Month: June 2020

Faye’s Sacrifice by Madeline Martin

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Faye's Sacrifice (Borderland Rebels, #1)

Faye’s Sacrifice by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Borderland Rebels, #1

Release Date: June 23, 2020


If you loved Madeline Martin’s Borderland Ladies Series and were sad to see it end – You can now rejoice because she has started a new spinoff series featuring Drake Fletcher and his sisters!!!

After the death of her English father, Faye Fletcher learned several hard truths, foremost is that love is not forever and can’t be trusted. She carefully guards her heart and other than her family, she refuses to love anyone. Thanks to her brother Drake, Faye along with her mother and two sisters; Clara and Kinsey now have a good life and a nice home. Life is comfortable but she wants to contribute and as a beautiful woman, she also learned that she can use her “wiles” to benefit her family, she flirts and charms the local merchants into giving her deals. But her comfortable life is shattered when her Scottish grandfather demands that she marry Ewan Sutherland, she refuses and he kidnaps her!

Ewan Sutherland is the chieftain of the Sutherland clan. A widower, he needs an heir and is negotiating a betrothal with Blair of the Gordan clan when the Ross chieftain approaches him and wants him to honor an agreement, he made years ago with Ewan’s father, an agreement that would see Ewan wed to Ross’ granddaughter. He vaguely remembers Faye and recalls being fond of her. He agrees to meet and is shocked when he learns that Faye has run away. He finds her and promises that he will not force her to marry him and will even help return her to her family. But when Ross finds them, he tells Faye she is free to go but threatens to take her kind and gentle sister Clara. Faye will not let that happen and agrees to marry Ewan as long as the Ross promises to leave her sisters alone.

Ewan learns from his cousin Moiré that his first wife, Lara, killed herself because Ewan didn’t love her and he vows to not repeat that mistake! Faye marries Ewan and learns that she enjoys the physical side of marriage – but Ewan wants more, he wants her heart. Faye likes Ewan, but she can’t let herself love him and falls back on her “wiles” to keep her heart safe. But Ewan is hard to resist and she finds herself falling for him. But before they get their HEA they will have to confront not only their own past hurts, but will have survive a shocking betrayal!

This was a well-written, fast paced story with wonderful characters, steamy love scenes, betrayal, misunderstandings, murder, multiple villains, surprising twists and turns and finally a well deserved HEA complete with an epilogue. I thought this was a great start to the series and while Ewan is no James (Anice’s Bargain) Ms. Martin set the bar high because he is an amazing hero and I can’t wait to see where this series goes from here!!

I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me.



Breathless at the Wedding by Michelle Willingham, Jerrica Knight-Catania & KC Bateman

On By TracyIn Anthology, Author Collaboration Series, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Breathless at the Wedding by Michelle Willingham

Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: A Summer Wedding at Castle Keyvnor, #3

Release Date: May 22, 2020


More witches, faeries and romance at Castle Keyvnor! However, of the three anthologies, I would say this installment has the least amount of “paranormal/magical” activity.

A Rake of Her Own by Michelle Willingham – 4 stars – Ariadne Cushing is quiet and shy, she spends most of her time blending into the background, she would like to marry someday, but hopes for love. But her mother has decided that it is time for her to marry and has even selected her groom – Mr. Filmore Wilson. She escapes to the library to be alone to figure out a way out of the betrothal and there she meets Evan Middleton, Viscount Harcourt. She wonders if Evan would consider ruining her – he won’t but since he needs a rich bride to save his family – they strike a bargain. He will help her break the betrothal and she will help him find a rich bride. It is clear that they are attracted and perfect for each other – but without a fat dowry, Evan can’t afford to follow his heart. This was a very sweet story, I was surprised and delighted to find myself liking Ariadne’s fiancé Filmore Wilson and I really hope he finds a lady of his own!


Lady Faye’s Secret Garden by Jerrica Knight-Catania – 3 stars – Braneck Dowlyn is a gardener at Castle Keyvnor and has lived in Bocka Morrow his entire life. Lady Faye Bryant, sister of the Duke of Markham AND the Earl of Somerton has come to for Lady Gwyn’s wedding and learns that her mother has decided to marry her off. She meets Braneck when she is hit by a rock while reading, Braneck kicked the rock and immediately is attracted to her. But Braneck knows she is far above his reach and has been burned by love before. But the heart wants what the heart wants and with the help of a faery, some witches and her rake of a brother – these two may very well find their HEA. Honestly, it was well written and entertaining, but completely improbable and unbelievable.

A Midsummer Night’s Kiss by KC Bateman – 4 stars – Kitty Worth and James Cashell, Viscount Leighton have known each other forever and Kitty has been in love with him for almost that long. But she is convinced that James thinks of her as a younger sister and will never return her feelings so she decides that maybe it is time to move on. James wants Kitty but is wracked with guilt by the death of her brother and his best friend and feels that he has nothing to offer. Titania, Queen of the Fairies sees them and decides to intervene and help them find their HEA. When James learns that Kitty is considering marriage to another man, he knows that he can’t let that happen, if she is going to marry – it will be him! But his interference doesn’t go as planned and Titania will have to step in again to get them back on the road to HEA. This was a well written, cute story, I wish is was a bit longer, but a fun quick read nonetheless!

I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me.