Bloomin' April: Unusual Historicals Poppin' in April 2022

Y'all, it's April. April?! I'm not sure how this has happened but 2022 seems to have picked up all the steam of a runaway freight train.  Case in point, I dragged my feet just a wee bit on culling through the Unusual Historicals offerings for this month and good Lord this post took me forever to draft. I mean, LOOK AT ALL THESE TITLES?!  It's a cornucopia.  Grab yourself a nice beverage, sit back and enjoy!

 

Death of a Sorcerer by Jeannie Lin (short story, Kindle Unlimited)

The sequel novella to The Hidden Moon and prequel to Red Blossom in Snow. 

Newly married Constable Gao and Wei-wei have just begun their lives together when they're faced with the death of a Taoist sorcerer during Ghost Month. 

As mysterious occurrences arise during the investigation, are they truly receiving a message from the spirit world? Or is Gao's dark past finally catching up to them, threatening their chance for happiness?

Let's start off this month's post with a gift from Jeannie Lin - yes, it's currently only available via Amazon, but even if you don't have KU, it's currently free (at the time of this posting). This short story is tucked in the middle of the Lotus Palace Mysteries timeline, being a sequel to The Hidden Moon.

Jack of All Trades by Kate Pearce

When the brash railway contractor Elijah Hepworth and his rowdy crew of navvies arrive in Millcastle the town is divided between those who embrace the possibility of change and those who want things to remain the same. Alice Collins, who has recently come to live at Grafton Hall, knows which side she’d prefer to be on, but Mr. Hepworth obviously has other ideas. When the comfortable, safe existence Alice hoped for is snatched from her grasp, will she accept an offer from a man who never claims to be a gentleman, but who might be what she needed all along? 

I could write something pithy here about this fourth book in the author's Millcastle series, but why not crib what the author herself wrote on her website about this book?  "I loved writing this one because the hero isn’t an aristocrat, and he has no desire to become one. He’s hardworking, brutally honest and when he decides he wants something he’ll go all out to achieve his aim. The nice thing is that the heroine is so much more than he bargained for, and he has to grovel quite a bit at the end to get his HEA." 👀

Crying Wolfe by Kerrigan Byrne

He’s the man with the Midas touch… 

Elijah Wolfe is just as ruthless and aggressive as his name suggests. Born in harsh Nevada desert, he used his sharp wits and sharper fists to fight for survival mining ore for terrible men... Until one day he struck gold, literally. Despite his unimaginable wealth, his heart is empty of trust and his world full of enemies. He’s come to England searching for a priceless treasure once stolen from him and is prepared to ruin anyone who gets in his way. 

She’s a thief with a heart of gold… 

Rosaline Goode’s callous father left her nothing but a legacy of shame. Instead of worrying about the women gossiping behind their fans, or the cruelty of eligible men, she spends her nights avoiding society and mapping the stars. That is until absurd circumstances find her, nearly naked, in the home of the famously unscrupulous, lethal American whose name is on everyone's lips. 

The promise of plunder… 

Succumbing to a shotgun wedding is the worst thing Eli can imagine, but if it is what he must do to get what he wants, then so be it. Except now, all the arguments he’d made against the marriage are becoming enticements. His new wife is too young. Too small, sheltered, soft, and sensitive for a man forged in the mines and tempered in the desert heat. If theirs is a Devil’s bargain, then why does her shy touch take him to heaven?

A ruthless hero obsessed with reclaiming a priceless treasure finds himself leg-shackled to a heroine that society loves to snicker and gossip about. The latest in the author's Goode Girls series, features some catnip many romance readers are helpless to resist - the Alphahole hero knocked upside the head by love.

Lady Armstrong's Scandalous Awakening by Marguerite Kaye 

Hers was a body of marble… 

Until he brought it to life 

After her tyrannical late husband ruined her reputation, Lady Mercy Armstrong is longing to reinvent herself. The perfect opportunity presents itself when rebellious self-made man Jack Dalmuir has a daring proposition—a fake dalliance that will change society’s view of her! Only, cavorting with the handsome Scotsman ignites a passion that could change both their lives forever…

This second book in the author's Revelations of the Carstairs Sisters series sounds like it should be subtitled: How the Victorian Lady Got her Groove Thang Back.  Although from the sounds of it, she never had much of a groove to begin with. Added bonus that our hero is a self-made man!

Winning Back His Duchess by Amanda McCabe 

An invitation to Venice… 

To save their marriage! 

Suggesting divorce to her estranged husband, Jamie, Duke of Byson, takes all of Rose Wilkins’s courage. Years of distance and heartbreak have taken a toll—she needs a new start. But Jamie won’t hear of divorce, because of the scandal alone. His counteroffer is a trip to Venice… 

Might discovering Venice’s delights together rekindle the still-simmering desire that drew Rose to Jamie as a starry-eyed young American heiress?

Y'all I am HERE for Victorians and this third book in McCabe's Dollar Duchesses series gives us a not-often-seen Marriage in Trouble trope in a historical, and a trip to Venice in a last ditch effort to save a crumbling marriage and themselves from ruin.

The Knight's Tempting Ally by Ella Matthews

A knight’s enemy...

Becomes his closest ally… 

Knight Theo Grenville will do whatever it takes to discover who’s plotting against his king. So befriending—and even romancing—his target’s middle daughter, Medea, is merely part of his sworn duty. But what isn’t? Falling under the spell of a woman who’s anything but plain in his eyes! Yet every day they become closer, the more torn he is between his allegiance to his king and his heart…

Matthews' second book in her The King's Knights trilogy features a spin on the Big Secret trope I can never say no to - the hero on a mission to uncover the truth who slithers his way next to the heroine to gain access to the information he needs (unbeknownst to her).  Added bonus if the heroine is described as plain, overlooked, and/or generally dismissed out of hand by those around her. 

The Highlander's Stolen Bride by Madeline Martin

From dutiful bride… 

To the laird’s unwilling hostage! 

Kidnapping Elspeth MacMillan on her way to an arranged marriage is the only way for new laird Calum Campbell to avoid more bloodshed and bargain peace for his people. Calum expects her fury but doesn’t expect the feisty lass to break through his defenses into his heart. With war waging between their families, will they ever be able to yield to love?

