Book Review: Lorna Loves a Lawyer by Linda Hubalek

Lorna Loves a Lawyer by Linda K. Hubalek

Book 9 in the Brides with Grit series

ARC, eBook, 154 pages

Butterfield Books, Inc

July 28, 2016

★★★★☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance, Western

Source: Received from the author for review

A sweet historical romance set in 1873. Lorna Jantz left Boston looking for adventure, signing up as a mail-order bride for a rich Kansas rancher. But, the groom only becomes rich after taking off with her money, after their twenty-four hour marriage. Which left Lorna in a pickle, stuck in a little town with no money, no home and a growing belly.

Lyle Elison was one of Boston’s worst, a spoiled, rich merchant’s son, until enforced time on the family’s Kansas ranch made him see his purpose in life. After training in Boston, he’s back in Clear Creek, Kansas, as the town’s new lawyer.

Backgrounds make Lorna and Lyle connect, but time spent together makes them good friends, willing to help each other face their respective problems. Lorna needs help tracking down the louse who stole her money and left her in a family way. Lyle needs to be married by his birthday to receive his inheritance from his grandfather’s Will.

In between their capers, each falls in love with the other, secretly wishing they could confess their love and be together forever. But first, they have to find Lorna’s wayward husband before Lyle’s birthday.

This novel starts you off right in the middle of a scene – Lyle is getting read the riot act from Lorna, a woman he has never met before, but she sure seems to know him. For the first few pages I was a little confused as to what was going on, but as I moved through the first chapter it became more clear and made me identify with Lyle to some extent, because he had no idea what was happening either. Not sure if this was the intention of the author, but it worked for me all the same. Lorna is stuck in an awful situation, but she doesn’t play to the damsel-in-distress. She is set on relying on herself to find a way out, even though that seems like a huge mountain to climb. I liked her from the start. Sure she may have fallen for a good con, but she doesn’t just wallow in it, she picks up and moves forward the best she can. Lyle I found to be an imperfect hero. He is trying to prove himself to be something more than his past, which can be a difficult thing for others to get beyond.

One of the tropes I sometimes hate in romance novels is the characters who won’t get out of their own way to figure out a relationship or to make one work. I’m on the fence with it here. Both of the main characters are in a tough position to begin with based purely on their situations, but do they have to make it harder on themselves too? Each keeps trying to do what they think is best for the other person, but that makes it harder on themselves. I don’t know, it worked here for the most part. The majority of the story was spent on Lorna and Lyle’s relationship as friends and neighbors, the problems for both parties basically served as bookends. I think I would have liked to have just a little bit more of the problem solving; it all came together just a little bit too easily at the end.

For a shorter novel, this story actually has a lot going for it. You get enough backstory about the main characters (and even some of the periphery too), there’s a problem to be solved, and some strong character development. Even though I jumped into this series at book 9, which could have been very daunting with some series, this book can certainly stand alone. You get the sense of other couples’ stories here and there, which does the job of making me want to read more about them, but never where I felt I didn’t know what was going on in the main story.

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Also by Linda K. Hubalek:

The other books is the Brides with Grit series include:

Raina Ropes a Rancher (Book 1)

Millie Marries a Marshal (Book 2)

Hilda Hogties a Horseman (Book 3)

Cora Captures a Cowboy (Book 4)

Sarah Snares a Soldier (Book 5)

Cate Corrals a Cattleman (Book 6)

Darcie Desires a Drover (Book 7)

Tina Tracks a Trailboss (Book 8)

 
Find Linda K. Hubalek: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Pinterest

 
 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

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

Audiobook Review: Fall of Giants by Ken Follet

Fall of Giants by Ken Follet

Book 1 of Fall of Giants Trilogy

Unabridged, 30 hr. 41 min.

Penguin Audio

John Lee (Narrator)

September 28, 2010

★★★★☆

 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Personal purchase from Audible

It is 1911. The Coronation Day of King George V. The Williams, a Welsh coal-mining family, is linked by romance and enmity to the Fitzherberts, aristocratic coal-mine owners. Lady Maud Fitzherbert falls in love with Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German Embassy in London. Their destiny is entangled with that of an ambitious young aide to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and to two orphaned Russian brothers, whose plans to emigrate to America fall foul of war, conscription and revolution. In a plot of unfolding drama and intriguing complexity, "Fall Of Giants" moves seamlessly from Washington to St Petersburg, from the dirt and danger of a coal mine to the glittering chandeliers of a palace, from the corridors of power to the bedrooms of the mighty.

Wow, this is quite a hefty novel, even reading it took quite some time! The First World War and the events surrounding it can be confusing to break down and unpack – all of the alliances, behind the scenes conversations, and upheaval. In The Fall of Giants, Follet takes us back and forth across the globe and behind the front lines to the depth of the action. We go from inside the lives of the powerful to the virtual nobody. And somehow, it is easier to digest this way.

Throughout the novel, we follow the lives of interconnected families from a variety of backgrounds and belligerent nations. This gives a relatively well rounded world view of the events as they unfold. Sometimes we are privy to more information than others as we have some characters that are in political power positions and others who are just surviving the results of everyday life. Sometimes, I admit, it feels a little contrived that our characters happen to be in the same place to interact with one another, but I was able to put that aside as I dove into the sheer breadth of the novel.

I think the most interesting sections for me were those set in Russia especially during the revolution. This is a country that I have always said doesn’t get the treatment it deserves in historical fiction, but it gets ample time here. I felt that the events here were the most desperate and high-stakes, whereas all the other choices that characters had to make were about personal choices, not world changing decisions. Additionally, we are seeing the events from those who are right in the thick of leading the revolution, not from the perspective of the powerful as is typical. As a matter of fact, we don’t even see the Russian royal family once.

One part that did begin to feel a bit wearing was all the “baby-mama-drama” occurring across the globe! I get that the purpose of this was to set up characters to take over the storytelling reins in the next installment, Winter of the World, but it got a tad bit crazy at times. However, I will say that it did break up the political drama.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book if you have some reading time on your hands. You don’t have to be a war buff to enjoy it as there are so many different elements to this story.

★★★★★

I have to say, John Lee knocked it out of the park here. Not only did he have A LOT to narrate (I can’t even begin to imagine how long it took to record all of this book) but he had a lot of different types of action and people to contend with. He admirably voiced the characters so that each was distinctive and you had a very clear idea of who was speaking lending even more to the development of characters. His reading pace was fantastic and allowed me to digest what I was reading. Even though it took me quite a while to complete this book that wasn’t due to not being interested in the story being told or the way it was told – I just get the opportunity to listen in small chunks and with a book this long that took a while.

You can check out this book sample below:

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Literary Corner Café
• A Little Rebellion

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

 
Also by Ken Follet:

The Century Trilogy includes the following:

Winter of the World (Book 2)

Edge of Eternity


Find Ken Follet: Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Find John Lee: AudioFile Magazine
 
 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Of Peaks and Prairies by Vivi Holt

Of Peaks and Prairies by Vivi Holt

Book 1 in Paradise Valley series

ARC, eBook, No page count

Black Lab Press

July 13, 2016

★★★★ ½☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance, Western

Source: Received for review from the author (I also was a beta reader for this book too)

She's married to a man she doesn't love, and didn't agree to marry. The scoundrel dragged her to the altar, and now everything is going to change. In a split second decision, she runs away, and stows aboard a chuck wagon that's leaving on a cattle drive, heading north to Montana Territory. She doesn't know where she's going, or what she'll do, she only knows one thing - she has to escape from Fort Worth, Texas.

Thomas O'Reilly's finally got the chance to prove himself to his Pa. After finding gold in Montana Territory, he travels to Texas to buy a herd of longhorns to take back north with him, where demand for beef is high. Everything is going his way until he discovers a beautiful, young woman asleep in the back of his chuck wagon.

A woman on the trail is bad for business, especially in a group of rough and rowdy cowboys. Will she ruin everything he's worked so hard for? Or will she be the one thing he really needs?

Follow their journey, from Texas to Montana Territory, where challenges lurk around every corner, and love is forged in the heat of battle.

This is my favorite book from Vivi Holt thus far!

Important reading note – while this is the first book in the Paradise Valley series, it continues the story of Bill and Sarah that is told in Holt’s book, The Strong One, which is part of the Cutter’s Creek series. You can read these books in either order, Of Peaks and Prairies certainly stands on its own, but I think it will be more enjoyable to read The Strong One first and read Bill and Sarah’s origin story first.

The majority of the historical westerns that I have read fall into one of two categories: those that revolve around mail order brides coming from the east to marry men on ranches in the west OR life on an established ranch. Of Peaks and Prairies is different in that everyone who exists within these pages already lives in the west, but the majority of the story takes place along the trail while cattle are being herded from Texas to Montana. This was a refreshing change of pace as we encounter the variety of troubles that could come along with life on the trail that kept things exciting.

