#jo beverley

[janetlly]

Life goes on. Despite lost chances and broken hearts, life goes on and must be endured.

- Jo Beverley - The Dragon’s Bride

[yankeecountess]

Romance Advent Calendar December 9–”Book & Cookies”

“A Regency Christmas (VII)“ (anthology) featuring stories by Mary Balogh, Jo Beverley, Sandra Heath, Edith Layton, and Laura Matthews

[respectingromance]

You know, older romances have problems but damn if they didn’t turn heroes into groveling fools. It’s such fun to watch them crawl out of the mess of their own mistakes.

You don’t get that in more recently published romances. Everyone has to be A Reasonable Adult.

[maddie-grove]

Little Book Review: The Raven and the Rose

Author: Jo Beverley.

Publication Date: 2010.

Genre: Historical romance (medieval).

Premise: Given to the Catholic Church as a child by her noble family, Sister Gledys has seen very little of the world, yet she has reoccurring (and very tempting) dreams of a mysterious handsome knight. Michael de Loury, a knight who has remained chaste thanks to his mother’s ominous warnings, has similar dreams of a beautiful lady. Can their strange connection help them find the Holy Grail, end the Anarchy peacefully, and, God willing, rid them of their tiresome virginity?

Thoughts: Some eight years ago, I fell in love with The Lais of Marie de France, a collection of narrative poems by a lady from the twelfth century. Her stories are strange and beautiful, self-contained and concise, sometimes gentle and sometimes startling violent. They operate on a special, symbol-laden logic that I find enchanting. Beverley’s The Raven and the Rose isn’t quite on her level, but it has a similar dreamlike, ominous quality that I found both appealing and appropriate for the mid-twelfth-century setting. The use of the Anarchy (the English civil war between supporters of Matilda, Henry I’s daughter, and Stephen, his nephew) was also fun and unique. 

The actual romance is definitely the weakest part of the novella. The prophecy linking Gledys and Michael does most of the work, with their pent-up sexual desires providing the rest. If you want a romance where the protagonists gradually get to know each other, I would look elsewhere. It’s no “Yonec,” either. Yet it’s pleasant, and it fits in well enough with the dream-logic plot.

(This truly is a Little Book Review. It’s a short novella, and I don’t have much to say about it except that it’s enjoyably weird.)

Hot Goodreads Take: “What's going on in this book?????” one reviewer wants to know. Ha, fair.

[maddie-grove]

My Top Ten Georgian (Ish) Romance Novels

Notes: I’m doing a top ten instead of a top five for Georgian, Regency, and Victorian romance novels, because I’ve just read way too many good ones to stop at five! Also, I’m using Georgian to mean the years from 1714 (when George I became King of Great Britain and Ireland) to 1803 (when the Napoleonic Wars started). Once a romance novel’s set in 1803 or 1804, it starts to feel less like “French Revolution hangover” and more like “it’s almost the Regency.” 

1. The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (2007)

Exact Setting: 1760s England.

Premise: Independently wealthy Lady Georgina Maitland doesn’t care to marry, instead preferring to collect fairy tales and look after her rural estate with the help of her steward, Harry Pye. Yet she feels drawn to Harry, who is quiet and gentle and very good at carving small animal figurines out of wood. Their budding romance is threatened, though, by the growing hostility of their community, Harry’s complicated family secrets, and, yes, a series of sinister sheep-murders.

Why I Like It: Sometimes, the sexiest thing a man can do is make an exquisite little wooden hedgehog with his own two hands. Harry is a wonderful hero, kind and unassuming and ready to throw down the second some evil nobleman threatens the poacher’s son. I am also very fond of Georgina, an absent-minded folklore aficionado after my own heart. The rural setting is delightfully spooky, and the plot pulls together a lot of moving parts in a very effective way.

Favorite Scene: Harry and Georgina are reunited after he’s kidnapped and nearly murdered by said evil nobleman.

2. To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt (2008)

Exact Setting: 1760s England.

Premise: When Jasper Renshaw, Lord Vale, is jilted for the second time in one year, unassuming Melisande Fleming offers herself as a substitute bride. Although Jasper seems like an ordinary and rather dry man, Melisande has secretly loved him ever since she saw his extraordinary kindness in a private moment. Jasper accepts because it’s convenient, only to be pleasantly surprised by their chemistry. Their marriage is going well...except that his horrible experiences during the Seven Years’ War are coming back to haunt him, both psychologically and in the sense that somebody is trying to murder them.

Why I Like It: Jasper’s combination of dry humor and hidden tenderness is pretty irresistible, while Melisandre’s gradual overcoming of her near-pathological reserve and self-denial is very moving. The suspense plot is exciting and carries unexpected emotional weight, plus there’s a nice side-romance between Jasper’s tough valet and Melisande’s enterprising lady’s maid. Finally, the sex scenes are super-hot.

Favorite Scene: Melisande flashes back to the moment she fell in love with Jasper.

