Tag: Karen Ranney

To Bed the Bride by Karen Ranney

On By TracyIn Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)2 Comments

To Bed the Bride (All for Love, #3)To Bed the Bride by Karen Ranney

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: All for Love #3

Release Date: November 26, 2019

Be warned, the ending of this review might be spoilerish!

Eleanor Craig inherited the Hearthmere Estate and world famous stables in Scotland when she was only 11, her father’s will states that she is to live on the estate and grants an allowance to her uncle if he agrees to move to the estate until she reaches her majority. Eleanor loves the estate and longs to carry on her father’s legacy, but when her uncle dies the year before her 18th birthday, her aunt moves her two children Daphne and Jeremy along with Eleanor to London, where she quickly marries, Mr. Hamilton Richards, a very rich man. Her aunt makes a deal with Eleanor’s solicitor, instead of living in Scotland, Eleanor will spend one month a year at the estate and live with her Aunt Deborah and her family. Eleanor would rather be in Scotland, but family was very important to her father, so she goes along with her aunt’s wishes.

Finally her visit to Scotland arrives, but this year, she will only have 2 weeks, she is recently engaged to Michael Herridge, the Earl of Westcott and he demands she cut her visit short. Eleanor isn’t sure why Michael chose her, but her family is ecstatic and for the first time since she began living with them, she feels loved and important. She hopes that Michael will want to live part of the year in Hearthmere, but doesn’t count on it and therefore is determined to make this visit memorable. And memorable it will be, she is out riding when her horse is surrounded by sheep and she has words with the “shepherd”– the very handsome and arrogant shepherd. The next day she is awoken with news of a gift – the shepherd has given her a puppy. Determined to return the dog, she tries to find him and when she does a few days later, returns the puppy, who she named Bruce. She has tea with him and learns his name is Logan McKnight and he is not a shepherd. She ends up enjoying her time with him and when she leaves, he gives her a sweet, chaste kiss. But duty calls Logan back to London and he leaves Bruce with her once more, he also gives her his London address and asks her to write with news of the puppy. She sees his carriage departing and wonders who it is, she is shocked to learn Bruce is back and that despite planning on writing to Logan and putting him in his place, she is not unhappy about this turn of events.

She returns to London with Bruce, her fiancé is not happy about it and makes her keep the dog out of his sight. She is beginning to have doubts about marrying Michael, but will not upset her family, but that doesn’t stop her from thinking about Logan. She thinks of him so much that when she sees him at a political dinner hosted by her step-uncle Hamilton, she thinks she is imagining him. But he is very real and clearly upset to see her. Logan is an up and coming MP in the Commons and is attending the dinner thinking that Hamilton might be a campaign supporter, he is shocked to see Eleanor, who he hasn’t stopped thing of since he left and upset that she is engaged to Michael, who he dislikes immensely. He keeps the fact that they have met secret, but when he departs (after pissing off Hamilton and Michael) he arranges to see Eleanor later.

They meet the next day in the park and their friendship grows by leaps and bounds, at the same time, her relationship with Michael begins to turn ugly. Logan knows that seeing her each day is only drawing out the enviable heartache and tells her he can’t see her anymore. She agrees, but is heartbroken. Weeks pass and when Michael demands she get rid of Bruce, she writes to Logan and begs for help, which he offers without pause. But he tells her, he can’t see her, she tempts him into dishonor. She tries to abide by his wishes, but when things turn ugly with Michael, she breaks her vow and goes to Logan. But misunderstanding and unspoken words will tear them apart and may well keep them apart forever.

(Warning this might be spoilerish)

I thought this was a good story, I can’t give it 5 stars because in my mind Eleanor cheats on her fiancé, I just can’t like that, regardless of her feelings or intentions, she didn’t break with Michael before she started a physical relationship with Logan and cheating is cheating. Otherwise, I loved the story, I loved the slow progression of their relationship, the secondary characters (esp. his housekeeper Mrs. Campbell) were great, her family and fiancé were cringe-worthy villains whose treatment of her actually shocked me, Bruce was adorable and I thought the ending was great – I personally would have liked an epilogue or at least one more chapter since the end did seem a little to abrupt. But overall, it was a good story and even with the “sort of” cheating, I would recommend this book. It is the third book in the series, but they are all standalone titles and can be read in any order.

