Sarah MalloryRecensioni

LUCASTA is, for all intents and purposes, a story about getting what you need versus getting what you think you need. The story set up is familiar—gorgeous younger sister (Camilla) and less attractive, but more interesting older sister (Lucasta) vying for the affections of the same man (Viscount Kennington). Unfortunately, through no fault of his own, the Viscount becomes less desirable as a potential mate for the popular Camilla, who if not happily spurns him at her mother's behest.

With the exception of the father and his lecherous friend, the characters weren't unsympathetic. Believing what society believed is only to be expected of Lucasta's mother and sister, just as Lucasta not believing is to be expected since she is socially awkward.

I was surprised by the characterization of the father. His borderline cruel disregard for his eldest daughter's marital safety (if not happiness) was shocking. His reasons were basic and understandable, but his intentions and plans were criminal.

The romance follows predictable patterns, but Viscount Kennington is a happy-go-lucky sort of guy and not above poking fun at himself and society, and Lucasta is thankfully not given to melodramatic speeches about how envious she is over her younger sister's beauty. She is content to being less attractive since she was given brains and much prefers them to the obligations her sister must deal with.

The only complaint I have is towards the beginning. Events unfold that force Lucasta to run away from home, but she is woefully unprepared and the resulting encounter with Viscount Kennington is very contrived and unbelievable.

Overall LUCASTA is a quick enjoyable Regency romance sure to make most readers of the genre quite happy.

Scarlet gown - 3
Lady beneath the veil - 4

Nancy turned her back on her family and generally the aristocracy when her father tried to marry her off to an older man. Now she works as a cook for a women's refuge, She's returning home after playing the role of a merry widow in London- for Reasons - so she has the clothes. While snow starts falling she finds an injured man and helps him home; getting snowed in for her pains. Between his and her staff they get him back to health and find attraction (that their staff collude in helping) but she doesn't believe she has enough to offer and he doesn't either, then there's the matter of government secrets being sold and her father's manor being implicated and it's a lot of messy complicated lives that have to be resolved for the happy ever after.
Entertainingly some of the twists took me by surprise. This was a good read.

Miss Susannah Prentiss runs a card parties in her house and makes a profit from it, Jasper Coale is sent to investigate by his aunt who thinks her son is becoming attached to Susannah. When he meets her he's intrigued and makes a bet that will mean she spends a night with him. As they spend more time with each other they find themselves attracted, but can he overcome her reluctance to have a relationship?
It was interesting and fun and the characters were good. I enjoyed it.

England, historical-romance, history-and-culture, family-drama, family-dynamics, relationships, relatives, verbal-humor, situational-humor, Y/A-only-means-no-gratuitous-erotica, romantic-comedy, HEA*****

A fun read!
A young American lady from the deep south becomes orphaned around 1813 and is packed off to the family home in England. There she finds that the Baron (not an elderly) is expected to marry her. She declines. She does meet another distant relative she prefers and also notices that Cousin Jane does long for the baron. This comedy of errors and mistakes is great lighthearted fun! loved it!
Joel Froomkin is the voice actor par excellence who makes everything he narrates even better.

Terrific book with a very unusual beginning. The book opens as Pru reminisces about how she became her aunt's companion. Tall and shy, her Season in London did not go well. After hearing herself described as "dull as her name," Pru offered to become Aunt Minerva's companion, allowing her younger, prettier, and livelier sisters to make suitable matches. In the four years since then, Pru has been happy with her aunt and working in various charitable organizations. On this night, she is up late reading when she hears a sound from the kitchen and discovers a handsome and inebriated man at her kitchen table.

Garrick, Duke of Harland, has spent the day drinking, working up the courage to fulfill his obligation to propose to a lady promised to him since they were children. Garrick has spent the last ten years out of the country after a scandalous duel sent him fleeing to the continent. His mother told him to stay away, even after his father's death, but recently called him home. Garrick is so drunk that he mistakes Pru's house for one a few doors down, run by a woman of questionable virtue.

