We started the week with a giveaway for Jennifer McQuiston's MOONLIGHT ON MY MIND, Book Three in her Second Sons series (link). Let's end the week with a review ...
To ruin a man’s life once takes a regrettable mistake.
To do so twice takes a woman like Julianne Baxter.
Eleven months ago, Julianne’s statement to the authorities wrongly implicated Patrick, the new Earl of Haversham, in his older brother’s death. The chit is as much trouble as her red hair suggests, and just as captivating. Now she has impetuously tracked him to the wilds of Scotland, insisting that he return home to face a murder charge and save his family from ruin. A clandestine wedding may be the only way to save her reputation—and his neck from the hangman’s noose.
Julianne has no objection to the match. More and more she’s convinced of Patrick’s innocence, though when it comes to igniting her passions, the man is all too guilty. And if they can only clear his name, a marriage made in haste could bring about the most extraordinary pleasure…
Yeah we all shine on, like the moon, and the stars, and the sun. - John Lennon
The Honorable Juliana Baxter, daughter of a respected viscount, is the Darling of Drama. Her father (and only living parent) recognizes that he cannot stop his 19 year old daughter when she sets her sights onto something. Juliana has set her sights for Eric Channing, the heir to the Earl of Haversham. During a house party at the Haversham estate, she asks the second son, Patrick, for a dance to ignite Eric's interest in her. Instead, Juliana finds herself interested in Patrick. Patrick, however, is more interested in setting up a veterinary practice than dancing with marriageable misses. Yet drama follows Juliana and the drama unfolds the next morning when Juliana claims to have witnessed Patrick shooting (and killing) Eric during the hunt.
Eleven months later, Juliana and her father are back at the Haversham estate, this time to mourn the passing of the Earl. Concerned for the dowager countess, Juliana travels to Scotland to follow up on a rumor that Patrick is residing (or is that hiding?) in Scotland. She finds him tending to a wounded dog, informs him of his father's death, and begs him to defend himself so he can care for his family. Juliana admits that she may have been hasty in fingering Patrick as the shooter. Taking advantage of her guilt, Patrick persuades Juliana to marry "over the anvil" so she cannot be compelled to testify against him.
Once they return to the Haversham estate, the pieces fall into place as to what really happened that morning during the fatal shooting. As Patrick assumes the duties as the Earl, he falls in love with Juliana, drama and all.
Juliana shines in MOONLIGHT ON MY MIND. She matures from the "drama queen" to a responsible countess as she, too, falls in love with Patrick. McQuiston delivers a charming romance set after the Regency Era, interjecting humor along the way. Frankly, the book blurb seemed far fetched - a society miss seeks out someone she accused of murder. Yet McQuiston peels back the layers of a sinister plot to reveal that all is not what it seems, including Juliana herself. Rest assured, she maintains a little drama when needed.
MOONLIGHT ON MY MIND features James MacKenzie, the hero from the first book in the series, WHAT HAPPENS IN SCOTLAND. Since I had read WHAT HAPPENS IN SCOTLAND, I appreciated his appearance as part of the supporting cast. Yet McQuiston has written MOONLIGHT ON MY MIND as a stand alone book. Still, MOONLIGHT ON MY MIND will intrigue readers to check out the first two books, including SUMMER IS FOR LOVERS.
I received a print copy from Avon Romance for an honest review. I am giving away another copy of MOONLIGHT ON MY MIND to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment to drama queens - do you have any in your family? My kids think I am a drama queen ....
2. Comments are open through Saturday, April 12, 10 pm in Baltimore.
3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 13.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
To learn more about Jennifer and her books, including an excerpt from MOONLIGHT ON MY MIND, check out her website at jenmcquiston.com.
