Tag Archives: Historical

The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton-a review

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THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER by Kate Morton-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 9, 2018

A rich, spellbinding new novel from the author of The Lake House—the story of a love affair and a mysterious murder that cast their shadow across generations, set in England from the 1860’s until the present day.

My real name, no one remembers.
The truth about that summer, no one else knows.

In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins.

Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist’s sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.

Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?

Told by multiple voices across time, The Clockmaker’s Daughter is a story of murder, mystery, and thievery, of art, love and loss. And flowing through its pages like a river, is the voice of a woman who stands outside time, whose name has been forgotten by history, but who has watched it all unfold: Birdie Bell, the clockmaker’s daughter.

•••••••••

REVIEW: THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER by Kate Morton is a story of love, romance, murder and mystery spanning one-hundred and fifty years, numerous timelines, several generations and various perspectives all connected to Birchwood Manor on the Upper Thames.

One-hundred and fifty years earlier artist and painter Edward Radcliffe fell in love with his muse, a woman everyone came to know as Lily Millington, a woman who wasn’t whom she purported to be. The purchase of a country estate known as Birchwood Manor would bring together Edward and his fellow artists –the Magenta Brotherhood- wherein their lives would about to change forever. A murder, the presumed departure and guilt of Lily Millington, and the disappearance of the Radcliffe Blue Diamond would kick-off a century and a half of rumors, innuendo, heartbreak and loss that followed one family from 1862 to 2017.

In 2017, Archivist Elodie Winslow went in search of her past, a past mired in secrets and death, but a past that Elodie was desperate to discover. With only a damaged photo, an old leather satchel, and stories of a time long ago, Elodie heads to Birchwood Manor to unearth the true about her mother’s life but Elodie isn’t the only one in search of the past as Birchwood Manor’s secrets are about to be exposed.

THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER is a slow building story line that follows several paths, and numerous timelines; of one family’s history of secrets and lies; and the spirit who is witness to everything and all. THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER is a story of ghosts, fairies and queens; of betrayal, loss, heartbreak and love as one family meanders a path between the present and the past.

Kate Morton weaves an intricate and detailed story that at times is difficult to navigate as the perspectives and timelines invariably overlap between the present and several pasts. An intriguing story, THE CLOCKMAKER’S DAUGHTER is a beautiful tale that will captivate and entertain; challenge and inflame.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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A Rose in the Highlands by Heather McCollum – a Review

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A Rose in the Highlands by Heather McCollum – a Review

 

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Description:
1684, Scottish Highlands Englishwoman Evelyn Worthington is resolved to build a school for ladies in her brother’s newly purchased Scottish castle. But when she arrives, not only does she find the castle scorched by fire, but a brawny Highlander bars her entry.

 Clan chief Grey Campbell would rather die than see his family home, Finlarig Castle, fall into English hands, so Grey must win the battle of wills with the beautiful Sassenach who flashes a bill of sale before him.

 When the war between Evelyn and Grey escalates, passions flare. But outsiders have their own plans for Finlarig. After secrets are revealed, and muskets are lit, the fates of the Campbell Clan, the school, and a possible future for Grey and Evelyn are in as much jeopardy as their lives.

 

 

Review:

Evelyn doesn’t want to marry and do needlepoint…. she doesn’t want just to provide heirs for her would-be husband. Evelyn wants a life, and although her father is still dictating her life (even from the grave) she plans with her brothers help, a way to get round this. She plans to build a school for young ladies, and with her brothers permission she is going to use the castle that her brother had recently brought, so she sets off …. only to find a large angry Scotsman barring her entry !! She wants that castle and no man, however good looking he is, isn’t going to deter her from her path.

Greyson “Grey” loved and lost his home, and now plans to retake it, so in order to restore it to its former glory, he is going to “allow” the interloper to return his beloved castle to its former glory. And he’s not going to let the pleasant looking young lady stand in his way, he’s going to use all his charm to keep her from discovering his plans !!

We also have the subplot of Evelyn’s would be suitor, and person or persons unknown who want the castle destroyed and not rebuilt.

And what will Evelyn do once she finds out that Grey has duped her into rebuilding the castle for his own purposes ? And what about the clause …. the one stating Evelyn has only so long to prove herself, or she has to marry ? Can she do that in time ?

The chemistry between the characters is sizzling, the direction the author takes Evelyn and Grey is a little predictable, but the fun is getting there ? it’s well written, the graphic descriptions of the scenery had me imagining myself in Scotland with no problem whatsoever.

And the secondary characters were very likeable and I can see books possibilities ?

So if you like your historical romances, then I’d happily recommend A Rose in the Highlands by Heather McCollum

Reviewed by Julie B.

Copy provided by Publisher

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Worldshaper by Edward Willett – Review & Givaway

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Worldshaper by Edward Willett – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
For Shawna Keys, the world is almost perfect. She’s just opened a pottery studio in a beautiful city. She’s in love with a wonderful man. She has good friends.

But one shattering moment of violence changes everything. Mysterious attackers kill her best friend. They’re about to kill Shawna. She can’t believe it’s happening–and just like that, it isn’t. It hasn’t. No one else remembers the attack, or her friend. To everyone else, Shawna’s friend never existed…

Everyone, that is, except the mysterious stranger who shows up in Shawna’s shop. He claims her world has been perfect because she Shaped it to be perfect; that it is only one of uncounted Shaped worlds in a great Labyrinth; and that all those worlds are under threat from the Adversary who has now invaded hers. She cannot save her world, he says, but she might be able to save others–if she will follow him from world to world, learning their secrets and carrying them to Ygrair, the mysterious Lady at the Labyrinth’s heart.

Frightened and hounded, Shawna sets off on a desperate journey, uncertain whom she can trust, how to use her newfound power, and what awaits her in the myriad worlds beyond her own.

 

 

Review:

Worldshaper by Edward Willett is the first book in his new Worldshapers series. The description above tells it all on how this story starts off: For Shawna Keys, the world is almost perfect. She’s just opened a pottery studio in a beautiful city. She’s in love with a wonderful man. She has good friends. But in a moment’s notice, everything in her world literally changes.  She and those surrounding her brutally attacked, and a strange man points a gun at her to kill her.  In Shawna’s mind she screams in terror “this can’t be happening…it can’t be happening”.  Within a second, she has turned the clock back hours to early morning before the attack; but those who got killed, including her best friend, just disappeared, no longer existing.  What just happened?  How did Shawna move the clock back?

Shawna turns to someone she just met, Karl, who has been trying to help Shawna remember her past, when she was trained to be a worldshaper.  Karl explains that Shawna created this world she lives in to be perfect, and all those surrounding her are fact her own creations.  The man who attacked is out to kill her, and kidnap Karl, in order to take over this world, and move on to other worlds so that he may rule them all…he is called Adversary.

Karl convinces Shawna she must leave with him to find a portal for another world, because Adversary is shaping those in her world’s minds to think that she is a terrorist.  Together they are on the run.  What follows is an exciting adventure where Shawna with help from Karl, will learn how to use the powers she has to shape things on her own, since she remembers nothing from where it all began.

I thought Worldshaper was a good story line, and very different than most fantasies that I have read.  I did have some mixed feelings, as there were slow and somewhat redundant parts.  I realize that most first books in fantasies give a lot of details in their worldbuilding, though I found it interesting, but it did lose me a little bit along the way. Worldshaper did catch my attention, and I intend to read the next book to see where this will go.  

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Edward Willett’s publisher is  offering a paper copy of WORLDSHAPER to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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9. Giveaway runs from September 20-25, 2018

 

 

 

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Jilted Brides Series 1-3 by Cheryl Holt-Reviews and Giveaway

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Jilted Brides Series 1-3 by Cheryl Holt-Reviews and Giveaway

The JILTED BRIDE series
by Cheryl Holt
Release Date: September 20, 2018
Genre: adult, historical romance

JILTED BY A CAD

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Josephine Bates only ever wanted to marry and have a home of her own.  At age eighteen, when a handsome suitor swept her off her feet, she believed all her dreams were about to come true.   But he was actually a cad who stole her dowry and jilted her at the altar. Since then, she’s been wary of men and their motives.  She’s accepted the notion that she’ll never escape her dreary, quiet existence, and she’ll most likely live out her days as a spinster…

Peyton Prescott is a ship’s captain in the Royal Navy.  He’s a man of action and adventure, and his years have been filled with danger and excitement.  But his brother has died, so he’s inherited a title and earldom he never sought or wanted. He’s afraid his new position will force him to abandon the thrilling life he loves, and he’s loafing in England, feeling landlocked and desperate to return to the sea.  He’d give anything for a diversion, and when pretty, lonely Josephine crosses his path, he’s fascinated and can’t resist…

But Peyton isn’t looking for a bride, and Josephine could never be interested in a handsome, dashing scoundrel.  Yet as friendship blossoms and passion flares, can love be far behind? 

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: The first book in a new series always has a hard job, if it’s not good enough do you carry on reading the series?

It’s the usual dashing cad and scoundrel falling for the dowdy and let down spinster story, and reading the back I really wasn’t too convinced …..

But the writing is very well done. It’s very descriptive and well thought out. And can be easily read in an afternoon.

Our “spinster of the Parish” Josephine (or Jo to family and friends ) was jilted at the altar, so wants no part in “love” she wants to live a quiet life, but secretly longing for a little adventure and that all elusive “love” she lives with her older half sister, who likes to constantly remind her of her silly mistake.

Our “dashing scoundrel” Peyton is not ready to settle down, he wants to continue his adventures …..
But when his poor brother dies, Peyton has to step into the role of Earl, and he can’t think of a worse fate, he wants to be back on his ship and sail away to find adventure.