I liked the first encounter between Pru and Garrick. Pru is understandably shocked and wary at first, but her caring nature emerges once she realizes he is no threat. I loved watching her fix him food, encourage him to eat, and listen to his troubles. Having someone listen to him makes a huge difference, and he finally leaves her kitchen in a better frame of mind. But this is not the end of their acquaintance.

They meet again a few months later in London. Pru and her aunt are staying with a friend, and Pru is again facing societal events that she dislikes. Garrick went to London after his erstwhile fiancée rejected him, but the rumor mill claims that he jilted her, labeling him a rogue. Other unsavory rumors are circulating about him, and Pru is told to keep away from him. But those rumors contradict what she knows of him, and her sense of fairness is outraged. When she overhears the person spreading the rumors, she insists on telling Garrick about it. The perpetrator is no surprise to him, but he plans to leave London until it all dies down. Unfortunately for his plans, Pru is determined to fight those rumors, and Garrick feels he must remain in London to protect her from herself.

I enjoyed seeing Pru's investigative attempts as she tried to find a way to clear Garrick's name. She unearths some helpful information, but Garrick is determined to keep her out of scandal's way. With the time they spend together, it's no surprise that the connection they felt at their first meeting grows stronger. Though Pru has fallen hard for Garrick, she is convinced she is too far below him for anything to come of it. Meanwhile, Garrick realizes he wants Pru in his life, but his attempts to make her see that are awkward at best.

When Garrick's attempt to follow up on some of Pru's information results in him being badly beaten, Pru is the one who steps in to nurse him. She has no care for her reputation, only that Garrick recovers. I ached for her fears for him and her belief that he only wanted her out of gratitude. It takes some interference from an unexpected source for Pru to believe him when he tells her of his feelings.

The story behind the rumors about Garrick is one of jealousy and revenge, with his misspent youth coming back to haunt him. I loved Pru's instinctive distrust of that couple when she met them and her determination to foil their plans. There were also further rumors about his actions on the continent, fed from the same source. I was unsurprised by the truth, as it was a far better fit for Garrick's personality. Pru's actions put her in danger, and that confrontation kept me glued to the pages until it was resolved.

My favorite secondary characters were Garrick's friend, Jack, and his valet, Stow. Jack knows Garrick well and becomes a critical ally in clearing Garrick's name. I especially enjoyed seeing Jack and Pru stand together against Garrick's stubbornness, and I would love to see Jack get his own story. I loved how Stow immediately took to Pru and conspired with her to help Garrick. They made a terrific team when Garrick was injured.

The only thing that might have improved the book was an epilogue to show how they are doing later.

#netgalley

Good conclusion to the trilogy. This book takes place four years after Rescued by Her Highland Soldier. Though the beginning of their marriage was full of happiness, the last couple of years have been marred by tragedy, leaving both emotionally reeling. Grant and Maddie have grown apart, and he returns from a trip to discover that Maddie has left him to go to her father. We know from the previous book that the comte is a man who thrives on intrigue.

The comte is playing a dangerous game and has drawn Maddie into his web. He is working with Jacobite sympathizers in London, angling to continue the Prince's fight for the throne. His antics put him on the road to treason, and Maddie's presence puts her, and by association, Grant and Ardvarrick, in danger. The comte's lack of concern for Maddie's welfare added to my disgust for him. I was equally furious with Maddie for going along with his schemes once again.

Grant goes to London with his friends, the McBinnies, to find his wayward wife. He's disturbed to see her at a lavish London ball, looking happier than she has in a long time. He wants to drag her out of the ballroom and the looming danger, but he knows he must be cautious. Though Maddie does everything she can to push him away, he refuses to leave until he knows she is safe.

The twists and turns of this book kept me turning the pages, anxious to see how it turned out. The comte goes blithely on, secure in his invincibility. Grant watches the house and Maddie, determined to protect her until she leaves for France. Other watchers are revealed, but who are they? Another player has his eyes on Maddie and will do anything to claim her as his own. I was on the edge of my seat as each scene played out, captivated by the sheer ingenuity of some of the actions and the audaciousness of others.

