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Reluctant Heroes #2
White Knight Needed
Brimming with romance and adventure, New York Times bestselling author Betina Krahn’s thrilling new series reveals the hero in every man...
Just as Barclay Howard declares himself finished with the idea of true love and in pursuit of the more pragmatic “free love,” he is thrust into another sort of commitment: guardian to his little nephew. Barclay hasn’t a clue about children and, now, must quickly relocate to his family estate. But when he is swept up in the raid of a free love gathering and jailed with a lovely, cultured, innocent bystander, things become more complicated—or perhaps simpler...
Norah Capshaw was fleeing a brute when she found herself swept into a lecture hall, jailed, and jobless. Without a penny or a relative to her name, she has sworn never rely on others, much less look for a hero. But she can’t resist Barclay’s offer of a position as tutor to his nephew. In fact, despite her distrustful nature, it’s hard to resist Barclay. Soon, with their attraction growing, and a mysterious man still following her, the two embark on a journey into the southern uplands of Scotland—and into the heart of a great love neither expected...
Just as Barclay Howard declares himself finished with the idea of true love and in pursuit of the more pragmatic “free love,” he is thrust into another sort of commitment: guardian to his little nephew. Barclay hasn’t a clue about children and, now, must quickly relocate to his family estate. But when he is swept up in the raid of a free love gathering and jailed with a lovely, cultured, innocent bystander, things become more complicated—or perhaps simpler...
Norah Capshaw was fleeing a brute when she found herself swept into a lecture hall, jailed, and jobless. Without a penny or a relative to her name, she has sworn never rely on others, much less look for a hero. But she can’t resist Barclay’s offer of a position as tutor to his nephew. In fact, despite her distrustful nature, it’s hard to resist Barclay. Soon, with their attraction growing, and a mysterious man still following her, the two embark on a journey into the southern uplands of Scotland—and into the heart of a great love neither expected...
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 29, 2022
About the author
Betina Krahn
56 books306 followersKrahn, born Betina Maynard, is the second daughter of Dors Maynard and Regina Triplett. Krahn learned to read at the age of four, and began making up her own stories when she was only six. In fifth grade she won a silver "Noble Order of Bookworms" pin for her achievements in reading, and the following year she began writing down her stories.
Krane was graduated from high school in Newark, Ohio and received a B.S. in Education (Biological Sciences) at Ohio State University. After college, Krahn taught science in Newark, and studied for a graduate degree at Ohio State in the summers. It was during those summers that she met her future husband, physics graduate student Donald Krahn.
The family moved to Oklahoma, where Krahn finished the work for her Masters of Education in Counseling in 1973. In 1974, she gave birth to her first child, Nathan, with the second son Zebulun arriving in 1978. With two young children, Krahn became a stay-at-home mother for a time, also finding time to volunteer on a community board working to get funding for mental health care in part of Western Oklahoma. Once the funding was secured, Krahn worked as an HR director for a mental health center.
Krane was graduated from high school in Newark, Ohio and received a B.S. in Education (Biological Sciences) at Ohio State University. After college, Krahn taught science in Newark, and studied for a graduate degree at Ohio State in the summers. It was during those summers that she met her future husband, physics graduate student Donald Krahn.
The family moved to Oklahoma, where Krahn finished the work for her Masters of Education in Counseling in 1973. In 1974, she gave birth to her first child, Nathan, with the second son Zebulun arriving in 1978. With two young children, Krahn became a stay-at-home mother for a time, also finding time to volunteer on a community board working to get funding for mental health care in part of Western Oklahoma. Once the funding was secured, Krahn worked as an HR director for a mental health center.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 27, 2022
Ultimately, I thought this book rather lackluster. The writing was good, and the characters were well developed and likable. However, it progressed slowly, and I found it somewhat boring.
This story pairs Norah Capshaw, an impoverished gently-reared lady, with Barclay Howard, a beastly-sized gentleman. Norah is having a tough time keeping a job and finds she’s being followed by a disagreeable man. She slips into a radical lecture where Barclay is in attendance that later gets broken up by the police. Barclay tries to help Norah, observing that she is only in the lecture to escape a pursuer, however Norah thinks Barclay is just another pursuer, and they both end up arrested. Barclay and Norah have another unplanned meeting, which leads to another, more successful rescue. Barclay ends up employing Norah as a tutor for his newly appointed charge. The story has a slow buildup in the romance, and a fair bit of action along the way. I was never quite sure what would happen next, but I was also not terribly interested in what would happen next. It didn’t engage me well.
Krahn has an easy, humorous writing style. I don’t want to give the wrong impression that this is a weak or poorly executed story. It really is a solid story. If looking for one that has a good mystery and a slow build up, this may be a good option. It just didn’t work for me well. I really enjoy Krahn, generally, but this was more of a miss for me. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, featuring the most intriguing character in this book, Randville.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book. Views are my own.
This story pairs Norah Capshaw, an impoverished gently-reared lady, with Barclay Howard, a beastly-sized gentleman. Norah is having a tough time keeping a job and finds she’s being followed by a disagreeable man. She slips into a radical lecture where Barclay is in attendance that later gets broken up by the police. Barclay tries to help Norah, observing that she is only in the lecture to escape a pursuer, however Norah thinks Barclay is just another pursuer, and they both end up arrested. Barclay and Norah have another unplanned meeting, which leads to another, more successful rescue. Barclay ends up employing Norah as a tutor for his newly appointed charge. The story has a slow buildup in the romance, and a fair bit of action along the way. I was never quite sure what would happen next, but I was also not terribly interested in what would happen next. It didn’t engage me well.
Krahn has an easy, humorous writing style. I don’t want to give the wrong impression that this is a weak or poorly executed story. It really is a solid story. If looking for one that has a good mystery and a slow build up, this may be a good option. It just didn’t work for me well. I really enjoy Krahn, generally, but this was more of a miss for me. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, featuring the most intriguing character in this book, Randville.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book. Views are my own.
March 31, 2022
Barclay Howard has given up on finding true love for himself and it’s a good thing too since he’s now been saddled with the role of guardian to his six-year-old nephew, the heir to their grandfather’s earldom. He has no idea how to raise a child and now has no choice but to move to the family seat in Yorkshire to assess the situation. Unfortunately, before he can leave, he finds himself swept up in a raid of the free love meeting he’s attending and spends a night in jail when he’s captured whilst trying to save an innocent woman who’s unhappy with his rescue attempts. Unbeknownst to him, she’s about to make his life even more complicated.
Norah Capshaw was merely seeking refuge from the brutish man who’d been trailing her around the city, but her choice of hiding place in the free love meeting ends in her spending a night in jail, which sees her straight to losing her job as a tutor for adults. Unemployed and without any family, Norah is nonetheless determined to make it on her own, but when she crosses paths with Barclay again and it becomes apparent that staying in the city will be dangerous for her thanks to the man who continues to pursue her, she accepts Barclay’s offer of a position as tutor to his young nephew. She soon finds Barclay himself irresistible, despite her reservations about trusting him. The attraction between them grows even as it becomes apparent that the mysterious man from London is still following Norah, which leads to them investigating her routes in Scotland and the both of them finding much more than they’d ever expected.
This story was definitely a very slow burn, but given the abundance of tropes at play here, I didn’t have much trouble hanging in there with this story, even if the flow was a little odd at times. Given how the first book in this series was, I went into this one expecting good writing and prepared for low steam, but even I was a bit disappointed by the lack of any steam at all. With such good tension built between these two, it was just a letdown, especially since I think given how Barclay had always been treated poorly and like a beast, seeing a gentler side of him and having him finally get to experience love and physical affection would’ve been extra satisfying. I think I also needed them to have that closeness more just because of how mean women in general and the heroine especially had been to him (for no good reason), and I just wanted more vindication for him on that front. Which brings me to my mine gripe with this story: the heroine, Norah. She made some of the dumbest decisions she possibly could have over the course of this story. Sure, this gave Barclay the opportunity to rescue her and look good, but still, it brought a lot of eyerolls. She’s very suspicious of Barclay and set against him from the get-go but for no apparent reason when he’s done nothing but be a perfect gentleman and try his best to help her, despite her ungratefulness and hostility toward him.
Norah just played right into treating Barclay like a beast just like every other woman in his life before and that makes it hard to get behind her as a heroine. Even when she started to actually get to know him as a person, rather than judging his outward appearance, she was still annoyingly hesitant about it, which also seemed unfounded given his solicitousness towards her. Barclay is referred to as a beast incessantly but the only reason I find for it is that he’s very tall and I guess a couple of his teeth are a bit pointy and ‘wolfish,’ but many romance heroes are described as having wolfish smiles and being exceedingly large or tall, so I’m not exactly sure why it’s not also charming on him. These factors lessened the romance of this story immensely and when you add to that the large amount of focus that is placed on this terrible, bratty kid, it’s sometimes hard to remember that you’re actually reading a romance. Barclay does his best to stop the boy from being such an entitled brat and everyone else around him, especially Norah, undermines him every step of the way, expecting violence from him when he's given absolutely no indication, he is in any way prone to violence. I just found this to be absurd.
The latter half of the book almost felt like a completely different story as Norah, Barclay, and the boy, Elias, venture to Scotland. I loved that setting and the story did improve there, (though it was never so boring that I wanted to throw it down, even before that change). There was a liberal use of dramatic irony in this section that helped build the tension and reader interest, which did a lot to move the story along but sadly not much to remind you that it’s a romance you’re reading. Overall, I did think this was worth the read, despite my frustrations with it. I wanted to be shown more of the characters' development, but I enjoyed the writing style, and I’ll probably continue the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Norah Capshaw was merely seeking refuge from the brutish man who’d been trailing her around the city, but her choice of hiding place in the free love meeting ends in her spending a night in jail, which sees her straight to losing her job as a tutor for adults. Unemployed and without any family, Norah is nonetheless determined to make it on her own, but when she crosses paths with Barclay again and it becomes apparent that staying in the city will be dangerous for her thanks to the man who continues to pursue her, she accepts Barclay’s offer of a position as tutor to his young nephew. She soon finds Barclay himself irresistible, despite her reservations about trusting him. The attraction between them grows even as it becomes apparent that the mysterious man from London is still following Norah, which leads to them investigating her routes in Scotland and the both of them finding much more than they’d ever expected.
This story was definitely a very slow burn, but given the abundance of tropes at play here, I didn’t have much trouble hanging in there with this story, even if the flow was a little odd at times. Given how the first book in this series was, I went into this one expecting good writing and prepared for low steam, but even I was a bit disappointed by the lack of any steam at all. With such good tension built between these two, it was just a letdown, especially since I think given how Barclay had always been treated poorly and like a beast, seeing a gentler side of him and having him finally get to experience love and physical affection would’ve been extra satisfying. I think I also needed them to have that closeness more just because of how mean women in general and the heroine especially had been to him (for no good reason), and I just wanted more vindication for him on that front. Which brings me to my mine gripe with this story: the heroine, Norah. She made some of the dumbest decisions she possibly could have over the course of this story. Sure, this gave Barclay the opportunity to rescue her and look good, but still, it brought a lot of eyerolls. She’s very suspicious of Barclay and set against him from the get-go but for no apparent reason when he’s done nothing but be a perfect gentleman and try his best to help her, despite her ungratefulness and hostility toward him.
Norah just played right into treating Barclay like a beast just like every other woman in his life before and that makes it hard to get behind her as a heroine. Even when she started to actually get to know him as a person, rather than judging his outward appearance, she was still annoyingly hesitant about it, which also seemed unfounded given his solicitousness towards her. Barclay is referred to as a beast incessantly but the only reason I find for it is that he’s very tall and I guess a couple of his teeth are a bit pointy and ‘wolfish,’ but many romance heroes are described as having wolfish smiles and being exceedingly large or tall, so I’m not exactly sure why it’s not also charming on him. These factors lessened the romance of this story immensely and when you add to that the large amount of focus that is placed on this terrible, bratty kid, it’s sometimes hard to remember that you’re actually reading a romance. Barclay does his best to stop the boy from being such an entitled brat and everyone else around him, especially Norah, undermines him every step of the way, expecting violence from him when he's given absolutely no indication, he is in any way prone to violence. I just found this to be absurd.
The latter half of the book almost felt like a completely different story as Norah, Barclay, and the boy, Elias, venture to Scotland. I loved that setting and the story did improve there, (though it was never so boring that I wanted to throw it down, even before that change). There was a liberal use of dramatic irony in this section that helped build the tension and reader interest, which did a lot to move the story along but sadly not much to remind you that it’s a romance you’re reading. Overall, I did think this was worth the read, despite my frustrations with it. I wanted to be shown more of the characters' development, but I enjoyed the writing style, and I’ll probably continue the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
March 11, 2022
❤️❤️❤️1/2
💋
Very enjoyable but rather slow, romance, adventure and mystery, all in one book.
A good story if your in it for the long haul, it moves rather slowly but there is something new on every page so it’s not boring or tedious.
I enjoyed reading it, and would read more from this author.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋
Very enjoyable but rather slow, romance, adventure and mystery, all in one book.
A good story if your in it for the long haul, it moves rather slowly but there is something new on every page so it’s not boring or tedious.
I enjoyed reading it, and would read more from this author.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
March 18, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed this Beauty And The Beast, unruly child adventure. I laughed out loud at times. The romance was sweetly passionate. Barclay Howard is burly and is awkward towards women, yet he has a heart of gold. Known as “The Howard Beast” by debutantes, he has reconciled at never finding a woman who could fall in love with him. Norah Capshaw is alone in this world, running from mysterious men, not knowing what they want. Norah is lonely, scared, yet independent. Barclay and Norah start their turbulent romance when Barclay saves Noah from being abducted at a free love rally. On top of that, Barclay has just inherited guardianship of an unruly, spoiled six-year-old heir to the earldom.
Barclay was a wonderful character. Barclay is self-conscious but would do anything for those he loves. He is shocked and angry when he is shackled with the responsibility of this young child but takes the role seriously, being both equal parts disciplined and loving with the child. He loves and corrects Elias as needed as good as any father. Norah was alone and scared, yet I admired her fierceness and independence. I loved how after her first shock, Norah sees beneath Barclay’s rough exterior to the wonderful, caring man inside. The couple’s sweet romance is peppered with passionate kisses, and it feels genuine and organic.
