'Private Arrangements' by Sherry Thomas

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

This is the second book by Sherry Thomas that I've read, although I think it was actually the second one she had published. I actually liked this more than 'Delicious'. I adored Gigi as a heroine - she was just so very human, and flawed, and tough, and ballsy and so very unlike the average romance novel heroine. I also thought that the chemistry between the two characters was really strong and believable. There was also none of the normal alpha male bullshit which tends to characterize most romance novel heroes, with Gigi always been at least as tough as Camden, the hero.

The only downside to this was the lack of a secondary romance I could really engage with. Gigi's mother had a romantic story which trundled along throughout, but which I really didn't like. There was too much humour of embarassment in it, which rather made me cringe, and I never really understood why Gigi's mother's ducal love interest acted the way he did.

However, this was a very small niggle, and the rest of the book I adored. I loved the sex positivity in the book - both hero and heroine took an unashamed sexual joy in each other - and it left me extremely bouncy.

I'm prepared to concede that the history probably wasn't top notch, but I honestly didn't care. If you like romance novels, then I wholeheartedly recommend this.

#7 The Wonderful Adventures of Mary Seacole In Many Lands by Mary Seacole pub. 1857

[erinlin.livejournal.com]

"Written in 1857, "Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands" is the autobiography of a Jamaican woman whose fame rivaled Florence Nightingale''s during the Crimean War. Seacole traveled widely before arriving in London, where her offer to volunteer as a nurse in the war was met with racism and refusal. Undaunted, she set out independently to the Crimea, where she acted as doctor and "mother" to wounded soldiers while running her business, the "British Hotel." Told with energy, warmth, and humor, her remarkable life story and accounts of hardships at the battlefront offer significant insights into the history of race politics."
- Penguin Classics

I really enjoyed this book. Mary Seacole is fascinating women, who unfortunately has been overlooked by history. She writes in a light, easy to read style; it's like reading a letter from a dear aunt.

The book can be read for free at Project Gutenberg. It's also published by Penguin Classics. I first heard about her from this comic strip(which is hysterical). A list of more books about her, as well as more information can be found at the official Mary Seacole website , run by Thames Valley University.