Tempting Fate

Tempting Fate (2009) Alissa Johnson

Set in England in 1813.

Whittaker Cole, Earl of Thurston has spent years trying to recover his family name and fortunes. He’s spent almost as long bickering with Miss Mirabelle Browning who has aggravated him almost since he first laid eyes upon her.

Miss Mirabelle Browning spends most of her time at the Thurston estate to escape her drunken guardian. Lady Thurston has done her best to make life easier for Mira, but Mira makes it harder, not wanting to accept anyone’s charity.

Like the first book, it’s a fun story, with the same ridiculous over-arching plot, but it DOES have dark bits. Mira’s uncle really is awful. And Mira and Whit bicker and argue incessantly at the start of the book.

However, going back to that arguing, I adore how the bickering was resolved.

And I love the dialog.

“Aside from poverty, oppression, and injustice, there is no matter too insignificant for the ton not to notice,”

And I very much liked this bit, which goes back to the first story where Sophie says she’ll help Mira and Evie learn how to defend themselves.

“As for the rest of you . . .” Whit turned to Alex, steadfastly ignoring the amused glint in his eyes. “I can’t believe you’re allowing this.”

“I can’t believe you expect me to argue with a group of armed women,” Alex countered.

“For God’s sake Sophie, you . . . you’re . . .” He waved his hand in the general vicinity of her belly. “You know.” She didn’t, apparently, because her only response was a blank stare. Feeling a little desperate— and not a little foolish— he tried the other hand, then both, then added in a jerk of his chin.

“I believe he means you’re with child,” Alex prompted with a grin.

“Oh, yes,” Sophie assured him without changing her expression. “I managed to translate that. Somehow. But I’m trying to fathom what one thing could possibly have to do with the other.”

“It’s just . . .” Wrong, he thought. So very, very wrong, on so very many levels. “Unsafe.” Again, the blank look.

“You could be injured,” he added.

“For heaven’s sake,” she finally said on a laugh. “How?”

He honestly didn’t know, but he wasn’t about to admit to that.

I quite enjoy how the males tend to be completely undone by pregnancy, but also how they recognize that pregnancy and childbirth are extremely dangerous.

(B)irthing was a dangerous, and terrifyingly female, event. He had some clear memories of his sister’s birth— memories he contrived very hard not to dwell on.

It’s a fun story, and quite enjoyable.

Publisher: Stonesong Digital
Rating: 7.5/10

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