Maddison Michaels

The Heiress Swap by Maddison Michaels

The Patty Duke Show or perhaps Parent Trap came to mind as I began reading the first pages of this book. My hopes were high though I knew things would NOT go well for Aimee or Evie as they each tried to play the part of the other for reasons of their own – reasons that did not make much sense to me.

After reading the first chapter or two, I found that I was not relating to the cousins situations or believing it could even happen as it did. When Alex, the duke, showed up with all of his heart hardened to women and filled with trust issues…I really did not like him and didn’t warm up to him or his reasons to cozying up to Aimee/Evie at all. So, I skipped to the end to read how it would all turn out for the couple and thought, “Really?” So read some in the middle, went back to read more from the beginning to about 30% and finally decided that it was time for me to move on to another book and leave this romance behind.

I never warmed to the cousins, Evie and Aimee, although I liked them better than Alex, the plot twists that I read were rather predictable and also unbelievable with a fairy tale feel to them, and I decided to let the couple meander their way to their happy ending without reading about how it happened in complete detail.

I am sure some will thoroughly enjoy this book although it is not one that worked for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars… (plus d'informations)

Lady Kaitlyn Montrose has been trained her whole life by her uncle to be a lethal weapon in the spy game. When her uncle is murdered by the Chameleon, she is determined to get revenge. But when a promising lead comes along, she will need to ask Marcus Black for help to infiltrate the gentleman’s club. Marcus wants to find the Chameleon so he can clear his brothers name of treason. Deciding it’s beneficial to team up to catch the Chameleon, they start to let down their guard and they are attracted to each other to the point of distraction. Throughout the story, they both struggle with trusting each other, but in the end they must in order to survive!

I really enjoyed this book and devoured it in a day! So many twists and turns I didn't see coming and the romance between Marcus and Kat was so believable and passionate! Swoon! I can't wait for the next in the series!

The Heroine
Kat is a force of nature. Being trained in all sorts of self-defense, she is a strong, independent woman hell-bent on avenging her beloved Uncle’s death. She was orphaned as a young child and was raised by her Uncle Victor. She worked along side him for years to solve cases for the Crown. She is determined to find the Chameleon to finish her Uncles work and avenge his murder.

The Hero
Marcus Black, the Earl of Westwood, is a respected member of the peerage, but he double as an agent for the Crown when needed. He trained with Victor when he was younger and he, and his brother, were friends with Kat. After the murder of his wife, branding his brother a traitor and then his death, and the murder of Victor, Marcus is out for justice for all of them.

The Steam
There were lots of steamy scenes and romance between Marcus and Kat.

Tropes
Victorian Era, Steam Hot, steam Carriage, Historical Romance, East End London, Titled Hero, Tortured Hero, Detective/Agents of the Crown, Spinster, Virgin Heroine, Knife-wielding Heroine, Dresses as Male, Childhood Crush, Fling to Love, Betrayal, Mystery Romance, Blackmail, Secrets & Lies, Return of the Dead, Revenge Trope, Suspense/Danger/Murder

… (plus d'informations)

Summary
Three friends vow to expose the man who seduced and killed their friend by starting a gossip paper but, in order to fund it, Olivia asks Sebastian, the Bastard of Baker Street to invest. He reluctantly agrees if Olivia can get her Aunt to sponsor his sister for the season. A rival gang has it out for Sebastian and Olivia gets caught in the middle all while she puts herself in danger trying to track down her best friends killer.

Tropes
Spinster, Ton Society, Virgin heroine, Class Difference, Forbidden Love, Trauma, Emotional Scars, Murder Mystery

The Plot
I thought the plot was pretty original. Both Olivia and Sebastian have emotional, as well as, physical scars that hold them back, but they are both determined and confident in what they want. The adventure/mystery part helped keep the storyline moving even though there wasn’t a lot of steam parts…I was still hooked and finished it in a day!

The Heroine
Lady Olivia Haliford is an on-the-shelf spinster who has to walk with a cane because of an accident in which her mother died. She blames herself for the death and harbors a lot of emotional baggage. She is whitty and funny, but confidently naive! I also appreciated that she wasn’t stupid and gullible as some heroines are…she didn’t believe everything everyone said to her; she used her head.

The Hero
Sebastian Colver is the king of the underground and doesn’t trust anyone or let them get to close. His mother was murdered by someone trying to get to Sebastian so he has a lot of baggage as well. He puts on a front to everyone that he is this terrible man, but Olivia learns that he is a kind man who is loyal and takes care of people without recognition.

The Steam
There is definite sexual energy felt between Sebastian and Olivia throughout the book but only kissing until the end with a steamy bedroom scene.

Stand Out Moment
if we are talking steam, then the bedroom scene, but the scene when he saves her at the end is amazing and not what I expected!

Who Would Like This
if you like regency romance with a bit of mystery mixed in, then you’ll love this one! I guessed the ending wrong!

Final Thoughts
I loved Sebastian and Olivia’s romance and there was just enough mystery/action that neither storyline overpowered the other! I am excited to follow up with the other characters in the next book!… (plus d'informations)