Review & Giveaway - - One Dangerous Night

One Dangerous Night

by Cathy Maxwell

The Gambler's Daughters - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: March 26, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Elise Lanscarr is furious—her very own sister has married the man Elise had marked for herself. Feeling betrayed, she flees London, determined to return to the one place where everything was once as it should be: her family home in Ireland. But when her stagecoach crashes in a storm, she finds herself cast adrift in the wilds with no one to help but a rough-looking, albeit handsome, stranger—one who has obviously never been informed of the “proper” rules of society.

Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, the missing Duke of Winderton, has fled all responsibility, preferring the persona of the devil-may-care rake “Kit.” He proudly lives hand-to-mouth, rubbing shoulders with commoners and thieves alike. But while he values his freedom, he’s never been one to leave a lady in trouble—even one as opinionated, albeit intriguing, as Elise.

But this night of booming thunder and flashing lightning is just the beginning of an unexpected, often dangerous, adventure. And two disillusioned souls who have been caught up in their own webs of expectations and disappointments are about to learn that life always holds surprises, and gifts. And all it asks in return is that they risk everything for Love . . . 

PJ's Thoughts:

Okay, I'll admit, I wasn't looking forward to reading this book. After reading A Kiss in the Moonlight (Michael and Dara), book one of  The Gambler's Daughters series, I was fed up with Elise and didn't much care what happened to her. I felt much the same about the Duke of Winderton after reading His Secret Mistress (Brandon and Kate), book one of the A Logical Man's Guide to Dangerous Women series. So then, how did these two unlikeable characters end up being one of my favorite couples? It's all due to the authorial excellence of their creator, Cathy Maxwell. 

First of all, I adore a good road romance and One Dangerous Night is among my favorites. Elise needed to be taken away from her comfort zone and challenged in order to grow. Kit also needed growth from the spoiled, entitled man-boy he was when first introduced in His Secret Mistress. The obstacles faced in their journey offered both exactly what was needed to evolve individually as well as bond as a couple. I loved watching them slowly adapt, change, and grow through the adventures that awaited them. Some were filled with humor, others with danger, and one in particular, for Elise, with heartbreaking emotion. 

I loved the steam between Elise and Kit, the adventure, the dog (especially the dog), and the gradual bond that slowly deepened into much more. I appreciated the way in which their family complications were addressed. There were amends that needed to be made for both and I was satisfied in the ways in which that was accomplished. In the end, I found myself firmly in the corners of two individuals I had heartily disliked, cheering them on to a happily ever after as a couple and as families. 

One Dangerous Night can stand well on its own but for a complete understanding of the events that brought Elise and Kit to where they are at the beginning of this book, I would encourage you to read both His Secret Mistress and A Kiss in the Moonlight. 

Have you read Cathy Maxwell?

Do you enjoy redemption romances?

Are there any secondary characters you'd like to see get their own book?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 30 will receive a print copy of One Dangerous Night. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - A Sure Duke

A Sure Duke

by Christi Caldwell

The McQuoids of Mayfair - Book 3

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: January 9, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Alexandra Bradbury and Dallin McQuoid are neighbors who couldn’t be more different. She’s prim, mindful, and skittish of social improprieties. Dallin is slightly scandalous, boisterously charming, and unbothered by gossip. On an unexpected night of magic forged under the stars, they discover what they do have in common. Could theirs be a rare love match that might last forever?

But everything changes in a heartbeat: a death in the Bradbury family, financial ruin, and Alexandra’s betrothal to a wickedly wealthy marquess. Alexandra is expected to do what’s best for her family, regardless of her heart.

Until another crisis arises, and the dutiful daughter must embark on a journey with the waggish lord across the street to prevent a catastrophe for both of their families.

Along the road, will their stars finally align?

PJ's Thoughts:

Christi Caldwell's stories never fail to touch my heart and she's done it again with A Sure Duke, the third installment in her The McQuoid's of Mayfair series. I love this unconventional family. Cheers for lots of children for (hopefully) future books!

There's much to love about A Sure Duke. Meet cute? Check. Road romance? Check. Only one bed? Check. Grand gesture? Check! Caldwell uses all of the above to infuse this story with charm, adventure, a bit of spice, visible yearning, and some angst. Alexandra is, after all, being forced to marry someone else. She gave me two lead characters who captured my heart and had me cheering for them as obstacles to their happy ending kept piling up. There are some terrific family dynamics on both sides. I especially enjoyed the slowly evolving relationship between Alexandra and her mother as well as the one between Alexandra and her middle sister. And, of course, it was great fun to watch Dallin's sisters, Myrtle (The Duke Alone) and Cassia (The Heiress at Sea) take him to task when the situation warranted as well as give him their full love and support when his happy ending appeared an impossibility. I adore the sibling dynamics in this series. 

I have nothing concrete on which to base these feelings but I find myself wondering if the disinterested man Alexandra was being forced to wed isn't quite the villain he's portrayed to be. His father, the Duke, certainly, but I have this gut feeling that there may be hidden layers to the son. Of course, I could be totally off track but I'll be watching to see if Caldwell has future plans for him. 

In the meantime, I'll be over here imagining Dallin and Alexandra living their best lives together, exploring the world under starlit skies, until it's time for the next McQuoid sibling to find love.

For readers new to the McQuoids, A Sure Duke stands well on it's own. You can easily jump in here or for a more complete understanding of the McQuoid family dynamics, read the books in order. They are (1) The Duke Alone (click for review), (2) The Heiress at Sea (click for review), and (3) A Sure Duke. Whichever way you go, you're bound to be entertained. 

 

Review - - Redemption

Redemption

by Inara Scott

Bad Angels - Book 3

Publisher: Inara Scott

Release Date: February 13, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Two people used to having everything will have to figure out how to survive with nothing...

It's the road trip from hell for business tycoons—and long-time rivals—Nate Etherley and Cece Kerr. To convince the owner of the viral new app Byways to sell, they'll have to use the app to take a backroads trip from San Francisco to Taos—with no phones, credit cards, or five-star hotels to bail them out. From truck stop coffee and flat tires to stars in the desert sky, they've got a lot to learn—about themselves, and each other.

They'll either kill each other...or fall in love.

PJ's Thoughts:

I loved this book. It spoke to me on so many levels. First off, it's an enemies-to-lovers story, one of my favorite tropes, and wow, do these two ever bring it to life. The tension and animosity, the snippy banter, the one-upmanship; they're all fully evident whenever Cece and Nate are in the same area. But there's much more to each of them than one would think, an unanticipated sweetness and vulnerability, an unexpected opportunity for reflection and growth, hidden depths that Scott slowly and skillfully unveils during their five-day road trip from hell that turns into something neither expected, nor wanted, but can't deny. I couldn't get enough of it, or them. 

I've been stuck at home for a year now. A good road trip is something I'm craving and reading Redemption was almost as good as being out there myself. The pictures Scott paints with her words immersed me in the grandeur of the Rockies, the stark beauty of a desert night, the all-encompassing awe of a midnight sky flooded with sparkling stars so bright they hurt your eyes. She doesn't only tell us about Cece and Nate's backroads adventure; she takes us along for the ride. If ever a book made me want to hop in my car and explore this country, not from the expedient interstates, but via leisurely drives through small towns, national parks, and roadside attractions, this one is it. Then there are the characters they meet along the way, each one adding richness and depth to the journey with the stories they tell, the unexpected lessons they impart, though in some cases it takes a while for those lessons to sink in. I wanted to spend time with them too.  

But at the heart of the story, are Nate and Cece, two driven workaholics who are forced to slow down, disconnect, and confront the fears, anxieties, and yes, the reluctant attraction, bubbling just below the surface. Scott takes her time with them, slowly and realistically peeling back the layers until finally those deepest fears, yearnings, hopes, and desires become clear. Until they are laid bare before one another, with their weaknesses and vulnerabilities on full display. Only then, can the emotional baggage they carry (and there's a bunch) be dealt with. Only then, will they have any hope of rebuilding a strong relationship on ground solid enough to last a lifetime. 

I was with these characters every step of the way, laughing, crying, aching, and sighing. Nate and Cece are one of my favorite contemporary couples and I have no doubt they will stay with me for a long time. I've already read their story twice. I'm sure I'll be revisiting them again. This book is just that good. 

Redemption is the third installment in Inara Scott's Bad Angels series. It can be read on its own though you will meet the couples from the first two books in the series, both of which I also recommend. 

Heartbreaker - Book 1 (read my review)

Temptation - Book 2 (read my review)