Review: Captive Bride by Katharine Ashe

Captive Bride by Katharine Ashe

Publication Date: October 13, 2012

Rating: 4 stars

Source: Review copy provided by the author

Summary (from Goodreads):

From the bestselling author of The Earl and My Lady, My Lord comes a delectably sexy tale of a lady torn between loyalty to her family and the man of every one of her forbidden dreams. A dark castle, a handsome lord, and a wicked ghost... When Bea Sinclaire's scapegrace brother begs her help to rescue a maiden from a haunted castle, she seizes the chance for adventure. If only Lord Peter "Tip" Cheriot didn't insist on coming along. How can she maintain a clear head in the face of danger when Tip is so utterly, deliciously distracting? Then an alluring ghost makes Bea a shocking offer, and he won't take no for an answer. Tip Cheriot has loved Bea forever, and he's determined to have her-no matter how scandalous his past. But a cursed specter has claimed Bea as his bride, and Tip must save her from eternal darkness before All Hallows Eve. In the race to capture the heart of one daring lady, it's every man-and ghost-for himself. * This is an reissue of the original 2012 edition, with minor editorial changes and exclusive BONUS MATERIAL: the Captive Bride playlist. 

What I Liked:

This book was originally published in 2012, but the author reissued the book after changing the cover and doing a little revising and editing. I absolutely love this new cover - it's so lush and dramatic and beautiful. I received a copy from Ashe but this has in no way affected my opinion of the book.

That being said, I really enjoyed this book. I decided to pick it up on a whim because there are only a few days until Halloween, and this seemed like a great romance novel to read during the Halloween season. A haunted castle, a villainous ghost, a delicious tug-of-way romance? Sold!

Beatrice Sinclaire is used to getting her twin brother out of trouble. She is used to doing everything her overbearing mother tells her to do. She is used to Lord Peter Cheriot proposing to her every couple of months. She is used to telling him no, despite having been in love with him for years. What she isn't used to is getting a letter from her brother, who is in Wales, telling her that there is a maiden in a haunted castle, and she (Bea) must help him with the situation. Bea - and Peter, and Bea's great-aunts - travels to Wales and discovers that there is a ghost in the castle and he is very much real. He has been cursed and is determined to break the curse by marrying a virgin maid, as the curse dictates. That could be Lady Bronwyn, the maiden that Thomas (Bea's brother) is determined to save... or that could be Bea. They only have a few nights until All Hallows Eve, when the ghost will take what he demands. 

I'd never read a Regency romance with a ghost involved! This ghost was determined to ruin lives - or it seemed. He was actually quite lonely, not that that excuses his actions. In any case, a ghost in a dark, haunted castle is an intriguing feature and I was a huge fan. 

I liked Peter (or "Tip", as he is nicknamed) from the start. He is charming and sweet and very considerate, and he has a teasing, wicked nature about him. He is always asking Bea to marry him, even though she always says no. I love how nice he is to Bea's mother and great-aunts, and how he clearly tries to please everyone else. He isn't a pushover but he is so considerate of everyone. Perhaps it is his status (he has title and wealth, whereas Bea's family doesn't), but I think it's more of him being a very good guy. He is persistent and protective and he is prone to a little jealousy, at times. He's a great example of how attractive an alpha male can be, when written well.

Bea was fun to follow, though I liked Peter more. She is clever and intelligent, though occasionally she is a little dense. I think the lady protested too much and sometimes she was a little hypocritical - but that was all part of her character development. She protected her heart and didn't want to believe that Peter was actually serious about proposing. She loved him since they were young, but she hadn't know that he was being serious with her. Bea's character development is the most profound because she has the most to come to terms with. She realizes that Peter is serious, that he is a good guy, that he loves her, that he wants her just as much as she wants him.

For once, the aunties in the story are actually really sweet and helpful, and not annoying or bothersome. They weren't even c**k-blockers - they actually were silently cheering for Peter/Bea to be a thing! I loved the two aunts, especially Aunt Julia. She was so sweet and supportive. And Aunt Grace was firm and supportive and didn't put up with Bea's constant denial. 

I hated Thomas and didn't really care for Lady Bronwyn, but I'm glad they got their happy ending. I hated Bea's parents but I was happy to see Bea's mother grow up and stop treating Bea like an ugly stepchild, when in fact Bea had always been her best child. 

The romance is very sweet, full of banter and a tug-of-way in terms of chemistry. Bea wants Peter desperately, but she isn't sure he is serious about her. Peter wants Bea desperately, but of course she has turned down every one of his proposals, so naturally he wonders if she doesn't want him. But the chemistry between them is super hot and never lets up. There are some great sexy times in this book, even with it being a shorter book. I loved seeing Peter and Bea grow in their love for each other, especially upon realizing that the other has feelings for them.

This was a fun, sexy, and thrilling read that is perfect for Halloween! It ends wonderfully and it's a romance novel that I will be rereading. File this under one of Ashe's best!

What I Did Not Like:

I wish Bea would have stopped putting herself in denial and being a hypocrite - BUT I recognize that that was all part of her character development throughout the story. But still, it got tedious. Good thing Peter had an iron will and unbending persistence. He is a sweetheart!

Would I Recommend It:

If you have enjoyed any of Ashe's books, give this one a try! She self-published it and it's fairly cheap on Amazon Kindle, cheaper than a publisher's price. It's perfect for Halloween - not a scary book, but there is definitely haunting vibe to it, with the ghost and the castle and everything boiling down to All Hallows Eve. Romance + Halloween vibes = win!

Rating:

4 stars. I'm going to dig through some of Ashe's older books, because it seems like I've been enjoying those! I adored her Prince Catchers series, The Scoundrel & I, The Pirate & I... her latest series has been up and down for me but I'm sticking it out. I have Swept Away by a Kiss and may try it soon!

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Review: The Duke by Katharine Ashe

The Duke by Katharine Ashe

Book Three of the Devil's Duke series

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: September 26, 2017

Rating: 2 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Six years ago, when Lady Amarantha Vale was an innocent in a foreign land and Gabriel Hume was a young naval officer, they met . . . and played with fire.

Now Gabriel is the dark lord known to society as the Devil’s Duke, a notorious recluse hidden away in a castle in the Highlands. Only Amarantha knows the truth about him, and she won’t be intimidated. He is the one man who can give her the answers she needs.

But Gabriel cannot let her learn his darkest secret. So begins a game of wit and desire that proves seduction is more satisfying—and much more wicked—the second time around…

What I Liked:

It pains me, to give this book a poor rating. But it also pains me that this book, with all of its feminist themes, contains such a horrible female protagonist who so poorly represents feminism. Amarantha loves to be her own woman - no one commands her anymore - and yet she treats Gabriel with such utter disrespect. It's sickening, especially since this book is written by an author who typically does such a good job in writing feminist historical romance novels.

This book is divided into two sections. The first third or so is set in 1817, when Amarantha and Gabriel first meet, in Jamaica. This part of the story shows them falling in love, through simple interactions. Amarantha has come to Jamaica with her fiance, a pastor, who is from England and is doing missionary work on the island. Gabriel is a naval officer whose ship is docked in Jamaica, and so he is volunteering his services to the people of the island in the meantime. Amarantha never meant to fall for this man, but she did. He asks her to wait for him, to marry him when he comes back. Except he doesn't come back, and Amarantha receives a letter from his cousin that Gabriel has died. She marries the pastor four days later. Months later, she finds out that Gabriel never died. Six years later, Amarantha is widowed and on her way to Scotland to look for a friend from Jamaica who fled to Scotland. There, Amarantha hears about the Devil's Duke, who turns out to be none other than Gabriel Hume, Duke of Loch Irvine. But he is no devil, and even though Amarantha has sworn never to trust a man again, she finds herself falling all over again for the same man who broke her heart.

The literal only good thing about this book, the only part that is redeeming the book for me, is the hero. Gabriel is a saint. When he and Amarantha first meet and fall in love, Gabriel's character shines. He never touches her, he never seduces her, he never says or does anything untoward. And yet he is direct and charming, and also sweet and compassionate. Six years later, Gabriel is even more selfless and kind, and fiercely protective. Gabriel is such a sweetheart, and he deserved a hundred times better than Amarantha.

Let me tell you all about Amarantha.

What I Did Not Like:

Y'all, there is a trend in historical romance that I have begun to hate with a passion. Let me preface by saying that as a twenty-two-year-old educated independent feminist woman, I am 1000000% all for strong independent women who take charge of their lives. Even in a historical context, in which that might seem anachronistic, I'm all for it.

What I am not all for, is the heroine being a complete b***h to the hero. I don't understand how this trend is so popular in historical romance right now. HOW is this a sign of strength and feminism? HOW is it okay to glorify this type of heroine? I understand the alpha heroine type. I do not understand why she has to be a rude, ungrateful swine.

Amarantha is exactly that. When she arrives at Gabriel's home, he welcomes her in (despite the fact that she broke his heart when she didn't wait for him and married the pastor she didn't want to marry). He invites her friends into his home. He goes out and brings her friends to his home. He goes out of his way for her and her annoying friends. And not once does she thank him. Not once does she show any shred of gratitude. Instead, all she does is accuse him, demand answers of him, order him around, like that's her house, and he is her slave. She should know better, given the context of slavery in this book. I am so disgusted. How dare she act sanctimonious and holier-than-thou to a man who doesn't owe her sh*t and still offers her everything he has. How dare she not thank him for the mouthful of tea she drinks, let alone lodging for herself and her friends, safety and comfort? Y'all. Let me walk into my parents' friends houses and not say "thank you for letting me stay here!" no fewer than nine thousand times and just you wait and see how many times my parents will scold me.

What's more, Amarantha blames Gabriel for all of her problems. She blames him for her getting married to the pastor. She blames him for her distrust in men. She blames him for breaking her heart. And yet, SHE IS AT FAULT FOR ALL OF THIS. She says he seduced her. He never touched her, never beguiled her, blah blah blah. She says "he should have known better, she was so young." Girlfriend was, what, eighteen when she left home and ran away with the pastor TO JAMAICA? And met Gabriel, a man who talked to her and occasionally flirted with her but never touched her or did anything untoward or tried anything? And yet, she blames him because she was "so young"? YOU RAN AWAY WITH A STRANGE MAN ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE OCEAN. You're old enough to do that, but let's blame a man for "seducing you" at a tender young age, the same age you ran away, crossed oceans, and engaged yourself to a deceitful snake of a pastor. 

Sure, Jan.

Amarantha just likes feel righteous and holier-than-thou, and blaming Gabriel is the solution to all of her problems. She broke his heart. And NOT ONCE did she apologize for that. You know what? She has just as much reason to apologize as he does - if not more. She waited FOUR DAYS before jumping into marriage with the pastor. She was so childish and naive and yet she thought Gabriel was the one fooling her, when it was the pastor. You know how mad this makes me? You know how much I want to throttle Amarantha and wrap warm blankets around Gabriel? God, if Amarantha were someone I knew in real life. There would be a throw-down.

Where was I... so Amarantha is an ungrateful, cold-hearted, snobby b***h. If I'm being honest (when am I not), she demonstrated time and time again that she must have lost half of her brain cells while crossing the oceans back and forth, because the amount of stupidity she displayed throughout the book was astounding. Not just with Gabriel, but in general. Take the climax, for example, in which she jumps right into this hare-brained scheme to "save everyone", when in fact she is being selfish and a stupid "martyr". And then of course Gabriel swoops in and sacrifices himself for everything, because he is so much better of a person than Amarantha. I'm so irritated, y'all. I might have thrown Amarantha off a ship if we were travelling together during this time. She had no respect for Gabriel.

Forget man and woman, power imbalances, feminism, etc. Basic courtesy still exists, right? Basic respect for a fellow human being? Amarantha displays none of that. Where the f*** are your manners, sweetie?

Maybe I'm just tired. I really thought this would be a sweet love story, a story of two lowers reunited after many years. Instead, what I get is a dumba** treating a poor sweet man like sh*t, the poor man is still totally in love with her after six years so of course he just rolls over and takes it, she continues to treat him poorly, strings him along, loses herself to lust for a second, retreats, does the lust thing again, retreats, rinse repeat, etc. I felt for Gabriel because after six years he is still pining (is this realistic though? It's almost a little creepy...), but I think he should have moved on. Amarantha is no prize. I wouldn't want to be her friend or family member. I'd probably punch her.

OH! On that note. You know what made me REALLY mad? Amarantha has the nerve to hit Gabriel. I'm talking a full-on open-palmed slap across his face. He didn't say anything to her. He didn't do anything wrong, nothing she didn't agree to. And then out of the blue, she slaps him with no explanation. EVEN IF THERE WAS AN EXPLANATION, THIS IS SO SO SO SO SO SO SO WRONG. HOW can you call yourself a feminist and write a heroine that hits her man? How can you be a feminist protagonist and dare hurt a man (especially an innocent one that didn't do anything to you)? This infuriates me to no end. I'd give this book a sh*t rating for this one thing alone. And then it seemed like it had no place or purpose, because nothing came out of it. Why bother even including it?! It's a bad move!

Okay, I'm done. 

Would I Recommend It:

Ha. No. I've had a love-hate relationship with this series. Currently I'm struggling with this author's books - they are incredibly hit-or-miss. I really want to love her books (and I've enjoyed many in the past) because I love what the author stands for (feminism, strong women, kind men, sweeping love story, etc.). I hate this kind of horrible heroine though. If I hate the heroine, I pretty much always hate the book. And this type of heroine, the one that is a feminist-heroine-so-therefore-I must-love-and-worship-her-otherwise-I-am-not-a-feminist-myself but is a terrible person and completely awful to the book's hero... I can't stand this kind of heroine. And I've been seeing this type show up in HR and I hate it. I am not saying that heroines have to be sweet and biddable and blah blah blah. But so many of them are snobby, prickly, rude, selfish, self-centered, self-absorbed, a**holes, especially toward the hero and the hero alone. I do not want to associate myself with those type of toxic women in real life. WHY would I want to read about them? I don't. 

Don't bring that kind of feminism near me.

Rating:

1.5 stars -> rounded up to 2 stars. Let me be clear and repeat myself: it pains me to give this book a poor rating. Because I know the kind of message the author wants to leave in her books, and I know how great her stories can be. But this book... this book sends a bad message. This book is not the kind of feminist historical romance novel I would ever recommend or give to my (not-yet-existent) daughters. You want good feminist historical romances that aren't so toxic? Try Maya Rodale's, Tessa Dare's, Elizabeth Hoyt's, Caroline Linden's. I thought I was getting a sweet romance with this one. I was wrong. Now I need to bleach my brain and read some fluffy YA romances, or maybe an intense sci-fi novel with a sexy romance. Something straightforward without a toxic heroine.

Despite all of this, I will be reading The Prince. I'm hoping I'll be two for four with this series. 

