Once Again a Bride by Jane Ashford
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (407 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Pushed by her dying father into a marriage with one of his friends, Charlotte Rutherford Wylde finds herself bound to an old man who disdains and ignores her. Miserable, furious, she determines to take drastic action, but before she can confront him, her husband is murdered in the dark London streets. From the moment Charlotte hears this upsetting news, she is subject to shock after shock. Her dead husband has spent the fortune she brought him, leaving her nearly penniless. His will reflects his obsession with the artifacts of ancient Rome, turning her home into a museum. And most astonishing of all, he had an entire family that he never mentioned.

The fashionable Wyldes are as surprised to hear of Charlotte’s existence as she is of theirs. To the charismatic Alec she is, at first, just another obligation in his overburdened life. He has to grapple with his dead relative’s shady business dealings, an attempted robbery, and a suspicious Bow Street Runner. But it’s not long before Alec realizes that there is nothing he would rather do than cherish the entrancing Widow Wylde.

Being married to the Grinch who acts like a frustrated and covetous museum curator is a recipe for a disastrous life and that is where a reader meets the beaten down yet courageous heroine, Charlotte.
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Right away the author paints a picture of a woman you can feel sorry for. She’s belittled and scorned at every turn and when it seems all hope is lost, her circumstances turn on a dime. What follows is a journey on which she learns to have hopes again, and it was fascinating to watch her relearn how to have fun. It plucked at my emotions to see her realize how much she’d been denied and that she no longer had to cower and keep her thoughts and observations to herself. A reader sees Charlotte come into her own and it was terrific to read.

One of the highlights for the heroine is the hero, Alec. He’s a frustrated hero on many levels not the least of which is his being robbed of actually being a hero. Not that he would admit to wanting to be, but the signs where that that Alec had feelings for Charlotte. Watching him deny his attraction, or run and hide behind his duties, or run a mental horror story of a list of why he shouldn’t pursue her was at times both amusing and frustrating to read. Once again the technique is used of having the male lead in a story be plagued by events he witnessed as a child affecting and directing his adult life – until certain revelations turn his beliefs and his understanding of the world on its ear. Fortunately, the ploy wasn’t overdone or heavy handed and served as a convincing plot conflict because the author used the technique well.

On the other hand a technique that almost made me motion sick was the head hopping. Sometimes it works, depending on placement and the amount it’s used in a book. In this case I found it very jarring and disruptive to have so many switches in point of view. I believe there were four. I can perhaps see why the author did it because she had not one but two romances going. The second love story being that of Charlotte’s maid, Lucy and Alec’s servant, Ethan. It was sweet, and certainly the couples’ lives intertwined in such a way to keep a reader fascinated. But no matter how well the scenes were written, the delivery was choppy and broken and it left me feeling like I had to work harder to read the book.

The main conflict is the solving of a crime and who it eventually turned out to be. The author wove the mystery of who could have done it very well and it wasn’t until almost the end that I figured out who it was. Ms. Ashford was clever with her clues. It was a bit of a surprise to find out who it was because no one seemed capable of such a scandalous thing. The author even threw in a few red herrings, so I was appropriately and convincingly diverted.

Once Again a Bride is a clever and entertaining historical romance sure to please many a reader. When Charlotte and Alec get to experience the ultimate in loving, it’s spicy and pleasing. The story also left me wondering how in the world Alec’s cousin was going to fare beyond this tale. I loved Callie, the naughty kitty and enjoyed getting to know Alec’s sisters. There is a lot to be entertained by in this book and it’s worth reading a romance about a time in England’s history that I don’t often see dealt with. I’m glad I read it.

Waking Up With A Rake by Connie Mason, Mia Marlowe
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (346 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Dahlia

To prevent three royal dukes from marrying their way onto the throne, heroic, selfless agents for the crown will be dispatched…to seduce the dukes’ intended brides. These wickedly debauched rakes will rumple sheets and cause a scandal. But they just might fall into their own trap…

After he’s blamed for a botched assignment during war, former cavalry officer Rhys Warrick turns his back on “honor.” He spends his nights in brothels doing his best to live down to the expectations of his disapproving family. But one last mission could restore the reputation he’s so thoroughly sullied. All he has to do is seduce and ruin Miss Olivia Symon and his military record will be cleared. For a man with Rhys’s reputation, ravishing the delectably innocent miss should be easy. But Olivia’s honesty and bold curiosity stir more than Rhys’s desire. Suddenly the heart he thought he left on the battlefield is about to surrender…

Trading favors and wagering against an admitted rake was Olivia’s first mistake. The second was falling for him.

