Tag: Madeline Martin

Clara’s Vow by Madeline Martin

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Clara's Vow (Borderland Rebels, #3)Clara’s Vow by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Borderland Rebels, #3

Release Date: March 16, 2021

When Clara Fletcher’s brother Drake and her mother begin arguing about her future, she is troubled, she has no desire to be a burden to her family, so she decides to take matters into her own hands and runs away with the intention of taking her vows as a nun at the Paisley Abbey. Clara is a skilled healer and longs to help people, so she knows she will be welcomed at the Abbey, but a small part of her grieves the death of her secret dream to have a family of her own.

Reid MacLeod is on his way to see Lord Tavish in Dumbarton Castle with a missive from the King warning of an impending attack by the English when he comes upon a cottage being set alight by English soldiers and it sparks memories of his own childhood tragedy – he intervenes and as he is fighting, he is struck in the back with a dagger. When he wakes, he finds himself in the care of the one woman he has never forgotten – Clara, the sister-in-law of his friend and former commander, Sir William.

Clara was horrified to realize she attacked Reid by mistake and knows she can’t leave him injured. She takes him back to the cave she camped in and discovers it is not just the wound she inflicted that has brought him down, but a previous injury that has become infected. Reid insists that he can’t stay and be treated, that he has an important mission to complete. A mission that Clara decides she will complete on his behalf.

Reid refuses to give up his mission and grudgingly agrees to let Clara accompany him, but plans to leave her at the Abbey and keep her well away from the trouble coming to Dumbarton. Being with Clara makes Reid long for a life that he swore he would never have. After losing his entire family, Reid lives in the hope of avenging them and decided long ago that he would never place his heart in danger of being broken again, but Clara tempts him like no other.

Clara finds herself falling for Reid and begins to hope for a different future, she knows that Reid has closed his heart to love and wonders if she can breach the walls he has erected – but before she can even think of that, they need to complete his mission – a task that seems nearly impossible when Reid is injured again.

This was a well-written, nicely-paced story filled with action, emotion, and steamy love scenes. Clara and Reid are wonderful characters, who each have their own crosses to bear and their journey to HEA is not without challenges. The book delivers a story filled with action, heartache, loss, revenge, surprises, steamy love scenes, a heroine who can hold her own in battle, a hero that will have choices to make, and finally, a HEA that brings a sigh to your heart and a smile to your face. I highly recommend this title, it is definitely my favorite of the series (so far) and while it is the third book in the series, it could easily be read as a standalone title.

*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.*

Earl of Kendal by Madeline Martin

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Earl of Kendal (Wicked Earls' Club)Earl of Kendal by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Earls’ Club, #24

Release Date: January 19, 2021

When Lady Sophia Stopford learns that her father means to marry her off to one of his friends, she knows that she will have to take matters into her own hands and save herself from an unwanted marriage. Aware that she will have to escape and establish herself somewhere else, she will have to figure out a way to support herself as her funds are limited. She is running out of time and still has no idea what she can do, but when she is overheard calling Lord Kendal boring, it leads to a very enlightening conversation and finally gives her an idea – she will go to Scotland and set up a whisky business!

Adolphus Merrick, the Earl of Kendal is being blackmailed by a man who has the power to destroy Kendal’s sister – the very man who once saved her. Kendal is the co-owner of Mercy’s Door – a gaming hell he runs with his sister, Marguerite. Years ago, Marguerite was ruined and a young Kendal was able to save her thanks to the help of Lord Gullsville – Lady Sophia’s father. Due to his help, Kendal has repeatedly forgiven the earl’s debts, but now he wants Kendal to save find Sophia and marry her – if he refuses, Gullsville will tell the ton of Marguerite’s ruin. The problem is Gullsville doesn’t know where Sophia has gone, just that she has taken her late aunt’s widow’s weeds and the jewelry she inherited. Gullsville might not know where his daughter is, but Kendal has a pretty good idea and has no one but himself to blame for glamorizing whisky smuggling. He is not happy, but to save his sister, he agrees to find Sophia and marry her.

His plan seems straightforward, find Sophia, marry her, and return to England with no one the wiser of her escapades – but the lady doesn’t like that plan and refuses to comply – leading Kendal on a wild chase through Scotland and making him burn to not only find her but to win her heart!

This was a well-written, fun romp with wonderful characters and steamy love scenes. If you like strong heroines, rejoice, because Sophia is certainly no simpering maiden looking for a man to save her! But even she is not immune to Kendal’s rakish good looks and his commanding personality. Together they will have to learn to trust and love, but it will not be a smooth journey, there will be lies, a heroine who refuses to stay put, steamy love scenes, a villain who gets what is coming to him, and a truly delightful HEA complete with a “Wicked Earl” reunion in the epilogue. This is part of the ongoing Wicked Earl’s Club series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone title with no problems.

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