[Livro] The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels & Other Gentlemen, de Victoria Alexander

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Título em Português: --
Série: The Lady Travelers Guide #1
Autor(a): Victoria Alexander
Editora: Harlequin Books
Páginas: 401
Data de Publicação: 23 de Maio de 2017

Sinopse:

Really, it's too much to expect any normal man to behave like a staid accountant in order to inherit the fortune he deserves to support the lifestyle of an earl. So when Derek Saunders's favorite elderly aunt and her ill-conceived—and possibly fraudulent—Lady Travelers Society loses one of their members, what's a man to do but step up to the challenge? Now he's escorting the world's most maddening woman to the world's most romantic city to find her missing relative.
While India Prendergast only suspects his organization defrauds gullible travelers, she's certain a man with as scandalous a reputation as Derek Saunders cannot be trusted any farther than the distance around his very broad shoulders. As she struggles not to be distracted by his wicked smile and the allure of Paris, instead of finding a lost lady traveler, India just may lose her head, her luggage and her heart.

~ Recebemos este eARC através do site NetGalley, pela autora. Obrigada! ~

Opinião:
Primeira leitura da autora Victoria Alexander. Foi talvez um livro um pouco grande de mais – se lhe tirasse talvez 50-100 págs do início do livro teria sido melhor.

Começa um pouco devagar, mas quando o enredo se começa a desenvolver lá ganha folgo. Este “guia” é um livro sobre o desabrochar de uma rapariga que sempre foi muito séria e nunca aproveitou as coisas boas da vida – e uma ida a Paris vai mudar isso.

Gostei de Derek Saunders desde o início e de India Pendergast à medida que o livro foi avançando, como era suposto. Ela percebe como trata as pessoas e como se trata a si própria, e que há lugar para tudo no mundo, seja um vestido prático ou um vestido cheio de folhos.

A evolução de India está bem-feita e o mistério da prima Heloise, apesar de um pouco estranho e facilmente resolvido no fim do livro (talvez fácil de mais), foi também interessante, com uma mistura de estranheza.

No fim, um livro que divertiu e me fez passar um bom bocado.

Title: The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels & Other Gentlemen
Serie: The Lady Travelers Guide #1
Author: Victoria Alexander
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Pages: 401
Publication date: May 23rd 2017

Synopsis:

Really, it's too much to expect any normal man to behave like a staid accountant in order to inherit the fortune he deserves to support the lifestyle of an earl. So when Derek Saunders's favorite elderly aunt and her ill-conceived—and possibly fraudulent—Lady Travelers Society loses one of their members, what's a man to do but step up to the challenge? Now he's escorting the world's most maddening woman to the world's most romantic city to find her missing relative.
While India Prendergast only suspects his organization defrauds gullible travelers, she's certain a man with as scandalous a reputation as Derek Saunders cannot be trusted any farther than the distance around his very broad shoulders. As she struggles not to be distracted by his wicked smile and the allure of Paris, instead of finding a lost lady traveler, India just may lose her head, her luggage and her heart.

~ We received an eARC through NetGalley, given by the author. Thank you! ~

Review:
First time I ever read anything by Victoria Alexander. It may be a bit too big – if had 50-100 pages less, it might have been better.

It was a bit slow to start, but when the plot starts to develop, it gains some strength. This “guide” is about a girl/woman who was always very serious and never enjoyed the good things in life – and a trip to Paris is going to change that.

I liked Derek Saunders from the very beginning, and India Pendergast as I started reading a bit more and more of the book, just like I think it was supposed to be. She starts to realize that she doesn’t treat people – and herself – very well, as well as understands that there is a place for everything in her world, be it a practical dress or a ruffled, very feminine dress.

India’s evolution is very well done and the mystery of Cousin Heloise, although a bit strange and too easily resolved in the end, also had its degree of interest.

