DNF'd at 21%. This is my first book by this author and I got into it quite quickly. I liked the premise and was interested to see where it would go. UDNF'd at 21%. This is my first book by this author and I got into it quite quickly. I liked the premise and was interested to see where it would go. Unfortunately, there were a few things that annoyed me and maybe my patience has grown thinner than normal, but after the cat barn attack, I had to fold.
The heroine has this cat that is ... I'm not even sure. Super huge? And apparently extremely bad tempered? He attacks people all the time and she leaves him in the barn of the hero's castle when she goes there and the cat attacks a bunch of the guards and scratches them up; they're bleeding all over the place. I know, this is super small and why on earth did it set me off? I honestly don't know. I think half was annoyance with the silliness/ridiculousness of it, and the other half was annoyance with her for being so irresponsible by leaving the cat there and/or not at least warning people.
Think I already bought the second book in this series, so I will try that and keep my fingers crossed that I enjoy it more.
Merged review:
DNF'd at 21%. This is my first book by this author and I got into it quite quickly. I liked the premise and was interested to see where it would go. Unfortunately, there were a few things that annoyed me and maybe my patience has grown thinner than normal, but after the cat barn attack, I had to fold.
The heroine has this cat that is ... I'm not even sure. Super huge? And apparently extremely bad tempered? He attacks people all the time and she leaves him in the barn of the hero's castle when she goes there and the cat attacks a bunch of the guards and scratches them up; they're bleeding all over the place. I know, this is super small and why on earth did it set me off? I honestly don't know. I think half was annoyance with the silliness/ridiculousness of it, and the other half was annoyance with her for being so irresponsible by leaving the cat there and/or not at least warning people.
Think I already bought the second book in this series, so I will try that and keep my fingers crossed that I enjoy it more....more
[image] [image] [image] [image] [image] SUCH an enjoyable read!! Even writing the review now, a day later, I can't help grinning remembering Eleano[image] [image] [image] [image] [image] SUCH an enjoyable read!! Even writing the review now, a day later, I can't help grinning remembering Eleanor, James, and the terrific back-and-forth between them! They both went down in my favorite hero/heroine lists, as well as my favorite couples list; the chemistry and tension between them was superb—entertaining, sweet, funny, and just oh-so-wonderful. James' reaction when he discovers that Eleanor is normally seen by others as a timid, reserved wallflower was hysterical:
"[...] Your sister hasn't insulted me yet."
Georgina shot Eleanor a curious look. "Does she insult you often?"
"No, but when she does it's well placed." At Georgina's silence, he continued, "Don't tell me you've never been subject to her barbed remarks?"
"I can't say that I have." She raised her eyebrows. "Most in Society would call her reserved. A few may even say timid."
"Timid," he exclaimed. His head swiveled toward her, and she felt herself reddening under the incredulity of his stare. "You've not been timid with me."
"It's impossible to be timid with you," she muttered, upset at her mannerisms being the topic of conversation. Upset that he was right and she didn't quite know why it upset her. Anyway, being timid and being reserved were two different things in her mind, and she'd always felt she was more the latter. "If I was, you would flatten me with your careless exuberance and disregard."
Georgina blinked.
MacGregor grinned. "See ... I knew I wasn't imagining it."
"Clearly," Georgina said. She sounded too speculative for Eleanor's taste.
"Being able to make normally reserved women turn sharp-tongued isn't exactly a high recommendation of your social skills," Robert [Eleanor's brother] said to MacGregor, still writing his letter. "I don't know why you sound pleased."
At first glance, Eleanor and James seem like they could not be more different, and in many ways that's true, which is part of what makes their relationship all the more interesting. There's a main theme at the core of each of their stories though that is very similar—pretending to be something / someone else in order to realize their goals and accomplish what they want. James is such a colorful, energetic character (SO FUNNY!!!! Oh I love him), but tries to present a whitewashed front under certain circumstances, because he thinks that's the only way he can get what he wants (or thinks he wants). Likewise, Eleanor has a brilliant scientific mind, but in order for her work to get the attention it deserves and for her paper to be published, she submits it under a man's name, and has to keep up the charade. As Eleanor reflects:
She saw how he was trying to fold himself to fit in a neat little box, when she knew he was so much more than that box could contain. And she saw that she was doing the same thing.
And later ...
It mattered because if a man as uncontainable as James MacGregor felt like he needed to change who he was to be accepted, what hope did a socially awkward, science-minded almost spinster have?
Why Not 5 Stars? I wish the book was longer—it's not a novella, but it's novella-ish (200-something pages, not 300-400+), and so ended up feeling a bit rushed. Also, James was sometimes a bit slappable; to be clear, it was always understandable why he was so fixated on this ridiculous goal and he was always very open and honest about it with Eleanor, so at least there's no issues of misunderstandings or miscommunications ... but still. James!!! Ugh—sometimes I really wanted to knock him upside the head, tell him to wake-up and realize he wasn't a 12-year-old child anymore, needing to prove something. Still, I got it, and we of course need conflict and something to delay the HEA, so Maxton has to give us something to lead us on, right? ;-)
Summary. The book summary given is surprisingly accurate, so won't take space to add-on (I find a lot of HR book summaries extremely annoying for their inaccuracy / misrepresentation).
The Townsends Series. This is the second in a series, but the couple from Book 1 (Enchanting the Earl), which features Eleanor's oldest brother Theo, don't even appear in the story until the Epilogue, so there is definitely no need to read it first. While Eleanor and her other 2 siblings do appear in the prior book, there's not much focus on them—definitely not to the point where you would need to read it to understand Eleanor more.
