Fotografía de autor

Lauri Robinson

Autor de A Wife For Big John

69+ Obras 354 Miembros 44 Reseñas

Series

Obras de Lauri Robinson

A Wife For Big John (2008) 22 copias
Unclaimed Bride (2012) 15 copias
Inheriting a Bride (2013) 12 copias
The Bootlegger's Daughter (2015) 8 copias
The Forgotten Daughter (2015) 7 copias
Diary of a War Bride (2018) 7 copias
Mail Order Husband (2007) 7 copias
Badland Bride (2009) 6 copias
The Rebel Daughter (2015) 5 copias
For a Sister's Love (2011) 4 copias
Scandal at the Speakeasy (2021) 4 copias
Guardian Bride (2010) 4 copias
A Gilded Age Christmas (2023) — Autor — 3 copias
The Runaway Daughter (2015) 3 copias
An April To Remember (2009) 3 copias
Her Midnight Cowboy (2010) 3 copias
His Wild West Wife (2013) 2 copias
Sing to Me, Cowboy (2012) 2 copias
The Stolen Kiss (2014) 2 copias
Frihetens lov 1 copia
Nights with the Outlaw (2011) 1 copia
Beneath a Beating Heart (2018) 1 copia

Obras relacionadas

Etiquetado

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Miembros

Reseñas

Terrific conclusion to the series. I've loved these books about three Southern American women who escaped the Civil War privations by going to England. Suzanne's friends found love and are now happily married. Suzanne has no such aspirations. All she wants is to find a publisher for the book she wrote about her experiences during the war and earn enough money to support herself. While living in the London townhome of her friend, Suzanne learns that her next-door neighbor, Henry, Earl of Beaufort, owns a publishing house. Her attempt to get the editor to read her manuscript goes nowhere, so she plans to ask Henry to intervene.

Henry is one of London's most eligible bachelors, but that may not last long. Someone is trying to frame him for murder, and his reputation is on the line. He has taken to sneaking out of various Society functions to investigate on his own before returning to pretend he's been there all along. However, he isn't making any progress, and his absences are being noticed.

I enjoyed the first meeting between Suzanne and Henry. She has little regard for her reputation and follows Henry into a garden to present him with her request for help. Instead, they are caught by one of the ton's worst gossips. I liked Henry's need to protect Suzanne and her desire to help him. After some thought and a few unexpected twists, they agree to fake an engagement to cover their partnership - she'll help with his investigation, and he will ensure that the editor reads her story.

Neither one expects the feelings that stir between them. Henry resists the idea of love and marriage, influenced by his father's infidelity. But he can't deny his fascination with Suzanne, her bravery, outlook on life, and how she charms him with everything she says. Suzanne feels Henry is too far above her for that dream to come true. She is an American with no dowry and a questionable pedigree. She also has trust issues with men because of the aunt who raised her. But the more time they spend together, the closer they become and the deeper their feelings grow. Some terrific scenes between Henry and Suzanne show how right they are for each other. But in the end, can Henry convince Suzanne that she belongs in his life, and can Suzanne overcome the insecurities holding her back?

I also enjoyed the mystery of the murders and who has it in for Henry. The first death was that of his illegitimate half-sister, whom he was hoping to help. Before he could do so, she was murdered, and an incriminating piece of evidence was found near her body. Two more young women are also killed, and Scotland Yard begins to close in on him. An unexpected twist sent his investigation in a different direction. While I wasn't surprised by who was behind it, some details surprised me. The final confrontation was intense, and I loved Suzanne's part.

I liked the secondary characters. Suzanne's friends (the heroines of the first two books) were steadfast in their support of her and determined to find a way to keep her in England. I also liked their husbands and their friendship with Henry. Seeing them talk about their American wives and how they never expected to be so thoroughly besotted was amusing. I loved Henry's sisters and how they took to Suzanne right away. It took me a little longer to like his mother, but in the end, she was terrific.
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Denunciada
scoutmomskf | Dec 10, 2023 |
Terrific book about two people who come together to care for a pair of orphaned children. I loved seeing Luke and Aislinn bond over their love for Fern and Ivy and slowly fall in love.

Aislinn has been caring for children almost her entire life. Orphaned when she was eight, she was too old to be adopted, so she was put to work caring for the younger children. As she got older, she trained to be a governess, and the Duke and Duchess of Havenbrook hired her to care for their twin daughters. She was happy working for them and devastated when both died of food poisoning. The duke's next youngest brother inherited the title. Percy and his wife are not nice people and quickly force Aislinn out of her job. The way they booted her out with nothing was cruel. While walking off the estate, Aislinn encounters Luke Carlisle, the youngest brother.

Luke left home at eighteen, disgusted with the aristocratic lifestyle. Luke always had an acute case of wanderlust and spent the intervening years traveling around America. He has settled in Montana, where he owns a cattle ranch. Luke was distressed to hear of his brother's death and hurried back to England to fulfill Rowland's request - to become the guardian of Fern and Ivy. He is not looking forward to dealing with Percy. On his way to the manor house, he is surprised to encounter the young woman who was his nieces' governess.

I liked the first meeting between Luke and Aislinn. Luke is a gentleman to the bone, and his protective instincts are aroused when he hears her story. With quick thinking, he hires Aislinn to resume her job as the girls' governess, this time working for him. She's a little wary but is equally protective of Fern and Ivy, so she agrees. Their arrival at the manor house caused quite a scene, but Percy couldn't do anything about it. Though Luke thought the guardianship issue was a done deal, Percy creates doubt in his mind. Luke packs up the girls and Aislinn and heads to London to deal with the problems.

I liked how Luke enlisted Aislinn to be his partner in handling the problems that arose. When they visit the lawyer's office and discover the doubts Percy has raised about Luke's fitness as guardian, Luke is at a loss for how to counteract them. Aislinn states that she and Luke are planning to marry, making Luke's single status a moot point. Luke is stunned by the statement, as he has no plans to marry. But after thinking about it, Luke agrees it is a good plan. It also allows him to leave Aislinn and the girls in England while he returns to Montana. He believes they are better off in England rather than the harsh conditions of Montana.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Luke and Aislinn develop. To sell their marriage to the courts, they must appear like a couple in love, which entails attending many social events. Neither is happy about that because they detest the superficiality of society events. Luke believes that he must give up his life in Montana, which increases his stress and unhappiness. Aislinn sees his misery and wants him to be happy, so she pushes him toward leaving as soon as his guardianship is secured. The more time they spend together, the closer they become, and the sparks of attraction they experience grow stronger. Giving in deepens their connection but complicates their plans.

Just as those deepening feelings look like they will bring Luke and Aislinn to the happy future they both want, outside interference drives them apart. Luke says some hurtful things to Aislinn before leaving for Montana. I loved seeing Aislinn pull herself together and investigate what Luke accused her of. Once she had the truth, she took action. I loved the ending and seeing how she went after what she wanted. Luke's reaction was hilarious as Aislinn made a place for herself and the girls in his home and his heart. The epilogue was great and contained a couple of surprises.

#netgalley
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Denunciada
scoutmomskf | Nov 27, 2023 |
An overall mediocre performance. The first half was intriguing with the hero pursuing his dream while also paying off his family's debt and adhering to his manly code of honor. It started promising.

Then there's Ginger, the daughter of a gangster (of sorts). She dragged the story down to abysmal levels. Throughout the story, Robinson hinted that Ginger had depth from working constantly at her father's resort, never being allowed to party with her older sisters, not always being rich, and having lost her mother. The problem was that Ginger just mentioned these things but they didn't affect her. She was always bubbly and confident. Never a moment of doubt. The most annoying part was that she kept declaring she wanted to "make history" and "make it on her own" when all she did was smile and latch onto the hero's fame. She did nothing for herself or even for the hero.

Aside from the weak heroine, POV kept shifting at odd times, and the author was trying too hard with 1920s slang. Other than having a unique concept, there wasn't anything else to recommend this story. Skip it.
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Denunciada
readerbug2 | Nov 16, 2023 |
Excellent second installment in the series. In the previous book, The Return of His Promised Duchess, Clara's friend Annabelle found happiness and a new life in England after fleeing the ravages of the US Civil War. At the end of that book, Annabelle and her husband ask Roger, Marquess of Clairmount, to find her friends Clara, Clara's daughter Abigail, and Suzanne and bring them to England. This book opens as they arrive in England.

Clara is in rough shape. She is grieving the death of her husband and the loss of their dreams and home. The ravages of their living conditions physically wear her down before they are found and swept away to safety in England. However, Clara's independent and stubborn nature is still strong, and she doesn't react well to what greets her on arrival. I wanted to shake her for being rude, but I also understood that she felt overwhelmed and out of her depth.

Roger was happy to help Annabelle and Drew while they were away. He planned to take Clara and the others to his country home, Clairmount, where they could stay while waiting, and he would return to London. But something about Clara drew him to her, and he wanted to spend more time with her.

The development of the relationship between Roger and Clara was interesting. Clara is so wrapped up in her grief for her husband that she isn't living her life. But once she is away from Virginia and the home of her grief, the outside world begins to break through the wall she's built around herself. Clara resists the feelings Roger's kindness and attention stir in her and feels guilty over what she sees as a betrayal of her husband's love. The more time she spends with him, the harder it is to deny her growing feelings for Roger. But she believes she doesn't belong in his aristocratic world and pushes him away.

Roger has spent most of his life firmly resisting the idea of ever getting married, the background of which is heartbreaking. But from the moment he met them, Clara and little Abigail made their way into his heart. The way he took care of Clara when she was ill and the thoughtfulness of his actions showed a different Roger than the one seen by the rest of the world. I loved the scenes with Abigail and her "Doger." His conversations with Drew as he adjusted to the changes in his views of love and marriage were fantastic. I ached for him as Clara pushed him away, and I loved how he continued to find ways to help her.

The ending was terrific. I loved seeing Clara finally break out of her prison of grief and realize that she could love again. Her big scene with Roger was emotional and very satisfying. I liked the epilogue and seeing the happiness that Roger and Clara have finally allowed themselves to experience.

I'm looking forward to reading Suzanne's story.
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Denunciada
scoutmomskf | May 26, 2023 |

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Estadísticas

Obras
69
También por
2
Miembros
354
Popularidad
#67,648
Valoración
3.9
Reseñas
44
ISBNs
185

Tablas y Gráficos