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Ladies Unlaced #2

by Maggie Robinson

La vénérable Mme Evensong dirige la meilleure agence de placement de Londres. C’est pourquoi le baron Alec Raeburn sollicite son aide. Il a besoin d’une actrice pour jouer le rôle d’une héritière ingénue afin de piéger le Dr Bauer qui faisait chanter sa femme et l’aurait tuée. Ce qu’Alec ignore, c’est que sous la perruque de Mme Evensong se cache Mary, la nièce de la vieille dame, qui a repris, en secret, les rênes de l’agence. Elle va donc l’accompagner en Écosse, pour vivre une aventure bien plus trépidante que tout ce qu’il a pu imaginer…

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Scotland, Romantic Suspense, Historical Fiction, Edwardian

327 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Maggie Robinson is a former teacher, library clerk and mother of four who woke up in the middle of the night, absolutely compelled to create the perfect man and use as many adverbs as possible doing so. A transplanted New Yorker, she lives with her not-quite perfect husband in Maine, where the cold winters are ideal for staying inside and writing hot historical romances and her latest venture, the Lady Adelaide Mysteries. Her books have been translated into nine languages.

She also wrote two erotic historical romances as Margaret Rowe.

Reviews

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was ich mochte?
Anfangs hatte ich mich über den Roman gefreut. Mary, die sich eigentlich als alte Dame ausgibt und nun Lord Raeburn beim Überführen des Mörders seiner Frau helfen soll. Da hatte ich auf reichlich Spannung gehofft und bis Seite 150 war ich auch wirklich gut dabei, doch dann...

Was ich nicht mochte?
Im Endefffekt geht es fast nur um Verführung und dabei bleibt die eigentliche Story auf der Strecke. Die Beziehung zwischen Mary und dem Lord steht dermaßen im Fokus, dass es für mich wirklich langweilig wurde. Ich hatte einfach mehr Story erwartet, als ob Mary jetzt ihre Jungfräulichkeit an den Lord verliert oder nicht, denn das ist kein Spannungsbogen, davon geht man bei diesen Büchern ohnehin schon von aus.
Am Schluss war ich dann auch noch von Mary und ihrer Neugierde genervt und von dem Lord mit seinem übertrieben Moralvorstellungen und dem ständigen Gepoche, dass er nicht angelogen werden will. Dabei kann er nicht einmal abwägen was wirklich eine Lüge ist die ihn betrifft und was schlicht eine geschäftliche Angelegenheit ist, die ihn nichts angeht.
Wenigstens gab es dann noch einen kurzen Showdown.

Insgesamt pendelt das Buch für mich zwischen 2 und 3 Sternen.

[Miranda Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed the first novel in this series, In the arms of an Heiress, I just had to see what Mary Evensong, the employment agency doyenne from the first was up to hieing off to Scotland after meeting wtih Alec Raeburn, a Scottish baron living under a black cloud, reputed to be a murderer. In desperation, he hired the Evensong agency to help him unmask the villain responsible for his wife's death, a death the baron has allowed himself to be blamed for and ostracized by society rather than reveal any secrets.

Little does he know the needle-witted old bat in widow's frumpy weeds is in fact a pocket venus with Titian hair and gumption to spare. Mary has set aside her disguise and assumed the role of virginal dupe to entrap a spa's devious doctor at the behest of the good baron. All the while they plot together, the chemistry crackles, against both their better judgement, and for their own compelling reasons.

First, I cannot get enough of big, dark, glower- grumpy men with deeply ingrained chivalrous instincts. Alec Raeburn fits this bill to a tee. Loved him. I also love truly capable, smart, resourceful heroines, and Mary has had to be this long before she met Alec. She's feeling quite a tug of war inside, her strong attraction to Alec on one end of the rope, her sense of propriety, responsibility and obligation to her aunt, the original Mrs. Evensong, all pulling hard on the opposite end of the rope. Alec, too, has his own qualms, given a disastrous marriage and his status as social persona non grata.

The villain, I'm pleased to say, was not just thrown away as an afterthought the way it feels in S. Lauren's books too frequently - some random shot from the depths of the forest bullshit. No, he's a creature who lurks and menaces as a mainstay of the plot. He is the reason they meet, the reason they work together and the reason they ultimately put aside their reservations and find their HEA.

All the while, there were funny things bantered, and the intimate scenes were very, um, stirring. (Who doesn't adore a man who loves pleasing a woman?) In this story, I had an even better sense of the turn-of-the-century time period. MR has wonderful command of the period, so that details placed me in the time. Things like the popular quack medicine fads, early Edison phonograph and the 2-minute rolls of waltz music or how to start and drive the old, cranked automobile are used very deftly; it's admirably researched and absolutely integral to the plot. Add to that, truly graceful passages and I read it with pleasure.

My favorite quote and a good way to conclude: "Kiss. The word was a sigh itself, starting with strength and trailing off to a soft abandon." Reading things like that sentence make me very happy.

