Tabetha Waite

Rogue of My Heart

Six historical novellas to give you a taste of authors you may love or have yet to read ~ Am halfway through and posting as today is release day. I will write reviews for the other half as I read them.

TEMPTING THE SCOUNDREL by Tracy Sumner was a delight the first time I read it and just as wonderful when revisited last night. I loved this story of a young man who sees “the one” but leaves to apprentice to a watchmaker only to serendipitously find “the one” ten years later while repairing clocks for a titled gentleman. Love this author and loved revisiting this story.

LOVING MY WICKED ROGUE by Dawn Brower introduced me to a new author that had me scratching my head. This was a bit unbelievable and had me wondering how a young woman of the ton could so easily allow herself to be kissed (and more) without even knowing the man she was with. I did finish it but have to say that the main characters seemed mismatched but am glad they ended up with a HEA.

A LADY:S GUIDE TO MARRIAGE by Tabetha Waite was about mature love between a married couple given a second chance to rekindle their marriage. This had to do with lack of communication, miscommunication, assumptions rather than discussions and though it came out okay in the end…wanted to shake the husband and wife and wondered how they let those five years apart happen

Still to be read:
* A Marriage Most Convenient by Tonyn Frzhsty
* I Kissed an Early by Merry Farmer
* Passion’s Lasting Promise by Amanda Mariel

Thank you to the authors and BookSirens for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars… (meer)

Lyon’s Roar by Tabetha Waite
The Lyon’s Den

Delightful way to spend my afternoon ~ Loved reading Rowan and Beatrice’s story ~ Great addition to the Lyon’s Den Connected World Series written by a variety of authors.

What I liked:
* Bessie Dove-Lyon: matchmaker, widow, owner of The Lyon’s Den, also known as The Black Widow of Whitehall, financially well off, creative ideas, so far has never had a match go awry…at least not that I have read about
* Rowan Scott, Laird of Garrison: Scottish, retired, knew and admired Colonel Sandstrom T. Lyons, nearly fifty, intrigued by the offer presented by The Black Widow, protective, caring, kind, a good match for Beatrice
* Miss Beatrice Bookbinder: daughter and healthcare giver to her father, put into an asylum by her stepbrother, reminded me a bit of Cinderella, stronger than she appeared at first, a good match with Rowan
* The supporting characters: Smythe/carriage driver, Mrs. Parks/innkeepers wife, thought there were more but…perhaps not
* That Beatrice was saved from a fate probably worse from death by being taken from the asylum
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That I was able to escape the dreary rain and cold of the village for a few hours and live vicariously reading this charming story
* Thinking about what the future holds for Bessie and Rowan as they are older – will they fill the castle with children as their love grows?

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like – specifically Beatrice’s stepbrother and stepmother
* Thinking about how horrible asylums were and how easy it was for those in power to put family members “away” against their will and often without cause

Did I enjoy this story? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars… (meer)

Good book. Once again, Mrs. Dove-Lyon brings together two people who need each other. Forty-nine-year-old Rowan has led a somewhat lonely life after losing the woman he loved many years earlier, but he isn't interested in risking his heart again. He's surprised to receive a letter from the widow of an old mentor, asking him to come to London. The last thing he expected was a request for him to marry a woman in desperate circumstances. He's wary but listens to what she has to say.

Beatrice spent most of her thirty-seven years taking care of her ailing father while doing her best to avoid her obnoxious stepmother and stepbrother. When her father dies, her stepbrother wastes no time sending Beatrice to a private asylum to get rid of her. She feels hopeless about her future until Mrs. Dove-Lyon offers her a way out - marriage to a stranger.

Bessie Dove-Lyon has incredible insight when it comes to finding the perfect mates for her customers. She somehow knew that Beatrice's plight would arouse Rowan's protectiveness and that her strength of will would stand up to his occasionally overbearing nature. I liked that both insisted on meeting before making a final decision. When they did, Beatrice's beauty and something in her eyes made Rowan believe they would suit, but the kiss he requested sealed the deal. Beatrice was also profoundly affected by it and thought their marriage wouldn't be terrible after all.

And so they set off on the trip to Scotland via Gretna Green. Their constant proximity over the long days of carriage travel gave them time to get to know each other. I loved how well they connected, finding it unexpectedly easy to talk to each other. Neither expected the growing attraction that made it increasingly difficult to keep their hand off each other. Rowan and Beatrice are wary of the speed of their growing feelings, uncertain if the other feels the same. They have some obstacles to overcome on their journey, including an unexpected encounter with Beatrice's nasty stepbrother, but they face them all with humor, teamwork, and passion. I loved the ending and the romantic way Rowan welcomed her to his home.

My only disappointment was that her stepbrother did not get the comeuppance he deserved. Hopefully, that will happen at some point in the future.… (meer)

Lyon’s Den novella.

More a novella than anything else. I’ve got to say I was disappointed in the unrealised potential of this story.
It had so much going for it, but all we ended up with was more an outline, a cursory tale.
Let me see, Scottish Lord is persuaded by Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon to take a wife. Said intended is in an asylum due to machinations of wicked step brother and unfeeling stepmother. (See plenty to go on with!) The trip to beyond Glasgow via Gretna Green had some action, but again fell short.
There was little or no meat on the bones. The work didn’t live up to the title.
Disappointing because this story had real promise. It just felt rushed.

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley.… (meer)