#PublicationDayPush The Scoundrel’s Bartered Bride by Virginia Heath

Today it’s Publication Day for The Scoundrel’s Bartered Bride by Virginia Heath.

Enter the Giveaway to Win 2 x e-copies of The Scoundrel’s Bartered Bride (Open INT)

About the Author

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Despite that, it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Follow @VirginaHeath_ on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Visit virginiaheathromance.com, Buy The Scoundrel’s Bartered Bride

 

About the book

Marriage…To the highest bidder

Lady Lydia Barton cannot seem to avoid Owen Wolfe since he returned after being wrongly transported for stealing her family’s jewels! But Lydia has more pressing problems―like her impending arranged marriage. Until Owen makes her father a counter-offer for her hand. Is Owen purely after her society connections? Or does Lydia dare hope that the charming stable boy she once loved is still within her ruthless, wealthy new husband?

Review

It has a wee bit of a Heathcliff and Cathy vibe to it. Owen, the lowly servant, is wronged and returns on a more equal standing to those who got rid of him in the first place. He returns with intention of getting revenge. He wants to know who betrayed him and the girl he once loved is one of his targets, although one could argue that he actually tries to save her.

Lydia isn’t exactly lucky when it comes to family. They just consider her a valuable commodity. Something they can auction off to the highest bidder. She is disgusted by the thought they are willing to sell her off, but perhaps more so by the fact Owen is eager to buy her as if she were a valuable racehorse.

Heath excels at good old romance with the vibe of a bodice ripper, but with more emphasis on the emotional attraction, as opposed to pure physical gratification. The relationship and love story develops slowly and builds upon the nostalgia and bonds the two main characters have. Their relationship is combative and there is a fair amount of rejection. It’s exactly what romance readers enjoy – the cat and mouse game of love.

Take a little, give a little and ultimately it becomes a battle of wits – of minds refusing to acknowledge what they both want the most.

Buy The Scoundrel’s Bartered Bride at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.  Publisher: Mills & Boon Historical;pub date 25 Jun. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

Enter the Giveaway to Win 2 x e-copies of The Scoundrel’s Bartered Bride (Open INT)

Click here to Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.*

#PublicationDayPush Redeeming the Reclusive Earl by Virginia Heath

It’s the Publication Push Day for Redeeming the Reclusive Earl by Virginia Heath.

Enter the Giveaway to Win 2 x e-copies of Redeeming the Reclusive Earl (Open INT)

About the Author

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Despite that, it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Follow @VirginaHeath_ on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Visit virginiaheathromance.com, Buy Redeeming the Reclusive Earl

About the book

His heart is a fortress… And she’s trespassing!

After losing all he holds dear in a horrific fire, Max Aldersley, Earl of Rivenhall, shuns the world—until he catches Effie Nithercott digging holes on his estate! He banishes the intrepid archaeologist and the unsettled feelings she rouses within him. But she returns even more determined and infuriatingly desirable than before! He wonders just how deep she’s prepared to dig—so far she’ll reach the man beneath his scars?

Review

I’m not sure whether Max is more annoyed by the fact Effie is a woman stomping round in trousers or by the fact she is oblivious to his annoyance. When he finds her digging holes on his land like a rabbit building a multiplex warren, he is quick to demand she leave and never return. Effie however doesn’t let anything get between her and her research.

She demands to be not only heard, but also that her commands be listened to and met. Not much of a shy, obedient woman of society, much to the dismay of Max. The woman is quite frustrating, exasperating even.

As the story evolves Effie not only has to come to terms with the fact she is attracted to the annoying Earl of Rivenhall, she also has to deal with the lack of professional acknowledgment in her area of expertise, because of her gender.

I have probably said this before about Heath, but it’s always worth mentioning.She has a knack of combining the breathless fun of a bodice-ripper, without the ripping, with a jolly good sense of humour. You get cheeky fun, a slow-burning romance with escalating tension and characters that whip themselves into a frenzy with sharp retorts. Duels with tongues at sunrise. Okay, that sounds a bit naughty.

Heath also weaves elements of women’s empowerment into the story, which are often only small concessions, but given the era they are a step in the right direction.

Buy Redeeming the Reclusive Earl at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Mills & Boon Historical; pub date 19 Mar. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my reviews of The Determined Lord Hadleigh and The Disgraceful Lord Gray by Virginia Heath.

Enter the Giveaway to Win 2 x e-copies of Redeeming the Reclusive Earl (Open INT)

Click here to Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.*