Month: August 2019

The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

On By DebbieIn Historical Romance, RegencyLeave a comment

‘….Where was I?’

‘At Almack’s for your grand social debut, eating dry biscuits

and hiding a hedgehog in your pocket.’

 

Blurb:

They call him the Duke of Ruin.
To an undaunted wallflower, he’s just the beast next door.
Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society–and now he wants to get even.
Loyal and passionate, Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart.
When her imposing–and attractive–new neighbor demands she clear out the rescued animals, Penny sets him a challenge. She will part with her precious charges, if he can find them loving homes.
Done, Gabriel says. How hard can it be to find homes for a few kittens?
And a two-legged dog.
And a foul-mouthed parrot.
And a goat, an otter, a hedgehog . . .
Easier said than done, for a cold-blooded bastard who wouldn’t know a loving home from a workhouse. Soon he’s covered in cat hair, knee-deep in adorable, and bewitched by a shyly pretty spinster who defies his every attempt to resist. Now she’s set her mind and heart on saving him.
Not if he ruins her first.

 

Review:

Hi everyone. I am beyond excited and delighted to welcome you to my stop on the Wallflower Wager blog tour!

The Wallflower Wager is part of the Girl Meets Duke series, and is Penny’s story. Gabriel Duke and Lady Penelope Campion meet when she breaks into an apparently empty house to catch a runaway (flyaway?) parrot. And it just gets better, sexier, and funnier from here.

Penny is an amazing heroine. She’s spent the time since her disastrous debut in rescuing all kinds of animals. However, she’s now forced into finding homes for them when her aunt decides to give her one last chance to re-enter society . If she doesn’t, then she will have to return to the family home to become a spinster aunt. She’s apparently scatty, naïve, ditzy – but hidden underneath is a truly strong character with a caring heart.
Gabriel is…he’s…what can I say about a hero this wonderful? He’s from the slums, self made, and as sexy as hell! Called the Duke of Ruin because he financially ruins members of the aristocracy, he decides to help Penny with her aunt’s wager, because he knows that having a real ‘Lady’ living next door, will add value to his house. He’s apparently got a heart of stone, but it soon becomes clear he’s got integrity, as well as morals.

They both have secrets, both are scarred by their past, and lonely. Yet, they are equals and so perfect for each other.

This review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Delilah the parrot. I have a sneaky affection for her – she’s such a brilliant creation. The interaction between them had me in stitches.
It is a glorious caper of a book! Tessa Dare has the rare ability to write real romantic comedy. It’s effortless, unforced, and done in such a way that you really will cry with laughter. The interaction between hero and heroine veers between witty dialogue and sexy shenanigans, but always with that underlying spark of real, sensual, attraction. It’s breath-taking!

The Wallflower Wager is the first Tessa Dare I’ve ever read. I loved it! So much so, I went and bought the first two in this series.

*Don’t buy this if you are a traditionalist, and don’t like ‘modernised’ language and characters.

*DO buy this if you love humour, fun, sexy, and parrots brought up in brothels!

 

Buy:

Amazon UK

Mills & Boon

Harlequin.com

Amazon.com

Kobo

 

Author Bio:

Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty historical romances. Her books have received numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice) and multiple RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Awards. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance,” and her books have been contracted for translation in a dozen languages.

A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.

Tessa’s Website       Tessa on Twitter     Tessa on Facebook     Tessa on Instagram

The Lochmore Legacy: The Epilogue, Final Thoughts, and A Huge Thank You!

On By DebbieIn Historical Romance, Medieval, Regency, Scotland, Victorian2 Comments

 

Secrets of a Highland Warrior contains a beautiful epilogue by Janice Preston. It’s poignant, emotional, and it brings us full circle. I’m so glad this was included because I felt it brought the whole series together, and provided closure. And honestly, it is so emotional I didn’t just have a lump in my throat, I really did cry.

The Lochmore Legacy has been a stunning series from start to finish. The authors have been outstanding. Every single one. Each story is a testament to their ability, skill, and excellence, and they’ve all brought the uniqueness evident in their other books, and which makes each one an auto-buy author. I’ve loved each story for its own sake, but also for the underlying mystery running through each one. A mystery which was actually revealed more as each subsequent book moved us back in time. It really has been a joy to read.

I have to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in this collaborative series: Mills & Boon for the concept, all of the editors and above all, the amazing authors who brought it all to life with such breath-taking skill.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

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(Image used with permission: Image Author)

Secrets of a Highland Warrior by Nicole Locke

On By DebbieIn Historical Romance, Medieval, ScotlandLeave a comment

‘Are we done now?’ she asked. ‘I have more to read and you are in the way.’