So ….. the two characters meet, Josephine is extremely wary, and Peyton just wants to have a little fun.
But the two strike up a friendship, and then the chemistry starts to work its magic.

Will Peyton be cured of his need to leave for new adventures? And will Josephine ever trust a cad and scoundrel with her heart ?

Julie ?

___________

JILTED BY A SCOUNDREL

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CHERYL HOLT continues to delight readers with the thrilling, dramatic second novel in her Jilted Brides trilogy…

Winifred Watson grew up as the only daughter of a decorated war hero. When he died suddenly, she was shocked to learn that he was bankrupt and she lost everything to pay his final debts.  She’d hoped to wed her fiancé—a steady, handsome man who would have guided her through the tumult of her father’s death.  But when her penury was revealed, her fickle betrothed jilted her at the altar. His treacherous conduct pitched her into a downward spiral that she can’t seem to halt…

John Dunn escaped his dreary home by joining the army when he was sixteen.  He loved his years as a soldier and planned to dedicate the remainder of his life to King and country.  But he was swept into a scandal and drummed out of the service. He’s returned to his family’s isolated, dreary castle on the Cornwall coast, but it’s the one spot on the globe he vowed to never visit again.  He’s bitter, raging, and eager for a diversion from his pathetic situation…

When Winifred arrives, demanding shelter and assistance, John isn’t inclined to provide any help.  But she’s pretty, intriguing, and in desperate need of a knight in shining armor. How can he resist?

•••••••••••••

REVIEW:So …..

after reading book one in the series I delved into book two ….

The family is loosely connected to the Earl of Benton ( Peyton’s brother) he fathered (another) two children, (they have the same father, but different mothers) and when Winifred (or Winnie as the children like to call her) comes storming in to demand that he not only provide a home for the child, his sister had with the Earl of Benton, she also asks that he take in the child’s half brother and herself (she claims that she is the child’s legal guardian, but when all in fact she is their governess) and when he refuses, Winifred is at a loss at what to do next, their home gone, her job no longer needed, John was their last hope ….

John isn’t happy that he has to come home, he loved the army after joining it at a very young age, he gave him the “family feeling” he didn’t get at home. But after a scandal drums him out of his “beloved” army, John wearily makes his way home, to become the Lord of Dunworthy (an honorary title, not an actual title)

Coming face to face with Winifred annnoys him no end ….. how dare she claim his sister had a child out of wedlock, and to a married man at that !!! And that she wants a home for the children and the rest of the family !!! She has a nerve, but she was a feisty young thing.
But he really can’t afford the young lady and two children to wander around the castle and village …. John has a secret, he’s had to start smuggling to cover the debts his family has left him with.

But he comes to his senses and offers Winnie and the two children a room for the night, but just for tonight, and as soon as the tide is low, he’s getting them off his island.

But circumstances change, and John and Winnie become allies (there are people in the castle that want Winnie gone, and John to be married to the widow of his late brother) their bickering and bantering had me chuckling at times.

So ….. do John and Winnie have a happy ending ? Or will she find out about his smuggling ? And will the other forces come into play and keep them apart ?

Julie ?

_________

JILTED BY A ROGUE

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CHERYL HOLT delivers the delightful, emotional, and stunning conclusion to her Jilted Brides trilogy…

Amelia Boyle has always viewed herself as an extremely modest and moral woman. But after suffering a string of personal catastrophes, she went a bit wild and made several reckless decisions. Her spurt of excess culminated in her becoming engaged to a man she barely knew. When he promptly jilted her at the altar, the cruel act yanked her to her senses. She’s been forced to admit she has frivolous tendencies, and she vows to never let them flare again.

James Hastings loves his life in the army, and he doesn’t plan to ever retire. He’s a confirmed bachelor who spends his days around active, tough men who are proud to serve King and country. He’s not interested in marriage or settling down, and he has no time for women and no patience for flirtation.

But when Amelia stumbles into his dull, boring world, she turns it upside down, and it gradually dawns on him that he might not be able to live without her. Amelia has sworn off romance though and has other plans that don’t include binding herself to a handsome, dashing soldier. Can James convince her that he might be precisely who and what she needs to be happy?

•••••••••••

REVIEW: Amelia is planning a trip to Gibraltar, well planning isn’t exactly the word. Amelia fell for a smooth talking con man ….
And now she needs to get away, and answering a call to become a ladies travel companion seems like an ideal opportunity to escape London and all the gossip her downfall will bring.

We meet Amelia in book one (Jilted by a Cad) and I had hoped she would get a book.

Her rescuer comes in the form of James Hastings (Lord Denby)
He’s a sailor and the brother to the lady she travelled with.
But a rescuer isn’t how she first sees him, he’s half naked and riding on the back of a horse.

