along with superb writing get a good old fashioned romance novel
936976
There are a few words that come to mind when thinking of author Brenda Jackson. Romance is the most obvious, but also classic and family are two others one should think of as well. The Grangers are the newest family and series for Jackson as she delivers another set of sure-fire winners to add to her more than 100 hundred multicultural romance novels.

A Brother's Honor is the first in the Grangers series. Readers are introduced to the Granger clan: grandfather, Richard; father, Shepard; and brothers, Jace, Caden, and Dalton. However, the first book in this series focuses on the story of oldest brother, Jace. The center of the story is Granger Aeronautics, the family business. Richard asks for deathbed promises from his three grandsons. Promise one is that they take their birthright positions as leaders of the family business and help to bring it back from ruin. Promise two is they find out who framed their father for murder and help to free him from prison. Yes, we have a little mystery on our hands here as well.

Who better to help figure out why the company is on the brink of ruin, after so many years of success, than "Corporate Fixer" Shana Bradford of Bradford Crisis Management Firm. When there are problems in your company, Shana is the one you turn to who comes in and fixes things. Not easily intimidated, sharp, and able to handle her own in any corporate boardroom, Shana is just what Jace needs in his life. However, there are too many family secrets, and people, who want to keep the two of them apart.

It is expected that along with superb writing a reader is sure to get good, old fashioned romance in a Brenda Jackson novel. The term old fashioned does not mean that there will not be any passion-filled love scenes. Instead, it means that you'll get a plot that follows the traditional romance theme: guy meets girl, guy and girl resist each other, and guy and girl fall in love. Sometimes a traditional romance novel isn't a bad thing. Especially when it's a traditional romance novel penned by the legendary Brenda Jackson. She manages to weave in different storylines without losing you as a reader and keeping things intriguing at the same time. It's been quite a while since I've read any of her novels, but the excellent writing, and storytelling, makes me wonder why it's been so long.

There are times when I get tired of reading some of the books that are published today, self and traditional. However, it is times when I read a book by Brenda Jackson that I can appreciate those writers who have spent years honing their craft and can always be counted on to put out a great book. You want to buy this book because you will not be disappointed. I look forward to reading the second book in the Granger series due out in 2014.

-Reviewed by Jaye
1387175
I will be honest: I cannot tolerate a poorly written romance novel.  If the writing is trite, the characters stock and the sentences overly-simple I won't make it past the first chapter. Ms. Ross has created an engaging story, if admittedly a bit thin on plot. The more amorous portions of the book are very evocative and the writing is descriptive, not crass. Well done for a first outing.
2894223
I adore classic romance novels set in olden days and this one is one of my favorites. The characters are amazing and so is the story. It's amazing what love can do.
2400036
I enjoy a good romance, but I also love to read meaningful literature. This a romance is written with skill, with believable character development and a true emotion-invoking plot. I haven't been pulled along emotionally by a book in a long time.  Buy this book and read it! You'll be glad you did. I'm off to look at the other books in the series now.
1786038
Good clean romance with wonderful character development as well as transporting the reader back to the 1800's for a very enjoyable read. Love scenes are only between married folks and go only deep enough to satisfy the romantic at heart , always showing true love and respect between the characters. No filthy language or intense love scenes.
4447734
I first read this book when it was put out Harlequin years and years ago when it first came out. I just love it. It's one of my all time favorite romance novels. I love the characters. The situation is fun.  It was written in the late eighties, but it's set "in the future" around the turn of the century. The setting is just a backdrop for the great romance and fabulous writing. Do yourself a favor and buy this delightful book. I'm so glad I can replace my (very) tattered paperback with a digital copy!
485148
I found this romance novel by an author of who was unknown to me disappointing.  Not because I didn't like the novel, but because when I went on a search for more of the author's stories of this genre I found, sad to say, there weren't any.  Making a pun using part of the title, this story has heart.  I think the beginning hard to take, but unlike many stories it gave a bit of background into Gabriel's character and a whole lot of motivation.  I found this one of the better romance stories, and as I like them, silly as it may seem to some, I at least want one to have a decent plot.  However, without getting into the story, which to my way of thinking is not a review, I found Gabriel the sort of man that a woman seeking someone with substance would like and Katrina, is not some mealy mouth little heroine, but a woman of substance and guts.  Between Gabriel's need for revenge and Katrina's need to figure out what is going on with her father, a good story follows.  Also, Ms. George's use of double entendre does not hinder, but works together to make a great story.

