High 3 for the double romance and road trip. Low 3 for an abrupt resolution and a mama from hell who turns a warrior into a wimp. ( )

I liked this okay. The story is divided pretty equally between two couples, and that's harder to pull off satisfactorily I think. The road trip aspect was fun. The characters were generally likable. The ending was a bit weaker than the rest for me, which is unfortunate to end on a wobbly note, but on the whole I'm happy I read it. ( )

Series: The Survivors #8
Publication Date: 9/8/20
Number of Pages: 325

OMGoodness – what a fun romp this was! I loved the characters. I loved the storyline. I LOVED that we got two great romances and two great HEA’s in one book. What isn’t to love? It is fast-paced, well-written, and well-plotted. I think it is one of my favorites of the Survivors series. One of my favorite parts is that the story is told by all four of the main characters. You get each person’s individual perspective. Nice way to do that.

We met Ines Neves in The Claiming of the Shrew when her sister Catarina found her HEA with Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Draven. Catarina is now trying to pair Ines up with men that Ines finds totally unacceptable. I have to say this part surprises me because I thought Catarina, given her history, would be very understanding about that sort of thing and would let Ines set her own pace and make her own choices. But then, I guess we wouldn’t have a story if she did that.

Catarina is encouraging a match between Ines and Mr. Podmore. Ines finds the man an utter bore and takes every opportunity to avoid him. When she discovers that Mr. Podmore is due for a visit, she decides to do all she can to avoid him. Sneaking outside, she intends to hide until he gives up and leaves – and what better place to hide than in his coach. She’ll just sneak out of the coach once he gives up waiting for her – no harm, no foul – right? Except, it isn’t his coach – and she falls asleep – and she is well out of town before she realizes she’s run away without meaning to do so. OH! My! Goodness!

Duncan Murray, a Scotsman, a war hero, a survivor from Draven’s expendable troop, is in London to find an English wife. He doesn’t want an English wife, but his mother, Lady Charlotte, has ordered him to find one – and he owes it to her to do as she asks. However, his trip has been unsuccessful because all of the English women run at the sight of a huge Highlander. Now, he’s headed back to the highlands to let her know he’s failed. When he is well outside London, he finds a stowaway inside his carriage – and she doesn’t speak English. What is he to do with her? OH! My! Goodness!

Emmeline Wellesley, the oldest of five siblings, has suffered through one too many seasons and she’s just tired of it. She’s brash, outspoken, intelligent, adventurous, Rubenesque, and men just don’t seem to want that in a potential bride. Well, no problem – she has a solution. She’ll take the coach from the posting house and go to her paternal grandmother who lives in the far north of England. OH! My! Goodness!

Stratford Fortesque, a war hero, a survivor from Draven’s expendable troop, is always on the outside looking in when it comes to his family. He has long admired the brash and bold Emmeline Wellesley, daughter of his mother’s best friend, but he knows a match would never meet with family approval. When he learns from Emmeline’s sister that Emmeline has run away, he doesn’t think twice, he just takes off after her. OH! My! Goodness!

You’ll laugh with them. You’ll cry with them. You’ll even sigh with them. Most of all, you’ll be thoroughly entertained by their adventures as they wend their way across England and into the Highlands of Scotland and their HEA’s. It is a delightful read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Note – there is an appearance by Nash – another survivor – and I hope we see his story soon because he really, really, really needs one.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )