Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of THE INCONVENIENT ELMSWOOD MARRIAGE, a Penniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that by publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of THE INCONVENIENT ELMSWOOD MARRIAGE, a Penniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye, published December 26, 2019.

Blurb for THE INCONVENIENT ELMSWOOD MARRIAGE:

Their marriage was a solution…

Until passion turns it into a problem!

Lord and Lady Elmswood’s convenient marriage has allowed them to live separate lives for years. Until larger-than-life Daniel almost dies and Kate must nurse the husband she barely knows back to health…and discover how maddeningly attractive he is! With the clock ticking on his departure, they disagree on everything – except the impossibility of resisting each other!

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Connie’s Review:

Elmswood Manor, Shropshire - 1820

Kate Wilson, 22, is the daughter of the estate manager for the Manor, but she has been managing everything since the illness of her father. She grew up on the estate and knows everything about it.

Daniel Fairfax, 28, is the new Lord Elmswood and is arriving at the Manor to discuss business matters for the estate. He is surprised to find that for the last months Kate has taken over the duties of running the estate. While surprised, he is willing to let the arrangement stand. He has no interest in living at the Manor and prefers that it just be kept up for his young nephew to inherit one day. Spending time together, Kate realizes that the fondness she has always had for Daniel is real and knowing he is leaving, she asks him to marry her so she can legally live at the Manor and run it. He agrees and they marry before he leaves again.

1831

After their marriage, Kate has spent years caring for Daniel’s nieces They are Eloise who is married and has a child, and Phoebe who owns a restaurant in London and has just married.

Daniel has been living in another country for 11 years. He has returned and is ill with a fever he caught and is still recuperating. As soon as he is better, he plans to leave again. Daniel is impressed when he sees how well-run and well-maintained the estate is and is amazed at how well Kate raised his nieces while taking total responsibility for the estate. During his healing time, he begins to see the beauty and lure of the Manor and why Kate loves it so much. He also sees her beauty and their attraction deepens. Yet he is still determined to leave again and Kate prepares herself for this inevitability. Is there some way the two of them can have a future together?

Yet another well-written, heartfelt story about real people and the things they have faced in life that have made them who they are. Ms. Kaye has a real knack for creating these characters. I think readers will enjoy this book and I encourage them to read it.

Copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

THE INCONVENIENT ELMSWOOD MARRIAGE, a Penniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye, Mills & Boon Historical, available now in ebook and print at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks. 

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of THE TRUTH BEHIND THEIR PRACTICAL MARRIAGE, a Penniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that by publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of THE TRUTH BEHIND THEIR PRACTICAL MARRIAGE, aPenniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye, published November 1, 2019.

Blurb for THE TRUTH BEHIND THEIR PRACTICAL MARRIAGE:

A marriage hiding secrets

…but forged by passion!

A Penniless Brides of Convenience story. Miss Estelle Brannagh has never met a man who’s tempted her to renounce her hard-won independence—until an encounter with Irish landowner Aidan Malahide blossoms into spine-tingling attraction. He’s carefree and charismatic; accepting his proposal seems practical and shockingly desirable! Yet Aidan is hiding a dark secret, and it will take all of Estelle’s courage to ensure it doesn’t tear them apart…

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Connie’s Review:

Florence - 1832

Estelle Brannagh, 25, is of Irish descent and is traveling throughout Europe on her own. Presently, she is in sunny and warm Florence. She is writing journals of her travels with a thought to publish them when she returns home to Elmswood Manor in England. Estelle is also a talented musician. She has a twin sister named Phoebe who owns her own restaurant in London and another sister named Eloise.

Estelle has noticed a handsome man sitting at the same cafe she frequents. Soon, they introduce themselves to one another. Aiden Malahide, 30, is taking a sabbatical for a year in Florence while he studies mathematics. Aiden’s home is Castle Duaric in Ireland. He has been widowed for a few years.

Estelle and Aiden spend a lot of time together visiting museums, local sights, and enjoyed meals together. Before long, they find an attraction to one another. Estelle reveals that she has always wanted to adopt children, and as Aiden’s first wife was unable to conceive, he believes that adopting children is a great idea. So, they wed and head back to Castle Duaric. Their plan is to have a marriage in name only with the adoption of children to complete their family.

As their life together begins, Estelle learns how Aiden’s tragic first marriage had been. She learns more about their intimacy and realizes how things went wrong.

This is another great novel by Marguerite Kaye. She does thorough researches before putting pen to paper and it certainly shows. Well done!

Copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

THE TRUTH BEHIND THEIR PRACTICAL MARRIAGE, a Penniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye, Harlequin Historical, available now in ebook and print at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks. 

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of A WIFE WORTH INVESTING IN, a Penniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of A WIFE WORTH INVESTING IN, a Penniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye, published May 21, 2019.

Blurb for A WIFE WORTH INVESTING IN:

A convenient proposal…

Makes a scandalous match!

