Miss Whitaker Opens Her Heart

I have to admit, I am often a bit embarrassed when people ask what kind of books I like to read.

I don't like the stereotype that comes to most minds when I respond "Romances".

I will often say "Historical Fiction" which is also a true answer...I love historical fiction and I slyly think to myself that Regency Romances could be thrown into that category as well since the Regency Era was an historical period...right? ;)

I guess I feel like I should be spending my time reading more than just "fluff" for lack of a better word.  That's why I like it when "romances" have a bit more substance to them.

Such as in...

Jennifer Moore is one of those few authors that I know I can preorder her books and not be sorry I own them after I have read them.  Hers have always been clean and sweet.

Here's the breakdown of my rating:

****

PG

{UM}?  {TMP}?  {GS}?

Easily Recommend

Okay, I have to explain...I think that because I am now reviewing these online I am being extra picky :)...hence all the question marks.  I don't know that I would have given any of these three in my private, written reviews.  I just want to make sure I'm covering all my bases.

  The one {UM} I can think of is when she comes upon him refreshing himself in a river without a shirt on. 

The {GS} is not really that graphic and it isn't violent but I thought I should include it as it might disturb some people :)  It could also be categorized as an {UM}.

The main female character owns a sheep ranch and assists one of the ewes giving birth.  It isn't explained in great detail and is tastefully done.  However, if you didn't grow up on a farm or watching Dr. Harriot doing the the same thing in All Creatures Great and Small like I did, then it might be a tad alarming.

The {TMP} was really not that bad, but again, extra picky!

I guess now I feel like I should mention anything beyond it saying 'he kissed her'...which, let's be honest, no one ever writes that :)

It always kind of bugs me a bit when the phrase 'he deepened the kiss' is used...Jennifer uses it once in this book so maybe that's why I felt it earned this rating.

Overall, I loved the story!  The substance I mentioned earlier is an internal battle that the female protagonist wages in her heart about trust and forgiveness.  I felt it added quite a bit of depth.

Thanks to Jennifer Moore for another lovely Regency!

*** An added bonus about Jennifer is that she often writes about countries other than England and through these wonderful books, you learn about new cultures and geographic lands.  For instance, in Miss Whitaker she describes an Echidna, and Australian mammal.  I had to look it up and see what it looked like because I was so curious :)

The Rise of Miss Notley

*Please read the My Rating System tab above if you are not familiar with its contents.

It explains what my goal is and how I review books.  Thanks!

The first book I have chosen to formally review on my blog is...

This is the second in a series called Tanglewood.

The first book, The Fall of Lord Drayson, was sweet.  I really enjoyed it except for one sentence that I actually crossed out with a sharpie about him wanting to carry her off to a bedroom.  Also, the kisses were described in a bit too much detail for my taste so I gave it a moderate {TMP} rating.

Back to Miss Notley...here is how my rating panned out...

**** 

PG

a little {TMP} , a little {BSt} , 1 or 2 {UM} 

Probably Recommend

I really enjoyed the story.  Rachael Anderson has a nice style that is easy to read.

The {BS} issue is that a the main character recalls how a woman suggested to him years earlier that they have an inappropriate relationship.  He turns her down, thank goodness, but there is that.

Again, there is a bit more description of the intimate moments than I prefer so it received a mild {TMP}.

And the {UM}s were because there is talk about minor characters in the book speculating that there might be an inappropriate relationship occurring between the two main characters.

Overall, a sweet read and I will probably feel comfortable recommending it with a bit of an explanation of the undesirable elements :)