The Books I Read - Just for Fun - In May

 Started 5/25                                                                    Finished 6/4
Look at the book below. It's by Nichole Van. It's my favorite series, AND, my favorite book. The voice, and the writing, they’re so sharp!
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Read the first 3 lines of Amazon’s description. They’ll help you decide if you want to read this romcom. PLUS it blends reincarnation, fantasy, and gypsies into the mix. I couldn’t ask for anything more, except for time to finish reading this book. Then the next 3 books in the series!              

PS – The chapters go back and forth with Dante and Claire taking turns telling their story.       ​

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                                Amazon’s Descriptions:
An ancient curse, fractured at the birth of three brothers. Two strangers helplessly drawn to each other. A love story two hundred years in the making.

Claire Raythorn arrives in Florence, Italy, shattered, alone, and anxious to rebuild her life—preferably one without men. But she soon finds herself hunted and haunted— literally—when a mysterious stalker dressed like Mr. Darcy from BBC central casting appears in her photos. And only her photos. Who is this man? And what does his ghostly presence mean?

Dante D’Angelo simply wants to safeguard his brothers, despite the family curse that hounds his vision. But then Claire Raythorn walks into his life, untouched somehow by his curse. Soon, everything Dante thought he knew about himself starts to unravel, dragging Claire down with him. 

Set against the lush backdrop of Florence, Italy—both past and present—Claire and Dante fight for a future together. But, first, they must uncover their shared past . . .

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Started 5/16                                                              Finished 5/24
Tonight I have two books (below) to share from one of my favorite authors, Nicole Van. Her writing is sharp and funny, like Julia Quinn, but she keeps the bedroom doors closed in her novels.

This is my third Nicole Van series – The Brotherhood of the Black Tartan. I’ve read Books 1, 2, and 3 now, and I realized that Book 1 in each series has her sharpest, funniest writing. Maybe that’s because she’s starting off fresh with a new set of characters, a new plot. That’s true for movies too – the first one is always the best!

Nicole writes novels that are based on history. I always read her author’s notes at the end of the book. That’s where she tells you the real historical facts and where she’s twisted them to fit her plot. In Book 3 she used 1816’s year without a summer. Mt. Tambora erupted in April 1815. The ash in the atmosphere resulted in less sunshine, food shortages, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. That’s just one of the historical strands she wove into this book.
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PS – I already preordered Book 5, the end of the series. I usually don’t, but I HAVE to know how this story ends.

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Started 5/20                                                                  Finished 5/24
Amazon’s Descriptions:
Lady Charlotte Whitaker is devoted to her family, particularly her sister’s son, Freddie. Her late father, the Marquess of Lockheade, died without a male heir. But on his deathbed, her father requested that Freddie inherit the title. Consequently, Lottie’s family has petitioned the Crown to recreate the title with Freddie as the new heir. Lottie wants nothing more than to honor her late father’s wishes. But she unwittingly reveals a wrinkle to this plan.

Dr. Alexander Whitaker is dedicated to his work as a physician in Edinburgh, Scotland. He dislikes surprises—disruptions to his daily schedule, interferences with his ability to care for his patients, and events that might alter his future. He particularly abhors things that threaten to do all three. So when a solicitor calls with news that Alex might be heir to an English marquisate, Alex wants nothing to do with the claim. But the law is the law, and a man cannot revoke his lineage, can he?

Alex does not want to be the new marquess. Lottie is determined to honor her late father’s wishes.  Their goals should be simple enough to accomplish, right?

But when two kindred souls crash into one another, the resulting conflagration may have consequences neither can anticipate. And Lottie and Alex soon face a difficult truth—sometimes, life makes us choose between two loves, and in order to have one, we must forsake the other.

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​ Started 5/16                                                                   Finished 5/19
Amazon’s Descriptions:
Ewan Campbell fought to free himself from his past. Quite literally. A former prizefighter, he now earns his living as an artist. But Ewan still fights more figurative opponents—dark memories that threaten to overwhelm him. Worse, when he is hired to assist a famous painter, Ewan finds himself falling for the man’s highborn niece, Lady Kildrum. Such feelings are pointless. Countesses do not fall in love with impoverished Highlanders, no matter what fairy tales say.

Violet Kerr, Lady Kildrum, struggles to make decisions. She is a countess in her own right, for heaven’s sake. Decision-making skills should flow through her blood. After all, her life’s path is clear—marry a nobleman, provide for her sisters, and see to the welfare of her tenants.

Though Violet has made one decision— She must curb her attraction to Ewan Campbell, her uncle’s new art assistant. The lowly Highlander, no matter how alluring, is not a proper suitor for a countess. She definitely should not fantasize about the man. Or, if she does, she should not allow such fantasies to lead to very real kissing. Because kissing could bring on the most difficult decision of all— What happens if Violet chooses to fall in love with the one man she can never have?
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Started 5/2/21                                                      Finished 5/15/21
I bought all three titles as paperbacks back in 2000. If I love a book, I’ll read it repeatedly, and that’s what I did with the Bridgertons.  I ran across them on Netflix. The books are WAY better than the series so I bought it, again, for my Kindle.

Warning -  I’m usually a PG13 reader, but this isn’t it. When I get to bedroom  pages, I read the last sentence on each page until the scene’s over.

I came back to this collection after all these years because of the writing. Julia Quinn is incredible! My favorite character is Lady Whistledown, but I love the voice of each and every character. They’re so succinct and well done. But most of all, her writing makes me laugh, which is the sign of an incredible writer. I’m flying through this series . . . I’m on the 2nd book – The Viscount Who Loved Me. Julia’s books are Romcom at its best!

​​Amazon’s Description: The Duke and I
When Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, agree to a fake courtship, they think they’ve found the perfect solution to their problems. Romantically associated with one of London’s most desirable catches, Daphne’s prospects among the ton will soar. For avowed bachelor Simon, an attachment to Daphne will deter would-be brides and their ambitious mamas. Their plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule. . . 
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The Viscount Who Loved Me
London's most elusive bachelor, Anthony Bridgerton is determined to wed. But one obstacle stands in his way—his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield, who is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal. Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands, and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. She’s determined to protect her sister—even as she fears she may not be able to resist the reprehensible and oh so desirable rake herself . . .
 
An Offer from a Gentleman
Sophie Beckett never dreamed she'd be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton's famed masquerade ball—or that she would be spinning in the arms of her "Prince Charming"—the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton. But when the clock strikes midnight, Sophie’s enchanting evening ends. Since that night Benedict has been able to think of nothing but the bewitching young woman, and he’s sworn to find and wed his mystery miss. Yet will another unexpectedly steal his heart—and his chance for a fairy tale love?

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