[Nanou · Rating 3 out of 5]

un peu mieux que le tome 2, mais pas exceptionnel... bon j'imaginais bien Alec en Gerard Butler en kilt et donc ben ♥ (et puis le cours de valse à poil c'est sympathique xD).

j'ai bien aimé les personnages secondaires aussi : Oliver et Mac, ils sont choupis ^^

[Renée · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Heart of the Highlander, a Ladies Unlaced novel by Maggie Robinson, is a terrific suspenseful romance set in Edwardian England and Scotland. Our heroine, Mary Evensong, has been in charge of running her Aunt Mim's Evensong Agency, an early twentieth-century employment/matchmaking/problem-solving/do-it-all business, for the four years since her aunt developed a gouty foot. She is twenty-nine, middle class, and very skilled at her job. Our hero, Scottish Baron Lord Alec Raeburn, of the fierce scowls and black reputation, needs the agency to to live up to its motto: "Performing the Impossible Before Breakfast Since 1888." Specifically, he needs one of their ladies to trap and expose his wife's murderer, and he will give them one week to do it. Well, then.

Mary will do nearly anything to keep her Aunt's agency thriving and keep herself from returning to her horrible brother's household in Oxfordshire; she left her life of drudgery in the family grocery and her status as unpaid nanny and housekeeper in her brother's house, and she plans to stay away permanently She convinces her aunt to accept Lord Raeburn's commission, for a hefty fee, and they (Mary, Aunt Mim, and beautiful secretary Oliver) depart London for a "health spa" in the Highlands of Scotland. Mary is tasked with attracting and securing the nefarious attentions of Dr. Josef Brauer. Mary does just that, attracting the not-so-good doctor and the devilishly handsome and haunted Lord Raeburn.

I loved nearly everything about this novel. The author sets a smooth and steady pace throughout her story, and I soon loved the feisty intelligence and innocence of Mary and the damaged broodiness of Lord Raeburn. Ms. Robinson reveals the backstory for her leads in a concise way that lets us know why each acts the way they act and feels the way they feel. I especially loved how she wove the necessary historical elements into the story, such as the burgeoning "health spa" industry, the Pegasus automobile, and the changing roles of women (and men, too) in society. No facts felt superfluous and no conversations seemed unnecessary. She really knew the voice of her characters and let them speak for themselves.

The only part of the story that seemed a bit contrived was the reason for the brief tension between the leads in the latter third of the book (this is not a spoiler, so don't get peevish). Mary had been posing as her aunt for four years, so Lord Raeburn met and signed the initial contracts not with Aunt Mim, but rather Mary in disguise. When he later discovers this subterfuge I could not believe that one, he had not figured this out much earlier, and two, that it actually bothered him. His upset was brief, but it also seemed unnecessary. He made myriad excuses for his dead wife and her betrayals - her infidelity, for goodness sake - but Mary dressed in a gray wig and spectacles one time and our hero thought his world had been upended. He even declared that he would tolerate no lies, conveniently forgetting, perhaps, that this whole scheme he hatched to trap his wife's murderer was founded on a stack of lies. Which he contrived himself and paid quite handsomely to enact. Oops.

That is the only part of the book that rang a little false with me, but it was terribly brief, and the author could have been using it as another character revelation of her hero, illustrating that he was hurting and vulnerable after having taken a chance on love again. I still felt like channeling a little John MacEnroe to yell, "you've got to be kidding me!" at our hero. That or a "Gibbs' slap" to the head.

I also appreciate that the author didn't try to prove she knows Scots by bludgeoning me with Scottish brogue. Lord Raeburn had spent the bulk of his years in London, so his burr would surely have been diminished to the extent it was in the book. When he was tired or emotional, the accent came back, which made it more believable to me. Don't get me wrong - I love to hear/read a Scot's brogue, but sometimes it seems a bit overdone and over-the-top in Highland romances. The author hit the perfect note here. To further illustrate how deft her touch with accents is, just wait until you read Lord Raeburn impersonate the Viennese Dr. Brauer. Laugh-out-loud hysterical!

I highly recommend grabbing this novel and taking the day off to meet Mary, Aunt Mim, Lord Raeburn, Oliver, and even Dr. Brauer. Primary and secondary characters alike feature well in this story, and the plot is extremely engaging and fast-paced. Fans of historical romance with a touch of suspense and danger will not be disappointed.

Full disclosure: I received a copy of Maggie Robinson's In the Heart of the Highlander as part of a "first reads" giveaway from Goodreads. And yes, it was my lucky day.

[Elis Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Evensong, a grocer's daughter, is posing as her 70-year-old Aunt Mim.


(You'd be fooled, right?)

And as Mim, she runs an agency that dabbles in a little of everything, from finding staff for difficult households to matchmaking to stopping elopements to—well, you name it. But she's a bit fed up with the old-lady façade.

That's when Baron Alec Raeborn shows up with his sexy Scottish accent and hotness.



He needs someone to pretend to be a rich virgin (he'll fund the "rich" part) in order to entrap Dr. Bauer, the so-called physician at the spa near his Scottish home. Seems Dr. B did something Alec never managed—he seduced Alec's wife (see photo—was she NUTS?)f. Then the "good" doctor blackmailed said wife out of lots of money, and when she turned up pregnant he basically told her to get rid of the baby. She couldn't do that—at least not without getting rid of herself too. So she jumped out a window, and most people think Alec murdered her.

As a result, Alec can't keep staff, can't enter a room without hearing the silence and then those awful whispers. He can't marry again—what parents would bless a union between him and their daughter? He spent some time (and made himself even more infamous) shagging all the actresses in London. Now, though, he just wants to hole up in Scotland and be left alone. But first he needs to make sure the "good doctor" is exposed.

