eyes.2c Reviews

Highland Knight of Rapture (Highland Dynasty #4) by Amy Jarecki  I love the way Amy Jaecki takes actual historical happenings and then reworks them with a storyteller's licence where they 'suffer a sea change into something rich and strange.' I love reading Amy's afterwards, and am always gratified by the weight of her research around the families and characters she writes about. Set in 1493, Lady Helen Maclain, at her family's urging, has made a political marriage of convenience. She finds herself married to a boorish brute who having gotten a female child on her and not the heir he wanted treats her with base disregard, parading his leman Mary in front of all, seating her at the High table. His baseness and lack of courtesy due is wife knows few bounds. Sir Eoin MacGregor, Helen's childhood friend is sent by the King to work with the Maclains against the rebellious MacDonalds. As Eoin becomes aware of Helen's situation and danger, he must face that...

Beauty and the Rake (The Rookery Rogues Book 3 ) Erica Monroe What do you do when all you've left to bargain with is your body? When that is all that stands between your father and prison and your younger sister and the streets? Abigail Vautille's father is an inveterate gambler who has gambled away any savings she has and now has lost money he doesn't have in a seedy gambling den. Michael Strickland holds his gambling chits and there is only one way Abigail can see to pay him. Inspector Michael Strickland of the Metropolitan Police  and Abigail Vautille both appeared in Secrets in Scarlet. Abigail was tortured by the dangerous rookery Lark's Gang enforcer, Frank Clowes and left with a badly scarred hand. So bad that she wears a glove day and night to hide her disfigurement. Abigail determines that her only way forward is as Michael's courtesan for two weeks. An agreement is entered into. Michael sees the attractive woman he knew from before and reasons that...

From Bruges with Love (The Pieter Van In Mysteries) by Pieter Aspe, Brian Doyle (Translator) Ah Perrier or Duvel., sparkling water or an ice cold Belgian beer.      Inspector Pieter Van is in the midst of an enforced diet and now a murder. Both are annoying! Van In is a knockabout police detective who follows his own rules. He's kept somewhat in line by his wife Hannelore Martens, the deputy public prosecutor. I enjoyed both these characters and their interactions. At this stage they are pregnant.  Van In's reflections on child rearing are interesting, particularly as he contemplates his own forthcoming event in this area,  'For Van In there was only one Spock. And with him at least he could hope— beam them up, Scotty.' Ok a few dated phrases, but maybe it goes with the translation. When Hannelore reflects on becoming  pregnant and the difference for men and women she uses the term 'wham bam, Thank you ma'am! (I thought good grief... I haven't hea...

Lady Emily's Exotic Journey (Victorian Adventures #2) by Lillian Marek Lady Emily Tremaine is a bit of a hoyden, with loads of charm and an enquiring mind. Attractive and assured she has accompanied her parents, along with her friend and extended family member, Lady Julia de Vaux, to Constantinople and then onto Mesopotamia. Her father, the Marquess of Penworth, is assessing the possibility of railway links along the Tigris. Her mother is interested in the archeological excavations of Nineveh.      Craving adventure, Emily certainly has her full share. Emily's parents are wonderful characters. The family is close and caring. Lady Penworth anticipates her daughter's boredom and needs in a wonderful way. I love that she ensures their tracking costumes are wearable, comfortable and chic. I adore her passion for Worth's couture. Emily's and Julia's inclusion on this more than a memorable journey is all part of her doing. Added to this is Emily's meeting ...

A Radical Arrangement by Jane Ashford  Miss Margaret Mayfield--beautiful and shy? More like inept. When I started to read this I was appalled as Margaret seemed to bumble from one inane set of circumstances to another. How I thought could this be the heroine? I was definitely seeing things through Sir Justin Keighley's eyes. Having been found in a ludicrously compromised position with Margaret, confirmed bachelor and rumoured rake, Sir Justin finds himself fending off Margaret's father's declaration that they must marry and her mother's snide attempts to bring this 'coup' about. Margaret gathering some courage from somewhere decides to solve the problem by running away. And from there the story develops in a star crossed, misunderstood sort of way as Margaret grows into herself, becomes surer and more confident, and Sir Justin fights his attractions for her. Along the way Margaret is helped by a fairy godmother archetype in the form of the local midwife,...

Tremaine's True Love (True Gentlemen, Book 1) by Grace Burrowes   "The greatest plague to ever bedevil mortal man, the greatest threat to his peace, the most fiendish source of undeserved humility is his sister, and spinster sisters are the worst of a bad lot". With this opening salvo we are given a hint that Nicholas Haddonfield, Earl of Bellefonte, is stretched to the limit by actions of his sister, Nita Haddonfield. All this just as wealthy wool merchant  Tremaine St. Michael, who has called to discuss sheep, strides into the Earl's parlour. Before long we witness the dance between Tremaine, his desire for Haddonfield's sheep, the desirable Nita Haddonfield and Nicholas' loving endeavours to marry off Nita. The story line is peppered with truly delightful lines, such as when Nicholas persuades Tremaine to stay for a few days and then proceeds to remind Tremaine that he is 'an eligible bachelor, and therefore, a doomed man.'  When Nicholas de...

The Earl Claims a Bride (The Heirs' Club #2 ) by Amelia Grey Who would have thought that a duel could lead to an enforced marriage? Certainly not Harrison Thornwick. But it's amazing what pressure from the Prince of the realm can achieve. Thornwick is determined to thwart the prince. Angelina Rule was all set to make her come-out but when informed by her father that she must contract a marriage with Thornwick so that her father might be saved from debtor's prison her life is thrown into turmoil. When Thornwick first sights Angelina at a ball he is irrevocably drawn towards her. As he later reflects, 'He'd walked away from love once before and no matter how many times over the years he'd told himself it would be easier the second time, it wasn't true.' The problem is that Angelina is having none of him. An expert miniature painter, she determines to use her skill to buy back her fathers debts. Secretly she paints fans and miniatures for society la...