Book Review: A Reckless Promise by Kasey Michaels

A Reckless Promise by Kasey Michaels

Book 3 of The Little Season series

ARC, e-Book, 400 pages

Harlequin HQN

July 26, 2016

★★★½☆☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: Received via Netgalley for review with TLC Book Tours

London's Little Season has never been so scandalous

It's the kind of vow often made on the battlefield. Darby Travers, Viscount Nailbourne, never imagines he'll have to honor it. Yet here she is on his doorstep—his late comrade's young daughter, and Darby's new ward. Worse, she comes with the most overprotective, mistrustful, bothersome chaperone—the child's aunt, Sadie Grace Boxer. Darby is quite sure that behind her lovely facade, the woman is guarding a secret.

Sadie Grace faced many trials working in her brother's surgery, but none prepared her for the world she's thrust into with his passing. Navigating the ton, with its endless ball gowns and parade of parties, is difficult enough, but hiding the truth about her niece while the sophisticated viscount watches her every move proves nearly impossible—particularly when his searing gaze tempts her to bare all. But when her family's past catches up with her, she'll have to trust in Darby…no matter the cost to her heart.

A Reckless Promise continues the story of the four best friends (Coop, Darby, Gabe, and Jeremiah) surviving the Little Season and falling in love along the way. I HIGHLY recommend that you read this series in order – I read the first two books out of order and that was ok, but by the time you get to book 3, one of the major events that has been being foreshadowed all along (whether the Duke will meet his maker or not) comes to a head – and you want to know that backstory so it makes sense.

Darby is that man in the group that isn’t expected to settle down any time soon. He is the rogue with a lot of wealth to throw around. But then Sadie and her niece, Marley, show up literally on his doorstep and magically he has a young ward after a promise that he made out of hand on the battlefield some time before. What does this rogue do?! Fall in love of course! As a couple, I like Darby and Sadie. They play off of each other well and are excellent matches for each other. Both are spit-fires and have excellent comebacks to each other’s nonsense. She is definitely his equal.

While their romance was somewhat of a focal point, it wasn’t the sole focus of this story which was a little bit all over the place, in a somewhat organized fashion. Let me explain that a little more. We certainly see Darby and Sadie grow together, both in terms of their interest in each other, but also as humans, letting their emotions out for the first time and becoming themselves. However, there is a lot that happens to grow the larger storyline of the four couples that detracts from their individual romance. I feel that Gabe and Thea and Coop and Dany were given much more physical story time to grow their respective stories than Darby and Sadie were. Here there is also how the promise Darby made came to be cashed in, the story of Marley’s parents, deep dark history for both Darby and Sadie, the Duke’s possible pending death, the story of the birds continued from the previous books, and probably some other things I’m forgetting. So it didn’t feel as much their story as I would have liked. Additionally, Clarice and Jeremiah’s stories have been told so much through the first 3 books that I have no idea what will be left for their own book. Oh and I mentioned a deep, dark backstory for Darby that is hinted at from the first pages until almost the last. I really lost interest in finding out what this was, but was very surprised by it when revealed – nothing like I had imagined it would be, but I would have liked a little more build up for it.

I’ve said this in the other reviews, but I don’t really find the title of this series relevant in any way. Again, nothing happens that involves the Little Season; they don’t even go to any balls or parties in the entire book. I enjoy this series, but it could be better titled.

The romance here is a little less descriptive and risqué than the other novels, which is a little surprising given that Darby is known to be the rogue of the group. It was sweet and romantic. Some of the scenes are marginally descriptive, but I found these to be more about the character growth than the act itself. It amazes me how different the romantic element are across the novels in this series.

This is a good continuation of the large story arcs within the series as a whole, but I would have liked to have a little focus on Darby and Sadie.


Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Romance Junkies
• A Holland Reads

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia


Also by Kasey Michaels:

Kasey Michaels has over 100 books in her backlist, so I’m not going to post them all here, but here are the other books in The Little Season series:

An Improper Arrangement (Book 1)
[My Review]

A Scandalous Proposal (Book 2)
[My Review]

 
Find Kasey Michaels: Website | Facebook

 
Tour Wide Giveaway!

As part of the TLC book tour, there is a tour wide giveaway opportunity for a $25 Amazon gift card.  Entries are made through the Rafflecopter below.  Please note, I am not the coordinator of this giveaway and any questions/concerns should be addressed to TLC Book Tours.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Tour!

