ARC Review: Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress (The Matchmaker Trilogy #3) by Theresa Romain

Title: Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress (The Matchmaker Trilogy #3)
Author: Theresa Romain
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Historical Romance -Regency
Length: Novel
Release Date: January 6, 2015
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

ONE GOOD PROPOSITION DESERVES ANOTHER…

Heiress Augusta Meredith can’t help herself—she stirs up gossip wherever she goes. A stranger to Bath society, she pretends to be a charming young widow, until sardonic, darkly handsome Joss Everett arrives from London and uncovers her charade.

Now they’ll weave their way through the pitfalls of the polite world only if they’re willing to be true to themselves…and to each other…

This was a really fun book.  While I never quite grasped Augusta's need for a lover - her way of finding one was fun to watch.  Especially once she met Joss.  Their conversations were brilliant and very inappropriate (and they do mention this to each other).  They were so perfect for each other and neither one wanted to admit it.  They were both very proud - at times a little too much for my taste, but not even literary characters should be perfect.

Lord Sutcliffe - now there was one crazy person.  As Joss's cousin, employer, and primary reason for being in Bathe, we see him and hear about him quite often.  He's a harmless type of crazy and his little magic tricks and childish enthusiasm were sooo much fun.  He was a great foil to Joss's seriousness.

Even though many of the conversations between Joss and Augusta seemed a bit frivolous, deep down they were really learning some fairly deep things about each other.  While there wasn't too much wooing and courting in this romance, it was one that came about on a much deeper level.  It happened at the level of two like souls finally connecting.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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ARC Review: It Takes Two to Tangle by Theresa Romain

Title: It Takes Two to Tangle (The Matchmaker Trilogy, #1)
Author: Theresa Romain
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: Novel (352 pgs)
Release: Sept 3, 2013
Reviewer: CaroleDee



Though he lost the use of an arm in the Napoleonic Wars, Henry Middlebrook returns to London society and begins an ambitious courtship of the ton's reigning beauty. When he experiences limited success, he decides to ask for assistance from the beauty's companion, Frances Whittier.

A soldier's widow with a murky past, Frances admires Henry's courage and sends him a secret letter. He thinks the letter is from her mistress, and Frances must correct his mistake if she wants to engage his heart.

  

I went back and forth between a three and four rating with It Takes Two quite a bit.
I'm not a huge lover of misunderstanding and secrets between heroes and heroines, so I think that was my main hangup.
Frannie's 'omission of truth' about writing letters to Henry just seemed a bit silly.
Henry's blind pursuit of Frannie's cousin also got on my nerves.
He had a wonderfully smart, and beautiful woman  at his fingertips but was blinded by his goal of being accepted back into the ton. It took me a while to understand why he thought marrying Carolina (Frannie's cousin and employer) was going to elevate his status. *shrug*

So why such a high rating when I was so aggravated? Well, I'm a sucker for tortured heroes and heroines. And Theresa Romain didn't disappoint. While I didn't feel the physical 'heat' with these two as a couple, their emotional connection was amazing. Henry's struggle with re-integration after returning from war was very realistic. (Even to today's standards.) As a military wife I see it all the time. I think the author was able to capture the awkwardness and trials military members go through perfectly.

I also enjoyed the historical accuracy. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't bombarded with a history lesson, but you can tell that research was done. Poorly researched historicals can be annoying to a history lover like myself :)

After tons of lies by omission, and secrets there is a very satisfying HEA, so I think that was the final straw that broke my rating to a four. :)
If you're a lover of military romances (even contemporary) I think you'll enjoy It Takes Two To Tangle.

"Were kind lies worse than unkind truths?"

About the author

Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest.

Theresa is very, very happy to be represented by the very, very awesome Paige Wheeler of Folio Literary Management.

You can follow Theresa via :

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