The Merchant's Yield | Book Review, Guest Post + Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

It was a marriage of inconvenience, but life has a wicked sense of humor.

Charlotte Amelia Etheridge has cowered to her mother’s sharp tongue and endless demands for the last time. In a fleeting moment of rebellion, she recklessly asks a foreigner from the Leeward Islands for a dance. But her one courageous act lands her in a compromising position. Forced to wed a stranger, Lottie leaves the only home she’s ever known to reside on the isle of St. Kitts.

Nathaniel Winthrop’s troubles are mounting, and the rumors of him being cursed are spreading. Due to the dwindling sugar crop, he risks everything to start his own shipping company. The last thing he needs is a wife, especially one with a weak constitution. Yellow fever has already claimed the lives of his mother and siblings. He must guard his heart against falling in love with this gentle beauty, knowing island life will be a death sentence.

No longer under her mother’s scrutiny, the newfound freedom of the island rejuvenates Lottie’s spirit. If her days on this earth are limited, then it’s time she lives life to the full. Now it’s up to her to prove that even though Nathan was coerced into marrying her, she’s the one he can’t live without.

Publisher: Wild Heart Books

Release Date: March 31, 2020

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OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

The Duke's Refuge

The Sugar Baron's Ring

MY REVIEW

Get ready for some island time in Lorri Dudley’s The Merchant’s Yield. It’s a delightful read, especially if you need to escape some springtime snow (like I do!).

Charlotte Amelia Ethridge decides to take a bit of risk, straying from the careful dictates of her mother—and ends up married to a foreign stranger. Now, she must leave all she has known to head for St. Kitts with her new husband, Nathaniel Winthrop. Curses, delicate constitutions, and some misunderstandings provide obstacles to getting to know (and loving) one another, and as the couple works to overcome them, it proves quite enjoyable.

I always love a good marriage-of-(in)convenience story, and full of adventure and romance, The Merchant’s Yield is a good one, to be sure. It is easy to recommend to historical-romance readers.

★★★★

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.

Website

GUEST POST FROM THE AUTHOR

The Merchant’s Yield is the second book in the Leeward Island series. The idea for my heroine, Lottie Etheridge, stemmed from a writing prompt—Pretend you are a relative from your past. My family has often speculated where the bright red hair that pops up every other generation (my dad, my cousin, and my niece) originated, since my grandfather was adopted. My opening hook at one time was Lottie’s mother stating, “Red hair is for opera singers and ballet dancers. You should have powdered your hair.”

In my research about the island of St. Kitts, I came across a French-American pirate named Jean Lafitte, educated at the military academy on St. Kitts. The concept of my hero, Nathaniel Winthrop, a merchant who could have schooled with a pirate, set my creative juices flowing, especially after reading about Lafitte’s outlandish and quirky behavior. I couldn’t resist interlacing the lives of my main characters with the daring pirate.

I enjoyed writing Lottie’s struggle between pacifying others, yet trying to stay true to how God made her. Also, I can relate to her attempts at rebellion backfiring, for I too could never get away with anything. Lottie’s soft heart contrasts nicely with the guarded hero, Nathan, as she peels back each painful layer of his thick façade to reveal the devoted and ardent love he holds beneath.

To learn more, check out my website or watch The Merchant’s Yield’s book trailer.

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate her tour, Lorri is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Enter below, and be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway.

TOUR SCHEDULE

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