Which romance hero does not go commando when wearing a kilt?

When Scotland is mentioned, I always think about kilts and whether men wear anything under them. But if we're talking about hot, sexy heroes of romance novels, I expect them to wear nothing.

And so I *heart* Lord Iain Randal, because he does what I expect.

Randal maybe born & bred English, but how can there not be no mention about him wearing a kilt?

Caitlin's eyes, along with the eyes of every lady present, were trained on the swing of his lordship's kilt. The breeze ruffled the hem a fraction, and a collective sigh went up. (...) The next blast of cold air did more than ruffle the hem of his lordship's kilt.

I just giggle everytime I read and re-read that part.

And yes I love Highland Fire, the romance and the little mystery thrown in it too.

Scarlet Angel by Elizabeth Thornton.

This book, the intro especially, is heavy on the history/war things. I don't recommend it for romance readers looking for a first taste of Elizabeth Thornton's romance. It definately does not start off light.

But when it's focusing on Cam and Gabrielle... ohh I love it.

The reason?

One of it:

"I've only ever loved one woman in my whole life, and that's you. Gabrielle, I love you."

And so much more.

I just love the fact that Cam and Gabrielle admit their love to each other VERY early on. In most romance novels, the I-love-yous came at the end, but in Elizabeth Thornton's books, you can expect it early. From the MAN.

It's really lovely reading those emotional I-love-yous, my favourite parts in Elizabeth Thornton's stories.

(ending spoilers ahead.)
The end is just wows me how much Gabrielle and Cam loved each other. Gabrielle not hating Cam at all upon learning how his ploting of revenge on her grandfather had caused her hurt during her childhood years. Yet she still apologies for her actions as innocent child. I didn't expect these. Thought she'd be freaked and will fight Cam again or something. But hey, she matured, realised how hurt Cam is and how much she love him. I just love how it all comes together. And Cam? Just gave up years of wanting revenge just for Gabrielle's happiness.

This is just why I love reading romances.

A Virtuous Lady by Elizabeth Thornton.

The thing with Hugh and and Briony (and Richard and Catherine and Gareth and Deirdre etc.), I don't think they will have an happily ever after like Disney's fairy tales.

With they way they kept baiting each other, intentionally hurting each other emotionally blah-blah-blah, I think they will continue to do so even after the story ends.

No amount of I-love-yous can stop that.

I'm not complaining about above, I'm actually looking forward to reading more verbal sparing scenes (though some makes me go oh Hugh... grow up!). And the making up later. ☺

Some of my fav lines from A Virtuous Lady:

In normal circumstances, he would never have given her a second glance, his Briony. He repeated the name under his breath. Even her name had the power to bewitch him.

I need to give myself an english name pronto. Oh wait, does 'Fancy' count?

"Listen to me Miss Briony Langland. The man you give yourself to will be me or you will give yourself to no man."

Be still my heart.

His longing for Briony had long since surpassed the mere physical desire to satiate his lust. He could not live without her. He wanted her to share his life. It was as simple as that.

Want.

"Good God, Briony, the fact that I have chosen to bind myself to one woman irrevocably should prove something to you!"

Oh yes. Good God, Briony.

And the whole part where they got caught in a storm and then Hugh was holding Briony and comforting her? All this thoughts then just wow-ed me. ♥

****

Don't you just hate the situation where you just finished a book and then have to choose between ∞ books to read next?

Bluestocking Bride by Elizabeth Thornton.

I was surprised when I first saw this book, Bluestocking Bride (and A Virtuous Lady too), because I didn't expect it to be so thin. Only 238 pages! Most of Elizabeth Thornton's later books are pretty thick with 300-400 pages and some with super small fonts.

I do like reading a good looong Elizabeth Thornton story.

After reading this, I realised why it's so short; there's no big mystery to be solved like the one in The Bride's Bodyguard or Shady Lady; two stories in which I was actually more interested in the mystery than the romance. Not that the romance is lacking, I just had been a big mystery fangirl before discovering romances... but I digress.

So we plainly have the romance (and loads of typical misunderstandings) here in Bluestocking Bride.

I never really liked misunderstandings and there are moments where I would love to slap both Catherine and Richard.

But then, Elizabeth Thornton's heroes ♥ are the kind whom I've always wanted to read about. Forceful? Well, they so dare to do whatever they want to own (yeah own, you got that right) the woman they want. They are seriously rare, and not everyone's favourite I guess.