Mary takes the case, looking forward to playing herself—sort of—for once. She, her aunt, and their gay male assistant head off to Scotland to the spa. Mary's to be a nervous heiress, whose "brother" and aunt are too busy with their own concerns to care what happens to her. Bauer will try to seduce her—they'll make sure he'll be caught at it, and at least the doc will be finished in Britain.

And of course NOBODY sees all the ways this could go sideways.



This takes place after the Regency, and the author infuses the story with the innovations of the age, as well as the beginnings of a social shift from the intensely class-conscious society of late Georgian England to a somewhat (only somewhat) more egalitarian time. The story is still mostly about the will-she/won't he tug of war of romance, but there's just enough intrigue in catching this bad guy to keep it more interesting. Yeah, the page-count formula (as in, there's a supposed denouement around page 180—given the book goes on more than another 100 pages, you know that ain't the end) makes some of the surprises not so surprising. But I liked the story. I've even marked the writer as someone to watch for in terms of future work (I'm really Jonesing for stories that either promise plot elements—mystery/adventure, or historical juice—well-researched and not late Georgian/Victorian). I'm not seeing anything on the menu that grabs me but I do like this author.

Long story short—this gets 4 stars.

[Penny Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Edwardian era jem is so good, it's quote-worthy.
After reading the first novel in the series -In the Arms of the Heiress (A Ladies Unlaced Novel) - I was so intrigued by the preview, I've pre-ordered the second, and I'm glad I did.

The story opens as the heroine, who appeared in the first novel as the ultimate problem solver, contemplates the last four years that she'd spent running her aunt's agency and admits to herself that her life is passing her by. Before she can finish the thought, her next appointment comes in with a problem that appears to be the perfect solution for her boredom. And before her practical side can put the breaks on the madcap plan, she decides to go on an adventure... getting much more than she'd bargained for, as she develops an unprofessional attraction to the client.

Alec Raeburn retained the services of the Evensong agency for their reputation of accomplishing "the impossible before breakfast". His plan to assuage his guilt over the death of his wife requires it, even if it won't salvage his tainted reputation. When he had hatched the plan to entrap the villain, the last thing he expected was to find the bait attractive, and he is surprised to realize that not everything is as it seems about the woman, whom he'd hired.

As the story unfolds, both the hero and heroine find that there's more to their attraction than lust, and eventually the circumstances "conspire" to demonstrate that the only outcome for them to go forward is together. There were no silly big misunderstandings, and no artificial obstacles were thrown in the way of their relationship because they talked to each other as adults often do. But the main draw of this book for me was the language. It flows beautifully and is so much fun to read, I see myself returning to this book again and again.

To give you an example, "Mary had fallen, and fallen hard. Well, it was inevitable. She'd been so busy masterminding other peoples' relationships that it was only a matter of time before she got around to masterminding her own. However, she didn't really have a "relationship" with Alec. It had begun as a business arrangement, then transmuted into something she had no vocabulary for."

And one more, just because I can't resist a good quote, "But she couldn't "fix" him with a frolic in the grass. It was only in novels that the love of a good woman worked magic by the last page. She had seen too much in her four years as Mrs. Evensong to expect Alec to shed his melancholy overnight. But Mary did have this night, and she meant to use it, perhaps not wisely but well."

This novel is taking its rightful place on my virtual keeper shelf, and I hope to see more books from this series in the future.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the "Ladies Unlaced" series and we meet Mrs. Evensong again, proprietor of the Evensong agency. I thought Mrs. Evensong was a very mysterious character in the first book and glad to see she has her own story. We find out that she has a rather large secret. She's been posing like her elderly sickly aunt in full wig and spectacles. Her latest client is Lord Raeburn, a Scottish fellow who's been rumored to have killed his very young, but distant wife. Her task is to entrap the doctor Raeburn believed seduced his wife and played a part in her death. Mrs. Evensong, having lost most of her youth to working for her brother in his grocery store and an ardent babysitter to his kids, never went to ballrooms and was never courted, heck she's never had an adventure of her own. She decides to take this case for herself. She's to pose as a new patient of the doctor and uncover his deeds by being found in a compromising position. This will vindicate Raeburn and hopefully alleviate some of the alienation from society.

Like the previous in the series, the heroine is a strong willed and doesn't pity herself. In fact, she becomes the seducer. She thinks that at 29 she'll never get married nor have a suitor. She proposes that after her mission is done Raeburn take her to his manor and thoroughly take her innocence so that she knows what's like, but without emotional entanglements (but we all know how that will be out).

I liked the execution and pacing of this book than the first. I found the first one to be a weird mix of humor and seriousness like it wanted to have both, but didn't jive well. This one doesn't have the same hijinxs, but a different tone than the first.

And I thought it ended a little abruptly. A little more of their HEA would of been nice. Oh well, I still liked it.

After reading this one I wasn't too sure who the next book will be focused on. Maybe raeburn's brother?

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this more than In The Arms Of The Heiress but I would've preferred an epilogue or additional chapter at the end to see how the HEA would work.

[Melann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plutôt 3,5/5.
Dans la même veine que le premier tome.
Une héroïne indépendante, un héros ours mais attachant, quelques péripéties pour occuper le tout.

[Tin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 2.5-star book for me.

* * *

Fellow romance reader and blogger, Maria (Austen Student on Tumblr), mentioned on Goodreads that, when she wants to laugh, she reads Maggie Robinson and I agree with her: there's a really light-hearted/fun (but not funny) quality to Robinson's books. What makes Maggie Robinson stand out, however, is that she infuses her stories with a unique and surprising element that elevates her stories.