Genevieve is desperate to get away from her home – it’s not really much of a home anyway and her step-father and new husband are just terrible men – and setting out on the trail seems like a better plan than staying home, regardless of what tribulations come with it. She doesn’t expect to fall for the handsome trail leader, especially since she is married, but that is what happens and provides quite a bit of trouble on the trek and between her and Thomas. Thomas is a good man on a tight schedule – he doesn’t really have the time to deal with the problems an unmarried woman (as far as he knows) on the trail will bring as he races the coming winter to get home. The romantic moments between the two are sparking, sweet, and at times infuriating (in a good way!). It’s a clean romance, but the tension between the two and the small moments are rewarding and fulfilling for the reader.

I was super excited to return to the story of Sarah and Bill from The Strong One. I didn’t know that they would be part of this story before I started reading it and I quite literally cheered out loud when they returned to the scene. While mostly a sideline story, it still moves forward and they serve as a good foil/inspiration for Genny and Thomas. I also enjoyed seeing more of Sarah’s native lifestyle that we were briefly introduced to at the beginning of The Strong One.

The book left me with a desire to read more books that will hopefully come in this series. I enjoyed all the characters and fell for Genny and Thomas – I can’t wait to see what will happen at Thomas’ new ranch (I enjoyed getting to know some of the cowboys and hope to see more of them). I also have a feeling that we are not done with the native side of Sarah’s story. Holt keeps the plot exciting while advancing the romantic threads of the various relationships at play here. The trail life blossomed from the pages and I felt like I was right there with them all and the hundreds of head of cattle. Well written, fast paced, and enjoyable all around.

Buy the Book: Amazon

Also by Vivi Holt:

Mail Order Bride: Christy
[Review Coming Soon]

Mail Order Bride: Ramona

Mail Order Bride: Katie
[My Review]

The Strong One (Book 2 Cutter Creek Series)
[My Review]


Find Vivi Holt: Amazon Page | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter

 
 


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: The Daredevil Snared by Stephanie Laurens & Tour-Wide Giveaway

The Daredevil Snared by Stephanie Laurens

Book 3 in The Adventurers Quartet

ARC, e-Book, 464 pages

MIRA

June 28, 2016

★★★★ ½☆ 

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance, Adventure, Regency

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley for review/tour with TLC Book Tours

He has something to prove
Captain Caleb Frobisher, hedonistic youngest son of a seafaring dynasty, wants to be taken seriously. Seizing the next leg of the covert mission his brothers are pursuing, he acts decisively and effectively in securing the mission's objectives. But responsibility has taken root, and he remains in the jungle to ensure the mission's ultimate goal.

She will risk everything
Katherine Fortescue fled a life of poverty and came to Freetown as a governess, only to be kidnapped and forced to oversee the child workforce at a mine. Guarded by well-armed, well-trained mercenaries, the captives have lost all hope of escape. Then Katherine meets a handsome man—a captain—and he brings the sweet promise of rescue.

Together they will face the future
The sadistic mercenary who runs the mine has other plans, but Caleb's true strength lies in extracting advantage from adversity, and through the clashes that follow, he becomes the leader he was always destined to be. The sort of man Katherine can trust—with her body, with her life. With her love.

Race with THE ADVENTURERS as these passionate daredevils lead the way to the stunning and dramatic conclusion.

It surprises me to say this, but book 3 has been my favorite in the series so far! For those who maybe read the first book and turned away from the series because it was a little slow (and I acknowledge that it was too), each book in the series gets progressively better. Part of this I lay at the feet of the hero of each story, by far Caleb is the most fascinating. The other thing is that I feel like the bulk of the action of this series is in this book and will also be in the forthcoming book when everything comes together. Additionally, the romance thread I found most believable in this book. So, let’s unpack these thoughts a bit further!

Book 2, A Buccaneer at Heart, ends with Caleb setting out on his trip to Africa and when Book 3 picks up, he is already in the depths of the jungle. In A Daredevil Snared we don’t have to deal with some of the monotony that Freetown had become for the reader, we spend the entirety of Caleb’s adventure in the jungle – which I was totally fine with. The jungle was a new and exciting setting that introduced us to those who were behind the kidnappings in question. There is action from the first few pages and I felt that it carried right up until the end.

The best part of the book however was Caleb Frobisher. He is the youngest of the four Frobisher brothers and being that he has always been the reckless one and the one that was never given serious responsibilities. He set off on this mission (without permission mind you) to prove to his family that while he can have a good time, he can reel it in when required. He must stick to the mission and not let his impulses run wild. He would love to just run in, kill all those who are involved in the kidnapping, and save anyone he can; but his mission is just to locate the camp and send that info back to London. We see him struggle between what his nature tells him to do and his desire to prove his worth to his family and that makes him a more compelling character than either Declan or Robert were before him.

