Book Review - An Improbable Pairing by Gary Dickson

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Scott Stoddard is an American graduate student traveling to Switzerland. On board a ship, his path crosses with Countess de Rovere, a recent French divorcee. Scott is smitten by her charm and looks. The pair begins a simple flirtation and soon evolves into a serious love affair. As their love affair progress, they face criticism because they have so many differences.

The premise of the novel seemed interesting as it is about a younger man courting an older woman. However, I felt like this novel fell flat. The author spent more time discussing the food, clothes, and the atmosphere than the story. I was almost 90% through the book before I decided it wasn't worth reading anymore. There was almost no plot and the characters were bland. If you like cozy reads that go more into haute couture than story, then this is the book for you. 

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Book Review - The Elusive Miss Ellison (Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace, #1) by Carolyn Miller

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The ailing owner of Hampton Hall has passed away but when the new young Earl takes over, all the villagers are excited. Except, for the reverend's daughter, Lavinia Ellison. She believes in taking care of the poor and the sick while the Earl of Hawkesbury is the exact opposite. He refuses to take his responsibilities seriously instead pushes it off to an incompetent assistant along with nodding off in church.  When Nicholas Stamford arrived at Gloucestershire, his main goal was taking care of his obligations and not to get invested in the country bumpkins. However, when he meets Lavinia, he is starts to realize he cares but in his heart he is overrun by guilt. Can Lavinia and Nicholas put aside their past to find happiness? Will Nicholas be able to find redemption and Lavinia be able to forgive?

The novel which takes place in 19th century England was an interesting read. While I enjoyed the writer's writing, I found the story to be quite frustrating and boring. For a woman, who people claim to be a "superior woman", she acts rather dumb and when she doesn't get her way; a spoiled child.  The plot seemed repetitive and seemed like the two main characters kept putting their ego over their hearts.