Part of Penniless Brides of Convenience: Knocking on Owen Harrington’s door, impoverished and desperate Miss Phoebe Brannagh wonders if London’s most eligible catch will recognize her. But injured and reclusive, Owen is no longer a carefree man. And he’s in urgent need of a convenient wife! Owen’s shock proposal allows Phoebe to fulfill her life’s ambition to open a restaurant…but his heated kisses tempt her to hope for a new dream—marriage, for real!

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Connie’s Review:

Paris - 1828

Owen Harrington, age 26, is enjoying his time in Paris. While taking in a late night walk, he steps into a bar for a drink. Seeing a lovely, well dressed young woman being harassed by two men. He steps in saying he is the woman’s beau. The men then leave. Thanking him for rescuing her, Owen joins her for a drink. It turns out she is Irish and her name is Phoebe Brannagh. She is waiting for Monsieur Pascal Solignac, a celebrated chef at La Grande Taverne de Londres. His cooking is considered to be the best in Paris. Phoebe works at the restaurant in the patisserie station and is proud to be he only female in the brigade because she is passionate about her work. Her sister, Eloise, is the Countess of Fearnoch and Phoebe has a twin sister named Estelle. All three sisters were cared for by their Aunt Kate, Lady Elmswood, after they lost their parents and brother. Now, Phoebe’s dream is to work side-by-side with Pascal and hopefully buy the restaurant using funds left to her by her father.

Owen is a very wealthy young man who has yet to find a purpose for his life. Phoebe tells him it is essential that he find his purpose. They agree to meet up in two years’ time and see what he has learned about himself.

Two years later after waiting for Owen to show up, Phoebe thinks he has forgotten their agreement. She travels to London and visits his townhome. He is now broken in body and unhappy in life. He had had an accident that left him with a limp, scars, and in pain. Phoebe’s plan had not gone as planned either. Pascal had taken her money and discarded her. Now, she is asking Owen knows of someone who needs a cook. Owen is happy to see her and they end up getting married. He encourages her to continue with her dream of owning and running her own restaurant. She is thrilled and they are happy together, but there are still some medical problems that Owen has and he won’t talk about it. Phoebe is so worried and wonders if she should scrap the restaurant plans. Will there be some way she can get her husband to trust her and open up to her about the devils he is facing and can help him heal?

Oh yes! Marguerite Kaye has done it. Paris and food. It just doesn’t get any better than this. I happen to know that the author is an excellent cook so I know that this was a fun book for her to write. I’m hoping that one day she will write that cookbook I’m waiting for. But back to this lovely book. I really cared for Owen and Phoebe. They both have big hearts and generous souls. I hope many readers will read about their story and enjoy it as much as I did.

Copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A WIFE WORTH INVESTING IN, a Penniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye, Harlequin Historical, available now in ebook and print at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks. 

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of THE EARL'S COUNTESS OF CONVENIENCE, a Penniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of THE EARL’S COUNTESS OF CONVENIENCE, a Penniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye, published April 1, 2019.

Blurb for THE EARL’S COUNTESS OF CONVENIENCE:

A countess in name only…

…tempted by a night with her husband!

Part of Penniless Brides of Convenience: Eloise Brannagh has witnessed firsthand the damage unruly passion can cause. Yet she craves freedom, so a convenient marriage to the Earl of Fearnoch seems the perfect solution! Except Alexander Sinclair is more handsome, more intriguing, more everything than Eloise anticipated. She’s set her own rules for their marriage, but her irresistible husband might just tempt her to break them!

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Connie’s Review:

Kate, Lady Elmswood, is delighted to receive a note from Lord Fearnoch accepting her invitation to call and meet her ward, Miss Eloise Brannagh, to discuss marriage. If he and Eloise are amenable to one another, then they must be married by 30 June or Lord Fearnoch will forfeit his title and estates which would then pass to his odious cousin.

Both Eloise and Alexander grew up with cold parents. Eloise and her sisters ended up nearly penniless when her parents died, which is why they now live with their uncle’s wife, Kate.

Kate, Eloise, and her sisters Phoebe and Estelle, assume the man to be old and ugly, but when he arrives, they are quite wrong, for Alexander Sinclair, the Earl of Fearnoch turns out to be quite handsome indeed. As they discuss the terms of the marriage, Eloise learns it will be a marriage of convenience. They both agree and Eloise travels to London where she and Alexander are married. They then move into his spacious London townhome.

As Eloise learns her way around and gets to know Alexander more, she is quite delighted. The plan is that Alexander will spend most of his time working overseas in a rather vague government position.

Ah, but the best laid plans of mice and men…you know the rest. Knowing they are not to become attracted to one another is difficult for them to maintain because they are falling in love. But Alexander is determined to do his duty and Eloise tries to support him.

Can they be apart with the feelings they have gained? Is there a chance that this marriage of convenience can remain that way? This book is beautifully woven together with some extra intricate knots. The characters of Eloise and Alexander are complex, and vulnerable. The conversation is clear and jovial. I loved this story! Don’t miss it!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

THE EARL’S COUNTESS OF CONVENIENCE, a Penniless Brides of Convenience novel by Marguerite Kaye, Harlequin Historical, available now ebook and print at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.