Here are a few books I read Thursday and Friday both regencies. I am not sure what I will read this weekend but I've enjoyed these short regencies so I might check the pile for one more.



A FAMILY FOR GILLIAN
Catherine Blair (2)
10/2001
Rom/H-Regency

Can a marriage of convenience lead to a lifetime of love?

AN UNEXPECTED BRIDE

Miss Gillian Harwell was sure that getting caught in a compromising position would thwart her family's scheme to marry her off for money. However, her plan worked all too well -- with her reputation ruined, her only recourse was to wed Viscount Carlton Avery, a lonely widower with three unruly children. And it wasn't long before Gillian found her attempts to help her new family sparking a most surprising romance....

A DEVOTED GROOM

Carlton had agreed to this hasty arrangement strictly for his family's sake. He never expected that his new wife would be so spirited and outspoken. Nor did he imagine that her caring ways would not only work wonders on his children, but would also break through his carefully cultivated reserve, provoking a passion he thought long dead. Now, amid past hurts and misunderstandings, he must prove his love to Gillian -- for if she leaves his home, she takes his heart with her....

****Thoughts (Rated B-)
Carlton was still grieving to much to even feel comfortable looking at Gillian after they married. The children hated her, mostly the oldest daughter. She easily won of the baby that never knew her mother but when Gillian tried to do anything for her, Carlton reminded her she wasn't Katie's mother.
Gillian is very strong, I would have been bawling my eyes out wanting to leave and return to my family. Everyone compared Gillian to Elizabeth (deceased wife) and found her lacking.
After a while they settled in to comfortabel routine but I never saw a romance develope in the book....it just happened towards the end.
The author needed more intimate time between Gillian and Carlton, she spent more time with the children than him and he spend most of his time either on horseman thinking of Elizabeth or visiting her grave.
Gillian's strong character is what moved this book. BTW: the BOB is totally wrong, Carlton didn't love Gillian till the end and I never saw his heart! LOL


THE EARL's PRIZE
Nicola Cornick
11/2002
Rom/H-Georgian/Regency
HH684

London, 1792
WILL THE RAKE WIN A WIFE?

Miss Amy Bainbridge is a lady of honor, but when she finds herself the recipient of a surprise windfall her whole life changes! Now Amy can not only re-enter society, she's also secured the attention of London's most notorious gambler and rake!

Joss, Earl of Tallant, is everything Amy despises in a man, but she's utterly intrigued by him. She's certain Joss isn't attracted by her fortune, so why is this renowned rake pursuing her with such intent? Amy's finding his amorous attentions all but impossible to resist...!

*** Thoughts
THE EARL'S PRIZE is a great book. I gave it an A-.

The only reason I gave it an A- is Amy was just too damn sweet sometimes. I thought she must have visited the pastry shop for her daily dose of goodness.

I just want to hit her upside the head when she was giving her money away? I did like when Joss was so surprised when she ask him if the lottery ticket was his. He couldn't believe she wanted to give the money back to the real ticket holder.
I don't think Joss ever understood why Amy hated gamblers, maybe if he had seen where she lived in Whitechapel, not having food, coal while her father had fine clothes, food, drink and gambled. Her brother Richard never lived that life because they always made sure the heir was in school while Amy and her mother starved.
I loved watching Amy's mother tell the servants only one bisquits per person when someone came to tea, then how she didn't want more than one candle in a room. Her mother was a very interesting character.

His sister Juliana has her own book WAYWARD WIDOW, it is this month's HH. How in the world can Cornick redeem that b*tch??!!
I am going to have to read it to see how she does it, the hero is Martin Davencourt a childhood friend of Juliana's. She is a widow and she took at least one lover (her mother's ex) that we know about. Clive must be old enough to be her father if her mother left with him when Juliana was just a baby.

The second book in the series I don't remember the H/H.....I thought it was going to be Amanda's story but BYRON list the heroine as Lady Annis Wyncherley and the hero as Lord Adam Ashwick.