The Worst Duke in London is the third book in The Taming of the Dukes series by Amalie Howard and if you haven't read the first two, you don't necessaThe Worst Duke in London is the third book in The Taming of the Dukes series by Amalie Howard and if you haven't read the first two, you don't necessarily have to but I would recommend that you do as the other characters do play a part in this book. Of course, they aren't the main characters so it isn't necessary.
In this book, our fmc is Lady Evangeline Raine. She prefers animals to people and definitely has no interest in marriage...unfortunately for her younger sister Viola. Because Viola wants to spend the season being courted in London and in order to do that, according to her father, Effie needs to agree.
Enter Gage Croft, Duke of Vale. He is determined to rebuild his estates and when the owner of the last remaining debts his brother had offers to write them off if he wins over Lady Evangeline and gets her to go to London and stay there so Lady Viola can be courted by him, he decides to take the offer. What he didn't count on was that he would actually like Effie and despise everything the gentleman he made the deal with stands for.
This was a great story and the way these two characters come together was wonderfully done. Effie at first not interested in Gage but he eventually captures her attention and when she proposes that she will go to London but only if he agrees to be her lover (she sees this as her chance to experience passion), she throws him for a loop. Eventually all those feelings turn into something more but with all the lies, Effie has to wonder if Gage was just doing it for the money. And nevermind that it was for the worst man of the Ton.
I have to admit, I didn't love Viola at first. I know that was probably intentional but the way she treated Effie wasn't my favorite and the fact that she even wanted to be around the man who treated her sister the way Huntington did, didn't make me like her any more. That said, of course I loved that Vesper, Briar, Neve were here support system throughout.
If you're looking for a historical romance retelling of 10 Things I Hate About You, this does a decent job of it. I enjoyed the story and I have to admit, I hoping for Briar's story next so fingers crossed that one is coming up soon. Consider picking this one up if you're looking for something new in the historical romance genre that is a quick and easy read.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review....more
A Pocketful of Diamonds by Pam Lecky is book four of the Lucy Lawrence mysteries and I suppose you could probably pick this one up and read it as a stA Pocketful of Diamonds by Pam Lecky is book four of the Lucy Lawrence mysteries and I suppose you could probably pick this one up and read it as a standalone if you wanted to but you'd be missing out on all of the early history so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.
Lucy and Phin are now newlyweds and on their way to Lake Como, Italy...but not for their honeymoon. Unfortunately, Phin received a letter from his sister asking for help. It appears that his brother-in-law, Luca, has disappeared without a trace and no one seems to be doing anything about it.
When Lucy and Phin arrive, they find Elvira struggling to keep everything together and it's clear she needs their help. As they jump in to try to figure out what happened, they run into a familiar face and realize there is more to this story than expected, and when the danger increases for everyone involved, Lucy and Phin realize they need to solve this one before it's too late.
This was another great installment of the series. I loved seeing the relationship progress between Lucy and Phin. It was great to see them engaging with Phin's sister (and brother) as well to see those relationships progress too. Lucy and Phin still have their challenges as he, of course, wants to protect her and she wants to be as involved as she possibly can in the investigation and it is definitely a challenging balance for them.
I'm not going to say much about the mystery in this one only because I don't want to give anything away but I though Lecky did a great job of bringing all the parts together. From the relationships between Luca and everyone around him (his brother, uncle, etc.) and how it all ties back to the hotel and even the diamonds. If you're looking for a great historical mystery series to start, I recommend picking this one up. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for a copy....more
Reflections of Silence captured my attention because of the cover and then when I read the summary I was hooked. I'm a sucker for a historical romanceReflections of Silence captured my attention because of the cover and then when I read the summary I was hooked. I'm a sucker for a historical romance with some paranormal thrown in and this one has that in spades.
Gisella is our fmc and she's headed to the new world as what was known as a Casket Girl. Sent off to be married to an unknown man, she finds herself in a world she was not truly prepared for but one she is definitely interested in. As she tries to adapt to her new life, she is drawn to the man who is her husband but she knows he is not like other men and she doesn't really care.
Sebastian...I won't say much here other than that he has a long history and as Gisella is trying to find her place, his past comes back to haunt them.
I thought Hush did a good job of tying the paranormal into a historical while also keeping the romance thread throughout. I also thought the secondary characters helped to keep the story moving forward and I'll be curious to see how Hush picks things up in a next book as it was alluded to at the end of this one. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I will most likely pick up the next one.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review....more
Good Duke Gone Wild by Bethany Bennett is the first book in the Bluestocking Booksellers series and I have to say, I'm glad I picked this one up! I'veGood Duke Gone Wild by Bethany Bennett is the first book in the Bluestocking Booksellers series and I have to say, I'm glad I picked this one up! I've not read anything by Bennett before but I'll definitely go back and read her other series based on this one.