Recommendations. I only discovered Lily Maxton last year, but she is terrific!!! Unfortunately, she doesn't have many full-length novels, but the one of hers I read became one of my all-time-ever favorite romances, and her novella series (and this novella-ish series) are totally worth the read: · The Improper Bride is technically #5 in the series below, but can be read alone (5+ stars—phenomenal!) · Sisters of Scandals: #1 The Affair (3.5 stars); #2 The Wager (4 stars); #3 The Love Match (4.5 stars) · The Townsends: #1 Enchanting the Earl (4 stars); #2 The Rogue's Conquest (4.5 stars)
Another Excerpt Just Because.
The pugilist in him was horrified. "You shouldn't skip meals. It's not good for your body. Cakes can't replace meats and vegetables. And what of fruit? Do you want to get scurvy?"
She lifted one delicate eyebrow. "Currants are a fruit."
"But you've buried them in flour and sugar. If I lived here, I would follow you around with a platter and feed you any number of wholesome things." He said it as a jest, but a part of him wouldn't mind taking care of her when she was too enraptured by her studies to remember to eat. The realization was startling for someone who'd never had a nurturing bone in his body.
And oddly sensual—he had a fleeting image of pressing a slice of orange to Eleanor's lips, her tongue darting out to capture tart droplets of juice that clung to his fingers.
He shook his head to clear it, realizing he was venturing into dangerous territory.
"This isn't much of a replacement for a meal, though," he remarked before finishing half his cake in one bite.
"Very well. Now eat your dry rout cakes and stop pestering me." Her lips twitched as she said it. She poured herself a steaming cup of tea and then set the teapot down again. "I can ring for something else. I know you don't like tea."
"How do you know I don't like tea?"
Her mouth twisted wryly. "Because you drink everything else in about two gulps."
It was odd, and probably ridiculous, that such an observation would cause a little pang in his chest, but cause a pang it did.
"Have you been watching me so closely, then?" He meant it to be lighthearted, but his voice emerged slightly husky.
"Only because you wear things like that." She nodded at his waistcoat. "It's a sort of fascinated horror, really. Like a carriage wreck one can't look away from." Then she proceeded to take a dainty bite of cake, as though she hadn't just blithely insulted him.
He smiled in spite of himself. "You, Eleanor Townsend, are an utter nightmare."
Her lips twitched again, and then spread to a full grin, and something in his chest lifted, or quieted, or fell silent. He didn't know exactly what the sensation was because he'd never felt it before. But he did know that in that moment, he was not thinking of the future, or how much the porcelain tea set in front of him cost, or how he might buy one someday whether he liked tea or not.
He was simply there, in that moment, there and nowhere else.
Merged review:
[image] [image] [image] [image] [image] SUCH an enjoyable read!! Even writing the review now, a day later, I can't help grinning remembering Eleanor, James, and the terrific back-and-forth between them! They both went down in my favorite hero/heroine lists, as well as my favorite couples list; the chemistry and tension between them was superb—entertaining, sweet, funny, and just oh-so-wonderful. James' reaction when he discovers that Eleanor is normally seen by others as a timid, reserved wallflower was hysterical:
"[...] Your sister hasn't insulted me yet."
Georgina shot Eleanor a curious look. "Does she insult you often?"
"No, but when she does it's well placed." At Georgina's silence, he continued, "Don't tell me you've never been subject to her barbed remarks?"
"I can't say that I have." She raised her eyebrows. "Most in Society would call her reserved. A few may even say timid."
"Timid," he exclaimed. His head swiveled toward her, and she felt herself reddening under the incredulity of his stare. "You've not been timid with me."
"It's impossible to be timid with you," she muttered, upset at her mannerisms being the topic of conversation. Upset that he was right and she didn't quite know why it upset her. Anyway, being timid and being reserved were two different things in her mind, and she'd always felt she was more the latter. "If I was, you would flatten me with your careless exuberance and disregard."
Georgina blinked.
MacGregor grinned. "See ... I knew I wasn't imagining it."
"Clearly," Georgina said. She sounded too speculative for Eleanor's taste.
"Being able to make normally reserved women turn sharp-tongued isn't exactly a high recommendation of your social skills," Robert [Eleanor's brother] said to MacGregor, still writing his letter. "I don't know why you sound pleased."
At first glance, Eleanor and James seem like they could not be more different, and in many ways that's true, which is part of what makes their relationship all the more interesting. There's a main theme at the core of each of their stories though that is very similar—pretending to be something / someone else in order to realize their goals and accomplish what they want. James is such a colorful, energetic character (SO FUNNY!!!! Oh I love him), but tries to present a whitewashed front under certain circumstances, because he thinks that's the only way he can get what he wants (or thinks he wants). Likewise, Eleanor has a brilliant scientific mind, but in order for her work to get the attention it deserves and for her paper to be published, she submits it under a man's name, and has to keep up the charade. As Eleanor reflects:
She saw how he was trying to fold himself to fit in a neat little box, when she knew he was so much more than that box could contain. And she saw that she was doing the same thing.
And later ...
It mattered because if a man as uncontainable as James MacGregor felt like he needed to change who he was to be accepted, what hope did a socially awkward, science-minded almost spinster have?
Why Not 5 Stars? I wish the book was longer—it's not a novella, but it's novella-ish (200-something pages, not 300-400+), and so ended up feeling a bit rushed. Also, James was sometimes a bit slappable; to be clear, it was always understandable why he was so fixated on this ridiculous goal and he was always very open and honest about it with Eleanor, so at least there's no issues of misunderstandings or miscommunications ... but still. James!!! Ugh—sometimes I really wanted to knock him upside the head, tell him to wake-up and realize he wasn't a 12-year-old child anymore, needing to prove something. Still, I got it, and we of course need conflict and something to delay the HEA, so Maxton has to give us something to lead us on, right? ;-)
Summary. The book summary given is surprisingly accurate, so won't take space to add-on (I find a lot of HR book summaries extremely annoying for their inaccuracy / misrepresentation).