"Catherine, one sigh of pleasure from you can bring me to heel."

^ Love that. Richard actually reveals quite alot of his feelings for Catherine and what she can do to him, but Catherine can be quite selective in her hearing sometimes.

And I do love those instances where Richard finds Catherine reading and always walks over to cast a shadow over her book to get her attention.

As for the ending, I like how Richard tells Catherine everything. They're not secrets, I don't think he kept them from her on purpose or what, he just didn't tell her, and that's stupid. But then, what is a romance novel without occasionally stupid heroes and heroines?

I just wish the ending would be longer. Like fifty more pages. Or ideally a hundred. Richard could grovel somemore. Catherine could have made him be jealous more. She lets him off too easily.

Overall, a satisfying read, since I got to read the kind of hero I like. ♥

Update:

"I promise you Catherine, my passion, my love will be invested in our marriage. There will be nothing left over for anyone else."

^ How can I not mention this line? And smack by the middle of the story too! Just love it when heroes declare their love early on in the book. ♥ ♥ ♥

Just Showing Off...

My current Elizabeth Thornton out-of-print collection.

Quite an accomplishment since I've only discovered her in Feb this year. *Pats myself on the back*

Still doing my damndest to collect them all.

In One Sentence.

Don't you just hate it when you typed a LONG LONG OH SO LONG rant about The Woman in White and The Bride's Bodyguard and you didn't realise that there's something wrong with your browser or blogger or what f*** and so when you click "SAVE NOW", it doesn't actually save? :(

Blood and Roses by Angela Knight.

Blood and Roses is a novella from Burning Up.

This is my first non-Mageverse story by Angela Knight.

Favourite part? When Raniero cradles Amaris when she lets him feed on her blood (she's a Blood Rose, whose blood strengthens vampires, i.e Raniero).

It's a small part in a really short story (62 pages), but it gets to me. I can't forget that even with those hot bonking going on.

I could just imagine that part in a full length novel. With them exploring their feelings during that moment...

Anyway, it's still a trademark Angela Knight hot story. A perfect one hour-plus read for me before bedtime.

But I can't wait for the next MAgeverse book ArgHH! Tristan!!!!

What is happening?

Elizabeth Thornton's website is gone. Why?

Update (24th Apr): Her website is back. Yay!

The Worldly Widow by Elizabeth Thornton.

I think I prefer Elizabeth Thornton's older historicals, where the heroes are very, very, very, very x 1000 alpha. (Her later ones are only very x 100 alpha).

I've only read two of her older works, this and To Love An Earl, but I think my deduction is right.

Anyhoo, let me present the reason for this post:

♥♥ David Falconer, Earl of Dalmar ♥♥

And Annabelle too actually, I just LOVE how she fights back. But let me talk about David. Please.

(SPOILERS warning...)

"A child," he murmured, and his eyes, glittering with some new emotion, swept over her. "Don't worry about it," he soothed. "If you give me a whole brood of children, I'll welcome every one of them."

^ This, on page 56 in the 1990 edition. So early on in the book. I love that.

"You're mine. I'll never let you go."

^ Page 58. I can never be tired of reading this. He might be under a bit of laudanum but I believe he's 99% lucid.

And then there's chapter eight. Probably my favourite part. He's thinking about how magical (my words) Annabelle is, how he has never felt this way about anyone before etc. etc.

I don't know which part to quote, his whole thinking about what is going on between him and Annabelle is just awesome, a great pleasure to read. Elizabeth Thornton just rocks at writing. I re-read it before going on the next part, him meeting Annabelle and his son (awesome scene) and then him and Annabelle alone (awesome scene yet again).

"What exactly do you want?" she asked, eyeing him curiously.
"The usual. A home, a wife, a children -- a personal stake in the future, and someone to share it with. Is it so hard to understand?"

I know there's no love mentioned, but as a reader I know he's thinking of it because Annabelle made him think all above are possible. With her. Oh com'on, it's romantic already, how much he (albeit in his mind) admits Annabelle can do to him. ♥

And then when he himself accepted that it's over between Annabelle and him? Totally wretching. I like how Annabelle baited him and got him back though. ☺

I would really love more scenes at the end, but I suppose at 400+ pages, this book is looong already. But I don't think I would mind reading fifty or so more pages about them being happy.