Tag: Historical Romance (Page 2 of 9)

BOOK REVIEW: A Matter of Temptation (Unforgettable Love #1) by Stacy Reid

August 28, 2023 / Jen / 0 Comments

A Matter of Temptation (Unforgettable Love #1)
by Stacy Reid
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Miss Wilhelmina “Mina” Crawford is desperate. Having been ruined in the eyes of society years ago for one foolish, starry-eyed mistake, she spends her days secreted away at her family’s crumbling estate, helping her brother manage the land but not able to truly live life the way she’s always dreamed. When her brother admits to just how dire their finances have gotten, she takes it upon herself to procure employment…but the only one who will even consider the scandalous idea of a female secretary is the brilliant, ruthless, and infuriating Earl of Creswick.

Simon Loughton, the Earl of Creswick, needs help if he wants to finally pass the reform bill he’s been championing for years and secure the vote for England’s most vulnerable constituents. Too bad help comes in the form of a woman with breathtaking nerve, fiery red hair, and a sense of humor to match.

Now temptation―disguised as a lovely, clever-mouthed devil―lives and works under Simon’s very roof. And Mina finally feels as though she’s truly living life to her wildest dreams. But even the most incendiary of kisses can’t incinerate Mina’s past…or the shocking secret that could ruin them both.

Review:

A Matter of Temptation was a forced proximity historical romance that was laced with laughter and love! With fabulous banter, a wonderful storyline and characters that were so easy to like, this was another huge win from Stacy Reid. If you’re a fan of historical romance, you definitely need her books in your life!

“Most men would have been appalled.”
“I am not most men.” His quiet voice held a sardonic note. “And allow me to say: you are not most women.”

Miss Wilhelmina “Mina” Crawford felt like she had to right her wrongs from the past. She had eloped, and now she wasn’t able to help her family financially by marrying someone. So watching her fix her twin brother’s issue was so much fun. I absolutely loved how Mina gained employment working for Simon Loughton, the Earl of Creswick….but I won’t say how. Other than it had me cheering for Mina every step of the way! And from that first meeting, it was glaringly obvious that there were sparks between them! Working with him was already pushing the envelope. Nothing more than that could ever develop between them.

Yet when his gaze met hers, his eyes gleamed with an expression Mina dearly wished she could interpret. A sharp sensation wrenched in the vicinity of her heart and Mina had to quickly look away.

Mina was so easy to love! I loved how bold, quick witted and insightful she was! It was so wonderful watching how passionate she was about her work and I loved seeing how happy she was with what she was able to accomplish. As Mina worked side by side with Simon, she seemed to read him so well. And established the beginnings of a wonderful friendship. So when there was some perilous action within the pages, I loved how it changed the trajectory of Mina and Simon. Not only did it show that she could be brave and fierce, but how Simon reacted will warm readers’ hearts!

He reached out and touched her cheek. “I love laughing with you.”
Such simple words, yet they slammed into her heart with the force of a hammer, for it sounded like he’d never had reason to laugh before.

Simon thought he could maintain distance from Mina, so I loved how he told her not to smile. As if that would work lol. His efforts were futile! Especially when he spent so much time with her, loved how hard she worked, and respected how clever she was. All the while thinking she was too pretty. So from the moment he had the scene with the puppy, I was a goner. Simon made me cry happy tears, he was such a good and kind man. Who also has a dirty mouth too. Yet Simon was to marry someone that went along with his station and reputation. His grandmother even had contenders picked out. And with the work he was doing, his image was everything.

When he kissed her, it was with such aching softness that her chest squeezed.

As they worked together, they couldn’t help falling for the other. Simon tried everything to ignore his need for Mina, but his desire ran too deep for her. So I loved watching them connect and become even more entwined with one another. And some of my favorite moments involved the bucket list. Kissing. Confessions. Gambling. But at the same time, the world was separating them. Because of who they both were and what was expected of them. I wasn’t sure how they could make it work, especially with Mina’s past, but I kept my fingers crossed!

“Don’t you know who I am?”
“The Earl of Creswick,” she whispered.
“I will be the shelter for the storm over our heads, Mina, you need not fear what I might lose. What I know I cannot lose is you.”

A Matter of Temptation was a fabulous, swoon worthy and steamy historical romance! And within these pages there was also politics showing the inequality of social and gender issues back then. I loved how that added to the story. I can’t wait to read whatever Stacy Reid releases next!

