Book Review: The Truth about Dukes (Rogues to Riches, #4) by Grace Burrowes

FIVE STARS

This book tackled an issue that I’d never read about in all the years I’ve been reading historical romances. It’s called “Falling Sickness”. I’d never heard it called that until this book, but it’s epilepsy. Our duke has epilepsy. I’ve read plenty of books where the hero or heroine has some sort of physical infirmity, but never anything like this.

Robert is the Duke of Rothhaven. As a child, he fell off a horse, hit his head, and now has “Falling Sickness.” He was a huge embarrassment to his father, who promptly sent him to an asylum. Robert was no more than a test subject to a demented, greedy doctor, as were the other people who were housed there. I don’t want to call them patients because they weren’t patients. They were more like lab rats, test subjects, or even a sick man’s toys. Not a lot of detail was given, but enough was provided to know that Robert wasn’t at a ball and had suffered greatly. What makes it even more grisly is that it was historically accurate. These things did happen in places like that. It makes me question humanity at that point in time.

Constance Wentworth had run away from home and found herself working in this establishment where Robert was existing. She was helping him as much as she could, knowing he was suffering and unable to bear the thought of it. This is where they met.

Fast forward a few years. Constance is now back home and is a bit of a recluse. The reason she’s this way will blow your mind. *No spoilers* But she meets up with Robert again, only to discover he’s been out of the asylum for quite some time, his brother has been acting as Duke all this time, and it’s now time for Robert to claim his title. His brother is going to marry Constance’s sister and they’re going to move.

Robert has some debilitating idiosyncrasies. He doesn’t like to go outside because it’s too open. He can’t travel in a carriage without the blinds being drawn. He won’t ride a horse. He travels under the cover of darkness. He was such a dear, sweet man. I loved him so much and I loved how Constance helped him conquer these fears and how her family came together to help him.

But as things go, he has a couple of seizures in public, which brings around some nefarious barristers who seek to become his guardian because he is a lunatic. After he has a seizure, it takes him a little while to get his bearings about him again. Of course it does. He can’t think straight, speaks thickly, and is so tired. He doesn’t jump up and grandly spread his arms and declare, “I’m cool! I’m cool!” No. It drains him both physically and mentally. In addition to that, he has staring spells where he can hear and vaguely see what’s going on around him, but is unable to respond until the spell is over. The barristers and other people who didn’t understand the disorder, thought he was indeed a lunatic, an idiot, or mad when he really was very bright, witty, and intelligent. He was so misunderstood, but Constance knew him and understood him so well and loved him so much. It was just beautiful.

Constance had something going on in her life that few people knew about. Once Robert found out about it, he rallied behind her and supported her in every way possible. He didn’t judge her, hold anything against her, or shame her. He loved her as much as she loved him and encouraged her and helped her even when she didn’t ask for it. He amazed me at every turn.

This was a tough topic to tackle in this genre, but Ms. Burrows handled it with sensitivity and care. The story was wonderfully written with characters I loved and characters that needed a good old-fashioned facer. Lady Phoebe Philpot comes to mind, as well as her whipped barrister husband, Neville Philpot. Conniving bit–oh, I wasn’t about to say that. Yes, I was. She was a nosy, busybody with too much time on her hands and she ran her spineless, wimpy rodent of a husband with an iron fist.

There wasn’t a lot of heat or a ton of feels. The love scenes were rated PG. But there is so much more to the story than that. It was still satisfying and had me cheering at the end.

I will mention that I gave my dictionary on my Kindle a workout. I like learning new words and there were plenty of them in this book that I’d never seen before.

I enjoyed this book very much. It is part a series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Available November 10, 2020.

Pre-Order at Amazon: https://amzn.to/36cpnqp

Book Review: Lady Lilias and the Devil in Plaid (Scottish Scoundrels: Ensnared Hearts #2) by Julie Johnstone

FIVE STARS

Lilias,
Please don’t write to me anymore. I’ve met someone else. And I’m not hurting. I’d have to feel to hurt and I don’t feel anything.
~~Nash 

Nash broke my heart. He was seventeen when he first met Lilias, who was just fifteen. They, along with her stuffy friend, Owen, made quick friends with Nash. Owen had no idea how to be a man and what he learned he learned from Nash. That has a lot of significance to the story. Lilias was taken by Nash’s good looks, the fact that he wore a kilt, and she could see his legs. She’d never really seen a man’s legs before and she liked what she saw. It was obvious to Lilias from the first time they met that there was something different about Nash and she soon found out that he felt so guilty about the death of his twin brother who’d drowned when he fell through the ice of a frozen pond. His parents turning on him over it didn’t help matters, plus he was dealing with other issues, too. That was a lot to deal with for one so young and he’d been dealing it with it for a long time. Alone.