Ms. George is also a playwright, and as a director I can appreciate her wanting to venture in a different direction, but as a lover of a GOOD romance novel all I can say is I wish she'd write more.
1240572
"The King's General" is a beautiful novel, lovingly written by an author who knows what she's presenting.  Set in Cornwall (a trademark of the author), it encompasses the era of the English Civil War by telling the tale through the eyes of Honor Harris, one of fictions's most original heroines.
This book was spring water after all of the low grade vintage purple prose I have read lately.  Honor is neither beautiful nor rich, but she has strength, gentleness, practicality and wit, all of which serve her better than beauty or money ever could.  Her lover, Sir Richard Grenville, is a handsome and proud man who relies on her love and loyalty to get him through the trying times he faces as the commander of Charles I's forces in the West, hence the title.
What makes this story so juicy is its spareness.  The prose is delicious in its lack of details, much the same as Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove" or Jennifer Robeson's "Lady of the Forest" are written.  Details are revealed through conversation which might normally be told through description if du Maurier were not so deft with her pen.  There is mystery, romance, adventure and comedy within the covers, but it is relayed in such a way as to add to the main story, the sure mark of an author with taste and the ability to draw lifelike characters.  And there are such characters to be had:  Honor, who is strong and gentle at the same time; Richard, reckless and wild; Gartred, beautiful and calculating; Richard's son Dick, sickly and outcast; and the house of secrets called Menabilly, alone and desolate upon the moor.
I came across this book wholly by chance.  It is a 1948 paperback that is falling apart, the pages brittle and dog-eared.  It is my sincere hope that I will be able to find the story again in a more durable format, but until such time I shall read this lovely novel until it is completely destroyed.
I highly recommend "Jamaica Inn" and "Frenchman's Creek" as companion novels to this one.  Du Maurier's history-based novels have stood the test of time as classics and I am proud to give this one such a high rating.
1593926
Although this author has passed on, her novels are well worth reading by younger generations, and re-reading by older ones.  Few authors write novels this rich and meaty any more.  This is a romantic historical novel, with almost entirely fictional characters, but real places, life-style and events.  The romance does not overwhelm a good story about picking one's self up from nearly the bottom of life and rising again, despite a number of obstacles.  People really did live in the ways described, and villains, in this novel are complex and shades of gray.  One of the worst villains is the English government whose sometimes idiotic policies cause hard choices.  The characters are believable and engaging.  The author has also created interesting and surprising twists in the story and there is real, moving tragedy, hope and triumph.  I'm a historical researcher and non-fiction writer, and I only hope that I can write as compelling and detailed a story as this one, about real people.  I wish Hollywood would discover great fiction by authors like Catherine Gaskin.
132830
I have read 5 of these books in this series, and they are wonderful to read.  This author knows how to write good, clean romance stories.  The romantic scenes are done so appropriately and there is a lot of humor in each story that while you are reading you are smiling. So glad I came upon this author.
1184685
The Trouble with Honor by Julie London is everything I love in a romance novel. From the very first page I identify with the heroine. I know that very few women during the Regency era could have been as feisty and independent as my favorite heroines. But Honor meets all the criteria.

The best romances have characters who are larger than life and that is true of Honor and George. They both have their flaws, which I will leave for you to find for yourself. They have goals they work toward. Since this is a romance novel it must have a HEA, but you wonder how it can ever happen.

The hero and heroine meet and are immediately in conflict. They cross swords time and again. Sometimes Honor wins, sometimes George does. And it seems they will both fail to find their hearts desires.

