I gobbled up the four earlier published Beckets of Romney Marsh stories; Kasey Michaels has long been a favourite (and autobuy) author. But it took me quite awhile to get into the last three. Partly because I knew that, as difficult as circumstances had been for this amazing family, they were definitely about to get worse. I also wanted to wait until I had them all together ~ but that was accomplished, or at least could have been ~ in November of 2007. But I set up a challenge for myself for the month of July to read the books that are part of series' that I've been following for some time. I'm very glad that I did, because reading Fanny's story wasn't *quite* as hard as I thought it would be. It was emotional enough, but Valentine Clement was the perfect hero for our reckless beauty! VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
Harlequin July Mini Challenge: I got the email from Lorie talking about a "Harlequin moment" while I was reading this book and the timing was Excellent! On page 281 of Kasey Michaels' A Reckless Beauty Odette, voodoo priestess and the Becket's longtime housekeeper (and more) was saying to Fanny ~ our reckless heroine ~ words that I thought were very REAL... words that people should consider:
"Didn't I teach you better than that, child? No matter
how fast or far you run, you've still got all of yourself
stuck to you when you stand still again."
Just something to think about. Anyway, that was one of my moments!
RATING:
Excellence: Excellent+ ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual
BOOK READ:
Kasey Michaels; HQN Historical Romance; Sep 2007
5th in the Beckets of Romney Marsh series
FROM the BACK:
The jaded lord and the rebellious innocent
Fanny Becket has adored her adopted brother since the day they both lost their parents and became part of the Becket family. Where he goes, she has always followed. But pursuing him into battle, Fanny quickly finds herself in the line of fire and quite unexpectedly...in the embrace of a handsome stranger.
Valentine Clement, Earl of Brede, has seen enought of fighing to know there is no adventure to be found at Waterloo. Yet the moment he spies Fanny he is duty bound to save the reckless beauty, most especially from herself. Although with a woman such as Fanny, it may very well be his lordship who is in need of true protection.
Books read in July: 10
Har / Sil ~ 2
Others ~ 8
October's MEMBER OF THE MONTH
kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!
I thought this story was one
I thought this story was one of the more difficult stories that I've read so far in the series. The Battle of Waterloo scenes were horrific and what happened to Rian there was heartbreaking. I know that it was a true rendition of war but, still, it was hard to read. I have the last two books to go and can hardly wait to read them.
Hi Kathy - your moment had me LOL because it's so true
Hugs
Sadhbh (who's never read a Kasey Michaels)
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
No more excuses, just READ!
books4me... I know what you mean....
Reading about battles during war is hard... and it should be I guess. I've read a number of authors who do it so well, that while understanding the horror of it, the senselessness of it and while the emotional impact is amazingly frightening, it's not too much ~ or maybe I just have the ability to shunt the emotional overload off to a convenient siding. But KM does a wonderful job taking us past it, I thought. She's certainly taken the individual stories and turned them into a very cohesive whole.
Sadhbh... I just laughed... then really had to think; it's definitely one of those that says more than it seems to on the surface.
And as for not reading any of Kasey Michaels' books, that surprises me... I figured somewhere in your thousands and thousands of books you'da stumbled across one or two.
The first of her books that I read ~ her older contemporaries ~ I loved because of the humour. And then I started reading her older historicals and a couple of them, especially The Kissing Game, also had a wonderful fun element that I liked, no I LOVED it.
October's MEMBER OF THE MONTH
kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!
Kathy - that's definitely the upside to these blogs
I might have seen her books before, but never having read one, without recommendations, why pick up hers as opposed to someone else's - if the back blurb didn't grab me!
Besides, readaholic that I am, a new-to-me author with a big backlist just puts a smile on this tired old face!
(yes I know I'm not that old, but this morning it's definitely a tired old face!
)
Hugs
Sadhbh
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
No more excuses, just READ!
Sadhbh I so agree with you about these blogs...
...and the amazing new authors and books that I've found ~ and LOVED ~ over the last year and a half. Mind, my TBR is overflowing available space ~ but I've always got something to read...
And as for extensive backlists... oh yeah... a reader's paradise ~ especially a reader like you who can zip through any number of books!
October's MEMBER OF THE MONTH
kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!