Lauri Robinson

This is a terrific story in an unusual setting for a Harlequin Historical. In a line mainly set in the Regency or Medieval eras, this book takes place in 20th-century Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor. I have lived in Hawaii and visited the Arizona Memorial, so this character-centered look at the attack and its aftermath was fascinating. I especially appreciate the author's attention to the small details that made the story come alive.

Wendy is a young woman from Nebraska with a spirited personality. She has a craving for adventure and promised her mother she would see the world. Becoming a Red Cross nurse's aide was her first step, followed by accepting a post in Hawaii. Though she is in a tropical paradise surrounded by men, Wendy plans to avoid romantic entanglements that could tie her down or affect her independence. She is determined to live her life to the fullest.

KT is an underwater welder with the Navy. He's often amazed that a guy from land-locked Oklahoma has ended up in tropical Hawaii. KT is a serious man with a well-developed sense of honor. He has a girl back home with expectations of a future together, so he avoids any opportunities for impropriety.

Wendy and KT meet on December 6 at a dance for the people stationed at Pearl Harbor. Wendy's excitement is evident in her enthusiasm for dancing, though she's a little frustrated that no one matches her enthusiasm. A handsome sailor draws her attention, but he doesn't seem interested, so she dances with others. Wendy's exuberance attracts KT's attention. He notices her talent for dancing and her apparent disappointment in her partners. He loves to dance but wouldn't feel proper dancing with anyone other than his Betty. I loved when they encountered each other. Their banter was fun, and I loved how Wendy challenged him to dance with her. Their connection was immediate, and they danced together as if they'd been partners for years, to the point where they won an impromptu dance competition. They parted at the end, not expecting to see each other again.

A few hours later came the attack by the Japanese. The descriptions of the attack from the viewpoints of KT and Wendy were vivid enough that I could almost smell the smoke and hear the explosions. Their experiences in the aftermath were realistic and easy to visualize.

Wendy never expected to end up with KT as one of her patients. She had thought of him often during the hours since the attack and hoped for his safety, so it was a shock to find him at the hospital. KT was severely burned while using his diving skills to rescue trapped sailors. His injuries require frequent attention, and the head nurse has requested her skills.

As the days go on, Wendy and KT's connection grows deeper as they spend many hours together. I enjoyed watching their friendship develop and could see them fighting the deeper feelings that were building. There were some terrific scenes of them together, from his time in the hospital to after he was released.

But Wendy is hiding a secret from KT. It began as a simple desire to save him from more pain during his recovery but went on too long. She felt guilty about not confessing but couldn't bring herself to do anything about it. Unsurprisingly, it eventually came back to bite her, creating a rift between her and KT. Each has decisions to make when unexpected career opportunities are offered. I loved the advice Wendy received from her mentor and its effect on her perception of her life. KT also had the chance to reevaluate his plans after an unexpected conversation.

I loved the ending and seeing how Wendy and KT found their way back to each other. Their reunion was sweet, and their future looks bright.… (mehr)

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.… (mehr)

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… (mehr)

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.… (mehr)