Me, Myself And Why? By MaryJanice Davidson

Posted on August 30, 2011 by The Book Courtesans

Me, Myself And Why? by MaryJanice Davidson

 

Rated 3 out of 5 White Roses.

Content rated with the Yellow Rose.

Cadence Jones is not normal. She isn’t even close. She is an FBI agent for the not so publicized FBI branch known to a select few as BOFFA, the Bureau of False Flag Ops. She also has dissociative identity disorder known more commonly as multiple personality disorder. To be blunt, she and her two other personalities which are really more like “sisters”, occupy her body. But her *ahem* situation makes her a perfect candidate for BOFFA. What Cadence may miss at the crime scene, the other two, specifically Shiro -her more direct and efficient sister, notice and it makes catching the psychos that much easier.

However, her already crazy life gets even crazier. (Is it even possible for the insane to be driven even more insane?) There’s a killer on the loose known as the Threefer killer because he always kills in threes. (Self-explanatory right?) While no one can find a link that connects all the victims together, Cadence seems to have this uncanny feeling that the killer is trying to send her a message with each of his victims.

All this happens right when she meets her best friend’s older brother who not only seems to have a thing for her but doesn’t mind that she’s a nut job too! Dating while solving a crime and chasing after a bad guy is definitely not easy. To top it off, her “sisters” keep making appearances more often lately and for longer periods of time, too, leaving her in awkward situations that she has to get out of, especially Adrienne -the (really) crazy one. Why do they always have all the fun and always leave her with the clean up?

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I find that I still have yet to fully make my mind up about Me, Myself and Why? There were times I really liked it and times where I said, “Hold up, really?” The book is made of quick chapters that are written from each sister’s perspective, the most of them being through Cadence’s point of view as she is the main and normal one of the three. Now while Ms. Davidson does well articulating and differentiating between each characters’ point of view, it can still get a little confusing as the chapters seem to hop quickly from one to the next.

As to the romance aspect of it, I can’t really say there was much of one. I mean, it is really nice to think of a man out there who wouldn’t care one bit about a woman’s disorder such as Cadence’s but at the same time, Patrick Flannery, the love interest, seems to be unflappable in his admiration of Cadence and her sisters. Even as she switches from one sister to the next, it doesn’t stop his desire to be with her. While that’s positively lovely, I don’t see it as likely to happen nor as realistic. Even if he stayed by her side and never left, I’d still see a man frustrated as all get out. So I don’t see “romance” as much as I see a man desiring a woman inspite of… well, her being crazy.

Now while I wasn’t entirely sold on this new series, I wasn’t exactly turned off either. I will admit I still have some curiousity as to the Jones sisters’ fate and that curiousity is enough that I know I won’t rush to grab the next book, but I will definitely read it. Until then…

Hugs & Kisses,

The Lustrous Courtesan

~*~*~*~*~

Me, Myself and Why? published by St. Martin’s Press, September 2010.

 

Paperback (shown above) published August 2011.

Posted in 3 White Roses, Book Courtesans, Book Reviews, Contemporary, Mystery, Romance, Suspense, The Lustrous Courtesan, Women's Fiction, Yellow Rose | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer

Posted on August 28, 2011 by The Book Courtesans

When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer

 

Rated 4 out of 5 White Roses.

Content rated with the Pale Pink Rose.

When Molly told the world that Harry kissed her sister, she just wanted to show that Roderick was the love of her life. However, Roderick still ended up marrying her sister and all she got out of it was five years of misery. After that, she and Harry were sworn enemies from that day forward.  They tolerated each other at family events, but they never expected that they would be friends, let alone lovers.

When Harry is named an Impossible Bachelor by the King who takes an interest in Harry’s love life, he is forced to take part in a wager for the Most Delectable Companion.  The winner is free from marriage for one year.  The loser will have to propose to a lady of someone else’s choosing. Now, Harry enjoys his freedom and will do whatever it takes to win the wager.  However, fate has other plans.  When Harry’s mistress abandons him, Harry is forced to beg Molly for her help.

This courtesan has to stop a moment to fan herself.  This was one steamy romance.  I absolutely ADORED the story.  Molly is such an innocent and I almost laughed the moment she realized what she was getting herself into.  And it was almost secretly enjoyable to watch Harry sweat a little when he thought that he was going to be facing almost certain doom with a ball and chain.

Not that I wish a marriage of convenience on anyone, but since he is such a rake, he deserved to sweat a little bit.  But, I did enjoy as he ultimately began to realize that love is not such an evil thing.  And of course, as everyone knows, there is such a fine line between love and hate, it was not a surprise to see that romance bloom between Molly and Harry.  As this is just the beginning of the Impossible Bachelor series, this courtesan has to recommend When Harry Met Molly as a must read since the romance is utterly enchanting and there are parts which made her laugh out loud.

