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Katie’s Historical Romance Book Reviews
This story – written primarily from the perspective of Temperance Flowerdew, best known as the wife of the first two governors of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia – is haunting. It starkly illustrates the violent reality of the colon…
My goodness, such angst! The first dialogue-dense chapter is a single chaotic scene involving bickering women and children. For reasons I can’t quite pinpoint, the interactions between characters in that scene reminded me of the Schlegel…
Five stars for making me laugh and smile and even cry a little. I could not put this book down. The premise was a teensy bit far-fetched, but the plot moved along at a quick pace, and the hero and heroine were both charming in their own …
Undeniably clever, suspenseful, well-researched, and deftly written, but the romance was practically nonexistent, taking third place after the action sequences and the two penny dreadful stories. I enjoyed the hero and heroine when they …
The beautiful cover and mysterious premise intrigued me. I fully expected to enjoy this story. The secrets kept me curious, but unfortunately, I just couldn’t believe the romance. The entire guardian/ward situation confused me, even once…
An action-packed and mysterious Pride and Prejudice variation! What started out as a rather subtle and almost believable weaving of magic into the original story, eventually became an epic fantasy tale. I was somewhat skeptical at first …
A deliciously immersive and atmospheric Regency romance. The intriguing title and lovely cover are merely the subtle beginnings of a deep dive into the innumerable complications of human connections. The unusual relationship between the …
Sometimes a broken road, littered with what feels like failure, leads you to exactly where you are meant to be. In yet another immersive tale, Martha Keyes introduces readers to Georgiana Paige, who has not succeeded in winning a proposa…
What a unique premise, with a fast-paced plot! Admittedly, it took me a little while to really get into the story, and at times I felt the implausibility of some of the situations. While I admired the heroine for taking action to control…
It has been an immense pleasure to follow the inspirational Jonquil family over the years as they evolve and grow together. I feel like a member of the family! As always, the witty bantering made me laugh, while the heart-wrenching emoti…
As always, this author has crafted an impeccably researched story that adds so much depth to the experiences of its characters. This was not a lighthearted read. It was dark and painful at times, describing the horrors of war, but also f…
The Lady and the Highwayman is a well-researched and skillfully woven jaunt through Victorian London from the perspective of two penny dreadful authors with disparate backgrounds, as well as their work-in-progress dramatic penny dreadful…
Sarah M. Eden is a brilliant storyteller. The environments she creates are so subtly yet artistically rendered that you don’t realize the detailed painting she’s created in your imagination until you’re abruptly removed from your deep im…
Rakes and Roses is a story about two broken people coping with trauma and fear in different ways. While one drowns in self-fulfilling, irrational desperation and weakness, the other finds strength they never knew they had to face adversi…
What a lovely story! This touching book kept me up reading into the wee hours of the morning and left me with a sigh and a smile. Perhaps there were some small plot holes and anachronisms…. Honestly, it was so beautifully written that …
An entertaining, well-written, and fast-paced read. I enjoyed the unique premise; it’s rare to read about a lady following the drum, although I’m sure it was historically more common than we might think. I wouldn’t consider this a Regenc…
This captivating Pride and Prejudice variation takes place pre-Netherfield being let at last. I was intrigued to read about the Ramsgate incident. At first I was doubtful that a seemingly innocent encounter would be so vilified, but duri…
I am not generally a fan of short story anthologies because just when I get emotionally invested in the characters, their story ends. In this case, however, I happily moved from one tale to the next, knowing that our beloved Elizabeth wo…
Admittedly, I am unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, so I couldn’t help but feel that perhaps I was missing out on elements of that original story that were present in this Regency retelling. Even so, I still enjoyed…
Utterly delightful from start to finish, and I loved every minute of it! I’ve been anxiously awaiting the next opportunity to reunite with the admirable Ashburn family after enjoying this book’s predecessor, To Con a Gentleman, and my re…
The book’s beautiful cover and premise intrigued me. And early on in the story, it was a pleasant surprise to come across a loving father who wants his daughter to be happy and feels remorse for the role he must play in securing her futu…
In this skillfully crafted Pride and Prejudice variation, our beloved characters’ personalities are on full display as readers discover the difference just a couple extra days can make for more effective communication. I appreciated the …
The beautiful and intriguing cover had me highly anticipating this story, and I’m sorry to say that I was disappointed when my high expectations weren’t quite met. This was a new-to-me author, although I have learned that the characters …
A delightful read for any time of the year, although events surround Christmas festivities. This is included in the Branches of Love series, but I have not yet read any of the other books and feel this story easily stands on its own with…
It was delightful to read the backstory of two secondary characters I had admired so much in To Con a Gentleman, Book 1 in the Dalton Family series. My only wish is that Seeing Mary was a full novel that included the entire Dalton family…