In the end, it was a fun book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Livro] Hard-Hearted Highlander, de Julia London

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Título em Português:--
Série: Highland Grooms #3
Autor(a): Julia London
Editora: Harlequin Books
Páginas: 384
Data de Publicação: 25 de Abril de 2017

Sinopse:

An indomitable governess...a brooding Highlander...a forbidden affair...
An ill-fated elopement cost English-born governess Bernadette Kent her reputation, her fickle lover and any chance of a future match. She has nothing left to fear—not even the bitter, dangerously handsome Scot due to marry her young charge. Naive wallflower Avaline is terrified to wed Rabbie Mackenzie, but if he sends her home, she will be ruined. Bernadette's solution: convince Rabbie to get Avaline to cry off while ignoring her own traitorous attraction to him. A forced engagement to an Englishwoman is a hard pill for any Scot to swallow. It's even worse when the fiancee in question is a delicate, foolish young miss unlike her spirited, quick-witted governess. Sparring with Bernadette brings passion and light back to Rabbie's life after the failed Jacobite uprising. His clan's future depends upon his match to another, but how can any Highlander forsake a love that stirs his heart and soul?

~ Recebemos este livro directamente da autora Julia London, em troca desta opinião honesta. Obrigada! ~

Opinião:
Hard-Hearted Highlander traz-nos a história de outro dos filhos de Arran e Margot McKenzie, Rabbie McKenzie.

Para proteger a família e recuperar terra perdidas, Rabbie concorda casar com uma jovem inglesa, mesmo que não gostando de ingleses (*cof* ainda que a mãe seja inglesa *cof*).

Rabbie é uma personagem bastante sofrida. Com um passado de perdas, passa grande parte do livro pesaroso e triste, algo que os próprios sobrinhos (pequeninos, diga-se) notam. Rabbie perdeu a noiva durante a guerra entre os ingleses e os escoceses (e este ponto poderia ter sido mais bem explorado ao descobrir-se mais sobre o que teria acontecido) e tem estado...quebrado, digamos, desde então. E os pais pensam que talvez com este casamento, além de economicamente útil, Rabbie possa voltar a apreciar a vida.

Mas Rabbie não quer uma jovem inglesa de 17 anos que tem quase medo da própria sombra. Já Bernadette, a dama de companhia/criada da jovem, apela muito mais ao seu interesse. Como Rabbie, Bernadette tem uma história dramática que faz com que ela tenha medo do que pudesse acontecer com Rabbie.

Gostei da maneira como Rabbie e Bernadette acabam por se ajudar e “curar” um ao outro, criando novos laços. Algumas coisas podiam ter sido melhoradas, como as crianças órfãs que Rabbie praticamente atira aos braços de Bernadette, mas tirando pequenos pormenores, foi um livro que me agradou e, ainda que tenha sido um pouco mais soturno que os anteriores, manteve a mesma qualidade.

Title: Hard-hearted Highlander
Serie: Highland Grooms #3
Author: Julia London
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Pages: 384
Publication date: April 25th 2017

Synopsis:

An indomitable governess...a brooding Highlander...a forbidden affair...
An ill-fated elopement cost English-born governess Bernadette Kent her reputation, her fickle lover and any chance of a future match. She has nothing left to fear—not even the bitter, dangerously handsome Scot due to marry her young charge. Naive wallflower Avaline is terrified to wed Rabbie Mackenzie, but if he sends her home, she will be ruined. Bernadette's solution: convince Rabbie to get Avaline to cry off while ignoring her own traitorous attraction to him. A forced engagement to an Englishwoman is a hard pill for any Scot to swallow. It's even worse when the fiancee in question is a delicate, foolish young miss unlike her spirited, quick-witted governess. Sparring with Bernadette brings passion and light back to Rabbie's life after the failed Jacobite uprising. His clan's future depends upon his match to another, but how can any Highlander forsake a love that stirs his heart and soul?

