Anne Gracie: Marry in haste

Anne Gracien historiallisessa viihderomaanissa mennään järkiavioliittoon, mutta ihan suunnitellusti asiat eivät suju kun kahden vahvatahtoisen ihmisen on aika ottaa mittaa toisistaan: Marry in haste (Berkley Sensation, 2017; ISBN 978-0-425-28381-3).



Romaani on aikalailla tavanomainen kertomus englantilaisen yläluokan elämästä 1800-luvulla, mutta mukana on huumoria ja hiukan synkempiäkin sävyjä, kuvausta siitä miten helposti tuohon aikaa oli vaarassa pudota yhteiskunnan turvaverkon ulkopuolelle.

Major Calborne Montgomery is a soldier through and through, but upon the death of his father, he inherits a title, estates, a fortune - and the responsibility for his half-sisters and a newly discovered niece. He thinks he's found a sensible woman to help manage the girls and organise their come-outs, but Miss Emmaline Westwood has an agenda of her own - she's a secret radical hoping for a headmistress position at a school. In desperation, Cal offers Emm a marriage of convenience, and when Emm's teaching dreams are dashed, she accepts.

Anne Gracie: The spring bride

Anne Gracien viihderomaanisarjassa on neljä osaa, nimettynä vuodenaikojen mukaan, ja tämä on käsittääkseni kolmas osa: The spring bride (Berkley Sensation, 2015; ISBN 978-0-425-25927-6).



Juonessa on melkolailla koukeroita, mutta varsinaista yllättävyyttä kirjassa ei ole kuin nimeksi, siinä määrin valmiiksi tuotteistetun oloinen tämä historiallinen rakkausromaani on. No, pahoinpidelty kulkukoira tuo juoneen jonkinlaisen omaperäisyyden tuulahduksen, mutta lähinnä vain nimellisen.

A dog in need of rescue brings together a young debutante and a mysterious stranger in this regency charmer from the beloved Anne Gracie. For fans of Mary Balogh and Madeline Hunter.

On the eve of the London Season, Jane Chance is about to make her entrance into high society. And after a childhood riddled with poverty and hardship, Jane intends to make a good, safe, sensible marriage. All goes according to plan until a dark, dangerous vagabond helps her rescue a dog. Zachary Black is all kinds of unsuitable - a former spy, now in disguise, he's wanted for murder. His instructions: to lie low until his name is cleared. But Zach has never followed the rules, and he wants Jane Chance for his own.

Anne Gracie: The stolen princess jne.

Anne Gracien historiallisessa viihderomaanisarjassa Devil Riders on ilmestynyt viisi romaania. Kaikki romaanit toistavat saman kaltaista juonikuviota, jossa on yhdistetty ulkomaan eksotiikkaa päähenkilöiden keskinäiseen kuherteluun.

The stolen princess (Berkley Sensation, 2008; ISBN 978--0-425-21898-3)

The estranged younger son of an earl, Gabriel Renfrew earned glory and honor on the battlefield, but now, without purpose, he finds himself deliberately courting danger at every turn. Then one night he races his horse along a dangerous moonlit cliff—and stumbles upon a beautiful woman obviously in need of saving.

A princess on the run, Callie has disguised herself and her son, the crown prince, as commoners, hoping to protect him from those intent on stealing the throne. She has no choice but to trust the handsome ex-officer who's come to her rescue, even when he insists that only a marriage of convenience will provide her the ultimate protection. But while her new husband may keep Callie and her son safe from assassins, what will he do to her heart?

His captive lady (Berkley Sensation, 2008; ISBN 978-0-425-22324-6)

Highborn ladies have only one use for nobleman Harry Morant--in the bedchamber. Now, after eight years at war, Harry breeds racehorses and vows never to fall in love. His plans are soon threatened by an unexpected passion for an earl's daughter.

To catch a bride (Berkley Sensation, 2009; ISBN 978-0-425-23022-0)

It was the perfect excuse to delay a dreaded marriage of convenience—head off on an exotic journey to track down a young lady missing in Egypt for six years. Rafe Ramsey, son of the Earl of Axebridge, is utterly besotted when he finally locates the beautiful and spirited Ayisha, who has taken a new name. But a mysterious past has made it impossible for her to return to England, and she is on the run from something far more serious than an unwanted betrothal.

