My Wicked Earl by Tammy Andresen

I have received a free e-copy of the book My Wicked Earl by Tammy Andresen to review.

Here is the book blurb.

Lord Rex Abelman, Earl of Casterly, has no intention of marrying. His life is that of an adventurer. But he cannot deny that Lady Daffodil is as sweet and funny as she is beautiful. Nor can help but wonder what life might be like if he were a better man.

Rex is a rake and a rogue who has sworn off marriage. He is the last man Daffodil should give her attention. So why do her eyes drift to him at every opportunity?

This is the fifth book in the Wicked Lords of London series, a set that I have been enjoying. This one continues where the previous title My Duke’s Desire ended, but would also work well as a stand-alone read.

It begins with Lady Daffodil trying to cook a meal for herself and her 15 year old brother Jacob, as the only servant left, their housekeeper Mrs Fields is now bedridden due to a fall. Their family is in a financial crisis due to her late father’s debts. They are alone as their mother and sister Violette have left to meet several potential suitors. But all Daffodil has succeeded in, is burning the meat and filling the kitchen with smoke, when a strange handsome man enters and carries her upstairs with Jacob following. Who is this rogue taking liberties?

It is Rex, the Earl of Casterly who has been sent by his best friend Theo, the Duke of Waverly to escort Daffodil and Jacob to attend their sister Violette’s marriage to Theo, since their mother has now fallen ill and cannot travel. But they can’t go yet, as who will look after Mrs Fields?

It will take a few days to put a plan into place, so having been thrown together by circumstances, each learns about the other. You can sense the attraction buzzing. What will ensue?

My Wicked Earl is available on Amazon, currently priced at £2.27 in Kindle format. As usual, Tammy has delivered another nice short romantic story.

Here are the links to my reviews of the previous four titles.
My Duke’s Seduction
My Duke’s Deception
My Earl’s Entrapment
My Duke’s Desire

---

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author, Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that at the age of 18, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart still resides in Maine and her family visits often.

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

Advertisements

Her Deceptive Duke by Scarlett Scott

I have received a free e-copy of the book Her Deceptive Duke by Scarlett Scott to review. You may find out more about the author on her website.

Here is the book blurb.

Georgiana, Duchess of Leeds, hasn’t seen her husband since he left her on their wedding day for an extended hunting expedition and never returned. But she isn’t the sort to wait around pining for an arrogant oaf who can’t bother to recall he has a wife, no matter how sinfully handsome he may be.

She finds all the fulfillment she requires in caring for the stray cats and dogs of London’s streets. Until, that is, the duke returns, and she uncovers the truth about where he’s been…

Kit, Duke of Leeds, never wanted to be duke. He was content with his life as one of Her Majesty’s most dedicated spies until his brother’s unexpected demise left him forced to marry an American heiress to save the family estate from ruin. The day he married her, he left for a secret assignment in America, with no intention of returning.

Seriously wounded and his cover ruined, Kit’s forced back to London where he finds a townhouse brimming with creatures and a wife who can’t bear the sight of him.

With husband and wife beneath the same roof at last, their marriage of convenience sparks into a passion that’s as undeniable as it is unexpected. But is desire enough to bring two wary hearts together? And once Kit’s wounds are healed, will Georgiana’s love be enough to make him stay?

Her Deceptive Duke is the fourth book in the Wicked Husbands series and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel or read as part of the series.

If you love steamy Regency and Victorian romance and second chance love stories, don’t miss the Wicked Husbands.

Fiercely independent, dazzlingly beautiful, and married to handsome scoundrels, these American heiresses are ready to turn the tables on the insufferable English lords they’ve wed.

What happens when their wicked husbands start falling for the wives they never thought they wanted?

Corsets come off, bed chambers ignite, the passion sizzles,and more than one stubborn English rake gets reformed by love.

This is the fourth book in the Wicked Husbands series. I haven’t read any of the previous titles, but I did find that this worked well as a stand-alone read. It is set in 1880/81.

It starts with a prologue where American heiress Georgiana and impoverished Kit, Duke of Leeds have just married. But it is a marriage of convenience. Kit needs her dowry and Georgiana’s father wants into the aristocracy. Kit is leaving the country straight after the ceremony, supposedly on a hunting expedition. Georgiana can’t persuade him otherwise, so she tells him not to bother returning.

