Lauren Royal

This book was set in the seventeenth century and when it started with the great fire of London I was really hopeful, but I think it was a little sparse on historical detail.

The Chase family were an interesting set of individuals and like all aristocratic families they had a castle to upkeep. Amethyst as a lady jeweller was interesting, as this would have put her in the rising bourgeoise. Her fiancé who was promised both her and the business added drama. Her kidnapping points to the problems of forced marriage during this period where wealthy heiresses were abducted. This was the only real drama in the book and it would have been nice to have a stronger storyline.

Like all good romance stories it had a happy ending but it was mediocre at best.… (meer)

This is another book of Lauren Royal's set in the restoration, and one of the interesting parts of this book is the lurid and colorful descriptions of the Court of King Charles II. Royal creates a bright and vivid atmosphere in her setting which adds to the overall feeling of the book. As in her other books, Royal creates two very living characters. Kit, the talented commoner-architect who has struggled to save enough money that his sister will be able to marry a title - and Rose, an intelligent woman who has hidden her intelligence in the hope of attracting a titled man. Kit and Rose almost instantly feel an attraction, but Rose forces it aside - Kit is a commoner, and she desperately wants a title, so there is no chance of anything happening there. But as Rose finds herself hobnobbing among the elite - and debauched - members of Charles II's Court, she comes to discover that perhaps true nobility is not found in a title after all. This is a charming and well written book.

… (meer)

This is a charming, touching book. Tristan's banishment from polite society, and the guilt he feels over his uncle's death prevent him from marrying the woman he loves - until he finds himself with her in a rather unique compromising situation and is forced to marry her. When they're married, she sets forth to clear his name, knowing that the man she loves and has always loved cannot be a murderer. Fighting years of silence and Tristan's silent fears that he is, perhaps, guilty, this is a mystery in addition to a romance, and one where the plot device manages not to get in the way of the romance. It's a wonderful story, brilliantly written. Love this book!… (meer)