Partly Set Around Glasgow. Rosie’s #Bookreview of #HistoricalRomance Lady Armstrong’s Scandalous Awakening by @MargueriteKaye

Lady Armstrong’s Scandalous Awakening by Marguerite Kaye

4 stars

Lady Armstrong’s Scandalous Awakening is an historical romance. It is also book two in the Revelations of the Carstairs Sisters mini-series.

Mercy Armstrong’s husband has just died, which is quite a relief after seventeen years in a loveless relationship married to a bully. On the last day of her period of mourning, Mercy is almost knocked over by a carriage. The driver, an engineer from Glasgow, stops to help Mercy, and while she recovers their conversation leads to thoughts about how she will make a fresh start.

Jack Dalmuir will be in London to oversee his steam engines which are being installed in new water pumping stations. He enjoyed his afternoon with Mercy and offers to be her companion, should she need one, when she returns to London.

Mercy’s new life is far from her upbringing and her married life, now she enjoys her outings with Jack, but both agree it will lead to nothing more. So why do they find it harder to say goodbye each time they part?

Having enjoyed book one in this series, it was good to read more about Mercy. I particularly liked the parts set in and around Glasgow as I don’t know much about the history of the area. Jack was a great character and I enjoyed the author’s notes about Glasgow’s engineers.

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Be swept into a world of passion and emotion in this sexy Victorian romance!

Hers was a body of marble…

Until he brought it to life

After her tyrannical late husband ruined her reputation, Lady Mercy Armstrong is longing to reinvent herself. The perfect opportunity presents itself when rebellious self-made man Jack Dalmuir has a daring proposition—a fake dalliance that will change society’s view of her! Only, cavorting with the handsome Scotsman ignites a passion that could change both their lives forever…

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#HistoricalRomance Built Around Victorian Plumbing. Rosie’s #Bookreview of The Earl Who Sees Her Beauty by @MargueriteKaye

The Earl Who Sees Her Beauty by Marguerite Kaye

4.5 stars

The Earl Who Sees Her Beauty is the first book in a new duet series of historical romances.

Dominic Caldwell was hiding in a small Greek village when he discovered that he had a claim on an English Earldom. The news for Dominic of his likely inheritance was less thrilling than others may have thought.

He travelled to London with the full intention of selling all of his new gains as quickly as possible and returning to his peaceful Greek life.

Prudence Carstairs had spent her life hiding from society because of a hideous scar on her face. The only place outside her home where she felt comfortable was Hawthorn Manor, which is becoming dilapidated.

This is a tale built around Victorian plumbing and sanitation; an unusual theme, but one which worked well. Dominic and Prudence are likeable characters, each with demons that they must overcome. I enjoyed the way that the author moved the story away from ball rooms and high society often seen in this genre and gave attention to the plight of the lower classes. I shall look forward to the second book in the series.

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Unaware of her beauty…

Until he awakens her.

Prudence Carstairs knows her scars leave her with no romantic prospects—instead, she’s content revolutionizing her employer’s home with her technological marvels. Then he unexpectedly perishes and his mysterious younger brother, dashing Dominic Thorburn, reluctantly takes over. In the new earl, Prudence finally finds someone who meets her gaze without flinching. Might he see the beautiful, intelligent woman beyond her scars?

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Rosie’s #BookReview Of #HistoricalRomance THE RAGS TO RICHES GOVERNESS by @JaniceGPreston

The Rags-to-Riches Governess by Janice Preston

4 stars

The Rags To Riches Governess is book one of Lady Tregowan’s Will series of historical romances.

The story opens with Leah Thame learning that she is to inherit a small fortune, which will allow her to leave her role as a governess and become a lady in society. However, the will has a few conditions that must be adhered to before Leah can claim her inheritance.

Currently Leah is governess to the three young children of Lord Dolphinstone. After their mother died and their father left for an extended trip to Europe, Leah is all that the children have and strong bonds have been created between them.

I enjoyed the direction of this storyline, and Leah’s character added extra elements that I thought worked well. Her boldness to speak her mind and her ability to soothe a situation made her an ideal person to begin this new series. This story introduces us to the main characters of the next two books which I shall look forward to reading.

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From impoverished governess…

…to wealthy heiressGoverness Leah Thame learns she’s inherited a fortune the day her employer, the enigmatic Earl of Dolphinstone, returns from abroad. They share an instant connection, but in order to claim her inheritance, Leah must resign and find a husband. The guarded widower offers a convenient marriage to stop her leaving, but Leah refuses. She won’t marry the man who’s captured her heart unless there’s a chance of her love being returned.

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Rosie’s #Bookreview #HistoricalRomance A FORBIDDEN LIAISON WITH MISS GRANT by @MargueriteKaye @MillsandBoon

A Forbidden Liaison with Miss Grant by Marguerite Kaye

4.5 stars

A Forbidden Liaison With Miss Grant is an historical romance set in Edinburgh. Constance Grant once lived in the Highlands and worked as a school teacher, but the Scottish Clearances caused the village she lived in to be destroyed in favour of sheep farming. A friend offered her a place to stay in the city; here she wrote outspoken articles against The Clearances.

Grayson Maddox, a shipbuilding Glaswegian, was visiting Edinburgh when he met Constance. Their time together was a romantic bubble in which both of their normal lives ceased to exist, but it was short lived.

Grayson returned to Edinburgh a second time with his family for King George IV’s royal visit. Both he and Constance had been miserable in the weeks since they’d been apart, but becoming anything more than friends seemed impossible to both of them. Could they possibly find a way for them to be together?

Although the will-they, won’t-they relationship between Grayson and Constance was frustrating at times, I quite enjoyed the subtle history lessons which were slipped in between their dilemmas. The Clearances of the Highlands and the royal visit were both events which I knew nothing about. Kaye also painted a colourful picture of Edinburgh in the 1820s, especially the festivities and pomp organised for the king’s visit, which was very realistic. I enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of her heroine’s nom de plume, journalist Flora MacDonald. This was another good story from this author.

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An unexpected encounter…

Will change everything!

Self-made gentleman and widower Grayson Maddox has devoted himself to his children and business, leaving no time for pleasure. Until he has an impulsive, thrillingly sensual encounter with lady’s companion Miss Constance Grant! Their passion gives Grayson hope of a happiness he never thought he’d feel again. But there’s still much in both their pasts to confront before they can turn their forbidden liaison into a new beginning…

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Rosie’s #Bookreview of #NewRelease #HistoricalRomance THE RETURN OF THE DISAPPEARING DUKE by @laratemple1

The Return of the Disappearing Duke by Lara Temple

4 stars

The Return of the Disappearing Duke is an historical romance set mainly in Egypt in the early 1800s. Rafe Greybourne turned his back on his family at the age of sixteen and fled to join the army. Now as a mercenary he is currently in Egypt hoping to find his brother.

Cleo Osbourne also searches for a brother, having spent several years abroad with their father in his pursuit of antiques and treasures. However, a recent tragedy has left Cleo alone and she now needs help and protection.

I enjoyed the unusual Egyptian setting, particularly the trek through the desert and later the weeks spent at sea traveling to England. The romance is hot and passionate but doesn’t overwhelm the storyline. This is a quick read and I appreciated the elements that touched on historical explorations and Ancient Egypt.

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A scarred mercenary…

Or the Disappearing Duke of Greybourne?

Rafe has spent years running from his true identity. He’s a lone wolf, living far from aristocratic England and his violent father. Then unconventional Cleopatra Osbourne requests his protection as she crosses the Egyptian desert. In Cleo he discovers a fellow outcast—and a fierce desire! Cleo must return to London, and here lies Rafe’s dilemma—because following his heart means claiming the title he’s avoided for so long.

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