Jump ahead seven years. Nash and Lilias haven’t seen each other since their last encounter, which was seven years ago. She hadn’t known he’d come for visits and had seen Owen, but had never tried to contact Lilias. That hurt her heart. She was in love with him and had been since she first met him. There was a player involved that wasn’t being fair nor honest when it came to Nash and Lilias. That just added more angst to the story.

This book has a lot of angst, as a matter of fact. I wanted Nash and Lilias to make a go of this, but there were so many obstacles and so many dishonest, selfish people involved, it was a continuous uphill battle for both of them. Neither wanted to tell the other how they felt and when they finally did, it was so emotional, it took my breath away. But it still wasn’t enough. I wasn’t sure how they were going to get their happily-ever-after or if they were even going to get one. She fought for him as hard as she could, despite the consequences and the nefarious people involved. She did it with passion, vigor, and love in her heart. It was so good.

This book is filled with feels, not many kisses, and one love scene in the epilogue that was rated PG. I don’t really think it needed to be there, to be honest, but considering it’s a romance, there has to be some of it in there. To not have it would be a disappointment to many.

This is a solid five-star read and I’m looking forward to the next book. It’s about Kilgore who was in the first novel and is also in this one. He’s sort of an anti-hero and really does deserve his own story.

*I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.

Purchase at Amazon: https://amzn.to/37U3K0x

Book Review: Micah and Layne Get Short: 15 Thriller Stories by Jim Heskett

FIVE STARS

As a general rule, I don’t like short stories. They seem to lack depth in the plots and character development. There’s just not enough time to make it all come together. With the lack of plot and characterization comes boredom then I’m out like a light.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case of this collection. I liked every one of them. Some of the characters I was familiar with, some were new to me. The stories ranged from suspense to thriller to comedy, each with their own dynamic and uniqueness. None of them needed to be longer, which surprised me. They lacked nothing.

I give this book five stars.

*I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.

