Tag Archives: Callie Hutton

A Scot to Wed by Callie Hutton – a Review

Posted on by
11

A Scot to Wed by Callie Hutton – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple

 

Description:
Highlander Laird Evan MacNeil cannot believe Mistress Katie Sterling just shows up at the MacDuff castle with this faded piece of parchment laying claim to the lands he just legally inherited. Not that he really wants to be here in the lowlands, but he has responsibilities to his clan and the exasperating Katie has uprooted the remnants of her father’s clan and moved them across the country to live here. There’s no way he can leave to go back home now.

Katie has nowhere else to go and she refuses to bow down to the arrogant yet undeniably handsome Highlander. She’s had enough with men trying to control her and she is quite capable of handling herself.

Now that Evan must spar with a beautiful lass for the rights to the lands, he will fight to the end. This battle is nothing like the ones his ancestors fought with crossbows and boiling oil. They never wanted to bed the enemy.

 

 

Review:

A Scot to Wed, book 2 of Callie Hutton‘s Scottish Hearts series, was a battle of wills over the true owner of an inherited castle. Too bad squatter rights don’t apply here, but then again, Evan and Katie would still be at a dead heat.  Both have nebulous petitions, his by “some intricate web of family ties”, a stretch to be sure, while she clings to “proof of ownership”, and discretely escaping from the clutches of a vile man claiming her as his betrothed.  If only these two could compromise ?, surely there’s a mutually beneficial arrangement? 

A laird in his own right, Evan tours the castle grounds with Katie to inspect its maintenance, sans land steward.  While engaging the tenants, Evan is in effect vetting Katie, observing her approach, how she resolved matters and assisted with local concerns/issues.  Truth is, Katie is running circles around Evan, she’s so capable.  Before long, Katie is the logical choice, amenable, considerate, and a healer to boot!  Now if there was only something Evan could do about his sudden fierce attraction to the lass, he could be on his way back home.  Katie’s matched interest had “verra” good potential to explore.

This was hardly a cat and mouse pursuit, lol.  Evan gave in to desire and a protest from Katie “didna” part her lips.  Sure, a few misunderstandings and heavy-handedness stymied their connection, but I was surprised by how straightforward and sweet this was.  Tenant squabbles and personality clashes, indeed, but I always found their mindset of an even keel.  A Scot to Wed?  Yes, as a matter of fact, it happens.

I’m a fan of Ms. Hutton, already eager for her next offering, but this story just wasn’t the exciting, give-me-more-details-now storytelling of its predecessor.  A bump on the road to HEA will rear its ugly head with insidious motives, but is Evan invested enough to intervene or too willing to return to his own clan?  Will Katie face the challenge unaided, to finally prove herself?  The answers are all in here to discover!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

His Rebellious Lass by Callie Hutton – a Review

Posted on by
10

His Rebellious Lass by Callie Hutton – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / iTunes / Google Play / BAM

 

Description:
He wants to marry her off quickly. She says absolutely not.

When the Marquess of Campbell inherits a fiery, red-headed Scottish beauty as his ward, it’s his job to marry her off. No problem. She comes with a fortune. Lady Bridget MacDuff will have suitors falling all over themselves to wed her.

Not so fast. Lady Bridget has plans for that fortune and they involve helping unfortunate women. And she has no intention of helping her devastatingly handsome guardian in his quest to get her off his hands. He doesn’t plan to marry, either. Why should she?

Bridget and Cam are now on opposite sides of a war that neither one plans to lose. Even if Cam’s rakish presence throws Bridget’s heart into turmoil and the marquess can’t deny that his ward sets his heart afire. And then Cam makes a bold proposal…

 

Review:

“Ok, so you don’t like me, or this situation, any more than I do…let’s resolve the matter expeditiously”…is what Lord Campbell SHOULD be saying to his unexpected ward, Lady Bridget, but her impertinence and quick wit have intrigued him beyond measure. All of a sudden, Cam is extolling the virtues of “guardianship” and thoroughly securing her place in society. Yeah right! :D. If only Cam had considered Bridget for himself from the onset, all of the folly surrounding Bridget’s would-be-suitors would have been unnecessary. Then again, Cam yields to no one on the notion of marriage, and it was rather scandalous to fall for your ward. Callie Hutton spins yet another spicy Regency for us to love with her new Scottish Hearts series introduction, His Rebellious Lass. Charming to no end!

