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The Gambler's Daughters #2
One Dangerous Night
The second book in New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell’s humorous and heartwarming series The Gambler’s Daughters, in which three aristocratic Irish sisters are determined to make their ways in Regency London...only to learn the path to making a brilliant society marriage isn’t easy—especially when Love gets in the way. Here, a disaster in a storm throws headstrong sister Elise into the company, and arms, of a rake on the run.
Elise Lanscarr is furious—her very own sister has married the man Elise had marked for herself. Feeling betrayed, she flees London, determined to return to the one place where everything was once as it should her family home in Ireland. But when her stagecoach crashes in a storm, she finds herself cast adrift in the wilds with no one to help but a rough-looking, albeit handsome, stranger—one who has obviously never been informed of the “proper” rules of society.
Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, the missing Duke of Winderton, has fled all responsibility, preferring the persona of the devil-may-care rake “Kit.” He proudly lives hand-to-mouth, rubbing shoulders with commoners and thieves alike. But while he values his freedom, he’s never been one to leave a lady in trouble—even one as opinionated, albeit intriguing, as Elise.
But this night of booming thunder and flashing lightning is just the beginning of an unexpected, often dangerous, adventure. And two disillusioned souls who have been caught up in their own webs of expectations and disappointments are about to learn that life always holds surprises, and gifts. And all it asks in return is that they risk everything for Love . . .
Elise Lanscarr is furious—her very own sister has married the man Elise had marked for herself. Feeling betrayed, she flees London, determined to return to the one place where everything was once as it should her family home in Ireland. But when her stagecoach crashes in a storm, she finds herself cast adrift in the wilds with no one to help but a rough-looking, albeit handsome, stranger—one who has obviously never been informed of the “proper” rules of society.
Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, the missing Duke of Winderton, has fled all responsibility, preferring the persona of the devil-may-care rake “Kit.” He proudly lives hand-to-mouth, rubbing shoulders with commoners and thieves alike. But while he values his freedom, he’s never been one to leave a lady in trouble—even one as opinionated, albeit intriguing, as Elise.
But this night of booming thunder and flashing lightning is just the beginning of an unexpected, often dangerous, adventure. And two disillusioned souls who have been caught up in their own webs of expectations and disappointments are about to learn that life always holds surprises, and gifts. And all it asks in return is that they risk everything for Love . . .
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2024
50 people are currently reading
1414 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Maxwell
72 books2,205 followersCATHY MAXWELL spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, "Why do people fall in love?" It remains for her the mystery of life and the secret to happiness.
She lives in the Austin, TX area where she is having the time of her life.
Visit her on Instagram, Twitter, FB, and TikTok at maxwellcathy (Yes, some other Cathy Maxwell nabbed the handle. However, she does own www.cathymaxwell.com and she'd love for you to swing by.)
She lives in the Austin, TX area where she is having the time of her life.
Visit her on Instagram, Twitter, FB, and TikTok at maxwellcathy (Yes, some other Cathy Maxwell nabbed the handle. However, she does own www.cathymaxwell.com and she'd love for you to swing by.)
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September 11, 2023
✨It Happened One Dangerous Night…✨
Am I completely certain this book was at least a little bit inspired by It Happened One Night? No, I’m really shooting for the moon hoping to land amongst the stars here BUT listen…
They’re on the run (to and from things), they get stranded together, and it’s an absolute delight of a road-trip romance. So yes, while I’m not willing to bet any amount of money on being right…the It Happened One Night argument ~compels me though~ and should be correct, if I do say so myself.
All that to say, I’m so glad I picked this one up!! The cover got me so good that I didn’t even read the summary before requesting the ARC or reading the book. It was one of those where I knew I was going to have a good time from page one. I sure do love me a road trip, and dare I say this could be a good comp for A Week to Be Wicked?? I think I dare!
I was laughing in public and smiling at my kindle, so yeah it had me acting foolish out on these streets! It was pretty low angst because it contains the super fun micro-trope that sometimes results from mistaken/hidden identity: Dramantic Irony. Is this a real term? No, but hear me out… Since they were both pretending/appearing to be lower/working class, for most of the book they both thought that they couldn’t end up with each other. Meanwhile—this is where I kneel at the feet of dramantic irony—WE know that they’re actually perfectly suited for each other in real life too!!*
So basically, the whole conflict that they thought was coming, simply didn’t come. Other things happened to derail some plans and separate them for a bit, but it all felt so *safe* as a reader? Like I knew I wasn’t going to have to fight a battle late in the book just to get to their HEA. They’d already slayed their dragons, so it was just a matter of tying up some loose ends (and healing some bruises lol). Simply, the book was a lot of fun and developed tension very creatively. There was also a vagabond dog tagging along for the ride. Ya LOVE to see it.
I also just really loved Elise and Kit, which is great for me since they were in the same room, on the same page for practically the entire book. Neither character was perfect—they both actively grappled with their flaws and past wrongs—but a more endearing pair of hot messes you’ll never find! There’s a part where Elise just gets to unleash her rage and flail around on the ground that…spoke to me so viscerally. She also got to ugly cry it out and to that I applaud! I too would be feeling very sorry for myself, such a relatable queen.
I do want to note that I did pause halfway through my ARC to go read book one. I’m not ~quite~ sure if I’d have connected quite so quickly with Elise if I’d have fully read book one before starting this one. Because Elise wasn’t very likable in book one. I actually think having read part of her book before that one made me like that book better as well. Do with that what you will.
Overall, if you want a classic road trip romp absolutely full to the brim with unfortunate travel mishaps and only one beds, definitely give this a try. I’m very excited for book three and now have the urge to read more from Cathy Maxwell’s backlist to fill the void 😃
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5**/5 🌶️🌶️/5
*Note: This happened in Love Letters from a Duke by Elizabeth Boyle as well. The heroine wanted to marry a duke and was REAL sad she was falling for her new footman…who happened to be a duke in disguise lol.
**There were a few villains/bad guys in the book that weren’t fully dealt with for reasons that made sense, but also made me sad. There was a part with two nasty men in the middle in particular, and I really wish there would’ve been a throwaway comment saying that they were arrested or something. It just made me a bit queasy because they implied that one of them was intensely violent to a woman in the past, while attempting to hurt the heroine in the present. While Elise got away pretty unscathed, I can’t help but feel a bit unsatisfied knowing that they still exist in that world to hurt more women. This is def a me thing, but I really fixate on situations like this!!
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
Am I completely certain this book was at least a little bit inspired by It Happened One Night? No, I’m really shooting for the moon hoping to land amongst the stars here BUT listen…
They’re on the run (to and from things), they get stranded together, and it’s an absolute delight of a road-trip romance. So yes, while I’m not willing to bet any amount of money on being right…the It Happened One Night argument ~compels me though~ and should be correct, if I do say so myself.
All that to say, I’m so glad I picked this one up!! The cover got me so good that I didn’t even read the summary before requesting the ARC or reading the book. It was one of those where I knew I was going to have a good time from page one. I sure do love me a road trip, and dare I say this could be a good comp for A Week to Be Wicked?? I think I dare!
I was laughing in public and smiling at my kindle, so yeah it had me acting foolish out on these streets! It was pretty low angst because it contains the super fun micro-trope that sometimes results from mistaken/hidden identity: Dramantic Irony. Is this a real term? No, but hear me out… Since they were both pretending/appearing to be lower/working class, for most of the book they both thought that they couldn’t end up with each other. Meanwhile—this is where I kneel at the feet of dramantic irony—WE know that they’re actually perfectly suited for each other in real life too!!*
So basically, the whole conflict that they thought was coming, simply didn’t come. Other things happened to derail some plans and separate them for a bit, but it all felt so *safe* as a reader? Like I knew I wasn’t going to have to fight a battle late in the book just to get to their HEA. They’d already slayed their dragons, so it was just a matter of tying up some loose ends (and healing some bruises lol). Simply, the book was a lot of fun and developed tension very creatively. There was also a vagabond dog tagging along for the ride. Ya LOVE to see it.
I also just really loved Elise and Kit, which is great for me since they were in the same room, on the same page for practically the entire book. Neither character was perfect—they both actively grappled with their flaws and past wrongs—but a more endearing pair of hot messes you’ll never find! There’s a part where Elise just gets to unleash her rage and flail around on the ground that…spoke to me so viscerally. She also got to ugly cry it out and to that I applaud! I too would be feeling very sorry for myself, such a relatable queen.
I do want to note that I did pause halfway through my ARC to go read book one. I’m not ~quite~ sure if I’d have connected quite so quickly with Elise if I’d have fully read book one before starting this one. Because Elise wasn’t very likable in book one. I actually think having read part of her book before that one made me like that book better as well. Do with that what you will.
Overall, if you want a classic road trip romp absolutely full to the brim with unfortunate travel mishaps and only one beds, definitely give this a try. I’m very excited for book three and now have the urge to read more from Cathy Maxwell’s backlist to fill the void 😃
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5**/5 🌶️🌶️/5
*Note: This happened in Love Letters from a Duke by Elizabeth Boyle as well. The heroine wanted to marry a duke and was REAL sad she was falling for her new footman…who happened to be a duke in disguise lol.
