Historical Romance

Have you ever noticed how simialr most of the romantic novels are? Guy likes girl... girlhates guy.... guy gets girl to fall in love with him and they marry.... your basic plot. It's the variations within this basic plot, however, that keep people interested. In this entry I plan to discuss these differences, book by book. I suppose I should start with the first book I read and move from there... Therefore I start with The Cove.

The Cove by Christine Coulter
Running away from her father's death, after being accused of Murder, ****, lands in a small town called the cove, where things aren't as they seem. She gets rekidnapped by her 'shrink' and does not know where to turn. FBI agent ***** is the one in charge of bringing her in. However, he soon discovers that she isn't responsible for the deaths. Lust, love, and loyalty, the two must race time and fight enemies in order to reveal the true occurences of the night *****'s father died.
Rated: **
Comments: It was a good suspense, but it moved slowly and the characters were almost 2 dimentional. Also it seemed as if there were too many twists to it, resulting in the feeling that it was unbelieveable.

Gentle Warrior by Julie Garwood
Barely escaping the massacre that killed her family, Elizabeth goes to the powerful baron who came to their aid during the murders. But after the Baron realises that she isn't an omen, what he originally thought her to be, he decides to possess her
Rated:
Comments: It goes without saying... When I see Judy Garwood on the shelf and it isn't about the current times I automatically go for it.

The Secret by Judie Garwood

Rated:****
Comments: Hillarious! definately a good read. The struggle between husband and wife is just too good to ignore!



The Wedding Runaway by Karen L. King
In order to escape being married, Boston heiress Lydia Hamilton escapes to London, England, in order to take charge of her own life. Dressed as a boy and going by the name Leonard Hill, she gains entry into gambling houses in order to gain money. Soon after she is taken under the wing of Victor Bartlett, the Earl of Wedmont, a three month widower determined to never marry again. However, deciding to teach Leonard a lesson, Victor challenges the young cub to a deul resulting in Lenny being shot, and Victor's discovery of Leonard's true gender.
Rated: ***
Comments: Very funny at certain points. Encredibly entertaining, if not a little hard to believe that that a young heiress could make her way all the way from Boston and be able to run around as a boy for what seems like over 3 months. But for a quick easy read, I definately reccomend it.

The Cynster Novels by Stephanie Laurens
The Cynster family is one of the most well respected families in the ton. Though known for their rogueishness, rakeism, and misdirection, they are at the top of the ton. Any woman would be lucky enough to have one chasing them. With the Duke of St. Ives as the head title, the generation that the series primarily revolves around is that including the Bar Cynster: Devil, Scandle, Vane, Demon, Gabriel and Lucifer. Their nicknames not only seem to define their natures, but they show that even devils can fall in the hands of love. The series continues with Amelia, Amanda, and Simon Cynster, as well as Michael Ansthruther-Weatherby and Lord Chillingsworth.
The novels are in this order:
1. Devil's Bride- about Devil (Sylvester, the 6th Duke of St. Ives) and Honoria Anstruther-Weatherby
2. A Rake's vow- about Vane (Spencer) and Patience
3. Scandal's Bride- about Scandle (Richard) and Catorina (The lady of The Vale)
4. A Rogue's Proposal- about Demon (Harry) and Felicity
5. A Secret Love- about Gabriel (Rupert) and Alathea
6. All About Love- about Lucifer (Alasdair) and Phyllida
7. All about Passion- about (Duke of Chillingworth) and
8. On a Wild Night- about Amanda and Martin (Duke of Exter)
9. On a Wicked Dawn- about Ameila and Luc
10. The Perfect lover- about Simon and Portia
11. The Ideal Bride- about Michael Anstruther-Weatherby and Caroline Sutcliffe
And as an extra: The Promise in a Kiss- about Sebatian (5th duke of St. Ives) and Helena Rebecce de Stasion (Comtesse d'Lisle)
Rated: ****
Comments: These novels are so much fun, and I reccommend them to anyone. Laurens has such a light and enrapting wayof writing that stimulates the reader to know end and leaves them wishing that they themselves had a Cynster to marry.