But 6 months later Kit is back in London, severely injured from a gunshot wound, double-crossed, his cover as a spy ruined, and the new butler Ludlow tries to deny him entrance. The house is now full of animals as Georgiana is caring for all the stray cats and dogs she finds, even mice and a squirrel too. He collapses unconscious into Georgiana’s arms. The doctor’s treatment does not seem to be helping, so Georgiana summons the vet instead. She wants him better before she plans to demand a divorce.

Meanwhile Ludlow does not seem like a typical butler. And then the Duke of Carlisle turns up demanding an audience with Kit, even though he is still on his sick bed. What is going on? As Kit convalesces, a spark of attraction is flaring between him and Georgiana, even though he alternates between being very rude to her, or formally addressing her as Duchess. Will he stay or go?

Warning there is very strong explicit language throughout this book, plus steamy sex scenes.

Her Deceptive Duke is available on Amazon, currently priced at £3.10 in Kindle format and is also available in paperback. The fourth book in the Wicked Husbands series. Plenty of danger and intrigue in this romantic story.

---

About the author

Amazon bestselling author Scarlett Scott writes steamy Victorian and Regency historical romances with strong, intelligent heroines and sexy alpha heroes. She lives in Pennsylvania with her Canadian husband, their adorable identical twins, and one TV-loving dog.

A self-professed literary junkie and nerd, she loves reading anything but especially romance novels, poetry, and Middle English verse. When she’s not reading, writing, wrangling toddlers, or camping, you can catch up with her on her website. Hearing from readers never fails to make her day.

---

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

Indian Paintbrush by John A Heldt

When you’re really enjoying a book series and eagerly awaiting the next title to be written, it is always a delight to discover that the new book is ready. One series that this applies to for me, is The Carson Chronicles by John Heldt. So I was very happy when John emailed me to say that the next story Indian Paintbrush had been published and would I like to review it. Of course I said yes please. To find out more about the author you may visit his website.

Here is the book blurb.

Arizona, December 1943. After surviving perilous six-month journeys to 1889 and 1918, the Carsons, five siblings from the present day, seek a respite in their home state. While Adam and Greg settle down with their Progressive Era brides, Natalie and Caitlin start romances with wartime aviators and Cody befriends a Japanese family in an internment camp. The time travelers regroup, bury some ghosts, and continue their search for their missing parents. Then old problems return, new ones emerge, and a peaceful hiatus becomes a race for survival. In INDIAN PAINTBRUSH, the sequel to RIVER RISING and THE MEMORY TREE, several young adults find love and adventure as they navigate the home front during the height of World War II.

Indian Paintbrush is the third book in the series – The Carson Chronicles. You may see my reviews of the first two titles River Rising and The Memory Tree here and here. Both fantastic books so I had high expectations for this one too.

The story begins as the time-travelling Carson family step through a portal in Arizona in 1918 on the December solstice. These portals only open on the solstices and they had to get their timing correct to the minute to end up at the planned December 1943 in the same location destination. Get it wrong and they might emerge through a different portal like the one in Pennsylvania or even worse on a different date.

They are trying to reunite with their missing time-travelling parents, Tim and Caroline and then return safely back to modern day. Tim and Caroline left behind a travel itinerary which features December 1943 as the third destination. Can they get lucky this time, having failed to find them in 1889 and 1918 in the previous two books?

Equally Tim and Caroline know from clues that their family are on their trail but luck hasn’t been on their side previously. And things seem to get off to a shaky start this time when Tim and Caroline end up at September 1943 instead of December, on a different timeline. Oops. Can they travel again to March 1944 to get onto the correct timeline?

Meanwhile can their sons avoid being drafted into the army during WW2 and will there be repercussions from events back in 1889 and 1918? We meet up with characters who have aged 25 years since the last book whilst the Carsons are only a year older since the series began. Although they have gained two brides along the way. And in this book, their numbers are swelled by a new baby. Of course, there are more romantic relationships forged for those still single. How will those pan out?

Once again John has delivered a brilliant story in this series, which also works well as a stand-alone read. He continues to weave fact into the tales, having researched his subject matter excellently, even throwing a few celebrities into the mix. And the title is integral to the story too. For those of us like me from the UK who haven’t heard of an Indian Paintbrush, it is a flower native to America.

