil, and about the beautiful colors that will be gracing our gardens in a few months’ time, why not come in and check out the romances gracing our shelves?
Because, as we say here, every mind needs a little dirt in which to grow….
by Albert Bartholome
Bridget: A Lady’s Code of Misconduct by Meredith Duran
I love Meredith Duran’s books. I love that she picks historic time periods or themes that most writers wouldn’t touch. I love that her heroines are tough as iron, and I love that her heroes aren’t macho stereotypes. And this book reminded me just what a terrific romance writer she is.
Facing an unwanted marriage that will rob her of her fortune (and, most likely, her sanity), Jane Mason no longer cares about her reputation. Desperate to get as far away from her past as possible, she strikes a bargain with the most notorious man she knows–a politician with a bright future, but a dark reputation. Crispin Burke learned the hard way not to let down his guard around anyone. He agrees to Jane’s scheme, knowing that he simply can’t get hurt. But when Crispin’s whole world get turned on upside down, Jane may be the only person left who can save him.
For all the high stakes in this description, there is a lot of humor in this book; Crispin himself is a brilliant young man, and the banter between him and the quick-witted Jane are delightful. More than anything though, I loved that the emphasis of this book was on trust, and how important trust is to true love. Though this lush and lovely novel is the fifth in Duran’s Rules of the Reckless series, this is a perfect place for newcomers to start reading.
Kelley: Falling for the Highlander by Lynsay Sands
When Lady Murine Carmichael runs away after her brother tries to trade her for horses, the last thing she expects is to be rescued by and fall in love with the man who refused to take her as payment, but that’s just what happens in this delightful Highland romance that’s as sweet as it is funny. Although the threat to Murine from her family is complicated, the relationship between her and Dougall Buchanan isn’t. Dougall admires Murine’s bravery, and Murine immediately trusts Dougall to keep her safe. Dougall never questions that he wants to be with Murine, but his quiet hesitation as he figures out just how to pursue her respectfully and with care makes him an easy hero to fall in love with. As to Murine, her bravery is underscored by her unsurety when it comes to being in a relationship. She knows what she wants, but her quiet surprise at the discovery adds depth to her already enjoyable character.
Falling for the Highlander is the fourth in Sands’ “Scottish Highlanders” series, and not knowing that at the outset, I still had no trouble beginning here. If you’re looking for a romance with characters you won’t hesitate to root for from the start, you won’t regret an afternoon spent with Murine and Dougall.
