Danelle Harmon

The January 2022 #TBRChallenge theme is “quickie.” I went for the literal interpretation of the theme this month, and dove into my collection of novellas. Perhaps not surprisingly, most of them are Christmas-themed, but I have a hard time reading holiday stories after the holiday season. Luckily, I have a handful that aren’t set during ~the most wonderful time of the year.~

In fact, this one is set in February 1774. Lucien De Montforte, Duke of Blackheath, is throwing a ball in honor of show more his brother Charles, who is off to America to fight the upstart rebellious colonists in Boston. Tagging along on the trip will be their cousin, Lady Philippa, who has inherited a plot of land in Massachusetts from her late husband. Lucien is known for his gala celebrations, and also known for pulling everyone’s strings at his own whims, so precisely no one is surprised when Lady Philippa finds herself face-to-face with her onetime love, Admiral Elliot Lord. The two of them haven’t seen each other in over ten years, but neither stopped loving the other. Lucien is in a good mood and has decided to play matchmaker, but the two need no nudging from him to fall back into each other’s arms.

Elliot wants to know why Philippa left him all those years ago; Philippa, no longer a self-conscious little girl, confesses all to him. Both are older, wiser, more mature, and realize time is too precious to waste. Now that he’s found her again, Elliot is determined not to let her go – and even more importantly, to become his wife. Philippa demurs, but agrees to give him one night to convince her. The two sneak away, foiling even all-knowing Lord Lucien, and spend a very cozy evening getting to know one another all over again.

This was a very sweet (and sexy) story. The author does a nice job of weaving their past into their present, and really puts in the effort to show that they truly do love each other, and have a foundation for that love. The on-page sexytimes were nicely written as well – lots of heat to contrast the cold winter weather outside. It’s perfect reading for the sort of miserable weather that usually rolls around early in the year.

I wasn’t too happy with the ending Philippa deciding basically then and there that she wasn’t going to America after all because she could have her man instead but that was only worth half a star IMO. Writing a good novella is extremely hard to do, so major props to Ms. Harmon for more or less knocking this one out of the park. An excellent beginning to the 2022 TBR Challenge! show less

It was with great pleasure I returned to this delightful series. The author doesn’t play favorites in this tale of the turmoil between the British and Americans who were seeking freedom and justice for its citizens. Emotions high on both sides make men do the unthinkable.

On deck of the Tigershark, splattered in blood with gore at my feet, mangled bodies with severed limbs…my captain down, I was helpless, defeated, despairing. With my hears still ringing, I lifted my eyes from the page, show more drying my face of tears and sea spray and swallowed hard. What prey tell, could be worse and how were we to survive? Yes, dear reader, these are my feelings. This I saw, heard and felt. It's wonderful when a writer can transport the reader in this way.

Ms. Harmon’s style of writing and scene progression is totally riveting. She’ll show us what happens, but doesn’t tell us the outcome. So no point is a convenient stopping point—I had to know what was to come. Besides writing great battle scenes, in detail, Ms. Harmon tantalizes our senses with a scene where Lady Narissa discovers the feel of a man’s body with her fingers and hands, in her innocent fashion.

On both sides of the Atlantic, Brits and American were made of strong fabric. Those who had been downtrodden, as our hero, Captain Ruaidri O' Devir, learned to fight for what they want, or in this case, for who he wanted. Ruaidri is a man much changed since last we read of his exploits earlier in the series. But does his past come to haunt him when he realizes his love for Lady Nerissa?

Reader, certainly there is merit in such a man: opinionated, driven, with a powerful physique, yet beneath this veneer an Irish heart of love and passion.

There comes a time in a person’s life, if encaged, even though a gilded one, the spirit of the individual must spring free. Lady Nerissa feels her worth is in her lineage and dowry her person possesses. But she’s always had a wayward spirit smothered with the trappings of breeding and convention. Once she realizes her situation and reputation are ruined by being abducted, it gives her the freedom to choose her path. But by doing so, will she lose her family, those who matter most in her life?

