Bio: I am retired human resource specialist with a love of reading. A lover of romance and historical novels does not prevent me from reading a broad range of fiction and non-fiction materials. In the short time I have been a member of Fictionwise my e-book library has reached over 200 books and is still growing. E-books are easily portable and are a wonderful addition to my paper library. My reviews may be seen on LibraryThing, where I am an Early Reviewer, reading and reviewing books prior to publication.

From the very beginning, Ms. Lane presents the reader with a roller coaster ride of personalities, secrets, and plots with more than a touch of humor thrown in. In spite of it all, can romance prevail? I had a lot of fun keeping track of who was after whom. A fun read.

Ms. Scott has called up Characters from previous novels. Leslie first made an appearance in The Unflappable Miss Fairchild. Various others have shown up in a variety of earlier works. If one wants a fast moving read with more than a touch of humor then I recommend The Irredeemable Miss Renfield

The story opens as Eliana Zwick waits at the hospital for her husband. The last thing she remembers is wearing a torn dress and a carrying a shoe with a broken heel. The psychiatrist says her amnesia is caused by trauma and is most often temporary. Eliana is afraid to return home but has nowhere else to go. Cal, her husband drives her to a castle like structure at the top of a mountain. I cannot understand why a women cares for a man like him. They live at the top of a mountain, yet she is afraid of heights. He surely knows she is in danger, however, spends little time with her. Some of this is explained, but to me he is not a very likeable guy.

Romance abounds at a country house party. As usual, author Emily Hendrickson does a fantastic job presenting a plethora of delightful characters: Each one unique. Her descriptions made me feel like I was there enjoying myself along with the houseguests.

Lily Chase had been living with Vito Salvatore for five months when she discovered she was pregnant. Theirs was a temporary affair, however, she never expected that he would to throw her out into the night with nowhere to stay when she told him of her pregnancy. Nearly broke Lily returns to London and bunks with an old girlfriend. When Vito comes across her giving a sales presentation at one of his subsidiary companies, he is livid. Vito needs a baby to please his grandfather and charms Lily into marrying him. The story takes place in Venice and Ms. Rivers does a great job describing the city. Vito is portrayed as a self-centered egotistical man always wanting to be in control. Lily is just the opposite at first trusting and then accepting even though she is aware of his faults. The question is what could possibly make marriage work between these two?

Back in the Highlands! Rogue's Challenge is follow-up to Highlander's Challenge by the same author. Jenny Maxwell is pulled through a time portal by Ian Southernland. Ian was sent from the sixteenth century to bring Dr. Maxwell back through time in order to help her friend deliver her baby. Ian and Jenny have a love/hate relationship. Adventure, humor, and romance make this a book hard to put down. A real treat for time travel fans.

A real page-turner!!! Ms. Barker tells the story of Matlin Tilney and her terrifying attempts to elude a mad stalker. Her survival depends on the help of a stranger, Andreas Hoffmann. Ms. Barker's tale of spine tingling danger and excitement mixed with a burgeoning romance in beautifully described New Zealand is an excellent read.

Tomorrow's Promise tells the story of Ben and Sarah Walters eleven-year struggle. The story starts with their overland trek West by wagon train to start a new life. Ms. Rogers does a wonderful job presenting what life was like not only for those early settlers, but for the American Indian tribes displaced by those seeking new lands. Sarah's struggle to survive and Ben's efforts to find her after she is carried off by a band of Sioux Indians when their wagon train is attacked is presented along with descriptive background of the life and times of the mid 1800s. No sooner are the couple united than they are thrown into the middle of the War Between the States. Descriptions of the war and the years of separation provide an abundance of information for American history buffs. An action packed historical romance.

The American Duchess is quite simply, a love story. American Tracy Bodmin and her father William visit London. William Bodwin born in England to an impoverished family is now one of the richest men in the world. Unknown to Tracy, her father is dying and his dream is for her to make a good English Marriage. William solicits the help of Lady Georgiana Bridgewater in his efforts to secure what he considers 'the best husband' for his daughter. Since money is no object, Lady Bridgewater is happy to introduce the Bodmins to her nephew, Adrian Deincourt, the nearly bankrupt, Duke of Hastings. Joan Wolf presents two young people, each marrying for reasons other than love, who come to deeply love each other. In the process neither can believe in the possibility that love is returned. The characters of Tracy and Adrian are portrayed as completely different people from different backgrounds attempting to accept the possibility that love can survive despite these differences. Romance readers who enjoy a love story will find The American Duchess a true delight!

Follow your heart or take the logical approach--that is the choice left to Mira Fitzhenry. Mira, now twenty-three has lived with her aunt, uncle, and cousin since she was orphaned at age twelve. Treated as little more than a servant, constantly told of her deficiencies in beauty and grace, Mira's engagement to a wealthy lord creates a story reminiscent of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. Molly Stark does a wonderful job developing the friendship and love between the Mira and Nicholas Blackwell, while using the forced engagement as a catalyst. She cleverly weaves the story around the mystery of a series of murders, while entertaining us with an odd group of supporting characters and hints for us to try to guess 'who done it'. This book is perfect for readers who like to solve a mystery and enjoy a romance in the process.

I must admit that I am a softie when it comes to a book that even touches on the Beauty and the Beast theme. Ms. Kirch has not only written a wonderful romance, but also provided this reader with the gift of laughter. Simon, Lord Marby scarred in body and soul is the quintessential beast. The kind and loving, though completely naive, Miss Marie Cunningham is the perfect beauty. Simon could not seem to win and Marie could not lose, while I could not stop laughing.

