Author: Erin Kelly

A Dangerous Damsel- Kimberly Bell

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“A Dangerous Damsel” is the second book in Kimberly Bell’s Countess Scandals series, but works just fine as a standalone book.  Ms. Bell is a new author to me, but I always love to read new authors, especially those who write in the historic Scotland genre in hopes of finding books for my particular catnip.  This one did not disappoint.

The Story-

Ewan has just been informed of his father’s death, which means he is the new laird.  Add to that the surprise of being robbed naked by a bewitching nymph, and he is having an odd day.  Deidre has always used her sexuality to deceive men, and it has worked very well for her until now.  She can no longer protect her brother from the seedy underworld that she has introduced him into.  When threatened by her former lover, she must rely on the man she just robbed and endangered. But, she must never forget her first rule: never trust anyone.

My Thoughts-

This is the most overtly sexual heroine I have read in historical romance, and I liked it.  It was just the change I needed after endless first timers and shocked blushing. There is a scene by the river that is some seriously brave writing for a heroine.  I also liked that her sexuality is never a source of embarrassment to her and isn’t really used as a plot conflict at all.  The hero, Ewan, is a big highlander, which is always fun, but doesn’t have near the intrigue of the heroine.  The plot was well-paced and fun with only a slight stall near the very end.  I was somewhat confused by the character of Rose and wonder if she will appear in future books.

The Good- 

Deidre is one of the best female romance characters I’ve read. I kept picturing her as Esmeralda in Disney’s “Hunchback of Notre Dame”, and I always wanted to be like her instead of short, cute and fair.  The rules that the siblings have set for themselves were great because the reader always knows that rules are made to be broken.  I liked many of the minor characters like Angus, Rose, and Darrow because they had so much more personality than you usually see.

The Bottom Line-

This Highland historical sets itself apart because of its sassy heroine.  It was a quick read that I enjoyed, and I will be reading more from Ms. Bell.  This is totally worth it for fans of historicals, particularly the Scottish historical genre. 4 stars

Literary Travel- Outlander

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I love to travel.  Like, I am willing to drive a clunker, wear bargain store clothes, and skimp on Christmas and birthdays if it means I get to travel.  So I do. Each summer, my husband and I embark on a journey (this year will be Canada!) and I get to live in the excitement of planning that trip until that last day of school when we set off.  Of the things I love about travel, visiting places which have sparked my imagination through books is near the top of the list. Behind wine and cheese… because, you know, it’s wine and cheese.  This past summer, we lived many of my literary fantasies when we rented a car and drove around England and Scotland.  In fact, we hit so many that this is going to need multiple posts.  So, stay tuned for Jane Austen, Harry Potter, and Shakespeare, but today I want to talk about visits to places which helped me to physically connect to Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander”.  

If you haven’t read or watched “Outlander”, are you crazy?  Even my mom has read this book.  I’ve had a soft spot for Scotland ever since my first visit to Edinburgh three summers ago.  Everything about it enchanted me from the weather to the higgeldy-piggeldy old buildings to the kilts and bagpipes.  I watched and loved the Starz series, and as I began to plan this trip, I knew we would have to hit some Outlander-inspired spots.

1. Doune Castle- This is the castle that was used in the filming of Castle Leoch in the first season.  It is near Stirling, but definitely not on the typical tourist trail. We were the first ones there the morning we visited, and enjoyed having the castle pretty much to ourselves.  There is a small exhibit dedicated to Outlander in the castle, and the audioguide includes input from Sam Heughan who plays Jamie Fraser.  I seriously could have listened to him talk all day, and it was amazing to stand on the battlements, listening to his brogue as he talked about the castle and filming there.  But, the coolest thing about Doune Castle is that they have actual Outlander-licensed items in the gift shop. I looked all over Edinburgh and didn’t see them anywhere else.  I got an awesome ring, but they had Claire’s scarf and finger gloves and many other neat items.  Monty Python was also filmed here, and it is a nice castle to visit with some cool history of its own.

