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Saints & Scoundrels #2
The Elusive Earl
Brianna Penderley has a knack for getting into precarious situations, especially when it comes to her love for archaeology. In the heart of Naples, her terrible Italian has her accidentally becoming engaged to two men at the same time. Of course, Daniel Wolcott—the Earl of Thornton and the only man ever able to vex her—shows up to rescue her.
Daniel has spent the majority of his life exercising rigid control over his emotions, determined never to become the rake his father was. But when he goes to aid his mentor’s danger-prone niece once again, he finds himself struggling to control his attraction to a woman who is his complete opposite.
When their situation goes from bad to worse, Daniel and Brianna find themselves swept up into a perilous adventure, and they must work together to set things right. Now, if they can just avoid killing each other in the process.
Each book in the Saints & Scoundrels series is STANDALONE:
* The Devilish Duke
* The Elusive Earl
* The Sinful Scot
Daniel has spent the majority of his life exercising rigid control over his emotions, determined never to become the rake his father was. But when he goes to aid his mentor’s danger-prone niece once again, he finds himself struggling to control his attraction to a woman who is his complete opposite.
When their situation goes from bad to worse, Daniel and Brianna find themselves swept up into a perilous adventure, and they must work together to set things right. Now, if they can just avoid killing each other in the process.
Each book in the Saints & Scoundrels series is STANDALONE:
* The Devilish Duke
* The Elusive Earl
* The Sinful Scot
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2018
About the author
Maddison Michaels
9 books434 followersMaddison Michaels, is an award-winning historical romantic suspense author, who captivates readers with her signature blend of "Sexy History with a Dash of Mystery." Her debut novel, "The Devilish Duke," won the prestigious Romance Writers of Australia RUBY Award in 2019, along with two of her subsequent novels being finalists in the 2021 and 2022 RUBY Awards. Maddison is the published author of ten historical romance novels, that promise page-turning mystery and suspense, and keep readers hooked until the last word. She’s also set to release two non-fiction writing craft books, aimed to help her fellow writers let their stories take flight!
Maddison draws on her success as an author, along with her previous 17-year career as a police officer, prosecutor, and teacher of senior NSW Police officers, to offer writing courses, webinars and crime consultation services to mentor aspiring and established authors. Maddison helps her fellow writers infuse their writing with authenticity and master their craft. Her upcoming podcast ‘The Writer’s Nest’ will explore and discuss various strategies and ways writers can use their personality to unleash their writing.
She lives in Northern New South Wales, Australia, with her own handsome hero, little princess, and fur babies. She’s recently taken up golf with her husband (you don’t want to know her handicap… even she doesn’t want to know, lol) and she’s a committed coffee connoisseur (read: total caffeine addict), who always starts her day with a cup of liquid gold!
When not whisking herself away to a world of historical romance or helping other writers hone their craft, Maddison loves engaging with her readers. You can contact her through her contacts page, or visit her on most social media platforms, where she shares her writing journey, writing news, life snippets, and behind-the-scenes tidbits.
Maddison draws on her success as an author, along with her previous 17-year career as a police officer, prosecutor, and teacher of senior NSW Police officers, to offer writing courses, webinars and crime consultation services to mentor aspiring and established authors. Maddison helps her fellow writers infuse their writing with authenticity and master their craft. Her upcoming podcast ‘The Writer’s Nest’ will explore and discuss various strategies and ways writers can use their personality to unleash their writing.
She lives in Northern New South Wales, Australia, with her own handsome hero, little princess, and fur babies. She’s recently taken up golf with her husband (you don’t want to know her handicap… even she doesn’t want to know, lol) and she’s a committed coffee connoisseur (read: total caffeine addict), who always starts her day with a cup of liquid gold!
When not whisking herself away to a world of historical romance or helping other writers hone their craft, Maddison loves engaging with her readers. You can contact her through her contacts page, or visit her on most social media platforms, where she shares her writing journey, writing news, life snippets, and behind-the-scenes tidbits.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
October 14, 2018
3.5 stars.
If you’re a lover of the ultra slow burn romance with bickering MC’s engaged in an awesome adventure then you’ll love this. I enjoyed it but this trope is always more entertaining if I’m watching it played out on a TV show or movie. On a soap opera or a prime time series, it’s exciting and frustrating when the writers create a romantic story arc, for a couple, that is woven through many weeks ( or seasons ) of slow burning heated glances, witty banter and mild love-hate interaction. Viewers eat up that kind of stuff when it’s done right onscreen. One of the best examples on prime time had been the long slow burn romance between the couples on the TV series BONES and CASTLE. But, it’s not that appealing to me when it’s done in a romance novel. In a romance novel, I don’t enjoy waiting until the final quarter for the actual romantic storyline to get started. That's the only reason why I couldn't rate this higher. If there'd been more passion in this story, this novel could've been better than the first in the series.
Nonetheless, this was quite entertaining, even though the romantic storyline was always superseded by the treasure hunt trope and the ongoing adventures that were a necessary concomitant of that unfolding plot. The MC’s were extremely likable and their mutual chemistry was always palpable; I missed the lack of overt sexy scenes between the MC’s, but it was always evident that they shared some steamy sexual chemistry. That’s why the novel’s romantic storyline still succeeded. I still prefer THE DEVILISH DUKE , the first novel in the series. The author’s got a very good style of writing, her characters are well fleshed out and keen attention is placed on setting details. It’s just a personal preference, but I am not too keen on the whole treasure hunt trope and I kept hoping that the romantic storyline would've been amped up. The MC's banter and bickering were enjoyable to read but I still missed the more overt type of passion that existed between the MC’s in THE DEVILISH DUKE . But, I think this book will be a winner for readers who prefer a romance novel with minimal sexy scenes. On the plus side, for some, is the fact that the H is not a manwhore and there’s absolutely no cheating in the story.
This is the H, Daniel, the Earl of Thornton:
This is the heroine, Brianna:
The story is set in 1856 and most of the plot unfolds in Italy, in the region of Calabria and its environs. The H Daniel is an Earl who also works part time for the Home Office as a spy. Brianna, the heroine is the Anglo-Italian best friend of Daniel's sister Sophie ( the heroine from THE DEVILISH DUKE . Daniel and Brianna have had a love-hate relationship for years because he thinks she's a hoyden with unladylike interests while she thinks he's boring, stuffy and boorish. During her early teen years, Brianna had been infatuated with Daniel's uber hot sex appeal. But, with the passage of time, this infatuation changed to annoyance because of Daniel's continual disapproval of her lifestyle and penchant for troublesome adventures in exotic locales. Daniel doesn't want an adventurous and exciting wife; he thinks the ideal wife should be passive, ladylike, retiring and, hopefully, leave him alone to get on with the business of running his earldom while being oblivious to his sideline as a spy.
The H's also determined to live a life that's the exact opposite of his late father's. The late Earl had been a rampant manwhore whose extra-marital affairs had caused his wife ( the H's mother ) to commit suicide. That's mainly why Daniel's not a rakish rogue H unlike Devlin from THE DEVLILISH DUKE . Daniel's just a rogue who has had a few short term relationships with widows but he's not the type of man who is always in need of regular penis polishing. At the start of the novel, Daniel's boss Sir Walter sends him on a rescue mission to Italy: to save Brianna ( Walter's niece ) from a tricky entanglement with 2 Italian aristocrats. Apparently, these 2 Italian men had proposed marriage to the heroine in the middle of a ballroom and she'd accepted both proposals because she thought that they'd been merely asking her to dance !
However, later on the novel, it's revealed that Sir Walter also had a little personal matchmaking agenda of his own: he'd been plotting, for years, with Daniel's eccentric aunt Mabel, to marry the MC's to each other. However, Daniel's unaware of this so he goes off to save the heroine, little knowing that his life will never be the same afterwards...
The treasure hunt trope grew on me as the story progressed, because I really wanted to know if King Aleric's fabled treasure and burial chamber would be found by the MC's. The ancient Visigoth king was said to have died and been buried with mounds of priceless treasure and Brianna's late mother had left clues to its location in her 3 journals. The heroine had not known her mom since her parents had both been killed when she was just a toddler. The murderer, a man who went by the nickname of Calogero, was still alive and seeking the treasure/burial chamber because he also wanted to find the fabled Elixir of Life that had been placed in the dead king's hands. The MC's engage in lots of spectacular, dangerous, silly and laugh out loud adventures as they try to evade the criminals who are hunting them while they're on their way to rescue the heroine's kidnapped cousin. Along the way, they're stopped by a posse of local guardsmen employed by Prince Alfredo of Costanza and Brianna discovers that she's the prince's long lost granddaughter ! It was so funny to see Daniel's total shocking reaction to the fact that Brianna, whom he'd always mocked and called "princess" her entire life, was in fact, a real life Italian principesa.
Towards the end, the MC's solve all the clues in her mother's journal and locate King Aleric's burial chamber with all the treasure !
But, nasty old Calogero was right behind them ! The heroine doesn't cower, though, and she defiantly stands up to the villain:
It's actually very shocking to discover Calogero's true identity. He was the very last person I'd have suspected and I'm not giving out this spoiler because it will affect a new reader's ability to enjoy the unfolding mystery that's linked to his identity. I will say, though, that Calogero gets the exact kind of ending that such a villainous, murderous creep deserves.
