The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare

This was an interesting plot-line that was a good choice for a novella as opposed to a full novel.  Ms. Dare did a great job at the beginning setting the story, introducing the characters and moving the plot along in a way that didn't seem forced at all.  I really liked Harry from the beginning and was pretty tolerant of Eliza and her "all about her" attitude since she was acting exactly like any normal teenager would.  I also liked how this story moved along in terms of years instead of days like most stories.  It made me really look forward to their next encounter and made me wonder where they would run into each other next.  The way that they really didn't know too much of what was going on each other's lives seemed completely plausible since they couldn't correspond, they weren't in any way related and didn't even share the same circle of friends til later.  Also, the last meeting was really well-written and a fun scene to read.

So why the three stars only?  I just didn't like the back story that came out in the middle of the story about the characters.  I think it would have been better if Ms. Dare hadn't tried to make both Harry and Eliza martyrs.  One martyr per story please!!!  But, many kudos to the author for not dragging it all out (one good thing for novellas - the painful parts are short).

So, in short (no pun intended), well-worth the $.99.

A Kiss for Midwinter by Courtney Milan

Kudos to Ms. Milan! She has written two of the best novellas I have read in a very long time (the other being The Governess Affair). Short stories seem to be very hit or miss usually, but this author has nailed down the perfect formula. Yes, it helped that we had been introduced to the hero and heroine in The Duchess War, but I don't think that she drew much on that back story much at all. In fact, she was able to weave a story that hardly mentioned anyone else, but still kept it full and rich.

I LOVED Jonas! Usually it is either the girl who is portrayed as unbecomingly blunt or a jaded rake who is just rude to the point of being insufferable (although, in the case of St. Aubyn in Suzanne Enoch's London's Perfect Scoundrel, it was just hilarious). Ms. Milan is able to make Jonas forgivingly blunt because it is his job as a doctor to be so. His dilemma with his father seems so current with today's world that it was heartbreaking to read as many of us have the same issues with our parents (although hopefully not to that degree). Jonas also knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to go after Lydia. I loved his analogy that she made him a "smiling little dark raincloud".

Lydia is a great heroine. She is the perfect foil to Dr. Jonas without falling into the stereo-typical, happy-go-lucky girl with a horrible secret. She honestly, with the help of her wonderful family, has moved on with her life. She did have a moment of stupidity with the Captain, but she moved on in a completely healthy and satisfying way. 

I truly believe that this couple will be great together always. Makes me want to live in their little town...with modern amenities, of course.

The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

Ms. Milan is starting to really climb on my favorite author list.  She writes consistently good books and this is no exception.  The prequel novella, The Governess Affair, was amazing and I was more than ready to embrace Robert, Oliver and Sebastian as the next heroes in my life.

I loved Robert as a hero.  He is the ultimate Nice Guy who turned out that way by the Grace of God because it sure wasn't his parents' influence.  His father was a horrible specimen of a man and I really wish he had died alone.  His mother wasn't much better, but Robert was able to make peace with her.  In fact, I think his interactions with her made me love him even more since he gave her chance after chance to do the right thing and in the end he was rewarded.  (I won't give it away, but the epilogue was AWESOME!  It may surpass my all-time favorite from Promise Me Forever by Lorraine Heath).  I didn't love Minnie as much at the end.  I think she freaked out a little at her great-aunts unnecessarily when everything was coming to a head and it kind of colored my opinion of her.  She did redeem herself eventually, mostly by being completely reasonable and supportive of Robert's decision at the end.  Oliver and Sebastian continue to be great characters and I loved seeing Hugo and Serena again.  I think Serena's reaction to Robert the first time was a little bit out of character for her and I wish that there had been resolution about that sooner, but I still love them.

The only slight quibble I had with the story that kept this as a 4 1/2 star book and not a 5 Star offering was the ending court drama.  I understand why she had it work that way since it gave an opportunity for all the loose ends to be tied up...I just didn't like the way it broke up the warm and fuzzy feelings I was having with Robert and Minnie in Paris.

I recommend this book whole-heartedly.  I do suggest reading the prequel first, though.

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

This was a great short story.  It started out with an enticing hook and just kept reeling me in.  The quality of this story makes me wish more short stories were written.  Ms. Milan was able to stay away from any unnecessary drama and stick to the main story.  After reading the samples at the next books in the series, I am so happy that she decided write this prequel so that when Robert's and Sebastian's books come out we don't have to waste time reading about their history.  This is a great example that if the backstory is compelling enough, definitely write a story about it even it is just a novella.  What happened in the past should never overtake the present...usually.  There are always exceptions, of course, but the author should be prepared for it.

Hugo is the hero of my dreams and I love that Serena has taken hold of her own life.  Yes, she was very lucky that Hugo was drawn to her and her plight, but I think the journey that she went through was inspiring.  At the end I truly believed that they would have a great life.  I also believed that Hugo would love the child as his own, which is always a worry when the heroine is already pregnant.  I do think the relationship between Serena and her sister was a bit strange, but maybe that will be explained later in another book.

Great story.  Highly recommend it.  Am looking forward to meet Robert, Oliver and Sebastian all grown-up!