Tag: Madeline Martin

Earl of Oakhurst by Madeline Martin

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

Earl of OakhurstBarbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Earl’s Christmas
Publication Date: 11/12/19

This was a delightfully, lovely and romantic read. A marriage of convenience morphs into a wonderful love story between two extraordinary people who both deserve all the best life has to offer. As with any book by this author, the story is well written and compelling and the research is impeccable as always. We also had a small visit with Alistair Johnstone, Earl of Benton, and his lovely heroine Emma Thorne who is now expecting their second child.

James MacKenzie thinks he is an unlucky man. Several years ago, he was in love with Lady Judith Eaton – or at least he thought he was in love – then, when his uncle died and his popinjay of a cousin, Gilbert, inherited the earldom, Lady Judith quickly announced her engagement to him and calmly walked away from James. Since then, James hasn’t been back in England and he certainly doesn’t want to return now. There is no help for it though – as the new Earl of Oakhurst it is his responsibility to move back and take up the reins. He knows nothing of being an earl, but his lovely grandmother will quickly remedy that. According to her, one of his first duties will be to marry – and quickly – and Lady Judith is still available. NO WAY.

Lady Penelope Keats is (was) a diamond of the first water and has had many, many suitors – well, she had them as suitors for a while. As soon as she showed them her intelligence and her keen interest in the healing arts, they ran the other way. She knows she can never marry because no gentleman would allow his wife to work At St. Thomas’ hospital – even as a volunteer. Yet, now, in order to continue volunteering there, she has to be married. Where can she find a husband who will allow her to continue her pursuit of medical knowledge?

When Penelope and James meet, they quickly discover that they can be the answer to each other’s dilemma. They form a pact – they’ll marry with no strings attached. Neither wants love or children, so it will be a perfect alliance. That works – until they share their first kiss – then each wants more, but won’t share that with the other.

It is a lovely read and it was so much fun to watch these two negotiate their way through their families’ expectations, strange goings-on at St. Thomas hospital, and their original marriage agreement. You’ll love the secondary characters – we’ve actually met Penelope’s mother before (she is a matchmaker) – and James’ grandmother is a delightful addition to the story.

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

Leila’s Legacy by Madeline Martin

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Medieval (1066-1540), OtherLeave a comment

Leila's Legacy (Borderland Ladies #5)Barbara’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Borderland Ladies #5
Publication Date: 10/15/19
Number of Pages: 284

Proper preparation is a requirement for reading this book – you need a comfy chair, a full box of tissues and your bottle of digitalis to revive you after your heart stops. This is a story that stays in your heart and on your mind long after you’ve read the last word and closed the book. I think this was my favorite book in the series and was the perfect wrap-up. Everything was tidily completed with no loose ends. All of the villains got their just desserts, all of the heroes and heroines got their Happily Ever After and the reader gets a wonderfully sweet and contented feeling to last a long, long time. The epilogue – OMGoodness – the epilogue – heart palpitations! We even got a couple of wonderful nuggets that I had hoped for but didn’t actually expect.  I don’t usually gush over books – but – gush, gush, gush!

Lady Leila Barrington has always known that she was different from her sisters in more ways than one. She looks different – they are very blonde and fair and she is small and dark-haired – and – she has visions – terrifying visions usually. She sees the past on occasion, but usually it is the future she sees. All of her life, she has been plagued with visions of her death at the hands of the man she loves. Now, the pestilence that Leila had long foreseen is spreading across the land and the people are dying. Leila knows her time is coming nearer, but she cannot hide in the castle, she has to help nurse her people as long as she can. Once she meets the man, The Lion, can she stop herself from falling in love with him? How could she possibly love someone who will take her life?

Niall Douglas, Deputy to the Keeper of Liddesdale, hates witches. He has hated them since one caused the death of his father – and now one is bringing death across the land. It is his job to find her and bring her back to Liddesdale for trial. Niall is the honorable man that Lord Armstrong, Keeper of Liddesdale, and his son Alban are not. Niall is fierce, loyal, steadfast, and determined. He is determined to find the witch and to see her tried for the damage she has caused. Then, when he does find her, he cannot believe this small, beautiful, kind, and caring creature is a witch. How can he save her? Surely the priest who is coming from Edinburgh to try her will be able to see that she isn’t a witch.

Niall is in for some rude lessons about his employer. He’d always believed the best of the man and thought that one of the reasons Armstrong employed him was that he was honorable and Armstrong would listen to him. Niall quickly learns that everything he thought he knew isn’t so. Now, he isn’t sure he can save Leila or himself.

I highly recommend this book and this series! However, I wouldn’t read the book as a stand-alone. You really need to read the other books in the series to understand the full impact of the series. If you don’t read the other books, at least read the first one, Marin’s Promise. BTW – we met some of the Armstrong’s in Ella’s Desire, and I was a bit unhappy that the Armstrong’s didn’t pay a high price for what they did.

I absolutely cannot think of one thing that would have made this book better – it was perfect just as it was. The author gave us some beautiful memories and some heart-stopping suspense and a romance that was to-die-for (literally). The only thing I wonder about is how things went at Liddesdale in the aftermath of everything. There were some good people there and I had to wonder if Lady Davina married and she and her husband took the lead there – that is how I’m going to think about it anyway.

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