Month: July 2024

A Lady of Conscience by Mimi Matthews

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Lady of Conscience (Somerset Stories, #5)A Lady of Conscience by Mimi Matthews

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Somerset Stories, #5

Release Date: July 30, 2024

Hannah Heywood is the youngest child of Captain and Mrs. Heywood, she is lovely, shy and a bit over-protected. Her parents were concerned that a debut season in London might be too much for her and opted to have her first season in Bath. Hannah is nervous yet excited to go to Bath, not only for her debut, but to finally meet fellow animal activist, Miss Winthrop. What she didn’t expect was the arrival of James Beresford, Viscount St. Clare. James is the elder brother of her brother’s fiancée and Hannah is secretly attracted to James but knows that they would never suit. So, she is surprised when he takes a marked interest in her, could she have been wrong about a future between them?

James Beresford, Viscount St. Clare, and heir to the Earl of Allendale, should be in London looking for the perfect bride, someone of impeccable lineage and social standing, someone who will help him restore his family name. Hannah Heywood is undeniably lovely, but her shyness and her work in animal advocacy will not help him sway the ton’s opinion of his family’s scandalous past. But even knowing this, he just can’t seem to walk away until she makes it clear that they will not suit. It isn’t until he returns to London and his quest for the perfect bride that he realizes he has already found her, but is it too late?

This was a sweet, gentle story that is a lovely addition to the series. James and Hannah are easy to like, and you can’t help but root for their HEA. The story is a bit shorter than the previous installments, but no less potent. I enjoyed their interactions and the slow, yet steady development of their love story. I also enjoyed the secondary characters and especially hope that there is a HEA in the works for Jack! Overall, this was a delightfully traditional Regency romance that employs the opposites attract trope and ends with their HEA. This is the fifth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Maggie and the Pirate’s Son by Rose Prendeville

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Maggie and the Pirate’s Son (Brides of Chattan #3)Maggie and the Pirate’s Son by Rose Prendeville

Tracy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Brides of Chattan, #3

Release Date: July 30, 2024

When Maggie Budge nee Mackintosh learns that her father has chosen another husband for her, now that her year of mourning is over, Maggie decides that one husband was more than enough and bolts. She stows away on a ship in the harbor and plans to start a new life, wherever the ship takes her. But things go bad quickly as she is seasick and severely dehydrated when she is found by Sebastian “Bash” MacLeod, the captain’s son and boatswain/sailing master of the Pirate ship, Auldfarrand’s Revenge. Bash hides her in plain sight and plans to send her back to Scotland as soon as they make landfall, but until they do, Maggie is introduced to the crew as a young boy, Magnus and has her act as his cabin boy. Maggie actually takes well to life on the sea, and soon finds herself falling hard for Sebastian. But there are things she doesn’t know and when the captain’s quest to find his lost treasure almost costs Bash his life, Maggie wants nothing more than to return home, with Bash by her side. Unfortunately, Bash is practically a prisoner on the ship and doesn’t believe he is worthy of Maggie’s love. What will it take for these two to find their HEA?

Born to a Jamaican woman who sadly passed away not long after arriving in Scotland to find Bash’s father, he spent the first nine years of his life being passed from family to family until his father, Cornelius “Mad” MacLeod takes him on his ship and refuses to let him leave. When he meets Maggie it is practically love at first sight for him. He will do anything to protect her, including taking a beating for her and saving her from the other crew members, by letting them think what they will about him. He would love nothing more than to leave the ship and start a life with her, but with his crazy father on a quest for his lost gold and a navy captain hot on their heels, happy ever after seems impossible. Even if he could leave the ship, he has nothing to offer her and that will never do! It will take a miracle to give him the life he has always dreamed of with Maggie, and Bash has never been that lucky. When all seems lost, a miracle comes in the most amazing way possible, proving sometimes good things happen to good people!

This was a very good story with incredibly likable characters, Sebastian especially. This is not your typical HR read, but it is a very good read nonetheless. I did think the story lagged in places, but overall, it held my attention and really drew me into the story. The book has secrets, danger, great secondary characters, buried treasure, pirates, steamyish love scenes (with a virgin hero!), friendships, life or death moments, reunions, and finally a very sweet ending complete with an epilogue featuring cameos from characters from the previous books. I would happily recommend this book to HR readers, especially those who like a good pirate story!

4.5 stars, rounded up.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. *