2. Avebury Standing Stones-  First things first: Craigh na dun does not exist.  There are no stone circles outside of Inverness.  The stones in the show are fakes, and the closest you can get to something that looks like the stones in the show are on some of the far-flung islands of Scotland.  That being said, I had to see and touch some standing stones on my England/Scotland trip and for those of you who have been to Stonehenge, you know that is not the place to do it.  Lucky for me, Avebury is not too far from Stonehenge, is free, and is completely open to walk around and touch. 

I LOVED this place.  The stones are like old sentries standing guard over the sheep that graze in their fields.  We were completely alone in the field with the stones and the sheep, and I could feel the mysticism and connection to all the people from the past.  I had to put my hands on a stone in a Claire-like pose, but that picture turned out terrible because of my enormous behind.  This is an incredibly cool place, and across the street is this little old church with the prettiest graveyard I have ever seen. Go to Avebury.

3. Fort William/Highlands-  There is not a garrison to visit at Fort William, but I wasn’t worried about that; I was more concerned with seeing the surrounding area- The Highlands.  Some people are beach people, and some people are mountain people. I am a mountain person. (Unless I have someone bringing me food and drinks on a Mexican beach, just sayin’.)  Mountains make me breathless with their beauty; I love the slightly cool air.  As we drove through the highlands of Scotland, I couldn’t take my eyes off the scenery.  It is heart-wrenchingly beautiful.  Pictures do not do it justice; the mountains are so much bigger in person.  I want to live there.

4. Culloden Battlefield- If you have read Dragonfly In Amber or if you know Scottish history, you know the significance of this place.  A mist hung over the field the day I visited, evoking all of the sadness and loss which occurred in this place.  A truly excellent historic visit in its own right, somehow the Outlander series gives us a sense of what was really lost on this battlefield.

Although our Jamie didn’t really exist, many men like him did and died here, trying to defend their clans and their way of life.  

So, that was my Outlander-inspired travel.  Scotland is a beautiful place, and is a perfect place for a romance novel.  I love how books can help you to appreciate certain places or people, and find that literary tourism is a particular joy of mine.  I’d love to hear about places you have visited that helped you to connect to books, authors or literary characters in the comments below.  And don’t forget to check back or subscribe to get future updates: my next literary tourism post will be all about Jane Austen and will include my visit to “Pemberly”. 

Good Earls Don’t Lie- Michelle Willingham

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“Good Earls Don’t Lie” is the first in Michelle Willingham’s Earls Next Door Series, but Willingham has tons of experience in the genre and category with many books set in Regency and Medieval time periods.  The cover was an immediate draw for me, mainly because of the beautiful dress, but I was somewhat afraid it would be a typical bodice-ripper. It was not.
The Story- Iain is a down-on-his luck Irish Earl, struggling to rebuild after the potato famine.  He has nothing left to offer but himself in marriage to any rich English heiress who will take him.  Rose is also attempting to put her life back together after an illness has left her unable to walk and her mother has started showing signs of dementia.  Their paths cross when Iain visits her grandmother’s estate in hopes that the woman will introduce him to English society. 

My Thoughts- I didn’t expect to love this story as much as I did. Both characters were so sympathetic and wonderful that I was rooting for them almost immediately.  I loved Iain within half a page. He is the perfect alpha hero because while he has confidence and snark, his circumstances make him a real person with issues to deal with. The story progressed organically and never felt rushed or like something was thrown in to add pages.  I also particularly loved that these characters develop as such good friends before falling in love.  Taking the time to bring them together in that way made the payoff even better, and the love felt complex and real. 

The Good- Not only were the main characters wonderful, but many of the secondary characters shone as well, such as Iris and Lily.  I liked that both main characters had some rather large obstacle to overcome; it made the outcome more satisfying.  And can we talk about Iain again? He is one of my favorite romance heroes in a long time: the perfect mix of confident, yet humble, caring, yet not a pushover, romantic, but not a rake. 

The Bottom Line- Yes, the title is a bit silly, but the book is anything but. It is not a typical bodice-ripper; it is simply a very well-written historical romance with great characters. 5 stars

Heart of Iron- Bec McMaster

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Heart of Iron is the second book in Bec Mc Master’s London Steampunk series.  I’ll admit: I had to actively hold off on reading this book after finishing the first one in the series in order to read other books for review.  But after a couple of weeks, I had to give in, and I am glad I did.  The focus in this book has switched from vampires/blue bloods to werewolves/verwulfen, and while it wasn’t what I expected, I enjoyed it immensely.

The Story

Will has always been a bit of a lone wolf.  Despite his loyalty to Blade, he has never had strong connections to anyone else.  New threats in London cause unlikely alliances to forge, and Will is called upon to help.  Lena is doing her best to fit into the world of the blue bloods, but something keeps holding her back.  When she is called upon to prepare Will for his new role, old feelings resurface and both face danger.

My Thoughts

McMaster did such a thorough job of creating her world in the first book, that I really thought the second book would be a continuation of that story.  Little did I know, Ms. McMaster had way more in store for this world than I expected.  The romance is a very hot slow burn that pays off in very satisfying ways, but every little step along the way is smoldering.  There was one scene in particular where I could actually feel myself blushing and started looking around to see if anyone noticed, and it wasn’t because it was explicit, it was just pure heat.  The conflict(s) involve so many players and facets that I am even more eager to complete the series.  The steampunk is expanded in this book with more fun creations and details. I loved the addition of the new characters, and even though there were quite a few, I felt like they were fully developed.

The Good

The hero is very appealing in a simmering-below-the-surface kind of way: the kind that you can’t wait to see what happens when he finally lets go.  He’s also a virgin which adds to the intrigue.  The verwulfen backstory and lore are wonderful.  This is honestly one of my favorite kinds of love stories where it is pretty much impossible for the hero and heroine to be together, and I loved the unexpected surprises of the plot.

The Bottom Line

If you enjoyed the first book, this is a no-brainer.  This is one of those series where you really should read the preceding books to understand all the wonderful plot developments and characters.  And you should read the preceding book, as well as this one, if you like paranormal or steampunk or historical or if you are just willing to take a chance on a great series and author.  Maybe it is my catnip: both paranormal and historical at the same time, but I also recognize great writing when I see it, and this is great writing. 5 stars

Stars of Fortune- Nora Roberts

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I love Nora Roberts.  I’ve read every single one of her trilogies and usually buy the new one as soon as it is available.  This one caught up to me as I’ve found so many other amazing authors to read.  Nonetheless, I knew that I would have to make time for Ms. Roberts’ newest trilogy, and I wasn’t disappointed.

The Story-

This one does have paranormal aspects in the form of “gods” which seem to come from the idea of Greek gods.  Since this takes place in Corfu, it works just fine.  This is the intro book for the series, so we meet all of the characters as well as the big bad, and are introduced to the problem/mythology surrounding our main 6 which will form our 3 couples.  This is Sasha and Bran’s story.  Sasha is a seer and artist who knows something is coming and follows her visions and intuition. Bran is an Irish sorcerer/witch who will fall for her.  Of course, everyone must meet, give background info, and come together for the first big fight/victory of the series.