It causes vasodilation effect due cialis cheapest to its main ingredient Sildenafil Citrate expired and medical experts came up with Kamagra. But one must check the veracity of viagra brand online pharmacy and then apply with successful registration. This is possible when you have a medical condition, levitra 60 mg which needs proper care from affected personality. An accurate dosage description : Run the dosage under http://appalachianmagazine.com/2019/10/29/breaking-news-radford-city-police-say-shooting-was-isolated-incident/ viagra on line sales the physician guidance. As a first born wealthy heiress from an untitled family, Olivia’s prospects for a husband are slim and her social awkwardness and lanky physique don’t help matters either. However, she may not have to search far since one of the royal dukes has made his interest known, but first she must be “interviewed”. Olivia is not so naive to be unaware that the royal duke’s real interest is mostly in her untouched state and fertile future to secure his own seat on the throne. It’s all politics, but for the sake of her family’s future and mostly that of her sisters, Olivia may not have much choice in her match with the aging duke. That is until temptation walks in upsetting her quiet life and challenges her to become a knowledgeable virgin.

Lord Rhys Warrington lives a wastrel existence after a defeat in battle leaves him and his two best mates mired in scandal. Three years after the offending event, Rhys now finds himself faced with the proposition of a lifetime to restore his and his family’s honor. But it will mean seduction of the wrong kind of girl – a virgin. As an admitted libertine and rake without any gentlemanly qualities, Rhys should have no problem bedding the unknowing chit and ruining her chances of a royal dukedom. It is Rhys’ conscience, however, that poses the problem and controls even his most basic of instincts especially his physical responses. When it becomes clear someone else is threatening Olivia’s physical well-being, but with deadly intentions, Rhys must decide his priorities and what his true intentions toward the lady are.

A story complete with an overbearing mother, an unlikely romance and a deadly whodunit mystery to solve set in a time where propriety and acceptance in high society were the concerns of the day. However, a Hymen Hunt is underway and there are several players who have a stake, political, vengeful or otherwise, in the outcome. By these twisted circumstances is how our leads meet and their headstrong personalities and brilliant banter kept the story paced perfectly. I really enjoyed the sexual banter and how the whole “knowledgeable virgin” venture led to some very steamy scenes.

Olivia is not the typical heroine in description and I believe Rhys said it best when he described her as “endearingly awkward”. On the other hand, Rhys fits the physical embodiment of a rake perfectly, but with a much deeper side that only comes out when he’s around Olivia. It’s his rakish attitude that makes him charming and frustrating at the same time, but it definitely keeps things interesting. My complaint comes from these two falling for each other too soon and I would have liked to see Olivia’s intelligence shine just a bit more by her holding off on Rhys’ advances longer.

I believe the author duo did a fabulous job taking historically realistic events, people, places, and things and twisting them in their own imaginative way. Since we were introduced to three determined rakes in need of reforming and vindication at the beginning of this story, I am eagerly waiting to see what happens with the other two. For all historical romance fans this is definitely one not to be missed.

X Marks the Scot by Victoria Roberts
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (328 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

He was a Highland Rogue Wicked with a Bow and Just as Wicked with the Ladies.

Declan MacGregor hadn’t a care in the world beyond finding a soft bed and a willing woman…until he had to escort Lady Liadain Campbell to the English court. The woman needles him at every turn, but he can’t just abandon her to that vipers’ nest without protection.

She Never Asked for a Bodyguard…

Liadain wasn’t thrilled to be left in the care of her clan’s archrival. It was as if the man never had a lady tell him no before! And yet as whispers of treason swirl through the court and the threat of danger grows even sharper, her bitter enemy soon becomes the only one she can trust…

The strength and love of a good woman hold firm to save a rogue from himself and from false accusations.

Both Liadain Campbell and Declan MacGregor are like fish out of water at King James’ Court. They long for their Highlands far from the court intrigues, gossip, vindictiveness, and chicanery.
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Liadain, the sister of the dead seventh earl of Argyll, Archie (The Bloody) Campbell, is a healer and had avoided the attention of brother as much as possible. She’d lived a quiet, useful life healing the villagers and whoever needed her care. While Liadain is a raven-haired, green-eyed beauty who is kind and delicate, she is not a pushover if crossed. Her tongue is sharp when she is riled but her humor makes her eyes sparkle when sparring with Declan in a easy give-and-take way. They have a unique friendship.

