McAlistair's Fortune

Providence #3

by Alissa Johnson

Miss Evie Cole isn’t one to take a threatening letter too seriously. To her, the much greater danger lies in losing her heart to the retired assassin sent to protect her.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

323 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 5, 2009

About the author

Alissa Johnson lives in the rolling hills of the Ozarks, where she is hard at work on her next romance.

Reviews

[Dina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three books, three winners. It's official: Alissa Johnson has snatched a spot in my favorite authors list.

This story starts with a misunderstanding: 26-year-old spinster and women's rights advocate Evie Cole eavesdrops upon a scheme to find her a husband, but she doesn't overhear the whole conversation and therefore misses the fact that the "schemers" (her aunt, the dowager Lady Thurston, and two family friends, Mr. Fletcher and Mrs. Summers) give up on the plan in the end. So when she receives a letter threatening her life and some events unfold in an identical way to the husband-hunting plan she's overheard, she decides to play along just to see how far things would go. She's quite surprised to see how good actors her aunt and friends are, though. If she didn't know better, she'd believe they were actually concerned about her safety. But that would be absurd, since the whole charade was just a ruse... Or was it?

James McAlistair, a former soldier who's lived a solitary life in the past 10 years, gets involved in what Evie believes is a plan to get her married. Unfortunately (or fortunately), he believes the threat against her life is real and sticks to her like glue, vowing to protect her. McAlistair has been in love with Evie for 8 years, even though they've never really talked with each other. That was very far-fetched and I tried to accept it at face value, but I'm afraid I failed. Anyway, I decided to let it go as the story progressed, because I had no problem believing he fell in love with Evie - and vice versa - as they spent time together, and got to know and trust each other enough to share their most deep secrets.

McAlistair and Evie were great characters and I loved them. He was that kind of tortured hero I can't help loving, and it was a joy to see him opening up under Evie's not-so-gentle probing. He wasn't surly, just quiet. Knowing she wasn't meant for him, but unable to let her go once he realized he was meant for her. Perfect! *sighs*

Evie was the perfect match for McAlistair, of course. She was independent, strong and caring, without a TSTL bone in her body. She was stubborn, but she knew when to cave and obey - as long as she agreed with McAlistair's reasoning, LOL.

The plot in this book was stronger than the previous books' and the mystery surrounding the threat against Evie's life had a surprising resolution. I should've known better than to think that Ms. Johnson would follow the same template again. :) This book wasn't perfect, though. The pace was uneven and it dragged a bit around the middle of the story. I also missed the LOL funny banter between the H/h that was present in the previous books, even though I understand that tortured McAlistair would be the last person on earth to be caught bantering and joking with anyone.

All in all, I really enjoyed this read and can't wait to read the next (and final?) book in the series.

[Izzah ꒰Duchess of Cabria ಇ ⭑✧ ᴏɴ ᴘᴀᴛʀᴇᴏɴ ✧ ⋆꒱ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, cute, cute, cute

This is more of a 3.5 ★ rounded up because I gave the previous two 3 ★ and I found this one not necessarily better, but it had that 'awww' factor down.


∘₊✧─ How to make a cute story; a wordy recipe ─✧₊∘

📜 Marinate a tortured hero
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[Sammy Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a matchmaker series and I'm totally addicted!!
4.0 Stars

Miss Evie Cole

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm two for two today with Alissa Johnson's "McAlistair's Fortune" as my second gem of the day! This is a wonderful historical brimming with snappy dialogue, humor, heart-warming romance, a tortured hero, and a not-so-perfect heroine.

Evie's always been pretty sure that love and marriage weren't in her future. She does, after all, have a facial scar and a limp as a result of a carriage accident when she was a young girl. So she's turned her life towards different pursuits and helping abused women and children escape from their tormentors. But one night she 'overhears' (with her ear against a door mind you) a plot to find her a husband via a bogus threatening letter situation for her 'hero' to then save her from. And shortly later when she receives receives a real threat in the mail, she assumes it's all for show. And it's almost worth it when she realizes she'll get to spend time with the infamous Hermit of Haldon Hall. Especially since they once shared a romantic kiss!

McAlistair is a man tortured by his past actions...he was an assassain for the war department. When he 'quit' he became a hermit, living in the woods in silence and alone...then one day he heard a woman laughing and his world changed. He knows he's not the right man for her, but he's also determined that he will protect this woman with every skill he ever learned.