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Review: The Pirate & I by Katharine Ashe

The Pirate & I by Katharine Ashe

Book 2.5 of the Devil's Duke series

Publisher: Avon Impulse

Publication Date: July 11, 2017

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Years ago, Miss Esme Astell fell hopelessly in love with Charles Brittle, an unassuming and highly respectable London bookmaker.

Then he disappeared without a word.

The last thing Esme ever dreamed was to meet Charlie again —

In a dark alleyway —

In a drenching rain —

In a chase with the police —

In Scotland.

Can she resist falling again, this time for the dangerous scoundrel he’s become?

What I Liked:

This novella was an absolute delight to read. I'm up to date with the Devil's Duke series and I actually think this is my favorite so far. Not that The Rogue and The Earl were bad - but this novella was so fun and heartwarming. It has crossover with The Scoundrel & I, featuring Esme Astel (who is Gabrielle Flood's friend) and Charles Brittle (from the Brittle & Sons print shop at which Gabrielle worked). This novella is an excellent addition to the series but also a fine standalone story.

Esme Astel hasn't seen Charles Brittle in nearly two years, so imagine her surprise when he comes running down the alley on a rainy night, silently pleading with her not to give him away as the police search for him. Everyone thought he'd left for good, or was dead. As it would turn out, Charlie Brittle joined a ship two years ago, and then the ship was taken over by pirates, and he became a pirate by necessity. He is back - well, in Scotland - in order to complete a mission to get another pirate off his back. Esme has loved Charlie for years, and seeing him again is a dream come true. But he is full of mystery and danger, and not quite the same man from two years ago. And her current dream is to live in Paris as an apprentice to a perfumer. In this story, dreams come true for both Esme and Charlie, in the sweetest and most hopeful of ways.

From the start, this book is full of sweet romance and yummy tension. You can practically feel the chemistry between Charlie and Esme, from the first pages and onward. This isn't a second-chance romance, though Esme and Charlie knew each other for years. Esme was secretly in love with Charlie for years, but she was sure that he was in love with Gabrielle - which is why he left. But Charlie has never loved Gabrielle like that, and he left for different reasons. During his years away, only one woman occupied his thoughts, the woman he was too shy to whom he was too shy to speak up.

Esme is a sweet and tough young lady, with big dreams and a big heart. She has always had a knack for distinguishing smells, hence why she has gone into the perfume business. She is in Scotland for a perfumer's meeting, and she hopes to get an apprenticeship with one of the perfumers of Paris. Then, she can starting saving money to move her two sisters and mother out of her wretched uncle's house. 

Charlie is every inch a pirate - big, broad, unsmiling, up to some scheme, and running from the law. However, he is a good man, and though he denies it, a gentleman. He is selfless and caring when it comes to Esme and her family. He isn't an alpha male hero, but rather a seemingly hard yet sweet man who is protective to a fault.

The two of them together was always fun and sweet to watch. The romance was adorable and lovely. This was a novella so there weren't too many sexy times, but the few that were there were steamy and also tender. I loved every interaction between these two.

The story doesn't just deal with Esme and Charlie falling in love - there is a fun plot involving stealing a dog (whaaaaat), going to a brothel to find said dog (omg), and of course Esme trying to secure an apprenticeship with a perfumer. There is plenty going on besides the romance, though the romance is absolutely lovely!

One of the best aspects of this book was the lack of drama! You know how there is always drama between the couple, at the climax, in romance novels? There wasn't too much in this book, and any conflict was resolved in a sensible and sweet manner. Both characters went after what they wanted (each other), when they really realized what they left. In general, this book didn't have drama. I love how agreeable Charlie and Esme were. Esme knew what she wanted, Charlie knew what he wanted, they sometimes butt heads, but they also listened to each other. I loved that.

Props to Ashe for writing such a great story in a shorter page limit. I don't know what this says about me but I've really enjoyed her novellas, possibly more than her Devil's Duke full-length novels.

What I Did Not Like:

Of course I wish there were more sexy times! And I was also hoping to see Charlie confront his family (father and brother) at some point. That would have been symbolic of Charlie leaving behind the past and only looking forward (with Esme). But that's okay, I can come up with that scenario on my own and imagine a great resolution to that.

Would I Recommend It:

I definitely recommend the novellas that Ashe has written recently - this one, and The Scoundrel & I. Both novellas can be read as standalones, though they have crossover characters. They are fun, less dramatic, lacking miscommunication conflicts and forced conflicts, and very heartwarming. Also, I love how the novellas deal with "common" folk of historic England/Scotland, and not the nobility and the Ton. If you're looking for something different in historical romance...

Rating:

4.5 stars. I'll round down to 4 stars for now. This book was incredibly fun and romantic and very much worth the read. If you're ever curious about Ashe's stories, try this one or The Scoundrel & I! Or her Prince Catchers series. And then go from there!

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Review: The Earl by Katharine Ashe

The Earl by Katharine Ashe

Book Two of the Devil's Duke series

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: October 25, 2016

Rating; 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

How does a lady of wit and courage bring an arrogant lord to his knees? 

Entice him to Scotland, strip him of titles and riches, and make him prove what sort of man he truly is.

Opposites…

Handsome, wealthy, and sublimely confident, Colin Gray, the new Earl of Egremoor, has vowed to unmask the rabble-rousing pamphleteer, Lady Justice, the thorn in England’s paw. And he’ll stop at nothing.

Attract.

Smart, big-hearted, and passionately dedicated to her work, Lady Justice longs to teach her nemesis a lesson in humility. But her sister is missing, and a perilous journey with her archrival into unknown territory just might turn fierce enemies into lovers.

What I Liked:

This book, for me, was better than The Rogue. I had an easier time reading and digesting this one. When I read The Rogue, I was disappointed, and I didn't love the book. I have not read any of the Falcon Club books. This novel, focusing on Colin Gray and Emily Vale, was heartbreaking and uplifting, infuriating and undeniably romantic.

Colin Gray is the new Earl of Egremoor, after the recent passing of his father. He was the secretary of the Falcon Club, which has been disbanded. When his nemesis, Lady Justice, calls for his help, he is curious, and does not refuse. Emily Vale's sister is missing in Scotland, and she will do anything to find Amarantha. Even if that means calling on Peregrine, the secretary of the Falcon Club. But Emily realizes who Peregrine really is, and decides that she has no need for his help. But Peregrine - Colin - is determined to help Lady Justice (he doesn't know her true identity). By chance, Colin and Emily meet in an inn in Scotland, looking for the same person (though Colin does not know this). They have been avoiding each other for years, but this journey is inevitable, and completely necessary.

The first thing I want to point out is that the synopsis is not quite accurate. Emily does not lure Colin to Scotland, and he is not stripped of titles and riches. Not exactly, anyway. In Scotland, he and Emily have to flee hastily (there are highwaymen pretending to be them), and they do not have any of their belongings with them. So it's not exactly as the synopsis says - it's not like Emily strips Colin of anything. And Colin isn't actually stripped of anything. If that makes sense.

Anyway! I had a much better time reading this one, compared to The Rogue. Emily has hated (or tried to hate) Colin for about eighteen years, since she was eight and he thirteen. The reason is ridiculous, and the whole grudge she has is ridiculous, but I can sort of see why she would harden her heart against him, at age eight. Sort of. I remember being eight.

I loved Colin, infinitely more than Emily. This surprises exactly no one, because with The Rogue, I loved Saint and haaaaaated Constance. In this case, I like Emily, but I adore Colin. I was almost bawling, while reading the prologue. Colin has been hurt and broken in a number of different non-physical ways, since he was a child, and my heart hurt for this fictional character. In the story, he is somewhat emotionless and empty and hard, but utterly selfless and duty-driven. Also, he has a nibbleable jaw. I got a good visual in my head - and I must say, the cover model does him justice.

But back to the man. Gah! He's a swoony hero for sure. I think he deserved more and better, but I liked seeing him work through the past, suffer a bit (I know!), and then get rewarded for everything (in a sense). He's so honorable and so selfless. I could look past his occasional silly remark about this or that, because he's a very true male protagonist in this time period.

Emily... is equally complex but not as likable (to me). She's an independent eldest daughter, and in this time period, that is a bit odd. She writes political pamphlets under Lady Justice, and no one, save a few servants, know who she is. Emily is a bit snobby when it comes to Colin, and she's been holding a stupid grudge for eighteen years. Sometimes I questioned her judgment and her sanity, other times I was rooting for her and her brazen opinions.

Together, the two are fire and ice. There was just the right amount of push and pull between them. It wasn't just Colin chasing after Emily, or Colin constantly apologizing to Emily, or moping or begging, etc. No, Emily did her fair share of apologizing and realizing that she was being stupid and understanding that she hurt him, that he hurt, that he isn't invincible or perfect.

I got punched in the feels soooo many times during this book. The interactions and dialogue between these two characters were so well-written, and sometimes, my heart hurt for them. They hash out a lot about the past, and their anger at the other, and sometimes I wanted to just force them together and have them work things out. I do like how they worked through things as the story progressed, and not all at the end, or something concentrated like that.

So I did like the romance - it was hot and cold and sweet too. The chemistry between these two was there, and constant, smoldering in the background. Ashe's romance novels are never a smoke show, but I like how intimate they can get.

So, overall, I enjoyed this book. I'm quite happy about this, because I remember feeling incredibly sad and a bit mad at myself for not loving The Rogue. With that book, I felt like I needed to love it (perhaps my expectations were too high). With this book, I expected to dislike it (after reading various earlier reviews), but I ended up liking it.

What I Did Not Like:

While I didn't dislike Emily like I disliked Constance, I still didn't completely love Emily. She hurts Colin a lot, past and present, and some of it is unforgivable to me. Of course, I try and tell myself to put myself in her shoes... but some of it, she does all on her own. Some of her decisions are incredibly stupid, for someone so smart.

This book features a huge pet peeve of mine! You know when a heroine messes up and should be the one to apologize first and/or make a big grand gesture or something? Well, in this book, both of them mess up, and both of them send indirect grand gestures... but it's Colin to beg. I thought it should have been Emily. The man left the choice up to her, and then walked away. To me, that means that SHE should be making the choice... i.e., going to him. Not the other way around. Do you see why this is a pet peeve of mine? There is no logic to this! I'm glad Colin was the "bigger man" in this situation. But Lady Justice is this high-minded feminist - shouldn't she be the one to going after what she wants, like she does with the Domestic Felicity Act?

Last complaint - the ending is ambiguous, as to Colin and Emily's relationship. They're together... but to what degree. Honestly, I cannot believe that Emily would go through all of the growth and realizations about marriage and how much she loves Colin... and then not marry him? It's like the author wants to punish Colin (he has wanted to marry her for forever). Of course, the ending is ambiguous... so I suppose we'll see, in book three.

Would I Recommend It:

I'm split on this. On the one hand, I love how smart and feminist Ashe's historical romances are. The heroines are strong and bold, and the heroes are dashing and charming. On the other hand, this particular series by Ashe is definitely not for everyone. I like logic and rationale and fact - and sometimes, the ladies in this series forget about all of those things (which is sad because Constance and Emily are both very smart ladies). Heck, I'm going to need book three to tip the scales, for me. So, yes and no, I do and don't recommend this book. It's not your typical wonderful and sweet historical romance novel - yes, it has those aspects, but they take a far backseat compared to the significant feminist presence (for better or for worse).

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded up to 4 stars. Not a new Ashe favorite of mine, but still good, and worthy of 4 stars. I'm a tough critic but I also like to be fair and honest. I'm still a little shaky and wary when it comes to this series, but I am looking forward to read The Duke. 

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Review: The Scoundrel & I by Katharine Ashe

The Scoundrel & I by Katharine Ashe

Publisher: Billet-Doux Books

Publication Date: August 7, 2016

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC sent by the author

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

A sexy, heartwarming novella from the USA Today bestselling author of RITA® Award Finalists My Lady, My Lord and How to Marry a Highlander...

Printer's assistant Gabrielle Flood just made the worst mistake of her life.

Then handsome, dashing Captain Anthony Masinter came along...

And made it even worse.

And he's the last man on earth who can help her fix it.

Sometimes a disaster is exactly what two people need to fall in love.

* * *

The Scoundrel & I is a standalone spin-off novella from Katharine Ashe's acclaimed Falcon Club Series, with special BONUS MATERIAL: the complete correspondence of Lady Justice and Peregrine, including never-before-published letters. The publication sale price of 99¢ is for a limited time only.

What I Liked:

This. THIS is the classic Katharine Ashe that I absolutely love. Her Prince Catchers series was SO good, and I enjoyed each one. I didn't love her latest novel, The Rogue, which surprised me! It had been one of my most anticipated adult romance novels of 2016. But this novella seemed more like classic Ashe! I was enthralled by this story. 

Please note -- I received an electronic advanced reader's copy of this book from the author. This in no way affected my opinion of the book. 

Gabrielle Flood has done a terrible thing - she took the printing type set (whatever it's called) from her place of work without permission, and on her way home, she drops it when a horse and rider startled her. Now Elle is ruined, because her employer will let her go, because she was not supposed to touch the machine. She took it because her dying grandmother loves printing and the press, and it makes her happy to touch it. Elle doesn't expect to see the handsome stranger who nearly ran her over with his horse, but she does. Captain Anthony Masinter didn't know that he ruined Elle's life that night, and when he finds out, he is quick to try and help. Finding the missing pieces proves difficult, and so he gets creative. As the pair rush to find the pieces before the Brittle family get back.

I adored both Elle and Anthony! Elle is an intelligent woman who corrects Anthony's grammar all the time, which is cute (not annoying). She proofreads publications, including Lady Justice's publications, which are very popular. Elle is a no-nonsense type of woman, especially after having her heart broken by Jo Junior (one of Mr. Brittle's sons). She's closed off her heart to love. But she doesn't expect Captain Anthony Masinter to breeze into her life.

Anthony... oh Anthony. I think he's one of my favorite male protagonists of the adult romance novels I've read this year. Swoony does not cover how sigh-worthy he really is. Yes, he's handsome and he fills his Navy uniform really nicely and he's just nice to look at in general. What's more, he's incredibly honorable, determined, and a little stubborn. He wants to help Elle, even though it's pretty much her fault for taking the type setter in the first place. Anthony has a tough backstory, and he joined the Navy as a result, at age twelve. Twenty years later, he's back in England after he inherits property and a hefty amount of money.

The romance is SO wonderful! I loved seeing these two fall for each. With this being a novella, you'd think the romance would seem fast and instant. But Ashe crafts the romance beautifully, taking these two from a terrible start to a swoony end. There are bumps in the road, especially with Anthony's honor getting in the way, but I liked how things worked out. These two have great chemistry, and share some steamy moments (though there is only one sex scene). They also have a lot of fun together, with several great adventures and a lot of cute scenes. There is a tiny bit of drama and heartbreak at the climax of the book, but it's handled well and there isn't unnecessary drama associated with it.

Aaaaand, I *love* that Elle fights for Anthony! She is the one that messes up and creates that small drama at the climax, and she is the one that fixes things and fights for her man. I love seeing this! I love when a woman messes up, she takes responsibility and makes it right and fights. Good for her!

I haven't read any of Ashe's Falcon Club books, but I think fans of that series will love this book especially, because there are Lady Justice and Peregrine mentions all over this book! Including letters and such. 

I feel like I can't express just how much I adored this book! The romance was great, and I really liked Anthony, and I liked Elle a lot too. In Ashe's last book, I struggled to like the heroine. But in this book, I liked Elle and I loved Anthony. Ashe writes wonderful historical romance stories with strong heroines and swoony, respectful alpha heroes, and this novella does not disappoint.

What I Did Not Like:

More steamy scenes? Not a dislike, but more of a wish! Ashe's books are pretty steamy, and this one is, but I would have loved more than one sex scene! 

Would I Recommend It:

While this is a novella, it's pretty lengthy! The story feels very complete and the relationships and characters are well-developed and well-written. And I loved the romance! So much that I want to reread this story and experience it all over again.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. I'm not sure I'd rate this 5 stars (it doesn't quite *feel* like 5 stars to me, and I usually reserve that rating for all-time favorites), but I think this book is better than 4 stars. This story was much more like I'm used to from Ashe, and I loved it!

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Release Day Blitz and Giveaway: The Rogue by Katharine Ashe

Hi lovelies! Today I'm helping Katharine Ashe celebrate the publication of her latest novel, The Rogue. This was one of my most anticipated historical romance novels of 2016!  If you haven't read any of Ashe's books, get on that! 

About the Book:

The Rogue by Katharine Ashe

Book One of the Devil's Duke series

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: February 23, 2016

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Official Summary:

In the first book in Katharine Ashe’s stunning new historical series, to capture a duke, a lady must first seduce a rogue. 

Lady Constance Read is independent, beautiful, and in need of a husband-now. The last man on earth she wants is the rogue who broke her heart six years ago, never mind that his kisses are scorching hot…

Evan Saint-André Sterling is rich, scarred, and finished with women-forever. He’s not about to lose his head over the bewitching beauty who once turned his life upside down.

But Constance needs a warrior, and Saint is the perfect man for the job. Only as a married woman can she penetrate Scotland’s most notorious secret society and bring a diabolical duke to justice. When Constance and Saint become allies-and passionate lovers-he’ll risk everything to protect the only woman he has ever loved.

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Check out the teasers:

About the Author:

Katharine Ashe is the award-winning author of historical romances that reviewers call “intensely lush” and “sensationally intelligent,” including How to Be a Proper Lady, an Amazon Editors’ Choice for the 10 Best Books of the Year in Romance, and My Lady, My Lord and How to Marry a Highlander, 2015 and 2014 finalists for the prestigious RITA® Award of the Romance Writers of America. Her books are recommended by Publishers Weekly, Women’s World Magazine, Booklist, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Barnes & Noble, and many others, and translated into languages across the world. 

Katharine lives in the wonderfully warm Southeast with her beloved husband, son, dog, and a garden she likes to call romantic rather than unkempt. A professor of European History, she writes fiction because she thinks modern readers deserve grand adventures and breathtaking sensuality too. For more about Katharine’s books, please visit www.KatharineAshe.com or write to her at PO Box 51702, Durham, NC 27717.

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The Giveaway:

Enter to Win a Katharine Ashe Print Bundle, including:  WHEN A SCOT LOVES A LADY, HOW TO BE A PROPER LADY, HOW A LADY WEDS A ROGUE, I LOVED A ROGUE (US Only)

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Review: The Rogue by Katharine Ashe

The Rogue by Katharine Ashe

Book One of the Devil's Duke series

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: February 23, 2016

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Lady Constance Read is independent, beautiful, and in need of a husband—now. The last man on earth she wants is the rogue who broke her heart six years ago, never mind that his kisses are scorching hot…

Evan Saint-André Sterling is rich, scarred, and finished with women—forever. He’s not about to lose his head over the bewitching beauty who once turned his life upside down. 

But Constance needs a warrior, and Saint is the perfect man for the job. Only as a married woman can she penetrate Scotland’s most notorious secret society and bring a diabolical duke to justice. When Constance and Saint become allies—and passionate lovers—he’ll risk everything to protect the only woman he has ever loved. 

What I Liked:

This book was probably my most anticipated historical romance novel of Winter '16. I adore Katharine Ashe and her books - especially her Prince Catchers series - and I'm quite excited about this new series. This book was decently good, somewhat disappointing but not terrible.

Saint is a warrior, formerly in the military, now teaching others how to use a sword. He's the best swordsman in the region, better than anyone in Scotland and England. When he's hired to teach Lady Constance, a woman who broke his heart six years ago, he is going to refuse. She rejected him years ago! But six years ago, Constance had to. She's never forgotten Saint, after all these years. She wants him to teach her to fight, because she wants to be able to protect herself while she attempts to figure out who is killing young woman. Someone in one of Scotland's secret society is behind the murders, and Constance is going to find out who - with Saint's help.

Best part of this book was SAINT. Oh. My. Goodness. Saint is easily one of my favorite historical romance heroes, definitely in my top five at the very least. Saint is so complex and honest and noble and selfless and chivalrous and protective. He is kind and very, very intelligent. Usually the brooding types are a little cliche, but Saint is a strong, silent, brooding man, a man of few words. I adore his protectiveness, as well as his kindness.

Saint is not willing to teach Constance, at first, because he doesn't want to reopen old wounds. Years ago, they exchanged a few heated kisses which affected both of them very much. Six years later, Saint doesn't want to interact with her. But I love that he consents to teach her. I love how he is noble and gentlemanly about it, and insists on chaperones while he teaches her. He won't touch her, won't provoke her, but he has never stopped wanting her, after all the years.

Constance is part of the Falcons club, and she's been trying to pin the blame of the murder of innocent young girls on a duke. She thinks the duke, or whoever is responsible for the murders, is part of a secret society, and she needs to gain entrance to that society. But she can't do it without a husband. And she wants to be well-prepared. Saint teaching her how to use a sword, dagger, and hand-to-hand combat is beneficial, and Constance picks up the skills quickly. But she wants more from Saint than combat knowledge.

I actually didn't like Constance. She was up and down for me - annoying sometimes, likable at other times. See below for my opinion on her. However, I can respect a woman who will plot and scheme for what she wants (to find the murderer). I can respect a woman who wants to defend herself.

The secret society and finding the murderer story was very interesting, and had me very anxious. Katharine Ashe did a great job of building this part of the book! The mystery was well-written and I was highly engrossed.

Despite my obvious dislike for Constance, I LOVED the tension between her and Saint. The chemistry was sizzling! Six years did nothing to diminish Saint's feelings and attraction for her, and definitely vice versa (if anything, Constance wants him even more than before). There are some really steamy scenes in this book.

 Another thing I liked, despite not really liking Constance, was how complex her character is, especially in terms of a deeply personal event that happened to her. Something terrible happened to her. Saint is a huge part of her regaining parts of herself that she lost; she trusts him, and he helps her learn to protect herself in more than one way. See? Saint is awesome. Saint is wonderful. 

Saint is the reason why this book is getting 3 stars, and not 2.5 stars -> 2 stars.

Overall, I'm pleased with this book. I definitely didn't like it as much as I hoped, but I think my expectations were too high. It was a good read though!

What I Did Not Like:

This is one of those books that, the more I think about it, the more I realized that I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I thought. You know when you finish a book and you're honestly SO relieved about the ending? That was why I originally rated this book more positively - the ending was very HEA-like. But... Constance kind of ruined the book for me, I'm realizing.

I never liked Constance, from the start. She really doesn't think about how her actions affects Saint - and when she does, she brushes it off, and doesn't care. Selfish much? I almost wanted her to end up alone.

The thing is, she's WAY too independent for this time period. Way too free. She has too much freedom and power, and it's probably because she's a member of the Falcon club, and she gathers information for the club. Her father knows, hence why she has so much "freedom" (her father uses her to get information). But her character just doesn't fit in this time period. She's too independent. Too modern. It goes beyond feisty. She doesn't know her place. I would LOVE Constance much more if she were a character in a twenty-first century adult romance novel (contemporary), not a nineteenth century (I think we're in the 1800s?) heroine.

She's a schemer and a strategist and she hurts Saint in the process. She wraps his life around hers but in a way that leaves him no choice. She basically turns him into her b****, and I felt bad for him. He's such a bada** warrior, taken with a lady who broke his heart years ago, and she's using him and taking advantage of him.

Honestly, as soon as she messed with Saint (directly or indirectly), I wasn't her biggest fan. And she's been messing with him for six years ago. She plays way too many games, she's way too scheming, and she takes advantage of Saint time after time. I don't like how she toyed with him, how she kept doing things that weren't fair to him. I won't say anything too specific, but you'll find it hard to like Constance. She had good moments though. I suppose people might like her BECAUSE of her scheming, but I didn't like how it made Saint feel.

Sooo... the heroine kind of ruined the book for me. AGAIN, if she were in modern-day contemporary romance novel, I would be her biggest fan. But as a heroine in a historical romance novel, I don't think she's an authentic and believable heroine, and I don't like her. 

Would I Recommend It:

Even though I didn't like Constance, I actually do recommend this book, at least for Saint! I'd read this book again and again, if only to experience Saint's perspective, and all of the beautiful and kind and wicked things that he did. However, do NOT make this your first HR novel, for the newbies to HR. This isn't a must-read in general (for you veterans), though I wish it were.

Rating:

3 stars. I'm kind of disappointed! Maybe my expectations were too high. I don't mind sassy heroines in historical romance novels, but Constance is completely anachronistic. I adore Saint and wish this book could have been a little more enjoyable if only for him. I do think I'll be reading the next book in the series, The Earl, despite misgivings.

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