~ We’ve received this eARC in exchange for an honest review directly from the author, Julia London. Thank you! ~

Review:
Hard-Hearted Highlander brings us the story of another one of Arran and Margot McKenzie’s sons, Rabbie McKenzie.

To protect his family and re-gain lost lands, Rabbie agrees to marry an English girl, even though he doesn’t like English people (*cof* but loves his mother, who IS English *cof*).

Rabbie is a character that has suffered a lot. With a past filled with loss, he spends a great part of the book sad and sorrowful, something his own nephews (children) notice. Rabbie lost his bride during the war between the Scots and the English (and this could have been a more explored, explaining a bit more what really happened to her), and he’s been… broken, let’s say, since then. And his parents think that this marriage might be, besides economically favourable, a way to help him heal and appreciate life again.

But Rabbie doesn’t want the 17 year old English girl who is practically afraid of her own shadow. Now, Bernadette, her companion and lady’s maid, is much more interesting. Like Rabbie, Bernadette has also a painful background story that makes become afraid of what might happen when she and Rabbie start falling in love.

I liked the way Rabbie and Bernadette heel each other, creating new happy bonds. Some things could have been improved, like the orphans being practically thrown at Bernadette by Rabbie, but besides some small details, it was a pleasant book, although a bit gloomier than the previous ones, but it kept the same quality.

• Wild Wicked Scot (Highland Grooms #1) (Joana)
• Sinfu Scottish Laird (Highland Grooms #2) (Joana)

[Livro] Sinful Scottish Laird, de Julia London

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Título em Português: --
Série: Highland Grooms #2
Autor(a): Julia London
Editora: Harlequin Books
Páginas: 384
Data de Publicação: 28 de Fevereiro de 2017

Sinopse:

Widowed and forced to remarry in three years' time or forfeit her son's inheritance, Daisy Bristol, Lady Chatwick, has plenty of suitors vying for her hand and her fortune. But a letter from a long-lost love sends Daisy and her young son to her Scottish Highland estate to buy time for his return. Along the way she encounters the powerful Cailean Mackenzie, laird of Arrandale and a notorious smuggler, and she is utterly and unwillingly bewitched. Cailean has no use for any Sassenach in his glen. But Daisy's brazen, flirtatious nature and alluring beauty intrigue him. When her first love appears unexpectedly at her estate, Cailean knows that a passionate woman like Daisy cannot marry this man. And to prevent the union, Cailean must put his own life at risk to win her heart.

~ Recebemos este livro directamente da autora Julia London, em troca desta opinião honesta. Obrigada! ~

Opinião:
No segundo livro da série Highland Grooms, Julia London leva-nos novamente à Escócia. Enquanto que no primeiro livro tínhamos como personagens principais Margot Armstrong e Arran McKenzie, neste temos o filho mais velho destes, Cailean Mackenzie e uma dama inglesa, Daisy Bristol.

Daisy é uma viúva com um filho pequeno que, ao descobrir que o filho tem uma pequena propriedade na Escócia, decide levá-lo para lá, de modo a afastar-se dos muitos pretendentes que a cercavam, mas também para tentar melhorar a saúde do rapaz.

A atracção entre Daisy e Cailean é quase instantânea, mas o que mais gostei foi que apesar de haver essa atracção, não é só nisso que a sua relação se baseia. Tem amizade, amor e apoio. Cailean é óptimo com o filho de Daisy, e gosta verdadeiramente do rapaz, independentemente da mãe que ele tem.

A possível relação de Daisy e Cailean é apanhada no meio da guerra entre escoceses (alguns jacobitas) e ingleses, o que dificulta até a sua amizade, mas tanto Cailean são teimosos e quando querem algo arranjam maneira. Como acontece, para isso têm de ler o livro. E acreditem que vão gostar.

Romance, amizade, alguma paixão e luxúria pelo meio, são os ingredientes perfeitos que fazem com que este livro seja tão agradável de ler. Cada vez gosto mais dos livros da Julia London.

Title: Sinful Scottish Laird
Serie: Highland Grooms #2
Author: Julia London
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Pages: 384
Publication date: February 28th 2017

Synopsis:

Widowed and forced to remarry in three years' time or forfeit her son's inheritance, Daisy Bristol, Lady Chatwick, has plenty of suitors vying for her hand and her fortune. But a letter from a long-lost love sends Daisy and her young son to her Scottish Highland estate to buy time for his return. Along the way she encounters the powerful Cailean Mackenzie, laird of Arrandale and a notorious smuggler, and she is utterly and unwillingly bewitched. Cailean has no use for any Sassenach in his glen. But Daisy's brazen, flirtatious nature and alluring beauty intrigue him. When her first love appears unexpectedly at her estate, Cailean knows that a passionate woman like Daisy cannot marry this man. And to prevent the union, Cailean must put his own life at risk to win her heart.

~ We’ve received this eARC in exchange for an honest review directly from the author, Julia London. Thank you! ~

Review:
In the second book of the Highland Grooms series, Julia London takes us back to Scotland. In the first book, the main characters were Margot Armstrong and Arran McKenzie. Now, this is the story of their son, Cailean Mackenzie, and an English lady, Lady Daisy Bristol.

Daisy is a widower with a young son. When she discovers that he has a small property in Scotland, she decides to take him there, to be away from all her suitors, but also to try and improve the boy’s health.

The attraction between Daisy and Cailean is almost instantaneous, but what I really liked was that although that attraction was there, it was more than that. Their relationship was a mix of friendship, love and support. Cailean is great with Daisy’s son, and he really likes him, independently of who his mother is.

The possible relationship between Daisy and Cailean is threatened by the Scottish rising (the Jacobites) and the English, which makes it hard for them to be friends, even harder to be more than that. But both Cailean and Daisy are stubborn and know how to fight for what they want. How they manage it, you’ll have to read the book to find out. And believe me, you’re going to like it.

Romance, friendship, some passion and lust – these are the perfect ingredients that make the book so easy and pleasant to read. I like Julia London’s books more and more every day.

• Wild Wicked Scot (Highland Grooms #1) (Joana)

[Livro] Wild Wicked Scot, de Julia London

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Título em Português:--
Série: Highland Grooms #1
Autor(a): Julia London
Editora: Harlequin Books
Páginas: 352
Data de Publicação: 27 de Dezembro de 2016

Sinopse:

Wicked intrigue unfolds as an unlikely marriage leads to a path of risky desire in the lush, green Scottish Highlands.
Born into riches and groomed in English luxury, Margot Armstrong didn't belong in a Scottish chieftain's devil-may-care world. Three years ago she fled their marriage of convenience and hasn't looked back—except to relive the moments spent in wild, rugged Arran McKenzie's passionate embrace. But as their respective countries' fragile unity threatens to unravel, Margot must return to her husband to uncover his role in the treachery before her family can be accused of it.
Red-haired, green-eyed Margot was Arran's beautiful bride. Her loss has haunted him, but her return threatens everything he has gained. As the Highland mists carry whispers of an English plot to seize McKenzie territory, he must outmaneuver her in games of espionage…and seduction. But even as their secrets tangle together, there's nothing to prevent love from capturing them both and leading them straight into danger.

~ Recebemos este livro em troca de uma opinião honesta. Obrigada! ~

Opinião:
Wild Wicked Scot traz-nos a história de uma menina mimada que não se sabe impor e que, para dizer a verdade, não sabe bem o que quer da vida. Isto é, até voltar para a casa do marido, três anos depois de se ter afastado deste.

Margot é daquelas personagens que é difícil gostarmos, pelo menos durante parte do livro. Há uma pequena evolução, mas é uma pena que ela não confie no Arran – percebe-se que não o faça logo de início mas assim que houvesse uma pequena, ínfima abertura, ela devia ter aproveitado. Apesar disso, lá se consegue ir redimindo aos poucos, chegando ao fim do livro muito mais forte do que era.

