Since the Surrender: Pennyroyal Green Series

Wow! What a wonderfully written book. This was my first Julie Anne Long book. JAL challenged my reading abilities. This isn't a book that you read in one setting; it's a beautifully descripted book you should take your time reading so you may fully absorb and enjoy her words and characters. I definitely put her on a par with Laura Kinsale and Judith Ivory. Two of my all-time favorite authors. Captain Chase Eversea and Rosalind March. These characters were so real. They felt and thought many of the same things I have felt and thought in my personal life. I disagree with other reviews regarding the outcome of the book. At times in real life with real people, we may face such dread only to realize it wasn't so bad after all. Isn't this a good thing? I will definitely read her other books. Ahh, romance at its best.

Julie Anne Long has a talent for creating interesting, unconventional, not the same old hero and heroine which I greatly appreciate. Her plots are also rife with interesting and unique twists that you aren't going to find in other "typical" romance novels. Chase (oh - I really love him - how layered he is)and Rosalind are wonderful, vivid protagonists that will make you care about them and the growth and evolution of their relationship as the story progresses. They're two adults that have experienced life, they have their demons and regrets, and it shows in how they interact with each other. Hurrah! I'm so tired of the usual sex-kitten that didn't know she was and the remote but oh so smokin' hot duke/earl/viscount blather that is coming out these days. As I get more and more life experience under my belt, I really appreciate the difference between Julie Anne Long's characters and the characters written by the other big names in regency. Thanks to Julie Anne Long for believing that her readers have brains and deserve more. On a side note - Liam is amazingly written. I hope we see him pop up in subsequent books in the series.

Captain Chase Eversea earned a reputation for heroism during the war, but never forgot the one indiscretion of his life. Five years ago, he met his commander's much younger wife Rosalind March and had the sexual encounter of his life. However, soon afterward he was transferred to another unit where he displayed courage under fire. Now back home and out of the military, Chase vows to avoid scandal as he plans to live up to his family reputation, although he knows he will never forget Rosalind. However the best laid plans of men often go astray when a woman begs him to help her. At the Montgomery Museum Rosalind meets with and asks Chase to assist her in finding her missing sister Lucy "The Blond One" Locke, who was arrested for allegedly stealing a valuable bracelet and sent to Newgate; only to vanish. She swears her sibling is innocent just feathery. They investigate following clues that lead to danger and love. This entertaining Eversea historical romance (see THE PERILS OF PLEASURE) is an engage tale due to the hero who wants the facts, just the facts as he and his "sidekick" investigate while each struggles with their attraction. The investigation is intertwined with the romance in a clever DNA helix way so that fans will relish the search of London to find the missing sister and the misplaced love. Harriet Klausner

I'm starting to think that Julie Anne Long is becoming the stand-out author of Regency Romance! She introduces two more rich characters in her Pennyroyal Green series: Chase and Rosalind. Again we have a twisty, turny plot, rich character development of the two protagonists, rich sub-characters, fabulous dialog, great period detail and HILARIOUS character quirks. Terrified of puppets? That just cracked me up. I also love that so far, Julie Anne Long manages to avoid the stereotypical, and let's face it, predictable heroes and heroines. After her last book, Like No Other LOver, I bought all her other books that I could find (I can't find Ways to be Wicked and it's driving me nuts! Or at least a copy that I can afford...) and it is no fluke. Her books are keepers! I really enjoyed this book, and I eagerly await the next book in this series!

Another multi-layered, funny, sweet, sexy Regency historical from Julie Anne Long. I loved Colin Eversea in Perils of Pleasure. And Miles Redmond, of Like No Other Lover, was the sexiest scholarly hero I've read in a while. But Captain Charles Eversea? His particular brand of soldierly directness combined with unexpected humor is pretty darn potent. I loved the way Long slowly unraveled the backstory between Chase and Rosalind giving details a little at a time until the whole was revealed. Their chemistry was palpable and their genuine affection and friendship made their relationship all the more satisfying. Add a colorful cast of secondary characters (including some amusing glimpses of a happily married Colin) and you've got the recipe for a sigh-inducingly rewarding read. Loved it. The only question now is which one of Pennyroyal Green's citizens stars in the next book?