Indian Paintbrush is available on Amazon, currently priced at £3.85 in Kindle format. I loved this book and of course, it had some fantastic twists. A brilliant read which once again lived up to my high expectations of a John Heldt novel, And as always, I highly recommend this author. Once again I have to begin another long wait, this time for book 4 in this series.

And you may be interested to see my reviews of some of John Heldt’s other titles.
The Mine
Indiana Belle
Hannah’s Moon

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

Wicked Laird by Tammy Andresen

I have received a free e-copy of the book Wicked Laird by Tammy Andresen to review.

Here is the book blurb.

Laird Blair Sinclair doesn’t need help from any man. Though the second son in the Alban line, he is as strong as his brother Stone and even more determined to build a shipping empire with his own two hands. He doesn’t have time for anything or anyone else. But when he rescue’s a beautiful woman, he can’t deny that Elle needs him. Nor can he rid himself of the feeling that he wants to need her too.

Elspith McIntre learned the hard way to only rely on herself. Which is why it’s infuriating that she requires help from the arrogant new laird. It’s even more maddening that she can’t get rid of him. She wants no man and especially not a powerful one who could decide to crush her at any moment. She will not make that mistake again no matter how tempting the thought of leaning against his powerful chest.

After the death of their parents, six siblings unite around their eldest brother, Stone. They consider blood a binding oath and vow to protect one another. They all must face their own demons as they find love and their places in the world.

This is the second story in the Brethren of Stone series of which I have previously read the prequel, The Duke’s Scottish Lass and book one Scottish Devil. It is set in the Scottish highlands in the late 1700’s.

It begins with Blair Sinclair, the new laird and brother of the Earl of Alban spotting someone in difficulty in the sea. He rushes down to the beach and swims out to the boat, rescuing someone in the nick of time, just as the boat sinks. It turns out to be Elle Mcintyre, who had borrowed the boat from her neighbour to go fishing to catch something for dinner for her 12 year old brother Ailean and herself, as they had run out of money.

Elle wonders how she is going to pay back her neighbour for the loss of the boat and what will Blair want in recompense. She knows nothing comes free from her previous experience with nasty landlord Malcolm McKenzie. Even with her injured ankle, she tries to cook a meal in Blair’s cottage whilst he fetches Ailean and other boys to help drag the boat up at low tide.

How will things turn out, especially with Malcolm wreaking havoc everywhere?

Wicked Laird is available on Amazon, currently priced at £3.06 in Kindle format. As per usual, Tammy has lived up to expectation, with this nice short romantic story.

---

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author, Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that at the age of 18, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart still resides in Maine and her family visits often.

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

A Dream of Steam by James W Barry

I have received a free e-copy of the book A Dream of Steam by James W Barry to review. For more information on the author, you may see his website.

Here is the book blurb.

“It was the end of dread, at least in its first and most paralyzing form. Each brother knew that the gnawing worry that had lay siege to the backs of their minds for the past six months had finally broken through the walls, emerging in their midst. It was something that could no longer be dodged, or suppressed, or unimagined.”As the autumn shipping season draws to a close, Captain Thomas McGrath steps ashore to help his ambitious brother William rebuild the family sawmill. Despite Thomas’ aversion to debt, William convinces him to borrow heavily so they might convert their ailing, water-powered mill to steam. While adapting to the new technology, Thomas finds himself navigating between ax-wielding log pirates, hostile longshoremen, and his brother’s obsession with finding his estranged wife.The newly retooled mill is ramping up lumber production when the winds of fortune turn. Thomas has set sail again when a financial crisis hits, running the brothers afoul of John Fitzpatrick, a crooked bank officer employed by their lender. Fitzpatrick’s crimes push the McGrath Brothers Lumber Company to the edge of ruin, forcing Thomas to consider a high risk proposal if he wants to save their livelihood and get out of debt.Set in 1890s Michigan, A Dream of Steam is a story of sailing ships and lumberjacks, aspirations and disappointment, love and heartbreak, peopled by men and women who take control of their destinies in an era of rapid change.