3. An Unlikely Countess by Jo Beverley (2011)

Exact Setting: 1760s England.

Premise: After doing a good turn for genteel but desperately poor Prudence Youlgrave, directionless Catesby “Cate” Burgoyne thinks he’ll never see her again. Then he inherits an earldom from his estranged older brother. Not eager to return to his difficult family, Cate stops by Prudence’s village on the way home, hoping to check on the stranger he so fondly remembers. When he finds that she’s on the verge of marrying a lecherous old man at her shitty brother’s insistence, he impulsively offers to marry her instead...forgetting to mention that he’s no longer a cash-strapped second son. Prudence is prepared to deal with financial woes, but is she ready to handle the duties of a countess, a semi-dysfunctional aristocratic family, and murder?

Why I Like It: It should be clear by now that I’m a sucker for stories about creepy English country houses, and this novel certainly delivers. Beverley also takes a great deal of care in establishing the personalities of Prudence and Cate outside of their relationship, making the romance between them especially potent. Their consideration for each other makes me like them a lot, and it’s also weirdly sexy.

Favorite Scene: Cate and Prudence have a quiet moment together after he saves her from ruffians.

4. Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt (2012)

Exact Setting: 1730s England.

Premise: Widowed Isabel, Lady Beckinhall, may be jaded and a touch hedonistic, but she’s also very interested in the welfare of the St. Giles Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children. In order to do this, she’s willing to teach Winter Makepeace, the middle-class proprietor, some social graces so he can help with fundraising. Winter disagrees that he needs to develop his networking skills, plus he has other reasons for wanting to keep this improper yet intriguing lady at bay...reasons that may or may not involve a secret crime-fighting identity!

Why I Like It: The contrast between Isabel’s insouciance and Winter’s severity is a lot of fun; it’s not uncommon for a rakish hero to be paired with a buttoned-up heroine, yet the reverse is rare. He’s more softhearted and she’s more interested in being a good person than their exteriors would suggest, but those exteriors add a little spice. This novel is also one of the best adventure stories in the genre, with plenty of skulduggery and derring-do to go around. 

Favorite Scene: Isabel discovers Winter’s secret identity (it’s sexy).

5. A Scandalous Countess by Jo Beverley (2012)

Exact Setting: 1760s England.

Premise: Georgia, Lady Maybury, used to be the darling of society...until her young husband died in a duel and rumors spread that she put his opponent up to it because she wanted to be with him instead. Now she’s out of mourning and trying to start anew, but someone has resurrected the old rumors. Prickly Humphrey, Lord Dracy, is willing to stand by her side, but could he have ulterior motives?

Why I Like It: Although I like the romance, the main appeal of this book is that it’s top-drawer melodrama starring a complex, charismatic heroine. There is no shortage of deliciously lurid nonsense, and Beverley builds a wonderfully constructed plot around it. I just luxuriated in the drama of it all the first time I read it. In addition, Georgia’s anguish over the loss of her husband (who was more of a best friend than a lover but still extremely important to her) and loneliness when she’s left behind by her friends gives the book a strong emotional core beneath the pulp. She also matures without having to flagellate herself for being high-spirited or making minor mistakes.

Favorite Scene: Georgia and Dracy try to solve her husband’s murder and deal with additional drama at a masquerade ball.

6. Heartless by Mary Balogh (1995)

Exact Setting: 1750s England.

Premise: Lucas Kendrick returns to London after years of exile to take over the dukedom he inherited from his estranged brother. He’s also looking for a bride and, instead of doing the expected thing and marrying beautiful debutante Lady Agnes Marlowe, he chooses her older sister Anna, who sacrificed her early youth to keep her family together through tough times. Charmed by Anna’s sweetness and maturity, he believes that this convenient marriage may turn out to be a love match as well. Unfortunately, Anna is being stalked by a traumatic past, both metaphorically and literally, that sows mistrusts between them and also puts them in physical danger. Plus, Lucas’s family relationships have to be sorted out and Anna’s deaf teenage sister needs to learn sign language! There’s a lot going on.

Why I Like It: In theory, I should dislike this romance. If Lucas had used a shred of understanding in the first act of the novel, he would’ve picked up on Anna’s traumatic past early on, saving them both a lot of heartache and enabling them to stop her stalker at least one hundred pages sooner. I think it works here because (a) Lucas’s negative reaction to Anna’s suspicious behavior is pretty measured (he withdraws emotionally and makes some stupid assumptions, but he’s not ever really mad at her and he still wants to make the marriage of convenience work) and (b) both characters are set up in such a way that you get why it takes so long for them to communicate (his default mode is to keep to himself, while she’s understandably reticent to talk about the horrible stuff she’s been through and stung by Lucas’s assumptions). Instead of frustrating the reader, Balogh wrings maximum angst from the set-up, making for great catharsis. 

