Amazon discontinued the ability to create images using their SiteStripe feature and in their infinite wisdom broke all previously created images on 12/31/23. Many blogs used this feature, including this one. Expect my archives to be a hot mess of broken book cover images until I can slowly comb through 20 years of archives to make corrections.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Expanding The TBR

I want to mention my mad lover for the publisher, Sourcebooks, who have really been gaining momentum (I think) in the romance market place. As a librarian, I'm a huge ho for reprints - and Sourcebooks endeared themselves to me with their massive run of Georgette Heyer reprints. People, you haven't seen pathetic until you've seen a Heyer book on a library shelf from 1937. Gross would be a good word to describe some of my library's Heyers. But besides the Heyers, Sourcebooks has also been publishing new romance fiction and later this year they're publishing a new book from Kathryne Kennedy, who garnered herself a nice readership thanks to her romance-fantasy Relics Of Merlin series.

My Unfair Lady by Kathryne Kennedy, ISBN 9781402229909, $6.99, Sourcebooks, Publication Date = December 1, 2009.

Description:
A wild west heiress, Summer Wine Lee knows that she's not an acceptable bride for her fiance's knickerbocker family. She grew up in an Arizona mining town, cares more for critters than people, carries a knife under her skirts, and, worst of all, she has a highly improper secret from her past. But she also has high hopes that a real English Duke can teach her how to be a lady…

Were it not for his father's gambling debts, the Duke of Monchester would never have stooped to civilize Summer. But the more time he spends with her, and the more social scrapes he has to rescue her from, the more he finds it impossible to change her into a proper lady. How could he, when he's falling in love with her just the way she is?

I'm sorta, kinda waffling on getting a copy of this for myself. I'm a sucker for the My Fair Lady plot, although this kind of sets off my "wacky hijinks" alarm. Also, between Sourcebooks calling this a "unusual historical romance" in their Fall 2009 catalog, "highly improper secret" mentioned in the back cover blurb, and Kennedy's previous releases, I'm wondering if there's a fantasy/paranormal element at play here. Which I'll admit, the prospect of that doesn't thrill me - but what the hell? I can't seem to get enough of this type of plot, and the western connection flips my switch. What's one more book in the ol' TBR anyway?

Oh, and that book cover just slays me. Is it wrong to fall in love with a street lamp I wonder?

Be sure to check out my Upcoming Historical Romance Wiki. If nothing else you'll get your book cover fix over there.

9 comments:

Kwana said...

No, it's not wrong at all. LOL.

Katiebabs a.k.a KB said...

Sourcebooks has a great line of authors. Can't wait to go to their workshop at RWA.
The cover is lovely.

LoriK said...

Huh, when I read "highly improper secret from her past" I just assumed that she's not a virgin.

Wendy said...

LoriK: That's what immediately thought too - and then the "unusual historical" label in the catalog threw me off. Nothing I hate more than being blindsided by the paranormal when the back cover copy gives no indication of the paranormal.

Certainly it doesn't sound "paranormal" but the "unusual" label along with Kennedy's backlist sorta makes me wonder....

I'm hoping I'll be able to dig up an excerpt at some point that will give me some clues :)

Marg said...

I have been reading quite a few Sourcebooks releases, and there are a few more upcoming that I really want as well, as they are releasing some great historical fiction. Over the last 12 months or so I think their covers have really improved as well.

Amy said...

Oh. Pretty cover! Sounds good too. And I can't spend too much time over on your wiki -- seriously, shiny!

Wendy said...

Marg and Amy: I'm a big fan of the Headless People cover trend. I know a lot of readers don't like them, but I'd rather have them headless than have some cheesy looking Fabio-wannabe leering back at me. Eww.

Becky said...

I have to agree with Amy, that is a pretty cover! Looks like a great book! I can't wait to check it out. I have been fascinated with historical fiction books lately that center around the old west- especially if romance is involved! I just finished reading The Shopkeeper by James D. Best, which is the reason why I am craving another book about the old west so badly- strong characters and lots of twists and turns. I can't wait for the next book to come out. In the meantime I am on the lookout for other great books in this genre- thanks for the great tip!

Tracy said...

How can you NOT fall in love with the cover. I was trying to read your post and my eye kept going to the cover!

The book actually sounds good. Let us know what you think if you do get it.