I ached for Grant and Maddie throughout most of the book. Each is hurting from their losses, but they have kept those feelings to themselves. Neither wanted to add to the other's grief. Maddie feels like a failure, and Grant's withdrawal makes her believe she has lost his love. Grant doesn't want to burden the already grieving Maddie with his pain, so he buries it in work and watches her become more distant. Each wants the other to be happy, even if it means heartbreak for themselves. I liked their "aha" moments, but did they come too late?

The rescue was fantastic. I loved the window scene - a neat little nod to Outlander. But I nearly despaired of Grant and Maddie getting past their fears and misconceptions. Thank goodness Grant's emotional confession unlocked the fears that had kept them apart. The epilogue was excellent, and I loved seeing what the future had in store for them.

One of my favorite characters was Colonel Rutter, one of the British officers staying with the McBinnies in the previous book. It was sweet to see him captivated by Anne McBinnie as he renewed his acquaintance with the family. The colonel also plays a critical role in bringing Grant and Maddie together, as well as the resolution of the comte's actions.

Good story that sets an unlikely romance in the perilous days following the Battle of Culloden. The story opens as Grant witnesses more of the aftermath of the battle - the wholesale murder of an entire village. What he sees sickens him, but he can do nothing except escape to fight another day. Grant is devastated by the loss of life during the battle and after. He also realizes he is now a fugitive and can never return home. He hopes that his foolish rebellion won't bring danger to his family. Grant plans to make his way to France to start a new life. His plans are interrupted when he stops to rescue Madeleine.

Madeleine has spent the last several months in Inverness with her father, a gentleman of questionable morals. She is an independent and resourceful young woman who has traveled Europe with him for several years. He left her alone (not for the first time) with instructions to follow him when he sends word. As the book opens, Madeleine's maid has deserted her, and she must continue her journey alone. Unfortunately, she encounters three English dragoons who have plans for her.

Gentleman that he is, Grant immediately comes to her rescue when he hears the commotion. He's taken aback to discover she's disabled one attacker alone and quickly stops the other two. I loved the bit of trickery he used to send them on their way before introducing himself to Madeleine. Words are exchanged when he expresses his dismay at her circumstances, and she defends her independence. Eventually, Grant convinces her of the dangers of traveling alone. Though initially intending to leave her in the hands of a guide, Grant finds himself volunteering to take her to the next stage of her trip instead. Neither counts on the sparks of attraction that flare between them.

This begins a journey full of adventure, moments of fear, moments of laughter, and a growing connection that neither can deny. I appreciated that the author did not minimize the fear and danger that stalked the Highlands as Cumberland wreaked revenge on the Highlanders, whether they fought for the Prince or not. Their long journey was treacherous, as they had to be constantly on their guard. I loved the lighthearted moments, such as Madeleine (dressed as a boy) and her skillful card-playing with some British soldiers. I could feel Grant's frustration with her as he feared what would happen if she were discovered. When Grant is injured, it's up to Madeleine to get him to his friends to recover.

There is more intrigue and plenty of time for Grant and Madeleine to get to know each other. I loved how he appreciated her resilience, ingenuity, and beauty. Grant realizes that he has fallen in love with her but has nothing to offer her. Madeleine feels the same for him but believes the daughter of an adventurer is not suitable for the laird's son, no matter his circumstances. There is additional intensity when an old foe appears, determined to have revenge on Grant and his family. I loved the ending and the unexpected twist that changed Grant's future.

Grant is the son of Logan and Ailsa from Forbidden to the Highland Laird, book one of the series.

Zelah was seduced by a married man and left holding the baby which was sadly stillborn. Now she wants a life that doesn't include marriage. While visiting her sister she is offered a job cataloguing and organising the library of the reclusive Major Dominic Coale. His scars are on the outside while hers are on the inside,, exposure to Zelah and her family exposes Major Coale to more and more of life and he starts to find less avoidable.
It was an interesting read and the Court Case about land ownership did ring quite true.

This was fine, I guess, rounding up since it’s my own fault for not having read the series and because I knew it would be too short going in. Nice dash of angst I suppose, but it really is just so short.