 

The final book in the multi-author Highland Alliances trilogy finds our hero kidnapping the heroine in a bid to broker peace (OK, sure my dude) and getting more than he bargained for when he starts falling for her.  Will these romance heroes never learn? The surest way to find yourself hitched is deciding to kidnap someone. If you won't to stay single, just don't do it!

Conveniently Wed to a Spy by Helen Dickson 

A daredevil rescue… 

An unexpected reunion Imprisoned during the French Revolution, English spy Lord Laurence Beaumont is finally rescued—by the courageous, beautiful Delphine St. Clair. Back home in Cornwall, Laurence has no interest in the convenient marriage offered by a local landowner—until he discovers the bride is Delphine! With intense memories of their liaison dangereuse in Paris, Laurence knows theirs will be an unconventional union…but can he keep his promise never to be a spy again?

And finally, brace yourself kidddies - a stand-alone book!  I know, it's a little shocking!  There's not a lot of 18th century romances these days, and when you do see one it usually involves Scotland and the Battle of Culloden.  Here we've got the French Revolution (!) and a heroine with enough moxie to save the hero from certain death. 

Whew! That was a marathon!  What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to?

March Series Madness: Unusual Historicals Landing in March 2022

There's that old saying about March roaring in like a lion and I don't know about you all but it can roar all it wants, I'm too busy trying to keep my head above water. Between a romance reading slump (That might be starting to loosen it's grip on me? Jury is still out...) and The Day Job being very busy, unless it's raining locusts from the sky (which given the last couple of years - maybe I should hedge my bets?), I'm unlikely to notice the weather, roaring or otherwise. What I am still noticing is Unusual Historicals and this is the month for you if you love series (which, if you don't, you better learn to because romance is full of 'em).  Here's the March releases that caught my eye.

 

Red Blossom in Snow by Jeannie Lin

Magistrate Li Chen harbors a secret. One that could destroy his hard-earned reputation, as well as his growing passion for the talented courtesan, Song Yi.

Li Chen’s duty to his family and the Emperor must come before the desires of his heart, but when a stranger to the city is found dead near the House of Heavenly Peaches, where Song Yi is indentured, the complicated nature of their relationship becomes the least of his troubles. 

For Song Yi, Magistrate Li’s gentlemanly, late night conversations provide a welcome change from the games of courtship she is accustomed to, but his reserved attention won’t pay the bills. When one of her courtesan-sisters goes missing at the same time a stranger is killed in the pleasure quarter, she and Li Chen embark on an investigation as well as a passionate affair. But the riddle they uncover goes deeper than they could have imagined, and mysteries from their pasts may shatter any hope for the future.

This is the 5th book in Lin's Lotus Palace Mysteries series - and pfft mysteries. Yes, sure we've got a mystery but these are also romances. What Lin does very well is write "longing." Bless her, her characters excel at "pining."  I'm a sucker for pining.  This one sounds great - a magistrate falls for an indentured courtesan and they become embroiled in a mystery. Ah, forbidden, complicated passion. Gimme, gimme, gimme.

The Marquess Makes His Move by Diana Quincy

The new footman doesn’t seem to know his place… 

London’s most renowned mapmaker is a woman...but nobody knows it. If anyone discovers that Rose Fleming is the power and talent behind the family business, the scandal could ruin them. Rose’s secret is tested by the arrival of a handsome new footman who shows far too much interest in his new mistress. Rose battles an intense attraction to the enigmatic servant, but maintaining a proper distance isn’t easy when you and temptation live under the same roof. 

She makes him forget he has a score to settle… Few have met the reclusive half-Arab Marquess of Brandon, who is rumored to live with a harem of beauties among his mother’s people near Jerusalem. Brandon couldn’t care less what society thinks of him, or that his fellow peers are disdainful of his common blood, but he won’t stand for being robbed. That’s why he's disguised himself as a footman in the home of a respected mapmaker who cheated Brandon out of his land. But the nobleman's plans for retribution are complicated by his growing attraction for the secretive lady of the house. 

When Brandon uncovers the shocking truth about Rose’s role in his stolen birthright, can a love born of deception really conquer all?

This is the third book in Clandestine Affairs series and repeat after me: THE HEROINE IS A MAPMAKER!  And naturally the fact that she's a mapmaker and keeping the family business afloat must be kept secret otherwise? OMG SCANDAL!  So what does our girl do? She falls for the footman. Because of course she does.  But the footman turns out to not be a footman but instead a Marquess with a stolen birthright. Because, of course. Welcome to Romancelandia y'all! 

A Duke, the Spy, an Artist, and a Lie by Vanessa Riley

For adventurous heiress Cecilia Charity Thomas, marrying charming military lieutenant Viscount Gantry to save him from danger—and herself from mercenary suitors—was a painful mistake. Instead of a passionate life together, she's stranded at his chilly mansion with his unaccepting family. Worse, she finds he is actually a spy dedicated to duty over wedlock—and secrets over trust. So when she hears her sister has been driven to her death, Cecilia is determined to expose the powerful man responsible. Assisted by The Widow's Grace, she flees to Covent Garden with a new identity. But can she elude her formidable husband—even as the desire between them continues to flare even hotter? 

 Always calm, forever controlled, Gantry has put everything aside to hunt down the traitor who nearly killed him. It’s only when Cecilia leaves that he realizes his real duty should have been to her. As she continually outwits him through London's most perilous streets, Gantry realizes his wife is a resourceful, courageous woman he longs to truly know. But when her pursuit threatens influential enemies, will his and Cecilia's only chance to gain justice separate them once and for all?

After taking a victory lap with her historical fiction novel Island Queen, Riley is back with the third book in her Rogues and Remarkable Women series. This time out the secret society, The Widow's Grace, help our heroine temporarily escape her disaster of a convenient marriage to seek vengeance against the man she believes is responsible for her sister's death.  And naturally, that's exactly the moment her erstwhile husband realizes what's really important in life - namely, her. 

The Highlander's Tactical Marriage by Jenni Fletcher

A strategic marriage… 

…with his runaway bride! 

Coira Barron is the last woman Fergus MacMillan would choose to marry—he’s never forgiven her for running away with another man on the eve of their wedding six years ago. Now an alliance with widowed Coira is crucial, and Fergus is shocked to discover his new wife is nowhere near as disloyal as he believed. Protecting her and his clan are his priority, but can he protect his own heart?