Alec Raeburn is wealthy, titled and incredibly handsome -- but he's also larger than the average gentleman and is also suspected of killing his wife. The theory of Alec is he should be one of those sought-after bachelors, where matchmaking mamas and their daughters should be scrambling to get his attention -- but, the reality of Alec is that he is a bull in a china shop -- awkward and unwelcome in society. He's the man mothers warn their daughters about.

Mary Evensong was such a strong and dynamic character in In the Arms of the Heiress and I was very curious how Robinson would develop her story. The revelation in In the Heart of the Highlander is that Mary is weary of pretending to be her aunt. She is chafing under the wig of grey hair and against the heavy clothes she wears as Mary Evensong, proprietress of the Evensong Academy. Mary yearns for a life of her own, and Alec's plan seems to be the opportunity that Mary is looking for.

Mary Evensong was tired. Tired of wearing smoke-gray spectacles that covered her hazel eyes. Tired of wearing an itchy gray wig that covered her russet hair. Tired of the problems that came in by the sack loads every time the mailman rang her doorbell.
- Opening paragraph, Chapter 1

To the world, Alec is responsible for his wife, Edith's, death -- either he pushed her out the window of Raeburn Abbey or drove her to suicide. But Alec believes it is Dr Josef Bauer of the Forsyth Palace Hotel (spa) in Scotland that is responsible for Edith's death and is out to prove it in an entrapment scheme, involving Mary Evensong.

Alec doesn't factor in the possibility of being attracted to his "hired actress", but, from the very first moment he meets her, he knows there is something there for them to discover. Mary, on the other hand, has always been drawn to Alec and this seems to be a good-enough moment to indulge.

There is a clear split in how this story is told, and two plots in place. The first involves Mary pretending to be a sickly and unpopular spinster who is seeking treatments at the ..., hoping to catch Dr. Bauer's eye and then exposing his fraudulent/lascivious behaviour. I loved this part of the story: the question of whether they would pull off this plan successfully kept me turning the pages.

It's what happens after that, I think, ruined this story for me.

Mary changes as the story progresses, and not for the better. My first impression of Mary is that she is a practical, no-nonsense, capable woman who has successfully run a business in her aunt's stead. As Mary Evensong, she had effortlessly solved a number of problems for lords, ladies and wealthy people. She struck me as unflinching in the face of adversity and admired her greatly for it. At the start of her own story, I see these same qualities come into play as Mary, herself, agrees to become the bait in the trap Alec has set for Dr. Bauer.

But, then, as Mary Arden, she becomes foolish and loses her head over Alec -- even propositioning him "to relieve her of her unwanted virginity" -- when they decamp to Raeburn Abbey, Mary loses even more of herself as we find her comparing herself to Alec's late wife and conducting herself in a very unprofessional way (reading Edith's diary).

Mary stuck her tongue out at the painted Edith and felt no better.
- Chapter 25

The entire "Raeburn Abbey" storyline was problematic for me. From the beginning, we are all convinced that Alec is the aggrieved party in his previous marriage and suffers the tragic consequences of his late wife's death. But, when the Raeburn Abbey story unfolds, Robinson casts doubts on the whole premise. Was Dr. Bauer really responsible for Edith's death? From the passages in Edith's journal, and from Alec's own recollection, it becomes uncertain. There's the whole factor of Edith's controlling parents to consider. And Alec, himself, gets tarnished by his own admission.

Mummy says I should give the place a try, and since it is so close, I just might. I am so tired of her lecturing me about my duty.
- Edith's diary, Chapter 26

* * *

I left her while I amused myself in London, and then even after I returned, we lived separate lives. She breakfasted by herself. Dined by herself. I'd stopped trying. We barely spoke, and when we did talk, to was to argue.
...

"We could have managed in a white marriage. People do. People whose desires are kept under control. But I didn't have any self-control. I thought with my cock, I'd fuck anyone available. Maybe I'm still doing that."

...

"She tried to tell me, but I didn't pay proper attention. We quarrelled as usual over something stupid -- can you believe I can't even remember what? I've tried and tried, and it's a blur, just accusations and recriminations running together like a jerky movie reel. She ran away from me, came up here, and jumped."
- Chapter 31

Was the whole entrapment scheme just a grieving man's backlash against his perceived enemy? I could not shake the feeling that the whole world that the author had established so carefully at the start of the story had all been turned upside-down.

It seemed pretty clear that Edith had not accidentally stepped out her window into the void. Somehow Mary couldn't see a disgruntled servant pushing her, no matter how demanding she'd been. Alec would have moved heaven and earth to discover the culprit who was responsible.

And he had settled on Bauer.
- Chapter 25

I know that the point of the sojourn at the Abbey is to give Alec and Mary's relationship to blossom a bit more, but the "I love you" admission after four days is a bit unbelievable coming from Mary, who I had credited with a bit more sense than that.

What saves this story is the humour, and the introduction of the Raeburn brothers (Evan and Nicholas), the latter being the hero of The Reluctant Governess , the next instalment in the Ladies Unlaced series. These two excerpts, in particular, are really wonderful:

Now Mary understood what all those silly romance books Harriet loaned her meant when they used their ellipses. Mary dot-dot-dotted, her hands on Alec's shoulders, her eyes fluttering shut. She didn't need to watch him anymore, only feel his mastery over her as he overcame his scruples and kissed her like she was the only woman in the world.
- Chapter 11

* * *

"Mary's up there. Miss Arden. Miss Evensong," Alec amended.

