Tracy’s Reviews – Page 465 – Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

The Companion’s Secret by Susanna Craig
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Rogues and Rebels, #1

Release Date: April 3, 2018

Gabriel Finch, Marquess of Ashborough aka Lord Ash, has a reputation of destroying everything he touches, he is a gambler, an unrepentant rake and possibly a murderer. When he overhears his cousin using Gabriel’s estate as collateral for a wager, he makes a decision. He will marry, have an heir and make sure his cousin never inherits. Problem is, he is not exactly welcomed in good society and finding a bride the traditional way might prove impossible. But not to worry, blackmail and extortion will do just as well. He asks his good friend Christopher Fox about potential brides and settles on Lady Felicity Trenton, daughter of the Earl of Merrick and sister to Lord Trenton, a man that owes Gabriel a fortune.

Camellia Burke is Lord Merrick’s niece and has come from Ireland to act as a companion to Lady Merrick, Cami is an aspiring author and came to England in hopes of finding a publisher for her book. It is a volatile time in Ireland and she is hoping that her book will enlighten the English to the plight of the Irish. She has found a publisher and he loved her story, but feels like she needs to make her villain more believable, she is at a loss until she meets Lord Ash – he is a perfect model for her villain!

Gabriel is fascinated by Cami, but Lady Felicity is perfect for his needs, he needs a wife with an impeccable lineage to thwart his uncle and cousin and Cami doesn’t fit the bill. But the more he is with her, the more he wants her. For her part, Cami uses her time to study him – for her book of course – She knows Felicity doesn’t want to marry him, but the alternative is ruin for her family.

Cami is beginning to believe there is more to Gabriel than he lets anyone see and when she tells him Felicity doesn’t want to marry him, he kisses her. Cami is conflicted, she wants him, but feels guilty. When Gabriel’s uncle gives Felicity the cut – things escalate quickly.

Gabriel learns his Uncle is plotting to destroy him, this is not the first time, but this time might well be the last. He needs to marry Felicity, he has been avoiding asking for her hand, but his time is up. He tells Fox that he will marry Felicity – Fox objects, he cares for her and doesn’t want her to be hurt. Gabriel says he will make sure she is taken care of, but that is not good enough for Fox and he leaves in anger. Fox is the only person that has ever stood by him and Gabriel wonders if he has finally turned that relationship to ash as well.

Lady Merrick is outraged by Gabriel’s uncle and declares that if Lord Ash doesn’t propose, Felicity will be ruined. Cami joins them for breakfast and tries to sooth her aunt, but when a letter from home arrives, all thoughts of Felicity and Gabriel flee. Trouble is brewing and she must return home.

When Gabriel arrives, Felicity urges him to go after her and Gabriel sets a new plan in motion. He finds Cami and tries to convince her to travel with him, she resists, but then he tells her he is not going to marry Felicity. Cami finally gives in to the attraction between them and the next morning when Gabriel finds her manuscript, she gives him more than just her body. She reads her book to him and in doing so, shares her soul with him.

Gabriel knows he should go back to London and clear his name, because he wants a future with Cami. Realizing how much she shared with him, he opens up to her, as he has never done with another person. This is a very touching and emotional scene – tissues may be needed by the reader – It appears that they have come to an understanding and he will return to London. But when the news of trouble in Ireland is learned, he can’t let her go alone. But if he goes, he could lose everything – including his life.

This is such a great story, a wonderful blend of fact and fiction woven into a complicated and emotional tale, with a broken hero and an equally broken heroine – two imperfect people who are perfect for each other. This book has steamy-ish love scenes, a little heartache, sacrifices made, secrets shared and a very sweet ending. If this book had an epilogue it would have been a 5 star read – because IMO, it needed an epilogue, the ending just came a little too fast, tied up a little too neatly and ended a little too abruptly and left me wanting more. But that doesn’t change the fact that I loved this book and would highly recommend it.

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

Lord of Temptation by Erica Ridley
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Rogues to Riches, #4

Release Date: March 30, 2018

This is a very emotional second chance at love story. Ten years ago Faith Digby and Zachary Nash were in love, they shared a night of passion and promises were made. But the next day, reality slapped Zachary in the face. With the death of his father, he became the Marquess of Hawkridge and responsible for all the debt the marquisate had accumulated under his father and then his guardian. Foolishly, Hawk thought he could marry Faith, but when he learns the full extent of his obligations, he sends her a letter breaking with her.

Faith was devastated by Hawk’s rejection and wrote back telling him to never speak to her again. Later when she learns that she is expecting a child, she and her parents concocted a story to explain the appearance of Christina. In the years since Hawk left her, the Digby’s have become rich and it enables Faith to work with Dehlia at the school in St. Giles. When Dehlia’s husband Simon, brings his half-brother to dinner, it is the last man Faith ever wanted to see again – Hawk.

Hawk regrets loosing Faith, but he could not afford to marry her then or even now. He has worked hard the last ten years and is close to paying off his debts and once again being financially stable. He hopes once the port he is building is opened, he will finally be in a position to win back the only woman he has ever loved. When he sees Faith again, the years fade away and he is desperate to apologize and explain his actions.

Faith wants nothing to do with him and is terrified he will learn her secret. She is still angry and hurt, but admits to herself that she still loves him. Hawk tries to get himself back into her good graces and then learns that her family is rich – how can he convince her that it is her and not her money he wants?

When Hawk learns of his daughter, he is furious and will stop at nothing to be with his child, even marry her mother. Faith agrees to marry him, but she will be damned if he gets a shilling from her and makes plans to ensure he doesn’t.

These two have a long, painful road to their HEA and will have to learn to forgive and trust each other before they can have any sort of future. I thought the book was well written, but there are some inconsistencies and dropped plot lines – but in fairness, I read an uncorrected eARC and these issues might be resolved prior to publication. I did feel that Faith’s anger was out of proportion considering the secret she kept from him and her actions before and after they married. For quite a bit of the book, I didn’t like her but she was able to redeem herself by the end. The book is very emotional, has cameos with Dehlia and Simon and a very sweet ending.

This is the fourth book in the series, but it could easily be read as a stand alone title – HOWEVER, I would suggest reading the previous book Lord of Night before reading this book to get a better understanding of Simon and Hawk’s relationship.

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

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