TITLE: One Wedding and an Earl
SERIES: The Duchess Society #4
AUTHOR: Tracy Sumner
RATING:
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TITLE: The Rebel and the Rake
SERIES: A League of Scoundrels #2
AUTHOR: Emily Sullivan
RATING:
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TITLE: Chasing the Duke
SERIES: 12 Days of Christmas Anthology #7
AUTHOR: Tracy Sumner
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TITLE: A Scot to Have and to Hold
SERIES: Once Upon a Scot #2
AUTHOR: Celeste Barclay
RATING:
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by Monica McCarty
An elite fighting force unlike the world has ever seen...
Scouring the darkest corners of the Highlands and Western Isles, Robert the Bruce handpicks ten warriors to help him in his quest to free Scotland from English rule. They are the best of the best, chosen for their superior skills in each discipline of warfare. And to lead his secret Highland Guard, Bruce chooses the greatest warrior of all.
The ultimate Highland warlord and a swordsman without equal, Tor MacLeod has no intention of being drawn into Scotland’s war against the English. Dedicated to his clan, the fiercely independent chief answers to no one—especially not to his alluring new bride, bartered to him in a bid to secure his command of the deadliest fighting force the world has ever seen. The treacherous chit who made her way to Tor’s bed may have won his hand, but she will never claim his heart.
Although her husband’s reputation is as fierce as his manner, Christina Fraser believes that something softer hides beneath his brutal shell. But the only warmth she feels is in their bed, in glorious moments of white-hot desire that disappear with the dawn. When Christina’s reckless bid to win her husband’s love goes awry and thrusts them into danger on the eve of war, Tor will face his ultimate battle: to save his wife and to open his heart—before it’s too late.
The Plot
I adored this book! It was full of adventure and angsty romance. There were several scenes that caused Tor and Christina to be separated for some length but the story still held my interest. It was like to stories woven together perfectly; the training Tor was doing and the relationship between Tor and Christina. They meshed perfectly and I felt like I had enough of both with each shift. I can not wait to read the next in the series!
The Heroine
Christina had a rough childhood with an abusive father and a sickly sister. She is forced to obey her father and trick Tor into marriage. Christina is a hopeless romantic and is convinced she can make the best of the marriage. She is the sweetest woman and does everything to help Tor and his clan, but Tor is reluctant to let her in his world.
The Hero
Tor is a hardened Scottish Warrior. He saw his mother and father brutally killed and has closed himself off from any emotion so he can be the best warrior for his clan that depends on him. Being forced into a marriage is not at all what he wanted, even if there was something felt between him and Christina, he didn't have time for the distraction. But when his hand is forced and he marries her and agrees to train a special elite group of warriors, he has a hard time keeping his hold on his suppressed emotions and his neutrality between England and Scotland.
The Steam
I could so feel the passion between Tor and Christina! They had such chemistry in the bedroom which made me feel even worse for her outside the marriage bed. But the steam was there and it was so very hot!
Tropes
Historical Romance, Medieval Era, Scotland, Highland Warrior Hero, Alpha Hero, Damaged/Tortured Hero, Soldier/War Hero, Virgin Heroine, Unexpected Virgin, Married in Scandal, Marriage of Convenience/Arranged Marriage, Suspense/Danger/Murder, Sunshine/Grump, Three Flame, Five Star
HistoricalRomance, MedievalEra, Scotland, HighlandWarriorHero, AlphaHero, Damaged/TorturedHero, soldier/WarHero, VirginHeroine, UnexpectedVirgin, MarriedinScandal, MarriageofConvenience/ArrangedMarriage, Suspense/Danger/Murder, Sunshine/Grump, ThreeFlame, FiveStar
TITLE: Alien's Temptation
SERIES: Earth Brides & Alien Warriors #3
AUTHOR: Tina Moss
RATING:
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TITLE: A Wicked Game
SERIES: The Ruthless Rivals #3
AUTHOR: Kate Bateman
RATING:
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TITLE: The Dream of Love
SERIES: The Book of Love #6.5
AUTHOR: Meara Platt
RATING:
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TITLE: The Viper
SERIES: Highland Guard #4
AUTHOR: Monica McCarty
RATING:
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TITLE: Lady Briar Weds the Scot
SERIES: The Blakeley Manor #1
AUTHOR: Fenna Edgewood
RATING:
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TITLE: Made for the Marquess
SERIES: Second Sons of London #4
AUTHOR: Alexa Aston
RATING:
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TITLE: Irresistible
SERIES: The Phoenix Club #6
AUTHOR: Christina Britton
RATING:
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TITLE: Curled Up with an Earl
SERIES: The Byronic Book Club #2
AUTHOR: Amy Rose Bennett
RATING:
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TITLE: The Hawk
SERIES: Highland Guard #2
AUTHOR: Monica McCarty
RATING:
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TITLE: Empowered By the Earl
SERIES: Second Sons of London #3
AUTHOR: Alexa Aston
RATING:
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TITLE: The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne
SERIES: Rescued From Ruin #1
AUTHOR: Elisa Braden
RATING:
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Ruthless Rivals #2
by Kate Bateman
The Davies and Montgomery families have been locked in an ancient feud. But it’s a thin line between love and hate in Kate Bateman's A Daring Pursuit.
TWO ENEMIES
Carys Davies is doing everything in her power to avoid marriage. Staying single is the only way to hide the secret that could ruin her—and her family—if it was revealed. For the past two seasons she’s scandalized the ton with her outrageous outfits and brazen ways in a futile bid to deter potential suitors. Outwardly confident and carefree, inside she’s disillusioned with both men and love. There’s only one person who’s never bought her act—the only man who makes her heart race: Tristan Montgomery, one of her family’s greatest rivals.