The accidental wedding (Berkley Sensation, 2010; ISBN 978-0-425-23382-5)

When Nash Renfrew wakes in the bed of lovely Maddy Woodford, he thinks he's dreaming. Then he learns of his accident and the loss of his memory. But when it returns, Nash has no desire to leave Maddy's side and continues pretending he has amnesia. With each passing day, Nash's attraction to Maddy grows. But he's a diplomat and she's just a country girl. How can he even entertain thoughts of seducing her?

Bride by mistake (Berkley Sensation, 2012; ISBN 978-0-425-24579-8)

Eight years ago, Lieutentant Luke Ripton made a hasty wartime marriage-in-name-only to protect a young girl from a forced union and left her protected in a remote mountain convent. Now, Luke is Lord Ripton, but he has been unable to obtain an annullment. Which leaves him no choice but to claim a wife he doesn't want.

For nearly a decade, Isabella has waited like a princess locked in a tower, dreaming of her handsome, dark-haired prince. Her dreams are shattered when Luke reveals himself not as a prince, but an autocratic soldier, expecting her unquestioning obedience, which is something Isabella's fiercely independent nature will not tolerate.

And while Luke and Isabella's fiery personalities clash at every turn, they remain bound to their vows, never expecting that the passionate fury they share could become passion of a different kind.

Anne Gracie: The autumn bride, The winter bride ja The summer bride

Anne Gracie tarjoaa hääaiheisia historiallisia viihderomaaneja joissa toisiaan sisaruksiksi kutsuvat naiset liittoutuvat keskenään pärjätäkseen elämässä. Monenmoista juonenkäännettä on punottu kuhunkin romaaniin, mutta mitenkään omaperäisiksi tai syvällisiksi teoksia ei voi väittää. Sarjassa on ilmestynyt neljäskin teos, mutta kolmekin jo riitti kertomaan mistä romaaneissa on kyse.

The autumn bride (Penguin, 2013; ISBN 9780425259252)

Abigail Chantry sprints across London rooftops and into the window of an abandoned mansion in search of something to sell in order to save her sister and friends from a life on the streets. What she doesn't expect is to be greeted by an elderly lady... and being taken in by the woman. But Lady Beatrice Davenham needs support, and becoming Lady Beatrice's nieces improves things remarkably for Abby and her 'sisters'.

The winter bride (Berkley Sensation, 2014; ISBN 9780425259269)

Marriage-phobic Damaris Chance finds herself trapped in a compromising situation with the handsome rake Freddy Monkton-Coombes, she has no choice but to agree to wed him.

The summer bride (Berkley Sensation, 2016; ISBN 978-0-4252-8380-6)

Fiercely independent Daisy Chance has a dream and it doesn't involve marriage or babies (or being under any man's thumb). Raised in poverty, she has a passion and a talent for making beautiful clothes. Daisy aims to become the finest dressmaker in London.

Dashing Irishman Patrick Flynn is wealthy and ambitious, and has entered society to find an aristocratic bride. Instead, he finds himself growing increasingly attracted to the headstrong, clever and outspoken Daisy. She's wrong in every way except the way she sets his heart racing.

However, when Flynn proposes marriage, Daisy refuses. She won't give up her hard-won independence. Besides, she doesn't want to join the fine ladies of society - she wants to dress them. She might, however, consider becoming Flynn's secret mistress. But Flynn wants a wife, not a mistress, and when Flynn sets his heart on something, nothing can stand in his way.

Mary Jo Putney et al.: The last chance Christmas ball

Toisiinsa löyhästi kytkeytyvät novellit tarjoavat rakkauskertomuksia viihteellisesti joulun hengessä sävytettyinä: The last chance Christmas ball (Zebra Books, 2016; ISBN 978-1-4201-3859-7).



Rakkausnovellien kirjoittajia ovat Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverley, Joanna Bourne, Patricia Rice, Nicola Cornick, Cara Elliott, Anne Gracie ja Susan King. Nimellisesti kyse on joulunaikaan sijoitetusta kartanojuhlasta, mutta moni juhlavieras kokee kummia jo ennen perille pääsyään. Huumoriakin on jonkin verran tarinoihin leivottu.

Christmas 1815. Upstairs and downstairs, Holbourne Abbey is abuzz with preparations for a grand ball to celebrate the year's most festive and romantic holiday. For at the top of each guest's wish list is a last chance to find true love before the New Year.