Tag: Anna Bradley

What Happens in Brighton by Various Authors

On By TracyIn Anthology, Author Collaboration Series, Book Publicity, Check Content Warning/Triggers, Georgian Era (1714-1837), New To Me Author, Non-Traditional Romance, Novella, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Standalone Title, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

What Happens in BrightonWhat Happens in Brighton by Anna Bradley, Tracy Brogan, Kerrigan Byrne, Gayle Callen, Christy Carlyle, Sofie Darling, Eileen Dryer, Barbara Russell & Misty Urban

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Connected to Several of the Authors Ongoing Series

Release Date: February 10, 2026

Set in the enchanting seaside town of Brighton, England, where the sun kisses the shore and dreams linger in the salty breeze, a vibrant tapestry of souls will Vicar’s daughters and country maidens striving to ascend the social ladder, widows daring to seek a second chance at joy, and heartbroken singles clinging to the fragile hope of love. I enjoyed this collection a lot, but the following novellas really stood out to me:

Queen of Hearts by Anna Bradley – 4 stars: A bit of a love at first sight trope – To give her ailing brother a chance to take treatments in Brighton, seamstress Charlotte “Lottie” Bathurst, scrims and saves to let them stay for two weeks, but when they are robbed, she will either have to cut the visit short or gamble to recoup the lost funds. She dresses up as a young man and goes to Hart’s Ace, catching the notice of the owner Armitage Hart.

The Way We Were by Gayle Callen – 5 stars: A second-chance romance after losing a child – This was a very emotional story, Lucy Lawton and her husband Captain Reginald “Reggie” Lawton have been separated for a year, she doesn’t expect him back for two weeks, but learns he is already in England and was seen with another woman on his arm! Lucy goes to Brighton to confront him and to tell him she wants to lead separate lives. Only to learn who the woman really is and that her husband isn’t willing to give up on their marriage.

A Day at the Beach by Eileen Dreyer – 4.5 stars: Another second chance romance – After 6 long years, Phillip Long, the Earl of Everleigh has returned after being sold to a press-gang by his wife. He is back and wants answers, but what he finds is more questions! Eleanor Long, grieved deeply for her husband, and has stayed in England to protect Everleigh’s estate for their son – but it has been a fight with his grasping cousin. She is shocked when Phillip returns and accuses her of having him press-ganged and makes other accusations. Can they find the truth and their way back to each other?

A Night You Won’t Remember by Barbara Russell – 4 stars: After Lady Esther accidentally meets Alexander, the Duke of Richmond and mistakes him for someone else, they form a friendship. Later she is shocked to learn that he is the duke her mother has been trying to set up with! She hates to admit it, but she likes him and when the chance to see him again in Brighton comes up, she is excited to see him again. But a wild night with her social rival may ruin any chance she has with Alexander, when she takes his prized fencing foil and can’t remember what she did with it!

This anthology contains nine never-before-published novellas, some with connections to the author’s own series and with several different tropes, ensuring that there is really something for everyone in this collection! I highly recommend this collection and will definitely be looking up some of these author’s backlists!  My overall rating is based on an average of all nine novellas

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

 

What Happens in the Highlands by Anna Bradley

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

What Happens in the Highlands (Cairncross Castle, #1)What Happens in the Highlands by Anna Bradley

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Cairncross Castle, #1

Release Date: June 24, 2025

After the death of their father, Catriona “Cat”, Freya and Sorcha MacLeod are left to deal with the onslaught of treasure hunters trying to find the stash they believe Rory hid in Castle Cairncross. The way they dealt with the first invaders cost them severely, with the villagers turning on them, whispering of witchcraft and making their lives miserable. But it isn’t until a stranger follows Cat home from the village and is accidently poisoned that they agree they can no longer protect themselves from the rumors and may have to abandon their home. But when the stranger wakes and tells Catriona his story, she agrees to consider the possibility that the treasure is real.

Hamish Muir, the Marquess of Ballantyne, traveled to Castle Cairncross to reclaim the treasure his father told him of before his death. Originally, he sent his cousins to get the treasure, but they were thwarted by the sisters. So he has come himself and does a bit of reconnaissance before and learns from the villagers that the sisters are rumored to be witches and are recluses, barely ever leaving the castle since Rory’s death. Hamish sees Cat in the village and follows her home – admittedly a bad idea, but he is out of options. When they tussle and he is touched by a poisonous plant, he is lucky that Cat is knowledgeable about herbs and healing. When he recovers, he realizes that he might be wrong about the sisters. Cat agrees to help him find the treasure and they go through Rory’s papers, leading them to believe that Rory, Archie Muir (Hamish’s father), Malcolm Ross & Angus Dunn most likely found Bonnie Prince Charlie’s lost fortune and made a pact and that Rory as the last living member of the pact was most likely retrieving the treasure when he was shot. Hamish sends for his best friends Callum Ross & Keir Dunn – Malcolm and Angus’ sons to protect Freya and Sorcha, so he and Cat can find the treasure. But he never expected to fall for her and knows that if she ever learns that he started the treasure frenzy, there will be no chance for a HEA.

I was so excited for this book – I love a good treasure hunt / road trip romance, and this story seemed to check all the boxes, but unfortunately, it didn’t really work for me. It wasn’t bad, Cat and Hamish are both likable and relatable, but it was slow moving and lacked that true treasure hunt thrill. It does pick up a little at the end and the story ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, but it didn’t leave me excited for the next book. Overall, it was an OK read with great characters, and I am not sorry I read it, but it is not a book I would read again.

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