I Want You to Want Me by Shana Galen

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

I Want You to Want Me (The Survivors, #12)Barbara’s rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars
Series: The Survivors #12
Publication Date: 3/8/22
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 326

The last of our Survivors from Draven’s Dozen has finally found his HEA. Nicholas St. Clare lived for horses before the war. He rode them, he trained them, he groomed them – he just loved them. Then, during the heat of battle, he lost it all. He nearly died when his beloved warhorse fell on him, but his fellow survivors found him and saved him – at least they saved most of him. His legs were horribly crushed and the doctors were sure he’d never walk again. He did manage to walk again – very slowly and very painfully – but walk he did. What he cannot do – and will never be able to do is ride again. He’s ashamed of his horrible scars and deformed legs, so he thinks everyone pities him and would run in horror if they ever saw his scars. He doesn’t ever want to marry, but his mother is on a crusade and she’s wanting to parade all of those typical ton misses before him. He can’t do it – he just can’t do it – and then, he doesn’t have to because he inadvertently compromises a local gently born lady. Hmmm – so he finds himself presented with the opportunity for a marriage in name only that will perfectly suit both the lady and himself. Yep – we all know how well that is going to work.

Amelia Blackstock has spent her life nursing one ill family member or another. She’s loving, dutiful, and finally has at least a little freedom since her father’s death. Well, maybe a tad too much freedom or maybe it is a bit of poor judgment. Now, she’s in a spot of bother, and being compromised by Lord Nicholas might not be a bad thing at all.

I really liked Amelia and I loved how she saw Nicholas as more than his injuries. From the very beginning, she defended him and protected him – and that was before she even really knew him at all. I liked Nicholas as well and I could understand his insecurities – but I thought they went on a bit too long.

I loved the house party with all of the survivors and their wives. It was great to catch up with them and see them all with their families. Rafe Beaumont was particularly entertaining, but I would have liked to see some grand epiphany that allowed him and his family to live in England.

All-in-all, it was a lovely read and a sweet farewell to the Survivors. Nicholas’s sister Fortensia could certainly use her own HEA, so maybe we’ll get that in another series. I really liked her and how well she cared for Nicholas.

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

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A Knight’s Pledge by Heather Grothaus

On By TracyIn Historical Mystery, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Mystery, Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

TheKnightsPledgeThe Knight’s Pledge by Heather Grothaus

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Scotland, #4

Release Date: March 3, 2022

**To be clear – I am giving this 4 stars for the MYSTERY – the ROMANCE is a 0 star for me and be warned, this review is slightly spoilerish**

Picking up shortly after the end of the previous book and still suffering from the injury he sustained from the outlaw Effie, Sir Lucan Montague finds himself once again in her presence. This time she wants him to take her to London to see the King and doesn’t intend on taking “No” for an answer.

Effie Annesley was raised as Euphemia Hargrave, a distant relative to Vaugh and Caris Hargrave, but when she learns the truth of her birth and the evil of the Hargraves, she bolts and tries to get Lucan to go with her to the King. But lost in his own grief, Lucan is cruel to Effie and turns her away. With nowhere to go, Effie forges her own path and falls in with a group of outlaws. Now 15 years later, Effie has denounced her noble upbringing and lived a new life, one where she falls in love has a son, and diligently works to right the wrongs the Hargraves have wrought. But when the enemy she thought she conquered rises from the dead and takes her son, Effie will do whatever is necessary to get him back – even work with Lucan. But once they meet with the King, they learn getting her son back won’t be as easy as they hoped – If Effie wants her son back and if Lucan has any hope of regaining his title and lands from the crown, then they will have to do as King Henry ordered and work together to bring in her father and wanted man, Thomas Annesley.

This is the final installment of the Sons of Scotland Series, which follows Thomas, Lord Annesley, and his flight after the death of his betrothed, Cordelia Hargrave, the night before their wedding. Each book in the series has furthered the mystery of what happened that fateful night and has introduced the reader to the children he fathered during his life as a fugitive. In this story, we learn that Cordelia was actually with child when she died – Effie – who is delivered by Caris via cesarean. This book will finally give readers the truth of what happened the night Cordelia died and will also deliver a mind-blowing twist. And while the mystery was well-done and wraps up with a very satisfying ending, the romance was a complete wall-banger for me. I cannot believe that Effie and Lucan are in love, especially when she is professing her love to the father of her child at the 90% mark of this book – a man she professed to love earlier in the book, right before she slept with him – yeah – nothing says romance like a heroine who sleeps with a man who is not the hero. So, two things to know; one – you should not read this book as a standalone title, you will be confused and frustrated and two – do not read this as a romance, read it as a mystery, it will make your reading experience much better if you do.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*