Category: Georgian Era (1714-1837)

The Georgian era is a period in British history 1714 to 1830. The kings were all named George: George I, George II, George III and George IV. The sub-period of the Regency is defined by the Regency of George IV as Prince of Wales during the illness of his father George III. The definition of the Georgian era is often extended to include the short reign of William IV, which ended with his death in 1837.
Preceded by: Restoration
Including: Regency era
Followed by: Victorian era

The Highlander’s Christmas Bride by Vanessa Kelly

On By TracyIn Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

The Highlander's Christmas Bride (Clan Kendrick, #2)The Highlander’s Christmas Bride by Vanessa Kelly

Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: Clan Kendrick #2

Release Date: October 29, 2019

Donella Haddon retired to a convent 3 years ago when her cousin Alec, who is her betrothed, married another woman and her mother tried to kill him, but now the nuns have decided that Donella doesn’t have a true calling and have asked her to leave. Her uncle Earl Riddick is in business negotiations with Logan Kendrick and asks him to escort Donella home.

Logan Kendrick has only recently returned to Scotland after many years of self-imposed exile in Canada after the death of his brother Nick’s son. But his time is Canada wasn’t all self-crimination – Logan built a successful business, married his love, who also happened to be his partner’s daughter and fathered a son. He lost his wife shortly after his son Joseph’s birth and hasn’t stopped grieving. But when he meets Donella, there is no denying the attraction between them. However, things do not start out well and almost as soon as they start out for her uncle’s, they are set upon and the Murray’s attempt to kidnap Donella. Logan is forced to abandon the coach and take Donella into the wilderness. After a grueling journey, they finally arrive at a cottage and take shelter and wait for Alec to arrive to take Donella home. When Alec arrives and finds them in the bed, he demands that Logan marry her – she refuses and they part.

Logan returns home and finds out that his grandfather had returned from Canada with his son. Although he was scared that Nick would be upset, everyone immediately accepts him. But he is still a little quiet around everyone.

Back with her family, Donella tries to convince her family to let her join another convent, but they insist that she go to the family home and prepare a Christmas celebration – since Evie (Alec’s English wife) celebrates and so does Donella since she is a catholic. They send her to stay with the Kendrick’s until Alec and Evie can join her. At the Kendrick’s she immediately bonds with Joseph and grows closer to Logan. It appears that they are on track to their own HEA, but not everyone is happy with that plan. Former lovers and loves will interfere and secrets may tear them apart if they can’t find a way to move on from their pasts.

I thought this was a pretty good story, it did seem to drag a bit and I don’t know if I completely believe Logan is truly in love – the man seems to “fall in love” at the drop of a hat, so I don’t know if I trust his love is true. I did enjoy catching up with Nick, Victoria, Alec and Evie, as well as getting to know Donella. She was likeable, but a bit misguided. I loved her interactions with Joseph and was touched by the bond between them. This is the second book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone title.

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

To Tame a Scandalous Lady by Liana De La Rosa

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

To Tame a Scandalous Lady (Once Upon A Scandal, #3)To Tame a Scandalous Lady by Liana De la Rosa

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Once Upon A Scandal #3

Release Date: October 21, 2019

Lady Flora Campbell, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Kilmorow, is visiting with her sister Juliana, the Duchess of Ashwood and drops a bombshell – she wants to take a job as an assistant trainer at the renown horse farm Amstead Gardens and work under the Marquess of Amstead – one of the best trainers in England. Flora’s dream is not to marry and have children, but to run a successful horse farm. She is aware of the risks to not only her reputation, but her families, but for her, the benefit outweighs the risk. So she disguises herself as a man and takes a chance.

3 months later, Christian Andrews, Marquess of Amstead is finally back at Amstead Gardens and ready to dive into training his new stallion, Asad. After a devastating fire that killed his father, Christian learned the extended of his father’s debt. In an effort to raise funds, he is holding a house party to attracted investors, one of whom is a former lover, who wants to rekindle their affair. In an effort to escape her, Christian goes to the stables, hoping to find his trainer Baniti Mubarak and get caught up with the progress of Asad. In the stables he runs into the assistant trainer – William Grant and immediately thinks that he is very “pretty”, but Baniti has nothing but good things to say and once he sees Will with the horses, he knows “he” has a gift.

Flora is immediately attracted but needs to stay focused. They spend a lot of time together and it isn’t long before he discovers her secret and they become lovers. But Flora hasn’t shared all her secrets and when the truth is revealed, Christian is hurt and angry. But Flora will not give up her dream, not even for love.

I didn’t really care for this book, the writing was great, but the story itself didn’t really capture my attention, first, there is A LOT of horse training, in fact most of the book is about horses, which just aren’t my “thing”. I probably could have overlooked that, but I found myself really disliking Flora, I thought she was incredibly selfish and the fact that she acknowledges it at the end didn’t endear her to me, it just make me dislike her all the more. Yes, Christian made some stupid comments and decrees, but for the most part, I felt like he was the victim, but he had to do most of the compromising in the end and Flora basically got to call all the shots and got her way without having to give up anything, even though she was the cause of all the trouble. I read the two previous books in the series and loved them and while I find no fault in the writing, I just didn’t like Flora and the story was just not my cuppa. This is the third book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone.

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