Smart Bitches Trashy Books | All of the romance, none of the bullshit.

Heh, I know exactly what you mean.

Luckily, I’m a last page peeker.  (I know, I’m awful, sue me.) So I got the emotional impact of that revelation earlier than I should have.  Made it all better.  (Almost.)

YES! Great review, Sarah. I was not expecting what I got from this book: delight at two utterly different characters and the emotional punches that came with who they were and their pasts. My heart was captivated by Hart, what a hero.

I also wished we had been spared the dealings with the villain (why must we continue to suffer villainous villains???) so that we had only their internal , organic conflict but alas. I have become a Victoria Dahl fan with this book. And I can’t wait for Lancaster’s book.

Awesome review :D
I agree, Victoria took some risks and it worked. Kudos to Victoria! :D

*sigh* Historicals really aren’t my thing, as a rule.  You, however, have painted this one with brush strokes of more interesting nuance and richer color so that plot and characters both sound intriguing. My TBR pile (and list) will keep me reading well into next year as it is. *jots this one on the list* I’m curious now, about that Big Reveal(tm) and will have to read this one sooner than later.

I am curious, SBSarah, why you named the hero but no mention of the heroine’s name?

Vicki has mad skills. She and I were Golden Heart finalists together and she won our category that year (the bitch!). I’ve got this one in my TBR pile, but must find a block of time before cracking it open (and now I want to read it even more than I already did!).

I’m not a huge historical reader right now, but bought the most recent Loretta Chase based on the SB review, read it on the way to SF, and really enjoyed it.  So I guess I’ve got another to add to the TBR-pile-that-I-cannot-touch-until-after-deadline.  Crap.

[Okay, technically I touched the new JD Robb this morning, but we had a power outage, my laptop battery was dead, I couldn’t face more of The History of Chocolate in Mesoamerica. . . and frankly, I have no willpower when it comes to Eve and Roarke.  Le sigh.]

I could pretend I wasn’t reading this, but I won’t. Ha!

Sarah, thank you so much. My first SB review!!! I think that might call for a celebratory trip to the liquor store.

I’m THRILLED that I moved you and sorry that I disturbed you. Hey, it’s just like a real relationship!

I think it’s interesting that we both came out with the same grade for this book, even though what we did and didn’t like was different.  I wasn’t as bothered by the story Emma told as you were, nor did I see the way she told it as therapeutic, I guess because we had gotten so many parts of the story over the course of the novel, and it was really only Hart in the dark at that point.  Plus she didn’t magically heal. 

Totally agree with you about the whole working of the virgin widow trope (IMO this book could serve as an example of how to write a trope so that it’s actually a character, ha!).  And the clever riff on the way a society that bases most of its interactions on a superficial concept of honor (in the face of some really crappy behavior by its denizens) encourages all sorts of false fronts. 

For me the power of the book was in bringing its characters to life beyond their type, and like others, I’m looking forward to see how Lancaster is revealed, so to speak, in the next book.

Hey, wasn’t this on the ads column of SBTB a few days ago? I distinctly remember Google-ing it after I saw it there --->
Thanks for the review, definitely putting it on the TBR list.
Oooh, I get to follow posts from Kalen Hughes, Jessica Andersen, and Victoria Dahl! *fangirl squeeee* ;D

Hero-trying-to-resist is my favorite, too!  Never read Dahl before, but now I will. The minute you included the word ‘bondage,’ I was all over that puppy. Nothing bugs me more than a well-written historical romance that doesn’t have hot enough sex!

Yay!

You got me!  I’m adding this one to my TBR pile!!

And who says that reviews can’t sway readers’ interests?! GAH! If only I could get a few more (or a dozen) reviews like this on my own books....! LOL!!

But was their actual chocolate, and was it at all in danger of melting due to the power outage, thus requiring you to enjoy it? THAT is the question.

LOL!  I’m also pretty much nil in the willpower department when it comes to chocolate (which was initially introduced to the Spanish conquistadors by the Maya and other locals… v. cool historical stuff). My chocolate-for-writing-inspiration is: http://www.yachanagourmet.com/ Rainforest friendly, lower cal, supports Ecuadoran farmers using fair trade practices, and best of all during mid-summer power outages, NON-MELTING ‘cause it’s the actual cacao beans at the stage prior to becoming what we think of as chocolate.  Yummmm. 

[Warning… this stuff is *very* high in caffeine, if my recent non-sleep habits are anything to go by.  Or else that’s just the looming deadline thing.]

Victoria, thanks for de-lurking!  Looking forward to picking up the book for a post-deadline read-fest :) And aliciel, thanks for including me in the squee!

This is what I’m dying to try.

Fascinating review that makes me really intrigued to read the book!  Like Sarah, I thought Hart was an intriguing, complex character in Vicki’s first book.

I have to read this, ASAP!  I bought Dahl’s debut after reading her blog.  She has one of those irresistible personalities that comes through in whatever she does. 

I also loved Hart in To Tempt a Scotsman.  His relationship with Alexandra was very special and I really enjoyed his interactions with Collin.  Nothing sexier than a couple of manly men engaging in fisticuffs.

Ooh, and I’ve got credits at Powell’s City of Books burning a whole in my wallet. Must go spend.

If you’re in the mood for some spicy celebration, try Dagoba’s xocolatl bar. Jessica A., it might be right up your Mesoamerican alley.

