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Showing posts with label Laurel McKee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laurel McKee. Show all posts

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Book Review: Lady of Seduction by Laurel McKee

This is a warm romance with historical intrigue.
Lady of Seduction (Daughters of Erin) Lady of Seduction (Daughters of Erin) by Laurel McKee
  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Forever; Original edition (June 1, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0446544779
  • ISBN-13: 978-0446544771
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating:  4.25 of 5.0
Product Description
It's a mad, ill-advised journey that leads the usually sensible Lady Caroline Blacknall to the legendary isle of Muirin Inish, off the windswept coast of Ireland. Even so, she doesn't expect to find herself shipwrecked and then rescued by a man she believed she would never see again. A man who, long ago, held her life in his hands . . . and with it, her heart.

Reformed rake Sir Grant Dunmore knew he could never forget the beautiful woman he once endangered nor will he ever forgive himself. But history seems doomed to repeat itself, for as long as Caroline stays on the island, she is trapped in a secret plot that could forever free Ireland-or turn deadly for all. And yet, now that she is in his arms again, how can he dream of ever letting her go?
Review: This is an engaging read with steady intrigue and growing romance.
Lady Caroline is the quiet bluestocking of the Blacknall daughters. She met Sir Grant four years earlier (Duchess of Sin) when he showed her the wonderful antique manuscript The Chronicle of Kildare. She was fascinated by the book and the man but suffered disillusionment when Grant kidnaped her older sister and her. Grant was injured in a fire as he escaped and Caroline didn’t really expect to see him again.

Now Caroline’s older, scholarly husband has died and she is restless.  She sets out to the isle of Muirin Inish with the purpose of seeing The Chronicle of Kildare.  Of course to see the book she will have to see Grant.  Before Caroline reaches the isle she is shipwrecked. She is pulled from the water and awakens to look into the eyes of the man she seeks. Caroline still finds him devastatingly attractive even with the burn scars along the left side of his face.

Grant has secluded himself in a derelict castle on a reclusive isle. He knows that his past was misdirected and he hopes to find a way to redeem himself.  He has dreamed of his short exposure to Caroline but he never expected to see her again. 

Caroline is stranded by storms in a castle that is shrouded in mystery and darkness. Although Grant is willing to give her access to his library he isn’t willing to let her see The Chronicle and he wants her to remain out of sight while he receives some expected guests. Caroline doesn’t obey orders well and manages to stumble into troubles.  First she finds secret doors in the library and later she runs into the French Captain whom Grant was trying to hide her from.

The story is driven by the growing relationship between Caroline and Grant. The romance is lovely and sensual. Running behind the romance is the underlying intrigue involving the United Irish rebellion. There are spies, betrayals, murder attempts, a race against time and pretty much constant danger. 

The writing is easy, the descriptions rich, and the story moves along well. The combination of action and romance makes for an engaging story presented with the backdrop of an interesting historical event. I love this summary that underlies their love: “I save you, you save me,”... “I think it’s our fate.”
xxx
Thank you to Hachette for this book to read and review. Check the triple book Giveaway in Forever's Hot Historical Romance blog tour.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Book Review and Giveaway: Duchess of Sin by Laurel McKee

This story is full of interesting Irish history.
Duchess of Sin (Daughters of Erin) by Laurel McKee


  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Forever; Original edition (December 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0446544760
  • ISBN-13: 978-0446544764  
     Price: Print $7.99 and Kindle $7.99
     Genre: Historical Romance
     My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0

Product Description
Blonde and beautiful Lady Anna Blacknall is in the mood for mischief. Entering Dublin's most notorious den of vice, she finds herself in the arms of a mysterious, emerald-eyed Irishman. And although he is masked, his tender kiss is hauntingly familiar.

Conlan McTeer, Duke of Adair, has come to Dublin to fight for a free Ireland. But he's suddenly reunited with the young Englishwoman who had once claimed his heart, and his passion turns from politics to pleasure. When their sizzling encounter brings danger to Anna's door, she must decide where her loyalties lie-and quickly. For someone will do whatever it takes to destroy Conlan . . . and anyone he dares to love.

Review: I enjoyed the history of the Irish resistance to Unification as presented in this story.
I didn’t like Lady Anna initially as I thought she was selfish and reckless in her behavior as an 18 year old bored with her society lifestyle. It also was unrealistic to me that she came to no harm as she continued to sneak out to bad parts of Dublin at night without a footman or a disguise. Later you come to realize that Anna is confused and torn between being a proper, responsible “Lady” and indulging her carefree nature to be free from society dribble but still the gracious, giving “Lady” of the manor.  Although her character is likeable midway to the end, my feelings for the book had already been negatively effected.

Conlan Adair is a darkly handsome, intense Irish Duke. He cares for his lands and people and is willing to fight the governmental efforts trying to unify Ireland and England into Great Britain. As a powerful and influential landowner he has acquired a few enemies. Not the least of whom is a cousin who has tried to take Adair lands under a penal law that effected Catholic land ownership.  Interestingly, in addition to Lady Anna becoming more likeable as the book goes along, Conlan’s handsome cousin, Grant, had a changling character too: being detestable at times and vulnerable and sad at other times.

The story weaves around the political issues with Conlan being afraid to bring danger to Anna. At first Anna is oblivious to the danger or reasons behind it.  Slowly she becomes aware of the heated politics and she finally decides she is willing to risk danger and the lose of her reputation to be with the object of her desire, Conlan.   I did like how Anna’s past experiences were revealed bit by bit as the story progressed.

There is intrigue and danger to add action to the story. Also there is a secondary love interest involving Katherine, Anna’s beautiful, widowed mother.  I liked Lady Anna’s sister Caroline, the studious young lady, and might like that to read her story.

Although I did like the latter part of the book more than the beginning I can’t say that I ever fully warmed up to this one.  There are plenty of more favorable reviews for this so obviously it did not strike everyone as it did me. There are many good points, like the history, so don’t let my tainted response stop you from trying this historical romance.


Thank you to Anna and Hachette for allowing me to read and review this book and for providing books for Giveaway.

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Sunday, December 5, 2010

Blog Tour: Duchess of Sin by Laurel McKee 11/29 to 12/10

Visit me on Thursday December 9 for Review and Giveaway of Duchess of Sin (Daughters of Erin).



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