Cam is inherently accustomed to respect and deference as a peer, and member of Parliament, but this notorious rake is saddled by a ward that challenges and upends his life of aristocracy. Although in complete synchronicity with Cam regarding marriage, a means of lawfully subjugating a woman’s autonomy if she were to tell it, Bridget is ambitiously working on a project for battered women. While noble as all get out, Cam’s plans to simply marry off Bridget have taken a serious turn. The more Cam exposes her to society soirees, as is his obligation, the more Bridget digs her heels in to reveal an even more fascinating layer of character. Her beauty and bountiful dowry are worthy of a few bachelors, though Cam’s standards are getting more and more stringent, who is going to indulge Bridget’s idealism and foster that spirit he finds so attractive?! Complicated indeed.

The banter between Bridget and Cam was gregarious and sharp. I howled with laughter at Bridget’s unwavering opinion towards marriage — the same one Cam purported to share! 🙂 Their sparring stemmed from genuine discourse, never petty or contrary, and it was rewarding as it engendered compromises to mutual satisfaction. The passion built as their relationship developed and it was described exquisitely. The situation was a delicate one, can they resist crossing that boundary, and Ms. Hutton strategically inserted plot twists to express varying POVs. Don’t underestimate misunderstanding and angst to complete the gamut of emotions.

Will Cam succumb to a natural call of love or will he be forced to surrender Bridget, as is his duty? Praise to Ms. Hutton for not downplaying the superficiality of the ton and the innovation, despite the time, to protect and empower women. So well done. I just loved this book!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share

Wagering for Miss Blake by Callie Hutton – a Review

Posted on by
13

Wagering for Miss Blake by Callie Hutton – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
Mr. Giles Templeton, third son of the Earl of Wexford, is a rake of the highest order and a confirmed bachelor. Yet, marriage-minded-mamas continue to drag their daughters to his attention. He’s everything a young lady of the ton could want—handsome, wealthy, charming, and kind. For Miss Suzanna Blake, though, Giles is missing the one thing her parents require in a potential son-in-law—a title.

Giles has a golden touch—investments, horses, connections but when he falls…hard for Suzanna, she turns him away, despite the passion sparking between them. At wit’s end, Giles wagers her that not only will she marry him but he’ll make her fall in love with him. If Suzanna wins, she gains a sizable fortune for her favorite charity but she faces a loveless marriage to a titled man. Though her heart yearns for a true love-match with Giles, she has never gone against her parent’s wishes. All bets are off when happiness lies in losing a wager.

 

Review:

Book 4 of the Lords and Ladies in Love series, Wagering for Miss Blake, will accelerate your heart rate with a sensual game of cat and mouse, but most importantly, earn high praise for defending the importance of love. Callie Hutton takes the ton to task with the collectiveive, indomitable spirit of Giles and Suzanna.

Giles Templeton’s lack of a title has never been a deterrent; his rakish ways even charming. But it’s the single most vexing, nay, tormenting impediment to winning over Suzanna Blake.

“However, she’d been quite disappointed when he’d been introduced as Mr. Templeton. She sighed inwardly. Mother would never approve, and Father would go along with whatever Mother wanted. And her mother wanted a title for her only daughter. A title.”

So it’s her mother, more accurately.

Giles is the son of an earl, but not the first…with the coveted title. Second place is first loser, if Ricky Bobby were to tell it. Bugger that. Suzanna has been conditioned to attain the elusive title via marriage, but life’s purpose changed upon meeting Giles. If only choices were hers to make!

Suzanna and Giles were enamored from the onset; their conversations captivating and engaging. It really was a harsher, critical time to thrive among the nobility. Any mother would want happiness and true love for her daughter, but the stigma attached, the expectations imposed, are confining and sheltered.