The romantic storyline had a very cute resolution, though. Daniel had acted like a huge jerk by rejecting Brianna's love but when he came to his senses, his apology was hilarious and beautiful. Both MC's had already been married, by this time, because a marriage of convenience was the only means of safeguarding Brianna against her crazy/obsessed and treasure hunting Italian suitors, who'd have probably kidnapped if she'd been single. Daniel, who was a terrible singer, came to Prince Alfredo's palace and sang an Italian mountain love song in his attempts to woo Brianna back into his arms. That entire scene made me hysterical, but it was also a truly romantic way for such a stuffy, conservative H to show his love:
Hundreds of people had gathered inside the palace courtyard, but all of them appeared to be standing to the sides, making a semi-circle around two men who stood below in the center. One was strumming a guitar and the other was singing aloud… Her breath caught… It was Daniel, and he was singing the same song of courtship as the Mountain Clansman had, but in English. Serenading her, as he previously swore he’d never do. He sounded dreadful, his voice completely out of tune, but it was the most wonderful sound she’d ever heard. Happiness fluttered inside her, beginning to melt away the ice that encased her heart.
His eyes honed in on hers from across the distance, and she felt the tears begin to flow down her cheeks, doing nothing to stop them. The song finished, and the crowd roared in applause, obviously knowing the song for what it was and applauding its purpose, as opposed to the execution of it. But then when the applause died down, it became eerily silent. Bree could hear her own heart thumping wildly in her chest.
“Brianna Elizabeta Maria Penderley,” Daniel called aloud, his deep voice resounding loudly up to her.
“I have been the biggest fool imaginable.” His gaze searched her own, a look of uncertainty in their depths.
“You offered me your heart, and I tossed it aside like a moron. I was a complete buffoon and idiot.”
Michaels, Maddison. The Elusive Earl (Saints & Scoundrels) (Kindle Locations 5314-5324). Entangled Publishing, LLC. Kindle Edition.
And, the epilogue filled me with such romantic bliss that I knew I couldn't rate this with just 3 stars - as I'd planning to do. It's true that this was a very slow slow burn romance, but the storytelling was good and I did eventually get excited about the treasure trope storyline. In the epilogue, it was fabulous to see the beloved MC's from THE DEVILISH DUKE : my hottie Devlin, his beautiful duchess Sophie, their mischievous ward Nicholas and their new baby James. It was strange seeing Devlin turn out to be such an adoring father and a loving husband. Brianna and Daniel also ended up having twin babies: a boy and a girl. Daniel's eccentric, lovable aunt Mabel ( who'd been featured mainly in THE DEVILISH DUKE ) also started her own little romance with Brianna's grandfather, Prince Alfredo. I do kinda hope that the author will write a novel that will feature the scrumptious Alessandro, Brianna's cousin and the heir to Prince Alfredo.
Safety: No OW, a couple of wannabe OM, no cheating and off page sex that happens between the final chapter and the epilogue.
If you’re a lover of the ultra slow burn romance with bickering MC’s engaged in an awesome adventure then you’ll love this. I enjoyed it but this trope is always more entertaining if I’m watching it played out on a TV show or movie. On a soap opera or a prime time series, it’s exciting and frustrating when the writers create a romantic story arc, for a couple, that is woven through many weeks ( or seasons ) of slow burning heated glances, witty banter and mild love-hate interaction. Viewers eat up that kind of stuff when it’s done right onscreen. One of the best examples on prime time had been the long slow burn romance between the couples on the TV series BONES and CASTLE. But, it’s not that appealing to me when it’s done in a romance novel. In a romance novel, I don’t enjoy waiting until the final quarter for the actual romantic storyline to get started. That's the only reason why I couldn't rate this higher. If there'd been more passion in this story, this novel could've been better than the first in the series.
Nonetheless, this was quite entertaining, even though the romantic storyline was always superseded by the treasure hunt trope and the ongoing adventures that were a necessary concomitant of that unfolding plot. The MC’s were extremely likable and their mutual chemistry was always palpable; I missed the lack of overt sexy scenes between the MC’s, but it was always evident that they shared some steamy sexual chemistry. That’s why the novel’s romantic storyline still succeeded. I still prefer THE DEVILISH DUKE , the first novel in the series. The author’s got a very good style of writing, her characters are well fleshed out and keen attention is placed on setting details. It’s just a personal preference, but I am not too keen on the whole treasure hunt trope and I kept hoping that the romantic storyline would've been amped up. The MC's banter and bickering were enjoyable to read but I still missed the more overt type of passion that existed between the MC’s in THE DEVILISH DUKE . But, I think this book will be a winner for readers who prefer a romance novel with minimal sexy scenes. On the plus side, for some, is the fact that the H is not a manwhore and there’s absolutely no cheating in the story.
This is the H, Daniel, the Earl of Thornton:
This is the heroine, Brianna:
The story is set in 1856 and most of the plot unfolds in Italy, in the region of Calabria and its environs. The H Daniel is an Earl who also works part time for the Home Office as a spy. Brianna, the heroine is the Anglo-Italian best friend of Daniel's sister Sophie ( the heroine from THE DEVILISH DUKE . Daniel and Brianna have had a love-hate relationship for years because he thinks she's a hoyden with unladylike interests while she thinks he's boring, stuffy and boorish. During her early teen years, Brianna had been infatuated with Daniel's uber hot sex appeal. But, with the passage of time, this infatuation changed to annoyance because of Daniel's continual disapproval of her lifestyle and penchant for troublesome adventures in exotic locales. Daniel doesn't want an adventurous and exciting wife; he thinks the ideal wife should be passive, ladylike, retiring and, hopefully, leave him alone to get on with the business of running his earldom while being oblivious to his sideline as a spy.
The H's also determined to live a life that's the exact opposite of his late father's. The late Earl had been a rampant manwhore whose extra-marital affairs had caused his wife ( the H's mother ) to commit suicide. That's mainly why Daniel's not a rakish rogue H unlike Devlin from THE DEVLILISH DUKE . Daniel's just a rogue who has had a few short term relationships with widows but he's not the type of man who is always in need of regular penis polishing. At the start of the novel, Daniel's boss Sir Walter sends him on a rescue mission to Italy: to save Brianna ( Walter's niece ) from a tricky entanglement with 2 Italian aristocrats. Apparently, these 2 Italian men had proposed marriage to the heroine in the middle of a ballroom and she'd accepted both proposals because she thought that they'd been merely asking her to dance !
However, later on the novel, it's revealed that Sir Walter also had a little personal matchmaking agenda of his own: he'd been plotting, for years, with Daniel's eccentric aunt Mabel, to marry the MC's to each other. However, Daniel's unaware of this so he goes off to save the heroine, little knowing that his life will never be the same afterwards...
The treasure hunt trope grew on me as the story progressed, because I really wanted to know if King Aleric's fabled treasure and burial chamber would be found by the MC's. The ancient Visigoth king was said to have died and been buried with mounds of priceless treasure and Brianna's late mother had left clues to its location in her 3 journals. The heroine had not known her mom since her parents had both been killed when she was just a toddler. The murderer, a man who went by the nickname of Calogero, was still alive and seeking the treasure/burial chamber because he also wanted to find the fabled Elixir of Life that had been placed in the dead king's hands. The MC's engage in lots of spectacular, dangerous, silly and laugh out loud adventures as they try to evade the criminals who are hunting them while they're on their way to rescue the heroine's kidnapped cousin. Along the way, they're stopped by a posse of local guardsmen employed by Prince Alfredo of Costanza and Brianna discovers that she's the prince's long lost granddaughter ! It was so funny to see Daniel's total shocking reaction to the fact that Brianna, whom he'd always mocked and called "princess" her entire life, was in fact, a real life Italian principesa.
Towards the end, the MC's solve all the clues in her mother's journal and locate King Aleric's burial chamber with all the treasure !
But, nasty old Calogero was right behind them ! The heroine doesn't cower, though, and she defiantly stands up to the villain:
It's actually very shocking to discover Calogero's true identity. He was the very last person I'd have suspected and I'm not giving out this spoiler because it will affect a new reader's ability to enjoy the unfolding mystery that's linked to his identity. I will say, though, that Calogero gets the exact kind of ending that such a villainous, murderous creep deserves.
The romantic storyline had a very cute resolution, though. Daniel had acted like a huge jerk by rejecting Brianna's love but when he came to his senses, his apology was hilarious and beautiful. Both MC's had already been married, by this time, because a marriage of convenience was the only means of safeguarding Brianna against her crazy/obsessed and treasure hunting Italian suitors, who'd have probably kidnapped if she'd been single. Daniel, who was a terrible singer, came to Prince Alfredo's palace and sang an Italian mountain love song in his attempts to woo Brianna back into his arms. That entire scene made me hysterical, but it was also a truly romantic way for such a stuffy, conservative H to show his love:
Hundreds of people had gathered inside the palace courtyard, but all of them appeared to be standing to the sides, making a semi-circle around two men who stood below in the center. One was strumming a guitar and the other was singing aloud… Her breath caught… It was Daniel, and he was singing the same song of courtship as the Mountain Clansman had, but in English. Serenading her, as he previously swore he’d never do. He sounded dreadful, his voice completely out of tune, but it was the most wonderful sound she’d ever heard. Happiness fluttered inside her, beginning to melt away the ice that encased her heart.
