Category: Tracy’s Reviews

Forgetting the Scot by Jennifer Trethewey

On By TracyIn Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

Forgetting the Scot (The Highlanders of Balforss)Forgetting the Scot by Jennifer Trethewey

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Highlanders of Balforss, #3

Release Date: October 22, 2018

Let me start this review with a PSA – this book contains several triggers – in the form of abuse and adultery. It is well written, but some of the content may be upsetting to some readers.

Virginia, Viscountess Langley is in a very unhappy marriage. Her husband was charming and attentive until the wedding and then his true colors began to show. He married her for her dowry and once he had it, he was cruel and abusive. Virginia has had enough, enough physical, mental and emotional abuse. Her greatest desire is to have children to love, convinced that she will never be able to have a child, she has turned her heart towards the forgotten children of London. She has a plan, she will use the trust fund her father set up for her and build a home for these children, she will live separately from Lord Langley and devote her life to orphans.

She is livid when she learns that Langley has stolen her money and plans to confront him, but everything changes when she is abducted after leaving the solicitors office. She is sold to the pirate O’Malley and held on his ship for months. She is sure all is lost when a miracle happens – they are rescued!

Magnus Sinclair never believed in love at first sight, until he saw Virginia. He saves her from certain death and wants nothing more than to always protect her. They form a bond and he believes that she is the “one”. But then the truth comes out – Virginia is married. Magnus is heartbroken, but he can’t seem to let her go. No one and nothing will keep him from her. Even the threat of his death. He will help her return to London and reclaim her fortune and ensure that her husband can never hurt her again – even if he dies in the process.

When things come to a head in London and Virginia is freed, Magnus has hope that they will have a HEA – But Virginia has her own dreams and as much as she wants Magnus, she will not forsake her dream for him or ask him to forsake his for her. A HEA for these two seems impossible, but a twist of fate may change everything.

I loved this book until about the 60% mark, up until then, I couldn’t read it fast enough, but then it hit a wall for me – in the form of adultery – I know her husband was a scumbag, I know he abused her and broke his vows, but that doesn’t change the fact that she committed adultery – this is a deal breaker for me – they shared kisses before this and while I wasn’t overly thrilled with that, I could let it go, but when they moved past kisses to an intimate relationship, I was upset and disgusted. But, I made a conscious decision to ignore my personal bias and be fair and open minded for the rest of the story. But once they got to London the story just fell apart in my opinion. Virginia just made one bad decision after another and several improbable/unbelievable things transpired. By the end of the book, I wanted Magnus to walk away and find another woman to love. Honestly, even without the adultery, I would have wanted him to wash his hands of her – she was so incredibly set on her path that she refused to even consider compromising – I just felt like she didn’t love Magnus as much as he loved her and hurt him over and over again.

This book was well written and flowed nicely, but in my opinion, the story fell apart after they got to London. I liked that this book tied all the books together, I liked revisiting characters from the previous books, I loved Lucy’s brother George, I LOVED Magnus and my heart broke for Virginia. But in the end, I felt that this was a 3 star read. The first half of this book was a easily a 5 star read, but the second half was barely 2 stars, there were so many questionable legal issues and consequences that were wrapped up too quickly and easily to be convincing and the possible legal ramifications of her pregnancy were completely ignored. If you have read the other books in this series, I would recommend this book, but caution that there are “triggers” in this book. If you haven’t read the other books, I would recommend starting with Tying the Scot and deciding for yourself.

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

 

Only a Duke Would Dare by Collette Cameron

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Only a Duke Would Dare: A Regency Romance (Seductive Scoundrels Book 2)Only a Duke Would Dare: A Regency Romance by Collette Cameron
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Seductive Scoundrels, # 2

Release Date: October 17, 2018

Theadosia Brentwood is cutting through the cemetery when she comes upon the very drunk and distraught Duke of Sutcliffe. She hasn’t seen Victor in 3 1/2 year, not since he left after his father’s suicide. When she hears his tortured voice asking his father, why? Her compassionate nature compels her to answer him. She approaches and tells him the reason his father killed himself – cancer. Victor is startled by the beauty standing before him, he thanks her for telling him and steals a kiss when she helps him up. Thea has always had a tender for Victor, but he father would never approve (he is the rector of the parish church) and Victor is far above her station. They quickly break apart when they hear voices approaching. Her father and his new curate, Mr. Leadford. To distract her father, she tells him that Victor has offered to donate the funds for the new organ and for choir robes. She looks at Victor, hoping he will not give her away – he doesn’t and asks her father if he will officiate his wedding in August. Thea is crushed, he is betrothed! But when her father asks about his bride, Victor tells him, he hasn’t found her yet! He invites the Brentwoods and Mr. Leadford to dinner and takes his leave.

He sees Thea again the next day and asks her to meet him the next morning. He speaks to his mother and asks her to plan a ball to find a bride. When his father died, his will states that Victor must marry by his 27th birthday or he will lose all the unentailed properties, including Ridgewood Court where his mother resides. He plans to marry and leave his bride with his mother and return to his rakish life in London, he briefly considers Thea as a bride, but is sure she would not agree to that type of marriage.

They meet each day and the longer he spends in her company, the more he wants her, even if that means giving up his wild ways. When her father announces at the dinner party that Thea will be marrying Mr. Leadford, Victor knows that he will never let that happen.

But when the truth comes out, Thea may have no choice and will be forced to choose between her family and her love.

This was a delightful novella, that is well written and perfectly paced. The characters are likable, there are twists and turns, secrets, friendship, passion and a seemingly impossible HEA. The steam level is low, but the love scenes are perfect for the story.

*I am voluntarily reviewing an uncorrected eARC that was provided to me*