The cast grows widely in this book as we meet a bunch of those who were kidnapped and are being kept in the camp – as well as their captors. A few of these characters we have heard of in passing in the first two books, but they actually come into their own here. It was very different to see things from the perspective of the camp and find out what they have been enduring and thinking this whole time they have been there. Katherine Fortescue, our heroine, is one of those trapped in the camp. She is strong and trying to not lose hope in the face of their dire situation; she is a force to be reckoned with.

The romance here between Katherine and Caleb develops in what I felt was a more believable nature than how Robert and Aileen’s (which began in Freetown) or Declan or Edwina (which began in London). Theirs is a romance of opportunity and joint experience and suffering. When you experience hardship and tragedy together relationships necessarily grow quicker and in a different way than in the real world. Here those fetters of society are not there to keep them within rigid boundaries, but even still, they don’t go crazy. It felt very true and real. I was actually rooting for them all along.

Unlike the first two books, this book does not wrap up nicely with the hero and heroine returning to London madly in love and ready to pass the reins on to the next brother. They are very much still in Africa and waiting for someone to come sweeping in – which will be the final brother, whom we have heard much about but very rarely seen, Royd. I’m hoping the other brothers might be involved too since they could use a force to close out this series.

I couldn’t put this book down – which was a first in this series for me – and I hate that I will have to wait to December to read the conclusion!

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• RT Book Reviews
  
• Reading Reality

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia
 
Also by Stephanie Laurens:
Stephanie Laurens has written many novels, those in the Adventurers Quartet include:

A Lady’s Command (Book 1)
[My Review]

A Buccaneer at Heart (Book 2)
[My Review]

Lord of the Privateers (Book 4)
Coming December 2016
 
Find Stephanie Laurens: Website | Newsletter
 
Tour-Wide Giveaway! 

There is a tour wide giveaway provided as part of the TLC Book Tour for a $25 Amazon gift card.  Please note that this giveaway is not run by me so please contact the tour coordinator with any questions or issues.  Make your entries for the giveaway through the Rafflecopter below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
Follow the Tour!

Monday, June 27th: Reading Reality
Tuesday, June 28th: From the TBR Pile – excerpt
Wednesday, June 29th: The Sassy Bookster – excerpt
Friday, July 1st: A Chick Who Reads
Monday, July 4th: Bewitched Bookworms
Tuesday, July 5th: A Bookaholic Swede – excerpt
Wednesday, July 6th: The Maiden’s Court
Friday, July 8th: Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Tuesday, July 12th: Becky on Books
Wednesday, July 13th: A Holland Reads
Thursday, July 14th: Books a la Mode – excerpt
Friday, July 15th: What I’m Reading
Monday, July 18th: Broken Teepee – excerpt
Monday, July 18th: Buried Under Romance – excerpt and review
Tuesday, July 19th: Beverages and Books
Wednesday, July 20th: Diary of a Stay At Home Mom
Thursday, July 21st: Black ‘n Gold Girls Book Reviews
Friday, July 22nd: Moonlight Rendezvous
Monday, July 25th: The Romance Dish
Tuesday, July 26th: The Reading Wench
 



Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: The Lady's Command by Stephanie Laurens

The Lady’s Command by Stephanie Laurens
Book 1 of The Adventurers Quartet
E-Book, 384 pages
MIRA
December 29, 2015
★★★½☆☆

Heat Rating:

Genre: Historical Romance, Adventure, Regency

Source: Received from publisher for review as part of TLC Book Tour

“The instant Captain Declan Frobisher laid eyes on Lady Edwina Delbraith, he knew she was the lady he wanted as his wife. The scion of a seafaring dynasty accustomed to success, he discovered that wooing Edwina was surprisingly straightforward—not least because she made it plain that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

Declan’s vision of marriage was of a gently-reared wife to grace his arm, to manage his household, and to bear his children. He assumed that household, children, and wife would remain safely in England while he continued his life as an explorer sailing the high seas.

Declan got his wish—up to a point. He and Edwina were wed. As for the rest—his vision of marriage…

Aunt of the young Duke of Ridgware and sister of the mysterious man known as Neville Roscoe, London’s gambling king, even before the knot was tied Edwina shattered the illusion that her character is as delicate, ethereal, and fragile as her appearance suggests. Far from adhering to orthodox mores, she and her ducal family are even more unconventional than the Frobishers.

