Month: August 2020

The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea by Kerrelyn Sparks

On By TracyIn Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Paranormal / Fantasy, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea (Embraced by Magic, #2)The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea by Kerrelyn Sparks

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Embraced, #5 / Embraced by Magic, #2

Release Date: August 25, 2020

Maeve is the youngest of the “Embraced” sisters and after years of seeing her older sisters find love. become wives, mothers and Queens, it is finally Maeve’s turn for a HEA. I loved Maeve and Brody’s story, which is a well written, action packed, exciting read, but there is just no way to review the plot of this book without ruining the enormous twists, turns and surprises – but suffice it to say, the Embraced series concludes with an epic bang!

The reader will learn who the started the Circle of Five and why, you will learn more about Brody’s past and his curse, you will find out who Maeve’s parents are and what that means to the other sisters, you will learn who the Chameleon really is, you will finally learn about the Embraced army, there will be sea battles, exploding fish, house cats, tigers, cameos with all the sisters and their husbands, a sweet secondary romance, warm love scenes, surprises, shocks, an epic battle to determine the fate of Aerthlan once and for all and finally a HEA that may or may not break a curse!

After reading the other “sisters” stories and being completely enchanted and blown away, I didn’t believe that Ms. Sparks could surprise me or outdo her previous success, so I prepared myself to be let down by the finale and just hoped I got a few answers – I am happy to say, I was WRONG – very, very, very wrong – not only did Ms. Sparks give me answers – she answered questions I didn’t even think to ask! Maeve and Brody’s story is the crown jewel in the Embraced/Embraced by Magic series – if you haven’t read the previous books and you enjoy the fantasy/paranormal/magic sub-genre of Historical Romance – you must read this series – preferably in order starting with How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days – I loved this book and I highly recommend this series – you could read this book as a stand-alone title, but seriously, do yourself a huge favor and read all the books in order – it will just enhance the ending for you!

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

The Choice Of A Cavalier by Linda Rae Sande

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Choice of a Cavalier (The Heirs of the Aristocracy Book 3)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Heirs of the Aristocracy #3
Publication Date: 9/4/2020
Number of Pages: 342

Gosh, I love this lighthearted, fun, romantic series that always gives us at least two romances in every book in the series. Who could ask for more? If you have read this author’s books, you already love the Grandby family – they are a large, loving family with connections in all levels of society. In this story, we have romances for Thomas Grandby and his friend Christopher, Earl of Haddon. You’ll love both of them and their ladies as well.

Thomas Grandby has assumed responsibility for their investment firm since his father is wanting to retire. Thomas is getting older himself (four and thirty), but hasn’t ever had any real interest in marriage – until… Thomas’s friend, Michael Cunningham, paid a visit to Thomas to ask him to help his sister – without her knowing it. Michael needed Thomas to help his sister invest her sizeable inheritance and protect it so that their older brother couldn’t, in any way, get his hands on it since their father was showing signs of senility. Their brother, Jeremiah, is a scheming scoundrel who will go to any lengths to get at his siblings’ inheritances if his own runs short – and it is going to – shortly. With Michael’s older sisters already protected by marriage, that just leaves Michael’s inheritance and his younger sister, Lady Victoria, at risk.

Lady Victoria Cunningham is living, alone, on a large estate just outside London. Her passion, vocation, and avocation is training horses. She wears breeches and rides astride while training, but transforms into a beautiful member of society when she chooses to don a dress. Victoria was injured several years earlier and has a limp, but that doesn’t keep her from training horses and she’s very, very, very good at that.

When Thomas meets Lady Victoria sparks fly. He doesn’t care that she has been injured, he doesn’t care that she trains horses, and he doesn’t care that she rides astride. He is just smitten with who she is. Now, he has to convince her that she wants to take a chance on love and marriage – with him.

Christopher Carlington, Earl of Haddon, heir to the Marquess of Morganfield, was once a friendly, admired, sought-after member of the ton. Then, about 3 years ago, just before his fortieth birthday, something changed in him. He has become a pompous, condescending, aloof, vain, arrogant ass – although he seems totally unaware of it. All of his friends have abandoned him and today, even his brother-in-law has just walked out on him because of his behavior. As Christopher is dashing out of the fencing salon to chase after his brother-in-law, he runs into a woman with the most captivating eyes he’s ever seen. As someone with a blood phobia, Christopher faints dead away at the sight (or even thought) of blood. When he pictures the injuries he could have caused this young woman, he faints and hits his head on the pavement. Oh! A huge change comes over him. He becomes the man he once was. He just needs to convince the young lady and her family that he isn’t that pompous ass anymore.

Juliet Comber is best friends with Lady Victoria and she’s as horse mad as Lady Victoria as well. Juliet is almost on-the-shelf, but that is okay with her – until a strange man runs into her – and then he pursues her and won’t take no for an answer. He says he’s changed and she hasn’t seen any evidence at all of the pompous ass he’s reputed to be. He is definitely a good bit older than her though. Will her father allow that?

I love how besotted Christopher and Thomas are with Juliet and Lady Victoria and even more, I love how accepting they are of the ladies and their quirks.

This was a really good, fun, entertaining, and very romantic read. If you are looking for a lot of steam, you won’t find it here, but there is intimacy and sweet romance.

The book is very well-written with excellent plotting and good character development. I felt as if I came to know Thomas and Christopher and liked them very much. I felt Victoria’s embarrassment over her injury and loved Thomas’s way of dealing with it. All-in-all, a lovely read.

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

View all my reviews