The second book in the multi-author Highland Alliances trilogy finds our hero reuniting with the woman who jilted him at the altar six years ago to, yep you guessed it, to try that walk down the aisle thing again. She's now, naturally, a widow. Alliance aside, he's unthrilled with the idea only to realize that what he thinks he knows is really not the case.

To Wed A Viking Warrior by Michelle Styles 

 

A convenient marriage 

Could save them both… 

Battle-weary Viking Lord Hafual plans to tend his lands, raise his son and recover from the traumatic death of his wife. So nobody is more surprised than him when his neighbor, Lady Elene, publicly announces their intention to wed! Learning the danger Elene faces if he refuses stirs feelings of protectiveness, and a longing in Hafual he’d long since buried. So, for better or worse, he’ll make Elene his bride…

Styles is back with the third book in her Vows and Vikings series and our battle-weary Viking hero is ready for a break. He's grieving for a dead wife and he's got a young son to take care of. So imagine his surprise when the heroine shows up and announces to all and sundry they're to be wed!  Gotta love a resourceful heroine, she's in danger, she needs a protector, and she's going to leverage one into service.

What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to?

Unusual Historical Bonanza for September 2020

Publishing is a fickle mistress. Some months I’m scraping the depths of the Interwebs to find a handful of unusual historical titles and other months it’s an explosion of confetti being shot out of an air cannon. Since September is an air cannon month, I’ll stop blathering on so we can get to the goodness. 

The Hidden Moon by Jeannie Lin 

A well-bred lady and lowly street hustler team up in a historical murder mystery set during China's glittering Tang Dynasty. Part of the best-selling Lotus Palace series. 

Impetuous and well-educated, young Lady Bai has always been the forgotten daughter between two favored sons. However, when Wei-wei's older brother is tasked with investigating a high-profile assassination, he turns to his clever younger sister for assistance. 

Gao is a street-wise scoundrel with a checkered past and a shady reputation. He knows better than to set his sights on the high-born Lady Bai, but when she asks for his help, he can't refuse. 

As the unlikely pair chase down a conspiracy that reaches from the gutters of the capital to the imperial palace, Wei-wei is intent on seeing justice done, while Gao is determined to solve the mystery just for her – even if the attraction between them can never be more than a moment's longing. 

OK, so this was a very late release in August that I missed with last month’s column, but no way in heck was I not going to highlight a new Jeannie Lin historical. This is the fourth story in her Lotus Palace series, the highly anticipated romance featuring Wei-Wei and Gao. 

The Venetian and the Rum Runner by L.A. Witt 

New York City, 1924 

Once their paths cross, their worlds will never be the same. 

Danny Moore and his crew only meant to rob the hotel suites of rich guests. He wasn’t supposed to find himself in gangster Ricky il Sacchi’s room. And il Sacchi wasn’t supposed to wind up dead. Now Danny has the attention of another notorious gangster. 

Carmine Battaglia is intrigued by the Irish thieves who would have made off with a huge score if not for il Sacchi’s death. They’re cunning, careful, and exactly what he needs for his rum running operation. But Danny’s already lost two brothers to the violence between New York’s Irish and Sicilian gangs, and he’s not about to sell his soul to Carmine. 

With a gangster’s blood on his hands, Danny needs protection, whether he likes it or not. And that’s to say nothing of the generous pay, which promises to pull him and his crew—not to mention their families—out of destitution. 

Working together brings Danny and Carmine to a détente, then to something so intense neither can ignore it. Something nearly enough to make them both forget the brutal tensions between their countrymen. 

But the death of Ricky il Sacchi hasn’t been forgotten. And someone is determined to make Danny bleed for it. 

Criminals as romantic protagonists is always a dicey proposition for me, but it can (and often does) work for me in the Prohibition era. Plus I’d be flat-out lying if I didn’t say the prospect of an Italian mobster and an Irish thief didn’t intrigue the heck out of me. 

Sleeping with the Enemy by Jackie Barbosa 

When Mrs. Laura Farnsworth discovers the blood-stained body of a man wearing the distinctive red coat of the British army, her first instinct is to let dead dogs lie. It has, after all, been just two days since the Battle of Plattsburgh, and the disposition of enemy corpses is hardly her purview. But then the man proves himself to be very much alive by grabbing her ankle and mumbling incoherently. 

After almost twenty-five years in His Majesty’s service, Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Langston never expected to wake up in heaven, much less being tended by an angel. But when he regains consciousness in the presence of a beautiful, dark-haired woman and with no memory of how he came to be there, what else can he think? Except it’s rather odd for an angel to have an American accent.  

As the long-widowed Laura nurses the wounded Geoffrey back to health, the attraction between them heats from a simmer to a boil. Bound by his oath to the British crown, Geoffrey should be working to find his way back to his regiment and from there, to England. Instead, he’s sleeping with the enemy…and thereby committing the crime of desertion if not treason. But then, who’s going to find out? 

If only Geoffrey didn’t have a family back home who refuse to take “missing in action” for an answer. 

The fourth book in Barbosa’s Lords of Lancashire series opens up just a few days after the Battle of Plattsburgh, a decisive victory for the Americans during the War of 1812. This era is criminally underrepresented in historical romance, and we’ve got a literal enemy-to-lovers romance with some amnesia thrown in for good measure. 

Once Dishonored by Mary Jo Putney 

A man who has lost his honor has nothing . . . 

London, 1816. As a Royal Navy officer, Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, has fought his share of battles on the high seas, followed by long years of imprisonment. But on this night, he’d rather be on the burning deck of a ship than in a ballroom, where it is just a matter of time before someone challenges him because of what happened on the Continent. 

A woman who has lost her reputation is nothing . . . 

When dark-haired beauty Kendra Douglas arrives, a whisper of scandal ripples through the ton. The disgraced divorcee’s entrance is an act of daring. Which is exactly why Lucas asks her to dance . . . 

A couple who stands together has everything . . . 

Unexpectedly, Lucas offers Kendra his aid in finding the evidence to regain her good name—and her beloved young son. Together they investigate the wicked conspiracy that destroyed her life, and in the midst of danger, find a deep love that will redeem them both—if only they can live long enough to build a future together. 

Dude. The heroine is wearing pants and boots on the cover. This fifth book in Putney’s Rogue’s Redeemed series features quite possibly my favorite trope EVER in romance - the heroine of dubious reputation. OMG, and she’s divorced. Just inject this one right into my eyeballs. 

