Month: October 2021

Loving A Dowager by Rachel Ann Smith

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

Loving a Dowager (The Hadfields, #3)Barbara’s rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Series: The Hadfields #3
Publication Date: 11/3/21
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 244

Lord Walter Weathersbee, the third son of a marquess, has been in love with Henrietta, the daughter of a duke, for most of his life. He first met her when he was ten and lost in the woods, and by the time he was in his teen years, he was irrevocably, hopelessly, undeniably in love with her. That she was four years older made no difference to him – but it did to her and to society. So, when it was time for her come-out and a very good man fell in love with her, Walter stepped into the background and wished them well. He even befriended the man and they remained friends in secret. Walter never married because he never met anyone who could compare to Henrietta.

Henrietta’s family disowned her and totally cut her off when she chose to leave and marry a plain mister. She loved George Hadfield and she didn’t let her family’s reaction bother her – at least not too much. She and George were blissfully happy for several years, but he died young because of weak lungs. Henrietta threw herself into raising her two sons to be fine men and never took the time or opportunity to look around her or to rekindle any kind of social life. Now, however, her two sons are married and starting families of their own – one of them is even an earl. What is she to do with herself now?

Walter has long waited in the wings for Henrietta to resume her life. Now, he is ready to pursue a relationship of some sort with her – whatever relationship she’ll allow. Will her sons allow the relationship? Will Henrietta ever be ready for love again?

I like this author’s writing style – and I liked the premise of the story. So, why only 3.5 stars? Well, it is a purely personal thing and it may not bother you at all. However, it left me unfulfilled, unfinished, and unsatisfied. For me, it isn’t a romance without a HEA – and in my view, I didn’t get one. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, so I’m hesitant to tell you why I didn’t feel I got a HEA. However, to me, a HEA includes betrothals, weddings, happiness, sharing a home and family, love forever, etc. not what I got in this story. I just didn’t feel George got the HEA he so richly deserved and that made me sad. I was so looking forward to this book and reading a love match between two older, mature people and maybe even an epilogue four or five years into the future with all of her children and grandchildren along with Walter’s nephew’s family. I guess the bottom line for me is – the writing is good, but the story was unsatisfying.

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

View all my reviews

Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight by Janet Evanovich

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, Mystery, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight (Stephanie Plum, #28)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Stephanie Plum #28
Publication Date: 11/2/21
Period: Contemporary – The Burg (Trenton), USA
Number of Pages: 320

Diesel is back and he and Stephanie are looking for the same criminal. If you haven’t already met Diesel in previous books (and even from his own series a while back), here is how Stephanie describes him. “Diesel is over six feet of hard muscle and bad attitude…” Diesel has some talents that are very hard to explain and works for an organization that is even harder to pin down. He just appears in Stephanie’s apartment in the middle of the night, and he wants to stay with her. OOPS – how will her long-term boyfriend Joe Morelli feel about that?

Stephanie and Lula go about their business as Bail Enforcement Agents working for Stephanie’s cousin Vinnie. Some people are just easier to track down than others – and some are easier to apprehend than others – and some just steal your heart when you hear their stories. One of their FTAs (Failure To Appear) is Melvin Schwartz who was arrested because he hacked into the evening news and replaced the broadcast with a porno film. As one of seven members of the hacker group known as Baked Potato, Melvin is in more trouble than he knows because his group hacked into the ultimate, primo, hacker’s servers and now he’s after them. What started out as a lark for the Baked Potatoes, turns deadly and will cost all of them their lives if Stephanie, Diesel, Morelli, Lula, and Ranger can’t stop the revenge of Oswald Wednesday who did not appreciate being hacked.

Oswald is a psychopath who loves pain and torture, so when he manages to identify the Baked Potatoes, he takes great delight in torturing them prior to killing them. Oswald is very rich, very shrewd, very sly, and has all the skills and tools he needs to identify, track down, and dispose of each of the people responsible for hacking his servers. Soon, Stephanie is in his cross-hairs as well because she has dared to cross him and hide the people for whom he is looking.

As always, the story is entertaining, witty, and very well written. I absolutely adore all of the supporting characters – especially Lula and Stephanie’s mother. I believe I’d like to move to the Berg after hearing Stephanie’s description. “While many parts of the country are struggling with changing ideologies, the Burg continues to march to the beat of its own drum, thumbing its nose at political correctness.”

I can definitely recommend this book because it provided several hours of smiles and breath-holding entertainment for me – and I hope it will for you as well. Happy Reading!

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

View all my reviews