Arran é incrível. É um book-boyfriend de sonho, desde o início ao fim. Faz de tudo para integrar Margot e ama-a profundamente, sentindo-se traído quando ela o abandona. Não é de estranhar que quando ela aparece de surpresa, três anos depois, ele desconfie.

Todo o livro é um construir de confiança entre as personagens mas também entre o leitor: queremos o melhor para Arran e durante algum tempo não sabemos se Margot será a pessoa ideal, mas à medida que vemos o quanto mudou da “criança” que era na altura do casamento, começamos a compreendê-la um pouco melhor e queremos dar-lhe uma hipótese.

O (pouco) mistério que o livro tem acaba por ser um simples enredo para unir os amantes e trata-se simplesmente de um caso de ser preso por ter cão e por não o ter.

No fim, tudo resolvido, com um restaurar difícil de confiança e um amor que cresce agora com mais força e vontade de sobrevivência. Foi um livro que me manteve agarrada durante quatro dias, que foi o (pouco) tempo que o demorei a ler. Um tempo bem passado com muito romance e uma luta por honra e um amor que sempre vale a pena reconquistar.

Title: Wild Wicked Scot
Serie: Highland Grooms #1
Author: Julia London
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Pages: 352
Publication date: December 27th 2016

Sinopse:

Wicked intrigue unfolds as an unlikely marriage leads to a path of risky desire in the lush, green Scottish Highlands.
Born into riches and groomed in English luxury, Margot Armstrong didn't belong in a Scottish chieftain's devil-may-care world. Three years ago she fled their marriage of convenience and hasn't looked back—except to relive the moments spent in wild, rugged Arran McKenzie's passionate embrace. But as their respective countries' fragile unity threatens to unravel, Margot must return to her husband to uncover his role in the treachery before her family can be accused of it.
Red-haired, green-eyed Margot was Arran's beautiful bride. Her loss has haunted him, but her return threatens everything he has gained. As the Highland mists carry whispers of an English plot to seize McKenzie territory, he must outmaneuver her in games of espionage…and seduction. But even as their secrets tangle together, there's nothing to prevent love from capturing them both and leading them straight into danger.

~ We've received this book directly from the author, in exchange for this review. Thank you! ~

Review:
Wild Wicked Scot brings us a story of spoiled girl who can’t stand for herself and, to be truthful, doesn’t know what to do with her life. I mean, until she returns to her husband’s house, three years after she had left him.

Margot is that kind of character that is hard to like, at least for some of the book. There’s a small evolution, but still, it’s too bad that she doesn’t trust Arran – I understand why she wouldn’t do it at the beginning, but the second he gave a chance to tell him, she should have taken it. Nevertheless, she manages to slowly redeem herself little by little, and at the end of the book is much stronger than she was at the beginning.

Arran is amazing. He’s the perfect book boyfriend, from beginning to end. Everything he does is to please Margot and to help her to integrate her new home and he loves her deeply, trying his hard to please her. He feels so completely betrayed when she leaves him (and his male ego – maybe the only small thing against him – prevented him from following her). No wonder that, when she decides to pop up completely unannounced, he becomes suspicious of her.

The whole book is about building trust, not only between the characters, but also the reader: we want what’s best for Arran and, for a while, we’re not completely sure if Margot really deserves him. But, as she begins to show that she’s no longer the childish girl she was when she married, we start to understand her a bit better and we want to give her a chance.

The (small) mystery the book has ends up just being there to unite the lovers and it's a case of being “arrested for having a dog and not having a dog” (translation of a Portuguese expression which means you just couldn’t have it right, no matter what you would did).

At the end of the day, all is resolved, with trust being regained, and a love growing harder and stronger. It was a book that only took me four days to read and it kept me hooked on it. A well spent time, with lots of romance, fighting for honour and a true love that is always worth fighting for.