I was impressed by Suzanna’s strength and spine. She thought little of the ton’s amenities and falling in love with Giles steeled her resolve to fight for her future. Giles…swoon-worthy to be sure! A genuine charmer, with a healthy amount of arrogance and confidence, but never a hypocrite nor disingenuous.

“When I want something, I do everything in my power to succeed. Except deceit. I will win you fairly and honorably.”

Will Suzanna sacrifice Giles’s devotion, and her happiness, to appease her mother? Gretna Green sounds far more tantalizing, don’t you agree? I really enjoyed Wagering Miss Blake! Giles was relentless in his pursuit and I loved the progress he made to allay Susanna’s fears, however incrementally. Strides were life-affirming. I found Giles’s bachelor blue blood besties to be just as devil-may-care and I’m certain Ms. Hutton can maintain this high with their HEAs.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth by Callie Hutton – a Review

Posted on by
10

The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth by Callie Hutton – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM

Description:
Recently widowed, Charlotte Pennyworth is relishing her independence and it rankles to have to rely on a man to help her with an increasingly sinister stalker. Former Yardman, Elliot Baker, is reluctant to take on Charlotte’s case but despite himself and his history with another woman, he is drawn to the bright, attractive widow.

Sparks smolder between the PI and his client but neither is looking to form an attachment. Elliot thinks Charlotte is hiding something. Charlotte has no desire to marry again, especially to a private investigator, no matter how handsome, brave and kind he is. The risk to his life and her heart is too great. But more dangerous than a menacing stalker is secrets and when Charlotte’s come to light, even the passion between them might not douse the flames of Elliot’s distrust.

 

Review:

When a woman’s word is often overlooked, if not blatantly dismissed, few options are available when threatened with Scotland Yard. Charlotte was poor and struggling to make ends meet, but she did not steal her employer’s jewelry. Be that as it may, Charlotte flees, desperate to avoid repercussions (and the unwanted advances of her employer). Callie Hutton tells a tale of wicked torments, overcoming adversity, and embracing second chances in The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth.

Elliot and Charlotte are at odds in terms of relationships. She hires him to investigate a series of disturbing gifts arriving anonymously on her doorstep, but such proximity blossoms into business of a personal nature. Problem is, Elliott was humiliated by a former lover and now views every woman with a scrutinizing eye; suspicious of her character. Charlotte could break the mold, but he won’t pursue her. *Let’s just put a pin in it for now, shall we?* Charlotte is a widow after the briefest of marriages. She’s out of the mourning phase and is experiencing personal growth, but she does miss the intimacy of marriage. The attraction is a slow burn. Both anxious to explore, both reluctant to succumb.

This was an up and down read. I got caught up in several scenarios, frightened by the heightened aggression in the “gifts”, and ecstatic when a subtle touch lingered past propriety. It just seemed to drag on for too long; same dilemma, different scenario. Charlotte should have trusted her gut. While her escape might have extracted her from the hands of a lothario, she didn’t seriously connect her past to her present. Elliott would have considered the nasty character; if his grudge was capable of such pursuits. I ended up frustrated by recurring scenes that didn’t advance the plot. A good 50 pages less might have made the book more enticing to finish.

I enjoyed Charlotte’s new found independence. She wasn’t miserable in her first marriage, but there seemed an air of deprivation. Widowhood was desolate, but running her own home and answering only to herself was rather life affirming. Reading the newspaper while she drank her tea, instead of waiting until her husband was done, was a tiny, but fulfilling victory. Seemingly innocuous duties reinvigorated Charlotte’s self-esteem.

There was potential to devour this book had an editor curbed the redundancy and augmented the whodunit aspect. For all the buildup and drama attached to the perpetrator, the resolution was too tidy an ending for this reader. Callie Hutton is a seasoned writer, the love story is both endearing and sexy, but I wished to be swept up on all levels.  