I loved this! Seriously nailed some of my favorite tropes. Big-time Regency Regina George (so much so I really judged the hero for his relationship with her), some great Misunderstandings, a somewhat insecure heroine who is not a doormat. Barely landed on the plain heroine shelf as she’s quite pretty, just a redhead with a couple of freckles, but her being “not a beauty” is commented on enough to warrant a place there, even if she is not really insecure about her appearance. Great angsty read.

Loses half a star because the hero and heroine were morons who took ages to see the villain and the plot against them. I would have preferred a bit more angst and uncertainty on the heroine’s part, and for her to have been a BBW, but still this falls neatly into my favored tropes and I read it in one sitting.

Terrific book. The story opens as Ross, a scarred survivor of Waterloo gives in to the pressure to look for a wife during the Season. As the second son, Ross never expected to become the viscount, but the death of his brother made it unavoidable. While his sister and aunt push him to find a wife, Ross endures being stared at, hearing the whispers about his "hideousness," and still be the target of every matchmaking mama in the ton. He finally has enough, decides he won't marry at all, but still finds himself stuck with a visit to the home of two simpering debutantes. His arrival at the Bettridge home is such a terrible experience that he plans to leave the next morning - until he meets Carenza.

Carenza is the daughter of her father's beloved first wife and is hated by her stepmother and two half-sisters. Like Cinderella, she is bullied and belittled by them and treated more as a servant than a sister. Carenza endures it for the sake of her father, whose frail health is affected by the strife in the house. The upcoming visit of a wife-seeking viscount has her stepmother and her daughters in a tizzy and taking their stress out on Carenza.

I felt so bad for Ross when he arrived at the Bettridge's home. The intensity of the attention he received made him very uncomfortable. When he meets Carenza, she initially doesn't make much of an impression on him, other than him being disgusted with the way she is treated. When she makes it plain that she plans to stay away from him, he first believes it's because of his scars. He's surprised when she tells him the scars don't matter; it's because of her fears for her father's health. Ross finds himself intrigued by the quiet and practical young woman and quickly feels comfortable in her company. He agrees to stay for his planned visit to keep her from being blamed for his departure. I laughed out loud at his efforts to avoid the stepmother's machinations and enjoyed seeing him bond with Carenza's father.

That bond creates an unexpected dilemma when Carenza's father suggests that Ross consider marrying her. He worries about what will happen to Carenza when he dies and would like to see her settled in a suitable marriage. While Ross promises to think about it, he hesitates to tie her to a "monster" like him. But over the days he is there, Ross enjoys her company, forthright speech, and kindness. He is also increasingly disturbed by the way the other women treat her. When he proposes a marriage of convenience, she accepts. And boy did I enjoy the reactions of the others!

I loved seeing the relationship between Ross and Carenza develop. Both of them have deep-seated insecurities thanks to circumstances beyond their control. Carenza has been emotionally abused for years, her stepmother and half-sisters taking every opportunity to belittle her looks, shape, size, and anything else they can come up with. Despite it all, Carenza is a loving and kind-hearted woman who makes the best of it. I ached for Ross. His PTSD keeps him constantly on edge, unable to relax for fear of the flashbacks and nightmares he endures. It doesn't help that a snake-in-the-grass who is close to him works hard to keep the horrors fresh in Ross's mind.

Once they are at Ross's home of Auster, away from the pressures each has endured, Ross and Carenza have the chance to get to know each other. I loved how Carenza sees past Ross's scars to the man he is inside. She likes him and wants to help him, even when he tries to push her away. I enjoyed the scene with the balm she makes and that she has no problem standing up to him when he's being a jerk. She is also understanding and compassionate when he needs it. Ross is stunned at how Carenza blossoms once away from her tormentors. He sees her beauty and does what he can to convince her of it. He quickly finds himself regretting his insistence on a platonic marriage as he becomes more attracted to her by the day. Luckily for Ross, Carenza is a woman who knows how to go after what she wants, and she wants him just as much.

