TOUR - HISTORICAL - Rogue Most Wanted (The Cavensham Heiresses, #5) by Janna MacGregor

Rogue Most Wanted

The Cavensham Heiresses, #5

by Janna MacGregor

Publication Date: June 25th 2019

St. Martin's Press

eBook & Paperback; 384 Pages

Genre: Historical Romance

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . ROGUE MOST WANTED (The Cavensham Heiresses, #5) . . . Strange as things sound I have not read many of Janna MacGregor historical romance, but that does not mean that once I get my hands on one it is not devoured quite quickly. I love the ebb and flow of her tales of past fictional romances. They have spirited, head-strong woman, and of course the male counterpart. There's one things that I am certain of that I very much enjoy the Cavensham series.

Will and Thea quick friendship was fun. The quick denial to feeling for one another was interesting. It was interesting enough to read further. The quick refusal and denial of interest made me feel as if they had meet somewhere before, but where, when, how. The reading of the story answered question and posed a few more. This Cavensham Heiresses romance was a bit more sweet than the others in the series. 

Regardless of the pros or cons, I very much enjoyed this fifth addition to the series. It allowed for me to see more of the other friends and family seen in previous books. 


Historical Romances have a way of drawn you in and allowing you to be somewhere else in time and place for as long as you are reading. That was the high point of the read for me.



BLURB
Wanted: an engagement of convenience. Found: A noble suitor. 

Raised on a remote Scottish estate by her adoring grandfather, Lady Theodora Worth has inherited an earldom as well as the land itself. But when an upstart duke challenges her claim to the title and the Ladykyrk estate, Thea is suddenly in need of a husband—in name, at least. An elderly neighbor with a thoroughly modern sensibility and a dashing great-nephew just might be the answer to Thea’s prayers. Except she has no intention of marrying the first man she meets. That would be utterly ridiculous. 

It just can’t be him. . . 

Lord William Cavensham is entirely too devoted to his family’s estate—ever since he was jilted as a lad--to wed, but he agrees to meet the woman his aunt has taken under her wing—and introduce her to possible suitors. But after just one meeting with beautiful, spirited Thea, Will is determined to help her reclaim her title. And even moreso, he can’t stop thinking that perhaps marriage to this bold, passionate woman may be the one thing he’s been missing all along?

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Praise for Rogue Most Wanted

"Effervesces with lighthearted romance...sweet and sultry in equal measures." - Publishers Weekly "[An] emotionally rich, exquisitely wrought tale that superbly celebrates the redemptive power of love." - Booklist


EXCERPT
“Nervous, are we?” Lord William Cavensham drawled. “There’s no need to be, Lady Eanruig. My aunt asked that I call on you, but I’m afraid my visit will be short.” 

“Oh, I hope not. I have several matters to discuss.” She reached for a plate to serve the apricot tartlets and small cucumber sandwiches. With a quick glance at Lord William’s tall physique, she could tell he’d probably eat at least six dainty pastries and three sandwiches. “Let me first say I’m sure you’re a very nice man with a charming disposition.” She carefully arranged the delicacies on the plate then handed it to him.  

“What a lovely compliment.” Completely at ease, he chuckled as he set the plate on the table before him. “Yet I think there might be a ‘but’ coming.”

She nodded in answer, then took a bite of her own tartlet and chewed. They were still warm, and the sweet apricot filling melted in her mouth. At the taste of heavenly perfection, she moaned. Before she could take another bite, she noticed a dab of rich apricot filling had landed on her thumb. It would be a waste, not to mention a sin, to wipe it off with her napkin.  With the tip of her tongue, she licked it clean.

His wide-eyed stare enhanced the blue of his eyes. 

“I didn’t want to waste a drop of goodness.” She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

He blinked twice as if coming out of a trance. “You seem to be a person who loves their sweets.” 

Thea nodded as she pointed to his plate. “You should eat yours while they’re still warm. As I was saying, you seem to be a lovely man”—she smiled slightly— “but I’m not going to marry you.” 

“Pardon me?” He leaned back in his chair.

“Your aunt graciously offered you as my groom, but I’m not going to marry you.” She said it a tad louder this time so there was no misunderstanding. “I hope that doesn’t hurt your feelings. I don’t want to hurt hers either, but truthfully, I haven’t met many men. If I must find a husband, it’s best that I wait until I arrive in London and see all the available choices. Not that you wouldn’t fit the bill nicely.” She smiled in reassurance. “But this is too important a decision for me to rush into.” She exhaled her frustration at her predicament, then tried to soften the blow of her rejection. “If my hand is forced and I can’t find anyone that I want to marry, then I’ll accept you as my fiancé. Of course, only if you’re so inclined.” 

