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All for Love #2
To Wed an Heiress
Rebellion drove Mercy Rutherford to Scotland to escape the possessive grip of her fiancé. But it’s fate that lands her in the crumbling highlands castle of Ross Caithart. A dreamer with visions of inventing airships, he’s most certainly mad. Handsome beyond words, he’s also causing an irresistible flutter in her stomach beyond reason. When Gregory arrives to see their arranged marriage to its bitter end, Mercy desperately turns to Ross with an offer of her fortune—and her hand in marriage.
The Earl of Morton has a reputation for being a daredevil eccentric, but even he is hesitant to engage in such a rash proposition—no matter how utterly beguiled he is by the wildly independent American heiress. And yet, with so much at stake, how can he possibly say no? But when their unconventional union grows into a passionate and inseparable love, more than Gregory’s obsession threatens them. Now, Ross and Mercy will have to risk more than their hearts to save it.
The Earl of Morton has a reputation for being a daredevil eccentric, but even he is hesitant to engage in such a rash proposition—no matter how utterly beguiled he is by the wildly independent American heiress. And yet, with so much at stake, how can he possibly say no? But when their unconventional union grows into a passionate and inseparable love, more than Gregory’s obsession threatens them. Now, Ross and Mercy will have to risk more than their hearts to save it.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 26, 2019
109 people are currently reading
1544 people want to read
About the author
Karen Ranney
100 books947 followersI’m a writer who’s been privileged to have attained the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists.
Although I've primarily written historical romance, I've also written contemporary romantic suspense, a murder mystery, and I'm having a wonderful time writing about a vampire who is being challenged by her new state of being. (The Montgomery Chronicles: The Fertile Vampire and The Reluctant Goddess coming March 12, 2015.)
I believe in the power of the individual, the magnificence of the human spirit, and always looking for the positive in any situation. I write about people who have been challenged by life itself but who win in the end.
Newsletter: http://karenranney.com/subscribe-warm...
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WriterKarenRa...
Website: http://karenranney.com
Email: karen@karenranney.com
Twitter: @Karen_Ranney
Although I've primarily written historical romance, I've also written contemporary romantic suspense, a murder mystery, and I'm having a wonderful time writing about a vampire who is being challenged by her new state of being. (The Montgomery Chronicles: The Fertile Vampire and The Reluctant Goddess coming March 12, 2015.)
I believe in the power of the individual, the magnificence of the human spirit, and always looking for the positive in any situation. I write about people who have been challenged by life itself but who win in the end.
Newsletter: http://karenranney.com/subscribe-warm...
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WriterKarenRa...
Website: http://karenranney.com
Email: karen@karenranney.com
Twitter: @Karen_Ranney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
October 11, 2021
This book went from A-OK to a snooze fest very quickly. Or should I say slowly... because these two took an excruciating amount of time to admit their feelings. They spent so much time whining about liking each other and being so sad that they needed to leave one another... and just... they needed to DO SOMETHING about it.
I really enjoyed the first entry to this series but this one... this one was just a waste of a day in my opinion.
2.5/5 stars.
I really enjoyed the first entry to this series but this one... this one was just a waste of a day in my opinion.
2.5/5 stars.
March 29, 2019
To Wed an Heiress by Karen Ranney is book Two in the An All for Love Series. This is the story of Mercy Rutherford and Ross Caithart. This can be a standalone book.
Mercy is running away from a fiancé who is very controlling. Mercy along the way meets Ross who some think he not all there but he works on inventions. When her fiancé comes for her..she makes a deal with Ross for him to take her money for his protection. A deal is struck but will this have a different ending?
Enjoyed their story.
Mercy is running away from a fiancé who is very controlling. Mercy along the way meets Ross who some think he not all there but he works on inventions. When her fiancé comes for her..she makes a deal with Ross for him to take her money for his protection. A deal is struck but will this have a different ending?
Enjoyed their story.
April 3, 2019
This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from Avon in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
To Wed An Heiress is the second book in the “All For Love” series and this book while not quite as wonderful in reading as the first book “To Love A Duchess” was still a wonderful and charming story that only can be delivered by Karen Ranney. Karen Ranney is a auto read author for me, I have adored relishing her stories for over ten years and To Wed An Heiress is no different. I really found this story so unique, I still didn’t see the connection between these two books in this series so this book can easily be read as a stand alone. I found this book to be so sweet and with great witty humor.
Mercy Rutherford, was raised in America, but even though she adores her parents who love her fiercely they are too stifling and she feels like she is a caged princess, she has the best of everything but she craves freedom. So she escapes a fiancee whom she abhors to the wild lands of Scotland with a precious treasure of wealth to give to her grandmother. She is looking forward to meeting her family in the Highlands, however, she knows that she may not be well received. But what she doesn’t expect to happen is to almost be killed by a flying contraption built by a inventor. Gregory, is the Earl of Morton, but also the only survivor of his clan and at odds with Mercy’s relatives where both families are in the middle of a feud.
There is a building tension that grows between Mercy and Gregory but there is also a explosion of chemistry that comes unexpected to both of them. And even though Mercy is drawn to Gregory, there are other factos involved that will put hurdles in their path to keep them from finding a way to be together. But both Mercy and Gregory are tenacious and stubborn and not about to give up on the love they feel for each other despite how forbidden their relationship is.
I found To Wed An Heiress to be a delightful and fun story and even though the pacing wasn’t quite as engaging as I was hoping for, it was still a fulfilling story and I was really pulled into their relationship. I adored both Gregory and Mercy. Both Gregory and Mercy have such strong personalities but beneath that strength lies courage and kindness. I love how compassionate both of them are. But their stubbornness knows no bounds which causes a chain reaction of delightful bantering that I guarantee will entertain any reader. I did love seeing them find their way to their happy ever after. We do get a few surprises and boy Mercy’s family is a piece of work. So much drama and angst that Mercy has to overcome and coming and discovering her own strength. At first I wasn’t sure how I liked Mercy, she tends to fade into the wall with the strong personalities of her family members until she finds her own dreams and realizing that she wants to fight for what she wants in life and once she begins fighting, her character really grew on me although it did take time for that to happen. Now our hero, Gregory, he is quite the sensitive sort at times, he is more reserved so it takes time before the reader really understands his character and he has his own reservations and fears that he has to overcome but I did enjoy seeing him realize the importance of fighting for the woman he loves and the life he wants for them both.
Overall I found To Wed An Heiress to be a delightful array of family feuding antics, lively bantering and a sensual sweet love tale to curl your toes!!
To Wed An Heiress is the second book in the “All For Love” series and this book while not quite as wonderful in reading as the first book “To Love A Duchess” was still a wonderful and charming story that only can be delivered by Karen Ranney. Karen Ranney is a auto read author for me, I have adored relishing her stories for over ten years and To Wed An Heiress is no different. I really found this story so unique, I still didn’t see the connection between these two books in this series so this book can easily be read as a stand alone. I found this book to be so sweet and with great witty humor.
Mercy Rutherford, was raised in America, but even though she adores her parents who love her fiercely they are too stifling and she feels like she is a caged princess, she has the best of everything but she craves freedom. So she escapes a fiancee whom she abhors to the wild lands of Scotland with a precious treasure of wealth to give to her grandmother. She is looking forward to meeting her family in the Highlands, however, she knows that she may not be well received. But what she doesn’t expect to happen is to almost be killed by a flying contraption built by a inventor. Gregory, is the Earl of Morton, but also the only survivor of his clan and at odds with Mercy’s relatives where both families are in the middle of a feud.
There is a building tension that grows between Mercy and Gregory but there is also a explosion of chemistry that comes unexpected to both of them. And even though Mercy is drawn to Gregory, there are other factos involved that will put hurdles in their path to keep them from finding a way to be together. But both Mercy and Gregory are tenacious and stubborn and not about to give up on the love they feel for each other despite how forbidden their relationship is.
