Category: Novella

Earl of Kinross by Meara Platt

On By BarbaraIn Author Collaboration Series, Barb's Reviews, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Earl of Kinross (Wicked Earls' Club Book 14)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Earls’ Club #14
Publication Date: 10/8/19
Number of Pages: 117

I am really enjoying all of these Christmas additions to the Wicked Earls’ series. This one was particularly good. I thoroughly enjoyed both the hero and the heroine because they were both strong, confident and well-rounded. I thought the ‘love’ happened a little quickly, but, well, it was a novella length. It was all very believable.

Marcus Brayden, Earl of Kinross, comes from a close and powerful family that boasts many titles, much wealth and influence, many military heroes and strong, independent women. According to Marcus, “Having been raised by strong women, he was not of the mind that the fairer sex was helpless.” That, of course, made him a perfect match for our heroine who was, according to Marcus, “a squirming bundle of defiance and determination”.

Lady Lara LeBrecque, the only daughter of the Earl of Stratton, has had a miserable last few years. Well, her entire family has had a miserable last few years. The LeBrecque’s have been under siege and they can’t seem to find a way out. Lara’s father has been accused of treason and her brother, Hugh, has been accused of murder. Now, Lara is feeling under threat from Lord Alistair Dunning who is the judge who has presided over both her father’s and her brother’s legal woes. Dunning watches her with lecherous eyes and she knows he has intentions for her as well as the rest of her family. With her brother on the other side of the world trying to hunt down the villain they are sure is behind their troubles, and her father under house-arrest and watched constantly, Lara has few, if any, people or places to go to for help.

Marcus has been back from the wars in France for only a month or two – recuperating from a wound. He hasn’t been out in society, so he has no clue what has been going on in England while he’s been off fighting. He’s a high ranking general and has about every medal for bravery you can get – not to mention that he’s handsome as sin. One morning, in the earliest daylight hours, he catches a glimpse of a woman scaling over his fence and heads out to catch her. What a surprise to see that it is Lady Lara, his very best friend’s sister. Once she tells Marcus what has been happening to her family, Marcus knows he has to help her and her family – but it will take all of his family resources as well as his relationship with Queen Charlotte and the Prince Regent.

This was a delightful, romantic, non-stop, action-packed story that you’ll read straight through. You just won’t be able to put it down because you will just have to know what happens next. There is also a wonderful epilogue to round out the book – and I always love epilogues!

Betrothed by Christmas by Jess Michaels & Elizabeth Essex

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

Betrothed by ChristmasBetrothed by Christmas by Jess Michaels

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: None

Release Date: October 15, 2019

This was a loosely interconnected novella duo by Jess Michaels and Elizabeth Essex, featuring two ladies who don’t want to marry finding their HEAs – my average rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up.

A Lady’s Gift for Seduction by Jess Michaels – 5 stars – Lady Evangeline & Thomasina “Tamsin” Lesley meet at a ball, both worry that if they don’t find a husband, their fathers will choose for them. When Tamsin says she doesn’t want to marry, Evangeline has a suggestion, they should consider “male wallflowers” and she chooses Henry Killam, aspiring astronomer and younger son of Viscount Killam. Henry like Evangeline – always has – but she is out of his league. She is the daughter of a duke and he is the second son, whose father threatens to cut off if he doesn’t give up his “work”. But Evangeline offers a solution – marry her. What follows is a steamy and delightful tale of a woman who erroneously believes she has fallen for a man she can manipulate.

A Lady’s Gift for Scandal by Elizabeth Essex – 4 stars – Miss Thomasina “Tamsin” Lesley has until Christmas to find a husband or she will be married off to her father’s heir, her cousin Edward, an odious man who only wants her because she is beautiful. But in reality Tamsin doesn’t want to marry at all, she wants to live in London with her Aunt Dahlia and write, but her mother refuses to consider that option. So when Evangeline suggests being “lightly ruined” so her mother will reconsider and introduces her to Simon Cathcart, the second son of a second son and a former soldier who has been dubbed “Simple Simon”. She immediately likes him, he is handsome and very agreeable. She explains that she doesn’t want to marry and asks for his help in convincing her mother that she is no longer marriageable. Simon agrees mostly to alleviate his boredom and because he likes her too. But as time passes and she gets to know Simon and learns his secrets, maybe being ruined isn’t the way to finding her HEA or is it?

Both stories where well written and entertaining, I thought all the characters were likeable and that the stories were paced well. Jess Michaels’ offering was a bit steamier, but they were both had love scenes that were on the warm side. Personally, I thought the whole “lightly ruined” ploy was a bit unbelievable and complete ridiculous, but it was a very entertaining read regardless. I enjoyed this book 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.*