{A Shelley Sisters Review} A Reckless Runaway by @JessMichaelsBks

A Reckless Runaway by Jess Michaels
Series: ,
Published by The Passionate Pen on February 4, 2020
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Regency, General
Pages: 260
Format: eBook
Source: Netgalley
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The second in the bestselling series by USA Today Bestselling Author Jess Michaels

Anne Shelley has always been known as the “wild” one of the infamous Shelley triplets and never has that been truer than when she ran away from her engagement with a scandalous man. She expects to be taken to Gretna Green for a hasty marriage, but instead she is dumped off on a remote island in Scotland with his grouchy cousin, Rook Maitland. She isn’t supposed to like him, but as their time together stretches out she can’t help but develop more than a passing interest in her temporary guardian. 

Rook knows his cousin’s game and he has serious doubts he’ll ever return for the fetching Anne, fool that he is. After all, the woman is fascinating and the more time they spend together, she proves to be irresistible. When she asks him to help her get back to her family, time alone on the road will lead to passions that can no longer be denied.

But Rook’s cousin has an ulterior motive for everything he’s done. And the danger that will be brought down on their heads could destroy the love they’re beginning to develop and end their future before it has time to begin.

Length: Novel Length
Heat Level: Steamy fun is had by all.

This can be read as a standalone novel, but is part of the Shelley Sisters series.

I received A Reckless Runaway for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Anne Shelley ran away from her arranged marriage. She picked the man who she believed was the lesser of two evils, Ellis “Handsome” Maitland. While Ellis abandoned her with his cousin, Rook, within hours, Rook became a third choice she never knew she had. While Anne gets to know Rook’s life on his own Scottish island, she learns he has little in common with his smarmy cousin. Once Anne realizes Ellis isn’t coming back anytime soon, she and Rook are forced to take the long way around to get her home.

As the tale of the Shelley triplets continues, we are taken on a road trip of love while danger lurks in the shadows. While Anne did appear in the first book of the series, she knows little of what happened when she left her unwanted fiancé, the Earl of Harcourt, who went on to marry her sister, Thomasina. This story takes place parallel to the first novel and goes a bit beyond and, oh boy, do we get a big surprise twist to the ongoing mystery.

Michaels always writes compelling characters with fantastic stories to tell. I couldn’t wait to get my eyes on this one, so I read the first one more than once in preparation. Rook was only hinted at in the first book so he was a blank slate that Michaels filled with a compassionate former criminal trying to start over by isolating himself. He wasn’t looking for Anne and she certainly wasn’t looking for him. Over the course of the novel, Michaels created characters who were more than their families, more than anyone ever thought they could be.

A Reckless Runaway is another 5 Star read for me. I highly recommend reading the first story, A Reluctant Bride, before this to understand why Anne ran away. Plus, it is a magnificent read and it will give you hours of enjoyment before the third Shelly Sisters book, A Counterfeit Courtesan, releases March 3rd, 2020.