Category: Top Pick – Highly Recommended

Marquess to a Flame by Emily Windsor

On By TracyIn Regency Era (1811-1820), Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

Marquess to a Flame by Emily Windsor

Marquess To A Flame VS90.jpg

Title: Marquess to a Flame
Author: Emily Windsor
Genre: Regency Romance
Release Date: 30th January 2019
Length: 74,000 words
Series Name: Rules of the Rogue
Tropes: A rogue with his rules and the heroine that breaks them. Cornwall. Spies. Friendship. Overcoming hurt.
Tone: Warm. Witty. Romantic.
Heat Level: Sensual. Moderate.

Buy Links:
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Tracy’s Review

Marquess to a Flame by Emily Windsor

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Rules of the Rogue, #3

Release Date: January 30, 2019

Jack Winterbourne, the Marquess of Winterbourne is attending Viscount Rainham’s wedding, a marriage he takes full credit for, number 4, if anyone is counting, when Rainham tells him he has a new mission for him. Jack has been working as a spy for Rainham and is known as the “Moth” – much to his dismay. He is a rogue and a rake, his missions usually include seducing information, so he is upset to learn that the woman he must “woo” is an innocent and in Cornwall! But she may hold information that will help them find La Chauve-Souris – The Bat

Tamsyn Penrose survived an attack by La Chauve-Souris 6 years ago and did not speak for almost five years – the attack left her childhood sweetheart dead and her cut and broken. She lived in fear that he would return and kill all those she held dear. Thanks to her loving father, Sir Jago and her dear friend/companion Lowdy, she has finally regained her voice, but she is just a shadow of her former self, she is quiet, wears grey clothing and does her best to blend into the background. When she learns Jack is coming to visit her father, she is suspicious – even in Cornwall she has heard of his exploits and doesn’t believe for a second that he is coming to discuss business. She wonders if he is coming for her, but dismisses the idea after meeting him – he is a fribble!

Jack is a bit stunned by his reaction to Tamsyn, she is lovely, but she is an innocent and he may be a rogue, but he has hard-fast rules – no innocents or married women! He isn’t sure how to proceed, especially when it is clear she doesn’t like him. He is used to women falling over themselves to claim his attention and is at a loss with how to deal with one how doesn’t. Matters are further complicated by his valet (who is also his illegitimate half-brother) who seems to know Tamsyn’s companion Lowdy and possible competition in the form of a suitor for Tamsyn’s affections.

Tamsyn and Jack seem to be complete opposites and she doesn’t like him, but soon she begins to realize that Jack is not all that he seems. She tries her best to wheedle information about his true purpose for visiting, but he manages to evade answering for several days. But while trying to glean her secrets, Jack finds himself sharing his own with her. When she learns the truth about his visit, she shocks him by agreeing to tell him everything that happened. Too long has she lived in fear and she wants to be free again. She shares her story with him and he holds her, encouraged, she shares her with him her final shame. Jack is angry, not at Tamsyn, but at the monster who hurt her, he swears to keep her safe and kisses her. He cares for her, but doesn’t believe that it is in his nature to truly love someone, he is a Winterbourne and they are all rogues, he will only end up breaking her heart and he cares too much to let that happen.

This is a well written, fast paced, complex tale that is both emotional and entertaining. Jack and Tamsyn are both incredibly easy to like and your heart will break as you learn of their pasts, you will laugh with them, cry with them and want to smack them both for being fools, but more than anything, you will love them and root for their HEA. They are complimented by a wonderful cast of secondary characters, who add a lightness to the story and keep our hero and heroine grounded. There is action, secrets, steamy love scenes, cameos from the previous heroes and heroines as well as Lord Byron, a truly evil villain, sword fights, a drunk companion writing hilarious letters, spies, surprises, ogling ladies, a peacock and probably the best declaration scene I have ever read. This book is the third in the series and it can easily be read as a stand-alone title without any problem, but do yourself a favor and read the series in order!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me.*

Blurb:

A winter’s heart…
“Debonair, handsome and with a devil’s smile. How could any woman resist?”

The Marquess of Winterbourne has long been guided by his Rules of the Rogue, but as emissary for the Crown, his next mission will break every single one. Sent to the wilds of Cornwall to beguile secrets from a country miss, the last thing this rogue expects is to unearth his own buried heart.

A taste of spring…
“A rogue and a fribble. How could any woman succumb?”

