Book Review: Only a Duke Will Do by Tamara Gill

Only A Duke Will Do by Tamara Gill
Book 2 in the To Marry a Rogue Series
ARC, Paperback, 266 pages
Entangled Publishing
February 20, 2017
★★★★ ½☆

Heat Rating:

 

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: Received from the author for review

Without a Season, Lady Isolde Worthingham captured the Duke of Moore’s heart at a country dance. But on the eve of her wedding, a scandal that rocked the ton and sent her fleeing to Scotland alone and unwed, leaves her perfectly planned future in a tangle of disgrace and heartbreak.

Merrick Mountshaw, the Duke of Moore, loathes the pitiful existence he portrays to the ton. With a scandalous wife he never wanted, who flaunts her many indiscretions, life is a never-ending parade of hell. When the one woman he loved and lost returns to London, he knows he can no longer live without her.

But vows and past hurts are not easily forgotten. Love may not win against the ton when a too proper lord and lady play by the rules.

**This review was previously posted at Romantic Historical Reviews**

On the eve of her wedding, Lady Isolde is thrown a major curveball when her fiancé Merrick, the Duke of Moore is found in a compromising position with another woman, who happened to have been one of her closest friends. Merrick had no alternative but to call off his wedding to Isolde and marry her friend instead. Isolde ran away to Scotland to lick her wounds, but now, five years later she has come out of hiding from the shame of that ignominious day determined to find happiness again and move beyond the love she still feels for Merrick. But her every step is plagued by the machinations of the wife who stole her place, and the continuing presence of Merrick in her life. Because her heart still belongs to him, Lady Isolde must find out if she can move on and be content in a marriage without love while also discovering if it is possible for her to have any type of relationship with the man she almost married.

It’s obvious, right from the first pages of Only A Duke Will Do, that the romance is going to be an uphill battle. The heroine loses her man to someone she thought she could trust, so not only does she lose the love of her life, but also loses a long-established, close female bond. Isolde is crushed, to say the least. Her decision to return to society after five years is a brave one, but she wants the security of a husband and family and going about in London society is the best way to find both those things, even if love is no longer possible. Isolde is one strong woman as she handles seeing her former love move among her friends, deals with the hatred that his wife spews her way, and tries to balance the expectations of the ton. I give her kudos for not falling apart completely, because I would have! We also see things from Merrick’s point of view and learn of the poisonous relationship that his marriage has become. He loves Isolde even now and while he wants the best for her, it also kills him to see her moving on. The back and forth of wills between these two is well done as they both struggle to do what is right.

The relationship, or what remains of it, between Isolde and Merrick is the driving factor in this novel. The romance is primarily the smolder, the yearning, and the question of whether they can ever find their happily ever after. I was rooting for these two from the beginning, but even more than halfway through I wasn’t sure if there was any future for them.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book is that the drama and conflict are established right from the start. The reader doesn’t really have a chance to get behind Isolde and Merrick as a couple before they are ripped apart, and it’s natural to side with Isolde in the early stages. As the book progresses, Merrick’s situation begins to become clearer, and that’s when you start to want to see them together; I believe that this mirrors Isolde’s understanding of her situation nicely. (I should probably point out here that there is no cheating in this story; Merrick and Isolde still love each other, but they don’t commit adultery). While there is no defined “good” character in the novel, although I suppose it could be argued that Isolde is representative of it, there is a very defined “bad” character and she just oozes malice with her every word and move. I was not a fan and was very happy with her character’s outcome.

I raced through the pages of this novel, staying up much later than I should have to finish reading it because I needed to know if Isolde and Merrick would work it out or not. I will be looking forward to the next novel that Tamara Gill puts out as I have thoroughly enjoyed her work thus far.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Lindsey Gray

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

Also by Tamara Gill:

Tamara Gill has written many books (complete listing here), but those in the To Marry A Rogue series include:

Only an Earl Will Do (Book 1)
[My Review]

Only a Viscount Will Do (Book 3)
Coming in May 2017

Find Tamara Gill: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest |Goodreads

 

Copyright © 2017 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: The Saxon Outlaw’s Revenge by Elisabeth Hobbes

The Saxon Outlaw’s Revenge by Elisabeth Hobbes
ARC, e-Book, 288 pages
Harlequin Historical
December 1, 2016
★★★★ ½☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: Received from publisher for review at Romantic Historical Reviews

At the mercy of her enemy!

Abducted by Saxon outlaws, Constance Arnaud comes face-to-face with Aelric, a Saxon boy she once loved. He's now her enemy, but Constance must reach out to this rebel and persuade him to save her life as she once saved his…

Aelric is determined to seek vengeance on the Normans who destroyed his family. Believing Constance deserted him, he can never trust her again. Yet, as they are thrown together and their longing for each other reignites, will Aelric discover that love is stronger than revenge?

**This review was previously posted at Romantic Historical Reviews**

The Normans have recently conquered the Saxons and the bad blood is still brewing between those in charge and those who are subjugated. Aelric, a Saxon, loses his whole family, who were hung as traitors by the local baron, who just happens to be the brother-in-law of the girl he is in love with, Constance. Aelric subsequently goes on the run and his relationship with Constance abruptly ends, but years later when they have a chance encounter they have to work through their feelings to determine what if anything still remains between them.

There is not nearly enough historical fiction, romantic or otherwise, set around the time of the Norman invasion of England. It is a time full of so much upheaval and change that it is ripe for storytelling. Hobbes took advantage of this upheaval and used it to create the conflict between the main couple of Aelric and Constance. They are from two very different worlds and the place that they live is still very volatile and they must tread carefully.

I really enjoyed the concept of a second change at love story, even though neither of them went looking for it. Aelric and Constance were split up eight years ago and had not seen nor heard of each other since. They had no idea that they would chance upon each other in a wood, and even then were not all that inclined to like each other. So much had changed in those eight years; they had grown up and lived through many life experiences that colored that early relationship. They remembered that early love they shared, but would that still hold true now; could they get past all of the hurt and the secrets? Constance and Aelric were well-crafted characters; they were multidimensional and you could feel their emotions, the hurt and anger most keenly. For what they went through it would be very difficult to put the past behind them. I can’t say that I could identify with either of them exactly, but I found them realistic and interesting. The author chooses to give Constance a physical disability and I wonder at the choice of that. It makes the character unique and while it made several small appearances I would have liked it to maybe have more of an importance given that it was pointed out extensively early on. The peripheral characters were not as fleshed out as the main two, but there were enough details that you had a sense of who they were, which was enough for me to keep track of who was who.

The romance here is primarily emotional as the two rebuild their relationship and determine what they mean to each other. Although there are a couple sex scenes, which have vastly different tones from each other, sex definitely took a backseat in this novel. Beyond the romance element, this novel was chock full of drama right from the first scene. There is an ambush, a hostage situation, a mass execution, some spying, and a foiled plot that unfolds in an awesome way. The best part is that none of this felt out of place; the characters still acted very much the way I would expect them to for the time in which they live.

If you are looking for a novel that is more of the action packed variety and lighter on the romance, or if you are looking for a novel set in an oft overlooked setting/time, this might be the novel for you to pick up. It kept my attention all the way through and I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals
• Anonymisses

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

Also by Elisabeth Hobbes:

Falling for Her Captor

A Wager for the Widow

The Blacksmith’s Wife

Find Elisabeth Hobbes: Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

Copyright © 2017 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Rules for a Rogue by Christy Carlyle

Rules for a Rogue by Christy Carlyle
Book 1 of the Romancing a Rogue Series
ARC, e-Book, 368 pages
Avon Impulse
November 1, 2016
★★★★☆
 

Heat Level:

Genre: Historical Romance, Victorian England

Source: Received from publisher for review for Romantic Historical Reviews

From the USA Today bestselling author of ONE DANGEROUS DESIRE comes a sparkling new series about a rogue who must learn how to follow the rules and a woman who wants to break all of them, perfect for fans of Maya Rodale and Lorraine Heath.

Following the rules never brought anything but misery for Christopher “Kit” Ruthven. After rebelling against his controlling father and leaving the family’s Ruthven Rules etiquette book empire behind, Kit has been breaking every one imaginable for the past six years. He’s enjoyed London’s sensual pleasures and secured his reputation as a Rogue, but he’s failed to achieve success. When he inherits his father’s publishing business, Kit is forced back into the life he never wanted. Worse, he must face Ophelia Marsden, the woman he jilted but never forgot.

After losing her father and refusing a loveless marriage proposal, Ophelia has learned to rely on herself. To maintain the family home and support her younger brother, she tutors young girls in deportment and decorum. But her pupils would be scandalized if they knew their imminently proper teacher was also the author of a guidebook encouraging ladies to embrace their independence and overthrow outdated notions of etiquette like the Ruthven Rules.

As Kit rediscovers the life, and the woman, he left behind, Ophelia must choose between the practicality she never truly believed in, or the love she’s never been able to extinguish.

**This Review was previously posted at Romantic Historical Reviews**

Kit and Phee were close friends and very nearly lovers before he left the country life for the siren call of London and the thrilling life of a playwright.  During those next four years apart, Kit and Phee both tried to convince themselves that they were not hurt by the decision and could move on, but when the death of Kit’s father brings him back home to settle the estate, the past doesn’t seem so much in the past between these two.  Can they get their feelings sorted out and make a go of it again or are they destined to remain apart?  

I very much enjoyed Rules for a Rogue and I credit most of that to the fact that the situations that unfolded within the story did not feel contrived, but were instead natural and believable.  I wasn’t required to suspend reality for one moment.  Kit leaves for the city because he doesn’t fit into his father’s strict rules at home and he wants the thrill of the stage in the great city of London, yet he leaves behind his heart as well.  His father’s death was due to a long-standing illness, not some sudden onset, and Kit returns home with the plan to just put his family back together then return to the city…that is, until he runs into Phee again.  Meanwhile, Phee has a secret; she has penned a guidebook for young ladies that pushes the envelope toward modernity and she doesn’t want her close-minded community to find out that she is the author.  Her secret and Kit’s family’s business dealings come together in a way that could bring them closer or set them farther apart and I liked how both Kit and Phee vacillated between the possible outcomes here. I felt that the right balance was struck here between a few light, comedic moments and the more serious elements that contributed to the believability of the story.  

