The Reckless Love of an Hier by Jane Lark
4 star review
This is the first time I have read this author and I was in for a pleasant surprise. I had some reviews of her other books and a common remark was the storied had a "real" feel to them. I completely agree. The story was more than a romance. It was filled will heartfelt relationships beyond the two main characters. It wove in family dynamics, disappointments, tragedy and love. It was low on heat but high on sentiment. I will read more from Jane Lark.
The Earl's Wager by Rebecca Thomas
3 1/2 star review
This was a cute book with characters that are easy to root for. Despite a bad first impression Will and Georgia quickly started to appreciate each other's personality. They were a great match. I would have liked a little more depth in their back story (Georgia's family and losing her mother and Will being turned on by the ton). Other than that it was a feel-good quick read.
Too Wicked to Kiss by Erica Ridley
2 star review
This felt more of a "Who done it" book with a romance kicked in. I was so focused on the motives of all the characters (and there were a lot to keep up with) reasons to commit a crime that I missed the connection between Evangeline and Gavin. The epilogue while nice didn't connect to the book and felt like I was reading about a couple I hadn't met before.
MacLean's Passion by Sharon Cullen
4 star review
The premise of this storyline intrigued me in its irony. Both Maggie and Colin were extremely strong in terms of their fighting ability yet it was aspects of their physical strength that caused them both to have insecurities regarding their capacity to be loved by other people. I though this was a brilliant twist that kept me reading to see how they would overcome this and see the gift they had in each other. While at times things might have dragged a bit, I was interested enough in both of their stores together and as individuals. I didn't get as much of Colin's backstory other than he was spoken of negatively by his family and he felt he was always off fighting instead of being there for them. Maggie's brother, Evan, may have loved her but he disappointed me in his lack of communicative abilities with Maggie and I was hoping his wife, Innis, would do a better job of smoothing things over but never met my expectations. They were both let down by those who should have loved them. Really the hero for me was Maggie because she not only had to find her worth but she had to convince Colin of his and also talk him into letting her fight for him and their future. She made the story for me.
The Duke of Daring by Darcy Burke
3 star review
Enjoyable read although I had a hard time getting past the Earl of Dartford, Andrew, getting hot and bothered over a short pudgy man with sideburns. Once the costume was gone I got more fully invested in the book and not so distracted by the set up. I liked Lucy and appreciate in a story when a heroine can admit her feelings to herself rather than spend most is the book denying them. Maybe it took a disguise for Lucy to sneak up on Andrew who closed off himself to the hurt of losing anyone he could grow to love. I think the author did a good job with Andrew's anxiety issues and didn't just put a bandaid on to fix his problems. There was a quick ending but there was also a good epilogue to make up for it.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30970765-the-reckless-love-of-an-heir
