4 STAR REVIEW: THE BAREKNUCKLE GROOM by Holly Bush

The Thompsons of Locust Street: Book 2
Publication Date: March 9, 2021

Meet the Thompsons of Locust Street, an unconventional family taking Philadelphia high society by storm…

1869 Bareknuckle champion, James Thompson, is confident his future continues with beautiful women and victories in the boxing ring. Men admire his skills, power, and quick fists, and are more than willing to bet their hard-earned coins on his name. Women admire his handsome face, his undaunted confidence, and his powerful body. Nothing will change his successfully plotted course, until…

Lucinda Vermeal arrives on the Philadelphia social scene when her father moves them to the city in the hopes that his only daughter will find a suitable partner. After all, her husband will be intimately involved with Vermeal Industries whose business interests and political connections touch France, England and all of the United States. Lucinda’s pale statuesque beauty attracts the finest of Philadelphia’s young men, but her cool and reserved attitude keep them at arm’s length. Until she meets a man willing to challenge her at every turn. Will James Thompson expose Lucinda’s passionate nature like no other man ever could?

The Bareknuckle Groom is a steamy historical romance set in 1869 Philadelphia, the second book in The Thompsons of Locust Street series. It is the story of James Thompson, a bareknuckle boxing champion nearing the end of his career, and Lucinda Vermeal, an only child and society heiress.

Lucinda Vermeal is the beautiful daughter of a wealthy businessman with ambitions for her future. Beneath her cool exterior, she is confident and business savvy. Boxer James Thompson had a complicated upbringing, but he treasures his relationship with his family. When James and Lucinda discover an undeniable attraction their path to a HEA difficult to navigate.

The Bareknuckle Groom is a solid, well-written romance. I appreciate that the author brought to life a setting not common in historical romance. The secondary characters—family members of James and Lucinda—helped to make the story full and interesting.  James’ relationship with his friend, McAvoy, helped him to grow and mature. The Bareknuckle Groom is a well-developed story of class differences and adjusting to life’s changes. Well worth reading.

“Love always has something to say. Sometimes it shouts from the highest hill, and sometimes it whispers so softly one must listen closely to hear. Do not turn away. It is a rare and precious commodity. Treasure it.” The Gentrys of Paradise

Holly Bush’s historical romances are set during the turbulent and transformative years of the late 1800s. The first two books in her newest series, The Gentrys of Paradise, released in the spring of 2017 and began with the novella Into the Evermore where readers meet Virginia horse breeders, Eleanor and Beauregard Gentry. The following books feature their children, Adam, Matthew, and Olivia. For the Brave is Matthew’s story and is the first full-length book of the series. Olivia’s book, For This Moment, released in the spring of 2018. The final book, For Her Honor, is now available.

The Crawford Family Series following the fortunes of the three Boston born Crawford sisters and includes Train Station Bride, Contract to Wed, Her Safe Harbor, and companion novella, The Maid’s Quarters. Cross the Ocean and Charming the Duke are both British set Victorian romances. Fan favorites stand-alone historical romance novels include Romancing Olive and Reconstructing Jackson. Holly’s books are described as ‘emotional, with heartfelt, sexy romance.’

She also writes General Fiction under the name of Hollis Bush.

Holly makes her home with her husband, one happy Labrador Retriever and a clever Jack Russell rescued from the pound, and two difficult cats in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.