Review - - The Viscount Who Vexed Me

The Viscount Who Vexed Me

by Julia London

A Royal Match - Book 3

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: May 23, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Daring. Darling. Determined.

Next to the Season’s newest diamond, Harriet (Hattie) Woodchurch feels like a plain Jane. But that’s of no consequence, since Hattie’s plan for her future is to earn enough to live far, far away from her embarrassing family.

That is until Mateo Vincente, Duke of Santiava and newly minted Viscount Abbott, arrives in London. While the shy European’s spoken English is impeccable, his writing is less fluent. The ton is eager to meet the handsome bachelor, and so many invitations flood in that Mateo needs a correspondence secretary.

With her perfect penmanship and way with words, Hattie is recommended, and the two bond over books and the ton’s eligible ladies. But when Hattie’s friend Flora becomes smitten with the viscount, things get complicated. Flora is tongue-tied in his presence. To help, Hattie feeds her information about Mateo’s interests. Soon things turn around and Flora appears on track to become his duchess. Yet for Mateo, something’s not quite right. Conversation with Flora isn’t as scintillating as it is with Hattie…

PJ's Thoughts:

I adored this story! It may just be my favorite book by Julia London and I've read a whole lot of books by her. It's filled with sweet moments, frustrating family, sparkling banter, a determined matchmaker, and a lead couple who captured my heart. 

I want to be Hattie's friend. I like her, respect her, admire her. Her so-called friends don't deserve her, her family doesn't deserve her, her louse of an ex-fiancé certainly didn't deserve her. You know who does? Teo, Duke of Santiava and Viscount Abbott. He deserves her. And Hattie deserves him. It's like these two were made for one another. I loved how London brought them together then slowly guided them along the path to friendship, understanding, and, finally, love. It was so much fun to watch Hattie take life by the horns, discarding society's "rules" and fully embracing her true self. She's a talkative breath of fresh air in Teo's quiet life, engaging him as an equal, unafraid to speak her mind, and charming not only him but his entire staff. 

And then there's Teo, a quiet man who has retreated into himself after a lifetime of verbal abuse from his father. With Hattie, he comes alive. With Hattie, he finds his voice. With Hattie, he shares all parts of himself, even his secret hobby (A duke/viscount who whips up the most delicious pastries in London? Yes, please!). With Hattie, he allows himself to be vulnerable while also finding his strength. An endearing combination that capture not only Hattie's heart but mine as well. 

Are there obstacles to overcome in this cross-class romance? Absolutely. Hallie's obnoxious family and Teo's overbearing mother, just to name two. But with the unexpected help of a determined matchmaker who believes in love and a gentleman nanny/uncle/what exactly is he who seems to know everything about everyone, these two just might find their way to a happily ever after. I was with them, cheering them on, every step of the way.

Bonus: for those of you who enjoy a good epilogue, this one is an absolute delight that had me laughing, sighing, and cheering, especially over a certain "twist" pertaining to finding one's voice. I loved it! 

The Viscount Who Vexed Me is the third book in Julia London's A Royal Match series. There are a few characters from the first two books who have key secondary roles in this one (the matchmaker, for one) but Hattie's and Teo's journey is fully contained within this third book. In my opinion, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. However, I do recommend both book one, Last Duke Standing (read my review) and book two, The Duke Not Taken.(read my review).

The next book in this series, An Inconvenient Earl, is scheduled to be published in December of this year. I already have it on pre-order. 

Review - - The Duke Not Taken

The Duke Not Taken

by Julia London

A Royal Match - Book 2

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: September 27, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

 

Impossible. Infuriating. Intoxicating.

Ever since her sister became queen two years ago, Amelia Ivanosen, Princess of Wesloria, has been flirting and skirting scandal—just barely. Before she does anything too outlandish, she is sent to England and Lila Alexander, illustrious matchmaker to the ton, is recruited. Respectably ensconced at the country estate of a family friend, Amelia is introduced to many eligible bachelors, but…there is no spark. There never seems to be unless the man is completely wrong for her.

Next door lives Joshua Parker, Duke of Marley, who is grumpy and reclusive—for good reason. His first wife died in childbirth. When Marley is dragged by a friend to his neighbor’s soiree, he and Amelia instantly dislike each other. Their banter is snarky and heated. He’s a stuck-up smarty-pants; she’s a self-involved, annoying princess.

Sparks fly when they’re together—fireworks actually—but they loathe each other. Really. So why can’t they stop thinking about each other?

PJ's Thoughts:

After meeting Amelia (heroine's younger sister) in Last Duke Standing, I was quite curious about what London planned to do with her when the time came for her own story. In her sister's book, Amelia comes across as spoiled and self-centered, but still staunchly supportive of her sister, the future queen. In other words, a complex character, my favorite kind. In The Duke Not Taken, we finally discover exactly what makes Amelia tick, what it is she has been longing for all these years, and the journey is an absolute delight. I've already read the book twice. In fact, it's ended up being one of my all-time favorites written by Julia London. 

In London's capable hands, the characters in this book (even the four-legged ones) practically leap from the pages. They are all wonderfully developed, including secondary characters, though it's Amelia and Joshua who take the lead. The friction between these two could start a forest fire (though actual romantic scenes are very mild). Their banter is lively, witty, and non-stop but when we finally reach the point where it takes a deeper turn, London gives them the opportunity to reveal their hearts, their fears, and their dreams in a sweet, poignant way that they've not done with anyone else. Their slowly evolving romance is endearing, snarky, humorous in parts, heart-tugging in others, and had me cheering them on throughout. 

The secondary cast shines without taking the spotlight from our opinionated princess (who just wants to be like everyone else) and grumpy duke (who just wants to be left alone). The young girls are hilarious and help reveal hidden facets of Amelia's personality while driving Joshua around the bend with their loud and off-key singing...until the youngest among them starts knocking down the walls around his heart. Miles, Lord Clarendon, is the kind of best friend every brokenhearted duke deserves. Lila, the matchmaker is at her wit's end trying to match a princess who seems set on taking the most difficult path to love possible. And Donovan, who has appeared in both book one of this series and in the A Royal Wedding series, just may be my favorite Julia London character ever. If you've yet to meet Donovan, picture Mary Poppins as a drop-dead gorgeous, gay man beloved by parents and children alike, and you have Donovan. Wherever he goes, laughter, joy, and well-planned organization follow. There's a garden scene in this book involving Donovan that could easily be missed if you blink, but its poignant simplicity is enormous for its emotional depth. My thanks to the author for including it. It filled my heart with joy and brought me to tears. 

And then there are the letters. I adore an epistolary romance. So much is revealed, even - maybe especially - when the letter writers don't realize to whom they're writing. The letters between "a concerned resident of Devonshire" (actually Joshua) and the "Master of the Iddesleigh School for Girls" (actually written by Amelia) are humorous, thought-provoking, and such a delightful way of offering insight into these two characters as well as (unknowingly) deepening the relationship between the two. 

Finally, London wraps things up with an epilogue (I do love epilogues) that had the happy tears flowing. This book made me laugh, snort, sigh, and, yes, cry. It's going to my keeper shelf. I have a feeling it's destined to become one of those comfort reads I turn to when I need a feel-good story to soothe my soul. 

 

Review - - Last Duke Standing

Last Duke Standing

by Julia London

A Royal Match - Book 1

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: February 22, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

 

Charming. Cheeky. Cunning.

When Crown Princess Justine of Wesloria is sent to England to learn the ropes of royalty, she falls under the tutelage of none other than Queen Victoria herself. Justine’s also in the market for a proper husband—one fit to marry the future queen of Wesloria.

Because he knows simply everyone, William, Lord Douglas (the notoriously rakish heir to the Duke of Hamilton seat in Scotland, and decidedly not husband material), is on hand as an escort of sorts. William has been recruited to keep an eye on the royal matchmaker for the Weslorian prime minister, tasked to ensure the princess is matched with a man of quality…and one who will be sympathetic to the prime minister’s views.