Sin Incarnate by Isobel Carr (Kindle Unlimited) 

Six Nights Of Pleasure… 

Georgianna Exley's passionate nature has always been her undoing—and for this reason the beautiful young widow allows her lovers only a single night in her bed. No man will ever have the right to dictate to her; to presume he owns her. 

But Ivo Dauntry has at last come home to England, and for he'll settle for nothing less than one night for every year he’s given up for her...and soon, his daring seduction becomes a sensual contest of wills Georgianna is all too willing to lose. 

But the long-ago duel that bound them forever has repercussions neither of them could ever have foreseen, and once again, Ivo must risk everything, this time to save the woman he loves… 

Originally published as Lord Sin under the name Kalen Hughes, Carr graces us with self-published editions of her lusty Georgian romances (Scandal Incarnate is also available this month). Like the War of 1812, Georgians are harder to find in the historical romance universe, a crying shame in my opinion because if Prince taught us anything it’s that men in heels can be damn sexy. 

A Forbidden Liaison with Miss Grant by Marguerite Kaye 

An unexpected encounter… 

Will change everything! 

Self-made gentleman and widower Grayson Maddox has devoted himself to his children and business, leaving no time for pleasure. Until he has an impulsive, thrillingly sensual encounter with lady’s companion Miss Constance Grant! Their passion gives Grayson hope of a happiness he never thought he’d feel again. But there’s still much in both their pasts to confront before they can turn their forbidden liaison into a new beginning… 

Kaye’s latest takes place in 1822 Edinburgh at the height of preparations for King George IV’s historic visit. The Highland Clearances also play a role in the story - the school teacher heroine now out of a job and homeless when her village is wiped out to make room for sheep. That’s all very interesting, but wait for it - there’s more. Both the protagonists are in their 40s. That’s right. No foolin’. Please for the love of all that is holy buy this on principle at the very least. 

Redeeming Her Viking Warrior by Jenni Fletcher 

He’s sworn celibacy… 

Until he gets vengeance! 

Danr Sigurdsson is indebted to the captivating, mysterious healer living alone in the wilderness who carefully tends his wounds. Consumed with anguish over the massacre that killed his family, Danr has sworn not to touch another woman until he finds those responsible. So resisting Sissa should be easy, but as they search for the truth, fighting their mutual attraction becomes the hardest battle… 

Harlequin is rolling along with the Sons of Sigurd series, with Fletcher contributing this fourth book. A hero who takes a vow of celibacy until he fulfills his mission of vengeance? And of course our lovely heroine gets thrown into his path? Gah! Sign me up! 

The Silk Merchant’s Convenient Wife by Elisabeth Hobbes 

A convenient marriage 

An inconvenient passion… 

His parents’ loveless relationship has left silk merchant Jonathan Harcourt suspicious of marriage. But in order to expand his mill and have an heir, he must marry his neighbour Aurelia Upford. Even more surprising than finding himself with a clever, beautiful society wife is the unexpected passion that flares between them, and the unsettling emotions it leads to. Sharing a bed was part of their arrangement, but can Jonathan risk sharing his heart, too? 

Hobbes takes a break from medievals to give readers an early Victorian set romance between a silk merchant (a tradesman!) entering into a marriage of convenience with a proper society heroine. I’ve enjoyed Hobbes’ medievals and can’t wait to see what she does in a very different time period. 

The Flapper’s Scandalous Elopement by Lauri Robinson 

With this ring… 

They’re temporarily wed! 

Heiress Jane Dryer will do anything to escape her controlling father and the life of domestic drudgery he decrees—even elope with the handsome stranger she meets in a speakeasy! Wealthy railroad owner David Albright needs a temporary wife and Jane needs her independence, so the plan is to marry, then walk away. Only very soon, their fake marriage feels seductively real! 

Sister #3 in Robinson’s Sisters of the Roaring Twenties series is up to bat - and our heiress heroine elopes with a stranger who turns out to be a wealthy railroad owner. I just, where do I sign up for these kinds of problems? I’m here for it. 

What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to?

Retro Wendy: The “I Only See You” Scene in Jeannie Lin’s My Fair Concubine

This post originally ran on Heroes & Heartbreakers on August 7, 2012 and was part of their Delicious Despair series - posts that talked about emotional "rip your guts out" moments in romances.

When I settle in to read a romance I always hope for two things: 1) that I’ll enjoy the story and 2) that the author will rip my guts out. I love emotional angst. I love moments of delicious despair where the characters are figuratively bleeding on the page. Moments where it seems like all hope is lost, that there is no way to break free. Those are the moments that feed my insatiable appetite for the genre, and it’s such a moment that makes My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin so emotionally satisfying. 

Chang Fei Long is a man who is trying to clean up a mess his now deceased father has left behind. In order to do that, he needs to keep the financial turmoil of his house under wraps and secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom by marrying off his younger sister. The rub is that sister has no desire to enter into this arranged marriage and takes off to be with her true love. Fei Long needs this marriage to happen and since the man arranging it has never met his sister? Why not replace her with a lowly tea house girl? It’s win-win. His family escapes ruin, and Yan Ling, a girl with no future or prospects, gets to live the life of a princess.

What follows is a story set to the Pygmalion theme—a My Fair Lady that takes place in Tang dynasty China. Naturally, as tends to happen with stories of this nature, teacher and pupil end up being attracted to each other, and falling in love. It’s especially poignant here because Fei Long literally has his back up against a wall. This marriage has to take place. If it doesn’t? He’s doomed. His household is doomed. His name, his family’s name, will mean less than dirt. So he feels he must deny his feelings for Yan Ling.

“I think of you, Yan Ling, more than I should.” A wave of longing struck him. “When I see your face at night, I don’t see the tea girl or the elegant lady. I only see you.”  

He could see her now, even though he couldn’t face her.  

“I think of you, too.”  

Her soft confession nearly unraveled him. He had to get this out and be done with it.  

“If I acted on these feelings, if I…if I took what I wanted, it would be an abuse of authority. You’re under my care. That was what I meant when I spoke of our positions. I won’t treat you like that.” His mouth twisted. “As if you’re here for my pleasure.”  

The whisper of silk told him Yan Ling had risen. She approached him while he counted each step with the thundering beat of his heart.  

“You told me I wasn’t your servant,” she said.  

“You aren’t, but that doesn’t change who I am.”  

