(Image from Barnes & Noble)

With her gleaming mane of auburn hair, her twinkling green eyes, and her charming manners, it's no wonder 19-year-old Amber Sterlington is the Rage of the Season.  Men of the ton—single or otherwise—fall over themselves to win her attention, while the women seethe with jealousy at her ability to command a room with her natural charisma.  Confident in her ability to snag whomever she pleases, Amber is aiming for the bachelor with the highest title and biggest fortune.  She'll step on whomever it takes in order to get what she wants.  

Thomas Richards, the third son of a Northern baron, knows he has no chance with a debutante like Miss Sterlington.  She's not what he's looking for, anyway—someone as glamorous and vain as Amber could never be content as the wife of a gentleman farmer.  And yet, Thomas can't stop thinking about her.  Even though he's seen—all too vividly—how far beneath her notice she considers him to be.

When Amber suffers a shocking, very public abasement, she's knocked off her high society pedestal with a force that leaves her reeling.  Banished by her disgraced family, she's packed off to an isolated cottage in the wilds of Yorkshire.  Humiliated, Amber hides herself away, vowing never to show her face again.  For, who could ever love the hideous creature she's become?

What Amber doesn't know is that there's one man who's never forgotten her, one man who would gladly give her everything she desires ... if only she could find the courage to let him in.

I often dismiss Regency/Proper romances as trite, silly affairs appealing only as entertaining fluff between "real" books.  Maybe that's true (at least for me) in many—even most—cases, but not when it comes to A Heart Revealed by Josi S. Kilpack.  Although the novel's premise sounds as frivolous as any other Regency romance, it's got more going on beneath the surface than you'd think.  True, the topics it explores—the fickleness of the gentry, prejudice between social classes, gender inequality, physical attractiveness vs. inner beauty, etc.—are common to its genre.  That's not what makes A Heart Revealed stand out.  No, it's Kilpack's careful attention to character development and her skill at building realistically imperfect relationships that makes her story special.  Because of this, Amber's evolution from a selfish, spoiled brat to a concerned, capable woman is not just believable, but also touching.  Same goes for her interactions with the people around her.  It's all so authentic that I felt Amber's pains, ached for her sorrows, and longed for her happiness.  Her story kept me thoroughly engrossed, surprising me with its depth.  Honestly, I didn't expect to enjoy A Heart Revealed as much as I did, but I loved it.  It's a clean, complex, tearjerker of a romance—one that spoke straight to my heart.  

(Readalikes:  Reminds me a little of Becoming Bayley by Susan Auten)

Grade:

(Image from Deseret Book)

Living in an ancient English castle sounds a lot more exciting than it's actually turning out to be.  Margaret "Meg" Burton, a fiery redhead from the American South, had hoped it would be full of moaning ghosts or long-forgotten treasure or, at the very least, some juicy family secrets.  No such luck.  Thornshire, her cousin's boring old fortress, holds only one mystery: the Spanish prince who resides somewhere on the property.  Although Rodrigo de Talavera is the brother of Thornshire's mistress, he doesn't deign to dine or mingle with Meg's host family or their guests.  If he's that high and mighty, Meg doesn't want to meet him anyway.  Never mind that the only reason she's in

Meg's forthrightness as well as her adventurous spirit and unladylike interest in world politics are not earning her many points with the aristocratic Englishmen she's supposed to be impressing.  There's only one man who seems to appreciate her for who she is—Carlo, a handsome stablehand.  As the friendship between them blossoms into something stronger, Meg worries about the dangers inherent in such a forbidden relationship.

Of course, Carlo is keeping his own secrets, number one being that he is not the lowly servant Meg assumes him to be, but the prince whose lofty behavior Meg so heartily despises ...

I don't read a lot of Regency romances because while they're fun, I also find them cliché and predictable.  You pretty much know what's going to happen just from reading the back cover copy.  Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince, the newest from Jennifer Moore, is no exception.  Its basic plot points (mistaken identity, marrying to save the family name, an outsider fumbling through a London Season, etc.) have been done—again and again and again.  Originality, thus, is not the novel's strong point.  And yet, it's a well-written romance with a fun (if not particularly well-developed) cast, amusing banter, and a light, upbeat tone.  Its strong (but not overbearing) message is an important one—to thine own self be true (which, as Lord Featherstone would no doubt [mis]inform you, is a famous line from Shakespeare's Macbeth :]).  Also significant is the fact that Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince is a clean romance, one you could hand to your 13-year-old daughter or your 103-year-old grandmother with equal confidence.  So, while the novel contains few surprises (I wanted some family secrets, too, dang it!), it still provides a sweet, swoon-worthy read that's both clean and enjoyable.  If you're a fan of this genre, you can't go wrong with Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince as well as the other books in Covenant's line of proper romances.  

(Readalikes:  Similar to other books by Jennifer Moore as well as those of Sarah M. Eden and Julianne Donaldson)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for mild violence and mild sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince from the generous folks at Covenant Communications as part of my involvement in the book's blog tour.  Thank you!

