In this Regency Christmas romance by USA TODAY bestselling and HOLT Medallion winning author Bree Wolf, a cold-hearted lord and self-sufficient woman find themselves tied to one another against their will…but not their hearts.England 1808: As far as society is concerned, RICHARD DAVENPORT, VISCOUNT ASHWOOD, doesn’t have a caring bone in his body. His heart is made of ice, and a single look out of … and a single look out of his piercing gray eyes sends people fleeing his presence.
Richard couldn’t care less about the way others look at him. He’s never been able to read between the lines, understand subtle facial expressions or interpret the many meanings of a smile. But does that mean he doesn’t care?
However, his own issues retreat into the background when his unmarried sister reveals to him that she is with child. Determined to maintain her secret, Richard keeps her locked away from prying eyes. Still, in order to ensure her well-being, he is forced to call upon the one woman who has always been able to melt the ice from his heart.
Wishing to follow in her father’s footsteps, EVELYN PROCTEN has always tended to those in need. Despite social convention, the only future she can see for herself is that of a doctor.
However, when Evelyn is called to Farnworth Manor to tend to Miss Davenport and her unborn child, she once again crosses paths with the young woman’s elder brother. A man who disapproves of her professional ambition. A man who has never looked at her twice. A man she’s loved from afar for many years.
And then a kiss changes everything, sending sparks flying despite the snow surrounding Farnworth Manor. Heat lingers whenever they lie eyes upon one another, and slowly Evelyn comes to see that a tender heart beats in Richard’s chest, well-hidden behind his ice-cold facade.
If you like marriage of convenience stories with a touch of mystery, a dash of humour as well as deep, heartfelt emotions, then you’ll love this winterly installment of Bree Wolf’s emotionally charged Love’s Second Chance Series. Get OPPRESSED AND EMPOWERED, grab a cup of tea, settle into your favorite reading spot, and start this swoon-worthy romance now!
Each love story in this series can be read as a stand-alone. However, most readers prefer to read them in order.
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12. Book 11: Oppressed and Empowered: The Viscount’s Capable Wife also Tales of Damsels and Knights book 5:5 stars
I received a free copy of the clean historical novel Oppressed and Empowered: The Viscount’s Capable Wife: Love’s Second Chance Series Book 11/Tales of Damsels and Knights book 5 by Bree Wolf and this review was given freely.
Best if read in series. Contains social conflicts and a cliffhanger.
Evelyn and Lord Richard Ashford’s romance is a sweet historical winter-based novel of opposites both in both personality and belief in a woman’s ability to have a career, an arranged marriage, and that of hidden attraction realized. Suspenseful with some twists, multiple conflicts, an ailing father, a loving mother, an unplanned pregnancy, a well-meaning brother who guards his emotions, and a young woman advocating her right to be a Doctor are just of the few of the things that make this novel interesting while reflecting concerns of the era. Although there is a happy ending for Evelyn and Richard, this novel does end in a cliffhanger.
13. Book 12: Destroyed & Restored: The Baron’s Courageous Wife also Tales of book 6: 5 stars
I received a free copy of the novel Love’s Second Chance Series book #12: Destroyed & Restored: The Baron’s Courageous Wife by Bree Wolf and this review was given freely.
Matthew suffering from regret, insecurity regarding his self worth and nightmares after a duel gone wrong vows to do anything his cousin Tristan requires.
Coincidence and a threat to use Lady Adelaide as collateral at a card game embroils Matthew Baron Whitworth in a marriage of convenience to the woman he has been secretly attracted to. Complexed, interesting, and easy flowing this novel focuses on such topics as legitimacy and birthright vs blood and emotions as the true meaning of family and recovering from abuse. There are some twists and secrets but the end is ultimately heartwarming.
14. Book 12.5: Dared & Kissed The Scotsman’s Yuletide Bride also Highland Tales book 2:5 stars
I received a free copy of the short novella Dared & Kissed The Scotsman’s Yuletide Bride (# 12.5 Love’s Second Chance Series: Highland Tales book 2) by Bree Wolf and this review was given freely.
Complex, easy flowing, complete, and satisfying with suggestions at sequels. Emma and Finnegan are nudged by well-meaning friends who try and bring them together and thus end the seven-year misunderstanding that continues to separate them. Wonderful characters, glimpses at four vastly different romances, and of course a happy ending make this complex holiday clean romance one well worth reading.
15. Book 13: Tamed & Unleashed The Highlander’s Vivacious Wife also Highland Tales book 1: 5 stars
I received a free copy of the full-length clean novel Tamed & Unleashed The Highlander’s Vivacious Wife (#13 Love’s Second Chance Series: Highland Tales Series Book 1) by Bree Wolf and this review was given freely.
Poignant and suspenseful with many twists and turns. Amnesia, a drunken encounter, a kidnapping, and the tenacity of true love fill the pages of this complex clean romance featuring Scotsman Garrett and his quest to reunite with his English wife Claudia.
16. Book 14: Banished & Welcomed The Laird’s Reckless Wife: also Highland Tales book 3: 5 stars
I received a free copy of the full-length clean historical novel Banished & Welcomed The Laird’s Reckless Wife ( Love’s Second Chance Series Book 14: Highland Tales book 3) by Bree Wolf and this review was given freely.
