Historical Romance published by Avon 27 July 21
About a month or so ago, I tried an historical romance by an author who I’ve always loved in the past. Maybe it’s because I’ve been into contemporary romance and romantic suspense the last couple of years, but I was completely bored with that earlier book that I didn’t make it past five chapters. So I was a bit disillusioned, thinking maybe historical romance just isn’t for me right at this moment in time. Then Lisa Kleypas released her latest in the Ravenels series and I couldn’t resist. She’s an author who will never disappoint, I’m 100% percent sure after devouring this new story.
Lady Merritt is a widow who is now running her deceased husband’s business, with her brother managing the place. When she meets their newest client, Keir MacRae, a handsome Scot who produces nearly the world’s best whisky, she is immediately taken with him. But Keir is all business, no matter how Merritt tries to get to know him. Unfortunately, the man doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. I had to chuckle at each and every witticism and tease she tosses his way. She’s one independent and stubborn woman.
Keir isn’t as immune to Merritt as he lets on. However, he knows he is so way below her station they could never have a relationship of any kind without ruining her reputation, and he would never do that to her. He also misses Scotland, his small but modest home, and his friends. He’s never had much and now trying to save his family’s distillery is the most important thing. But suddenly someone is doing their best to put an end to Keir, and when he’s injured in an explosion at Merritt’s warehouse, she barges we way in to make sure he’s taken care of, and then has her heart broken for it.
It’s at this point that Keir’s background is slowly revealed, something that would allow him to have Merritt, but he wants nothing to do with everything else he’d have to take on and even give up. In the end, though, once his healing is near complete, and Merritt is still standing her ground, the man has to give in to keep the best thing to ever happen to him. I so love the way Ms. Kleypas writes family, and though I have read all of the Ravenel books to date, I have yet to read the earlier related books, including Devil in Winter, which I know is an absolute favorite of fans of the Wallflower series. Even in this book, Sebastian is one you can’t help but love, especially when it comes to those he loves.
So that means I’m going to be putting those books on my iPhone to get caught up with the Wallflowers and their men. I know I won’t have any problem whatsoever with getting bored and stopping a quarter of the way through a story. Lisa Kleypas has given me renewed faith in my attempt to enjoy historical romance again.
Grade: A
Summary:
“The devil never tries to make people do the wrong thing by scaring them. He does it by tempting them.”
Lady Merritt Sterling, a strong-willed beauty who runs a shipping company, knows London society is dying to catch her in a scandal. So far, she’s been too smart to provide them with one. But then she meets Keir MacRae, a rough-and-rugged Scottish whisky distiller, and all her sensible plans vanish like smoke. They couldn’t be more different, but their attraction is powerful, raw and irresistible.
From the moment Keir MacRae arrives in London, he has two goals. One: don’t fall in love with the dazzling Lady Merritt Sterling. Two: avoid being killed.
So far, neither of those is going well.
Keir doesn’t know why someone wants him dead until fate reveals the secret of his mysterious past. His world is thrown into upheaval, and the only one he trusts is Merritt.
Their passion blazes with an intensity Merritt has never known before, making her long for the one thing she can’t have from Keir MacRae: forever. As danger draws closer, she’ll do whatever it takes to save the man she loves . . . even knowing he might be the devil in disguise.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