**There were a few villains/bad guys in the book that weren’t fully dealt with for reasons that made sense, but also made me sad. There was a part with two nasty men in the middle in particular, and I really wish there would’ve been a throwaway comment saying that they were arrested or something. It just made me a bit queasy because they implied that one of them was intensely violent to a woman in the past, while attempting to hurt the heroine in the present. While Elise got away pretty unscathed, I can’t help but feel a bit unsatisfied knowing that they still exist in that world to hurt more women. This is def a me thing, but I really fixate on situations like this!!
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
December 18, 2023
I didn’t love the first book in the series, but I was hoping I’d love the second one. The set up is my kind of bananas plot line setup dream. But unfortunately, I just didn’t believe in Kit and Elise as a couple and was so frustrated with Elise in the first half that it was hard for the latter half to make up for it.
A couple of strangers, one a runaway debutant and the other a Duke disguised as a ruffian, stuck together after a carriage crash leave them stranded should have been perfect for me. And it was! Until Elise continued to act completely immature and ridiculous for way too many pages. For someone that goes on tangents about the world being unfair to women (which is true), she spends a good chunk of her time blowing up over nothing and running headlong into dangerous situations for zero reason? Kit is very accommodating and respectful and she’s throwing tantrums and kicking her feet like a toddler because….she said he smelled bad so he bathed?? I think Maxwell was trying to paint Elise as an independent minded Bluestocking. But what we ended up with was an extremely immature character that was almost insufferable to read about for 200 pages.
Once we hit the 60-ish percent mark, I started to enjoy Kit and Elise together (although I didn’t feel like they loved each other in a week long span). But there were still plot lines that weren’t fleshed out well (Kit’s backstory) and I kept expecting a more emotional resolution to the big plot twist, which unfortunately ended up being really really unsatisfying.
I’m interested to see where the final Lanscarr sister, Gwendolyn, ends up because her story snippet at the end has my interest piqued, but this installment wasn’t really enjoyable for me.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
A couple of strangers, one a runaway debutant and the other a Duke disguised as a ruffian, stuck together after a carriage crash leave them stranded should have been perfect for me. And it was! Until Elise continued to act completely immature and ridiculous for way too many pages. For someone that goes on tangents about the world being unfair to women (which is true), she spends a good chunk of her time blowing up over nothing and running headlong into dangerous situations for zero reason? Kit is very accommodating and respectful and she’s throwing tantrums and kicking her feet like a toddler because….she said he smelled bad so he bathed?? I think Maxwell was trying to paint Elise as an independent minded Bluestocking. But what we ended up with was an extremely immature character that was almost insufferable to read about for 200 pages.
Once we hit the 60-ish percent mark, I started to enjoy Kit and Elise together (although I didn’t feel like they loved each other in a week long span). But there were still plot lines that weren’t fleshed out well (Kit’s backstory) and I kept expecting a more emotional resolution to the big plot twist, which unfortunately ended up being really really unsatisfying.
I’m interested to see where the final Lanscarr sister, Gwendolyn, ends up because her story snippet at the end has my interest piqued, but this installment wasn’t really enjoyable for me.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
February 17, 2025
DNF Review
I am marking this as a DNF at 55%. As I did receive this originally from Harper Collins (Avon) in exchange for a honest review, I did try to give this book a good chance. However, this heroine is a TSTL type of heroine and she was driving me bonkers. It also felt very modernistic so I think I won't be reading any more of this author moving forward for newer releases, I might read A Touch of Steele as I was also gifted an ARC of that one and the blurb doesn't sound too bad on it. I know from this book and other viewpoints from the family that this heroine was the more "feminist" one so I am hoping the other book will be good.
So what did I struggle with on this one? I actually at first really loved the premise, the banter between these two were fun and I really liked the tropes that were involved. However, the heroine was very annoying. Some of her dialogue started to really grate on my nerves, and it became quickly obvious that this book was becoming modernistic. I didn't care for how she treated the hero, like because he was a man he was beneath her and that she didn't need to be respectful as he was really to her most of the time. At first I liked the hero, but he kept apologizing for saying common sense things of the time. The heroine also takes actions in this book that honestly are so stupid lol like I am a woman, I am independent and no harm will happen to me because I say so type of heroine. Like girl....come on use your head. I also wasn't a fan for how she was so impatient and it had to be her way all the time or the highway type of mentality. I was thinking about trying to force myself to read this longer, but honestly I can't keep it with this heroine, its that or just throw my kindle against the wall in frustration. Its sad that I had to DNF a book from a favorite author however, I think this is an author that like many others, has probably been forced by the publisher to change their writing style to fit a modernistic narrative. I will be reading her backlogged books though.
I am marking this as a DNF at 55%. As I did receive this originally from Harper Collins (Avon) in exchange for a honest review, I did try to give this book a good chance. However, this heroine is a TSTL type of heroine and she was driving me bonkers. It also felt very modernistic so I think I won't be reading any more of this author moving forward for newer releases, I might read A Touch of Steele as I was also gifted an ARC of that one and the blurb doesn't sound too bad on it. I know from this book and other viewpoints from the family that this heroine was the more "feminist" one so I am hoping the other book will be good.
So what did I struggle with on this one? I actually at first really loved the premise, the banter between these two were fun and I really liked the tropes that were involved. However, the heroine was very annoying. Some of her dialogue started to really grate on my nerves, and it became quickly obvious that this book was becoming modernistic. I didn't care for how she treated the hero, like because he was a man he was beneath her and that she didn't need to be respectful as he was really to her most of the time. At first I liked the hero, but he kept apologizing for saying common sense things of the time. The heroine also takes actions in this book that honestly are so stupid lol like I am a woman, I am independent and no harm will happen to me because I say so type of heroine. Like girl....come on use your head. I also wasn't a fan for how she was so impatient and it had to be her way all the time or the highway type of mentality. I was thinking about trying to force myself to read this longer, but honestly I can't keep it with this heroine, its that or just throw my kindle against the wall in frustration. Its sad that I had to DNF a book from a favorite author however, I think this is an author that like many others, has probably been forced by the publisher to change their writing style to fit a modernistic narrative. I will be reading her backlogged books though.
October 11, 2023
Ok this is book rocked my socks off. This is part 2 of The Gambler's Daughters series, but can be read as a standalone. Although I highly recommend book one, not only because it’s fantastic, but because you are going to get a lot of backstory about Elise and her dilemma.
One thing Cathy Maxwell is gonna give you is a banger opening scene and she doesn’t disappoint here. Our headstrong heroine, Elise, has flounced out of London, running away to the family home in Ireland because living under the same roof as her sister and the man Elise is in love with is too much. (Can you blame her?) She comes off vain and whiny in the previous book and I love it that here we get inside her head and see what’s she’s really going through. Both of these characters grow so much during the story.
Anyway, first scene, there’s a mail coach, a storm, a crash, (isn’t that always the way? If I was a historical heroine I’d basically never get in a blasted mail coach, you know bad things are going down) and then suddenly she’s alone in the pouring rain with this mysterious and dangerous looking stranger, who’s giving her funny feelings she’s never had before.
The book immediately tears off into an adventure caper as they try to get on their way, soon joined by a smart and adorable dog. These two are both furious at life, having each been thrown over for another, and they’re both running away in their own way, which makes it so lovely that they get to fall in love 🥰
Kit is a protective reformed-rake cinnamon roll, but he has to keep his true identity as a duke hidden from Elise. I love secret identity and it’s done wonderfully here.
This is a slowwww burn, they don’t kiss until 64% into the book but they’re having such a grand adventure I hardly noticed. Their banter is adorable and there is something exciting happening on every page. You've got the 'will they, won't they' vibe, he's running from a guy trying to kill him, she's trying to get to Ireland but redirects halfway through the book, it's really fun).
There is one prolonged love scene that was tender and beautiful. The third act breakup is more of a brief separation, which was great. I wouldn’t say this book is necessarily low angst, as both of them feel a lot of pain about their life experiences, but the angst is not directed toward each other.
The proposal scene had me bawling and the epilogue got me drooling for Gwendolyn’s book. A rare and happy 5 stars for me!
Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the ebook in exchange for my honest review
One thing Cathy Maxwell is gonna give you is a banger opening scene and she doesn’t disappoint here. Our headstrong heroine, Elise, has flounced out of London, running away to the family home in Ireland because living under the same roof as her sister and the man Elise is in love with is too much. (Can you blame her?) She comes off vain and whiny in the previous book and I love it that here we get inside her head and see what’s she’s really going through. Both of these characters grow so much during the story.
Anyway, first scene, there’s a mail coach, a storm, a crash, (isn’t that always the way? If I was a historical heroine I’d basically never get in a blasted mail coach, you know bad things are going down) and then suddenly she’s alone in the pouring rain with this mysterious and dangerous looking stranger, who’s giving her funny feelings she’s never had before.
The book immediately tears off into an adventure caper as they try to get on their way, soon joined by a smart and adorable dog. These two are both furious at life, having each been thrown over for another, and they’re both running away in their own way, which makes it so lovely that they get to fall in love 🥰
Kit is a protective reformed-rake cinnamon roll, but he has to keep his true identity as a duke hidden from Elise. I love secret identity and it’s done wonderfully here.