There were two characters in the latter part of the book that I knew were trouble from the start. At first, I thought the one was simply insensitive, but the more I saw him, the more I thought he had ulterior motives. I was sure of it when he made a suggestion that I knew would go badly for Ross and wanted to yell at Carenza to trust her instincts. The final confrontation was great, though I think Carenza stopped Ross too soon. The second was a troublemaker of a different sort, though in league with the first one. I was suspicious of the circumstances of arrival and constant popping up in the wrong places. I loved seeing both get what was coming to them.

I loved the ending and seeing how the actions of the troublemakers ended up having the opposite effect on Ross. It finally brought everything out in the open and gave Ross the chance to start healing. It was followed by a terrific epilogue set several years later. I loved seeing what has changed and what has stayed the same.

I also loved the cover. The scars on Ross's face are visible, something that isn't usually shown. I loved that Carenza is shown as the short, curvy woman that is described in the book instead of a generic Regency heroine. The art department excelled on this one.

Randolph, the earl of Westray was deported to Australia for killing someone before he inherited his title, he had been creating a life for himself after he was pardoned but now he has to embrace a life he thought was behind him. When he arrives back he decides to visit some of his various holdings only to discover there's a woman claiming to be his wife in situ. Arabella Roffey is trying to discover why her husband abandoned her to go to a house party and came back only to die.
Sparks begin to fly and the two find that maybe there's a real relationship under the fake. Things are also precipated by people from the house realising that they aren't married.
It's a fun light read with characters who spark well and have issues that they have to resolve before finding love.½

Randolph Kirkster, a debauched drunken opium addict, narrowly avoided hanging and was transported to NSW, where he became a new man and was pardoned. (The author seems to believe that Sydney is in the tropics!) On becoming the Earl of Westray he returns to England, where he discovers Arabella Roffray posing as his wife. She is investigating the death of her husband George. Rather than exposing Arabella, Ran decides to help. Pathetic, easily resolvable misunderstandings keep them from acknowledging their love.½

Ellen and Max marry in Egypt in the throes of wild passion, after a brief acquaintance, but there is danger and Ellen must return to England without Max. They lose contact, and when Ellen's solicitors try to find the marriage documents they cannot, so Ellen pretends to be a widow and makes a new life for herself and her child in Harrogate, where Max finds her by chance. He cannot forgive her for deserting him.

Max's unreasonableness in blaming Ellen's desertion for everything bad that has happened to him since is the only thing keeping the two of them apart, and not nearly a good enough reason, so I found the book tiresome. Wake up to yourself, Max!½

Cute, fast read. Wealthy 18 year old girl from Kentucky, who recently lost her father, sails to England to wed a distant relative. She's met on the docks by his stewart who travels with her to his family estate where she meets her very proper, stuffy intended. It's a pygmalian story with outcome never in doubt.

Good book. The story begins a few years after the first Jacobite Rebellion, and interactions between the English and the Scots remain a bit tense. Logan Rathmore arrives at Ardvarrick to take up his duties as Laird after his father's unexpected death. Until he was sixteen, Logan lived in Scotland but was then sent off to England to his mother's family to finish his education. He hasn't been back in the ten years since then. Now he must refamiliarize himself with his homeland. Two weeks later, Logan's off to visit his nearest neighbor, Fingal Contullach, the rival clan's laird. On the way, he encounters Ailsa, the castle harpist, who instantly fascinates him.

Ailsa is Fingal's niece and follows in her mother's footsteps as the castle harpist. Though a family member, Ailsa is frequently ignored unless playing, and even then feels more like part of the background. She is wary when she meets Logan, having been warned against men, but she's also intrigued.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Logan and Ailsa. It is a slow burn, as they see each other rarely over the first few months. Logan received a stern warning from Fingal that Ailsa was off-limits, but that didn't stop his fascination with her. There is a beautiful scene at Contullach where, sensing her loneliness, Logan shares his love of poetry with her. But the feelings he stirs in her frighten Ailsa, as she's been told all her life that letting a man into her life would end her ability to make music. However, when she overhears a plot that would break the tentative peace between their clans, she is determined to warn him. Once again, a short time together allows them to get to know each other a little more, but it isn't enough. Logan fights hard against his attraction, well aware of what is at stake, but there's no doubt that she's taken hold of his heart.

