A Tale of Two Lovers (Writing Girls, #2)

by Maya Rodale

[Amanda]

I had... CONCERN for this book. Because Roxbury was such a rake, in every sense of the word, and I didn't really like him much at the beginning. And Julianna had been burned badly by a rake -- her late husband -- and the last thing I wanted to see was her getting burned by Roxbury.

But. BUT. Everything worked out okay. (I mean, obviously, besides all the DRAMA that has to happen in the course of a romance novel because that's what's expected of a romance.) And I came to like Roxbury, especially when he put all his rake knowledge to good use to love Julianna.

Pause a second: I'm starting to get bored of the "I've had many women and I'm an accomplished lover" hero. Not enough to disturb my enjoyment of this book, but man, it's there. Can't we get a less suave hero?

And Julianna. Man. I liked her. She's been dealt kind of a crap hand what with a terrible husband who left her with so little to live on that she had to take up a job as one of the Writing Girls. But she's pulled herself up and turned herself into a respectable widow, and you've got to admire that.

When they finally come together, though, it was good. My concern about how the characters would butt heads -- not unfounded -- never came to pass in a way that made me want to throw something. In fact, it was rather enjoyable, and I like the way Roxbury came up to scratch. And I'm glad Julianna got a second chance at love. (And that she's a good shot. For reasons.)