Ransomed Jewels by Laura Landon
Publisher & Release Signet, May 3, 2016
Time and setting: 1855, England
Genre: Historical Romance/Victorian
Length: 306 pages
Heat Level: 2 Flames
Rating: 3.5 Gold Crowns
Book Description:
With her husband’s dying words, “My marchioness has it,” the Marchioness of Huntingdon is thrown into a nightmare of intrigue and danger. But even those who are holding her brother ransom can’t force her to do the impossible—hand over a necklace she doesn’t have.
Major Samuel Bennett believes the newly widowed Lady Claire Huntingdon is a traitor. He intends to get the necklace he’s convinced she has, before sending her to the gallows. But when he meets the captivating widow, he discovers that nothing is as it seems.
Claire knows she can’t trust anyone, but she isn’t given a choice when Major Bennett arrives, demanding she give him the necklace. And it isn’t until she’s forced to put her life in his hands that she realizes it isn’t only her life she’s in danger of losing—but her heart as well.
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Vikki’s Musings
I have read quite a few books by Laura Landon and enjoyed them immensely. When I received an invitation from the publisher to read via Net-Galley in exchange for an honest review, I eagerly accepted. Ransomed Jewels is another emotionally-charged story with loads of tension and angst. Since the book description is enticing and sets up the story well, I am not going to do a brief synopsis.
The story is interesting, but it did not grab me as Ms. Landon’s books normally do. As always, the romance is very well-written and the style is smooth. For some reason, I had a difficult time truly liking Claire and Samuel. They were at such odds for 95% of the book, I grew a bit irritated at the amount of angst. Just when I thought they were reaching an understanding, then it would go off in another direction.
Claire’s character has many things I admire in a heroine. She is determined to protect her loved one at great personal cost. Unfortunately, she holds her cards so tightly to her chest, it annoyed me. If Claire had opened up to the hero and told him what had her paralyzed with fear, it would have helped me like her better.
Samuel tended to jump to conclusions without questioning Claire to make sure he fully understood her actions. This made it hard for me to like his character. Now, he is honorable, and loyal–almost to his detriment–and feels protective of Claire, even though he suspects that she is willing to betray her country. Those are normally traits I love in a hero, but no matter how much I wanted to like him, I could not.
I did enjoy the historical history sprinkled expertly sprinkled in regarding the Crimean War. That is a period of English history I did not know as much about and enjoyed the machinations that must have been going on between England and Russia.
If you are looking for a highly emotional story with an anguished heroine, then you will enjoy Ransomed Jewels. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this book. Happy reading!
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