This book is set by the Great Lakes in the early 1890s. A slow start as we are introduced to all the characters, of whom the main ones are brothers William and Thomas McGrath. William runs the sawmill whilst Thomas transports the cargo in his ship Genevieve across Lake Huron to destinations such as Detroit. William is trying to convince Thomas that they need to modernise to steam power in order to remain competitive, but this will require substantial financing.

There are several threads to the story, so we also meet those who work at the bank in Detroit, where the McGrath brothers secure a loan. There crooked bank clerk Fitzpatrick is skimming bank funds to meet his personal gambling debts.

Plenty going on throughout this book – fights, rescues, intimidation, annoying neighbours, an estranged wife and even a murder.

At the end of the book, we discover that a true story inspired the author to write this novel. There is also a glossary of mill and ship terminology at the end, which might have been better at the beginning in my opinion, so that the reader would be more aware of it.

A Dream of Steam is available on Amazon, currently priced at £3.82 in Kindle format and is also available in paperback. Not my usual genre, but an interesting historical read.

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

Outremer II: Revelation Cometh by D N Carter

I have received a free e-copy of the book Outremer II: Revelation Cometh by D N Carter to review.

Here is the book blurb.

Christian-born Paul Plantavalu and his beloved Alisha al Komaty, a Muslim, share an unbreakable bond and a deep love for one another. Religion, war and politics oppose them at every turn. But most deadly of all is the resolve of an evil enemy determined to destroy their family lines forever.

Paul and Alisha’s journey takes a political turn; they must question everything and learn who to fear and who to trust as they continue their battle to safeguard the future of mankind. In accepting the burden of this grace responsibility, they must make peace with the difficult path they have chosen. Paul will struggle to unlearn everything he has been raised to accept as true; reality is much more mysterious and nuanced. It will fall to him to defend a much greater treasure than his own life – one which the Magi themselves understood – for the benefit of future generations. In doing so, Paul will help others to unshackle themselves from the grip of a self-styled secret elite with the power to manipulate religions, governments and monarchies, harnessing wealth and control for themselves at the expense of the populous. But to succeed in this challenge Paul must face his own desires and his worst fears, and if destiny dictates, he may be called to sacrifice his own family, including Alisha.

The second novel in author and adventurer D. N. Carter’s epic four-part series, Outremer II: Revelation Cometh draws upon forty years of intensive historical research by its Indiana Jones-style creator. As the reader is swept up by the romantic adventure of Paul and Alisha and their dazzling romp through the High Middle Ages in search of Templar truths and treasure, they are also challenged by the author to solve a coded puzzle hidden within the pages of the four Outremer novels, which will lead to a real-life bounty at the conclusion of the series!

Just like part 1 of this story which I read last year, this is another very long book of almost 700 pages. However this time I struggled right from the start, as the book opens directly at chapter 25 without any recap of part 1. Bearing in mind that it is about 18 months since I read part 1, my memory of that story is now rather hazy.

I feel like I have been reading for ages, but I’m only just over 20% through and I’m thoroughly confused as it is such a complex storyline. I certainly feel that the author has invested a huge amount of research into this topic. However I’ve reluctantly decided that I’m going to have to give up on reading this. A shame as although part 1 was also somewhat challenging, I did still enjoy it. And I’m liking bits of this one too, but confusion is outweighing the enjoyment.

Outremer II is available on Amazon, currently priced at £15.99 in paperback and is also available in hardback or kindle format. Maybe once all 4 parts are published, reading them in sequence might work, but at present this is not for me. And I’m still of the opinion that these would be good as films. I’m sure I’d be less confused watching than reading.

---

About the author

After strange and vivid experiences whilst living in Cyprus as a child, author D N Carter has been fascinated by the history, myths and legends of the Middle Ages and mankind’s past. As he got older travels to Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Languedoc region of France and the deserts of Arabia fuelled his enthusiasm. While not decoding maps and mathematical codes D N Carter enjoys adventure sports from parachuting to microlight flying. Today he divides his time between East Anglia in the UK and the south of France with his family.

---

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

My Duke’s Desire by Tammy Andresen

I have received a free e-copy of the book My Duke’s Desire by Tammy Andresen to review.

Here is the book blurb.

Lady Violette knew two things for certain. She must make an advantageous match to save her family and the lord who agreed would be less than desirable. It didn’t matter that she wished to sail off on a great adventure. It wasn’t her choice to make.