BOOK REVIEW: An Earl to Remember (Unforgettable Love #2) by Stacy Reid

August 25, 2023 / Jen / 0 Comments

An Earl to Remember (Unforgettable Love #2)
by Stacy Reid
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Miss Georgianna Eleanor Heyford may be naught but a gentleman’s daughter, but even she’s heard the rumors about the Earl of Stannis’s exceptional charm and good looks. Surely she can cater his luxurious yacht party without getting swept away. But a terrible misunderstanding leaves Georgianna fired, furious, and with little recompense. Which is precisely when her opportunity for vengeance washes ashore…

Daniel Rutherford, the Earl of Stannis, has absolutely no memory of who he is. They tell him he must have fallen overboard, and the only person he seems to recognize is the lovely Georgianna―who strikes a chord of familiarity…and the faintest memory of heating his blood. Only now this inelegant, poorly dressed woman claims to be his wife!

But the truth is, Georgianna is finally getting her revenge. The dashing earl will work off the money he owes her and no one will be the wiser. Except the longer he stays with her and her younger sisters, the more it feels like he belongs there. And that perhaps he’d find a forever place in Georgianna’s heart…at least, until his memory returns...

Each book in the Unforgettable Love series is STANDALONE:
* A Matter of Temptation
* An Earl to Remember

Review:

How can I be so silly to wish that this… to wish that you…were real?

This gender swap of Overboard was so much fun! I’m a huge fan of the movie, and I loved seeing so many of the elements play out in the pages! So if you’re a fan of the amnesia trope, historical romance, and love defying all odds, then definitely put this one on your tbr! An Earl to Remember was charming, steamy and absolutely entertaining.

“You and Hetty are good friends, Mr. Stannis. I am certain she misses you.”
“Hetty? The fowl has a name?”
“Yes.”
He paused and stared at her carefully bent head and subtly shifting shoulders. Was Miss Heyford laughing?

Miss Georgianna Eleanor Heyford seemed to have the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was responsible for caring for her three younger sisters, since her parents had passed away. When she got a job catering for Daniel Rutherford, the Earl of Stannis, her sister was worried. Daniel had the reputation of a rake. So when a moment between Daniel and Georgie quickly escalated, she got to see his true colors afterwards. How he thought of those with her station. How anything physical meant nothing to him. And how he had no problem not paying her the full amount of her work, all because his lover was jealous. When Daniel washed up on the shores and in her cousin’s doctors office, Georgie took charge of her life. She saved herself from being ruined and was going to have Daniel payback what he owed her by working around her house.

As Georgianna watched him retreat from the kitchen, she realized that not once in the madness of this scheme had she feared her heart or virtue might be in peril with the earl. How foolish she had been.
Oh God, I must never allow him too close.

Georgie was a woman who was determined to get what she wanted. When Daniel recognized Georgie, it went along perfectly with the lies she created while also mixing in a little bit of the truth from time to time. The strawberry birthmark was the first of many moments that had me loving this book even more, because of the ties to Overboard! So I was cackling every time Georgie messed with Daniel. She told him he was broke. She gave him a huge list of chores he was to do around the house and land. The shock that came from Daniel had me dying from laughter. A man like him chasing around a chicken? Breaking up a pig and chicken fight? It was all so much fun! He definitely got what he deserved! Yet Daniel did it all without complaints. He worked from sun up to sun down to take care of his wife and family.

Laughter pealed from her, and he realized he had wiped whatever the hell was on his hand on his face. His mouth curved in an unwilling smile. “I cannot help feeling as if I am in a special hell and wonder what I did, hmm?”
She stilled, staring at him with wide eyes.

Daniel went from someone I loathed to someone that made my heart cheer with how he took care of his family. I loved watching his transformation. I loved that he showed us he was capable of being a good and honest man. That he respected Georgie. And how he became someone she could depend on. Whether it was the emotional weight Georgie carried, or helping around the house, he was kind to her. He always tried to do what was best for her. So when he kissed her, as her “husband”, my heart soared. And the moment he defended someone’s honor, that was it. I was a goner. There was no way I couldn’t fall head over heels in love with Daniel!

“Are you saying you believe in me?”
This was asked with such incredulity, a rush of amusement went through him. “Is the idea so astonishing to you, wife?”

I liked Georgie right away, even when she was tricking Daniel. I may have judged her lol, but I definitely didn’t fault her for the decision she made. As she became friends with Daniel, liked him and relied on him, I was terrified for her. This was not her true life. And while she knew she should tell him the truth, she couldn’t. She was attached. So I held my breath waiting for the other shoe to drop and it all to blow up in Georgie’s face. And when it did, I didn’t see it going that way and my mouth was left hanging wide open!