The plot flowed well; I sometimes felt there could be more substance to the story. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining storyline, laced with humor and adventure. Elias, the young earl, was simultaneously a thorn in the main character’s sides and a ray of funny sunshine. The secondary characters caught my attention, and I was invested in each of them. White Knight Needed is the second book in the Reluctant Heroes series. This was my first journey into this series, and I wasn’t disappointed. Betina Krahn is on my radar for light, humorous romances with plenty of adventure and heart.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this Beauty And The Beast, unruly child adventure. I laughed out loud at times. The romance was sweetly passionate. Barclay Howard is burly and is awkward towards women, yet he has a heart of gold. Known as “The Howard Beast” by debutantes, he has reconciled at never finding a woman who could fall in love with him. Norah Capshaw is alone in this world, running from mysterious men, not knowing what they want. Norah is lonely, scared, yet independent. Barclay and Norah start their turbulent romance when Barclay saves Noah from being abducted at a free love rally. On top of that, Barclay has just inherited guardianship of an unruly, spoiled six-year-old heir to the earldom.
Barclay was a wonderful character. Barclay is self-conscious but would do anything for those he loves. He is shocked and angry when he is shackled with the responsibility of this young child but takes the role seriously, being both equal parts disciplined and loving with the child. He loves and corrects Elias as needed as good as any father. Norah was alone and scared, yet I admired her fierceness and independence. I loved how after her first shock, Norah sees beneath Barclay’s rough exterior to the wonderful, caring man inside. The couple’s sweet romance is peppered with passionate kisses, and it feels genuine and organic.
The plot flowed well; I sometimes felt there could be more substance to the story. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining storyline, laced with humor and adventure. Elias, the young earl, was simultaneously a thorn in the main character’s sides and a ray of funny sunshine. The secondary characters caught my attention, and I was invested in each of them. White Knight Needed is the second book in the Reluctant Heroes series. This was my first journey into this series, and I wasn’t disappointed. Betina Krahn is on my radar for light, humorous romances with plenty of adventure and heart.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 22, 2021
White Knight Needed is a highlander historical romance with a beauty and the beast spin. This story is told from an omniscient narrator POV which for me means I never really connect with the characters—I like to get in their heads. 😉 The story flows well and is an easy read. I enjoyed the characters and loved the heroine’s Scottish family. The tying in of “lost Jacobite treasure” added an adventure aspect to the story. This is my first time reading this authors work so I am not sure if she normally leaves out any passionate encounters between hero & heroine—but this book is frigid in the steam category. 🧊❄️So be warned if you only enjoy steamy books.
I rated this story 3 Stars because I just didn’t connect with the characters. I enjoy emotional angst and UST between H/h — this story lacks both of those things. I also found “the little Earl” and his Nanny to be annoying characters that detract from the romance between H/h. Lastly I found the repetition and constant reminders that our Hero apparently “looks like a beast” and is so unsightly that people avoid him. Mention it once, even twice … fine, but it doesn’t need to be repeated numerous times throughout the story.
Overall 3 Stars⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Zero Flames ❄️🧊
I rated this story 3 Stars because I just didn’t connect with the characters. I enjoy emotional angst and UST between H/h — this story lacks both of those things. I also found “the little Earl” and his Nanny to be annoying characters that detract from the romance between H/h. Lastly I found the repetition and constant reminders that our Hero apparently “looks like a beast” and is so unsightly that people avoid him. Mention it once, even twice … fine, but it doesn’t need to be repeated numerous times throughout the story.
Overall 3 Stars⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Zero Flames ❄️🧊
March 23, 2022
⚔️ White Knight Needed ⚔️
Reluctant Heroes Book 2
✒️ Betina Krahn
https://betinakrahn.com
Release Date 03/29/2022
Publisher Kensington / Zebra Books
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098KN6ZSZ/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
Brimming with romance and adventure, New York Times bestselling author Betina Krahn’s thrilling new series reveals the hero in every man . . .
Just as Barclay Howard declares himself finished with the idea of true love and in pursuit of the more pragmatic “free love,” he is thrust into another sort of commitment: guardian to his little nephew. Barclay hasn’t a clue about children and now must quickly relocate to his family estate. But when he is swept up in the raid of a free love gathering and jailed with a lovely, cultured, innocent bystander, things become more complicated—or perhaps simpler . . .
Norah Capshaw was fleeing a brute when she found herself swept into a lecture hall, jailed, and jobless. Without a penny or a relative to her name, she has sworn never rely on others, much less look for a hero. But she can’t resist Barclay’s offer of a position as tutor to his nephew. In fact, despite her distrustful nature, it’s hard to resist Barclay. Soon, with their attraction growing, and a mysterious man still following her, the two embark on a journey into the southern uplands of Scotland—and into the heart of a great love neither expected . .
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
What if the beast is a knight at heart …
I loved Barclay instantly, well I already liked him from the previous book, a bear with a heart of gold.
And knight he really is, while he hides his gentleness behind the armor of his size and aloofness, he is a man of principles and honor. Never he will let someone in need behind.
Thus how he rescues not once or twice but third time Norah, despite her flagrant distrust and her low opinion of him.
Barclay is used of being overlooked or judged for his appearance, a beast he looks like, a beast they think he is when he is such a gentle and kind soul, one resigned of loneliness as few people have been able to see past his figure.
Norah is no exception, from her lack of faith in general in strangers, even more if they are male. Plus she has heard whispers about the beastly Howard, a man who eats debutantes for his breakfast. Yet he is the sole person who lends a helping hand when she is in dire straight and in need of more than simple rescuing.
But her trust is not easily won, still slowly Barclay’s goodness and matter of fact view of life will break her walls until they crumble down and she can not anymore lie to herself about the man who stands alongside her at every turn and event, becoming her rock and her future.
The author with this new release gives a new dimension to the beauty and beast myth, no haughty prince but a man faulted for his beastly size and a beautiful heroine struggling to trust. Adding to it, a wild ride from England to Scotland, with breeches eating goat, a willful child and a mystery to solve all the while dodging kidnapping attempts.
I’m rather intrigued by next book hero, Randville, easy to guess there is more to him than his tailor/valet’s suit.
4.5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CbcvgqKj...
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
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Reluctant Heroes Book 2
✒️ Betina Krahn
https://betinakrahn.com
Release Date 03/29/2022
Publisher Kensington / Zebra Books
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098KN6ZSZ/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
Brimming with romance and adventure, New York Times bestselling author Betina Krahn’s thrilling new series reveals the hero in every man . . .
Just as Barclay Howard declares himself finished with the idea of true love and in pursuit of the more pragmatic “free love,” he is thrust into another sort of commitment: guardian to his little nephew. Barclay hasn’t a clue about children and now must quickly relocate to his family estate. But when he is swept up in the raid of a free love gathering and jailed with a lovely, cultured, innocent bystander, things become more complicated—or perhaps simpler . . .
Norah Capshaw was fleeing a brute when she found herself swept into a lecture hall, jailed, and jobless. Without a penny or a relative to her name, she has sworn never rely on others, much less look for a hero. But she can’t resist Barclay’s offer of a position as tutor to his nephew. In fact, despite her distrustful nature, it’s hard to resist Barclay. Soon, with their attraction growing, and a mysterious man still following her, the two embark on a journey into the southern uplands of Scotland—and into the heart of a great love neither expected . .