His eyes honed in on hers from across the distance, and she felt the tears begin to flow down her cheeks, doing nothing to stop them. The song finished, and the crowd roared in applause, obviously knowing the song for what it was and applauding its purpose, as opposed to the execution of it. But then when the applause died down, it became eerily silent. Bree could hear her own heart thumping wildly in her chest.
“Brianna Elizabeta Maria Penderley,” Daniel called aloud, his deep voice resounding loudly up to her.
“I have been the biggest fool imaginable.” His gaze searched her own, a look of uncertainty in their depths.
“You offered me your heart, and I tossed it aside like a moron. I was a complete buffoon and idiot.”
Michaels, Maddison. The Elusive Earl (Saints & Scoundrels) (Kindle Locations 5314-5324). Entangled Publishing, LLC. Kindle Edition.
And, the epilogue filled me with such romantic bliss that I knew I couldn't rate this with just 3 stars - as I'd planning to do. It's true that this was a very slow slow burn romance, but the storytelling was good and I did eventually get excited about the treasure trope storyline. In the epilogue, it was fabulous to see the beloved MC's from THE DEVILISH DUKE : my hottie Devlin, his beautiful duchess Sophie, their mischievous ward Nicholas and their new baby James. It was strange seeing Devlin turn out to be such an adoring father and a loving husband. Brianna and Daniel also ended up having twin babies: a boy and a girl. Daniel's eccentric, lovable aunt Mabel ( who'd been featured mainly in THE DEVILISH DUKE ) also started her own little romance with Brianna's grandfather, Prince Alfredo. I do kinda hope that the author will write a novel that will feature the scrumptious Alessandro, Brianna's cousin and the heir to Prince Alfredo.
Safety: No OW, a couple of wannabe OM, no cheating and off page sex that happens between the final chapter and the epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2022
What a fun story! I am on an adventure-romance kick without meaning to be. Happy surprise gift to me. I liked this better than the first, by a fair margin but I don’t think I can consider it 5 stars. Good characters. Chemistry between leads was better in the middle than later. They worked together still but I wanted more heat later in the book. I did not expect it to be closed door. I don’t remember the first one being that way? Oh well. The story centered around the lost treasure of King Alaric, which is something treasure hunters search for to this day. Cool historical context for this one.
July 23, 2019
1.5 "Stupid Heroine" Stars
I love a strong heroine! She can save a weak story.
However, a stupid heroine will Ruin a good story...And this could have been a good story!
I love a strong heroine! She can save a weak story.
However, a stupid heroine will Ruin a good story...And this could have been a good story!
August 17, 2018
Series: Saints and Scoundrels #2
Publication Date: 8/27/18
This is an exciting, action-packed, and romantic addition to the Saints and Scoundrels series by Maddison Michaels. This new author seems to be off to a great start. The writing is intelligent and witty and the two main characters are very interesting. At times you want to kiss them and at other times you want to spank them. Especially our hero because he is one of the most pig-headed and stubborn characters I’ve ever read. I was actually beginning to wonder if he was ever going to have his grand epiphany. But, when he finally did, it was a great one! I couldn’t put the book down because it was so fast-paced and exciting that I just had to see what happened next.
One thing that impressed me thoroughly is that the author actually got the name right for someone marrying a peer. Yes, she plainly spelled it out and I loved it! She’s obviously done her research. When Bree has to pretend to be married to Daniel, her name would be Brianna Thornton – NOT Brianna Wolcott.
It seems that Daniel Wolcott—the Earl of Thornton, has been rescuing Brianna Penderley her entire life. She is high-spirited, self-assured, adventure-loving and has a real talent for getting herself into trouble. Isn’t it lucky that her uncle is the head spy-master for England and he can send someone to extricate her from whatever it is she has gotten into? Unfortunately for Daniel, he is the one his boss always sends. When Bree was really young she had romantic notions about her best friend’s older brother, Daniel. That is until she got to know how very stodgy and boring he really was.
Bree’s latest adventure is one of the best yet. Somehow, she has managed to get herself engaged to two, yes two, different Italian men – all without being able to speak the language. Once again Daniel is sent to rescue her only to find her climbing out an upper floor window at the ball she is attending. Then they get word that Bree’s cousin has been kidnapped. To free him, she must bring her mother’s journals to a location several days away from where they are. Thus begins the journey that will have betrayal, friendships, frustration and lots of danger and in the end – finding an exciting treasure.
Bree’s family history is a fascinating one and it involves murder and rescue as well as a loving family life with an aunt, uncle and two cousins. Her aunt and uncle treat her just like their daughter and love her unconditionally. You’ll love her entire family when you meet them. Her aunt is an absolute hoot!
Daniel’s family was dysfunctional, to say the least. His father was a philandering wastrel who almost left the earldom in financial ruin before he died. His mother was a weak-willed lady who loved his father unconditionally and was hurt by him over and over and over. Daniel grew up observing his family dynamic and vowed never to be like his father and never to marry for love because he might hurt and/or be hurt. So, when he finally has to marry to produce an heir his bride will be very biddable – you know – dull. It was fun to watch Daniel fight his attraction to Bree throughout the entire book – and to finally witness his acceptance of his fate. There were so many times I just wanted to kick him in the rear. Bree was as stubborn as he was, but she recognized the attraction early on and didn’t really fight it – except when he’d say or do something hurtful.
This was the first book I’ve read by this author, but it definitely won’t be the last. I really need to go back and get the first one and read it because I’m sure it is just as interesting and exciting.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 8/27/18
This is an exciting, action-packed, and romantic addition to the Saints and Scoundrels series by Maddison Michaels. This new author seems to be off to a great start. The writing is intelligent and witty and the two main characters are very interesting. At times you want to kiss them and at other times you want to spank them. Especially our hero because he is one of the most pig-headed and stubborn characters I’ve ever read. I was actually beginning to wonder if he was ever going to have his grand epiphany. But, when he finally did, it was a great one! I couldn’t put the book down because it was so fast-paced and exciting that I just had to see what happened next.
One thing that impressed me thoroughly is that the author actually got the name right for someone marrying a peer. Yes, she plainly spelled it out and I loved it! She’s obviously done her research. When Bree has to pretend to be married to Daniel, her name would be Brianna Thornton – NOT Brianna Wolcott.
It seems that Daniel Wolcott—the Earl of Thornton, has been rescuing Brianna Penderley her entire life. She is high-spirited, self-assured, adventure-loving and has a real talent for getting herself into trouble. Isn’t it lucky that her uncle is the head spy-master for England and he can send someone to extricate her from whatever it is she has gotten into? Unfortunately for Daniel, he is the one his boss always sends. When Bree was really young she had romantic notions about her best friend’s older brother, Daniel. That is until she got to know how very stodgy and boring he really was.
Bree’s latest adventure is one of the best yet. Somehow, she has managed to get herself engaged to two, yes two, different Italian men – all without being able to speak the language. Once again Daniel is sent to rescue her only to find her climbing out an upper floor window at the ball she is attending. Then they get word that Bree’s cousin has been kidnapped. To free him, she must bring her mother’s journals to a location several days away from where they are. Thus begins the journey that will have betrayal, friendships, frustration and lots of danger and in the end – finding an exciting treasure.
Bree’s family history is a fascinating one and it involves murder and rescue as well as a loving family life with an aunt, uncle and two cousins. Her aunt and uncle treat her just like their daughter and love her unconditionally. You’ll love her entire family when you meet them. Her aunt is an absolute hoot!
Daniel’s family was dysfunctional, to say the least. His father was a philandering wastrel who almost left the earldom in financial ruin before he died. His mother was a weak-willed lady who loved his father unconditionally and was hurt by him over and over and over. Daniel grew up observing his family dynamic and vowed never to be like his father and never to marry for love because he might hurt and/or be hurt. So, when he finally has to marry to produce an heir his bride will be very biddable – you know – dull. It was fun to watch Daniel fight his attraction to Bree throughout the entire book – and to finally witness his acceptance of his fate. There were so many times I just wanted to kick him in the rear. Bree was as stubborn as he was, but she recognized the attraction early on and didn’t really fight it – except when he’d say or do something hurtful.
This was the first book I’ve read by this author, but it definitely won’t be the last. I really need to go back and get the first one and read it because I’m sure it is just as interesting and exciting.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
January 15, 2019
I had so much fun writing Brianna and Daniel's story. I liken their story as a cross between Pride & Prejudice and Romancing The Stone, and seeing Daniel and Bree overcoming their initial prejudice of each other's natures and find their happy ever after was simply a delight. Plus part of the story's plot relates to the real life long lost treasure of King Aleric! So it was a super fun adventure as an author to create, and I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it!
August 10, 2018
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
An adventure to knock your socks off , an Earl trying to keep a Lady in line and rescue her , mainly from herself and her actions .
