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Debutantes in Paris #3
Miss Fortescue's Protector in Paris
Second chance...with the scoundrel spy!
Running her father's mercantile empire and campaigning for women's rights means unconventional Emily Fortescue has no time for romance. But when her politics land her in trouble, old friend Christopher Blakely comes to her rescue. They grew up arguing and sparring - even kissing - until he withdrew into his mysterious work. Now she's torn between safeguarding her bruised heart, and the lure of their spark reigniting!
Running her father's mercantile empire and campaigning for women's rights means unconventional Emily Fortescue has no time for romance. But when her politics land her in trouble, old friend Christopher Blakely comes to her rescue. They grew up arguing and sparring - even kissing - until he withdrew into his mysterious work. Now she's torn between safeguarding her bruised heart, and the lure of their spark reigniting!
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2019
12 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Amanda McCabe
259 books166 followersaka Laurel McKee (Amanda Carmack)
Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)
She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.
When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.
Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)
She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.
When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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November 25, 2019I don't know why this book is showing up on GR without a cover because it definitely possessed a cover at time of purchase.
Ehhhhh...I've been having really good luck with Harlequin historicals recently (shoutout to The Rake's Enticing Proposal) but this one didn't work for me.
It felt ... sort of adequate, but nothing about it quite came together for me. But maybe that's what I get for reading the third book in a trilogy out of nowhere. So the concept is, he's a spy who everyone thinks is a fribble, she's ... a human female? She works for her father's wine business and is awesome apparently, both of which I'm here for, except for the fact none of it ever seemed to mean anything.
Show don't tell is as godawful writer cliche because sometimes it's just better to tell shit ... but it seemed to me that I was told a lot in this book. About how Emily was beautiful and intelligent and serious. And about how everyone thinks Chris is a wastrel for no reason (because he's blond and has a nice smile?). The romantic conflict, such as it is, boils down to kind of nebulous emotional ... nothing? Chris, on the basis of no evidence, thinks Emily is too good for him. Emily, on the basis of no evidence, thinks Chris would force her to be a traditional wife when she's not up for that. Whenever we're in one of their heads, they spend the entire time thinking how smart/handsome/wonderful the other one is, and how much they want to kiss/bonk/marry them , but unable to act on it because they KNEW IT COULD NEVER HAPPEN. Over and over and over again.
Also I was disproportionately irritated by what came across as some quite noticeable structural issues: information is conveyed really haphazardly (we only learn Emily is getting dodgy letters because a maid accidentally half-reveals it to her father in a different conversation - WHAT?), the book at one point drifts chronologically backwards to an occasion on which Emily and Chris snogged in a hedge maze but that's the only time it does that so it feels a bit random and de-anchored, the POV occasionally switches to external characters for singular chapters solely for the purpose of making sure a reader was 'there' for something the author felt was significant.
Ehhh. It's just me, being a weird fussy dick, but I prefer my books to feel more coherent in the way they unfold their plots to me. I want time shifts and perspective shifts to be positioned for more than their transparent utility.
So. Yeah. Um.
Oh, oh, shit I liked.
1. No fucking Dukes (I mean, some background Dukes, but it still counts)
2. Paris setting
3. The hero randomly bones down on a prostitute ... which I know is an odd thing to like but it struck me as unusual. It's really rare for me to encounter modern-written romances where either protagonist boinks someone else, and that's seen as okay.
4. Heroine has what she believes will be casual sex with the hero (of course they're getting married about 3 pages later) and is cool with it
Ehhhhh...I've been having really good luck with Harlequin historicals recently (shoutout to The Rake's Enticing Proposal) but this one didn't work for me.
It felt ... sort of adequate, but nothing about it quite came together for me. But maybe that's what I get for reading the third book in a trilogy out of nowhere. So the concept is, he's a spy who everyone thinks is a fribble, she's ... a human female? She works for her father's wine business and is awesome apparently, both of which I'm here for, except for the fact none of it ever seemed to mean anything.
Show don't tell is as godawful writer cliche because sometimes it's just better to tell shit ... but it seemed to me that I was told a lot in this book. About how Emily was beautiful and intelligent and serious. And about how everyone thinks Chris is a wastrel for no reason (because he's blond and has a nice smile?). The romantic conflict, such as it is, boils down to kind of nebulous emotional ... nothing? Chris, on the basis of no evidence, thinks Emily is too good for him. Emily, on the basis of no evidence, thinks Chris would force her to be a traditional wife when she's not up for that. Whenever we're in one of their heads, they spend the entire time thinking how smart/handsome/wonderful the other one is, and how much they want to kiss/bonk/marry them , but unable to act on it because they KNEW IT COULD NEVER HAPPEN. Over and over and over again.
