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The Bachelor Bargain by Maddison Michaels – a Review

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The Bachelor Bargain by Maddison Michaels – a Review

 

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Description:
Bachelors, beware. For those who keep secrets and prey on the innocent, you will be exposed, with all your dirty little secrets laid bare to one and all. You have been warned…

Lady Olivia Haliford has had enough. Tired of seeing women lose their reputations, futures, and sometimes even their lives to scandal while the men walk free, she is ready to take back power and stand up for women everywhere. Along with her two closest friends, she plans to start an anonymous publication dedicated to dishing the dirt and exposing the secrets of society’s most eligible bachelors. But in order to do so, she will have to make a deal with the devil…

Sebastian Colver, known as the Bastard of Baker Street, is feared throughout London as the city’s most notorious gambling den owner and undisputed king of the underground. His life is nothing but darkness and danger, so he is shocked when the petite lady gracing his doorstep seems anything but frightened of him. He agrees to be a silent partner in the publishing of the Gazette if she will use her connections to sponsor his sister and launch her into Society and away from his dark world.

But exposing the secrets of the rich and powerful can be dangerous. Almost as dangerous as a lady falling in love with the king of the underground. 

Content Warning: The Bachelor Bargain  features themes, imagery, and content that may be triggering for some readers. Discussion of physical abuse, rape, suicide, and death appear within the novel. Scenes depicting graphic violence/death also appear. It is my hope that these elements have been handled sensitively, but if they could be considered triggering to you, please take note.

 

 

Review:

The Bachelor Bargain by Maddison Michaels is the first book in her Secrets, Scandal and Spies series. 

Olivia has had enough, yet one more young lady has had her good name besmirched, her standing in the community thrown into disarray! But to lose one of her closest and dearest friends to death (the poor girl could not face the shame) enough is enough! Something must be done! She needs a way of exposing the scoundrels without putting herself in danger! So with the help of her two friends (Kaitlyn and Henrietta) she comes up with a newspaper to expose the rakes that do the evil deeds! 

Sebastian isn’t known as the “bastard of Baker Street” for nothing, he might have been born from an unholy union, but it’s his fearsome reputation that the nobility and street rats fear the most! He will ruin you at his gambling tables, and he doesn’t care what stock your from! 

This is the first book in a new series. So I’m hoping her friends Kaitlyn and Henrietta get books too. I thought Olivia was great, she knew her mind and doggedly pursued what she wanted! No mean feat in those days, as ladies were only meant to be accessories for their husbands! 

But Livie has come to accept that she’s going to be a spinster forever! A limp has put her at a disadvantage. Beauty is suppose to be from top to toe, and no one will put up with a girl with a disfigured leg! 

Sebastian although a rogue and bastard, was actually more of a gentleman than he was given credit for! He protects those he cares for, but it’s still hard to place trust in anyone….He owns a lot of property, and so a lot of responsibility, but he’s not the sort ti shy away from hard work. 

The idea of exposing the scoundrels that ruin the young ladies was a new one, and I loved it. What a nice way to spend an afternoon. Intrigue and suspense, throw in a splash of passion and romance and it will face to glued to the pages until the end. 

Seb has to come to terms that he feels more than just admiration for Olivia, but his standing in the community means they can never really be together! He wants his half sister to be accepted into society! Why? If all he does is ruin the men he might want her to marry! That’s easy, he only ruins men with a rogue reputation, so there are still plenty of good men for his sister to marry. So when he strikes up a bargain with Olivia, financial help from him, but only if she helps to elevate his sisters standing in the society, Olivia is hard pressed to refuse. 

But not everyone is happy with her wanting to expose these scoundrels! And when her life is in danger, how will Sebastian act? 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

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The Sinful Scot by Maddison Michaels – a Review

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The Sinful Scot by Maddison Michaels – a Review

 

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Description:
Constance Campbell, the Duchess of Kilmaine, once believed that all she needed in life was a duke. But everything unraveled when she realized her perfect husband was a perfect monster. Now broken beyond repair, she hides her misery behind a perfect Society mask…even from her childhood friend, Alec.

Dr. Alec McGuiness reluctantly finds himself back in Scotland, and checking up on the only woman to ever get under his skin, Connie. After she spurned him many years ago, he knows his humble life as a doctor could never be enough for her. But when the Duke of Kilmaine is murdered in cold blood, with Connie sleeping right next to him in bed, Alec knows he must protect Connie at all costs from those who would frame her for the duke’s murder.

Now on the run, Connie feels a freedom she only ever dreamed about before, and an unexpected attraction to the man who is keeping her safe. But even if they can win her freedom and clear her name, could she ever open her heart up to someone again?

 

 

Review:

The Sinful Scot by Maddison Michaels is the third book in her “Saints and Scoundrels” series. They don’t need reading in order. It’s told in the third person. A well thought out book, touching on a few subjects that a few readers might find hard to read about. 

Connie is use to putting on a show. For years now, she’s acted the dutiful wife, even when her husband beat her, even when he abused her mind and body. The only time she tried to escape, she almost lost her life. So now she’s resigned to her fate. Her life is in her husbands hands, and as he get a monthly allowance from her inheritance, he’s not going to end her life just yet. 

But life has its twists and turns, and fate throws her a lifeline…..

Alec has always remembered Connie, but he knew she’d never be happy as a wife of a doctor, so he moved away, but circumstances bring him back to Scotland, and into Connie’s life. He’s under the false impression (like everyone else) that she’s a spoilt woman, who wanted a Lady title, and would do anything to get it …… 

The death of her husband should have her mourning him, but all Connie feels is numb at his death. But it’s not a natural death, it was murder, and the finger is pointing firmly at Connie. But did she do it? She doesn’t remember.