“Have you ever wanted something so much it hurt to want it, and you also feel incredibly foolish because you know it is not yours to have and it will never be?”
The lines of his face sharpened as he leaned in closer. “Tell me what it is you want, wife, and I will give it to you,” he vowed, his gaze steady on hers.
It is you.

One of my favorite things about this book was that Daniel’s dirty mouth was phenomenal! He had a way with words that made things erotic and crated so much heat. So there were plenty of scenes in this book that were seductive and steamy. The details had me fanning my face, they were explicitly hot! And in all, it was the perfect amount for this story! Another thing I loved was Georgie’s younger siblings Anna and Sarah. They were so adorable, and I loved watching Daniel connect with them. And Lizzie, while older and was someone Georgie could confide in, she had a tiny little story that made my heart so happy! Add in that we got to see Simon and Minas from the previous book A Matter of Temptation, aww I loved it all! Just know that you definitely don’t have to read the previous one before this!

“I miss the taste of you.” The words came from him before he had the presence of mind to censure his desire.

While alternating between Daniel and Georgie, this book was so much fun! An Earl to Remember had the most fabulous of endings and the epilogue will make readers close this book smiling! I can’t wait to see what Stacy writes next!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: The Wolf and the Wildflower by Stacy Reid

February 27, 2023 / Jen / 0 Comments

The Wolf and the Wildflower by Stacy Reid
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
USA Today bestselling author Stacy Reid’s addictive tale of two lost people who are found…by each other

London is buzzing with the news that James Winters, the Duke of Wulverton—thought lost at sea a decade ago—survived in the harsh wilderness of the Yukon. Now he’s been returned to his family, his responsibilities, and a nightmarish world of artifice and noise. He has three weeks to become a refined, elegant duke for the Queen…or doom the entire family to ruin and scandal.

Promising psychologist Jules Southby knows a lot about disguises. She’s secretly been living as a boy since birth, enjoying the freedoms of men and knowing little about how to behave like a woman. When she meets the alluring duke, she’s unprepared for his raw, masculine beauty and icy intelligence…or that he can see through her darkest secret.

Jules has very little time to transform the duke into a true semblance of an English gentleman. Yet his very presence seems to unravel her in every way. Their attraction is stark and achingly real—and forbidden. But loving the lost duke would mean losing every sacrifice she’s made to earn her freedom…

Review:

The Wolf and the Wildflower was a charming historical romance! Jules Southby had lived her life as a lie. For the past 24 years, the world thought that she was a man. Her mother did it out of self-preservation, since her father wanted a boy. Yet Jules seemed happy with furthering her education and working in the psychology field. Two things that were not allowed for women back then. When Jules and her father were hired to help James Winters become refined within three weeks, they thought they were taking on an intriguing case. Yet Jules and James didn’t realize that from the moment they met, both of their lives would be changed forever.

“Were you not alone, Your Grace?”
Painfully so. Yet James would never admit that. Instead, he murmured, “I had the ice-capped mountains and the trees. At other times I had wolves and bears. I had nature and the call of the wild. Those were enough.”

James Leopold Winters, the Duke of Wulverton, and the Earl of Lydon was 18 years old when he was lost in the wild. For the last 10 years he had struggled to survive. Alone, in a freezing environment and with danger at every turn. Now that he was back with his family, he still felt all alone. His family treated him like he was a savage and at times talked around him as if he wasn’t even there. It was as though he was an animal in the zoo and they were studying him. They struggled that James didn’t want to be touched and refused to talk about what he went through when he was gone. But James was loyal and didn’t want to make his mom unhappy, so he agreed to see a doctor of the mind.

Wildflower? Jules’s heart shook, and she lowered her head to hide her expression. “Is this to be my new moniker, Your Grace?”
“It suits.”
Do not ask, it is unimportant.

My heart hurt for Jules. When Jules had mentioned in the past about living as a girl, her mother begged her not to and to keep up the lie. Yet at the same point, she was terrified that if she did announce she was a girl that her father wouldn’t want to share his studies with her anymore. Ironically from the moment that James met Jules, he was the first who could see through her disguise. And they struck a deal to keep one another’s secrets. From that first meeting I could see that they were kindred souls and they were both so alone. As they spent time around each other, I loved watching when Jules was able to get through to James with her insight and knowledge. It felt monumental! She was so brilliant and I loved how she explained things to him. As time went by, they both shared things about themselves that no one else knew. And whenever James did that, it felt like he was giving little pieces of himself to Jules. It was impossible not to fall for him!

James turned away from her and started walking. A feeling he did not understand hooked into him, and he paused. “Run with me, Wildflower?”
“Yes,” she said softly.

