The Lady Travelers Guide to Happily Ever After - Victoria Alexander (HQN - Sept 2019)

Series: Lady Travelers Society (Book 4)

Before there was a Lady Travelers Society, there was just one lady traveler…

Some marry for love. Some marry for money. But Violet Hagen's quick wedding to irresponsible James Branham, heir to the Earl of Ellsworth, was to avoid scandal.

Though her heart was broken when she learned James never wanted marriage or her, Violet found consolation in traveling the world, at his expense -- finding adventure and enjoying an unconventional, independent life. And strenuously avoiding her husband.

But when James inherits the earldom it comes with a catch -- Violet. To receive his legacy he and Violet must live together as husband and wife, convincing society that they are reconciled. It's a preposterous notion, complicated by the fact that Violet is no longer the quiet, meek woman he married. But then he's not the same man either.

Chasing Violet across Europe to earn her trust and prove his worth, James realizes with each passing day that a marriage begun in haste may be enjoyed at leisure. And that nothing may be as scandalous -- or as perfect -- as falling hopelessly in love. Especially with your wife.

This was a fun book and probably my favorite of the series. Although it is the fourth and final book, chronologically it is the first as it takes place before the others and before the Lady Travelers Society was founded. The founding members do have a part in this story, but not as much as in the others.

In this book, we have Violet and James. It opens with their attendance at the ball where James's engagement is to be announced. Instead, he is caught kissing Violet, ending his engagement and forcing him to marry Violet to avoid scandal. The morning after their wedding, Violet overhears James tell his uncle that he's not ready for marriage and he only married her to save her from ruin. Heartbroken because she was in love with him when he suggests that they live separately and live their lives as before, she agrees - with two stipulations. She wants the money to be able to travel, and she never wants to see him again.

Six years later, they are brought back together by Uncle Richard's death. James inherits the title, but Richard had a stipulation in his will. James and Violet were to live together for three years, be seen together in public, appear happy, create no scandals, and not spend any more than two weeks apart during any year. If they do not, both will lose everything.

I loved watching Violet and James get to know each other again. Both have changed a lot in the six years they've been apart. James grew up, leaving his irresponsible ways behind him. He learned the things he needed to know as Ellsworth's heir, and discovered that he enjoyed what he was doing. Violet is no longer the quiet girl who blends into the background. Her travels gave her new confidence in herself, and she likes standing on her own two feet. Before Richard's death, James understood the mistakes he made and realized that he wanted Violet back in his life. Now he needs to convince her of that fact. Standing in the way are the rumors that have followed each of them in the years they've been apart.

Violet isn't in any hurry to forgive James for breaking her heart. She will live by the rules, but keep her heart protected. In the meantime, she is determined to make him atone for his mistakes. In the beginning, they stay in England and take their place in society. Violet is nervous, fearing that she will return to the mouse she used to be. It is pretty clear she has nothing to worry about, especially during an especially satisfying confrontation with her mother and sister. Violet holds her own quite well, and though she didn't appreciate it at the time, James also weighs in with unexpected zeal. James uses all his charm to show Violet that he's changed, and she realizes that she's in danger of falling for him all over again.

Determined to get back to the life where she is comfortable, Violet gives James an ultimatum. He comes with her on her travels or forfeits his inheritance. I felt a little bit bad for James as he had a good reason for not liking to travel, but it was also crucial for him to see Violet in her element. An eye-opening conversation with his friend Marcus made James realize that before he could win Violet's heart he had to regain her trust. I had so much fun watching their travels from France to Italy to Greece. In each place, James gained new insight into the woman he married. It was fun to see his misconceptions overcome one by one, and see the truth behind each of them. Violet also began to understand that James underwent his own transformation and slowly began to trust him again. Their conversations were great, with a good combination of fun and seriousness. But just as things are looking up for them, someone from Violet's past shows up with a revelation that rocks Violet's growing feelings for James. A heartbreaking confrontation is followed by some soul-searching on Violet's part. James also goes through some self-examination but has a little more trouble getting to where he can fix his mistakes. The ending was great, and I loved the epilogue.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters of Marcus, James's friend and lawyer, and Chloe, Violet's companion/secretary and friend. Marcus does a good job as the voice of reason, keeping James on track and trying to keep him from trouble. Chloe is firmly on Violet's side, and her dislike of James is apparent. The interactions between Marcus and Chloe were terrific and made a nice contrast with James and Violet. Also, Effie, Poppy, and Gwen had their important role as arbiters of whether James and Violet fulfilled the conditions of Richard's will.

Another thing I enjoyed was the author's descriptions of the places Violet and James visited. They were detailed and vivid enough that I felt as though I was there. I liked that it wasn't just the well-known locations; there was also a feeling of everyday reality.

 

The Lady Travelers Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger - Victoria Alexander (HQN - Dec 2017)

Series: Lady Travelers Society (Book 2)

She must secure her future

A lady should never be obliged to think of matters financial! But when Lady Wilhelmina Bascombe's carefree, extravagant lifestyle vanishes with the demise of her husband, her only hope lies in retrieving a family treasure -- a Renaissance masterpiece currently in the hands of a cunning art collector in Venice. Thankfully, the Lady Travelers Society has orchestrated a clever plan to get Willie to Europe, leading a tour of mothers and daughters…and one curiously attentive man.

He must reclaim his heritage

Dante Augustus Montague's one passion has long been his family's art collection. He's finally tracked a long-lost painting to the enchanting Lady Bascombe. Convinced that the canvas had been stolen, he will use any means to reclaim his birthright -- including deception. But how long before pretend infatuation gives way to genuine desire?

Now they're rivals for a prize that will change everything

Willie and Dante know they're playing with fire in the magical moonlit city. Their common quest could compromise them both…or lead them to happily-ever-after.

This is a fun book to read, with an abundance of interesting characters. The most interesting were Willie and Dante. Willie is a young widow in financial difficulties. She and her husband had been part of a fast set, and before his death, he ran up quite a lot of debt. By selling everything possible, Willie paid off George's debts, but there is little left for her. If she can get to Venice and pay off the last loan, she can retrieve a family heirloom, sell it, and have enough to live on for a reasonable amount of time. Her godmother offers Willie the job of hosting a tour for the Lady Travelers Society which will get her to Venice. Willie has never set foot outside England, but how hard can it be to lead two American women and their daughters, an Englishwoman and her daughter, and the Englishwoman's brother.

There is more to Dane Montague than Willie knows. From a long line of art-loving men, Dante recently became the director of his grandfather's little known art gallery. He spent years in the study of art and business and is determined to make a success of his grandfather's legacy. His best option is to locate and retrieve a missing painting from a famous trio of artwork that he believes was stolen, which he has traced to Willie. He will do anything to get it back, including inveigle himself into the tour group.

I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the relationship between Dante and Willie. Their first meeting set the tone, with amusing banter and obvious sparks between them. Dante finds himself unexpectedly intrigued by Willie, who is not at all what he expected. He's a bit wary as he was burned by another woman who turned out to be not what she seemed either. Willie is equally drawn to Dante but is also cautious. She has learned from the mistakes of the past and doesn't intend to repeat them. Dante plans to use the time to befriend Willie and therefore keep track of her and ultimately the painting. He doesn't expect to actually like her, and it throws him entirely out of kilter. I loved watching their friendship develop as they discover how much they enjoy being together.

Dante is caught in a dilemma. The stronger his feelings grow for Willie, the guiltier he feels about his deception. He knows he needs to tell her the truth, but he keeps putting it off. His sister regularly scolds him about it, warning him of what will happen if he doesn't tell her. When the truth finally comes out, it's even worse than he expected. I ached for both of them. Willie feels used and betrayed, and the loss of her trust in the man she came to love was heartbreaking. I hurt for Dante too. He loves her deeply and regrets his mistakes. Unfortunately, both of them are incredibly stubborn, and the painting becomes an insurmountable obstacle. There's a brief truce involving the actual retrieval of the painting, but it continues to come between them. There are some exciting twists in the resolution of the problem before Willie and Dante find their way back together. I loved Dante's grand romantic gesture. It was sweet and over the top, as well as showing his vulnerable side. The epilogue was great, though it did contain a bit of mystery I'd love to have the answer to.

