Why read poetry when you can read romance?

That is a joke. Really. Poetry is a wonderful thing. And April is national poetry month, so you really should read some poetry and contemplate the beauty of language.

However poetry, for me, is dense and chewy. Or it's full of hidden meanings that stay hidden from my very practical and prosaic brain.

A straightforward romance novel is the perfect escape from the daily grind. And since my house has been full to the rafters with company for the past two weeks, romance has been what has been needed.

Today I bring you the review of two lovely romance novels. One a mild, romantic suspense. And the other is a delightful confection, a choose your own adventure novel. Enjoy!

The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick

Adelaide Blake is insane. Or is she? Wrongly confined to a sanitarium, Adelaide manages to escape and hides herself in Burning Cove. There, she works at a tea shop and custom blends soothing herbals for the rich and famous who flock to the idyllic seaside town to relax. Adelaide meets many people who aren’t what they seem and when her past finds her, she must find someone to trust to help her solve the mysterious and dangerous events surrounding her.

Everything about this romantic suspense by Amanda Quick was appealing. The novel is set in the 1930’s on the California coast. There is glitz, glamour and mystery. The tone was almost reminiscent of a Victoria Holt novel. And while there is some swearing, violence and intimate contact, the novel overall is quite mild. Not gentle but close and that is refreshing.

The plot-- beautiful, intelligent young heiress who is confined to benefit not one but two villains, was what originally attracted me to this title. I enjoyed the story and while the concept was intriguing, I felt it was a little formulaic. The suspense wasn’t truly suspenseful. Even with these minor issues I felt The Other Lady Vanishes was a fun read and I would recommend it to library patrons looking for a mild suspense. 3 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Lady’s Choosing by Kitty Curran and Melissa Zageris

Recently, a friend of mine and I were talking about how much fun choose your own adventure novels were when we were kids and we wondered why they weren't written for adults.  When I saw a romance choose your own adventure, or interactive novel, was being published I was intrigued and more than a little curious. I am pleased to say that My Lady's Choosing delivered in every possible way. I had so much fun reading this and I can’t wait to go back and explore every possible storyline.

You, the reader star as the impoverished and downtrodden heroine who is forced by impecunious circumstances to act as companion to the suitably vile, Lady Craven. She forces you to attend her at a ball in a perfectly horrid mustard yellow frock at least 20 years out of date. At the ball, you meet a handful of perfectly intriguing gentleman and then your choices direct your adventures. From the slums of London to the Yorkshire moors, you choose where in the world you will travel for romance and adventure.

The heroes are wonderful caricatures of characters like Mr. Darcy, Heathcliffe and Jamie Frasier. The drama is broad and the humor is very, very tongue in cheek. I laughed quarts. If you want an authentic period piece with overtones of Austen, this might not be your cup of tea. However, if you want a delightful romp, check out My Lady’s Choosing. It’s absolutely delicious!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

And I know I promised you a review of Exo by Fonda Lee. Have no fear, it's coming. As soon as the rest of my company departs, I will gather my thoughts.