A few things I found a little hard. Connie and Alec getting together, if she’d been that badly abused, wouldn’t it take longer to get over all that violent abuse? Romance books can survive without the sex, if the story is strong enough, then it doesn’t need the sweaty bodies writhing around. I would have preferred the story to concentrate on Connie’s road to recovery.  So is she guilty? Will she be able to escape the Duke and the legacy he left her with? And who was the murderer? 

I liked Connie because although brow beaten, she still had thoughts of other people. Her stepdaughter, and her household. I liked Alec but only when he realised her character is only a facade. A murder mystery book, with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure…

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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The Elusive Earl by Maddison Michaels – a Review

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The Elusive Earl by Maddison Michaels – a Review

 

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Description:
Brianna Penderley has a knack for getting into precarious situations, especially when it comes to her love for archaeology. In the heart of Naples, her terrible Italian has her accidentally becoming engaged to two men at the same time. Of course, Daniel Wolcott—the Earl of Thornton and the only man ever able to vex her—shows up to rescue her. Daniel has spent the majority of his life exercising rigid control over his emotions, determined never to become the rake his father was. But when he goes to aid his mentor’s danger-prone niece once again, he finds himself struggling to control his attraction to a woman who is his complete opposite. When their situation goes from bad to worse, Daniel and Brianna find themselves swept up into a perilous adventure, and they must work together to set things right. Now, if they can just avoid killing each other in the process. 



Review:

The Elusive Earl by Maddison Michaels was a fun read. I read it in one day. There were lots of funny moments.  The Elusive Earl is part of her Saints and Scoundrels series. I haven’t  read the first book in this series (The Devilish Duke), but they can be read as a stand-alone. 

Brianna was taken in by her uncle as a small child, as she had seen her parents brutally murdered, he brought her up as his own daughter. Raised very much an independent young lady, but rather too high spirited and in trouble all the time. Brianna is the type of girl to get herself in to awkward situations, like getting engaged to two men !! She is a funny, quirky and awkward woman. 

Her love of archeology leads her to Naples, and that’s where her problems start …. trying out her Italian is funny ? 

Daniel is the total opposite, he is true and steadfast, he swore long ago that he’d never really marry, he’d never be the rake his father was, but there is something about Brianna that gets under his skin. And when he is tasked to rescue her in Italy, he sees her in an altogether different light. 

On the way home, he has to get the captain to “marry” them, he tells Brianna that they will get an annulment once they get back. 

We then have a cousin who gets kidnapped.. so the pair race off to rescue the cousin. 

The Elusive Earl is mystery, with intrigue and enough romance to keep you happy as well as a comedy and a little danger. 

Reviewed by Julie B.

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Devilish Duke by Maddison Michaels – a Review

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The Devilish Duke by Maddison Michaels – a Review

 

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Description:
Devlin Markham, the notorious “Devil Duke” of Huntington, needs a woman. And not just any woman. If he can’t woo one of the most eccentric bluestockings of the Ton within the month, he can kiss his hard-earned fortune good-bye. But he’s always thought love a wasted emotion and marriage an inconvenience at best. And oddly enough, Lady Sophie Wolcott seems unmoved by his charm…

When Sophie learns her beloved orphanage is in imminent danger, she will do anything to save it. Even marry a ruthless rake who takes what he wants in business and pleasure. A man who’s everything she’s always feared most—but whom she reluctantly begins yearning for.

Then Sophie becomes the target of a killer lurking from the dark shadows of Devlin’s past. And they find not only their lives in jeopardy but their very hearts.

 

Review:

The Devilish Duke begins with Lady Sophie spying on a man with whom she’s been in love with for a very long time, only to see him to propose to another.  Heartbroken, her mind is whirling, but that’s not the most painful part.  That would be her falling out of the tree she had climbed to spy……….right in front of the Duke of Huntington himself, Devlin Markham.  Of course, Sophie knows the Duke, and his reputation, and is mortified.  Fortunately for her, Devlin is very discreet and aids her, even though the two trade barbs with each other.  Such as life…….

A year later, Devlin finds himself in a bit of a situation.  The Queen will not approve his proposed project until he has settled down and put his rakish reputation behind him.  Having always been able to talk himself in, or out, of any situation, he knows the Queen has him cornered.  The thought of falling in love and marriage is laughable for him, but he knows he has to do as the Queen directs.  Fortunately for him, he thinks that Lady Sophie might be just what the Queen ordered.

Sophie has come to the conclusion that she will never marry, much to her aunt’s dismay.  That doesn’t stop her aunt from trying to play matchmaker.  Once her aunt discovers that the Duke of Huntington has declared his interest in pursuing Sophie, she is more than pleased.  Sophie is trying her best not to succumb to the Duke’s charm, but when she finds out that her beloved orphanage where she tirelessly volunteers is in danger of being closed, she knows her hands are tied.  And, she would do anything to help save it, even if it means marrying someone whom she knows can shatter her heart.

The Devilish Duke is a wonderfully written story.  Sophie is a great character.  She is spunky, independent and very intelligent.  Devlin is great as well, even though he tries to convince everyone that he’s not.  He is very smart and very loyal to those he deems his.  The two of these characters together, as they navigate their histories and try to overcome them, have chemistry that leaps off of the page.  The secondary characters are well written as well.  The intrigue of this story grabs you pretty quickly and keeps you turning the pages.  For me, anytime that I read a story and I can “see” the scenes as I read them, is one of the highest compliments I can give an author.  Maddison Michaels, with this story, is one of those authors.  This is the first I’ve read by her, but it certainly won’t be the last.  Well done, Maddison Michaels!  Very, very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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