"Beauty and the Beast," with the addition of mystery and adventure make The Marquess a great read. Ms. Rice has surpassed herself in creating characters we love and a few we have to learn to love. Gavin Lawrence, born and brought up in America under more than difficult circumstances discovers himself the inheritor of the title of an English Marquess. His arrival in England turns out to be less than the lofty title might imply. The Eight Marquess of Effingham has a moldering ruin of an estate with no funds for improvements. To top it all of he finds himself the protector of two English women in deadly peril. Along with his brother Michael, and Dillian Reynolds (lady's companion) Gavin and the reader are led a merry chase across the countryside to the halls of Parliament. This book is perfect for the reader who enjoys a historical romance with swashbuckling adventure spiced with humor.

A trip to a museum, old dinosaur bones, and a new man. Widowed Sara Kirkman and her daughter Melinda on vacation meet Dr. Duncan McPherson, palentologist, a visiting speaker from Scotland. After three years alone, Sara is ready for romance and Duncan is ready to return home. How can a long distance attraction be resolved? A light feel-good story.

In the midst of settling her mother in with an elderly aunt and neighbor, selling three houses and moving three households, Mai experiments with a fledgling flea marked store. The constant upheaval in her life is not the best atmosphere to make a decision that will impact her life. A sometimes confusing, but fun read.

Amelia 'Tuck' Tucker, twenty-first century bodyguard, is quite a surprise to the residents of sixteenth century Scotland. Her fighting skills put many to shame during practice sessions in the lists. Colin MacLean doesn't know if he should fight with her or make love to her. Tuck has responsibilities back in her own time, but could she make a life in this century. Time travel, humor, and romance. I didn't want to put this book down and am looking forward to Ms. Barrett's next highland adventure.

Charles has tried to turn over a new leaf and be respectable, upright, and worthy of his title. However, his efforts seem to be worth little as someone is out to destroy his reputation by exposing his wild youthful exploits. He decides to marry a woman of stellar reputation as a way to improve his standing with the ton. Of course, that women cannot be Sophie, no matter how much she fascinates him. She's just too eccentric and just too ready to step forward and take a stand, no matter the consequences, Ms. Marlowe inserts romance, intrigue, and humor into a story of the days after the Napoleonic wars. She writes of the ton, the attitude of Parliament, women's rights, and the plight of the returning soldiers. Both romance and history buffs will find this book well worth reading.

Generally in a romantic novel even if the hero begins as a rake, he changes for the better. Sadly, Lord Desborough never seems to become that knight in shining armor. Ms. Lamperd does provide a varied cast of characters with lots of action.

Rachel has accompanied her boss, Alan Jamieson, on a business trip and while seated in a diner with him is accosted by an unknown man. Unrecognized by Rachel, Struan Cassidy, her husband carried her to his car shouting, "My child, you took off with my unborn child." Rachel couldn't remember anything but Struan took quite a while to catch on. From that point Rachel lives in a world completely unfamiliar. Memories provide glimpses of a former life, but there is no one to help her find her way. Her husband is full of resentment and it appears he is having an affair with a co-worker. Miss Otto spins a tale of a woman caught in a web of forgetfulness and her attempts to free herself from the cobwebs enclosing her memory. The reader is left to wonder about the intent of a husband so focussed on holding on to his wife while interested in another woman. In addition, who was Rachel? As her memory returns, Rachel, and the reader learn the answers.

Ms. Miller weaves a tale of romance, family, and adventure. The romance between Eliza and Fletcher is illustrated by an awakening of hidden desires. The lovers each place their lives on the line to save Sarah from the wicked clutches of Wydale. A true page-turner.

Recently widowed Holly Kirwan meets millionaire Justin Devereux on a plane trip to Australia. Justin offers to help Holly get settled and a relationship develops. Alone, with a toddler, Holly seems bogged down by misfortune. Justin has no interest in children or a permanent relationship leaving Holly in the position of providing a bed partner in exchange for a place to stay.

A Curious Courting is the perfect book for readers who like a romance with a strong man and women as the main characters. When Gareth Rushton meets, Selina Easterly-Cummings sparks fly. Ms. Mathews presents us with a lively romance with some rib tickling humor thrown in. A more than enjoyable read!

Ms. Matthews has done it again! This book thoroughly entertained me, although I must admit that at first I wondered if 'Miss Ryder's Memoirs' would have the same flavor as other books by this author. I was not disappointed. The characters are memorable, each with that special addition of Mathew's spice. The use of first person is a bit different from many of her other novels, however, I found the work extremely well presented and entertaining. Although Mrs. Ryder is labeled eccentric, Catherine had me in stitches from beginning to end. Readers who like a bit of humor with their romance are sure to enjoy this book.

Hanna Howell makes the Highlands come alive through her wonderfully descriptive historical novels. Diminutive Gillyanne Murray is forced to choose between the possible deaths of her clansmen or becoming the Highland Bride of Sir Connor MacEnroy. She chooses to wed and in the process grows to love Connor and his clan. However, the marriage has created a dilemma since Gillyanne has vowed that her marriage be based on love as have been those of the rest of her family. From the beginning, she is forced to put her special talents in the area of strategy and reading people to work in her quest for love. Ms. Howell has written a novel of romance, adventure, mystery and humor and great characterization. I did not want to put this book down.

I have read a number of Ms. Mathews works and have to say I thoroughly enjoy her light romances a bit in the style of Jane Austin. I must say this book is one of her best and deserves a place on my old friend's shelf.

I enjoy historical romances, especially those that depict what life was like for women. Most Americans never learn about the role of women in early American history except for the contributions of writers such as Carolyn Lampman. The suffragist movement was alive and well in Wyoming gaining the vote and right to hold public office long before other states. The day-to-day experiences of those in Meadowlark presented through a variety of characters offered a look at what life was really like for early settlers