The Townsends Series. This is the second in a series, but the couple from Book 1 (Enchanting the Earl), which features Eleanor's oldest brother Theo, don't even appear in the story until the Epilogue, so there is definitely no need to read it first. While Eleanor and her other 2 siblings do appear in the prior book, there's not much focus on them—definitely not to the point where you would need to read it to understand Eleanor more.
Recommendations. I only discovered Lily Maxton last year, but she is terrific!!! Unfortunately, she doesn't have many full-length novels, but the one of hers I read became one of my all-time-ever favorite romances, and her novella series (and this novella-ish series) are totally worth the read: · The Improper Bride is technically #5 in the series below, but can be read alone (5+ stars—phenomenal!) · Sisters of Scandals: #1 The Affair (3.5 stars); #2 The Wager (4 stars); #3 The Love Match (4.5 stars) · The Townsends: #1 Enchanting the Earl (4 stars); #2 The Rogue's Conquest (4.5 stars)
Another Excerpt Just Because.
The pugilist in him was horrified. "You shouldn't skip meals. It's not good for your body. Cakes can't replace meats and vegetables. And what of fruit? Do you want to get scurvy?"
She lifted one delicate eyebrow. "Currants are a fruit."
"But you've buried them in flour and sugar. If I lived here, I would follow you around with a platter and feed you any number of wholesome things." He said it as a jest, but a part of him wouldn't mind taking care of her when she was too enraptured by her studies to remember to eat. The realization was startling for someone who'd never had a nurturing bone in his body.
And oddly sensual—he had a fleeting image of pressing a slice of orange to Eleanor's lips, her tongue darting out to capture tart droplets of juice that clung to his fingers.
He shook his head to clear it, realizing he was venturing into dangerous territory.
"This isn't much of a replacement for a meal, though," he remarked before finishing half his cake in one bite.
"Very well. Now eat your dry rout cakes and stop pestering me." Her lips twitched as she said it. She poured herself a steaming cup of tea and then set the teapot down again. "I can ring for something else. I know you don't like tea."
"How do you know I don't like tea?"
Her mouth twisted wryly. "Because you drink everything else in about two gulps."
It was odd, and probably ridiculous, that such an observation would cause a little pang in his chest, but cause a pang it did.
"Have you been watching me so closely, then?" He meant it to be lighthearted, but his voice emerged slightly husky.
"Only because you wear things like that." She nodded at his waistcoat. "It's a sort of fascinated horror, really. Like a carriage wreck one can't look away from." Then she proceeded to take a dainty bite of cake, as though she hadn't just blithely insulted him.
He smiled in spite of himself. "You, Eleanor Townsend, are an utter nightmare."
Her lips twitched again, and then spread to a full grin, and something in his chest lifted, or quieted, or fell silent. He didn't know exactly what the sensation was because he'd never felt it before. But he did know that in that moment, he was not thinking of the future, or how much the porcelain tea set in front of him cost, or how he might buy one someday whether he liked tea or not.
He was simply there, in that moment, there and nowhere else.
Okay, so if this is your first Anna Campbell, do NOT judge her by this book (though given the ratings thus far, it seems like I may be alone in this).Okay, so if this is your first Anna Campbell, do NOT judge her by this book (though given the ratings thus far, it seems like I may be alone in this). Campbell can write a killer novella—Her Christmas Earl (5 stars, my review) and A Match Made in Mistletoe (4 stars, my review)—and novel—Midnight Wild's Passion (4 stars, my review).
When it came to this one though ... wow, I was rolling my eyes within a few pages. It was just so over-the-top and not believable. We start off with our heroine giving herself a talking to that she's not going to be in love with the hero anymore (if one can even call it love—it was basically a schoolgirl's infatuation). Now, of course, within 5 minutes of him starting to notice her, all that has changed, though she keeps scolding herself for forgetting her new vow.
Now let's come to him noticing her. He wakes up hungover, comes down to breakfast, she's the only one there, and WOAH, although they've spent the holidays with each other for years and she's one of his closest friends' younger sisters, all of a sudden she has beautiful, intelligent eyes and her standoffish ways are fascinating to him—because normally girls just bat their eyelashes at him and giggle, we hear this from him time and time again. Now by 13% (13%!!!) we're already having him start to fall for her, wanting to kiss her in a room full of their friends and family, squeezing her hand at "the hint of wistfulness in her voice"—I'm sorry, but come on.
It was all too much for me, and too many books, WAY too little time, decided to stop while I was not ahead. I was disappointed, because I do so love the shy, quiet heroines, but they both came off as immature (she's 20, he's 25), her love for him is substantiated by nothing, and his sudden feelings shift for her makes no sense and its speed is over-the-top....more
His presence, his words, his title, his disapproval—none of it could fluster this woman. And Hamlin was utterly intrigued by it. She was smiling at
His presence, his words, his title, his disapproval—none of it could fluster this woman. And Hamlin was utterly intrigued by it. She was smiling at him as he glared at her. She found him amusing in that way she found everything amusing. She was truly remarkable in a way he'd never known another person to be.
4 stars I adored this book and most specifically, the two leading characters and two of the supporting characters—the heroine's uncle and the hero's ward. Catriona (33) easily made it onto my Favorite Romance Heroines list, though with that first scene where she's drunk off her ass and super belligerent, I started off a bit wary lol. She is such a wonderful character though! I loved her strength, independence, vulnerability, kindness, good humor, courage, generosity—just everything about this heroine is lovely and you're rooting for her from the get-go (minus the drunk belligerent scene).
I also appreciated how she had carved out a life for herself, and felt for the fact that she had taken these chances and done good works that left their mark on her choices in life and her reputation, but that she was still hoping against hope, deep down, that she could have a husband and family one day, even though she thought that would never happen now, because of her "advanced" age and her choices. As her relationship with Hamlin develops, it's impossible not to cheer for her and be scared on her behalf for how it will all turn out okay
He was the pull of the moon on the sea of her longing, and it was impossible to resist. She was torn between the woman she'd been until now, and the woman she was suddenly becoming. She couldn't say which was truer to her heart. She couldn't say. For the first time in years, she could not, with confidence, say who she was.
