Saturday, April 7, 2012

A Lot like a Lady

:My random thoughts:
Ok...How do I start this?  If you have been reading my reviews for some time now, you might have noticed I don't read Romance novels. They just aren't my style, I'm not a mushy gushy person. But, I saw A Lot Like a Lady, and just HAD to read it (I shall be honest, it was the Masquerade mask. I have a big 'thing' for those darling masks). So, I did the reviewerly thing, and politely contacted the author. Ms. Kay's agent was all to happy to oblige. In fact, I hope to work with Opal much more frequently.
Anyway, I had the book wired to my kindle in just a matter of hours..(error on my part for it taking so long) and I began to read it.  From the start, the Novel sucked me in. But as I went on, I started bracing myself for a sexual intercourse between Grey and Juliette.  And I didn't much like the looming prospect. Is it possible to have clean romance novels? Anyway, I shall leave the rest to my review.
:Publisher's Description:

Ladies’ maid, Juliet Baines has gotten herself into a pickle by agreeing to go to London and taking the place of her mistress and best friend, Annabella Price, stepsister to the Duke of Wyndham. After all, what does a servant know about being a lady? But Juliet soon finds that pretending to be a lady isn’t nearly as hard as guarding her heart against the folly of wanting a man who’s completely out of reach.

Graeme "Grey" Roland Dominick Markwythe, Sixth Duke of Wyndham, approaches his duties as a nobleman with great dedication and meticulous care. And he’s a man who is not easily fooled...except when he tries to convince himself he's not utterly and madly in love with the beautiful imposter who has turned his life upside down. Will society and his responsibilities to his noble status keep him from opening his heart to the woman he loves?

:info to know:
Author: Kay Springsteen and Kim Bowman
My recommended age: 16+
Their recommended age: NA
Publisher: Astraea Press
Number of Pages: 372
  • Characters:  I fell in love with Grey from the start.  There is just something about slightly arrogant posh guys that charms me. Juliette is such a sweet dear, and her conflict tore at my heart almost as much as her own.  Uncle Lucian was very laughable, and the dotting Aunts are all to adorable. 
 Plot:
Romance. We all know it will be a happily ever after, but A Lot Like a Lady keeps you from putting it down. It is just to stinking hard. You read on and on, and before you know it, its over.

Writing Style:
As before stated, the lovely writers just pulled me in so hard, I couldn't release myself.

Cover:
Well...seeing how I got the book because of the cover...I must put my utmost seal of approval on it. Masquerade masks=total win.

Ending:
Again, romance. We all know in the end, the Lady and Hero will live happily Ever After (Maybe thats why Romeo and Juliette is so popular and memorable..it is contrary to all romance stories). And Even though I'm not big into the genre, this ending left me with happy bubbles. Happy pink bubbles. because I like pink, and pink bubbles would be a very happy thing.

World Building:
The studying that went into this novel was wonderful. I NEVER knew that the waltz was a risque dance in those times. I think the authors did VERY well on their home work.



Language:
Outside of annoying girls being called Chits, none.
(Is Chit a bad word anyway? I looked it up in the dictionary...)

Drugs and Drink:
Well, some harmless wine.
Romance and sexual content:
Ok..this is where it gets messy. The book's plot and idea was really super, but did we really need to know those details on that kiss? Isn't there a way we could describe a kiss scene without making people nearly vomit? I swear, I am NEVER kissing anybody. Ever. Ever. There shall be no "You may kiss the bride at my wedding". We can settle for a pleasant handshake instead.

There weren't any bed scenes (Thank God. I was crushingly waiting for them), but there was one questionable scene between Lucian and Harmony.

Needless to say, NO YOUNG READERS.  And, honestly, if I had known there was so much detail....I can't honestly say I'd still read it. Even though I liked the main story, I liked the idea. The romantic details really weren't needed in my mind.
Violence:
None. Oh, wait...Juliette kicks Grey. But thats all.
Ratings:

I liked the book. Don't get me wrong. I REALLY REALLY liked it. But the details in the kissing scenes REALLY weren't needed.  And while the Lucian/Harmony scene was a little vague, I still wouldn't feel comfortable with my brothers or sisters reading it. 


So, I give A Lot like a Lady a
If I did halves, I'd give it a 3 1/2. But I can't in my heart only give it a 3.  Because I did like it. I just wish it hadn't so much detail.


Romance Novels. What are your thoughts on them?

1 Reader views:

Kim Bowman Author said...

thank you so very much for reviewing out book.

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