I really enjoyed the characters in this novel.  Carlyle makes each one into a full figure – even the peripheral characters like Kit’s sisters, Phee’s sister and aunt, and both of their friends.  Very quickly each had a distinct personality that was anything but cookie-cutter.  While on the outset they might represent tropes (the hard-headed heroine, the rogue, the spinster friend, etc.) there are so many layers here that you have the ability to peel back as the story goes on to discover more complexities that previously thought.  Even the “villainous” character isn’t a representation of evil; rather in Carlyle’s hands he is more of a persistent prig that causes our couple hardship by getting in the way rather than intentionally wreaking havoc.  Additionally, I believed in the character’s motives.  Both Phee and Kit have been hurt and are trying to protect their hearts, but also make the hard decisions to do what is right by their families, and each other.  We also have just enough back-story to fill in the details of their relationship before Kit went to London to make the reader understand just what they gave up in that decision.

In continuing with the trend about believability in this story, the romantic element here was spot on.  The author did not need to spend ample time in the build up as these two had been nearly lovers in the past, but did need to give the readers something to connect with first.  It was sweet, but needed and didn’t feel all that scandalous despite how it would have been perceived by society.  

Often I don’t pay much attention to the quotes that can sometimes appear at the start of each chapter or section because they are too oblique for me to pick up on the reference while reading the chapter – not so here!  The majority of the chapters begin with either an excerpt from one of Ruthven’s Rules books or, alternatively, Miss Gilroy’s guidebook for young ladies.  These two books do play a significant role in the greater story arc and each rule or guideline directly connects to an action taken by either Kit or Phee in that chapter.  There was a clear purpose here an I appreciated it.   

Overall, I was very satisfied with this story as I just ate up the pages and was left wanting more.  

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Will Read for Feels

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


Find Christy Carlyle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest



Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: My Brown-Eyed Earl by Anna Bennett

My Brown-Eyed Earl by Anna Bennett
Book 1 in the A Wayward Wallflowers series
ARC, e-book, 352 pages
St. Martin’s Paperbacks
October 4, 2016
★★★½☆☆

 

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: Received from the publisher for review at Romantic Historical Reviews via Netgalley

NEVER SEND A DEBUTANTE

William Ryder, Earl of Castleton, is at the end of his noble rope. Not only has he broken ties with his longtime mistress, his mother has publicly announced her wish for him to marry a suitable young lady―if only to help him raise the twins left in his care. Hiring a governess should solve some of Will’s problems…but when he meets the candidate in question, he finds himself in an entirely new predicament.

TO DO A WALLFLOWER’S JOB

Miss Margaret Lacey is brainy, beautiful, and, once upon a time, Will’s betrothed. But she bowed out of the engagement―and, since then, has never been the same. A tragic accident robbed her of everything, and now, at age twenty-three, her marital prospects are slim to none. Penniless but not without pride, Meg convinces the vexingly handsome Will to hire her for the job. What neither of them could have expected from this arrangement, however, is an attraction that burns stronger than ever. Are these two lost souls finally ready to be schooled in the art of love?

This review was previously posted at Romantic Historical Reviews

Following the loss of her parents, Margaret (called Meg by friends) finds her and her sisters living with a slightly eccentric, but well-meaning, uncle and existing on the fringes of the ton.  She should be moving within society, but instead she finds herself applying for the job of governess and the position just so happens to be with a man whose proposal she spurned back in the day.  How will she navigate controlling two little girls (which she has no experience with) and interacting with the man that she almost married?  

The story told here, of a governess and the lord of the house falling for each other, isn’t anything new, it’s a frequent trope in historical fiction and romance, but it felt rather fresh in the hands of Anna Bennett.  Meg and Will are not newly acquainted with each other, in fact, they have known each other since childhood, but that is an element that they have to try and navigate in their new relationship of employer and employee.  However, Bennett makes this story about more than just the budding romance here, there is also the chaos that two six-year-old girls bring into the equation too, and they bring quite the whirlwind that both brings Meg and Will together and pushes them apart.  

I found Will to be a more enjoyable character than Meg.  While he might be a playboy (at least at the beginning) he is genuinely likeable, earnest, and evolves the most during the course of the novel.  Meg is rather static throughout the novel; she fears falling for Will and becoming even more maligned by the ton.  She is the sister who is willing to take one for the team and feels ok with her destiny to die as a spinster.  She pushes against any chance that she could be happy and carries a lot of guilt with her that she lets get in the way.  It became slightly frustrating to deal with this same characters trait over and over and I wanted to scream at her to just get over herself!

Bennett does a great job of fleshing out her characters, even the secondary ones, which I appreciated as sometimes this doesn’t happen in romance novels.  The children are a handful, but each of the twins has her own distinct identity.  We get to know Meg’s sisters, Julie and Beth, who I’m thinking will star in their own novels as the Wallflower series continues. 

There is a little thread of mystery here and the “mystery man” was not someone that I saw coming – which was great that it wasn’t obvious, but I do like when there are some clues if you read it right, but I don’t think that was the case here – at least for me.  It made sense, but I would have appreciated the opportunity to attempt to get there myself.  

The romance here is sweet and spicy.  There were many complex emotions that occurred here that brought the two together and also pushed them apart.  As is often the case in romance novels, the experienced man is teaching the novice woman the ways of the romantic world, which was sweet and their sexual relations escalate from there.  