I read this book in one sitting, a rare feat for me, even with novelettes. Although the book is short, it is most certainly a complete and satisfying story and never once felt rushed in any way. It shares adequate backstory, solidly esta…
Hazelhurst was yet another enjoyable installment in the Families of Dorset series. I appreciate getting to know secondary characters from other books I’ve read, so I was pleased to see that Anne (the hero’s sister in Wyndcross, Book 1 in…
Kit’s Hill is a beautifully crafted, captivating historical saga set in late 18th-century Lancashire. The writing is poetic, even lyrical at times, and atmospheric. The use of authentic local vernacular rooted me firmly in the time and p…
Delightfully immersive, I felt like I was personally corresponding with Elizabeth. Her unique voice glows on the pages. And the title could not be more fitting. There is such a natural, realistic flow to this story, maintaining the origi…
The Body in the Garden is a well-written, intriguing historical murder mystery with unexpected twists. Admittedly, I was nearly halfway through the book before I actually started caring much about the story or the characters. The plot de…
I was utterly enthralled from the very first paragraph. The descriptive writing was immersive. I love that this story is from Darcy’s perspective. His agony, both physical and emotional, leaps from the page with gripping, poetic, masterf…
As a reader of hundreds of books in this genre, I can honestly say that To Con a Gentleman has a refreshingly unique premise. I loved the multiple layers that were carefully peeled back as I progressed through the story. For a change, th…
This was a story about seeing through masks, finding the courage to abandon them, and cherishing the freedom of their absence. I immediately liked the hero when he didn’t fall for the usual attention-seeking manipulations of a prideful d…
This unusual Pride and Prejudice variation is a fun read for adventurous Janeites, but may be a stretch for some dedicated canon purists. I do enjoy a thought-provoking what-if scenario though, and my favorite part of the story was the e…
This was a story about resentment, revelations, and regrets. Such a great lesson about the importance of honest communication to prevent unnecessary heartache. I appreciated that what turned out to be well-deserved admiration was not ins…
I rarely grant five-star ratings, but this story moved me in profound and unexpected ways. The heroine was extremely relatable to me as an introvert, in particular. This was an in-depth examination of love in all of its many forms: betwe…
A charming P&P variation, with some tense misunderstandings, some truly satisfying confrontations, and delightful dialogue. The pace of the story was a bit slow for the first half of the book, and the head-hopping was distracting, but th…
Wow, what an unusual tale! Romance and intrigue mixed with fascinating paranormal activity, domestic abuse, and treatment of mental illness. What I liked best about the hero of this story is that he’s not typical literary hero material. …
The first 80% of this story was entertaining. I enjoyed the character development and the growth of the relationships. I could understand the hero’s volatile nature as I learned more of his history. I admired the heroine’s resolve, accep…
About ten years ago, I read and adored the Sarah Agnes Prine trilogy by Nancy E. Turner, so I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that I could return to that family in the Arizona Territory after all these years away. This author has …
As a longtime fan of the Jonquil and Lancaster families, this story of them together was a joy to read. I adored the inclusion of the youngest members of the families. The conversations with the children were not only precious, but also …
This Pride and Prejudice variation was skillfully woven from standard narrative writing, as well as correspondence between characters. So much is conveyed between the lines; I admire the author’s careful storytelling. For as much drama–…
I always enjoy Sarah Eden’s books so much that I mourn when they end. This story was no exception. I laughed and cried and felt every degree of emotion in between. The characters feel like family, and Daphne was perhaps the most relatabl…
Another great story by this author! I enjoyed the premise, as well as the heroine’s rational disbelief. She was definitely relatable. I could identify with her certainty that her intelligence held no real value and that, without beauty, …
I have been aware of this story for many years but had never read it. It was bittersweet to read the first 11 chapters, knowing they were some of the last words written by Jane Austen before succumbing to her illness just a few months la…
This satisfying story was thoroughly engrossing and suspenseful, with an exciting mix of tension and delight. I experienced a wide variety of emotions while reading Wyndcross. It is so much more than a simple Regency romance. Witty bante…
Eleanor has just the right amount of each of the important elements that make a Regency romance enjoyable. I was immediately drawn into the story by the realistic characters. I prefer stories where mutual admiration is actually warranted…
Another great Jane Austen fan fiction story from a skillful author. It was an emotional ride from start to finish, and I can’t wait for more! As with the first book, the dialogue in book two is superb. I laughed out loud on more than one…
This is the best kind of Jane Austen Fan Fiction, that tweaks the original story lines with plausible what-if scenarios, but still remains true to Austen’s voice and characters. Without revealing spoilers, several original characters exp…
Even better than the television series based on it. But of course, the book is always better! I thoroughly enjoyed the rich character development. It added many layers to the characters I’d met on-screen. The actors did a superb job brin…
Katie's Georgette Heyer Book Reviews
Another enjoyable Heyer novel, she is unmatched in her skill for witty dialogue! A strong-minded heroine, which I always prefer, and fun to see the hero be overcome despite himself… so Darcy-esque.