 

Blurb:

The key to his past…
…lies with the enemy sharing his bed!
Part of The Lochmore Legacy: a Scottish castle through the ages! Rory Lochmore had expected to wage battle, to claim land and finally secure his standing within his clan… Instead he won a wife. A McCrieff wife. Their convenient marriage could unite the two long-feuding clans forever. But can a political alliance give way to a passion strong enough to stand the secrets of the past?

 

Review:

Well. Here we are. The final part of the Lochmore Legacy. I really can’t believe it’s finished. This series has been wonderful from start to finish. I will be doing a separate post to somehow bring together all my thoughts on this series, and this will include the epilogue at the end of Secrets of a Highland Warrior.

So. Secrets of a Highland Warrior. The last book in the Lochmore Legacy series, but in a way, it’s the start of the mystery. It is a marriage of convenience/enemies to lovers story, but it’s also not that straightforward. The McCrieffs and Lochmores have been enemies for generations, and this enmity has recently been exacerbated by the grant of ‘McCrieff land’ to the Lochmores by Edward I of England. The McCrieffs have ignored all Lochmore communication about this, and as a last resort, Clan heir Rory Lochmore goes to the McCrieff stronghold. Once there, it becomes clear that this ‘visit’ has been engineered by Frederick McCrieff, second in command to the Clan Chief, so that he can arrange a marriage between his daughter, Ailsa, and Rory.

I loved this book! It’s got everything: danger, secrets, intrigue, mystery, romance, complications, warring Scottish clans, an absolute dream of a hero …..

Ailsa McCrieff is a wonderful heroine. She’s the clan healer, caring, sensible, and very intelligent. However, she’s certainly no pushover – she’s also very feisty and wields a mean set of shears! She’s a perfect match for Rory.

Rory Lochmore is a pure dream of a hero. He’s strong, muscular, gentle, and thinks on his feet. Yet, underneath all this, he’s also very insecure. However, these insecurities don’t detract from his attraction, rather they add to it.

I first came across Nicole Locke through her ‘Lovers & Legends’ series, and in Rory and Ailsa’s story, she’s brought all the things I love about her books. There’s lots of snark, sparring, banter, and warring between the couple. Her wonderful descriptions, accurate sense of the age, clan life and warfare, her ability to weave in a sense of intrigue, and danger, all combine to build up tension, heighten our emotions, and serve up a truly satisfying read.

 

(Reviews for the other books in the Lochmore Legacy series can be found here, here, and here)

 

Buy:

 Amazon UK

Mills & Boon

Harlequin.com

Amazon.com

Kobo

 

Author Bio:

Nicole Locke is the author of Harlequin Mills and Boon Lovers and Legends and The Lochmore Legacy series. 

Nicole’s Website       Nicole’s Facebook Page       Nicole on Twitter     Nicole on Instagram

 

 

Mrs Sommersby’s Second Chance by Laurie Benson

On By DebbieIn Historical Romance, RegencyLeave a comment

‘I don’t want to be beholden to any man again. It’s why I will never marry again and place my future in the hands of a husband.’ 

‘She was everything he could ever want in a woman and that thought frightened him down to his soul.’

 

Blurb:

She’s played Cupid for others
Now she’s met her own unlikely match!
Part of The Sommersby Brides. Widowed society matchmaker Mrs Clara Sommersby thinks handsome self-made businessman Mr William Lane is just the man for her neighbour’s overlooked daughter. He’s successful and confident, if somewhat emotionally distant, until suddenly―shockingly―his attention turns to Clara herself! She thought her days of romance were over, but is this dashing younger man intent on giving her a second chance?

 

Review:

Hi everyone. I’m thrilled to be part of another blog tour. This time, I’m delighted to welcome you to my stop on the Mrs Sommersby’s Second Chance blog tour!

Mrs Sommersby’s Second Chance is the fourth book in the Sommersby Brides series, but although some linked characters appear in this book, don’t worry, you won’t be left scratching your head saying ‘huh?’. It is very much a stand-alone if you haven’t read any of the others, (and why haven’t you?)

So, on to the book proper. Set in Bath, it’s the story of Clara Sommersby, widowed aunt of the Sommersby girls of books 1-3. Now she’s on her own, it might be assumed that Clara will be bored and lonely, but she has a secret which is unknown to even her closest friends. A secret which could ruin her and her nieces if it got out. She owns a hotel which in those days was scandalous. She meets William Lane over a glass of spa water, and there’s an instant, and mutual, attraction between them. However, William is in Bath on business, and is determined to buy Clara’s hotel from the assumed owner.

Clara is a total joy as a heroine. She’s fun, shrewd, but real. She still carries some baggage from the past, which is why she’s determined never to hand over herself, or her business to another man, ever again. She’s also realistic about her ‘charms’, and her age.

William is a self made man. He’s serious, hard working, and intelligent. However, his heritage/upbringing, (he’s a foundling), has caused him to protect himself by developing a very hard shell indeed. He has a huge chip on his shoulder which Clara delights in trying to knock off every chance she gets. It’s wonderful to watch.

