Tag: Michelle Willingham

Breathless at the Wedding by Michelle Willingham, Jerrica Knight-Catania & KC Bateman

On By TracyIn Anthology, Author Collaboration Series, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Breathless at the Wedding by Michelle Willingham

Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: A Summer Wedding at Castle Keyvnor, #3

Release Date: May 22, 2020


More witches, faeries and romance at Castle Keyvnor! However, of the three anthologies, I would say this installment has the least amount of “paranormal/magical” activity.

A Rake of Her Own by Michelle Willingham – 4 stars – Ariadne Cushing is quiet and shy, she spends most of her time blending into the background, she would like to marry someday, but hopes for love. But her mother has decided that it is time for her to marry and has even selected her groom – Mr. Filmore Wilson. She escapes to the library to be alone to figure out a way out of the betrothal and there she meets Evan Middleton, Viscount Harcourt. She wonders if Evan would consider ruining her – he won’t but since he needs a rich bride to save his family – they strike a bargain. He will help her break the betrothal and she will help him find a rich bride. It is clear that they are attracted and perfect for each other – but without a fat dowry, Evan can’t afford to follow his heart. This was a very sweet story, I was surprised and delighted to find myself liking Ariadne’s fiancé Filmore Wilson and I really hope he finds a lady of his own!


Lady Faye’s Secret Garden by Jerrica Knight-Catania – 3 stars – Braneck Dowlyn is a gardener at Castle Keyvnor and has lived in Bocka Morrow his entire life. Lady Faye Bryant, sister of the Duke of Markham AND the Earl of Somerton has come to for Lady Gwyn’s wedding and learns that her mother has decided to marry her off. She meets Braneck when she is hit by a rock while reading, Braneck kicked the rock and immediately is attracted to her. But Braneck knows she is far above his reach and has been burned by love before. But the heart wants what the heart wants and with the help of a faery, some witches and her rake of a brother – these two may very well find their HEA. Honestly, it was well written and entertaining, but completely improbable and unbelievable.

A Midsummer Night’s Kiss by KC Bateman – 4 stars – Kitty Worth and James Cashell, Viscount Leighton have known each other forever and Kitty has been in love with him for almost that long. But she is convinced that James thinks of her as a younger sister and will never return her feelings so she decides that maybe it is time to move on. James wants Kitty but is wracked with guilt by the death of her brother and his best friend and feels that he has nothing to offer. Titania, Queen of the Fairies sees them and decides to intervene and help them find their HEA. When James learns that Kitty is considering marriage to another man, he knows that he can’t let that happen, if she is going to marry – it will be him! But his interference doesn’t go as planned and Titania will have to step in again to get them back on the road to HEA. This was a well written, cute story, I wish is was a bit longer, but a fun quick read nonetheless!

I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me.




What The Earl Needs Now by Michelle Willingham

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

What the Earl Needs NowWhat the Earl Needs Now by Michelle Willingham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Earls Next Door #2
Publication Date: 10/24/17

What a truly engrossing read! The prose is excellently written, the pacing is just right, and the HEA is hard won and well deserved! I loved my introduction to Michelle Willingham’s work and definitely look forward to reading more from her. This was a real can’t-put-it-down book and I definitely have to go back and read the first book in the series now!

Lily Thornton has loved Matthew Larkspur, Earl of Arnsbury, for a long time. When her father was trying to marry her off and Matthew was getting ready to leave for India, she and Matthew said their vows in front of a priest – but there was no license – and they both knew it. But they had a one night honeymoon. Lily lived on that one night for the two years it took Matthew to return – a scarred and broken man. He had been captured in India and tortured for over a year – horrible torture that I won’t describe. It broke him physically and mentally. In today’s world, we would say that he has PTSD. He loses himself in remembrances of the torture and can hurt someone.

Lily has visited Matthew almost daily since his return, but he’s broken and he doesn’t want her to cling to a broken man – so he tells her he doesn’t remember her. Oh – but he does. She doesn’t give up and keeps visiting. She seems to have a calming effect on him and he is drawn toward her light. Until something happens one day and he hurts her.

Matthew is eaten up with remorse and now Lily is afraid of him. She still loves him, but she keeps her distance from him. That is what really draws him back into the world – that and getting rid of all of the medications he’s been taking. He needs a clear head if he is going to deal with his demons and win Lily back.

Matthew is a sly devil and knows how to woo this particular lady. Oh! Yes, he does. Not with flowers, candy or jewelry – but with veterinary books and a correspondence course. Can you believe?

There are also some pretty nasty villains in this book – Matthew wasn’t captured by accident and the perpetrators are too close to home for comfort.

A couple of reviewers have commented on the speed with which Matthew handled his PTSD and criticized Lily for giving up on him. I beg to differ with them. If you look at the amount of time the story says elapsed, it wasn’t exactly quick. Yes – it happened within a few chapters of the book, but the elapsed time covered in those chapters isn’t terribly short. Then, regarding Lily – he really frightened her and hurt her – I would think anyone would have to think twice about being in his company given those circumstances.

This was a truly excellent read!

“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”