Category: Novella

The Highland Knight’s Revenge by Lori Ann Bailey

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Novella, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Highland Knight's Revenge (Midsummer Knights, #4)The Highland Knight’s Revenge by Lori Ann Bailey

Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: Midsummer Knights, #4

Release Date: May 26, 2020

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Officially, Sir Giric de Beaumont MacDonald has come to the Rose Citadel to learn more about its owner, Baron de Rose, but the reality is Giric has come for revenge against the man who killed his father. His hope is to find the man and challenge him, best him in combat and finally find peace. His plan seems perfect and his path unobstructed, but that was before he saw a lovely woman practicing archery and she stirred up memories of another. One he couldn’t save, later he sees her again and dances with her. Giric is captivated by her and soon begins to imagine a future with her, but not until his plan for revenge is complete.

Jennet Linton is at the with her brother and his betrothed, as their father Baron Gillingham, couldn’t attend, he is deadly ill and is not expected to live much longer. Soon after they arrived, her brother Edward tells her that now that he is to marry, she needs to marry herself. Even though he has promised that she can choose her own husband, Jennet is not happy. Abducted and held captive in Scotland for years as a child, Jennet doesn’t want to leave home. But when she meets a handsome and honorable knight, she begins to think that not only could she leave, but she could even return to Scotland. But when the truth becomes known and Giric has to choose between love and revenge – will they get a HEA?

This was a well written, fast paced story with several twists and turns as well as a bit of intrigue, it was not perfect, there is some modern verbiage and title errors, but overall, it is a very good story with likeable characters, mild to warmish love scenes, revenge, kidnapping, a lot of emotion, a HEA and a delightful epilogue. This is part of an author collaboration series, but all the stories can be read as stand-alone titles.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me.*

Beguiled at the Wedding by Deb Marlowe, Jane Charles & Virginia Heath

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

Beguiled at the Wedding (A Summer Wedding at Castle Keyvnor Book 2)Beguiled at the Wedding by Deb Marlowe

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: A Summer Wedding at Castle Keyvnor, #2

Release Date: May 22, 2020

This anthology was another delightful addition to the fabulous Castle Keyvnor series!

Miss Penneck & the Pixie Poem by Deb Marlowe – 4 stars – A sweet romance between a bookshop owner and a progressive printer, aided by a book loving Pixie. This well written, fast-paced novella opens with Puff, a young Pixie who loves stories and who is still trying to figure out her magic, fifty years later she still hasn’t figured it out, but has attached herself to the local bookshop, owned by Miss Lowenna Penneck. Lowenna hasn’t been in Brocka Morrow long, she learned of the empty shop and leased it from the Earl at Keyvnor Castle. She has settled in with her widower father, who is still grieving the loss of his beloved wife. Lowenna hopes the shop will be the fresh start they both need. Ruan Trevellick arrives in Brocka Morrow looking to make a fresh start too. He is a printer and was invited to set up shop in the village by the Countess. Imagine his surprise when he finds a bookshop in his space! A trip to the castle confirms that they were both promised the space and the Earl and Countess promise to make things right. In the meantime, Lowenna offers to let him set up his press in her back room – an offer he gladly accepts. Things progress quickly between them and seem to be going well, until Ruan’s past catches up with him and he may have to give up the woman he loves to save her! It will take the help of a Pixie to give these two their HEA. A completely wonderful story with cameos from previous characters, Pixies, sweet kissing love scenes, a nasty villain and a wonderful HEA.

A Spirited Courtship by Jane Charles – 4 stars – A sweet second chance love story featuring Diana Vail and James Bryant, the Earl of Somerton. Diana has fallen in love with James and believes he loves her too, until she overhears his friends speculating about his relationship with Diana – they are sure he is just using her to keep his matchmaking momma at bay, they also hear that James slept with Diana’s widowed mother!! Diana is so distraught by this news that she finds James, slaps him and tells him she never wants to see him again! Months pass as they meet again at the wedding of Lady Gwyn at Castle Keyvnor. James hasn’t gotten over Diana and has no idea why she was so upset, he was going to let her go, but seeing her again stirs up his feelings and he wants answers!! Throw in a trio of ghosts that need to break a curse by helping a maiden find true love and you have a very fun story! This novella was well written, fun read with kissing only love scenes, a stubborn heroine, meddling ghosts, witches, gypsies, a pixie or ten and a nail biting ending.

Written in the Stars by Virginia Heath – 5 stars – Of the three, this second chance romance was my favorite. Five years ago Cecily Grimshaw and Spencer Tremayne were madly in love and on the brink of marriage when Chaos wreaked havoc on their HEA. Cecily sees a woman leaving Spencer’s house in a wanton display of dishabille and she imagines the worst – she writes a letter breaking with him and quits her job as governess to get away from him. He is stunned and heartbroken, he had planned to marry her and practice law, but in his despair he gives up his dreams and joins the military – keeping them apart for five long years. The Powers that Be need to set this couple back on track and only have two weeks to do it – Serendipity assures Destiny, Luck, Cupid and Reason that she has it well in hand – she has set her plan in motion to reunited the lovers, they are not convinced until they learn that she has them set to meet again in Brocka Morrow and Castle Keyvnor and with a little help from a fairy – Serendipity is sure she will prevail – after all, she hasn’t missed a deadline in 10,000 years!! This was such a sweet story, with wonderful characters, magic, witty banter, touching flashbacks and a sweet HEA.

This is an ongoing series of interconnected stories, but they can all be read as stand alone novellas and I promise if you read one, you will want to read them all!!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me*