There are obstacles ahead before Logan and Ailsa can reach their happy ending. A selfish, vindictive man has them both in his sights. I loved Ailsa's fight and initiative and Logan's pride in her when he found her. But even when Logan claims her for his own, Ailsa has issues that keep her from believing that Logan truly wants her. She worries about being up to the task of Lady of Ardvarrick even though Logan shows her how she's valued and appreciated. The one thing he can't do is get past her assertion that her music is gone forever. Her family spent years grooming her to believe in a curse, and nothing he says will convince her otherwise. I ached for Ailsa and her unhappiness and hoped that eventually, his words would have some effect. Nearly losing Logan in another attack forces Ailsa to face those demons in a last-ditch effort to save him. I loved the culmination of that confrontation and the emotion that spilled from the pages as she finally believed. The epilogue was terrific, and I can't wait for the next book.

I loved how Scotland and its history was almost another character in the book. I liked the peeks into their daily lives, from the weeks spent at the shirling cottage to the looks at the differences between life at Contullach and Ardvarrick. Watching Logan return to his Scottish roots was terrific. The landscape was not forgotten either. The descriptions of Ailsa's practice glen, the land over which they traveled, and even the homes themselves made me feel as if I was there.

I thought this book had good writing and character development if you can separate it from the awful, tragic pacing.

It's just...nothing happens. Until suddenly the hero reaches and kisses the "hinge" of Molly's thighs.

eh?

I liked the slow burn and back and forth between the two MCs, then it just froze in time until that particular scene, so not great. And also I thought this book was a bout 500 pages, so also not great.

2.5/5 star

What if the assault on a woman has a lasting influence? What if attraction didn't just wipe out trauma? Not something handled often in romance novels but this one did.

Serena Russington wants to go to Vauxhall with Sir Timothy Forsbrook when he plies her with alcohol and takes off for Scotland. When they stop for the night he assults her but doesn't get very far before her screams attract the brooding Lord Quinn. He rescues her and brings her home to his house. She's very traumatised but finds that Lord Quinn is a comfort. When she returns to her older brother and his wife, who are her guardians.her assulter does everything in his power to paint himself as the aggrevied party and to paint her in a very bad light. Her sister-in-law reinforces how she thinks Serena behaved very badly. Eventually Quinn offers for her hand, but what she finds with him is less rude than his reputation would suggest.

Lord Quinn is such a good character, he's so patient and understanding and really wants the best for her, even if it does take him a while to realise why.

Loved it, could barely put it down, really enjoyed the read and would recommend it.

Molly Morgan lives quietly with her brother in his vicarage, helping to run a house for "unfortunate" women when her life is disruped by Sir Gerald Kilburn and his house party, particularly Beau Russington who is everything she thinks she should despise, but how come he attracts her so much. Beau Russington is a renouned rake, well able to talk to women except for Molly who keeps him on his toes. They both need to learn to trust but it's a hard slog.

They're the core romance but ther are a few others and it's interesting to see the relationships build.

Entertaining and light.½

Viscount Gilmorton has decided that he will wreak revenge on Deborah Meltham's brother by ruining her reputation, not realising that what he is assuming is mistaken and that it's all going to go horribly wrong when he falls for her.

There's a lot of moustache twirling bad guy going on here and I quite enjoyed it.½

Deborah turned the tables when she finds out the Viscount Gilmorton planned to use her for revenge against her brother. The story has the usual twists and turns that keep putting obstacles in the way of true love. On this case, the brother has a problem with drinking and illegal activities that his sister Deborah tends to ignore in her love for him. The activities appear appropriate for the period and everything works out in the end on this gentle romance.

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Wolfgang "Wolf" Arrandale has returned to England to try to prove his innocence. He goes to the local parson and finds that the parson's daughter has grown and they're attracted to each other, but can she trust him, he is accused of killing his first wife.

The two characters spark well, the story is fairly predictable, the angst too.½