This is a slowwww burn, they don’t kiss until 64% into the book but they’re having such a grand adventure I hardly noticed. Their banter is adorable and there is something exciting happening on every page. You've got the 'will they, won't they' vibe, he's running from a guy trying to kill him, she's trying to get to Ireland but redirects halfway through the book, it's really fun).
There is one prolonged love scene that was tender and beautiful. The third act breakup is more of a brief separation, which was great. I wouldn’t say this book is necessarily low angst, as both of them feel a lot of pain about their life experiences, but the angst is not directed toward each other.
The proposal scene had me bawling and the epilogue got me drooling for Gwendolyn’s book. A rare and happy 5 stars for me!
Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the ebook in exchange for my honest review
March 18, 2024
What a fun, low-angst road trip romance! One Dangerous Night is the second book in the Gambler's Daughters series. In the first book Elise, youngest of the Lanscarr sisters, expected a proposal from Michael Brogan only to be shocked when he married her older sister Dara instead. Even worse? Now she has to live with the disgustingly happy couple and get her nose rubbed in the fact that she's single. So, she runs away with all of the sisters' pocket money. Carriages sure aren't built the way they used to be, because there's a giant accident on the road, and she's suddenly stuck with Kit Cox, the only other passenger. Kit might smell kind of bad and wear ugly clothes, but he's not a bad guy, so she decides to stick with him for a while until she can buy another fare to get back to Ireland. After a few days of travel, their close proximity, banter, only-one-haystack/bed/shack in the woods lead to the obvious conclusion: they've fallen in love. But how will she explain to her sisters that she's choosing a life on the road with a scruffy dude instead of marrying a duke? (Psst, Kit is a duke in disguise, so maybe they won't be too shocked after all...)
This is a really fun read that even manages to pack in a couple of surprises along the way. Do note that sexual harassment/assault (or the threat of it) is the subject of at least four plot points; if this is triggering to you, you may wish to avoid. (It is not graphic.) One Dangerous Night was a great way to spend a weekend afternoon.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
This is a really fun read that even manages to pack in a couple of surprises along the way. Do note that sexual harassment/assault (or the threat of it) is the subject of at least four plot points; if this is triggering to you, you may wish to avoid. (It is not graphic.) One Dangerous Night was a great way to spend a weekend afternoon.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
December 12, 2023
For a book based on one night, this was a very long night, but I did read the second half of the book in a few hours. I could not put it down.
This is the story of Elise and Kit who fall in love while they are both on the run. Elise is running from her sister who married the man she was in love with and is trying to return home to Ireland. Kit is acting as Prince Hal, trying to find himself after he feels that he is a “disgrace to his family and his title” (6%). The story begins with the carriage crash that is the catalyst for these two to spend so much time together that Elise finally demands “you reek. You smell. You are--” (27%) to which Kit immediately storms off, but Elise doesn’t realize he has taken her advice to heart and the ruffian goes to bathe in the stream. God these two go through so much drama on this trip. They even adopt and train a dog, Tamsyn, on the journey.
My heart broke for Elise, when she acknowledged that in the end Michael used her to get attention from her sister, Dara. Who can blame her for running away and wanting to be free from living with the man she wanted to marry. Then the second half of the book really picks things up.
We have a big reveal with the father (which I really did not like in the story), gambling (which I also have learned I don’t care for as a character trait for a hero), and a romance that was such a slow burn and so perfect.
We get to see this couple go from animosity, to friendship: “See I knew you were an intelligent man,” she said. “All I had to do was agree with you” (58%). Then finally to love, “Real love. Not infatuation but something earthier and stronger” (58%). We watch these two fall in love, and recognize it themselves before they ever have sex or even kiss! It was so refreshing and different to read these events happening in this order.
Their first kiss was perfect, the first time they got together was so sweet, but my absolute favorite part of this book was the very ending when these two got back together. Without any spoilers, I was squealing the entire time waiting for them to be reunited once I figured out how it was going to end. And wow, I couldn’t imagine anything more romantic or perfect. The life or death situation, the stress of them being separated, then them getting back together the way that they do, all I can say is this is the emotional rollercoaster I look for in a romance novel.
This is the story of Elise and Kit who fall in love while they are both on the run. Elise is running from her sister who married the man she was in love with and is trying to return home to Ireland. Kit is acting as Prince Hal, trying to find himself after he feels that he is a “disgrace to his family and his title” (6%). The story begins with the carriage crash that is the catalyst for these two to spend so much time together that Elise finally demands “you reek. You smell. You are--” (27%) to which Kit immediately storms off, but Elise doesn’t realize he has taken her advice to heart and the ruffian goes to bathe in the stream. God these two go through so much drama on this trip. They even adopt and train a dog, Tamsyn, on the journey.
My heart broke for Elise, when she acknowledged that in the end Michael used her to get attention from her sister, Dara. Who can blame her for running away and wanting to be free from living with the man she wanted to marry. Then the second half of the book really picks things up.
We have a big reveal with the father (which I really did not like in the story), gambling (which I also have learned I don’t care for as a character trait for a hero), and a romance that was such a slow burn and so perfect.
We get to see this couple go from animosity, to friendship: “See I knew you were an intelligent man,” she said. “All I had to do was agree with you” (58%). Then finally to love, “Real love. Not infatuation but something earthier and stronger” (58%). We watch these two fall in love, and recognize it themselves before they ever have sex or even kiss! It was so refreshing and different to read these events happening in this order.
Their first kiss was perfect, the first time they got together was so sweet, but my absolute favorite part of this book was the very ending when these two got back together. Without any spoilers, I was squealing the entire time waiting for them to be reunited once I figured out how it was going to end. And wow, I couldn’t imagine anything more romantic or perfect. The life or death situation, the stress of them being separated, then them getting back together the way that they do, all I can say is this is the emotional rollercoaster I look for in a romance novel.
August 24, 2024
Two people who left their homes in a snit, for purely selfish reasons, get thrown together - literally. They have to travel together for a period of time and end up working out their perceived grievances, maturing a bit and finding a better version of themselves along the way.
The H, Kit Cox, had been on the road for over a year, so some of his childishness had been worked on. I rather liked him and his development.But the h, Elise Lanscarr had just started out and, Boy, was she a chore. I really couldn't like her until 85% of the way through the book, and then it was a grudging like. The number of times I wanted someone to put her in her place. Must have been every chapter. She'd kick off, sulk, become violent and/or storm off when things didn't go her way. Her behaviour was excessive for a child, let alone a grown woman.
At one point, she storms off, jumps into a cart with a complete stranger and nearly gets raped/killed by folks from Deliverance. Kit rescues her. He gets hurt in the process. She isn't suitably grateful. It's like she has no idea how close to serious disaster she was. She takes very little responsibility for going off on her own and tries to go it alone again later on in the book. She learns nothing!
She continued to demand. She never asked or suggested and was only happy when Kit capitulated. Zero humility.
Because of this, I found it a real struggle getting to the end.
It was a nice ending, BTW.
The H, Kit Cox, had been on the road for over a year, so some of his childishness had been worked on. I rather liked him and his development.But the h, Elise Lanscarr had just started out and, Boy, was she a chore. I really couldn't like her until 85% of the way through the book, and then it was a grudging like. The number of times I wanted someone to put her in her place. Must have been every chapter. She'd kick off, sulk, become violent and/or storm off when things didn't go her way. Her behaviour was excessive for a child, let alone a grown woman.
At one point, she storms off, jumps into a cart with a complete stranger and nearly gets raped/killed by folks from Deliverance. Kit rescues her. He gets hurt in the process. She isn't suitably grateful. It's like she has no idea how close to serious disaster she was. She takes very little responsibility for going off on her own and tries to go it alone again later on in the book. She learns nothing!
She continued to demand. She never asked or suggested and was only happy when Kit capitulated. Zero humility.
Because of this, I found it a real struggle getting to the end.
It was a nice ending, BTW.
June 28, 2024
Cathy Maxwell can be a hit-or-miss author for me but I’m so glad to say this one is a hit!!
I’m not going to lie: I really did not like Elise in the first book in the series. She was spoiled, selfish, and a snob. I was looking forward to her getting her comeuppance and falling in love at the same time. And she does both! Kit is the perfect hero for her: a secret aristocrat who knows how to survive in the world. He brings Elise down several pegs in this adventure and I ended up loving her in the end, too. It’s a fun romp and I love that it’s set away from London! I cannot wait to read the next in the series!
*I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not going to lie: I really did not like Elise in the first book in the series. She was spoiled, selfish, and a snob. I was looking forward to her getting her comeuppance and falling in love at the same time. And she does both! Kit is the perfect hero for her: a secret aristocrat who knows how to survive in the world. He brings Elise down several pegs in this adventure and I ended up loving her in the end, too. It’s a fun romp and I love that it’s set away from London! I cannot wait to read the next in the series!
*I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2024
I've read better books by this author...a bit disappointed in this one.
March 13, 2024
This book is everything I hope for when I pick up a road trip romance. It literally checked every box on my perfect road trip romance list! I just adored this book so very much!
Both the leads are running from something and end up finding themselves stuck together. Kit and Elise go through a lot on their journey across England (including picking up a K9 companion), and I was here for all of it.
