An Improper Encounter

Lady Sarah Hartford and her sister in law are beautiful, rich and widowed. They are also, bored with their lives. While sitting in a tavern, waiting for a storm to pass, Sarah is dared to find someone to warm her bed for the night. A man comes in wet and without a room. She pretends to be his wife to get him into her bedchamber. Once there, she is unable to go thru with the dare.They give each other false names to begin with, then their identities come out. He is a doctor with secrets and she is has a title.They travel to London together with plans to see each other, but it doesn't work out like they thought. The next time they meet, he is married to a very pregnant wife and has a title. There are secrets, misunderstandings, intrigue and a change for Sarah. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles and get their happily ever after? I enjoyed the book and the story. Due to the use of language and terminology, I didn't get the historical feel. Good book, nevertheless. I received this book from Net Galley and Amberjack Publishing for a honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is a well written story revolving around Sarah, a widow, and William, a doctor who later inherits a dukedom. They meet by chance at an inn, where Sarah’s friend challenges her to sleep tonight with a man she does not know. In walks William and the story starts. After delays due to bad weather, they develop an attachment to each other that is later tested. The story involves manipulation by his dying father, lies told by Anna and attempts on his life. The story is a good read and there is a lot that happens. They have a HEA but it takes about one year for everything to work out. It is s good read and I would recommend this book.

It seemed that Lady Sarah Hartford would never be afforded any happiness. She has had to endure her husband’s deceitful behaviour during their marriage and after his death, she is set to wear grey forever. However, in a dare with her sister-in-law, she invites William Gordon to share her room, after he is left without a place to stay in a fierce storm. After three days together, they have begun an affair, but William promises Sarah, that after he visits his dying father, that he will return to marry her. However, William does not return, and Sarah fears he is dead, only to find that he is alive with a pregnant wife. What followed, kept me enthralled as I could not see how this would every end happily for Sarah and William.
Erica Taylor has given such depth to these characters that it is hard to not feel the desperation in their separation. It was difficult to fault their actions, as they struggle to keep their emotions private. Whilst this is the 3rd book in the series, it is a stand-alone book, yet Sarah’s family, the Macalisters, play such an integral role in this story, that any reader, will want to read the earlier books.
Once again, a remarkable story from Ms Taylor and I hope there is more to come in this delightful series. I received an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lady Sarah Hartford is beautiful, wealthy, widowed, and bored. After agreeing to a scandalous dare with her sister in law Lydia, to seduce a stranger into her bedchamber, she meets the devilishly handsome doctor, William Gordon. Though both keep their true identities hidden, an intense short romance blooms between them, and Sarah finally feels like she could be happy again.
On arriving in London William disappears from her life only to arrive three months later on her doorstep—married, a duke, and with a pregnant duchess in tow.
For the first forty percent of the book this was a lovely romance of two mature people meeting by chance & falling in love, everything was in place for an happy ending but fate took a hand. The remainder of the book took me on a maelstrom of emotions & quite a few tissues. I was totally caught up with Sarah & Wills’ predicament & felt each of the obstacles thrown in their way. I really wondered how they could be together & only one solution seemed possible. There are twists & turns along their journey, the pace of the book flows effortlessly. The characterisation is very, very good & I really felt drawn into their world & that I knew them. Sarah has been a second mother to her siblings & has always done what is expected of her, it was uplifting to see her grow into a strong determined woman who wanted a life for herself. Will had forged a life for himself after being practically disowned when he was ten only to find his past came to haunt him. This is the third book in the series about the MacAlister siblings & whilst it could be read on its own the whole series is captivating. I now want to read the rest of the siblings’ stories & I'm so looking forward to the rest of this riveting, captivating series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

After reading book 1 I thought I had found a new author to watch, but then I found book 2 somewhat disappointing in comparison. This standalone installment in the series has confirmed my initial opinion. This is really nicely written with good dialogue and some grin-worthy humor; Sarah and Will's journey to their HEA was not straight forward or too predictable.

"An Improper Encounter" is a refreshing and fun read. It is light and was engaging throughout. Sarah is a likeable, independent woman who refuses to conform to the expectations placed upon her. She struggles with her desire to be a useful and helpful member of society while also adhering to the customs of a woman in an elevated position. By default of birth and marriage, her goal is to rise to the highest levels of the ton. But when William Gordon walks into her life, she sees that her life can be much more fulfilling. William is a mysterious stranger who seems to be hiding many secrets behind his witty and adventurous personality. Sarah sees a chance to help rescue William, but in the end will their roles be reversed? And can their immediate attraction lead to anything long term or is it just a passing flirtation?

I would be happy to recommend Erica Taylor's newest novel "An Improper Encounter", and also any other books in the Macalister series. I also want to thank NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for a chance to read and review this book.

Another keeper from Erica Taylor, having read the previous books in the series. Very well written. The Happily ever after took some time to come but they got there at the end. Very loveable characters. Totally recommend this book.

***ARC was provided to me for a fair and honest review***

Overall rating: 3.5/5 I loved everything that happens before the pair reach London, then the story slows down considerably for me.

Heroine (Sarah): 4/5 She is the widow to an abusive man who never loved her. Now Sarah travels from house party to house party with her friend and sister-in-law Lydia, a widow herself. Sarah wants more out of life than what the ton can offer. She would love to become a midwife and help new life enter the world.

