Tag: Candace Camp

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.*

No Other Love by Candace Camp

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

No Other Love (Lost Heirs, #3)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Lost Heirs #3
Publication Date: 1/16/20 (re-release) July 24th, 2007 by Harlequin (first published 2001)
Number of Pages: 384

This author has been re-releasing some of her older titles – and gosh – I’m so glad she is. How else would I manage to find such gems that I had missed the first time around? This has been a delightful series – well written, well-plotted and the characters are fully developed and interesting. The overarching tale behind the individual stories is: During the French Revolution an English earl and his family were in France and were caught up in the mayhem and were murdered. The family was told that his three children were murdered as well – but that isn’t the case. A family friend rescued the children – two girls and a boy – and returned them to England. Except, they were maliciously intercepted so someone else could inherit the title that should have gone to the boy. The first two books showed the discovery of the two girls – A Stolen Heart and Promise Me Tomorrow. Now, we finally get to learn the fate of the young boy (Jack/Gil/John).

“The Gentleman” is the name given to a highwayman who preys on the local area – well – generally he preys on the assets of only one man – the Earl of Exmoor. The Gentleman detests the Earl and wants to bring him to ruination. Exmoor is a cold and ruthless man – even more cruel than most know – but The Gentleman (Jack Moore) knows.

Ten years ago Nicola Falcourt loved a stable boy – Gil Martin – with all her heart and soul. Yes, it was a huge mismatch between a Lady and a stable hand, but Nicola didn’t care. She had every intention of marrying him – until the Earl of Exmoor caused Gil’s death. The Earl wanted to marry Nicola himself. Now, she hates him with a passion and hasn’t stepped foot onto Exmoor’s land in ten years. She’s only returning now because her sister married Exmoor and she’s begged Nicola to come to stay with her through her pregnancy.

The carriage in which Nicola is riding is held up by a highwayman known as The Gentleman. When he kisses her, she responds – her whole body responds. How can that be? She’s had no interest in any man since Gil died – she still loves him and has remained faithful to his memory. How can this stranger awaken that part of her again?

Nicola and Jack end up spending time together when she helps to heal one of his men and they make discoveries – reawaken feelings – and find prejudices and obstacles that just cannot be overcome.

It is a lovely story of two people who find they have a second chance at love. I enjoyed seeing how they dealt with the unfolding events and managed to reclaim what they’d lost. I hope you’ll love it as much as I did.

One thing that puzzled me is the fact that ‘The Gentleman’ was called that because of his gentlemanly manners and speech. Yet – he was raised by a tavern wench and spoke like a common villager rather than the refined speech of a gentleman. I think we are supposed to understand that his friend Perry taught him manners and to speak properly, but it was never really spelled out. Maybe it was left on the cutting floor if the book was revamped/rewritten as part of the re-release process.

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