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

To Wed a Wild Scot by Anna Bradley

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews3 Comments

To Wed a Wild Scot (Besotted Scots, #2)To Wed a Wild Scot by Anna Bradley

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Besotted Scots, #2

Release Date: September 17, 2019

Lady Juliana Bernard is in a bind, he father is dying and thanks to the interference of a spurned suitor, has changed his will, Juliana will only retain custody of her orphaned niece Grace if she is married, if not Grace’s guardianship will be given to Lord Cowden. Having let her betrothed go so he could marry for love and desperate to make sure Cowden doesn’t get custody, Juliana writes to her dearest friend and former betrothed, Fitzwilliam “Fitz” Vaugh, the Duke of Blackmore. When her letters go unanswered, Juliana sets out to find him in Scotland.

After days of travel, they finally make it to the Scottish border in Gretna Green, weary and filthy Juliana is stunned to see Fitz at the inn – but closer examination reveals that it is not Fitz and when the man asks if she is alright, it is clear he is Scottish, but he looks exactly like Fitz and she decides he must be related and follows him. 3 days later, she is sure she is right when he stops at the inn that she sends her letters to Fitz – and watches in horror as the man reads her letter and then burns it! Then as he is leaving she hears him telling the innkeeper that if an English lady shows up, to send her back to England. Furious, Juliana follows him to the castle. He realizes he is being followed and is shocked to learn she is the woman who has been writing to Fitz.

Logan Blair is Fitzwilliam’s younger twin brother, when their mother died giving birth, their uncle claimed Fitz as his heir and returned to England – Logan did no see his brother for 28 years, but once his uncle died, Fitz made his way to Scotland to be reunited. Logan has acted as Laird for years since their father died and is worried that Fitz will do what so many English landowner have done and “clear’ the lands – for years Logan has been working to protect his people, by relocating them. And when Fitz came to the castle, Logan encouraged him to become betrothed to a local girl, Emilia – thinking that he would be less inclined to evict people if he was married to a Scottish girl – so he has been burning Fitz’s letters from Juliana, he wants nothing to interfere with his plans. But when she shows up he has no choice but to take her to see Fitz.

Fitz is appalled when he learns what Logan has done and offers to marry Juliana. But Logan tells Juliana that Fitz is already betrothed and his future wife is pregnant – leading Juliana to inform Logan that she will have to marry him instead, a solution that Logan is vehemently opposed to – leading Fitz to have to get involved.

This was a well written, fast read, but I can’t say that I loved it, it was OK, but I really didn’t like Logan at the beginning, I understood his motivation, but his refusal to marry her after interfering and burning their letters was a complete jerk move and then later jumping to conclusions and seemingly forced misunderstandings just really dimished my enjoyment in the story. This is the second book in the series, but it can easily 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.*

The Spitfire by Christi Caldwell

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837)Leave a comment

The Spitfire (Wicked Wallflowers, #5)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Wallflowers #5
Publication Date: 9/17/19
Number of Pages: 327

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read with an improbable, slow-burn romance and a villain of whom you are happy to see the end. It was also nice to visit with Reggie Killoran again. I never really loved Henry, but I was so very happy that he wasn’t a man ‘ho. I thoroughly appreciated Clara as a heroine because she had overcome so much in her life, yet she wasn’t hard and cold – even though she tried to be. I also loved that the book wasn’t filled with angst. There was a bit of repetitive introspection, but not page after page after page of angst.

The book gets right into the action and excitement with Henry being attacked with the intention to murder him in St. Giles. He doesn’t make it easy for his assailants – he just keeps refusing to die. When he is totally unconscious and being dragged down an alleyway, a savior appears.

Henry March, the Earl of Waterson, is a prig of a man – uptight, regimented, fully focused on his role in parliament and totally unaware of how those who are less fortunate than he lives their lives. His parent’s marriage was a cold one – totally a business affair. Henry fully intended to follow along the same lines. Henry is also full to overflowing with guilt. Unjustified guilt, but he feels it anyway. His younger sister was caught in the riots at Peterloo and she’s been traumatized and withdrawn from the world since then. Henry blames himself for not getting her out of there sooner.

Clara Winters, former actress, whore, and madam finally has a future to which she looks forward. She and her friend Reggie Killoran are building a music hall in St. Giles. Clara will have a secure future and will be able to provide jobs for others who don’t want to have to sell their bodies in order to survive. She’s worked so very hard – and overcome so much – and she’s still almost afraid to hope that it will all work.

I loved the way Clara pulled at Henry – and Henry pulled at Clara even though neither of them wanted that. Henry began to learn what it was like for those less fortunate than himself and it was good to watch his growth as a person. Though this a very highly unlikely match, I still enjoyed the story.

I would have liked to learn what happened with the villain – and to see his punishment. That ending felt a little rushed to me. I know that Henry got his licks in, but – did he kill the villain? I don’t think so – but I didn’t really learn. The perfect thing, in my humble opinion, would have been for the villain to have been tried and convicted – transported would have been good given that he was a slaver – AND – I would have loved for his association with Lord Peerson to have been made public so Peerson could have some punishment as well. Something I didn’t understand was Henry’s older sister. Was her husband a peer? If so, why wasn’t she living in their home awaiting the birth of the child that would become the heir to that title if it was a boy? It just seemed odd that she was living with her brother rather than her deceased husband’s family.

I hope you’ll read and enjoy this book as much as I did.

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