Favorite Scene: As much as I love the angst, the unexpected initial romance of Anna and Lucas’s courtship was what truly reeled me in.

7. Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt (2017)

Exact Setting: 1740s England.

Premise: Proper widow Iris Daniels, Lady Jordan, is traveling home from a friend’s wedding when she’s waylaid by a secret society of evil aristocrats. Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore, has infiltrated the society to bring it down, but he endangers his cover by rescuing Iris and throwing her in his carriage. Unfortunately, Iris thinks he’s just a regular evil aristocrat, so she shoots him, making it necessary for her to nurse him back to health at his secluded estate. She does a good job, but they still have to deal with the evil secret society and his all-consuming desire for revenge.

Why I Like It: Hoyt’s romances all have a fairy-tale feel, and she makes wonderful use of that atmosphere in Duke of Desire. Rafe lives in a dusty, disused castle, filled with old secrets and staffed by fiercely protective Corsican servants. Scarred and angry, Rafe has serious Beast-from-Beauty-and-the-Beast vibes, except he never kidnaps anyone and actually tries to deal with his serious mental health issues even before Iris brings a more sensible perspective into his life. I appreciated his family relationships, both with his sweet, disfigured maternal aunt and the monstrous father that he nevertheless loved.

Favorite Scene: I really like Rafe’s aunt, who could have easily been a Morality Pet but instead comes across as a capable, kindhearted woman who returns Rafe’s uncharacteristically gentle concern for her welfare.

8. The Pursuit of ... by Courtney Milan (2017)

Exact Setting: 1780s America (on a road trip from Virginia to Maine) and England.

Premise: John Hunter, a black Patriot soldier in the American Revolutionary War, finds himself fighting a white Redcoat who (a) won’t shut up and (b) outright asks John to kill him because he doesn’t want to go home. Instead, John gives the other soldier his jacket and tells him to start a new life in America. The last thing he expects is for the other soldier, Henry Latham, to show up at his camp post-battle and ask how he can repay John for saving his life. It turns out that John could use a companion on the long, perilous trip to his home in Maine, although he’s reluctant to trust a white dude who could choose to disregard his debt at any moment. As the trip progresses, however, they get to know each other and grow closer.

Why I Like It: When I read a Courtney Milan romance, I know that I’m not going to be bored. Her zippy dialogue, sense of humor, and use of interesting themes make even her weaker romances fun reads, and The Pursuit of ... is among her strongest. John and Henry are both engaging, sympathetic characters who interact with each other wonderfully; I especially enjoy how Henry’s incessant loopy patter bounces off of John’s deadpan remarks. The novella also balances its humor very well with serious discussions on what it means to live in a country whose reality falls so short of its ideals.

Favorite Scene: John’s reaction to hearing why Henry’s dad made him join the military.

9. Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt (2016)

Exact Setting: 1740s England.

Premise: Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is a very bad man who goes around blackmailing and kidnapping his fellow aristocrats willy-nilly. Bridget Crumb, his housekeeper, is determined to stop him from blackmailing one lady in particular. They get along surprisingly well! Also, a bunch of crazy shit happens involving the evil society from Duke of Desire.

Why I Like It: I don’t know why, but Valentine Napier just cracks me up. He’s like a hotter, more sinister Dr. Doofenshmirtz, and I love him. He brags to Bridget about doing evil stuff that he doesn’t actually do, and then she goes behind his back and quietly undoes his latest scheme. Then he does something nice for her dog. Then he spouts a lot of flowery poetic nonsense (usually about how he has no heart and she’s a beautiful angel filled with integrity). Then they make out. It’s a beautiful, ridiculous relationship that’s propped up by a delightfully baroque novel.

Favorite Scene: Val sulks because his heartless self can’t relate to his beloved half-sister now that she’s happily married. EVIL.

10. Promised Land by Rose Lerner (2017)

Exact Setting: 1780s America (New York and Virginia).

Premise: Some time ago, Rachel Mendelson left her home and marriage in New York City to disguise herself as Ezra Jacobs and join the Patriot Army. Now she’s a corporal, and the Battle of Yorktown looms on the horizon. And who should show up but Nathan, the husband she loved but couldn’t live with, working as a Patriot spy? As the battle approaches, they struggle to work out the reasons why their first attempt at marriage failed, as well as their future as Jewish Americans.

Why I Like It: Lerner fits a lot of complexity into one novella without ever descending into inelegance. Without a single flashback, she communicates the entire history of Rachel and Nathan’s marriage, which was marked by affection and sexual attraction as well as painful class tensions and family dynamics. She tackles Nathan and Rachel’s differing approaches to their religion in an intelligent, nuanced way. Plus, the battlefield scenes wouldn’t be out of place in Hemingway--like, top-tier Hemingway, not the kind you make fun of.

Favorite Scene: The battlefield scenes, or Rachel’s description of her planned memoirs.

