Love and Redemption

by Luanna Stewart

Mary Taylor abandoned her silk gowns and sparkling jewels when she quit her position as one of London's highly prized courtesans. She's determined to earn her living with a paintbrush rather than between the sheets. Starting fresh in a new country, she masquerades as a widow running a tearoom in Halifax while perfecting her art. But when she's hired to finish the portrait of a handsome judge, she risks everything by surrendering to her lustful craving. Finton Morash, youngest judge on the Queen's bench, believes people are either good or bad. The dowdy widow painting his portrait is surely one of the former. After discovering the sensual beauty hiding beneath shapeless gowns, he wonders at her other secrets. When whispers circulate about Mary's nefarious past, she must find the courage to face the consequences. And Finton must decide whether love is worth the risk.

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2019

About the author

Luanna Stewart has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. She spends her days writing contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and historical romance. When not torturing her characters, she’s in her kitchen baking something delicious. She lives in Nova Scotia with her patient husband and five hens.

Reviews

[Zara West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sexy-hot, historical romance pairs a feisty immigrant to Canada hiding her former life as a prostitute while trying to find a new life as a tea shop owner and artist with a judge of sterling reputation. Set in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Stewart deftly captures the nuances of 19th century life in the city and the social mores of the time. If you love historical romances that have strong heroines and heroes who discover love can conquer all, you will enjoy this book.

[Kathleen Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win a copy of Luanna Stewart’s Love and Redemption or I might never have discovered her, given the sheer volume of romance novels published every year.

Set in the 1880s in Halifax, Canada, the trope in Love and Redemption is the ruined woman concealing her past life to build a new one, which is a standard in historical romance. Two things set this novel apart. The quality of the writing is above average, which is something I’m picky about, being a writer myself. Then there’s the way the sex scenes are integral to the story and contribute to it (which is not always the case in romance novels, sad to say) rather than merely adding “steam”. I will be looking for more of Ms. Stewart’s novels.

[MDM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical romance set in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The heroine is a former prostitute who has left England to make a new life for herself an ocean away from her former clientele. She falls in love, but her past is not completely left behind, and it remains to be seen whether or not she can acknowledge her past, and still make a new and respectable life.

Plenty of explicit sex if that’s to your reading pleasure!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sandy N · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favourite book from the series. Absolutely amazing. I didn't want the story to end. It has a lot of things that I like: love, passion, not a wallflower heroine, a dashing hero. Mary and Finto n journey was not easy, her being a former Bar girl (to put it nicely). The secondary characters added to the charm of the story. And let's not forget all the Hot scenes. Big thumb up on this one.
ARC provided by the author. Thanks again Luanna Stewart ❤️

[Mary Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Excellent story. Great to read something which is not the usual 20 something virginal heroine. I haven't read anything by Luanna before but I will definely check her other stories out. Finton is an interesting hero and I'm glad they got their HEA...it was touch and go!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Helena#bookdreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a lot racier than I expected which was a disappointed since I was really expecting a sensual romance. But the heroes were sexually charged from the beginning making their interactions a bit abrupt and awkward. Did not enjoy it as I would have liked.