Hamlin (almost 40) was a lovely hero, though he starts off as an unknown quantity, for sure. Especially the fact that it is hidden from the reader for so long what the situation is with his wife (is she even dead? did she run away? was she murdered by someone else? did she kill herself? who knows!!) makes him a bit inaccessible. We know his marriage was a bad one, but this past year has also shaped him into a different person, and it's a bit hard to fully understand that impact given we don't know the circumstances for so long.
He starts off very cold and distant, but you quickly feel for the horrible position he's in, even if you don't know the truth of what really happened (we obviously know that he's not a murderer, because he's the hero). The social isolation he experiences and the rumors and innuendos he has to deal with are really heart-breaking, and you can't help but be ecstatic when the force that is Catriona enters his world and starts to shake things up and bring some happiness and joy to his life.
Her smile broadened. Hamlin was aware of his heartbeat again. It wasn't racing per se, but reminding him that it was very much present and willing to work in any manner necessary in the presence of this woman.
His ward, Eula, was such a terrific addition to the cast and she really helps round out his character, because it shows us, and the Catriona, his softer side from the beginning. In their first scene together Eula's instructing him on how to brush and arrange her hair and it's just adorable. When done right, kids can be a huge bonus to a romance and London definitely got it right here. I love her spunky character and all of Catriona's and Hamlin's interactions with her. Uncle Knox was also lovely and I adored how he was so proud of Catriona and everything that made her unique and essentially her.
I would say my biggest criticism was the unknown factor of the wife and the resulting impact on the reading experience. For me, it contributed to a lot of angst, because it made the possible future of their relationship totally unclear (I don't like angst). Obviously, whatever the circumstances, I knew that it would somehow be resolved because it's a romance and there is a HEA, but the not knowing more drove me nuts. It created this uneasiness for me once they moved forward in their relationship that made it a bit hard for me to enjoy what was going on, because I was partly holding my breath waiting for everything to come crashing down. The walls felt like they were closing in, what with his campaign to win a seat in the House of Lords and the situation with his dead-or-living-wife undoubtedly coming to a head. I hated that their relationship was such a danger to both of them (obviously not physically, but reputation- and etc.-wise).
She was, he believed, the companion of his heart.
*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version....more
She wanted him. James Kilbrenner, the Earl of Tannenbrook. She wanted him as she'd never wanted another thing. Ever. This was more than the Inkling
She wanted him. James Kilbrenner, the Earl of Tannenbrook. She wanted him as she'd never wanted another thing. Ever. This was more than the Inkling. This was destiny.
And he would be hers, she decided, still struggling for breath, her gloved hand brushing the side of her neck where she'd felt his words slide over her skin.
One way or another, he would be hers.
4 stars I loved having the heroine be such an ardent pursuer, and the hero so resistant (even though he really, really wants her).
Viola was a lovely character and extremely likable, in spite of being basically the perfect everything ... except for embroiderer—she sucks at embroidery! But even that only makes her that much more lovable. You've got to admire her pluck and persistency, and even as she is rebutted and refused repeatedly and constantly by James, she keeps her hope alive and perseveres. Gotta love it.
James is a huge hunk of gruffy cuteness, all stoic and intimidating—though no matter how much he tries to intimidate and push Viola away, she doesn't seem to get the message. Sometimes I wanted to slap him upside the head, because clearly they're so perfect for one another and frankly, his reason for holding her off and denying himself was pretty ridiculous.
“She vexes me greatly. And I despise seeing her smile at other men. That does not mean I am in love with her.”
“Yes, it does.”
“I do not write her bloody poetry the way other gentlemen do. Explain that.”
“Describe her to me. Pretend I’ve never met her.”
“But you have.”
“Humor an old friend, won’t you?” James pondered for a moment, frowning as he struggled to find the best words for Viola. “She is bonnie and wee.”
Lucien chuckled. “Try to reach beyond the Scot side of your vocabulary. What is she like?”
“A butterfly,” he muttered. “Bright and fine. The most exquisite of creatures. She is like a butterfly in full color landing on fresh-fallen snow. She blinds you to everything but her.” It grew easier, he found, the more he spoke about her. “She has these eyes. They look like the sky, but not an ordinary sky. They’re lighter in the center, and at the edges lie rings of darker blue, nearly violet. In between, if the light casts just so, you can see the stars there. Twinkling the way they do around dusk.”
Several seconds of silence ticked by before Lucien said, “But you are not in love with her.”
Anthologies are so difficult to rate! They're always a mix of good and bad (sometimes wonderfully good, and sometimes horrifyingly bad), but I can onlAnthologies are so difficult to rate! They're always a mix of good and bad (sometimes wonderfully good, and sometimes horrifyingly bad), but I can only choose one way to rate it! Argh. I chose 3 stars, but the ratings range from DNF to 4 stars—there were two stories that I very much enjoyed, one that had a lot of promise, and two that I strongly disliked. All of these authors were ones that I had never read before, so I knew it was quite risky going in, but I have a soft spot for Scottish HRs and couldn't help myself.
The Novellas and Their Individual Ratings. Here is the breakdown of my ratings: • "A Highlander's Hope" by Terri Brisbin (4 stars) • "A Highland Christmas Wager" by Lecia Cornwall (1 star) • "A Scot for Christmas" by Bronwen Evans (DNF) • "Leftover Mistletoe" by Lavinia Kent (3.5 stars) • "Sweet Home Highlands" by May McGoldrick (4 stars) I wrote reviews below for each one (for some reason my first one is practically the length of the novella it's reviewing, but the others are shorter, I promise!! ;-).
