On board a clipper bound for America's West Coast, British aristocrat Jamie Reynolds is bewitched by a fellow passenger's beauty.
Amber Dodd is sailing away from an unhappy past, embarked on a new adventure. She's traded places with an heiress—the very heiress Jamie is on board to find!
As the San Francisco skyline hoves into view, Amber may not be the woman Jamie set out to discover—but this intriguing governess could just be the one he's spent his whole life searching for….
Amber Dodd and Jamie Reynolds (Earl of Adair) meet on board a clipper called Young America that is traveling from New York to San Francisco. Jamie is on the ship in search of a woman called Helena. (Jamie was with Helena's father when he was shot and killed and Jamie believes the bullet was meant for him. Jamie promised to look after Helena when her father died.) Jamie finds out Amber is taking Helena's place on the clipper (they swapped places) so Helena could go off and marry her sweetheart. Jamie is disappointed Helena isn't on board but he gets to know Amber better. During their 130 day/four month trip to San Francisco Jamie becomes ill with scarlet fever that he caught from his daughter, Meara. Amber is asked to look after him. Through a series of events they end up having a marriage of convenience for his daughter's sake, which they plan to annul later. But after they reach San Francisco they decide to try to make a go of their marriage. But there are many misunderstandings, jealousy, enemies from the past...
I really enjoyed this story. I loved the settings. Half of the book took place on the clipper. The other half in California. I liked both Jamie and Amber. Amber was a sweet and caring heroine. Jamie was handsome, kind, and thoughtful. I found them to be interesting characters and I enjoyed their back-stories. This book also had a little bit of suspense.
A delightful and pleasing romance with wonderful locations.
Book 1 is His Californian Countess Book 2 is A Texan's Honor Book 3 is The Texas Ranger's Heiress Wife
I really really dislike it when there is absolutely no mention of a book being part of a book series... as I initially read Book 2 first.
Once again, I found the first thirty or so pages difficult to follow. I did not understand the connection and/or relationship between a variety of characters. It was honestly, a rather confusing start.
And of course, once again, as in "A Texan's Honor", the hero had his first intimate relationship with his heroine beginning when she was fast asleep :P Like, really?? I am already wondering if something similar will take place in Book 3. Oh the suspense of it all!
Anyway, I ordered The Texas Ranger's Heiress Wife via Thrift Books this week as I can't be bothered to search my basement for it... fingers crossed that the third book of this series will be a more fulfilling (bad word choice when it comes to a romance review, I know :P) read in comparison to the first two books of the series. Hopefully my mailman will be dropping it off within the next week or two.
On board a clipper bound for America's West Coast, British aristocrat Jamie Reynolds is bewitched by a fellow passenger's beauty. Amber Dodd is sailing away from an unhappy past for a new adventure. She has traded places with an heiress, the very heiress Jamie is on board to find.
Jamie becomes sick with scarlet fever that he has caught from his infant daughter before he left to sail. Amber is with him when the doctor finds out so since she is exposed, she has to stay with him in his cabin. So she nurses him back to health. While he is ill, he convinces her to marry him so his daughter will have a mother if he dies. If he lives, they can annul the marriage. 4
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.