Laurie Benson has the gift of writing unconventional characters in a way takes our preconceived ideas, turns them upside down and inside out, and hands them back to us completely transformed. And we are the richer, more fulfilled, for it. She makes us care! She accurately reflects the fears, insecurities, and very real choices that are peculiarly associated with second marriages – particularly those embarked on in later life. Her love for the period shines through every word, as she brings the regency to life with a humour, and vividness that’s breath-taking.

Finally, this is a very different kind of Romance in that the heroine is older than the hero, (Clara is 45, and William is 37). Don’t let it put you off. It is a wonderfully gentle, and tender read, yet still has all the emotion you’d expect.

 

Buy:

Amazon UK

Mills & Boon

Harlequin.com

Amazon.com

Kobo

 

Author Bio:

Laurie Benson is an award-winning author who writes flirty and frisky Regency romances. She began her writing career as an advertising copywriter, where she learned more than you could ever want to know about hot dogs and credit score reports. Now, she is happy to put that behind her and spend her time writing stories that take her and her readers on a romantic adventure. When she isn’t at her laptop avoiding laundry, Laurie can be found browsing antique shops, going on ridiculously long hikes, or sitting in her car on the school pickup line. She lives with her husband and two sons in a house filled with testosterone—even her bunny is a boy.

Laurie’s Website          Laurie on Facebook       Laurie on Twitter      Laurie on Pinterest

Reclaimed by Her Rebel Knight by Jenni Fletcher

On By DebbieIn Historical Romance, Medieval, PlantagenetLeave a comment

‘No! You said honesty was important to you, too. You said that you didn’t have any more secrets!’

 

Blurb: 

Married to a perfect stranger
Reunited with her warrior husband
When Constance inherited her father’s lands she had no choice but to marry cold-hearted Matthew Wintour. He left her for the battlefield without even a wedding night. Five years later Matthew has returned―a valiant knight! But Constance is no longer a frightened girl. And this time she must reach out to discover the honourable man behind the armour and what pleasures await them in the marriage bed…

 

Review:

Hi everyone. I’m delighted to welcome you to my stop on the Reclaimed by Her Rebel Knight blog tour! I’m really thrilled to be part of this.

I really loved this book! Both for the storyline, and the time in which it is set. Reclaimed by Her Rebel Knight is set in the reign of King John, amid the backdrop of the barons revolt and the Magna Carta.

The hero, and heroine were married five years earlier, only they have never exchanged so much as a single word. Ever! Matthew left England as soon as the wedding was over, while Constance was sent to live with her uncle. The story begins as Constance’s life is once again disrupted, because Matthew has returned for her. However, the tables are soon turned, when Constance begins to disrupt the barriers he has carefully constructed around his heart.

Constance is a wonderful heroine. She’s hurt and bewildered by what she sees as Matthew’s rejection and abandonment of her five years ago. Orphaned, torn from the home she loves, married to a man who she thinks only wanted her inheritance, it’s not surprising she’s angry. Nevertheless, her integrity and sense of honour, together with her underlying strength, resilience, and courage enable her to treat Matthew better than she feels he deserves.

I fell in love with Matthew right from the start. His surprising offer at the beginning proves he is trustworthy, and causes him to stand far above the other men. He is honourable, loyal, and determined to do the right thing, regardless of what it could cost him. He does make many mistakes with Constance because of the secrets he’s keeping, but in spite of all this, his own sense of honour, integrity, courage, and strength are always apparent.

This is such a powerful story. We get a wonderful sense of that tentative, sometimes fearful, and intricate dance of two people who are learning to know, and trust one another, as they journey together towards healing, and wholeness.

Jenni Fletcher is one of the best Medieval romance authors I have ever read. She knows her history, her research is extensive and thorough, yet it isn’t intrusive. She creates a vivid and authentic sense of the time, by seamlessly weaving her knowledge into the book in a way that’s reminiscent of Nora Roberts. Ms Fletcher’s characters fairly leap off the page, and draw you into their lives – you really do care what happens to them. Her ability to write very evocative, vivid, and moving stories, her understanding of emotion, and what it means to be human, her ability to write flawed characters with skillful compassion, all combine to make Ms Fletcher one of Mills & Boon’s best. A definite auto-buy author.

 

Buy:

Amazon UK

Mills & Boon

Harlequin.com

Amazon,com

Kobo

 

Author Bio:

Jenni Fletcher was born on the north coast of Scotland and now lives in Yorkshire where she writes historical romance novels set in several different eras. She studied English at Cambridge University before doing a PhD on Edwardian literature & psychology at Hull. She has been nominated for 3 RoNA awards and has a day-job teaching creative writing. In her spare time she loves baking, eating the results of baking and, obviously, reading.

Jenni’s Website            Jenni on Twitter          Jennie on Facebook