Book Review: The Traitor's Club: Ford by Laura Landon

The Traitor’s Club: Ford by Laura Landon

Publisher & Release: Kindle Press, May 30, 2017

Time and setting:  1857, London

Genre: Historical Romance/Victorian

Book Length:  122 pages

Heat Level: Mild

Rating: 3.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Captain Fordham Remington has survived countless dangerous missions fighting the foreign enemies of the Queen while maintaining his cover as a traitor to the Crown. Now he undertakes the far less threatening assignment of finding out who is stealing from Her Majesty’s shipping company, and nearly gets himself killed.

Lady Calinda Barclave has worked alongside her grandfather, Admiral Barclave, to run Her Majesty’s Crown Shipping Company for four years. When she’s unable to discover who is behind the company’s shortage in profits, she turns to the dashing Captain Remington for help. But when she discovers his betrayal, she realizes she’s lost the shipping company she loves. And her heart along with it.

Buy Link:

https://smile.amazon.com/Traitors-Club-Ford-Laura-Landon-ebook/dp/B06XGK2X15

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35036969-the-traitor-s-club?ac=1&from_search=true

Vikki’s Musings

I have been a fan of Laura Landon for many years, so when I discovered The Traitor’s Club: Ford on Net-Galley I just had to read it! Thanks go to the publisher for allowing me to read and review prior to publication.

The Traitor’s Club: Ford is a lightning-fast-paced novella, which I read so fast, at times, I wish it had slowed down a bit. Since this is a novella, I missed the deep level of emotion usually found in one of Ms. Landon’s books. That is not to say it was too superficial, but just did not have the emotionally-charged story I have come to expect from this author.

Lady Calinda Barclave was disappointed in love in the past and is determined to never suffer that loss again. When she meets Ford Remington, she tries to ignore the immediate attraction she feels for him. 

Fordham Remington spied for Her Majesty during the Crimean War, a bloody and brutal conflict. The queen needs his service. While he does not want to put his life on the line yet again, the prize offered will help so many of his less fortunate comrades who suffered from the war, so he reluctantly accepts.

Ford quickly finds himself losing his heart to the woman he is investigating. While he may not lose his life in the queen’s service this time, he may lose the love of this astonishing woman when she learns of his deception.

Calinda is a likeable heroine, but I would have liked more depth. Since this book is so short, the character development was not deep. Nonetheless, I did have a glimpse of her strong family connections, which helped me become vested in her.

Ford is a hero I could love, but again I would have liked more emotion from his character, so I never fully fell in love with him. I did enjoy his loyalty to his brothers-in-arms, and his strong desire to help the widows and orphans left destitute.

If you are looking for a quick read with a good deal of action, and a clean and wholesome romance, then you will enjoy The Traitor’s Club: Ford. While this book is not my favorite by Ms. Landon, it did keep me engaged. Happy reading!

Book Review: Ransomed Jewels by Laura Landon

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.

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/Ransomed-Jewels-Laura-Landon-ebook/dp/B01983NGLE

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28351302-ransomed-jewels

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!