Another Year, Another Chi-Chi . . .

Back To Book 3

End of January 2011: I finished the final edits and sent off A Grand Deception.  I’m pleased with the ending yet as I move through the end of the book I feel there could be a bit “more” there. 

I’m reading the last four chapters to my critique group, hopefully they’ll have some suggestions to where I can make improvements.

Familiarizing Myself with the New Year

Mid-January 2011: I use the internet to find more about the year 1816, especially what’s happening in the UK.  

OH—something big!  It’s the “Year Without a Summer.”  Not sure that will play a big part in the book but it shall certainly influence the characters, and how they dress, somewhat. 

Book 4, Page 1

Early-January 2011: I opened the file for Book 4 and instead of finding notes and partially written scenes, I’ve found  . . . nothing.  

::gulp::  I hadn’t been prepared for this.

The Hubby says, “At least you have that paragraph.” Was he trying to be helpful? 

I know what happens in the book, I just don’t know how it happens. This is going to be a bit more work than I first thought.  There’s no jumping to the fun writing part.

Finished!

Late December 2010: Last day of the year . . . 

the first draft of A Grand Deception is finished.  

I’ll let it sit for a week and do a final revision before handing it over to the hubby for his comments.

During that week, I’ll pull out my notes for Book 4.  It’s the Duke’s story.

Romance Reviews Today!

Jane Bowers - Romance Reviews Today - www.romrevtoday.com 
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THE SUITOR LIST- Shirley Marks
Avalon
ISBN: 978-0-8034-7796-4
January 2010
Historical Romance

1811 - Faraday Hall, Essex, England

When the story opens, the three Worth sisters are discussing Lady Augusta Worth's impending trip to London, where the eldest daughter of the Duke of Faraday is determined to find a husband. Although she arrives in London at the very end of the season, her purported beauty, wealth, and intelligence cause two broken engagements and bring several eligible peers scrambling back to town. Her two weeks are a flurry of social engagements and visits from myriad eligible and handsome gentleman, which begs the question: How can a girl ever decide amongst them?

The Duke solves the dilemma by offering to host a house party in which no fewer than fourteen of Augusta's prospective suitors are invited to vie for his daughter’s hand. Although he wants her to make a suitable match, the Duke also desires his daughter’s happiness. Thus, the Duke and Augusta’s sisters have a plan to discover and eliminate any undesirables amongst the gentlemen guests.

I confess I had a hard time engaging with the heroine of this novel in the beginning as she came across as completely superficial and egocentric. I also wondered how every one of her fourteen suitors happened to be rich, titled, and handsome, with not a toad amongst them. They all seemed a bit too “perfect.” However, as the story progressed, one by one, the flaws of each suitor were unveiled.

Although the first half of the book seemed to drag due to what I felt was a very stilted writing style, it improved in the second half when the plot became more interesting due to the sisters’ interactions with the guests. I particularly found Muriel’s talent for lip-reading a clever and original touch.

THE SUITOR LIST is a frothy and entertaining Regency romance, vaguely reminiscent of Georgette Heyer in its light comedic touches and its peppering with Regency-speak. The sisters were close knit and mischievous, the plot amusing, and the romance was, in the end, sweetly satisfying.

Victoria

Romance Reviews Today

Booklist Reveiw!

Booklist – January 2011

Lady Augusta, the oldest of the Duke of Faraday's three daughters,  quickly becomes the toast of the London season when she arrives  fashionably late. Her father and aunt want her to find the ideal match  from a long list of suitors, so they host the men and a few other  eligible ladies at their country home just after the season's end.  Augusta's younger sisters, incomparably beautiful Charlotte and  the feisty and clever Muriel, are enlisted to help cull the unsuitable men.  Some make inappropriate advances to Charlotte; others are caught  wagering on who will win Augusta's hand; and yet others are eliminated  for silly quirks. Augusta's true love ends up being the last person  she considered.  Marks' fifth historical romance is a fun but insubstantial escapist read.  The sisters are appealing heroines, but the slew of throwaway characters  can be confusing.--Walker, Aleksandra Copyright 2010 Booklist  From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.