Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

To Deceive a Highlander: The Sutherlands of Dornoch Castle by Callie Hutton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Jacobean/Stuart Era (1603-1714), Part of a Series1 Comment

To Deceive a Highlander: The Sutherlands of Dornoch CastleBarbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: The Sutherlands of Dornoch Castle #1
Publication Date: 2/28/22
Period: Jacobean/Stuart Era (1653) – Scottish Highlands
Number of Pages: 187

Laird Haydon Sutherland is a man who is large and in charge! He brooks no argument; his decisions are final; he needs no advice; he knows a woman’s role is to provide bairns and keep the castle. Aren’t you already looking forward to him meeting the woman who will take him down a notch or two? If not, you certainly should be because Lady Ainslee Johnstone doesn’t take well to direction. Oil and water you say? Well, perhaps, but a lesser woman would soon become lost in the background.

With the hint of war in the air and a castle keep that needs a good mistress, Haydon decides it is time for him to wed. He doesn’t want love and affection. No, he wants a meek, mild, totally biddable wife who will do as she is ordered when she is ordered. He travels to Laird Johnstone’s to meet and arrange a betrothal with one of his twin daughters. Upon meeting them, he quickly determines that while they may look alike, that is where the similarities end. So, his choice is made almost as soon as they are introduced – it is Lady Isobel for him. She is quiet and biddable – just what he is looking for.

Lady Isobel and Lady Ainslee are very close – even for twins. They have never spent any time apart and even still share the same room though they are adults. When their father tells them of Laird Sutherland’s imminent arrival and a betrothal for one of them, they do not take it well. Typically, they each deal with the announcement in different ways. Isobel with quiet, shy, reluctant dread and Ainslee with loud, vocal, argumentative objections. When the Laird quickly chooses Isobel, Ainslee knows she has to do something to save her sister. Isobel could never withstand marriage to and life with such an arrogant oaf. The solution is simple – they are twins – they’ll just change places and Ainslee will marry Haydon. He’ll never know the difference – right?

Can they get away with it? Can Ainslee tame the savage beast? Well, you’ll just have to read the story to find out. I really liked Ainslee from the first, but I think it was Haydon who really kept me interested and reading because I couldn’t wait to see him get his comeuppance. I hope you’ll read the story and enjoy it as much as I did.

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

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The Most Eligible Bride In London by Ella Quinn

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)1 Comment

The Most Eligible Bride in London (The Lords of London, #3)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: The Lords of London #3
Publication Date: 2/22/22
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 320

A heartwarming story of redemption and acceptance that will turn you into a thorough believer in love at first sight. I loved that there weren’t any ‘grand epiphany’ moments, just a steady movement from an exciting first meeting through a most delightful HEA. When I learned who the male lead was, I wondered how the author was going to redeem him. You see, he was the villain in When a Marquis Chooses a Bride from the Worthingtons series. He was a misguided villain, but a villain nonetheless. However, he’s spent the last four years changing himself from the useless fribble he was to a caring, honorable man who is absolutely nothing like the man who existed four years ago. All of that has occurred off-page between the previous book and this one. So, redemption has already occurred – we are only dealing with forgiveness and making amends – and falling in love.

Nathanael (Nate), Viscount Fotherby, has spent the last four years living on his country estate because of a vile thing he did. He has used those years to learn and grow as a human. He has spent the time learning to manage his estates, learning to appreciate and care for those who are dependent on him – especially his tenants and neighbors, and learning that he really wasn’t who he thought he was. He was who his father had made him into and now that he’s been on his own all this time, he’s realized what it is to actually appreciate others – no matter their rank – to be useful, and to help others whenever he can. Helping a neighbor is what has brought him back to London and it is how he came to be in the time and place to help rescue a young woman who was being threatened by thugs. She was the most arresting woman he’s ever seen and he’d surely like to see her again. He doesn’t even learn her name.

Miss Henrietta Stern is very much a forward-thinking young lady. She is about to begin her second season but hasn’t seen anyone at all who piques her interest. Well, she hadn’t until that handsome man came to her aid as she was trying to rescue a baby. There was just something about him and she just really wishes she had learned his name.

Nate and Henrietta meet and are attracted before they learn that she is the sister of the woman he had abducted. Henrietta has heard all of the tales and descriptions of that dandified fribble and the man she met seems nothing like that at all. They can work out their differences, but can they get her family – especially her sister – to forgive?

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing these two come to care for each other and work together to bring about their own HEA. The story is well-written, well-plotted, and excellently delivered. I hope you will give it a try and that you will love it as much as I did.

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

View all my reviews