They definitely don't start off as friends, but as they face challenges of all sorts, they start to trust and respect each other. This is definitely a slow burn, but the tension was SO good!
Both leads had such lovely character arcs. They are the perfect example of finding the person that makes you better, and they ultimately realize the only thing they are really running from is themselves.
Major bonus points for Tamsyn the puppers!
This book also has an amazing set-up for the next book, which I'm very much looking forward to reading.
Seriously, you just need to read it!
I received an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Both the leads are running from something and end up finding themselves stuck together. Kit and Elise go through a lot on their journey across England (including picking up a K9 companion), and I was here for all of it.
They definitely don't start off as friends, but as they face challenges of all sorts, they start to trust and respect each other. This is definitely a slow burn, but the tension was SO good!
Both leads had such lovely character arcs. They are the perfect example of finding the person that makes you better, and they ultimately realize the only thing they are really running from is themselves.
Major bonus points for Tamsyn the puppers!
This book also has an amazing set-up for the next book, which I'm very much looking forward to reading.
Seriously, you just need to read it!
I received an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 16, 2024
One Dangerous Night is the second book in Cathy Maxwell's The Gambler's Daughters series and this one is one of my absolute favorite tropes-road trip! Maxwell is a historical romance author who has been writing in this genre for many years, and at times her novels have the slightly older school late '90s early 2000s feel, but in this series I can definitely see some strides that Maxwell has been taking that are bringing her style more up to date. This novel was a really charming and romantic one. Maxwell's writing was clear and open, her character's were fun and dimensional, and the pacing was really well balanced. This love story was romantic and soft and was allowed to beautiful build on this journey these two character's find themselves entangled on. I love that the hero and heroine felt like equals, I love that they both grow on this journey to trust each other and there is no silly 3rd act breakup or mistrust between them. This was such a joyful, fun and flirty ride and a lot of the mystery surrounding the heroine's father is brought to light in this installment. I would highly recommend this series if you are looking for a light historical romance which heavily features the haphazard nature of a road trip!
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 13, 2024
The way this story encompassed such a short time span for a romance left little room for the development of characters and a relationship, plus, the lack of tension made this a tedious story to read.
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to respond to this story. All opinions are my own.
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to respond to this story. All opinions are my own.
March 13, 2024
One Dangerous Night
Review: 2 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC provided through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.
***SPOILERS***
One Dangerous Night was very close to being a DNF book for me. Elise was so insufferable and stubborn throughout most of the book. The choices she made were so childish and kept putting herself in danger because of them. I'm sorry but I could not stand her. She thought a little too much of herself that she was even surprised when Kit did not fall at her feet the minute she saw her. She behaved like a conceited brat.
The only characters I liked were Kit and Tamsyn, the dog. I would have liked to have learned more about Kit's past, to better understand his decision of why he left everything behind without any mere care in the world.
To be honest if this were a contemporary romance these two would divorce within the first year of marriage.
Review: 2 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC provided through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.
***SPOILERS***
One Dangerous Night was very close to being a DNF book for me. Elise was so insufferable and stubborn throughout most of the book. The choices she made were so childish and kept putting herself in danger because of them. I'm sorry but I could not stand her. She thought a little too much of herself that she was even surprised when Kit did not fall at her feet the minute she saw her. She behaved like a conceited brat.
The only characters I liked were Kit and Tamsyn, the dog. I would have liked to have learned more about Kit's past, to better understand his decision of why he left everything behind without any mere care in the world.
To be honest if this were a contemporary romance these two would divorce within the first year of marriage.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2024
I really enjoyed this second installment in the Gambler's Daughters trilogy. Elise is young and naive, self centered and very stubborn....and she learns a lot on this runaway roadtrip. I think what I like most is that she isn't "redeemed" but instead grows up and recognizes the value in who she is. It helps that a handsome duke is also a runaway on a mission to find himself. There's adventure and misfortune and joy and love.
July 31, 2025
This book was unfortunately a bit of a slog for me. It took me forever to place Kit as the character I'd referred to as Brandon's punkish nephew in a previous book and he started off nearly as irritating as he was in that book. He was only made less so by his genuine attempts to make something of himself and by the fact that there's no possible way he could have been as irritating as Elise was. She was impetuous and petulant, rude and haughty, not to mention selfish. I really did enjoy the last couple of chapters when they each realized their feelings for one another and that they wanted to stay together no matter what. I also appreciated the fact that Kit's true identity was revealed with very little fuss and none of the drama or angst I'd feared Elise would bring to the table. Overall, despite the rushed nature of the deep feelings these two are supposed to have developed, this was a decent story, and I really did enjoy the last bit, Elise was just a pill.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 25, 2024
Entertaining story is really a 3.5 but I rounded down because there was so much more potential to the story that was missing. He was running from the pressure and expectations of his position. Yet he took on a lot of responsibility on his wanderings.
She was running away from disappointment but disappointment kept dogging her.
I guess this was a story about the two of them learning to deal with disappointments and responsibility as a couple. I think lessons could have been articulated and demonstrated more fully.
Ugggggh, the sexual tension was as thick as pea soup. There was only one coupling in a field for crying out loud! 🌶🌶 The end was satisfying. . . in a rushed kinda way.
She was running away from disappointment but disappointment kept dogging her.
I guess this was a story about the two of them learning to deal with disappointments and responsibility as a couple. I think lessons could have been articulated and demonstrated more fully.
Ugggggh, the sexual tension was as thick as pea soup. There was only one coupling in a field for crying out loud! 🌶🌶 The end was satisfying. . . in a rushed kinda way.
May 19, 2024
Miss Elise Lancaster and Kit Cox meet on a mail coach. She's on her way to Ireland, he doesn't care where he's going. He abandoned his life as a duke. She left unhappiness behind in London. She is opinionated and independent and gets into trouble. He becomes her protector. Never a dull moment as these two try to find themselves and fall in love. Don't expect to put this book down for very long.
Mild descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.
Mild descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.
March 25, 2024
Talk about a fun and exciting book that grabs you for the very beginning, this is it!! I could not put it down. I am a big fan of Cathy Maxwell to start with and this book was perfect. This is the second in the Gambler’s Daughters series. This story is about Elise Lanscarr who felt wronged by her sister and has run back to Ireland where her family home is. So she tries to catch a stagecoach, alone, and head home. Of course, just her luck, the stagecoach crashes during a huge storm and her would be rescuer is Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox. He is handsome and rugged and seems to not follow the rules of society. Keeping secrets from each other they help each other through the terrible crash and survive the night to get home. Christopher is a Duke and he has been missing for a while trying to flee his responsibilities. Now they must survive this dangerous night together and resist that passion that is building between them. I loved this book. Packed with adventure, secrets, passion and fun this book has everything you could want in a historical romance. I received this as an ebook ARC but I will be buying this for my shelf. I have to read it again and again. It's that good. Enjoy this adventure.
May 31, 2024
I see a lot of people comparing this to “It Happened One Night” but I would liken more so to “Tangled” or “Leap Year.” Furthermore, if you are a fan of Tessa Dare’s “A Week to be Wicked” this might be a good one to pick up! (Although I find Dare’s novel much more enticing, this one pale’s in comparison of every regard).
Elise is a ninny. I honestly bordered on hating her this entire novel. Not once did she think of anyone but herself, and even then the decisions she made were utterly reckless and absurd. Kit was only slightly better, although his stubborn surliness began to grate as the story went on, and neither character achieved any form of character development whatsoever. The miscommunication in every chapter was infuriating. You know your characters are bad when the best part of the novel is the dog!
This is a personal gripe, but I hate when romances make the epilogue about a different character. That is supposed to be one of the most fun romantic parts and now it’s been stolen away by character we only saw for 5 total pages in this whole novel. Given that there weren’t many moments of romance in this to begin with, I was supremely disappointed by the ending.
This book achieved 3⭐️ because I was at least engaged enough to finish it and there were a few moments of banter that had me laughing. As a romance, however, it was boring and unlikable.
Elise is a ninny. I honestly bordered on hating her this entire novel. Not once did she think of anyone but herself, and even then the decisions she made were utterly reckless and absurd. Kit was only slightly better, although his stubborn surliness began to grate as the story went on, and neither character achieved any form of character development whatsoever. The miscommunication in every chapter was infuriating. You know your characters are bad when the best part of the novel is the dog!
This is a personal gripe, but I hate when romances make the epilogue about a different character. That is supposed to be one of the most fun romantic parts and now it’s been stolen away by character we only saw for 5 total pages in this whole novel. Given that there weren’t many moments of romance in this to begin with, I was supremely disappointed by the ending.
This book achieved 3⭐️ because I was at least engaged enough to finish it and there were a few moments of banter that had me laughing. As a romance, however, it was boring and unlikable.
December 18, 2023
I didn’t love the first book in the series, but I was hoping I’d love the second one. The set up is my kind of bananas plot line setup dream. But unfortunately, I just didn’t believe in Kit and Elise as a couple and was so frustrated with Elise in the first half that it was hard for the latter half to make up for it.