He’s Daniel , An Earl , a Spy , an adventurer, a saviour , a hero .
She’s Bree , a Lady , an orphan, a collector, and a pain in the neck , at least for Daniel .
The two don’t get on , say they don’t even like each other , but who’s trying to fool who , these two were made for each other .
A really great book full of angst , adventure, emotional situations, and lets hope a really happy and satisfying ending , when reading it your never really sure if you’ll get that HEA , never was there a more stubborn man than Daniel .
It written brilliantly, and an addictive read start to finish .
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
💋💋
An adventure to knock your socks off , an Earl trying to keep a Lady in line and rescue her , mainly from herself and her actions .
He’s Daniel , An Earl , a Spy , an adventurer, a saviour , a hero .
She’s Bree , a Lady , an orphan, a collector, and a pain in the neck , at least for Daniel .
The two don’t get on , say they don’t even like each other , but who’s trying to fool who , these two were made for each other .
A really great book full of angst , adventure, emotional situations, and lets hope a really happy and satisfying ending , when reading it your never really sure if you’ll get that HEA , never was there a more stubborn man than Daniel .
It written brilliantly, and an addictive read start to finish .
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
August 22, 2018
I LOVED this book!!!
Earlier this year I read Madddison Michaels first book The Devilish Duke which I thoroughly enjoyed, it was my first regency romance and what an introduction. This second book well and truly met my expectations, which were pretty high after the reading her first book. Once again we have a very strong headed female Brianna as our lead character, she's stubborn and brave and just wonderful, and always getting into some sort of trouble. Then there's our reluctant leading man Daniel who's job it seems is to save Brianna from the trouble she gets herself into. This book was so much fun! There was action, bad guys, twists, humour and romance aplenty, it kept me reading straight through, I did not want to put it down. I cannot wait for the next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled: Amara for a copy in return for an honest review.
Earlier this year I read Madddison Michaels first book The Devilish Duke which I thoroughly enjoyed, it was my first regency romance and what an introduction. This second book well and truly met my expectations, which were pretty high after the reading her first book. Once again we have a very strong headed female Brianna as our lead character, she's stubborn and brave and just wonderful, and always getting into some sort of trouble. Then there's our reluctant leading man Daniel who's job it seems is to save Brianna from the trouble she gets herself into. This book was so much fun! There was action, bad guys, twists, humour and romance aplenty, it kept me reading straight through, I did not want to put it down. I cannot wait for the next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled: Amara for a copy in return for an honest review.
August 9, 2018
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you!
This novel was a great read! I read the first novel in the series and could not wait to read about Daniel and Brianna after having them mentioned in the first novel of the series.
Brianna Penderley speaks her mind, climbs out of windows, and has a knack for getting in trouble. Luckily, her uncle sends the best man for the job to get Brianna out of these troublesome situations. Daniel Wolcott, the Earl of Thornton, is a stubborn man who is a spy and argues constantly with Brianna. They both frustrate the other, Daniel the "stuffy" one and Brianna the "passionate" one. Daniel needs to rescue Brianna once again when she finds herself accidentally engaged to two men in Italy. Brianna has never felt like she belonged, being half English and half Italian, but she will discover much more about her heritage. Daniel and Brianna have to find her cousin, who has been kidnapped, which is due to Brianna's mother's journals and a treasure. This has many people after Daniel and Brianna. Daniel has every intention of keeping Brianna safe, which is not an easy task, especially the passion that ignites between them. Daniel refuses to be like his father, which destroyed his mother, and therefore believes there is no place for love. Brianna will only ever marry someone she loves, for she is loyal and loves fiercely. Daniel is protective of Brianna, but holds himself back and hurts Brianna with various declarations. They need to work together to find Brianna's cousin and keep the fortune hunters off their backs. I enjoyed the adventure that Brianna and Daniel had as well as several plot twists and the realization of the love between them.
This novel was a great read! I read the first novel in the series and could not wait to read about Daniel and Brianna after having them mentioned in the first novel of the series.
Brianna Penderley speaks her mind, climbs out of windows, and has a knack for getting in trouble. Luckily, her uncle sends the best man for the job to get Brianna out of these troublesome situations. Daniel Wolcott, the Earl of Thornton, is a stubborn man who is a spy and argues constantly with Brianna. They both frustrate the other, Daniel the "stuffy" one and Brianna the "passionate" one. Daniel needs to rescue Brianna once again when she finds herself accidentally engaged to two men in Italy. Brianna has never felt like she belonged, being half English and half Italian, but she will discover much more about her heritage. Daniel and Brianna have to find her cousin, who has been kidnapped, which is due to Brianna's mother's journals and a treasure. This has many people after Daniel and Brianna. Daniel has every intention of keeping Brianna safe, which is not an easy task, especially the passion that ignites between them. Daniel refuses to be like his father, which destroyed his mother, and therefore believes there is no place for love. Brianna will only ever marry someone she loves, for she is loyal and loves fiercely. Daniel is protective of Brianna, but holds himself back and hurts Brianna with various declarations. They need to work together to find Brianna's cousin and keep the fortune hunters off their backs. I enjoyed the adventure that Brianna and Daniel had as well as several plot twists and the realization of the love between them.
February 1, 2019
Oh My Goodness what in the world was Maddison Michaels the author thinking. She had written a pretty good story in the beginning. Even though it has No romance and the H/H have No Chemistry. She makes them a couple but writes so much of the nonsense, we can't be together angst. Repetitively saying the same lines over and over. I felt like not finishing. But I made it to the end.
The story of the Lost Treasures of King Aleric was just to wordy. To many murders. This story should have been edited down. Its way to long for the content. This more about a dashing ride across Italy to find the Kings treasure and the kidnapped cousin Travis. Oh and Travis escaped early on in the story.
I did like characters Brianna Bartelli Penderley The Principessa and Daniel Wolcott Earl of Thornton individually. They lacked romantic sexual chemistry. This is a Very Clean story a few kisses. I like the ending with the Captain of the Guard Alessandro and how Prince Alberto handle the knowledge he was the legitimate Prince. Prince Alberto and Alessandro were honorable men. That came through the storyline.
The villain who couldn't feel any pain even when on fire was a bit to much. Calogero should have suffered more for all the crimes he committed.
All In All the storyline just got to bogged down. Maybe Ms. Michaels was trying to reach a word count. But she managed to ruin the story. Sometimes Less really is More!
The story of the Lost Treasures of King Aleric was just to wordy. To many murders. This story should have been edited down. Its way to long for the content. This more about a dashing ride across Italy to find the Kings treasure and the kidnapped cousin Travis. Oh and Travis escaped early on in the story.
I did like characters Brianna Bartelli Penderley The Principessa and Daniel Wolcott Earl of Thornton individually. They lacked romantic sexual chemistry. This is a Very Clean story a few kisses. I like the ending with the Captain of the Guard Alessandro and how Prince Alberto handle the knowledge he was the legitimate Prince. Prince Alberto and Alessandro were honorable men. That came through the storyline.
The villain who couldn't feel any pain even when on fire was a bit to much. Calogero should have suffered more for all the crimes he committed.
All In All the storyline just got to bogged down. Maybe Ms. Michaels was trying to reach a word count. But she managed to ruin the story. Sometimes Less really is More!
August 26, 2018
"The appreciation you show me, after all I have done for you over the years, takes my breath away." Or so sarcastically says our Hero Daniel to our heroine Brianna as he tries to get her out of another mishap. Actually he has been doing that all of their lives, always to the rescue of Bree. He maintains tight control over his emotions as he again goes to aid his mentor's niece to get her out of a scrape of being engaged to two men at the same time. The problem is the suitors are speaking Italian that she does not really understand! Daniel is a spy, adventurer and a hero although Bree just thinks of him always around to help her. Seemingly they do not really like each other, but emotions under the surface are always waiting to erupt.
This story had many twist and turns that kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. From a treasure that everyone is looking for and thinking Bree was the key, keeps them fleeting villains and trying to find out who is friend or foe. Prepare to be thoroughly entertained and breathlessly waiting for the next book by this author!
This story had many twist and turns that kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. From a treasure that everyone is looking for and thinking Bree was the key, keeps them fleeting villains and trying to find out who is friend or foe. Prepare to be thoroughly entertained and breathlessly waiting for the next book by this author!
August 17, 2018
Brianna Penderley has a knack for getting into precarious situations, especially when it comes to her love for archaeology. In the heart of Naples, her terrible Italian has her accidentally becoming engaged to two men at the same time. Of course, Daniel Wolcott, the Earl of Thornton and the only man ever able to vex her, shows up to rescue her in fact he's been rescuing her for years
Daniel has spent the majority of his life exercising rigid control over his emotions, determined never to become the rake his father was. Daniel and Brianna find themselves swept up into a perilous adventure, and they must work together to set things right. Now, if they can just avoid killing each other in the process.