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
What if the beast is a knight at heart …
I loved Barclay instantly, well I already liked him from the previous book, a bear with a heart of gold.
And knight he really is, while he hides his gentleness behind the armor of his size and aloofness, he is a man of principles and honor. Never he will let someone in need behind.
Thus how he rescues not once or twice but third time Norah, despite her flagrant distrust and her low opinion of him.
Barclay is used of being overlooked or judged for his appearance, a beast he looks like, a beast they think he is when he is such a gentle and kind soul, one resigned of loneliness as few people have been able to see past his figure.
Norah is no exception, from her lack of faith in general in strangers, even more if they are male. Plus she has heard whispers about the beastly Howard, a man who eats debutantes for his breakfast. Yet he is the sole person who lends a helping hand when she is in dire straight and in need of more than simple rescuing.
But her trust is not easily won, still slowly Barclay’s goodness and matter of fact view of life will break her walls until they crumble down and she can not anymore lie to herself about the man who stands alongside her at every turn and event, becoming her rock and her future.
The author with this new release gives a new dimension to the beauty and beast myth, no haughty prince but a man faulted for his beastly size and a beautiful heroine struggling to trust. Adding to it, a wild ride from England to Scotland, with breeches eating goat, a willful child and a mystery to solve all the while dodging kidnapping attempts.
I’m rather intrigued by next book hero, Randville, easy to guess there is more to him than his tailor/valet’s suit.
4.5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CbcvgqKj...
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #bookquote #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
March 25, 2022
Just as Barclay Howard declares himself finished with the idea of true love and in pursuit of the more pragmatic “free love,” he is thrust into another sort of commitment: guardian to his little nephew, Elias Barclay hasn’t a clue about children and now must quickly relocate to his family estate. Norah Capshaw was fleeing a brute when she found herself swept into a lecture hall, jailed, and jobless. Without a penny or a relative to her name, she has sworn never rely on others, much less look for a hero. But she can’t resist Barclay’s offer of a position as tutor to his nephew. But a mysterious man is following her, then Norah finds papers from her father & learns she has relatives, so they journey to Scotland.
The second book in the series & it’s very easily read on its own, although we do catch up with Rafe from book one. A well written book which started slowly but the pace did build as Barr & Norah travelled to Scotland. I loved how Barclay & Norah’s relationship changed & grew, of course I loved Eli & how he changed from a spoilt, wild boy into a happy loving boy. The characters are well portrayed & have depth. A very nice mix of adventure, mystery & romance, not a steamy novel by any means but the chemistry between Barclay & Norah grew as their feelings changed. The character who intrigued me was Randville & I believe his story is next.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The second book in the series & it’s very easily read on its own, although we do catch up with Rafe from book one. A well written book which started slowly but the pace did build as Barr & Norah travelled to Scotland. I loved how Barclay & Norah’s relationship changed & grew, of course I loved Eli & how he changed from a spoilt, wild boy into a happy loving boy. The characters are well portrayed & have depth. A very nice mix of adventure, mystery & romance, not a steamy novel by any means but the chemistry between Barclay & Norah grew as their feelings changed. The character who intrigued me was Randville & I believe his story is next.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
January 5, 2024
Peut-être plutôt 3,75/5.
J'aurais aimé encore plus d'engagement dans le couple, plus de démonstrations d'affection.
J'aurais aimé encore plus d'engagement dans le couple, plus de démonstrations d'affection.
March 10, 2022
A fun book to read. The story opens as Barclay gives up on the traditional round of balls and so on to find a wife. Described as "a beast of a man," Barclay is tall, broad-shouldered, and can have an intimidating air about him. He does not fare well in Society's ballrooms, as the current crop of debutantes looks down on him and treats him badly. Instead, he attends a lecture on "free love" that changes his life. In addition to his courtship woes, Barclay finds out that his grandfather has died, leaving him as guardian to the new Earl, a six-year-old boy.
Norah Capshaw is an orphan whose guardian recently died, leaving her with no family or support. She has a job as a tutor for adults that barely makes ends meet. When we first see Norah, she has snuck into the "free love" lecture to escape a man following her. A raid by the local constabulary shortly follows the arrival of her pursuer. Norah is stunned when she is accosted by a man claiming to be rescuing her and fights back, saying she needs no help. Both are promptly arrested and thrown in jail.
This was a different kind of introduction between the two characters. Barclay tries to be gallant and gets his efforts thrown back in his face by a stubbornly independent Norah. He writes off the encounter, only to see her again in another set of dire circumstances, where he again attempts to help her. By this point, I was a bit frustrated by Norah's intransigence. The third blow came when she found her belongings had been searched and her pursuer seen again. She accepted Barclay's assistance this time, though she wasn't very gracious about it. I loved how Barclay found a way for them to help each other. He offers her a job as a tutor to his cousin, getting her out of London and helping him with the boy.
I liked Barclay. He's a good man who has had a rough go of life through no fault of his own. His favorite book is Ivanhoe which influences many of his actions. As each bit of his past was revealed, I was amazed at how well he turned out. I had a little more trouble warming up to Norah. Just as so many others did, she seemed to judge him by his appearance and expect the worst of him. That slowly changed as she got to know him.
There is a brief interlude in York, where they go to begin Barclay's guardianship of young Elias. There are some funny and heartbreaking moments as the mischievous and undisciplined youngster quickly works his way into their hearts. This also gives Norah time to investigate her few possessions from her parents and discover a previously unknown family member. The meeting does not go as Norah hoped, and Barclay's protective instincts are aroused. Their decision to go to Scotland to investigate further was no surprise.
This part of the book was full of family found, unexpected secrets, a mysterious treasure, and danger tying it all together. I loved the joy and acceptance Norah found in Scotland. The MacFerguses were a fantastic group, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Things got a little crazy when they revealed the truth about the treasure—Barclay's horror over the legalities contrasted with their belief that they were doing nothing wrong. The tension increased when Norah's pursuers grew close. I loved that Norah came up with a plan that would solve several problems at once. The final confrontation became a nail-biter when the plan didn't go quite as expected, but I loved how it turned out.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Barclay and Norah. He was taken with her from the first time he saw her, though their first few meetings were antagonistic. Norah was attracted from the start but was also wary of him. I liked Barclay's protectiveness, even when she wasn't appreciative of it. I was happy when Norah finally started to see past Barclay's exterior to the man inside. There were still a few clashes, such as dealing with Elias's behavior. There are some sweet moments when Norah relies on Barclay's strength, and you can see her heart softening. The fun begins when they hit Scotland, and their time together is less regimented. The attraction between them continued to grow, as did their feelings. With danger bearing down, I had to laugh at Barclay's non-proposal and promise for later. He came through in a unique manner. The ending was sweet, romantic, and fun.
#netgalley
Norah Capshaw is an orphan whose guardian recently died, leaving her with no family or support. She has a job as a tutor for adults that barely makes ends meet. When we first see Norah, she has snuck into the "free love" lecture to escape a man following her. A raid by the local constabulary shortly follows the arrival of her pursuer. Norah is stunned when she is accosted by a man claiming to be rescuing her and fights back, saying she needs no help. Both are promptly arrested and thrown in jail.
