Tuesday, September 3, 2013

[Review + Excerpt]: "It Takes Two to Tangle"


Historical romance author  Theresa Romain is kicking off a new historical romance trilogy with the release of IT TAKES TWO TO TANGLE. In this passionate Regency take on the tale of Cyrano de Bergerac, a wounded ex-soldier has no luck with his courtship of the ton’s beauty until he begins receiving secret letters. But are they from the woman he imagines…or from her widowed companion, who just might be everything he dreams of?



Please join Theresa for a release-day Twitter party, featuring an hour of chat, Q&A, and prizes!


This excerpt stop is part of the IT TAKES TWO TO TANGLE Twitter party celebration and does not have its own giveaway. You can find the pre-registration event with full giveaway information at http://events.litconnect.com/twitter-party-it-takes-two-to-tangle-by-theresa-romain-historical-regency-romance/  Please note: This giveaway ends on 9/3 at 6pm EST.


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It Takes Two to Tangle by Thersea Romain
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 3, 2013)
Series: The Matchmaker Trilogy, 1
Genre: Historical Romance

WOOING THE WRONG WOMAN…
Henry Middlebrook is back from fighting Napoleon, ready to re-enter London society where he left it. Wounded and battle weary, he decides that the right wife is all he needs. Selecting the most desirable lady in the ton, Henry turns to her best friend and companion to help him with his suit…

IS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE…

Young and beautiful, war widow Frances Whittier is no stranger to social intrigue. She finds Henry Middlebrook courageous and manly, unlike the foppish aristocrats she is used to, and is inspired to exercise her considerable wit on his behalf. But she may be too clever for her own good, and Frances discovers that she has set in motion a complicated train of events that’s only going to break her own heart…







Where to Buy*:
More Info:


My Review:







Only a very special book can make you fall in love with a genre again. It Takes Two to Tangle did just that, rekindling my love of historical romance. Theresa Romain has a talent, a rare ability to blend beautiful writing, great characters, delicious banter and a lovely romance, all in one perfect package.

ITTtT is simply beautiful, inside and out; the cover sweeps you away to Regency England as does the story contained inside. Within a few chapters, I knew it was to be a favorite of mine, and I look forward to enjoying Romain's books again in the future.

I loved how the sparks flew between Henry and Frances. There were more than a few such passages that I marked, though I won't be sharing them today, as they were fairly long--sorry! You shall just have to trust me--if you love wit and banter in your romance (and who doesn't?) then you will love this book!

As wonderful as the story and characters are, it is Romain's writing that captured my attention the most. She has a way of writing that turns a seemingly simple scene into a powerful one. Take this one, for example:

He twisted his living left hand beneath her right--she thought at first to free it from her grasp. But he simply rotated it, placing his hand palm to palm with hers. Fingers wrapped around fingers, their sensitive pads awakening each other with pressure as light as the feather on a quill. The contact was simple, everyday, yet almost unbearably intimate.


And it was too uncertain; it could mean everything or nothing. A naked hand to a naked hand was a pact between business partners, a promise between friends, a beginning for lovers.


Truly, her writing is gorgeous and it made me feel as if I were there with Frances and Henry. Well done, Ms. Romain, and thank you for this delightful story!


 4.5 STARS!



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I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

*Note: The quote used belongs to Theresa Romain; TBQ's Book Palace does not claim it.

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Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest, where she is working on her next book. This September, she’ll begin a new historical romance trilogy with IT TAKES TWO TO TANGLE. In October, her third holiday historical romance—SEASON FOR SCANDAL—will be released.



Where to Find Theresa:





I'm happy to be part of today's tour--please enjoy this excerpt!




It Takes Two to Tangle by Theresa Romain
Excerpt


“Your cheeks are turning pink.”


Frances frowned and covered them with her hands. “So? It’s hot today.”


“Fine, lie to me.” Caroline reached down an arm and patted around on the floor until she found her Lady’s Magazine. “I’ll just read about Pomona green and wait for the callers to start coming. We’ll just have an ordinary day. We’ll get far too many roses and we’ll feed the blooms to the carriage horses. I wish for nothing else in the world.”


“Nor do I.”


Caroline rolled her magazine into a tube and batted Frances on the head. “Lies, lies, and more lies. I count on your advice, you know. If you’re only going to tell me what you think I want to hear, I won’t want to hear it anymore.”


Frances rubbed at the top of her head and scooted on the floor out of Caroline’s reach. “Right now I’m thinking of something you won’t want to hear.”


“Likewise.” Her cousin waggled the rolled-up magazine. “Tell. Henry. You. Wrote. The. Letters.”


Frances stood and brushed off her skirts. “So we’re back to that? Listen to me, Caroline. I’m not going to tell him.”


She sighed and sank back into her chair, not caring that she rumpled her embroidery. “I can’t tell him. Not after seeing how delighted he was to receive a letter he thought was from you. He said…” She made herself smile. “He said he’d been thinking about leaving London, but your letter convinced him to stay.”


Caroline’s mouth went slack. “What in God’s name did you put in that letter? It must have been some sort of magical incantation.”


“I don’t recall, exactly. Just something that let him know I enjoyed his company.” She gave a mirthless laugh. “But he didn’t enjoy mine, did he? I signed it as ‘a friend,’ and he decided that meant you because your friendship was the one he wanted. He might have welcomed my words, but they held no power until he linked them with your name.”


Caroline had shoved herself upright on the sofa. Under her crown of golden hair, her ocean-green eyes were huge and bright, and her mouth sagged.


“Don’t make your lost-kitten face at me.” Frances covered her eyes. “That’s not fair. I’m not even going to look at you until you stop.”


“Oh, fine.” Caroline’s voice sounded normal, but when Frances lifted her face, the countess still looked a little distressed. “I know you don’t like that expression, but the feeling’s real enough. I absolutely hate that you think you aren’t everything he wants. And I hate him a little bit for making you feel that way.”




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I've said it already in my review, but I will say it again--this was a beautiful romance, and I very much enjoyed reading it! 

I have one in my TBR pile, which I won from SmartBitch Sarah last year, actually, and I cannot wait to read it. I am trying to restrain myself though, as it is part of a series and I do not have the previous books....


Have you read any of Theresa Romain's books? Do you have a favorite? How about a favorite historical romance, one that either started your love for the genre or, as this one did with me, rekindled that love?




Don't forget to join today's Twitter party! :)

And be sure to check out the rest of the tour:









Enjoy!



Until Next Time,


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  *TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

3 comments :

Theresa Romain said...

Thank you so much for hosting me today! What a lovely review. I'm so glad you liked ITTTT.

The_Book_Queen said...

Ah, thanks, Theresa! Please know that you are always welcome back to the blog!
Enjoy,
TBQ

Pat Egan Fordyce said...

That cover is amazing! The red of that dress, not to mention how beautiful it is jumps out at you!! I love "banter" so of course I have to put this book on my list! Thanks TBQ...great review!