Michelle McLean

Four Weddings and a Duke by Michelle McLean

Communication is the foundation of a good marriage and assumptions…well, you know what they say happens when you “assume” instead of verifying issues…

What I liked:
* Lavinia Wynnburn: wellborn middle daughter, quiet, reserved, feels overlooked, reader, artist, sees better with her eyeglasses than her lorgnette, wise, mature, caring, does her best, thrilled to have been seen and chosen…
* Alexander Reddington, Duke of Beaubrooke: the second son now the heir, prefers botany to duking, a bit of a recluse, avoids social events, has been working on a project for decades, is a good man but definitely a bit clueless
* The family dynamics within both the Wynnburn and Reddington family – they seemed real and caring of one another
* Nigel Bainbridge: friend of the Wynnburn family, classmate of Alexander’s, interested in the same research as Alexander but in competition rather than working together, has a sense of humor and likes to rile some people up.
* The meet-cute at the wedding that led to who Alexander chose to marry
* How Lavinia was there for her husband and family
* Wondering who Nigel and Kitty might end up with in the future
* All of it really…don’t want to give the story away…it made me think, care, and root for the couple to make it work

What I didn’t like:
* No people to really dislike but did with that Lavinia and Alexander had managed to communicate a bit more honestly and openly…or at all…as it would have saved them a great deal of angst…although as pivotal in the story, it was nice when they realized the difference talking rather than assuming could make.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars… (més)

THE REVIEW
Adam Brady is running from trouble, which always seems to find him. Luck is not his friend. He is trying to avoid the sherif and the target on his head and simply enjoy a quiet, simple life.

Nora Schumacher is seen as ‘one of the guys’ in her small town and deals with her drunken father every day. She is desperate to keep her father from selling her grandfathers land, so she can inherit it when she turns 30 or get married. With her father getting worse, she decides marriage is the way to go.

When Adam and Nora stumble upon each other at the town meeting, they inadvertently get married! Nora is relieved as it solves her problem, but Adam is mortified and refuses to acknowledge the marriage. So, per town rules, he must find a job within 30 days. However that proves difficult when Nora’s friends are determined to make it hard for Adam so he will keep the marriage with Nora and help her save her farm.

I had a really hard time with this book because I just could not get behind the plot. The accidental marriage, setting Adam up to fail at every job, the manipulation from both to them…it was just too much and I couldn’t enjoy the story. I didn’t believe the feelings between Nora & Adam which didn’t help matters. It just all felt so silly. I’ve heard that the first book was better, but maybe I’m just not a ‘western romance’ type of reader…I’ll have to revisit that genre another time.

TROPES
Historical Romance, Western America, Criminal Hero, Gamma Hero, Damaged/Tortured Heroine, Independent Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Working Heroine, Forced Proximity, Three Star, Two Flame… (més)

THE REVIEW
Arabella is desperate to restore her family’s name in society after her oldest sister ran away with the stable boy! She has no interest in marriage and has always planned on living as a spinster surrounded by her books. But her younger sister is desperate to be married and have a family, so Arabella has come up with a plan. She decides to make a bargain with the most eligible bachelor in London the Duke of …….!

Silas is enjoying his bachelor status and has no plans to change that! But when Arabella shows up at his door proposing a partnership of sorts, he is intrigued by her and her crazy idea! Arabella and Silas come up with 10 rules for their marriage of convenience, but mostly that he will help restore her family name and find a husband for her sister and Arabella will give him an heir. After they accomplish those goals, she will abscond to the country and he can return to his independence.

But neither one of them planned on enjoying marriage or falling in love! This was such a cute book and I loved the premise. I do not, however, like the miscommunication trope. It grates on my nerves and I just want to strangle the MCs! If I can get past that annoyance, their banter was so so good and funny! Silas is a jokester and tends to make light of himself, but Arabella doesn’t let him and he starts to mature and grow in their relationship. Watching them develop as a couple and as individuals, embracing their marriage and adulthood together was the sweetest thing I’ve read in a long time!

TROPES
Historical Romance, Regency Era, Season/Marriage Mart, Ton Society, Beta/Cinnamon Hero, Titled Hero, Bookworm Heroine, Shy Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Wallflower Heroine, Fake Relationship, Marriage of Convenience/Arranged Marriage, Miscommunication Issues, Secrets & Lies, Five Star, Three Steam… (més)

Summary
When the King decides that the best way to find peace between the MacGregor and Campbell clans is to marry them together, Malcolm and Sorcha find themselves married two hours later! Although there is definitely attraction between them, they are centuries old enemies and both are trying to make the other miserable. Malcolm tries bad manners and indifference, while Sorcha tries being rude and annoying. But, since they are both stubborn Scots, neither won concedes and they find themselves enjoying each other’s company and getting past their family feud. But when their castle is attacked, it will put their love and trust to the ultimate test.

Tropes: Steam warm, Scotland highlands, Titled Hero, Beta Hero, Virgin heroine, New Girl in Town, Enemies to Lovers, Marriage of Convenience, Stuck Together, Scotland, Highland Warrior

The Plot : The plot was really well done; the circumstances were believable and the characters played into it perfectly. I didn’t get annoyed with either Malcolm or Sorcha with their many attempts to push the other away. There were enough secondary characters to move the story along, some of which became integral parts in the overall plot! Having Malcolm and Sorcha, unknowingly, kiss the night before their forced wedding allowed them to both realize they were attracted to each other regardless of their feud which made it harder for them to hate each other!

The Heroine : Sorcha Campbell is Scottish, buy grew up in the British court, so after being married and journeying far away to the Scottish highlands with no friends or family to an unfamiliar place, she is rightfully nervous. She adapts quickly and finds she enjoys a simpler life and their traditions and she starts to see it as her home. She has been so brainwashed by her fathers hate for the MacGregors that she is even slower to trust him than Malcolm is of her!

The Hero : Malcolm MacGregor is a typical Scot, tall, muscular and red-haired, feared by everyone, but he is an honest, gentleman who has a sweet side once you get past his exterior. Even being forced to marry, he promises Sorcha’s father to look after her safety which he does on several occasions. His admiration and care for Sorcha is just so sweet and he truly does want their marriage to work because he would love to have a family and she also softens him.

The Steam : There is one bedroom scene but, honestly, the romance and adventure was so well written and swoon that I didn’t mind at all!

Stand Out Moment : Several scenes come to mind, but when Malcolm canes back from fighting and she stitches him up is probably my favorite!

Who Would Like This : If you are looking for a romantic adventure set in the Scottish highlands, you can’t go wrong picking this gem up!

Final Thoughts : I love when I am sad at the end of a book such as this one, so I am going to immediately start on book two!… (més)