Month: April 2020

The Highlander’s English Bride by Anna Campbell

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Highlander's English Bride (The Lairds Most Likely, #6)The Highlander’s English Bride by Anna Campbell

Tracy’s rating: 3/3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Lairds Most Likely, #6

Release Date: March 30, 2020

Hamish Douglas, Laird of Glen Lyon is sure that Emily Baylor, the daughter of his mentor, is the most annoying girl in the solar system and as an astronomer, he knows what he is talking about! He is at an event honoring his discovery of a comet and Emily is insisting his calculations are incorrect. Annoying she may be, but Emily is one of the smartest people he knows. He agrees to hear her out, but not in the ballroom – he convinces her to go to the gardens and from there things go from bad to worse. Not only is she right about his math, but they get caught in the rain and are discovered together while Hamish is trying to sneak Emily out.

With both there reputations ruined, they will have to marry – something that neither is happy about, but needs must, so Emily will only marry him if Hamish agrees to a paper marriage – his even less happy about this, but agrees, secretly hoping their marriage will progress and they will be happy. Hamish does his best to make Emily happy and believes that they can have a good marriage, but when her father dies and she sinks into grief, Hamish is heartbroken, but respects her wishes and leaves her alone. When Emily learns that he is gone she realizes that is not what she wanted, but it is too late – or is it?

This was a well written, fast paced read with a hero to die for – Hamish is far and away my favorite hero in this series – he is of course a hulking, handsome highlander, but he is also brilliant, kind and caring. And in my opinion – deserved a better heroine. I really did not like Emily – she was unreasonable, selfish and self-centered for the first part of the book and unfortunately the way the book is written, I have no idea what changed for her in the 10 months between “Part 1” and “Part 2” – she lets her husband walk away at the end of Part 1 and then sets out to win him at the beginning of Part 2 – why? I really don’t know. I guess I am supposed to believe that they always were attracted to each other and secretly liked each other – I can believe Hamish did – but Emily was too nasty and negative in the first part for me to believe that she harbored secret feelings for years – I really wish the reader had been given more insight as to why Emily underwent such a huge transformation between Part 1 and Part 2 and why did it take so long for her to go after him, because I feel like l missed something major. That aside, once they meet again, the sparks fly and it seems like HEA is a given, but not everyone is ready to believe that Emily really cares for Hamish or that an English bride is right for the Laird of Glen Lyon. This was an interesting story, with a lot of emotion, steamyish love scenes, a wonderful hero, cameos with former characters and a HEA. This is the sixth book in the series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone title.

The Spy’s Convenient Bride by Erica Taylor

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

The Spy's Convenient Bride (The Macalisters Book 5)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Macalisters #5
Publication Date: 2/4/20
Number of Pages: 385

I have read three of the five books in this series and have enjoyed each of them. I enjoy the author’s writing style and the stories are well-plotted, interesting, and fast-paced. The characters are always well-developed and fleshed out. All of the books I have read so far could easily have been 5-star reads except for the very modern terminology, phraseology, and conversation-style which just drags me right out of the story. It isn’t that those things aren’t well-written and entertaining, it is just so inappropriate for the time that it jars me from the story.

I loved the first meeting between Luke Macalister, Earl of Kenswick, and Vivian Burke. As first meetings go, this one was quite entertaining. Vivian had no clue who Luke really was and felt very free to delight in his misfortune – and she felt free to share her unfavorable opinion of the new Earl of Kenswick. Vivian and her mother were living in dire circumstances in the groundskeeper’s cottage near the ruined hulk of their family home, Kenswick Abbey. They had been there for several years, caring for themselves and growing as much as they could of their own food – quite a come-down for the wife and daughter of a Baron.

Luke is a haunted man who is currently twisting in the wind. He was given an earldom he didn’t want and didn’t feel he deserved and at the same time, his vocation was taken from him. He absolutely had to get back his employment – he didn’t know how to do or be anything else. He had a plan – well, he sort of had a plan – and when he met Vivian, things coalesced and he knew how to make it work. He’d marry Vivian, give her the Abbey, get the earldom running and convince the Prince Regent to let him back into the spy business. All he’d ask of her is six months. They would act the happy couple for that time, then he’d be off spying again and she’d have her beloved Abbey.

Vivian agrees to his terms, but then, his cousin and former partner, Redley Ralston, Earl of Longfield, is accused of being a traitor and everything is turned on its head. Luke knows it isn’t true, but his former colleagues won’t help him prove it, so it is up to Luke and Vivian to clear Redley’s name. Their journey is filled with twists-and-turns, unexpected allies, and unexpected enemies. Some twists you’ll expect, others you won’t.

I loved Vivian’s quiet, steely strength. She was never filled with angst (thank goodness), always quietly confident and competent, and skilled in things she never knew would be useful. Luke was a wonderful character and I really liked him a lot. He was resolute in his belief in Redley and he treated Vivian with such admirable respect for her intelligence and abilities.

I liked the ending, but I think this is one of those books that could have reaped many benefits from having an Epilogue to finish out some things. For instance, maybe set it a year (or more) into the future where we could see how their marriage was going and how Luke is adapting to not being a spy (or is he still a spy?), maybe they are expecting, etc. Most importantly, to me, what of Vivian’s mother? I worried about her throughout the entire book. I couldn’t believe they’d just gone off and left her. Did they not leave her any money? Did they not find somebody to help her before they left? Is she now happily ensconced in the Abbey? I just felt as if that was left hanging.

This was a fun, entertaining, and interesting read and think you’ll enjoy it – especially if the modern turn-of-phrase, social interaction style, and wording don’t bother you.