Romance Book Club Reading Challenge 2008

a. Read a romance by an author you have never read before
The Other Boleyn Girl: Philippa Gregory

b. Read a romance that includes a wedding-related word in the title such as Bride, Groom, Bridesmaid, Bridegroom, Wedding
A Bride Most Begrudging: Deeanne Gist

c. Read a romance with a provocative word in the title such as Seduced, Wicked, Scandal, Dangerous, Tempt, Scorned, Compromised
To Wicked to Love: Barbara Dawson Smith (revised)

d. Read a romance with a color name in the title (ex. Red Roses Mean Love)
The Scarlet Lion: Elizabeth Chadwick (revised)

e. Read a romance with the word LOVE either in the title or the author's name
The Love Knot: Elizabeth Chadwick

f. Read a romance with a proper name in the title (ex. Seducing Sir Oliver)
Midnight Lady: Rosemary Rogers

Royal Harlot: A Novel of the Countess Castlemaine and King Charles II

Susan Holloway Scott

This book tells the story about Barbara Villiers Palmer who is not a virtuous character, and one I was very unfamiliar with. Her story was a quick and interesting read. Although not a great story I enjoyed learning more about this infamous woman of history. The story begins when Barbara returns home under orders from her mother to make a suitable match with no dowry. Barbara is soon seduced by Phillip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield and falls in love in love with him, but Phillip has no desire to settle down and soon finds another to replace Barbara. Barbara's bawdy reputation soon lands her married to Roger Palmer, a Royalist who supports to restore Charles Stuart to the English throne. She is sent by her husband with letters and money to the King, who is fascinated by the lusty and courage's woman. Once Charles is established to the throne Barbara soon becomes his Mistress, although Charles does eventually marry him and Barbara continue their sexual escapades. She has five children and four are known to belong to Charles. Although Barbara finds many enemies at court especially the Queen, she continues to be demanding and keeps Charles at her beck and call with her sexual appetite. I only gave this book 3 stars, I felt to sexually explicit, "TMI" (to much information) for me and some parts were way out there, for a movie rating I would say X-rated.

Summer Reading Challenge

June 1st-August 31, 2008 Read 5, 10 or 15 books for this challenge:

1. Title includes name of flower: The Orchid Hunger-Jill Marie Landis
2. Title includes the word “LOVE”: The Love Knot-Elizabeth Chadwick
3. Title that has a wedding word: The Prince Kidnaps A Bride Christina Dodd
4. Title with a Color word: Silver Angel-Johanna Lindsey
5. Book with a ONE word title: Sweetbriar-Jude Deveraux
6. Read one new author: Venetia Georgette Heyer
7. Title that includes Prince or Princess: The Barefoot Princess Christina Dodd
8. Title with a jewel: Sapphire - Rosemary Rogers
9. Title with a word that makes you think of summer: A Summer to Remeber Mary Balogh
10. Title includes a “W” word: Wild Orchids-Jude Deveraux
11. Title that includes a number: First Lady Susan Elizabeth Phillips
12. Title with a Time: Some Enchanted Evening Christinia Dodd
13. Title with Lord or Lady: For My Lady's Heart-Laura Kinsale
14. Author first or last name begins with “J” for June/July: The Pretenders-Joan Wolf
15. Author first or last name begins with “A” for August
Only To Decieve-Tasha Alexander

A Bride Most Begrudging

This was my first Christine novel, and it seems I am in the minority on this one so many 5 stars and I say 2 ½, it was highly overrated so my expectations were high, but quickly slashed.

I did enjoy the plot and it was a quick read. The story begins as Lady Constance Morrow sneaks onboard a ship leaving England for the American Colonies, to say good-bye to her uncle, but finds herself kidnapped. Constance is not to worried once she arrives and lets them know who she is she will be safely returned home.

When she arrives she finds her self being sold to farmer Drew O’Connor, who needs a maid. Constance demands to be returned to England to her father, but Drew does not listen. Soon the people of the town learn she is leaving with Drew unmarried and demands he marries her, which he does and promises Constance he will not consummate the marriage. He sends Josh his brother to England to collaborate her story, and when he returns she can have the marriage annulled.

Drew soon learns that his maid now wife knows nothing about cooking or cleaning only that she can do some difficult math problems and sew. Somehow these two become attacked to each other, but I never figured out how this happened. Other reviews mention lust, well did not get that impression either.

Also, the brother Josh could have his own story I was more intrigued with him and his character. Josh mentioned the love of his life and he was planning on marrying her, but on his visit to England to find Constance’s family he found the love of his life in the arm’s of another man. If there was a book written with Josh I may consider giving the author another chance since this was her first novel.

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

This is my 2nd Philippa Gregory book, I read The Other Boleyn Girl first. I was looking forward to the story of Katherine of Aragon. My knowledge of the history during her reign is zero, but reading this book has inspired me to want to find out more about her parents and the historical facts during her reign.

I knew nothing about Katherine of Aragon the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, so I was excited the story began when she was ground. Her parents were constantly on crusade against the Moors. I soon learned this was the only exciting part of the entire book.

I was not impressed with any of the characters; Katherine was very self centered and arrogant I never felt anything for her and thought she got what she deserved. Henry VII was laughable his lust for his daughter-in-law was too much. Author I felt was thrown into the story but really never developed as a character for me, so I found it hard to digest this “love affair” they had before he died. The “death bed” promise to me to not fit in well.

After Author died Katherine was treated very badly not only by Henry VII and his mother, but her own family ignored her, not sure how much of this is fact or fiction. I wanted to stop reading the book how many more times did I have to read she was destined to be Queen of England, hence the word "Constant" in title, and insisted that she had to marry Henry. In the end she finally won and married Henry.

Finally married to Henry VIII, I was hoping the story would get more exciting would have more insight to her reign and learn more of Henry, again I was disappointed the story was slow the scenes seemed rushed, and before I know it her marriage to Henry was over. I was left going “What happened”.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I didn’t. It really has been searching out other writers of Katherine of Aragon learn what facts are known of her.