Grace Burrowes: Too Scot to handle

Grace Burrowes tarjoaa skotlantilaisella eksotiikalla maustetun historiallisen viihderomaanin, jossa riittää niin juonittelua kuin romantiikkaa: Too Scot to handle (Piatkus, 2017; ISBN 978-0-349-41545-1).



Teoksen nimessä on jonkinlaista huumoria, ja onneksi sitä on myös tekstissä. Teos on lajityypilleen tyypillinen, ei huonompi eikä parempi kuin vastaavat teokset keskimäärin, mutta jonkin verran omaperäisyyttä kirjoittajalla onneksi on.

As a captain in the army, Colin MacHugh led men, fixed what was broken, and fought hard. Now that he's a titled gentleman, he's still fighting-this time to keep his bachelorhood safe from all the marriage-minded debutantes. Then he meets the intriguing Miss Anwen Windham, whose demure nature masks a bonfire waiting to roar to life. When she asks for his help to raise money for the local orphanage, he's happy to oblige. Anwen is amazed at how quickly Lord Colin takes in hand a pack of rambunctious orphan boys. Amazed at how he actually listens to her ideas. Amazed at the thrill she gets from the rumble of his Scottish burr and the heat of his touch. But not everyone enjoys the success of an upstart. And Colin has enemies who will stop at nothing to ruin him and anybody he holds dear.

Grace Burrowes: The trouble with dukes

Grace Burrowes tarjoaa rutiininomaisen historiallisen viihderomaanin, joka samalla ilmeisestikin aloittaa kokonaisen romaanisarjan: The trouble with dukes (Piatkus Books, 2017; ISBN 978-0-349-41543-7).



Romaanissa kerrotaan sisarusparvesta ja heidän tädistään, joka on päättänyt että tytöt on saatava hyviin naimisiin. Juonittelua riittää, samaten monenlaista välienselvittelyä, mutta rutiininomaisesti läpiviedyssä romaanissa on tietenkin onnellinen loppu. Oletettavasti sama resepti toistuu kirjasarjan seuraavissa romaaneissa.

They call him the Duke of Murder...

The gossips whisper that the new Duke of Murdoch is a brute, a murderer, and even worse - a Scot. They say he should never be trusted alone with a woman. But Megan Windham sees in Hamish something different, someone different.

Grace Burrowes: Lord of despair - Andrew

Grace Burrowes kirjoittaa näppäriä historiallisia viihderomaaneja, mutta tämä sarjassaan seitsemäs teos tuntuu melkoisen rutiininomaiselta tekeleeltä: Lord of despair - Andrew (Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2016; ISBN 978-1-4926-3862-9).



Burrowes on kirjoittajana kohtalaisen taitava ja onnistuu luontevan ajankuvan hahmottelussa, eivätkä hänen teostensa ihmishahmotkaan ihan paperinohuita ole. Mitenkään mieleenpainuvaksi tätä romaania ei kuitenkaan voi kuvailla.

Andrew Alexander, Earl of Greymoor, has tried to run both from memories of a boating tragedy that claimed the lives of several loved ones, and from an attraction to pretty, petite, Astrid Worthington. He returns to England to find Astrid widowed, expecting a child, and more irresistibly attractive to him than ever. When it becomes apparent that Astrid needs a husband who can keep her and her unborn child safe, Andrew must decide if old nightmares will continue to control his life, or if his love for Astrid entitles him to a second chance at happiness – and love.

Grace Burrowes: A single kiss, The first kiss ja Kiss me hello

Grace Burrowesin kolmiosainen viihteellinen romaanisarja kertoo veljeksistä jotka pyörittävät lakifirmaa amerikkalaisessa pikkukaupungissa. Samaa reseptiä toistetaan kerta toisensa jälkeen: yksinhuoltajaäiti ja yksi veljeksistä kiertelevät kehää kunnes romaanin lopussa päästään onnelliseen loppuun.

A single kiss (Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2015; ISBN 978-1-4022-7890-7)

A single kiss can change everything... In the first novel of the Sweetest Kisses series, Hannah Stark has set her sights on corporate law to assure her a career of paperwork, predictability, and conservative suits. Contracts, finance, and the art of the deal sing to her, while the mess and misery of the courtroom do not. But her daughter needs to eat, so when Hannah is offered a temporary position in a small town firm's domestic relations department, she reluctantly accepts. Trent Knightley is mightily drawn to his newest associate, though Hannah is as protective of her privacy as she is competent. When their friendship and attraction heat up, Hannah's secrets put her heart and Trent's hopes in double jeopardy.

The first kiss (Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2015; ISBN 978-1-4022-7887-7)

In the second novel of the Sweetest Kisses series, classical pianist Vera Waltham is quiet, cautious, and fiercely protective of her young daughter, but she lets down her guard enough to strike up an unlikely friendship with business law expert James Knightley. James's past comes between them when Vera learns exactly how big a tomcat he has been, but when she and her daughter are in danger, it's to James she turns.

Kiss me hello (Sourcebooks Casblanca, 2015; ISBN 978-1-4022-7884-6)

Single mom Sidonie Lindstrom has her hands full with a troubled foster son, an abrupt adjustment to country living, and an unforeseen lack of funds. When her taciturn neighbor, MacKenzie Knightley, repeatedly offers practical help, Sid reminds herself she's not interested --despite his kindness, pragmatism, and quiet charm. MacKenzie sees the vulnerability beneath her pride, and he's determined to change her mind.

Grace Burrowes: The heir, The virtuoso ja Will's true wish

Grace Burrowes kirjoittaa helppolukuisia historiallisia viihderomaaneja, joissa paikka paikoin on omaperäistäkin sisältöä, vaikka tarinan juoni onkin ennalta-arvattava ja jo kirjan takakanteen näytille laitettu. Monenmoista kommellusta toki ilmenee ennen kuin rakastavaiset ovat onnensa ansainneet.

The heir (Sourcebooks, 2010; ISBN 978-1-4022-4434-6)

Gayle Windham, earl of Westhaven, is the first legitimate son and heir to the duke of Moreland. To escape his father's inexorable pressure to marry, he decides to spend the summer at his townhouse in London, where he finds himself intrigued by the secretive ways of his beautiful housekeeper.

Anna Seaton is a beautiful, talented, educated woman, which is why it is so puzzling to Gayle Windham that she works as his housekeeper.

As the two draw closer and begin to lose their hearts to each other, Anna's secrets threaten to bring the earl's orderly life crashing down-and he doesn't know how he's going to protect her from the fallout.

The virtuoso (Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4022-4570-1)

Gifted pianist Valentine Windham, youngest son of the Duke of Moreland, has little interest in his father's obsession to see his sons married, and instead pours passion into his music. But when Val loses his music, he flees to the country, alone and tormented by what has been robbed from him.

Grieving Ellen Markham has hidden herself away, looking for safety in solitude. Her curious new neighbor offers a kindred lonely soul whose desperation is matched only by his desire, but Ellen's devastating secret could be the one thing that destroys them both.

Together they'll find there's no rescue from the past, but sometimes losing everything can help you find what you need most.

Will's true wish (Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2016; ISBN 978-1-4926-2108-9)

Will Dorning, as an earl's spare, has accepted the thankless duty of managing his rambunctious younger siblings, though Will's only true companions are the dogs he's treasured since boyhood. When aristocratic London is plagued with a series of dognappings, Will's brothers are convinced that he's the only person who can save the stolen canines from an awful fate.

Shy, bookish Lady Susannah Haddonfield has no patience with loud, smelly beasts of any species, but must appear to like dogs so as not to offend her sister's only marital prospect. Susannah turns to Will, an acquaintance from her most awkward adolescent years, to teach her how to impersonate a dog fancier. Will has long admired Susannah, though he lacks the means to offer for her, and yet as they work together to rescue the purloined pets, it's loyal, dashing Will who steals Susannah's heart.

Grace Burrowes: The soldier ym.

Grace Burrowes kirjoittaa historiallisia rakkausromaaneja, kokonaisia kirjasarjoja joissa lukuisa määrä (yläluokkaisia) henkilöitä etsii paikkaansa elämässä. Pahimmillaan romaanit ovat rutiininomaisia suorituksia, mutta parhaimmillaan Burrowes onnistuu luomaan uskottavia henkilöhahmoja, joiden keskinäisissä suhteissa on maanläheistä karheutta.

