Tag Archives: history

The Spymaster’s Lady

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Cat In Books

The Spymaster’s Lady Joanna Bourne Historical – Regency Publication Info.: Berkley Sensation, 2008, ISBN: 9780425219607   I’m going to tell you a little story about this book, but first I have to tell you about my mother-in-law.  She’s a reader, … Continue reading →

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The Corset & The Crinolin

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Cat In Books

The Corset & The Crinoline: An Illustrated History W. B. Lord Publication Info.: Dover Publications, 2007, (1868 by Ward, Lock, and Tyler), ISBN: 139780486461861   You can’t read historical romance without learning a thing or two about women’s underwear.  No … Continue reading →

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The Sheik

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Cat In Books

The Sheik E. M. Hull Genre: Historical – Algeria 1919 Publication Info: http://www.publicbookshelf.com/romance/the-sheik/   The Sheik is one of those books that’s so significant to modern popular culture that its importance is universally recognized even while there is broad disagreement … Continue reading →

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A Rose By Any Other Name

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Cat In Books

Have you noticed that romance heroines usually have unusual names?  Bryony, Gigi, Freyja, Annique, Evangeline–these are the heroines of the first five books I pulled from my shelf, all published fairly recently.  Even among the older set there’s Mariah, Merry, … Continue reading →

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The Soldier

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Cat In Books

The Soldier Grace Burrowes Genre: Historical – Regency Publication Info.: Sourcebooks, 2011, ISBN: 978-1402245671     This is the second book in The Duke’s Obsession series (trilogy?).  I’m reviewing it before The Heir simply because it’s so new.  You don’t … Continue reading →

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Classical Heroes

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Cat In Books

Somewhere I read plotting advice from Christina Dodd that said something like “torture your hero early and often.”  I think she also said a hero should be as “alpha” as possible.  I hope I’m not mis-attributing these ideas, but I … Continue reading →

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Waltzing in Ragtime

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Cat In Books

Waltzing in Ragtime Eileen Charbonneau Genre: Historical – American (1900) Publication Info.: Tom Doherty Associates, 1996, ISBN: 0812544684     You could give this book to the snobbiest bibliophile you know–one who wouldn’t touch a clinch-cover with a ten foot pole–and they … Continue reading →

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Short Stories, or Size Doesn’t Matter

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Cat In Books

There’s been a lot of discussion about how ebooks are changing the publishing world, but I’m noticing at least one effect they’ve had on the literature itself.  The short story seems to be experiencing a revival. Short stories have been around, … Continue reading →

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The Pursuit of Pleasure

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Cat In Books

The Pursuit of Pleasure Elizabeth Essex Genre: Historical – Georgian (1794) Publication Info.: Kensington Books, 2010, ISBN: 0758251548   The things that are right about the Pursuit of Pleasure  are so right that I’m not particularly concerned about what’s wrong … Continue reading →

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Shopping Spree

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Cat In Books

Have you noticed how often historical heroines get to go on shopping sprees?  This is a recurring motif in historical romance that I’ve noticed for a long time.  I don’t know if this happens in contemporary stories because I don’t read enough … Continue reading →

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