A couple of strangers, one a runaway debutant and the other a Duke disguised as a ruffian, stuck together after a carriage crash leave them stranded should have been perfect for me. And it was! Until Elise continued to act completely immature and ridiculous for way too many pages. For someone that goes on tangents about the world being unfair to women (which is true), she spends a good chunk of her time blowing up over nothing and running headlong into dangerous situations for zero reason? Kit is very accommodating and respectful and she’s throwing tantrums and kicking her feet like a toddler because….she said he smelled bad so he bathed?? I think Maxwell was trying to paint Elise as an independent minded Bluestocking. But what we ended up with was an extremely immature character that was almost insufferable to read about for 200 pages.
Once we hit the 60-ish percent mark, I started to enjoy Kit and Elise together (although I didn’t feel like they loved each other in a week long span). But there were still plot lines that weren’t fleshed out well (Kit’s backstory) and I kept expecting a more emotional resolution to the big plot twist, which unfortunately ended up being really really unsatisfying.
I’m interested to see where the final Lanscarr sister, Gwendolyn, ends up because her story snippet at the end has my interest piqued, but this installment wasn’t really enjoyable for me.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
A couple of strangers, one a runaway debutant and the other a Duke disguised as a ruffian, stuck together after a carriage crash leave them stranded should have been perfect for me. And it was! Until Elise continued to act completely immature and ridiculous for way too many pages. For someone that goes on tangents about the world being unfair to women (which is true), she spends a good chunk of her time blowing up over nothing and running headlong into dangerous situations for zero reason? Kit is very accommodating and respectful and she’s throwing tantrums and kicking her feet like a toddler because….she said he smelled bad so he bathed?? I think Maxwell was trying to paint Elise as an independent minded Bluestocking. But what we ended up with was an extremely immature character that was almost insufferable to read about for 200 pages.
Once we hit the 60-ish percent mark, I started to enjoy Kit and Elise together (although I didn’t feel like they loved each other in a week long span). But there were still plot lines that weren’t fleshed out well (Kit’s backstory) and I kept expecting a more emotional resolution to the big plot twist, which unfortunately ended up being really really unsatisfying.
I’m interested to see where the final Lanscarr sister, Gwendolyn, ends up because her story snippet at the end has my interest piqued, but this installment wasn’t really enjoyable for me.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
April 21, 2024
This is the second in the series, "The Gambler's Daughters." It can be read as a stand-alone. Enough backstory is given throughout the novel, so it's easy to follow the story of Elise Lanscarr. That being said, I definitely plan to read the first one after this one. I think it might be even more interesting since I know how Elise changed from the first one.
Elise was distraught because she was convinced her sister stole her true love, and decided to flee back home to Ireland to lick her wounds. She also thought she would find comfort there even though her cousin, who inherited her family's home after her father's death. She was traveling by coach. At the same time, the lost Duke, Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, "Kit," was running from himself, and trying to become the man he wanted to be. So, he escaped his downfall in society, leaving only his mother who had faith in him. She believed in true love, and never knew what Kit's father was really like, a true wastrel and womanizer. Kit was broken-hearted on his mother's behalf, but would never destroy her illusion. However, his illusion in love, responsibility sent him in a dark down spiral.
Elise and Kit end up in the same coach, and were the only passengers since it left during a bad storm. Typical in most Regency novels, the coach crashed, and they were the only survivors. They find a dog who helps them find shelter for the stormy night. Of course, the dog ends up adopting them. They have lots of adventures; some are funny, exciting, and wonderful, but a couple of are harrowing and terrifying.
While they hide parts of their own stories from one another, they end up forming a deep relationship, falling in love with each other. She and her sisters went to London to marry dukes. The first did not, but Elise has decided he would rather live for love, not worry if she doesn't have money, and instead be happy. I won't ruin this, but there is a very heartbreaking moment in the novel.
Little do they know, while they are on the run, someone is following them to "rescue" them. He has separate missions. He is trying to find the missing Duke, and as a favor, he is also searching for Elise.
Of course, there is a HEA. It has a pretty twist to it; avoiding conflict and misunderstandings.
There are a few things that may seem little, but to me, help show they are looking for their place in the world...not London society, but their own value and purpose. It's their hats. While they are mentioned at different times, and how important they are to themselves, it's an example, or foreshadowing of how they belong together. I promise this isn't a spoiler. It is in the beginning in the story, and happens all in inner dialogue. Okay, once a tad later.
They are both there for one another to help themselves without expectations, and heal one another. He was there for her when she really needed him. She helped him realize he isn't as bad as he thinks he is.
There is a sexy, heated scene, but it's in the perfect place and in the perfect place in the novel.
There is a big trigger about a violent (attempted) rape. It was scary, but well resolved.
This is a quick read. I'm not sure if it's because the book itself is short, or that I read it at any chance I had.
I plan to read it again, and possibly more than once again.
Did I mention there is a vague and exciting hint as to the subject of the next novel? So exciting!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Elise was distraught because she was convinced her sister stole her true love, and decided to flee back home to Ireland to lick her wounds. She also thought she would find comfort there even though her cousin, who inherited her family's home after her father's death. She was traveling by coach. At the same time, the lost Duke, Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, "Kit," was running from himself, and trying to become the man he wanted to be. So, he escaped his downfall in society, leaving only his mother who had faith in him. She believed in true love, and never knew what Kit's father was really like, a true wastrel and womanizer. Kit was broken-hearted on his mother's behalf, but would never destroy her illusion. However, his illusion in love, responsibility sent him in a dark down spiral.
Elise and Kit end up in the same coach, and were the only passengers since it left during a bad storm. Typical in most Regency novels, the coach crashed, and they were the only survivors. They find a dog who helps them find shelter for the stormy night. Of course, the dog ends up adopting them. They have lots of adventures; some are funny, exciting, and wonderful, but a couple of are harrowing and terrifying.
While they hide parts of their own stories from one another, they end up forming a deep relationship, falling in love with each other. She and her sisters went to London to marry dukes. The first did not, but Elise has decided he would rather live for love, not worry if she doesn't have money, and instead be happy. I won't ruin this, but there is a very heartbreaking moment in the novel.
Little do they know, while they are on the run, someone is following them to "rescue" them. He has separate missions. He is trying to find the missing Duke, and as a favor, he is also searching for Elise.
Of course, there is a HEA. It has a pretty twist to it; avoiding conflict and misunderstandings.
There are a few things that may seem little, but to me, help show they are looking for their place in the world...not London society, but their own value and purpose. It's their hats. While they are mentioned at different times, and how important they are to themselves, it's an example, or foreshadowing of how they belong together. I promise this isn't a spoiler. It is in the beginning in the story, and happens all in inner dialogue. Okay, once a tad later.
They are both there for one another to help themselves without expectations, and heal one another. He was there for her when she really needed him. She helped him realize he isn't as bad as he thinks he is.
There is a sexy, heated scene, but it's in the perfect place and in the perfect place in the novel.
There is a big trigger about a violent (attempted) rape. It was scary, but well resolved.
This is a quick read. I'm not sure if it's because the book itself is short, or that I read it at any chance I had.
I plan to read it again, and possibly more than once again.
Did I mention there is a vague and exciting hint as to the subject of the next novel? So exciting!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 22, 2024
Good continuation of the series. At the end of
A Kiss in the Moonlight
, Dara has married Michael Brogan, the man Elise set her heart on. At the beginning of this book, the entire family lives together. Elise is jealous, hurt, and angry and feels that Dara is gloating over her happiness. She wants out of that situation, so she sneaks off without telling anyone, determined to return to her home in Ireland.
Elise takes some money and sets out in a mail coach for Liverpool in a fit of self-righteousness. However, the driver is drunk, and there is a terrible storm, so many of the passengers opt to wait for the next coach, leaving only Elise and a disreputable-looking stranger. It isn't long before a nearby lightning strike causes a horrific crash, leaving her with the stranger named Kit. Their only option is to go to the next coaching inn and catch the next mail coach. She disdains "Mr. Ruffian" but expects him to help her.
"Mr. Ruffian," aka Kit, is actually Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, Duke of Winderton, who is also running away from home. A spoiled brat himself, he left home when the woman he loved married his uncle. Following in the footsteps of Shakespeare's Prince Hal, he has been wandering around the country for several months, living the life of "the common man."
I enjoyed this road trip story and its effects on Elise and Kit. At the time of the wreck, each is focused on their own inconvenience, but when they realize they are the only survivors, they team up. That isn't to say they immediately became friends. On the contrary, they are still focused on their own problems rather than what the other wants. But after a series of misfortunes, some of their creation, they begin to look at things differently. Distance from the issues that sent them running opens their eyes to the error of their ways.
I liked watching the relationship between Elise and Kit develop. Their interactions were initially antagonistic, but they soon realized they were more alike than expected. Elise is stubbornly independent and makes foolish decisions when her temper is up. Kit had his moments of foolishness, but he is a gentleman at heart, and an unwilling protectiveness kicks in. Neither expected the sparks of attraction that flared between them. There are some fun scenes as they battle each other, then slowly turn to liking and respecting. Each is surprised to realize that their feelings have turned to love.
A couple of twists leading up to the conclusion bring home the changes Kit and Elise have experienced during their adventures. I ached for Kit's pain and loved Elise's confidence that she would see him again. The ending was terrific, and Kit's big moment was perfectly done.