How romantic! Neither the hero or heroine is perfect, titled, ultra-rich, gorgeous, etc.; instead both are real people with real flaws. Johnson did a fabulous job writing a gradually unfolding closeness and intimacy between these two. There's even humor which they both need in their lives. It's a smart story with characters I grew to care for and when I finished I had a very large grin and the desire to read more of Alissa Johnson's stories.

There is a connection between this and two previous books, but reading the others isn't necessary to enjoy "McAlistair's Fortune". Of course, my bet is that once you read this one, you'll be looking for Ms. Johnson's backlist!

[Juliana Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Update (reread in December 2015): Still give it 4 stars; great, enjoyable read. Adore McAlistair; he's delicious and adorable. Also love Evie - smart, likable, with a strong personality.

(Written on August 24, 2010) Finished it late last night and wanted to just let the story rest, not get out of bed to write a review. Here are the basics: the main characters were great; the romance sooo enjoyable; the mystery subplot somewhat rushed and random at the end, but oh well; and overall a wonderful read!

One thing I appreciated was that both characters were honest about their feelings for the other - if not with one another, than at least with themselves. So often the character is supposedly oblivious to anything besides for lust until the second to last chapter when suddenly, *EPIPHANY*! "I'm in love with her/him! Oh wow!" No really, dumbo?

Don't worry, there are still plenty of complications and resistance and doubts and etc., but they were - for the most part - very well done. From the beginning there is a deep and heady connection between McAlistair and Evie and it only continues to grow as they spend more time with one another. Each has (real) doubts and insecurities, but they only serve to strengthen the relationship in the end. Some of these issues were resolved a little too quickly IMHO, and should have been brought up earlier so that they could be fully discussed and resolved.

HERO, Mr. James McAlistair (? - which was really annoying!)
Wednesday I was in love with Loretta Chase's Alistair, Thursday I was in love with Alissa Johnson's Whit ... and yesterday McAlistair replaced them both!! (Maybe I have something for the name Alistair). Like lonely, silent, mysterious, and tortured heroes? Well go no further! McAlistair is extremely sigh-worthy and his deep love and longing and hunger for Evie will give you goosebumps (and make you extremely jealous, lol). He was an assassin for several years for the War Department, and while he knows that Evie is not for him because of all that he has done in his life, he cannot help but be drawn to this woman who represents all that is good and pure and innocent.

He's just such a sweet hero, while also being deliciously dark and dangerous. You know an author is talented when you're already half in love with the hero, yet he's barely spoken two words out loud and you haven't even reached page 20! As another reviewer mentioned, the fact that McAlistair and Evie have a significant of time alone with one another gives their relationship time to grow and deepen and makes the romance all the more believable and enjoyable. The change that he undergoes with Evie is subtle, but it's significant and you'll find yourself envying Evie for the love she engenders in this man and the power she has over him ... or was that just me ...?

HEROINE, Miss Evie Cole (26)
Evie lives up to her counterpart and is an equally engaging character. She has a healthy sense of humor, is passionate and intelligent, takes everything in stride. She's a strong woman who has had to overcome difficulties: her father was emotionally abusive, though thankfully he died when she was young and he drunkenly crashed their carriage - not so thankfully, that crash left her with a slight limp and a large scar down the side of her face (this last was pretty infrequently mentioned and I often forgot she even had it). Evie is drawn to McAlistair, despite his mysterious and unreadable facade, which tells her so little about his true feelings - or if he even has any at all.

She is part of an underground network that helps abused women escape their abusers, and one thing I will say is that I would have appreciated more detail on this. I found it a very interesting subplot, but although it's mentioned and is (potentially?) directly relevant to the mystery subplot, it's not explored much.

PROVIDENCE SERIES
1) As Luck Would Have It - Miss Sophie Everton and Alex Durmant, Duke of Rockeforte
2) Tempting Fate - Miss Mirabelle Browning and Whittaker Cole, Earl of Thurston (4.5 stars)
3) McAlistair's Fortune - Miss Evie Cole and Mr. James McAlistair (4 stars)
4) Destined to Last - Lady Kate Cole and Mr. Andrew Hunter

BOTTOM LINE
Absolutely great - read Tempting Fate first to enjoy it all the more. My overall rating for that book was higher, but the heroes are definitely tied - no question about it!

RECOMMENDATIONS
* Scandalous (Banning Sisters Trilogy, Book 1) by Karen Robards (5 stars)
* A Notorious Love (Swanlea Spinsters, Book 2) by Sabrina Jeffries (4 stars)

[Saly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars
Compared to the other two, this was slightly less enjoyable for me. The hero was hell bent on keeping his distance too much.

[Jultri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5. Interesting start but the story got a bit bogged down in the middle. Twenty-six years old Evie is past her first blush of youth. Saddled with a somewhat curvaceous body, a facial scar and limp, she was never going to be a diamond of the first water. But she is happy living with her cousins and aunt and not at all bemoaning her unmarried status. So when she eavesdropped in on a conversation in which a convoluted plot was hatched to introduce her to a potential husband by way of a perceived threat to her person and the suitor sweeping in to the rescue, well she was highly bemused and decided to indulge her relatives for a while. Evie subsequently feigns surprise when a threatening letter came her way a fortnight later, although she thought the language was unnecessarily nasty and crude. She turns a bit perplexed however when the unsuitable Hermit of Haldon Hall is recruited to assist her and the plot involves her travelling far over rough terrain to escape this made-up threat to her person.

McAlistair, the mysterious and almost legendary Hermit of Haldon Hall, is rarely seen by the inhabitants of Haldon Hall, Evie's cousins estate and her adopted home. He is known to occupy a cabin inside the forest, but apart from Whit, her cousin, noone has actually laid eyes on him - noone that is except Evie herself. During a solitary walk 5 months earlier, their paths had crossed and mutual fascination with one another lead to a most memorable kiss. A kiss that had left her hopeful for more to come, but then - nothing. In typical hermit fashion, he kept away, said nothing, did nothing to contact her.

Now they're thrust together and Evie eventually realises that the threat is real and that her survival depends on a few trusted people, one of which is McAlistair. Used to his own company, he is a man of very few words but decisive of action. His decisiveness however does not pertain to Evie, the object of his admiration and obsession for many years.


He was accustomed to watching and waiting. And, in recent years, to wanting.

His head and his heart are at war, now that the temptation is right before him. Desire unfairly tilts the balance of the equation.


The kiss, like each before, was unique. He kissed her with the desperation of a man who had nearly lost what he loved most, and with the aching tenderness of a man terrified to harm. He kissed her with the desire to make up for every soft word he'd wanted to offer, but hadn't been able to find. He kissed her with passion and need, affection, and reverence. And he kissed her as if his very life depended on the next whispered breath, the next ragged sigh, the next trembling moan.

Well-written as per usual for Miss Johnson with likeable protagonists but she just needed to up the pace a bit.


Miss Evie Cole had long ago come to the conclusion that, contrary to popular opinion, ignorance was not bliss. There were, after all, a great many miserable fools in the world.

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a second historical romance heroine named Evie and it seems to me it should be a good sign next time. I loved Evie. She is wonderful. The characters can ruin a story for me. These two definitely delivered.
Evie overhears part of her guardian's plan to find her a husband and ends up travelling in the company with a silent and dangerous James McAlistair. She doesn't know he has loved her for the past eight years.
I'll skip the overly long review and just say if you want a bit of happiness if only for a couple of hours, you may give this one a chance.

[MRB · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first two entries in this series were "love the writing style, BUT..." books for me. This one, though, had very few of those pesky 'buts'; much to my delighted surprise, this was among my personal favorites of all the historical romances I've read this year. And, as some of you know, I read an absurd number of historical romances ;)

As with the other books in this series, there's an element of intrigue and mystery that, while not exactly the intricate plotting and pacing of which Dame Agatha Christie would approve, for me provides a welcome layer of suspense and adventure to the usual romance 'yeah, so, when will they finally and inevitably get together?!' storylines. Evie, our heroine, received a death threat that she has reason to believe is a hoax. Only it really ISN'T a hoax, so she and our hero go into hiding and...*cue suspenseful music* ;)

As alluded to above, this author's writing style is a favorite of mine: crisp, witty, clever, and neither stiffly antiquated in an attempt to be slavishly 'historical' nor uncomfortably contemporary. Those who have slogged through my reviews that prose matters to me far more than plot, and I just adore how Alissa Johnson writes even when I don't love every single element of the specific plot and storyline.

What really elevated this one above her other books for me was how drawn I felt to the characters and how effortlessly I believed in their 'meant to be'-ish connection with each other, which is certainly not a given for me. Our heroine, Evie, suffers from a limp and a stutter---yet she's not withdrawn, self-pitying or insecure. Instead, she's spirited, determined and stubborn---maybe a touch TOO stubborn, but, hey, characters are dull and unrealistic when they don't possess flaws, right?! I realize this description could apply to a many other romance heroines, but something about Evie was just very believable and root-worthy to me.
Her hero, though, stole the show for me. James McAlistair is a taciturn, gruff, hermit-y (let's pretend that's an adjective, shall we?!) yet brave hero who believes himself unworthy of our heroine. What's interesting is that this isn't the 'type' of hero with whom I'm normally the most enamored, but I just adored our titular McAlistair. He's guilt-ridden and tortured, yet doesn't use his pain as an excuse to be a dismissive jerk to the heroine for the majority of the novel or to wallow in booze-soaked, whiny angst. As a fellow reviewer mentioned, it's refreshing that he knows from the outset that he cares for the heroine based on an intense though admittedly brief interaction from another book---and that we, the reader, know that as well. We're not waiting around impatiently for him to finally realize he has feelings for the heroine; he knows those feelings are there, but just doesn't feel he can act on them.
McCalistair is courageous, strong, honorable and passionately intense underneath his amusingly dry stoicism. He's nowhere near perfect (and nor would I have wanted him to be!), but he's a hero who I found genuinely...well, heroic. Even those who, like me, don't usually gravitate towards the gruffly quiet brooders may find themselves enjoying him far more than expected.

Overall, the book is extremely engaging with more wit and suspense than I'd expected. It's genuinely sweet without being sappy. I adored the dialogue and the characters who utter it. Highly recommended, especially given its relatively wallet-friendly price!

[미셸 (Undeniably Book Nerdy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of my RomCon panel books.

My initial reaction to this book wasn't great. I saw the book cover and read the blurb in the back of the book and I was less than excited. But I had to read it because it was my panel book for Romcon so I took a deep breath and began... I ended up really, really liking it!

The writing is wonderful, really witty, lots of humor and just a really fun lighthearted romance. I loved both of the leads-- I thought them both refreshingly lovely characters. McAlistair, is your quintessential hero with a very dark past but he is not a lord of the realm and is comfortable financially. Instead he is a hermit living in the woods behind the heroine's home for the past eight years and in love with her for just as long. Evie Cole is 26 years old and described as having a "curvy" figure. She also has a long scar on the side of her face and have an unnoticeable limp due to a carriage accident when she was younger. I thought them both refreshingly lovely characters. I like books where for a number of days the hero and heroine are left to themselves because it makes me believe in their relationship more and that ultimate HEA, especially when there wasn't much interaction between the two before the story began. Well, that happened in this book and McAlistair and Evie got into some chuckle-out-loud antics.

There's is a little mystery in the book but I thought there was really no need for it and the book would have been fine without it. Know though that this book is the third in Ms. Johnson's Providence series but it's a standalone book (though I do want to read the first two books after reading this one). I don't know if you share my opinion of the cover but don't let it fool you or the blurb (which paints Evie to be sort of silly with the eavesdropping bit). If you're looking for a fun, lighthearted historical romance, you can't go wrong with this book. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars

[Sandy M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think I will ever tire of this series by Ms. Johnson. Of course, it won’t go on forever; I believe only one more book is forthcoming. But I’ve so loved all the characters I’ve met so far. They’re all engaging and charming and they now feel like family. If you’re a lover of historical romance — even if you aren’t — and you haven’t read Ms. Johnson’s books yet, you should remedy that immediately. She has a lovely voice that fits perfectly with Regency England, and she’s created a family of characters that treat one another as such, even though they’re not all related by blood. They’re beautiful books, each and every one.

This is the first book in which the story doesn’t take place at Haldon Hall, the home where all the promised, secretive matchmaking which is the backbone of this series takes place. We start out there, but then circumstances warrant a change of venue to keep our heroine, Evie Cole, safe from a threat received by letter. Evie goes along with the preparations to remove her to a hunting cottage along the coast, but it’s all pretend for her. She has a habit of eavesdropping, you see, and that’s how she knows all the current running about is pretense. Family friend William Fletcher promised the late Duke of Rockforte on his deathbed that he would see the Duke’s children — even the children of his heart — wed, settled, and happy. So Evie keeps quiet to see how far everyone will take this charade.

Upon leaving Haldon Hall, Evie’s entourage suffers a carriage mishap and she finds herself on horseback racing through the wilds with the Hermit of Haldon Hall, James McAlistair. She’s had a fascination and even shared a kiss with this secretive man who roams the estate woods. Showing up today to help keep Evie safe, he has cleaned up rather well in his gentlemanly duds. She’s looking forward to spending several days alone with McAlistair to learn more about him and about her fascination with the man.