My Thoughts-

I tend to like Nora’s first books in a series a great deal because I love seeing how she sets up the relationships and setting.  Her heroines always have jobs that most women would die for, and Sasha is no exception.  Who wouldn’t want to be an artist in the mountains?  This book had the added element of a foreign country with mythological origins, which adds some depth to the background.  I’ve been to Corfu, and there is something to Greece and its people which feels ancient and magical.  I wish that one of the six had a Greek background; I think it would have added to the mystique.  The second half of the novel didn’t go quite as fast for me as the first did, but I don’t get into the dark battles as much as the romance. (Which is why I tend to stick with her trilogies) That being said, I read the first half in the space of one slowly cooling bath…

The Bottom Line-

If you like Nora, reading this will feel like welcoming an old friend to dinner.  It is by no means one of my least favorite of the trilogies, but I don’t think it will rank up there with the Born In, Chesapeake Shores, Three Sisters, or Irish Trilogies for me. 4 stars

The Marriage Contract- Katee Robert

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I usually hang out in the paranormal or historical worlds, so this contemporary book set against a mafia background was new to me.  As I’ve said before, a good cover can tempt me, and this cover is smokin’.   I also have a weakness for all things Irish, so I was definitely up for an Irish hero, even if he is part of a crime family.  Katee Robert is a new author to me, but definitely not to regular fans of contemporary romance since this book has won some awards.  “The Marriage Contract” is the first book in her O’Malley series, and the most recent book “Indecent Proposal” (with an even hotter cover) was just released.
The Story–

Callie and Teague are children of two different crime families in Boston.  Callie was supposed to marry the heir to the third crime family, but when he is killed, she is shuffled to a different groom.  They are both reluctant participants in the more nefarious activities associated with their families, but are also deeply loyal to their blood.  This loyalty, along with an instant attraction, leads them to accept this contemporary arranged marriage. Of course, the third crime family is still out there…

My Thoughts–

During the first half of this book, I was like “why don’t I read contemporary romance regularly? This is so hot and intriguing!” I loved the characters because they each embody the traits that are my favorites for heroes and heroines.  But, at about the halfway point when the mafia part of the story line became more intense, I began to lose my enthusiasm slightly and realized that the main reason I tend to stick with paranormal and historical is to escape some of the realities of my world.  Granted, my world does not include crime families etc., but violence is often closer than I would like to admit.

The Good–

I particularly enjoyed Teague’s interactions with Callie.  He is everything a girl would want: protective, sexy, sexy, sexy, kind, honorable, sexy… do you catch my drift? I also really enjoyed the opening scene and how fast the plot unfolded; it felt like blasting off on an extreme attraction.  The secondary characters are also notably great, which is good considering that future books will concern them.  Most of them… (sigh)

The Bottom Line–

While I will not be searching out other crime family books, I will likely continue with the O’Malleys.  If someone is a fan of this genre, I absolutely recommend it, but even if you are not, it is an enjoyable read.  It just might require a certain mindset.  That being said, it is worth 4 stars in my book.

Any Duchess Will Do- Tessa Dare

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I’ll admit it: I judge books by their covers.  Something about seeing a big, beautiful dress on the cover of a book brings me back to my childhood when I went rifling through my aunt’s closet.  Perhaps this is the reason that I am stuck in a Regency rabbit-hole.  Each time I read a new book, I see another one that is just as pretty that I am dying to try.  Regency books are my Pringles.  So, after finishing a Lisa Kleypas and a Sarah MacLean, I just had to try out Tessa Dare.  Let me tell you, while the cover might be like the others, this is no ordinary Regency book.
The Story

Pauline is a farmer’s daughter and a barmaid/serving girl who has a head for numbers, tons of pride, and is fiercely protective of her disabled sister.  To me, she feels a little like Belle in the beginning of Beauty and the Beast: everyone in town thinks she’s weird, but she has big dreams. Enter Griff, a duke whose mother is desperate to marry him off to literally anyone.  She brings him to this town full of unmarried women and wants him to pick one for her to train into a duchess ala My Fair Lady.

My Thoughts 

Y’all, I can’t even. This book was so good and so funny. I laughed out loud at several parts, and I just LOVED Pauline. Griff initially selects her because she is so disheveled to spite his mother,  and his mother calls his bluff. Almost immediately, he starts backpedaling , making plans to leave for London saying that surely Pauline can’t drop everything and leave. Pauline replies,

“Certainly I can[…] I can leave my post anytime. […] I don’t need a post at all, do I? Not if I’m to be a duchess. […] Mr. Fosbury, […] I’ll be leaving now.  I don’t expect I’ll be coming back today. I’m taking the duke ‘round to the cottage so he can ask for my hand in marriage […] Shall we, your grace?”

See? No wimpy heroine here, just one who knows herself and knows her mind and refuses to be talked down to or underestimated.  Don’t get me wrong, she has a tough road, and pure pluck isn’t enough to overcome every obstacle in her way, but she is so real and original that I had a blast reading her story.  There’s even a nice little callback to Pretty Woman that, even though it’s been done before, makes me smile every time.  I think my only disappointment was the first sex scene because of the lack of foreplay, but that is corrected in later scenes. One scene in particular is like OMG: hot and fun.

The Good

There is so much good here.  Obviously, the heroine was my favorite, but the hero, his past and how it was handled is lovely.  Even the duchess is a sympathetic, full character rather than a broadly-drawn stereotype.  The story is compelling,  well-written and, even though it presents tropes we are comfortable with, the author does it in new and interesting ways that makes them feel new.

The Bottom Line

I feel like any romance reader, Regency fan or not, would enjoy this book.  It is universally enjoyable: both funny and heart-wrenching.  I cannot wait to read Ms. Dare again, and indeed, this book again as it will become one of those special books that I will return to when I need to smile.  5 stars

You’re Still The One- Rachel Harris

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Since I have been on such a historical kick lately, I decided that I needed a palate cleanser in the form of a sweet contemporary.  “You’re Still the One” by Rachel Harris caught my eye for a couple of reasons:
1. The cover was sexy without being explicit.

2. It is part of a series called “Country Blues” which appeals to me (even though I am normally a paranormal/historical junkie.)

So, back in the early 2000’s when I was a church secretary and had every possible Thomas Kinkade office supply decorating my office, I got into Harlequin American Romances.  These sweet books with their sexy cowboys, surprise babies, and small-town appeal were my bread and butter for over a year.  It shouldn’t surprise me that I still have a soft spot for this sort of book.

The Story

Arabella has fostered a crush on country star, Charlie Tucker, since she was a kid and he was a new artist at her father’s record label.  A personal challenge in the form of a sort-of summer bucket list gives her the courage to flirt with Charlie one night, leading to an unforgettable kiss between the two.  When Charlie is tasked with keeping an eye on Arabella, his boss’s daughter, he doesn’t expect to develop feelings for her.

My Thoughts

Even though the cover was somewhat tame, I didn’t expect to have the fade-to-black sex with the door closed. Normally, I don’t really mind if a story has sex or not or how hot the sex is, as long as it fits the story.  With this book, there was so much sexual tension built with multiple kisses and near misses that I felt somewhat gypped out of the experience of seeing the two finally come together.   That being said, the story progressed well, and the relationship between the two felt real with a more believable base than most romances.  I loved that much of the book was set in New Orleans, being a Louisiana native, but felt that more could have been explored in the city, especially in bringing out the more adventurous side of Arabella.

The Good

Arabella is a great character; she feels like a young adult on the verge of finding herself, and she isn’t lacking the courage to make it happen.  I really identified with her.  I liked the story and found it a breezy, enjoyable read.

The Bottom Line

If you are looking for a sweet romance with good characters and a steady plot, this is a good pick.  If you want heat beyond kisses, this is not the book for you.  4 stars

A Rogue By Any Other Name- Sarah MacLean

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Yes, I am on a bit of a Historical run lately, but that seems to be a rabbit hole I have difficulty climbing out of because I love them so much.  But that is another topic for another blog post! This one is all about Sarah MacLean’s “A Rogue By Any Other Name” which is the first book in the Rules of Scoundrels Series.  This is my first MacLean for reasons which I know not of, but it will not be my last.

