A Reckless Runaway

Out of the frying pan and into the fire! Anne is so disconcerted by her impending marriage to the Earl of Harcourt that she fairly jumps at the chance to run off with the exciting Ellis. Little does she realize that she's just a pawn in another man's game. Ellis quickly hands her off to his trusted cousin, Rook, a man who knows exactly who Ellis is and tries his best to protect Anne until he can get her safely back home. It's a wonderful, action and romance-packed adventure story, as Anne and Rook travel across Scotland to reunite her with her family. The writing is so vibrant, you can almost feel the rain and see the fog that permeates their travels. Anne's exposure to the world beyond her privileged upbringing is eye-opening, and she can't help but recognize the hidden honor and dignity that Rook tries to deny he has. There's so much emotional depth and growth with these two characters. I didn't think I'd like Anne from the first book, but I was happy to be wrong. She may be a bit headstrong, but her heart is true and she's a wonderful heroine in her own right. I loved Rook's quiet power, his unwavering determination to protect Anne from every threat including himself, and especially his soft, squishy heart that hands itself over to Anne almost from the moment they met. I loved the use of the game of chess to explain his relationship with Ellis, and how they grew up together. The reunion that was hinted at in the last pages of A Reluctant Bride was everything that I'd hope for, and more. Sizzling tension, joyous hugging and crying, heartfelt confessions, and a new understanding all culminate in the showdown with the nefarious villain. This, of course, leads us right into the next book, as the events surrounding the death of the previous Earl of Harcourt are further explained and we are finally able to understand what the real threat is. Like the previous book, this couple gets their HEA but the overarching storyline continues. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

A Reckless Runaway by Jess Michaels The Shelley Sisters #2 It was wonderful catching up with Anne and finding out what happened after she left with Ellis Maitland – a runaway bride long ago. She was definitely in for a huge surprise as she is dumped with Rook rather than taken to Gretna Green by Ellis. What I liked: * Anne – a bit selfish but only looking out for her own happiness. She is a woman to be reckoned with and begins to really see who she is and what she wants as she gets to know Rook better * Rook – A good man with a horrible past. I really liked him in more ways than one. * The slow burn and then the sizzling heat between Anne and Rook * The unveiling of what is really behind what Ellis has been doing * The knife throwing scene * Just about everything except… What I didn’t like: * The father of the Shelley triplets * Ellis’s poor treatment of Anne * Winston Leonard – major baddie * Having to wait for book three to see how it will all play out Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen for the ARC – This is my honest review. 5 Stars

"She was just weeks away from her wedding and she should have been happy. But she wasn't. Not in the slightest. Panicked? Yes. On the edge of a breakdown? Always. But happy...not at all." Anne Shelley, the eldest of triplets was set to marry a man her father had chosen. Fun loving, happy, sometime reckless Anne was to marry a man with no humor, never smiling and could not even tell her apart from her two sisters? Runaway bride time! In a very reckless move, she met a gentlemen in the garden who seemed just as fun loving as her, Ellis Maitland. He charmed her and convinced her to run away with him. Oh yes, this girl was too trusting. So she took off in the night, supposedly going to Gretna Green to marry, but instead he took her to his cousin, Rook Mailand and left her with him on an island! Rook knew he should not have agreed to the favor his cousin had asked of him but now he was stuck with Ann. Rook know that whatever the scheme his cousin has cooked up will not be good, but as he and Anne spend time together he finds her delightful. He finally agrees to take her back home but on that journey it seems they might find happiness of their own? But where is Ellis and what is he doing? After reading book 1 of this series, which happens parallel to this story, I could not wait to see what happened to our heroine! Unexpected attraction, a little danger and a love that is trying to develop take us to a great ending!