Caro Danvers is our fmc and after having been kicked out of her father's home she's found a life with her cousins by helping out at the bookshop. She also happens to be a pretty successful author...who writes erotic novels under a pen name and if anyone outside of her family knew about it, she would be ruined and it would destroy her family's bookshop. When the inspiration for her most recent novel starts to mirror a man in town, the Duke of Holland, things begin to get a little tricky for Caro and she has to figure out if she is willing to face the feelings she has for the man who has taken over her every thought especially when he hires her to sort through his library and she is seeing him all the time.
Dorian Whitaker, Duke of Holland, needs an heir after his so-called “fairytale marriage” ended in disaster. When the intriguing bookseller he’s hired to liquidate his late wife’s library finds love letters revealing an affair, he is drawn into a mystery alongside a lady whose sharp intellect dazzles him and dares him to imagine a new adventure outside the gilded cage of the Ton.
I loved the way the relationship was built between these two. From their very first meeting it was clear that Dorian was intrigued but he always distanced himself until he made the decision to not hold himself back and then the sparks started to fly. The whole love letter mystery was an interesting plot line and I think if played well with Caro's story line. The lengths Caro and her cousins went to in order to hide her writing but still push the sales and then when everything came to a head, I thought it was all very well done.
As I said, I enjoyed this book and will definitely pick up the next book in the series when it comes out. If you're looking for a new historical romance to pick up, consider grabbing this one. It has interesting characters, a story that will keep you turning the pages, and is well written.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review....more
Kate Bateman is an autobuy author for me and if she's not for you...you're missing out. When I saw the summary for How to Fall for a Scoundrel I was eKate Bateman is an autobuy author for me and if she's not for you...you're missing out. When I saw the summary for How to Fall for a Scoundrel I was excited to see that we were going to get Eleanor's story. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed book one and actually am looking forward to the next one too, but I loved how this one came together.
As one of the founding members of King & Co., Eleanor enjoys proving that women can solve crimes just as well as men. When a con man pretends to be her fictional boss Charles King, Ellie knows he is lying but he surprisingly pulls it off. Now she has to decide if she's willing to accept his offer of help to recover a priceless manuscript while also taking care to not fall for his games and seductions.
“Henri Bonheur”—or “Harry” claims his criminal past is behind him and he actually has an ulterior motive for seeking Ellie out but he needs to win her over but he didn't really count on falling for her at the same time. As Harry and Ellie work on the investigation together, their relationship pulls them together and when Ellie finds out what really is in Harry's past, she needs to figure out if she can trust him...and can she really love him if she doesn't truly know him?
I have to say that I loved these two together. Harry kept pushing Ellie outside of her comfort zone and she wasn't afraid to take on the challenge. Harry's backstory was an interesting twist and how it all came together was well done by Bateman. As I mentioned, I am looking forward to the next book in this series and if you haven't started this book/series, you should definitely consider picking it up!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review....more
Companion to the Count by Melissa Kendall is the first book in the Seductive Sleuths series. I just happened to come across it and it grabbed my attenCompanion to the Count by Melissa Kendall is the first book in the Seductive Sleuths series. I just happened to come across it and it grabbed my attention as I have been on a historical mystery/romance binge lately so I wanted to check it out.
Our main fmc in this story is Saffron Summersby. She and her sister lost everything when her brother died suspiciously and everything they had went to a distant relative. Having had to move in with their aunt, the only thing that has saved them up to now is the fact that Saffron has been able to sell just about everything in their home to keep a roof over their head. Unfortunately, their aunt is pushing her sister to marry an awful man and Saffron is determined to do whatever it takes to save her from having to make that choice. So when she sees her brother's face in the latest painting by the famous anonymous artist Ravenmore, she is convinced he might still be alive. Her plan is to learn the identity of the painter, find her brother, and save her sister, What she didn't plan for was that her investigation would lead her to a notorious rake.