He turned before she could reach him and took a step away. They had to keep their distance. Yan Ling came closer anyway.  

“The only hours of the day when I’m truly awake…” her lower lip trembled “….are when I’m with you.” 

Not only is it poignant and emotionally draining, it seems so final. How the couple is able to find their way through this moment, a moment that seems to brook no argument, is what makes the happy ending that much sweeter. That, ladies and gentlemen, is romance.

The Sword Dancer

What I enjoy about Jeannie Lin's historicals is how accessible she makes the history - Tang Dynasty China - to ignorant westerners like myself.  What I know about Chinese history couldn't fill a thimble, but while I'm reading her stories I never feel lost, bored, confused or indifferent to the surroundings the characters live in.  The Sword Dancer continues with this tradition, and gives readers a more action-packed story compared to last year's more quietly restrained My Fair Concubine.

Li Feng is a sword dancer, traveling with various troupes, and making her living performing.  Well, sort of.  She's also fallen in with a rough crowd and was part of a jade and gold heist.  It was a sizable enough fortune, on its way to a powerful man, that she's now caught the interest of one of the most feared thief-catchers in the area - Zheng Hao Han.  This guy is so good at his job, so well-known for bringing in notorious bandits, tall-tales of his exploits abound.  I mean, everybody knows this guy.  Now it seems he's dead-set on bringing Li Feng in.  Too bad she's not willing.  Looking for answers, hoping to unravel the mystery of her past, she's got no time to indulge a thief-catcher - no matter how handsome he is.

Lin has written stories in both urban and frontier settings, which has brought to mind how similar her Tang Dynasty playground is to the historical American west.  Nowhere is that more evident than in this story.  You have a thief-catcher (bounty hunter, Texas Ranger, sheriff etc.) going after a bandit (outlaw, criminal, cattle rustler etc.), with themes of redemption (for both Han and Li Feng) and revenge (Li Feng's unknown past) playing heavily into the plot.

For most of this story the characters are drawn together just as they are working at cross-purposes.  Han has a strict moral code and a very defined definition of right vs. wrong and justice.  The irony is that thief-catchers, while a necessity to law and order of the land, are not highly thought of.  It was a blow to Han's father (a magistrate) when his eldest son chucked his scholarly studies aside to chase after wanted criminals.  So while Han may be somewhat of a legend to many, he's still a shadowy figure.  The way he lives, the way he makes his way in the world?  It's not exactly revered.

Li Feng wants answers, having lost her parents at such a young age that she's struggling to find out what happened to them.  All she has is a piece of jade her mother left her.  She doesn't know her true name, she doesn't know anything about her family, and given that she was only a toddler at the time, has very vague memories of anything prior to her life before meeting her shifu.  Naturally she's not happy to have Han chasing after her, but soon they find themselves not only working together, but drawn to each other.  Never mind that the attraction could be nothing but disastrous for both of them.

I enjoyed this story a lot.  There's plenty of action packed in the pages to keep the story chugging forward, and the forbidden nature of the romance makes for some delicious moments of angst.  Lin has always done well placing strong emotional moments in her stories, moments where you really bleed for the characters and know exactly what they're feeling, going through, and tormented by.  Li Feng and Han may start out as doomed lovers, destined to never find their way to their happy ending, but Lin makes it work, gives us our happy ending, and in such a way that it's completely plausible.

Final Grade = B

Unusual Historical Spotlight: Woo-Woo, Edwardian, Retro France, Hero Of Color, San Francisco, Gambling Man, & China

The Guardian's Witch by Ruth A. Casie - Carina Press - July 1, 2013 - Digital Only

Description:

England, 1290

Lord Alex Stelton can't resist a challenge, especially one with a prize like this: protect a castle on the Scottish border for a year, and it's his. Desperate for land of his own, he'll do anything to win the estate--even enter a proxy marriage to Lady Lisbeth Reynolds, the rumored witch who lives there.

Feared and scorned for her second sight, Lisbeth swore she'd never marry, but she is drawn to the handsome, confident Alex. She sees great love with him but fears what he would think of her gift and her visions of a traitor in their midst.

Despite his own vow never to fall in love, Alex can't get the alluring Lisbeth out of his mind and is driven to protect her when attacks begin on the border. But as her visions of danger intensify, Lisbeth knows it is she who must protect him. Realizing they'll secure their future only by facing the threat together, she must choose between keeping her magic a secret and losing the man she loves.

What Makes It Unusual: It's a medieval!  Also looks like we have some paranormal woo-woo, so if you like your historicals straight-up that might be a deal-breaker.

In the Arms of an Heiress by Maggie Robinson - Berkley - July 2, 2013

Description:

Independent heiress Louisa Stratton is going home to Rosemont for the holidays, and at the family’s request, she’s bringing her new husband—Maximillian Norwich, art connoisseur and artful lover, the man she’s written of so glowingly. There’s one hitch—he doesn’t exist. Louisa needs a fake husband, and fast, to make the proper impression.

Charles Cooper, captain of the Boer War and far from silver spoons or gilded cages, is so hard up that even this crazy scheme appeals to him. It’s only thirty days, not till death do them part. What’s so difficult about impersonating a husband, even if he doesn’t know a Rembrandt from a Rousseau?

The true difficulty is keeping his hands off Louisa once there’s nobody around to see their ruse. And then there’s the small problem of someone at Rosemont trying to kill him. Keeping his wits about him and protecting Louisa brings out the honor he thought he’d left on the battlefield. But when Louisa tries to protect him, Charles knows he’s found a way to face his future—in the arms of his heiress.

What Makes It Unusual: It's an Edwardian!

Stolen Spring by Louisa Rawlings - Samhain Retro Romance - July 16, 2013 - Digital Only

Description:

Money makes the world go ’round, but love makes life worth living.

France, 1700

Forced into spying to save her father from debtor’s prison, Marie-Rouge runs away from her lecherous suitor at the glittering court of Versailles, and finds refuge in the simple cottage of a country miller, Pierre—a strong, seductive man who sets her heart to racing wildly.

Her stolen interlude, filled with laughter and warmth, ripens into intoxicating love. Pierre is everything she has ever wanted in a man—passionate, devoted, matching her desire with his own. But her need to save her father from his overwhelming debt means she can never have a future with her beloved Pierre.

The lies she has been forced to tell create a gulf between her and Pierre that seems all but impossible to bridge. And with mysterious suitors and a forced marriage in the offing, will learning the truth be enough to save their love?

