Month: February 2019

Wicked with the Scoundrel by Elizabeth Bright

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

Wicked with the ScoundrelWicked with the Scoundrel by Elizabeth Bright

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Secrets, #3

Release Date: February 11, 2019

Colin Smith is back in England, much to his disgust, after 10 years in India and Egypt. He hopes to sell treasures he found and find a patron that will enable him and his business partner Debananda “Deb” Mukherjee to return to Egypt and hopefully discover even greater treasure. His hope is to capture the attention of the Marquess of Chatwell, who is a collector of antiquities and rich.

Lady Claire Harrison, daughter of the Marquess of Chatwell, has accompanied her father to see Colin’s treasures, Claire has an eidetic memory and remembers everything, every boring, mundane moment of her life. She longs for excitement and adventure, but is resigned to her quiet life – until see lays eyes on Colin and falls in love at first sight. Claire is not stupid, she knows that Colin is not suitable as a prospective groom and that her father will never approve, so she comes up with a plan – she will help him find the lost treasure of Scipio which includes the Cleopatra emerald – he will be rewarded and recognized by the crown and then her father would allow him to marry her! Now all she has to do is convince him to “help” her find the treasure and marry her.

Colin is interested in the treasure, but not Claire – or any lady in the “ton”, he has no love for the nobility. His mother was a ladies man and was raped by her employer’s husband and cast out when she learned she was pregnant. Colin reached out to his father when he was a young man and was told in no uncertain terms, that he was not going to help him. Colin’s bitterness against the nobility runs deep, but Claire is different and he likes her – but he still won’t help her.

Claire’s father requests a meeting with Colin and makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Help Claire find treasure – fake treasure – and the Marquess will become his patron. Colin agrees, but underestimates Claire’s determination to have Colin find the treasure and marry her.

This is a well written, amusing, uncomplicated, quirky story with very likable characters, warm love scenes, treasure, secrets, lies, wonderful secondary characters and a sweet HEA, complete with an epilogue. This is the 3rd book in the series, but I have not read the previous books and had no issues whatsoever.

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

 

For The Love of the Viscount by Callie Hutton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820)3 Comments

For the Love of the Viscount (The Noble Hearts Series #1)For the Love of the Viscount by Callie Hutton

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Noble Hearts #1
Publication Date: 3/17/17
Number of Pages: 168

This is my second book by this author and I loved the lighthearted, upbeat, witty tale. Wonderfully, there wasn’t any angst, no ‘woe is me’, no conflict, no danger – just a delightfully entertaining tale. The writing was excellent and I adored the characters. It was an excellent introduction to the Smith family – Lord Henry, Earl of Pomeroy and father to Elise, Juliet, and Marigold. You’ll love Pomeroy, he is the sweetest man and most loving father – he adores his girls, but it is time for them to marry and pass on their bills to their husbands. His thought is “T’was time for others – with hefty bankrolls – to cherish them as well.”

Lady Elise Smith is very happy with her life. She’s the oldest of three sisters, her father loves her, and he allows her all of the freedoms she craves. She has absolutely no intention of marrying – ever. It isn’t that she sees marriage as a bad thing – it just isn’t for her. No husband would ever give her the freedom she gets from her father – nor would he share her interests. Yes, she is an unrepentant bluestocking. So, when her father calls them all together one morning and announces that Elise must marry before he’ll even entertain marriage offers for the other two, they, especially Elisa, are aghast! Beg, wheedle or cajole – they couldn’t change his mind.

Simon, Viscount St. George is also very happy with his life and has no intention of marrying. His title is secure because his brother is married and has a son, so no worries there. He’s handsome, charming and sought after by all of the hostesses in London – and he’s very, very adept at avoiding the marriage-minded mama’s and their offspring. He’s delighted when he attends the Cummings’ ball and sees a beautiful woman that he hasn’t met before. He’s even more delighted when he discovers how honest, intelligent and straight-forward she is – nothing like any of the other misses who are husband hunting.

Soon, Simon and Elise make a pact to pretend they are courting to protect her from men and him from the ladies who want to ensnare him. At the end of the season, he’ll go his own way and she can then convince her father that she is unmarriageable and resume her life as usual. That all works – sort of – except, they don’t count on how attracted they are to each other or how wiley her father is.

An example of the humor is during a conversation Elise has with her father. Her father says, “He is to treat you like fine porcelain.” To which she replies, “Me?” – Then her father says “Hmm, well, perhaps sturdy kitchen crockery.”

I definitely enjoyed this book and I think you will too! Happy reading!

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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.”