His Grace, The Duke of Waverly, had no intention marrying, no matter what his mother expected. That was one of the few advantages of being a duke and he’d sailed back from Barbados to inform her. On his journey home, however, a beautifully proper lady rescues him when his horse is injured. He can’t help but notice that Lady Violette is in need of rescuing herself. Much as she tempts him, he can’t be the man that saves her.

This is the fourth book in the Wicked Lords of London series. I’ve enjoyed all the previous titles so was looking forward to reading this one.

The story starts with Theo, the Duke of Waverly reluctantly arriving back in London from Barbados. He takes a horse for the 2-day ride to his country estate where his mother is waiting to introduce him to a prospective bride, something he does not wish for. But his horse hurts a leg in the rain. Luckily a carriage, bearing Lady Bradford and her daughter Lady Violette Chase, stops to transport him to the next town. Noticing that they appear short of money, he introduces himself as Mr Theodore Riley, hiding the fact that he is a duke. And they share dinner at the inn, where there is a spark of interest between Theo and Violette, before going their separate ways the next day.

However, surprise surprise it is Violette whom his mother has lined up. Before coming face-to-face with the duke, she overhears him tell his family that they are trying to force him into marriage against his wishes. He apologises and Violette admits her family’s need for her to marry someone rich.

Are they right for each other or not? Can they reach an agreement?

My Duke’s Desire is available on Amazon, currently priced at £2.27 in Kindle format. Another nice short romantic story, when you want something light to read. And it is fine as a stand-alone read.

Here are the links to my reviews of the previous titles in The Wicked Lords of London series.
My Duke’s Seduction
My Duke’s Deception
My Earl’s Entrapment

---

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author, Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that at the age of 18, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart still resides in Maine and her family visits often.

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Scottish Devil by Tammy Andresen

I have received a free e-copy of the book Scottish Devil by Tammy Andresen to review.

Here is the book blurb.

One family united by loss, driven to find love…

Known as the devil, Stone Sinclair, Earl of Alban, is carved of rock, hard and uncompromising. He bends for no man. A fiery lass with golden hair and a will as strong as his own? Surrender has never sounded sweeter.

Eliza McLaren detests all lairds. They are selfish, self-serving, arrogant men who only care for themselves and build their fortunes on the backs of their people. And Lord Stone Alban is the worst of the lot. When her father attempts to make a match between them, Eliza pledges to never give herself to a man like Stone, no matter how tempting his lips or how strong his arms. He isn’t the only one carved of stone.

After the death of their parents, six siblings unite around their eldest brother, Stone. They consider blood a binding oath and vow to protect one another. They all must face their own demons as they find love and their places in the world.

This is the first story in the Brethren of Stone series of which I have previously read the prequel, The Duke’s Scottish Lass. It is set in the Scottish highlands in 1780.

It starts with Stone Sinclair and his siblings at their parents funeral, who died trying to rescue miners from a collapse at the mine. Stone is now the new lord of Alban. He welcomes the family solicitor Allister McLaren and his daughter Eliza, who have arrived from Perth just too late for the burial, having had their own bereavement. However Eliza has been listening to rumour and thinks of Stone as the devil and tells her father so. She assumes Stone only cares for himself and not his tenants.

Stone of course, has heard all the rumours and feels deeply hurt about being labelled as the devil by the rumour-mongers. Meanwhile Eliza starts to get to know Stone and realises how she was mistaken as she observes him providing financial aid to the widows of the dead miners.

Will Eliza’s words come back to haunt her?

Scottish Devil is available on Amazon, currently priced at £3.08 in Kindle format. Yet again, Tammy has delivered a nice short romantic story, ideal when you want a light read between thrillers.

---

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author, Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that at the age of 18, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart still resides in Maine and her family visits often.

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

The Rufford Rose by Margaret Lambert

I have received a free e-copy of the book The Rufford Rose by Margaret Lambert to review.

Here is the book blurb.

