Emily Sullivan

Second chance romances are not my favorite tropes, but this was a well written one. Our main characters- Georgiana and Henry, 8 years prior had been in love but a series of misunderstandings due to miscommunication led to them being estranged and Georgiana marrying another man. Now in present day, Georgiana is a wealthy widow who now needs protection due to threats on her life. Enter Henry, our intrepid hero.

Our 2 MCs were both fun. Georgiana was a strong woman of business and Henry was a refreshing change from a Duke. LOL. I wanted them to find their HEA and their steamy scenes were done very well indeed.

My main grouse with this book however is that the miscommunication that existed in the past also was pervasive until almost the end! I would have thought the characters would have grown in that regard, but they had not, and it was quite annoying to have that carry up till about 85% of the book.

The side characters were a lot of fun and ultimately this was a quick, enjoyable read.

Huge thanks to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
… (mer)

THE REVIEW

Sylvia Sparrow was a reporter for a newspaper and a women’s rights supporter living in London when she was wrong accused, jailed and exiled by all her friends. She moved back to her childhood home in shame, trying to run from the reputation she had unjustly been given. Now she works as a companion to her friends aunt. They traveled to Scotland for a house party, but Sylvia is being blackmailed with her secrets and told to steal papers from their host.

Rafe Davies works as a spy for the crown and was summoned by Mr. Wardale to investigate the guests at his house party as some very important papers have gone missing.

This was a cute story; different storyline which is hard to find in Historical Romance sometimes. But it just didn’t grab me the way A Rogue to Remember did…it is possible I was just in a post holiday funk but it took me a week to finish; I just wasn’t motivated by the story.

TROPES
Historical Romance, Victorian Era, House Party, Gamma Hero, Detective Hero, Rake Hero, Soldier/War Hero, Protective Hero, Titled Hero, Aggressive Heroine, Bluestocking Heroine, Damaged/Tortured Heroine, Sailor Hero, wall steam, Dresses as Male, Experienced Heroine, Independent Heroine, Orphan Heroine, Spinster Heroine, Working Heroine, Class Difference, Blackmail, Hidden Identity, Secrets & Lies, Suffragist Heroine, Chair Bang, The Abandoned Cottage Hookup, Caught in the Rain, Second Act Breakup, Four Star, Three Steam… (mer)

THE REVIEW
Charlotte Elizabeth Carlisle is out to ruin her reputation do she runs away from home hoping that will create such a scandal that her Uncle won’t be able to find anyone to marry her!

Alec Gresham was in love with Lottie, but, when he spoke to her Uncle, he was denied courting her and decided it would be best to leave.

It broke Lottie's heart when Alex left, but they both moved forward until Alec showed up in Italy to bring Lottie back to London. Along their journey, they start to learn more about their pasts, their forced separation and the depth of their feelings for each other. There is adventure, jealousy, romance, steam and a gallant rescue! I really don’t enjoy the miscommunication trope or rather the NO communication trope, but once I got past that frustration, Lottie and Alec were such a sweet couple. And while those tropes irritate me, childhood sweethearts is one of my favorites!!

TROPES
Historical Romance, Victorian Era, Italy, Beta/Cinnamon Roll Hero, Byronic/Brooding Hero, Detective Hero, Orphan Hero, Self-Made Hero, Protective Hero, Unworthy Hero, Working/Merchant Class Hero, Bluestocking Heroine, Heiress Heroine, Orphan Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Angst Romance, Break His Heart to Save Him, Class Difference, Fake Relationship, Forbidden Romance, Second Chance Romance, Unrequited Love, Forced Proximity, Road Trip Trope, Childhood Friend Romance, Five Star, Two Flame… (mer)