Beneath her fairy-princess exterior, Edwina possesses a spine of steel—one that might bend, but will never break. Born to the purple—born to rule—she’s determined to rule her life. With Declan’s ring on her finger, that means forging a marriage that meets her needs as well as his.

But bare weeks into their honeymoon, Declan is required to sail to West Africa. Edwina decides she must accompany him.

A secret mission with unknown villains flings unexpected dangers into their path as Declan and Edwina discover that meeting the challenge of making an unconventional marriage work requires something they both possess—bold and adventurous hearts.”

The Adventurers Quartet is a set of 4 novels each focusing on a different Frobisher brother – starting with Declan in The Lady’s Command. Immediately from the start I had a slightly nagging feeling that I was supposed to know something about these people already, despite this being the first book in a series – and I wasn’t wrong! Some of the characters in this series were secondary characters in Laurens’ prior novel The Lady Risks All, as well as two of her prior series The Bastion Club and The Black Cobra Quartet. I don’t feel that having not read these in any way impacted my experience with this book – there were just little references from time to time that I registered as probably have some significance; for example, there were frequent references to the mess of the Black Cobra cult and campaigns.

I don’t typically read a ton of historical romances, but what drew me to accept this for review was the bent toward the adventure – and I have to say, that was the enjoyable part of this novel for me, romance and history aside. I am going to do this review a little different and take each of those elements at hand here.

- Romance -

It was so refreshing to have a romance novel start with two characters that are already married at the start of the novel – and not even the kind of married that happened because they were forced together by circumstances. They actually are in love with each other from the beginning! What was interesting was seeing how this grew and changed over the course of the novel and made their relationship stronger. I would say that the romance was a secondary element to the novel. While there was certainly an acceptable helping of romantic scenes, they actually served to develop the characters rather than just be thrown in for the sake of sex. They were rather tasteful and alluding, but gave you just enough without being too graphic.

- History -

The historical part was mostly just the backdrop setting. This is a regency set novel taking place in England, on the high seas, and in colonial Africa. You get a sense of the drawing room and the dangers of the port. You hear mention of slave traders. That’s about the extent of it.

- Adventure -

People have gone missing – Declan is sent on a mission to figure out why. It’s part mystery, part adventure on the high seas and the borderline wilderness of Africa. I typically don’t enjoy historical mysteries because they tend to be so transparent and flimsy. But I did not see the twists coming in this one. And while we do not know how this mystery wraps up (that will happen in future installments of this series) I found it to be an adequate place to pause the story.

The segments that take place in England were honestly the most absolutely boring parts of the novel. I almost put the book down at the 25% mark because it was frustratingly slow. She loves him, he loves her – they stare at each other with longing – and that is it. Until they set foot on the boat, it is not interesting at all. As soon as they return to England the story ground to a halt – I was hopeful that style had lost its way in Africa, but no go.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and I might feel compelled to read the next book when it comes out. It was one of the more enjoyable historical romance novels I have read.


Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Harlequin Junkie
• The Reading Café

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

 
Also by Stephanie Laurens:

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

A Buccaneer at Heart (Book 2)
[My Review]

A Daredevil Snared (Book 3)
[My Review]

Lord of the Privateers (Book 4)
Coming December 2016

 
Find Stephanie Laurens: Website | Newsletter

Follow the Tour!

TLC Book Tours Webpage

Tour Stops:
Monday, January 4th: Romancing the Book

Tuesday, January 5th: Bewitched Bookworms

Wednesday, January 6th: The Sassy Bookster

Thursday, January 7th: Thoughts from an Evil Overlord

Friday, January 8th: A Chick Who Reads

Monday, January 11th: The Romance Dish

Tuesday, January 12th: BookNAround

Wednesday, January 13th: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, January 14th: Worth Getting in Bed For

Friday, January 15th: Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews

Monday, January 18th: Reading Reality

Tuesday, January 19th: The Maiden’s Court

Wednesday, January 20th: Black ‘n Gold Girl’s Book Spot

Thursday, January 21st: FictionZeal

Friday, January 22nd: View from the Birdhouse

Monday, January 25th: Bibliotica

Tuesday, January 26th: A Night’s Dream of Books

Wednesday, January 27th: One Curvy Blogger

Thursday, January 28th: It’s a Mad Mad World

Friday, January 29th: Stranded in Chaos
 
 


Copyright © 2016 by The Maiden’s Court