Regency Women of Character: Women at Waterloo

During a lull in fighting at Waterloo in 1815, British solidiers found the bodies of two women.  “I saw one of them,” wrote Captain Henry Ross-Lewin of the 32nd Regiment of Foot. “She was dressed in a nankeen jacket and trousers, and had been killed by a ball which had passed through her head.”  Other … Continue reading →

New Releases Quick Review: Regency Romance Titles

Unclaimed by Courtney Milan Publish Date: September 2011      Reviewers are giving it an average: 9/10 In Pursuit of Miss Eliza Cynster: A Cynster Novel by Stephanie Laurens Publish Date: September 2011       Reviewers are giving it an average: 7/10 Confessions of an Improper Bride by Jennifer Haymore Publish Date: August 2011              Reviewers are giving it an average: … Continue reading →

Mary Balogh: A Precious Jewel

When a writer warns you in the foreward to expect the unexpected. it can make you hesitate to take the plunge.  But trusting Mary Balogh as a solid author, I simply shrugged and dove in to this slim re-release. As Balogh explains, the book is a departure from her traditional Regencies.  The hero is really … Continue reading →

Mary Balogh: The Huxtable Family Series

I haven’t read Seducing an Angel yet, but I am going to be sure to pick it up on my next pilgramage to the book store. Mary Balogh does it again, proving she has the hist-ro chops, in this wonderful character driven series about the Huxtable Family (three sisters and a brother). We meet them … Continue reading →

Mary Balogh: At Last Comes Love

“Margaret Huxtable is thirty years old and has finally decided to do the sensible thing and get married. She arrives in London during the Season full of hope. But first she meets the widowed Crispin Dew, who years ago had betrayed their secret betrothal and married someone else, and next she learns that the man … Continue reading →

My Top Eight in Hist-Ro Contempo

My top eight contemporary historical romance novels (had to leave out Austen & Heyer…!).  These are the books you can enjoy again and again. Splendid by Julia Quinn.  I love stories of masquerades gone wrong, and this one is funny, warm and wonderful.  Read an excerpt here. The Gilded Web by Mary Balogh.  Mistaken identities … Continue reading →

Balogh for Beginners

My mom’s favorite out of the hist-ro authors we have been sharing is Mary Balogh. She loves the characters, descriptions, and funny way that Balogh tells a story. For those of you who are knew to Balogh, I highly recommend first trying her “Simply” Series. It is a wonderful collection of stories about the teachers … Continue reading →

Reissued and Repackaged: Balogh’s The Ideal Wife

I admit I took a peek at the title page to confirm my suspicions that this was a re-release. First published in 1991, The Ideal Wife has only gotten a facelift. And unfortunately, it was pretty apparent that it was one of Balogh’s early books (or fortunate for her that her writing has grown up … Continue reading →

Mary Balogh-Slightly Series

“The six brothers and sisters of the Bedwyn family are introduced in A Summer to Remember. Aidan’s story is told in Slightly Married, Rannulf’s in Slightly Wicked, Freyja’s in Slightly Scandalous, Morgan’s in Slightly Tempted, Alleyne’s in Slightly Sinful, and Wulfric’s in Slightly Dangerous. Characters from One Night for Love and A Summer to Remember … Continue reading →