"You have three women in your chamber? A regular harem! By God, Alec, I'm proud of you! I thought you'd lost your touch when Edith died. We were all so worried about you."
- Alec talking to Evan, Chapter 29

[Adria's Musings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on Adria's Musings and Reviews

* A copy of this book was and provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.

The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: Mary Evensong’s been masquerading as her aunt in order to keep Evensong Agency running but she longs for the day she’ll be able to go back to being herself instead of “Mrs. Evensong.” When Lord Alex Raeburn shows up at the agency looking for an actress to lure a suspected murderer into a trap, Mary sees it as an opportunity to get out of the old woman disguise and into the Scottish Highlands to play the role of a seductress. Only Mary ends up in over her head, she ends up being caught in the middle of two men: Lord Alec and the man he thinks is responsible for his wife’s death.






Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? I loved the first part of the book where Mary’s tiresome role as her aunt Mim is wearing on her. It’s a prison of her own making and made out of good intentions. At first Mary came across as a straight to the point, intelligent, brave woman who offers herself up as bait to catch a potential killer. I enjoyed her and Alec’s back and forth attraction and a grumbly hero is always a plus.



But to me the romance didn’t feel natural. It felt a bit forced and on the insta-love side. They’re trying to trap a potential killer but sometimes it felt that Alec was hiding more than he let on. Yet here’s Mary all but throwing herself at him at times with no self preservation at all. Towards the end of the story, it seemed Mary had regressed into a child, being over the top jealous of Alec’s dead wife, making questionable decisions (I suppose to make Alec seem like more of a hero when he had to rescue/protect her). It felt like she got lost in all the mad shuffle to solve the murder and Alec’s manliness. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good looking hero but I’m not fond of “dumbing” down the heroine just to make the man seem more heroic and well, manlier.

I didn’t write In the Heart of the Highlander off completely though because while I wasn’t all in with Alec and Mary, I loved Alec’s brothers and the unexpected humor throughout the book.

Click It or Skip It? Borrow It. I wouldn’t buy this book for myself but I would borrow it just to refresh myself with characters before starting the next book in the series.

[Susan Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. I took one star off because (1) it needed an epilogue - so I wrote one. It's at the end of my review. Let me know what you think. (2) I also did not like that the villian was not immediately arrested.

BUT I loved Alec and Mary and their relationship. And Mac and Oliver were wonderful secondary characters.

Epilogue:

The Baron and Baroness entered Lady Featherstone’s massive ballroom.

Back at their well-staffed London townhouse, Alec and Mary’s two children slumbered in their beds in the nursery, Nanny close at hand. Their one year old daughter, red-headed with emerald eyes and a bossy personality, sucked noisily on her thumb. Snuggled beside his best friend, the little white dog Beowolf, lay their two year old black-haired son, also blessed with his mother’s emerald eyes. He was already tall for his age and would have his father’s great height.

All heads turned as Lord Alec Raeburn stood at the top of the stairs towering over his lovely wife. The former Mary Evensong was proud that she had naturally, in her role as co-owner of the Evensong Agency, succeeded in restoring her husband’s good name to the ton. They were now one of its most coveted couples.

Alec and Mary proceeded down the curved staircase and made their way to the centre of the dance floor. It took them quite some time as they were constantly greeted by their many new friends and those interested in becoming investors in the automobile industry. The Raeburn fortune had increased significantly when Alec had followed Mary’s example and advice, and invested heavily in this newest form of transportation.

The striking couple took their positions and began to waltz. The ton still found it shocking that the Raeburns broke with tradition, remaining in each other’s company the entire evening and dancing exclusively with each other. Many a lady, and even some men, were secretly jealous of Raeburns’ love match.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Después de leer otro de los libros de esta serie, estaba demasiado entusiasmada de descubrir la historia de Mme Evensong, me han gustado muchas cosas, la protagonista ha sido divertida, asertiva, desenvuelta, tomó la decisión de lo que quería. Sobre Alec entendí bien porque se sentía mal, sus miedos. El malo ha sido súper malo, hubo una escena que me asustó bastante, las escenas románticas muy agradables, me ha gustado mucho el libro, solo a veces la autora tiene la costumbre de que sus personajes divaguen en su mete mientras ocurre una escena, eso no me gusta, pero no es tan grave

[Nightwitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was, for some reason, expecting yet another vaguely Victorian/regency hybrid thing... instead I got a sprightly, well-researched Edwardian romp. (At one point the heroine complains that the villain was ogling her and being inappropriate "as though she were a Florodora girl," which I think was the point I really fell in love with the book.) The actual romance and mystery and drama is relatively standard, but the setting shines and it was just such a fun read.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading historical mysteries by Maggie Robinson I decided to try one of her historical romances. Unfortunately I found it hard to get into and a bit of a slog to finish. The basic plot (what there is of it) involves a man and woman from different stations in life who try to fight their attraction to each other because they know there is no future in it.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the banters between Alec and Mary.🥰🥰

I wanted an epilogue! 😭

Alec ❤️ Mary

[Elizabeth Mckernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the two books in this series!