ONE SCANDALOUS BARGAIN
Wickedly proper architect Tristan needs a respectable woman to wed, but he’s never stopped wanting bold, red-headed Carys. When she mockingly challenges him to show her what she’s missing by not getting married, Tristan shocks them both by accepting her indecent proposal: one week of clandestine meetings, after which they’ll go their separate ways. But kissing each other is almost as much fun as arguing, and their affair burns hotter than either of them expects. When they find themselves embroiled in a treasonous plot, can they trust each other with their hearts, their secrets…and their lives?
The Plot
Carys and Tristan both have had feelings for each other since they were young, but they both channel that passion into sparing rather than romance. But when Tristan finds Carys waiting in Howe’s carriage, he is intrigued. Unbeknownst to him, Howe is blackmailing Carys to keep the secret that she is not a virgin because he basically raped her two years ago. She is terrified a husband would know she wasn’t a virgin and loathe her, so she flaunts herself and declares that she doesn’t want to get married. They strike a deal to have Tristan show her how passionate and pleasurable sex can be and boy does he ever! I thought the plot was unique in that, Carys didn’t turn into a whore after her loss, but she decided sex wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be. There was some drama with Howe and Carys’s animal menagerie that kept the story interesting and moving along.
“I love you. I’ve loved you for years, even when I couldn’t admit it to myself. Why do you think the walls in my bedroom are green?” A glow of happiness was welling up inside her, spreading to every limb, but she was still afraid to hope. “Why?” “Because I imagined you there. Always.” Her throat felt hot and painfully tight. “Truly?” “Truly. I want you by my side, to dazzle and charm everyone who comes into your orbit. I’ve seen you do it a thousand times.” “Only to make you jealous,” she admitted. He let out a strangled laugh. “Well, it worked. I’ve hated every man who laughed at your jokes, every idiot who’s sighed over your figure. The day you wore that bloody handkerchief dress was the worst day of my life.” She managed a coy smile. “You didn’t like it?” “I loved it and hated it in equal measure.”
The Heroine
Lady Carys Davies thought she was in love and was seduced by Christopher Howe, only to find him engaged to someone else days later. So she keeps the shame secret to save her family from ruin, but it only causes her more pain. She resigns herself to spinsterhood because she’s afraid what will happen if her future husband should find out. So she puts on a happy face, shocks society with her hoydenish behavior and shocking attire, all the while masking her sadness and despair. I felt for Carys; she had to feel so alone.
The house sounded very much like herself: an illusion. A vision that looked perfect from afar, but on closer inspection was still a work in progress.
The Hero
Tristan Montgomery wants everything in order and behaved, the exact opposite of Carys, but he has been pining after her since they were kids….in conscious and unconscious ways! When he finds out she isn’t a virginal debutante, he is almost relieved, which kind of bothered me, but I guess that made her more ‘real’ or attainable. Either way, I loved that he offered to help her and the tug of war he went through in the process.
She stifled a giggle. “You’re doing a sterling job.” She pressed against him and wriggled provocatively. “I can feel how hard it is for you.” “That’s my pistol,” he said, straight-faced. She wiggled again. “My other pistol.” She flattened herself full-length against him, from breasts to thighs, and with them both wearing breeches there was no mistaking his desire. A thrill of feminine triumph coursed through her. “And this?” she teased. “That’s all for you.”
The Steam
Loved their banter, whether it was sexual or not, they had some great quips! Great chemistry and a few good steamy scenes.
“You’re only one bad experience away from being a virgin. You barely qualify to wear pale pink, let alone scarlet. You, Carys Davies, are a fraud.” Her mouth dropped open, as he’d known it would at the perceived insult, and he choked back a laugh. Outraged Carys was much better than miserable Carys. “Being a virgin is a finite thing,” she bit out. “You either are or you aren’t. There’s no gray area.” “True.” He kept his tone to just the right level of amused and condescending guaranteed to drive her mad. “But sexual experience is a sliding scale. A marathon, as opposed to a sprint. You’ve barely stumbled across the starting line.”
“No,” he agreed huskily. “You’re not thin. Or willowy. You’re delicious. And I’m a starving man who wants to feast.”
“You have an excellent assortment of curves, Lady Carys. And curves are some of the most desirable forms in all of architecture. Beautiful and strong.”
Tropes
Regency Era, Outdoor Steam, Beta/Cinnamon Roll Hero, Historical Romance, Country Life, House Party, Ton Society, Titled Hero, Soldier/War Hero, Starchy Hero, Independent Heroine, Hoyden Heroine, Experienced Heroine, Bluestocking Heroine, Damaged/Tortured Heroine, Childhood Crush, Unrequited Love, Enemies to Lovers, Fling to Love, Opposites Attract, Architect Hero, Animal Lover Heroine, Plus Size Heroine, Four Star, Four Flame
RegencyEra, OutdoorSteam, Beta/CinnamonRollHero, HistoricalRomance, CountryLife, HouseParty, TonSociety, TitledHero, Soldier/WarHero, StarchyHero, IndependentHeroine, HoydenHeroine, ExperiencedHeroine, BluestockingHeroine, Damaged/TorturedHeroine, ChildhoodCrush, UnrequitedLove, EnemiestoLovers, FlingtoLove, OppositesAttract, ArchitectHero, AnimalLoverHeroine, PlusSizeHeroine, Fourflame, fourstar
