the couples are very much together in the beginning and have said the “I love you’”.

I suppose that could include the second-chance-at-love theme; I’m not sure whether that’s the case for the Harlequins she lists. It’s hard to tell from Presents blurbs what really happens in the story.

Thank you for the visit, comment, and link. What a neat concept you have for reviewing romance!

As for Harrow, I kept thinking he was going to use Win in some kind of Stepford Wives-ish plot, so he needed the typical beautiful Regency wife. But you are right – his motivations weren’t convincing, especially after he must have realized what a mess the situation was.

Also, why was Dr. Harrow so intent on winning Win? It was lightly mentioned that he was a ‘collector of fine things’, but it seemed like an additional forced point of conflict that was thrown in for little reason.

Here’s my review (if you are interested): http://theromancebureau.com/?p=92

Well, it’s not fair of me to judge by an inferred plot outline. Plot outlines often sound repetitive; as you say, it’s the author’s ability to make it fresh that really matters.

And yes, the rake’s relationship with the stern governess (with, of course, hidden sensual depths) has been done and done and done, but I felt Leo’s character — while not new — was very endearing, and if anyone can make the old new again, Kleypas can.

Kristie — the answer is YES. More later.

Deborah Smith, A Place to Call Home. (The annnngst, the annnngst.)

““Of course not,” Leo said indignantly. “I’d sooner climb into bed with Bea’s pet hedgehog. Imagine those pointy little elbows and knees. All those sharp angles. A man could do fatal harm to himself, tangling with Marks…”

See, for me, the passage you quoted is a turn-off. It foreshadows an entire relationship in a way that sounds tired. (Full disclosure: the very act of introducing the next book’s characters this way feels tired and clumsy to me, in much the same way that I dislike miracle-baby epilogues and family-series-reunion books.) I was somewhat interested in SMaS because of Merripen’s Rom heritage, but now my expectations are lowered by knowing it’s book-ended by stories that sound ultra-conventional.