Leopold 'Leo" Mayweather, (Viscount Briarwood) is our mmc. While he is known to all as a rake, ever since the death of his sister, he's actually given up his wild ways and is now devoted to his art. Specifically, the distribution of the paintings by the reclusive Ravenmore. So when he finds out that someone is stealing and replacing them with forgeries, he decides to host an auction for the last original he has in his collection to draw the thief out. When Saffron storms into his life, determined to unmask Ravenmore, Leo has to figure out what he's going to do with her. Agreeing to introduce her to Ravenmore in exchange for her help arranging the auction and investigating, Leo and Saffron find they work well together. Not only that, the sparks start to fly and as they get closer to finding out who the thief is, the danger becomes more real.
I thought this story was well done. I enjoyed the character development and the story. Both Leo and Saffron truly care for their siblings and will do whatever it takes to protect them and their legacy. I thought it was great how the friendship and eventual relationship was developed between these two characters as well. If you're looking for a new historical romance series to start, I would recommend picking this one up. It has an interesting story, solid characters, and a mystery that will have you turning the pages to see who is the culprit.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review....more
The Duke and the Darkness is the first book in Anna Harrington's new series The Dukes of Darkness so if you're looking to start a new series, considerThe Duke and the Darkness is the first book in Anna Harrington's new series The Dukes of Darkness so if you're looking to start a new series, consider grabbing this one.
Devlin Raines, Duke of Dartmoor, has worked to put his father's sins in the past. His goal now is to keep his mother and sister safe and make a good marriage but when out of nowhere a mysterious (and beautiful) woman disrupts everything, he knows he has more work to do.
Peyton Chandler is our fmc and to the world, she has been dead for ten years. When she and her parents were attacked in their carriage, she faked her own death and left the country but now she's returned to London for revenge against the man she believes was responsible for it all - Devlin Raines. Peyton knows he was there that night and she is going to make him pay. Unfortunately, the more time she spends with him, the more what Peyton thought starts to fall apart and eventually the man she set out to destroy becomes the only man she can trust.
This book is heavy on the mystery aspect as Peyton and Devlin work to uncover what truly happened the evening of the attack and who was behind it as well as who is behind what has been recently occurring. Don't get me wrong - the romance is there, it just wasn't always front and center. I am also glad that Peyton was able to see who Devin truly is, not just because of how he was treated by his father, but because of what he does for those he loves and how he treats everyone around him...that he wasn't the spoiled womanizer she thought he was when they were younger.
Overall, I enjoyed this first book and I'll definitely be picking up the next book in the series when I can because with all the descriptions around Devlin's friends and counterparts, I'm intrigued to learn more about them.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review....more
Queen of Dreams is book two in the Bound to Fire and Steel series by Kit Rocha and it picks up shortly after book one leaves off so if you haven't reaQueen of Dreams is book two in the Bound to Fire and Steel series by Kit Rocha and it picks up shortly after book one leaves off so if you haven't read book one yet, you might want to hold on reading any further.
Now that Zanya has manifested her magic, she needs to embrace what she is and what she can do but because of their past, she fears the power she has. Ash quickly realizes he needs to hand over her training to someone who will truly push her to her limits and not try to protect her from everything so that's what he does and under the tutelage of Elevia and Ulric, she truly comes to realize what she can do.
At the same time, to kick off the story, Sachi is struggling with who she is and what her role is in everything. She hates sitting around waiting for Ash and Zanya while they go off to fight the Betrayer. But as her connection to the Dream deepens, she finds herself somehow pulled right into the Betrayer's stronghold and she sees this as her chance to do her part. She was raised to survive amongst the danger of a court so to gain his trust, she promises to not walk back to Ash and Zanya. If she can feed them any information she can find out while there, perhaps it can tip the scales in their favor. What Sachi finds out though is so much bigger than she expected though.
As everything comes to a head in this book and the final battle begins, it's definitely up in the air on which way everything will go. That said, I thought Rocha did a fantastic job of bringing everything together with this duology. Not only showing how Zanya and Sachi develop into who they are but also how things come to a head between Ash and the Betrayer. If you're looking for a new Romantasy to pick up, consider grabbing this one. There magic and world building are well done, the characters are well developed and if you're looking for spice, you'll for sure get it in this series.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review....more
RTC...I'm a little weirded out that no one has mentioned anything about the main characters (and love interests) are now pursuing relationships/with oRTC...I'm a little weirded out that no one has mentioned anything about the main characters (and love interests) are now pursuing relationships/with other people. I mean...I get the plot reasons but still. ...more
**spoiler alert** This was a series that I picked up because I'm always interested in a book/series that can combine a mystery alongside interesting c**spoiler alert** This was a series that I picked up because I'm always interested in a book/series that can combine a mystery alongside interesting characters and when I read the summary of the first book, I was intrigued. **This does have mention of future books in the series - do not read further if you don't want to be spoiled.**
This series actually follows a core set of characters but the first two focus on Sir Henry March as the hero who happens to be at the center of the underlying mystery of the secret group that is causing trouble for Henry and those around him. In book one, Henry meets Eliza Broad (the innkeeper's daughter) as she is escaping her horrible stepfather and his disgusting plans. Having been beaten, Henry takes Eliza to his home to recover and they end up building a friendship...and eventually something more.