This was a different kind of introduction between the two characters. Barclay tries to be gallant and gets his efforts thrown back in his face by a stubbornly independent Norah. He writes off the encounter, only to see her again in another set of dire circumstances, where he again attempts to help her. By this point, I was a bit frustrated by Norah's intransigence. The third blow came when she found her belongings had been searched and her pursuer seen again. She accepted Barclay's assistance this time, though she wasn't very gracious about it. I loved how Barclay found a way for them to help each other. He offers her a job as a tutor to his cousin, getting her out of London and helping him with the boy.
I liked Barclay. He's a good man who has had a rough go of life through no fault of his own. His favorite book is Ivanhoe which influences many of his actions. As each bit of his past was revealed, I was amazed at how well he turned out. I had a little more trouble warming up to Norah. Just as so many others did, she seemed to judge him by his appearance and expect the worst of him. That slowly changed as she got to know him.
There is a brief interlude in York, where they go to begin Barclay's guardianship of young Elias. There are some funny and heartbreaking moments as the mischievous and undisciplined youngster quickly works his way into their hearts. This also gives Norah time to investigate her few possessions from her parents and discover a previously unknown family member. The meeting does not go as Norah hoped, and Barclay's protective instincts are aroused. Their decision to go to Scotland to investigate further was no surprise.
This part of the book was full of family found, unexpected secrets, a mysterious treasure, and danger tying it all together. I loved the joy and acceptance Norah found in Scotland. The MacFerguses were a fantastic group, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Things got a little crazy when they revealed the truth about the treasure—Barclay's horror over the legalities contrasted with their belief that they were doing nothing wrong. The tension increased when Norah's pursuers grew close. I loved that Norah came up with a plan that would solve several problems at once. The final confrontation became a nail-biter when the plan didn't go quite as expected, but I loved how it turned out.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Barclay and Norah. He was taken with her from the first time he saw her, though their first few meetings were antagonistic. Norah was attracted from the start but was also wary of him. I liked Barclay's protectiveness, even when she wasn't appreciative of it. I was happy when Norah finally started to see past Barclay's exterior to the man inside. There were still a few clashes, such as dealing with Elias's behavior. There are some sweet moments when Norah relies on Barclay's strength, and you can see her heart softening. The fun begins when they hit Scotland, and their time together is less regimented. The attraction between them continued to grow, as did their feelings. With danger bearing down, I had to laugh at Barclay's non-proposal and promise for later. He came through in a unique manner. The ending was sweet, romantic, and fun.
#netgalley
November 3, 2022
Victorian romance (circa 1883) w/ mystery. Kisses
and some fondling.
Gently-bred Norah's guardian died and she was alone in
the world. A man stalked her: why? A big, hulking man,
Barclay, (grandson of an earl) rescued her but she did
not trust him.
Barclay "Barr" learned his grandfather died and he was
legally responsible for his 6 year old cousin, Elias, the
new earl. Barr's size alone intimidated men and women.
He wore bespoke clothing & paid women for sex.
Barr employed Nora to tutor Eli. Eli enjoyed pranks. This
story felt too slow in places. But I liked best Barr's
vulnerability, what to say to a lady? how to act? He was
rugged, but experienced some self-doubt. And showed
his gallant nature. He enjoyed the book Ivanhoe. With
time Norah thought of him as "a devastating male, w/
a stalwart heart." What a charmer! I usually dislike
abductions, but this felt organic to the story. The good
guys out-smarted the bad.
and some fondling.
Gently-bred Norah's guardian died and she was alone in
the world. A man stalked her: why? A big, hulking man,
Barclay, (grandson of an earl) rescued her but she did
not trust him.
Barclay "Barr" learned his grandfather died and he was
legally responsible for his 6 year old cousin, Elias, the
new earl. Barr's size alone intimidated men and women.
He wore bespoke clothing & paid women for sex.
Barr employed Nora to tutor Eli. Eli enjoyed pranks. This
story felt too slow in places. But I liked best Barr's
vulnerability, what to say to a lady? how to act? He was
rugged, but experienced some self-doubt. And showed
his gallant nature. He enjoyed the book Ivanhoe. With
time Norah thought of him as "a devastating male, w/
a stalwart heart." What a charmer! I usually dislike
abductions, but this felt organic to the story. The good
guys out-smarted the bad.
May 17, 2022
3/5 Stars
** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**
I don't really have a lot of feelings. Everything just felt very okay. I wasn't really in love with the writing or the characters. I found that beause I didn't really feel a connection to anything that i had a hard time becoming invested and wanting to actually read it. I do however think that there are people who wuld adore this book so I would still recommend it for those that seem interested.
** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**
I don't really have a lot of feelings. Everything just felt very okay. I wasn't really in love with the writing or the characters. I found that beause I didn't really feel a connection to anything that i had a hard time becoming invested and wanting to actually read it. I do however think that there are people who wuld adore this book so I would still recommend it for those that seem interested.
March 2, 2022
I was sad, I wanted to like this book, I like historical books, I mean it has a couple of things that I enjoys, it's a historical, romance, then there is Scotland. But I didn't care for the H, I found her to be mean to the other H, she was constantly yelling at him that he was beast, I guess he wasn't handsome, but give a break, I guess I lost interest and didn't care for her .
rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) voluntarily revied with my own thoughts and opinions 2 1/2 stars
rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) voluntarily revied with my own thoughts and opinions 2 1/2 stars
January 3, 2022
White Knight Needed is the second in a series of which I haven't read the first. I wonder if reading the first one would have helped me connect to the characters in this one a little more. The story follows Barclay Howard, a gentleman of means and also of giant proportions, and Norah Capshaw, an educated woman who was orphaned and is now alone in the world.
Barclay is frequently described as being beastlike, but I think it has to do with his size and extra long canines. We're given to assume that he has not had much luck with the ladies as a result, but I dunno. A gentle giant is typically a yummy and popular hero in romance novels. Norah is less than enamored when she first meets him, however, though it could be due in part because she's running from a stalker at the same time.
So the first few times the two meet are less than stellar, mostly because Norah can't get past Barclay's appearance. Eventually she ends up as a houseguest and ultimately agrees to accompany Barclay to the country to serve as a tutor to Barclay's 6-year-old cousin and heir to the earldom. Said cousin is a spoiled brat, and his presence seems rather unnecessary except to provide a reason for Norah to go to York with Barclay. Meanwhile, Norah's stalker follows them to York. The reason why is what propels the remainder of the plot.
The storyline itself is pretty good. It was an easy read, and I wasn't particularly bored. However, I found it difficult to connect with the main characters, and I'm not entirely sure why. It could have something to do with not learning much about their pasts. Norah's lack of friends from school is written off fairly easily as your average debutante snobbishness. Of Barclay we learn very little except that he was raised in his grandfather's household. There's a brief mention of his parents, but not in detail. It's possible that the previous novel told us more about his past, but that doesn't help us get to know him in this novel.
In the end, I'm not sure if the mild interest this story stirred in me is enough for me to seek out book 1 or look forward to book 3.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!
