Redbrunja Reading Update

[redbrunja]

I would really love some recommendations from my flist for either romance novels or books with a romantic subplot that you think that I will enjoy. Because my luck with books (and specifically romances) has been decidedly mixed, lately.

In order:

I made it about ten pages into The Chocolate Thief and no. Things I am not interested in:

• rhapsodic descriptions of Paris and the heroine longing to be accepted there


• orgasmic descriptions of chocolate when I’m trying to lose weight


• an arrogant alpha male who acts like a dick the first time he meets the heroine

So that’s going back to the library.

Then I read What Angels Fear, which I actually really, really enjoyed. It's a Regency murder mystery with a main character who's recently back from the war, where he was a spy. As much as I enjoyed it, though, I don't think I'll continue with the series. First, there was a lot of sexual violence in this book, and I know the next one will open with another dead girl. Secondly, while I really enjoyed the romanceand it ended on a good note for the couple, I know they break up later, so I'm going to spare myself some pain and stop now.

Also, I was excited enough about That Touch Of Magic (Lucy March) to buy it instead of waiting for the library to finish processing it and while the entertainment value was high, I was very disappointedthat the romance was between the heroine and “the love of her life” who cheated on her when he went to college and is now suddenly back in town. Because nothing says true love like getting back with the cheating ex you never got over. I was rooting for the other guy who was going to be evil. I called this in the third chapter, and then I skipped ahead to the end of the book (which I never, ever do) so I wouldn't spend the whole novel hoping I was wrong and then being disappointed. (I was totally right.)

Comments

[empressearwig.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sorry, I thought you'd feel that way about the C.S. Harris books.

If you liked the mystery aspect of them, though, you might try Tasha Alexander. They're Victorian set historical mysteries and ultimately feature an established romance. Have you read Lauren Willig? They're historical spy novels with a modern framing story. I'm not sure if you'd like Joanna Bourne or not, but they're essentially french female spies and their british counterparts who love them.