Month: May 2017

Scandalous Ever After by Theresa Romain

On By TracyIn Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

Scandalous Ever After (Romance of the Turf)Scandalous Ever After by Theresa Romain

Release Date: 7/4/17
Series: Romance of the Turf, #2

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Maybe 3.5 stars

Kate, the Countess of Whelan and Evan Rhys have a history. Evan has been in love with Kate since the day he met her – as the bride of his best friend. The three of them shared a deep friendship – but all that changed when Kate’s husband Con died in a racing accident.

Evan left shortly before Con died, after they had a heated agreement. Evan finally gave in to his anger of the way Con treated Kate and his responsibilities. He left never intending to return.

Two years later, Kate is back in England trying to secure a loan to pay off her late husband’s debts and to save her son’s legacy. She learns that Evan is lecturing not far from her families home and she seeks him out. Evan has been fighting depression his entire life and Kate seems to be the only person that keeps the “gray” from consuming him. He has stayed away for the last two years because he feels unworthy and guilty. But seeing Kate again smashes all his reasons for staying away. He has been trying to find the source of forgeries used to smuggle and Kate’s appearance is the perfect excuse to return to Ireland.

They try to pick up their friendship where they left off, but there are things that need to be said and feelings that need to be explored. When they take their relationship to the next level, Kate immediately regrets it – even though she instigated the interlude. Kate wants things with Evan to be like they were and can’t understand his withdrawal from her.

They return to Ireland and begin to investigate the forgeries and their feelings for each other. Each of them learns some hard truths and begin to come to terms with the changes between them.

When Evan’s life is in peril – Kate finally acknowledges her true feelings and lets go of her fears and past hurts.

I liked the story, but I didn’t love it. The writing felt a bit disjointed and was at times confusing to follow. Although, I was impressed with the author’s portrayal of Evan – his unrequited love for Kate, his guilt over Con, his struggle with depression and his refusal to accept a half-life with Kate – it was really well done and completely believable.

All in all a decent read and I would be happy to recommend it to others.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*

Say Yes To The Scot: A Highland Wedding Box Set

On By BarbaraIn Anthology, Barb's Reviews4 Comments

Say Yes to the Scot: A Highland Wedding Box SetSay Yes to the Scot: A Highland Wedding Box Set by May McGoldrick

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Publication Date: June 20, 2017

Four of my favorite authors provided works for this anthology – so, it is only natural that I LOVE it.

HOW A LASS WED A HIGHLANDER by Lecia Cornwall
This tale is loosely (very loosely) based on the Princess and the Pea fairytale. Laird Alex Munro of Culmore has to find a wife in five weeks or break a generations long pact. However, the ‘Pea’ is missing and they must have the ‘Pea’ which is the official engagement ring. Not only is the Pea missing, but the neighboring Laird has been attacking and burning the crofters on Munroe lands. After one such raid, Alex finds Cait MacLeod in the woods near the burned out cottage. Alex doesn’t believe Cait’s story and believes she is part of the raiding parties. Cait quickly wins the love of his Clan and even the potential brides who are visiting the keep – but – Alex is still wary of her. They have a long road to find their HEA, but it is a good read to get them there.

A MATCH MADE IN HEATHER by Anna Harrington
This is a story of second chances. Ten long years ago Arabel and Garrick were going to elope. Then, on the night of the elopement, Arabel tells Garrick that she cannot go because of a family situation that has just developed. Garrick is heartbroken and just doesn’t understand why she always chooses her family over him. Then, when she thinks he has left her, she can’t forgive him. There are huge misunderstandings in this story and you wonder how they can get past them. Given what happened to him, I would have thought Garrick would be the one unable to forgive, but it was Arabel who kept clinging to her hurt and anger. Frankly, she got on my last nerve, but finally came around so they got their HEA.

A MIDSUMMER WEDDING by May McGoldrick
I think this was my favorite story in the anthology. I LOVED the characters. They were well developed and fully formed, but I’ve never seen anything by McGoldrick that wasn’t absolutely excellently done! Be prepared – there are some really giggle-worthy moments in this book! Elizabeth and Alex were betrothed as children and raised far apart, so they never met. Their lives were very different – she thought him a barbaric Highlander and he thought her a pampered, simpering, spoiled little princess. Both of them want out of the engagement, but the other doesn’t know that. So, when Elizabeth tries to trick Alex into thinking she was in love with someone else so he’d break the engagement, things go really awry. They end up in the middle of a rain-swollen river fighting for their lives. It is funny how those near-death experiences bring you to being honest – and they were finally honest with each other and agreed to cancel the engagement. So – how do they get their HEA – well – you’ll just have to read the anthology to find out.

THE SCOT SAYS I DO by Sabrina York
This was my second favorite of the stories in this anthology. I loved Catherine’s friends, especially Elizabeth and hope to see their stories in the future. Duncan and Catherine were in love, but it was just not meant to be. She was the Lairds daughter and he was the stable hand – she was twelve and he was not. You have to wonder if there is any way for them to ever have a HEA. Years later, Catherine returns home from a ball to find that her brother has lost their entire estate – homes, land, money – all of it – and now that former stable hand owns it all. He also wants to marry her. Why in the world would he want to marry her now when he walked off and left her so long ago without even saying goodbye. I hope you’ll read this delightful, funny and entertaining story to see how they finally get their HEA. There are twists and turns and even an evil dude – everything you could possibly want.

“I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

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