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

The Lady’s Disgrace by Callie Hutton – a Review

Posted on by
11

he Lady’s Disgrace by Callie Hutton –  a Review

 

The Lady's DisgraceAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM

Description:
A lady is nothing without her reputation. Jilted and humiliated by her once-betrothed, Lady Abigail Lacey is the laughingstock of London. Worse still, the humiliation is now reflecting badly on her family. Now her brother, the Duke of Manchester, is desperate… until he finds a way to rescue his sister’s damaged reputation, and remove her from the glare of disapproving society.

He must marry her off. Quickly.

When Rector Joseph Fox drops by the Lacey household, he certainly didn’t expect to leave as a man engaged to a long-time family friend! Yet while he never could have aspired to have her, Lady Abigail always ignited a forbidden longing in him. But Abigail has one condition—their marriage is to be void of passion or physical pleasures. Faced with a platonic marriage of convenience, Joseph is determined to embark on a sensuous adventure with only one goal: to seduce his new wife…

Review:

The Lady’s Disgrace is book 3 in Callie Hutton’s Marriage Mart Mayhem series. I was lucky enough to read and review the previous book in this series The Duke’s Quandry and was glad to be able to follow it up with The Ladies Disgrace. This is Lady Abigail and Joseph’s story. We met both character’s in The Duke’s Quandry and learned a little about both, but now get to see the full picture and history of this couple.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Callie Hutton has a special knack for writing historical romance, and I’ve become a fan of hers. The humour, witty banter, romance and overall storyline she creates before your very eyes sweeps you back in time and carries you away on a fun filled and sometimes dangerous adventure. This time, Ms. Hutton adds the mystery of ‘who done it’ to Joseph and Abigail’s story. Someone out there isn’t too happy about Rector Joseph Fox’s new wife and is determined to do away with her, but just who is it, will keep you guessing throughout the entire story, while keeping you riveted to the slowly developing and lovely romance between the newly weds.

Ms. Hutton does a wonderful job of slowly building the relationship and romance between Abigail and Joseph. Abigail and Joseph are wonderfully written characters that the reader is able to identify with and like from the get go. Joseph is patient, and understanding with Abigail about her ‘terms’ for their marriage, but knows deep down he can win his Lady’s love with the love he’s been carrying around for her since her 1st come out ball. He’s loved her all his life, but always felt his station was beneath her families, now he’s not giving that chance up, he’ll do anything to win her love. Joseph’s everything you could want in a husband and those qualities just shine through on the pages and watching him woo his Lady was one of my favourite parts of the story. Abigail on the other hand isn’t too sure about opening up her heart again to the hope of love after she was jilted at the alter by her former betrothed. Even though I could see her point of view, there were many times I wanted to shake her silly and tell her to grow up, open her eyes and see that Joseph isn’t like her former betrothed. Joseph is everything that he could only hope to be in a husband, and a man for that fact.

Ms. Hutton writes the perfect ‘aha’ scene with Abigail when she finally realizes she loves Joseph, which then sets the story up for a dramatic and nail biting ending to a beautifully written tender and romantic story. I just love it when an author sets the ending up in just this way. Nothing like a good old fashioned ‘who done it’ mystery weaved into a romantic story that creates the kind of nail biting suspenseful ending we get here in The Lady’s Disgrace. Even though we have the underlying ‘who done it’ storyline that keeps us on our toes throughout, there were also many comical scenes where we get to see the witty banter and fun that I’ve come to know Ms. Hutton has a knack for incorporating into her storytelling. I really enjoy these scenes, and they let the characters true personalities shine through and endear them to the reader even more.

Once again I think it’s safe to say Ms. Hutton has another winner on her hands. The Lady’s Disgrace is a fun and fast paced read. The characters are real, with a well- developed storyline that keeps us riveted from the very beginning. The romance between Abigail and Joseph is brilliantly written, with just the right amount of ‘who done it’ thrown in to complicate things for them on their path to trusting and loving each other fully. For anyone who is a fan of Ms. Hutton or historical romances, then this one’s a welcomed addition to your library.

Until next time, happy reading!