[image]
[image] [image] [image] [image] "A Highlander's Hope" by Terri Brisbin Dunbarton and Dunnedin, Scotland (the Highlands), Winter 1357
MAIN CHARACTERS. Ian MacKillop (40+ years) and Robena MacKendimen (mid-20s?) • Ian is the uncle of the MacKillop chieftain in Dunbarton; his older brother was the previous chieftain before he died. He has been a widower for about 5 years, and though his first marriage was arranged, he loved and misses his wife, Elisabeth, and is a little lonely; they never had children, which he regrets, but she wasn't able to. He's being pressured by his nephew and others to get married again. • Robena is the village whore in Dunnedin (to be blunt). Her mother was the village whore and she took on the same role. She lives alone in a cottage on the edge of the village, but is treated well by most all of the village/clan (except for the MacKendimen chieftain, Struan). She was childhood friends with Struan's natural-born son, Rob, who is now the heir to the clan; he and his wife, Lady Anice, are nice to Robena.
SUMMARY. Every winter since Elisabeth died, he goes to Dunnedin for the winter holidays, because he has too many memories tied to Dunbarton and Elisabeth. Rob is a very close friend of his and was raised by his brother for many years, so they trained together. Whenever he goes, he "takes up" with Robena, and there is a fondness there on both sides. The idea of marriage has been increasingly on his mind and though at first he tries to dismiss it, he grows more and more attached to the idea of taking Robena to wife. He knows what people's reactions will be, and that it would be a difficult situation for both of them, but he doesn't care. What he doesn't expect is that Robena herself will be the biggest obstacle to them getting what both their hearts' desire ...
MY REVIEW. This is my first book by Terri Brisbin and I really enjoyed it. She has clearly done her research about the time period and the region, the Scottish accent and phrasing is all well-done, and she is very good at setting the scene. I don't read many medieval romance novels, so some of the aspects of the times were a bit of an adjustment for me (age difference, what women had to deal with, etc.).
I was very wary going in, because I knew from the summary that the heroine was the "village harlot" and while you have some regency/Victorian HRs where the heroine is a mistress or high-priced prostitute, you don't have many. Life was very different then though, and Brisbin does a tremendous job of portraying Robena and allowing us to connect with this complex character; she's a sweet woman who hasn't had much luck in life, and she's not the caricature of a prostitute, while also not being an extreme self-hating one who abhors men and having sex with them.
I was surprised by how much I was able to quickly believe the special connection between Robena and Iain. Iain is a FANTASTIC hero—smart, hardworking, respectful, passionate, and quite sensitive (in terms of being in tune with and aware of others' feelings). Granted it's a novella, so Brisbin didn't have much time or space to employ any Big Misundertandings, but I still have to give her props for writing Iain the way she did; he is patient, understand's Robena's fears, and doesn't let some of her comments and actions to confuse him—he gets what is really driving her.
Overall, a really fantastic novella that I highly recommend. Very different from other romances I have read, but I'm glad for it. Also look forward to checking out some of Brisbin's other works and picking them up.
MISCELLANEOUS. Takes up 1%-19% of eBook. Includes an epilogue. Is part of the MacKendimen Clan series.
QUOTE.
Something was dangerously different between them already, and staying here would just confuse her—them—even more. The contentment she had in her life came from knowing who and what she was, and her place here in the MacKendimen Clan. To blur the lines and pretend to be something, someone, that she was not and could never be, would leave her wanting when he left. Nay, that was not the truth. She would miss Iain when he returned to Dunbarton, but it would be so much worse if she allowed herself to want more than she could have. If she wanted him.
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[image] "A Highland Christmas Wager" by Lecia Cornwall Scotland, Highlands, December 1711
Brief Summary. Meggie and her grandmother get caught in a snowstorm and have to take refuge at a castle on the way. Owner of said castle is Magnus MacAsshole (... okay, maybe that's not reaaaally his name), who Meggie lost her virginity to 8 years ago (1 day before his wedding, though she didn't know it) and whom she hasn't seen since. He's a widower now and the two male visitors who already there are all attracted to Meggie and can't get over her hotness, though apparently our hero doesn't express it as ridiculously as the others, is able to look in her eyes and doesn't get stuck on her breasts, so Meggie feels that he understands her and sees past the flirt-wall she puts up. The three guys have made a wager that whoever kisses Meggie first will win items they've pooled together for the bet, and gets to marry her (by going to her father and telling her they've had sex, whether they have or not, so that the father forces the marriage to cover up any scandal). Yeah, they're a real bunch of Boy Scouts, let me tell ya'!
My Review. Practically no one was likable in this story. Maybe the grandmother. But that's it. There was also something about the story that I couldn't really put my finger on ... like it was just trying too hard, and so ended up being a caricature of an HR novella rather than an actual HR novella. The characters, in addition to being supremely unlikable and shallow, were also hugely inconsistent (in a way that was the author's fault). Example: Meggie has been angry with Magnus ever since she realized he deceived her, and she was an 18-year-old girl who thought herself in love ... but then at one point she considers marrying him and wonders if they'll still have a physical connection ... and then seeks to avoid him as much as possible. Ummm, what?? There are several other examples, but I won't bore you.
Bottom Line. Don't even bother. That sounds soooo harsh ... but I'm always committed to being honest in my reviews for readers, so there it is!
Miscellaneous. Takes up 19%-43% of eBook. Includes an epilogue.
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[image] "A Scot for Christmas" by Bronwen Evans Scotland, December 1815
My Review. Don't have much to write, because I broke it off with this one pretty early. I'll admit I may have been swayed by one of my GR friends, Stacy, who had already reviewed them and whose reviews I saw right before reading this one. To be clear: I didn't like it and wouldn't have liked it regardless, but I listened to that feeling pretty early on and decided to cut my losses.
