Romance Reader Reviews

My worst pet peeves in reading a story are inconsistency and dumb characters…especially dumb women characters.  ”Hidden Agendas” by Lora Leigh has both in the first couple of chapters.  She’s been in love with this guy “nearly her whole life” (since about age 17–story says 10, but math does not work–  if she’s 25 now) but she doesn’t recognize him when she sits on his lap to do a lapdance???  Sunglasses don’t hide the shape of his head, or his lips, or his face, the color of his hair.  Her father, the senator, wields huge power, is a hugely important man, then suddenly we learn he’s in his first term?  Actually he’s in the 15th year of his first term at least.  How lucky for him!  And a man talking about “controlling” his 25 year old daughter?? Please!  This one isn’t working for me at all, can’t even get past chapter four.

Once again, when I find an author I really like, I read everything he or she has written.  Although Susan Elizabeth Phillips may miss the mark occasionally, her books are always very funny and her characters just perfect.  She does the deliciously macho male and intelligent, clever, but bruised-by-life female just exactly right.  Many of her stories are connected by the ficticious Chicago Stars football team.  Read “Nobody’s Baby But Mine”.  The premise that brings the main characters, football quarterback and physicist, together is ridiculous, but get past that.  The ultimate struggle between the characters is hugely funny and very touching.  And be sure to read “It Had to be You”.  Phoebe Summerfield may be Ms. Phillips very best character ever.  Once again, the sexual and intellectual  tension between the main characters is wonderfully entertaining.  If this writer is new to you, let me know how you enjoyed these stories!

Another old favorite of mine is “Saving Grace” by Julie Garwood.  Ms. Garwood’s earlier romance stories take place during the Tudor period or earlier and usually in Scotland.  Set in a time when men are dominant, and women not much more than possessions or baby-makers, Ms. Garwood still manages to make her female characters strong, determined, funny and clever. With a little bit of political intrigue and a lot of sass, this story is a great read.  Set much later  in 19th century USA is “For the Roses”.  This story, about a gang of street orphans in New York who take an abandoned baby girl and raise her, is an excellent romantic adventure.  It was also made into a “made for tv” movie several years ago.  Julie Garwood temporarily abandoned these earlier periods for some current time romantic stories.  Although she brings good writing talent to these stories, they are not nearly as entertaining as her earlier work.  I’m happy to see she has returned to that period with one of her latest works, “Shadow Music”.

Getting organized to launch this blog-site is going to take a while, so let me just begin with a brief review of my favorite author, Suzanne Brockmann.  If you have not read her, run (don’t walk) to your favorite bookstore or booksite and buy one of her stories.  A good place to begin is the series involving “seal team 16″.  I say “series” but actually each story is an entity unto itself and can be enjoyed without reading earlier books.  However, having said that, it’s fun to know the characters and to follow their personal exploits in a sort of chronological way.  If you want to start at the beginning, read “Defiant Hero” and “Unsung Hero” which are the stories of the team’s leader and one of its oldest members.  That’s a good start.  Enjoy!Ms. Brockmann’s characters are well-defined and loveable.  Men and women both are smart, sensitive, always have a sense of humor, and an accurate moral compass.  Her stories have just the right mix of tension, excitement, and fun.
 

Thank you so much for joining me in this grand blogging adventure. I invite you to read to your heart’s content, and COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT on my reviews. This blog is a wonderful medium for those of us with similar interests from around the world to connect. I can’t wait to get suggestions for new books from all of you. –Maggie