As William and Justine are forced to scrutinize an endless parade of England’s best bachelors, they become friends. But when the crowd of potential grooms is steadily culled, what if William is the last bachelor standing?

PJ's Thoughts:

This book was an absolute delight and exactly what I needed. It touched my heart with its depth of emotion, had me snickering over snarky banter, and laughing out loud with its well-placed humor. 

London's characters were well developed and portrayed so vividly that they seemed to leap from the pages. I felt an immediate affinity with William though it took me longer to warm up to Justine. I liked that, as it allowed me to experience her growing self-confidence once she was out from under the pressure of the "minders" in her country. It was fun (sometimes hilariously so) to watch these two come to terms with their growing feelings with each disastrous marriage candidate the matchmaker presented to Justine. It was heart-tugging to experience the emotional peaks and valleys as they faced challenging obstacles in their paths. But that's what made the conclusion of their journey, William's unexpected gesture, and Justine's confident strength, so swoon worthy and satisfying. 

Last Duke Standing is loosely connected to London's A Royal Wedding trilogy and it is in these books that we first meet William and Justine, as secondary characters in A Princess by Christmas. London inserts details of their previous encounters in such a way that readers should be able to begin their story in this new book without missing any of the nuances of their previous encounters. However, if want to experience those earlier encounters or you're intrigued by some of the secondary characters in Last Duke Standing, specifically Donovan, the male governess (though he prefers governor) to Beck's daughters, you may want to check out these books: The Princess Plan, A Royal Kiss & Tell, and A Princess by Christmas. 

Review - - It Started With a Dog & Birthday Giveaway #29

It Started With a Dog

by Julia London

Lucky Dog - Book 2

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: October 5, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

All Harper Thompson wants for Christmas is the huge promotion she's worked so hard for—which she should get, as long as her launch of the hip new coffeehouse, Deja Brew, goes according to plan. Jonah Rogers is trying to save his family's coffee shop, Lucky Star, from going out of business, which will be tough with the brand-new Deja Brew opening across the street.
 
When Jonah and Harper meet for the first time after accidentally swapping phones, their chemistry is as electric as a strand of Christmas lights. He's a tall, handsome, compassionate hunk of engineer, and she's an entrepreneur whose zest for life is very sexy. They love all the same things, like scary movies, greasy food—and most of all, dogs. It's a match made in heaven...until Jonah finds out that Harper's the one about to put him out of business.
 
Only one coffee shop likely can survive, and a competition of one-upmanship ensues in a battle of the brews. The paws really come out when the local rescue shelter has a fundraiser where local businesses foster dogs, and patrons vote with their dollars for their favorite pup. Harper takes in an adorable old bulldog on behalf of Deja Brew, while Jonah fosters a perky three-legged dachshund for Lucky Star. As the excitement builds for who will be crowned King Mutt and king of the coffee hill, Harper and Jonah must decide if their connection was all steam or if they are the perfect blend.

PJ's Thoughts:

I loved this book. It was exactly what I needed. Fresh, original, feel-good, and fun, it pulled me in and kept me entertained from start to finish. The characters were well developed and likable. I was invested not only in Harper's and Jonah's relationship but in their individual journeys as well. Jonah's family was frustrating, meddlesome, and adorably sweet and well-meaning. Watching them with Jonah, and later with Harper, really tugged my heartstrings. 

I loved the set-up through the first few chapters, the initial attraction and intrigue as Jonah and Harper communicated via texts from the swapped phones and also uncovered details about one another via texts they received from others. There's a lot of humor in those chapters but also sweetness and the laying of a foundation with the potential to grow into more.

And then there are the dogs. I mean, who can resist those rescue dogs? Not this puppy! They all would have ended up going home with me. All of them. And they weren't just window dressing - although a grumpy old bulldog was quite the front window star - but were important characters in the story, adding additional incentive for self-reflection and evolution. 

If you're looking for a feel-good contemporary romance that will make you laugh out loud, cheer for happy endings, and fall in love with both two-legged and four-legged characters, give It Started With a Dog by Julia London a try. It's one of my favorites written by this multi-talented author. 

