Josette

This story made me cry, and laugh out loud, author Kathleen Bittner Roth has written a beautiful Cajun romance where her characters come alive on the pages. I love the Cajun dialect and the sense of humor of Josette's brothers, Rene and Bastion. This is my favorite of the three books in the When Hearts Dare series, and the first two were great! I'm so glad this story took Cameron back to New Orleans, and Ms Roth explored more of New Orleans history to share with us. This is the first true Cajun romance I've read, and my favorite book this year. I definitely recommend this book and this series.

Josette (When Hearts Dare #3) by Kathleen Bittner Roth is one of the best Historical Romances I’ve read in a while. A touching and enjoyable love story that I highly recommend! I just love it!

Without giving away too much of this intricate, engaging, moving and well written plot, I’m just going to tell you that is the perfect mix of sweeping history and page turning story-telling. Vivid, and increasingly compelling. All the characters are well developed, likable and very believable as they take life of their own. Beautiful settings are wonderfully well described, making the reader fell into the story instantly, which was set in the late 1850's New Orleans.

The chemistry between Josette and Cameron is sizzling! Lots of mystery, suspense, dangerous situations, humor, rich sensuality, secrets, twists, and turns that will keep you hook to the story. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher thru Net Galley for an honest review.

I am guilty of behaving like far too many historical romance readers and baulking at the prospect of reading about new time periods and settings. It is no wonder the subgenre is so stagnant! I am so glad I pushed myself to read Josette despite my initial reservations, because this is one of the best historical romances I’ve read in a while.

Set in New Orleans in 1857, I cannot say what is accurate or inaccurate in the story, but there are few historical romances that immerse you in a time and place as well as this one does. And even considering that I’ve recently been complaining about being SICK AND TIRED of books about single fathers and young widows (this book features both), I still enjoyed those aspects of the story. The daughter is a great character.

I read Kathleen Bittner Roth’s debut novel, which was set in Victorian England, and remember thinking she had talent but wasn’t quite comfortable with her subject matter. I see now that like most authors she tried her hand at a British setting (which is practically what you have to do in order to get published), while what she excels at is US history. This was such an engrossing read.

There is so much that can be done with this era of history, and yet it seems there are so few authors willing to do it. I know many stick to books about the titled classes because they don’t want to read about Victorian-era poverty, but step down one rung and life is still comfortable, and also much more fascinating. I’m no expert on New Orleans in any era, but the different lifestyles represented in this one are fascinating.

Another point: you don’t need to read the rest of the series to read this one.

I do think the book might be a little long, but it is a minor complaint. My other niggles are pretty specific:

•Sex when gravely ill, and sex when in 1850s dress. 1857 was the era of the mega dress, the hoop skirt that even the media of the time ridiculed, and also the era of the corset. You’re not going to just be lifting that thing up and going for it, and nor is a lady going to able to feel much pressing against her belly in all that underwear and all those layers!
•English public school = private school!
•It's a personal thing, but I HATE the term heart jumped into their throat (or variations of it) - it gives me a disgusting visual! And it's used in this book a lot.

I think it’s important to support books like this one, historical romances that dare to do something a little different.

I am almost ashamed to say that this is my first book by Kathleen Bittner Roth. I hate that I am so late to the game in finding her books and how great an author she is. This is book three in her series "When Hearts Dare". For me this was a stand alone book and since I am reading the books out of order I did not find a problem with it. This book in nearly 500 pages long too..so it is a book you will feel that you are getting your money worth for. The story is set in the United Sates in New Orleans where both the hero and heroine have issue that they are trying to overcome. Our hero is Cameron who I think tries to be a strait lace / manners and live by the town rules. Our heroine is Josette a Cajun-born widow who has a lot of surprises ...twist and turn through out this book . I liked the secondary characters / her brothers in this book and hope too that we will be seeing more of them. I am glad to have this book and hope that you too find it to your liking also.