ARC Review: The Bad Baron's Daughter by Laura London

The Bad Baron's Daughter by Laura London
Publication date: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Forever Yours
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~~Reviewed by Debbie~~

They first met at a The Merry Maidenhead. Kathleen Janette Kendricks, (Katie) the daughter of a gambling Baron Kendricks,  and  Lesley Byrne, Lord Linden,  a rake of rakes.   The gin shop was owned by Zack, Katie’s half-brother, who was watching over Katie while her father was missing. Katie was dressed as a young man, serving drinks and making friends with the other bar-girl, Winnie, who is involved in the revolution. 

When Lord Linden saved Katie from a drunk, Nasty Ned, twice, he finally recognized her as the young lady she was.  In order to protect her, Zack takes her to Lord Linden’s house, sure he will make her his mistress. (Evidently, the Baron had made Zack promise to make her someone’s mistress if he did not return, as this would provide for her)  Becoming his mistress would provide the protection she needed from Nasty Ned. Kate is totally unaware of the plan, she thinks Zack is taking her to a friends house for her protection.  Katie denies Lesley, Lord Linden, of making love.  In his drunken state, he leaves her room and tells her to lock the door.  

The next day, not knowing what to do with her, he goes to the runners and finds out no one knows where the Baron is.  That evening he has to leave to go to his Grandmere’s ball.  Katie is to stay in his home and he will spend the night elsewhere.  When he is gone, someone tries to break into his house, calling out for Katie.  Scared, she runs to Lesley’s Grandmere’s house, in her nightgown.  The scandal

begins.  

Not knowing what to do, Lesley brings Katie to Laurel Steele’s house, his on and off lover.  Laurel wanted nothing to do with Katie, specially after learning who was her father.  After much persuasion, Laurel agress.  This frees Lesley to look for the Baron, but has no luck. 

Review: The Whisky Laird's Bed by Donna MacMeans

The Whisky Laird's Bed by Donna MacMeans
Publication date: July 15, 2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
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~~Reviewed by Debbie~~

Claire Starke is a member of the Women for a Sober Society.  The fellow lady members are her family now that her father had died.  She loved being active in the cause of spreading the word of the evils of drink.  Also, she was involved with the Rake Patrol (Donna MacMeans's previous series), a group that warns and rescues innocent women from being duped by fraudulent and misleading personal ads placed in the paper.  This was the situation Claire found herself in after she returned from passing out pamphlets against drink. A Miss Townsend was determined to go to Scotland to an answer an ad looking for a wife.  She had come to ask advice from Claire. Claire and her friend, Faith, were convinced it was a fraudulent ad.  Miss Townsend was determined to go as it might be her last chance to be wed.  Faith accompanied her to Scotland.  When Claire found out, she followed to save both ladies.  

In Scotland, Cameron Macpherson was tired of his mom placing ads, luring society ladies to his home to get him a wife. He was too busy trying to build up Ravenbeck Whisky distillery.  Since it had burnt down a few years ago, he had scarce money and the last thing he needed was to be hunting for a wife.  

Determined to save her friend, Claire burst into the room, to find Miss Townsend and Faith in the presence of Lady Macpherson, Cameron’s mother, along with Cameron.  Before realizing her friends were in no danger, she had insulted Cameron, accusing him of luring innocent women to Scotland and being a white slaver.  

Review: Trapped at the Altar by Jane Feather

Trapped at the Altar by Jane Feather
Publication date: July 22, 2014
Publisher: Pocket Books
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~~Reviewed by Debbie~~

The year is 1667 and the country under King Charles is in an uproar. The battle of religion is strong between the Catholic and Protestant sides. But in Daunt Valley, Somerset, the political and religious animosity between the Daunts and their enemy, Chalfont, was coming to an end. The Chalfonts were distant cousins to the Daunts who live the life of thievery, piracy and deceit. Young Ivor Chalfont was sent to live among the Daunts.  There was a betrothal between Ivor, then 6 years old, and Ariadne (Ari), three years younger. As the years flow by, they became close friends, spending their days in the valley, away from all other outsiders.

17 years later, they are told it is time for them to marry.  Ari believes herself in love with another, Gabriel Fawcett, a poet from outside the valley.  Once the marriage is announced to happen, she is against it.   Although Ivor and her have grown up together, becoming great friends, she loved Gabriel. Due to her refusal of the upcoming marriage, the Valley Council held a marriage ceremony, surprising her.  Now she finds herself on the journey to London, with a husband she doesn’t want, leaving behind her beloved Gabriel.  Ivor is aware of Ari’s feelings for another, but he is pleased with her as his wife since his desire was to build a marriage together.  