My favorite secondary character was Tamsyn, the dog. I loved how she adopted Kit and Elise and how they loved her immediately. She's there when she is needed, whether for comfort or protection.
I liked the ending and the lead-in to the next book. I suspected from the first book that Gwendolyn and Mr. Steele would be a couple, so I can't wait for this one.
#netgalley
Elise takes some money and sets out in a mail coach for Liverpool in a fit of self-righteousness. However, the driver is drunk, and there is a terrible storm, so many of the passengers opt to wait for the next coach, leaving only Elise and a disreputable-looking stranger. It isn't long before a nearby lightning strike causes a horrific crash, leaving her with the stranger named Kit. Their only option is to go to the next coaching inn and catch the next mail coach. She disdains "Mr. Ruffian" but expects him to help her.
"Mr. Ruffian," aka Kit, is actually Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, Duke of Winderton, who is also running away from home. A spoiled brat himself, he left home when the woman he loved married his uncle. Following in the footsteps of Shakespeare's Prince Hal, he has been wandering around the country for several months, living the life of "the common man."
I enjoyed this road trip story and its effects on Elise and Kit. At the time of the wreck, each is focused on their own inconvenience, but when they realize they are the only survivors, they team up. That isn't to say they immediately became friends. On the contrary, they are still focused on their own problems rather than what the other wants. But after a series of misfortunes, some of their creation, they begin to look at things differently. Distance from the issues that sent them running opens their eyes to the error of their ways.
I liked watching the relationship between Elise and Kit develop. Their interactions were initially antagonistic, but they soon realized they were more alike than expected. Elise is stubbornly independent and makes foolish decisions when her temper is up. Kit had his moments of foolishness, but he is a gentleman at heart, and an unwilling protectiveness kicks in. Neither expected the sparks of attraction that flared between them. There are some fun scenes as they battle each other, then slowly turn to liking and respecting. Each is surprised to realize that their feelings have turned to love.
A couple of twists leading up to the conclusion bring home the changes Kit and Elise have experienced during their adventures. I ached for Kit's pain and loved Elise's confidence that she would see him again. The ending was terrific, and Kit's big moment was perfectly done.
My favorite secondary character was Tamsyn, the dog. I loved how she adopted Kit and Elise and how they loved her immediately. She's there when she is needed, whether for comfort or protection.
I liked the ending and the lead-in to the next book. I suspected from the first book that Gwendolyn and Mr. Steele would be a couple, so I can't wait for this one.
#netgalley
April 1, 2024
Good lord. It seems to me the only thing dangerous about this novel is Elise.
To summarize this book (since the synopsis did not do it justice); Elise has a temper tantrum because her sister married the man she thought she loved and she couldn't stand to live in their house and watch them make goo goo eyes at each other anymore. Instead of speaking rationally to the third sister, she just takes off (wearing three dresses on top of one another) to go back to Ireland (her birthplace yes, but had she used her brain she would have realized she wasn't wanted there).
Upon seeing a storm is coming she tries to enter into the mail coach that she only paid for outside passage on. Kit saves her when the driver makes an inappropriate offer as to how she could pay for indoor seating. The coach wrecks. Kit saves her again. Thanks to some random dog (and honestly I found it really hard to believe this dog went from being a stray to not only understanding the name they have given her, but the commands they wanted to teach her as well but I digress).
They find shelter for the night. But despite their close proximity, they don't really bond. So the rest of their adventure together goes much the same. Elise tells Kit he "reeks", Kit goes to bathe, Elise finds him remedying that (aka bathing), but despite his unmentionables being hidden from her, she once again runs off. Only to nearly be raped. Once again Kit saves her. They now enter into a town as "husband and wife" because you know propriety, and seeing ONE thing (a card shuffle of all things) Elise once again acts without thinking. Only this time she means to put herself in even greater danger than she was before. So of course, Kit had to accompany her.
Yes, she finds the answers to the questions she had (although I think in retrospect she probably wished she hadn't). More chaos ensues and she ends up back in London with her sisters (who are struggling to keep her reputation intact) while she pines after the man she knew for a week. Or maybe due to her blatant stupidity and knack for getting herself into trouble she missed him getting her out of said trouble, who knows.
Of course, at the end of the day, things are not only tied up in a bow but these two get their happily ever after.
Now on to my actual review.
In case it wasn't clear I detested Elise. More often than not she acted like a spoiled (and sometimes petulant child) either not admitting where she was wrong, or only seeing how things "could have gone" after the fact. She certainly did not act like the young lady she was supposed to be. And while I liked Kit a little better, there was still something off about his story-line as well. Sure, he had a journey of self-discovery, but he was still forced back into a role that I would much rather he had accepted on his own terms.
The one character that intrigued me was the one who I believe might get his own happily-ever-after, and it is only because of this character that if the next book comes to my attention that I might give this author a chance to redeem themselves.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
To summarize this book (since the synopsis did not do it justice); Elise has a temper tantrum because her sister married the man she thought she loved and she couldn't stand to live in their house and watch them make goo goo eyes at each other anymore. Instead of speaking rationally to the third sister, she just takes off (wearing three dresses on top of one another) to go back to Ireland (her birthplace yes, but had she used her brain she would have realized she wasn't wanted there).
Upon seeing a storm is coming she tries to enter into the mail coach that she only paid for outside passage on. Kit saves her when the driver makes an inappropriate offer as to how she could pay for indoor seating. The coach wrecks. Kit saves her again. Thanks to some random dog (and honestly I found it really hard to believe this dog went from being a stray to not only understanding the name they have given her, but the commands they wanted to teach her as well but I digress).
They find shelter for the night. But despite their close proximity, they don't really bond. So the rest of their adventure together goes much the same. Elise tells Kit he "reeks", Kit goes to bathe, Elise finds him remedying that (aka bathing), but despite his unmentionables being hidden from her, she once again runs off. Only to nearly be raped. Once again Kit saves her. They now enter into a town as "husband and wife" because you know propriety, and seeing ONE thing (a card shuffle of all things) Elise once again acts without thinking. Only this time she means to put herself in even greater danger than she was before. So of course, Kit had to accompany her.
Yes, she finds the answers to the questions she had (although I think in retrospect she probably wished she hadn't). More chaos ensues and she ends up back in London with her sisters (who are struggling to keep her reputation intact) while she pines after the man she knew for a week. Or maybe due to her blatant stupidity and knack for getting herself into trouble she missed him getting her out of said trouble, who knows.
Of course, at the end of the day, things are not only tied up in a bow but these two get their happily ever after.
Now on to my actual review.
In case it wasn't clear I detested Elise. More often than not she acted like a spoiled (and sometimes petulant child) either not admitting where she was wrong, or only seeing how things "could have gone" after the fact. She certainly did not act like the young lady she was supposed to be. And while I liked Kit a little better, there was still something off about his story-line as well. Sure, he had a journey of self-discovery, but he was still forced back into a role that I would much rather he had accepted on his own terms.
The one character that intrigued me was the one who I believe might get his own happily-ever-after, and it is only because of this character that if the next book comes to my attention that I might give this author a chance to redeem themselves.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
March 14, 2024
After arriving in London with high hopes of marrying a duke, Elise Lanscarr, the youngest (and loveliest) of the Lanscarr sisters, is leaving, betrayed, heartbroken and filled with rage. After her sister Dara married Michael, the man Elise loved and hoped to marry, she can no longer abide living with them and she has decided to return to Ireland. In a final fit of pique, she leaves a note in the sister’s money box after taking the funds she needs to make it back to Ireland, knowing her sisters will believe she has gone to stay with her friend Lady Whitby and won’t realize she is gone until one of them checks the money box. She is filled with self-righteous indignation, she sets out for Liverpool, but nothing goes as planned and she finds herself traveling with a stranger, in a mail coach driven by a drunk, in a storm. A horrific crash finds her alone with the stranger, a young man going by the name of Kit. Together they will have to find their way to the next coaching inn, while avoiding the many pitfalls that pop up along the way. At first, she is sure Kit is a ne’er-do-well, but the more time she spends with him, the more she likes him and respect him. She also begins to see her own shortcomings and faults, she knows she has fences to mend and apologies to make, and once that is done, will she give up her dream of a duke for a wanderer?
Christopher “Kit” Fitzhugh-Cox, the Duke of Winderton is also running away after experiencing heartbreak when the woman he loved married his uncle. He too left in a fit of pique, and he has been wandering for months under an assumed name, play out he version of Shakespeare’s Prince Hal. It isn’t until he meets Elise that he truly begins to change and see the error of his ways. She makes him want to be a better man, a man worthy of her love. But to do that he will have keep Elise safe while evading the men trying to kill him, then return home and make things right. And there is the small fact that he hasn’t revealed his true identity to her, but he is sure she will forgive him, well, mostly sure.
This was the well-written, nicely paced story of two young people who start out acting like spoiled brats, but through a series of misfortunes, seeing the error of their ways and maturing into adulthood while truly falling in love. The book is filled with emotion, some anger, indignation, hurt feelings, broken hearts, perceived betrayal, a sweet dog, danger, hidden identities, more heartache, a tiny bit of steam, shocking revelations, and finally a very sweet ending with a lovely declaration and a nice set up for the next book. Honestly, I didn’t like Elise in the last book and I didn’t like her for most of this book, but in the end, she won me over, as did Kit. I am happy to recommend this book, but I would strongly suggest reading the books in order. I didn’t love this story, but in the end, I enjoyed it and now I can’t wait for Gwendolyn and Steele’s story!
