Harlequin Presents Readers discussion

I did dreadfully last year, so hoping this year is different. Planning to read four per month, which brings the goal to 48 for the year. Wish me luck!

Good luck Erin!

Thank you Jennie

I have done very little Harlequin reading this year so far. Shame on me. But I have started reading them again this week. Right now starting Tender Deceit by Patricia Wilson. If I like this a lot will check out more from her, digging her writing style.

Their Wedding Day (This Time, Forever) by Emma Darcy

3.5 stars

It had most of the themes I don't care much for with these - pre-existing children, past relationship, not much drama between the couples, too perfect - but somehow it still worked. This book was so sweet my blood sugar almost rose reading it, but it wasn't cloying somehow. Magic it must be. I was a bit dismay by the lead gal's acceptance of handouts and greed and the hero is too good to be true, but it must have fit my mood today. The kids were sweet too, especially the boy. Romance at it's unrealistic finest, but still a treat to read on certain days.

The Golden Mask (A Year Down Under #3) by Robyn Donald

3/5

It took me awhile to get into this one – I was close to abandoning until page 30 or so, figuring the author’s style wasn’t my thing. Thankfully the story becomes more intriguing as the characters oddness starts standing out.

At first the protagonist seemed a too woe-is-me type with silliness, but it turns out this was intentional and ties into the plot later on. She is, of all things, helping take care of a sheep farm with her ailing grandfather. A former friend comes back into town to purchase it, and you can guess the rest from here.

I don’t mind her naiveté since she was so sheltered, nor do I care if she’s on the submissive side. That helplessness, though? Blah! Sometimes spunk would try showing itself, only to be squashed. Every dessert she made she’d call “pudding” (at least I think that’s what was going on.) Just strange. Blade was okay as the hero of the story. Sometimes I enjoyed him, but other times he was lackluster. Nothing special. The harshness he displayed to spur her on later made him an ass, and even if the author explains it at the end, I can’t fully forgive him.

The author’s writing style was enjoyable and she avoids melodramatic dialogue. It did get old how she overdid illustrations of the heroine’s poverty. She says the top of the food furniture is now white from too much scrubbing, is this possible? I really don’t know. She even takes it so far as to say her clothing is minimal or overworn because of poverty, and points out the jeans are almost white from being old and worn so often. I know that’s unlikely, as I’m one of the worst people for wearing pants a ridiculous amount (can never find ones that fit right!), and they will get holes and need thrown away way before they’d turn white.

Overall a passable Harlequin but nothing stellar.

Falling for the Sheik by Carol Grace

3 stars

The story was good but needed to be further fleshed out. Since the length was generous for this type already, maybe shortening the build up before they got to the house. Both characters are likeable, although I don't understand why they have such a great connection with such little interaction, but that happens a lot with books such as these. The hero was a bit lackluster to me but the heroine works well enough. No humor and no steam but Gregor is talented with writing technique. Overall, the story was a good one, the writing worked, the characters are fine, but it still falls a little flat and needs some kind of spark lit under it.

A Woman's Place by Nicola West


3 stars

A decent Harlequin, although nothing special. I'm surprised the average ratings for this book on Goodreads is that bad. Compared to other Harlequins that are average, it really isn't worse. Could be because Jan is simply an annoying character - feminism so in-grained I gritted my teeth. There's no realistic friction between the leads really - the small stumble between them isn't too big to overcome. The jealousy with Kurt is rather silly and in the end, when the author reveals his true intention and why, well...it just doesn't make the most sense. Some of the dialogue was hokey, and of course the book stands cursed with some melodramatic servings. There's no credible reason the leads should have fallen in love as not much bonding is done, no major moments had, but so many of these short and romantic fairy-tales are like that.

The Cinderella Couch by Roz Denny Fox

Decent story, was better in the first half. After awhile when they were falling in love it started losing it's spark. One annoying thing was she kept saying his name when they talked to where it was unrealistic. I dug how the author made this one different by having a problem being the very real merging of cultures and family traditions, I hadn't read anything like that before. I liked the heroine, but the hero not so much, he was too quick to misunderstand and hold a grudge. Get over it already. I also got annoyed toward the end with her having to hold up the ruse to please everyone, I felt like telling her grandparents to get over it and Mikki and Mei-Li to man up.

