Book Review: Right of Conquest (Love. Honour. Conquer. #1) by Ashe Barker

TWO STARS

I wanted to love this book, but I had a serious problem with Richard beating Frances’ backside with a belt (20 lashes) then later on with willow switches that he made her go get herself and keep in a bucket of water in her room. He made her hand them to him two at a time, had her strip down naked (both times), then whipped her until she could not sit. He never drew blood, but he left marks. That is not erotic spanking. That is abuse. Him making her strip bare was an act to humiliate and subjugate her. I didn’t like him after the belt incident and I loathed him after the willow switches.

Frances was a victim of circumstance. She and her brother had just been conquered by the English and her brother fled before he would be executed with her help. She handed over the castle to Richard, although not meekly.

I have no idea how these two fell in love. I certainly didn’t see it or feel it. I would not like a man who called me a slut or a strumpet, like he called Frances. He obviously didn’t respect her, unless it suited him.

Even when he turned benevolent, I still didn’t trust him or like him.

I also thought the ending was too abrupt and unsatisfying. I just didn’t like him and I thought Frances was too wishy-washy. Both characters were weak and not well-developed. I never knew what to expect from either of them.

Book Review: A Rancher’s Pretend Mail Order Bride (Westward Hearts #2) by Blythe Carver

Five Stars

I have to admit that there were just two reasons why I bought this book. I wanted to see if Melissa’s and Jed’s baby was a boy or a girl (see book one of the series) and Mark Furnish was such a great guy that I wanted him to get his happily ever after.

He was still a great guy in this book. He’s kind, generous, handsome, smart—everything a hero should be, but he’s got a problem. His ranch has seen some hard times and now he needs money. The bank has turned him down and now his only resource is his grandfather whom he hasn’t seen in years and doesn’t have much of a relationship with him.

His grandfather is old school and thinks Mark should be married and have a family. This is the premise of the deception. Mark needs the money, his grandfather is coming for a visit and there is no wife. What to do?

Belinda is working in the saloon and refuses to do anything illicit with the patrons and after a scuffle that involved Mark Furnish, he is banned and she is fired with zero prospects of finding another job.

Mark strikes a deal with her. He will pay her to play the part of his bride until his grandfather leaves. It was a ton of money, even by today’s standards. She reluctantly agrees.

I understand that Belinda was a preacher’s kid, came from nothing, had nothing, and was isolated for the duration of her childhood, but that didn’t stop her from getting greedy—too much for my liking, considering the vast amount of money that he was already paying her. That took away some of her allure.

There were a few feels, but zero heat or steam and only one quick kiss. It was still a good read and worth five stars.

Book Review: A Highwayman’s Mail Order Bride (Westward Hearts, #1) by Blythe Carver

FIVE STARS

This was an unexpected pleasure. I love mail-order brides, especially when the groom turns out to be a real stand-up guy.

This was unlike anything I have read in this trope. Melissa is already married to an abusive man and is in the early stages of pregnancy when she answers an ad for a mail-order bride and heads to Carson City, Nevada to marry a wealthy rancher. It’s a matter of life and death for both her and her baby.

Time is of the essence and everything is going well until the stagecoach is held up by a band of outlaws, headed by Jed. He is led to believe that Melissa is already married to Mark Furnish, the wealthy rancher, and abducts her with the intention of holding her for ransom.

It was the perfect plan until it wasn’t. So much happened that pushed Melissa and Jed together, but there were obstacles and lies too. It was a beautiful thing to see these two find themselves and find each other at the same time.

This was a fantastic story of love, forgiveness, and redemption. If you’re looking for a steamy book, you won’t find it here. It was awesome without it. The characters and the story were strong enough to carry it to a surprise ending.

I adored this book and will continue to the next in the series.

Book Review: A Gift of Jacinth (Wishes & Dreams #2) by Allie McCormack

FOUR STARS

I loved Jacinth in the first book of the series. She was fun, whimsical, and loved what life had to offer. I loved her in this book too, but she wasn’t nearly as vivacious as she used to be. Her circumstances were serious, though. She is a nanny to a precocious six-year-old boy and his little sister, who doesn’t speak anymore. Their father is her new “master” and his first and quite possibly only wish is to get his kids back after their mother abducted them two years ago. The situation requires patience, diligence, and tender guidance. She was still a joy to read, but was more low-key. Understandably so.

Douglas is the new sahib, is a veterinarian for large animals, and the father to the two kids. I’m not sure exactly why I had such a hard time connecting with him. I didn’t dislike him. He was a stand-up sort of guy. He made me laugh when he first got Jacinth’s teapot. It seemed he had an endless supply of money and wasn’t afraid to spend it. His age was vague. I thought he was in his early-to-mid thirties, but there’s a timeline that says otherwise. For whatever reason, I just couldn’t get on his team.

I’m going to discuss that timeline, as it did cost the book a star. Skye and Blue, Douglas’ parents, were hippies and flower children. They were in the thick of things on Haight Asbury in San Francisco. The height of that was 1966-1968. Going with the 1968 date, that would make them born in 1950, provided they were legal adults when they were in San Francisco. She got pregnant and had a little girl, who died and ended their hippie lifestyle. A year later, Douglas was born. Let’s put that at 1970. It isn’t specified in the story, but it does allude to the time in San Francisco.

Doing that math, using 1970 to 2020 (not sure when this book was released), that would make Douglas 50-years-old.

In addition to that, it’s said that Skye is hàlf Lakota and ran guns to the Native Americans during Wounded Knee. She was pregnant and hid them under her dress. It isn’t mentioned that Douglas has any brothers or sisters. That event took place in 1973.

Nothing lined up and as piddly as that may seem, it made me crazy. I think that was the biggest reason I could not get close to Douglas.

I still enjoyed the story and will continue with the series.

Book Review: Westward Winds (Montana Mail Order Brides #1) by Linda Bridley

THREE STARS

This was a quick read and I enjoyed it until Tessa turned into a big baby and went on and on about how Dean didn’t listen to her and then turned the story into an ongoing series of Dr. Phil.

I liked Tessa at first. I sympathized with her plight. She was stuck in the rigors of society that she hated and wanted to break free. She was close to her family and they were good to each other, but she rebelled against the system and became a mail order bride.

Dean lost his wife and third child in childbirth. He was devastated and overwhelmed. He had a son and a daughter to take care of and a ranch to run. When his brother tells him he needs help needs to place an ad for a bride, Dean facetiously tells him to do it. The ad was placed.

That’s just the beginning. A lot happens after that, of course that led to great family dynamics and strong friendships. I liked that.

If this hadn’t turned into a daytime talk show and the author hadn’t used the word “said” so often, this would have been a better read.