See below for my reviews of the individual stories.
~~~~~~

Eat the Bear
A Micah & Serena Novella

Who would have thought that Micah and Serena would make such a great team? I guess I kind of figured they would, but she does all of her work with Layne Parrish who is in Paris for the next few weeks. 

The story starts out with Dallas, a female assassin scoping out a river boat casino in New Orleans. Her hit is Kellen McBriar, Michael McBriar aka Micah Reed’s brother. Kellen has crossed the wrong people and they’re angry. She doesn’t have a whole lot of time to get the job done, but being a greedy glory monger, she decides to set her sights on Micah, too. Despite his disguise, she recognized him in the casino as he tries to find his brother. Not contact him. He just wants to protect him.

But nothing is ever that easy for Micah. He and Serena combine their efforts to quietly subdue Dallas and her unwanted accomplice, Alabama. They don’t want to bring any attention to themselves, and Micah can never let Kellen know that he’s alive and that he saved him from being murdered.

I really loved this story. It was fast paced, unpredictable, and had an ending that had me in tears. I don’t think I’ve ever read a lonelier character than Micah Reed. My heart broke into a million pieces for him.

Now that the sob fest is over, on to… 

Game Day
A Layne & Micah Novella

I first read and reviewed this story back in November 2019. It was part of an anthology called Dead of Winter and several authors had contributed to the book, which was a five-star read overall, in case you’re wondering.

I was pretty happy to see it again in this book because I’m such an avid fan of Layne Parrish and Micah Reed and the story is so good. I love these two characters so much. 

What stood out for me the first time I read it is much the same as it was when I read it again. The friendship between these two is unbelievably strong. If I had a friend who would take a hit for me like Layne did for Micah, I don’t know what I would do. 

Not only is there some witty banter between the two as they wait for a Christmas Day basketball game to start, Layne asks Micah if Micah is okay with Layne getting a beer. Anybody who has read Micah Reed knows that he’s an alcoholic. I thought that was considerate of Layne and only a true friend would even think of that. But as the story unfolds and the action starts on the court—and we aren’t talking about basketball action, folks—does the depth of their friendship become apparent. I don’t want to say too much to avoid spoilers, but this is a story that is filled with action, suspense, is white-knuckled to the end, and a true testament of the relationship between Layne Parrish and Micah Reed.

That is all.

Micah Goes on a Date
A Micah Reed Long Short

Lonely Micah Reed going on a date? What could be better? He hasn’t been on a real date in years. It’s time for him to get some female companionship.

Swanky restaurant? Check 
Numerous glasses of water? Check 
Sweaty palms? Check 
His date is late? Check

When he first meets Elise, his blind date, he can’t believe his luck. She’s Barbie doll gorgeous with blonde hair and a shiny red dress. The problem was he was competing with her phone for attention. Then it turned into a real sh*t show. 

It was so the luck of Micah to have this date go like this. I almost laughed at the loser-ness of it all. But Micah wasn’t a loser. Not really. He was acting on good faith and put himself out there because he was lonely, although that isn’t mentioned at all in the story. I know that because I’ve read every Micah Reed story ever written (I think). I was hoping for a happily ever after with this slick chick, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Then he thinks it’s not the worst date he’s ever been on. I’d hate to see what was.

The Layne Parrish Restaurant Stories
Five stories that all begin with the same scenario

All the stories start with Layne stomping snow from his boots in the doorway of the Firehouse restaurant in South Fork. He wants a table and not a booth, except in Story 3 where he requests a booth, and picks up the menu from between the ketchup and mustard dispensers. After that, every story is different with different endings.

I don’t feel as if I can review these stories individually. They aren’t long at all and to say anything about them would be giving spoilers. Suffice it to say, they don’t call Layne Parrish “Boy Scout” for nothing.

I’ll be Right Back
Harry & Serena

Harry Boukadakis is a computer dude and works behind the scenes with Layne Parrish and Serena Rojas, and Daphne Kurek.

In this particular short story, he’s driving Serena through the countryside and has no idea why. She finally tells him to stop behind a pool hall. She’s doing some personal business while he waits in the car. He watches her and it’s all good until one of the men she subdued decides to harass him and Harry has to pull a gun.

Okay, I laughed at Harry. I don’t know if I should’ve or not, but he reminded me of a little old lady who is trying to confront a robber with a gun that’s bigger than she is. Maybe it’s not that bad, but he was shaking, didn’t know if the gun was loaded, or if the safety was on or off…the guy who was harassing him ran off, begging Harry not to shoot him.

I don’t know why I thought this short story was so funny, but it made me laugh. Sorry, Harry. I still love ya, dude! 

By the way, I really love the title of this story. It was so spot on.

I Go by Tim

There’s actually a moral to this story. Be careful of what you say and who you say it to. Chances are it’s going to come back on you in spades. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, or even the next day, but everybody pays. 

The End

Instant Message
A Tucker Candle Short Story

You know when you send a nasty message to the wrong person and you know it’s going to create a serious problem if they see it? Yeah, that. Tucker Candle is one brave dude, ha ha!

Shots and Strippers
A Crime Short Story

This is a clever short story about four guys who are buddies and seem to be playing the simple drinking game of Quarters. At first, I thought these guys were office friends. You know, the type that stand around the water cooler and talk smack about the boss. It wasn’t like that at all. These guys are rougher and tougher and ultimately, are going to party with some strippers.

It all goes well until it doesn’t anymore. This is a story of revenge and jealousy and has a semi-happy ending.

Kill the King
A silly espionage thriller novella

This was a bizarre tale that had the feeling of being set in Medieval times, with the arrogance and domination of the king, his sons, a royal taste tester, a vast kitchen crew, that sort of thing, but it’s really set much more recently. We have guards speaking into their sleeves, guns, suits, etc. It was a hodge-podge for a setting, but I envisioned the king wearing a fur robe, a crown, and big buckled shoes while the royal taste tester was wearing a doublet and funky poofy pants and hose. It was archaic yet modern. It was a strange combination, but it worked.

The king really did need to die. He was a total narcissist and an egomaniac. He was vicious, cruel, cold, and even dumb. His kids weren’t much better, but they were such a minor part of the story and it didn’t matter.

I liked the story a lot. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end. Was the king really going to die or was he going to escape this?

Dalton and the Bear
A Reagan’s Ashes thriller novella

I have to admit that I’ve owned Reagan’s Ashes since 2017 and haven’t read it yet. Frankly, I forgot I had it. It’s now been moved closer to the top of my TBR list.

In this story, Dalton and Charlie, who are brothers, find themselves alone after Reagan, their cousin, took off on them during a backpacking trip. They meet up with a stranger who tags along with them until they run him off. What could go wrong?

One thing I wasn’t sure of was just how old these boys were. I know Dalton is out of high school, but Charlie seemed much younger. It probably doesn’t matter. Charlie has twisted his ankle and is having some mobility issues while Dalton comes in as the fierce, protective big brother.

I liked this story and it’s made me want to read the book.

Contraband: A Silly Story of Suspense

This started out on an eerie note with a lone woman going to the movies. She’s obviously frightened and apprehensive of what, I didn’t know. She’s paranoid, looking around…you get the idea. I thought she might have a bomb or something in her purse. I didn’t know what her deal was, but I soon found out and burst out laughing. I was surprised at the whole deal and what her name was. I won’t say anything else other than the author is right!

Purchase at Amazon: https://amzn.to/34t58nz

Book Review: The Earl’s Enticement (Castle Brides #3) by Collette Cameron

FIVE STARS

Adaira Ferguson, or Addy as her family calls her, was introduced in the last book Highlander’s Hope. She’s everything a lady should not be. She wears pants, ties back her hair rather than styles it, cusses, and rides horses astride. She’s got her own business of breeding horses and producing some fine stock. Her mother and father (see the novella Heart of a Highlander for their sweet story) are lenient with her and let her get away with all of this. They’re not sure why she does it, but they hope she comes around. 

Everything is going great for Addy when she’s in town and a man asks her how to get the castle. She discovers that Mr. Marquardt wants to go to Craiglocky to visit his stepsister, Yvette. He hasn’t been invited. She knows that Yvette has an evil stepbrother, Edgar, and she mistakes Mr. Marquardt for Edgar Marquardt and kidnaps the wrong guy. She locks him in the dungeon for a few days, waiting for Ewan, her half-brother and laird, to get back from London so he can decide what to do with Mr. Marquardt.

Mr. Marquardt insists that she’s got the wrong guy and soon she finds out that she indeed has the wrong guy. She’s got Roark, the Earl of Clarendon, Edgar’s brother. She’s abducted a member of the peer. This offense is punishable by doing time in Newgate or even hanging. Her parents know this and are pretty much at the Earl’s mercy as to what to do about Addy. He could press charges and they so didn’t want him to do that. Roark’s answer to the whole thing is to have Addy turned into a lady. He wants her to wear gowns, ride sidesaddle, speak like a lady. and have a season in London. But he wants her and her family to spend a month at his house first. Her family has no choice but to agree.

Addy decides that she’s going to see this through. She’s disobeyed her mother and father so many times and has frustrated them like nothing else. Frankly, I admired this about her. Addy was a headstrong, determined young woman, but she did love her family. I loved her family. She didn’t want to embarrass them anymore and decided she was going to be the best lady ever while they were with Lord Clarendon and attending his insipid house parties. 

When they arrive, she discovers an owl in a cage in the library. She notices that the butler has just one arm and some of the other servants in the house have some sort of oddity or malformation. She soon realizes that Clarendon loves animals and takes on people who probably wouldn’t be able to find work anywhere else. He is not as aloof as she first thought and she genuinely liked him as a person. She had the same love for animals and the servants didn’t bother her at all. They were different but still people and she respected that. Moreover, she respected him.

Roark is enthralled with Adaira. He can’t seem to stay away from her, but he thinks she’s loose and knows he won’t be the first man she’s been with. He never seems to forget that, but at the same time, he never tries anything untoward. 

There are a lot of kisses in this book, something I like very much, and then when the heat comes on, it’s pretty hot. There’s a fair amount of angst with Adaira’s past and even Roark with his own past. They’re sort of like two broken people who have found each other and together can be one, if that makes sense. They need each other, but they fall deeply in love with each other and that’s what made the story. The tension between these two roared from the pages, while they struggled with outside influences and adversities that seemed to set them back only to bring them together again. It was amazingly done and it had me cheering for them.

This book was a delight from beginning to end. The whole series was, for that matter. I loved every book. The best part is each book can be read as a stand-alone, but with such great stories, I don’t know why anyone would want to do that.

Purchase at Amazon: https://amzn.to/2GAJaqh

Book Review: Reclaiming Chaos (The Other Bennett’s Book 4) by Kate Allenton

FIVE STARS

This was a short, but exciting read about Ridge Bennett, a Special Agent for the FBI, and the woman he’s been trying to arrest for a while. Carlee is his suspect and has been accused of stealing some important information from her employer. Ridge has been set to the case by design and soon discovers that Carlee is a psychic and the organization she works for–her boss, Russell–is the worst kind of person and is blackmailing people with the information he finds out from his team of psychics. That puts a whole new spin on the story, especially when Ridge is on Russell’s short list to get blackmailed, too.

The Bennett’s each have their own special power or gift. All except Ridge. I have to admit that it was kind of nice to have an average guy with just heightened awareness or intuition as he special power. He didn’t have the power to see into the future, or to heal anyone, or to tell when people were going to die, etc. He was just an average guy trying to do his job and do it well.

There is a bit of romance between Ridge and Carlee, but I wasn’t sure we were going to get a happily ever after until the very end of the book. I loved the surprise in that. 

There’s only one thing I wish had been expounded upon. I never did get a good “look” at Ridge or Carlee. I knew Ridge had dark hair and blue eyes and that Carlee was blonde with blue eyes. Past that, I got nothing. It’s a lot easier for me to get wrapped up in a story if I can visualize the characters. Regardless, the story is solid and I did enjoy it.

Although this book is a part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel.

*I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.

Purchase at Amazon: https://amzn.to/332PEqT