Kasey Michaels’ TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, July 4th: From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, July 5th: Reading Reality

Wednesday, July 6th: A. Holland Reads

Thursday, July 7th: BookNAround

Friday, July 8th: Broken Teepee – excerpt

Monday, July 11th: Stranded in Chaos

Tuesday, July 12th: Booked on a Feeling

Wednesday, July 13th: Written Love Reviews

Thursday, July 14th: Let Them Read Books

Friday, July 15th: Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous

Friday, July 15th: Romancing the Readers

Monday, July 18th: A Night’s Dream of Books

Monday, July 18th: Books a la Mode – excerpt

Wednesday, July 20th: The Sassy Bookster – excerpt

Thursday, July 21st: Open Book Society

Friday, July 22nd: Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews

Tuesday, July 26th: Books that Hook

Wednesday, July 27th: A Chick Who Reads

Thursday, July 28th: A Bookaholic Swede – excerpt

Friday, July 29th: The Maiden’s Court

 
 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: A Scandalous Proposal by Kasey Michaels

A Scandalous Proposal by Kasey Michaels
Book 2 of The Little Season series
ARC, e-Book, 384 pages
Harlequin HQN
March 29, 2016
★★★★☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance, Regency

Source: Received for review with TLC Book Tours

The drama of London's Little Season continues in USA Today bestselling author Kasey Michaels's vibrant new series featuring three courageous war heroes surrendering at last to love… 

Who would have thought a man could tire of being fawned over and flirted with? Ever since Cooper Townsend returned from France as a hero with a new title, he has been relentlessly pursued by every marriageable miss in London. Perhaps that's why the unconventional Miss Daniella Foster is so appealing. She doesn't simper or flatter. She only wants him to help unmask her sister's blackmailer, and Coop has never been so intrigued…

Let every other woman in London fight over His Lordship's romantic attentions. Marriage is the last thing on Dany's mind…at least until she samples his illicit kisses. Now, as a mutual enemy races to ruin Coop's reputation and Dany's family name, an engagement of convenience will spark an unlikely passion that might save them both.

A Scandalous Proposal brings the reader back into The Little Season just a few short weeks following the end of An Improper Arrangement, but with a different couple in the crosshairs, this time Cooper Townsend and Daniella (Dany) Foster. While you certainly could read this book as a standalone, having read the first book just gives you a little bit more in the way of character development. Additionally, you get some spoilers from what happened in book 1 during a recap segment – so I recommend reading them in order if possible.

As much as I enjoyed, An Improper Arrangement, I enjoyed A Scandalous Proposal even more. The plot was tightened more here and did not go off on rambling tangents. The intrigue and adventure element, the blackmail, was a uniting storyline that brought all of the characters together on this mission. I appreciated that the four men had a lot bigger role in this novel, but I was hoping to see a little more of Gabriel than we do since he was the main man of the prior novel. It was a lot of fun. While this was one of those stories where the characters are tossed into a relationship from first sight basically, the relationship itself was allowed to grow and I will confess to having a tear in my eye in the final scene as it was so sweet. The one thing that I was a little disappointed by was that this book really used the Little Season as more of a token element; nothing took place that was critical to the Little Season, it was basically just mentioned in passing as the reason by Dany was in town to begin with. As this is the theme of the series, I would have liked a little more importance to the Little Season.

In terms of characters, I liked Dany and Cooper together. They were super cute and were always looking out for each other, while getting in each other’s way. Dany is headstrong and Cooper struggles to handle her; she isn’t willing to just sit by and let him figure out this mystery on his own. As with book 1, I LOVED the bantering between the two of them. My favorite scene is when the two end up in her bedroom to keep an eye out for the blackmailer – such hilarious dialogue and double entendres here.

The romance was a little more sweet, but still passionate. I felt that it evolved from a true heartfelt center for both of the characters. While the scene was a little less descriptive than in A Scandalous Proposal, I felt much more connected to the emotional experience of the characters, which I appreciated.

I am all in for book 3 this summer, A Reckless Promise, focused on Darby Travers!


Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Smexy Books
• Romancing the Book

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia


Also by Kasey Michaels:
Kasey Michaels has over 100 books in her backlist, so I’m not going to post them all here, but here is a selection of her more recent releases!

An Improper Arrangement (Little Season #1)
[My Review]

What an Earl Wants (The Redgraves #1)

What a Lady Needs (The Redgraves #2)

What a Gentleman Desires (The Redgraves #3)

What a Hero Dares (The Redgraves #4)

 
Find Kasey Michaels: Website | Facebook

Follow the Tour!