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

To Wed an Heiress by Karen Ranney

On By TracyIn Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)2 Comments

To Wed an Heiress (All for Love, #2)To Wed an Heiress by Karen Ranney
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: All For Love, #2

Release Date: March 26, 2019

When Mercy Rutherford runs away from her pampered and privileged life in New York and goes to find her mother’s family in Scotland, she never could have imagined how life changing her spur of the moment decision would be.

Mercy’s mother was worried about her mother and sister in North Carolina after the civil war, she learned that their home had been destroyed and they were destitute, so she sent funds to them, only to have them returned to her with the news that her mother and sister had returned to Scotland to live with her mother’s brother. Mercy seized the opportunity to get away from her over protective parents and her unwanted fiancé.

Mercy’s trip to see her aunt and grandmother was completely uneventful, until the last few miles, when an airship crashes into their carriage and injures both Mercy and her maid Ruthie. The incredibly handsome, not to mention rude and arrogant, pilot of the ship, Lennox Caitheart comes to their aid. He carries Ruthie to his castle to tend her injuries, he tells Mercy to wait with the carriage and he will send help. She watches him leave and then follows. He has set Ruthie’s arm and tends Mercy’s wounds. They talk and both make apologies, she is intrigued by him and he her, until he learns who she is.

Mercy is shocked by Lennox’s abrupt change upon learning who she is and is even more surprised when he basically kicks her out of his home. On the ride to her family’s home, she learns that Lennox’s brother and her Cousin Mary were in love and eloped, but they were both killed in a carriage crash and her family, the Macrorys have placed the blame on the Caithearts. When she finally arrives at her great uncle Douglas’ home, she realizes her mission of “mercy” was unnecessary – her grandmother’s brother is wealthy. Her reception is not what she expected and her grandmother is hostile and unwelcoming. Her aunt Elizabeth is more welcoming, but she will not go against her mother for Mercy’s sake. Her grandmother basically tells her she is not welcome and must go, Mercy argues that she cannot leave until Ruthie is better, but resigns herself to returning home.

Lennox Caitheart, the new Earl of Morton knows he was rude to Mercy, but he was shocked to learn who she was. He is still grieving the loss of his brother and the huge changes in his life. Before Robert died, Lennox was studying to be a doctor. But all that changed when he became the earl, he left school and returned home to discover that the Macrorys had interfered with several business deals that Robert had established and that he is penniless and has a rundown castle to support. He has become a hermit and supports himself by selling his inventions. His only passion is working on his airship. But when his interfering housekeeper Irene, suggests that he send a note to Mercy, he grudgingly agrees.

It is days before their paths cross again, and this time, it is Mercy who comes to the rescue. They again talk and exchange apologies, Mercy is nothing like Lennox thought she was, she is kind, considerate and beautiful. He is surprised how much he wants her, but it can never be, she is rich and her family is his enemy.

Mercy learns that her father is on his way and knows her time in Scotland is almost up, but when a surprise guest in the form of her “won’t take no for an answer” fiancé Gregory arrives, Mercy finally begins to stand up for herself. After a tense and violent exchange with Gregory and Lennox, Mercy makes a decision and asks Lennox to marry her. He refuses, he cares for her, but his pride will not let him accept her money and he has no way to support her. When her father finally arrives, it appears that Mercy is out of time to change his mind and accepts that she will have to return to America. She bids him farewell and returns to her great-uncle’s house with her father.

Lennox is heartbroken, but still clinging to his pride. Irene talks to him and he finally realizes the gift he had in Mercy, but is it too late??

This was great story with truly likeable and relatable characters, a lot a emotion, some laughs, a little bit of steam, a lot of character growth, a lovely secondary romance, some surprises, a couple of twists and turns and finally a grand, romantic gesture leads to a very sweet HEA. This book is the second in the series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone title. I loved this book and would happily recommend it.

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