I look forward to reading more of the Wallflower series and spending more time with the Lacey sisters.  

Want more? Check out this excerpt to see if you like it before you buy!

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• All About Romance
• Reader of Romance

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

Find Anna Bennett: Website | Facebook | Twitter



Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: To Kiss a Thief by Susanna Craig

To Kiss a Thief by Susanna Craig
Book 1 in the Runaway Desires series
ARC, e-book, 264 pages
Lyrical Press
August 16, 2016
★★★★☆

Heat Rating:

 

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: Received for review from publisher

In this captivating new series set in Georgian England, a disgraced woman hides from her marriage-for better or worse...

Sarah Pevensey had hoped her arranged marriage to St. John Sutliffe, Viscount Fairfax, could become something more. But almost before it began, it ended in a scandal that shocked London society. Accused of being a jewel thief, Sarah fled to a small fishing village to rebuild her life.

The last time St. John saw his new wife, she was nestled in the lap of a soldier, disheveled, and no longer in possession of his family's heirloom sapphire necklace. Now, three years later, he has located Sarah and is determined she pay for her crimes. But the woman he finds is far from what he expected. Humble and hardworking, Sarah has nothing to hide from her husband-or so it appears. Yet as he attempts to woo her to uncover her secrets, St. John soon realizes that if he's not careful, she'll steal his heart...

This review was previously posted at Romantic Historical Reviews.

Sarah thought that her marriage to St. John would be one of the best days of her life, but little did she realize that it would all quickly be snatched away from her, and she had no idea how everything transpired! Within a day of their nuptial ball and accusations thrown at her of thievery, Sarah is whisked away to a small and poor seaside village where she is left to survive on her own. Several years later, St. John finds his wife and is determined to prove she stole from his family, but what he finds makes him question his views on his wife and everything he has known.

The bulk of this story takes place once St. John has found his wife again on the shores of a poor fishing village. There is a very short introduction for the reader to the events that transpired on the night of their nuptial ball, and the reader will be left just as confused as Sarah about these early events and what exactly transpired. While this is sometimes confusing because you want to know more, it keeps the reader on the same level as Sarah, who doesn’t exactly know what happened because of being in an inebriated state. The reader doesn’t have any more knowledge about the actual events that transpired than Sarah or St. John, so you can’t join any characters side right from the beginning.

The relationship between Sarah and St. John is rocky throughout the novel – from beginning to end. They did not know each other very well prior to their marriage and there has been significant accusations thrown into the mix to further push them apart. There is no trust on either of their parts. They both question the motives of the other and vacillate back and forth as to whether they are going to be able to have a real chance at their relationship. Even more road blocks pop up – such as the fact that they might actually be falling in love with each other. But can you have love without trust? I loved the back and forth that occurred between these two. It was funny and real. Right up until the end I wasn’t sure if they were going to be able resolve their issues or not – and I think I would have been happy regardless of which way it ended as it was well crafted.

The question of whether Sarah took this expensive family necklace lingered throughout the novel and we don’t get the answer to the question until the very end of the book. While I didn’t exactly predict the outcome that was ultimately revealed, I was on the right track, so it’s not entirely predictable and was refreshing. The resolution entirely made sense with events that had transpired when you think back over them without being obvious. While this was the main point of conflict within the story, it wasn’t the main plot line (that would go to the relationship between Sarah and St. John).

The main characters could sometimes be infuriating. Sarah was a tad too naïve at the beginning of the novel – and in some ways throughout – although she does grow and adapt with her new way of life and I really liked her by the end. St. John is a little bit all over the place. He was very willing to accept that his wife was a thief and stole the jewels, but throughout questions that conviction while still holding on to it like a lifeline. He alternately wants her to be guilty and also innocent, and struggles against those conflicting ideas. His conflict though kept him an interesting character.

A sideline issue for me with the novel was the name of the male lead, St. John. That is his first name, St. John Sutliffe, otherwise known as Viscount Fairfax, or just Fairfax. It just made for awkward reading as I kept thinking St. John was his last name and that it would make my reading experience easier if he was named something else.

This is one of those books that I feel the need to comment more specifically on the level of romance within. I placed in squarely as a “4” in the heat level categorization of this blog. There are only a few sex scenes and they fit very well into the story telling, but they were quite descriptive (for reference, a “5” would be an erotic novel in my ranking). I don’t shy away from sex in novels, but I wouldn’t recommend reading some of these scenes while in public because they just might make you blush!

I was very satisfied with this novel as there was an excellent mix of romance, a little intrigue, action, and character development. It was a well-written and evenly balanced read and I am excited to see what comes next from this author.

You can read an excerpt of the book first to get a feel for the story.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Smexy Books
• Feminist Fairytale Reviews

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

Also by Susanna Craig:

To Tempt an Heiress (Book 2)
Releasing Dec 6, 2016

Find Susanna Craig: Website | Facebook | Twitter



Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Only an Earl Will Do by Tamara Gill

Only an Earl Will Do by Tamara Gill

Book 1 of the To Marry a Rogue series

ARC, e-Book, 226 pages

Entangled Publishing LLC

July 25, 2016

★★★★☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: Received via Netgalley for Review

The reigning queen of London society, Lady Elizabeth Worthingham, has her future set out for her. Marry well, and marry without love. An easy promise to make and one she owed her family after her near ruinous past that threatened them all. And the rakish scoundrel Henry Andrews, Earl of Muir who’s inability to act a gentleman when she needed one most would one day pay for his treachery. 