Further Notes: The Leopard Prince is #2 in the Prince Trilogy (which are only very loosely related). To Seduce a Sinner is #2 in the Four Soldiers series, and I would recommend reading the also-very-good To Taste Temptation first. Thief of Shadows, Duke of Sin, and Duke of Pleasure are #4, #10, and #12 in the Maiden Lane series, respectively, and that’s a series that I’d recommend reading in order, because I started with #2 instead of #1 and that alone was confusing. An Unlikely Countess and A Scandalous Countess are both spinoffs of Jo Beverley’s Malloren series, but I enjoyed them despite only reading one Malloren romance proper and one other spinoff. Heartless has a sequel, Silent Melody, which is also very good in a bonkers way. The Pursuit of ... and Promised Land are both part of the Hamilton’s Battalion anthology, plus The Pursuit of ... is technically part of Milan’s Worth Saga, although you don’t need to read any of them to understand it.

[maddie-grove]

My Top Five Medieval (Ish) Romance Novels

Disclaimers: For the purposes of this list, “medieval” means “after the fall of the Roman Empire but before the end of the Wars of the Roses.” There are other ideas about the timeline of the Middle Ages, but this one maps the best onto the set of historical romances that I’ve read, which mostly take place in England. Also, one of the romances on this list takes place in Tang Dynasty China, which was contemporaneous with the early Middle Ages in Europe but was very much its own thing, hence the “ish.” Finally, this is not a list of my favorite romances created during the actual Middle Ages, although I do like Marie de France very much.

1. For My Lady’s Heart by Laura Kinsale (1993)

Exact Setting: 1370s France and England.

Premise: Melanthe, the English-born widow of an Italian prince, is returning to her homeland to avoid forced marriage to her late husband’s rival. On the way, she meets Sir Ruck, a young country knight who has idolized her since she saved him from a dreadful fate in Avignon several years before. His illusions are shattered by the real Melanthe’s flinty personality, but he still feels he owes her a debt and offers his protection. Despite her cynicism, Melanthe accepts.

Why I Like It: For My Lady’s Heart is arguably one of the most ambitious romance novels ever written. In addition to the complicated, enigmatic cast of characters and the sweeping portrait of a Black-Death-haunted Europe, Kinsale heavily incorporates Middle English into her prose. The reader has to adjust to the language and the characters, but the rewards are worth the challenge.

Favorite Scene: Melanthe and Ruck’s very private wedding.

2. The Reluctant Beserker by Alex Beecroft (2014)

Exact Setting: England, mid-9th century.

Premise: Wulfstan, an Anglo-Saxon warrior, longs to be sexually dominated by another man, but he knows his desires aren’t compatible with his role in society. Leofgar, a wandering harper, just wants to be respected as a person and a man, but his lowly status and delicate appearance make it difficult. Their first meeting yields nothing but a passionate kiss, but, when they meet again, they find that they can band together against presumptuous lords, messy feelings about gender and sexuality, and, of course, blood magic.

Why I Like It: “What if an Anglo-Saxon warrior wanted to bottom?” may not sound like the premise of a top-notch historical romance, but the first rule of reading romance is to let yourself be surprised. Beecroft creates two unforgettable protagonists who, despite their imperfections, treat each other with incredible tenderness. I also love the lonely, haunted portrayal of Anglo-Saxon England, perpetually covered in mist and rife with weird power dynamics.

Favorite Scene: The wintertime death of Leofgar’s elderly mentor.

3. Dark Champion by Jo Beverley (1993)

Exact Setting: England, circa 1100.

Premise: Imogen of Carrisford is forced to flee for help when a neighboring lord and rejected suitor brutally attacks her father’s castle and household. “Help,” in this case, means Tyron of Cleeve, an upwardly mobile base-born knight with debilitating claustrophobia. Imogen agrees to marry him in exchange for helping her get her home back, but she’s reluctant to trust him and nervous about consummating the marriage.

Why I Like It: Many reviewers find Imogen “stupid” or “annoying,” but I love her. She just wants to take care of herself and her people, and she’s not afraid to risk her life or other people’s censure to make that happen! Moreover, I love that her determination is validated by the narrative. Does she make mistakes? Sure! Does Tyron ultimately admit that she was right about everything? Fuck yeah he does! Tyron is also refreshingly reasonable and accommodating even before he thanks Imogen for saving his ass. Finally, the plot is very exciting, and I sincerely believe this book was an influence on ASOIAF.

Favorite Scene: Um, Tyron admits that Imogen was right about everything?

4. The Knave and the Maiden by Blythe Gifford (2004)

Exact Setting: 1350s England.

Premise: Sir Garren, disillusioned veteran of the Crusades, is offered land and riches by his dying lord’s corrupt younger brother. All he has to do in exchange is accompany a group of pilgrims to the shrine of St. Larina...and seduce novice Dominica, thereby destroying her chances of ever becoming a nun. Garren accepts, but any thought he had of following through dies when he meets Dominica, a sunny and almost fanatically devout young woman. 

Why I Like It: I love a romance about two people who are being pitted against each other by someone in power, but instead band together against that person. Garren and Dominica each refuse to play the game, albeit in very different ways; his outward knightly obedience is a cover for healthy skepticism and a strong moral compass, while her piety is built on a foundation of self-respect that few people want her to feel. The atmosphere is delightfully spooky, and the band of pilgrims are a fun homage to The Canterbury Tales. 

Favorite Scene: The party gets lost in the MIST OF DOOM, tied with Dominica figuring out who her real mom is.

5. The Taming of Mei Lin by Jeannie Lin (2010)

Exact Setting: Tang Dynasty China, circa 710

Premise: In an effort to fend off the proposals of a local warlord, swordswoman Wu Mei Lin has declared that she will only marry a man who can defeat her in combat. She remains undefeated, but she’s unsure how long her ploy will work, plus she’s hurt by the way everyone jokes about her. When the mysterious warrior Shen Leung rides into town, requesting a duel, she wonders if he could be her way out.

Why I Like It: Mei Lin is an endearing heroine, pragmatic and secretly vulnerable; the sharpness with which Jeannie Lin draws her is especially impressive, considering that this is a short novella. Leung’s earnestness and respect for Mei Lin are appealing as well. The whole story also has an extremely charming folk-tale feel.

Favorite Scene: Mei Lin’s duel with Leung.

[maddie-grove]

The Top Twenty Books I Read in 2016

Oh, 2016. The year that gave me a promising new life with one hand and ripped up what peace of mind I had left with the other. What better way to deal with such a confusing emotional state than to read a bunch of wonderful books, many about incredibly tough subjects? Arguably, there are many better ways, but I like reading.

20. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick (2013)

Traumatized seventeen-year-old Leonard Peacock makes a plan to kill his former abuser and then himself, but first he needs to visit four people who are important to him and say goodbye (without, of course, letting them know he’s saying goodbye). Throughout the day, he’s caught between trying to talk himself out of his horrible goal and feeling he has no other option. This is an affecting, compulsively readable novel with experimental bits that really pay off (especially Leonard’s letters to himself from a semi-dystopian future).

19. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (2011)

After her mother’s untimely death, thirteen-year-old Ava Bigtree’s family falls apart, along with their Floridian gator-wrestling theme park. Her senile grandfather is sent to a nursing home, her brother runs away to another theme park, and her father departs for the mainland for an indefinite time, leaving Ava alone with her séance-obsessed older sister Osceola. Then Osceola elopes with a ghost, driving Ava to take a perilous journey into the swamp.  At turns fanciful and brutal, this is a fascinating and spooky story about grief and how scary nature is.

18. Sweetest Scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt (2015)

In 1740s London, withdrawn Eve Dinwoody is appointed by her half-brother to sort out the accounts of his investment, a pleasure garden owned by the boisterous middle-class Asa Makepeace. Eve and Asa are complete opposites who disagree about all matters financial, but they also have chemistry and actually turn out to care about each other’s problems. The family relationships in this romance are particularly strong, plus I liked that the aristocratic characters were so tangential to the story; it’s mostly a story about theatre people.

17. Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt (2016)

Alf is a messenger/informant by day, a masked vigilante by night, and, unbeknownst to everyone she’s met since early childhood, a woman. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is a widowed father of two bent on bringing down a ridiculously depraved secret society. When Alf gets beaten up while in his employ, Hugh persuades her to stay in his home for protection…which leads to some complicated feelings for Alf (and Hugh, once he realizes she’s not a teenage boy). Like Sweetest Scoundrel, this is a part of the Maiden Lane series, and it’s a fine installment: tightly plotted and prettily written, with a delightfully unusual heroine and a protective hero of the best type.

16. Silver Deceptions by Sabrina Jeffries (1994, revised for 2016 reissue)

During the height of the English Restoration, Annabelle Taylor takes to the London stage and purposefully cultivates a bad reputation with the goal of finding out and shaming the aristocratic father who abandoned her.  Unfortunately, her discreet inquiries about his identity lead the king’s spies to think she has an anti-Royalist agenda. Colin Jeffreys, Lord Hampden, is sent to find out what her deal is, only to get caught up in something way more risky than a Roundhead plot (to his heart, anyway). This is easily the best Restoration romance I’ve read, with a beautifully realized setting, a fast-moving plot, and multilayered protagonists.

15. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (1938)

An unnamed narrator, young and awkward and alone in the world, marries the handsome, haunted Maxime de Winter after a whirlwind courtship in Monte Carlo. The problem is that she has trouble adjusting to being lady of the manor, plus he seems just shattered over the death of his beautiful, accomplished late wife…but is that what’s really going on? Kind of! I loved the weird, funny narrator, and the initial romance between her and Maxime is so sweet that its devolution once they get to Manderley hit me hard.

14. Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer (1957)

Sylvester Rayne, the Duke of Salford, does not want to marry Phoebe Marlow, the mousy granddaughter of his godmother…but he’s still miffed when she flees her father’s house in order to avoid marrying him. Then he finds out that she wrote a popular gothic novel whose hero bears a striking resemblance to him, and he’s really annoyed. This is a terrific comedy—the two unplanned road trips are particularly delightful. I also liked the heroine and how she comes into her own after years of being cowed by her stepmother.

13. Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt (2016)

Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery (and half-brother to Eve Dinwoody), is a bad, bad man. He blackmails his peers, tries to abduct heiresses (he’s not that great at it), and pretends that he’s done even worse. Bridget Crumb, his housekeeper, is working in his household in hopes of helping her mother. She has every reason to hate and fear him…but instead she thinks he’s full of shit but kind of likes him anyway. In turn, he’s intrigued by the fact that she has morals and wears a huge mobcap to hide her hair. This is a balls-out ludicrous romance novel in the best possible sense, with enough emotional pathos to keep me seriously invested.

12. Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein (2013)

Rose Justice, a young American flying planes for the British Air Transport Auxiliary during WWII, is captured by the Germans during a mission in France. Sent to Ravensbrück, she barely manages to survive the experience with the help of her fellow political prisoners and poetry. This book is less twist-driven than its companion Code Name Verity—the reader isn’t kept in much suspense about Rose’s eventual escape, let alone surprised with any revelation—but it has every good thing in common with the other novel: a complex and human narrator, a focus on women’s contributions to WWII, and a message of steely hope in the face of evil.

11. Crispin: The End of Time by Avi (2010)

In the third and final installment of the starkly beautiful medieval-set Crispin trilogy, thirteen-year-old Crispin finds himself bereft and unable to speak the language in war-torn France. He tries to get to Iceland, where everyone is free according to his late mentor, but he falls into bad company and has existential crises along the way. If you enjoy the most heart-shattering parts of A Song of Ice and Fire but wish the series had a smidge less violence and a lot less sex, this series might be for you! The ending is satisfying and holds the hope of hope, but good lord does it put you through the wringer.

10. The Study of Seduction by Sabrina Jeffries (2016)

When Lady Clarissa Lindsey finds herself being stalked by a sleazy French diplomat, family friend Lord Blakesborough agrees to help her out. They tend to clash—she’s gregarious and fun-loving, while he’s reserved to the point of stuffiness—but she wants the best for him, too, and tries to teach him how to talk to ladies so he can find a wife. Of course, everything goes wrong and they end up marrying each other for convenience…only it’s not so convenient, because they want to bang each other something fierce, plus they both have sad pasts they can’t talk about easily. A beautiful, hopeful romance with two extremely endearing protagonists.

9. A Scandalous Countess by Jo Beverley (2009)

Georgia, Lady Maybury, was the toast of society…until her beloved young husband was killed in a duel and everyone (wrongly) thought it was with her lover. Now she’s coming out of mourning, but someone has resurrected the most vicious rumors about her. She finds an unexpected ally in Lord Dracy, an awkward, badly scarred ex-naval officer who secretly wants to marry her for her money (at first). This novel is a glorious melodrama with an intriguing mystery and a wonderfully complex heroine.

8. Once Upon a Marquess by Courtney Milan (2015)

Lady Judith Worth used to have everything, but then her father was exposed as a traitor and committed suicide. Now she can barely pay rent on her shabby London home and all her siblings are either missing or in distress, but she’s still loathe to accept help from Lord Ashford, an old friend whose investigations helped bring about her family’s ruin. His charm, willingness to assist her, and ready acknowledgment that she has a right to be angry make it a bit easier, though. Courtney Milan is a National Treasure, and this complex series debut, alternately hilarious and heartrending, is among her best.

7. Emma by Jane Austen (1815)

Emma Woodhouse, rich and pretty and beloved by most, tries to be a good person, but that turns out to be a confusing business. I was frequently irritated by this novel, but honestly that made me love it more. On several occasions, Emma actually shocked me with her bad judgment, callousness, and even malice. At the same time, I saw that she was genuinely trying to do the right thing, even though she was severely hampered by classism and a lack of self-awareness. The contrast and the questions it raises are fascinating.

6. The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel (2014)

This gorgeously written, endlessly unnerving anthology includes “The School of English” (the heartbreaking, infuriating tale of a London housekeeper starting a new job), “How Shall I Know You?” (the story of a pitying, pitiable writer on a miserable book tour), and the title story (a snapshot of an alternate history). Every story has excellent style and atmosphere; Mantel has a particular talent for making the reader feel queasy and excited at the same time.

5. Fortune Favors the Wicked by Theresa Romain (2016)

World-weary courtesan Charlotte Perry returns to her hometown in search of a stolen hoard, hoping that the reward will allow her to build a new life for herself and her “niece.” Lieutenant Benedict Frost, recently blinded and restless, travels to the same location in hopes of establishing a household where he can live with his younger sister. They should be adversaries…but perhaps they will not be? This was a nearly perfect romance; the central relationship was delicious, all the side characters were great, and the plot was very well-constructed.

4. The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith (2016)

After her brother’s best friend rapes her in her own bedroom, high school freshman Eden’s primary reaction is rage—not only at her rapist, but at the parents who overlook her, at the brother she’s sure wouldn’t believe her, and at herself for being quiet and trusting. Over the next few years, she builds a new identity for herself; unfortunately, it comes with self-destructive behavior and a tendency to push everyone away. This story is ultimately a hopeful one, but it’s a damn hard read. I cried like a tiny baby girl, and I often felt incredibly angry. Eden is a wonderful narrator, clear-eyed but still unable to extract herself from a morass of silence and self-punishment without help.

3. Room by Emma Donoghue (2010)

Five-year-old Jack has never left the room where he was born to his captive mother, or even learned that the outside world they see on television is real. All he knows is Room and Ma…until she tells him there’s a whole universe outside and shares her desperate escape plan. Room is an absolutely beautiful story, and it’s all the more wonderful because the characters are so individualized. Jack is a sweetheart, but he also does weird kid stuff, from the adorable (declaring broccoli his “enemy food”) to the dangerously inconvenient (getting angry at his mom when she tries to explain the outside world). Ma is even more complex, and it’s truly impressive how Donoghue can convey her anger, compassion, youthfulness, maturity, and everything else when she’s filtered entirely through her five-year-old son’s perspective. I also appreciated how much the novel is about recovery, with all its attendant joys and difficulties.

2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (1969)

In her classic first memoir, Angelou shares the story of her childhood in Arkansas and then California. I loved this book almost as much as its sequel Gather Together in My Name; it’s just as funny, heartbreaking, and sharply insightful. It can also be a much tougher read, due to the trauma she experiences in her childhood and the near-constant racism she faces, but her exploration of these issues just makes the book more powerful.

1. Gather Together in My Name by Maya Angelou (1974)

In this memoir, Angelou relates her experiences as a young woman in post-WWII California. She tries to care for her new baby, find a purpose in life, and look for someone to love, but she runs into many obstacles: bad boyfriends, racism, anti-Communist paranoia, an unfaithful dance partner, and an unplanned foray into running a brothel, just to name a few. Angelou’s second memoir is glorious, funny and poignant and righteously angry at turns. Even though my experiences are very different from hers, I related hard to her loneliness, lack of direction, and premature regret. The best book I read all year.

[weirdesplinder]

Lista di romance storici con protagonista femminile che di notte si trasforma in un giustiziere mascherato

Ho appena finito di vedere su Rakuten Viki un drama coreano intitolato Knight flower con protagonista una vedova dell'epoca Joseon confinata a stare in casa a causa del suo stato di vedova, che in realtà di notte fugge dalla villa dei suoi suoceri di nascosto e si trasforma in un giustiziere mascherato abilissimo con la spada che cerca di aiutare i poveri a sopravvivere alle angherie dei nobili o dei malvagi.

Questo drama mi ha ricordato molto il cartone animato La Stella della Senna (noto in Italia anche con il titolo errato Il Tulipano Nero) dove una ragazza abile spadaccina di nome Simone Lorène a Parigi durante la Rivoluzione Francese lottava pure lei mascherata contro i soprusi della nobiltà aiutantdo i meno fortunati.

E per la prima volta mi sono trovata a chiedermi se per caso questo anime fosse stato tratto da un romanzo. Ho fatto delle ricerche e purtroppo no, è un'opera originale creata da Mitsuru Kaneko e prodotta dalla Sunrise nel 1975, pensata appositamente per la televisione. E nonostante la sovrapposizione del titolo italiano, l'anime non ha alcun legame con il celebre romanzo Il Tulipano Nero di Alexandre Dumas ambientato nei Paesi Bassi un secolo prima le vicende della Rivoluzione Francese.

Deluisa, ho quindi deciso di cercare dei romanzi historical romance in cui la protagonista femminile di notte diventa un eroe mascherato:

-My Lady Thief, by Emily Larkin (inedito in iatliano)

Link: https://amzn.to/4xzwUM2

Arabella Knightley è la nipote di un conte, ma il fatto che prima di venire ufficialmente riconosciuta sua erede abbia vissuto nei bassifondi di Londra è una cosa che il Ton sembra non volerle perdonare. Così per vendicarsi dei soprusi che i potenti ingliggono sui più deboli di notte diventa un giustiziere mascherato che aiuta chi da solo non può opporsi a loro.

-Duca dei miei piaceri, di Elizabeth Hoyt (Maiden Lane serie)

Link: https://amzn.to/4v4GLb0

Londra, 1742. Abbandonata in tenera età dalla madre, Alf è stata costretta a fingersi un ragazzo per poter sopravvivere nel quartiere più depravato della città e ha iniziato la carriera di informatrice al servizio dei nobili. Quando calano le tenebre, però, protegge gli indifesi da ladri e malfattori, vestendo i panni del Fantasma di St Giles! Accade così che una notte intervenga in aiuto del duca di Kyle, salvandolo dai criminali che l'hanno aggredito, ma il duca si accorge che sotto i panni del Fantasma si cela una donna dal fascino irresistibile…

-Prince Charming, by Gaelen Foley (inedito in italiano)

Link: https://amzn.to/4fUKgfx

In una perfetta notte di luna piena quando il bandito più inafferrabile di Ascencion, il Cavaliere Mascherato, sceglie la carrozza sbagliata da rapinare. Al suo interno si trova Rafael, il principe del regno, noto per la sua passione sfrenata per le donne e altri piaceri decadenti. La rapina fallita lascia il famigerato Cavaliere Mascherato ferito e con il cappio davanti. Poi Rafe si rende conto che la criminale che ha prigioniero è Lady Daniela Chiaramonte, una bellezza ribelle che lo tormenta, risvegliando i suoi sensi e il suo cuore come nessuna donna prima d'ora.

-Passion Behind her Mask by Lucy Langton (inedito in italiano)

Link: https://amzn.to/3SvmoFg

Di giorno, Lady Violet Sinclaire incarna la quintessenza della grazia e della compostezza, ma di notte si trasforma nell'enigmatico Fencing shadow. Maestra spadaccina, con una lama veloce quanto la sua determinazione, cerca giustizia per la prematura scomparsa del fratello, muovendosi nel pericoloso mondo dei duelli clandestini. Tuttavia, il ritorno di un volto inaspettato dal passato riporta alla luce antichi sentimenti a lungo dimenticati, dando vita a una passione inattesa…

-The Secret History of the Pink Carnation di Lauren Willig

(primo libro di una serie e inedito in italiano)

Link: https://amzn.to/4edHIXk

Eloise Kelly anela al romanticismo di altri tempi, desidera un eroe affascinante come la Primula Rossa che la porti via dal presente, ma purtroppo sa che gli eroi romantici appartengono al passato. Per distrarsi da questi pensieri, Eloise si concentra sulla sua tesi di laurea in Storia, ed è proprio rovistando tra una pila di vecchie lettere e diari che scopre qualcosa di straordinario, qualcosa che gli storici hanno trascurato: la storia segreta della spia più sfuggente di tutti i tempi, il Garofano Rosa. Ma perché il modernissimo Colin Selwick è così determinato a interferire con la ricerca di Eloise? E perché deve essere così affascinante?

-Her Wicked Highwayman, di Lauren Smith (inedito in italiano)

Link: https://amzn.to/43pTDfC

Il famigerato bandito Rafe Lennox si accorge che qualcun altro sta derubando i ricchi nel suo stesso territorio prima di lui. Quando scopre che il misterioso rivale notturno è in realtà una donna mascherata, il suo cuore viene irrimediabilmente rubato.

-My Lady Notorious, di Jo Beverley (c'è edizione italiana)

Link: https://amzn.to/4xgHWpa

Nel tentativo di aiutare la sorella vedova in fuga col figlioletto, lady Chastity è disposta a tutto, e in maniera avventata decide di travestirsi da brigante e di assalire la prima carrozza di passaggio, per garantire ai suoi affetti più cari un viaggio sicuro. Trovandosi faccia a faccia con l'occupante della carrozza, l'arrogante aristocratico Cyn Malloren, gli ordina di mettersi a cassetta e fare da cocchiere. Cyn fin da subito subodora che si tratti di una ragazza e presto Chastity si ritrova a fare i conti con un uomo dal fascino irresistibile. Così il fortuito incontro tra il fratello del marchese di Rothgar e la giovane lady…

-La ragazza con le pistole, di Celia Rees (young adult)

Link: https://amzn.to/4fH7TrP

Gli eventi sanguinosi della Rivoluzione francese hanno appena sconvolto il mondo quando in Inghilterra la diciassettenne Sovay, travestita da bandito, inizia a derubare le diligenze lungo le vie di campagna. Ruba solo alle persone più ricche, per il puro piacere di distribuire poi il bottino tra gli abitanti più poveri dei villaggi dei dintorni. Ma come mai una giovane aristocratica sente un bisogno così forte di trasgredire? È colpa del padre, simpatizzante della Rivoluzione che sta divampando in Francia? Mentre cresce la leggenda del misterioso brigante veloce come una saetta, il padre e il fratello di Sovay spariscono. La ragazza parte alla loro ricerca, in un viaggio che la porterà prima a Londra e poi in Francia, nella Parigi sconvolta dal Terrore. Dopo Il viaggio della strega bambina, Celia Rees torna al romanzo storico, con un’altra coraggiosa, indimenticabile protagonista femminile.