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If you'd like more opinions on Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince, please visit the

*April 6th: http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://iamareader.com/ (Cheryl) 

*April 7th: http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/, http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/, http://iamareader.com/ (Kathy)

*April 8th: http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/

*April 9th: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

*April 10th: http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/, http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://littlelightdesigncollective.com/

*April 11th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/ , https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/

 Last, but not least, be sure to enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card, plus your own copy of Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince:

   

(Image from Jennifer Moore's blog)

With all the possibilities the opening of her London Season will surely bring, Lady Emma Drake should be looking forward to it with glee.  Her mind should be swirling with thoughts of fancy gowns, glittering balls, and catching the eyes of the city's most eligible bachelors.  Instead, she's pining away for a man who's as unattainable as the moon—her brother's best friend, Sidney Fletcher.  Emma's been infatuated with the charming sea captain since she was 11.  The problem?  Sidney still sees her as a pesky child, the kid sister he never had.  Even if she could convince him that she's all grown up now, it's not as if he would give up his exciting sea-faring life in exchange for a dull gentleman's existence.  Emma knows the union she dreams of will never be, knows she should give up childish fantasies and find herself a more practical match, but she simply can't erase Sidney from her mind.  

When Emma receives news that Sidney's been captured by French soldiers in war-torn Spain, she's frantic.  Knowing she can't sit around doing nothing while the man she loves is in danger, she stows away on her brother's ship, determined to be part of the rescue mission.  Surely, such a heroic gesture will show Sidney just how much she loves him.  It doesn't take long for Emma to realize what a foolish decision she's made—a war zone is no place for a sheltered, well-bred lady.  With death and destruction all around her, Emma has no idea how she is going to survive Spain, let alone help rescue Sidney.  As the violence escalates all around her, her courage, her cunning, and her conviction will be put to the test.  Will Emma escape unscathed?  Will Sidney?  Most importantly, will Emma's secret desires ever come to fruition?  

Although I don't read a lot of Regency romance, I generally find the genre entertaining with its genteel settings, frivolous plots, and witty banter.  It's the kind of light reading I like to sandwich in between "real" books.  Lady Emma's Campaign, Jennifer Moore's second novel, surprised me by going deeper than the usual parlor dramas.  With its treatment of war violence, PTSD, physical abuse, and other weighty subjects, it offers a lot more substance than I was expecting.  All the derring-do kept the story exciting, heightening the romantic suspense to create a fuller story.  A few things kept me from loving Lady Emma's Campaign, namely Moore's tendency to tell rather than show, which made her characters and setting seem a bit flat.  Overall, though, I enjoyed this one, especially that there's more to it than just a silly romance.

(Readalikes:  Although I haven't read it yet, I assume Becoming Lady Lockwood, Moore's first book [starring Emma Drake's sister-in-law] is similar)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for violence and mild sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love:  I received a copy of Lady Emma's Campaign from the generous folks at Covenant Communications.  Thank you!

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Interested in reading more reviews of Lady Emma's Campaign?  How about entering a giveaway for a $75 gift card to Sweet Salt Clothing?  Stop at each of the following blogs to get more opinions on the book and a chance to win the big prize!

*Nov 10th: http://www.charissastastny.com/, http://www.iamareader.com/ (review by Kathy)

*Nov 11th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://fireandicereads.com/

*Nov 12th: http://www.minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/ & http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com, http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/

*Nov 13th: http://www.iamareader.com (Review by Cheryl), http://www.wishfulendings.com/

*Nov 14th: http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

*Nov 15th: http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/  

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

It's been a week since 21-year-old Ginerva "Ginny" Delacourt became engaged to marry the debonair Sir Anthony Crenshaw and she couldn't be more thrilled.  So deliriously happy is she that nothing can drag her down from the clouds on which she floats.  Until Sir Anthony's cousin dies, leaving Sir Anthony as the "recalcitrant heir to death, duty, and the Duke of Marcross" (2).  The event calls everything into question—Sir Anthony's future, his feelings toward Ginny and, most especially, their upcoming nuptials.  Ginny can only stand helplessly by, her heart torn to shreds, while Sir Anthony decides what to do.

The last thing Sir Anthony wants is the heavy responsibility that comes with his soon-to-be elevated status.  He would much rather frolic in the countryside with Ginny than play society games with London's elite.  But that is not to be, not if Sir Anthony's uncle has his way.  According to the ailing Duke of Marcross, Sir Anthony must choose a wife worthy of the title Duchess—not a lowly minister's daughter like Ginny Delacourt.  

As much as Sir Anthony loves Ginny, he knows he cannot cross his uncle, especially not while the man lays on his deathbed.  So, when the Duke comes up with a proposal of his own, a way for Sir Anthony to win the Duke's approval to marry Ginny, Sir Anthony doesn't hesitate.  The tasks required of him are impossible, but he has to try.  Whether it results in injury, even death, Sir Anthony will make sure that Miss Delacourt finally has her day.

Like Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind, this second novel in the series is a fun, lighthearted Regency romance.  The characters may not be wholly original, but they're likable and compelling.  The plot gets silly at times, but really, Miss Delacourt Has Her Day is lots of fun.  I enjoyed this light, easy read about a resolute young woman, her dashing fiancee and all the loops through which they have to leap before they can achieve their Happily Ever After.   

(Readalikes:  Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind by Heidi Ashworth)

Grade:  B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated:  PG for mild sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love:  I bought a copy of Miss Delacourt Has Her Day from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger.  Ha ha.  

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Grade:  B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated:  PG for mild sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find