Category: Blog Tour

The Rebel Heiress and the Knight by Melissa Oliver

On By TracyIn Blog Tour, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Tracy's Reviews3 Comments

She must marry the knight…

By order of the king!Widow Eleanor of Tallany Castle knows her people are broken by the taxes demanded by King John. So when she’s ordered to marry Hugh de Villiers, a knight loyal to the king, she’s furious—even if he is handsome! As gallant Hugh begins to heal the scars of Eleanor’s abusive first marriage, she’s even more determined to keep her secret: she is the outlaw the king wants to send to the gallows!

Purchase Links:

UK ~ US

Author Bio :

Growing up in Richmond- Upon-Thames, Melissa Oliver used to walk past the old Mills and Boon offices as a teen, and wistfully sigh that one day her dream of writing for them will come true. Amazingly, after all these years, it finally has…& now she can bring all those stories out onto the pages of her books. Melissa lives in south-west London with her gorgeous husband and equally gorgeous daughters, who share her passion for castles, palaces and all things historical.

Social Media Links:

Facebook ~ Twitter

Tracy’s Review:

The Rebel Heiress And The Knight by Melissa Oliver

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


4.5 stars rounded up.

Lady Eleanor of Tallany has already suffered through a miserable marriage and has no desire to do so again, but when King John orders her to wed his faithful knight, Sir Hugh de Villiers, she has no choice but to comply. She is not happy and determined to keep her new husband at arm’s length and ignorant of her secrets. Since the king is taxing his people into poverty, Eleanor has gone outlaw to provide for them.

Sir Hugh is loyal to King John and at his command he has arrived at Tallany Castle to deliver the king’s message and capture the outlaw as Le Renard. But Eleanor refuses to see him, testing the usually tempered Hugh to his limits. He demands she receive him or he will force the issue. Knowing her time has run out, she agrees to meet with him and he is stunned by the immediate attraction he feels to her and by the hostility radiating from her. They open the king’s missive and are both shocked to learn they are being commanded to marry! How can love grow amid such discord? How can trust thrive when they harbor so many secrets??

I really enjoyed this well written, intriguing story which uses the tried and true enemies to lovers trope with a dash of deception and treason thrown in. Eleanor is a strong character and not always easy to empathize with, but the reader knows her heart is in the right place and Hugh – sigh – he is just a wonderful hero. I did feel like Eleanor’s deception dragged on a little too long and agree with another reviewer who pointed out that the lies do make it hard to believe they were able to fall deeply in love. The book has lies, secrets, treason, warmish love scenes, compromise and finally a heartwarming HEA. I have not read this author before, but I will certainly be on the lookout for her future work! I liked the book and am happy to recommend it!

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



The Scoundrel’s Bartered Bride by Virginia Heath

On By TracyIn Blog Tour, Contests/Giveaways, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Marriage…To the highest bidder
Lady Lydia Barton cannot seem to avoid Owen Wolfe since he returned after being wrongly transported for stealing her family’s jewels! But Lydia has more pressing problems―like her impending arranged marriage. Until Owen makes her father a counter-offer for her hand. Is Owen purely after her society connections? Or does Lydia dare hope that the charming stable boy she once loved is still within her ruthless, wealthy new husband?

Purchase Link

Author Bio

 When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Despite that, it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Social Media Links: 
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website

Tracy’s Review:


Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

Ten years ago, Lady Lydia Barton and Owen Wolfe were in love, but hearts were broken when Owen was accused of stealing from her family and transported to New South Wales for his crimes. Now he is back and the tables have turned. Owen is rich and the owner of a successful gaming club while Lydia’s father, the Earl of Fulbrook is on the verge of financial ruin and preparing to sell Lydia’s hand in marriage to the Marquess of Kelvedon – an old and lecherous man that makes Lydia’s skin crawl.


Lydia doesn’t want to marry Kelvedon, but her father and brother have made it clear that if she does not, they will lose everything. She has resigned herself to the enviable when she learns that Owen has made an offer for her hand and her father has accepted. But Owen doesn’t want a forced bride and will only marry her if she agrees to the match. She goes to see him will every intention of refusing him, but in the end accepts and they elope.

It isn’t long before Lydia begins to realize how wrong she was about Owen, but it doesn’t change the fact that she still believes he is guilty. Owen hires a Bow Street Runner to investigate and clear his name, but when the truth comes out, will Owen use the information to set the record straight or will he choose love?


This was a well written, second chance at love story with wonderful characters, mild love scenes, a villain that gets his due and a sweet HEA. I really enjoyed the story and would happily recommend it!

 

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