Even though I knew what Lady Nerissa would do to save the day, (and she did a splendid job of it), it nevertheless, did not reduce the thrill of her heroine action. If I were she, I would do the same. Love of another pushes her forward, to do the unthinkable. I cheered her on. Bravo, Lady Nerissa!

I cannot say enough about this author and this series. Her books are rich in history, full of action and suspense and with the added layer of romance, they are perfection. Don't delay reading her. This book is the final in the series. If you'd like to see my reviews of each book in the series, please browse my blog. show less

This is now I believe the seventh book I read from this author in one year. That is very rare for me. The main reason for that is because the books from the same author are usually years apart. With the self-publishing and republishing, authors like Ms. Harmon are giving their earlier works a second life and in the process finding new fans, like myself. Before last year, I am sorry to say, I never heard of her. Thanks to Christine, she was the one to introduce her work to me; I am now show more anxiously awaiting each one of Ms. Harmon’s books and looking forward to the new ones she’ll be gifting her new and old fans with.

The above blurb is the perfect summary and a perfect hook for all the romance lovers out there.

The first time we meet the heroine, Deirdre O'Devir, she’s just a little girl full of mischief and very feisty; loving and daring; strong and fearful yet fearless. Even after a decade passes and Deirdre is on her own embarking on a voyage to fulfill her mother's last request, we can see that she’s still one strong female. Despite the loneliness and longing for her beloved land, this now young woman is still fearful, yet fearless at the same time. I thought it a stroke of genius for Deirdre to have her canvas bag filled with her mementos from Ireland.

Christian Lord was such a great hero. From the moment we lay our eyes on this young Lieutenant, we’re hooked because he displays such calm and discipline mixed with charm in a situation that is everything but to the little Deirdre. She is terrified of him and for the next decade she’ll only remember him taking her brother away from her, even though he was only doing his duty.

Later as a man in his early thirties we still can recognize the young man in him because he maintains this quiet and disciplined posture and even though he’s tortured by his past, he is never ever cruel to anyone. On the contrary, he cares deeply for all that touch his life, even his dead wife.

And then we meet the crew of the Bold Marauder. I have to give Ms. Harmon props for assembling the most tough, evil-looking and thoroughly entertaining motley crew of second characters I’ve read about in a long time! OMG! I just loved them all! I laughed out loud picturing them as “a sloppy, sorry bunch of malcontents who looked like dregs out of Newgate”. Skunk and Hibbert; Lieutenant Russell Rhodes and Arthur Teach; Ian MacDuff and Elwin; Milton and Rico Hendricks too, will have you in stiches laughing with their mischief. Oh, and wait ‘till you meet the character of Delight Foley [get it-the play on her name as delight-fully]. I couldn’t help but like her peccadilloes!

Without a doubt, Ms. Harmon has another hit in “Master of My Dreams”. I really enjoyed the action, angst and what I like the most, comedy. But what it touched my heart the most was the sensual romance of Captain Lord and Miss O'Devir. They were classic Danelle Harmon, scorching hot yet well written and tasteful.

Without a second thought, my Five Quills go to this outstanding, fast paced, action and comedy filled sensual to the bone romance!

Mel for Romantic Crush Junkies Reviews eZine. show less

‘The Wild One,’ by Danelle Harmon is a historical romance novel about Lord Gareth de Monteforte who bravely intercedes in a stagecoach robbery by taking a bullet. Unbeknownst to him, his deceased brother’s fiancé, Juliet Paige, arrives on the same stagecoach with her young baby. Juliet arrives from America to plead with Lord Lucien de Monteforte, the eldest brother and head of the estate, to make her newborn child his ward. Lord Gareth, an irresponsible and light-hearted rake, is show more attracted to Juliet, and he pledges to marry her, while others are dubious about his ability to forego with a carefree life. Although the story is entertaining enough, I thought that there were some moments when I felt like this was just too hasty a transformation of character, and it was difficult to totally accept. How is it that an irresponsible rogue would suddenly fall in love and assume a responsible life? In addition, it seems implausible that an unmarried mother with a child would become acceptable marriage material for an aristocratic lord, during Georgian England. This is most certainly fiction by any stretch of the imagination! show less