He is so rude, and vain, and conceited, he flirts like mad with Amelia, but soon stops when he finds out Amelia travelled with his sister (she told Amelia that James had written to her and told he she was to come to Gibraltar, when in fact, he hadn’t had spoken to his sister in years) so storming to their hotel, he is absolutely fuming.

James doesn’t want to be Lord Denby, he told his family that he didn’t want the title. But as his brother passed away, the title is rightfully his. And his sister told him that he had to come home and look after her. He likes his life in Gibraltar and has no inclination to go home.

The banter and bickering was very much in the same vein as the other two books.
And all the books connect (there is a man that cons all the women out of money and innocence)

They were fun and very light hearted. The romance felt a little stilted.
So if you like your historical romance, then give these books a go.

They don’t really need to be read in order, but I did and felt they read better.

Reviews by Julie  ?

Copies supplied for review

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Cheryl Holt is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author of fifty novels. 

She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age 40, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She’d hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance, where she was stunned to discover that she has an incredible knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.

She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre, and her emotional, dramatic, and riveting stories of passion and illicit love have captivated fans around the world. She has won or been nominated for many national awards. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

Cheryl lives and writes in Hollywood, California. www.cherylholt.com.

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Bound for Sin by Tess LeSue – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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Bound for Sin by Tess LeSue – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
WANTED: A resourceful frontiersman, for the purpose of matrimony…

When Georgiana Bee Blunt advertises for a husband, she’s not looking for a handsome man, or a smart man, or a charming man. What she wants is a brute. A no-nonsense, capable backwoodsman who won’t trouble her with talk of love; she just wants someone to get her and her fatherless children safely to California. Matt Slater seems to fit the bill perfectly. The man looks like he could wrestle a bear and not even break a sweat. The only problem is he doesn’t want a wife. Well, not the only problem…

Truth be told, Georgiana has more problems than she knows what to do with. Left holding a gold claim by her not-so-dearly departed husband, Georgina finds her eldest son held ransom by the sinister Hec Boehm and his henchmen, and herself facing a journey of more than two thousand miles to rescue him. With four children in tow. And no nanny.

All Matt Slater wants is to be left alone. He’s spent most his life on his lonesome in the wilderness, and he’s comfortable that way. But then a widow with big blue eyes and the tenacity of a buffalo turns his entire life upside down, and before he knows it, he’s playing caretaker to a pack of kids…and trying not to succumb to their mother’s charms.

 

 

Review:

Bound for Sin by Tess LeSue is the 2nd book in her western historical romance Frontiers of the Heart series.  The story take place during the Gold Rush Days, and LeSue gives us a perfect look at life during those times. 

We meet our heroine Georgina at the start, with her interviewing candidates for a husband.   Georgina needs to find herself a strong man, who can help her go back to California to help find her oldest son, who is being held for ransom (gold land claim).  She has her 4 young children in tow with her, which makes things difficult for her, since the children are a handful.  

Matt Slater, our hero, is the brother of Luke Slater (first book hero), and plans to travel home to Oregon, but on the way will lead a wagon train through rough terrain.  He meets the pretty Georgina, but is determined to stay clear of her trying to find a husband.  He does convince her to join his wagon train, as she will be safe with them. Georgina finds the rugged handsome Matt just what she wants, especially with her also feeling attracted to him.    In a short time, Matt will give in to become her fake fiancée, to help her get around the men following her to make sure she goes to California. 

Once they all leave for the rough trek, Matt will slowly find himself enamored by Georgina, and she even more so, as she watches how he manages to control her children, and they all care for him.  Can Georgina win Matt over?

I loved the way Matt was so great with the kids; perfect father material.  It did not take long for him to give into his feelings for Georgina, as their chemistry was scorching. Together they make plans to go to California to get her son. 

I do not want to tell too much more, as the last ¼ of the book had some twists and turns, which changes things drastically.  What follows is a sweet adventure with some danger, excitement and the humorous banter between Matt and Georgina.   I really liked them together, but there were so many issues that kept them apart; even to the point that I was beginning to lose hope.  Especially as we got closer to the end, things were happily looking up, and a surprise twist blows it all away.  Will Matt ever find happiness with Georgina?  You will have to read the book to find out. 