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, this was another book sitting in my "might read" folder on my kindle. I read the first book - In the Arms of the Heiress and was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it (my past experience with Maggie Robinson has been somewhat spotty) - after reading that book, I quickly decided that yes, I wanted to read this book. Then I got the book and thought - why did I get this book - I hate, hate, hate books where one of the leads was in love with someone else - seriously HATE IT. When I realized that the hero in this book was in love with his late wife - I moved it from the TBR to the might read folder. And there it sat for the last six months.

Well! I was going through my might read folder and saw it and thought - what the heck. I am SO SORRY that I waited six months to read this book! It was FANTASTIC!

I loved Mary - flat out, no doubt, that's my kinda heroine loved the girl! The things that came out of her mouth and the things she thought were priceless - she is smart, loyal, loving and gets what she wants. I loved that she didn't like Alec's late wife Edith (perfectly horrid name - and in my opinion she deserves it - maybe even Bertha or Agatha would have been better suited to that witch), I love that Mary was jealous of the "other women" and his love for his wife. In my opinion that is real - most authors have the heroine feeling sorry for the other woman or empathize - not our Mary - she calls a spade a spade - You go girl!

I thought the story moved along at a nice rate - it flowed perfectly. The writing was great. The love scenes were good - not super steamy, but by no means bland. The villain gets what he deserves and our hero and heroine get a happy ending. So why not 5 stars?

Well, I did have a couple of issues and this might be spoilerish......

1 - I don't think Alec was ever really "in love" with Edith - he was 30 and a man-ho - she was 17 and "everyone who saw her wanted her" - he proposed, her parents accept and they marry - she refuses him and he try's to woo her for awhile - gives up and goes back to his man-ho ways in London. That is love? Really? Sounds more like he wanted to win what everyone wanted - won it and realized that he didn't really win and gave up. She dies and he feels guilty and decides to avenge her to make himself feel better. I wish at some point the author had him realize that he hadn't really loved her.

2 - I didn't like the scene when they are in bed sleeping and he starts groping her while dreaming of another woman. YUCK!

3 - I think Alec went from "I will never marry again" to "marry me" way too fast - it just didn't connect for me. Maybe if the author had given us his inner thoughts or if he had had the much wished for but didn't get epiphany that I longed for about his "love" for Edith, I could have believed that he fell for Mary as fast as he did.

4 - No epilogue - the darn book just ends!

I still have questions! I hope the next book answers them! And trust me that book will not be sitting on my kindle waiting to be read for six months!

Bottom line - I liked the book, I would recommend it and I will definitely read the rest of this series!

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary was tired of living with her brother and tending his store, so when her aunt becomes ill and can no longer run her Evensong Agency, Mary eagerly moves in with her aunt and literally becomes her. The Evensong agency was created to solve domestic disasters. Matchmaking, finding employees, or even the odd jobs that no one else has a solution for. Their motto, “Performing the Impossible Before Breakfast Since 1888.” Because her aunt has such a strong, confidential client base, Mary decides to dress as her aunt (gray wig, spectacles etc..) so no one knows Mary has actually taken over.

Alec Raeburn needs the Evensong Agency’s services. His wife died under suspicious circumstances, many blaming him for her death. But Alec has a good idea who was responsible. The brand new Forsyth Palace Hotel in the Highlands has just opened, a spa of sorts for people with ailments can go for treatment and relaxation. The main doctor has a reputation for preying on vulnerable women, and Alec is quite sure he is the man responsible for his wife’s death. He goes to Mary to ask for an actress who can go to the hotel, pretend to be innocent and unwell, and lay a trap for the doctor. Once the doctor makes his move sexually, Alec can storm in and ruin his reputation. Mary agrees to find him an actress, but ends up taking off her Aunt’s disguise and going herself.

This book is really cute. Alec is this huge Scottish man that intimidates many.

He wore a walking kilt in his family’s tartan, an unfortunate combination of yellow and black that reminded Mary of angry bees. But his black jacket molded his massive shoulders and matched his longish hair and neatly trimmed beard. Mary was not at all fond of beards, but somehow she didn’t think Lord Raeburn was hiding a weak chin. His eyes looked black as well, giving her and her office intense scrutiny while she stumped to her feet and extended a hand.

Although he looks quite stern, he is actually pretty gentle. Like a big hairy teddy bear. He kind of lumbers around the whole story, so angry with this doctor and just can’t wait for Mary to lure him into a trap. Except he starts to fall for Mary (who he eventually discovers was dressed as her aunt). Then he starts to get very nervous something may happen to her. It’s all quite romantic.

Mary is a really fun heroine. She is feisty and stubborn and up for a big adventure. She takes on Alec’s cause and becomes quite invested in revealing the doctor’s true character. This book takes place in the early 1900’s so the idea of a spa, with treatments and massages (there is one verra sexy massage in this book) and the like was different to read about.

I also really enjoyed the first book in this series, In the Arms of the Heiress (Mary is briefly introduced in that one).

[SidneyKay · Rating 3 out of 5]

More kilts!

Well, at least the brogue's not as thick as the old days. You know, I really don't mind Scottish heroes, but this is my third one in a row. And, this one is one of the big ones! Oh, that big brawny lad in his kilt - and he's grumpy, to boot! I love big grumpy Scotsmen, especially when I'm not married to them. You know, I've been to numerous highland games and I have yet to spot anyone in kilts as described in romance books... and I've looked.

Alec is our grumpy hero and he is seeking revenge against the man who was responsible for his wife's death. He hires our heroine, Mary, to set up the man he holds responsible. To be honest this revenge-setup, destroying-reputation, slimy-villain plot line didn't work for me. While I loved Alec and Mary, and thought they were simply an adorable couple, the means of getting them together seemed a bit contrived and actually quite absurd.

In the Heart of a Highlander worked for me when Alec and Mary were together. Alec was a wonderful hero as he stumbled and bumbled his way through love. He was like a big loveable bear - not like real ones, but stuffed ones. Mary made a great feisty heroine, and stood up to Alec on numerous occasions. She also didn't turn into a wimpy-whiner-poor-me when she discovered she was in love with him - no about face for this heroine.

I enjoyed the time period. It was a refreshing change from the Regency period, and I do enjoy reading Maggie Robinson's books. It was just I did have some problems buying into the early part of the book when we are seeking revenge. I had numerous chuckles when Mary is behind the wheels of Alec's car. I thought Alec was a wonderful hero when he fell in love with a woman who was so different from what he was used to and he didn't want to change her.

Overall, this was a fun story with a wonderful couple, I just wished I had liked the reason for their being together more. I was not as fond of this story as I was of In the Arms of an Heiress, however, I will be looking for more from Ms. Robinson.

KaysBlog

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 4 out of 5]

IN THE HEART OF THE HIGHLANDER by Maggie Robinson is another exciting Edwardian era Historical Romance set in 1904 Scotland. #2 in "A Ladies Unlaced Romance", but can be read as a stand alone. See, "In The Arms of the Heiress". If you have ever read one of Ms. Robinson's stories you know you are in for a treat. If you have not read one, than you are missing a great read! Join, Mary Arden Eversong, and Lord Alec Raeburn, a Scottish Baron who was accused of killing his wife, on a journey of danger, secrets, and a tug of war between two men. One who is a deceitful person,who debauches innocent young ladies using the pretense of a Hydrotherapy Spa at a new hotel in the Highlands,The Forsyth Palace Hotel. And the other a baron on a mission to ruin the good doctor's reputation. The chemistry between Mary and Alec sparks off the pages. With Ms. Robinson's character's wry humor,her powerful, emotional story you can not go wrong. Packed with drama, intrigue, romance, and love. Oh yea, and a madcap dash for help in a motor car, what's not to love. Sexy intrigue,and danger is aghast in "In The Heart of the Highlander". Ms. Robinson has done it again, with "In the Heart of the Highlander". I can hardly wait for the next installment in the "A Ladies Unlaced" novels. Well done!! Loved it!! I believe, Downton Abbey fans will enjoy this title as well as historical romance readers and anyone who enjoys a great read with engaging characters. Received for an honest review from the publisher.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read “In the Heart of the Highlander” by Maggie Robinson, which is a Scottish historical romance.

Mary Evensong has taken over her Aunt Mim’s business, the Evensong Agency. This enterprise finds household help, finds husbands for young ladies, and solves problems for customers. Of course all is confidential. Lord Alec Raeburn has come for help to try to avenge his wife’s death by trapping the unscrupulous doctor responsible for her demise. Lord Alec has been accused of pushing his wife out of a tower window to her death and is being ostracized by friends and neighbors alike. He did not murder his wife and wants to make sure that the one responsible for her suicide is punished. He and the Evensong Agency concoct a plan to do just that. Mary, her Aunt Mim and Oliver, their colleague, meet with Alec at the doctor’s spa and carry out their plan. Of course Mary and Alec are quite taken with each other and the story continues from there.

I liked the story line of the book and enjoyed the sometimes humorous give and take among the main characters. However, the love scenes portrayed way too much information to me. I would rather lovemaking be portrayed in the text by innuendo. I don’t need to have it spelled out for me. In fact, the erotic explanations of sex ruined the book for me. I actually skipped these parts. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a prude, but I am beyond reading “bodice-ripper” books and yearn for a good story to entice me.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book from Berkley and Night Owl Reviews in return for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-8m

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

IN THE HEART OF THE HIGHLANDER is the second book in Robinson's Ladies Unlaced series, and it's just as much fun as the first. In this book, we meet up again with Mrs. Evensong, proprietress of the Evensong Agency, the establishment that provided IN THE ARMS OF THE HEIRESS' Louisa with her pretend husband. Here, Mrs. Evensong agrees to provide an actress to accompany Alec Raeburn to a Scottish spa and retreat in the hopes of drawing out the man Alec believes killed his wife. Rather than sending an actress as requested, Mrs. Evensong, who was in need of a bit of adventure, decides to go herself.

The plot of this book is a little far-fetched, but I've come to enjoy Maggie Robinson's work and I really enjoyed this. Alec and Mary are well matched, and I enjoyed the interplay between these two who start off by irritating each other. Readers who are tired of Regency-era romances, but still want
books set in England, will likely appreciate this series as it is set at the turn of the century, so we are treated to cars and early versions of vacation resorts and spas. My only complaint is that the villain was slightly crazy in that he didn't have a good reason for acting the way he did. However, the rest of the book was too delightful for me to let the crazy villain ruin the rest of the story. I continue to enjoy Maggie Robinson's work and wait excitedly for the next entry in this series.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first of Maggie Robinson’s Ladies Unlaced series, and her latest in this series in my opinion doesn’t disappoint. Set in the early 1900’s highlands of Scotland, the hijinx keeps this story rolling. With great characters and the author’s trademark banter it was hard for me to put the book down when other duties demanded my attention.