This is the second book in the series & the second by the author, once again it’s a very accomplished book. Daniel is the brother of Sophie who we met in the first book he’s seen as stuffy & proper with no sense of fun or adventure, Bree often calls him Lordyness however he's worked for the crown for years. Bree is impetuous, lively & adventurous in fact they are like chalk & cheese but they are also attracted to each other, which they both fight & leads to wonderfully witty & engaging verbal spars. I was drawn into the book from the very first page & hooked from there until the last page, I made the mistake of starting it one evening & it was early morning with eyes drooping that I reluctantly put it down. The story flows very well & doesn’t lag at all, although there was a very satisfactory epilogue I was left wanting more & certainly want to find out about Travis’ journey & Milly deserves her HEA. If you love a romance combined with adventure then you'll love this book I certainly did
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Daniel has spent the majority of his life exercising rigid control over his emotions, determined never to become the rake his father was. Daniel and Brianna find themselves swept up into a perilous adventure, and they must work together to set things right. Now, if they can just avoid killing each other in the process.
This is the second book in the series & the second by the author, once again it’s a very accomplished book. Daniel is the brother of Sophie who we met in the first book he’s seen as stuffy & proper with no sense of fun or adventure, Bree often calls him Lordyness however he's worked for the crown for years. Bree is impetuous, lively & adventurous in fact they are like chalk & cheese but they are also attracted to each other, which they both fight & leads to wonderfully witty & engaging verbal spars. I was drawn into the book from the very first page & hooked from there until the last page, I made the mistake of starting it one evening & it was early morning with eyes drooping that I reluctantly put it down. The story flows very well & doesn’t lag at all, although there was a very satisfactory epilogue I was left wanting more & certainly want to find out about Travis’ journey & Milly deserves her HEA. If you love a romance combined with adventure then you'll love this book I certainly did
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
September 6, 2018
All I can say is WOW! This is the second book from Maddison Michaels and it’s as wonderful as the first one (The Devilish Duke). I couldn’t put it down. The plot, the romance, hidden treasure and a villain who surprised me.
Brianna Penderley’s parents were murdered when she was a baby. The murderer ordered his servant to kill her, but he hid her and sent for her English uncle, Sir Walter Penderley. Her parents were searching for an ancient treasure as was the greedy villain. Bree grew up with her English cousins, Travis and Amelia, her best friend Sophie and Sophie’s brother Daniel, Earl of Thornton. Bree has always loved Daniel but he’s very stuffy and thinks he wants a loveless marriage.
The Penderleys, except Sir Walter, travel to Italy where they hope to find her mother’s journals and the treasure. Daniel is sent after them to protect Bree, and the others, as she is in danger. Daniel is aware that she is a princess and her Grandfather’s heir and takes her to him with the others following. Except for Travis who has decided to search for the treasure on his own. For Bree’s protection, Daniel marries her. Eventually, they all end up at her Grandfather’s palace. She it thrilled to have found family on her mother’s side.
Because this is a very well written story I won’t say more as it would be easy to spoil this marvelous book. Travis is rescued with the help of a woman named Sabina, and Amelia runs into Samuel Boyd, heir to an Earl who accompanies them to the palace. I’m looking forward to their HEAs. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes an adventure along with the romance.
Brianna Penderley’s parents were murdered when she was a baby. The murderer ordered his servant to kill her, but he hid her and sent for her English uncle, Sir Walter Penderley. Her parents were searching for an ancient treasure as was the greedy villain. Bree grew up with her English cousins, Travis and Amelia, her best friend Sophie and Sophie’s brother Daniel, Earl of Thornton. Bree has always loved Daniel but he’s very stuffy and thinks he wants a loveless marriage.
The Penderleys, except Sir Walter, travel to Italy where they hope to find her mother’s journals and the treasure. Daniel is sent after them to protect Bree, and the others, as she is in danger. Daniel is aware that she is a princess and her Grandfather’s heir and takes her to him with the others following. Except for Travis who has decided to search for the treasure on his own. For Bree’s protection, Daniel marries her. Eventually, they all end up at her Grandfather’s palace. She it thrilled to have found family on her mother’s side.
Because this is a very well written story I won’t say more as it would be easy to spoil this marvelous book. Travis is rescued with the help of a woman named Sabina, and Amelia runs into Samuel Boyd, heir to an Earl who accompanies them to the palace. I’m looking forward to their HEAs. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes an adventure along with the romance.
August 27, 2018
This was a FANTASTIC book!
We first meet Daniel in the Devilish Duke after he comes to blows with Devlin when Daniel believes his sister Sophie is being taken advantage.
The first few pages start of with a bang full of mystery and intrigue and the fast pace doesn’t let up until the book is finished.
Brianna Penderley has always been an adventurous young woman always looking for some ancient artifact and getting into some kind of mishap.
In every situation Daniel Wolcott the Earl of Thornton has always been there to save the day much to her annoyance.
Traveling to Italy to find information on her parents and the trail left in her mother’s journal she’s Mistakenly acquired two fiancés. Where trouble follows her Daniel is sure to make his appearance.
Daniel tries to live his life in the straight and narrow as much as is possible. The only person to test his temper and sanity is Brianna. When Brianna inadvertently puts her cousin in danger Daniel is the one that she turns to for help.
A fantastic page turner fast paced and entertaining. The chemistry between Daniel and Bree is a hot slow burn (took him a while). A devious vilain intent on harm and mayhem. Descriptive detail in the scenery make this a MUST read!
I can’t wait to see what Maddison Micheals has in store for us next!
I recieved a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my unbiased opinion.
We first meet Daniel in the Devilish Duke after he comes to blows with Devlin when Daniel believes his sister Sophie is being taken advantage.
The first few pages start of with a bang full of mystery and intrigue and the fast pace doesn’t let up until the book is finished.
Brianna Penderley has always been an adventurous young woman always looking for some ancient artifact and getting into some kind of mishap.
In every situation Daniel Wolcott the Earl of Thornton has always been there to save the day much to her annoyance.
Traveling to Italy to find information on her parents and the trail left in her mother’s journal she’s Mistakenly acquired two fiancés. Where trouble follows her Daniel is sure to make his appearance.
Daniel tries to live his life in the straight and narrow as much as is possible. The only person to test his temper and sanity is Brianna. When Brianna inadvertently puts her cousin in danger Daniel is the one that she turns to for help.
A fantastic page turner fast paced and entertaining. The chemistry between Daniel and Bree is a hot slow burn (took him a while). A devious vilain intent on harm and mayhem. Descriptive detail in the scenery make this a MUST read!
I can’t wait to see what Maddison Micheals has in store for us next!
I recieved a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my unbiased opinion.
August 5, 2019
Rating ~3.5
I did not love this one quite as much as the first book. Mostly due to the fact that Sophie and Devlin are so hard to beat. But I did enjoy Daniel and Bree's adventure.
*Detailed review to come?*
I did not love this one quite as much as the first book. Mostly due to the fact that Sophie and Devlin are so hard to beat. But I did enjoy Daniel and Bree's adventure.
*Detailed review to come?*
September 5, 2018
Brianna Penderley always manages to get herself into situations that she needs someone to help her get out of. However, this time, she's managed to get herself into a situation she might not be able to get out of when she becomes engaged to two men. Luckily, her fix-it man Daniel Wolcott is a man that knows what it takes to get a job done. Then again, he's always been her knight in shining armor. It's just too bad they don't like each other, otherwise they'd be perfect together. But with trouble brewing; trouble that leads back to the death of her parents, will Daniel be able to keep Brianna safe or will they lose their chance at happy ever after?
Having absolutely loved the first book of this series, I couldn't wait to read more by this wonderful author and this second book of Ms. Michaels Saints and Scoundrels series is a highly entertaining, fast-paced, captivating read that takes readers on quite the journey delving deep into the greed of evil people, discovering the whereabouts of a treasure that many want and learning what got the heroine's parents killed and who was responsible. Will Brianna and Daniel be able to solve the mystery? Will Daniel be able to protect Brianna from the danger they face?
The way this story started was absolutely brilliant because the heroine does manage to get herself into some tricky situations and it's understandable why she needs someone to help her get out of them. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where this story really takes off and made this story an absolute page turner, as the two rub each other the wrong way. Will they ever be able to get along long enough to have a shot at a future together?
As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories and everything these two go through on their journey to happy ever after including the danger they face and the shocks the heroine gets when it comes to her heritage. Moreover, both the main characters were utterly compelling and had me reading quickly, determined to discover whether they'd come out on top against the bad guys.
With the heroine, she's strong; brave; stubborn; feisty; persistent in her pursuit to find someone she loves before something bad happens to them; and I liked that she didn't give up on getting to the bottom of the mystery and do all she can for someone she loves. Really, she's an absolute challenge for the hero and I could understand why Daniel finds her so exasperating at times. While Daniel, he was a wonderful hero in the way he's confident in his skills in getting the heroine out of trouble; smart; driven; and I liked how he would do anything for the heroine's family because he considers them family. Really, they've been so good to him over the years. However, I couldn't help but sympathize with the hero when it comes to his reasons for not wanting a relationship because he doesn't want to hurt a woman the way his father hurt his mother. Will he realize that he's not his father before he loses Brianna for good?