It was a very intense but satisfying finish.  Bound for Sin was a sweet fun historical western that was exciting, romantic  and humorous, with a great couple.  I suggest you read Bound for Sin, which was very well written by Tess LeSue.    I look forward to the next book by Tess LeSue.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

by Tess LeSue

When I was a kid I was mad for the Anne of Green Gables TV mini-series. I’d read the books but the mini-series was something else again. It was an idyllic, pretty world, complete with a bittersweet soundtrack that was so romantic it made my heart ache. I used to watch my video tapes of it at least once a week, without fail. Both the original series and the sequel, when Anne broke my heart by turning down Gilbert Blythe, and then mended it again by realizing she’d loved him all along.  Who can forget their first kiss, on a twilit autumn bridge over a shining pond? I loved the nostalgia of both series, the sense of time passing, and moments being lost, of the present becoming the past. I loved the sheer beauty of it: the blossoms and wind-swept beaches, the snow-covered fields and the thick woods. I loved Gilbert Blythe; he was the perfect romantic hero. He was tall, dark, handsome, smart – and he knew he loved Anne from the moment he saw her. He didn’t waver. He knew he she was, warts and all, and he loved everything about her. Oh, the look in his eyes when she rejected him. That breathless pain. I also loved Matthew and Marilla and the way they stumbled into parenting, startled by their own joy. I loved the sprawling cast of secondary characters: kindred spirits and inspiring teachers; gossipy neighbours and kind storekeepers; postmistresses and pastors; entire interlocked communities of people, living simple but rich lives, in a time before globalism or modernity. Most of all I loved Anne, who is a heroine for the ages. Whip-smart and independent-minded, she always got back on her feet after a setback and forged ahead no matter the obstacles; she was passionate and impulsive; she was kind. She loved books. She wasn’t afraid to compete with the boys.

When I was a kid watching Anne of Green Gables I never thought of it as a Western, but in many ways it is. A mannered Canadian Western. It’s about a small farming community at the turn of the century, and a girl who arrives, wide-eyed with wonder at the beauty and opportunity she finds. There are dirt roads, horses and carriages, and a simple country life: picking apples, baking, milking cows, going to school in a simple one-room school house. There are hay rides and cotillions, scandals and enduring friendships. While it differs from the American Western in many ways, it has many intersections, not least of which is the intrinsic melancholy for a time and a place that has passed. I kept thinking of Anne of Green Gables as I wrote Bound for Sin (I even re-watched the series, the TV in on the background as I wrote) because for me the thrill and comfort of Anne is also the thrill and comfort I look for in a romance set in the west.

My work is nothing like Anne of Green Gables, and yet the echoes are there. The sprawling casts of characters: quirky and funny and interlocked, their lives woven together so tightly that they can never extricate themselves from one another. Westerns are about people and the ways they forge new communities in wild places. The beauty of both the natural world and the simple life are central to Anne of Green Gables, and are also the focus of the entire ‘Frontiers of the Heart’ series. In Bound for Sin my characters cover almost two thousand miles of some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world: we see the breathtaking beauty of the Cascades, the bleached power of deserts, the majesty of the grasslands in a storm. And, just like Anne, my heroine Georgiana wants nothing more than a place to call home.

In a western home is a modest concept (although not so modest it doesn’t come with comforts). Home is a patch of land and a house, the bounty of nature at your doorstep, family around you, food in the larder, and the chance to live free. Desires common to most humans. When I think of Georgiana’s end point, it’s not unlike Green Gables: a whitewashed house under spreading shade trees, rockers on a wraparound porch, fields and forests for the children to roam, and a kitchen that always has coffee on the stove and a pie on the table. Only Georgiana also has a husband beside her, making short work of both the coffee and the pie, and keeping her well accompanied through the long winter nights.

In this age we live in – of technological saturation, information overload, and 24/7 busyness – the fantasy of old-fashioned country life is a comfort. When you pick up a western, you can leave all the 21st century problems behind and strike out for a new place, a place that isn’t citified, a place where you can enjoy the simple pleasures, and put love in the centre of the story.

 

 

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The Duke of Seduction (The Untouchables #10) by Darcy Burke-Review & Excerpt Tour

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The Duke of Seduction (The Untouchables #10) by Darcy Burke-Review & Excerpt tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 21, 2018

Lady Lavinia Gillingham prefers rocks and dirt to marriage. Her passion is science, and she’s determined to marry if—and only if—she finds a man who supports her interests and intellect. So far, she’s managed to avoid attention on the Marriage Mart, but when the Duke of Seduction pens anonymous letters singing her praises, she suddenly become the toast of the ton and matrimony seems imminent.

William Beckett, Marquess of Northam possesses the reputation of a rake, but is secretly a romantic. Spurned at sixteen, he doesn’t expect to feel the sting of Cupid’s bow a second time, and yet he’s able to woo the coldest of hearts with the anonymous words he publishes. As the Duke of Seduction, he uses his skill to help Lavinia, never anticipating she has no desire for assistance. While Lavinia is pursued by several suitors, Beck is the one who is seduced when he learns that love can strike twice.

••••••••

REVIEW: The Duke of Seduction is author Darcy Burke’s latest addition to the Untouchables series. It’s a well constructed and interesting historical romance with some great conversations and interesting twists. If you like historical romance stories, this is a very entertaining read.

Lady Lavinia Gillingham is the female lead character. She’s an intelligent young woman with a mind that lends itself to science, but typical of this time, her intelligence isn’t encouraged. Her father, being a duke, Lavinia is aware she’ll one day be required to marry. She hopes to find someone who will support her interests, although she’s in no real hurry to marry.