3.5 stars, rounded up.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*
Christopher “Kit” Fitzhugh-Cox, the Duke of Winderton is also running away after experiencing heartbreak when the woman he loved married his uncle. He too left in a fit of pique, and he has been wandering for months under an assumed name, play out he version of Shakespeare’s Prince Hal. It isn’t until he meets Elise that he truly begins to change and see the error of his ways. She makes him want to be a better man, a man worthy of her love. But to do that he will have keep Elise safe while evading the men trying to kill him, then return home and make things right. And there is the small fact that he hasn’t revealed his true identity to her, but he is sure she will forgive him, well, mostly sure.
This was the well-written, nicely paced story of two young people who start out acting like spoiled brats, but through a series of misfortunes, seeing the error of their ways and maturing into adulthood while truly falling in love. The book is filled with emotion, some anger, indignation, hurt feelings, broken hearts, perceived betrayal, a sweet dog, danger, hidden identities, more heartache, a tiny bit of steam, shocking revelations, and finally a very sweet ending with a lovely declaration and a nice set up for the next book. Honestly, I didn’t like Elise in the last book and I didn’t like her for most of this book, but in the end, she won me over, as did Kit. I am happy to recommend this book, but I would strongly suggest reading the books in order. I didn’t love this story, but in the end, I enjoyed it and now I can’t wait for Gwendolyn and Steele’s story!
3.5 stars, rounded up.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*
April 1, 2024
*𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴.*
𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕
𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝑫𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔
𝒃𝒚 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒙𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍
𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖/𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
Two attractive young people hiding their identities meet up one dangerous night on the road when a storm causes their stagecoach to crash. Resulting in a long adventure on foot as they navigate first their annoyances with one another, and then their budding attraction. And I adored every second of it! This is one of those books that just makes you feel happy while reading it.
Elise and Kit have literally 𝘴𝘰 much in common. So much so that it was rather funny connecting the dots between them! All the way down to why they both were sort of "on the run" when they met. Their behavior, growth, everything. They're both young and until recently had been a bit naive and even immature on a small levels. When they meet they're both sort of at a point where they're realizing things and being together helps them along that path even more. They really improved upon one another and gave each other that closeness, trust, and respect that they felt lacking of from life.
They each believed in one another and saw their potential and it sort of filled this void they each had.
This was such a great forced proximity, almost friends-to-lovers romance. They form this sort of intimate friendship and it was so lovely and such a warm story to read. I just felt so good and cozy while reading this. It's got a little spice of course, which I always prefer in my romance, which was so sweetly done. It was a sort of slow burn as they traveled together and got to know each other. And then when they finally reach for one another and are intimate it is so romantic and realistic and lovely. I absolutely loved it. These two were such fun to read and I'm so happy Avon sent me an ARC because otherwise I don't know when I would have gotten to it as my TBR is so long!
This was also a little emotional at a point or two which brought out a few tears. What a well done story. Cathy is such an amazing writer.
I definitely need to read the first book and then the third when it releases!
𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒:
•𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦
🔥🔥🔥/𝟓
•𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐡
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️/𝟓
•𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡
🤣🤣🤣/𝟓
•𝐂𝐫𝐲
💧💧/𝟓
*Ratings are not determined solely by the amount of content in a book but also by how it affected me as a reader.
"𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰. 𝘔𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸! 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴, 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳/𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴! 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘵 @𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺_𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘱𝘵_𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.
𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳: 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺."
𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕
𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝑫𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔
𝒃𝒚 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒙𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍
𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖/𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
Two attractive young people hiding their identities meet up one dangerous night on the road when a storm causes their stagecoach to crash. Resulting in a long adventure on foot as they navigate first their annoyances with one another, and then their budding attraction. And I adored every second of it! This is one of those books that just makes you feel happy while reading it.
Elise and Kit have literally 𝘴𝘰 much in common. So much so that it was rather funny connecting the dots between them! All the way down to why they both were sort of "on the run" when they met. Their behavior, growth, everything. They're both young and until recently had been a bit naive and even immature on a small levels. When they meet they're both sort of at a point where they're realizing things and being together helps them along that path even more. They really improved upon one another and gave each other that closeness, trust, and respect that they felt lacking of from life.
They each believed in one another and saw their potential and it sort of filled this void they each had.
This was such a great forced proximity, almost friends-to-lovers romance. They form this sort of intimate friendship and it was so lovely and such a warm story to read. I just felt so good and cozy while reading this. It's got a little spice of course, which I always prefer in my romance, which was so sweetly done. It was a sort of slow burn as they traveled together and got to know each other. And then when they finally reach for one another and are intimate it is so romantic and realistic and lovely. I absolutely loved it. These two were such fun to read and I'm so happy Avon sent me an ARC because otherwise I don't know when I would have gotten to it as my TBR is so long!
This was also a little emotional at a point or two which brought out a few tears. What a well done story. Cathy is such an amazing writer.
I definitely need to read the first book and then the third when it releases!
𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒:
•𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦
🔥🔥🔥/𝟓
•𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐡
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️/𝟓
•𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡
🤣🤣🤣/𝟓
•𝐂𝐫𝐲
💧💧/𝟓
*Ratings are not determined solely by the amount of content in a book but also by how it affected me as a reader.
"𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰. 𝘔𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸! 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴, 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳/𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴! 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘵 @𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺_𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘱𝘵_𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.
𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳: 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺."
March 22, 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🪭🪭
Plot as told through emojis:
🇮🇪🏃♀️✉️🐎🚙⛈️💥😵🧔🏻♂️👩🏼👣🛖🐕💤👊🏼🦶🩹👃🏼🧼🫣🪒👴🏽👿😭💨🏨🎰👴🏻👒1️⃣🛏️👩❤️💋👨🚫👴🏻😍👨👩👦👦💔🏃♀️👉💥🌌🏨🤕🩻👗😲💍❤️❤️❤️
I ADORED this book! Why have I been sleeping on Cathy Maxwell?! If you’re looking for a book that’s a road trip, combined with intrigue, 2 strangers, humor, and tons of sweet sweet moments, may I introduce you to One Dangerous Night? This is the second book in the Gambler’s Daughters series and I read it as a standalone, but now I really want to go back to the first book because I loved this one so much.
Elise Lanscarr has run away from her newlywed sister’s home and finds herself riding on a mail coach with a “Ruffian”, heading towards her homeland of Ireland. Much to her dismay she finds herself and The Ruffian™️ the lone survivors of a carriage accident where they must travel by foot for miles to the nearest coaching inn.
This book is full of surprises and the road trip storyline kept me on my toes. I loved learning the backstory on Elise and Kit. Naturally they begin as strangers weary of one another, but their choices to run from their fears and brave it alone draw them close quickly. Elise has a bit of a headstrong temper and I was immediately drawn to her strong personality. From the beginning Kit is just so GOOD. Even from the moment they meet, he protects Elise from unwanted harassment of the coach driver and his goodness continues to show through. There is also so much fun in this book. I found myself laughing at little comments Elise and Kit would make to one another, Tweedie’s affinity for spiked punch, the way Kit interacted with Tamsyn and ridiculed Elise of the word “fine”…I had as much fun reading this as I imagine Maxwell had writing it.
I could tell that these were characters who really began to fall for each other and showed it in their language and thoughtful gestures towards one another. And Tamsyn! Normally I am neither here nor there with pets in a book, but Tamsyn not only added to the plot, but also to the fun and playful nature of the entire traveling entourage.
So what happens when the journey ends and these two have fallen for one another? The finale is so good and exactly what I would hope for. This book doesn’t have a traditional third act breakup and I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the intimate encounters between Kit and Elise are so perfect for their personalities and the exact right amount of heat. I’m excited for Gwendolyn’s book next. This was the perfect read—no notes! I received an advanced copy from Avon and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
🪭🪭
Plot as told through emojis:
🇮🇪🏃♀️✉️🐎🚙⛈️💥😵🧔🏻♂️👩🏼👣🛖🐕💤👊🏼🦶🩹👃🏼🧼🫣🪒👴🏽👿😭💨🏨🎰👴🏻👒1️⃣🛏️👩❤️💋👨🚫👴🏻😍👨👩👦👦💔🏃♀️👉💥🌌🏨🤕🩻👗😲💍❤️❤️❤️
I ADORED this book! Why have I been sleeping on Cathy Maxwell?! If you’re looking for a book that’s a road trip, combined with intrigue, 2 strangers, humor, and tons of sweet sweet moments, may I introduce you to One Dangerous Night? This is the second book in the Gambler’s Daughters series and I read it as a standalone, but now I really want to go back to the first book because I loved this one so much.
Elise Lanscarr has run away from her newlywed sister’s home and finds herself riding on a mail coach with a “Ruffian”, heading towards her homeland of Ireland. Much to her dismay she finds herself and The Ruffian™️ the lone survivors of a carriage accident where they must travel by foot for miles to the nearest coaching inn.