If you’re in the mood for some spicy celebration, try Dagoba’s xocolatl bar. Jessica A., it might be right up your Mesoamerican alley.

They made a hot cocoa mix that will singe all the taste buds off your tongue! I have to use it sparingly in a cup of plain cocoa.

Yeah, Vicki has mad writing skillz, but did you know she has mad dancing skillz too? 
-Jami
who wishes she were not on deadline so she could appreciate Victoria’s mad skillz

At least reading is points-free for Weight Watchers…

Thanks for tempting me, ya’ll.  ::ambles off to buy Dahl’s book::

My first SB review!!! I think that might call for a celebratory trip to the liquor store.

Gotta love an author who knows how to celebrate a review!  If I wasn’t already planning to read this book, this response would make me. 

And Robin, thanks a jillion for the brewed chocolate link.  What an awesome idea—I will be trying that very soon.

Smart Bitches are so good for my soul.

Well, I have my own special box of chocolate. Sarah knows what they are *wink wink*

*sigh* So skimming the other replies, I see a lot of people saying this is a great review, but I noticed that a fair bit of those that think so have already read the book.  Having not read the book yet, I have to say I found this review incredibly annoying (enough so that I feel like coming out of lurkdom to say as much).  Reading the review, I have no clue what this book is actually about; trying to discern the plot from this review is like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle (a puzzle with at least half the edge pieces and 3 of the corners missing).  You didn’t even mention the heroine’s name til someone pointed out you’d forgot to include it.  Talking about themes and what ifs is all well and nice, but I’d like a bit more meat to the review, so at the end I’m not left trying to piece together what the plot was.

A huge thanks to the bitchery for coming through with additional chocolates I must buy, all in the name of research for the third book!  [working title: Sex, Chocolate and Apocalypse.  Or not.]

Vinca- I guess what made it a useful review for me (and I haven’t read the book, but will pick it up based on this) is that it explained how the book differs from the same-old-same-old historicals that sort of burned me out on the genre.  Do I know what it’s about?  Not so much, but that’s not a big deal for me, personally.  If I wanted to know more about the actual plot, would I have to go elsewhere?  Yep.  But like I said, I’m more about hearing ‘this is different, well written, and yanked strong emotions out of me’ from a reader who turned me on to another historical I quite liked.  Obviously, your mileage may vary!

hmmm, Vinca, I see your point, but I for one like reviews like that - if the review tells me the whole plot I’m then less interested in going and buying the book, seeing as I already know what’s going to happen.
This is the first SBTB review I’ve read that’s made me actually want to go and buy the book, ‘cause now I want to find out exactly what it is Dahl does with those themes. Tell me the plot and I stop caring.

Historicals are my favorite.  And now, after reading this review, I’m going to rush out and by this one tomorrow! 

OMG!  My word is:  length25

I had the pleasure of meeting Victoria at the RWA conference for the first time (after we had already exchanged a few scurrilous emails about filthy French swear words). She was hilarious and her unique personality really shines in her books.

This review - and the one at DA - convinced me to buy this book when I wouldn’t have before for various reasons (mostly packaging and bad experiences with that publisher).  I finished it last night and really enjoyed it.  I’m wondering if I should find Victoria’s first book - and am looking forward to the next one.  Thanks!

I’m with Vinca on this- I want to know what the book’s about still! That’s how I choose a book in the first place- does this situation (or people) intrigue me enough?

My usual rule with reviewing is to give a plot synopsis to roughly the first half of the book. After that, you can figure out enough if you want to read it or not without OMGMAJORSPOILAGE.

(That said, I do kind of wonder what the heck was so bad with this one.)

I just finished it and the thing that bothered Sarah (at least what I think she meant), didn’t bother me at all.

I really liked it, but I felt the book could have been *more*.  There were these moments of true connection, between the characters and between the story and me, and then they’d just fizzle.  I wanted that intensity to keep going.  I agree with Ana, the book could have been more powerful if the villain story line had been cut out and the internal conflict expanded.

Nevertheless, I’ve already ordered the first and am eagerly awaiting Lancaster’s story.

I’m not so sure about this book, it was entertaining, but I think it didn’t go deep enough.

Folks--after this review I HAD to read this book.  I really enjoyed it though I was kind of off historicals.  So many of them are so wildly out of whack that I couldn’t believe them.  THIS one though was really good for the reasons stated in the review.  Familiar plot--virgin pretending to be widow.  It was the characters and the writing that made it special.  Will Emma make enough money gambling to buy her safe cottage in the country?  Will she escape evil, mad suitor?  Will Harte find out her secrets and still come through in the end?  All pretty standard plot devices.  But Harte’s unwavering defense of his fallen sister (got to read that first book!), the complexity of Emma and Harte, all the minor touches of details, the excellent emotional writing.  I’d give this book at LEAST an A-.  Not prefect but much better than the rest and a keeper for most of us.  Good job Ms Dahl.

I picked up this book based on this review (like others, the lack of plot summary didn’t bother me - the reason I love genre fiction is seeing what people do with the genre tropes, so the analysis of that totally sold me).  I’m so glad I did, because I have to say, left to the title and the cover, I never would have given it a second glance.

I’ve been reading a lot more period romance thanks to you, Sarah.  I thought I’d burned out on that era in high school (once I stopped prefering heroines under the age of “five and twenty") but I’ve been finding loads of great authors I’ve never read, and I’m delighted. 

Anyway - off to finish back-listing Ms. Kleypas.