Also I was disproportionately irritated by what came across as some quite noticeable structural issues: information is conveyed really haphazardly (we only learn Emily is getting dodgy letters because a maid accidentally half-reveals it to her father in a different conversation - WHAT?), the book at one point drifts chronologically backwards to an occasion on which Emily and Chris snogged in a hedge maze but that's the only time it does that so it feels a bit random and de-anchored, the POV occasionally switches to external characters for singular chapters solely for the purpose of making sure a reader was 'there' for something the author felt was significant.
Ehhh. It's just me, being a weird fussy dick, but I prefer my books to feel more coherent in the way they unfold their plots to me. I want time shifts and perspective shifts to be positioned for more than their transparent utility.
So. Yeah. Um.
Oh, oh, shit I liked.
1. No fucking Dukes (I mean, some background Dukes, but it still counts)
2. Paris setting
3. The hero randomly bones down on a prostitute ... which I know is an odd thing to like but it struck me as unusual. It's really rare for me to encounter modern-written romances where either protagonist boinks someone else, and that's seen as okay.
4. Heroine has what she believes will be casual sex with the hero (of course they're getting married about 3 pages later) and is cool with it
June 14, 2019
If you love reading historical romance, you're all in for a treat with Miss Fortescue's Protectector in Paris. Sometimes marriage isn't on your list, but it just happens when you are least expecting it too. Diamonds and pearls make the most beautiful bride ever, this part made my eyes well-up like I was actually there. That's what I like about reading, you can imagine the way your characters look and my case here I enjoyed my imagination what of the glorious wedding was too be. Amanda McCabe is a fantastic story teller so please do look up all her other titles.
April 15, 2019
I liked the 2 previous books and this one did not disappoint! It was also nice to see what happened to Diana and Alex after the other 2 books. In some ways the relationship between Emily and Chris.
What I loved about this series, is how the females overcame the society norms at the time for women. THey are independent and their significant others love them for that.
I also like how much research the author has done for her books and it shows!
I am sad to see this series end. This has to be , so far, my favorite time period the author has written in.
What I loved about this series, is how the females overcame the society norms at the time for women. THey are independent and their significant others love them for that.
I also like how much research the author has done for her books and it shows!
I am sad to see this series end. This has to be , so far, my favorite time period the author has written in.
May 1, 2019
I have enjoyed each of the books in the Debutantes in Paris trilogy, and MISS FORTESCUE’S PROTECTOR IN PARIS brings the series to a delightful conclusion. Full of effervescent chemistry between Emily and Chris and a touch of intrigue all set against the golden light of Belle Époque Paris, it is a lovely read.
Emily is devoted to her work with her father and the Woman’s Franchise League but cannot help but wonder if she is missing out on love. Like Emily, Christopher Blakely is dedicated to his job with the Foreign Office, but the light-hearted, reckless rogue persona that is his cover as a spy is wearing thin. The opposites have been friends for years and flirt with each other, but neither thinks there could ever be anything between them. Circumstances arise where they each need to travel to Paris, and Chris is tasked by Emily’s father to keep Emily safe. Can Chris keep up his playboy façade as his feelings grow for Emily? Can Emily put business aside to have a bit of fun?
The romance between this odd couple really is sweet, and I fell a bit in love with Chris myself. Paris is a characters in and of itself, and author McMabe’s love of the city shines through on every page. The subterfuge takes a back seat to the romance, and I wish it had been explored further. Though the characters from the previous books are not prominent, the do make appearances, and it is nice to see how their stories continue. I am sorry to see the end of this entire wonderful group of friends and family.
I savored each word of MISS FORTESCUE’S PROTECTOR IN PARIS. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this title from the author and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
Emily is devoted to her work with her father and the Woman’s Franchise League but cannot help but wonder if she is missing out on love. Like Emily, Christopher Blakely is dedicated to his job with the Foreign Office, but the light-hearted, reckless rogue persona that is his cover as a spy is wearing thin. The opposites have been friends for years and flirt with each other, but neither thinks there could ever be anything between them. Circumstances arise where they each need to travel to Paris, and Chris is tasked by Emily’s father to keep Emily safe. Can Chris keep up his playboy façade as his feelings grow for Emily? Can Emily put business aside to have a bit of fun?
The romance between this odd couple really is sweet, and I fell a bit in love with Chris myself. Paris is a characters in and of itself, and author McMabe’s love of the city shines through on every page. The subterfuge takes a back seat to the romance, and I wish it had been explored further. Though the characters from the previous books are not prominent, the do make appearances, and it is nice to see how their stories continue. I am sorry to see the end of this entire wonderful group of friends and family.
I savored each word of MISS FORTESCUE’S PROTECTOR IN PARIS. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this title from the author and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
April 12, 2019
Loved this book and the whole series. Emily, DI and Alex are the perfect trio of "sisters"
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May 1, 2019Categories:
Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Victorian Historical Fiction
Miniseries:
Debutantes in Paris
Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Victorian Historical Fiction
Miniseries:
Debutantes in Paris
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews