Just for the Season by Rachel Griffiths

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Rom-Com, New To Me Author, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Rom Com, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Just for the SeasonJust for the Season by Rachel Griffiths

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: None Given

Release Date: July 7, 2026

When her half-brother Julian, Earl Ramsay and his wife Anna leave for a prolonged trip, Julian asks his best friend, Wolfgang Latham, the Duke of Warrick to keep an eye on his sister Lady Charlotte. Charlotte is not happy about this turn of events, as she and Warrick have a history, she thought they had been courting a few years ago, but without any explanation, Warrick cut off communication with her and acts if there was never anything between them. Charlotte was hurt, but she didn’t wallow in her pain, instead she focused her energy on fulling her dream of opening a silk mill. Things are going well, until she learns that her mother is in town and in debt, in an attempt to speak to her mother, she goes to a risqué ball, she learns the magnitude of her mother’s debt, runs into Warrick and is accosted by another guest. This sparks a scandal that has Queen Charlotte insisting that Charlotte must marry by the end of the summer. Too bad the only man she has ever considered marrying can’t stand her.

Three years ago, Wolfgang Latham was just a second son and a solider when he fell in love with Charlotte, but and overheard conversation and the death of his older brother changed everything. He vowed to forget about Charlotte and until her brother requested a favor, he was pretty much succeeding. Wolfgang reluctantly agrees, but when Charlotte is embroiled in a scandal and is ordered to marry, he regrets his agreement, because watching Charlotte be courted by other men will be its own form of torture. Things only get worse when he learns the truth of what he overheard three years ago, but is it too late to make things right with Charlotte or will he have to watch her marry another man?

What a fun story! Charlotte and Wolfgang are clearly meant to be, but a very well executed misunderstanding trope keeps readers wondering how they are going to be able to find their HEA until almost the end of the book. This story has a very strong heroine, a hero who struggles with survivor guilt, a dowager who had plans of her own, a steady stream of suitors, lots of witty banter, some steamyish love scenes, and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. This is the second book in the series and I didn’t read the first book, but that had no impact on my reading experience. I really liked this author’s writing style, but did feel like this story did drag a bit in the middle, however, the ending was very satisfying and I would happily recommend this title to my fellow HR readers or anyone who enjoys a strong heroine and a hero who will do whatever it takes to make her happy.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Dearest Beast by Felicia Grossman

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Movie / Story Retelling, Part of a Series, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Dearest Beast (Once Upon the East End #3)Dearest Beast by Felicia Grossman

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Series: Once Upon the East End #3

Release Date: June 30, 2026

Roger Berab and Rebecca Adler have known each other for years, and disliked each other for nearly as long, but they meet one night when they are both feeling vulnerable and share an intimate encounter, which ends with Roger declaring it a mistake and that they don’t need to marry, causing Rebecca to hate him even more. Rebecca is a midwife and chemist who prides herself on her independence. But when her home and workshop is ruined by Roger’s daughter, she has no choice but to accept his offer of shelter. As she heals, she gets to know Roger and his children, particularly his daughter, which adds tension as well as opportunities for growth within the household and her feelings for Roger.

For Roger, status is everything and now that his time of mourning has passed, he is eager to find a new wife who will help him achieve his hope for a seat on the Commission of Delegates and mother to his children. But when his daughter destroys Rebecca Adler’s home, he is honor bound to offer her a place to stay, which brings the two back into close contact after months of avoiding each other after their passionate encounter. Roger finds Rebecca sharp-tongued, opinionated, plain, common, and utterly intriguing.

When I read the blurb for this book, I was intrigued because I love a “Beauty and the Beast” retelling, but quite honestly, I found both main characters rather beastly and am not sure who was the “beauty” and who was the “beast” in this story. I also didn’t care for the fact that Roger had a love interest for most of the book, someone he hoped to marry, even while lusting after Rebecca. The book does delve deeply into Jewish culture and uses a lot of terms that were not familiar to me, so I appreciated the glossary of Jewish terms used in the book, but think it would have been more helpful at the beginning of the book rather than the end, because I had to stop several times to look up a term, which if the book started with that information, I would have already understood while reading. Overall, I wanted to like this book, but I never really liked Rebecca or Roger and found it hard to be invested in their relationship. This is the third book in the series and is connected with the previous books, but it could be read as a standalone title without issue.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *