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Showing posts with label 4.5 Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4.5 Stars. Show all posts

Friday, February 10, 2017

[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway]* The Queen's Maid of Honour (The French Orphan #4) by Michael Stolle




The Queen's Maid of Honour (The French Orphan Book 4)

The year is 1643. The scheming Cardinal Mazarin is now Prime Minister of France, but on the other side of the Channel, unrest in England grows daily, as civil war is erupting. As the political situation in England deteriorates, the royal court flees London for Oxford, and King Charles is desperate to secure both funding and troops to come to his aid.

Mazarin, every bit as devious as his predecessor, Richelieu, engages the services of François de Toucy to save the Queen of England, a former royal princess of France. François and his friends will set sail for England, in a quest to ensure the safety of the queen.

Whilst François is walking a diplomatic tightrope across the political cauldron of the royal court, his friend Armand falls desperately in love with the Queen’s Maid of Honour, a lady as beautiful as she is cunning.

Soon the friends find themselves deeply entangled in a deadly combination of cut-throat politics, disasters on the battlefield and bitter machinations at court over love and war and the struggle between Protestants and Catholics that threaten to spell only death and disaster.
 

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 425 pages (Paperback)
Source: Review Copy
Genre: Historical Fiction
Available Formats: Print/E-book
Publication Date: March 30th 2016
ADD TO GOODREADS 
Buy Links:  AMAZON US AMAZON CAN AMAZON UK AMAZON AUS/NZ

What an ending to a great series.
I just finished this one today and I'm still taking in the ending, so bear with me, this is a really short review.
I really enjoyed seeing Fancois grow in this novel with the help of his friends. Both France and England are in the midst of major political upheaval in this one and there's a whole lot of out with the old and in with the new in terms of people coming to power and people being ousted (some none to gently or well...alive that is).
There was a lot going on in The Queen's Maid of Honour. I was expecting the pace of the story to perhaps slow down what with this being the final book in the French Orphan series but to my surprise it kept the frantic (in a great way) pace up right until the very end which I truly appreciated. I think that if the novel had gone at a slower pace the sense of urgency that prevailed for many of the scenarios in the story would have suffered.
I feel like Michael Stolle pulled out all the stops in this volume. The writing was crisp, edgy and very well detailed. The characters were well thought out and I felt that they were very well developed, we saw the final results of all that they'd been working towards whether that end be good or bad but things wrapped up very well for me.
Again, I'm still trying to formulate more comprehensive thoughts on this one so stay tuned for an updated review with extra notes. If this sounds like a series you would like to try check out my reviews for the other 3 books in this series which are linked in the sidebar and don't forget to enter the giveaway for a copy of book one.

Author Bio:


Born and educated in Europe, Michael has always been intrigued by the historical setting and the fact that what makes us human was as true in the 17th century as it is now.



He has been reading and writing about history for longer than he cares to recall...

Author Links: 


Giveaway:

To win a paperback copy of The French Orphan (Book One) by Michael Stolle, please enter via the Gleam form below. Three copies are up for grabs!

Rules:

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 11th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US, UK, and CANADA only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.


if-youre-here-blinkie

Thursday, February 9, 2017

[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway]* Under the Spell of The Serenissima (The French Orphan #3)by Michael Stolle





Under the Spell of The Serenissima (The French Orphan, #3)

The third in the French Orphan series follows the exploits of Pierre, former penniless orphan who discovers he is heir to the de Beauvoir inheritance.


So far, Pierre has found friends in unexpected places, been surprised by love, learned the true meaning of friendship, discovered the extent of human cunning and depravity and dodged numerous attempts by his closest family member to despatch him to the next world.

In Under the Spell of the Serenissima Pierre’s search for the third Templar ring continues, but as ever, his path is not a smooth one. Pierre and Armand, along with Jean and Edoardo, are making for Venice, unaware that others too are racing towards the beautiful city, some intending to help, others with far more sinister motives.

As the various characters are drawn inexorably towards Venice, a conclusion will be played out that must decide Pierre’s fate, one way or another…

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 302 pages (Paperback)
Source: Review Copy
Genre: Historical Fiction
Available Formats: Print/E-Book
Publication Date: December 15th 2013 by CreateSpace


You don't have any idea how much I've enjoyed my trips back in time in Michael Stolle's French Orphan series. 
In Under the Spell of the Serenissima, we see things really begin to heat up politically and personally for Pierre, and his best friend Armand. We see both of them really grow into men in this installment and earnestly try to leave their youthful fancies behind. We see where the furture may come to lead these two and it made me wonder if they had a future supporting each other and made me want to bash their heads together more than once over some disagreements. However, I did enjoy that there was a bit more conflict between our two lads in this one because they are best friends we also see how each of them is being pulled in so many directions that I found it dizzying. 
That being said, the book wasn't chaotic don't get me wrong there was a lot going on but I by the time I finished it I could begin to see where it was all headed and what might just be the outcome. One thing I think was a great push for this installment was that I saw that not just the main characters grown and evolve but many of the main supporting cast like Marie, Jean and Nicholas as well. We begin to see what everyone elses motivations are and I thought it was refreshing that they came more to the forefront in this volume since they play such a large part in the story.
We also see the treacherous political machinations begin to reach a head, and there was plenty of heart pounding moments in which I thought the jig might be up but I was pleasantly surprised to see how our young hero Pierre bounced back in the face of adversity.
This was a welcome edition in this series and I'm glad to say that the momentum has not let up. This one truly lives up to the standard that the first two books put in place. If you haven't checked this series out (my reviews for books one and two are located in the sidebar), than I highly suggest doing so if you want a book that's a mixture of historical fiction, political thriller and adventure novel.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's review of the final book in this series!


Author Bio:


Born and educated in Europe, Michael has always been intrigued by the historical setting and the fact that what makes us human was as true in the 17th century as it is now.



He has been reading and writing about history for longer than he cares to recall...

Author Links: 


Giveaway:

To win a paperback copy of The French Orphan (Book One) by Michael Stolle, please enter via the Gleam form below. Three copies are up for grabs!

Rules:

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 11th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US, UK, and CANADA only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.


if-youre-here-blinkie

Friday, February 3, 2017

[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway]* The Secrets of Montrésor (The French Orphan #2) by Michael Stolle






  Summary:
The Secrets of Montrésor (The French Orphan, #2)The Secrets of Montrésor is the eagerly awaited sequel to The French Orphan, and continues the story of young Pierre de Beauvoir… 
Coming into a fortune at any age brings huge responsibility, but when you’re an inexperienced teenager, it seems that surprises are waiting for you around every corner. 
Pierre, former orphan and now Marquis de Beauvoir, may have claimed his inheritance, but life is never that simple. For a start, he needs to learn pretty quickly exactly who to trust and who to keep at arm’s length. For example, how do you work out (and survive….) the changing motives of the most powerful man in seventeenth-century France, Cardinal Richelieu? And then what do you do when the people you should be able to trust try to deliver you into the hands of your worst enemy? And then there’s the small matter of a sacred quest to Italy… 
Fortunately for Pierre he has his best friend Armand to support him as he gets to know his chateau at Montrésor, its people and… its secrets. (Armand, of course, has his own agendas to pursue, usually involving a pretty face and a willing smile.) 
Far from being certain, Pierre’s future has yet to be settled and Pierre will have to draw on his own innate talents as well as those of the people around him to ensure he survives, as his enemies are just waiting to seize their opportunity.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 298 pages (Paperback)
Source: Review Copy
Genre: Historical Fiction
Available Formats: Print/E-book
Publication Date:  November 12th 2012

What a splendid follow up to The French Orphan did The Secrets of Montrésor turned out to be. I have to confess after the strong start in book one I was met with that all too familiar fear of the sequel would measure up to my expectations, suffice it to say these worries were thankfully unwarrented.

In The Secrets of Montrésor we are again hot on Pierre's heels as he accompanied by his ever faithful friend Armand as they come to terms with Pierre's new station and all that that position entails, including his dastardly cousin Henri. Henri, as you can imagine is none to pleased at being ousted from the inheritance of the title of Marquis and true to form has some odious plans for his dear new found cousin. Thus locking this one into being just as full of twists, turns and adventure and as full of side stepping on Pierre and Armand's parts as the first book.