Have you ever adopted or fostered a rescue dog?

Do you have pets now? Tell me about them.

Birthday Giveaway #29:

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, October 1 will receive one book from PJ's home collection.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Today's Special - - Harlequin Holiday Roundup

 

I love Christmas romances and some of my favorite HQN authors have new stories available just in time for this year's holiday reading. Here are a few of my recent reads.

A Princess by Christmas: A Holiday Romance

by Julia London

A Royal Wedding - Book 3

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: October 13, 2020

She’s discovered his secret.
Now the trouble really begins…

After three years of mourning—and turning her dear deceased husband’s gazette into the ton’s sauciest source of fashion and gossip—Hollis Honeycutt feels her life has been strangely bereft of late… Her sister is living abroad, and her best friend moved to the country. What must a young widow of rank and reputation do? Why, transform her society gossip sheets into serious investigative news, starting with a rumored coup…and the rather dashing, mysterious gentleman whom Hollis suspects might be the villain of her first real story, and she is the only one who can write it.

Marek Brendan is investigating terrible rumors of treachery and treason that threaten his home country of Wesloria, but he must proceed with caution. No one can discover the truth. After all, who would ever believe he is Wesloria’s lost crown prince? Only Hollis Honeycutt’s cerulean-blue eyes seem to know more than she’s letting on—and worse, Marek can’t seem to resist her curious charms. But even as betrayal threatens a nation and a throne, nothing is quite so dangerous as the lovely young widow who’s determined to find the truth…and a prince of her own.

PJ's Thoughts:

What a perfect story to lose myself in this holiday season. Julia London's A Princess by Christmas is chock full of charm, mystery, shenanigans, and heart-tugging romance. Marek and Hollis are both complex, engaging characters who captured my heart. I so enjoyed watching the evolution of their relationship as well as the growth of each of them individually. And I appreciated the happily-ever-after London gave them - not the one I expected but the one that was right for them. Tears of joy were shed. 

But Marek and Hollis aren't the only ones who shine in this novel. London has surrounded them with a cast of supporting characters who enrich the story and help bring it to life; endearing characters who are as well-developed as the leads. In particular, my heart was snared by Donovan, Hollis's manservant, confidant, and dear friend. I adored him. If London ever writes a story for him I'll be first in line to buy it. 

This is the third book in London's A Royal Wedding series. While characters from the first two books make appearances, it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. 

The Last Christmas Cowboy

by Maisey Yates

A Gold Valley Novel - Book 11

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: October 13, 2020

Cowgirl Rose Daniels is determined to play matchmaker to ensure her beloved sister will meet someone under the mistletoe. She enlists the reluctant help of family friend Logan Heath, but his insistence that she doesn’t understand chemistry is exasperating. Until they share one electrifying moment that shows her exactly what chemistry is all about, and it becomes outrageously, irresistibly intriguing…

Logan hates the holidays. They are a painful reminder of the family he lost and a time of year he always wants to spend on his own. But Rose refuses to let him. Logan’s worked for years to keep his attraction to her under wraps—she’s his best friend’s youngest sister and she couldn’t be more off-limits. He’s the last cowboy that innocent Rose should ever kiss, but this Christmas, maybe Logan will become the only cowboy she’ll ever want.

PJ's Thoughts:

The Daniels children lost their parents in a plane crash when Rose was a small child, a crash that also took the life of Logan's mother. The effects of the aftermath of that tragedy have affected each of them in deep and not always visible ways. Now that Rose and Logan are adults, and their feelings for one another are beginning to change, each of them will have to deal with long-buried emotions in order to have the courage to reach for the love they deserve. 

I can always count on Maisey Yates to deliver an emotional roller coaster and this book is no exception. She takes both Rose and Logan through a significant evolution before we reach the end. The journey isn't always easy but the end is always satisfying. I enjoyed watching Rose's siblings continue to move forward with their relationships and am really looking forward to the next book in the series. Fans of the series will enjoy catching up with other characters while those new to Gold Valley should be able to enjoy this story on it's own merits. 

Happily This Christmas

by Susan Mallery

Happily Inc - Book 6

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: September 29, 2020

Wynn Beauchene has a thriving business, a great kid and a mildly embarrassing crush on the guy next door—local cop Garrick McCabe. She’s a strong, independent woman who can’t help dreaming what-if about a man she barely knows. Until he needs her help…

Garrick’s pregnant daughter will be home for Christmas, and his house needs a woman’s touch. Garrick and his little girl were tight once and he’s hoping a small-town Christmas will bring her back to him. But thawing his daughter’s frosty attitude will take more than a few twinkle lights. Maybe sharing the holiday with Wynn and her son will remind her of the joy of family.

As the season works its magic on these wounded souls, Wynn realizes it’s time to stop punishing herself for a painful secret, while Garrick remains haunted by the ghosts of past mistakes. Will he allow Wynn to open the only gift she truly wants—his heart?

PJ's Thoughts:

What a lovely story to put readers in the holiday spirit. Susan Mallery's characters are so realistic and relatable. I could easily imagine being friends and neighbors with both Wynn and Garrick, along with the rest of the town. Wynn and Garrick had great chemistry and developed a sweet friendship, followed by a slow slide into more. I had to laugh at the obstacles to the "more" that kept appearing to sidetrack their plans. Welcome to romance with kids. 

I love how Mallery delves into the everyday challenges within families, guiding characters through issues many of us encounter. I  enjoyed Wynn's relationship with her teenage son. She's a good mom, a good person, but still punishing herself over something that happened fifteen years earlier. Her son's such a great character, even when he messes up. Maybe especially when he messes up as it gives them both the opportunity for growth and forgiveness. Then there's Garrick and his estranged daughter. My heart ached for him. He's such a good man and trying so very hard to be a good father. His daughter wasn't a very likable character at the start but her growth over the course of the book was significant. Their path to understanding was rocky but also poignant, heartwarming, humorous (birthing class), healing, and real. 

The Christmas event that brings them all together was an added, feel-good bonus that had me crying tears of joy. 

Happily This Christmas can be enjoyed as a standalone but a word of warning: by the time you finish, you may have fallen in love with the town and her citizens so much that you immediately buy the first five books in the series. Like I did. 

So those are some of the books I've been reading. What are the holiday romances that are warming your heart? 

Review - - You Lucky Dog

 

You Lucky Dog

by Julia London   

Publisher: Berkley  

Release Date: August 25, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

Carly Kennedy's life is in a spiral. She is drowning in work, her divorced parents are going through their midlife crises, and somehow Carly's sister convinces her to foster Baxter--a basset hound rescue with a bad case of the blues. When Carly comes home late from work one day to discover that the dog walker has accidentally switched out Baxter for another perkier, friendlier basset hound, she has reached the end of her leash.

When Max Sheffington finds a depressed male basset hound in place of his cheerful Hazel, he is bewildered. But when cute, fiery Carly arrives on his doorstep, he is intrigued. He was expecting the dog walker, not a pretty woman with firm ideas about dog discipline. And Carly was not expecting a handsome, bespectacled man to be feeding her dog mac and cheese. Baxter is besotted with Hazel, and Carly realizes she may have found the key to her puppy’s happiness. For his sake, she starts to spend more time with Hazel and Max, until she begins to understand the appeal of falling for your polar opposite.

PJ's Thoughts:

Any cover with two adorable dogs on it will always draw my interest and Baxter and Hazel more than live up to their cuteness. In fact, they pretty much steal every scene they're in. It's clear the author has a great love for, and experience with, dogs. They're the catalyst that brings Max and Carly together and keeps their relationship moving forward. By the end of the book, I wanted to adopt both of them. Some of the other characters, not so much.

Carly and Max are both likable characters - okay, Carly is pretty annoying at the beginning but she grows into her likability - and though they may seem an unlikely pair at first, London deftly guides them along the path to eventual friendship with the potential for more. It's a sweet, low-key romantic journey, with a happy ending, but, as this is a romantic comedy, not a contemporary romance, it takes a bit of a back seat to everything else going on in their lives, especially Carly's. Both are at turning points in their careers, with Max on a tenure track at the university and Carly trying to salvage her sagging PR business while keeping her dreams of a New York career alive (she has two clients, neither of which is doing anything to help further those goals). A great deal of the story focuses on Carly's clients and career. Then there are the families.

Honestly, I don't blame Carly for wanting to move to New York. With her family, I'd be setting my sights much further. Like, maybe Australia. As for Max's family, I felt London did a credible job of portraying  an adult character with Autism (Max's brother) and both the joys and challenges of living with a person with special needs. I liked Max's father and brother a whole lot more than anyone in Carly's family, especially her mother. Carly's sister may have been annoying but I couldn't find one single redeeming quality in her mother. And I looked really hard.

Overall, I enjoyed Carly's journey and was happy with the decisions she made, as well as how they came about. The author could have taken an easier path with her but it wouldn't have felt as authentic to her character. Because of that, I was confident she would move forward with no regrets and that her relationship with Max would be stronger because of it. I liked Max's nerdy sweetness and how he and Carly balance one another. I liked his relationship with his brother and his determination to support, encourage, and protect those he loves. And I absolutely adored the dogs. 

Tour Review - - A Royal Kiss & Tell

A Royal Kiss & Tell

by Julia London

A Royal Wedding - Book 2

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: May 19, 2020

Reviewed by PJ 

Every young man in London’s ton is vying for Lady Caroline Hawke’s hand—except one. Handsome roué Prince Leopold of Alucia can’t quite remember Caroline’s name, and the insult is not to be tolerated. So Caroline does what any clever, resourceful lady of means would do to make sure Leo never again forgets: sees that scandalous morsels about his reputation are printed in a ladies’ gossip gazette…all while secretly setting her cap for the rakish royal.

Someone has been painting Leo as a blackguard, but who? Socially, it is ruining him. More important, it jeopardizes his investigation into a contemptible scheme that reaches the highest levels of British government. Leo needs Lady Caroline’s help to regain access to society. But this charming prince is about to discover that enlisting the deceptively sweet and sexy Lady Caroline might just cost him his heart, his soul and both their reputations…

PJ's Thoughts:

This second book in London's A Royal Wedding series is an enemies to lovers tale featuring the English best friend of the heroine of book one and the younger brother of the Alucian hero, the Royal "Spare." I haven't read book one yet but I love a good enemies to lovers story and have enjoyed many of London's books over the years so I was already pre-disposed to like A Royal Kiss & Tell. But I had not yet met Caroline. 

I really struggled with this character. She is not the type of person I'd want to be friends with and though I tried, I just was not able to form any type of connection with her until the final two chapters of the book. She is nicely redeemed in the final chapter but, for me, it was a bit late. Perhaps if she'd had more depth or shown something more than egotistical, shallow, and annoyingly obnoxious behavior for the vast majority of the book, I'd have felt differently and been more invested in her and her relationship with Leo. 

Leo also is not very likable at the beginning of the book but his evolution begins earlier and continues throughout the story. I enjoyed his character and found his growth believable, especially as it is paired with a bit of intrigue involving slave trafficking of young women from his country to England. London does an admirable job of transitioning his character from a drunken wastrel to a responsible man willing to sacrifice his own reputation to rescue the young women from untenable situations. 

Human trafficking was a serious topic to introduce into this story. I would have liked to have seen more accountability for the perpetrators and attention to the victims. There are still missing women being enslaved in England, rescued women who have been used as sexual playthings, and most of the high-ranking men involved seem to have not been held accountable for their heinous actions. I wonder if that is the author's statement on the unfairness of a female's vulnerability, and the male's power, during that time or if she has plans to continue this plot line in a future book?

London's a very good writer and there will be many who will love this book and probably feel very differently about Caroline than I did. It just didn't work for me but, sometimes, one reader's disappointment is another's pleasure. If you love Royals, fashion, gossip, biting banter, and a slow-burn, enemies to lovers romance, this might be a good book for you. 

TLC Tour Review & Excerpt - - Seduced by a Scot

Seduced by a Scot
by Julia London
Publisher: HQN
Release Date: October 30, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

When a prominent Scottish family faces a major scandal weeks before their daughter’s wedding, they turn in desperation to the enigmatic fixer for the aristocracy, Nichol Bain. Remarkably skilled at making high-profile problems go away, Nichol understands the issue immediately. The family’s raven-haired ward, Maura Darby, has caught the wandering eye—and rather untoward advances—of the groom.

Nichol assuredly escorts Maura toward his proposed solution: an aging bachelor for her to marry. But rebellious Maura has no interest in marrying a stranger, especially when her handsome traveling companion has captivated her so completely. Thankfully, Nichol loves a challenge, but traveling with the bold and brash Maura has him viewing her as far more than somebody’s problem. Which raises a much bigger issue—how can he possibly elude disaster when the heart of the problem is his own?

My Thoughts:

Having already met the hero of this story, Nichol Bain, in London's previous book, Tempting the Laird, I was not predisposed to view him with fondness as I began reading his story. It didn't take long, however, before London began slowly peeling back his layers to reveal the heart, soul, and vulnerability residing within this man who is paid to fix the problems of others while carefully hiding his own. He wasn't at all what I had expected him to be and as the twists and turns of the story revealed the secrets and events that had brought him to this point in his life, I began to be more and more in his corner. Until he let his stubborn male nature take the reins, of course. Then I just wanted to toss him out the castle window! Don't worry, he eventually won me over again.

Maura snagged my interest and my heart immediately. I grieved for the young girl who was sent to live with people who resented and mistreated her after her beloved father's death and shared her anger over the circumstances of her departure from their home. But I cheered her on with gusto when, pushed beyond her limits, she finds her strength and lets her inner woman roar. If Nichol thought he was in for an easy job with this one, he was sadly mistaken and if he thinks he can hand her over to another man and walk away after giving her his heart...well, Maura just may have something to say about that. 

This final book in the Highland Grooms series had me eagerly turning pages from beginning to end. I so enjoyed it! London has penned an engaging, fast-paced story with vividly crafted characters, witty dialog, adventure, emotional vulnerability, surprising twists and turns, and an ending worthy of a smile and a sigh. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.

Fans of the series will enjoy reuniting with characters from other books in the Epilogue while readers new to the series should have no trouble enjoying Seduced by a Scot without having read the other books first. 

Excerpt

Maura turned away from the door and looked at her prison. She had a small stack of books that were keeping her occupied, but which she’d soon finish. She was running out of wood for the hearth, her clothes needed washing and she’d lost all manner of decency. The clothes she’d been wearing the night he’d put his hands on her were discarded onto the floor, where they would remain, unless she resorted to burning them for warmth. She hadn’t bothered to dress her hair or don a gown over her stomacher and petticoat in days.

She fell onto the chaise longue at the end of the bed, and stared morosely at the ceiling with its peeling paint. She couldn’t survive in here much longer. Last night, she’d concocted an elaborate plan in her head, whereby she would will herself to make it to spring when the days would be warmer. She could simply walk out of this house once Mr. Rumpkin had fallen into unconsciousness with his fingers wrapped tightly around a bottle. But then she’d grown sullen, for spring was too far away, and there was an entire winter to endure.

She needed to devise another, better plan.

She had only a few coins, some shoes that were worthless for anything other than dancing or strolling around manicured gardens, one decent gown and one serviceable gown. The third gown she’d been allowed to leave Stirling with was the one lying in a heap on the floor.

As she lay there contemplating, she heard a sound that she would have thought was a rat scurrying by had it not come from outside the window. She slowly sat up, staring at the window. It couldn’t be. He wouldn’t, this Mr. Nichol Bain. Maura shot up from the chaise and hurried to the window. She opened it slightly, just enough to see out.

All she could see was an auburn head of hair as the man picked his way up the thick vines that covered the tower.

