Month: December 2017

Earl Interrupted by Amanda Forester

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Earl Interrupted (The Daring Marriages, #2)Earl Interrupted by Amanda Forester

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Daring Marriages #2
Publication Date: 1/2/18

This is a daring, fast-paced adventure with well-developed characters and a tight plot line. It sucked me in from the first word and held me captive through the last! While this is part of a series (two books I believe) you can read them in any order – even the author says so. If you are looking for steam, it isn’t in this book – but the story is wonderful, the characters relatable and the situations are exciting. There is never a dull or boring moment in this book!

Emma St. James is a beautiful, smart, and level-headed young woman and she’s in a boatload of trouble. She was the apple of her father’s eye and when he died he left the entire estate to her – except for a settlement for her step-mother. When she is just a couple of weeks away from obtaining her majority and thus her inheritance, her step-mother, and step-brother try to force her into marrying the step-brother – otherwise, they will have her declared insane and sent to Bedlam. She’s never been afraid of a challenge and decides to betroth herself to someone she has never met – in America. (Yeah, that part didn’t make sense to me either given that she is a smart girl). She takes off for Plymouth where she will be taking a ship across the waters to her betrothed, but along the way, her coach overturns and the drunken driver takes off with their horses. If it isn’t bad enough to be left stranded in the cold on the side of the road with a ruined carriage, another coach stops, but instead of offering assistance, they intend to rob (and worse) Emma and her maid.

Captain Lord Robert Ashton, second Earl of Darington, the ‘Pirate Earl’, Dare is absolutely tongue-tied around females. He sister has convinced him that he needs to find a wife and he’s tried but had no luck. Then, when he and his sister are returning from the wedding of his friend’s sister – Dare’s sister is kidnapped. Dare speeds out after the kidnappers and manages to rescue his sister. He does rescue her, but he gets shot and taken prisoner himself. He’s lying on the floor of the coach, bleeding out, when the coach suddenly stops and he hears the kidnappers raising their voices. They have stopped for a wrecked coach on the side of the road. Barely conscious, Dare realizes that the kidnappers are threatening a young woman.

Emma is trying to plot her escape and sees no way out – when – out of the blue comes a rescuer from inside the coach. As she realizes that her rescuer is wounded and evidently a prisoner as well, they manage to escape on foot. Thus begins a long journey with trouble dogging them at every step. They are pursued by the kidnappers as well as the wicked step-brother – and Emma even ends up on a ship full of smugglers who think she is a light-skirt. Wall-to-wall action and adventure await our intrepid hero and heroine around every corner.

Our heroine has a bright sunny disposition and a strong faith – and our hero has no faith. Emma and Dare each realize that they care for the other, but they doubt that the other cares for them. Each feels that they are lacking in some way, but they see and appreciate the strengths of the other.

I loved this read and was sad to see it end. Now, I think I’ll go back and read the first book in the series.

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“I requested and received this e-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.”

When You Love a Scotsman by Hannah Howell

On By TracyIn American Historical, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

When You Love a Scotsman (Seven Brides for Seven Scotsmen #2)When You Love a Scotsman by Hannah Howell

Series: Seven Brides for Seven Scotsmen, #2

Release Date: December 26, 2017

Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

I liked this book, but I didn’t love it and I probably wouldn’t read it again.

The story opens with Matthew MacEnroy and his men staking shelter from Rebel forces at a farmhouse. The house is the home of Abigail Jenson and her parents. When the Rebels arrive, Abbie races inside to warn her mother and father.

Weeks earlier her family was attacked, her brother was “pressed” into service, her father beaten and her mother violated, Abbie was spared because she had hidden. Her father is near death and her mother is mentally unstable. When she enters the house, Matt and his men are there, but she soon realizes that they are going to help her. Abbie tries to warn her mother, but the woman will not listen. Abbie is a crack shot and impresses Matt with her ability. When one of his men is wounded, she cares for him, but is not able to save her parents. The Rebels set the house afire and there is nothing Abbie can do to save them or her home.

Matt offers to take her to the town where his company is stationed and will no other options, Abbie agrees. When they arrive at the town, Abbie is taken to the “Benton House” which houses various war widows and orphans. Abbie settles in and even begins to assist the doctor. She and Matt do not have a lot of interaction at this point in the book – but they are both attracted to the other. This part of the book focuses more on Abbie’s relationship with the women and children in the house, especially her roommate Julia. Julia is in love with Robert, one of the soldiers stationed at the camp and they plan to marry. When it becomes obvious that Julia is expecting a child, Abbie tells her she must marry now. Robert and Julia marry and then tragedy strikes.

Matt and Abbie have been spending time together, Matt knows he is interested in her, but is not sure if he is ready to marry or if what he feels for her is more than lust. When they are alone, the passion between them is undeniable, and they become intimate but they are constantly interrupted. When they slip away together a few days after the wedding, they spot a band of men sneaking up the river. They rush back to town to warn the others and then a battle ensues, in which Robert is mortally wounded. Julia is brought to his side and is inconsolable when he dies. Her grief is consuming and causes her to go into labor. When her son is born, Abbie hopes it will be enough to drag her out of her grief – but it isn’t and when the town is attacked again, Abbie finds Julia near death on her husband’s grave. She takes Julia home and goes for the doctor. At the medical tent, she asks the doctor to check on Julia and then learns that Matt has been wounded. She tends Matt while the doctor takes care of Julia. Sadly, Julia is dying and she begs Abbie to take care of her son. Abbie agrees and when Julia passes, she has her buried next to her beloved Robert.

Soon after, the company of soldiers is commanded to move south, Matt is told to go home, his commission is almost up and Abbie is recruited to take him home. There is a heart wrenching moment when Abbie must say goodbye to Noah, one of the orphaned children. She promises she will come back for him, but with no home or husband and a newborn baby, she is not able to take him at this moment. Noah is upset and refuses to see her off.

They journey back to Matt’s family and he again wonders what his intentions towards Abbie are and she wonders as well. They are attacked by marauders but manage to reach his home unscathed.

Matt’s family welcomes Abbie with open arms and they too question Matt’s intentions. Matt and Abbie are perfect for one another, but Matt can’t seem to decide what he feels for her.

The book was good, but it was a little boring and repetitious. There is no real conflict and nothing keeping Abbie and Matt apart, except Matt’s inability to decide what he wants to do with her. I honestly was not very happy with him, he took her virginity and took no precautions to keep her from getting pregnant, but didn’t plan to marry her – it seemed dishonorable to me. The story drags a bit due to the lack of conflict and Matt’s indecision becomes a little tiresome. But the secondary characters were good and the love scenes were steamy, there are a couple of heart breaking moments and a few surprises as well as a lovely reunion scene for Abbie. All in all not a bad book, but I had hoped for more.

This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a stand alone title.

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