The soldier (ISBN 978-1-4022-4567-1)

Even in the quiet countryside he can find no peace...

His idyllic estate is falling down from neglect and nightmares of war give him no rest. Then Devlin St. Just meets his new neighbor...

Until his beautiful neighbor ignites his imagination...

With her confident manner hiding a devastating secret, his lovely neighbor commands all of his attention, and protecting Emmaline becomes Devlin's most urgent mission.

Tremaine's true love (Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2015; ISBN 978-1-4926-2102-7)

He's had everything he could ever want ... until now. Wealthy wool magnate Tremaine St. Michael is half French, half Scottish, and all business. He prowls the world in search of more profits, rarely settling in one place for long. When he meets practical, reserved Lady Nita Haddonfield, he sees an opportunity to mix business with pleasure by making the lady his own. Nita Haddonfield has a meaningful life tending to others, though nobody is dedicated to caring for Nita. She insists the limitations of marriage aren't for her, then Tremaine St. Michael arrives - protective, passionate, and very, very determined to win Nita's heart.

Daniel's true desire (Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2015; ISBN 978-1-4926-2105-8)

Daniel Banks is a man of the cloth whose vocation is the last comfort he has left-and even his churchman's collar is beginning to feel like a noose. At the urging of family, Daniel attempts to start his life over as vicar in the sleepy Kentish town of Haddondale, family seat to the earls of Bellefonte. Resigned to spinsterhood, Lady Kirsten Haddonfield welcomes the new vicar to stay at her family's home while his is under renovation. Suddenly the handsome visitor has Kirsten rethinking her ideas about love and marriage, but a dreadful secret from Daniel's past may cast a shadow too long for either of them to overcome.

Duke and his duchess and The courtship (Sourcebooks, Inc, 2015; ISBN 978-1-4926-3812-4)

THE COURTSHIP
The first novella to be published by New York Times bestselling author Grace Burrowes features the foundation story for her bestselling Windham series. This is the tender story of love tested and won, and how Percy Windham, the dashing and brilliant man who was never supposed to become the Duke of Moreland, wooed Esther Himmelfarb, the amazing lady who became his beloved Duchess.

THE DUKE AND HIS DUCHESS
In this second prequel novella to the popular Windham series, Grace Burrowes continues the story of the Duke and Duchess of Moreland through the tumultuous and bittersweet first years of marriage and parenthood. Percival Windham is a second son and cavalry officer when he weds the beautiful Esther Himmelfarb. Percy and Esther must grow into the nobility they've been resisting and stand together, or face the threat of destroying their young family and the beautiful love that started out with such promise

Grace Burrowes: The duke's disaster

Grace Burrowesin viihderomaanissa on juonenkäännettä kerrakseen, vaikka kirja alkaakin siitä että päähenkilöt sopivat menevänsä keskenään naimisiin: The duke's disaster (ISBN 978-1-4926-0531-7).



Historiallisena rakkausromaanina teos ei ole erityisen yllättävä, mutta muutamaan otteeseen tuntui siltä että kirjailija onnistui tekemään päähenkilöistään uskottavia hahmoja, tai vähintäänkin kertomaan jotakin aidon oloista ihmisenä elämisestä, valintojen vaikeudesta ja siitä miten vaikea on toiseen ihmiseen oppia luottamaan.

Parasta kirjassa olivat päähenkilöiden väliset kahdenkeskiset keskustelut, kumpikin kun on omalla tavallaan erikoislaatuinen hahmo, elämässä monia asioita kokenut ja vastuun kantamiseen oppinut, mutta samalla myös haavoittuva ja herkkänahkainen.

Noah Winters, Duke of Anselm, exercises the pragmatism for which he's infamous when his preferred choice of bride cries off, and her companion, Lady Thea Collins, becomes his next choice for his duchess. Lady Thea's mature, sensible and even rather attractive -- what could possibly go wrong? As a lady fallen on hard times, Thea doesn't expect tender sentiments from His Grace, but she does wish Noah had courted her trust, lest her past turn their hastily arranged marriage into a life of shared regrets.