Pamela Labud

In every life there are moments that are hard to forget. The one that stands out most is finding that special someone. Ms. Labud took that joy and happiness and set a seldom explored course. A Most Delicate Pursuit explores the lengths two people are willing to go in order not to fall in love. Beatrice is running from heartbreak and Michael is closed off to love. A foolproof plan, a fake romance and everything will be fine. Faking a romance seems the perfect plan until the masquerade becomes all too real. Having read a great deal of books and experienced a lot of emotions, it is hard to gauge how a person reacts to a particular character. A Most Delicate Pursuit is not a perfect read but I found it to be a story that was perfect for me.… (mehr)

I am a regular reader of romance. Enjoy reading contemporary and historical but my personal preference has always been historical. The spectacular parties where anything can happen, the chance of finding adventure and romance around every corner. The breathtaking characters that are shrouded in mystery or desperation. I just loved it. I received an ARC of To Catch a Lady in exchange for an honest review.

Caroline is the type of character I love to read about. She is not worried about what her peers think of her but, she wants to make a difference in the world. Ashton is a charmer that has the looks, title and the obligations of a nobleman but prefers a more carefree existence. The makeup of this story reminded me so much of the Catherine Maxwell stories I used to read as a teen. Ashton and Caroline's transformation into a couple was a little bit frustration, a little wicked but a whole lot of marvelous.… (mehr)

The story was more melodramatic than I prefer. It was also full of themes that I have often encountered in other books, which prevented me from becoming immersed from the very start. Yes, romance tropes are shared and repeated, but usually there is a fresh take on the idea, or other features to make the book stand apart. Location, characters, gorgeous writing, witty banter or humorous situations, for example. While reading this book, I spent more time connecting themes and passages to previously read books than connecting to and caring for the characters.

The pacing was frantic-cake, with miscommunication icing. Characters behaving cruelly and inconsistently, yet somehow always earning affection from friends and families. Often, characteristics are blatantly told to the reader rather than exhibited, with no support from character's actions. That is one of my deal-breakers in storytelling, when lesser characters straightforwardly remark on the traits of the major characters as the main method of conveying the personalities of those major characters.

I felt the intensity of the author's passion, and I wanted the author to have more confidence in writing about something to which they truly were connected. Can troubled, inconsiderate traumatized people really turn everything around in the space of a few pages for a believable HEA? Up to you, reader, to decide.

**eARC netgalley**… (mehr)

... love unlooked for

The Hunt Club series continues. This time with the Earl of Blandon, Michael Carver taking center stage. Beatrice Hawkins, sister-in-law to Michael's friend Ashton Blakely, the Duke of Summerton has been reluctant to marry. Now, her one male relative, Sir Alfred Danbury, who had appeared to have been persuaded to leave Bea in her sister's care, has outrageously betrothed Bea to a nasty piece of work, one Richard Bainbridge, without consulting Bea. Bainbridge's massive wealth and dubious abilities had gained him some cache in Society. He has fingers in a great many pies and it seems tame judges and other officials in his pockets. Bainbridge hates the aristocracy and yet has sort to buy himself a bride from among their members. Previous wives seem to have died, some from natural causes, others not. Whatever, the thing is Bea needs to go into hiding, and as the Ash surmises to Michael, if she can be persuaded to marry before Bainbridge catches up with her, then the courts may favour her marriage over her unasked for betrothal.
Michael agrees to take Bea to the Duke's hunting lodge to avoid a confrontation with Bainbridge, and if necessary convince Bea to marry him for her protection.
Of course Miachael and Bea are drawn to each despite Michael having little use for love and romance.
Oh, and by the way, there's the vile ex mistress Lady Merriweather who can't take the very pointed hint and vanish. 'A woman spurned' and all that ...
I liked Michael and Bea. The early parts of the story were great. For me the story flagged towards the end and was not as tight as it could have been. Maybe there were just too many pieces to tie up. I must say that Lady Merriweather didn't seem that necessary to the story after a certain point.
I never did find out why Bainbridge wanted Beatrice so much. Of course he had such a 'dog in the manager' attitude it's probably just that as far as he was concerned he'd paid for Beatrice and he wanted what he'd bought!

A NetGalley ARC… (mehr)