Hero (William): 3/5 Will is the bastard son of an aristocrat and is very insecure about that fact. He made a name for himself in Scotland as a doctor and a surgeon. He is asked to right some wrongs and fill shoes he never wanted in the first place but does so out of a sense of duty.

Plot: 3.5/5 Two strangers a widow and a mysterious gentleman meet and pretend to be husband and wife at a full in and end up enjoying each other’s company enough to travel together on the road for a bit. Neither want to face what awaits them at the end of their journey. William’s estranged father is dying and wishes to see him one last time. Sarah’s family that she loves but sees in them what she has been denied; happy marriages and children. They fall for each other quickly but what awaits William in London throws up some roadblocks to their happiness.

Personal Review: Everything before they reach Sarah’s family was brilliant and worth the read, but once William goes his father and comes back married, the story becomes harder to get through.

I enjoyed the pacing of the first half of the book but I was expecting Will and Sarah to have more time together when they were reunited at Christmas instead of the brooding and non fights they had.

Honestly, poor Anna. She was complicite in the schemes but she didn’t really have a choice in the matter and paid the ultimate price for her deception.

I have a hard time believing that Will would not send word from London as he promised to do instead of letting Sarah believe something had happened to him. Every other part of his character and utter sense of duty dictates he wouldn’t just leave her without explanation. I know he does address it but it still doesn’t fit with his character.

This book was an intriguing mix of sweet and spicy. The romance between Sarah and William builds fast at the beginning, before their lives suddenly go separate ways. However, they eventually meet again under different circumstances and it is captivating to see whether or not they will reunite. The chemistry between the two characters is sizzling and I liked how the main protagonist, Sarah, was not your average simpering heroine. She has a little bit of bite and has a strong side that she rarely shows other people. The only thing that could have been improved upon was the pacing of the second half of the book. After such a fast-paced and tumultuous first half, it was a bit disconcerting when the action slowed to a snail's pace. It was almost painful waiting for Sarah and William to throw propriety to the wind and just get together again.
All in all, I think this is a pretty solid romance for anyone who is a fan of the genre or hopes to try it out.

Lady Sarah Macalister, a widowed marchioness is  a dragon-in-making of the ton along with her sister-in-law. On their travel to London Sarah is dared to warm her bed by a stranger for the night and she agrees. Thus comes the entry of William Gordon, a handsome surgeon soon-to-be a duke. Because of an accident they continue their journey together during which they fall in love with each other. When the journey ends William promises to come for her after meeting his dying father. Sarah waits for him but he never shows up until three months later at her brothers residence with a heavily pregnant wife. What happens after that? Is this the end of a happy life Sarah imagined? How do they go through the aftermath when a web of lies and deceit is closing in on them?
An Improper Encounter is a splendid historical romance. All the characters were so in-depth, I fell in love with of them. I am curious to know Anna’s life story, Her character was so complex. I loved how Sarah finally prioritized her happiness and achieved what she wanted to, leaving behind her family whom she thought of like a mother. Sarah is one of the strongest female characters I’ve ever read. Erica Taylor is one of my favorite authors from now on. Definitely going to read her other Macalister books.

This was the first book by Erica Taylor that I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were well developed and the plot was good. The pace of the story did slow down a bit in the second half, but a lot of that time was spent resolving the different threads woven into the story. The only thing I would have liked was a little more closure to Lydia's part of the story- unless of course she's getting a story of her own. This book had some humour and it also has my kleenex warning, so beware if reading in public. This is the third book in the series and can easily be read as a standalone, though if you want to read the earlier ones you should do so first - keep in mind the book order is not chronological- book 2 happens before book 1 and should be read in that order. Overall, a very good regency romance. *I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

This is such a delightful story. Romance and mystery are thrown together to make a great story. Lady Sarah has been widowed for three years and yet still wears the grey of mourning, not because she loved her husband so dearly but because it is the proper thing to do. Her mother died birthing the ninth child and Sarah has worked to raise the family. Her brother is married so she has no real home but on her way to see her siblings she is caught in a terrible storm with her sister-in-law, Lydia. She makes the acquaintance of William Gordon a doctor from Scotland who has been summoned home by his father. They get to know each other without really knowing who the other one is. A deep love develops but it is not to be at this time. The story goes on to tell us what happens to them and how they wonder in and out of each other's life. Can they find love together? That is the question.

Brilliant book! I was hooked from the first chapter to the very end. I felt so many emotions!!! Highs and lows, love and angst...this book has it all!!!
Highly recommend to anyone who loves a period romance!!!

This was a lovely book - at the heart of it is Lady Sarah, the widow of an abusive Marquess. She and her sister-in-law end up in a tavern on a stormy night in search for an adventure, which Sarah finds in the form of the Scottish surgeon Will. What follows is a passionate love story that weaves together an infinite amount of fun regency-novel-tropes, but all of them with a delightful twist to them that make this book and its characters so funny and endearing. But don't go thinking Will and Sarah are endgame just yet, because naturally Fate has her own plans, and the second part is Will and Sarah trying desperately to come together again despite the plans and ideas of all Higher Beings that exist.

Sarah is a great heroine, who has carried the burden of caring for her younger orphaned siblings, who was trapped in a loveless marriage, and who knows what she wants in life. She is a conscientious woman who says Damn it all! to the 'shoulds' and 'musts' dictated by the Ton.

The first part of the book was decidedly better than the second part, mainly because of it's pacing slowing down considerably. It didn't make the book any less delightful.

This is perfect for anyone who wants to sink their teeth into a delicious regency romance with a slightly genre-subversive edge to it.