Cotillion Ball Series by Becky Lower – Combined Reviews

4.5 out of 5 for all 3 books for this reader folks! 🙂

Before I get into any of the meaty bits of this review, I would like to say this series is a breath of fresh air for a historical romance lover like me.  Most Historical Romances are set in England, consist of a Lord, Duke, Rake and some Lady or Duchess.  The tradition is stingy and sharp (which don’t get me wrong I love), but most is predictable!  Well in comes Becky Lower and introduces this era (mid 1800’s) and mixes it up a bit.  The setting for all these book is … AMERICA.  Different tradition and rules, cultures, races, the way one speaks and the best part … REAL FACTS and snippets of history that have always fascinated me.  HELLO PRE CIVIL WAR!  It was incredible to read real life incidents, and places and how they are weaved into a fictional story.

Small Disclaimer as I am a tad biased.  Anything to do with the American Civil War fascinates me and draws me in.  I was picturing “Gone With the Wind” and “North and South” in my mind so many times.  I should also mention that this is the first historical romance series that I have read that chooses America as it’s setting in this era .. I APPROVE!  LOL

Alrighty then, clearly you know what I love, let’s get to the stories so you can determine if you’ll love too! 🙂

THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE – Book 1

DESCRIPTION:

Voted #1 Surprising Good Books by Goodreads readers

Voted #27 Romantic ebook Must Reads by Goodreads readers

In 1855 New York, Ginger Fitzpatrick has absolutely no interest in taking part in the newest rage in America-the Cotillion Ball. Instead, Ginger would rather be rallying for women’s rights-at least until she meets her brother’s best friend from St. Louis, a dark mysterious man named Joseph Lafontaine, who ignites her passion and makes her question if love and marriage is such a ridiculous notion after all.

What she and the rest of New York’s high society don’t realize is that Joseph is half Ojibwa Indian, and therefore, totally unsuitable for marriage to a fine, cultured young lady.

Link to order The Reluctant Debutante:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

REVIEW:

The Cotillion Ball series begins by introducing us to the Fitzpatrick family.  Dad, Mom and many young and older siblings that are named after herbs and spices.  In this book, our focus is on Ginger Fitzpatrick.  Ginger is a bit of a rebel in her own way.  She is all about woman’s rights and is quite vocal in her way of thinking.  The last thing Ginger wants or has time for is her coming out season.  While Ginger gets her way in most aspects from daddy dearest, she is put in her place and told that she will parade around in fancy dresses, have her dance card filled and flirt in non scandalous manners to land her a husband.

Basil, who is Ginger’s oldest brother, comes home with his BFF Joseph to assist and accompany Ginger during her seasons activities.  What he doesn’t count on happening .. Joseph and Ginger falling in love.  Basil doesn’t reveal something to his family when he introduces Joesph, and that would be that Joseph is half Ojibwa Indian, and French Canadian (WOOT CANADA ..LOL)!  Well being Canadian isn’t the problem, but his blood and culture being half Ojibwa Indian is scandalous in New York high society.  The Fitzpatrick family decide to just keep it to themselves and carry on as if he is completely acceptable without revealing his race.

Ginger is completely smitten with Joseph (and vice versa), but Joseph knows his race will cause issue so he tries everything he can keep his distance.  Ginger, thinks it’s ridiculous that his race is even a factor and tries to pursue him.  He is soon to be found in a compromising position with Ginger, and Basil being the over protective big bro flies off the handle.  Hearts are broken!

It takes a pretty big catastrophe in this book to shake this family into accepting that life as they know it is changing fast.  Feuding between the north and the south is starting to heat up, woman are rallying for rights and the abolitionist movement has commenced.

Ginger is very likeable and is a strong woman who knows what she wants.  She is not afraid of consequences, polite society or of what other people think.  My kind of girl!  LOL  Joseph makes a great hero as he is always trying to do the right thing, and while he loves Ginger, he respects her family enough to step back.  Well .. until push comes to shove …… WINK!

THE ABOLITIONIST’S SECRET – Book 2
DESCRIPTION:

In 1856 New York, Heather Fitzpatrick, a bashful abolitionist, falls for young Army lieutenant David Whitman, who is tracking a runaway slave–the very slave she and her parents rescued from the hands of the slavemongers a few nights earlier.

Despite their divergent views on slavery, romance ensues when David dances with Heather at the Cotillion Ball, and later that night, when he walks her home. An engagement quickly follows. When he receives word that his father is ailing, David wants her to accompany him home to Savannah, GA to meet his family.

Heather wants to make the trip with him, especially since his father’s death seems imminent. With her maid as chaperone, they board the train heading South. After his father passes, his mother insists any marriage will have to wait the requisite year, which is proper for mourning. She hopes to send Heather home, and to use the time to dissuade David from his foolish choice, especially since his mother has already handpicked his potential bride.

Heather longs to stay to wait out the year, and to begin teaching the slaves to read and write, but she knows the South is so place for an abolitionist.

Link to order The Abolionist’s Secret:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

REVIEW: 

This book was my fave of the three books and I think it’s because we really start to dig into what ignites the Civil War.  Here we meet Heather Fitzpatrick who is northerner, abolitionist, the quieter twin sister to Jasmine, and generally a lovely human being.  Heather and her twin sister Jasmine are both coming out this season and as many girls are, “husband hunting”.  Their mom meets our hero Lt David Whitman in the first book to this series and believes he would be a good match for either twin (she doesn’t realize that David is the second son of a plantation, slave owning family).  One look at Heather and he is SOLD on marrying this woman.

As our heroine and hero are falling in love, the Fitzpatrick family has a secret.  They are abolitionist’s and have rescued a slave woman and her baby from slave mongers .. who just happen to be looking for a woman and a baby that have gone “missing” from David’s family plantation.

Through some debate and faith, David and Heather decide to become engaged.  Though knowing that David’s older brother has died and that his family hopes he will assume the plantation responsibility (David has no interest in this) the saving grace for Heather’s family to agree to this union is that David has strong belief in slave freedom and new ways of the south.  Soon a letter follows saying that David’s dad isn’t doing so well and that he needs to come south immediately.  He convinces Dad Fitzpatrick to allow Heather to join him so she can meet his family and announce the engagement.

Well … Mom Whitman is a real bitch!  I mean really nasty, and certainly not the gracious southerner.  This mama has been planning for David to adopt the life that she had hoped for her deceased older son, which includes inheriting the plantation and marrying the girl next girl.  Well she certainly isn’t accepting of Heather and does some really horrible things in hopes of ensuring that the marriage between David and Heather doesn’t happen.  Heather, with David’s encouragement stands by his side, and starts to teach the slaves how to read and write.  This is ILLEGAL in the south and it is ammunition for mama bitch to use against her.  You betcha she uses it and comes between David and Heather.

Through deep beliefs, faith and understanding that times are changing and letting go of tradition, these two really have to fight to make this work.  I was so impressed with Heather because at the beginning she is portrayed as somewhat of a timid creature but when she is facing conflict, she rises up and kicks some serious booty.  She has a really great head on her shoulder and uses it for the greater good.  David .. well he is just lovable.  He goes out of his way to make sure that the world knows who he loves and who he intends to marry.  He also stands up to mama bitch and has to make changes that go against typical south traditions and in my opinion that takes guts!

BANKING ON TEMPERANCE – Book 3

DESCRIPTION:

Basil Fitzpatrick was born into a life of privilege. In 1856, at 23 years of age, he is the owner of the St. Louis branch of the family banking business. He has his pick of the ladies and life by the horns.

Temperance Jones and her family are far from privileged. Her father is a circuit-riding preacher from Pennsylvania. But the rumblings of a war between the North and the South force the preacher to move his family to Oregon rather than to take up arms against his fellow man. However, hardship and sickness slowed their pace, and they are forced to spend the winter in St. Louis, waiting for the next wagon trains to leave in the spring.

Basil is drawn to the family the moment they roll into town, partly because they remind him of his own big family in New York. But also because of the eldest daughter, Temperance. She is a tiny, no-nonsense spitfire bent on fulfilling her father’s wish to get the family safely to Oregon. Basil knows if he allows Temperance into his heart, he is accepting the obligation of her entire family. He wants Temperance like he has wanted no other, but is the burden of her family too much?

 Link to order Banking on Temperance:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  Kobo

REVIEW:

This book reunites us with Ginger and Joseph but the main focus is on Basil Fitzpatrick and Temperance Jones in St Louis.

Basil is the bank owner in St Louis and lives his life as a bachelor.  He is young, privileged, wealthy and quite a rake.  He enjoys his freedom and the “love em or leave em” way of life.  Well things are about to change and shake his only way of living when Temperance walks into his bank with her ailing father to withdraw funds.  Temperance’s father is quite ill and collapses in the bank leaving Basil feeling responsible for her very large family.  Basil finds himself taking care of them by offering shelter, employment and general support.  He also begins to realize that helping them is a tad more selfish on his part than he would like to admit.  He fights his immediate attraction for Temperance.

Temperance is the complete opposite to Basil.  She is poor, virtuous, one heck of a shot, non pampered and hard working young woman who promises her father on his death bed that she will ensure her family continues their journey on to Oregon.  She is also a no nonsense, spit fire, and get er’ done kind of girl.  She accepts employment cleaning the bank in order to support her family.

Basil and Temperance do the attraction dance for most of this book.  Both are incapable of giving in to the other and they let their pride get the better of them.  Basil also isn’t so sure about accepting all of the baggage that comes with getting involved with Temperance, and Temperance cannot imagine why such a distinguished gentleman would ever be interested in the likes of her.  Instead, both engage in a tension filled friendship without revealing their real desires.

As Temperance is so set on travelling to Oregon, Basil helps her in trying to achieve this goal while deep inside hating that she is leaving.  He goes as far as to introduce her to a man who has the means to make this journey happen.  Basil is shocked to realize just how jealous he becomes at seeing her in another mans arms.  All their friends and family seem to see the inevitable joining, but only if these two can get out of their own damn way.

I really liked Temperance right from the beginning and can understand what Basil was drawn to.  She is a tough lady who can shoot the ass off a wolf, cook a mean corn chowder, fiercely protect her family in the process and work hard.  Basil  also really grew up in this book if you compare him to the Basil we met in the first book!  It took a while for these two to get there &^*& together but their journey was worth the wait.

I really hope Becky Lower continues with this series as there are so many characters that are introduced that I want to know more about.  Once again, I LOVE that this centres around the civil war and is set in another USA city.  I loved that the setting for each books takes place in a different city and you can see how the approaching war is causing havoc in so many ways.

I highly recommend you read all three books in order as the characters are repeated and you see the continuation of a couple’s story.  I suppose you could read them as stand alones but if you do that, you miss out on so much!

HAPPY READING 🙂

All 3 books reviewed by Rachel

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