This Retro Romance reprint was originally published in May 1988 by Warner Books.

What Makes It Unusual: Wowzers, France well before The Revolution!  Originally published in 1988, I suspect readers might be in for some ol'-fashioned bodice-rippin'.

A Dream Defiant by Susanna Fraser - Carina Press - July 29, 2013 - Digital Only

Description:

Spain, 1813

Elijah Cameron, the son of runaway slaves, has spent his whole life in the British army proving that a black man can be as good a soldier as a white man. After a victory over the French, Elijah promises one of his dying men that he will deliver a scavenged ruby necklace to his wife, Rose, a woman Elijah has admired for years.

Elijah feels bound to protect her and knows a widow with a fortune in jewels will be a target. Rose dreams of using the necklace to return to England, but after a violent attack, she realizes that she needs Elijah's help to make the journey safely.

Her appreciation for Elijah's strength and integrity soon turns into love, but he doubts she could want a life with him, knowing the challenges they'd face. As their relationship grows, she must convince Elijah that she wants him as more than a bodyguard. And she must prove that their love can overcome all obstacles, no matter the color of their skin.

What Makes It Unusual: An interracial romance!

A Wanted Man by Rebecca Hagan Lee - Berkley - August 6, 2013

Description:

A thoroughly English girl raised in Hong Kong, Julie Jane Parham has spent her entire life walking the line between two worlds. When her closest friend, Su Mi, becomes the victim of an arranged marriage gone horribly wrong, Julie travels to San Francisco in order to buy back her freedom and soon finds herself in over her head.

On a rescue mission of his own, Will Keegan uses his saloon, The Silken Angel, as a front to whisk Chinese prostitutes away from the city’s ruthless brothel owners to a life of freedom, risking his own hide in the process.

Sparring with a spirited British lady is the last thing Will Keegan needs, but he isn’t about to let lovely Julie throw herself headfirst into danger. And as the urge to protect her turns into something more, Will knows he must get Julie to trust him, or chance losing her forever…

What Makes It Unusual: 19th century San Francisco! 

The Ballad of Emma O'Toole by Elizabeth Lane - Harlequin Historical - August 20, 2013

Description:

High stakes marriage

After shooting a man, the stakes for gambler Logan Devereaux have never been higher. On trial for his life, he's offered a shocking alternate form of restitution…marriage to his victim's pregnant sweetheart!

Beautiful Emma O'Toole has sworn vengeance against him—and when a newspaper man puts her tragic story to song, the whole nation waits to see what she'll do. Their marriage is the riskiest gamble Logan's ever taken. But he'll put everything he's got on the line for a chance at winning Emma's heart.

What Makes It Unusual: A western!  And man oh man, just reading that description has the needle on my Angst Meter buried in the red.

The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin - HQN - August 27, 2013

Description: 

It is a time of celebration in the Pingkang Li, where imperial scholars and bureaucrats mingle with beautiful courtesans. At the center is the Lotus Palace, home of the most exquisite courtesans in China... 

Maidservant Yue-ying is not one of those beauties. Street-smart and practical, she's content to live in the shadow of her infamous mistress-until she meets the aristocratic playboy Bai Huang.

Bai Huang lives in a privileged world Yue-ying can barely imagine, yet alone share, but as they are thrown together in an attempt to solve a deadly mystery, they both start to dream of a different life. Yet Bai Huang's position means that all she could ever be to him is his concubine-will she sacrifice her pride to follow her heart?

It is a time of celebration in the Pingkang Li, where imperial scholars and bureaucrats mingle with beautiful courtesans. At the center is the Lotus Palace, home of the most exquisite courtesans in China… 
Maidservant Yue-ying is not one of those beauties. Street-smart and practical, she’s content to live in the shadow of her infamous mistress-until she meets the aristocratic playboy Bai Huang.
Bai Huang lives in a privileged world Yue-ying can barely imagine, yet alone share, but as they are thrown together in an attempt to solve a deadly mystery, they both start to dream of a different life. Yet Bai Huang’s position means that all she could ever be to him is his concubine-will she sacrifice her pride to follow her heart?
- See more at: http://www.jeannielin.com/lotus-palace/#sthash.i1yGcebJ.dpuf

What Makes It Unusual:  More Tang Dantasy from Lin!  This is her first single title, and the first in a new series for HQN.

So, any of these landing on your shopping list?  Any good unusual historicals you've read recently?  Suggestions and recommendations are always welcome in the comments!

Unusual Historical Spotlight: China, Old School, Highlanders, Civil War, Western, Yachts, And Vikings

I'm going to do my darnedest to do one of these posts every month, highlighting "unusual" historicals that catch my eye.  I try to spread the wealth around among publishers, but dang - it's a venerable Harlequin-Palooza this month!  Have your shopping list handy.....

The Sword Dancer by Jeannie Lin - Harlequin Historical - May 21, 2013

Description:

Sword dancer Li Feng is used to living life on the edge of the law--a woman alone in the dangerous world of the Tang Dynasty has only her whirlwind reflexes to trust. She "will" discover the truth about her past, even if that means outwitting the most feared thief-catcher of them all....

Relentless, handsome and determined, Han sees life--and love--as black and white. Until he finally captures the spirited, courageous Li Feng, who makes him question everything he thought he knew about right and wrong. Soon he's faced with an impossible choice: betray the elusive sword dancer he is learning to love, or trust his long-disregarded heart and follow her to dangerous, tempting rebellion....

What Makes It Unusual?:  WooHoo!  More Tang Dynasty China from Lin!

Forever Wild by Louisa Rawlings - Samhain - Digital Only - May 21, 2013

Part of Samhain's Retro Romance Line, this was first published in 1986 by Popular Library (Warner Books)

Description:  

From the corruption of Boss Tweed’s New York to the Paris of the Impressionists, two couples fight to fulfill their greatest dreams and desires.

Willough, a well-bred child of wealth, yearns to take her place at the head of her father’s iron empire in the wilderness of the Adirondacks. Accustomed to polished city men, she finds herself drawn to the raw masculinity of Nat, her father’s foreman. Can she leave behind the trappings of city life and learn to embrace the rough country and rough man she is destined to love?

Marcy was born in the mountains, attached to the High Peaks, and yet she yearns to leave and see the world. Drew, Willough’s artist brother, has rejected his father’s business and thrown himself into painting. Together they travel the world, but is love enough to see them through the hard times?