I loved the way the romance developed between the hero, Alec, and the heroine, Mary Evensong, as they ferret out the bad guy. With a lively and clever supporting cast that includes a wonderfully described hotel (yes, I’d characterize the hotel as such! LOL!) and the accompanying highlands, I could imagine being there at the turn of the 20th century.

It’s refreshing for me as a historical lover to find a new era to read about and enjoy. These stories bring lots of joy and ‘modern conveniences’ to the forefront. It was an era that struggled with the ways of the past as the people desperately wanted to head face first into the new century. For me, I love the added pleasure of reading these tales -- Ms. Robinson’s Ladies Unlaced series – as we approach the centennial of WW1.

I for one will be looking forward to the next in the series. It’s a breath of fresh air for me as a historical reader.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really pleasantly surprised by this novel. I didn't have any expectations for it but the story, characters and writing style drew me in immediately and I was hooked reading it all night. I really liked the lead characters, particularly the heroine, and it was a nice change of pace for me to read something set in the Edwardian era as opposed to my normal Regency, Victorian or highlander reads. I actually would have given this five stars except I was a little disappointed in the denouement of the story and the last several chapters that occur once the hero and heroine leave the hotel. Up to that point, it was a fun, sexy read but the last few chapters seemed to dramatically change the hero by focusing on his issues from the past. He went from a charmer and a flirt (albeit sometimes surly) to a deeply depressed guy. It seemed a little too broad of a shift for me. And his castle seemed so dreary and depressing and empty, so it dampened the previous mood that was set. I also thought the ending was a little far fetched and over the top. But even with critiques it was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I hope I can find more romances like this one with a modern heroine and a setting that doesn't rely on ballrooms and card parties.

[Maria Almaguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in Maggie Robinson's very amusing Ladies Unlaced series, set in the Edwardian era, 1904. I read and loved In the Arms of the Heiress, the first book in the series,last summer.

This story tells the happy ending for Mary Evensong, a woman who runs an unorthodox employment agency of sorts for her Aunt Mim who, with her gouty foot, has limited movement. The agency’s motto is “Performing the Impossible Before Breakfast Since 1888."(p4)

Before she came to work for her aunt in London, Mary, approaching thirty, was heading for a life of servitude, taking care of her brother’s children and helping him run the family grocery store in Oxfordshire. When her aunt summoned her, she jumped at the chance for some adventure. But after several years of helping others, in disguise as her aged aunt, she longs for more for herself.

For my full review on my historical romance & history blog: http://bit.ly/1dxxyQ4

[V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the narrative's somewhat stilted tone at the offset, Heart of the Highlander quickly finds its stride out around the end of the first chapter. With a story that draws the reader in and authentic characters, this novel quickly grabs the reader and doesn't let go until the last page. In fact, this reader devoured the book in one sitting. Most of the storyline seems plausible, given the genre of historical romance, though the heroine's "favor" of the hero tests the suspension of disbelief. The rest of the storyline more than makes up for this failing, however, neatly balancing originality with genre-conformity. A light fare, Heart of the Highlander, will satisfy readers who enjoy Scottish historical romances with flavor, humor, and a dash of flare.
I won this through a FirstReads giveaway on Goodreads.

[Melwasul · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5/5*

Second tome de cette série de Maggie Robinson mais verdict identique pour le premier : c’est sympa, ça se laisse lire mais il manque un petit quelque chose pour en faire une lecture dont on se souvient un petit moment. C’est même une lecture que finalement on oublie vite et dont je ne suis même pas sure de lire le troisième tome à sa sortie …

Je ne vous referai pas un résumé de l’histoire, celui de la quatrième couverture suffit et en plus j’ai la flemme. Ce qui me fait réaliser que comme je n’ai pas grand-chose à raconter, pour une fois, ma chronique risque d’être très, très rapide (ou alors il me faudrait parler dans le vent)(autant vous faire gagner du temps ;) ). [...]

La suite ici: http://lune-et-plume.fr/accordez-moi-...

[Kusanagi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je n'ai pas fini/lu le tome 1 de la série (j'avoue ne pas avoir vraiment accroché) mais comme l'histoire du tome 2 me tentait, j'ai allégrement sauté par dessus ^^

Et j'ai bien aimé... il y a un petit côté Agatha Christie en 1904 dans cette histoire de lord écossais qui veut punir le véritable responsable de la mort de sa femme.

Même le côté "Allons incognito ou presque dans ce magnifique hotel thermal " symbole de l'époque Edwardienne ^^

Au niveau des personnages, j'ai bien aimé Alec et Mary et les personnages secondaires (oliver est trop adorable ). Bon je suis déçue par Alec qui porte un kilt la première fois qu'on le croise (ce que Mary apprécie fortement XD) et plus du tout après manifestement alors que flute, on est en Ecosse! O_o

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice followup to the first book about the heiress Louisa who turns to the Evensong Agency for discrete help in providing a fake husband. This time around we discover the real face between Evensong and reason for a deception when Mary Arden Evensong decides she's the one to help Alec avenge the death of his wife at the hands of a disgusting and disreputable doctor.

Of course, even with all the secrets and half truths Mary and Alec are drawn to each other. She thinks this is her only chance for true passion so they strike a bargain, after the evil doctor is vanquished--she gets a night of passion.

From this deal, there are complications and danger that carry us through the end of the book.