Returning to England after three years abroad, Henry is determined to make the only woman who captured his heart his wife. But the icy reception he receives from Elizabeth is colder than his home in the Scottish highlands. As past hurts surface and deception runs as thick as blood, so too does a love that will overcome all obstacles, unless a nameless foe, determined with his own path, gets his way and their love never sees the light of day…

This review was previously posted at Romantic Historical Reviews.

Elizabeth Worthingham and Henry Andrews were wildly in love and she promised to wait for him to come back from his quest in America to bring back a fortune to secure his family home and then they would marry. However, things did not go quite as they planned while Henry was gone and when he returns two years later he finds her a widow and he a not-so-welcome visitor. But Henry has no idea what he did or what happened and Elizabeth isn’t telling. Henry is insistent to find out and to win her back, so what will it take and how will he react when he finds out what Elizabeth is hiding? Will their love survive?

There were a lot of elements to this story that made it more complex than many romance stories I typically read. There is the rekindling of the relationship between Henry and Elizabeth, there is the element of Elizabeth trying to keep Henry from finding out the secret, and then there is an element of blackmail and how to escape from the blackmail. Each of these elements layers on top of the others and together builds depth to this story. The relationship between Henry and Elizabeth I enjoyed through all of its twists and turns, deceptions, and whirlwind romantic moments. While you can surmise from the beginning how the end will turn out there are certainly moments throughout that make you question that notion. The blackmail storyline was good, if a little contrived. I feel like the character had to go through more work than would have been necessary or likely to blackmail the target and to foil the plan seemed a touch too easy and a little bit of a letdown; I wanted a little more drama here and this was one of the factors that brought my review down by 1 star.

There were some detailed romantic scenes – you certainly get a visual, but I didn’t get that creepy, voyeuristic feel that you sometimes can. There are not many of these scenes and it’s definitely in the later portion of the book. I felt that they were well used to increase the confusion for the heroine regarding keeping or telling her secret as well as committing the reader to their relationship – so they didn’t feel like gratuitous sex scenes, but I don’t think it would have been the same story without them.

As for the characters, I go back and forth as to how I felt about them. I liked Henry better of the two main characters. He was loyal and his confusion regarding his lack of welcome from Elizabeth was entirely understandable. He loves her and does everything he can to win her back. Elizabeth is her own worst enemy. Her lies (never mind her terrible ability to lie) have her constantly running in circles. I understand why she made the choices she did, but once they were able to determine what led them to that situation, she just kept making it worse instead of coming clean much earlier in the novel. I wanted to yell at her so many times. Elizabeth has several family members that have a certain amount of influence in the story, but I only feel that her brother had enough characterization to him to stand out. One of her sisters makes a big move during the height of the drama and I think we are supposed to see her as a sort of “modern woman” given that she has taken to wearing men’s pants and all, but I would have liked to have a little more to her. So basically, the two main characters and our blackmailer were well drawn, but the peripheral characters could have used a bit of a boost.

Overall, I enjoyed the story presented here and I will be interested in reading additional entries in this series. I am not sure if the subsequent books will follow the same characters, if they will become peripheral characters in another couple’s storyline, or if it will be entirely unrelated.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• I Love Romance
• The Book Disciple

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Also by Tamara Gill:

Tamara Gill has written many books (complete listing here), but those in the To Marry A Rogue series include:

Only a Duke Will Do (Book 2 Coming 2016)

Only a Viscount Will Do (Book 3 Coming 2017)

 
Find Tamara Gill: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: A Buccaneer at Heart by Stephanie Laurens

A Buccaneer at Heart by Stephanie Laurens

Book 2 in The Adventurers Quartet

E-Book, 512 pages

MIRA

April 26, 2016

★★★★☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance, Adventure, Regency

Source: Personal Collection

After a decade of captaining diplomatic voyages for Frobisher Shipping, alongside covert missions for the Crown, Captain Robert Frobisher decides that establishing a home—with hearth and wife—should be his next challenge. But an unexpected mission intervenes. Although Robert sees himself as a conservative businessman-cum-diplomat and this mission is far from his usual sphere, it nevertheless falls within the scope of his abilities. As matters are urgent, he agrees to depart for West Africa forthwith.

To Robert, his way forward is clear: Get to Freetown, determine the location of a slavers' camp, return to London with the information, and then proceed to find himself a wife.

Already in Freetown, Miss Aileen Hopkins is set on finding her younger brother Will, a naval lieutenant who has mysteriously disappeared. Find Will and rescue him; determined and resolute, Aileen is not about to allow anyone to turn her from her path.

But all too quickly, that path grows dark and dangerous. And then Robert Frobisher appears and attempts to divert her in more ways than one.

Accustomed to managing diplomats and bureaucrats, Robert discovers that manipulating a twenty-seven-year-old spinster lies outside his area of expertise. Prodded by an insistent need to protect Aileen, he realizes that joining forces with her is the surest path to meeting all the challenges before him—completing his mission, keeping her safe, and securing the woman he wants as his wife.

