Category: Tracy’s Reviews

Her Scandalous Pursuit by Candace Camp

On By TracyIn Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)2 Comments

Her Scandalous Pursuit (The Mad Morelands, #7)Her Scandalous Pursuit by Candace Camp

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Mad Morelands, Prequel

Release Date: January 28, 2020

Lady Thisbe Moreland is attending a lecture at the Covington Institute when she meets Desmond Harrison. They hit it off immediately and Thisbe can’t wait to see him again, as a female scientist too many people don’t take her seriously, but Desmond treated her with respect and admiration. They make plans to meet again, but Thisbe doesn’t tell him who she really is – the eldest child of the Duke of Broughton. She is scared that he won’t continue to see her if he knows the truth.

Desmond is also a scientist, he works for the once revered, now scorned Professor Gordon. The professor has come under ridicule for his insistence that ghosts exist – Desmond is not a believer, despite his own experience with the spirit world, but he is loyal to the professor who took him under his wing. Desmond grew up poor and is the son of a transported convict, even without knowing who her family is, he knows she is far above him in station, but he is unwilling to give up what they share and knows that eventually it will end.

When Professor Gordon’s benefactor, Mr. Wallace learns of an artifact called the Eye of Annie Blue that might be able to have the professor prove his theory, the entire team is excited. Professor Gordon writes to the owner of the artifact, the Dowager Duchess of Broughton and asks if he might be able to borrow it for study. But the duchess refuses, crushing their hopes. The professor and Mr. Wallace become obsessed and when they learn the Dowager is in town, they ask Desmond to steal it – he refuses, but agrees to check out the Dowager’s house to see if it is even possible to enter. While looking at the house, which he knows will be impossible to enter, Thisbe comes running out – she thinks he has figured out who she is and has come to see her. She invites him back to call and when his professor learns of their connection, he tries to convince Desmond to steal it – again he refuses.

Desmond is surer than ever that nothing can transpire between him and Thisbe, no matter how nice her family is to him and when her grandmother (the Dowager) has a prediction that Desmond’s love will kill Thisbe, he is sure they have no future. Thisbe has been having her own share of strange incidents in the form of dreams, but she rationalizes them and tells Desmond to ignore her grandmother’s “prediction”. She really cares for him and begins to imagine a future with him – until secrets are revealed and Desmond lets her believe the worst to save her life.

This was a well written, fast paced, page turner that held me in thrall from the first page to the last. I loved Desmond and Thisbe, they share such an incredible chemistry that you know they are meant to be, the love scenes are sparse, but they are potent and very touching without being overly graphic, the secondary characters are wonderful and even the villains are engaging. There is a bit of drama, some humor, a healthy dose of paranormal, some heartache and finally a very sweet and hard-won HEA. This is the seventh book in the series, but it is really the prequel to the “Mad Morelands” – you can read this book first or seventh without issue, but either way – read it! I loved this story and happily recommend it!

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

One Night with a Scoundrel by Shelly Thacker

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

One Night with a Scoundrel (Escape with a Scoundrel Series Book 3)One Night with a Scoundrel by Shelly Thacker

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Escape with a Scoundrel #3

Release Date: January 21, 2020

This installment of the Escape with a Scoundrel series was originally a 1993 release titled “Silver and Sapphires” and was part of the D’Avenant Brothers Series – So, if you read if the aforementioned title – prepare to be shocked and awed! This is a completely revised and revamped edition and while the story is basically the same, the characters have completely changed (for the better).

Ashiana de Canto e Calda is the adopted daughter of the Maharaja of the Ajmir Clan. Her English mother died when she was a baby and her Portuguese father was slain before her by English pirates seeking the Nine Sapphires of Kashmir. Ashiana has been raised as a Ajmir Princess and is betrothed to the Maharaja’s son Rao. She has a deep and abiding hatred for the English and longs to fit in with the Ajmir clan. So when her adopted father tells her the truth of the Sapphires and asks for her help retrieving the stolen gem she agrees without a moment of hesitation.

Lord Saxon D’Avenant’s late father was a scoundrel, the Duke of Silverton, stole a sacred sapphire from the clan of Ajmir and brought a curse down on the family. Saxon was the duke’s the second son and was charged with breaking the curse that killed his father and threatens the life of his youngest brother. He must reunite the stolen gem with the other eight stones and he has spent the last ten years of his life trying to do just that and it has cost him much. His latest attempt nearly killed him and gave his enemy, the Earl of Greyslake the opportunity to destroy him – by killing the woman Saxon married. When Saxon’s brother Julian finds him, Saxon is on the brink of losing himself. Julian refuses to let him give up and tells him of a way to finally break the curse. They will attend an event that the Maharaja will be at and hopefully learn where the sapphires are hidden. But it is not the Maharaja who attends the gathering – it is a harem girl. Saxon is horrified to find himself attracted to the girl, he tries to ignore the awareness between them and when his host gives him the girl as a gift, he wants to refuse, but Julian convinces him to accept and to see what he can learn from the girl.

Ashiana is also stunned by the attraction she feels towards the Englishman and when she meets with him later, she almost falls under his seductive spell and forgets her mission. She is tempted by him, but recalls her hatred and drugs him, steals the sapphire he wears in a pouch around his neck, but she can’t kill him or leave him to die. She ensures his safety and takes her leave – planning to meet with a clansman to take her away. But before she make her escape, she is caught by Julian, she lies and says Saxon told her to collect her belongings and he would take her with him when he leaves. Julian believes her and insists on taking her to Saxon’s ship – much to her dismay!

To say that Saxon was less than pleased to be reunited with Ashiana would be a huge understatement. But he knows she is the key to breaking the curse and vows to learn her secrets, find the sapphires and fulfill his duty to his family. And Ashiana is equally determined to outwit Saxon and stop him from finding the sapphires, no matter what the cost.

This was truly an epic tale, it is well written and it flows wonderfully but it did have a very strong late-80’s bodice ripper vibe (albeit a toned down version). I enjoyed this story, it is not your typical Georgian romance, this story is filled with action, adventure, deception, secrets, more lies, steamy love scenes, shipwrecks, abductions, sacrifice, betrayal, heartache, wonderful characters, priceless gems, a tiger and a very hard-won HEA. I must mention that despite the author’s effort to rewrite this story to appeal to a more modern audience and for the most part being successful – there is one sex scene in the book that might be offensive to sensitive readers – it is not rape or even “forced seduction” – but it might be upsetting nonetheless. I, personally, was not offended and although it did not endear me to Saxon, it did not ruin the story for me. This is the third book in the series, but the books are not connected and can be read as stand-alone titles. I liked this book and would be happy to recommend it with the notation that there is a scene that might upset more sensitive readers.

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