The banter between Jules and James was fabulous! It was much needed with the heaviness in the air about both of their lives. Jules living a lie and James’ gut wrenching past. It hurt that they both tried to shove down love. But when they were around each other, it felt like they were being given a fresh start. So I loved that he called her Wildflower and why that word was important to him. I loved how patient, kind and thoughtful James could be with Jules. And when they did become more, their moments together were racy, steamy and sooo hot! Alternating between the two of them gave us the best of both worlds and I loved hearing their different thoughts. Especially during their intimate moments. Yet I do need to mention that this story took quite a few times of suspending ones belief. I thought if I could read about vampires and werewolves, I didn’t see why I would struggle here and I was so right!

“What are you thinking now, James?”
“That I want my Wildflower to touch me and that perhaps I wish to touch her as well. Skin to skin, without any gloves on our hands.”
Jules’s heart stuttered inside her chest. His wildflower?

Joy and heartache were laced through the pages making The Wolf and the Wildflower so easy to devour. The story was filled with secrets, jealousy, friendship, love and so much heart! And James and Jules story ended with a wonderful epilogue, with a peak into the future. Now I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that James’ younger sister gets her own book hopefully. She seemed completely fascinating to me!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: The Duke in Question (Daring Dukes #3) by Amalie Howard

December 9, 2022 / Jen / 2 Comments

The Duke in Question (Daring Dukes #3)
by Amalie Howard
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
This lady is not at all a paragon of society…

Lady Bronwyn Chase leaves London on her brother's passenger liner bound for America with a packet of secret letters that could get her into trouble. Serious trouble―the kind a duke's sister shouldn't be in; the kind that puts spymaster Valentine Medford, the Duke of Thornbury, on her trail. But as the duke gets closer to Bronwyn and the secrets she's keeping, he'll have to decide between the mysterious woman who calls to him, or his allegiance to the Crown.

Review:

The Duke in Question was a quick paced book that will keep you on your toes! But as the story unfolded, there were so many moments between the characters that stole my heart. It was impossible not to fall in love with this writing. Weave that with a brothers best friend trope and an opposites attract, and this book ended up being so much fun!

He was her brother’s friend! And a former British undercover agent. A man who would put her in handcuffs without blinking. A different scenario involving restraints— a much naughtier one with rather less clothing— crept into her mind, and she felt her face flame. Did he carry handcuffs?
Stop it, stop it, stop it.

Bronwyn was so effortless to adore in the previous book, Rules for Heiresses. While you could easily read this book as a standalone, there were some bigger plot ideas that tie back into the second book. Bronwyn was clever, kind and jumped right in to help others. With her latest task, Bronwyn landed on her brother’s passenger liner with hidden documents traveling to America. Lord Valentine Medford, the Duke of Thornbury and retired agent of the Crown, was on that ship too. He was trying to find Kestral, a spy who was in fact Bronwyn. What unfolded were moments that were mischievousness, heart racing and sexy.

He ground his jaw and cursed under his breath.
He’d underestimated her… again.

Bronwyn was so clever and her thoughts were addictive. She acted and played the part as someone who was shallow. It allowed her to distract Valentine with what she was truly doing. She messed with him in the best of ways and it was laugh worthy since he bought her act so easily. I loved how she knew she had the upper hand. And I loved even more that she teased him seductively. Valentine would get so aggravated and irritated by Bronwyn, it was hilarious! Their banter was addictive and steamy at the same time. Yet I kept waiting for that moment that he would see through her act and I was a little nervous for Bronwyn since she was playing with fire.

What would his lips taste like? Coated in whisky? Like sin and stupidity.

As the story unfolded, Bronwyn wanted to trust Thornbury, but she knew his allegiance was to the crown. They had a delicious push and pull. And when it came to more, I was shocked that she was a virgin because the things she did oh wow! Their moments were hot and filled with so much passion! Yet they were the ultimate of opposites attract. Bronwyn was so joyous and happy, and Thornbury was such a grump lol. But with rescuing, saving lives and putting the pieces together, this story constantly kept me curious with what would happen next!

It didn’t matter that they were in a race for their lives or what was at stake. All she could think of was the firm press of his lips, the delicious scrape of his stubble on her chin, and that dark, sinful flavor that was all his.

Historical romance fans of bold and brave women, men who will dive head first into danger to protect those they care for and witty dialogue will adore The Duke in Question. There were also side characters that were fleshed out wonderfully and added so much to this story. And those seeking a happily ever after, will love the fabulous epilogue we were given! This is my second book by Amalie Howard and I look forward to reading so many more!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: Much Ado About Dukes (Never a Wallflower #2) by Eva Devon

August 21, 2022 / Jen / 2 Comments

Much Ado About Dukes (Never a Wallflower #2)
by Eva Devon
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Shakespeare meets Bridgerton in this witty and lively marriage-of-inconvenience romance.

