A Couple of Snoozers

I have read a bevy of great books lately, but I've also slept through a couple. Mary Balogh's Then Comes Seduction is not her best work. Katherine Huxtable is just plain boring and so is the story. Margaret's story, At Last Comes Love, is next in line and looks more promising. I'm looking forward to it since I love Balogh and was disappointed in Then Comes Seduction.  My worry that the Huxtables could never compare to the Bedwyns is unfortunately coming true.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the next installment.

I also read Christine Feehan's Burning Wild this past week. Not her best effort, I must say. First of all, the beginning of the book details Jake's horrific child abuse at the hands of his parents.  Call me funny, but I just don't think child abuse and romance mix all that well. (This is one of the reasons I don't love contemporary romance...I don't want to be reminded of the horrors of real life, I'm looking for escape.) The rest of the book is basically...well, boring. Hard to believe that a shape-shifting Christine Feehan book could be boring, but there you have it. Too much whining, introspection, how can I learn to love after my shiteous upbringing, blah, blah, blah. And Emma is too good to be true. I am looking forward to the release of the final Drake Sisters novel, Hidden Currents (Elle's story), which will be out on June 30 (my birthday!).  Also, Feehan's newest Carpathian novel Dark Slayer will be released in September of 2009. Dark Slayer is the story of Ivory Malinov and Razvan, and should be a fascinating book. I can't wait!

After finishing Jacquie d'Alessandro's Tempted at Midnight, I went back to read some of her oldies.  I just finished re-reading Red Roses Mean Love (1999), and I want to heartily recommend this book to those of you who have not checked it out.  D'Alessandro is truly a brilliant historical romance writer, and this touching, humorous story is a keeper! 

Please leave a comment with any and all suggestions for me, especially if you have read a romance lately that you adored!

Thanks, Penelope

Review of Tempted at Midnight by Jacquie D'Alessandro

Tempted at Midnight by Jacquie D'Alessandro

Which of the following is true?

While vacationing in Sanibel, Penelope...

A) wore an itty bitty bikini

B) met a cabana boy named Sven

C) got a deep dark tropical tan

D) read Tempted at Midnight while sipping a strawberry daiquiri, and remembered why she loves Jacquie D'Alessandro so much!

Yes, of course the answer is D.  Penelope would not be caught dead in a bikini. First of all, let me just say how very much I adore the name Jacquie D'Alessandro.  It simply rolls off the tongue and inspires all sorts of romantic notions.  What an excellent name for a romance author! Magnifico! I am a huge fan of Jacquie D'Alessandro for the simple reason that she is a fabulous writer.  Her characters are wonderful, her stories are engaging, funny, sweet and emotional, and....very, very sexy.  Certain authors really capture the male POV incredibly well, and D'Alessandro is one of them.  I always adore her heroes, especially Andrew Stanton in Love and the Single Heiress (LOVE that book!).  It's been a while since I read one of her novels, and Tempted at Midnight was a super way to jump back into her writing. Logan and Emily are a case of two opposites attracting, both of them baffled by their intense sexual chemistry (and fighting it every step of the way).  In the midst of their prickly and combative relationship is a sweet and satisfying scene where Logan runs into Emily's family at Hyde Park. In this one scene, everything changes...Emily sees Logan in a new light as he bonds with her family, and Logan finds out that Miss Prim-and-Proper has another side to her (undefeated champion frog catcher).  Here is an example of a great author at work...with just one simple scene, the reader rejoices as this new and awakening romance unfurls. D'Alessandro's heroes are always protective, full of integrity and selfless, everything a hero should be (and oh yeah, very sexy, too. Can't forget that part!)  D'Alessandro's dialogue is also wonderful and full of humor.  My favorite line in this book is "That's my damn hunk of cheese, you bastard!" (You'll have to read the book for the full effect!) For those of you who are already familiar with this author, this book is an excellent addition to your library.  For those who have not read D'Alessandro yet, check out Whirlwind Wedding, Red Roses Mean Love, and my all time favorite, Love and the Single Heiress. And of course, Tempted at Midnight. You will not be disappointed.  I highly recommend this book, which has earned an A for Awesome! 

Grade: A 

Tempted to read more Jacquie D'Alessandro books,

Penelope