 What Makes It Unusual?  I swooned when I read "Boss Tweed's New York."  Seriously.  1986?  This one could be chock full of Old School Shenanigans!

Highlanders by Brenda Joyce, Terri Brisbin & Michelle Willingham - HQN - Digital Only - June 1, 2013

Description:

The Warrior and the Rose by Brenda Joyce
Lady Juliana MacDougall prays for her loved ones to survive battle against Robert Bruce...but the battle comes to her when her lands are attacked by a band of Highlanders, including a man wearing the colors of her clan's worst enemy. Taken hostage by Alasdair Og, Juliana quickly learns he's as exceptional a lover as he is a ruthless warrior. But how can she ever love Alasdair when he's her blood enemy?

The Forbidden Highlander by Terri Brisbin
Honor-bound by an arranged betrothal, James Murray never anticipated falling in love with his intended bride's dearest friend instead. The passion between James and Elizabeth MacLerie is undeniable, but they are torn between love and loyalty to their clans....

Rescued by the Highland Warrior by Michelle Willingham
Celeste de Laurent is determined to never again live in poverty. After sacrificing love for a secure marriage, she now stands to lose everything as a widow. Her only hope is to bear an heir--and what better man to father her child, and save her from a terrible fate, than Dougal MacKinloch, the only man she ever loved?

 What Makes It Unusual?  Och!  Lassies lurve their Highlanders!  (Please note all three of these stories are connected to series by the authors).

An Outlaw In Wonderland by Lori Austin - Signet - June 4, 2013

Description:  

In a time of war, love has its own rewards...

Saving soldiers' lives at the Confederate army hospital Chimborazo, Annabeth Phelan is no ordinary Southern belle. She's never known work more exhausting or rewarding. And she's never known a man like Dr. Ethan Walsh, with his disarming gray eyes and peculiar ways. But now the Confederacy is charging her with another service: find the Union spy at Chimborazo.

Ethan's one passion is saving lives, and if he can do that by helping to end the war, he will--even if it means spying for the North. He's gotten used to fooling Confederates, but he can't bear lying to Annabeth. And together, they are about to discover a new passion--one that could even transcend the chaos of war.  

What Makes It Unusual?  OK, so yeah.  The title makes my brain hurt a wee bit.  And OK, so Chimborazo Hospital was in VIRGINIA and I'm not sure why the cover model is dressed like a cowgirl in Utah.  Whatever.  It's an American Historical!  Yippee!

Heart of the West by Penelope Williamson - Pocket - June 25, 2013 - Reprint (first published 1995)

Description:

She was torn between two brothers...

All her life proper Bostonian Clementine Kennicutt yearned to escape the pious tyranny of her father's rule. So when Gus McQueen rode into town and swept her off her feet, she was ready for him. Eloping with the carefree cowboy was the answer to her prayers... until she met his brother.

The One She Married...

In the Big Sky country of Montana, Clementine yearned to feel the simple love of a wife for her husband. She'd pledged her troth to Gus, and she swore she would die honoring her promise, but each day her heart betrayed her.

And The One She Was Born To Love...

Zach Rafferty's love was not like the soft affection of her husband -- it was the wanton need of a dangerous man. And, despite her promise, Clementine knew he was the one meant for her all along...

 What Makes It Unusual?: A western!  I would appreciate comments on this one - because I know Williamson has many fans out in Romancelandia.  I'm intrigued by this one, but the love triangle aspect makes me a little squeamish.....

A Lady Dares by Bronwyn Scott - Harlequin Historical - July 23, 2013

Description:

According to society, I, Elise Sutton, haven't been a lady for quite some time-a lady couldn't possibly run the family company and spend her days on London's crowded, tar-stained docks. And she most certainly wouldn't associate herself with the infamous Dorian Rowland-privateer, smuggler and the Scourge of Gibraltar himself.

But I need Rowland and his specialized expertise-especially with the wolves circling, waiting for me to fail. I yearn to feel alive, and Rowland, who can kiss like the devil, inflames my senses and makes me dare to break free....

What Makes It Unusual?  While set in 1839 England, the author puts a different spin on things by including yacht racing into her story.  Also, we should all buy this book if only for the cover art.  That hat rocks my world.

To Sin With A Viking by Michelle Willingham - Harlequin Historical - July 23, 2013

Description:

Caragh O Brannon defended herself bravely when the enemy landed-only, now she finds herself alone with one very angry Viking....

Styr Hardrata sailed to Ireland intending to trade, never expecting to find himself held captive in chains by a beautiful Irish maiden.

The fiercely handsome warrior both terrifies and allures Caragh, but he is forbidden territory. He is the enemy...and he is married. Yet Styr harbors a secret that just might set them both free....

What Makes It Unusual?  Vikings!

Whew!  I have several of these on tap already, waiting to be read and reviewed (the Lin, the Highlanders anthology and the Willingham).  Any of these catch your eye?  Read any good "unusual historicals" lately?

Review: My Fair Concubine

My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin is the author's take on the Pygmalion trope.  Basically My Fair Lady set in 9th century China.  I tend to love this theme because, when done well, it says a lot about identity, appearances, and how people perceive both.  Also, the nature of this theme tends to mean a lot of forced proximity for the romantic couple.  After all, one character has to tutor the other in the ways of polite society.

Chang Fei Long is not in a good situation.  His sister, Pearl, has run away from home in the name of "true love."  Which would be all well and good, except the romantic ninny was supposed to be a heqin bride.  As a "princess," a betrothal was arranged for a "peace marriage."  It was a diplomatic practice not unlike Queen Victoria marrying off her children and grandchildren all over Europe.  Pearl running away is a disaster, because with his father's death, Fei Long has inherited a mess.  His house is swimming under a sea of debt, and "losing face" within the diplomatic community would spell certain doom.  Normally not one to take risks, with his back pushed against the wall, that's exactly what he does. 

Yan Ling is a nobody.  Having been left there as an infant, she knows nothing but the lowly tea house where she lives and works.  She's a servant.  Her job is to not be seen.  However something pushes her over the edge the day Fei Long enters the tea room, and the unthinkable happens - he notices her.  Then he spins her the most fantastical tale about "princesses" and "peace marriages" and he thinks he can tutor her in the ways of high society in two months (!).  While the task is daunting, and she thinks he may be a little nuts, Yan is also a terribly practical girl.  Gee, spend the rest of her days toiling in the tea house for masters who barely tolerate her, or go to a faraway land to live the life of a pampered princess?  Yeah, not a tough choice - that is, until all those tutoring sessions with Fei Long blossom into romantic feelings.