I found To Wed An Heiress to be a delightful and fun story and even though the pacing wasn’t quite as engaging as I was hoping for, it was still a fulfilling story and I was really pulled into their relationship. I adored both Gregory and Mercy. Both Gregory and Mercy have such strong personalities but beneath that strength lies courage and kindness. I love how compassionate both of them are. But their stubbornness knows no bounds which causes a chain reaction of delightful bantering that I guarantee will entertain any reader. I did love seeing them find their way to their happy ever after. We do get a few surprises and boy Mercy’s family is a piece of work. So much drama and angst that Mercy has to overcome and coming and discovering her own strength. At first I wasn’t sure how I liked Mercy, she tends to fade into the wall with the strong personalities of her family members until she finds her own dreams and realizing that she wants to fight for what she wants in life and once she begins fighting, her character really grew on me although it did take time for that to happen. Now our hero, Gregory, he is quite the sensitive sort at times, he is more reserved so it takes time before the reader really understands his character and he has his own reservations and fears that he has to overcome but I did enjoy seeing him realize the importance of fighting for the woman he loves and the life he wants for them both.
Overall I found To Wed An Heiress to be a delightful array of family feuding antics, lively bantering and a sensual sweet love tale to curl your toes!!
March 18, 2019
When Mercy Rutherford runs away from her pampered and privileged life in New York and goes to find her mother's family in Scotland, she never could have imagined how life changing her spur of the moment decision would be.
Mercy's mother was worried about her mother and sister in North Carolina after the civil war, she learned that their home had been destroyed and they were destitute, so she sent funds to them, only to have them returned to her with the news that her mother and sister had returned to Scotland to live with her mother's brother. Mercy seized the opportunity to get away from her over protective parents and her unwanted fiancé.
Mercy's trip to see her aunt and grandmother was completely uneventful, until the last few miles, when an airship crashes into their carriage and injures both Mercy and her maid Ruthie. The incredibly handsome, not to mention rude and arrogant, pilot of the ship, Lennox Caitheart comes to their aid. He carries Ruthie to his castle to tend her injuries, he tells Mercy to wait with the carriage and he will send help. She watches him leave and then follows. He has set Ruthie's arm and tends Mercy's wounds. They talk and both make apologies, she is intrigued by him and he her, until he learns who she is.
Mercy is shocked by Lennox's abrupt change upon learning who she is and is even more surprised when he basically kicks her out of his home. On the ride to her family's home, she learns that Lennox's brother and her Cousin Mary were in love and eloped, but they were both killed in a carriage crash and her family, the Macrorys have placed the blame on the Caithearts. When she finally arrives at her great uncle Douglas' home, she realizes her mission of "mercy" was unnecessary - her grandmother's brother is wealthy. Her reception is not what she expected and her grandmother is hostile and unwelcoming. Her aunt Elizabeth is more welcoming, but she will not go against her mother for Mercy's sake. Her grandmother basically tells her she is not welcome and must go, Mercy argues that she cannot leave until Ruthie is better, but resigns herself to returning home.
Lennox Caitheart, the new Earl of Morton knows he was rude to Mercy, but he was shocked to learn who she was. He is still grieving the loss of his brother and the huge changes in his life. Before Robert died, Lennox was studying to be a doctor. But all that changed when he became the earl, he left school and returned home to discover that the Macrorys had interfered with several business deals that Robert had established and that he is penniless and has a rundown castle to support. He has become a hermit and supports himself by selling his inventions. His only passion is working on his airship. But when his interfering housekeeper Irene, suggests that he send a note to Mercy, he grudgingly agrees.
It is days before their paths cross again, and this time, it is Mercy who comes to the rescue. They again talk and exchange apologies, Mercy is nothing like Lennox thought she was, she is kind, considerate and beautiful. He is surprised how much he wants her, but it can never be, she is rich and her family is his enemy.
Mercy learns that her father is on his way and knows her time in Scotland is almost up, but when a surprise guest in the form of her "won't take no for an answer" fiancé Gregory arrives, Mercy finally begins to stand up for herself. After a tense and violent exchange with Gregory and Lennox, Mercy makes a decision and asks Lennox to marry her. He refuses, he cares for her, but his pride will not let him accept her money and he has no way to support her. When her father finally arrives, it appears that Mercy is out of time to change his mind and accepts that she will have to return to America. She bids him farewell and returns to her great-uncle's house with her father.
Lennox is heartbroken, but still clinging to his pride. Irene talks to him and he finally realizes the gift he had in Mercy, but is it too late??
This was great story with truly likeable and relatable characters, a lot a emotion, some laughs, a little bit of steam, a lot of character growth, a lovely secondary romance, some surprises, a couple of twists and turns and finally a grand, romantic gesture leads to a very sweet HEA. This book is the second in the series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone title. I loved this book and would happily recommend it.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher. *
Mercy's mother was worried about her mother and sister in North Carolina after the civil war, she learned that their home had been destroyed and they were destitute, so she sent funds to them, only to have them returned to her with the news that her mother and sister had returned to Scotland to live with her mother's brother. Mercy seized the opportunity to get away from her over protective parents and her unwanted fiancé.
Mercy's trip to see her aunt and grandmother was completely uneventful, until the last few miles, when an airship crashes into their carriage and injures both Mercy and her maid Ruthie. The incredibly handsome, not to mention rude and arrogant, pilot of the ship, Lennox Caitheart comes to their aid. He carries Ruthie to his castle to tend her injuries, he tells Mercy to wait with the carriage and he will send help. She watches him leave and then follows. He has set Ruthie's arm and tends Mercy's wounds. They talk and both make apologies, she is intrigued by him and he her, until he learns who she is.
Mercy is shocked by Lennox's abrupt change upon learning who she is and is even more surprised when he basically kicks her out of his home. On the ride to her family's home, she learns that Lennox's brother and her Cousin Mary were in love and eloped, but they were both killed in a carriage crash and her family, the Macrorys have placed the blame on the Caithearts. When she finally arrives at her great uncle Douglas' home, she realizes her mission of "mercy" was unnecessary - her grandmother's brother is wealthy. Her reception is not what she expected and her grandmother is hostile and unwelcoming. Her aunt Elizabeth is more welcoming, but she will not go against her mother for Mercy's sake. Her grandmother basically tells her she is not welcome and must go, Mercy argues that she cannot leave until Ruthie is better, but resigns herself to returning home.
Lennox Caitheart, the new Earl of Morton knows he was rude to Mercy, but he was shocked to learn who she was. He is still grieving the loss of his brother and the huge changes in his life. Before Robert died, Lennox was studying to be a doctor. But all that changed when he became the earl, he left school and returned home to discover that the Macrorys had interfered with several business deals that Robert had established and that he is penniless and has a rundown castle to support. He has become a hermit and supports himself by selling his inventions. His only passion is working on his airship. But when his interfering housekeeper Irene, suggests that he send a note to Mercy, he grudgingly agrees.
It is days before their paths cross again, and this time, it is Mercy who comes to the rescue. They again talk and exchange apologies, Mercy is nothing like Lennox thought she was, she is kind, considerate and beautiful. He is surprised how much he wants her, but it can never be, she is rich and her family is his enemy.
Mercy learns that her father is on his way and knows her time in Scotland is almost up, but when a surprise guest in the form of her "won't take no for an answer" fiancé Gregory arrives, Mercy finally begins to stand up for herself. After a tense and violent exchange with Gregory and Lennox, Mercy makes a decision and asks Lennox to marry her. He refuses, he cares for her, but his pride will not let him accept her money and he has no way to support her. When her father finally arrives, it appears that Mercy is out of time to change his mind and accepts that she will have to return to America. She bids him farewell and returns to her great-uncle's house with her father.
Lennox is heartbroken, but still clinging to his pride. Irene talks to him and he finally realizes the gift he had in Mercy, but is it too late??
This was great story with truly likeable and relatable characters, a lot a emotion, some laughs, a little bit of steam, a lot of character growth, a lovely secondary romance, some surprises, a couple of twists and turns and finally a grand, romantic gesture leads to a very sweet HEA. This book is the second in the series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone title. I loved this book and would happily recommend it.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher. *
January 21, 2019
This wonderful second offering in the All For Love series, is the perfect read for those fond of a romance built on "happy accidents".
For it is after all, one such accident that brings our leading couple together.
The collision of his experimental "airship". With her very conventional carriage.
