The Captain's Bluestocking Mistress by Erica Ridley (Review)

I have to say that I really liked The Captain's Bluestocking Mistress by Erica Ridley. The main reason I liked the story is Jane. We have Jane who sort of blends into the background like wallflower, and no one notices her. She tends to say outlandish things and no one notices, but Grace. I thought that was pretty funny. However, she never set out to be bluestocking wallflower, but sort fell into that roll. You don't find out the reason until later in the story. Love Jane. Now Xavier is a captain who didn't come back the same after the wall, a shell of a man. Actually, we don't find out the reason until towards the end, and I ended up respecting him more on his views. So, Xavier wants to wall himself from everyone, because he doesn't feel worthy. Yet, Jane isn't going to let him do that.

This was a fun read, because Jane is quick-witted and Xavier doesn't stand a chance. In the story, you see Jane viewing herself plain and unimportant. I felt sorry for Jane, because she never wanted to be in the shadows. Actually, if people got to know her she was funny and sweet, but all they could see is the bluestocking girl. I could see myself relating to Jane. One of Jane's lines I really like was

"I love books." She smiled in the direction of their feet. "I truly do. They may not love me back, but it feels like they do while I'm reading them. Spending the afternoon, with a favorite character gives me more time with someone than I usually get in a month. Before I met Grace, books were the best and only friends I'd had for years. So I spend all the time with that I can."

Kind of heartbreaking. I like Jane and Xavier because they complement one another. However, Xavier doesn't feel like he deserves love and Jane sets out to change his opinion. Overall, The Captain's Bluestocking Mistress was an entertaining read. So, take a journey with independnt Jane on trying capture the heart of a fiercely stubborn captain.

Copy provided by NetGalley (I also purchased a copy).

Rating:
4 Stars

The Earl's Defiant Wallflower by Erica Ridley (Review)

Okay, I got a chance to read The Earl's Defiant Wallflower. I have to say that I enjoyed the story. Yes, there are some issues, but if you can overlook them, it is an enjoyable read.

All right, we have Grace Halton who crosses to the Atlantic to get help from her grandparents. The grandmother is kind of a witch throughout the story and the grandfather, I don't know you get the feeling he lets his wife talk for him. Anyway, Grace needs to find a husband to help save her mom who stayed behind. Then you have Oliver York who finds out he's an impoverish earl and probably needs to marry an heiress. Of course he ends up with Grace and it all works out in the end.

I did like Grace and her spunk. She tried her best for what she had to deal with. Her grandparents were kind of inattentive, but at the same time controlling. However, they wanted her to make a good match. Oliver has this issue that he wanted to help his friends that needed help, of course this doesn't help his situation.

Yes, there are some plot issues, but I still liked the story. Maybe it would have helped if it was a little longer and maybe not. However, it was a fairly fast read that was kind of fun when I wasn't looking at the grandparents and going are you kidding me. So, it if you are looking for a quick read, you can give The Earl's Defiant Wallflower a try.

Copy provided by NetGalley (also owned a copy).

The Viscount's Christmas Temptation by Erica Ridley (Review)

Yesterday, I felt like I needed a quick read and something a little lighter. I'm glad to say that I have found with Erica Ridley's The Viscount's Christmas Temptation. Let me just say that this story was kind of fun. Cause you have Lady Amelia Pembroke who is the sister of the Duke of Ravenwood. Now she's describe in the book as a managing sort of person. However, I think of it more like Type A to the extreme. She also has other quirks I'm not going to go into. Anyway, she has decided she wants to find a husband and decides to find one at the Sheffield Seventy-Fifth Annual Christmas Eve Ball. One problem: Sheffield has decided to cancel cause of the ballroom was damage. Being the managing sort of person Amelia has decided to rectified the situation with her solution.