Customer Reviews

April Moon (Harlequin Single Title)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'll review each separately

Sailor's Moon by Merline Lovelace: This was my favorite story of the whole set. The ending was a little rushed feeling, but all in all I felt that it was the most well rounded of the three. I especially liked Lady Stanton, Elizabeth. She was simply unrepentant about her ways--the only thing she really regretted was her lack of foresight. But moreso then her brash attitude and devil-may-care regard for society, I thought it was refreshing that she didn't prove her 'wildness' through being a consummate wanton. As for the American, Richard, I liked him as well. It was also a nice touch that there was so much history explained--Lovelace didn't just assume the reader knew the particulars of that time period's strife.

White Fire by Susan King: Pretty straight forward lovers reunited tale. I admit to being a little confused on how Simon expected to be both the Law Enforcer and keep his (adopted) kinsmen out of trouble as free traders. He made a big deal throughout the story of needing to do things because he was the 'excise man', but would reassure the Colvins (Jenny's family and the family that raised him) that they were safe from the law. I liked Jenny, she was a spitfire and romance needs more of her ilk in historical novels. Simon was well enough, but he was wallowing in self-recriminations and pity a bit too much for my tastes.

The Devil's Own Moon by Miranda Jarrett: The synopsis made this sound sort of like a combination of the two other stories, but I oddly didn't care for this too much. It needed more fleshing out and might have made me happier.

I did enjoy reading two new authors that I hadn't before read in the genre (King and Lovelace) and look forward to finding more by both.

Merline Lovelace writes the most enjoyable of these three stories that must be resolved in the space of one night's full moon. We're rooting for Lady Sarah Stanton--AKA the notorious Lady S--to find a better mate than her obviously vile finace. He is actually holding her hostage in return for absolving her family debts. A mutiny spurred by "pirates" solves this dilemma and brings her a better match.

Susan King's story is poignant and captures a 19th century Scottish ambience. It is a bit less fun, though, based on a hateful misunderstanding among smugglers. However, her heroine's desire to save her father, and the hero's actions to help her are compelling.

Miranda Jarrett's English governess must get to her next job despite a rickety carriage and her childhood sweetheart's pretending, on a lark, to be a highwayman. She's a spunky gal, but the dismal premise of having to forsake her love and become a starchy governess due to their class differences hangs on the story like stale mildew. This one doesn't quite jell, but the April Moon conceit is handled well by all three.

APRIL MOON is an anthology with an interesting concept - three stories taking place in April 1803 under an April Moon.

Sailor's Moon by Merline Lovelace is a spicy sexy tale about the widow Lady Sarah Stanton. Her debts have led her to be engaged to Captain Sir James Lowell, a nasty and self-serving man. Now traveling on his ship, she realizes her mistake, but finds she is unfortunately under his control. The ship is taken over and boarded by American captain, Richard Blake, who has come to free his crewmembers who were taken by Sir Lowell and committed to his service. Sir Lowell forces Sarah to use her womanly wiles on Captain Blake in an effort to kill him. This backfires in the most delightful way. This story moves quickly and is a fun romp on the sea. Ms. Lovelace introduces sexy characters and fun villains.

Susan King's White Fire is a smugglers tale and takes place on a moonlit Scottish coast. Jenny Colvin, searching for proof to halt her father's hanging, is stopped by the mysterious and brooding Sir Simon Lockhart. Once in love with him until he left abruptly four years ago, she finds she must turn to him to help save her father, aware that only this once-daring smuggler could save her father from the gallows. In love with Jock Colvin's daughter Simon is determined to have her forgive him for disappearing without a trace. Susan King weaves a sweet and engaging tale set against the Scottish coast and the light of that mysterious April moon.

The Devil's Own Moon by Miranda Jarrett introduces us to Harry Burton, the Earl of Atherwall. On a bet he dresses as a highwayman to hijack a coach. Of course the coach he holds up is Sophie's, his long lost childhood love. Sophie now finds she needs an escort to her governess job and Harry is the only one to do the job.

The Devil's Own Moon is a fun adventure, and is both humorous and engaging.

All in all APRIL MOON is an extremely enjoyable light read by three talented writers!

Anything by Merline Lovelace is sure to be a great read, and I thought something shorter, anthology length, would be good as Hurricane Frances approached my house. (I'd hate to get caught in the middle of 400 pages of something and lose electricity!) The first story, by Merline, packed a whole novel's worth of sexual tension and real love into novella length. The entire story takes place in the space of one night, but the read was as satisfying as a full-length book. The following two stories also take place on the same fictional night. The second story was set primarily in a seaside cave, and the author did a good job of painting the dark and damp and windy setting. In fact, when the eye of the hurricane was over us, my husband and I went outside to check for damage in the dark and wet night, and I said, "Oh, this feels just like the book I'm reading!" The third story was much more slowly paced than the first two, and I read it during the heat and the stillness following the storm. APRIL MOON was the perfect read for my hurricane experience. I thank the authors for their perfectly written, perfectly paced stories!