But the villains strike and disrupt their careful plans—leaving Robert and Aileen no choice but to attempt a last throw of the dice to complete his mission and further her brother's rescue.


Compelled to protect those weaker than themselves and bring retribution to a heartless enemy, they plunge into the jungle with only their talents and inner strengths to aid them—and with the courage of their hearts as their guide.


The first voyage is one of exploration, the second one of discovery. The third journey brings maturity, while the fourth is a voyage of second chances. Continue the journey and follow the adventure, the mystery, and the romances to the cataclysmic end.

**This review was previously featured at Romantic Historical Reviews**

A Buccaneer at Heart picks up immediately after the ending of The Lady’s Command, so I would highly recommend that you read these books in series order. Edwina and Declan Frobisher have returned from the first leg of the reconnaissance mission to Freetown, Africa to learn why people were going missing there. Having returned with some eye-opening information, it is time for the next part of the mission to begin, and who better for that mission than another of the Frobisher brothers – this time Robert. Robert sets sail to take the mission deeper into the heart of the slums and the jungle to find out where these people are being taken and why. He doesn’t expect to encounter a beautiful but driven young woman, Aileen Hopkins, already in Freetown searching for her missing brother who is at times both a help and a hindrance, but at all times a lovely woman he starts to fall for. What will they uncover in Africa, both about themselves and the mission?

One thing that sets this book apart from the first in the series is how the romance plays out. In The Lady’s Command you have a married couple right from the first few pages of the book and that plays out distinctly different than Robert setting out on this mission as a single man with some thoughts towards seeking a bride upon his return home. As a matter of fact, Robert and Aileen exist on separate storylines through the first third or so of the book – they are relatively aware of the other’s presence, but do not encounter one another. Even once they meet, the main thrust of the story is the mission – for Aileen it is to find her brother who went missing in Freetown and from Robert it is to locate the camp of the kidnappers. This at times sets them at odds with each other as their missions sometimes do not support the other. I did find their early moments to be sort of funny and their relationship flourished at an expedited pace because of the nature of close proximity during their shared mission. By the end of the novel there are a couple of sexy scenes between the two, but you will wait quite a while as the novel is centered more on the adventure than the romance for most of the book.

I liked the characters of Aileen and Robert in this book, more than I liked Edwina from the first book for sure. Aileen is a woman who can take care of herself, she even comes packing her own weapons AND knows how to use them! While she does have a damsel-in-distress moment and needs rescuing, she does return the favor with Robert by the end of the book. We also return to a few characters that we met in the first book, Declan and Edwina book end the novel, but also some of the locals in Freetown make a second appearance here and are quite enjoyable.

Action there is aplenty here, even beyond the bedroom! There is spying, kidnapping, escaping, shootouts, sword-fights, encounters by boat, subterfuge, and more. I think that the adventure was well plotted and feels like a natural progression of the greater story arc across what will be a four book series. While I think that the necessity for the brothers to each complete one part of the mission and then return all the way back to London to report seems a little drawn out to be ultimately believable, I can suspend that disbelief and enjoy the sense of adventure here as it does draw you in. I would weigh the adventure aspect more heavily than the romantic elements in this novel.

There was only one set of awkward scenes, and while I understand why they were written the way they were, it came off very difficult to read. Sprinkled throughout the novel there are a couple scenes where the kidnappers are the central focus and they are discussing their nefarious ways. Obviously the author didn’t want the reader to know who they were yet, as some of them will be revealed later in this book and others likely in the forthcoming titles. So instead of unique names, we have generalities that read very much like, “the first man said to the third man”. This repeated usage began to drive me crazy and I couldn’t wait for those scenes to end because I was even more confused than when I began that section. I’m not sure how to improve this section, but it was just awkward reading.

Overall, I found this second book more enjoyable than the first (which is very unusual for me) and I can’t wait to dive into the third book in this series which follows the youngest and more spontaneous brother, Caleb.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

•  Heroes and Heartbreakers

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

 
Also by Stephanie Laurens:

Stephanie Laurens has written many novels, those in the Adventurers Quartet include:

The Lady’s Command (Book 1)
[My Review]

The Daredevil Snared (Book 3)
[My Review]

Lord of the Privateers (Book 4)
Coming December 2016

 
Find Stephanie Laurens: Website | Newsletter

 
 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: A Gentleman's Guide to Scandal by Kathleen Kimmel

A Gentleman’s Guide to Scandal by Kathleen Kimmel

Book 2 in A Birch Hall Romance Series

E-Book, 319 pages

Berkley

June 7, 2016

★★★★★

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: Received via Netgalley Request for Review

**This review was previously posted at Romantic Historical Reviews**

Even men of great certainty can be completely clueless when it comes to matters of the heart.

Colin Spenser, Marquess of Farleigh, is shocked when his feelings towards his best friend’s sister take a turn into the realm of helpless adoration. Unfortunately, Elinor is more inclined to ignore him than express her undying devotion, so Colin resolves to forget his troublesome feelings by entering a loveless marriage…

Elinor Hargrove has absolutely no interest in the infuriating and arrogant Marquess of Farleigh. That is, until he kisses her—twice—inspiring unexpected and inconvenient passions. Then Elinor finds out he’s engaged, and her desires are quickly surpassed by her outrage...