He leaned forward close enough she caught a whiff of his scent. He smelled of expensive soap, sunshine, and the outdoors. Without hesitation, she leaned forward to match his movement. 

“You don’t want to marry me?” His voice held a hint of humor interlaced with a tad of disbelief that she was rejecting him. 

She nodded slowly. The poor man. She’d shocked him with a refusal before he even popped the proposal. 

“I’ve thought quite a bit about my situation over the last several days.” She fisted one hand in her lap to keep her anger at bay. “The Duke of Ferr-Colby is challenging my right to the Earldom of Eanruig. The privilege committee isn’t expecting him to find a bride. But I’m expected to find a groom. He’s still unattached, and they’re allowing him to go on his merry way and throw me off my own land.” She forced herself to breathe deeply and slow down. “It’s simply unfair that I have to marry quickly for the committee and propriety’s sake. Wouldn’t you agree?” The look of utter astonishment on his face sent a pang of regret through her chest that she’d caused him any discomfort. “I’m sorry.”

She shifted her gaze to her hands. When her grandfather was well, he’d instilled in her a sense of pride for their heritage. It was why she was so passionate about her circumstances. Her fight to protect this title and property from the new duke would succeed. She would carry on the line of rugged, proud, descendants from the Eanruig line. It would be her memorial to her grandfather. 

“Lady Eanruig?”

Thea returned her attention to her guest. 

“We’re in complete agreement. I don’t want to marry you either, and it’s completely unfair that you’re being forced to marry. The privilege committee should follow the goose-gander rule.” 

“Goose-gander rule?” she asked.

“What sauce is good for the goose is good for the gander. Whatever you have to do, Ferr-Colby should have to do.” He rested his elbows on his knees and studied her with a smile that made her insides tingle. His intense regard sent frissons of awareness through her, and she couldn’t look away.   

“You remind me of my sister, Emma.” His deep voice dipped even lower. “She would say the same thing about the position you’re in.”

“I would like her.” Thea leaned a little closer until she could see the flicks of gold in his kingfisher blue eyes. 

“And she would like you,” he answered.

“Thank you,” she said softly. Though he didn’t know anything about her, her heart had skipped a beat at his kind words. More than anything in the world, she wanted friends and family. He was truly a nice man to say that his sister would welcome her friendship. Plus, he was taking his rejection extremely well.  

“If I can help you in anyway, please ask.” He picked up his plate and popped two tartlets in his mouth at the same time.  

“Excellent. I was hoping you would say that,” Thea said with the warmest smile she could muster. “Do you by chance read Latin?”

Author Info
Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs.

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Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two paperback copies of Rogue Most Wanted by Janna MacGregor! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Rogue Most Wanted 

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Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, June 24 Review at My Reading Chronicles 

Tuesday, June 25 Review at Bibliophile Reviews Review & Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads 

Wednesday, June 26 Review at Bookish Rantings Review at So Many Books, So Little Time 

Thursday, June 27 Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit 

Friday, June 28 Feature at Broken Teepee Review at View from the Birdhouse

Saturday, June 29 Review at Jorie Loves a Story 

Monday, July 1 Excerpt at The Lit Bitch Review at To Read, Or Not to Read

Tuesday, July 2 Review at Amy's Booket List 

Wednesday, July 3 Review at Curling up by the Fire Excerpt at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots 

Thursday, July 4 Review at Coffee and Ink 

Friday, July 5 Feature at What Is That Book About Review at For the Sake of Good Taste

NetGalley REVIEW - The Bad Luck Bride (The Cavensham Heiresses, #1) by Janna MacGregor

The Bad Luck Bride

(The Cavensham Heiresses, #1)

by Janna MacGregor

Release Date: May 2^nd 2017

St. Martin’s Books

Historical Romance

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . The Bad Luck Bride (The Cavensham Heriesses, #1) . . . Bad luck or just fate. There’s a time a place for everything. Maybe it just wasn’t her time to follow through on a marriage to the wrong man. Maybe things were just not timed right. Maybe there were too many obstacles in the way. Maybe she just needed one to fall in love with. Bad luck was just viewpoint of how you looked at the various situations Claire found herself in. Which leads us to the engagement of herself to the Marquess of Pembrooke while she was engaged to another. This was most certainly some kind of luck for her.

