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Book Review

The Hidden Heart by Candace Camp

By

ISBN: 1-55166-922-6

Publisher: MIRA Historical Books

Richard, Duke of Cleybourne, was introduced in Candace Camp’s first book in this trilogy.  He apparently had the love match of the season with Dev’s sister several years prior.  She and their daughter died four years earlier in a carriage accident as she was leaving him, and Richard has not been able to recover from his grief.  Our book begins with him coming home to his country estate to commit suicide.

General Streathern, the guardian of his great-niece Gabriela Carstairs has suffered a stroke and is afraid for her safety after his death.  He makes her governess, Jessica Maitland, promise that she will take Gabriela away to her new guardian, Richard, before his great-nephew, the perverted Lord Vesey can get his hands on her.  It seems that Lord Vesey likes little girls and he and his wife need Gabriela’s money.  As promised, Jessica flees in the night with Gabriela and ends up on the depressed Richard’s doorstep….much to the relief of his concerned staff.

A winter snow storm descends on the estate and as various people stumble in, the weather prevents them from leaving.  Soon after Jessica and Gabriela arrive, the Veseys as well as several other groups of people seek refuge from the storm.  To further the story along as well as muddy the waters, there is now a number of plots that all intertwine.  We have a series of break-ins, a murder and an intricate mystery unfolds.

This novel introduces us to yet another of Candace Camp’s feisty heroines.  Jessica has red hair and a temper to match.  She seems to be mature beyond her years and and puts her life on the line to protect her charge.  She also seems to be the spark that makes Richard want to live.  The added people and associated drama at times seem to detract from the core story.  This book seems to be well named.  Many of the characters in this book  have a Hidden Heart and in true Romance Novel fashion the Hidden Hearts are no longer hidden by the end of this wonderful addition to Candace Camp’s repertoire and in particular this “Heart” trilogy.

RT Times says: “Take a brooding, hostile duke and a strong-willed, outspoken governess and you have an appealing romance by the always clever Candace Camp.”

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So Wild a Heart by Candace Camp

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ISBN: 1-55166-877-7
Publisher: MIRA Historical Books

So Wild a Heart is the first book in Candace Camp’s “Heart Trilogy.”  This book begins with us meeting the hero of the book – Devin Aincourt – the Earl of Ravenscar.  He is a drinker, a womanizer and a gambler, having been cast aside by his father years before; Dev is happy to live out his life in a hedonistic fashion.  His mother begs him to restore the family name and fortune by marrying a rich American heiress.  It seems that the family needs money and Dev’s reputation is such that no respectable English family would have him!

Miranda Upshaw, the American heiress, is much more than Dev has bargained for!  She is the daughter of a wealthy fur trader; she is feisty, independent, business-minded and completely unimpressed by the English aristocracy.  She and her father are interested in restoring “Blackwater” the earl’s estate and have the money to do it!  Although Miranda refuses Devin’s offer of marriage at first, she eventually realizes that there are advantages to a marriage of convenience.

As in all good romances, Miranda and Dev’s relationship eventually becomes intimate.  It is entertaining to see Miranda extricate Dev from the clutches of his former debauched mistress and win his heart while putting his estates in order and encouraging Dev to become involved again with painting – his true passion in life.

Candace Camp just keeps getting better!  Miranda is one of the best heroines that I’ve met in some time.  She is smart, self-confident, knows what she wants and how to get it.  Devin at the beginning of the story makes my hair curl with the level of his debauchery.  Devin at the end of the story is a wonderfully grounded person who has truly found his place in life with an admirable love by his side!

RT Reviews says the following of this book: “Candace Camp brings drama, suspense, a bit of humor and plenty of passion to her exciting first novel in a new trilogy. She delights us with her remarkable characters and keeps us engrossed in their warm and fast-paced love story.”
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Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare

By

ISBN: 978-0-345-50686-3

Publisher: Ballentine/DelRay

Tomboy Lucy Waltham has imagined herself in love with her older brother’s friend, Sir Toby ,since she was 11 years old and he crowned her “Diana, Goddess of the Hunt” with a crown of ivy.  Like many younger sisters, she bidded her time until she was older and the object of her affections would take her seriously.  Our story starts 8 years later when Lucy is all grown and her brother and his friends arrive for their annual hunt.  For the first time, Sir Toby is interested in another woman.  The gossip is, that Sir Toby is going to ask this other woman to marry him.  Lucy feels she has no option but to seduce him before he becomes engaged. She has a instructional book, but no practical knowledge. So she turns to her brother’s friend, Jeremy Trescott, Earl of Kendall, to practice kissing and other seduction techniques.

Jeremy has always treasured his visits to Waltham Manor and his time with his friends.  He has grown up in a home where his parents show no love for him or each other and because of this he has shut his emotions off.  The only person who has been able to get a rise out of him over the years has been Lucy.  Imagine his surprise when he opens his bedroom door one evening to a kiss from Lucy followed by the request to help her practice seduction techniques.

The story that follows leaps from the pages.  The characters are wonderfully written.  I can absolutely imagine Lucy as a tag along little sister, trying desperately to be taken seriously.  This book is  a “fall in love with brother’s best friend” story, but no where is it mundane or seemingly following a formula.

I found the following review on Amazon and it sums up my feelings of this book. “Every year there seems to be one debut author who bursts upon the scene and absolutely knocks my socks off with her superb writing skill.  This year, that author is Tessa Dare.  …Dare showcases her command of the English language with exquisite prose that sings across the pages with a lyrical quality that is a joy to read.  Her characters are so vividly drawn that they practically leap from the pages and her story unerringly hits all the right notes.”

Tessa Dare is a relatively new author, with Goddess of the Hunt being her first book.  It was well received and reviewed: “A daring debut….Dare is on the path to stardom.” Romantic Times

“Debut author Tessa Dare bursts upon the scene with a high-energy and high-drama romance.  She tells the story with provocative words and feverish action.  Her cast of secondary characters is unforgettable and set the stage for  the next book in this back-to-back series.” Fresh Fiction

“Highly original…Tessa Dare is an author to watch!” Romance Reader’s Connection

“It’s been a long while since I’ve enjoyed a debut novel as much as Goddess of the Hunt. With a cast of refreshingly realistic characters, a spicy love story, an irreverent sense of humor, and some truly funny dialogue, this is a book certain to cheer up jaded readers of historical romance.”  The Romance Reader

I also, am looking forward to reading not only the next books in this series, but some of the other books she has written.  She is currently on my ‘must buy’ list!