Overall, Ms. Michaels has delivered a marvellous read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was powerful; the romance was engrossing and had me liking these two together; and the ending had me worried for the main characters because of the danger they face, but had me liking what the hero does to win back the heroine after their relationship goes awry. Certainly, he knows how to woo a woman, even if his skills with an instrument aren't all that impressive according to the heroine's aunt. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, as the hero and heroine certainly get a good surprise. I would recommend The Elusive Earl by Maddison Michaels, if you enjoy Historical Romance, the enemy to lovers trope or books by authors Stacy Reid, Jess Michaels, Pamela Mingle and Callie Hutton.
August 26, 2018
Maddison has another winner.
Brianna Penderley has a knack for getting into precarious situations, especially when it comes to her love for archaeology. In the heart of Naples, her terrible Italian has her accidentally becoming engaged to two men at the same time. Of course, Daniel Wolcott—the Earl of Thornton and the only man ever able to vex her—shows up to rescue her.
Daniel has spent the majority of his life in rigid control of his life. Brianna was the one person who made Daniel lose control and made him question his life. Daniel was sent to Naples to help Brianna out a sticky situation once again.
Brianna was determine to follow her parents journals to find lost treasure of King Aleric in Italian mountains. Her cousin Travis was kidnapper by the Italian mafia who was looking for lost treasure. Daniel needs use skills from working for War Office in England to help protect Brianna and find Travis.
When their situation goes from bad to worse, Daniel and Brianna find themselves swept up into a perilous adventure, and they must work together to set things right. Now, if they can just avoid killing each other in the process.
Fall in love on run from the same guy who murdered Brianna parents. Only to find out Brianna mother was Princess Isabella of Costanz and her Father Prince of Costanz is the protecting the lost treasure the family has been in trusted to protect since King Aleric death.
Brianna Penderley has a knack for getting into precarious situations, especially when it comes to her love for archaeology. In the heart of Naples, her terrible Italian has her accidentally becoming engaged to two men at the same time. Of course, Daniel Wolcott—the Earl of Thornton and the only man ever able to vex her—shows up to rescue her.
Daniel has spent the majority of his life in rigid control of his life. Brianna was the one person who made Daniel lose control and made him question his life. Daniel was sent to Naples to help Brianna out a sticky situation once again.
Brianna was determine to follow her parents journals to find lost treasure of King Aleric in Italian mountains. Her cousin Travis was kidnapper by the Italian mafia who was looking for lost treasure. Daniel needs use skills from working for War Office in England to help protect Brianna and find Travis.
When their situation goes from bad to worse, Daniel and Brianna find themselves swept up into a perilous adventure, and they must work together to set things right. Now, if they can just avoid killing each other in the process.
Fall in love on run from the same guy who murdered Brianna parents. Only to find out Brianna mother was Princess Isabella of Costanz and her Father Prince of Costanz is the protecting the lost treasure the family has been in trusted to protect since King Aleric death.
August 22, 2018
Great read
I had the pleasure of reading the ARC of Maddison Michaels’ second novel in her Saints & Scoundrels series.
The basics: Said Earl, Daniel Wolcott is asked to go rescue Lady Brianna from a spot of trouble concerning two fiancées, and before you know it the two of them are thrown together into a suspenseful plot of kidnapping, lost treasure and whatnot in this lovely romance novel.
Michaels definitely found her voice with this one. Even though I adored its predecessor, her voice has become more pronounced and comfortable, which is lovely to see.
Characters: I loved both Bree and Daniel, and though I am not a big fan of the enemies to lovers bit, Michael’s didn’t drive it to the extremes that would have had me annoyed with the familiar theme. There was just enough of it to keep things interesting. Bree was wonderfully adventurous and sweet, while Daniel was properly protective and annoyed about the woman he had sworn to protect throughout the tale.
The villain: Wonderfully evil, and exactly the one I expected him to be, which I love!
The plot: The foundation is definitely romance, but the hint of mystery and suspense create an incredibly enjoyable journey into Victorian age Italy.
Final conclusion: Great read for the fervent historical reader…any reader, for that matter. Enjoyable characters, a plot that’ll keep you hooked, and a wonderful writing style that will ease you right to the end. I will recommend this story to anyone.
I had the pleasure of reading the ARC of Maddison Michaels’ second novel in her Saints & Scoundrels series.
The basics: Said Earl, Daniel Wolcott is asked to go rescue Lady Brianna from a spot of trouble concerning two fiancées, and before you know it the two of them are thrown together into a suspenseful plot of kidnapping, lost treasure and whatnot in this lovely romance novel.
Michaels definitely found her voice with this one. Even though I adored its predecessor, her voice has become more pronounced and comfortable, which is lovely to see.
Characters: I loved both Bree and Daniel, and though I am not a big fan of the enemies to lovers bit, Michael’s didn’t drive it to the extremes that would have had me annoyed with the familiar theme. There was just enough of it to keep things interesting. Bree was wonderfully adventurous and sweet, while Daniel was properly protective and annoyed about the woman he had sworn to protect throughout the tale.
The villain: Wonderfully evil, and exactly the one I expected him to be, which I love!
The plot: The foundation is definitely romance, but the hint of mystery and suspense create an incredibly enjoyable journey into Victorian age Italy.
Final conclusion: Great read for the fervent historical reader…any reader, for that matter. Enjoyable characters, a plot that’ll keep you hooked, and a wonderful writing style that will ease you right to the end. I will recommend this story to anyone.
August 19, 2018
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publishers for an honest review.
"The Elusive Earl" by Maddison Michaels is the second book in 'Saints and Scoundrels series.
I have not read the first book in this series and this is the first book I have read by this author. I really enjoyed reading this book as is contained a Heroine I did admire. Brianna Tenderly seems to be woman who gets in the most amazing situations like getting engaged to two men at the same time. Daniel Wolcott—the Earl of Thornton the Hero of this story is a man who has made control is life goal and is the only man who Brianna can't stand. These two were a great pairing and. This story also contains mystery, murder and hidden treasure. I Higly recommend this book to readers who love a very enjoyable Historical. I will eagerly await this next book in this author.
"The Elusive Earl" by Maddison Michaels is the second book in 'Saints and Scoundrels series.
I have not read the first book in this series and this is the first book I have read by this author. I really enjoyed reading this book as is contained a Heroine I did admire. Brianna Tenderly seems to be woman who gets in the most amazing situations like getting engaged to two men at the same time. Daniel Wolcott—the Earl of Thornton the Hero of this story is a man who has made control is life goal and is the only man who Brianna can't stand. These two were a great pairing and. This story also contains mystery, murder and hidden treasure. I Higly recommend this book to readers who love a very enjoyable Historical. I will eagerly await this next book in this author.
August 11, 2018
Brianna's parents were killed in front of her when she is a baby by someone looking for a legendary treasure. She is taken in by her uncle and raised as his own child. Brianna is high spirited and stays in trouble all the time. She takes after her mother who was adventurous. Daniel works for Sir Walter, Brianna's. uncle. Brianna is in Italy where she gets engaged to more than one man. Daniel is sent to rescue her, again. Daniel thinks she is too wild to marry. He wants a nice, gentle woman who won't cause any problems, but gets the ship's captain to marry them to protect her. An annulment can be gotten later. Brianna's cousin gets kidnapped and the random is some journals that belonged to Brianna's mother which may have the location of the treasures. Loved this book. It is about treasure hunting, villians, a princess and treachery.. Will the treasures be found and her cousin saved? Great book. I loved it. I received this book from Net Galley and Entangled Publishing for a honest review and no compensation otherwise.
August 16, 2018
fabulous book didn't want to put down. so much humor between main characters. a great mystery to find the hidden treasure. favorite book by maddison michaels yet.
January 3, 2019
“The Elusive Earl” by Maddison Michaels, a book with lots and lots of adventures, lovely banter and sweet chemistry. While the title would suggest a story mostly about a mysterious earl, it is also about a rebellious lady, with a neck for trouble. On the search for a treasure her parents were also trying to find, Miss Biranna Penderley ends up in Italy, engaged to two men and trapped at a ball. As usual, her uncle sends Daniel Wolcott (the Earl of Thornton) to save her and bring her back home to England. Little did any of them expect to have all Italian authorities looking for them, including the prince and a mad killer. Is it about the treasure or Bree’s unexpected likeliness to the late principesa?
A beautiful, beautiful story, engaging and oh, so funny. There was no moment of boredom when reading this book, as the plot was so well done. The length of it was perfect to capture all the details and for everything to fall into piece at the right moment. The search for her mother’s journals in order to find the hidden treasure of King Alric leads Bree to find out more about her ties to Italy and even discover a grandfather she knew nothing about. All these while trying to put up with this grumpy Earl that annoys her so much.
Daniel is a vexed with Bree as she is. He is so tired of always trying to save her. Yet not for one moment would he go against his mentor’s (Bree’s uncle) words. So he finds himself married (falsely so, but still married) to the most annoying and stubborn woman he has ever made. Being followed by his past, Daniel only wishes for a wife that can maintain a household. Love has no place in his life.
But if political affairs may have an easier solution, affairs of the heart are difficult to solve. But love gets what it wants, make no mistake, and these two main characters come to realize there may be one small step from hate to love. Their interactions are so well done and their personalities well developed throughout the story. Because of the length, we have plenty of time for the feelings to come into light.
All in all, this was a lovely book, with a lot of action. It has treasure hunt, murder, love, family affairs, politics and so much more. I do hope you’ll give it a try :) Happy Reading!
A beautiful, beautiful story, engaging and oh, so funny. There was no moment of boredom when reading this book, as the plot was so well done. The length of it was perfect to capture all the details and for everything to fall into piece at the right moment. The search for her mother’s journals in order to find the hidden treasure of King Alric leads Bree to find out more about her ties to Italy and even discover a grandfather she knew nothing about. All these while trying to put up with this grumpy Earl that annoys her so much.
Daniel is a vexed with Bree as she is. He is so tired of always trying to save her. Yet not for one moment would he go against his mentor’s (Bree’s uncle) words. So he finds himself married (falsely so, but still married) to the most annoying and stubborn woman he has ever made. Being followed by his past, Daniel only wishes for a wife that can maintain a household. Love has no place in his life.
But if political affairs may have an easier solution, affairs of the heart are difficult to solve. But love gets what it wants, make no mistake, and these two main characters come to realize there may be one small step from hate to love. Their interactions are so well done and their personalities well developed throughout the story. Because of the length, we have plenty of time for the feelings to come into light.
All in all, this was a lovely book, with a lot of action. It has treasure hunt, murder, love, family affairs, politics and so much more. I do hope you’ll give it a try :) Happy Reading!
August 29, 2018
I loved this story it had everything. Miss Brianna Penderley parents were murdered and she was just a baby. Her uncle came looking for her and brought her back to England, where she grew up. But like her mother, she was adventurous, impulsive and always in one form or another in trouble. The one always sent to get her out of trouble was Daniel Wolcott, the Earl of Thornton. they had been friends since childhood and knew each other very well. Daniel's father was a wastrel and no good, he caused his mother to die and he could not forgive him. He would not love ever, at least that is what he told himself, he would never be like his dad.
There was intrigue, one really mean man, death, and lots of action. Something is always happening and there is not a dull moment. The actors are great and interact with each other well. Even the secondary characters are so lifelike. There are a lot of twists to this tale, but it makes it all the better to keep your attention. You are always seeking what happened next? I love where Daniel finally tells her he loves her, a wonderful scene. I would be more than willing to read another of her great books.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.
There was intrigue, one really mean man, death, and lots of action. Something is always happening and there is not a dull moment. The actors are great and interact with each other well. Even the secondary characters are so lifelike. There are a lot of twists to this tale, but it makes it all the better to keep your attention. You are always seeking what happened next? I love where Daniel finally tells her he loves her, a wonderful scene. I would be more than willing to read another of her great books.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.
August 24, 2018
I really enjoyed the first story in this series and this one was no exception. It is full of action and adventure with a few twists and turns to keep the reader engrossed. The main characters Brianna and Daniel are both complex characters. Brianne is very impetuous and says and does things with out thinking whereas Daniel is very logical and the complete opposite to Brianna. There is a strong attraction to each other although they have difficulty coming to terms with this. It was a very entertaining read with a few villains thrown in for good measure. I also appreciated how much research had been done by the author. I hope there’s another book in the series, maybe about the mystery girl and Travis. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 26, 2018
Brianna "Bree" Penderley doesn't have to go looking for trouble, it will find her, and when it does, Daniel Wolcott, the Earl of Thornton is usually the man to rescue her.
Brianna's current predicament will take Daniel to Italy, she has somehow managed to betroth herself to two men at the same time. His superior in the War Office is Brianna's uncle and he has tasked Daniel with untangling the mess Brianna has found herself in. Daniel is not happy, especially when her uncle jokes that he should marry her! Bree is a hoyden and drives him insane. Daniel is her complete opposite, he is controlled, proper and responsible. Bree is lovely, but he cannot imagine being with such a woman. When he marries, his wife will be calm, sweet and proper. His parents had a terrible marriage and it ended badly, Daniel never wants to have that kind of emotion, which is exactly why Bree is the wrong woman for him.
He arrives in Italy and finds Bree climbing out of a window to escape her suitors, he says he will take her home and they will leave for England in the morning. Bree does not agree with that plan, she is not ready to go, she is having her mother's journal's translated and won't leave until she is ready! But on the way back to her home, they are accosted by the Garendetta and they want the journals. Daniel saves them and demands that Bree tell him the significance of the journals, she grudgingly tells him the journals belonged to her mother and may hold the secret to the location of the lost treasure of King Aleric. Bree and Daniel learn her cousin Travis has been kidnapped and they must travel to Cosenza to save him. Cosenza is where Bree's departed mother is from, her parents were murdered when she was just a toddler, she was saved from the same fate and delivered to her uncle's family. She really has no knowledge of her mother and is a little apprehensive about going to her mother's homeland. But to save Travis, she will do anything, even pretend to be married to His Lordyness. Let the adventure begin!
They set out and find themselves in one bad situation after another. Bree learns some shocking information about her parents and finds herself forced to make her pretend marriage to Daniel real. But that is just the beginning of the shocks and surprises they have in store! There will be long lost relatives, near death experiences, kisses, treasure, more kisses and heartache before these two can even think about a HEA.
Maddison Michaels is an author who has an amazing writing style. One minute she has you laughing and the next you are cringing, all without interrupting the flow of the story. She draws you into the book and holds you in thrall until the very last page. I enjoyed the story, it was fast paced and exciting, but really light on the romance, there were a couple of heated kisses and a lot of bickering, I really wanted to smack Daniel more than once. But when they finally stop being stupid with one another, the ending is lovely and the epilogue was wonderful.
This is the second book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone title.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
Brianna's current predicament will take Daniel to Italy, she has somehow managed to betroth herself to two men at the same time. His superior in the War Office is Brianna's uncle and he has tasked Daniel with untangling the mess Brianna has found herself in. Daniel is not happy, especially when her uncle jokes that he should marry her! Bree is a hoyden and drives him insane. Daniel is her complete opposite, he is controlled, proper and responsible. Bree is lovely, but he cannot imagine being with such a woman. When he marries, his wife will be calm, sweet and proper. His parents had a terrible marriage and it ended badly, Daniel never wants to have that kind of emotion, which is exactly why Bree is the wrong woman for him.
He arrives in Italy and finds Bree climbing out of a window to escape her suitors, he says he will take her home and they will leave for England in the morning. Bree does not agree with that plan, she is not ready to go, she is having her mother's journal's translated and won't leave until she is ready! But on the way back to her home, they are accosted by the Garendetta and they want the journals. Daniel saves them and demands that Bree tell him the significance of the journals, she grudgingly tells him the journals belonged to her mother and may hold the secret to the location of the lost treasure of King Aleric. Bree and Daniel learn her cousin Travis has been kidnapped and they must travel to Cosenza to save him. Cosenza is where Bree's departed mother is from, her parents were murdered when she was just a toddler, she was saved from the same fate and delivered to her uncle's family. She really has no knowledge of her mother and is a little apprehensive about going to her mother's homeland. But to save Travis, she will do anything, even pretend to be married to His Lordyness. Let the adventure begin!
They set out and find themselves in one bad situation after another. Bree learns some shocking information about her parents and finds herself forced to make her pretend marriage to Daniel real. But that is just the beginning of the shocks and surprises they have in store! There will be long lost relatives, near death experiences, kisses, treasure, more kisses and heartache before these two can even think about a HEA.
Maddison Michaels is an author who has an amazing writing style. One minute she has you laughing and the next you are cringing, all without interrupting the flow of the story. She draws you into the book and holds you in thrall until the very last page. I enjoyed the story, it was fast paced and exciting, but really light on the romance, there were a couple of heated kisses and a lot of bickering, I really wanted to smack Daniel more than once. But when they finally stop being stupid with one another, the ending is lovely and the epilogue was wonderful.
This is the second book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone title.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
September 30, 2018
This is a fabulous story, a story filled with witty banter, a romance that will have you smiling and laughing as Brianna and Daniel go after a treasure that has already been the cause of many deaths, there is danger and lots going on in this fast paced story, a story I loved from start to finish, this is one that you are not going to want to put down once you pick it up.
Brianna Penderley has grown up with her aunt and uncle in England after being orphaned as a toddler, talking about her parents murder is not something that she likes and she is always chasing after some sort of antiquity and forever getting herself in scrapes that her uncle needs to send someone to get her out of and that is The Earl of Thornton Daniel Wolcott and their relationship is pretty fiery, she thinks he is stuffy, but he has shown up in Italy to rescue her again and this time the stakes are high her life in is danger and Daniel is in full protection mode and Brianna is not too keen on it, talk about clash of strong personalities.
Daniel is determined to never turn out like his father a scoundrel and is not going to get married till it is absolutely necessary and when his mentor asks him again to go and rescue his niece Brianna after getting herself engaged to two Italians no less, he is far from happy this woman does his head in. But this time the situation turns ugly and Daniel is hard pressed to keep her safe and his heart safe as well.
This story has everything in it that a romance should there is emotion a plenty there is humour in such dangerous situations a sensual pull and kisses to make a reader swoon and honestly the banter is awesome MS Michaels you rock this story is awesome, I loved Daniel and Brianna so much, this is an exhilarating story that ticks all of the boxes for a romance that I highly recommend it, the ending is just so gorgeous I was smiling so much, and I look forward to many more thank you so much.
Brianna Penderley has grown up with her aunt and uncle in England after being orphaned as a toddler, talking about her parents murder is not something that she likes and she is always chasing after some sort of antiquity and forever getting herself in scrapes that her uncle needs to send someone to get her out of and that is The Earl of Thornton Daniel Wolcott and their relationship is pretty fiery, she thinks he is stuffy, but he has shown up in Italy to rescue her again and this time the stakes are high her life in is danger and Daniel is in full protection mode and Brianna is not too keen on it, talk about clash of strong personalities.
Daniel is determined to never turn out like his father a scoundrel and is not going to get married till it is absolutely necessary and when his mentor asks him again to go and rescue his niece Brianna after getting herself engaged to two Italians no less, he is far from happy this woman does his head in. But this time the situation turns ugly and Daniel is hard pressed to keep her safe and his heart safe as well.
This story has everything in it that a romance should there is emotion a plenty there is humour in such dangerous situations a sensual pull and kisses to make a reader swoon and honestly the banter is awesome MS Michaels you rock this story is awesome, I loved Daniel and Brianna so much, this is an exhilarating story that ticks all of the boxes for a romance that I highly recommend it, the ending is just so gorgeous I was smiling so much, and I look forward to many more thank you so much.
August 18, 2018
4.5 Stars.
I loved it! The story is very engaging and entertaining. I loved all the characters. It has right amount of mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure. I think it's a must read for historical fiction fans, especially for those who enjoy reading about treasure hunts.
Brianna Penderley has been the bane of Daniel's life for quite some time now. The girl has a bad habit of finding trouble and he is the one who comes to her rescue every single time. But he cannot help it, he feels that he owes it to her uncle to help her out on difficult situations. Not that she is ever thankful. She is headstrong, stubborn, and has no sense of self-preservation. So, when he is told to go to Italy and save Brianna from not one but two fiances, he of course goes. And what he finds may very well change the course of his life for good. Because as it turns out she is even more danger than they thought initially. The kind of danger that will lead the two of them to spend way too much time in each other's company... and that changes things...
Brianna simply wanted to know more about her mother, but deciding to get her mother's journals translated turns out to be the worst decision of her life. Travis is kidnapped and now she must save her cousin even though it means putting herself in danger. The only good thing is that Lord Thornton is here. She trusts him to keep them safe. He will find a way to protect them and resolve all the problems. That's what he does and he is very good at it. What she doesn't count on is changes in her feelings towards him. The more time they spend together, the more she knows about him the more she feels for him... will their story end happily or in heartache like her parents?
It's a very well-written story. I enjoyed reading it from the beginning until the very end. It was definitely worth the read.
P.S. I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley.
I loved it! The story is very engaging and entertaining. I loved all the characters. It has right amount of mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure. I think it's a must read for historical fiction fans, especially for those who enjoy reading about treasure hunts.
Brianna Penderley has been the bane of Daniel's life for quite some time now. The girl has a bad habit of finding trouble and he is the one who comes to her rescue every single time. But he cannot help it, he feels that he owes it to her uncle to help her out on difficult situations. Not that she is ever thankful. She is headstrong, stubborn, and has no sense of self-preservation. So, when he is told to go to Italy and save Brianna from not one but two fiances, he of course goes. And what he finds may very well change the course of his life for good. Because as it turns out she is even more danger than they thought initially. The kind of danger that will lead the two of them to spend way too much time in each other's company... and that changes things...
Brianna simply wanted to know more about her mother, but deciding to get her mother's journals translated turns out to be the worst decision of her life. Travis is kidnapped and now she must save her cousin even though it means putting herself in danger. The only good thing is that Lord Thornton is here. She trusts him to keep them safe. He will find a way to protect them and resolve all the problems. That's what he does and he is very good at it. What she doesn't count on is changes in her feelings towards him. The more time they spend together, the more she knows about him the more she feels for him... will their story end happily or in heartache like her parents?
It's a very well-written story. I enjoyed reading it from the beginning until the very end. It was definitely worth the read.
P.S. I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley.
August 29, 2018
The Earl of Thornton, Daniel Wolcott has been rescuing Brianna Penderley her entire life what’s one more mission going to her rescue. Her uncle asks him to go to Italy to rescue her once again and what a grand adventure this rescue turns out to be. Her cousin, Travis, is kidnapped to blackmail Bree into turning over her Mother’s journals. Daniel has always know Bree was trouble and once he settles down to marry he wants a calm, boring wife not an adventurous lady like Brianna who is always getting into trouble. Brianna thinks Danial is a stuff snob of society, without an adventurous bone in his body, he’s all business. Daniel has vowed to not be like his promiscuous fun loving father who broke his Mother’s heart over and over again. They are attracted to each other, both are fighting the attraction, Daniel struggles to control his attraction to a woman who is his complete opposite and Bree see Daniel in a whole new light, he’s not as stuff as she thought. They’re thrown together running across country on a perilous journey to save her cousin it becomes harder to deny what the heart and soul wants, if only they have the courage overcome their differences and hold onto the one they love to live HEA before it’s too late. This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.
August 26, 2018
Brianna Penderley is a very adventurous young woman for a Victorian miss. She loves antiques and has persuaded her Aunt and two cousins to come to Italy in search of treasure and just maybe information on her mother's side of the family. She really didn't mean to get in trouble, again.
Daniel Walcott, the Earl of Thornton works secretly for the War Office. His boss and family friend, has asked him to go and , once more rescue his niece from trouble. The woman has been a pain in the neck since she was a child. Always getting into scrapes.
There is much more danger in Italy than anyone could have guessed, especially for someone with Brianna's unknown family connections. The people there seem to think she is important, and what she is looking for is dangerous.
This is a lovely fat book that will give you hours of excitement. It's packed full of adventure and romance. Our intrepid heroine drags as much out of life as possible. Our hero just wants a quiet, peaceful life. Can they ever hope to find common ground.
I loved it.
Daniel Walcott, the Earl of Thornton works secretly for the War Office. His boss and family friend, has asked him to go and , once more rescue his niece from trouble. The woman has been a pain in the neck since she was a child. Always getting into scrapes.
There is much more danger in Italy than anyone could have guessed, especially for someone with Brianna's unknown family connections. The people there seem to think she is important, and what she is looking for is dangerous.
This is a lovely fat book that will give you hours of excitement. It's packed full of adventure and romance. Our intrepid heroine drags as much out of life as possible. Our hero just wants a quiet, peaceful life. Can they ever hope to find common ground.
I loved it.
August 27, 2018
The Elusive Earl by Maddison Michaels is book Two in the Saints & Scoundrels Series. This is the story of Brianna 'Bree' Penderley and Daniel Wolcott, The Earl of Thornton. I have read the previous book but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Daniel and Bree are so totally opposite personalities that keep butting heads. Bree Uncle runs the War Office and is Daniel mentor so he always seem to be assigned to getting Bree out of the trouble she always finds herself in. The latest trouble she is in has taken him to Italy where Bree has somehow became engaged to two different men...but things are worst than that. Someone is after Bree's mother journals which may hold information toward finding a treasure. Bree's cousin has been kidnapped to ensure they get the journals. So Daniel and Bree are off on an adventure to make things right and possible find love along the way.
Really enjoyed this book!
Daniel and Bree are so totally opposite personalities that keep butting heads. Bree Uncle runs the War Office and is Daniel mentor so he always seem to be assigned to getting Bree out of the trouble she always finds herself in. The latest trouble she is in has taken him to Italy where Bree has somehow became engaged to two different men...but things are worst than that. Someone is after Bree's mother journals which may hold information toward finding a treasure. Bree's cousin has been kidnapped to ensure they get the journals. So Daniel and Bree are off on an adventure to make things right and possible find love along the way.
Really enjoyed this book!
August 10, 2018
I loved Brianna and Daniel's story!!
Brianna has gotten herself into another mess and Daniel has been sent to extract her from it once again. But this time, there seems to be a lot more going on than the mess that Brianna caused. Always at loggerheads with each other, the two must pose as husband and wife as they move to finding a solution to Brianna's problem. Could all the bickering they find themselves in really be a mechanism to hide their true feelings? As the journey continues, they find themselves growing closer. Could the person the thought they hated really be the one to give them their HEA?
I loved every single minute of Brianna and Daniel's journey! This is a must read for any historical romance lover!!
I can't wait to read the next book in the Saints & Scoundrels series!!
Brianna has gotten herself into another mess and Daniel has been sent to extract her from it once again. But this time, there seems to be a lot more going on than the mess that Brianna caused. Always at loggerheads with each other, the two must pose as husband and wife as they move to finding a solution to Brianna's problem. Could all the bickering they find themselves in really be a mechanism to hide their true feelings? As the journey continues, they find themselves growing closer. Could the person the thought they hated really be the one to give them their HEA?
I loved every single minute of Brianna and Daniel's journey! This is a must read for any historical romance lover!!
I can't wait to read the next book in the Saints & Scoundrels series!!
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