Third Chances: (1 The King's Colours)

LEFT DESTITUTE BY THE LOSS OF HER HUSBAND, Eloise Denham travels to the Scottish Borders to be governess to a little girl, but she falls afoul of a dangerous smuggler and is imprisoned on false charges, facing the gallows. Ian Kerr, the laird of Roxholme, is twice widowed and done with women, but as a man of honour, he must help the woman he employed to mend the rift between him and his young daughter. With days left before the trial, Ian proposes marriage to Eloise to force his powerful family to intervene with the magistrate.But their troubles are just beginning. A vengeful magistrate, a dangerous enemy, a lonely child estranged from her father, two desperate people scarred by their past - can Ian and Eloise find their way through to a third chance for happiness?

About the Author :
D.S. Weber was born and raised in Denmark but has lived most of her adult life in Alberta, Canada. An early and avid reader, she tore through Dickens, Dumas, Stevenson and Marryat as a child and never lost her love of romantic adventure. She is literate in four languages, an amateur historian and a student of the poetry of the Romantics.Her novels are set in the late Georgian era, a time of war, social injustice and instability, but also a time of new ideas, reforms and progress. It was a time when women of the gentry must marry since they could not work. It is no wonder that marriage became a matter of the greatest interest and importance. D.S. Weber writes about couples finding love in difficult times. Her characters remain true to the worldview of their time but find ways to meet their goals and aspirations in spite of the limitations of their society.Spinning wool and silk into fine yarn is a hobby for D.S. Weber. Spinning yarns of romance and adventure is a passion. Ploughing through a history book or reading a French officer's memoirs of the Peninsular War, D.S. Weber finds the research part of writing historical romance endlessly fascinating.

Review :
My interest was piqued on page one. It's a fast-paced, action-filled story. The characters are well-developed. I cared about the characters and if they could rise above the restrictions put on them at the end of the 18th century/ early 19th century. The characters and the countryside seemed very natural; I was pulled into the story. And I considered how I might respond in similar circumstances. D.S. Weber is an erudite writer. The research done to create the characters, scenarios, geography etc. was well done and most appreciated as was this very compelling story of Eloise and Ian. Put this on your summer reading list. You'll enjoy it. Third Chances! What's it about? Romance Love Intrigue Adventure Danger Not enough? How about this: Engaging characters - and you wonder: will they get together in the end? (Of course, they do. It's a romance.) A gripping storyline set in the Scottish Borderlands in the 18th century Still not enough? How about this: Meticulous research into locations, fashion, and customs of the time DS Weber spins a captivating tale that will keep you entertained and looking forward to the next book in the series. Third Chances is a delicious and captivating read. Weber has sculpted unique, engaging characters and set them amongst a scenic backdrop that totally envelops the reader and arouses all the senses. Amidst the swirl of palpitating romance, the author shines a unique light on the joys and tribulations of the lives of women in Georgian society in the England/Scottish border region. When Eloise Denham's husband died, she was left destitute due to his poor investment choices. Her brother-in-law, instead of taking care of her as he was expected to, gave her some money and kicked her out. With nowhere to go, she takes a job as governess to the child of Ian Kerr in the distant hills of Scotland. But on the way to her new job, she is assaulted lands in jail on trumped up charges. Despite a few flaws, I enjoyed this story overall. I liked the characters, and many of the conflicts were unusual ones I had not encountered before. There were a few times where I felt the author overdid the descriptions and explanations, and sometimes the dialogue felt a bit stiff in places and even cheesy in a few parts. Some of the arguments between the protagonists felt a bit contrived to further the tension in the story, but the relationships between them as well as with the child made up for it. The plot was intriguing with quite a bit of action, and it seems to be well researched, reflecting the level of scientific knowledge and social mores of the time period. The villain gets his comeuppance of course, but I do like how she wrote his ending. I believe this is the author's debut, and it's a very good one. I would like to see a picture of that raspberry gown! I'm looking forward to the second book. Third Chances was one of the few books I was sad to finish. Reading it was fun and exciting, and when it was over, I was sad with the understanding that I cannot experience it in the same way even if I read it again and again. The main character was the type I immediately fall in love with once I find out what he is like through his views of life and actions he takes. This story is tastefully sprinkled and spiced with adventures, romance, courage, and compassion. I was also amazed by the detailed historical research that must have gone into creating this book.