Catherine Hemmerling

I read the ARC via Net Galley. (Big thanks!)

I loved the plot of this book: a proper English young lady and a roguish English gent can't stand each other. Then they accidentally began exchanging anonymous letters with each other and gradually fall in love. It sounded great. But the actual execution fell flat for me. The dialogue was stiff and also too modern. That wasn't a lot of that witty banter that I associate (right or wrong) with Regency romances.

Also, I never felt like I really got to know the lead characters. There wasn't a lot of depth for me. Granted, this is the first book I have read in this series, but I would. think that in each book the 2 lead characters would have more character development.

Lastly, everyone just seemed "too perfect" in this book. They all ended up happily ever after and had perfect lives and relationships. There was some conflict between the 2 leads, but honestly, not much. And while I liked the lead male, he never really acted like a former rogue to me.

Again, great plot idea, but not executed to my taste.… (plus d'informations)

"3.5 out of 5 stars, this novel is about a certain mystery that brings together an "engaged" couple from being distant acquaintances to lovelorn sweethearts. I really liked this novel."

Read more of this review and three teasers here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2013/09/made-grade-lady-lancaster-gard...… (plus d'informations)

4.5

*Book source ~ Many thanks to Entangled for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ever since Rose Warren could talk she called Simon ‘Mine.’ At age 10 Simon thinks five-year-old Rose is an irritant, but when he finds out she’s actually correct in her statement that he is hers because of a marriage contract signed by their parents he changes from an intelligent biddable boy to someone else entirely. He doesn’t want to be forced to marry Rose and when Simon makes her cry she decides he is no longer worthy of her. Years later, when Simon and Rose are thrown together to solve a case involving his cousin and a poisoning they come to the conclusion that their parents may have been correct in pairing them up for marriage because the sparks are definitely flying. Can they explore this new relationship and still solve the case?

While this story is definitely well-written, entertaining and even smokin’ hot without being explicit I had a problem with it being book 2 in the series. Since I didn’t read book 1 I felt I was missing a big chunk of the story involving William and Hannah and Simon’s cousin. And I hate missing out. It drives me insane. Reading this story without reading book 1 will probably not bother a majority of the population. However, if you’re like me, then I suggest picking up book 1, Taming Her Forbidden Earl, first before immersing yourself in Rose and Simon’s story. So that’s why I give it a 4.5 instead of a 5. All-in-all a wonderful historical romance with a mystery to solve added in for extra spice.… (plus d'informations)

Romancing His English Rose by Catherine Hemmerling is the second book in the Lady Lancaster Garden Society series. While it can stand alone and the romance in it is not dependent on the first book, it is better to have read the first in the series as quite a number of allusions to it are made. The Garden Society has nothing to do with gardening, but is a secret society of young women who investigate crimes of interest to Lady Lancaster.

Rose is a strong character, both for her time, and within the context of the story. It makes Simon look weaker than he may otherwise have appeared. The romance, in that sense, revolves around Simon growing into manhood whereas Rose was always a lady and highly mature. It made for an interesting change in the roles in historical romance and was quite refreshing if a little frustrating at times. Simon often comes off as quite small and petty up against Rose.

The mystery is one that is quite personal to the characters and the villain has clearly been introduced in the first book. The way the mystery is solved is pulled from historical records and the beginnings of forensics, which was fun to read about. It wasn’t so much a “whodunit” mystery as a “How can we prove he did it?” mystery, which read in places more like a thriller than a suspense.

It was a fun read, and I got a little history too. It’s definitely one to read, just read Book 1 in the series (Taming Her Forbidden Earl) first.

RATING: 4

Heat Rating: Mild

REVIEWED BY: Monique Neaves

Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More… (plus d'informations)