When gifted young woodcarver Cuthbert Watts is sent to assist in the building of a new hall in Lancashire in 1530 little does he realise what difficulties lie ahead. The Master builder, Abel, resents his presence, refusing to see his work whilst Abel’s apprentice, Will is a lazy, jealous young man who thwarts Cuthbert at every turn. Supported by his fellow workers Cuthbert perseveres and after saving his life, befriends the young son of the owner, another reason for Abel to hate him. What is the reason behind this animosity? What great secret dominates Abel and Will’s life to the extent that lives are threatened, jealousies grow and violence, arson, kidnap and murder are committed?

Set in the Lancashire countryside in the 16th century this is a story which combines the practical difficulties of building a Tudor Hall with the loves and jealousies of those involved. When will Abel realise the value of Cuthbert’s work, when will Will realise he is not who he believes he is and can Cuthbert win the heart of the girl he loves. Follow Cuthbert through the trials and challenges of his new life and discover whether the hall can finally be completed.

This book is set in Lancashire back in the 1500s. For the first few chapters, the storyline runs in parallel setting the scenes introducing us to the Hesketh family and to Cuthbert, a gifted carpenter. We get to understand why the new Lord Hesketh has commissioned his new home to be built at Rufford. And we follow Cuthbert’s path from Chester, via Whalley Abbey to Rufford.

There at Rufford, the main body of the story takes place, as Rufford Hall is being built. Abel the master builder is resentful of having Cuthbert foisted onto him by Lord Derby. Meanwhile Will, Abel’s lazy apprentice starts by playing petty tricks on Cuthbert, but this spirals out of control. However Cuthbert becomes great friends with everyone else and manages to continue his wood carving. How will it all progress?

I could tell that the author had invested huge effort in the research of Tudor building methods. It was all so detailed and vividly brought the story to life for me. In comparison, I was surprised that we were told Thomas Hesketh had divorced his first wife. I may be wrong but I thought divorce wasn’t invented until Henry VIII wanted a way to get rid of Catherine of Aragon.

Reading about Cuthbert’s time at Whalley Abbey brought back memories from many years ago of visiting the ruins. So of course, I had to look up Rufford and I’ve found that Rufford Old Hall is now in the care of the National Trust. I definitely plan to visit whenever I’m next in that area of the country.

This book is available on Amazon currently priced at £9.99 in paperback and is also available in Kindle format. A fascinating read. Highly recommended.

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

The Duke’s Scottish Lass by Tammy Andresen

I have received a free e-copy of the book The Duke’s Scottish Lass by Tammy Andresen to review.

Here is the book blurb.

Lady Delia Alban absolutely cannot marry the handsome rake, Roderick Maddox, fourth Duke of Manchester, despite her brother Stone’s insistence she do just that. Though he has long reformed his ways, he steals her breath away every time their eyes meet and she simply doesn’t deserve that kind of happiness. Not after the death of her brother, Reginald. She must pay penance, because, if not for her, he would still be alive.

Roderick Maddox, has known for years he would marry Delia. Before Reginald’s death, he made a promise to his friend, not only would he care for Reginald’s sister, but he would reform himself into the type of man Delia deserved. He never expected Delia to ignite such passion or to be so resistant to him. Nor did he realize he held the secret about Reginald’s death that could crush their budding feelings forever.

Six siblings unite after the death of their parents around their eldest brother, Stone. They consider blood to be a binding oath and vow to protect one another. They all must face their own demons as they find love and their places in the world.

This story was formerly published as Taming a Lady Wolf. Delia’s brother’s decided their stories needed to be told as well. This is now the prequel novella to the series, Brethren of Stone.

This book is set in 1795 with a prologue back in 1790 when Roderick, Duke of Manchester catches 13 year old Lady Delia Alban on his ship as she jumps from a crumbling cliff face. However, her brother Reginald, Roderick’s best friend dies that day falling onto the rocks below. Five years later, Roderick returns with the intention of marrying Lady Delia, but she has no intention of marrying someone so handsome. Nor does she know that, he was her rescuer that fateful day, for which she blames herself for Reginald’s death.

But when another suitor, the undesirable Earl of Sunderland turns up, will the tables turn? And was Delia really to blame for Reginald’s death?

The Duke’s Scottish Lass is available on Amazon, currently priced at 99p in Kindle format. This is a nice short romantic story, when you want a light read. I always look forward to reading Tammy’s books interspersed between something heavier.

---

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author, Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that at the age of 18, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart still resides in Maine and her family visits often.

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of an e-book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave