Jeanine Englert

Ewan sees Catriona being sold by her husband in the marketplace. He buys her, and while waiting for his solicitor to determine if they are married, he gets her to agree to a 2-week marriage to see if they are compatible. When it is determined that they must marry, they get engaged. At the engagement party, Catriona finds out about her past. Will she return to Ewan?

I enjoyed this story. I liked Catriona and Ewan. They are strong willed but that is what keeps them going through their problems. Ewan is a compassionate man who wants to help Catriona. Catriona is wary but comes to feel Ewan's protection and love. I also liked that Catriona is not afraid to let her feelings known and will not go with what the men in her life says she is to do. She has a mind of her own and uses it. These are good characters with a good story.

I look forward to reading more of Ms. Englert.… (más)

Good start to the series. The book opens with a prologue as Royce pursues answers to the mystery of what happened to his little sister twenty years earlier. He meets with two men who have promised him a meeting with someone who knows, but the conditions change when he arrives. The next thing he knows, his companion is dead, and Royce is knocked unconscious and dumped into the water.

Iona is a healer on the island of Lismore. Scarred physically and emotionally, she lives alone on the outskirts of the village with her dog and the animals she rescues. While out late one night, she finds a man who has washed up on the shore and takes him to her cottage to treat him. But when he regains consciousness, he can't remember who he is, how he got there, nor can he see.

It is hard for a leader and warrior to find himself so helpless. Royce initially feels that he would be better off dead than being such a burden to Iona. But Iona refuses to low him to feel sorry for himself, and as he heals, she helps him adjust to his circumstances. I liked how she challenged him by using his pride against him, forcing him to prove himself.

Iona keeps herself apart from people, certain that no one wants to be around someone disfigured as she is. It is also a way to protect her heart from the pain of more loss. But because Royce cannot see her, she finds it much easier to be herself around him.

The relationship that forms between Iona and Royce is a slow-growing one. The chemistry is there from the start, but they must learn to trust before anything can come of it. I liked seeing that Royce's protective streak is intact, although his blindness handicaps him. It was sweet to see his kindness and how he tried to help her the best that he could. As his memories begin to return, he realizes he doesn't like the man he suspects he used to be. His time with Iona has changed him. Iona knows she is falling for Royce, but nothing can come of it. He will eventually return to his home, while she is committed to staying on Lismore as the island's healer.

There is danger in Royce's presence in Iona's cottage. Those who left him to die want to be sure that he did, and there are several close calls when they come searching. What is the secret that someone on the island is hiding, and what does it have to do with Royce's quest? A partial memory of a name sends Royce and Iona on a visit that leaves them with more questions than answers.

When Royce regains sight and memory, both must decide their future. Royce must return home and resume his duties as laird and wants Iona to go with him. But Iona's fears prevent her from following her heart. My heart broke for both as they faced a future without each other. I was rooting for Iona to face her fears and take a chance. The ending was sweet and emotional and everything I could hope for.

By the end of the book, some of Royce's questions have been answered, but there are still many more. I look forward to the next book to see how many are answered.

#netgalley… (más)

Lovely Digits by Jeanine Englert is a 2019 Soul Mate Publishing publication.

Two girls are murdered in Clun, both of whom were friends of Lucy Wycliffe. Lucy is a non-conformist, in that she has never married after the brutal murder of her parents- and she attends to the dead- a job that has earned her a reputation as an eccentric.

All she has left is her cottage which, if she doesn’t come up with a payment soon, will be repossessed. In desperate need of more funds, she accepts a job offer from the new town constable, John Brodie.

As the two pair up to investigate the deaths of Lucy’s friends, they find themselves in grave peril- but their hearts could be in even more jeopardy as they begin falling in love, because John is harboring a deep, dark secret that will most assuredly turn Lucy against him…

This is a book I took a chance on from the KU library- and my gamble paid off with dividends. This is a terrific combination of mystery, suspense, and romance. Lucy and John have a great chemistry between them, both as work partners and as a romantic couple. The mystery is compelling and full of Victorian era forensics, utilizing unconventional methods of detection.

I thought the author did a great job on this book- she measures the mystery with the romance perfectly, adds great details, and creates atmosphere, while drawing out the character’s emotions.

Overall, this was a terrific find- and I hope to hear from this author again!

4 stars… (más)

Barbara's rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: None Listed, but I think it is meant to be
Publication Date: 6/12/19
Number of Pages: 210

** Maybe 4.5 **

This was one of the best debut novels I’ve read in a long time. The writing is excellent the plot is complex and well-executed, and the characters are fully-fleshed and very relatable. I was particularly pleased to find that there was both a romance and a mystery and both were really well done. Besides, what could be better than a wonderful story that didn’t have a single aristocrat in it? Well, John might be related to a title of some sort since his family crest was mentioned – but since he’s been disowned, that wouldn’t count even if it were true.

Lucy Wycliffe is a layer-out of the dead, a path she embarked upon after her parents were murdered. Some in her village, Clun, consider her unnatural because of her occupation, but it has supported herself and her sister – barely. It has been ten years and she still feels the guilt for her parent's deaths – not that she should, it is just survivor's guilt, but she feels it strongly. Now, she’s beginning to feel a bit desperate with the banker, Fiske, demanding payment of the note on their home by the end of the month or she will be put out in the snow. So, when an offer to act as an assistant to the new constable is made, she quickly accepts.

John Brodie is a haunted man who is filled with secrets. His goal in Clun is forgiveness and redemption. While he’s not sure how that is going to happen, it is still his goal. Many things have happened in John’s life during the last ten years and few, if any, were good. Now, after being a successful detective in London’s police force, he is assigned to this sleepy Victorian village that currently has two vicious murders of beautiful, beloved young women and it is up to John to find the murderer.

As John and Lucy work together, they come to know, respect, and finally, to love each other. Although there was an instant attraction, the love came as respect for each other grew. I loved that John cared for ALL of Lucy – even her chosen profession.

Can John, an outsider, gain the trust of the people of Clun and solve the murders? Not without Lucy’s help. As the investigation continues and the clues to the murderer become more and more perplexing, John and Lucy find themselves in danger as well. Can they find the murderer and save themselves at the same time?

This excellently well-written novel will lead you on a merry chase from beginning to end. The resolution is exciting and may surprise you – or not. While this novel is listed as a standalone, I believe the author means it to be part of a series. There is an excellent set-up for it to be a series and I definitely hope that will be the case. That said, this book was published almost a year ago and I don’t see any mention of further books, so I guess the jury is still out on whether it will be part of a series.… (más)