The male lead is William Beckett, Marquess of Northam, “Beck” to his friends. He’s a handsome young man, well educated. He has no personal interest in marriage or, so he says. He had his heart broken at an early age by unrequited love and isn’t eager to repeat his mistake. He is however, a bit of a rake. He doesn’t mind having affairs with married women, although he is careful not to be caught. He has a few other secrets as well. He pens poems to help several of the unnoticed young women on the marriage mart get noticed. His reasons are the secret.

I don’t do spoilers but let me tell you why I found this story so very interesting. The author has given us a cast of interesting characters with very distinct personalities, well developed. The amusing way the main characters meet, and their developing relationship, is both amusing and imaginative. While it does follow the romantic plan we all know and love, it’s full of little twists and turns. The ending is my favorite and was most surprising. I read this one in a single day much to the disfavor of my spouse…but I simply couldn’t put it down. Ah, the life of a bookaholic!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgianna

The room wasn’t overly large, and it was—seemingly—empty. It also wasn’t terribly well lit, with a low fire burning in the grate and a pair of sconces flickering on the wall on either side of the fireplace.
She was either beneath the desk or behind the curtain. He couldn’t see the underside of the desk from the door. It wasn’t a pedestal as Lord Evenrude’s had been.
Circling around, he saw no one hiding there. That left the draperies on the window. He moved to the far wall and instantly noted the slight lump behind the blue damask. Moving forward, he reached for the fabric but hesitated before he pushed it aside. What if it wasn’t her?
The fabric moved, and she bared her face. “You found me.” Her dark gaze registered surprise. “Oh, it’s you!”
“It’s me.”
“Are you still looking for a place to hide?”
“I am.”
She reached for his lapel and held the drapery wide, pulling him into the darkness beside her. “He’ll be done counting shortly. If he isn’t already.”
“I should probably hide somewhere else,” he said, though he was loath to move. Ensconced in the dark with Lavinia, he was acutely aware of her heat and the intoxicating scent of lilies and honeysuckle.
“Yes, I suppose you should.” She turned toward him, and they were so close, her breasts brushed against his chest. “Sorry,” she murmured.
God, he wasn’t. He was only sorry he had to leave.
“Before you go, I wanted to thank you again for the fossils.” She whispered, her breath tickling his neck as she spoke. “I can’t stop looking at them. They’re absolutely extraordinary. I hope I have reason to visit Devon one day so I can hunt for my own.”
“I hope you do too. Consider yourself welcome at Waverly Court any time.”
“That’s very kind of you.”
He heard the smile in her voice and resisted the urge to run his fingers over her mouth so he could feel the curve of her lips. He really should go—
But first, he wanted to ask her something. “Do you know the Duchess of Kendal?”
“Yes, but not well. Fanny’s sister is a good friend of hers. Why?”
Why indeed. Beck wanted to enlist Lavinia’s help to see if the Duchess might be able to help him learn who SW and DC might be. However, if the Duchess had been part of a scandal, she might prefer to leave those memories in the past. Furthermore, he wasn’t sure he should include Lavinia in any of this.
And yet, he found he simply couldn’t resist. “Do you know what happened with the Duchess when she was out in Society—maybe sixteen years ago? The Duke mentioned something, and I was curious. Because my sister was out at the same time.” He added the last because he felt he had to share a reason for his inquiry. Still, he hated bringing Helen up since he didn’t want to answer too many questions about her, particularly regarding her fate.
“She was compromised. A gentleman—I can’t remember who—wooed her. They were caught kissing, and he refused to marry her. She was ruined. It was horrible because it wasn’t even her fault. It’s so unfair. Men can kiss whomever they want, and women are blamed for any indiscretion.”
“The key is to not get caught. It sounds as though this gentleman was rather inept.”
“Are you saying it was his fault?” She sounded surprised. “Most would argue they were at least both to blame.”
“Certainly she retains some culpability, but a decent gentleman would ensure they could kiss and not get caught.”
“And how would they do that?” Something in her tone changed. Her voice lowered, and it felt as though she’d moved just a hair closer.
If he leaned just a tiny bit forward, he was sure he’d feel her breasts again. God, how he wanted to. “They might hide themselves behind a drapery in the library.”
“During hide-and-seek?”
Beck’s cock lengthened and grew stiff as the air around them heated. “Probably not. In that case, someone is actually looking to find them.”
“And yet here we are.” Her voice had changed again, going nearly breathless.
“Yes, here we are.”
“Are you going to, then?” she asked, her breasts grazing his chest as she edged herself against him. “Kiss me.”
“By God, I think I am.”
“Oh, good.”

Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of hot, action-packed historical and sexy, emotional contemporary romance. A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, and three Bengal cats. Visit Darcy online at www.darcyburke.com and sign up for her newsletter, follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/darcyburke, or like her Facebook page,www.facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans.

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The Highlander’s Stolen Bride by Eliza Knight-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

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The Highlander’s Stolen Bride by Eliza Knight-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

THE HIGHLANDER’S STOLEN BRIDE
The Sutherland Legacy #2
by Eliza Knight
Release Date: July 31, 2018
Genre: adult, historical, Highland, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / ibooks /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date

Magnus “Strath” Sutherland, Laird of Dornoch, refuses to marry after being betrayed by his betrothed’s father. Needing to distance himself from the Highlands, he accepts a commission at the Scottish border by the king, where he must squelch an English lord’s plans to lay siege. What he finds is the Scots’ enemy about to wed a most alluring English lass. What better way to torment his enemy than by defeating his army and stealing his beautiful bride?

Eva de Clare, youngest daughter of the Earl of Northwyck is about to be pledged in matrimony to a cruel lord who has blackmailed her family, when a terrifying Highlander interrupts the ceremony. The horror stories she’s heard about the warriors of the north must be true, but none seem to compare when she is literally plucked from where she stands and whisked across the Scottish border.

At first, Strath intends to toss the Sassenach lass into a dark cell and forget about her, but there is something about the way she defies him that he finds captivating, not to mention how very much he’d like to kiss her. Eva isn’t about to be made into a prisoner of war, and she’s definitely not going to be sent back to England to marry her enemy. Though at first the Highlander frightened her, she sees kindness beneath his hard exterior. Perhaps the key to her survival will be convincing this warrior to take her for himself. And perhaps Strath, just might have found the only woman who could warm his hardened heart.

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REVIEW: The Highlander’s Stolen Bride is a wonderful historical romance.

The story begins with Magnus “Strath” Sutherland, Laird of Dornoch and Earl of Strathnavor, going on a mission for his king, Robert the Bruce. The mission has a couple of objectives. The first is to stop the raids and burning of Scottish villages by an English lord, and the second is to try to find out information as to whether the daughter of Lord Northwyck was dead as had been claimed.

Typical of the period, Eva de Clare, the heroine in this story, is the youngest daughter of the Earl of Northwyck and the last one remaining unmarried. She has been pledged in marriage to a horrible and cruel man, Lord Belfinch, by her weak and not so loving father.
That’s pretty much the set up for the start. I don’t do spoilers, I feel people should enjoy the story for themselves. What I can tell you is that I loved the characters, both the female and the male. The secondary characters are also well developed. I like the way Eliza Knight writes in the background and information a little at a time, so you begin to get the gist of their character as the story develops. She unfolds motives and the past brilliantly.

I found this story to be a wonderful read! Eva is what, I feel, was a typical female for the times. She has no say in who she marries, but untypically she also has the heart of a lion and will escape in whatever way she needs to. She’s brave and kind with many talents. I really liked her. The male lead is a dutiful son who loves his family and people and is proud to serve his king. He’s been hurt before and is cautious, but open enough to realize love when it happens. He’s strong and capable. He was so easy to fall for!

If you love the highlander style of stories and love good romance, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this one. It’ll leave you quite warm and fulfilled!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgianna S

 

What is the bastard up to?
Magnus “Strath” Sutherland, the Laird of Dornoch and Earl of Strathnavor, sat on his horse in the woods just beyond the perimeter of Northwyck Castle. He’d been sent south on a mission by his King, Robert the Bruce. One, to determine if the daughter of Lord Northwyck was dead as had been claimed, and also to stop a certain vile Sassenach lord from his continued raids at the border, who may or may not be holding her captive. That man was in the castle before him.
A plan to ambush Belfinch and his men on the road had been thwarted when the whoreson disappeared. Unfamiliar with the land this far past the English border, Strath and his men had found their quarry on the moors riding at a clipped pace toward this castle. This turnabout would work in their favor it seemed, since he could now take care of both of his king’s requests at once.
The keep was only about four stories high, if he had to guess, and the wall was about half that. There was a thin moat around the perimeter, and a village to the west. Smoke filtered out of a few chimneys in the village, but it was only late afternoon, so most of the peasants would likely be in the fields working. Smoke came from several chimneys in the castle keep.
From the intelligence Strath had been able to gather, this was the home of another man, the Earl of Northwyck. None of Belfinch’s men had waited outside, which meant the Earl of Northwyck was used to the men coming here, or he’d been forced. But Strath was betting on him being an ally. If that were the case, which seemed likely, it would behoove him and his men to remove all the threats.
This was war, after all. And if he let them go, they’d only continue the border raids he’d been sent to stop. Strath wasn’t about to disappoint his king. As to why the king cared about a lass, that was a question he’d have to leave unanswered, for his liege had not offered the information.
“What did ye find?” he asked when Tomaidh, his finest scout and best mate, returned.
“Two entrances that I could make out. The main gate has a wide drawbridge over the moat, still lowered from when Belfinch’s men went inside, and a postern gate that looks to be accessible only by a narrow drawbridge, but it was not lowered. The walls are guarded by a dozen men, more concentrated on the front gate with only a few at the postern. And I think one spotted me.”
“Damn.” Strath, as any warlord about to lay siege, much preferred the element of surprise.
“I was careful, but when I mounted my horse by the woods, I think my sword hilt caught the sun just when there was a break in the clouds. I heard a horn blown in the distance, which I’m guessing was the warning. I didn’t come straight here. I rode in the opposite direction and circled back through the woods in case they sent anyone out to follow me.”
“Ye did good.”
“I’m sorry, laird.”
“Dinna fash over it, Tomaidh. We’ll wait then. If they spotted ye, they’ll likely be preparing for an unwanted guest. With enough time, they will think spotting ye was nothing more than someone riding through. They will let their guard down.” Probably not all the way, but enough so he could still attack with success.
And he would succeed.