Barclay is frequently described as being beastlike, but I think it has to do with his size and extra long canines. We're given to assume that he has not had much luck with the ladies as a result, but I dunno. A gentle giant is typically a yummy and popular hero in romance novels. Norah is less than enamored when she first meets him, however, though it could be due in part because she's running from a stalker at the same time.
So the first few times the two meet are less than stellar, mostly because Norah can't get past Barclay's appearance. Eventually she ends up as a houseguest and ultimately agrees to accompany Barclay to the country to serve as a tutor to Barclay's 6-year-old cousin and heir to the earldom. Said cousin is a spoiled brat, and his presence seems rather unnecessary except to provide a reason for Norah to go to York with Barclay. Meanwhile, Norah's stalker follows them to York. The reason why is what propels the remainder of the plot.
The storyline itself is pretty good. It was an easy read, and I wasn't particularly bored. However, I found it difficult to connect with the main characters, and I'm not entirely sure why. It could have something to do with not learning much about their pasts. Norah's lack of friends from school is written off fairly easily as your average debutante snobbishness. Of Barclay we learn very little except that he was raised in his grandfather's household. There's a brief mention of his parents, but not in detail. It's possible that the previous novel told us more about his past, but that doesn't help us get to know him in this novel.
In the end, I'm not sure if the mild interest this story stirred in me is enough for me to seek out book 1 or look forward to book 3.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!
May 5, 2022
What I want to say first is this is a LOW HEAT romance. They don't go beyond kissing. If you are looking for steamy, you will be sorely disappointed.
That being said, this was actually a well-written book. The characters are well wrought, the plot is entertaining enough, and there is definite chemistry between the protagonists. Which makes it all the more frustrating that they don't actually get the time and attention they deserve in the story. Most of it is spent in subplots. If you know of a teenager that is interested in historical romance though, this would be a good starting point.
Another small gripe I have with the book is the trope of "oh gosh he's such a beast, no woman wants him". Uhhh just in case you're wondering this is not a thing and just completely throws me out of the story with it's unbelievableness. No woman ever is like wow he's just SO muscular and tall and powerful and capable and gosh he's so virile, I don't think I'm into that. But this hero has all that and is RICH and is still summarily rejected. Yeah, no, that's not realistic, babe.
Also, he is featured topless and in a kilt on the cover (love a good Scotsman, which led me to grab it) but he is NOT a Scot and wears a kilt briefly in the latter half of the book and isn't topless. This seemed like really inane bait and switching here, why not just put him in a suit. Also, he isn't even really hulking on the cover so it doesn't fit his character but I digress.
The book is slow and easily skimmable. The first half is more interesting than the second, mostly because it's more about their relationship developing. Barclay is protective, gallant, smart, and tender. Definitely a lovable hero. Norah is stubborn and a little but dense when it comes to letting men help her. I just ended up being frustrated wanting to see more of their relationship development, which was so charming and fun. This book isn't really humorous, but at the same time it's not depressing. This is my first Betina Krahn and I'm not sure if all her books are just kissing, or if some are more intense. I would be willing to read another if I could be assured I wouldn't be left in the lurch when it came to the romance part of a romance novel.
That being said, this was actually a well-written book. The characters are well wrought, the plot is entertaining enough, and there is definite chemistry between the protagonists. Which makes it all the more frustrating that they don't actually get the time and attention they deserve in the story. Most of it is spent in subplots. If you know of a teenager that is interested in historical romance though, this would be a good starting point.
Another small gripe I have with the book is the trope of "oh gosh he's such a beast, no woman wants him". Uhhh just in case you're wondering this is not a thing and just completely throws me out of the story with it's unbelievableness. No woman ever is like wow he's just SO muscular and tall and powerful and capable and gosh he's so virile, I don't think I'm into that. But this hero has all that and is RICH and is still summarily rejected. Yeah, no, that's not realistic, babe.
Also, he is featured topless and in a kilt on the cover (love a good Scotsman, which led me to grab it) but he is NOT a Scot and wears a kilt briefly in the latter half of the book and isn't topless. This seemed like really inane bait and switching here, why not just put him in a suit. Also, he isn't even really hulking on the cover so it doesn't fit his character but I digress.
The book is slow and easily skimmable. The first half is more interesting than the second, mostly because it's more about their relationship developing. Barclay is protective, gallant, smart, and tender. Definitely a lovable hero. Norah is stubborn and a little but dense when it comes to letting men help her. I just ended up being frustrated wanting to see more of their relationship development, which was so charming and fun. This book isn't really humorous, but at the same time it's not depressing. This is my first Betina Krahn and I'm not sure if all her books are just kissing, or if some are more intense. I would be willing to read another if I could be assured I wouldn't be left in the lurch when it came to the romance part of a romance novel.
May 10, 2022
I dipped in and out of this book rather than reading it in one go, and that is because the pacing was gradual and there was a lot going on.
Nora Capshaw is an orphaned lady, down on her luck, in order to escape from a brutish stalker who seems intent on hunting her down, she is swept into a lecture on free love, and when the building is raided she is hauled off to jail with the other attendees. Barclay Howard notices Nora immediately, and as he tries to help her, she is scared by his size and his ferocious appearance, and as a result they are both jailed. Nora loses her job as a tutor as a result of her incarceration.
Barclay Howard is grandson to the Earl of Northrup, and is an imposing man with intimidating looks, he has forever been judged by his looks rather than his character, and has had a tough childhood being brought up on his grandfather's estate, but not the heir.
Nora finds herself destitute and Barclay offers her a position as tutor to his ward \9 he has just been appointed guardian to the next earl, Elias, who is 6. Even though Nora is scared of Barclay, she accepts.
My main problem with the story was Nora to be honest. firstly she is so scared of Barclay, and really never makes amends for her misunderstanding of him at all. She also is TSTL over and over again, when they are out on the street - Eli is abducted in her charge, when she follows the villain, she reveals herself.
The second half of the book picks up a lot, when she realises her estranged uncle is in league with the man who has been following her, determined that she knows something about hidden gold in Scotland. This leads to Norah and Barclay travelling to meet her mother's family, and a fun plot about gold mining, hiding wealth, the bonds of family and some other twists and turns.
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book and all opinions are my own.
Nora Capshaw is an orphaned lady, down on her luck, in order to escape from a brutish stalker who seems intent on hunting her down, she is swept into a lecture on free love, and when the building is raided she is hauled off to jail with the other attendees. Barclay Howard notices Nora immediately, and as he tries to help her, she is scared by his size and his ferocious appearance, and as a result they are both jailed. Nora loses her job as a tutor as a result of her incarceration.
Barclay Howard is grandson to the Earl of Northrup, and is an imposing man with intimidating looks, he has forever been judged by his looks rather than his character, and has had a tough childhood being brought up on his grandfather's estate, but not the heir.
Nora finds herself destitute and Barclay offers her a position as tutor to his ward \9 he has just been appointed guardian to the next earl, Elias, who is 6. Even though Nora is scared of Barclay, she accepts.
My main problem with the story was Nora to be honest. firstly she is so scared of Barclay, and really never makes amends for her misunderstanding of him at all. She also is TSTL over and over again, when they are out on the street - Eli is abducted in her charge, when she follows the villain, she reveals herself.