Adoringly Yours,

The Masked Courtesan

~*~*~*~*~

When Harry Met Molly (Impossible Bachelors) published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks, November 2010.

Posted in 4 White Roses, Book Courtesans, Book Reviews, Historical, Pale Pink Rose, Romance, The Masked Courtesan | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mad About The Duke by Elizabeth Boyle

Posted on August 26, 2011 by The Book Courtesans

Mad About The Duke by Elizabeth Boyle

Rated 4 out of 5 White Roses.

Content rated with the Pale Pink Rose.

Never in his lifetime did James Lambert St. Maur Thurston Tremont, the 9th Duke of Parkerton, think he would be mistaken for a commoner but also play a matchmaker too. Misunderstanding indeed. In hindsight he probably would have been better off to have told Lady Standon who he was the moment she mistook him for a solicitor, especially when she asked him to help find her a husband. But would she be as free to be herself with him as the Duke like she is with him as just simple “Mr. St. Maur”?

Elinor definitely needs a new husband. But the list of possible candidates she handed to James was sadly lacking. It didn’t even have his name on it! Now, all he needs to do is convince her that the Duke of Parkerton would make her a fine husband indeed. Not that he wanted to marry her himself. He just wants her to acknowledge that he would make a good choice as husband. And then he can try to find a way to let her know that he was and is the very Duke himself. Simple plan. The execution? Well, he’ll work on it.

~*~*~*~*~

I find that I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mad About The Duke. The image of a staid duke playing midwife to a dog and matchmaker to a lady is just priceless and it was executed perfectly in this read. James provides the picture of an ideal hero and it wasn’t difficult to understand why Elinor fell in love with him so quickly. The only part I did not like was in how it seemed to have ended so suddenly. I wanted to read more about their happily ever after and I didn’t get the resolution I was looking for. The ending however, doesn’t stop it from being a good story.

Perhaps what I love most about Mad About The Duke is that it is simple and simple in an elegant way. It doesn’t have a bunch of detractors to distract you from the tale of two people who met and fell in love. Indeed, this book will remind you of the crazy things people will do when they feel the first flutters of attraction. It is a funny, simple and sweet love story and it deserves a place on the “for keeps” shelf.

Hugs & Kisses,

The Lustrous Courtesan.

~*~*~*~*~

Mad About the Duke published by Avon Romance, September, 2010.

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Married By Morning by Lisa Kleypas

Posted on August 25, 2011 by The Book Courtesans

Married By Morning by Lisa Kleypas

 

Rated 3.5 out of 5 White Roses.

Content Rated with the Red Rose.

For the last couple of years Catherine Marks was a veritable thorn in Leo Hathaway’s side. So what if she’s been the best companion to his younger sisters? All they do argue because she happens to be the most frustrating woman on the planet. Who cares if Leo happens to find himself thinking about her lips at the most inappropriate times of the day? He refuses to fall in love ever again.

Try as she might to avoid him, Lord Ramsay just knows how to push all of Catherine’s buttons. After years of constant bickering, they finally succumbed to the underlying tension and it resulted in a kiss of epic proportions. But Catherine is well aware that what bliss they may find with each other is only temporary. Considering Leo must find a wife and sire an heir before the year’s end or risk losing everything. And while Leo may try to convince her that a marriage between them is the perfect solution, she knows it’s not, especially when her secret past comes back to haunt her.

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Married By Morning was lighthearted fun. It was half the time predictable and comforting as we are aware of what is about to take place, while other times it was almost (but not quite) farfetched. The foreshadowing for her “secret past” takes place almost immediately, but once you find out what it is, it’s almost stranger than fiction. The keyword there being “almost”.

I really enjoyed the chemistry between Leo and “Marks” as he calls Catherine. It was probably the highlight of the whole story -for this courtesan anyway. Their quick responses to each other was, while obvious, still humorous and sweet, as I am sure many passionate love interests in real life started with a love/hate relationship such as theirs. We all know it only takes a spark to light a fire and it was nice to see the sparks and eventual blaze in Leo and Catherine.

Hugs & Kisses,

The Lustrous Courtesan

~*~*~*~*~

Married by Morning (Hathaways, Book 4) published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks, May 2010.

Posted in 3.5 White Roses, Book Courtesans, Book Reviews, Historical, Red Rose, Romance, The Lustrous Courtesan | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eleven Scandals To Start To Win A Duke’s Heart by Sarah MacLean

Posted on August 23, 2011 by The Book Courtesans

Eleven Scandals To Start To Win A Duke’s Heart by Sarah MacLean

Rated 4 Out of 5 White Roses.