The spy piece of this series is interesting and Schwarz does a great job of keeping the thread going from one book to another even though the main characters change once you move past book 2.
I will say, the only thing I didn't love was that while I get the class differences didn't necessarily make it realistic and Scwarz did set the stage for it in book 1, I was disappointed to see how quickly Henry and Eliza were no longer together as of book 2 and it was difficult for me to get on board with him trying to build a relationship with another fmc (Isabella) in book 2. That's not to say there is anything wrong with Isabella, I just spent all of book one rooting for Henry and Eliza and all of a sudden they were no longer together. Additionally, it was hard to then get on board with Eliza and Allen...but not as much because in my mind, Henry was already moving on with Isabella.
Anyway, that said, I truly enjoyed this series. If you're looking for something that has not only a great story, but well developed characters, consider picking this one up. It is complete which means you can read them all back to back so no waiting from one to the next...which is always a good thing. I'll be looking at more from this author as the writing is well done and I have found that so far, her stories are ones that keep me interested and engaged.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review....more
The Highlander's Wild Flame is the first book by Heather McCollum I've read and I enjoyed it.
It starts out in the past and it's an important aspect tThe Highlander's Wild Flame is the first book by Heather McCollum I've read and I enjoyed it.
It starts out in the past and it's an important aspect to the story (and the series I expect) as it sets the stage for the Brotherhood. When Rory MacLeod is taken as a prisoner in place of his older brother, who is meant to be laird, along with highlanders from other clans, a bond is formed amongst them as they work together to gain their freedom.
Fast forward to the main story. Lady Sara Macdonald is betrothed to the new laird of the clan MacLeod and she will do her duty. Anything to get away from her father, and besides, who will want her with the marking on her back. But when her father locks the entire clan MacLeod wedding party in the church and sets the church on fire, she can't stand by and watch them burn. By saving them, she will become an enemy to her own clan - specifically her father. Unfortunately, even though she does what she can, her betrothed is injured in the fire and Sara is blamed by some from the clan even though she is the one that got them all out.
The one standing between Sara and retribution for the injuries to their laird is Rory. While he isn't sure he can truly trust Sara, he is willing to give her the benefit of the doubt but still keep a very close eye on her. He's been burned by clan MacLeod before and he will never trust a woman like he did again. The problem is that they quickly find themselves caught up in each other but can they find a way to trust each other when there are so many people around them with their own agendas?
I enjoyed this one. There were a lot of questions around who truly was behind all the things that were happening to Rory's brother and I thought McCollum did a good job of slowly revealing what was going on and who was behind it all. I like the way she built up the relationship between these two as well. The twist with the sisters was interesting and I look forward to the next book when we hopefully get to see what happens with Sara's older brother.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review....more
Beautiful Villain by Rebecca Kenney caught my eye because of the summary. That said, I have to admit I didn't love this story.
Daisy Finnegan is the fBeautiful Villain by Rebecca Kenney caught my eye because of the summary. That said, I have to admit I didn't love this story.
Daisy Finnegan is the fmc and she just graduated college. She's also just gotten out of a bad relationship and when she joins a friend and her cousin at an exclusive house party, she notices that there are some weird things going on. When she finds out that the host of the parties is none other than the childhood sweetheart she and her family left behind years ago, Jay Gatsby, she is ecstatic that he is back in her life...and at just the right time.
I don't know - the story felt forced. There were parts that I just shook my head at because the villains were extra villainous or of course the fmc and mmc are rich and hot. For me, I have to connect with the characters to enjoy a story - even just a little bit - and I just didn't with anyone in this book. Did I feel bad for Daisy because her high school boyfriend was an a**hole, absolutely. Should she have broken up with him - for sure. Did I really care if Jay and Daisy got together? Not really.
That said, there is a supernatural aspect to this book and a bit of a war going on between the new and the old guard which I thought was an interesting plot. The whole voice thing of Daisy's was too drawn out but played a part in the war plot so that was interesting. Overall, I thought this was just ok. I won't be picking up any other books in this series.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review....more
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