The second half of the book picks up a lot, when she realises her estranged uncle is in league with the man who has been following her, determined that she knows something about hidden gold in Scotland. This leads to Norah and Barclay travelling to meet her mother's family, and a fun plot about gold mining, hiding wealth, the bonds of family and some other twists and turns.
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book and all opinions are my own.
March 21, 2022
A solid historical. My only warning: this is a slow burn with nothing beyond kissing. But there is plenty of mystery and intrigue to distract you.
Also a perfect palate cleanser between steamy reads.
Barclay spots Norah as she ducks into a meeting. And notices that she's being followed by a rough-looking man. When the meeting is broken up Barclay tries to help her escape the police and the man following her when she resists they are arrested.
Later, Nora loses her job, and Barclay runs into her again. This time helping her flee the unruly customers where she was working and later again that night when someone tries to grab her again.
Barclay offers her a job. He's just become guardian to his nephew, the next earl. And he needs someone to tutor his nephew.
Their attraction is growing and when she finds out she has living relatives he helps her local them and accompanies her to make sure they check out.
They find themselves embarking on an adventure that takes them all the way to Scotland and grandparents she'd never met.
Also a perfect palate cleanser between steamy reads.
Barclay spots Norah as she ducks into a meeting. And notices that she's being followed by a rough-looking man. When the meeting is broken up Barclay tries to help her escape the police and the man following her when she resists they are arrested.
Later, Nora loses her job, and Barclay runs into her again. This time helping her flee the unruly customers where she was working and later again that night when someone tries to grab her again.
Barclay offers her a job. He's just become guardian to his nephew, the next earl. And he needs someone to tutor his nephew.
Their attraction is growing and when she finds out she has living relatives he helps her local them and accompanies her to make sure they check out.
They find themselves embarking on an adventure that takes them all the way to Scotland and grandparents she'd never met.
July 8, 2022
Barclay Howard is a giant of a man, a gentle giant, but still large enough to scare away the ladies. That is, all but one, Norah Capshaw. Yes, Norah is not exactly thrilled when he "saves" her more than once, but he grows on her. Although the adventure begins in the first chapters, it takes off from there. This book has it all, intrigue, a treasure hunt, family searches, a family member you would rather not claim, villains, a spoiled, misbehaving child, and of course romance. No one tells a tale better than Betina Krahn, especially since you never know what she will reveal next. I would put this book in the category of can't read it fast enough but don't want it to end. Although this author's characters are always wonderful, these ones were particularly delightful from the hero and heroine to her Scottish relatives.. No one was more marvelous than tailor turned valet, Randville Worth who will thank goodness be featured in the next book. Just who is he? I received this eBook from NetGalley for an honest review. These are my own opinions.
December 23, 2021
This book left me a little bit cold, overall. I wanted to like it a lot but the romance between the main characters already got off to a bad start for me when constantly the hero is being kind or noble and the heroine just keeps yelling at him or thinking of him as a beast despite him doing absolutely nothing to cause that reaction. Then the mystery of the gold just didn't interest me much and seemed to have a very easy solution that didn't really factor much in to the way the hero and heroine felt about each other.
Also for a historical romance, it was distinctly lacking in the romance department. Once the two get to Scotland it's all about the gold and their relationship really takes a back burner. The part I enjoyed the most was the relationship between the hero and his ward, but that also took a bit of a backseat to the overall plot.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Also for a historical romance, it was distinctly lacking in the romance department. Once the two get to Scotland it's all about the gold and their relationship really takes a back burner. The part I enjoyed the most was the relationship between the hero and his ward, but that also took a bit of a backseat to the overall plot.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2022
This was a light hearted, easy, enjoyable read. Set during the Victorian era, our hero has just found out that his Grandfather has died and he has become the future Earl's guardian. During a tumultuous period of his life he meets Norah, a down on her luck woman who ends up very reluctantly needing his help, twice.
Impulsively he offers her a job as his new ward's tutor. The hero, who the heroine views as a 'beast of a man' both physically and in manner soon begins to win her round, revealing a softer and lonely side to his nature.
An unknown person is stalking Norah for unknown reasons, activating the hero's protective instincts. This leads into a fun side plot involving Jacobite gold, kidnap and a journey to Scotland.
The hero was really sweet despite his initial gruffness and I really liked the heroine, more so as the story progressed.
Looking forward to reading more from this author and excited she is considering a story about the mysterious valet.
Impulsively he offers her a job as his new ward's tutor. The hero, who the heroine views as a 'beast of a man' both physically and in manner soon begins to win her round, revealing a softer and lonely side to his nature.
An unknown person is stalking Norah for unknown reasons, activating the hero's protective instincts. This leads into a fun side plot involving Jacobite gold, kidnap and a journey to Scotland.
The hero was really sweet despite his initial gruffness and I really liked the heroine, more so as the story progressed.
Looking forward to reading more from this author and excited she is considering a story about the mysterious valet.
March 24, 2022
A nice twist on the Beauty and the Beast story. Barclay Howard has never felt loved, his grandfather wasn’t the loving type. Thinking that the Free Love lecture he was attending was something totally different than what it actually was. On top of his disappointment the police are raiding the meeting. Seeing a women in distress he tries to escape with her, but she attacks him with her hat pin. This gave the police enough time to arrest them and others. After spending a night in jail Norah Capshaw doesn’t realize the reason she and all the others were released was the Mr. Howard posted the bail.
Their paths crossed several times and looks are not what is important in life. Many laugh out loud parts, love Barclay ward! The romance is slowing building, but the adventure is great.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #WhiteKnightNeeded
Their paths crossed several times and looks are not what is important in life. Many laugh out loud parts, love Barclay ward! The romance is slowing building, but the adventure is great.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #WhiteKnightNeeded
January 3, 2022
I thought that this book had a very good title. Norah, through no fault of her own, finds herself in many scrapes and Barclay is always there to rescue her. Lots of things are going on in the plot. A mysterious person is trying to harm or even kill Norah. Barclay's grandfather, an Earl, hated him and has named a very young cousin as his heir--and Barclay is stuck being the guardian. Luckily Norah, being an experienced teacher, gets hired by Barclay to tutor the young earl.
The mystery about Norah's past is dangerous and unexpected. Barclay is definitely Norah's hero and she soon begins to realize it. The romance in this novel is fairly tame but the couple clearly has chemistry. Overall this was a good read.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The mystery about Norah's past is dangerous and unexpected. Barclay is definitely Norah's hero and she soon begins to realize it. The romance in this novel is fairly tame but the couple clearly has chemistry. Overall this was a good read.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2022
I thought this was a great story with never a dull moment! I enjoyed the characters, the plot, the humour peppered throughout and all the action. The lack of steamy passion between the hero and heroine didn't bother me too much although I would have preferred to see a bit of action in that area! lol Otherwise, I thought the book was good:)
Barclay and Norah's story is intertwined with danger and the mystery of gold coins and as they head into Scotland to find the truth, neither of them foresee all that happens. When she finds family she didn't know she had, secrets are declared and the danger becomes very real.