But when a ghost from their shared pasts resurfaces, Colin and Elinor must work together to puzzle out a complicated intrigue by attending an extremely exclusive party where secrets and lies flourish—and scandal is only a kiss away.

Colin Spenser has always had an interest in Elinor Hargrove, his best friend’s sister, but seeing as she isn’t interested in him, he resolves himself to an engagement of convenience for the sake of his title. Elinor would never know that Colin has an interest in her, as he has always been standoffish, and has resolved herself to being an old maid and content with escorting Colin’s younger sister through her first Season. They would have been comfortable to continue on this way had not some earth shattering information about the death of a Spenser family member forced Colin and Elinor into an awkward situation and having to work together to solve this puzzle. Will they come out of this quest the same way they went into it?

I loved both Colin and Elinor! They were both infuriating in their inability to share how they felt about each other and their obliviousness to how the other truly felt. They were not very good at judging characters either, which made for lots of confusion between the two and in attempting to solve this pseudo-mystery. Despite Colin coming off as cold and stand-offish to those around him, even Elinor thinks so, when you are reading the chapters from his perspective you see that most of it is that he is trying to protect himself from being hurt and isn’t the jerk he outwardly appears to be. Elinor is driven to help find out what happened to her friend and isn’t afraid to take a leap into a world that is shrouded in mystery to women of her station. It was entertaining to watch her try to walk the walk on the other side of the tracks! I could admire her passion to right a wrong, even if there is no way I would have done what she did!

The story is as much an adventure story as it is a romance novel. Elinor and Colin are both (separately and then together) trying to solve what happened to a Spenser family member once startling evidence of possible foul play is brought forward. This gets them into some quite dangerous situations as they try to work out who might have caused harm to this person, why, and how they will bring those involved to justice. I have read a few romance/adventure novels that lose traction in their ability to keep the sense of adventure going while introducing the romantic elements, and I’m happy to say that A Gentleman’s Guide to Scandal does not fall into that trap. Kimmel is able to balance the needs of the plot pacing of the mystery, constantly moving it forward, while introducing a whole new complication for the characters in the form of a romantic tryst. I honestly did not want to put this book down at the end of the night, it was that compelling for me. The evolution of the romance felt appropriate and in line with the characters motivations, even if it came to be in a rather unusual circumstance. The romantic elements (when we finally get to them) are hot, much more so than in A Debutante’s Guide to Rebellion, but it felt so right for the characters.

This is a second book in the Birch Hall Romance series. It can certainly be read as a stand-alone; I have not yet read the first book and was able to pick right up with the story without missing a beat. It takes place a little bit after the events of book one, but is focused on a different set of characters. Elinor’s brother and his new wife are peripheral characters here, but they are the stars of A Lady’s Guide to Ruin, book 1. After reading this book, I was also able to place the novella, A Debutante’s Guide to Rebellion, into the cannon as well. Each compliments each other well, but is crafted well enough to tell the whole story on its own.

I would compare this novel in its style to An Improper Arrangement by Kasey Michaels. If you enjoyed that book, I would highly recommend this one to be moved up your TBR.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Ramblings from this Chick
• Open Book Society

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

 
Also by Kathleen Kimmel:

A Lady’s Guide to Ruin (Birch Hall Book 1)

A Debutante’s Guide to Rebellion (Birch Hall Novella 1.5)
[My Review]

 
Find Kathleen Kimmel: Website | Facebook | Twitter

 
 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: To Wed a Rebel by Sophie Dash

To Wed a Rebel by Sophie Dash

ARC, e-book

Carina Press

May 23, 2016

★★★★☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: Requested through Netgalley for Review

** This review was previously posted at Romantic Historical Reviews**

“It was done, they were bound, all was finished…”

A fighter, a drinker and a notorious seducer, Isaac Roscoe was the last man that innocent Ruth Osbourne would ever consider as a husband – but that was before Roscoe ruined her prospects and reputation!

Now destitute and disinherited Ruth is faced with an impossible choice, a life on the streets or exchanging vows with the man who put her there. Yet, knowing that marriage was Roscoe’s last wish, Ruth knew her revenge would be best served by saddling him with a reluctant wife.

Determined to punish Isaac for his actions Ruth will stop at nothing to destroy him, body and spirit. Until it becomes clear that nothing she can do will hurt her disloyal husband more than he can hurt himself…

Ruth has what any young woman would want: to be engaged to one of the most eligible bachelors, but he is boring, and droll, and not at all her type. However, she is happy to have her future secure and maybe everything will work out. Someone else has other plans for her though, and they don’t involve marrying her intended, and that is where Isaac comes in. Isaac has been hired to ruin Ruth so that she is no long fit to marry in society and he’s good at his job, but the surprise result of his plan gone awry is that Isaac and Ruth wind up wed and have to now navigate their mutual outward hatred for their circumstances.