The Heiress Bride by Laurey Bright

2.5

This book was just okay - nothing really stood out about it. The heroine was likeable enough, although I think she should have been a bit more harsh to her father when the news was announced. The misunderstanding was realistic enough for a drama piece, but really she shouldn't have married him thinking that. I would think that misconception would have made me not want to. I would have been in the mood to say, the heck with all of them, and leave everyone - but that's just me. The ending was sweet though and made the hero seem more genuine for once.

The Marriage Bracelet by Rebecca Winters

4 stars

Actually pretty good - the gypsy culture is intriguing, although it only delves into it so much. I want my own tsara in the backyard now. The heroine is likeable enough and close knit with the family, even if a bit wide eyed sometimes (aren't they all?) The hero is great - dark, silver eyed, intense, protective, just how I like. There is no steam in the story. Branko's personality was hilarious, adding a needed brush of humor. I did find the family a little too intrusive sometimes, even if the brother was likeable.

Take it Down by Kara Sinclair

3 stars

Another installment in the Island Nights series, Kara Sinclair again writes well with word choice, dialogue, and characters. I'm loving the island setting and can only imagine how beautiful it must be from the descriptions. In the first book I felt like I saw more of the resort, this book is a little more sheltered, but still it has its charm. The overall story was intriguing with why she was really there and how he was suspicious of her. The bad thing was to me there is too much insta-lust, followed by insta-love, especially in a short span. This wouldn't have been too bad if only they weren't constantly wanting each other, her even eyeing him when he comes into a room while they're fighting and angry with each other. Blaze isn't my preferred subprint, but this is a good one, as I especially liked the main characters. Eager to read the third and the last with Simon and Marcy.

Thanks for sharing you thoughts on the books, Erin. I enjoyed reading them!

I love Emma Darcy but have not read that one thanks i will getting it.

Danielle The Book Huntress (Angels Weep For Goodreads) wrote: "Thanks for sharing you thoughts on the books, Erin. I enjoyed reading them!"

Glad you're enjoying, it's been fun keeping track this way. I know I set my challenge way too high!

Pam wrote: "I love Emma Darcy but have not read that one thanks i will getting it."

I hope you get it soon, Pam, and be sure to let me know what you think.

Winter Roses by Catherine Spencer

*4 Stars

Actually an excellent harlequin - the main character is in a house with a lot of elderly in a small town who could not take care of themselves. She never had a family growing up so is trying to fill a need. The landlord has returned to town to sell the house and get rid of his memories of the place, while the townspeople shun him for his actions when he was younger. It was fascinating with different layers and I fell in love with the mixture of characters. Eleanor, who is nearly senile, has a surprise twist at the end. Lillian is the aristocratic and proper woman who likes arguing with Dorothy, who is dedicated to reading her tea leaves. They have Florence, who cooks for everyone, Henry who is proud of his garden and ale making and in love with Prudence, and Bill. All work together to make an interesting story. The love story itself was so sweet too. Maybe a little sappy at the end, but it worked well. There wasn't unrealistic chemistry, instalove or instalust. Definitely recommended for Harlequin fans who like this sort.

The Sicilian Boss's Mistress by Penny Jordan

4.5 stars

A very good harlequin from Penny Jordan!

Actually a very good book for this type/line. The heroine is especially likeable since she's with her flaws and issues; I like her realistic hesitancy and the cinderella-like feel, but she's also with humor and strength. The hero is almost too jerkish, especially in the first half, but he's delicious and toe-curling. I liked how the side character brother, Falcon, was friendly and "warm", the weird angle of the bitter father, and how what the couple had in common wasn't typical - being a middle child, both with mothers who passed away when they were both young, both wanting to make their way in the world on their own. She was more because she was a girl and raised by her father and brothers without a female presence, and he because his father ridiculed and verbally abused him his entire life. The ending was so sweet, there was some spice, the spider scenes were just hilarious, and the dialogue/argument exchanges were quirky. I'm curious to see what happens with Falcon next because of the wrap-up. The only real complaint I have is that the ending was too rushed; I needed to hear more about the piloting - was she going to quit work, work with him, work somewhere else? An epilogue would have been nice to see how they fared (well, DUH, they would have stayed together and happy, but it just felt so cut off!)