This book is full of surprises and the road trip storyline kept me on my toes. I loved learning the backstory on Elise and Kit. Naturally they begin as strangers weary of one another, but their choices to run from their fears and brave it alone draw them close quickly. Elise has a bit of a headstrong temper and I was immediately drawn to her strong personality. From the beginning Kit is just so GOOD. Even from the moment they meet, he protects Elise from unwanted harassment of the coach driver and his goodness continues to show through. There is also so much fun in this book. I found myself laughing at little comments Elise and Kit would make to one another, Tweedie’s affinity for spiked punch, the way Kit interacted with Tamsyn and ridiculed Elise of the word “fine”…I had as much fun reading this as I imagine Maxwell had writing it.
I could tell that these were characters who really began to fall for each other and showed it in their language and thoughtful gestures towards one another. And Tamsyn! Normally I am neither here nor there with pets in a book, but Tamsyn not only added to the plot, but also to the fun and playful nature of the entire traveling entourage.
So what happens when the journey ends and these two have fallen for one another? The finale is so good and exactly what I would hope for. This book doesn’t have a traditional third act breakup and I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the intimate encounters between Kit and Elise are so perfect for their personalities and the exact right amount of heat. I’m excited for Gwendolyn’s book next. This was the perfect read—no notes! I received an advanced copy from Avon and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
March 11, 2024
Miss Elise Lanscarr, Miss Gwendolyn, and Mrs Data Brogan are back. Data and Michael are NIW married and along with Aunt Tweedie, they live in one house. Elise is not happy that Michael married Dara, who knew she wanted Michael. Hurt, anger, and jealousy have reared their ugly head, now Slide wants out of that household. She wants her home, Wiltham in County Wicklow. So off she goes without telling anyone.
Along the way, they end up in a nasty storm, the mail coach driver insists on extra money for her to sit inside. He makes an obscene, offensive suggestion which Elise turns down. However, a stranger barks at her to get in the coach, and urges the driver to reconsider he choice and life.
Kit Cox, the vagabond, wanderer with not care crawls into the coach. They are bounced as they travel until lightning strikes too close and the mail coach is tossed, flipped, and so are they. The driver and guard are both killed, but Elise and Kit are saved.
Now they have to walk to the next inn to get another coach. They are befriended by a collie who Elise names Tamsyn. A fatherly farmer offers Elise a ride. Colorful farmers offer rude suggestions, and blisters make walking hard. Along the journey, Elise and Kit become friends, have lively discussions, and generally take care of each other.
So come join the walk about with Elise and Kit as they mature, learn to rely on each othet, meet eccentric people, family and not have prying eyes on them. Visit the countryside in England, make flower chain crowns, wade thru streams, and sleep under the stars.
As you unravel hearts, pride, and discover your identity. This heartfelt story will run the full emotional spectrum. laughter, witty banter, tears, and hope all abound. I would say more but then you would not have the pleasure of this delightful story, or to find out who this famed "young" duke is, Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, Duke of Winderton
Along the way, they end up in a nasty storm, the mail coach driver insists on extra money for her to sit inside. He makes an obscene, offensive suggestion which Elise turns down. However, a stranger barks at her to get in the coach, and urges the driver to reconsider he choice and life.
Kit Cox, the vagabond, wanderer with not care crawls into the coach. They are bounced as they travel until lightning strikes too close and the mail coach is tossed, flipped, and so are they. The driver and guard are both killed, but Elise and Kit are saved.
Now they have to walk to the next inn to get another coach. They are befriended by a collie who Elise names Tamsyn. A fatherly farmer offers Elise a ride. Colorful farmers offer rude suggestions, and blisters make walking hard. Along the journey, Elise and Kit become friends, have lively discussions, and generally take care of each other.
So come join the walk about with Elise and Kit as they mature, learn to rely on each othet, meet eccentric people, family and not have prying eyes on them. Visit the countryside in England, make flower chain crowns, wade thru streams, and sleep under the stars.
As you unravel hearts, pride, and discover your identity. This heartfelt story will run the full emotional spectrum. laughter, witty banter, tears, and hope all abound. I would say more but then you would not have the pleasure of this delightful story, or to find out who this famed "young" duke is, Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, Duke of Winderton
October 18, 2024
Confesso di aver desiderato poter prendere a schiaffoni Elise per tutto il corso del primo romanzo della serie, A Kiss in the Moonlight. È solo una ragazzina viziata che crede, solo perché è molto bella, di poter decidere chi deve innamorarsi di lei e non della sorella meno carina, Dara. E siamo d'accordo che non è una bella cosa che le donne non possano ereditare e che la casa della famiglia della madre debba passare a un lontano cugino del padre, dichiarato morto dopo essere mancato da casa e dalla vita delle figlie per anni, ma neanche può fare i capricci come una bambina di tre anni quando, dopotutto, ha una famiglia - tutta femminile - che la adora.
Già dall'epilogo del primo romanzo si sa che scapperà di casa per tornare in Irlanda e che avrà un brutto incidente mentre era in carrozza con un tipo che ha tutta l'aria di essere una canaglia.
Dopo la morte del cocchiere e dell'altro membro dell'equipaggio, Elise comincerà un viaggio rocambolesco assieme alla canaglia, che in realtà è un personaggio che conosciamo benissimo: Kit, ovvero Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, il Duca di Winderton, personaggio secondario della serie precedente di Cathy Maxwell, Logical Men's Society, che da qualche tempo ha abbandonato la sua casa per vivere alla ventura, per la disperazione della sua povera madre. Anche lui era un bel personaggio capriccioso, degno compagno di Elise, m un po'.a forse la vita da vagabondo l'ha fatto maturare
Ma lungo la strada per Liverpool, Elise decide di fare una deviazione e Kit, preoccupato per la sua incolumità, decide di accompagnarla.
Già dall'epilogo del primo romanzo si sa che scapperà di casa per tornare in Irlanda e che avrà un brutto incidente mentre era in carrozza con un tipo che ha tutta l'aria di essere una canaglia.
Dopo la morte del cocchiere e dell'altro membro dell'equipaggio, Elise comincerà un viaggio rocambolesco assieme alla canaglia, che in realtà è un personaggio che conosciamo benissimo: Kit, ovvero Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, il Duca di Winderton, personaggio secondario della serie precedente di Cathy Maxwell, Logical Men's Society, che da qualche tempo ha abbandonato la sua casa per vivere alla ventura, per la disperazione della sua povera madre. Anche lui era un bel personaggio capriccioso, degno compagno di Elise, m un po'.a forse la vita da vagabondo l'ha fatto maturare
Ma lungo la strada per Liverpool, Elise decide di fare una deviazione e Kit, preoccupato per la sua incolumità, decide di accompagnarla.
March 25, 2024
I really enjoyed reading the next installment of the Gambler's Daughters series. Lots of fun, adventure and fabulous writing by one of my favorite authors. Ms Maxwell takes the reader on a ride and never lets go. The characters were fully developed with thought and feelings of their own.
Elise Lanscarr expected to get a marriage proposal from Michael Brogan. But instead he married her older sister Dara. She is so upset she decides to leave London and return to her home in Ireland. But she only took enough money to get her on a coach and then the durn thing crashes during a storm. She now is stuck between a rock and a smelly (handsome) stranger in the wilds of the countryside. Elise feels so lost in her feelings about her sister married to her man. But things get mixed up for her when she has to depend on her fellow passenger.
Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, the missing Duke of Winderton has fled his responsibilities and lives a care free life of Kit a wanderer. Kit thinks that this spoiled woman who has an opinion of everything gets under his skin. They both will realize they belong to each other when they begin to trust in each. Love is the key which makes for a happy ever after.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.
Elise Lanscarr expected to get a marriage proposal from Michael Brogan. But instead he married her older sister Dara. She is so upset she decides to leave London and return to her home in Ireland. But she only took enough money to get her on a coach and then the durn thing crashes during a storm. She now is stuck between a rock and a smelly (handsome) stranger in the wilds of the countryside. Elise feels so lost in her feelings about her sister married to her man. But things get mixed up for her when she has to depend on her fellow passenger.
Christopher Fitzhugh-Cox, the missing Duke of Winderton has fled his responsibilities and lives a care free life of Kit a wanderer. Kit thinks that this spoiled woman who has an opinion of everything gets under his skin. They both will realize they belong to each other when they begin to trust in each. Love is the key which makes for a happy ever after.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.
March 27, 2024
Elise Lanscarr, feeling jealous of her sister's relationship with her husband, decides to run away from home back to her native Ireland. Along the way, the mail coach she is riding in is wrecked and only she and the other male occupant of the coach survive. Kit Cox, the Duke of Winderton, has left his home and family to find himself after the woman he wanted to marry chooses to marry his uncle. Both Elise and Kit are running from their past and they don't reveal their true identities to each other as they are stranded together and having to make their way to the nearest town in order to get on the next mail coach. As they are walking along their journey both Elise and Kit develop feelings for each other. The problem is Kit knows that Elise is probably from a good family, at least landed gentry but she thinks he is a commoner. The will each have to learn to trust and depend on the other in order to make their way to their destinations. One Dangerous Night is a well written book of finding love where it is least expected and it also reveals how trust can be built as Elise and Kit go through their adventures with only themselves and their adopted pet, Tamsyn to rely on.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
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