Monday, April 4th: Romancing the Readers

Tuesday, April 5th: The Sassy Bookster

Wednesday, April 6th: Booked on a Feeling

Thursday, April 7th: A Chick Who Reads

Monday, April 11th: Reading Reality

Tuesday, April 12th: Romantic Reads and Such – spotlight

Wednesday, April 13th: Open Book Society

Thursday, April 14th: A Night’s Dream of Books

Friday, April 15th: Let Them Read Books

Monday, April 18th: Romancing the Book

Tuesday, April 19th: Mom in Love with Fiction

Wednesday, April 20th: BookNAround

Thursday, April 21st: From the TBR Pile

Monday, April 25th: Romantic Historical Reviews

Monday, April 25th: Books that Hook

Tuesday, April 26th: Puddletown Reviews

Wednesday, April 27th: The Maiden’s Court

Thursday, April 28th: Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews

Giveaway!

There is a tour wide giveaway for a $25 Victoria's Secret Gift Card - simply make your entries via the Rafflecopter below.  The winner will be selected and notified by the tour coordinator.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: An Improper Arrangement by Kasey Michaels

An Improper Arrangement by Kasey Michaels
Book 1 of The Little Season series
ARC, e-Book, 380 pages
Harlequin HQN
December 29, 2015
★★★★☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance, Regency

Source: Received for review with TLC Book Tours

Experience the drama of the Little Season in the first of a new series by USA Today bestselling author Kasey Michaels, in which three dashing war heroes have finally met their matches…

Gabriel Sinclair has returned from battle as reluctant heir to a dukedom. As if his new responsibilities weren't enough, Gabriel's aunt enlists him to sponsor a young heiress through London's Little Season. Yet Miss Thea Neville is hardly the tedious obligation he expected. She's exotic and enchanting—and utterly unaware of the secret poised to destroy her family's reputation.

After ten years in America, Thea is ready to do her duty and marry well. Deportment lessons, modistes, balls—the ton is a minefield she could scarcely navigate without Gabriel's help. By rights, she should accept the first bachelor who offers for her. Instead, she's succumbing to a dangerous attraction to her wickedly handsome chaperone—one that could unhinge her plans in the most delicious way.

An Improper Arrangement is the first novel in the series titled The Little Season. Where many Regency set romance novels take place during The Season, the official period of time where debutantes are introduced into the social sphere in London, The Little Season is virtually the minor leagues or a practice run for those ladies who might be deemed not quite ready for the major leagues yet. In An Improper Arrangement, Thea comes to London to from America to take part in this Little Season that her mother always wanted to have; however, first she has to go through some prep school if you will with Gabriel Sinclair to learn the ropes. Not only does a romance grow throughout this novel, but the plans held by the parties in question crisscross and resolve in quite the humorous ways.

One of the things that I loved about this book was the dialogue between Gabriel and Thea; from the moment they are introduced they engage in a witty, bantering, discourse that equally enraptures and infuriates the other. I just love it when characters can get under each other’s skin like that because it keeps them on their toes and keeps the dialogue light. These two characters were well defined and fleshed out and the dialogue was well used to enhance their individuality.

In some romance novels the plot can get lost behind the effort to bring the two would be lovers together. While the plot did ramble at times, I thought that the story arcs (and there are actually a couple of them) were crafted well. There is the greater story arc of Thea coming to London to have her debut, but there are a few smaller ones that thread throughout that resolve nicely by the end of the novel. It was nice to see that the plot wasn’t an afterthought, but crafted amongst the romance.

And that segues nicely into a discussion on the romance factor. The romance continuously built throughout the novel; the tropes of instant attraction or dislike turning to lust were not used here. Instead it developed overtime as Thea and Gabriel were paired together through the lead up to the Little Season and the drama they had planned. By the time things evolved into something more it made sense to their characters. And here the scenes became a little steamy! The two major scenes were descriptive without being pornographic. They were short, tasteful, and felt appropriate to the characters. While descriptive, the author leaves enough to the imagination as well. Done well in my opinion!

This book also served to introduce the readers to the other men who will be featured in the following Little Season books! They were given enough of a role in a few scenes that didn’t get in the way of the main story arc but still give the reader enough of an introduction to be interested in seeing how their stories progress in the future.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Will Read for Feels
• Reading Reality

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 
Also by Kasey Michaels:
Kasey Michaels has over 100 books in her backlist, so I’m not going to post them all here, but here is a selection of her more recent releases!

A Scandalous Proposal (Little Season #2)

What an Earl Wants (The Redgraves #1)

What a Lady Needs (The Redgraves #2)

What a Gentleman Desires (The Redgraves #3)

What a Hero Dares (The Redgraves #4)


Find Kasey Michaels: Website | Facebook

 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court