Overall impressed. Penny Jordan can be hit and miss - books like this make me want to read more of her.

Spurred on by a mood for harlequins, and lucking out by reading some good ones lately, I went to the used bookstores and picked up some new ones to read Saturday, the 5th.

Lynne Graham -

The Billionaire's Trophy
Virgin Brides: Married by Arrangement / Mistress Bought and Paid for / The Cozakis Bride
Challenging Dante
A Deal at the Altar
Mistress Bought and Paid For (Mistress to a Millionaire)
The Sheikh's Prize
A Rich Man's Whim
Ruthless Magnate, Convenient Wife

Penny Jordan -

The Power of Vasilii
Passion and the Prince
The Sicilian's Baby Bargain

Anne Oliver

Hot Boss, Wicked Nights


I was happy to find the sequel to the book I just finished by Penny Jordan, The Sicilian's Baby Bargain.

I haven't read Anne Oliver before, but the synopsis sounded good.

The Sicilian's Baby Bargain (Leopardi Brothers #3)
Penny Jordan



3.5

A sweet story set as the third sequel of the series by Penny Jordan about the Lobardi family. Not as intriguing as it's predecessor, this third book is still creative with some of the outside plot wrenches tossed in - how she got the baby (the half-brothers rape), and her fear of her step-brother. Even if he doesn't seem wholly real as a person, Falcon is a good hero for the harlequin line. Maybe a little too narrow minded sometimes, and I prefered Alessandro by a smidge, but still a well-enough rounded harlequin lead. The heroine is likeable enough, I guess, but she does need some strength thrown her way. I was intriguied with Colin - what is his deal exactly? Since it started in childhood I thought it was some weird molesting thing at first, but then I figured it was because he wanted to steal her inheritance, now...I just don't know. An interesting villain.

I'd have liked a longer epilogue - how come for the third book and wrap-up we see a few instances of the brother and his wife from the first book, but nothing from Alessandro and his wife from the second? Not even in the epilogue do we see the three couples together, which seemed a little cheap and rushed to me.

The book concentrated a little much on the lust chemistry, had some melodrama with emotions that got annoying, but the dialogue worked and overall it was a good follow-up story.

I don't think I'm as much of a Sheik fan as many other readers here. I how now read at least three and they do little for me.

My latest adventure with Sheik story -

The Sheikh's Prize (A Bride For A Billionaire #2)
by Lynne Graham



The book had Harlequin-drama poential, but fell flat as it was rather silly. The heroine would have these "big secrets" she didn't wnat to share, but blurted them out at the easiest opportunity. The story relied too much on overdone chemistry between the two that just wasn't believable. The ending was the best part of the story as it tied together, but the story itself had too many unlikely coincidences, false protests, and the heroine gave in too easily. Graham seems to put babies and pregnancy into the story too soon. The hero wasn't that interesting either and possessed little charm or intrigue.

The Billionaire's Trophy (A Bride For A Billionaire #3)




3 stars

While Lynne Graham does write different plot scenarios into her romance fiction, she does follow predictable cliches and formula. Here it's no different, and that gets taxing as it pulls away some of the unpredictability. The hero is likeable enough, especially with the description and emphasis of the golden eyes with black lashes. The heroine is also decent; Graham writes vulnerable heroines among the best of them. The ending is sweet, but a little abrupt with it's change, guess the book had to wrap up to the inevitable conclusion. There is some tension, although not much, and the storyline is decent but not overwhelmingly exciting or anything.

What's funny about the above two books is that I had no idea they were part of the same series until the end of The Billionaire's Trophy

Married by Arrangement by Lynne Graham

4 stars

Ah, those harlequin couples can be so silly with their ridiculous ideas, false theories, and back-and-forth misunderstandings. Lynne Graham continues her usual strange virginity and baby obsession. Still, it was enjoyable as the story moved along quickly, had spunk/spark, and I dug the mains. Sophie was sweet, different, fun, and feisty. The hero was a good one as well, liked his traditional approaches and sense of humor. Not particularly steamy but I wasn't that interested with that for this story, so that didn't deter from the story. Lydia as the existing baby wasn't annoying and was cute, kept well in the story. The beginning especially shone. Not a big fan of the arranged marriage but here it works well enough.