A story of conflict, love, loyalty, and duty with a poignant but happy ending. Complex, highly descriptive, easy flowing, and captivating but with a sinister and suspenseful undertone in the form of depression, grief, and death. Jealousy and second sight result in disgrace, betrayal, being labeled a witch and Moira’s being banished from her home and the protection of both her brother Alistair and her cousin Laird Connor Brunwood of Greystone Castle in the Scottish Highlands to the lonely protection of her mother’s sister and the clan of the empath Cromag MacDrummond of Seann Dachaigh Tower.
17. Book 15: Haunted & Revered The Scotsman’s Destined Love also Highland Tales book 4:5 stars
I received a free copy of the novella Haunted & Revered The Scotsman’s Destined Love (#15 Love’s Second Chance Series: Highland Tales book 4): Alastair and Deidre by Bree Wolf and this review was given freely.
A timely and easy flowing, poignant yet heartwarming and satisfying novella which contains the true meaning of family and a family’s love centered at Christmastime in 1800’s Scotland. This story is emotion-packed filled with heartbreak, hope, and a love that endures despite misunderstandings, changes, and challenges. 2 years after the loss of their 3-month-old daughter, grief over the loss of many babies leads the couple into emotional isolation. Just as Deidre fears she may also lose her husband Alistair, the fulfillment of his sister Moira’s puzzling dream promising a great love comes to pass when strangers bearing secrets stay at the castle during the Christmas season.
18. Book 16: Fooled & Enlightened The Englishman’s Scottish Wife also Highland Tales book 5:5 stars
I received a free copy of the historical romance Fooled & Enlightened The Englishman’s Scottish Wife: Love’s Second Chance Series: Book 16: Highland Tales book 5 by Bree Wolf and this review was given freely.
Complex and easy flowing with a few twists and a touch of the mystical in the form of young Blair, this struggle of duty over longing and love provides us a deeper insight into the cause of the broken relationship between Ian and Maggie MacDrummond, and although it did not lessen my sympathy for Ian it did increase my empathy towards Maggie. Ends happily but with a cliffhanger.
Separated by lies, Lady Margaret Brandley, daughter to the Earl of Tynham ruins her life with an unhappy marriage while Nathan Penhale, Earl of Townsend buries his heartache with multiple women and
alcohol until fate and a little help from Blair cause the now widowed Maggie MacDrummond to return to England and confront the man she thought broke her heart.
I decided to read this book because I thought it was a Christmas reading. I guess I thought that because of the cover. Doesn’t it give you a Christmas feeling? Well, truth is it has some Christmas vibes but I wouldn’t call it a Christmas book. Still, a lovely reading for this season.
You get to connect with the characters and their love story. I especially loved that Evelyn was a doctor and how the author writes all the struggles she has to face because she’s a woman doctor. Also, I loved Richard and his struggles with socializing and communication. It made him look so cute.
This is the first Bree Wolf’s book I read, and I loved it! Definitely will read again another of her novels.
The book was just OK. I didn’t finish – it just didn’t hold my interest. Very generic and formula.
This was pretty “meh” for me. While I liked the main character and the book itself was exactly what I wanted from it, I had a few problems. 1. The other major character of Claudia was clearly s0meone I was supposed to feel sympathetic towards and I just…didn’t. Which is ridiculous cuz she WAS in a situation that you SHOULD feel sympathy for. However, despite the narrating characters pointing out how she wasn’t a spoiled child but a woman in a bad situation that couldn’t win, I really couldn’t help but read every one of her lines as a spoiled child in a bad situation that couldn’t win. 2. The next book in this series focuses on Claudia and while I understand some set up for that, this entire book really felt like the main plot was exposition for Claudia’s book, while the main characters who I DID like were kind of a secondary plot. 3. While the beginning was fine, towards the end this started to become very melodramatic. Which, I can deal with a little melodrama, but this just got ridiculous. It was one thing after another, and it felt very bad soap opera-y. 4. Every single one of these characters was too progressive for the time period. I’m not saying I want to read about racist sexist jerks, but the fact of the matter is that I at least want to see them STRUGGLE to look past the society they were raised in. But instead every single one of these characters was progressive and very “well, that’s how the world is now, and we cannot change it in a day, but someday the world will hopefully realize that all are equal and fairness should rule and people should be able to make choices to be happy.” A nice sentiment, but the big problem was that this really made the characters feel very anachronistic. I am ok with reading about women in the past who are working on changing minds and taking steps forward and pushing barriers, but I also want to read about their own difficulties and the difficulties of those around them to see past what their society has taught them since birth. We have a woman trying to be a doctor in this book at there was basically only one character who had an issue with that. Which is just too unrealistic for me. There was so little opposition that I didn’t even get girl power feels from this.
So, while I did not hate it, I did not love it, and I was left feeling like the major romance of this book was really a subplot for setting things up for the romance of the next book, which was not what I came for. So two stars.
Our hero is quite fascinating. The intrigue comes from his inner turmoil. He knows people see him as unfeeling, but he has a strong need to make logical and rational decisions based on fact, often to the point of being blunt. At the same time, he is insecure about understanding others and their emotions. Our heroine is somewhat of an oddity herself, as her father has trained her to be a capable physician in a world where women are not supposed to have these skills. The way they learn to communicate and work past some of their insecurities is entertaining. Ms. Wolf adds in some mystery and danger for a well-developed story.