Content Rated with the Pale Pink Rose.

Simon Pearson, known to the world as the Duke of Disdain wants to avoid anything that even hints a possible scandal. And Juliana Fiori is more than a hint, she is scandal personified. Although it isn’t quite Juliana’s fault that her mother ran away from a proper marriage and abandoned her two older brothers to have a sham of a marriage with another man in another country and had an illegitimate daughter that doesn’t stop Simon from trying to keep her as far away from his as possible. That’s the only way, Simon can think of to keep his name and title clean, even if his family might already be headed for scandal.

Juliana is tired of always being a subject of gossip. Who cares whether the leading ladies of the ton don’t approve of her because of her birth? Who cares if the Duke of Disdain turns his self-righteous nose up in the air when she’s nearby? She will never show them how much it hurts her to be so rejected because of circumstances she never could control. And she will teach his high and mighty Duke that there’s more to life than etiquette. No one can really live without some passion and if there’s one thing the untouchable and unflappable Duke needs, it’s some genuine living.

~*~*~*~*~

Now after being introduced to the heroine in Nine Rules To Break When Reforming A Rake, I knew I wanted to read her happy ending. So I definitely had high hopes for Juliana’s story and Ms. MacLean did indeed deliver. While the synopsis is not exactly original, what with the hero who can’t help but fall in love with a woman beneath his station and birth, the story was definitely its own. For a good portion of the read the hero did come across as so arrogant and pompous while thinking he can and will avoid any and all scandal while the heroine showed more than her fair share of naivete. It all did come together to make for a good read.

This, Ms. MacLean, is what I’m talking about. I like to see the depth in the characters I am introduced to, and Eleven Scandals To Start To Win A Duke’s Heart definitely fulfilled that. I didn’t just read about Juliana’s sorrow in rejection, I saw and felt it. And while I didn’t agree with Simon at (many) times, I sympathized with his inner battle over his rigid upbringing and his heart. I mean, he was a first class jerk to say the least, but what do you do when you’re raised to believe that’s how you’re supposed to be?Not that I am defending his actions, mind you. I am merely saying that yes, the plot may have been done before, but the characters make up for it.

There is more to this story than meets the eye. I know I find that I enjoyed reading about Simon and Juliana.

Hugs & Kisses,

The Lustrous Courtesan

~*~*~*~*~

 Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart published by Avon Romance, April 2011.

Posted in 4 White Roses, Book Courtesans, Book Reviews, Historical, Pale Pink Rose, Romance, The Lustrous Courtesan | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Too Hot To Touch by Louisa Edwards

Posted on August 22, 2011 by The Book Courtesans

Too Hot To Touch by Louisa Edwards

Rated 5 out of 5 White Roses.

Content rated with the Red Rose.

Six years ago, Juliet Cavanaugh walked out of her mother’s house without any intention of looking back. Meanwhile, Gus Lunden’s older son, Max, also left to explore the world.  She was only 17 when she left her mother’s house and went to Gus’. Gus had a hole to fill and Juliet needed a home. Now, Juliet is working for Gus as a chef at the family restaurant and they have decided to enter the Rising Star Chef competition in hopes of giving Lunden’s Tavern a new leaf.  And, Max, the prodigal son, has returned to help with the first round of the competition.

As the competition heats up, so do the sparks between Max and Juliet.  However, both Max and Juliet hold back because they know once Max has done his duty by his family, he will be off to a primo apprenticeship in Italy. So why not just enjoy each moment as it comes and not worry about the future? But, neither one expects to fall in love.  Juliet knows that the right thing to do is to let Max go and experience the world, however, there is the competition to think about.  Will they be able to keep their relationship issues from affecting the outcome of their team’s performance?

Ladies, the title of this book says it all.  This story is just too hot.  Louisa Edwards has written an enchanting tale of love between two chefs.  At the risk of being clichéd, the romance that is cooking between Max and Juliet was captivating.  Ladies, I reveled in this relationship because the spark between these two was enough to keep a fire burning in the kitchen.  Also, the Rising Star Chef competition was exciting to read about. There is a side story about the judges that was just titillating.  Too Hot to Touch just has that perfect contemporary romance element all the way around and is a book that is a must read from start to finish.  I will be waiting with baited breath for the next exciting installment of Louisa Edward’s latest series.  I think you ladies will be, too.

Adoringly Yours,

The Masked Courtesan

~*~*~*~*~

 Too Hot To Touch published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks, August 2011.

Posted in 5 White Roses, Book Courtesans, Book Reviews, Contemporary, Red Rose, Romance, The Masked Courtesan | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment