ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND SUMMER by Lecia Cornwall

Avon Impulse
December 10^th, 2013
978-0-062328-434 (e-book)
978-0-062328-441 (Print)
Historical Romance
Electronic Advance Reading Copy
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Publisher
4 Hearts



What do ghosts, summer in the Scottish Highlands and misunderstandings galore all mean? Well the fun part is in finding out.

 

Meet Lady Caroline Forrester. She is tired of her step-brother trying to pawn her off to worthless peers of the realm. So after being told she needs to choose between the two suitors the Earl has chosen, Caroline runs off, determined to make her way in the world. Where she ends up is in Scotland as the governess and doesn’t anticipate that she would fall for the new Laird there.

Alec McNabb is the reluctant Earl of Glenorne. Facing his scheming uncle’s Countess, he reconnects with the clan, his nieces and find a way to save his birthright from being sold off to the highest bidder. But with one look he falls for Caroline thinking she is his betrothed wife but when two ghosts come together to make Alec and Caroline see the love between them, well lets just say things go from bad to worse in an instant. Now Alec hand Caroline have to figure out whether duty is more important than love because if they can’t figure it out soon, the curse on Clan Glenorne will continue.

I have got to admit Lecia Cornwall delivers a wild, pulse pounding ride from start to finish. I loved every minute of ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND SUMMER. The cast of characters were diverse, enjoyable and highly entertaining. The twists and turns within the story had me on the edge of my seat and I for one, could not hope hard enough for Caroline and Alec to get their happily ever after. I have enjoyed this author’s past books and found her latest release is full of laughter and giggles amid sighs of romance as you turn the pages of it. The author captures the characters vulnerabilities and fears perfectly. I really loved the ghosts-one is the old Laird, grandfather to Alec and the other his ladylove, Caroline’s own grandmother. Both made me wish they could get their own happy ever after as well. These two caused quite a few giggles and snickers as they tried to help Alec and Caroline on their way to their own happy ending, well you get hilarity galore.

From the first page to the last, ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND SUMMER keeps the reader glued to the pages, eager to see what would happen next for not just Alec and Caroline but for a few other characters as well. I can attest there are more than enough characters to fall in love with and at the same time hope they get their own happy ending as well. Ms. Cornwall delivers a wildly entertaining story that will keep you amused on a rainy afternoon. Now I just want to know, will we see more of Alec, Caroline and the rest of these wonderful characters in the future? Run-don’t walk-to grab ONCE UPON A HIGHLAND SUMMER and get ready for one rip roaring ride from start to finish.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement.

Welcome Author Lecia Cornwall Today

Welcome the wonderful Lecia Cornwall today to the Love Romances & More Reviews Blog. 

To get us started, can you tell us a little about what you’re working on, or have coming out?

The Secret Life of Lady Julia will be released on May 28. It’s the story of a woman who loses everything to scandal, and must build a new life. As the companion to a diplomat’s sister, she travels to Vienna, where she meets her seducer again. This time, when secrets and danger threaten everything, she must trust him once again, and hope this time it doesn’t end in disaster. There’s a love triangle, spies, thieves, and romance, of course.

I’m also working on a sequel to Lady Julia, and there’s also a new series for Avon Impulse, which takes place in Scotland, a bit of a departure for me.

If we asked your muse to describe you in five words, what do you think they would say?

Oh, my muse can be a capricious creature! There’s a famous portrait of Madame Recamier by Jacques-Louis David pinned up beside my desk. Madame is a lovely Napoleonic lady reclining on a couch. On a good day, my muse looks like Madame. On a bad day, she’s Archie Bunker, glaring at me from the depths of a rumpled easy chair, refusing to give me anything at all. Madame would probably say “Happiest when the words flow”. Archie would say “Needs prodding—or a nap.”

Name one thing readers would be surprised to know about you.

A secret! I guess the most surprising thing is probably my taste in reading. I read a wide variety of books, usually more than one at a time, but not often romance. I love World War II non-fiction. I just bought a copy of Robert M. Edsel’s new book ‘Saving Italy’, about how allied museum staff were drafted into the army to help protect Europe’s art and monuments during World War II.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Paris, perhaps, or Normandy. Actually, maybe an apartment in Paris, and a farm in Normandy—or just the farm, and a Eurail Pass.

If someone hasn’t read your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why?

 As series go, my books are very loosely connected. That means that no matter which of my books you pick up first, you’ll enjoy it on it’s own. My first book, Secrets of A Proper Countess (2011) introduces a character who gets her own story in The Price of Temptation (2012). How to Deceive a Duke (2012) introduces a new set of characters, including Lady Julia, who will now take center stage in The Secret Life of Lady Julia. I love taking the character with the saddest fate in a previous book and giving them a story of their own, because there are so many interesting story possibilities when someone has made dreadful mistakes, or faced adversity or sorrow.

Where do you find the inspiration for your stories?

When I come up with the germ of an idea, I generally go off and do some research. I look for a real historic event to pin the story to, something that fits the characters. That forms the backdrop to the romance, which is the main story. With Lady Julia, I wondered how a fallen woman, disowned by her family, might make her way in the world, and find love. She’d have to leave England, of course, but where might she go? The fascinating Congress of Vienna brought together diplomats and kings, lovers, spies and thieves. It made the perfect setting.

Are your characters able to love, or do they have to be taught?

Oh, I make them struggle, learn, and grow before they realize that there is one person who will complete them, understand them and love them no matter what. I love flawed, tormented heroes! 

Do you have a book that was the easiest to write, or one that was the hardest?

Each book presents its own challenges. Creating a deep, satisfying, believable emotional connection between the hero and heroine is so important, and a very delicate process. So is creating suspense, and writing the kind of story that will keep the pages turning. My very favorite part of writing any book is the unexpected moments when my characters do something I hadn’t planned, but works so perfectly—it’s always a breathtaking, joyful, ‘aha’ kind of feeling.

If you could collaborate with one author, who would it be? 

Hmm. That’s a very tough question! My kids and I used to play a game—if you could invite any person living or dead to dinner, who would it be? In romance, it would be Jane Austen, or Eloisa James. Otherwise, I’d love to dine with, learn from, or work with William Shakespeare, or Stephen King, or Philippa Gregory.

Coffee, tea, or other dink in the morning to get you moving?

I recently received medical advice to cut down on my five-cup a day coffee habit. I still need my coffee in the morning. Sorry, Canada—I’m a Starbucks girl, Grande Blonde Roast, no Tim Horton’s here. Otherwise, we recently discovered a wonderful shop of joy and delight called David’s Tea. They have exotic, delicious blends. If you have a David’s near you, try the Chocolate Rocket, Gold Rush, or Forever Nuts.

What’s coming up for you in 2013? Anything you want to tease us with?

I’m hard at work on several new books. Stephen Ives (the wonderful, heroic, handsome odd-man-out in Lady Julia’s love triangle will get his own story. Blinded in battle, mourning his loss of Julia, he meets a lady he once spurned, and must depend on her care, and—hopefully—realize through his other senses that she is indeed the perfect woman for him.

I’m also having a lot of fun with my next Avon Impulse book—it takes place at midsummer in Scotland, There’s a family curse, and pair of ghosts determined to see that their descendants find the love they missed out on. There’s also a cast of living characters determined to see that matters take an altogether different turn.

Anything to add?

Come check out the book trailer for The Secret Life of Lady Julia! It’s the first time we’ve tried a book trailer. My wonderful children (18 and 21) helped me choose costumes and props, take photos, choose stock pictures, and did the final production on iMovie, making it a labor of love. It’s lovely to be able to show readers how I see my books inside my head, give them the flavor of the story in pictures with things like book trailers and Pinterest boards.  The book trailer is currently up on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEKAHBf7FSI

I love to hear from readers! You can drop me a line by e-mail at leciacornwall@shaw.ca, or on facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lecia-Cornwall.

The Secret Life of Lady Julia 

Historical Romance

Buy at Amazon / Barnes & Nobles

Lady Julia Leighton has been betrothed since her eighth birthday to an old family friend who feels more like a brother than the love of her life. At her long-awaited betrothal ball, she encounters a handsome stranger, and the heady mixture of champagne and experimental kisses leads to seduction born of a desire to feel something extraordinary in a man’s arms before her marriage to the man her grandmother calls ‘Dull Duke David”. 

Thomas Merritt is only at the ball to steal a magnificent tiara owned by Julia’s mother. Disowned by his brother for his rakish behavior, Thomas makes his way in the world by seducing rich women and stealing their jewels. But when he catches sight of the beautiful young bride-to-be, and watches her fiancé completely ignore her, he sets out to charm her, to flirt a little. When he steals a kiss, the intensity of his own feelings surprise him. He thought himself beyond feeling anything for any woman, but when he realizes too late that Julia was a virgin, he finds himself tempted to see her again. But she is betrothed to a duke, and he is more likely to end up dead than welcomed into the family. He leaves for Paris the day the Napoleonic wars officially end, both to find richer pastures and to try and forget Julia.

But when their paths cross again, years later, they are both in very different circumstances. Julia, disgraced after the death of her fiance, has a secret she’s desperate to keep from Thomas. Thomas has a very dangerous secret of his own and it turns out that Julia is the only person who can help him. But will the past threaten to overtake their rekindled love? 

Reviews done of Lecia Cornwall's Books at Love Romances & More

Secrets of a Proper Countess

How to Deceive a Duke

HOW TO DECEIVE A DUKE by Lecia Cornwall

Avon Books

November 27^th, 2012

978-0-06-220241-3

Historical Romance

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher

 

Meg Lynton was going to kill her sister. Now Meg is stuck taking her sister’s place in her wedding as the bride. It is the only way to save the family from destitution. But Meg never anticipates falling for her groom, a man who is a rake through and through.

Nicholas Hartley, Duke of Temberlay, doesn’t want a bride but when he spies Meg, he finds himself intrigued by the beauty but what happens when Nicholas finds out Meg wasn’t his intended bride? Will it be too late for these two as they fall more and more in love?

I really enjoyed HOW TO DECEIVE A DUKE immensely. The heroine was lively, intriguing and determined to save her family after her sister bails on her arranged marriage the night before the wedding. The writing is tight, story flows nicely and I got to admit, I loved the characters. Such a diverse cast that I couldn’t pick just one to enjoy more. They were quite well written and the story flows nicely.

Meet Meg Lynton. Finding out her family is about to be destitute was bad enough but having her sister, the bride, disappear the night before her arranged marriage…well let’s just say all eyes were on Meg at that moment on. Marguerite or Meg as she is called is a wonderful character. She has a responsible side that wars with her hoydenish side which of course makes for some interesting moments in the book. I loved how fiercely she defended her family as well as put others before herself. She really was a good woman with a heart of gold, one who fell for the Duke who for the life of me I wanted to shake three-quarters of the way through the book. Nicholas was a perfect foil to Meg’s wild yet responsible side but there is a part in the story that had me gnashing my teeth and itching to shake some sense into Nicholas. I don’t want to spoil it if you haven’t read HOW TO DECEIVE A DUKE but I really wanted to have Meg toss Nicholas on his butt a few times just for being a pig-headed man that he is.

The only drawback besides Nicholas’ flaws was the ending. For some reason it just fell flat with me and had me scratching my head in shock. It was a bit different than other happy endings I had read and it really didn’t work for me but I can say it may work for others. I think the author wanted to do something a bit different and depending on the reader either got raves over it or fell flat with them. I was on the fence on it in all honesty. But other than those two items, the book really was a good entertaining read. I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement.

SECRETS OF A PROPER COUNTESS by Lecia Cornwall

Publisher: Avon
Date published. March 29th, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-201893-9
Historical Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


Lady Isobel Maitland is determined to not do anything scandalous as she could lose everything near and dear to her if caught. But one night, she gives into temptation when she crosses paths with a notorious rake, the Marquis of Blackwood. What Isobel doesn’t anticipate is the fiery passion one kiss ignites.

The Marquis of Blackwood is no stranger to seduction and intrigue. Combine the two in the form of a mysterious woman, the Marquis is determined to find her. What he doesn’t expect is the clues to lead to prim and proper Lady Isobel Maitland. But both have secrets that threaten all they hold dear. Can they find a way to come clean with one another before time runs out?

SECRETS OF A PROPER COUNTESS is from debut author Lecia Cornwall and delivers one adventure after another within its pages. Take one prim and proper countess; add in a notorious rake with a side of scheming in-laws. Stir and you have got this wonderful debut from Ms. Cornwall. What I loved about this was how the author turned a tired storyline into a gem with a few unique twists to hook her readers. The story was well written and flowed smoothly; the characters were well rounded and grew with the storyline with some humor tossed in to keep some things light and I was surprised to see no slow parts of the story like some debut books seem to have. It was action packed and sinfully delightful.

Meet Lady Isobel Maitland. A widowed countess, she has to deal with her scheming in-laws who deem she not socialize with anyone. That in itself was a great plot twist and quite enjoyable to read. It wasn’t the same old-girl meets boy, falls for boy and finds the same obstacles in their path to love-storyline. No, we have got intriguing characters that had me either hissing in displeasure or cheering as Isobel and the Marquis find themselves trying to not fall in love as they guard their secrets. Lady Isobel was a wonderful heroine. Even though she comes across submissive and meek, she really isn’t. She has a spine and a determination to have a fling so denied to her. She was an underdog that I could relate to and enjoy. The hero, the Marquis of Blackwood, Phineas Archer, has secrets to hide and he cultivates his reputation as a notorious rake around town to the extreme. Meeting and falling for a mysterious woman one night leaves him racing to find her again. Phineas was a hero that had me yawning a tad bit. He had all the characteristics of a rake-man about town, secret life, etc etc. He was a tad boring really, in my opinion. Though the two main characters had chemistry, I adored Isobel’s growth in the story more than Phineas’s. The secondary characters were enjoyable and kept the story flowing smoothly.

SECRETS OF A PROPER COUNTESS was a good story with some intriguing characters though the ending was a little too pat for my taste and the suspense sub-plot not as involved as I would have liked, the author did an admirable job in creating a story that had me looking to see what she has coming in the future. If you are looking for a well written regency romance, then pick up SECRETS OF A PROPER COUNTESS and settle in for a fun adventure.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.