We start off with the hero lamenting his late wife—who died 6 years ago and whom he was married to for 2 years! Not that great love can't develop in 2 years, but ... his devotion and determination to never even try to find someone else, despite her encouragement to do so, seemed way over-the-top. Then Emily (or was it Emma?) walks through the door, and BOOM—"WOW SHE'S SO GORGEOUS, OMG, I'M IN LOVE AGAIN" (I'm paraphrasing). Calm down, buddy, she literally just walked in the door and you've seen her for a hot second (and not for the first time, she's the younger sister of a friend of his). Furthermore, what happened to all that til-death-devotion that you were so caught-up two minutes ago?
Miscellaneous. Takes up 43%-59% of eBook. Includes an epilogue.
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[image] [image] [image] [image] "Leftover Mistletoe" by Lavinia Kent Kilbirnie, Scotland, 1818
My Review. This was where things started to pick-up again—thankfully! I think my rating would have been higher for this had it been a full novel, because part of the hold-up for me was how quick James and Emma fall in love and connect. It wasn't too bad—that's something I'm always super sensitive to and dislike—but it toed that line for me. Both characters were enjoyable, I liked the dialogue between them, and the chemistry was really great!! There were also some very funny scenes ... one involving Emma, who has heretofore lived a very privileged life, trying to do an everyday mundane task, with some unforeseen consequences lolol; have to give her points for trying!
Main Characters. Emma, the heroine, was extremely likable and I liked her backstory. She grew up the daughter of an earl, very privileged, and in a loving home, but when we meet her, she's been orphaned, her maid has run off with some of her belongings, as she's traveling to live with an uncle she never met because her cousin (and father's heir) kicked her out the only home she's ever known. She's not hoity-toity, though there is a definite sense of authority and aristocracy about her that James notices, but it's all completely logical—of course she's never made tea before, of course she doesn't know how to start a fire. The thing is, she tries to learn and tries to do those things, and that's what I really appreciated; she's trying to make the best of a shitty situation and come to terms with the changes that have taken place in her life.
James Barran is our hero, and he's a bit of a mysterious character at the beginning. He's a good guy though, and since it's surprisingly rare to have a hero who is, from the beginning, a decent fellow (lord, what does that say about us?? lolol), it made for a nice change. He's on his way to try and stop his sister and best friend from marrying, because his bff is a bit of a rogue and he is worried that he isn't truly in love with Catriona. He has a sad backstory and again—there was some really good material to work with here!! A novel would have been so nice ... But back to James: he's very respectful of Emma, very protective and caring, and also has a clear sense of responsibility (I don't mean that in the boring/staid way that may sound).
Miscellaneous. Takes up 59%-79% of eBook. Includes an epilogue.
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[image] [image] [image] [image] "Sweet Home Highlands" by May McGoldrick Scottish Highlands, December 1817
Brief Summary. Freya Sutherland (22) has taken care of her niece, Ella (5), practically since she was born, because her sister died one week after giving birth (father died at war and wasn't even able to ever meet her). Ella is like a daughter to Freya, and Freya will do anything she has to protect and care for Ella. Unfortunately, Ella's grandmother (her father's mother, so no direct relation to Freya), has all of a sudden taken an interest in Ella and has expressed concern about Freya always being able to provide for her and the stability of her home life, since they live with Freya's father, and once he dies Freya won't have much.
Captain Gregory Pennington (30) has been sent to meetup with Freya and party (Ella, nursemaid and servant) and accompany them the rest of the way. He is immediately drawn to both Ella and Freya, and as their journey together continues over the following days, the connection grows stronger and stronger. Unfortunately, Freya is determined to marry the cousin who is her father's heir, despite him being an asshole (and everyone knowing it), and Gregory had recently made the decision to retire as an Army Engineer and move to Boston.
My Review. This was supremely enjoyable and I can't wait to seek out more of McGoldrick's novels. Ella was such a fantastic addition! I really, really loved her. She added a lot of funny moments, and is also a great tool to be able to have a hero or heroine discover something about the other that the former was trying to hide (nice plot tool lol ;-). She's extremely precocious and her interactions with Gregory (and Freya) were very sweet and cute.
Although the story doesn't take place over too long a period, Gregory and Freya are traveling with one another and in such close quarters the whole time that they get to know one another, and that, plus their attraction and fantastic chemistry (loved it!!), made their relationship and story very believable for me.
Miscellaneous. Takes up 79%-100% of eBook. Includes an epilogue.
Quote.
"When you marry Captain Pennington and—"
"I am not marrying Captain Pennington," she corrected, ignoring the snort coming from the area of the nursemaid.
"When you marry Captain Pennington," Ella started again.
Freya frowned at her niece.
"Very well," the child said. "When you marry Gregory and get big in the belly like Mrs. Simpson, will you promise me not to die?"
AND THAT'S IT FOLKS! Those are all the stories. If you made it this far, thanks for reading!!! ;-)
[image] This review is of an ARC provided by Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version....more
This book has rave reviews, so I was really looking forward to reading it. Given the description, it wouldn't have been my normal type of HR, but agaiThis book has rave reviews, so I was really looking forward to reading it. Given the description, it wouldn't have been my normal type of HR, but again, the reviews were so great, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
Let me start by saying that I definitely understand those who say the book had them from the first word, because the beginning of the book is fantastic—literally laugh-out-loud funny. It's my first book from this author, so I was excited about the promising start and thought it really set the tone. The humor does continue throughout the book and is definitely one of her strengths. We were teased just a bit by a potential match between one of the heroine's brother and one of the hero's sister, and I am extremely excited about it! "Teased" is really the right word, because it's not completely clear that that story is to come (though I so sincerely hope it is!). All this to say that if/when that book comes out, I will definitely be one of the first to grab it, so although I didn't love this book, it was pretty enjoyable and I think the author has promise (if you're reading this Ms. Roth: Will + Hamish = PLEASE!!!!).