Bloody bounder. Mr. Garbett must have paid him handsomely to ferry her off to yet some other hell. She closed the window and latched it shut. If he thought she would open it to him, he was a fool. She went back to the chaise and plopped down onto her back, one bare foot on the moldy carpet, one arm slung across her body, waiting for the inevitable moment that he pounded on the window demanding entrance. She hoped he fell and landed on his arse. She hoped his fingers ached so much that it brought a tear to his eye.
She did not expect him to punch his fist through the glass, but that’s what he did, shattering the pane into a rain of chunks. That same fist reached through the opening for the latch and swung the window open. Maura was so stunned by this that she couldn’t move, and watched, dumbfounded, Mr. Nichol Bain’s acrobatic entry into her room.

Click for other stops on the TLC tour for this book. 

Review - - Suddenly Engaged

Suddenly Engaged

By Julia London

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: July 25, 2017

Reviewed by Janga

         

Kyra Kokinos was once a hopeful, single twentysomething in New York City with a promising career as an assistant editor for a fitness magazine and an active social life. Unprotected sex with a friend of the groom at her boss’s destination wedding left her pregnant. The guy involved is not returning her phone calls or texts. When she tracks him down at his workplace, he offers her money for an abortion. He has no interest in becoming a father. It might interfere with his wedding plans to his girlfriend of two years. More than six years later, Kyra is a single mother working the day shift as a server in an upscale restaurant in Lake Haven and hoping her tips are enough to pay the incompetent babysitter who is all she can afford. She spends the rest of her time caring for her bright, energetic, six-year-old daughter Ruby, worrying that she is not a good mother, and studying for her real estate license in hopes of making a better life for Ruby.

Dax Bishop is a reclusive curmudgeon who designs and makes custom furniture. He left his job as a paramedic in New Jersey after his ex-wife, who left him after twelve years of marriage for one of his female co-workers, announced her pregnancy. The infertility treatments finally worked. Dax is thrilled that he is about to become a father, but he is not happy that he will be forced to share parenting responsibilities with his ex’s partner. Still, he is determined to be an involved dad. With all this on his mind and his flourishing business, Dax just wants to be left alone with his dog Otto, and he is not pleased with the woman and child who are his new, noisy neighbors. He finds Ruby’s frequent intrusions into his space particularly bothersome.

However, the ebullient Ruby with her non-stop chatter is a match for the grumpiest neighbor and she soon wins Dax’s affection. He has been aware of Kyra’s charms from the beginning, and mother and child are soon part of his life. Dax and Kyra move from tentative friendship to a comfortable relationship as lovers. When Ruby needs surgery to remove a brain tumor, Dax suggests that he and Kyra marry so that Ruby will be covered by his insurance. Kyra loves Dax, but she must decide if she wants a marriage based on the need for Dax to save her and Ruby.

My favorite Julia London books are her contemporaries, and this one has the likable but credibly flawed characters and emotionally satisfying situations that make London a favorite. Kyra’s concerns about paying the bills, relying too often on fast food, and delaying auto maintenance reflect the issues many people face. I found the ordinariness of these character’s lives refreshing. They live in rented cottages, not luxury homes or penthouses. Dax’s problems are not economic, but his hurt pride and his dismay that his life hasn’t turned out the way he planned are rooted in reality. Cheers to London that Dax’s ex and her partner are neither demonized nor valorized.

I really liked the way the relationship between Dax and Kyra developed. They are aware of one another physically, and these feelings intensify. But they also grow to like each other, to enjoy each other’s company, to share each other’s lives. Ruby is a real kid, although a bit precocious. She is sweet and saucy, funny--sometimes unintentionally--excited about her world, and totally endearing, but sometimes she is cross and disobedient and talkative enough to make a parent long for bedtime. Her relationship with Dax is heartwarming and as important to the story as the relationship of Dax and Kyra.

Suddenly Engaged is the third book in the Lake Haven series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. I had not read the earlier books, and I had no difficulty with this one. If you like contemporary romance that evokes laughter, tears, and empathy, you should add this one to your TBR list.