Claire and Alex had some kind of start to their engagement. No courtship. No walk in the park. No handholding. Engaged. Married. Each step further allowed for a new layer of lies/deceit/misconception to be added to the rouse. Alex was not playing hero. He was doing this all to get revenge/payback. He did not take in to account the feeling of Lady Claire. There were many other things going on here but as the story progressed we see more of each Alex and Claire. We get to develop a relationship with them to understand them better as individuals and how they could work as a couple.

This was not a wham-kinda-read. This was a read that took time and patience. Things came about just when it needed to. The was a learn to sit, crawl, walk, then run.

BLURB

All were shocked at the announcement of the “cursed” Lady Claire Cavensham to Lord Alexander Hallworth, the Marquess of Pembrooke, especially since she is already engaged to another unfortunate Lord. Perhaps she will make it to the altar this time with one of these fine gentlemen! —Midnight Cryer

No one is left breathless at the imperious pronouncement of her engagement to Lord Pembrooke more than Claire. She hardly knows the dangerously outrageous man! But after three engagements gone awry and a fourth going up in glorious flames, she isn’t in a position to refuse...

Alexander requires the hand of his enemy’s fiancée in marriage in order to complete his plans for revenge. It’s his good fortune that the “cursed” woman is desperate. However, what begins as a sham turns into something scandalously deeper...

“Full-bodied romance...with intelligence and heart."—Cathy Maxwell
"Captivating characters and a romance that sizzles."—Eloisa James 
"Will leave you swooning."—Sabrina Jeffries

The Bad Luck Bride is the first in a new Regency romance series from Janna MacGregor!

Buy Links:

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EXCERPT

Alex smiled in earnest. “I would never allow you to be humiliated in front of society. I’m trying to help you.” Somehow, he had to convince her of that fact, then the idea of marrying him would be much easier to accept.

She blinked rapidly, then turned back to him and, for an instant, appeared startled to see him there. “That’s very gallant, my lord. Truly, thank you for the effort. But I must leave.”

This night could not end with her escaping, so he tried another tactic. “You need to protect your Wrenwood estate and your wealth from lechers who would feed upon your vulnerability. Not to mention stop that ridiculous curse.”

“I have two.” She held up two gloved fingers.

“Two? Two what? Curses?” No one at his club had uttered a peep about another curse.

“Estates. I have two estates, Wrenwood and Lockhart.” She returned his stare.

Her answer was unexpected, but his business experience had taught him to show nothing. The report from his private investigator had not mentioned additional properties. Thoughts were percolating if she chose to disclose this information.

A razor of lightning split the sky. She flinched and took a step closer to him, but her reaction had nothing to do with him. It was the storm.

Her gaze darted to the exit of the alcove, then she returned her attention to him. With a slight shrug of her shoulders, his evening jacket fell into her hands. She offered it to him. “My lord, good night.” Outside their hideaway, the voices of a man and a woman floated in the air.

Alex put his hand on her shoulder to prevent her escape. “Will you give me some assistance? I seem to have lost my valet.” He quirked an eyebrow. “Besides, if you leave now, whoever is out there will see us.”

She ventured a halfhearted grin and held his jacket in two hands. With a little persistence, he wrestled his way into the evening coat. Her hands smoothed the material across his shoulders and back, causing a pleasant sensation to cascade through him at the slight touch.

Claire took several steps toward the pathway. In a flash, he moved beside her and grasped her elbow. When he brought her close, something flared between them as he gazed into her haunted eyes. Whether the desire to keep her next to him was passion or the need to protect a vulnerable woman made little difference. He pulled her into the shadows and brought his mouth to her ear. “Wait until they pass.” The warmth from her skin beckoned.

A flash of lightning lit the gardens and the alcove.

With a gentle hand, he pushed her against the wall and stood to the side so he blocked her body from view.

A clap of thunder cracked as if the sky were breaking. It rolled into a loud rumble that refused to die.

“Please.” Her whisper grew ragged as she struggled for breath. In one fluid motion, she pulled the lapels of his evening coat toward her. She buried her face against his chest and pressed the rest of her body to his, almost as if she sought sanctuary inside. “Don’t leave me.” Her voice had weakened, the sound fragile, as if she’d break into a million pieces.

“I won’t. I promise.” Alex pulled her tight. One hand sank into the soft satin of her skirts while the other slid around the nape of her neck to hold her close to his chest. It was the most natural thing in the world to hold her. Her body fit perfectly against his.

With the slightest movement, she pulled away. Her eyes wildly searched his. For what, he couldn’t fathom.

He lowered his mouth until his lips were mere inches from tasting her. Madness had consumed him. All he wanted was to kiss her thoroughly until she forgot her fear—until she forgot everything but him.

Her breath mingled with his, and the slight moan that escaped her was intoxicating. Nothing in his entire life felt as right as this moment. He bent to brush his lips against hers.

“Pembrooke? Have you seen Lady—”

Claire leaned back and released his lapels. Without her warmth, he experienced a sudden loss of equilibrium. He turned with a snarl to greet the intruders.

Immediately, Lord Fredrick Honeycutt and his sister, Lady Sophia, took a step back as their eyes grew round as dinner plates.

The first to recover, Honeycutt announced, “I see you found Lady Claire.” He bowed his head slightly, then lowered his voice. “The Duke of Langham is looking for his niece and is directly behind us.”

A sense of wariness flooded Alex’s mind when Claire’s uncle strolled forward and came into sharp focus. As he stood, his feet spread shoulder width apart, the duke’s presence commanded everyone’s attention. His visage held the hint of a smile, but the two large fists resting by his sides were the real barometer of his mood. “Claire, are you all right?” The affection in his voice was at odds with the fury flashing in his eyes.
Copyright © 2017 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Press.

Buy Links:

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Author Info

Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs. She loves to hear from readers. The Bad Luck Bride is her first novel.

MY INTERVIEW WITH JANNA MACGREGOR

What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year? 

I try to be realistic about writing goals. I wish I could churn out a book every couple of months, but that’s not possible with my job and family. But if I can get two full-length stories done a year, I’ll meet my goals. Thus, making me a very happy camper!

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you?

Writing for me is something that I work at constantly. I read writing books so my craft improves, but I also read a lot of fiction.  I’m a pretty disciplined person. On Sunday, I’ll plan my word count for the week. Each day, I try to achieve my goal. It’s the easiest way I know to meet my deadlines.

Do you have a character that you have been working on for a long time that still isn't quite ready, but fills you with excitement to work on the story?

Oh, I’m so delighted you asked this question. The heroine and hero I’m working on right now have “waltzed” around my thoughts for a couple of years. Finally, I’m writing their story, and I love them. I don’t want to say too much, but they’re characters from my first book, The Bad Luck Bride.

If you could spend one-week with 5 fictional characters, who would they be? 

Besides my own characters, I’d love to spend the week with Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Lucius Felton from Much Ado About You by Eloisa James, Jonas Merrick from Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed by Anna Campbell, Simon Bassett from The Duke and I by Julia Quinn, and finally, Sebastian St. Vincent from The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas. Every one of these characters is a little haughty with a pinch of pompous but underneath, they’d do anything for their true love. Can you imagine the drama if those five got together?  Oh, and BTW-those five books are on my keeper shelf!

Where would you spend one full year, if you could go anywhere? What would you do with this time?

That’s an easy one. I’d go to the UK. I spend the entire year researching the Regency era from one end of the island to the other.

Can you share you next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details? 

Oh, I’d love too. The next story in The Cavensham Series is The Bride Who Got Lucky. It features Lady Emma Cavensham and Nicholas St. Mauer, the Earl of Somerton. Happy in his self-contained world, the earl meets his match when he must venture forth into society if he wants to protect the reputation of a family friend, Lady Emma. She finds the earl attractive, but has no intention of ever being under a man’s thumb-even one as wickedly charming as Somerton. It doesn’t take long until these two are the talk of the ton.

He would do anything to protect her. Even marry her… 

The son of a cold-hearted duke, Nicholas St. Mauer isn’t one to waste time in society…or open his own heart to anyone. But driven by honor, the reclusive Earl of Somerton feels obliged to keep a watchful eye on Lady Emma Cavensham. She possesses a penchant for passions unbecoming a woman that finds Nick in constant peril of losing his well-structured solitude. She even dared kiss Nick once—an utterly unladylike, and delightful, lapse…

  

 Emma can’t deny the appeal of the earl’s attention, and occasional affection, but she has no need for a man. There are worse fates than spinsterhood, as Emma knows too well. She still mourns the loss of her dear friend Lena, and is determined to prove Lena’s husband responsible for her death before he lures another innocent woman into a brutal marriage. But as Emma pursues her prey, a compromising moment upends all her plans. Now, with gossip swirling and her reputation in tatters, Nick may be the only man brave enough to join in Emma’s cause...and fight for her heart.  

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