The Story– Penelope (I have always loved that name) is practically an old maid because of a previous broken engagement and the scandal that followed.  In fact, she’s so hopeless that her father has attached a large parcel of land to her dowry to attract suitors. How crappy would that be? “Please! Marry my pathetic daughter for lots of money!” Bourne is her childhood friend who happened to lose the previously mentioned land in a card game to a dastardly villain (not Penelope’s father). He’s spent the past several years planning revenge, acquiring a fortune, and looking for an opportunity to get his land back. Wow! This should be easy, right? Penelope gets to marry her childhood friend, and Bourne gets his land. Not so fast… Of course, it isn’t that easy!

My Thoughts– Penelope certainly has reason to doubt herself and the character with her motivations was well-created, but I have rarely felt so badly for a romantic heroine. I felt her disappointment so acutely, I wanted to slap Bourne for his idiocity.  I guess there wouldn’t have been enough conflict without his moronic actions and attitude, but it left me wondering whether or not he deserved her love up to very close to the end.  She walked the line of desperation and letting him use her a little too long for my taste.

The Good– Since I’ve gone on and on about Penelope, obviously she is a compelling character. I loved the letters she had written Bourne over the years which opened each chapter.  The story clicks right along, never boring, or lagging.  The sex scenes are hot and sometimes unexpected, and a couple of the kissing scenes stand out.

The Bottom Line– I wanted to plop Penelope down in a Nora Roberts book with all the girlfriends and coffee just to give her someone to talk to and maybe knock some sense into her. That being said, I really enjoyed this book. It is a true “bodice-ripper” as two different outfits get destroyed, but the characters have real depth.  Any fan of historical romance would certainly enjoy this book. 4 stars

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The Highlander’s Vow- Barbara Longley

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Sometimes you happen into a series that suits your interests perfectly, and you simply HAVE to read any book in the series which is published. Such is the case with this recent addition to Barbara Longley’s Loch Moigh series, “The Highlander’s Vow”.  About a year ago, I was reading the Outlander books because 1. I love romance 2. I love Scotland 3. I love time travel stories. Unfortunately, after a couple of books in the series, I lost interest. Enter Amazon Prime who noticed my proclivity for Scottish time-travel romances and suggested “True to the Highlander” by Barbara Longley which, luckily, checked all my boxes. I read it in about a day and was grateful to notice that there were two more books in the series, so I could keep going. (And they were all on Kindle Unlimited, yay!) This most recent entry into the series, which is actually a second generation continuation, popped up on my suggestions, and it immediately became compulsory reading.

The Story- All of these stories feature the hero or heroine time-traveling from either Medieval/Renaissance Scotland to a current Renaissance Festival or vice versa.  There is always a fish out of water component, which I love, as well as a little bit of magic, which is necessary for the whole time-travel thing.  In this one, Skye is engaged to someone she just realized is a jerk who is plotting her death. She rushes to find her father to explain the danger, and happens to fall through time right into a jousting demonstration at a Renaissance Festival.  She falls in with a great family who happens to be experienced at the whole time-travel thing since Struan fell into their lives from the 14th century ten years ago.

My Thoughts– Longley does the fish out of water bit better than most and spends some time imagining how people from the past would view some of our technology and customs. The story flows well, and, if you have read the previous books, it is fun to revisit many of the past characters.  I liked the heroine as she seemed more inclined to take control of her life than most women of that time period would have been. The hero was a bit too stoic for me, but there was adequate justification for his brooding nature.

The Bottom Line– It should go without saying that if you like Scottish time-travel romance, this is a sure bet.  It is breezier and more fun than Outlander, but not without depth. I will continue to read any Scotland-based books that Ms. Longley publishes with great anticipation. Best enjoyed in a long bubble bath with a glass of wine!  4 stars.