Resulting in a utterly unputdownable love story.
Both Lennox and Mercy are formidable, headstrong, and extremely likable characters. Determined to live life on their own terms.
Lennox in his pursuit of flight.
Mercy in her quest to live a life free of others' well intentioned micromanagement of her life.
Add in the love-at-first-sight romance of her lady's maid, Ruthie, and his assistant Connor.
A very Hatfield and McCoy-esque feud that her family refuses to let die.
And a grandmother who is utterly impossible to please.
And one can't help asking if things couldn't possibly get any more complex for the two.
The answer.
In a word.
Yes.
But discovering how the complications arise and what the two have to do to surmount them. While not managing to become victims of Lennox's inventions in the process.
Priceless
The passion that the two share is one that is very sweet and takes a while to kindle. With a great majority of their love story focusing on the mutual respect that the two come to share for each other.
This is a very sweet and spirited romance. One sure to stoke the fire of every free spirit
And set hearts free.
For it is after all, one such accident that brings our leading couple together.
The collision of his experimental "airship". With her very conventional carriage.
Resulting in a utterly unputdownable love story.
Both Lennox and Mercy are formidable, headstrong, and extremely likable characters. Determined to live life on their own terms.
Lennox in his pursuit of flight.
Mercy in her quest to live a life free of others' well intentioned micromanagement of her life.
Add in the love-at-first-sight romance of her lady's maid, Ruthie, and his assistant Connor.
A very Hatfield and McCoy-esque feud that her family refuses to let die.
And a grandmother who is utterly impossible to please.
And one can't help asking if things couldn't possibly get any more complex for the two.
The answer.
In a word.
Yes.
But discovering how the complications arise and what the two have to do to surmount them. While not managing to become victims of Lennox's inventions in the process.
Priceless
The passion that the two share is one that is very sweet and takes a while to kindle. With a great majority of their love story focusing on the mutual respect that the two come to share for each other.
This is a very sweet and spirited romance. One sure to stoke the fire of every free spirit
And set hearts free.
February 7, 2021
Wealthy American heiress Mercy Rutherford ventures to Scotland to escape her controlling, grasping fiance, Gregory, and the immovable plan her loving, but overbearing, parents have made for her life. Upon arrival she meets with an accident that leads to a developing friendship of sorts with her family's neighbor Lennox Caitheart, the Earl of Morton. (The blurb has him named Ross, but he was Lennox in my ARC). Mercy soon learns that her Scottish family is horrible and Lennox isn't insane as she first thought, but rather he is a genius, and very lonely, inventor. Despite the feud between their families, Lennox and Mercy develop a tentative friendship that could develop into more, but given the threats of Gregory and his obsession with Mercy, as well as her family's rigid expectations for her future, there may be too many obstacles to overcome in order for them to be together.
In Lennox Ms. Ranney has created a lovely brooding hero, which I'm a huge fan of. Lennox is lonely and reclusive, but is a good man just trying to preserve his family's legacy. He doesn't quite know what to make of the American heiress just learning independence and he challenges her to change her thinking.
Mercy's family was just awful. I kept expecting some sort of redemption or justification there but none ever came; it was rather an anticlimactic ending on that front. I kept expecting someone to stick up for Mercy, but no one ever did except Lennox, which just made him an even better hero. I was frustrated by Mercy's failure to stick up for herself, especially at age 28, even after she'd decided to make changes and started to voice her own opinions; it's like she kept regressing. Despite that, I still liked her and the book overall, especially Lennox as a refreshingly outspoken hero who also showed growth and development.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
In Lennox Ms. Ranney has created a lovely brooding hero, which I'm a huge fan of. Lennox is lonely and reclusive, but is a good man just trying to preserve his family's legacy. He doesn't quite know what to make of the American heiress just learning independence and he challenges her to change her thinking.
Mercy's family was just awful. I kept expecting some sort of redemption or justification there but none ever came; it was rather an anticlimactic ending on that front. I kept expecting someone to stick up for Mercy, but no one ever did except Lennox, which just made him an even better hero. I was frustrated by Mercy's failure to stick up for herself, especially at age 28, even after she'd decided to make changes and started to voice her own opinions; it's like she kept regressing. Despite that, I still liked her and the book overall, especially Lennox as a refreshingly outspoken hero who also showed growth and development.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
May 6, 2019
Mercy is an heiress who runs away from home and goes to see her gran in Scotland. I liked how smart she was about it, she takes her maid with her, she books passage on one of her dad's ships. I can stand by this runaway.
Then she meets Lennox. Reluctant Earl with a Castle that is falling down, and who loves building flying machines. I liked Lennox, he was always just there you know.
Mercy's Scottish family were idiots the bunch of them, ugh! Her former fiance was an asshat! I am glad she ran away. Her family back home did have the best of intentions, so I forgive them.
Oh and there is a feud. So she is not allowed to meet Lennox. But does she care, no.
They meet, fall in love (cos who wouldn't) and then there is some family drama and they live happily ever after.
I did like the narrator. But his Mercy voice did at first sound like she had a cold or something, but then you got used to it. It was just his female voice. He did have nice distinct voices to all the big players and I liked his soft Scottish accent
Then she meets Lennox. Reluctant Earl with a Castle that is falling down, and who loves building flying machines. I liked Lennox, he was always just there you know.
Mercy's Scottish family were idiots the bunch of them, ugh! Her former fiance was an asshat! I am glad she ran away. Her family back home did have the best of intentions, so I forgive them.
Oh and there is a feud. So she is not allowed to meet Lennox. But does she care, no.
They meet, fall in love (cos who wouldn't) and then there is some family drama and they live happily ever after.
I did like the narrator. But his Mercy voice did at first sound like she had a cold or something, but then you got used to it. It was just his female voice. He did have nice distinct voices to all the big players and I liked his soft Scottish accent
June 8, 2020
I was thoroughly enjoying the book until the 3/4 point. At the start, I was thinking to myself that I havent found such an interesting and unique story in a while. Not many historical romances cast their heroes as tinkering inventors; it was refreshing to read about perspectives so unique. But then suddenly the author decides to prolong the conflict in ways that make no sense to me.
The insidiousness of the villain suddenly becomes erased and turns into farce. The tightly held tension and the chemistry between the main couple that kept the first half so entertaining just becomes tedious. You dont know why theyre arguing. You dont know why there’s conflict if theyre both on the same page. I almost threw my “book” down in frustration (sadly, ebooks arent as satisfying, and are much more costly, to throw).
The irritating blip aside, once the hero gets over himself, it ties up neatly in a HEA and its enjoyable if you dont think about it too deeply. I wish we got to read a little bit more about their life together but I suppose that highlights how much I came to care about these characters by the end.
The insidiousness of the villain suddenly becomes erased and turns into farce. The tightly held tension and the chemistry between the main couple that kept the first half so entertaining just becomes tedious. You dont know why theyre arguing. You dont know why there’s conflict if theyre both on the same page. I almost threw my “book” down in frustration (sadly, ebooks arent as satisfying, and are much more costly, to throw).
The irritating blip aside, once the hero gets over himself, it ties up neatly in a HEA and its enjoyable if you dont think about it too deeply. I wish we got to read a little bit more about their life together but I suppose that highlights how much I came to care about these characters by the end.
March 30, 2019
2 1/2 stars
Title should of been: Adventures in flight.
Very flimsy story. Both main characters are unappreciative, they totally deserve each other.
Hortense 'Mercy' Rutherford is a pampered heiress from New York. She runs away to Scotland.. just because and falls head over heels for...
Lennox Caitheart, Earl of Morton. Poor, but handsome hermit inventor that has an obsession with flight.
320 pages of.. fluff. No real.. nothing.
Mercy runs away because she couldn't or didn't want to speak up for herself. Not much background until later in the book, when its revealed that her brother Jimmy is mentally disabled and her parents lost 5 children before her.
The way she speaks to her father is almost cruel. However, he's a bit of a jerk too.
Lennox, as tends to happen in romance novels, inherited the title of Earl from his beloved older brother whom died in a tragic accident.
The author is all over the place in this story. Lots of tell, not much show. The plot starts out with Mercy & her maid in Scotland, an accident occurs, Mercy meets Lennox - he fixes her & her maid up. Then becomes angry when she mentions her destination and sends the two injured women on their way.
She gets to her maternal relatives' home and is not warmly welcomed. Turns out her mother's family & Lennox's family have a feud. Why wouldn't Mercy know about this? It is stated in the book that she spent alot of time with her maternal grandmother. It is also stated that the feud began before Robert & Mary's tragic demise.
Suddenly turns out Lennox is a trained physician. He was unable to finish his final exam, due to his brother's death. Then, now the reader finds out Lennox's financial status is due to Mercy's maternal relatives backing out of their contracts with Lennox's family & intimidating the other business partners.
Now, Mercy's relatives hate northerners because of the outcome of the Civil War.
Now Mercy's maid is in love with Lennox's servant.
Suddenly Mercy's fiancee appears and turns out he is physically, verbally, emotionally and mentally abusive.
Mercy figures she's in love with Lennox. Lennox figures he's in love with Mercy
Mercy's almost fiancee, whom followed her all the way to Scotland, tries to kill Lennox, then ends up marrying Mercy's cousin, whom is also an heiress.
Just... too much. 320 pages of it. Give me one story, with one strong plot and a villain. Two main characters and an ending that makes sense. A secondary plot that ties into the main plot is fine too, as long as it is resolved before the story ends.
The epilogue doesn't state anything except Lennox thinking loving & caring for someone is a burden.
Anyway. I'm done with this series.
Title should of been: Adventures in flight.
Very flimsy story. Both main characters are unappreciative, they totally deserve each other.
Hortense 'Mercy' Rutherford is a pampered heiress from New York. She runs away to Scotland.. just because and falls head over heels for...
Lennox Caitheart, Earl of Morton. Poor, but handsome hermit inventor that has an obsession with flight.
320 pages of.. fluff. No real.. nothing.
Mercy runs away because she couldn't or didn't want to speak up for herself. Not much background until later in the book, when its revealed that her brother Jimmy is mentally disabled and her parents lost 5 children before her.
The way she speaks to her father is almost cruel. However, he's a bit of a jerk too.
Lennox, as tends to happen in romance novels, inherited the title of Earl from his beloved older brother whom died in a tragic accident.
The author is all over the place in this story. Lots of tell, not much show. The plot starts out with Mercy & her maid in Scotland, an accident occurs, Mercy meets Lennox - he fixes her & her maid up. Then becomes angry when she mentions her destination and sends the two injured women on their way.
She gets to her maternal relatives' home and is not warmly welcomed. Turns out her mother's family & Lennox's family have a feud. Why wouldn't Mercy know about this? It is stated in the book that she spent alot of time with her maternal grandmother. It is also stated that the feud began before Robert & Mary's tragic demise.
Suddenly turns out Lennox is a trained physician. He was unable to finish his final exam, due to his brother's death. Then, now the reader finds out Lennox's financial status is due to Mercy's maternal relatives backing out of their contracts with Lennox's family & intimidating the other business partners.
Now, Mercy's relatives hate northerners because of the outcome of the Civil War.
Now Mercy's maid is in love with Lennox's servant.
Suddenly Mercy's fiancee appears and turns out he is physically, verbally, emotionally and mentally abusive.
Mercy figures she's in love with Lennox. Lennox figures he's in love with Mercy
Mercy's almost fiancee, whom followed her all the way to Scotland, tries to kill Lennox, then ends up marrying Mercy's cousin, whom is also an heiress.
Just... too much. 320 pages of it. Give me one story, with one strong plot and a villain. Two main characters and an ending that makes sense. A secondary plot that ties into the main plot is fine too, as long as it is resolved before the story ends.
The epilogue doesn't state anything except Lennox thinking loving & caring for someone is a burden.
Anyway. I'm done with this series.
May 26, 2019
Karen Ranney is one of my favorite authors and I always look forward to reading her books. Each of her novels provides its own challenges and enjoyment. I find her characters to be real and believable, even if they do not always stay on the path of goodness and honor. There is romantic attraction that meets compelling conflict, interfering with the developing relationship. Ultimately, that discord draws the protagonists together, enabling them to find the love they deserve. To Wed an Heiress develops along these lines.
Mercy and Lennox meet under rather unusual circumstances which initially put them at odds with each other. They are from two different clans, clans with an acrimonious history between them, and this further divides them. However, as their paths cross over the weeks that follow, Mercy and Lennox become strongly attracted to the other while believing that their feelings are not reciprocated. Enter a “villain” in the form of Gregory, Mercy’s former fiancé who insists he still plans to marry her. Adding to the conflict are Mercy’s hostile grandmother, her rancorous great-uncle, and her father’s subsequent arrival from America. With all that against them, Mercy and Lennox join forces to face their pasts while looking forward to an uncertain future. All’s well that ends well as they ultimately find their HEA.
Mercy and Lennox meet under rather unusual circumstances which initially put them at odds with each other. They are from two different clans, clans with an acrimonious history between them, and this further divides them. However, as their paths cross over the weeks that follow, Mercy and Lennox become strongly attracted to the other while believing that their feelings are not reciprocated. Enter a “villain” in the form of Gregory, Mercy’s former fiancé who insists he still plans to marry her. Adding to the conflict are Mercy’s hostile grandmother, her rancorous great-uncle, and her father’s subsequent arrival from America. With all that against them, Mercy and Lennox join forces to face their pasts while looking forward to an uncertain future. All’s well that ends well as they ultimately find their HEA.
June 4, 2019
Somewhere the sun is shining – but not here.
I know this may come as a surprise to some of you, but I have finally arrived at the conclusion that I’m turning into a curmudgeon. See the tears are falling from my eyes. Listen as my inner voice cries out for some good books!!! Puleese!!! Why am I flooding the world with my raindrops? Well, I’ll tell you. Karen Ranney has just presented me with a DNF. What makes this even worse is that Karen Ranney has been around foreveeeer. Although I do have to say, sometimes she hits the book out of the ballpark and sometimes she hits a foul. This one didn’t even get off home plate. (I’m not sure why I’m using sporting jargon, because I’m really not a big fan.)
I tried, I really tried to finish this tale, but just couldn’t. It started out promising, and I thought it might be a fun read. I was rubbing my hands together with glee when a very superstitious maid started spouting dark omens. But it wasn’t long before I noticed the writing was tooooo disjointed for me to grab hold of. Here’s the plot. There is a pampered heiress from New York, Hortense Mercy Rutherford. She is very young. She has packed a suitcase full of money and is running away from home. She has crossed the big ocean, and landed in Scotland. It doesn’t seem to matter too much that this might be a tad bit upsetting to her parents. Why did she decide to run? There are two reasons, and one of them is a doozy. The first reason is that she doesn’t want to marry the man her parents have picked for her. Her no’s have been ignored. The second reason has to do with the money in the suitcase. This story takes place after the American Civil War. Mercy’s family are wealthy northerners, at least her father and mother are. Her grandmother, on the other hand, chose North Carolina to live in. Well, because her grandmother cannot accept money from a Yankee, she and her daughter have hightailed it back to her homeland of Scotland. And, this is why when this story opens Mercy and her maid are bumping along the Scottish Highlands with a suitcase of money. She wants to save her grandmother from starvation. Seems like a plan to me, not a good one, but a plan nonetheless. Then they see the dragon.
As it turns out, there isn’t any dragon in this story; that would be silly. This isn’t a fantasy after all. No, it’s really an airship. Enter our hero, Lennox. Lennox is an inventor. He putters around his crumbling estate because he just has to invent something, something new. Who cares if he doesn’t have any money? Who cares if he only has two servants? Who cares if they don’t have food to eat? At least he’s got his airship, which he stitched together with his two little hands. Speaking of stitches, there are a lot of them in this book. Either Mercy is stitching Lennox up, or he is stitching her. There are a number of accidents in this story. Evidently Lennox may not be very good at putting an airship together, because he’s lost control and is headed directly for the carriage. He crashes into it. The maid's arm gets broken, and Mercy has to have her head stitched up. By the way, Lennox has food. Thanks to his housekeeper, who is just like a mother to him, she is able to provide them with locally grown carrots.