I love the witty writing in every Heyer I’ve read, but this one in particular for some reason had me laughing out loud a few times. Loved the hero, and the scenes with the dog were quite amusing. Didn’t care much for the heroine in this …
It took me a while to get in to this one. The first quarter of the book I really wasn’t liking it. I didn’t care for the hero or the heroine at the start, but they grew on me. Typically I prefer a little more emotional involvement and a …
This is a sequel to These Old Shades…SPOILER ALERT if you haven’t read that one yet.
This story was extremely gratifying to me. In my experience, it’s rare in the Regency Romance genre for a book to have a sequel, and the endings are …
Loved it, great characters, great dialogue, entertaining story. Far easier to read than the other two Heyer books I’ve read, not so much unnecessary details to wade through.
This was a fun read. Unique hero and heroine, mature and unrestrained. Their lively dialogue was amusing. I didn’t care as much for the secondary characters in this one as I typically do for those in the other Heyer novels I’ve read.
This gets 4 stars because I like Freddy. The best things about him are that he’s flawed, in a very normal way, and that he’s not a rake. A unique Heyer hero, and I enjoyed him. Kitty was rather weak as far as heroines go but she wasn’t o…
This was a fun, amusing read. It was refreshing to discover a hero and heroine who get along well from the beginning. Their camaraderie is delightful. I’ve grown tired of the "I can’t stand you, oh wait now I love you" storylines. I can …
I liked the uniquely sarcastic heroine and a fairly intriguing mystery, but the love story… well, let’s just say I was as stunned as the heroine was by the declaration. I almost thought this was going to be the first Heyer Regency roma…
I enjoyed this story, it was quite amusing, I even caught myself laughing out loud a few times. I know it’s one of the less popular Heyer novels, perhaps due to the unconventional setting and circumstances, but I thought it was a fun rea…
This was my first Georgette Heyer book and I enjoyed it, will read others. It did take a while to get used to her writing style with Every other Word capitalized, but I know it was for emphasis. The dialogue among the characters was amus…
Good story, didn’t foresee the twist. Definitely takes some effort to wade through all the unnecessary descriptions of people and places irrelevant to the story. I liked the characters, and of course the dialogue, at least when it wasn’t…
Another good Heyer, but the ending was far too abrupt. It almost didn’t make sense. Unsatisfactory. I liked that the hero and heroine developed a relationship based on mutual respect and friendship, without regard for their circumstances…
This book was equally enjoyable and annoying. I went back and forth between liking the main characters and wanting to smack them. I did find the story satisfying in that it begins where most other Heyer novels end… right when the hero …
This was a peculiar one. I didn’t care much for the heroine other than her straightforward, independent, I suppose modern personality. I didn’t like her rude, condescending attitude toward her cousin, however annoying the woman was. She …
Just for Fun…
Check out my personal Nancy Drew collection!
For more than 30 years, I have been scouring antique stores on the hunt for Nancy Drew books. I’ve loved Nancy Drew books since I was a little girl. I love the cover art, as well as the stories about a smart, compassionate, independent, problem-solving girl. Thanks to LibraryThing and the Library of Congress database, I was able to compile a catalog of all 190 books in my collection, with accurate covers identical to those on my bookshelves.
