#ausbooks

Here's a book list of the books Kat from Bookthingo and I talk about in our historical vodcast for Aussie Author Month.

Anna Campbell

Claiming The Courtesan (goodreads/booktopia)

Untouched (recommended by Kat) (goodreads/booktopia)

Tempt The Devil (recommended by Kat) (goodreads/booktopia)

My Reckless Surrender (recommended by Kate) (goodreads/booktopia)

Midnight's Wild Passion (goodreads/booktopia)

Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed (to be released) (goodreads)

Anne Gracie

Tallie's Knight (recommended by Kate) (goodreads/book depository)

The Perfect Kiss (goodreads/booktopia)

The Perfect Stranger (goodreads/booktopia)

The Perfect Waltz (goodreads/booktopia)

The Perfect Rake (recommended by Kate and Kat) (goodreads/booktopia)

To Catch A Bride (goodreads/booktopia)

Christina Brooke/Christine Wells

The Dangerous Duke (recommended by Kate) (goodreads/book depository)

Heiress In Love (goodreads/booktopia)

Mad About The Earl (goodreads/booktopia)

Sara Bennett

Lessons In Seduction (recommended by Kate) (goodreads/booktopia)

Sophia James

One Unashamed Night (recommended by Kat) (goodreads/book depository)

Stephanie Laurens

Devil's Bride (goodreads/booktopia)

A Rake's Vow (goodreads/booktopia)

Ilove fantasy romance, and this is fantasy romance at its best.

Walker is the last of his tribe and he carries the twin burdens of guilt and history on his shoulders. He runs a ... well, I suppose the closest example is a dojo - a training school for warriors with a fair dose of meditation and mysticism thrown in. Mehcredi has never known kindness from anyone, and bears deep psychological scars from her difficult and damaging childhood. A rash decision lands her as Walker's captive as she atones for a terrible crime.

Interestingly, this book recently won Favourite Erotic Romance at the Australian Romance Readers Awards but I'd argue it's one of Rossetti's least erotic books -  and with good reason. Walker and Mehcredi are two of the most closed off characters you'll ever read.

Wonderfully closed off.

Deliciously closed off.

Perfectly closed off - which makes their burgeoning connection beautiful to read. Sex - connection of any kind would have been unbelievable in this context so instead Rossetti builds in her signature eroticism through long glances, Mehcredi's growing awareness of lust, and Walker's determined dismissal of his body's demands. When they do give in to their attraction, it is like a birth for both of them, and it is far more stirring than any quick hop in the sack could be.

There's also a rollicking adventure story, a road trip, a stomach-turning villain, and characters from Rossetti's previous books in her Four-Sided Pentacle series. But what is most striking about this novel is the subtly pervasive character development that takes two hollow people from impenetrable internal barriers to a completely believable, honest relationship.

Title: The Millionaire's Makeover

Author: Lilian Darcy (website)

But is she Australian?: She's lived all over the world, but still calls Australia home (and dragged her American husband back here to prove it)

Line: Harlequin Mills&Boon Special Edition

Sub-series?: No

Release date: June 2008

Still available: Yes, in eformat from the UK

Book setting: Manor-style house not far from San Francisco

Okay, got a synopsis? Ben's going through a messy divorce, so he throws all his efforts into doing up his heritage home. The gardens require an expert, and that's where Rowena comes in. An expert in historically accurate (and geographically appropriate) landscaping, she would love to get her hands into Ben's dirt. Oh yeah, I just went there.

What makes it worth reading? Rowena has an anxiety disorder and it is so well described in this book - not only the way she goes about dealing with it (including sessions with her therapist, which is a huge risk in romance novels - I mean, who wants to risk having their character written off as crazy?), but also the way other characters deal with it, especially Ben. I loved the way Ben dealt with Rowena's disorder, including the way he would find it frustrating, which is just so realistic and honest. Huge kudos to Darcy for that. Also, I have never heard of a PhD in landscape stuff, so that was kind of cool.

Any quibbles? Though the author tackles some pretty heavy stuff in this novel, I just didn't feel emotionally involved in the story. I can't pinpoint why, but the characters never lifted off the pages for me, and I didn't get that emotional payoff at the end. This is definitely a 'this is what happened for me' quibble, though, because I couldn't tell you why. 

Recommended? For an excellent way to deal with real life problems.