Miss Tamsyn Penrose remains far from impressed by charming London scoundrel Lord Winterbourne, preferring a wild gallop over the moors to flashing black eyes and fulsome flattery. But as danger lurks and prejudice ebbs, she uncovers a complex man who awakens her hidden strength and arouses her forgotten fire.

Seasons collide…

Desire sparks and passion flares in this Cornish land of cove and tor. Can Tamsyn step from the shadow of her past? And will Jack Winterbourne tear up the rules for a woman who maddens his senses and thaws his heart?

A sensual Regency Romance with warmth and wit, this story also includes a fusty valet with a secondary love story, picnics, swordplay, peacocks and…piskies.

Connect with Emily
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The Highland Renegade by Amy Jarecki

On By TracyIn Jacobean/Stuart Era (1603-1714), Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

The Highland Renegade (Lords of the Highlands, #5)The Highland Renegade by Amy Jarecki

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Lords of the Highlands, #5

Release Date: January 8, 2019

Janet Cameron is in Inverlochy with her brother Kennan for the Samhain celebration, she is hoping that she will meet a man that she can fall in love with and marry, lest her stepmother finds someone for her. She sees Laird Robert Grant, but he is the last man she would ever consider, the Camerons and the Grants have been enemies for generations, but she can’t help but notice how handsome he is. When her friend Mairi tries to play matchmaker, Janet is firm, Robert Grant is a thief and a rake – she would never love a man like him.

Robert has always noticed Janet, she is lovely and if she was anyone other than a Cameron, he would court her. He knows what she thinks of him and it makes him angry, yes, he has a reputation as a ladies man, but he is no thief! He is sure the Camerons are responsible for the theft of his cattle and has words with Kennan. When their mutual friend suggests a duel to settle the matter, Rob agrees.

The duel is underway when Janet arrives to stop it – Rob is clearly winning and is distracted by Janet’s scream, giving her brother a chance to pull a dagger and cut Rob, declaring himself the winner. Before Rob can respond, English soldiers arrive and they scatter, in the confusion, Rob finds Janet and takes her back to town. He insists that she tend his wound, since her brother cheated. She is ashamed of Kennan’s action and agrees. She starts to rethink her opinion of Robert. When he asks for a dance at the Samhain gathering, she agrees. But later when one of the English soldiers, Lt Cummings, is drunk and harasses her, things spiral out of control and she must run for her life.

She and Kennan take off, but are soon captured by Cummings, Kennan is beaten and left for dead and Janet is taken into custody, Cummings is taking her to the fort for punishment. Robert also left, but when he hears her scream, comes back to save her. He finds Kennan and has their friend Ciar take him to safety and goes after Janet. He rescues her from Cummings and they run, with the soldiers on their heels.

Janet is soaked and freezing, but they can’t stop, they escape into the mountains and Robert tends her, in the morning, they learn the soldiers are still following them and Rob makes a decision, they will go further into the wilderness, over a treacherous pass and hopefully lose Cummings. They do lose him, but the cost is high, Janet goes over the edge and Rob fears she is dead. He sends his men on without him and goes to find Janet. She is alive, but her arm is broken and her horse is lame. He prepare to kill her horse, but she begs him not to, the lame horse will slow them down, but he agrees. He knows the storm is too bad to keep moving and Janet needs help, so he finds an abandoned brothy and they ride out the storm. He sets her arm and cares for her, they get to know each other and he is tempted, he knows he should return her to her family, but instead takes her to his home.

Janet is falling for Rob, he is nothing like she imagined, but she knows her father will never let her marry a Grant and there could never be anything between them. But that doesn’t stop them from kissing and wishing for things that can never be. When her father arrives and takes her, Rob can do nothing but watch the woman he loves, ride away.

It will be months before they see each other again and there is still no solution to their problem, but when Rob learns who the real cattle thief is and Janet’s life is in danger, he knows that he will not lose her again.

This book was amazing, it is nonstop action from almost the first page! The chemistry between Janet and Robert is undeniable and my heart broke for them, their love is forbidden and it seems like there is no way they can be together without causing a war. The book is well written, flows nicely, has some steamy-ish love scenes, a bit of angst, a villain bent on revenge, some wonderful secondary characters, some twists and turns, and finally a very hard won HEA. This is the fifth book in the series, but it is loosely connected to the previous stories and can easily be read as a stand alone title. I loved this book and can’t recommend it highly enough!

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