The Lady’s Deception by Susanna Craig

The Lady's Deception (Rogues and Rebels, #3)The Lady’s Deception by Susanna Craig

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Rogues and Rebels, #3

Release Date: October 29, 2019

Rosamund Gorse is at Kilready in Ireland with her brother Charles, Viscount Setterby while he is visiting a friend from school, the Earl of Dashfort. But when she thinks his children have played a trick on her and she runs into the earl in the hall, she realizes that her brother is planning on selling her to the earl!! Upset and angry, Rosamund runs away determined to thwart Charles, she plans to travel to Dublin and find a lawyer to help her challenge his guardianship.

Paris Burke has had a little too much to drink when Rosamund runs into him – she tells him she is looking for a lawyer – Paris is a lawyer – and he assumes she is the governess he planned to hire to take care of his younger sisters. With no money and nowhere to go, Rosamund doesn’t correct his assumption and plans to hide out until she comes of age in a few weeks. When they arrive at his house, the his family’s home, the ordeal of running away and the long walk catches up with her and she faints.

Paris is concerned and takes care of her, worried that she took ill in his care. That dredges up memories of another time he failed to take care of someone in his care. But Rosamund is fine, she is just exhausted from the walk from Kilready. She wakes the next day embarrassed and immediately begins working with the girls, Bellis & Daphne.

Paris is attracted to Rosamund and the feeling is returned, but he doesn’t feel worthy of her. He takes a case involving a boy from Kilready and hopes that he can begin atoning for what he considers a great failure. But when Rosamund learns that he was at Kilready, she is sure her brother will find her and she bolts, not realizing the girls are in hot pursuit or that Paris has discovered her secret and wants to help her.

I thought this was a good story, well written with a lot of deep seated emotion and very likable characters. The love scenes were very mild and stayed true to the characters, the villains were dealt with and our tortured hero finds comfort and begins to heal. I loved catching up with his elder sisters Camilla and Erica, as well as their husbands and the epilogue in this book was very sweet. This is the third book in the series and can easily be read as a standalone. I enjoyed this story and would be happy to recommend it.

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

The Highlander’s Christmas Bride by Vanessa Kelly

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.*