Ari and Ivor both know why Lord Daunt has sent them to London.  With the tension between the Catholic and Protestants, the country was divided.  All wealthy and influential families were intermarrying, just as Ivor and Ari had.  Ari was Catholic and Ivor was Protestant.  That way, no matter how the country turned in their religious war, the wealth would still belong to their families and they would ensure there would be not persecution against them.

Review: The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1) by Valerie Bowman

The Unexpected Duchess by Valerie Bowman
Publication date: April 29, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperback
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~~Reviewed by Debbie~~

Lucy was just trying to help her friend, Cassandra (Cass)... Out of marriage to a duke that is! Cass is in love with Julian, but Julian is to marry Penelope - that is, if he survives his injuries from the war. As a dying request, Derek Hunt, the Duke of Claringdon, promised Julian he would marry and take care of Cass.  But

 Cass only wants Julian. 

Determined to help Cass get out of marriage to the Duke, Lucy agrees to help her. Lucy is the daughter of an earl and a very beautiful woman, so Derek wonders why she is not married.  He soon learn why, as she keeps interfering in his courtship of Cass. Derek had never met a more sharp tongued woman; a woman

 who is strong-willed, opinionated, vocal, and quick to cut a man down with her words.  

As Derek pursues his wooing of Cass, Lady Lucy is always right there to discourage him. At each ball, a ride in the park, or an afternoon outing, Lucy is there to discourage Derek. Cass insists that she want Lucy’s help, but does she really?  Even as Lucy repeatedly tells Derek to stop courting Cass, he is

 nonetheless determined to continue. So why is it that despite his constant bickering with Lucy concerning what’s best for Cass, his thoughts turn to doing something else with Lucy? 

Book Review: Romancing the Runaway (The Forsters #4) by Wendy Soliman

Romancing the Runaway by Wendy Soliman
Publication date: April 28, 2014
Publisher: Carina Press
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~~Reviewed by Debbie~~

Miranda Cantrell is climbing out a window to escape her guardian.  Mr. and Mrs. Peacock had been her guardians since she was fourteen.  But being locked in her room wasn’t really what her father thought would happen when he died and left them her guardians. It isn’t an easy climb and she lands wrong and hurts her ankle.  Still determined to leave, she hobbles to the stable to retrieve her beloved horse Bianca, with her dog Tobias trailing her.  She leaves behind her hideous guardian Mr. Peacock and his son, that she is being pressured

 to marry.  Miranda just turned 17 and only want to return to her beloved home, The Wildes in Cornwall.   Because she is in such a hurry, she didn’t see the roots and rabbit holes on the trail. Bianca trips and damages her leg so they are forced to seek shelter at a nearby barn, which happens to be on the estate of Gabriel Forster.  

All Gabriel wanted was to escape the trappings of marriage from the ton ladies.  As he was riding the estate, he notices a dog, heading

  to the barn.  As he searches out the barn he discovers Miranda, sick with fever from the cold, and worn out from caring for her horse.  As he too is a horse lover, he brings them back to his estate.  

As Miranda recovers, Gabriel learns the circumstances surrounding her running away.  But there is more to the story then she is revealing.  Little by little, the facts come.  Gabriel is filled with the strong urge to protect her and discover why Miranda’s guardian wants her marriage to his son.  To solve the

 mystery, Miranda and Gabriel travel to her beloved property, As they sail to Cornwall, Gabriel knows he is falling in love with Miranda, but he doesn’t want to, so he is struggling to just protect Miranda, act as her brother and quit kissing her!  

Book Review: The Kindling Heart by Carmen Caine

The Kindling Heart by Carmen Caine
Publication date: April 10, 2011
Publisher: Bento Box Books
Series: Royal Entourage #4
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~~Reviewed by Debbie~~

THE KINDLING HEART is a wonderful start to THE HIGHLAND HEATHER AND HEARTS SCOTTISH ROMANCE Series.  Carmen Caine has started this series with story full of intrigue, adventure, danger and romance.  

Bree didn’t understand!  What had she done now?  It wasn’t unusual for her stepfather to be angry with her, but why was he calling her “whore, harlot”?  She knew it would lead to another beating, while her mother looked the other way.