 

Eliza Knight is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty sizzling historical, time-travel and contemporary romance novels. Under the name E. Knight, she pens rip-your- heart-out historical fiction. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses and two very naughty puppies.

Connect with Eliza at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

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How to Train Your Baron by Diana Lloyd – a Review

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How to Train Your Baron by Diana Lloyd – a Review

 

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Description:
When Elsinore Cosgrove escapes a ballroom in search of adventure, she has no idea it will lead to a hasty marriage. The youngest daughter of a duke, all she wants is to make her own choices. Now she’s engaged to an infuriating, handsome Scottish baron who doesn’t even know her name! Using all her feminine wiles, along with advice gleaned from a training guide for hunting hounds, Elsinore is determined to mold her baron into the husband she wants.

Quin Graham is a man with many secrets. If another scandal can be avoided with a sham marriage, so be it. Only his fiancée isn’t at all what he’s expecting, and the clumsy, curious, and clever Elsinore refuses to be set aside. For reasons he’s unwilling to explain, the last thing Quin needs is to fall for his wife.

 

 

Review:

As a woman, the world provided her with only three opportunities–spinster, wife or demirep. Her life would be defined by the men in it, be it father, husband or rake.”
 
Rankles, doesn’t it? Clever Elsinore, you’ll come to discover, doesn’t have a fondness for convention. She purposefully ruins her chance at a noble arrangement, opting for adventure and an unexpected future, with a kiss! Scotsman (and Baron) Quin, was just being helpful, but acquiesced to the norms of society when caught in the compromised position. The marriage will alleviate Elsinore’s woes, but Quin’s past might make her regret her hasty decision. How to Train your Baron, a What Happens in the Ballroom novel by Diana Lloyd, was a bit of a trial, much like its title. There was hardly a moment’s peace with Quin and Elsinore’s insecurities and assumptions disrupting a path to HEA.
 
The scandal was clever, in my honest opinion; I deduced Elsinore to be resourceful and challenging when cornered. Unfortunately, her schemes quickly became irritating antics! Elsinore, though desperate to escape the confines of the peerage (reckless behavior for the win), is making good on a book acquired through her brother’s library. Only “Oglethorpe’s Treatise on the Obedient Canine” is now being modified to bring her fiance up to scratch! I’m going to blame it on age/naivete, but wasn’t Elsinore the one who got them in this mess? To kiss Quin inappropriately (though he’d never complain, the gentleman!) only to plot yet again in hopes of delaying the wedding because of impossible notions she’s drummed up!? If things didn’t go Elsinore’s way, another plan was dispatched. What do you want, daft girl?!
 
Quin’s aforementioned demons harangued him to the point of paranoia; essentially drawing a line in the sand that was to remain in place throughout their marriage. And he’s supposed to be the experienced partner. You’ll be hard-pressed to identify the “mature” voice.
 
“Elsinore was beautiful, witty, intelligent, and adventurous–she was also willful and impulsive. They were all qualities that would make her difficult to safe-guard and hard to hold. He could not lose his heart to her. Loving him was death.”
 
This all got convoluted, and unnecessarily so. The bones were there for a great love story: push and pull, give and take, hurt and forgive. But the whiplash of emotions and feelings made it a frustrating read. Aside from self-sabotage and fruitless comparisons, threatening notes meant to blackmail Quin tack on heightened danger. Ashamed of his past mistakes, Quin chooses to spare Elsinore the corresponding stigma attached to his name and engages in poor choices. If remaining loyal to someone when times are tough isn’t the definition of love, isolation awaits.
 
Be prepared to lose your patience with both MCs, but trust that Diana Lloyd makes it come together. The writing was strong and her intent was note-worthy. She just needs to stop undermining what the heart wants by testing it at every turn. Even the most straightforward love story contains magic. I appreciated Ms. Lloyd’s finale enough, a mutual awakening, to anticipate the next installation.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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