This is the first book I read by this author and I am very interested in reading more of her work. I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Barclay and Norah's story is intertwined with danger and the mystery of gold coins and as they head into Scotland to find the truth, neither of them foresee all that happens. When she finds family she didn't know she had, secrets are declared and the danger becomes very real.
This is the first book I read by this author and I am very interested in reading more of her work. I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
March 9, 2022
There was a lot of plot going on in White Knight Needed, that I never really connected with the characters, something I greatly enjoy when reading a historical romance. I want to be immersed in the story.
There were some interesting elements, Barclay is a huge, "beast like" Scot, who really is very kind, he "inherits" his six year old cousin who is an Earl. Norah is running away from her own demons, agrees to tutor the young Earl.
There is some adventure, it wasn't very steamy (if you're looking for that in your HR books) and as said above, I didn't connect well with the characters so I didn't find it overly romantic either. Norah spent most of the time being mean to Barclay, which was a put off. 2.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. Thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
There were some interesting elements, Barclay is a huge, "beast like" Scot, who really is very kind, he "inherits" his six year old cousin who is an Earl. Norah is running away from her own demons, agrees to tutor the young Earl.
There is some adventure, it wasn't very steamy (if you're looking for that in your HR books) and as said above, I didn't connect well with the characters so I didn't find it overly romantic either. Norah spent most of the time being mean to Barclay, which was a put off. 2.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. Thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
March 26, 2022
I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The first chapter made me hesitant to continue as I didn't know what to expect but I really enjoyed this book.
This was a fun read with adventure and finding family.
Norah ducks into a free love meeting escaping a man chasing after her. This leads to her spending the night in jail. But she is bailed out by Barclay who was also arrested.
Barclay is fascinated by the pretty woman that he seems to constantly rescue. And when he becomes guardian of a 6 year old Earl, he needs a tutor.
I liked the relationship between Barclay and Norah. Barclay is the epitome of a big soft teddy bear.
I liked the mystery of Norah finding her family. And the threat of the man following her.
I can't wait for the next book by this author.
The first chapter made me hesitant to continue as I didn't know what to expect but I really enjoyed this book.
This was a fun read with adventure and finding family.
Norah ducks into a free love meeting escaping a man chasing after her. This leads to her spending the night in jail. But she is bailed out by Barclay who was also arrested.
Barclay is fascinated by the pretty woman that he seems to constantly rescue. And when he becomes guardian of a 6 year old Earl, he needs a tutor.
I liked the relationship between Barclay and Norah. Barclay is the epitome of a big soft teddy bear.
I liked the mystery of Norah finding her family. And the threat of the man following her.
I can't wait for the next book by this author.
March 31, 2022
From the cover I thought this was a medieval romance. Nope! This is set in Victorian England in the 1880's. Barclay Howard is the guardian of the new earl, his first cousin. Elias is only six years old and loves to play pranks. Norah Capshaw continues to be rescued by Barclay Howard. A tutor in a school, she loses her job and is hired by Barclay to be Elias' new teacher. Norah is kidnapped for information of a family treasure. Barclay takes Norah to Scotland to find her family for answers about the treasure. His protection of Norah and their attraction to each other can only lead to love. Fast paced with villains and a very clever way to catch them. Barclay is big and tough on the outside, but a real softie on the inside.
4 1/2*STARS *
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
4 1/2*STARS *
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
March 28, 2022
Barclay Howard is bigger and burlier than your average gentleman… and thus he has found himself to be somewhat of an antidote to the fairer sex. As a result he is more often found behind the pages of his Ivanhoe novel than out and about attempting to court a fair lady.
But when his path crosses with down on her luck Norah Capshaw, his white knight complex rises up to make him go above and beyond again and again to be her hero… even though she is incredibly reluctant to the idea!
This was a fun adventure romance filled with roadside hijinks, and a family mystery.
Barclay was a perfect hero in this book. He was always there offering support and rescue to Norah. On the other side Norah’s resistance of Barclay and his efforts was the only wet blanket on this otherwise delightfully sweet romance!
Overall, this is my second Betina Kran book and I find her writing very light hearted and action packed. Definitely a fun read.
This is the second book of the series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone. The previous couple makes an appearance in this story.
White Knight Needed by Betina Krahn is scheduled to release March 29th, 2022.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Blog link: https://pinkcowlandreads.blogspot.com...
#WhiteKnightNeeded #BetinaKrahn #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads
But when his path crosses with down on her luck Norah Capshaw, his white knight complex rises up to make him go above and beyond again and again to be her hero… even though she is incredibly reluctant to the idea!
This was a fun adventure romance filled with roadside hijinks, and a family mystery.
Barclay was a perfect hero in this book. He was always there offering support and rescue to Norah. On the other side Norah’s resistance of Barclay and his efforts was the only wet blanket on this otherwise delightfully sweet romance!
Overall, this is my second Betina Kran book and I find her writing very light hearted and action packed. Definitely a fun read.
This is the second book of the series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone. The previous couple makes an appearance in this story.
White Knight Needed by Betina Krahn is scheduled to release March 29th, 2022.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Blog link: https://pinkcowlandreads.blogspot.com...
#WhiteKnightNeeded #BetinaKrahn #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads
May 15, 2022
White Knight Needed by Betina Krahn is book Two in the Reluctant Heroes Series. This is the story of Norah Capshaw and Barclay Howard. Barclay has taken on the responsibility of guardian to his nephew. Barclay wasn't able to find someone that would except him, so he felt love was off the table for him. Norah was on the run from a bad person when she is thrown in a holding cell. This is where she meets Barclay who too was thrown in the same cell. Norah and Barclay end up helping each other which of course leads to feelings between the two. Enjoyed their story.
March 14, 2022
3.5 stars
That book was enjoyable but I started to get annoyed by the end of the lack of romance scenes. Didn't feel a real connection between both MCs. But the plot was well made, and there was a lot of twist and turns.
It was more of a mystery book than a romance. It was enjoyable and sometimes I would catch myself tearing a bit.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this arc
That book was enjoyable but I started to get annoyed by the end of the lack of romance scenes. Didn't feel a real connection between both MCs. But the plot was well made, and there was a lot of twist and turns.
It was more of a mystery book than a romance. It was enjoyable and sometimes I would catch myself tearing a bit.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this arc
May 28, 2022
Clean love story.
I would have thought Barclay were highlander as shown in the picture. But he's English and I'm disappointed. I don't know his history, who were his parents, and how he came about to be in his grandfather's care?
What happened to his former nanny? Detail detail And details, they're important to me.
Barclay ♥️ Norah
I would have thought Barclay were highlander as shown in the picture. But he's English and I'm disappointed. I don't know his history, who were his parents, and how he came about to be in his grandfather's care?
What happened to his former nanny? Detail detail And details, they're important to me.
Barclay ♥️ Norah
March 29, 2022
Its not what you think.
Barclay was looking for freelove in the 1880's. Its not what he found.
Instead, he gets pinched (jailed) with Norah.
The terminologies and dialog took some getting used to but, Barclay and Norah were genial.
This is not a risky read, more of a sweet read.
Barclay was looking for freelove in the 1880's. Its not what he found.
Instead, he gets pinched (jailed) with Norah.
The terminologies and dialog took some getting used to but, Barclay and Norah were genial.
This is not a risky read, more of a sweet read.
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