historical

Married by Midnight by Julianne MacLean

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Married By Midnight (Pembroke Palace, #4)



Grade: C-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical
Series: Pembroke Palace #4
Reviewed by Kate
186 pages

Lord Garrett Sinclair’s father is going crazy and had his will changed. Unless all four of his sons marry by midnight on Christmas Eve, his entire fortune will go to the London Horticulture Society. Garrett has been out of country (read: avoiding his father) for the past 7 years. He agrees to return and marry (in name only), if his brothers find the bride for him. Lady Anne Douglas has been compromised and disowned by her parents. When Garrett’s brothers offer her income and independence in exchange for marrying Garrett (who will leave the country after the wedding) she accepts.

This story had almost everything I’ve come to love about a marriage of convenience.  A hero and heroine dealing with their pasts.  A plausible reason for the union.  But it was missing my favorite piece of the plot – the struggle to get to know each other.  That awkward part where both the hero and the heroine make mistakes as they try to figure out how to live together.  Instead Garrett and Anne were immediately comfortable with each other.  It was just too perfect, too quickly. 

How about you?  Do you prefer the getting to know you clash or the instant perfection?

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

When He Was Wicked (Bridgertons, #6)
Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: HistoricalSeries: Bridgerton #6
Reviewed by Kate

Michael has been in love with Francesca since the first time he saw her… at a party celebrating her upcoming wedding to Michael’s cousin John. Michael settles for becoming a close friend of Francesca. When John dies suddenly, Michael flees to India to escape his feelings for Francesca. Four years later he returns to London and discovers Francesca is in town looking for a husband.

Of course, like all things Bridgerton, I enjoyed this book. Fast paced, humorous, lovable characters. I am not typically a fan of the widow-falls-for-dead-husband’s-brother/best friend story line, but Julia Quinn handled it very well. But because of the plot, it’s probably my least favorite of the series.

The Chieftain by Margaret Mallory

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Return of the Highlanders #4
Reviewed by Kay

Conner MacDonald is a highland chieftain and trying to live up to that. He’s also trying to live down his father’s past. He strives very hard to be a good leader and man. He heads to another castle to set up his home for him and his future wife, as it is time for an alliance to be made. And what better way to do this than through a marriage? He leaves his cousins behind to guard the other castle but he lets Ilysa, his best friend’s sister come with him. She has been running his keep for years anyway and he could use the friendly face as he settles in. Lately though, he has been looking at Ilysa in a different light.

Ilysa, no last name given, is a healer and even a seer. She hasn’t yet really grown in to her powers but they are there. She is a nineteen year old widow and Conner’s best friend’s sister. And she has loved Conner from afar for many years. She always wanted him to see her as a woman but due to her station that just never happened. Needless to say, she is excited to go to Conner’s new home with him. She takes over the running of the keep and Conner realizes just exactly what goes in to doing so. One thing leads to another and…they become involved.

I loved this book and this series. The characters were so well written that you felt like you knew them. The scenery so well described you felt you were there. Watching the struggles that these two went through as they fell in love was worth every second you spent in the highlands. Who wouldn’t want to spend the weekend in the highlands of Scotland?