The Lieutenant and the Lady by Collette Cameron

The Lieutenant and the Lady (The Blue Rose Regency Romances: The Culpepper Misses Book 5)The Lieutenant and the Lady by Collette Cameron
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Culpepper Misses, #5

Release Date: March 26, 2019

Blaire Culpepper’s worst nightmare has come true, the man she loves, who she thought returned her feelings is courting another woman.

Lieutenant Julian Drake loves Blaire Culpepper, but he felt he had nothing to offer her, when his brother passed away and Julian inherited the estate, he thought he would finally be able to declare himself and ask for her hand. But when Daphne, his brother’s betrothed tells him she is pregnant with his brother’s child, Julian feels honor bound to marry her and give his brother’s child the name and inheritance that should have been theirs. He sees Blaire and tries to talk to her, but Daphne and her mother intrude and are rude to Blaire. Later he seeks her out and tries to explain, he tells her that he has not actually proposed to Daphne, but he most likely will. Blaire wishes him well and decides that she will go to the family estate to lick her wounds.

But it appears fate is not ready to let the would be lovers walk away just yet, on the way to the country, Blaire comes across an accident and stops to offer aid. The carriage passengers turn out to be Julian, Daphne and her mother. Julian is unconscious and in need of immediate attention, so Blaire takes them to the nearest inn and when the doctor arrives, she agrees to stay and nurse Julian. She learns from Daphne that they were on their way to his county house to marry – a blow that Blaire was not expecting.

Julian wakes and has no memory, the doctor assures him that it is not uncommon for someone with a head injury to suffer memory loss and is sure that it will return. He remembers nothing, so when Daphne tells him they were going to marry, he tells her they will have to wait until his memory returns. Blaire nurses him and the more time he spends with her, the more he wonders why he would ever consider marrying Daphne.

Little by little, his memory returns and he is sure that Blaire is the woman he should marry, but before they can even consider a HEA, there will be several obstacles for them to overcome as well as some shocking revelations and some unexpected twists and turns.

I think this might be my favorite story in the series, it is well written, flows nicely, has a lot of twists and turns, secrets, lies, deception, heartache and some sweet kisses (no steam). The ending was wonderful and even though this is the fifth book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone title.

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

Who Slays the Wicked by C.S. Harris

Who Slays the Wicked (Sebastian St. Cyr, #14)Who Slays the Wicked by C.S. Harris

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Sebastian St. Cyr #14
Publication Date: 4/2/19
Number of Pages: 352

Yet another Sebastian St. Cyr book that engrossed me to the point that I couldn’t put it down. Once I started reading, I didn’t stop until the last word on the last page was finished – at about 5 AM. My kidneys are grateful that there won’t be another new release in the series for several more months. This is a wonderful series and if you haven’t read the prior books, you really should. Sebastian’s life has taken a lot of twists and turns and I’m sure there are many more to come. As always, the writing is excellent, the research is right-on-the-money, the plot is tightly woven and well executed, and you won’t know who the villain is until the very end! Way to go!

Where the Dead Lie, book 12, was a chilling case where one of the villains of the piece managed to escape justice. That really bothered me even though I knew the author would eventually get around to taking care of him. While justice doesn’t get Anthony Marcus Ledger, Viscount Ashworth, someone does. On April Fools Day, 1814, two maids in Anthony’s household discover his bloody, mutilated body tied with red silk cords to the four bedposts.

Sir Henry Lovejoy, one of three magistrates attached to Bow Street’s Public Office always asks for Sebastian St Cyr’s assistance in cases involving the aristocracy. As a Viscount and heir to an Earl, Sebastian has access to circles that the Bow Street investigators wouldn’t be allowed into. Sir Henry will definitely need Sebastian for this one – the victim is not only a Viscount, but he is also heir to a Marquis – a very rich and powerful Marquis. Then you add in Russian royalty and – well – sometimes even Sebastian can’t get access.

Sebastian was thoroughly convinced that Anthony took an active part in the heinous crimes he had investigated months earlier, but he had no solid proof. He had been working all of those months since to find the proof he needed. Now, the man is dead and Sebastian is very, very afraid that his niece may have done the deed. When he interviews her, she won’t be honest with him. Then, other bodies associated with the case begin to show up. Leads take Sebastian to the visiting Russian royalty, his niece, his niece’s lover, a tarot card reader, a for-hire assassin, and almost anybody who has ever met Anthony. Sebastian is led on a merry chase around London and the more he learns about Anthony, the sicker Sebastian becomes. The world is definitely a better place without Anthony in it – and Sebastian might almost have let things go if Anthony was the only victim. But those other victims – they were innocent and didn’t deserve to die just because they knew something that might help catch the murderer.

I can highly recommend this fast-paced, action-packed, well-written book.

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