The book was good in that it did have well-defined characters mostly—terrific supporting cast and the heroine was very interesting and easy to love. The hero, on the other hand, though he was very sweet and had some nice moments, he was a bit ... unclear, is the best word I can think of. At the beginning, we're told what a charmer he is and what a way he has with the ladies, but because we only ever really see the main characters with their individual families (and he thankfully has no desire to hit on sisters or sisters-in-law), we don't really see that side of him. He tragically lost his twin sister and that adds some dimension to him; I also appreciated his sense of pride and responsibility. But I don't know, there just wasn't anything supremely unique about him, and he almost seems as a supporting character to Lainie.
There were also a few small things that were really annoying, such as 80% in when the author decides to create a Big Misunderstanding to throw everything off; or how just a few days after starting to have sex, Lainie is then devastated when she gets her period and realizes she's not pregnant yet—they just got married, having never previously met, and only just started sleeping together ... take a chill pill.
Excerpt.
Her brother shot to his feet, stepped into the aisle and, in a voice big enough to shake the timbers, announced, “I’ve done me duty and seen her wed on me da’s behalf, so I’ll be taking me leave.”
Like a charging bull, he barreled down the aisle. “She’s all yers now, Caulfield. And good luck to ye, because ye’ll be needin’ it.”
He paused at the door and shot Ridley a glance over his shoulder. “Make no mistake though—if ye’ve a mind to harm so much as a tiny hair on that precious head of hers, ye’ll be hearin’ from the lot of us.”
Lainie’s cheeks flushed, and a look of panic crossed her face. She stood beside Ridley, silently watching her brother leave the chapel. Suddenly, she wrenched from Ridley’s hold and took off down the aisle at a run.
“Jamie, wait! I’ve no intention of mating with this poor excuse of a man.”
A collective gasp rose up. Every jaw in the room dropped. Everyone’s except Mum’s, Ridley’s eccentric grandmother.
“Begging your pardon,” Mum called out, “but no female before you has ever referred to my grandson as a poor excuse of a man. Ask any woman he’s bedded.”
Ridley, struck silent, stood at the altar and watched his bride disappear out the chapel doors. Then he glanced around the room at his siblings, their spouses, and his mother, their jaws hanging loose. He couldn’t help it—he burst into laughter.
Bottom Line. Not a waste of time, had some really good laughs and intriguing supporting characters (Mum, Ridley's grandmother, and Will, his sister, come to mind immediately!), but wasn't fantastic.
Completely Random Note Re: the Cover. It is so weird!!! If you look closely, it looks like her head is on backwards or her torso is backwards or the neck is backwards or something ... I don't know. Looks really weird lol.
*This review is of an ARC provided by Net Galley and the publisher
This was my first book by Melody Thomas and I found it very enjoyable. At times, I thought that her writing was a little too abstract, so sections wheThis was my first book by Melody Thomas and I found it very enjoyable. At times, I thought that her writing was a little too abstract, so sections where she seemed to be trying to give the characters additional complexity instead fell somewhat flat.
Nonetheless, I greatly enjoyed the two main characters and absolutely adored Ruark!! ::sigh:: Great hero and the way he's drawn to Rose and the feelings he has would make any woman swoon, lol. Rose was, oddly enough, a little more opaque and harder to read (I say "oddly enough," because if that ever happens with one of the main characters, it's usually the hero and not the heroine). The tension between the two of them was wonderful and though I might have liked a little more detail in Thomas' writing style, the reader definitely feels the sparks!
There were a few different subplots and mysteries going on, all of which kept the story moving and entertaining. I will say, however, that they were all wrapped up far too quickly in just a few pages at the end (and included a surprise which I found unnecessary).
Would definitely recommend it though, and I'm sure that I will reread it at some point in the future....more
A good read with an absolutely delightful hero and a strong, likable heroine - has some small plot problems (3.5 stars)
I definitely enjoyed this book A good read with an absolutely delightful hero and a strong, likable heroine - has some small plot problems (3.5 stars)
I definitely enjoyed this book and would recommend it to historical romance-lovers, though I did have some problems with parts of the plot and mystery subplot which seemed especially contrived. However, the relationship between Pamela and Connor is great to read and Connor is an *absolutely delicious* hero that I don't see how any woman could not adore!
Summary: After their famous actress mother dies in a fire, Pamela Darby (23/24 - thanks Punya!) and her sister Sophie are left penniless and alone, for they are both illegitimate and the only they have left of their mother's is a letter she gave to her solicitor for safekeeping. When Pamela reads the letter, she begins to suspect that her mother's death was no accident and that someone was trying to keep secret the location of a missing wife and child ... The letter, addressed to Marianne Darby, was written many years ago by the Duchess of Warrick the night before she disappeared and reveals that the Duchess had found her husband in bed with another woman and planned to leave him, taking their son with her to Scotland.
The Duke of Warrick, old and dying, is anxious to find any trace of his only child, offering a reward to anyone who can uncover his heir's whereabouts. Pamela knows that this is the perfect opportunity, for if she is able to deliver the Duke's son, not only will she be able to collect the reward and assure her and Sophie's future, but she will also hopefully be able to expose her mother's murderer. Unfortunately, they learn that apparently the Duchess and her son died not long after arriving in Scotland's cold and harsh climate. When a highwayman stops the sisters' coach in the middle of a deserted road at night, Pamela has an idea that perhaps the duke's son can be ... resurrected.
Connor Kincaid (29) lives outside the law, making his way as he can without any real family or friends to speak of. Spurred by his hatred for the English, who stole his family and home from him, he disguises himself as a masked highwayman and robs Englishmen and women who pass through the area. Little does he know that assuming two unchaperoned and unescorted young Englishwomen will be easy prey might be the biggest mistake - or gift - of his life, for strong and independent Pamela appeals to him in a way that he cannot deny and Connor soon finds himself listening to her ridiculous, but tempting, idea.