I thought it was quite engaging and I felt completely wrapped up in the story. There was much more focus on the politics at play in France than there was in the first book which is saying something. The political machinations were a very big part of the first novel and the further we get into them in this book the more I want to see where Pierre and Armand will end up. I also appreciated the author's rich attention to detail in describing the sights and sounds of the world Pierre and Armand were launched into along with Jean, Pierre's personal servant. It was good to see all the characters growing, finding their footing and I am looking forward to seeing what they all get into in terms of Henri, the Cardinal Richelieu's plans.

Many secrets were unfolded in this volume, but I'm still left wondering as to where certain plot lines are going and some major secrets remain not only unanswered at the end of this book, but I feel have ballooned in importance. 

I'd recommend this to any who want to follow up reading The French Orphan, and if you haven't read The French Orphan (which I reviewed yesterday) than I highly suggest reading my review and if it suits your fancy buy it. This is a series that must be read in order so I do not, repeat do not advise jumping in with this one.


Author Bio:


Born and educated in Europe, Michael has always been intrigued by the historical setting and the fact that what makes us human was as true in the 17th century as it is now.



He has been reading and writing about history for longer than he cares to recall...

Author Links: 


Giveaway:

To win a paperback copy of The French Orphan (Book One) by Michael Stolle, please enter via the Gleam form below. Three copies are up for grabs!

Rules:

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 11th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US, UK, and CANADA only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.


French Orphan Series

Thursday, February 2, 2017

[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway]* The French Orphan (The French Orphan #1) by Michael Stolle





             Summary:
The French Orphan (The French Orphan, #1)
The year is 1640, and Louis XIII is on the French throne. However, as far as you’re concerned, this is all pretty meaningless. After all, as a teenage orphan living in a monastery school in Reims, all you have to worry about is dodging the unpleasant advances of a few unsavoury monks and looking forward to a life of penniless and celibate servitude in a religious order.
After a childhood and adolescence plagued by a constant longing to know who he really is, orphan Pierre has not the slightest idea that his questions are about to be answered. But you know what they say – be careful what you wish for… 
Suddenly finding out who you are can bring with it not only happiness and fortune, but danger, friendship and the sort of swift education that the monastery could never have provided! The discovery of who Pierre really is affects not only Pierre and his friends, but has ramifications for the French nobility, the English crown, and most dangerous of all, the machinations of Cardinal Richelieu and his fierce ambition for the Church and for himself.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 388 pages (Paperback)
Source: Review Copy
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: The French Orphan
Available Formats: Print/E-book
Publication Date:June 12th 2012


As soon as I got the tour invite for The French Orphan series I knew I was going to have to sign up and well...the rest is history (literally) and you dear reader, find yourself here. 
I really enjoyed this first book in The French Orphan series. It started off slightly different than what I was expecting and went some places I wasn't expecting either but I found it to be part of the book's charm. 
I have a confession to make though, I didn't really like our young French orphan right away. I thought he was too much of a goody two shoes, especially since he'd been raised in a monestary, but I did come around to liking Pierre in the end. I think it took his finding his feet in the world and the courage to save himself and find out who he is, where he comes from and his desire to actually do something with the information he uncovers and to through himself wholeheartedly into the search for a better life. Don't mistake me, he still keeps much of his naivete even towards the end of this book but he does look at things much more realistically than he did at the beginning.
Despite the edge of danger that is constantly around Pierre, Armand and their friend Marie I loved their enthusiasm for their joint venture. I especially love the friendship that forms between Pierre and Armand, more so because there are enemies out there after him, for who he is. 
There's a real sense of adventure with this book and I really relished the opportunity to read The French Orphan. We're introduced to some great characters, a nefarious plot is afoot and it's all set in the 1640's so for this historical fiction lover in me it was pure delight. It's fast paced, witty and full of youthful mistakes, friendship and heartbreak. 
I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for some quality historical fiction, I do hasten to advise you that this does feature a teenage protagonist but I'm not sure that I would qualify it as Young Adult Historical Fiction, due to some more adult themes in the storyline. It was the 1640s folks and a lot of stuff went on then that wouldn't fly now. Michael Stolle puts forth a great first book in a series that I don't advise missing especially if you're partial to traveling back in time through some good old historical fiction.


Author Bio:


Born and educated in Europe, Michael has always been intrigued by the historical setting and the fact that what makes us human was as true in the 17th century as it is now.



He has been reading and writing about history for longer than he cares to recall...

Author Links: 


Giveaway:

To win a paperback copy of The French Orphan (Book One) by Michael Stolle, please enter via the Gleam form below. Three copies are up for grabs!

Rules:

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 11th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US, UK, and CANADA only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.




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Saturday, November 19, 2016

[Review]* Meg: Nightstalkers (MEG, #5) by Steve Alten


Nightstalkers (MEG, #5)

Summary: 

Steve Alten continues the story that began in the New York Times bestselling MEG: A Novel of Deep Terror


In this fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling MEG series, Nighstalkers picks up where MEG: Hell's Aquarium left off. Bela and Lizzy, the dominant Megalodon siblings from Angel's brood, have escaped the Tanaka Institute to roam the Salish Sea in British Columbia. While Jonas Taylor and his friend Mac attempt to either recapture or kill the "sisters," Jonas's son, David, embarks on his own adventure, motivated by revenge. Having witnessed his girlfriend's gruesome death, David has joined a Dubai Prince's ocean expedition, tracking the 120-foot, hundred-ton Liopleurodon that escaped from the Panthalassa Sea. Haunted by night terrors, David repeatedly risks his life to lure the Lio and other prehistoric sea creatures into the fleet's nets, while battling his own suicidal demons.

Steve Alten weaves these storylines together in a page-turning thriller that culminates in a final showdown between the most dangerous predators ever to inhabit the planet.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 368 pages (Hardcover)
Available Formats: Print/E-book/E-Audiobook/Audiobook CD
Publication Date: June 14th 2016 by Tor Books

It's no secret to some of my old blog readers. I love books with monsters, dinosaurs and prehistoric beasts that terrorize humanity. I'd say it's a guilty pleasure but I have no guilt. I love the genre especially this series in particular.

The Meg series is one I've been reading for over a decade. I remember when my brother bought me a copy of what turned out to be the third book in this series, which led to me gobbling up all the other books in this series (and a few of Steve Alten's other titles) over the years. This one, Nightstalkers has been a long time coming. 7 years to be exact and I'm so happy that I was finally able to get my hands on a copy and read it this past week.

This one takes place after the events in Meg: Hell's Aquarium. It's told in shifting points of view mostly from those of David Taylor and his father Jonas Taylor (whom the books started with), however other points of view (from the victims) are also on offer. Plus, Steve Alten continued to write some parts of the book from the perspective of the creature(s) in the book as well. I really love how the author is able to really make me feel as though I am whomever (or whatever) depending on what point of view he's writing from. He truly puts me right there smack dab in the middle of all the blood curdling chaos.

When I started reading Nightstalkers I had only planned to read the first 50 pages, then wouldn't you have it I was 3/4 of the way through and my clock was reading 3 a.m. it well and truly sucked me in.I loved the blood and gore in this one and it had all the heart-pounding action and you know...death that I've come to love and expect from Steve Alten. He gives readers a smorgasbord of prehistoric creatures to choose from as well as lots of foul language and a bit of a natural history lesson about the creatures and their environments thrown in making it a splendid read. He takes the readers on a global pursuit of beasts that have no business being in the 21st century and he does it with flare.

I enjoyed seeing how characters have aged and changed since the 4th book and it was really awesome to see that Mac (Jonas's best friend) is still kicking around. He's always been a favourite side character of mine. I also like how David, again played a bigger role in this series. He grew up with the Megaldon's and cared for them and he has the same fire in his soul that his dad has and I can see where Alten is maybe going in terms of him taking up the family mantle and I think it's great. I can't wait to see where the story goes as the series moves forward.

My only complaints for this one is that it did seem short. I wish that the book had maybe an extra 50 pages because some parts really felt rushed and I wish certain things had been expanded on more than they were hence the 4.5 star rating.

Overall if giant sharks and other prehistoric creatures along with death, deep sea exploration and cussing are your thing I highly suggest giving the Meg series a try.



LOVED IT!
★ 1/2

To "Like" Steve on Facebook CLICK HERE
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To become a "Fan" of Steve on Goodreads CLICK HERE
To visit Steve's Website CLICK HERE 
To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

*[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway] The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich

 
 
The Sweet Spot

Summary:

The amazing Stephanie Evanovich returns with The Sweet Spot, the sizzling story of everyone’s favorite couple from her New York Times bestseller Big Girl Panties: hunky professional baseball player Chase Walker and his sassy wife Amanda

When pro baseball player Chase Walker first meets Amanda at her restaurant, it’s love at first sight. While Amanda can’t help noticing the superstar with the Greek-god-build, he doesn’t have a chance of getting to first—or any other—base with her. A successful entrepreneur who’s built her business from scratch, Amanda doesn’t need a Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet. And a curvy girl who likes to cook and eat isn’t interested in being around the catty, stick-thin herd of females chasing Chase and his teammates.

But Chase isn’t about to strike out. A man who isn’t interested in playing the field, he’s a monogamist who wants an independent woman like Amanda. His hopes rally when she discovers that squeaky-clean Chase has a few sexy and very secret pre-game rituals that turn the smart, headstrong businesswoman on—and into his number one fan.

Then a tabloid discovers the truth and turns their spanking good fun into a late- night punch-line. Is Amanda ready to let loose and swing for the fences? Or will the pressure of Chase’s stardom force them to call it quits?

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 272 pages (Hardcover)
Source: Review Copy
Available Formats: Print/E-book/Audio
Publication Date: July 8th 2014 by William Morrow

I went into reading this one without knowing that Chase and Amanda were introduced in Evanovich's previous book Big Girl Panties, but that didn't effect my over all experience with the book because I thought their story in the Sweet Spot was perfect.

I was really surprised that I enjoyed this one so much because I wasn't really the mood to read it when I did but since I had to read it for a tour I just dug in and really ended up losing myself for an afternoon in the pages. I just loved my first read of a Stephanie Evanovich book and though it turned out to be a really awesome summer time read. It was light, and funny, and had a sizzling romance but I didn't find it fluffy at all which was a relief.

I really liked getting to know Amanda and Chase, both individually and as a couple. Sometimes when I read I end up liking one partner more than the other but with these two I just couldn't pick who I liked more, and I think it's because of how good they were together. Neither was perfect, but they accepted each other's imperfections and kind of fell for each other for those imperfections. I thought their romance was not only sizzling when it came to the sexy times but sweet too, which I love because then a relationship between characters seems more real to me. They we're just one of those couples I felt at easy reading about. Sure there was a little conflict, a little drama but it wasn't over the top and it was used in a way that made sense.

Plus, the side characters in the book were just as good and I liked how they added to the story and weren't just used as props. I also liked seeing how Amanda and Chase interacted with other people and they really did have some lovely people in their lives that care for them.

Overall, this one just what the doctor ordered. It was as I said, funny, spicy and sweet and very well written. There was more than just romance between Amanda and Chase. There was also genuine friendship between them and I thought they were a hoot. Stephanie Evanovich definitely earned herself a new fan with me and I can't wait to read more by her.

I'd recommend The Sweet Spot to all fans of contemporary romance who want a couple that will really make you love them, have you laughing your ass off at times and smiling 95 percent of the time your reading. It was fast paced and definitely a book I'd recommend packing for vacation, a day at the beach or a pool side read.


*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

Really Liked It!
★★★
1/2
To "Like" Stephanie on Facebook CLICK HERE
To "Follow" Stephanie on Twitter CLICK HERE
To become a "Fan" of Stephanie on Goodreads CLICK HERE
To visit Stephanie's Website CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via AmazonUK CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18635066-the-sweet-spot
 
Giveaway:
 
 
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Monday, June 9, 2014

Return of the Prodigal Gilvry (The Gilvry's of Dunross #4) by Ann Lethbridge

 
 
Return of the Prodigal Gilvry


Summary:
 
Behind the Highlander's Scars…

Reeling from betrayal, the once devastatingly handsome Andrew Gilvry has returned to Scottish shores to fulfill a promise made to a dying man. The widowed Rowena MacDonald has been entrusted to his care, and Drew must do all he can to protect her….

Lies a Dark Passion!

But Drew's honor is about to be tested—because there's something in Rowena's dove-gray eyes that awakens a flame long extinguished. And on a perilous journey across the Highlands, with only this alluring woman for company, how long can he deny his desires?
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 288 pages (Mass Market Paperback)
Source: Review Copy
Available Formats: Print/E-book
Publication Date: April 15th 2014 by Harlequin
 
There's just something about Harlequin Historicals that I just love. When I first started reading romances Harlequin's were what I lived on in fact there was a time (before the blog and Goodreads) that for awhile that's all I was reading, but like many things, my reading tastes changed. I've branched out in the wonderful world of books but to me Harlequin romances are always there after a heavy read and just cracking open one fills me with nostalgic feelings.
 
Back in April, I had a chance to meet Ann at one of the local author/reader gatherings that I go to called Night Out With Authors http://nightoutwithauthors.blogspot.ca and got my review copy of this one. I'm a huge fan of Ann Lethbridge's books that she's written under her pseudonym Michele Ann Young, but this was my first time reading any of her Harlequin historical romances and I've got to say I enjoyed this one just as much as her other romances.
 
I thought Drew was one of the more unique heroes that I've found in a romance. He's horribly scarred due to circumstances he was placed in and he's got his fair share of mental scars as well, which means he's prone to mood swings but he can be incredibly sweet and caring sometimes that ya just have to forgive him for being a grump sometimes. I thought his sense of duty was admirable and I loved how he treated Rowena, who has a sharp tongue but he doesn't let her walk all over him. Instead I thought it was nice to have a hero who sometimes pushed the boundary of domineering actually treat our heroine with respect. I just wish he'd believe in himself more, but then again I love a tragic hero who finds love.
 
Rowena, took some getting used to for me. I ended up really liking her in the end but she comes off as kind of abrasive in the beginning which I get because she's been through hell just like Drew, hers was just one of a different sort. What I absolutely adored about her was how smart and outspoken she was. If you like waifish heroines than look somewhere else because this lady here is a firecracker! I loved when she'd take people to task and show the world that just because she's a woman she's sharp of tongue and wit.
 
Most of all though I loved the chemistry between the two of them. Both have that alpha personality which is why they bicker so much but their past hardships, while very different drew these two damaged but deserving people together amongst death, going on the run, and uncovering the mystery of a certain inheritance. These to went together so well, and I enjoyed all the thrills that Ann packed into the story. The pace was excellent, and I really enjoyed the way that the story ended because there was a little surprise in the end that I just thought was perfect.
 
I do have to admit though that as much as I loved and enjoyed reading Drew and Rowena's story I was a wee bit lost since this is her final installment in Ann's Gilvry's of Dunross and certain events and characters are mentioned that I know are from the preceding books so I just want to put it out there that reading the series in order is something that I would do, and am actually planning on doing now but that's just me (I'm a stickler for reading a series in order).
 
Overall, I am very much looking forward to reading the books that came before Drew and Rowena's story, since I met Drew's brothers in this one I'm curious to find out how they found love to and I know Ann Lethbridge has ensured it will be a wild ride. I'd recommend this one to all fans of historical romances looking for a heroine that isn't a pushover and a hero that needs lots of lovin'!

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.
 
Liked It!
★★★
★ 1/2
 
To "Like" Ann on Facebook CLICK HERE
To "Follow" Ann on Twitter CLICK HERE
To become a "Fan" of Ann on Goodreads CLICK HERE
To visit Ann's Website CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via AmazonUK CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18812487-return-of-the-prodigal-gilvry