The sex scenes are steamy but also filled with loving emotion. Sex without love is about as exciting as watching two cats mate. It takes loving desire to bring these scenes to life, and London is a master at achieving this animation.

I am looking forward to three more books about the Cabot sisters as each girl reaches maturity.
969798
I never put spoilers in my reviews.
Ms. Woods writes absorbing, lively, non-trite romance with fully fleshed characters and plots. The Sweet Magnolias series is fabulous in that the central characters are around 40. This novel has one main romance who's characters are in their 30's and a secondary one who's characters are in their 40's; all Ms. Woods novels have some insight into relationships of all ages, unusual for romance novels. Amazing, a romance author who realizes you don't lose that spark when you reach your 30's. Thank you!
Read, enjoy, prepare to be entertained. I can't wait to delve into more of this delightful author's tales.
Oh, for those who are bothered by blue language and over the top sex scenes, these are for you. They aren't asexual, just fits the storyline, isn't more than a couple of times and is making love with mostly euphemisms not borderline porn. I never put spoilers in my reviews.
Ms. Woods writes absorbing, lively, non-trite romance with fully fleshed characters and plots. The Sweet Magnolias series is fabulous in that the central characters are around 40. In this book, the 4th in the series, there is one main romance who's characters are in their 30's and a secondary in their late 40's; in addition, Ms Woods always has insight into relationships of all ages, unusual for romance novels. Amazing, a romance author who realizes you don't lose that spark when you reach your 30's. Thank you!
Read, enjoy, prepare to be entertained. I can't wait to delve into more of this delightful author's tales.
Oh, for those who are bothered by blue language and over the top sex scenes, these are for you. They aren't asexual, just fits the storyline, isn't more than a couple of times and is making love with mostly euphemisms not borderline porn.
2329788
This was a wonderful storyline with really great writing and a cast of memorable characters.
This story had so many great things about it but my favorite parts were the romance. The way this author developed and then delivered the romance between he two main characters was so well written that I could hardly put the book down until i finished it. Definitely a five-star rating, the book was exceptional.
1406638
Well-written and emotionally satisfying romance that takes place in rural Appalachia. With an old-fashioned feel, it's just the book to warm up your day and make hope feel alive. The characters need to overcome real problems to get to their love, so when it finally arrives, it's worth the wait. I highly recommend getting this book if you like a good, solid romance. You won't be sorry
893845
I always enjoy  a good romantic novel, she is a  very good writer.
198714
I have a dirty little secret.

Even though I *write* contemporary romance, sometimes I cheat on my genre.

Maybe it's because my entree to romance novels as a pre-teen was historical novels, but I *need* to read one at least once a month. I love the words "breeches" and "chemise" (even better when they hit the "Aubusson" rug in front of the fireplace!) There are liberties authors can take with historical novels that imbue the story with a rose-colored charm, and the sex scenes - always by firelight or candlelight - are extra romantic.

Yesterday and this morning (yes! I had to pick it up first thing and finish it!) I enjoyed Harper St. George's novella, HER FORBIDDEN GUNSLINGER.

The heroine, Sophie, is a proper French girl in territorial Minnesota - blonde-haired, blue-eyed, petite, and about to be forced into marriage with a gristled old man by her greedy uncle.

The hero, Gray, who works for her uncle, is half Comanche with bronze skin and gray eyes... "His hair hung loose past his shoulders with a single thin braid beginning at his left temple. His overt wildness should have deterred her interest, but it had the opposite effect. She wanted something. To know him. To have some claim to him." (Whew! And that's just the beginning of their forbidden night together!)

Ladies...this is a 2-3 hour read and it gave me the tingles. I urge you to escape to the old west for a few hours and enjoy Harper's gorgeous writing.
4178949
A must for anyone who enjoys a good romance with a bit of Mystery in it. The author does a fabulous job of making the characters real and allowing you the reader to become part of the family