Progress Report - Book 3: Regency Christmas Wishes by Multiple Authors

I'm afraid Book 3 isn't a 500 novel either.  It is, in fact, a Christmas Regency anthology.  I picked these up at my local college bookstore one day, because I was hungry for more like Georgette Heyer.  And through one of these books, I found someone much like her: Barbara Metzger.

I'm almost finished with this one, Regency Christmas Wishes.  I just have to finish reading the last author, Carla Kelly, whom seems a little like Barbara Metzger, much to my delight.  So far she lacks the delightful, fun twists Metzger is known for, but she does have wit and delightful characters.  In other words, like Metzger and Heyer, she has fun.

Completed Review - Book 2: The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer

The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars on Goodreads

What follows is an altered version of my Goodreads review.

I have to admit the first quarter of the book tricked me. It was hard to read, hard to get into, and not all that inspiring. It didn't feel like the delightful Georgette Heyer I knew and loved. But once I got to around page 80 or so, things began to pick. Glimmers of the real Heyer came through. And then we were off on a merry adventure I am sad to see close--though, with that ending, I suspect it did not end for the Tremaines.

Completed Review - Nouveau Book 1: Scandal Broth by Marian Devon

Scandal Broth by Marian Devon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars on Goodreads

A slightly altered version of my Goodreads review follows.

I once read a theory that if the end result of a wait is positive, the one who waits judges the whole of the experience as positive, even if it weren't really. Reading Scandal Broth was a bit like that. The beginning was good, and the ending was good, which almost caused me to rate it three stars ("I liked it"). But in retrospect, the whole was bumpy: I liked aspects of it, and I liked aspects of the author's skill, but overall, I only thought Scandal Broth was "okay." That is why this work is rated two stars.

Random Regency Stuff, My Own and Others (Cross-Posted on Goodreads)

Since my stock of unread Georgette Heyers was running low, I decided to start building my library of Barbara Metzgers, my next favorite Regency author. I ordered a couple used copies of her omnibuses, for I love omnibuses. The ones I received today are Rake's Ransom/A Loyal Companion and Valentines/Road to Ruin (although the latter of the second omni is by a different author, Margaret Evans Porter).

Problem is I have a lot of my plate right now. Not only do I have Marian Devon's Regency novel, Scandal Broth, to finish, I have a freebie Candice Hern on my Kindle and a Georgian Georgette Heyer on my real book shelf awaiting me. And that is just my reading schedule. I also have a writing schedule centered around faux-Regency (a.k.a. Regency inspired) fantasy. I want to complete a New World story featuring a not-quite fairy; I actually want to complete several. In this unrelated novel series, featuring Vampires as the ton, I have a partially written story that needs finishing. Finally, I thought up a new faux-Regency world (can you tell I am addicted?) while driving to work.

So a lot to do, and so little time to do it in. I'm not sure if my ADD-Muse is shrieking with delight or horror, or at what point I need to whip out the vinaigrette to revive her. Ah, c'est la vie. At least it is better than not reading and not writing. I'd rather not do that again. :-)

Progress Update - Nouveau Book 1: Scandal Broth by Marian Devon

 Scandal Broth by Marian Devon




View all my reviews




Running Commentary, pulled from One Note file:

Started reading 11/17/13 - Comments up to 11/19/13 included.

• Chapter One and Two -  I like that it leaps right in, but it is a little light on tension and character depth.  But there is some wit and fun, and the premise is great.
• Chapter Three through Six - About Chapter Five, the tension begins to pick up, as complications and surprises start piling on naturally.
• Chapter Seven through Partial Eight - I'm still longing for a little more character depth, but the secondary characters are interesting, and the main character is facing more surprises.  However, it seems like the complications are working out in her favor.  Though cute, that decreases tension.  Not all surprises though.

• Chapter Eight (Rest) and Chapter Nine - On one hand, some events flow naturally from previous incidents in the story, which is good.  On the other hand, some make me wonder why it is all coming together now.  It gives a feeling of a loose-knit plot.  Also, while I like a slight nod to The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson (one of my favorite Regency works), I don't like full on winks.

The Selection - Nouveau Book 1: Scandal Broth by Marian Devon

I did not give Marian Devon a fair shake in the last attempt, so I decided to try her again.  But I have far deeper reasons for selecting Scandal Broth.

For one, it reminded me of one of the first titles I read by Barbara Metzger: Snowdrops and Scandalbroth. Wonderful story that.  Also, recently I read of snowdrops in a Georgette Heyer Georgian work, Powder and Patch, also a wonderful story.  So I took that for a sign.

For two, some of my other Marian Devons are missing covers.  This one is not.  

For three, the old website, The Nonesuch, rated it "very good."  

Four four, the blurb quote/premise--"So now you know, you loose screw, you proposed to the wrong woman!"--sounded quite intriguing.

For five, I'm writing a faux-Regency, replete with vampires, that involves matchmaking.  By reading a Regency that says it involves "matchmaking," I hope to keep my muse active and engaged while I write.  Or rather, I hope to distract her long enough to write.  My muse is a tease, you know.  And highly flighty.  I need to cage her somehow.  

And so those are my reasons.  Very deep in deed.  ;-)

Best Laid Plans of Muses and Readers

Some changes are afoot.  I still have that book one, but I'm afraid, it will have to be saved for later.  I do not deal well with interruptions.  So a new Marian Devon book will be Book Number One.  But also, since I have started this blog, I have added some to my horde.  It is hard to keep track of which came from where, so I've changed this simply to any Regency Romance, but with a focus on the 500+.  When possible, I will not the books that come from outside that prestigious circle.

So next up, the New Book 1.