Posts Tagged ‘farce’
Just Reviewed Two Christmas Romances at SBR
Folks, it’s not every day that I get to review a Christmas-themed romance, much less two of them. Yet that’s exactly what I just did over at Shiny Book Review (SBR), so go take a gander here.
To give you a bit more information about the two books, the first is ‘TWAS THE NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS by Sabrina Jeffries. This is a romance set in Regency-era England between two flawed but engaging humans, Pierce, an Earl, and Mrs. Camilla Stuart, a respectable widow with a young son. The set-up is interesting, the romance convinced, yet some of the ending (which I can’t really talk about much or I’ll spoil your reading pleasure) didn’t quite scan to me.
Even so, it was a diverting read and I’ll gladly read more of Ms. Jeffries in the future.
The second book is WHAT HAPPENS AT CHRISTMAS by Victoria Alexander. This is a romance set in Victorian-era England between Camille, Lady Lydingham, and the “man who got away,” Grayson Elliot. Both are now older, wiser, and available, yet there’s a great many hoops to jump over, not the least of which is Camille’s impending engagement between herself and Prince Nikolai of the Principality of Greater Avalonia.
Ms. Alexander’s book is one that’s difficult for any reviewer to do justice because it’s a flat-out farce. Yet I did my best because I really enjoyed this book, mostly because it’s extremely funny.
At any rate, please go read my review, then go take a gander at the books.
Happy holidays to all!
Just Reviewed “The Countess” at SBR
Folks, if you enjoy romance mixed with screwball comedy, you will enjoy Lynsay Sands’ THE COUNTESS. While not high art, the story of Christiana, Countess of Fairgrove, and her love story with Earl Richard will amuse you. Richard, you see, had been “disposed of” by his brother George, who took Richard’s place and called himself “Dicky.” George then married Christiana, who knew nothing about the real Richard; the world knows one of the Fairgrove twins died, but for whatever reason, George assumed Richard’s identity rather than rule in his own right. (Yes, I know the reason, but if I told you that, some of the comedic effect would be spoiled. Just go with it.)
Anyway, George dies suddenly, but Christiana covers this up because her sisters need to be “brought out” into society quickly before word gets around about her father’s gambling debts. (Besides, she never liked him anyway.) But to her complete surprise, “Dicky” shows up at a ball she and her sisters are at — he’s not dead, and in fact, he’s not Dicky, either. He’s the real Richard, and he’s wondering the same thing any of us would in a similar situation — what the Hell is going on here?
This is a screwball comedy that often descends into farce, and it’s not the art-house type of screwball comedy, either; instead, it’s the “pie in the face, don’t look now, the train’s coming!” sort. But it’s quite good for what it is, and I enjoyed it very much despite the plot’s oddities. (Maybe because of them, as I can’t resist a novel that makes me laugh over and over again. I really can’t.)
Anyway, go take a look at my review over at SBR, will you? Then, if you’re in the mood to laugh (hard and often), go pick up THE COUNTESS.
Enjoy!
Barb Caffrey's Blog 