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

The Duke’s Quandary by Callie Hutton – a Review

Posted on by
13

The Duke’s Quandary by Callie Hutton – a Review

The Duke's QuandaryLinks to order The Duke’s Quandary:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
This is the first sequel to The Elusive Wife. In the Duke’s Quandary, we are re-introduced to Jason’s best friend, Drake, who is now the Duke of Manchester.  Drake, duke of Manchester has always known he would one day step into his father’s shoes. However, the older man took the family by surprise when he died in a riding accident.  Not feeling ready for the responsibilities, Drake decides marrying a perfect woman will assure him, as well as the ton, that he is, indeed, up to the job. Miss Penelope Clayton, a shy and somewhat clumsy botanist, intends to spend her life as a spinster, crawling around in the dirt pursuing her work.  That all changes when her aunt insists she travel from her home in the country to London and present herself to the dowager duchess of Manchester who will guide Penelope through a Season.  The first meeting between Drake and Penelope is a disaster, and he resents his mother’s request that he help keep their houseguest’s dance card filled with eligible gentlemen.  He wants to spend the time this season looking for the perfect wife.  Penelope doesn’t want a husband, and Drake surely doesn’t want her for a wife.  But things change when they’re caught together in a compromising situation.  Will he have his perfect duchess?


Review;

Having recently become a fan of historical romances, this one did not disappoint me one bit.  I’ve never read anything before by Callie Hutton, but let me just say this won’t be the last for me.  I thoroughly enjoyed this read.  The Duke’s Quandry is a short and fast paced read and many times had me chuckling out loud at the antics of one Penelope Clayton. 

I would have to say that the reason I enjoyed this read so much would be because of our unlikely heroine, Penelope Clayton.  Her whole persona appealed to me and many times had me thinking, yup that would so be me in that situation at a coming out ball.  You see Penelope is not your typical lady of the ton in a society where ladies are to present themselves in just such a way.  No, not at all, she’s shy, clumsy, introverted and a tad on the geeky side, and just wants to be left to her botany pursuits.  I don’t know how many times I laughed out loud at something that happened to poor Penelope.  Whether she was bumping into pieces of furniture because her aunt convinced her she’d never find a husband wearing her glasses, or knocking drinks over, or crawling around in the dirt digging up flowers while catching her night gown on fire, and causing our poor Duke to wring his hands over her, she just brought the story to life for me.  Penelope was a like a breath of fresh air in a stuck up society where ‘perfection’ in a wife is what the men are looking for.

Which leads me to our hero, Drake the Duke of Manchester.  Having decided in order to show he is ready to truly take up the mantle of Duke of Manchester after their father perished in a riding accident he decides it’s time to find a wife amongst the ladies of the ton.  Looking for the ‘perfect’ lady doesn’t go quite as he thought it would.  For some reason there’s just something about Penelope that keeps drawing Drake to her, and causing him to loose all control and reason around her.  Even though she’s constantly causing him grief with her awkwardness in society, and pretty much driving him batty, he’s drawn to her like a moth to a flame, and he can’t quite figure out why.  I got such a kick out of watching Drake flounder around where Penelope was concerned, and convince himself that there were no feelings of love developing towards her on his part.  There were times he seemed completely clueless where he and Penelope were concerned, but then the more time he spent with her, and the more he got to see just who Penelope really is, we get to see a transformation in Drake as he begins to realize maybe he doesn’t need the ‘perfect’ wife, but a wife who’s perfect for him. 

I would have to say that Ms. Hutton has another hit on her hands with The Duke’s Quandry.  It’s a fresh and witty story, with plenty of comical scenes that will have you chuckling to yourself many times.  Penelope is the type of heroine that you can really identify with, and come to adore.  You want to see her succeed in both her botany pursuits and finding love.  I really enjoyed the way Ms. Hutton slowly built up the romance between these two characters and allowed the reader to come to know both and see how each see themselves in society and in a relationship.  The descriptions of the balls, ballrooms and gowns transports the reader back in time to a place where the girls had coming out balls to be presented to available suitors.  I felt like I was right there with Penelope worrying about how I was going to do at the latest ball I was being dragged too.  For anyone who is a fan of historical romances, then I highly recommend this one and trust me you won’t be disappointed. 

Until next time, happy reading!

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by publisher

Share