This is an interesting departure of Lin, because although she's still working within the Tang Dynasty time period, the bulk of this story is set in the capital city of Changan.  So readers get a glimpse of all the things such a city would have to offer - which includes the markets, entertainment district and a seedy underworld.  It's a feast for the senses for a girl like Yan who has never gone anywhere or done anything outside of the narrow scope of the lowly tea house.

Fei Long is all about honor and propriety.  Anything that would bring dishonor to the family name would be unthinkable, and would result in nothing but disaster.  His father has left a mountain of debts he must deal with, but he must do so very carefully in order not to "lose face."  Also, he needs this deception with Yan to go well.  Because having "Pearl" pull out of this arranged marriage?  Not a possibility.  At all.  Which means even though he's developing feelings for Yan, he mustn't admit them to anyone - including himself.

This story is a bit of a slow mover, basically because of the nature of the conflict.  Fei Long is a very bottled-up man, from an emotional stand-point.  His entire would is about appearances, honor, and respect.  He's a man who has a lot of burdens, a lot riding on his shoulders.  I wouldn't go so far as to label him as repressed, but he's not a terribly demonstrative fellow.  So while he's tutoring Yan, he's also holding himself back from her.

Readers need to understand that, and get past the first half the book.  There's not a lot of "action" during these chapters to keep one glued to the pages.  The meat and potatoes of this story is all in the second half.  When both characters realize that they have these feelings, and the emotional angst starts spilling out on to the page.  There are some amazingly tender, heart-felt, and downright torturous emotional moments with the couple realizing that they may feel the way they feel but it doesn't change their reality.  It was these moments of emotional truth that made this book for me.  Yes it starts out deliberate, even a bit slow, but the payoff is worth it.

Final Grade = B-

Unusual Historical Spotlight: Elizabeth, China, Portugal, Knights & Colonists

The Taming of the Rogue by Amanda McCabe

What You Need To Know: Publication date April 17, 2012

Description:

Anna Barrett is more comfortable filling tankards at the White Heron Theater than shopping for corsets. Her "take no prisoners" attitude has earned her a tough reputation. Where she was once innocent and naive, now she's vowed never to be ensnared by a man again. Except Robert Alden is not just any man....

Gorgeous, dashing and decidedly reckless, this playwright has left a trail of broken hearts across London. He's also a spy on a dangerous assignment. Anna cannot help getting embroiled in his mission -- even if this seemingly untameable rogue is the last person with whom she should become involved....

What Makes It Unusual:  Elizabethan England!

My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin

What You Need To Know: Publication date May 22, 2012

Description:

Yan Ling tries hard to be servile -- it's what's expected of a girl of her class. Being intelligent and strong-minded, she finds it a constant battle.

Proud Fei Long is unimpressed by her spirit -- until he realizes she's the answer to his problems. He has to deliver the emperor a "princess." In two months can he train a tea girl to pass as a noblewoman?

Yet it's hard to teach good etiquette when all Fei Long wants to do is break it, by taking this tea girl for his own....

What Makes It Unusual: China baby, China!

Lisbon by Lynne Connolly

What You Need To Know: Publication date June 5, 2012 ; Digital only (for the time being) ; Book eight in series.


Description:

On a ship bound for Portugal with her children and the man she loves, Rose should be blissfully happy. Except Richard treats her like she’s made of porcelain. She’s recovered from the childbed fever that nearly killed her, yet he won’t share her bed and it’s driving her mad.

To win him back body and soul, she resolves to use every wicked, seductive trick he’s taught her. Until a possible attempted murder on board puts them both on alert for the trouble that seems to dog their every move.

Richard is almost relieved to have something to investigate. He loves Rose too much to risk losing her—which is exactly what could happen if he gets her pregnant again. When it becomes clear a series of accidents is no such thing, they realize an old enemy has caught up with them.

It’s imperative for Richard and Rose to work together to defeat this foe, but their new distance could prove their undoing. Especially when Mother Nature conspires to make them endure one last, desperate test of their love… 

What Makes It Unusual:  A ship!  Bound for Portugal!  Oh, and a married couple gettin' their groove thang on.....

The Dark Knight by Elizabeth Elliott

What You Need To Know: Publication date June 26, 2012 

Description:

Thief, assassin, and master of disguise, Dante Chiavari is the most feared mercenary of England’s King Edward. On one last assignment, Dante must play the part of a chivalrous knight to steal Avalene de Forshay from her family and thwart the ruthless Faulke Segrave, who would wed Avalene and use her to spark war between Wales and the crown. Upon seeing the beautiful and innocent young maiden, however, the mercenary suddenly finds himself at the mercy of his own intense desire.

When Avalene meets the handsome knight she knows only as Sir Percival, he sweeps her off her feet even as he spirits her away from Coleway Castle. Their escape is wrought with risks and perils, but Avalene will find that the greatest danger lies in losing her heart. And after the truth is revealed, Avalene fears that she may never again be able to trust the dark knight who has come to mean more to her than life itself.

What Makes It Unusual:  It's a medieval.  Also, it's Elliott's first book published since the late 1990s.  Her fans are going to be overjoyed to get their hands on this one!

Defiant by Pamela Clare

What You Need To Know: Publication date July 3, 2012 ; Book three in series 

Description:

Major Connor MacKinnon despises his commander, Lord William Wentworth, beyond all other men. Ordered to rescue Wentworth's niece after the Shawnee take her captive, he expects Lady Sarah Woodville to be every bit as contemptible as her uncle. Instead, he finds a brave and beautiful lass in desperate peril. But the only way to free Sarah is for Connor to defeat the Shawnee warrior who kidnapped her-and claim her himself.

What Makes It Unusual: Colonial America!  Also, it's been a long wait for this book due to Clare's other writing obligations and various publisher shuffling.  Book two first came out back in 2008.

• Seriously, I feel so out of the loop right now!  This was just a quick sampling of what I dug up when I had a few moments where my brain wasn't melting.  Have you read any unusual historicals lately?  Any upcoming ones you're looking forward to?  Share away in the comments!