Review: Simmer All Night (Bad Luck Abroad #1) by Geralyn Dawson

Title: Simmer All Night (Bad Luck Abroad #1)

Author: Geralyn Dawson

Release Date: December 1, 1999

Publisher: Pocket

Category: Historical Romance

Type: Kindle/Paperback/Hardcover

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Website: http://emilymarch.com/

 

Book Blurb:

A CHILI QUEEN IN ENGLAND

Independent daughter of socially prominent Texans, Christina Delaney stirs up scandal along with her spicy Texas Red when she's crowned Chili Queen of San Antonio. Her family reacts to this culinary coronation by packing her off to live with her grandfather on his English estate, hoping to transform Chrissy from Chili Queen to countess. Never mind the fact that what she longs for is a modest home and loving family deep in the heart of Texas.

A TEXAN WITH A CRAVING

Born British but reared Texan, Cole Morgan would do anything for the Delaney family, even escort the incorrigible Christina to England. Besides, he has his own agenda abroad: to locate the missing copy of the Republic of Texas' Declaration of Independence. But when a viscount offers Christina marriage, Cole is forced to see that the girt he grew tip with is now a woman whose fiery passion -- and love -- he craves. So he sets out to win her, and in the process proves that only he can make the Chili Queen...

Book Excerpt:

For a long moment, the stared at one another, shock a living, breathing entity vibrating between them. He must have shaken the good sense right out of my head.

            He muttered a particularly crude curse. “That’s it. You’ve gone too far. I forbid you to set foot in this plaza again.”

            Chrissy sputtered, then shrieked as he scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder. “What is the world…?”

            The rogue actually swatter her behind, then bit off his words. “Shut your mouth, Bug.”

            Bug. He’d called her by her old nickname, something he hadn’t done in years. He must really be upset.

            As he marched from the plaza she wiggled and kicked and tried to free herself to no avail. “Put me down, Cole! Don’t you dare –“

            “I mean it. Shut your mouth or I swear I’ll get mean.”

            “Mean?” She beat on his back. “You cart me off in public like a sack of flour and you say you’ll get mean? Excuse me, but what’s this? What are you going to do that’s worse?”

            She hit him again for good measure just as he opened his mouth and said, “I’ll kiss you back.”

           

            She froze, going stiff and still in his arms.

            I’ll kiss you back, he’d said.

            I wish you would, her heart answered.

            Chrissy groaned. What in the world had gotten into her?

Favorite Dialogue:

            “She sucked in a deep breath and her eyes narrowed and flashed. “I never said I love you.”

            “Tell me about it.” Cole threw out both hands. “This is not something that has escaped my notice. I take comfort in the fact, however, that while you refuse to verbalize it, you do assure me of your love in alternative ways.”

            “Oh, really.”

            Her slow, snide drawl pricked his temper like a thorn. “Yes, really.”

            “Such as?”

            His hands worked the fastenings of his pants as he advanced on her. “You bited me in a horse race.”

            “Hah. I was ten years old back then.”

            “You loved me when you were ten years old. Just like you loved me when you were older and followed me to a bordello.” He shoved down his britches, then kicked them off.

            “I was curious,” she replied, her gaze dropping.

            “You were jealous. Just like you were when you found out I was seeing the Widow Larsen, so you got yourself engaged to the next man who asked.” Naked, he stood close to her, felt her heat radiating from her body, caught her scent, a mixture of soap, spice, and innocence that beckoned him like a Parisian perfume.

            “You live in a fantasy world, Cole Morgan.”

            Slowly, he shook his head. “Not anymore. My fantasy is standing here before me. You are my fantasy.” He gave her scarlet skirt and the petticoat beneath it a tug until they slipped over her hips and floated to the floor. “So the fantasy is the reality. We love each other, Lady Bug. You’ve shown it. Now say it.”

Review:

Simmer All Night is the first book I have read by Geralyn Dawson (also writing as Emily March). I have been branching out into various genres of late and find that I have missed my historical romance fix. This book was great for soothing my craving. Containing the necessary elements needed in a Texas based historical, such as the stubborn heroine and the hero with the Southern drawl and sexy charm, I found myself instantly loving Cole and Chrissy. Who doesn’t love a Southern male that wreaks of masculinity? Cole may be a lawyer, but he is Texan through and through. And the drawl? *swoon*

My dislikes within the story focus on situations that may have been drawn out a bit too long. Chrissy and her mother have a difficult relationship. Chrissy does not believe that her mother loves her equally compared to her brother, Jake. As a result, when Cole confesses his love (don’t worry, it’s pretty early in the book, so not a big spoiler here), Chrissy distrusts his announcement. Part of this is because Cole has always been indebted to Chrissy’s mother. Elizabeth took Cole in after he lost his family and treated him as her own despite the differences in social standing. In the end, all situations are resolved fairly quickly once confronted and/or accepted which leads me to believe that they could have been solved quite a bit faster had the characters not been so stubborn.

Another difficulty was the explanation of the villain. Yes, every story must have some type of villain that threatens to separate true love. But this villain, although introduced early enough in the story, is not well explained. He seems to turn into a villain quite suddenly and exits just as abruptly. I found the hows and whys lacking in adequately recounting just exactly how he managed to follow such an evil path. Additionally, I do not know that I understood completely the reasoning behind his … err … specially replicated room. (Don’t want to spoil it – sorry!)

Those issues aside, I found the story enjoyable. Rather than center around one consistent backdrop, Ms. Dawson dares to accomplish bringing two historical settings to life. The crossover from Texas to England in the 1800’s was fun to read. I have a feeling a like feat will occur in the next installment of the Bad Luck Abroad series.

I appreciated the historical additions spread throughout the story pertaining to Texas history; the focal item being the retrieval of the Texas Republic’s Declaration of Independence. Cole is sent to England by Chrissy’s mother to follow a lead regarding the possible whereabouts of the document. But Chrissy’s often scandalous antics result in her being banished to England to stay with her Grandfather. Obviously convenient is Cole’s upcoming trip and so he is elected as Chrissy’s escort. When all is said and done, the lead ends up supplying a new adventure: this time in Scotland. Having weaseled out of the trip to England the first time, Jake is quickly dispatched to Scotland to follow this new lead concerning the Declaration. Let’s see – Jake, a Texan at heart, traveling to the Scottish Highlands? The possibilities are endless. I look forward to reading Bad Luck Abroad # 2, Sizzle All Day.

(Book gifted via Amazon by Emily March: Bad Luck Abroad contest)