The secondary characters were fantastic and a huge part of the story itself. The friendship that developed between Willie and Roz, Jane, and Marian was fantastic. I loved how it showed the changes that Willie experienced as she embraced her new life. Their support of her when she had her troubles with Dante was fun to watch. They also looked out for her and provided some much-needed advice to Dante. They were instrumental in retrieving the painting in an unexpected way. I enjoyed their relationships with their daughters, which weren't all that different than similar relationships today. The daughters were great, each with their quirks and issues. The story of the unsuitable suitor was an excellent addition, and I liked the method Dante used to deal with it. The brief appearance of the Marquess of Brookings was hilarious, and I laughed out loud at the scenes where he "helped" move Willie's relationship with Dante along.

Another important "character" in the book is the travel itself. I loved the details of the Paris Exhibition and the Eiffel Tower and the shopping at Worth. The scene at Notre Dame was especially poignant considering the recent fire there. I enjoyed the trivia from Genoa and Verona, and the descriptions of Venice were vivid. I loved the changes in Willie as she coped with all the challenges that arose during the traveling, and the difference it made in the way she saw herself.

Falling for the Pregnant Heiress - Susan Meier (HR #4675 - Aug 2019)

Series: Manhattan Babies (Book 3)

A pregnant heiress, a bachelor billionaire…

…an unlikely family?

In this Manhattan Babies story, Trent Sigmund’s discovered Sabrina McCallan’s shocking secret: she’s pregnant! As she is his best friend’s sister, Trent’s compelled to help her. But offering Sabrina his private jet to track down her errant ex wasn’t supposed to become a whirlwind trip of Europe… And it certainly wasn’t supposed to awaken an attraction that makes him long to take this unexpected chance and build it into the perfect family!

Sweet story. It opens at the wedding of Sabrina's brother, Seth. Sabrina is a bridesmaid and Seth's best friend, Trent, is the groomsman who is partnered with her. Trent has known Sabrina for years and is accustomed to seeing her as a cool, well-put-together woman. This day, Trent sees a different side of her. She looks fine on the surface, but Trent notices a somewhat frazzled air about her.

I really liked Trent's keen observational skills. Although he swears that he is not attracted to her, that she isn't his type, he can't deny his need to take care of her. He claims it is because she is his best friend's little sister. When he discovers what the issue is, he offers to help her track down her ex so she can tell him about the baby. Rather than merely giving her use of his jet, Trent decides to accompany her. I loved watching Trent do his best to take care of her as well as try to pry her out of her ice maiden exterior and learn to have fun. I especially enjoyed the scene in Spain with the personal shopper. Trent never expected to develop feelings for her.

Sabrina is the youngest and only girl in her family. Because she was a girl, she avoided the bullying and abuse that her brothers suffered at the hands of their father. However, she did bury her own inclinations under the prim and proper façade that was expected of her. Getting pregnant was not in her plans, but she embraced the prospect with determination and happiness. She is confident the father won't want to be involved, which is fine with her, but she does feel compelled to inform him. Discovering the pregnancy the morning of her brother's wedding complicated matters, as she doesn't want to tell her family until she tells Pierre. She is surprised when Trent figures out her secret, and more so when he offers to help.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Sabrina and Trent are so different from each other that neither expected the attraction that flared between them. Sabrina is determined to raise the baby on her own, though it didn't take long for her to realize that she could see Trent playing the part of father. Trent tries to deny his feelings for Sabrina, afraid that he isn't capable of loving another man's child. I ached for him because those feelings were caused by the way he was treated by his stepfather. His fears cause him to push Sabrina away when all he really wants is to pull her closer. I liked seeing him finally face his feelings and confront his past, determined to be the kind of man Sabrina needs. I loved his big moment at the end. It was sweet and romantic and perfect for them.