Rating: 
Summary: Sexy and exciting!
Review: If you liked Joanna Novins's "The Souvenir Countess", then you will LOVE "Souvenir of Love." The dialogue is fabulous, the hero dashing, and the love story will stay with you long after you've finished the book.This is a real winner, and this is a writer to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Great Reading and an Author to Watch
Review: She'd always been headstrong and hard to control but one thing Elizabeth Harcrest knew as she was growing up was that she really attracted to the very handsome James Dinsmore. Unfortunately, as the years have progressed, James leading the life of a rake is not what her brother Rafe deems as suitable husband material for her even though at one time, Rafe had been courting James' sister, Lady Anne. Now, Lady Anne Dinsmore is out for revenge. Anne had fully expected Rafe to have asked for her hand. Only just before he formally offered, Rafe had met, rescued and fell in love with a beautiful French émigré. Devoted to Anne, James agreed to go along with her hateful plan of embarrassing Rafe by setting up a tableau that put Elizabeth in a compromising situation. In retribution, Rafe challenged James to a duel of honor where he gained some satisfaction in giving James a scar to remind him of the 'cur' he was. Convalescing, James soon comes to realize that his sister's revenge has left a bitter taste in his mouth. He is finding it hard to erase the memories of Elizabeth - her lips and her body from his mind. Therefore, when he is approached to undertake a dangerous mission for the home office by going to war torn France to rescue a man vital to helping England win the war his guilt and remorse over the part he'd played in harming Elizabeth compel him to agree. What a kick in the butt to find that he would have to work with her brother to set up the network to succeed. Elizabeth learning of James mission, and hurt that he never asked for her hand in marriage, blackmails him to take her along for the adventure and to teach James a lesson. As the danger and adventures increase, they both come to learn the lessons that only involved hearts can teach. This sequel to SOUVENIR COUNTESS (Rafe's story) picks up wonderfully from where it left off and continues this wonderful tale with settings in France during the dangerous and tumultuous time of the French Revolution. James previously portrayed as an unconscionable rake, has an epiphany of sorts after realizing how going along with his obnoxious sister has ruined an innocent ' a person that he realizes he has feelings for. Elizabeth also comes to the conclusion that her self-centered actions not only hurt herself but those she loved. The secondary characters - the team assembled to help James in rescuing the French émigré - were all fully developed and set the stage for the next sequel. Fast paced, amusing, sensual and thoroughly entertaining fully describe this author's latest novel. The author leaves me with much anticipation to see what happens next and I am so looking forward to the next novel, in this series. Also note that if you have not read the first book of this series, SOUVENIR OF LOVE can most certainly stand-alone. This was a wonderful and inspiring addition to a new and outstanding author's historical romance series that I fully recommend to lovers of this sub-genre. -- Submitted by Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com
Rating:
Summary: Great Reading and an Author to Watch
Review: She�d always been headstrong and hard to control but one thing Elizabeth Harcrest knew as she was growing up was that she really attracted to the very handsome James Dinsmore. Unfortunately, as the years have progressed, James leading the life of a rake is not what her brother Rafe deems as suitable husband material for her even though at one time, Rafe had been courting James� sister, Lady Anne. Now, Lady Anne Dinsmore is out for revenge. Anne had fully expected Rafe to have asked for her hand. Only just before he formally offered, Rafe had met, rescued and fell in love with a beautiful French émigré. Devoted to Anne, James agreed to go along with her hateful plan of embarrassing Rafe by setting up a tableau that put Elizabeth in a compromising situation. In retribution, Rafe challenged James to a duel of honor where he gained some satisfaction in giving James a scar to remind him of the �cur� he was. Convalescing, James soon comes to realize that his sister�s revenge has left a bitter taste in his mouth. He is finding it hard to erase the memories of Elizabeth - her lips and her body from his mind. Therefore, when he is approached to undertake a dangerous mission for the home office by going to war torn France to rescue a man vital to helping England win the war his guilt and remorse over the part he�d played in harming Elizabeth compel him to agree. What a kick in the butt to find that he would have to work with her brother to set up the network to succeed. Elizabeth learning of James mission, and hurt that he never asked for her hand in marriage, blackmails him to take her along for the adventure and to teach James a lesson. As the danger and adventures increase, they both come to learn the lessons that only involved hearts can teach. This sequel to SOUVENIR COUNTESS (Rafe�s story) picks up wonderfully from where it left off and continues this wonderful tale with settings in France during the dangerous and tumultuous time of the French Revolution. James previously portrayed as an unconscionable rake, has an epiphany of sorts after realizing how going along with his obnoxious sister has ruined an innocent � a person that he realizes he has feelings for. Elizabeth also comes to the conclusion that her self-centered actions not only hurt herself but those she loved. The secondary characters - the team assembled to help James in rescuing the French émigré - were all fully developed and set the stage for the next sequel. Fast paced, amusing, sensual and thoroughly entertaining fully describe this author�s latest novel. The author leaves me with much anticipation to see what happens next and I am so looking forward to the next novel, in this series. Also note that if you have not read the first book of this series, SOUVENIR OF LOVE can most certainly stand-alone. This was a wonderful and inspiring addition to a new and outstanding author�s historical romance series that I fully recommend to lovers of this sub-genre. -- Submitted by Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com
Rating:
Summary: Spies and Romance
Review: Since I enjoyed Ms. Novins first book (Souvenir Countess) I couldn't wait for the sequel. Well, it was worth the wait! If you like romance, adventure and fun, this is the book for you. The characters are so real that you can't wait to see what happens next. I wouldn't be surprised to see more of the cast of "gentlemen spies" in another book. I sure hope so! I'll be waiting for any sequels or prequels Ms. Novins writes.
Rating: 
Summary: enjoyable...
Review: Souvenir of Love is the sequel to Novins' Souvenir Countess. Though I have to say that these are superb first books, this story lacks a bit in the love department and leaves many questions unanswered. In this aspect, the Souvenir Countess dealt better with these problems. Elizabeth Harcrest is eligible, beautiful, rich, and reckless. And in love with James Dinsmore, the future Duke of Dinsmore. What she doesn't know is that he's agreed to help his sister plot her bitter revenge against the Harcrests by seducing then exposing Elizabeth to the elite of the ton, thereby ruining her reputation forever. What James doesn't expect to feel is a crushing guilt that lays heavily on his conscience, resulting in him becoming a spy in order to escape from it. As he is conferring with Rafe (Elizabeth's brother and the hero of Souvenir Countess), Elizabeth's hears through a thin wall and demands that he bring her on this "adventure". With no way out, James reluctantly lets her tag along as his pretend bride. The romantic aspect of the plot is very weak as there are barely any scenes in which the hero and heroine experience sexual tension. Bedroom scenes that have great potential are skipped over with haste and the scene where she loses her virginity to him is far too short considering how long the reader had to wait for it. I could hardly see the emotional growth between that led them to fall in love with each other. Several times, I felt Elizabeth too selfish and spoiled while James is too weak and subversive. The ending of the story is a cliffhanger of sorts which I didn't appreciate...I feel that an epilogue would have made the book much better.
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