Declan MacGregor, the third son, has tried the patience of his family since the death of his father. Drink and women are his main interests. His Laird, his older brother Ciaran, sends him to escort their dead enemy’s sister to court. Declan feels he must stay to protect the naïve Liadain from the machinations that abound at court. He tries to do the right thing but doesn’t always succeed. Also, he does not realize there is an evil web being woven around him that could prove deadly.

Some of the secondary characters with ties back to The Bloody Campbell are devious and cunning antagonists. Even the disgusting Dunnehl and Caroline Armstrong that you may have met in a previous book, show up. Moreover, they have allies that add to the danger that threatens Declan.

Other secondary characters like Rosalia and Aisling, wives of Ciaran and Aiden MacGregor add humor, wisdom, and unswerving loyalty to the hero and heroine. The intrepid little boy John brings a special type of loyalty to the story.

Victoria Roberts blends in just enough seventeenth-century English history to set the reader firmly in the time and place but doesn’t overdo it. She uses it to augment the development of the characters making them vibrant and compelling. As the plot unfolds, her characters seem to come alive.

If you have read her previous books about the MacGregor clan, you will recognize some of the characters. It is captivating to catch up with how their lives are progressing. But most enchanting is getting to share an adventure with the irascible Declan and the determined Liadain as they mature and come into their own through emotional upheavals, near-death experiences, and an awakening of love that revs up the heart rate and heats the blood—love scenes sizzle.

Like the previous books in this series, X Marks the Scot is a keeper.

Checkmate, My Lord by Tracey Devlyn
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (394 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

A desperate mother falls in love with the spymaster she’s forced to betray.

Spymaster Sebastian Danvers, Lord Somerton, has spent the last decade protecting England’s shores against a French invasion. Known for his cold logic and ability to sacrifice anything for the greater good, few can outwit him and even fewer dare challenge him. Until now.

After being exiled to his country estate, Sebastian is surprised when his beautiful, no-nonsense neighbor turns her seductive wiles on him. But years of intrigue have left him wondering why a respectable widow would risk scandal for a few nights in his bed. Sebastian takes his time unraveling the widow’s secrets, for he quickly realizes she might be the one sacrifice he is unwilling to make.

Living a quiet existence at Winter’s Hollow, Catherine Ashcroft spends her days doing little more than caring for her precocious six-year-old daughter and negotiating her neighbors’ various complaints against their absentee landowner, the enigmatic Earl of Somerton. But, all her boredom comes to a searing halt after learning her newly returned neighbor might have had something to do with her husband’s murder.

Catherine’s orderly existence soon upends and she now finds herself in a desperate bid to save her daughter’s life. But she must betray the earl to do so, even though she no longer suspects him of foul play. Catherine succumbs to the earl’s passionate kisses and recognizes the same loneliness she has felt for years lurking in his hard, crystalline eyes. As the earl’s enemies close in, will Catherine be able to save both her beloved daughter and the handsome spy who has stolen her heart?

Spymaster Sebastian Danvers’ life is not his own. Catherine Ashcroft’s life is too much her own.

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Catherine Ashcroft holds strong to her mother’s advise to “draw strength from your fear then vanquish it”. Making a good life for her daughter Sophie is Catherine’s number one priority. She has been without a husband except for short, few-and-far-between visits for four years, so his being dead does not change her life very much. She is respected and trusted by the people of the community. She is an advocate for the tenants of Bellamere Park since the steward there seems less and less concerned with seeing to the tenants needs.

The intelligent, lively seven-year-old Sophie is like a ray of sunshine sparkling on the morning dew. She brightens everyone’s life. It is horrifying to think the evil antagonists would harm her to get what they want.

Cochran and Silas, evil personified, slither in and out of Catherine’s life compelling her to go to whatever lengths necessary in an effort to get them what they want. The side story that involves these two evil men just adds to their sins. These two characters stir up dark emotions.

As both Sebastian and Catherine try to cope with their lives that are in chaos, their attraction to each other grows. Their relationship that brings sensational satisfaction but also incredible guilt for each of them makes intense, page-turning reading. The love scenes are breathtakingly beautiful and the inner turmoil of these two complex characters plus the ever-lurking danger keep the reader’s senses and emotions on full alert.

The side stories like those of Sebastian’s wards and Meghan McCarthy add depth to Checkmate, My Lord. They help augment the development of the characters so the reader gets to see what makes them tick.

Tracey Devlyn’s writing style is compelling and powerful. She taps into the emotions and senses of the reader as she reveals the dark side of human nature as well as the giving, honest, and loving side that overrides the darkness.

Checkmate, My Lord is an intense love story that offers redemption to the hero and heroine and gives them a happy-ever-after that the reader can rejoice in.