Karen RanneyBesprekingen

Till Next We Meet is a stand-alone, Georgian historical romance that takes place in the Scottish lowlands following the Seven Years War between Great Britain and France. Our hero, Adam Moncrief, served as a colonel in Canada during the war, where he was in command of Harry Dunnan. Harry received letters from his young wife, Catherine, which he refused to answer. Feeling that she was owned something, Moncrief took it upon himself to answer the letters for Harry, and thus began a lengthy correspondence between the two with him writing under the guise of her husband and them falling in love through their missives. Then Harry died, leaving Moncrief with the duty of writing a condolence letter as himself, the last one he sends to her. When Moncrief unexpectedly inherits a Dukedom after the untimely death of his brother, he resigns his commission to return home, but on his way there, he decides to look in on Catherine to see how she’s doing, only to find her deeply grieving and under the influence of laudanum. On his second visit to see her, Moncrief finds Catherine nearly dead of a laudanum overdose and sets about reviving her, which leads to a shotgun marriage after the vicar finds out that in doing so Moncrief compromised her. When she awakens, she’s not entirely happy about the situation, but capitulates, traveling with her new husband to his castle. There, they must get to know one another in person with her grief and the guilt of his deception hanging over their relationship. But it seems that there is also someone who is out to get Catherine and perhaps the laudanum overdose was neither an accident nor a suicide attempt.

Catherine became enamored of Harry almost immediately upon meeting him, not knowing that he was only looking for a wealthy heiress to marry to fund his gambling habit. She was happy with him for a month, but then Harry developed wanderlust so her father bought him a commission in the army. Really missing him after he went away, she wrote to him and received beautiful letters in return that she hadn’t known Harry was capable of writing (of course, not realizing that it wasn’t him at all), and fell even more in love with him through their correspondence. But then she received word that he’d died and she went into a deep grief. She started taking what she thought were measured doses of laudanum to help her sleep, but she’s very much under the influence of the drug when she first meets Moncrief with him later finding her nearly dead of an overdose. When she finally awakens to find herself married to him, she doesn’t remember any of it, but swears that she wasn’t trying to kill herself, an assertion that he doesn’t entirely believe at first. Although Catherine finds it uncomfortable to be wed to a stranger, she doesn’t fight it, instead willingly going with him to his castle, but asking for a month to make peace with it all before consummating their union. During that time, she finds herself more and more attracted to Moncrief and feeling like she’s betraying the memory of her dead husband. However, when the truth of Harry’s nature comes out, she’s the one who instead feels betrayed, but if she learns that her new husband is the one who really wrote the letters, it could spell doom for her burgeoning feelings for him.

I found Catherine to be a very likable heroine. Although her father was a wealthy landowner, which made her an equally wealthy heiress when he died, she didn’t grow up with all the lush trappings of the aristocracy. She’s a very approachable woman who treats her servants with kindness and respect. Even though she’s confused by her feelings for Moncrief when they start to surface, she doesn’t really fight them. And once she experiences the pleasures of love-making (something she didn’t have with Harry), she embraces it and finds herself falling for him more and more. She also trusts him when he tells her the truth about Harry and was smart enough to figure out the rest by herself.

As the second son of a duke, Moncrief (I don’t recall anyone, not even Catherine, ever calling him by Adam, his Christian name) bought a commission in the army and ended up as Colonel of the Highland Scots Fusiliers. It was during their service together that he met Harry, a man he never liked much because of all his vices. When Catherine first writes to Harry, Moncrief encourages Harry to write back, but he refuses and tells Moncrief to do it. So he does, thinking only to give her the courtesy of one letter from her errant husband, but then more letters from her arrive. He finds himself drawn to her missives, and since no one is writing to him, he’s lonely and can’t resist writing back over and over, falling more in love with her with each one. When Harry dies, Moncrief writes what he believes will be his last letter to Catherine informing her of her husband’s demise. But when he’s called home after the death of his brother to take up the dukedom, he simply must stop in to check on her. On his first visit, she’s very unkempt and clearly drugged, as well as deeply grieving. Then he returns to find she’s overdosed. Since her servants don’t seem to be doing anything about it, he jumps into action, trying to revive her by putting her in a cold bath, after which the vicar takes issue, forcing him to marry her. Already in love with her, Moncrief doesn’t find it to be a hardship to do so, but when Catherine fully awakens, still seeming depressed and unable to stop talking about her dead husband, he worries she may never be the woman he fell for through her lovely letters. He knows he should tell her the truth about being the one who answered her missives, but at first, thinking she’d just attempted suicide, he fears what she might do. The longer he keeps the truth from her though, the more he worries what she’ll think, and then after another “accident” that he realizes was anything but, he must focus on keeping her safe.

I completely understood why Moncrief was so tempted to write back to Catherine and then keep writing her. Since he was a far better man than Harry ever was, it didn’t bother me at all that he was corresponding with and falling for another man’s wife. He also had good reasons for keeping the truth from Catherine when they first met as well, but it left him feeling guilty and also like he was fighting the ghost of a man who was really himself. Moncrief was every bit the imperious commanding officer, and now duke, taking charge of situations as needed, which is how he ended up in Catherine’s bedroom after she overdosed, leading to their hasty wedding. However, he was a patient man who understood that not only was she still grieving Harry, even though he didn’t deserve her devotion, but she was also thrust into a new marriage with someone who she thought was a complete stranger and needed time to adjust. Once they consummate their union, Moncrief is a very attentive lover who gives her all the pleasure Harry denied her, and it’s in those moments that he becomes more vulnerable, expressing his feelings with his body and becoming even more enamored with her. I also like that he was smart enough to figure out someone was trying to harm Catherine and did his best to protect her.

Till Next We Meet is very much a low-key, slow-burn kind of romance. At first I wasn’t feeling a strong connection between Moncrief and Catherine because she’s still grieving for someone who didn’t really exist, when in reality the man she really fell for is right in front of her but she doesn’t know it. This put a little distance between them, but happily the author did create some moments for touches of romance and lust that helped to start building the connection I craved. However, it’s not until the full truth of Harry’s character comes out that things really start to take off between them. The love scenes are sensual and full of promise, showing their feelings before they can articulate them, and I love how they both embrace those times together. The mystery perhaps could have been woven in a little more. Given Catherine’s assertions that she didn’t intend to overdose nor wanted to die, I wondered right from the beginning if someone was trying to harm her. Once she goes with Moncrief to his castle it’s pretty much forgotten until another “accident” occurs. Even still, I wasn’t entirely sure who it might be or why until the reveal, and the denouement of that part of the story had some pretty decent suspense. Till Next We Meet wasn’t quite perfect but I did find it to be an enjoyable read. It was my first book by Karen Ranney, who I was saddened to find out passed away in 2020, but it looks like she has a pretty extensive back list that I look forward to checking out.

Romance

Prelim Review: I'm a bit torn on this book honestly. On the one hand I think its great that Ranney wrote a heroine who is truly disfigured, who had a realistic reaction to that disfigurement and the guy didn't turn into a gibbering nodcock about it.

On the other hand Catriona is SO unlikeable for SO much of the book. I didn't read the preceding books (of which some events are eluded to and her sister's happy marriage is written about), but I can't think Catriona is very much more likeable BEFORE the accident. She even says she wasn't likeable.

That said she manages to find a way to be selfless even while still making it all about herself. That takes some true talent right there.

Full review to be posted

I am marking this one as a DNF. I just really struggled with this one and it also wasn't what I was expecting it to be. This one just wasn't clicking for me and I have been trying to read this one for over a week and its just not clicking for me. So I am passing on this one unfortunately. I might try this later in ebook sometime. I don't think the narration is working for me very well, not as much as I expected it to be.

love the opening

I really just wanted this book to get on with the mystery. Eh.

What's a little historical catfishing?

This book is lovely. I enjoyed the letters, and though the hero did some objectively creepy things, it worked for him

Colonel Montcrief is a Colonel stationed in Canada against the French. One of his men, Harry Dunnan, is thoroughly unlikeable, but when letters from his wife go unanswered, Montcrief steps in to answer them. Harry dies, and Montcrief inherits the title of Duke of Lymond, so when he returns to Scotland, he visits the widow he's fallen in love with from her letters. He finds her in a terrible state and promptly marries her. She took too much laudanum, but the suspicion is that someone is trying to murder her. Catherine mourns Harry, not realizing that he was a scoundrel. Montcrief and Catherine spend the rest of the book solving these mysteries and learning to love each other (well, Montcrief is already in love).
It's a good story and a quick read. Montcrief is a sweetheart and Catherine finally gets out of her widow whining to realize his good qualities. There are some interesting secondary characters, and Ms. Ranney is a good writer.

Both main characters were douche-nuggets, with inconsistent motivations. Freddie decides his daughter isn't his daughter because "all the women in direct descent all share a remarkable family trait. The two longest fingers on both hands are webbed" and the baby doesn't have that, but later in the story "the faint webbing between her fingers was still visible". Which is it? Webbed or no? Because it's a fairly important plot device. I understand why Katherine is so antagonistic towards Freddie later in the book, but from the very beginning, he behaves like a total ass-wagon. But everyone thinks he's so great because he's "a model of compassion [...] he would never willingly hurt anyone" but over and over, he's shown to be an arrogant jerk-wad with zero actual empathy. And Katherine's proposal comes straight out of nowhere. She's thinking about how pretty the earl is, and boom she's offering to become his mistress, so she can stay with Julie without any sort of foreshadowing about it at all. I was surprised as hell.

And holy mother, there was an awful lot of exposition and introspection. Good grief.

The kindle edition has some weird formatting issues; silly paragraph breaks and dropped letters. Not a whole lot, but they're there.

Beatrice Sinclair ha sido contratada como la nueva institutriz del Duque de Brechin, un precoz muchacho de nueve años con unos modales deplorables y una opinión excesiva de sí mismo.. Aunque está segura de que finalmente podrá manejar al pequeño duque, no está tan segura de que pueda hacerlo con el primo de éste, Devlen Gordon, un rico industrial.
Cuando la vida del niño es amenazada, su primo mayor les acepta a ambos en su casa de Edimburgo. A pesar de las sospechas de Beatrice de que Devlen pueda tener motivos para querer dañar al joven duque, se encuentra cautivada por él. Beatrice sólo deseaba una posición, un modo de poder alimentarse y sobrevivir en un mundo cada vez más duro. En lugar de eso, se encuentra con un aterrorizado niño que necesita desesperadamente protección y un enigmático hombre que le fascina.

It was a 'nice' book. An intriguing premise and plot. Somehow the story and characters did not grab me and pull me along through the story as I was hoping. But still, a well written and readable book.

I enjoyed it, but to be honest, it was too involved and dry for my angsty, dramatic tastes. Good plot though, and very well-developed characters. I suspect if I had read the first book (which I will likely go back and do now), I would have disliked the heroine too much to have garnered enough sympathy for her. But great character arcs, if the did feel a little dry to me.

Good second chance romance. Jennifer and Gordon grew up together on her father's estate in Scotland. First, they were friends, and their feelings changed to love as they grew older. Jennifer didn't care that Gordon was the gardener's son. The forces of disapproval were strong, with Jennifer's mother Gordon's only advocate. When she died, she left Gordon a sum of money. With his only (adult) supporter gone, others on the estate forced him to leave, filling his head with lies about Jennifer wanting him gone. Broken-hearted, he headed for London. Meanwhile, Jennifer has no idea where or why Gordon has gone. She remains on the estate, running things for her useless, profligate brother, Harrison.

Five years later, Gordon has become a successful businessman. He buries his feelings for Jennifer in his work. When he receives a letter from Jennifer telling him that his father is dying, he reluctantly returns to Scotland. The first meeting between Jennifer and Gordon is awkward, as each believes the other is responsible for their separation. There are some difficult moments until the blow-up exposes the truth of what happened that day. With the air cleared, Jennifer and Gordon again find themselves growing closer. There are some terrific scenes of them together, catching up on what they've done while apart and fighting to keep their attraction under control.

Things aren't easy. Jennifer's brother Harrison is forced back to the estate from his carousing in London to witness the birth of his first child. His hatred of Gordon and disdain for Jennifer are apparent, and he takes every opportunity to make their lives difficult. Instead of driving them apart, the tension pulls Jennifer and Gordon closer until they can no longer deny their love. Meanwhile, Gordon spends time with his dying father, with whom he's never gotten along. Sean was always hypercritical of Gordon, constantly harping on the class difference between him and Jennifer. In an unexpected twist, shortly before his death, Sean drops a bombshell confession on Gordon that sends him into a tailspin. He pushes Jennifer away and flees back to London.

The news is devastating, and Jennifer reels from the implications. Heartbroken, Jennifer can't stand to stay on the estate where memories of Gordon are around every corner. She goes to Edinburgh to stay with her godmother, Ellen, who was instrumental in forcing Harrison back to the estate. I ached for Jennifer and her misery over the loss of Gordon. I loved Ellen's determination to get to the truth of Jennifer's unhappiness. Once she did, another twist turned Jennifer's problem on its head. There were some interesting developments as Gordon and Jennifer dealt with all of the ramifications. I liked the ending and how it worked out for them.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, a few things bugged me. I thought that Gordon and Jennifer were far too accepting of their separation. As deep as their love was, I didn't understand why Gordon believed the people who told him the lies about Jennifer. Even after making his fortune, he never bothered to contact her. That lack of trust didn't say much for his belief in their love. Jennifer doesn't get off scot-free either. Once she had his address, she could have gone to London to find him and demand answers. I also thought Harrison needed more consequences than he seemed to get.

Someday, when I have the time (LOL), I'm going to reread this book. When I started it I was incredibly busy and even when I could steal some short reading time, my concentration was poo. I also stopped and read a bodice ripper in the middle. So, this quickie review is going to probably sound scattered but I want to talk about this book.

He folded his arms, ignoring the cold as he watched the carriage begin the descent to the village. She was going to be a problem.

I don't know if the first half of this was boring, vague, and meandering or if the personal issues I mentioned played a bigger role but I almost gave up on this book. Going by the cover and title, I was shocked when I started reading and the vibe was completely Gothic, not expected. Our heroine Beatrice lost her parents and friends to a sickness epidemic (think it was cholera?) and she's been on her own for a while now. She's poor and starving trying to get any job when someone tells her the castle on the hill is looking for a governess. It's dark, gloomy, storming, and the castle feels haunted. We meet Gaston, a servant to the uncle of the seven year old duke (Robert) she's to be a governess to, Cameron the uncle, and the son of Cameron and cousin to Robert, Devlen. I'm not going to even lie and admit I spent a good portion of the beginning not really knowing who the heroine was going to be paired up with or knowing what the heck was going on. (Right before I read a book, I don't usually read the back cover so I'm not spoiled on stuff) It's dripping with Gothic mystery; Robert's parents died in a carriage accident that left his uncle Cameron in a wheelchair and now someone is trying to kill Robert. Maybe. The vast majority of the story doesn't really dive into that, it was simultaneously the focus and to the side. I'm sure that's clear as mud but that's how it felt to me.

He breathed against her ear. She turned her head and brushed her lips against his bristly cheek. He'd traveled all night to be with her. He traveled in the darkness like a demon, and in the dawn light, he offered her a hint of depravity. Dear God, she wanted it so.

Now, either my attention finally could be focused or the story improved but the second half of this, particularly the last 35%, was richly good and all because of the relationship between Beatrice and Devlen (yes, the hero was finally obvious to me).

"Do you believe in love at first sight, Miss Sinclair?"
"No."
He laughed softly. "Now who's the cynic?"
"Why fall in love with someone's appearance? People get sick, or grow old. The character matters more than looks, Mr. Gordon. Wit, intelligence, kindness, all matter more than appearance."
"So, you would have love come after a conversation?"
"Perhaps."
"How long would it take?"
"The conversation?"
His smile chided her. "Falling in love."
"How should I know if it's never happened to me?"
"Perhaps we should talk longer, Miss Sinclair, have a few more conversations."
He looked away, and it was just as well, because she didn't know how to answer him.

Y'all. I mean, this stopped me in my tracks. Our stoic contained Devlen, just dropped a huge emotional bomb in a way that delighted the hell out of me. This was a hidden depth moment that always make me sit-up and pay attention.

Neither of these two hold titles and their first sex scene was not enjoyable to Beatrice (she was a virgin and there was a good padded thread to them dealing with this and to her enjoying the next time), and along with the Gothic vibe, this felt very different for what is usually found in this subgenre.

The mystery of/if and who could be trying to kill Robert was pretty meh, not flushed or highlighted enough for me and then the resolution is left to the very very end and answers we get were convoluted eye-roll-y for me. But dang, Beatrice and Devlen really hit me in the second half. The other characters never were clear or filled in enough (what even was Devlen's relationship with his dad??), probably to keep the mystery going but it just made the first half hard for me to get into until the romance really started going.

I also want to put this moment up because I thought the writing was beautiful and made Beatrice's character shine more:

Her eyes tickled with unshed tears. An odd moment to cry. Or perhaps the best moment, after all. There was so much loveliness in the world, the same world in which there dwelt so much horror. A paradox, one in which they were forced to live. She wanted something at this moment, something she couldn't quite define or explain. Something that would answer the restlessness deep inside her. She was either hungry or lonely or distraught and more than a little curious as to why she couldn't identify the feelings completely. Perhaps it was because all this time, she'd cocooned herself, protecting herself from the grief and fear that were too painful to experience on a daily basis. Perhaps she was separated from her own discomfort, like stubbing her toe and not feeling the pain until hours later. Was she just now recognizing the full extent of her own loneliness?

It may be hard to see why I felt like this was beautiful and defining for Beatrice without having read previously to this point but Beatrice was stoic too and this cracked her shell and you feel her grief over losing so many and her endurance to survive when she had no money.

The beginning was slow for me but the ending had me sitting up and taking notice and some scenes and Beatrice and Devlen will be lingering in my mind.

I hope Robert gets/got his own book!

This author was recommended for her historicals in Scotland. I found her writing to be a bit bland – forgettable characters and plots.

This author was recommended for her historicals in Scotland. I found her writing to be a bit bland – forgettable characters and plots.

Good book, though it did have a few spots that dragged a little. Eleanor was orphaned at the age of eleven when her beloved father died. Her life at her Highland home of Hearthmere, with its rich traditions and its long line of famous horses, had been very happy to that point. Her aunt and uncle became her guardians, but when her uncle died also, her aunt moved them to London, reducing Eleanor's time at Hearthmere to one month a year. Eleanor lives for those months when she can return home and be her true self instead of the pale version dictated by her life in London.

Eleanor's most recent visit has been reduced to two weeks by the direction of her aunt and Eleanor's new fiancé, the Earl of Westcott. She's not happy about it but has accepted that her life will change with her marriage. One of the first things she does is head out on a ride where she encounters Logan, an MP on an incognito vacation, who she mistakes for a shepherd. Something about Logan unsettles her and gets under her skin, while Logan is utterly fascinated by Eleanor's looks and intelligence. But he can also see that she is lonely.

I liked the development of the relationship between Eleanor and Logan. There were sparks between them from the start, but Eleanor is caught up in her "London Eleanor" persona and ignores them. The only feeling she allows to surface is annoyance at the way he talks to her. I liked the way that Logan recognizes that there is more to her than she allows to show. He knows he should leave her alone, but something about her calls to him. Because he senses her loneliness, Logan gives Eleanor a border collie puppy that he hopes will be a friend. Eleanor doesn't want the puppy at first, but it isn't long before Bruce wiggles his way into her heart. When Eleanor returns to London, she never expects to see Logan again. She's stunned when he shows up at a dinner party at her aunt's house, and she discovers that he is a member of Parliament.

Though she knows it is wrong, Eleanor and Logan begin to meet secretly as friends, bonding first over Bruce's training. They grow closer as Eleanor finds herself increasingly willing to be herself in Logan's company. She also begins to chafe under the treatment she receives from her family and fiancé. Her family frequently shows their selfishness and disdain for the benefits they have received from being part of her life. I detested her Aunt Deborah and cousin Daphne and the way they browbeat her. But the one who really angered me was her fiancé, Michael. The more I saw of him, the more I wanted her to get away from him. His attitude toward Bruce would have been the last straw for me, but Eleanor was still stuck in her "family first" mindset. I was so glad that Eleanor was able to call on Logan for help in that situation. I ached for them both because, by this time, they knew that the pull between them was becoming irresistible. Logan's sense of honor was incredibly strong. But when Eleanor overheard Michael's plans for Hearthmere, she knew she couldn't marry him. What she never expected were the over-the-top actions of her family to force her into the marriage. I was horrified by what they did and waited as desperately as Eleanor did for Logan to rescue her. I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over. The ending was great, especially with the revelation of Logan's secret. The only thing that would have made it better would be to see her family's reaction when they found out!

I had two favorite secondary characters. First, of course, was Bruce. He was adorable, from his attacks on Eleanor's shoes to his absolute devotion to her. He made me laugh in many places, and I could see the difference he made in Eleanor's life. I loved his part in her rescue. The other character I loved was Logan's housekeeper, Mrs. Campbell. She was so kind and warm-hearted and was precisely what Eleanor needed in her life. I liked that she was the one who brought Eleanor's absence to Logan's attention and that she involved herself in finding out what was wrong.

When Mercy Rutherford escapes North Carolina to get away from her fiancé, Gregory, she didn’t expect to be run down by an air ship - which resembled a dragon to her – driven by Lennox Caitheart. She discovers later that he is the Earl of Morton and Mercy also learns that he is the enemy of her extended family. That really is too bad, as he makes her heart flutter.

Sadly, Gregory followed Mercy to Scotland, and when he shows up, he makes it certain that she knows he is determined to follow through with the marriage. Mercy has a plan – she asks the eccentric inventor to take her hand in marriage. She offers him her fortune for his inventions. Part of the reason Mercy approaches Lennox in this manner is that they do form an unlikely friendship. Of course, he refuses her money. But, Mercy must take this plan of action, as her marriage was arranged, much to her dismay. Furthermore, her family in Scotland is utterly abominable.

This is an excellent story. I loved Mercy. She knew what she didn’t want in life and discovered what she did. When this happened, she grabbed the bull by the horns. Lennox was absolutely wonderful. Most certainly a genius, he had a warm heart as well. There were other good characters, notably Ruthie and Elizabeth. Conversely, Mercy’s grandmother was of the worst sort. The was one negative person in the story that surprised me in the end. All in all, the characters played quite well into the story.

To Wed an Heiress is the second book in the All for Love series and was a terrific read. Not only did Mercy find love, but others did as well. The first book, To Love a Duchess, was also a great read.

Many thanks to Avon and to Edelweiss for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Adam Drummond is a spy and his latest assignment is the Marsley House as it is thought that the late Duke of Marsley was a traitor. He is acting as majordomo in the house and his objective is to gather as much information as possible. Adam is distracted rather quickly, however, as he has more than one run-in with the widow, who is still a young woman. The thing is that she is heavily-grieving, even after two years. As time progresses, Adam realizes that the duchess, Suzanne Whitcomb has secrets of her own and this is concerning to Adam.

Suzanne may be drawn to Adam, man in charge of her house, but she is also a bit annoyed, and for more than one reason. For starters, he is a servant, and she is a duchess. More importantly, she is still devasted by her losses. However, there is just something about Adam that makes Suzanne wonder more than once. Both Suzanne and Adam receive equal shock eventually. Adam because he learns the true reason for her grief. Suzanne because she learns his true purpose.

While Adam is working hard, Suzanne has her own battles to fight. Not only does she have to deal with her controlling father, but she is also dealing with a recalcitrant maid. This could definitely lead to her undoing. But, she doesn't see that. All she can see is her pain and getting through each day, even if she is not really living. I so love when she wakes up!

To Love a Duchess is the first book in the All for Love series, and I think this is a terrific start. I found this to be a very emotional read, especially where Suzanne’s grief originated. It certainly was very touching, especially when I got to read Adam’s reaction to this, and how he shared his own past with her. With Adam’s role as a spy, there was a measure of mystery in the book. The more clues that Adam unraveled, the more difficult things became. This added a very nice layer to an otherwise engaging romance.

I look forward to continuing this series this week, with To Wed an Heiress, scheduled for publication March 26, 2019.

Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.com.

Not a light and fluffy read. Well written but dismal.

I liked it. I usually don't like 'secret identity' books because I have a hard time believing that the heroine cannot recognize that these two men are one, when she sees both frequently. Thankfully, the author did not let it go on too long and the heroine started to put two and two together. I was wondering how it was going to end during this very tumultuous time for the Scots, and I thought the ending was satisfying and unique.

Definitely not a light and fluffy read, but very well executed.

I thought the first half of The Irresistible MacRae was very good, but the second half dragged for me. I was hoping for a quicker resolution to their problem, or at least something a bit more creative or exciting. But at least the hero (finally) thought of a good way to marry the heroine. 3/5 stars

The Texan Duke by Karen Ranney  
The mass of emotions illicited by The Texan Duke is breathtaking.  With a steady hand and a vivid imagination Ms. Ranney turns chaos into serenity.  The tawdry tale of lust, intrigue, dangerous liaisons and emotional upheaval can turn on a dime.  Connor and Elsbeth are thrust into a world where nothing is what it seems.  As the tension loosens and the links in the chain are exposed, a sweetheart of a romance takes hold and stakes a claim on the most priceless of treasures.  A reader's heart. (3.5 stars)