As far as William Easton―the Duke of Blackheath―is concerned, love can go to the devil. Why would a man need passion when he has wealth, a stately home, and work to occupy his mind? But no one warned him that a fiery and frustratingly strong-willed activist like Lady Beatrice Haven could find a way to get under his skin...and that he might enjoy it.

Lady Beatrice is determined to never marry. Ever. She would much rather fight for the rights of women and provoke the darkly handsome Duke of Blackheath, even if he does claim to be forward-thinking. After all, dukes―even gorgeous ones―are the enemy. So why does she feel such enjoyment from their heated exchanges?

But everything changes when Beatrice finds herself suddenly without fortune, a husband, or even a home. Now her future depends on the very man who sets her blood boiling. Because in order to protect his esteemed rival, the Duke of Blackheath has asked for Beatrice’s hand, inviting his once-enemy into his home...and his bed.

Each book in the Never a Wallflower series is STANDALONE:
* The Spinster and the Rake
* Much Ado About Dukes
* The Duke's Secret Cinderella

Review:

Much Ado About Dukes was romantic, charming and impossible to put down! With characters that were full of life, a story-line that kept me turning the pages faster and an ending I adored, this book was everything! If you love historical romance or adult romance, you definitely need this book in your life!

His head lowered ever so slightly. “Are you blackmailing me?” And then he smiled, a beautiful, teasing, devastating sort of smile. “Are you going to make every family dinner a complete catastrophe until I agree?”
She cocked her head to the side. “Possibly.”

Beatrice was convinced that love was never in her future. Being raised by her Uncle, and having her cousin as a best friend, she was happily living her life and speaking out about women’s rights. But when her fortune disappeared, she found herself in trouble and complete disarray. To the rescue came Will. William Easton, the Duke of Blackhearth, was the man she wrote to about women’s rights and never heard back from. He was a formidable presence and she was convinced he was the enemy. But when he proposed they marry and that they would both avoid the pitfalls of love, Beatrice paused to consider and I was already addicted!

“Perhaps we have more in common than we thought,” he said softly.
“The horror,” she teased before she inclined her head. “Who’d have thought it?”

Beatrice made a name for herself and she seemed so put together, driven and I loved that she would never settle for less when it came to love. She had seen how much her parents truly loved one another, before they died, and she only wanted that. She was perfectly content remaining single and I loved the relationship she had with her cousin, Margaret. They truly loved and cared for one another. Yet, Beatrice felt so lonely. Except when Will was in her vicinity, her life felt less lonely and fierier during those moments!

There was only one word for her.
Magnificent.
He did not know what he had expected, but this was not it. She was a positive force of a woman, and he was… stunned.

I am officially obsessed with William Easton, the Duke of Blackheath! To a stranger he could come across as focused on his work and maybe closed off, but getting to see the side of him with his brothers….ohhhh there was so much to Will! He was such a good guy *cries because I want to steal him from the pages!*. I loved the interactions he had with his brothers but I loved even more all of Will’s thoughts that we got to hear as we alternated between him and Beatrice. He proved again and again why he was trustworthy and good. He apologized. He stood up. He surprised Beatrice time and again. But best of all he could joke and tease her, and those moments made my heart beat faster! Will was considerate, thoughtful, kind and extremely sexy.

“Beatrice, we shall make London quake underneath our polished boots, for you and I can make the world sit up and take notice. Nothing will ever be the same.”
How right he surely was.

Much Ado About Dukes made me laugh out loud and smile! The banter between Beatrice and Will was so much fun and I loved how it showed their other sides! From the moment they met, there was chemistry and the tension between them that was electrifying. But they were both weary of love. So the moments they caused each other to faulter was exciting and left me hoping for more! And as they spent more time around each other, they helped each other see who they truly were and open their eyes to the ways of the world. I loved that they brought out the best from each other. When their moment together led to more, this book was sensually seductive!

Will smiled down at her.
She met that smile with one of her own. A smile full of determination to succeed.
Yes, this was the beginning of something beautiful, and he would not let them fail.

Much Ado About Dukes was romantically addictive! I loved the way this book unfolded, I loved the moments that tugged at my heart and I also love that it made me scream out loud for how something played out. This book constantly pulled on my emotions! And fyi, you definitely don’t have to read the first book in this series to enjoy this one! I just have to say one more thing…. I absolutely loved Ben, Will’s brother. He needs his own book please!

She beamed at him. “Together?” she whispered. “How can we lose?”

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*