Category: Re-Release / Updated Edition

Highland Spy by Madeline Martin

On By TracyIn Book Publicity, Jacobean/Stuart Era (1603-1714), Part of a Series, Re-Release / Updated Edition, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Highland Spy (The Mercenary Maidens, #1)Highland Spy by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Mercenary Maidens, #1

Release Date: March 14, 2023 – This is a revised & edited re-release

I liked this book, I was expecting a sort of “Point of No Return” type story and while there were some similar aspects between this book and that movie, this was definitely it’s own story. This is a very hard book to review without totally spoiling the story, so I am going to just give the basic premise of the story.

Ariana has been supporting herself by cheating at cards since her parents and her brother passed away, and up until she met Connor Grant she was getting away with it.

Connor is a displaced laird of a decimated clan, he runs a spy ring for King James and acts as his personal assassin. He has an agreement with the king, 10 years of service to the crown and then he will be free and his holdings returned to him. Connor uses women as his spies and believes he has found the perfect candidate when he catches Ariana cheating and blackmails her into joining his “girls”. Connor and Ariana share an instant attraction, but neither is in a position to act upon it. Connor never dallies with his “girls” and Ariana is noble born and therefore off limits as he has nothing to offer her.

Ariana reluctantly agrees to work with Connor and soon finds herself and another new recruit (Liv) sent off to the wilds of Scotland with Sylvi (one of Connor’s girls) for training. On the way to the castle, Liv becomes ill and Ariana fears for her life. Once they reach the castle, Ariana meets the other “girls”, Percy and Delilah. Percy is for lack of a better description – their “Q”. She comes up with gadgets and potions for the team and acts as the team’s healer. Percy immediately takes charge of Liv and with Ariana’s help, they slowly set her on the road to recovery.

Ariana begins her training and soon realizes that each girl has her own story and reason for being there. She takes well to the training and is soon ready to take on her first mission.

What follows is a mass of twists and turns in the plot, betrayal, secrets, more betrayal, more secrets, some steamy moments, followed by the hero acting like a jerk, followed by the heroine acting like an idiot, followed by the hero redeeming himself and the heroine learning what love really is. As always, the writing is impeccable and the story is gripping.

I would recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading the future installments featuring the rest of the “girls”.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an eARC that I received from NetGalley and the publisher*

Frederica by Georgette Heyer

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Re-Release / Updated Edition, Regency Era (1811-1820), Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews2 Comments


FredericaFrederica by Georgette Heyer

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: Originally published in 1965, Re-releasing 03/21/2023

At the grand old age of 24, Frederica Merriville knows her chance for marriage is long past, but she hopes to launch her lovely younger sister Charis into society and find her a husband. For that, she will need help and knows just who to ask, their “distant cousin” Vernon, the Marquis of Alverstoke!

Vernon, the Marquis of Alverstoke is a jaded rake, a confirmed bachelor, and bored – with everything. Alverstoke doesn’t really want to help Frederica and plans to tell her, but once he meets her siblings, he reconsiders, not because he is a nice man, but because he knows it will annoy his sisters who want him to launch their daughters. Let the games begin! The Merrivilles are anything but boring, and soon Alverstoke finds himself embroiled in their escapades and *gasp!!* not bored. He also finds himself doing something he never thought he would; falling in love and considering marriage.

Georgette Heyer is one of my mother’s favorite authors and she has been telling me to read her work for years, so when this book came up for review on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance. This book was written before I was born but I can see Ms. Heyer’s influence in the works of many other authors that I have read – Barbara Cartland comes to mind and even some current-day authors. This book is filled with humor, family, more than one mishap (thanks to Frederica’s younger brother), restorative pork jelly, a “Baluchistan” hound, a very slow-burn romance (with zero steam), and finally a very sweet declaration scene leading to their HEA. I think my 13-year-old self would have enjoyed this book much more than my 50-something self did and I can see the allure for Austen lovers – but while I enjoyed this story, I don’t think I will be rushing to read her other books. I thought it was too long and tended to meander, I didn’t mind that omission of love scenes, but did struggle to feel a true connection between Frederica and Alverstoke beyond friendship. Overall, it was a fun read and if you are a Jane Austen fan or even a Barbara Cartland fan – I think you would really enjoy this book.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*