After a few very entertaining debacles, the charade is agreed to and the adventure begins, but as Connor, Pamela, and Sophie finagle their way into the Duke's household and put their plan into action, many questions arise and not everything goes as expected ... Who is the murderer? Why does the Duke not seem like the horrible man they imagined, but rather a lonely and regretful one? How will Pamela manage to take the reward and leave to settle in for a life alone and how will Connor bear to let her go - or once he decides not to, finally convince her to stay? This book combines strong and well-matched lead characters, a great cast of supporting ones, many light and funny moments, good sexual tension, and an interesting (if somewhat unsurprising) mystery subplot for an enjoyable weekend read.
PRAISE: ~ I always love the unusual/not-belle-of-the-ball heroine and in Some Like It Wild Pamela is a woman who has often been overshadowed by her beautiful mother and sister who attract(ed) men like bees to honey. However, she finds in Connor a man who only has eyes for her ::sigh:: Pamela is strong, independent, intelligent, kind, and loyal; I was a little unsure of her at first because she's setting out to swindle the Duke, but her real reason is not a monetary one (though it is pretty farfetched, see "Complaints" below). ~ Connor is a to-die-for HERO! Rough around the edges, but tender, sweet and possessive with Pamela; intelligent, ultimately kind, independent, brave, loyal ... I could go on and on ;-) ~ Several laugh out loud moments ~ Great supporting characters in Brodie, Crispin, and the Duke - these last two are interesting, compelling, and realistic ~ Though it's not uncommon to read a historical romance with an illegitimate hero, the heroines usually aren't and I found this to be a nice change
COMPLAINTS: ~ The whole reason that Pamela sets out to bring the Duke's son back is to uncover her mother's murderer, but I had *huge* problems with that part of the mystery subplot: How would ___ know about the letter the Duchess had written to Marianne Darby (or its contents) and why would ___ decide only years later to try to cover up the information the letter revealed? ~ Connor's back story was not clear, though this may have been because I have yet to read Some Like It Wicked, which precedes Some Like It Wild. However, I was confused not only about what had happened to his family, which I'm assuming was explained in the first book, but also about why he left the clan and took to being a highwayman - it seems this happened more because Connor's character had to be a highwayman and meet Pamela that way than anything else. ~ I won't disclose the ending, but let's just say that certain plot twists were not surprising ... ~ I found Sophie to be very annoying and spoiled; there were moments where she was supportive and was a great addition to a scene, but most of the time she got on my nerves. If Medeiros does as she has in the past, Sophie and Crispin will be getting their own book next, but I will be hard-pressed to read it, let alone buy a copy....more
Reread for 3rd time February 2016: updated rating from 5 stars to 4; still great read!
Great romance (with terrific chReread March 2022: Now 3.75 stars
Reread for 3rd time February 2016: updated rating from 5 stars to 4; still great read!
Great romance (with terrific chemistry!) - stubborn and independent woman meets a charming but tortured hero
I absolutely loved The Matchmaker, Becnel's first book in her "Maker" series. She is a talented writer and really knows how to write wonderful chemistry that leaps off the page! Her main and secondary characters are three-dimensional and accessible and we meet a great hero and heroine in Neville and Olivia. One looks forward to each of their encounters and the subsequent teasing and sparring that takes place.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Olivia is 21 years old and though she's been on the marriage mart for three years and received many offers, she has yet to meet a man whom she would want to attach herself to for life. Her family situation is an interesting one: she has an older brother and younger sister and they each have different fathers. Her mother, Augusta, is a woman who loves being in love and has been widowed three times. Memories of her father's devil-may-care ways and watching her mother's relationships with men has made Olivia wary of passion and matters of the heart. She's a wonderful heroine who is easy to like - independent and strong-minded, intelligent and sensitive.
Lord Neville Hawke (~30) is the tortured hero-type. He has suffered a great deal of loss in his life: he was in the army and watched many of his friends and fellow soldiers die in battle (causes his nightmares, feelings of guilt, and escape into alcohol addiction) and a couple of years ago his parents and brother died. He's friendly and charming and flirts with Olivia at every opportunity, engaging in a battle of wills and chasing after her, unable to resist the strong pull between them. His devil-may-care facade (which reminds her too much of her late father) hides an extremely sensitive and lonely man, however, who (of course!) is unknowingly waiting for the right woman to provide him with his HEA.
SUMMARY (from back cover): "Since her entry into society three years ago, Olivia has kept detailed notes on every eligible man with whom she's ever sipped a cup of tea or twirled across the dance floor. Some of her diary entries have resulted in successful matches for her friends, but she's never found any man she considered remotely suitable for herself.
But once Lord Neville Hawke comes into her life, the other men in her book look positively perfect. Neville's a notorious scoundrel with a shady and painful past, and a penchant for destroying rooms in fits of drunken rage. A heartbreaker and a rogue, Lord Hawke is the kind of man who knows how to seduce a woman with only his taunting eyes and challenging words. The kind of man to whom a well-bred lady like Olivia is quite definitely immune. Until he kisses her.
And in that kiss he lets her know she is his salvation. With each caress he dares her to stop looking in her book and start listening to her heart. For two very stubborn souls have just found their perfect match ..."
OTHER BOOKS IN "MAKER" SERIES: Olivia's younger sister, Sarah, is the heroine of the second book in Becnel's "Maker" series, The Troublemaker, and her older brother James, Viscount Farley, is the hero of the fourth and last book in the series, The Heartbreaker. The third book is The Bridemaker and it's hero, Adrian Hawke, is Neville's illegitimate nephew.
BOTTOM LINE: A definite keeper and re-read for me; the only complaint I have is that the ending (right before the epilogue) is a little too sappy, but the book is so great otherwise that I found it easy to overlook.
Juliana Philippa
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