Month: November 2018

The Good, The Bad and The Duke by Janna McGregor

On By TracyIn Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)1 Comment

The Good, the Bad, and the Duke (The Cavensham Heiresses #4)The Good, the Bad, and the Duke by Janna MacGregor
Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Cavensham Heiresses, #4

Release Date: November 27, 2018

Lady Daphne Hallworth is the quintessential “good girl” and all but invisible, so it is no surprise when her family departs to their country estate for Christmas and she is left behind. Rather than join them, she decides to use her time alone to chart her future. She plans to use her inheritance and set up her own household and start her charity – a home for unwed mothers. Events in her past have made this charity very near and dear to her heart – so with no one around to naysay her, she decides to visit her solicitor and get her plans in motion. But her plans are derailed when her reticule containing her journal with her deepest, darkest secrets and fantasies is stolen and she has to chase the thief – right to Reynolds gaming hell and Paul.

Paul Barstowe is the new Duke of Southart, a title he never expected to inherit and one he doesn’t feel worthy to bear. But when his beloved brother Robert died from Rheumatic Fever, Paul swore to honor his final request and become a better man by giving up his wild, wicked ways and becoming the honorable man Robert always believed him to be. Paul spent his life trying to gain his father’s approval and when he realized that was a lost cause, he began acting out to gain his father’s attention – and it worked, so well that he ended up pushing away all his friends – save Robert and Devon. But determined to turn over a new leaf, he has taken his seat in parliament and is trying to establish a hospital specializing in the care of Rheumatic Fever patients to honor his brother’s memory. He has found a piece of property that would be perfect and starts to make plans.

Fate throws them together and they strike deal, he will find her journal and she will convince her brother that he is truly redeemed and deserving of acceptance. Seems easy and straightforward, a perfect plan – but fate is not done with these two and they will have a lot to overcome before there can be a HEA.

As in the previous books, I thought the writing was a bit wordy and repetitive and I felt like the story was too busy, too many characters, too many plot elements, too many implausible scenarios and drama for the sake of drama. That said, I did like both Paul and Daphne and felt the chemistry between them and really became invested in their quest to find redemption and love with each other. This is the fourth book in the series and I would highly recommend reading them in order rather than starting with this book.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

I’ll Always Love You by Ella Quinn

On By TracyIn Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

I'll Always Love You (The Worthingtons, #5.5)I’ll Always Love You by Ella Quinn
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Worthingtons, #5.5

Release Date: November 27, 2018

This was a sweet little addition to the Worthington series, featuring Louisa’s sister by marriage Lady Lucinda Hughlot and Gerald, Earl Elliot.

Lucinda is finally getting her London season thanks to Louisa and Rothwell being able to convince the dowager duchess that she must sponsor her – the dowager has not been in town since her husband’s death and has avoided returning due to the scandals her late husband caused. She informs Lucinda that she has spoken to her dear friend the Marchioness of Quorndon and they have decided that her son the Marquess and Lucinda will be a perfect match. Lucinda is dismayed, she wanted to choose her own husband and dreamt of a love match. But she agrees to meet the Marquess to keep the peace.

Gerald has not had much success in his quest for a bride, he seems to only notice a woman once she has become attached to another man. Far from heartbroken, he decides that this is the season that he will find the perfect woman. While visiting his club he sees Quorndon and learns that he will probably be married soon to Lucinda, as his mother believes they will be a good match, their conversation is overheard by Rothwell, who immediately asks Gerald to watch out for his sister. Gerald agrees thinking that it will give him a chance to meet potential brides.

When Lucinda meets Gerald, she is smitten, he is perfect for her! But she has promised to meet Quorndon and hopes that he inspires the same level of interest. He does not and now Lucinda has to find a way out of this arrangement. As luck would have it she meets the perfect woman for Quorndon in the form of Miss. Arabella Marlowe – who is just as interested in him as he is in her. She suggests an outing and invites Gerald along. It is clear that Arabella and Quorndon are a perfect match, but Gerald does seem to see that Lucinda is his perfect mate as well.

As the weeks pass and they spend more time together, she knows that she is in love with him, but has no idea what his feelings are or how to find out, but when her mother informs her that she will be announcing her betrothal to Quarndon in a week, she will have to gather up all her courage and ask him or lose the one man she may not be able to live without.

Even when their true feelings are revealed, they will still have to overcome their mother’s disapproval before they can have their HEA.

I thought this was a very sweet story and I loved Lucinda and Gerald – but I will admit that I thought Gerald was dumber than a box of rocks more than once and more than a little dense. He was perfectly charming and I enjoyed his interactions with Lucinda, but it was like he refused to see what was right in front of him – this was not your typical hero denial – he really came across as obtuse and a little slow on the uptake. However, he manages to pull his head out of his butt and realize that Lucinda is the woman he has always wanted before it is too late. I got a kick out of his mother and how well she played him 🙂 This was well written, fast paced, easy to read story with a little bit of steam at the end and not a whole lot of drama. I really enjoyed the book and would be happy to recommend, it is part of the Worthington series, but it could be read as a stand alone with no problems at all.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*