Anyway, before Mercy and her maid are fully recovered from their injuries Lennox kicks them out of his house. Why? Well, evidently there is a family feud between his family and hers. It has to do with a dead brother eloping with one of Mercy’s relatives. So, the families don’t speak. In fact, one might say there are some devious things going on in them thar’ hills.
Let’s jump back to Mercy and that suitcase of money she’s lugging around with her. It seems that even when her grandmother is presented with money, she still will not accept any Yankee coin. Nah, she’d rather treat her granddaughter dreadfully and complain about everything. She also treats her daughter, Elizabeth, horribly. Oh yeah, there are a bunch of other relatives living at the estate. Mercy and her grandmother have a number of differing opinions.
Mercy wonders how her neighbor Lennox is doing, so she decides to sneak out to visit him.
On the way to his house she spots Lennox in his airship - again. He has decided, to stitch it back together and forgo the carrots. And, as before, Lennox just cannot seem to get the steering mechanism to work, because it is headed for the nearby loch. The airship crashes into the loch, Lennox becomes tangled up in the rigging, and Mercy jumps in to save him. He cuts himself and she stitches him up while observing his big thighs.
There is also a secondary romance between Lennox’s assistant and Mercy’s maid. Then we get interrupted in the romance department because Mercy’s rejected fiancé, Gregory, shows up. Another horrible person joins the troupe. He’s abusive, he’s a jerk and he will not take a no from Mercy. He also tries to murder Lennox, but I don’t think he gets punished.
There was so much jumping around from one plot to another. Except for the stitching of each other, there wasn’t any chemistry between Lennox and Mercy. There were a bunch of unpleasant people, including Mercy’s father, ex-fiancé, and grandmother. I skipped ahead to see if the story was worth continuing. Alas, I stumbled across the villain solution and could no longer continue with this story. This was a DNF for me.
KaysBlog
I know this may come as a surprise to some of you, but I have finally arrived at the conclusion that I’m turning into a curmudgeon. See the tears are falling from my eyes. Listen as my inner voice cries out for some good books!!! Puleese!!! Why am I flooding the world with my raindrops? Well, I’ll tell you. Karen Ranney has just presented me with a DNF. What makes this even worse is that Karen Ranney has been around foreveeeer. Although I do have to say, sometimes she hits the book out of the ballpark and sometimes she hits a foul. This one didn’t even get off home plate. (I’m not sure why I’m using sporting jargon, because I’m really not a big fan.)
I tried, I really tried to finish this tale, but just couldn’t. It started out promising, and I thought it might be a fun read. I was rubbing my hands together with glee when a very superstitious maid started spouting dark omens. But it wasn’t long before I noticed the writing was tooooo disjointed for me to grab hold of. Here’s the plot. There is a pampered heiress from New York, Hortense Mercy Rutherford. She is very young. She has packed a suitcase full of money and is running away from home. She has crossed the big ocean, and landed in Scotland. It doesn’t seem to matter too much that this might be a tad bit upsetting to her parents. Why did she decide to run? There are two reasons, and one of them is a doozy. The first reason is that she doesn’t want to marry the man her parents have picked for her. Her no’s have been ignored. The second reason has to do with the money in the suitcase. This story takes place after the American Civil War. Mercy’s family are wealthy northerners, at least her father and mother are. Her grandmother, on the other hand, chose North Carolina to live in. Well, because her grandmother cannot accept money from a Yankee, she and her daughter have hightailed it back to her homeland of Scotland. And, this is why when this story opens Mercy and her maid are bumping along the Scottish Highlands with a suitcase of money. She wants to save her grandmother from starvation. Seems like a plan to me, not a good one, but a plan nonetheless. Then they see the dragon.
As it turns out, there isn’t any dragon in this story; that would be silly. This isn’t a fantasy after all. No, it’s really an airship. Enter our hero, Lennox. Lennox is an inventor. He putters around his crumbling estate because he just has to invent something, something new. Who cares if he doesn’t have any money? Who cares if he only has two servants? Who cares if they don’t have food to eat? At least he’s got his airship, which he stitched together with his two little hands. Speaking of stitches, there are a lot of them in this book. Either Mercy is stitching Lennox up, or he is stitching her. There are a number of accidents in this story. Evidently Lennox may not be very good at putting an airship together, because he’s lost control and is headed directly for the carriage. He crashes into it. The maid's arm gets broken, and Mercy has to have her head stitched up. By the way, Lennox has food. Thanks to his housekeeper, who is just like a mother to him, she is able to provide them with locally grown carrots.
Anyway, before Mercy and her maid are fully recovered from their injuries Lennox kicks them out of his house. Why? Well, evidently there is a family feud between his family and hers. It has to do with a dead brother eloping with one of Mercy’s relatives. So, the families don’t speak. In fact, one might say there are some devious things going on in them thar’ hills.
Let’s jump back to Mercy and that suitcase of money she’s lugging around with her. It seems that even when her grandmother is presented with money, she still will not accept any Yankee coin. Nah, she’d rather treat her granddaughter dreadfully and complain about everything. She also treats her daughter, Elizabeth, horribly. Oh yeah, there are a bunch of other relatives living at the estate. Mercy and her grandmother have a number of differing opinions.
Mercy wonders how her neighbor Lennox is doing, so she decides to sneak out to visit him.
On the way to his house she spots Lennox in his airship - again. He has decided, to stitch it back together and forgo the carrots. And, as before, Lennox just cannot seem to get the steering mechanism to work, because it is headed for the nearby loch. The airship crashes into the loch, Lennox becomes tangled up in the rigging, and Mercy jumps in to save him. He cuts himself and she stitches him up while observing his big thighs.
There is also a secondary romance between Lennox’s assistant and Mercy’s maid. Then we get interrupted in the romance department because Mercy’s rejected fiancé, Gregory, shows up. Another horrible person joins the troupe. He’s abusive, he’s a jerk and he will not take a no from Mercy. He also tries to murder Lennox, but I don’t think he gets punished.
There was so much jumping around from one plot to another. Except for the stitching of each other, there wasn’t any chemistry between Lennox and Mercy. There were a bunch of unpleasant people, including Mercy’s father, ex-fiancé, and grandmother. I skipped ahead to see if the story was worth continuing. Alas, I stumbled across the villain solution and could no longer continue with this story. This was a DNF for me.
KaysBlog
March 28, 2019
4.5 stars as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-Tx
American heiress Mercy Rutherford has a privileged life with all the luxuries anyone could wish for. However, she is also wrapped in cotton wool, surrounded by guards to keep her safe, doctors and nurses in the event she should sniffle, and smothered by her parents who decide every facet of her life, even the man she’ll marry. Mercy has never disobeyed her parents or gone against their wishes. In their way, they love her dearly, but the loss of several babies has left them over protective of her. Now that the civil war is over, and her fiancé, Gregory, has returned home, Mercy is beginning to feel trapped with her wedding day coming ever closer. She rashly takes her companion and a suitcase full of cash, and boards one of her father’s ships to Scotland, where she intends to visit her grandmother, while tasting a brief burst of freedom before she dutifully returns home and marries.
After arriving in Scotland, and en route to her grandmother’s home, Mercy’s carriage suffers a freak accident. (You’ll have to read it to believe it!) She and her injured companion are taken to the home of Lennox Caitheart, the Earl of Morton, who is also an inventor and a former medical student. Lennox is a solitary man, who lost his parents at a young age, and then was raised by his older brother, Robert. He was broken hearted when Robert died in a carriage accident, leaving him with no family and a title and crumbling castle he doesn’t want. Lennox tends to the ladies’ injuries, in his characteristically abrupt and straightforward manner. When he learns that Mercy is kin to the Macrory family, he becomes even harsher, and immediately sends them on their way. It seems that there is a long running feud between the Macrorys and the Caithearts, one that flared up again when Robert Caitheart and Mary Macrory eloped and were tragically killed in the accident.
Mercy hasn’t seen her grandmother in years, but remembers visiting her in North Carolina as a girl. Her grandmother lost everything in the civil war, and returned to Scotland, to the home of her brother. Mercy remembers a stern, unsmiling woman who was always criticizing her, but those memories can’t compare to the bitter, hateful woman she now encounters. Grandmother refuses the gift of the tainted yankee dollars, and berates Mercy for her behavior in leaving home. She ungraciously lets her stay, but immediately writes to Mercy’s father, so that he can arrange for her to return to New York as soon as possible. Mercy further incurs her grandmother’s wrath when she continues to visit Lennox, ostensibly to have her injuries checked and her stitches removed.
Lennox and Mercy have apologized to each other for their less than stellar behavior at their first meeting, and have come to have a sort of camaraderie. Mercy is genuinely fascinated with Lennox’s experiments and inventions, even helping him on occasion. For the first time in her life, Mercy feels desire for a man, something she never felt for Gregory. Lennox also feels the attraction, which he’s determined to ignore, since nothing can come of it as she’ll be returning to America soon.
Mercy is flabbergasted to find Gregory at her grandmother’s door, adamant about taking her home and going forward with their wedding. This is a version of Gregory she’s never seen, a threatening man who isn’t above using violence to get what he wants, and refusing to accept that their engagement is over. A terrified Mercy sneaks out to Lennox’s home, and in desperation offers marriage to him, stating how her wealth could restore his home and fund his experiments. Though Lennox is tempted, his pride won’t let him accept. Mercy is crushed, but determined that she will never marry Gregory. She envisions a lonely future, but she’ll keep Lennox in her heart forever. Then her father unexpectedly shows up!
Lennox begins to think about how Mercy has brightened his lonely existence, and how he’ll miss her, and how wonderful it would be to have her with him forever as his wife. He wracks his brains for a way he could possibly support her. Has he let his pride stand in the way of happiness for both of them? He dons his full Scottish regalia and heads for the Macrory household, determined to rectify his mistake and win his love. But is he too late?
I quickly started to love Lennox, though he came off as a bit surly at first. He suffered so much loss, and was being forced to live a life that he never wanted. Inside he’s a loving and generous man who was trying to be honorable and not take advantage. His protectiveness of Mercy was beautiful, as it wasn’t intended to stifle her and he truly cared about her happiness. Mercy also has a good heart, and tried to be what everyone else wanted her to be. She was basically kept in a golden cage until she had the courage to break free, even exhibiting her own heroic behavior on occasion. I was so happy that Mercy’s father turned out be genuinely loving, and not a villain, as Grandmother and Gregory were. TO WED AN HEIRESS is a very satisfying, warm, and romantic story with an ending that left me smiling. I believe it will appeal to all historical romance fans, especially those who like a hero who’s a bit out of the ordinary.
American heiress Mercy Rutherford has a privileged life with all the luxuries anyone could wish for. However, she is also wrapped in cotton wool, surrounded by guards to keep her safe, doctors and nurses in the event she should sniffle, and smothered by her parents who decide every facet of her life, even the man she’ll marry. Mercy has never disobeyed her parents or gone against their wishes. In their way, they love her dearly, but the loss of several babies has left them over protective of her. Now that the civil war is over, and her fiancé, Gregory, has returned home, Mercy is beginning to feel trapped with her wedding day coming ever closer. She rashly takes her companion and a suitcase full of cash, and boards one of her father’s ships to Scotland, where she intends to visit her grandmother, while tasting a brief burst of freedom before she dutifully returns home and marries.
After arriving in Scotland, and en route to her grandmother’s home, Mercy’s carriage suffers a freak accident. (You’ll have to read it to believe it!) She and her injured companion are taken to the home of Lennox Caitheart, the Earl of Morton, who is also an inventor and a former medical student. Lennox is a solitary man, who lost his parents at a young age, and then was raised by his older brother, Robert. He was broken hearted when Robert died in a carriage accident, leaving him with no family and a title and crumbling castle he doesn’t want. Lennox tends to the ladies’ injuries, in his characteristically abrupt and straightforward manner. When he learns that Mercy is kin to the Macrory family, he becomes even harsher, and immediately sends them on their way. It seems that there is a long running feud between the Macrorys and the Caithearts, one that flared up again when Robert Caitheart and Mary Macrory eloped and were tragically killed in the accident.
Mercy hasn’t seen her grandmother in years, but remembers visiting her in North Carolina as a girl. Her grandmother lost everything in the civil war, and returned to Scotland, to the home of her brother. Mercy remembers a stern, unsmiling woman who was always criticizing her, but those memories can’t compare to the bitter, hateful woman she now encounters. Grandmother refuses the gift of the tainted yankee dollars, and berates Mercy for her behavior in leaving home. She ungraciously lets her stay, but immediately writes to Mercy’s father, so that he can arrange for her to return to New York as soon as possible. Mercy further incurs her grandmother’s wrath when she continues to visit Lennox, ostensibly to have her injuries checked and her stitches removed.
Lennox and Mercy have apologized to each other for their less than stellar behavior at their first meeting, and have come to have a sort of camaraderie. Mercy is genuinely fascinated with Lennox’s experiments and inventions, even helping him on occasion. For the first time in her life, Mercy feels desire for a man, something she never felt for Gregory. Lennox also feels the attraction, which he’s determined to ignore, since nothing can come of it as she’ll be returning to America soon.
Mercy is flabbergasted to find Gregory at her grandmother’s door, adamant about taking her home and going forward with their wedding. This is a version of Gregory she’s never seen, a threatening man who isn’t above using violence to get what he wants, and refusing to accept that their engagement is over. A terrified Mercy sneaks out to Lennox’s home, and in desperation offers marriage to him, stating how her wealth could restore his home and fund his experiments. Though Lennox is tempted, his pride won’t let him accept. Mercy is crushed, but determined that she will never marry Gregory. She envisions a lonely future, but she’ll keep Lennox in her heart forever. Then her father unexpectedly shows up!
Lennox begins to think about how Mercy has brightened his lonely existence, and how he’ll miss her, and how wonderful it would be to have her with him forever as his wife. He wracks his brains for a way he could possibly support her. Has he let his pride stand in the way of happiness for both of them? He dons his full Scottish regalia and heads for the Macrory household, determined to rectify his mistake and win his love. But is he too late?
I quickly started to love Lennox, though he came off as a bit surly at first. He suffered so much loss, and was being forced to live a life that he never wanted. Inside he’s a loving and generous man who was trying to be honorable and not take advantage. His protectiveness of Mercy was beautiful, as it wasn’t intended to stifle her and he truly cared about her happiness. Mercy also has a good heart, and tried to be what everyone else wanted her to be. She was basically kept in a golden cage until she had the courage to break free, even exhibiting her own heroic behavior on occasion. I was so happy that Mercy’s father turned out be genuinely loving, and not a villain, as Grandmother and Gregory were. TO WED AN HEIRESS is a very satisfying, warm, and romantic story with an ending that left me smiling. I believe it will appeal to all historical romance fans, especially those who like a hero who’s a bit out of the ordinary.
March 29, 2019
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 3/29/19.
To Wed an Heiress stands out among the recent historical romances that I've read in that even though it takes place in 19th century Scotland, several of the characters--Mercy, her parents, aunt, and grandmother--are still feeling the effects of the recently-ended American Civil War. We don't see any of the characters on American soil at all, but you can't deny that the relatives that Mercy has used as an excuse to leave her home to see (not actually a spoiler: they're not the real reason she left) have had their lives permanently altered because of the War Between the States. I'd like to hope that it's the reason for Mercy's grandmother's truly appalling behavior, but suspect that it isn't really. My sympathy for her was over the first time she showed up on the page.
Fortunately, the characters we really showed up to see--Mercy and Lennox--are far more sympathetic. I loved how Mercy did what she could to take her life into her own hands, even though at times it seemed like a losing enterprise. When things looked their bleakest, she used what little power she had to make herself heard. She 100% deserved the HEA she reaches in the end. Lennox was more than a little aggravating at times--if only I could have reached into the book and given him a good shake! Or seven--but he managed to pull his head out of his posterior in the end with a grand gesture that brought tears to my eyes and almost made me forget all of my earlier exasperation with him ;)
I didn't notice anything that really connected this story to the first in the series ( To Love a Duchess )--admittedly, I could have missed something, but I believe it's safe to say that this book works just fine as a standalone. I don't see any obvious connections to the next either ( To Bed the Bride ) other than the Scottish setting, but you'd better believe it's already on my TBR! (The fact that there's a puppy in it is only a part of the reason... ;) )
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
To Wed an Heiress stands out among the recent historical romances that I've read in that even though it takes place in 19th century Scotland, several of the characters--Mercy, her parents, aunt, and grandmother--are still feeling the effects of the recently-ended American Civil War. We don't see any of the characters on American soil at all, but you can't deny that the relatives that Mercy has used as an excuse to leave her home to see (not actually a spoiler: they're not the real reason she left) have had their lives permanently altered because of the War Between the States. I'd like to hope that it's the reason for Mercy's grandmother's truly appalling behavior, but suspect that it isn't really. My sympathy for her was over the first time she showed up on the page.
Fortunately, the characters we really showed up to see--Mercy and Lennox--are far more sympathetic. I loved how Mercy did what she could to take her life into her own hands, even though at times it seemed like a losing enterprise. When things looked their bleakest, she used what little power she had to make herself heard. She 100% deserved the HEA she reaches in the end. Lennox was more than a little aggravating at times--if only I could have reached into the book and given him a good shake! Or seven--but he managed to pull his head out of his posterior in the end with a grand gesture that brought tears to my eyes and almost made me forget all of my earlier exasperation with him ;)
I didn't notice anything that really connected this story to the first in the series ( To Love a Duchess )--admittedly, I could have missed something, but I believe it's safe to say that this book works just fine as a standalone. I don't see any obvious connections to the next either ( To Bed the Bride ) other than the Scottish setting, but you'd better believe it's already on my TBR! (The fact that there's a puppy in it is only a part of the reason... ;) )
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
February 5, 2019
When Mercy Rutherford escapes North Carolina to get away from her fiancé, Gregory, she didn’t expect to be run down by an air ship - which resembled a dragon to her – driven by Lennox Caitheart. She discovers later that he is the Earl of Morton and Mercy also learns that he is the enemy of her extended family. That really is too bad, as he makes her heart flutter.
Sadly, Gregory followed Mercy to Scotland, and when he shows up, he makes it certain that she knows he is determined to follow through with the marriage. Mercy has a plan – she asks the eccentric inventor to take her hand in marriage. She offers him her fortune for his inventions. Part of the reason Mercy approaches Lennox in this manner is that they do form an unlikely friendship. Of course, he refuses her money. But, Mercy must take this plan of action, as her marriage was arranged, much to her dismay. Furthermore, her family in Scotland is utterly abominable.
This is an excellent story. I loved Mercy. She knew what she didn’t want in life and discovered what she did. When this happened, she grabbed the bull by the horns. Lennox was absolutely wonderful. Most certainly a genius, he had a warm heart as well. There were other good characters, notably Ruthie and Elizabeth. Conversely, Mercy’s grandmother was of the worst sort. The was one negative person in the story that surprised me in the end. All in all, the characters played quite well into the story.
To Wed an Heiress is the second book in the All for Love series and was a terrific read. Not only did Mercy find love, but others did as well. The first book, To Love a Duchess, was also a great read.
Many thanks to Avon and to Edelweiss for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sadly, Gregory followed Mercy to Scotland, and when he shows up, he makes it certain that she knows he is determined to follow through with the marriage. Mercy has a plan – she asks the eccentric inventor to take her hand in marriage. She offers him her fortune for his inventions. Part of the reason Mercy approaches Lennox in this manner is that they do form an unlikely friendship. Of course, he refuses her money. But, Mercy must take this plan of action, as her marriage was arranged, much to her dismay. Furthermore, her family in Scotland is utterly abominable.
This is an excellent story. I loved Mercy. She knew what she didn’t want in life and discovered what she did. When this happened, she grabbed the bull by the horns. Lennox was absolutely wonderful. Most certainly a genius, he had a warm heart as well. There were other good characters, notably Ruthie and Elizabeth. Conversely, Mercy’s grandmother was of the worst sort. The was one negative person in the story that surprised me in the end. All in all, the characters played quite well into the story.
To Wed an Heiress is the second book in the All for Love series and was a terrific read. Not only did Mercy find love, but others did as well. The first book, To Love a Duchess, was also a great read.
Many thanks to Avon and to Edelweiss for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 13, 2019
In an attempt to escape what was seeming like a forced marriage, Mercy Rutherford traveled to Scotland to escape the possessive grip of her fiancé. Unfortunately, on the last leg of her trip to see her grandmother a monster flew out of the sky and landed on her carriage. Well, not really a monster but some kind of flying machine and a very abrupt and man who was more worried about his machine than the condition of she and her maid. However, after introductions were made Ross Caithart brought her to his castle and set her maids broken arm and stitched Mercy’s gash in her head.
To all intents and purposes Ross Caithart most certainly was mad. Handsome beyond words, he’s also causing an irresistible flutter in Mercy’s stomach beyond reason. But as soon as Mercy mentioned her grandmother - Ross made the connection and made haste to get her out of his castle and up to Mercy’s kin. However, if Mercy was expecting loving arms happy to see her, she was sadly mistaken and her arrival was met with contempt and derision. All because of arriving in the Caithart carriage?
When Mercy’s fiancé Gregory arrives to see their arranged marriage to its bitter end, Mercy desperately turns to Ross with an offer of her fortune—and her hand in marriage. The Earl of Morton has a reputation for being an eccentric, but even he is hesitant to engage in such a rash proposition—no matter how utterly beguiled he is by the wildly independent American heiress. And yet, with so much at stake, how can he possibly say no?
Bottom line I truly enjoyed this novel as much as the rest of the titles author has put out over the years. This has just the right amount of action, adventure, sensualness, and rivalry making for a fascinating read.
Marilyn Rondeau
To all intents and purposes Ross Caithart most certainly was mad. Handsome beyond words, he’s also causing an irresistible flutter in Mercy’s stomach beyond reason. But as soon as Mercy mentioned her grandmother - Ross made the connection and made haste to get her out of his castle and up to Mercy’s kin. However, if Mercy was expecting loving arms happy to see her, she was sadly mistaken and her arrival was met with contempt and derision. All because of arriving in the Caithart carriage?
When Mercy’s fiancé Gregory arrives to see their arranged marriage to its bitter end, Mercy desperately turns to Ross with an offer of her fortune—and her hand in marriage. The Earl of Morton has a reputation for being an eccentric, but even he is hesitant to engage in such a rash proposition—no matter how utterly beguiled he is by the wildly independent American heiress. And yet, with so much at stake, how can he possibly say no?
Bottom line I truly enjoyed this novel as much as the rest of the titles author has put out over the years. This has just the right amount of action, adventure, sensualness, and rivalry making for a fascinating read.
Marilyn Rondeau
Read
October 10, 2019On one hand this was a very charming, quiet, slow burn romance in classic Karen Ranney style. When the plot focused on the hero and heroine making moon eyes at each other and discussing flight shenanigans, I was here for it.
On the other this was a fairly triggering story, rife with abuse apologists and a bumbling handling of the Civil War as anything beyond “a fight that divided families.” Spoilers/more in-depth TW below:
The heroine’s ex-fiancé is depicted both threatening and physically hitting the heroine in scene. The hero/heroine are later perfectly unperturbed when her abusive ex-fiancé attaches himself to the heroine’s cousin, reacting in a very “not our problem anymore” way. So for anyone expecting/hoping the abuser gets comeuppance, he does not. The heroine’s family is also split between her Yankee father and Southern/Scottish relatives, which makes for some ham-fisted glossing over of the actual causes of the Civil War. The heroine’s grandmother is bitter that Union soldiers burned down her farm; we are expected to rejoice when we discover the heroine’s aunt’s fiancé (a presumably Confederate soldier) has been mistakenly labeled dead.
There’s also some fairly detailed scenes of stitching up wounds/blood imagery, for further TW.
On the other this was a fairly triggering story, rife with abuse apologists and a bumbling handling of the Civil War as anything beyond “a fight that divided families.” Spoilers/more in-depth TW below:
The heroine’s ex-fiancé is depicted both threatening and physically hitting the heroine in scene. The hero/heroine are later perfectly unperturbed when her abusive ex-fiancé attaches himself to the heroine’s cousin, reacting in a very “not our problem anymore” way. So for anyone expecting/hoping the abuser gets comeuppance, he does not. The heroine’s family is also split between her Yankee father and Southern/Scottish relatives, which makes for some ham-fisted glossing over of the actual causes of the Civil War. The heroine’s grandmother is bitter that Union soldiers burned down her farm; we are expected to rejoice when we discover the heroine’s aunt’s fiancé (a presumably Confederate soldier) has been mistakenly labeled dead.
There’s also some fairly detailed scenes of stitching up wounds/blood imagery, for further TW.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2019
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon in exchange for an honest review. As always, I will focus on my thoughts and avid spoilers. You can read the summary of the book for yourself.
I love historical romances and plucky heroines, and Ranney's book met both criteria. Mercy may be a little outspoken for her time, but this is fiction, and her character is great fun. From the beginning, I looked forward to her adventures. Ranney throws in conflict in the form of another suitor, which I also like in a historical romance. While the sex scenes are there, they do not take over the book, which is excellent as well.
So, if you like your romance with a lot of conflict from outside of the main characters and a hero who is quite quirky, you will love his one. Ranney has done it again, and I can't wait to read another by her!
I love historical romances and plucky heroines, and Ranney's book met both criteria. Mercy may be a little outspoken for her time, but this is fiction, and her character is great fun. From the beginning, I looked forward to her adventures. Ranney throws in conflict in the form of another suitor, which I also like in a historical romance. While the sex scenes are there, they do not take over the book, which is excellent as well.
So, if you like your romance with a lot of conflict from outside of the main characters and a hero who is quite quirky, you will love his one. Ranney has done it again, and I can't wait to read another by her!
September 27, 2019
Mercy Rutherford fled to Scotland with a suitcase full of money hoping to reunite with her grandmother who moved there during the Civil War in the U.S. After suffering a carriage accident caused by Lennox Caitheart's flying machine crashing into the carriage, Mercy and her maid Ruthie, are taken into Lennox's castle so Lennox could treat their injuries. Rebuffed by her grandmother, she nevertheless stayed with her while Ruthie recovered at Castle Lennox. Finally, Mercy's "fiance" arrived from America and Mercy proposed to Lennox in order to invalidate the "engagement."
Their marriage proved to be a love to last the test of time but Gregory wouldn't give up. Will Gregory ruin everything?
My apologies to the author but I broke my wrist and it took me 3 months to finish it. She's on of my favorite authors too.
Their marriage proved to be a love to last the test of time but Gregory wouldn't give up. Will Gregory ruin everything?
My apologies to the author but I broke my wrist and it took me 3 months to finish it. She's on of my favorite authors too.
May 23, 2021
It was on and off reading due to life otherwise I would have gotten through this quicker I wanted to!! I really enjoyed this, my first read from this author. Not a huge lot of smexy Action going on that was a minor use within the story. I loved this more for characters than seeing a hot scene make me sweat. Heiress who runs away to break free of arranged arrangement to a pshyco. Mercy main female lead turned out to be a enriching delight especially themed focus of violence against woman and rights. There was one page describing these themes page 35 which you might find striking the words like I did.
Lennox an intelligent Scott who sounded Devine whole time.by the end of the book the pairs dynamic grew into something so sweet. Truly surprised I didn’t care much if there was hardly any sexy times just loved for the characters !!
Lennox an intelligent Scott who sounded Devine whole time.by the end of the book the pairs dynamic grew into something so sweet. Truly surprised I didn’t care much if there was hardly any sexy times just loved for the characters !!
September 13, 2019
I gave up reading this book at about 150 pages because I was very bored. I ended up skimming the rest of the story but even that felt like a waste of my time. I think my biggest problem with this story was that I didn't think the male and female leads could be anything other than friends. There was zero chemistry or attraction or even common interests. There was simply nothing of note about this story. I also thought the female lead was extremely immature for being almost 30 years old. I was bothered by other inconsistencies in the story as well, like how the female lead traveled from America to Scotland by herself. This could just be a case of "it's me not you" but I won't be reading anything more by this author.
October 4, 2019
I wanted to read another good romance and, trusting Karen Ranney, ordered this one. Her To Love a Duchess remains my favorite, but this one provided the escape I needed, When I’d read the synopsis I thought the novel sounded too fantastic: the hero was described as a crazy inventor working on a flying machine. However, Ranney always makes her situations convincing, and after all, people probably thought the Wright brothers only a few decades later were crazy. So I soon found myself happily drawn into the story of Lennox and Mercy. Possible spoiler alert: The happily ever after ending tied up all the ends so perfectly that in a way, it turned out like a fantastic Shakespearean comedy or fairy tale after all. But feel-good endings do, after all, feel good. I was glad I’d ordered the novel.
March 29, 2019
To Wed an Heiress by Karen Ranney is book Two in the An All for Love Series. This is the story of Mercy Rutherford and Ross Caithart. This can be a standalone book.
Mercy is running away from a fiancé who is very controlling. Mercy along the way meets Ross who some think he not all there but he works on inventions. When her fiancé comes for her..she makes a deal with Ross for him to take her money for his protection. A deal is struck but will this have a different ending?
Enjoyed their story.
Mercy is running away from a fiancé who is very controlling. Mercy along the way meets Ross who some think he not all there but he works on inventions. When her fiancé comes for her..she makes a deal with Ross for him to take her money for his protection. A deal is struck but will this have a different ending?
Enjoyed their story.
April 21, 2019
After the trials that Mercy endures (her clueless parents, her controlling fiance, her icicle-heart grandmother), she deserves a grand, romantic declaration and Ross delivers enough to melt her heart and my heart, too. But what I like most about Mercy is that she doesn't back down; against all odds, she finds her strength and courage. I was half afraid that she'd eventually cave into the demands of her strong-willed family, but instead, she finds a match in Ross, the risk-taking but lonely, sole-surviving member of his line. Theirs is a romance to savor. 4 stars.
July 7, 2020
Mercy Rutherford is running away to Scotland with her made/companion to avoid marriage to a man her parents had chosen and approved of. The fiance (who is a cold self absorbed man who is all about the money) works for her father (a wealthy industrialist) and plans to marry her (with her fathers approval) whether she wants it or not.
This was a really goodbook. I will be reading more books by this author!
This was a really goodbook. I will be reading more books by this author!
August 3, 2023
It took me such a long time to read this book (9 months, a labor of love) because I love Karen Ranney and I wanted to pace myself knowing that I won't get any new works from her (requiescat in pace).
The writing is very good as usual but the story hasn't captured me. The family is horrible but the main characters are not very interesting and their love story is 'meh' at best.
The writing is very good as usual but the story hasn't captured me. The family is horrible but the main characters are not very interesting and their love story is 'meh' at best.
April 7, 2019
Never a bad read from Ranney. I truly enjoyed these characters and the plot of this book. Although I really didn't like grandma...nope. I'm not doing a synopsis as so many love to do. Just buy the book and enjoy it. Can't wait to read the next.
October 16, 2019
It started quite slow but picked up about halfway through. Lennox was nice although somewhat annoying and in fact I found Irene a secondary character much more fascinating. I liked Mercy better though she took her time in finding her gumption.
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June 27, 2023When Mercy delivers money to her grandmother, Lennox crashes his glider into her carriage.
I felt so sorry for Mercy with her controlling and disapproving family. Lennox's inventions and gliders made for an interesting hero.
I felt so sorry for Mercy with her controlling and disapproving family. Lennox's inventions and gliders made for an interesting hero.
April 3, 2019
3 Stars.
To be honest, I am not sure if I liked this book or not.
To be honest, I am not sure if I liked this book or not.
May 25, 2019
I did like this very much. Mercy and Lennox make a good couple and the clash of cultures makes a good setting. Very nice.
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