I love reading stories where there is not an instant romance, but the two have to really work for it. That is the case here in To Wed a Rebel and man are there obstacles! Ruth had her life all mapped out and would be soon marrying one of the richest bachelors available, but she doesn’t really like him. She is practical and is just trying to fulfill her mother’s request for her to never be a burden to her family – so in her heart she is settling. Isaac Roscoe is a rogue (and I kept thinking of him in that way through the whole book, to the point where I thought a better title would have been To Wed a Rogue because I didn’t find him much of a rebel). In an effort to avoid family obligations he has made a job of taking contracts to ruin women to get them out of various marriage arrangements; dirty and deceitful work, but he rather enjoys it and typically finds no qualms in doing it. But his contract to ruin Ruth bothers him in a way that the others have not; he finds her charming and sweet, and an all-around nice person. So when his mission ends in a success (sort of) he’s sorry it had to work out this way…until the unexpected result is his forced marriage to Ruth. The two battle it out throughout the novel as they try to wrangle their feelings about what happened early in their relationship with new feelings that grow as they get to know each other. Their relationship develops slowly, which made sense given their background, but at times their blindness to each other’s intentions was frustrating beyond measure!

Beyond the events of the early part of the novel which revolve around the ruination of Ruth, there is plenty of action here. There is a plot to save a friend, having to navigate Isaac’s family, as well as the all-around trouble Isaac tends to find himself in through his beyond the law activities. All of these events and adventures serve to help Ruth and Isaac get over their animosity toward each other and come together.

There are just a couple sex scenes in this novel and while they are not graphic you are definitely present in the room for them. It was well used by the author for the development of the characters relationship and even set up yet another roadblock down the road in their love/hate relationship. I thought it was very well done.

Overall, this novel worked for me. Even though there are so many problems between the two of them you are still rooting for them at the end. I look forward to reading other books by Sophie Dash.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• The Perks of Being a Book Worm

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Also by Sophie Dash:

The Unmasking of a Lady

 
Find Sophie Dash: Website | Goodreads | Twitter




Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: A Debutante's Guide to Rebellion by Kathleen Kimmel

A Debutante’s Guide to Rebellion by Kathleen Kimmel

Book 1.5 in the Birch Hall series

ARC, e-book, 80 pages

InterMix

April 19, 2016

★★★★☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance, Novella

Source: Received from Publisher for Review at Romantic Historical Reviews

A bashful botanist and a reluctant debutante are about to discover that there may be a science to seduction after all...

London, 1815: Lady Mildred Weller (Eddie to her friends) has few prospects for marriage. If she can’t attract the available—though considerably older—Lord Averdale, she may be doomed to spinsterhood. She’s even willing to enter into that loveless union, if only to escape her mother’s stifling and increasingly desperate dominance. And she may have found the perfect person to help her achieve that goal.

Ezekiel Blackwood is a botanist as well as Lord Averdale’s nephew and heir. He is also a social disaster. Cross-pollination he understands; the fairer sex not at all. But in Lady Eddie, he discovers a kindred spirit. When she asks for his assistance in assessing Lord Averdale’s interest in her, Ezekiel is crushed. But naturally, he thinks, she could never fall in love with someone like him. Ezekiel’s matchmaking cousin is only too happy to arrange a discreet rendezvous for their conspiracy—a greenhouse. Of course in such a setting, it’s only natural that feelings might begin to bloom...

**This Review was Previously Posted at Romantic Historical Reviews**

A lot happened in this brief 80 pages so that it felt much longer than it actually was; if I didn’t know better I would have thought this was just a slightly shorter-than-normal length novel. Novellas can sometimes fall into a trap where the pacing feels too fast or characters are left underdeveloped, but not here! Kathleen Kimmel carefully utilizes each word to move the plot forward or flesh out her characters.

Within just a few short pages I felt very sure of my feelings for Lady Eddie and Co. Lady Eddie and Ezekiel are not your beautiful, elegant, stars of the ball, but rather studious and even strange to the ton. Their fish-out-of-water nature at these grand Season events made for some comical scenes. Thinking back on it, these would be two people I would probably fit right in with if I was back in that time! Lady Eddie’s mother is certainly not someone to mess with, and that makes it all the more exciting when Lady Eddie does exactly that; even the best laid and devious plans often go awry! Although she might seem a little over-the-top, I’m sure people like her mother certainly existed then as they do now.

The romance element here was sweet and very unexpected for the couple involved; by that I mean that as the reader you see it coming, but the characters not so much. Ezekiel is not interested in looking for love, but eventually decides that a wife could be useful in some ways, while Lady Eddie’s marriage prospects has been laid out by her mother and she is given no say in the matter. It was refreshing to see these two novices in the world of the Season that seems filled with those who are playing the game and that naiveté played into some funny moments that endeared the characters to me.

This was a novella where I felt my time was well-spent. It was an enjoyable, light-hearted romp and I was impressed with how much I cared for these characters over just the short amount of time I had to spend with them. I would love to see them appear in another piece of this series. Regarding the fact that this is a series, I did not notice any time where I felt I was missing something by not having read any of the other books previously. I haven’t yet pieced together how the books in the series actually connect with each other as it doesn’t appear to be an obvious continuation or interconnected characters or setting. However, based on my enjoyment of Kimmel’s writing style, I will definitely be exploring her other titles.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Fresh Fiction
• Ramblings from this Chick

 
Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 
Also by Kathleen Kimmel:

A Lady’s Guide to Ruin (Birch Hall Book 1)

A Gentleman’s Guide to Scandal (Birch Hall Book 2)

 
Find Kathleen Kimmel: Website | Facebook | Twitter

 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court