The man himself has loved Evie for the last eight years. All it took was to hear her laugh and his heart was lost. Knowing, however, that she’s not for him because of his past, he’ll do what it takes to keep her from harm. Of course, that is all easier said than done when they’re in such close proximity to one another and when Evie begins to develop more than fascination for McAlistair. They face a bit of danger on their journey, as well as a spot fun and laughter and even a couple of sensuous moments. McAlistair does his best to keep his distance, keep his gruff exterior to the fore, but even that is no match for the woman he wants but can’t have.

Ms. Johnson does a terrific job of balancing the elements needed during the middle of the book when it’s just McAlistair and Evie on their trek, only a character here and there to interact with them. This portion of the book could have become boring or uninteresting with only two characters to work with, but I’m happy to say this portion is done quite well and I was never wanting to skip ahead at any time. McAlistair’s character has some wonderful growth through the story. He goes from a man who longs for and loves his solitude, hates the noise people make even around their home, and he becomes a man who paces when his chatterbox of an independent, strong woman may be out of his life forever. I liked that he’s the one to make the first move.

I also enjoyed the appearance of other characters from the previous books, especially near the end when the danger is over and they come galloping in too late to save the day. Those are very fun scenes. I look forward to Kate’s book next. I have a feeling it’s going to be quite fun in itself due to Kate’s clumsiness, which has given readers some merriment so far.

This is a wonderfully written book, and I invite you to sit down with it, or even the previous books, and become a member of the family.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com

[BookMaven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too Much Mind Talk

McAlistair was a career soldier-assassin, but eight years ago he was done with that and just wanted peace. His old boss found him a retreat on his land where McAlistair lived the quiet life of a recluse. He fell in love with one of the ladies, Evie Cole, who frequently lived at the Estate, but he did nothing about it. He just watched from afar.

But now that Lady, Evie Cole, has received a threatening letter, the family has called upon McAlistair to help protect Evie from harm. It seems this young lady has been helping other women escape from their violent husbands, boyfriends, and pimps. Someone has found out about her rescues, and he means to stop her, and punish her. McAlistair knows he is too far below her station to be a suitor, but he vows to keep her safe. Can he do so without revealing his heart?

This book had great plot possibilities, but only about 25% of the book was dedicated to plot development. It would have been interesting to know something about Evie's rescues, but we get only the barest of facts. This is one of a series, and while some books can stand alone, this book just wallows in characters with not much explanation as to why they are there. I am guessing that the introductions are addressed in other books. Also, Evie is a cousin, who was taken in when her mother rejected her. We are told this, but there is not much explanation as to why this rejection happened and if her and her mother have a relationship. There were several dilemmas with no explanation or resolution. I came to believe that this "book" should be called an installment in a serial.

Most of the book is just repetitive mind talk. The H does not believe he is good enough for Evie and we are treated to his insecurities as self talk that repeats and repeats. Evie does not think McAlistair wants to kiss her, etc., etc. We are bludgeoned with these constant negative thought patterns for about 60% of the book.

I cannot believe editors and publishers accept these boring tomes. When I was in English and Journalism, action and dialogue were emphasized to move a plot forward. I pick up too many novels these days that bog down into this never-ending, mind-numbing self-talk. Yuk.

It is disappointing to read the synopses and one believes the book will develop the plot giving one a satisfying, exciting read, but all we get is chapter one of a basic psychology book. Sorry, got that in 7th grade. Don't want to repeat it 3,000 times.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, I so wanted to love this one. I couldn't wait to get my hands on Evie and McAlsiter's story; I loved learning in the previous book, Tempting Fate how he secretly watched and loved Evie for eight years. I hoped for a sweet story of Evie pulling the war harden recluse back into society. What I got was a long, drawn out story with too much internal dialogue and a lot of nothing going on. Saying that, I'm still glad I read the book and there were some great scenes between Evie and McAlister, I just wish there were more. Now I'm off to read Kate's story, Destined to Last.

[Billie Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well the first two books are definitely worth reading. This third book... By page81, I was really disappointed. They're on their way to a cottage and apparently taking a very... very... very... long and boring road!! I had such high hopes for the series but find myself skimming through endless pages of Evie's thoughts of this and that. The first real kiss doesn't even happen until more than halfway through the book.

[Karen Darling · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book to be ridiculous. The hero is a hermit, he lives in the woods, I don't understand why. The author really messed up the heroin. The heroin has a limp, a scarred face, and she stutters. I think she is also dumb as a box of rocks. She eavesdrop on part of a conversation an ends up misunderstanding the entire thing and no matter how much the hero told her she was wrong she kept insisting she was right. I don't know how the hero put up with her. He is trying to keep her safe but she question him every step of the way. I couldn't finish this train wreck. The hero doesn't think he's good enough to marry the heroin, but he thinks he's good enough to have sex with her, go figure.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance tropes: war hero, orphan, woman in peril, on the road, protector

McAlistair is a taciturn hermit who is also a retired assassin. *rolls eyes* Evie quietly helps women leave abusive spouses/pimps/landlords. After an anonymous threat is sent her way, McAlistair steps in to rush her to safety.

There were some cute bits of humor to this, and Evie was an enjoyable character. I never believed in McAlistair, and the chemistry between them was nonexistent—the sex was nothing to write home about either. The pacing was sloooow especially at the end.

The author also misused words that should have been caught by an editor: “lord of the manner” and “the generous flair of her hips.” It’s manor and flare, ma’am.

Content warning: child abuse, rape trigger

[Lucina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A nice and light historical but not one that I will remember for long after I finished it. The story wasn't very fascinating and nothing special. The characters were okay, although the heroine could be quite annoying. Sadly we aren't learning much about McAlistair's past, which made him kind of flat character and the romance wasn't developed in a realistic way. It was a "love a first sight" story and I simply couldn't understand why the fell in love with each other. Not Alissa Johnsons best historical.

[Michelle Connolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main issue I had with this book was that I couldn't feel the chemistry between the characters. Their whole srory (at least during the first part of the book) is based on a kiss that happened way before the beginning of the book and the kiss isn't even described to us. We have no idea how or why it came to happen, we just know that it did.
The plot felt very unrealistic to me, from the so-called misunderstanding/threat to the way it was handled and everything the characters did.

[Eleni · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read

This is a nice read, though the pacing seems to drag a bit in the middle. Recommended for fans of the genre and the series.

[CJ - It's only a Paper Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6

Like all of the other historical novels I've read with an Evie, this one is a bit fiery but also a stammerer. Although, hers isn't bad as Evie in the Wallflower series, this Evie has a tendency to stammer in front of those she doesn't know or those that make her nervous. You don't really see her doing it too often so it almost seems like a glamour infliction; meaning, it seems like the author decided to just add one more flaw to the already scarred character just to make her endearing. It wasn't necessary but as it only crops up here and there, it really isn't a problem.

McAlistair is almost your typical damaged hero except he had a far more interesting reason for isolating himself. It's not so often that you meet a former assassin as the main character in one of these types of stories.

The banter is the best part of this story and like a typical Johnson story, dialogue drives the story along. At turns funny and witty it always believable. McAlistair doesn't start waxing poetic, he's been an assassin and a hermit and he speaks accordingly. Evie, who is rather outspoken when she is comfortable carries most of the conversation and while she is not as acerbic in her wit or hilarious in her cuts like Mirabelle, there is a quiet steel and a gentle amusement to her.

I wish we had more of a backstory with these characters: a little more time to understand the full consequences of the carriage accident that robbed Evie of a reliable leg and her work with troubled woman or the things that McAlistair did as a child and why he became a hermit. That is the one flaw of the series; there is not enough of a foundation for me to explain the actions of everyone else and the characters themselves, and if Johnson wasn't an excellent executioner of dialogue, this would be a massive failing. However, it holds up but leaves you a little wistful for just a bit more backstory.

Evie, so far, is the most realistic of the girls in my opinion. She is funny, flawed, stubborn and at times can be a bit of a prima donna (although if I had to wear a rodent-poop infested cloak you bet your ass I would be complaining).

The plot itself is not as interesting as it could've been and not as interesting as the first two but then this book is really about Evie and McAlistair and so I didn't mind the rushed ending or the convenient bad guy (again no backstory). I smiled and scrunched my face in happiness when I was done with this book, so I can't imagine why you wouldn't feel just a bit lighter and happier after having read this.

[Lillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to give this book a 2 star rating but McAlistair won't let me.

I loved McAlistair. I honestly did. I loved his dark, assassin side and his sweet, caring side. I loved his grumpy moods and i loved how he tried to very hard to resist Evie but simply just couldn't sometimes. I loved him. You don't see a lot of assassin characters in historical romances, usually it's spies. They're just too "taboo" in general. So having him as a character was so new and refreshing, i loved it.

Evie was also a nice refreshing character. I liked how she wanted to be more self-sufficient, I liked how she could just naturally draw out McAlistiar's softer, kinder side. And i liked that she was "damaged", with her scar and her limp. She wasn't my favorite female character in a romance but she's definitely a good one. I loved to see them interacting and resisting each other.

Unfortunately, (yet again) that's about it.

This may not have been another match making scheme gone wrong like in Tempting Fate, but the match making theme was still a large element of the novel. Its why the plot gets going in the first place. And the whole "whos' out to kill me" story was so damn forced and convoluted. You never EVER for a second can guess who the culprit is. There are no hints, no trail for the reader to follow. You're just given the information once he appears and then he's gone just as quickly. The "villain" poses no real threat until the very end of the book. He's there to get Evie and McAlistair into bed and that's it.

Overall, i skimmed through most of the book. I just couldnt enjoy it as much as i wanted and the only thing keeping me from putting the book down were Evie and McAlistair. I would've been happier had the plot been a bit more put together or at least had them focus souly on Evie and McAlistair. The rest just seemed forced in an attempt to make everything more exciting.

[Jessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The third book in the Providence series left me feeling less than inspired. Let me begin by saying that I started this book a long time ago, put it down out of disinterest and it was only months later I was able to pick it up and finish the story. McAlistair is very much the silent brooding hero, but I enjoyed his character because his silence was warranted by his very dark back story. To have seen and done what he has, it's no wonder he is the way he is. Evie, however, struck me as having some very dense moments for someone so smart. Because she overheard part of a plot to find her a husband, she assumes all of the danger is a hoax. Even after the carriage turns over, and people could have been hurt and she is forced to ride through the woods for days and is forced to go into hiding she still believes it is all an elaborate plan to get her married. What's more, I found her constant baiting of McAlistair (a man she barely knows) and her insistence to prove her independence rather annoying. Here is a woman who has been cared for her entire life. Of course she is not entirely independent, even if she does manage to help unfortunate women escape their abusive husbands, is she really surprised that her family is completely aware of everything she is involved in? All of this could have been forgiven for a better rating if the plot hadn't dragged and the reader was forced to wade through far too much internal dialogue. Here's hoping the next installment picks up the pace.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't have a lot to say about this book. It is rather simple in design and requires little emotional investment. It was a rather mindless read. With little surprise in the offering, I was mildly bored but the lead characters are both warm people. It was easy to follow their story.

Evie and James both have been admiring each other from afar, but never told each other. They shared 1 kiss in the woods and both were unable to forget about it. When they saw each other again, they both pretended that the kiss was a distant memory. Evie was running from someone who wanted to hurt her. Why? It hardly signifies. The point is that, James went along to protect her on her journey. They had the time to spend in each other's company. Danger lurking in the dark corners, love growing between Evie and James. All in all, very sweet.

Since I got the book on Kindle Unlimited, I cannot complain much. I did not love the book. It is a rather bland story for me. But the characters are easy to like and I did not mind reading about how they came to care deeply about each other. It is harmless little romance. I probably will not be in a hurry to read other books in the series, nor would I read this book again. But I did not hate it.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was the third book in this series and I did not love it as much as the second ... but maybe that is because I absolutely adored the story of Whit and Mirabelle.

this book is about Evie and McAlistair, who is the hermit of Haldon Hall and a former assassin who doesn't want to involve himself with other people. except for Evie.

a lot of time Evie and McAlistair are alone on the road which is a little bit strange at first (since it is the 19th century) but it is a nice developed story and you get to know them better.

McAlistair is a tortured hero which is in love with Evie for 8 years now and is of the opinion that she is not for him. It is very sweet to see how Evie coaxed him out of his shell and the pond scene is so funny I laughed out loud.

I loved the second half of the book but the first was a little bit difficult for me (can't say exactly why).
a major drawback in my opinion was that the secondary characters (the main characters of the first two books) are not really involved in this story, which seemed wrong to me because the Coles are such a tight knit family.

all in all this book was sweet and funny and a nice addition to this series

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes when you find an author you like (Hello, Alissa Johnson!), you have to set aside your dislike of reading series out of order and just dive in.

Especially, you know, when Goodreads goes down and you're at the library looking to get in and out and on with life. As one does.

So, obviously, two couples preceded this book. And I suffered the usual confusion about existing characters and their relationship dynamics, but rather than being frustrated, I reserved the first book in the series at the library. Problem solving. 'Tis good.

McAlistair's Fortune told me that I may have hit my limit on "I want you, but I'm not good enough for you" heroes. McAlistair was like that, but... his history with Evie (rawr, moonlight kisses) saves him from being too eye rolling. He was fighting himself, not his love for Evie.

And Evie... despite her approach of the situation (I'm also not sure the historical accurarcy of the situation; it's almost more romantic suspense than historical, though it was historical---still, I liked it), she was fun. Evie and McAlistair together were better.

I'm ready for the rest of the books in the series. Bring it on, Alissa Johnson!

[Francie J · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st Class Delight

I cannot sufficiently rave about Ms Johnson's writing (but never let it be said I didn't try) -- I've read 8 of her books so far, and they all share the same wonderful traits. Her characters and plots are carefully crafted and creatively drawn, and she does it with wit, tongue-in-cheek, and outright 'gotcha' puns. AND she writes with proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation-- even eschewing the dumbing down of some modern lit., and using (gasp) 4-syllable words. Yes, this author is a definite class act, and I hope to read all of her (many) books.

[Anja · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.8 stars.

This is the weakest story in the series. The matchmaker plot by this third book is tiresome. The suspense part seemed absurd and tacked on with a bad guy from nowhere. There were a few scenes between the hero and heroine I liked where they seemed to connect but the majority of the story didn’t engage me.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Providence series by Alissa Johnson. After reading Tempting Fate (which I enjoyed) I waited patiently to get my hands on this one and I'm glad I did. I found it to be a charming, witty and entertaining read. Alissa Johnson is becoming quite a favorite author of mine.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a much more adventurous novel relative to other Alissa Johnson books I've read. There really wasn't much conflict between the characters and all of the barriers to their being together were external. In fact, the hero was already pretty obsessed with Evie before the story even opened. In the previous book in the series, he even kissed her (which I thought was a super weird scene so don't despair if you've missed it--though you should check out book #2 in this series since it was far and away my favorite). Evie is just as intrigued by McAlistair for his mysterious lone wolf vibes, dark good looks , and the attention he pays her. From there, they just had to get to know each other.

This was a "road trip" romance in a way because Evie is threatened and McAlistair, with his military/spy past steps in as a bodyguard. I love the bodyguard trope, but the road romance thing rarely works for me. In this case, their romance develops in a series of scenes as McAlistair gets to know the real Evie and opens up to her in a way he has never approached anyone. There is also a scene where Evie pushes him in a lake that I absolutely loved.

This is Alissa Johnson so the dialogue flows really well and the romance felt organic. Some of the set-up for this was a little hard to accept and as I said I don't like journey romances as much, but it was still a strong read and one that will definitely please those who like the journey stories/lone wolf/bodyguard tropes.

While reading the previous story in the series helps you know who everyone is and why Evie jumps to an erroneous conclusion about her safety early on in the tale, you can probably still manage without them if you just really want to read this one.

Overall, still a solid installment, but not one I'll re-read like I will Tempting Fate (book #2).

[Cait M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore the beautiful cover art on this entire series.
The first story is still my favourite.

This book follows Evie, who thinks she's being set up in a matchmaking scheme after eavesdropping part of a conversation between her Aunt and some close family friends. They were discussing a plan to fake a threat to Evie, rush her out of danger, and have a hero (of their choosing) rescue her and win her heart in the process.

When a threatening letter appears, Evie calmly goes along with the 'plan', not taking it seriously even though the letter and the danger to her life are real. She doesn't realise that the matchmaking plan was scrapped soon after Evie stopped listening in.

McAlistair was an assasin in the military. Quietly performing his duty to remove threats and traitors to the Crown. Since his discharge from the army eight years ago he has been living as the reclusive Hermit of Haldon Hall. He has kept to himself in a cottage in the woods that surround the estate where Evie and her cousins live. During that time he has noticed Evie come and go and become fascinated by her. When he hears of the threat, he volunteers to help escort her to a safe place and protect her while the anonymous villain is found.

It was a strange pairing I thought. McAlistair was very taciturn and broody in general, but Evie eventually got him to lighten up a little. I didn't really see what the attraction was between the two. The story was a little slower paced than the first two in the series and the chemistry wasn't as strong. Still, a pleasant story with some road-trip elements when the MC's are en-route to the safe house.

This book contains a mildly descriptive love scene.