Month: November 2019

Beyond Compare by Candace Camp

On By BarbaraIn Barb's ReviewsLeave a comment

Beyond Compare (The Mad Morelands, #2)Barbara’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: The Mad Morelands #2
Publication Date: January 8th, 2018 by HQN Books (first published April 1st, 2004)
Number of Pages: 416
**4.5 Stars

Rafe McIntyre had the love of his life drop right into his lap – literally. He didn’t know she was the love of his life at the time, but goodness, what an introduction. This book starts off with a fun-filled, antics laden visit at the home of the Morelands. Their home is filled with guests who are attending Olivia and Stephen’s (Mesmerized) wedding and what a varied lot of misfits we have.

We met Rafe in the last book when he was helping his best friend and partner solve a mystery at his estate. Now, he’s at the Moreland home to attend his friend’s wedding and then he’ll head on to the continent for a tour – and beyond that, well he doesn’t have any plans. We learn more of Rafe’s past and why he feels that his emotions, especially love, are long dead and buried.

Kyria Moreland is the middle daughter of the Duke of Broughton. She’s not scientific like her older sister, Thisbe, and she’s not a born investigator like her younger sister, Olivia. Kyria is the organizer, she’s the one who keeps the household operating smoothly – even down to planning and executing every step of Olivia’s wedding. Whatever happens domestically with the Morelands, Kyria is the one to handle it. So, when her younger twin brothers parrot escapes, she’s the one to climb the tree to rescue it. But – well – she didn’t count on the limb breaking from beneath her.

The adventure begins on the night of the wedding. As Rafe is taking a smoke break outside the house, he notices a man walking up the drive – holding to the shadows. Then, another man dashes out of the shadows and stabs the first man. Rafe runs to the rescue, but he’s too late. The man is dying. He is carrying a small bag tied to his waist and begs Rafe to get it to. . . well – Kyria. Kyria has no clue who has sent the object, but guesses it might be from their older brother Theo.

People who want the object start coming out of the woodwork – they are everywhere – and they seem to be willing to do absolutely anything to get it – even kidnapping and murder.

Note that all of these books contain a bit of mysticism along with the ‘oddities’ of the Moreland family. Also, be aware that this author butchers – absolutely and totally butchers – titles and forms of address. That really aggravates me because there is absolutely no excuse for it – it is the easiest thing in the world to research titles and forms of address.

At any rate, I really enjoyed the read and hope you will as well.

Forever And A Duke by Grace Burrowes

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Regency Era (1811-1820)2 Comments

Forever and a Duke (Rogues to Riches, #3)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Rogues To Riches #3
Publication Date: 11/26/19

Wrexham (Rex) Dorset, Duke of Elsmore is a loving but clueless son, nephew, brother, cousin to his very large family. He loves them all – especially his mother, sisters, and the aunties. He delights in seeing to their welfare and they delight in managing him. He’s noticed some discrepancies in some of his books and has become concerned. His holdings are vast and far-flung and since it is time for him and his sisters to wed, he needs to assure that all is in order. He’s heard that his friend and fellow bank owner, the Duke of Walden has an auditor that can spot an error in a column of figures at fifty paces away – during a rainstorm. So, it is natural for him to ask – nay – beg – for the loan of that auditor to go over the estate’s books.

Eleanora Hatfield has a past – and she does her very best to keep it deeply buried. Life has not always treated her well and she wants – needs – craves – respectability above all else. She’s worked hard to become the well-respected woman she is today. She has a knack for figures and spotting patterns – and she knows every possible con and scheme that can be used to defraud someone. To say that she is invaluable to the bank that employs her would be a gross understatement. So, just imagine her unhappiness and distress when her employer asks her to take on the task of auditing all of the Duke of Elsmore’s accounts. She is not a happy camper and wastes no time telling both Elsmore and Walden. However, she is beholden to Walden for giving her employment when no one else would hire a woman to do what she does – and Walden is beholden to Elsmore – so – there is no way out of the task.

Rex can’t help but admire the feisty, outspoken, confident, straight-forward, no-nonsense, diminutive woman who is asking more and more probing questions about his holdings and his books. Her insight and intuition about what is happening are awe-inspiring and he is more and more curious about her. As he asks questions of his own, he manages to get her to let things about her past slip out – and she intrigues him even more.

Poor Rex was desperately smitten early on and Eleanora was smitten as well, but she was determined to hold Rex at arm’s length. She knew there was no future for them – he was so very far above her station. Rex definitely had his work cut out for him when it came to convincing her they could have a future together.

I always love a good mystery to be included with my romances and this one had a nice mystery. It won’t be much of a challenge for you to figure out who the culprit(s) are, but it is great fun to see Rex come to terms with who it is and what he is willing to do about it.

This was a fun read and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.