Month: May 2019

Lady No Says Yes by Jess Michaels

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Lady No Says Yes (The Scandal Sheet Book 3)Lady No Says Yes by Jess Michaels
Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Scandal Sheet, #3

Release Date: May 7, 2019

Lady Sophie aka Lady No is starting her fourth season and the Scandal Sheet wonders if this will be the season that Lady No will finally say yes. Sophie’s aunt and guardian Lady Louisa challenges her to make this the season she says yes. Sophie has a deep-seated fear of love, she was young when her parents died, but vividly remembers their relationship. She is terrified of loosing herself and as a result, she holds everyone at bay, never letting anyone close enough to touch her heart. She is also a very wealthy heiress and doesn’t believe that any man would want her, just her fortune.

Rowan Sinclair is the youngest son of the late Earl of Terrington and the earl’s second wife. He has a reputation as a rake and a wastrel, but the truth is, he is an artist. His father has been supporting him by giving him an allowance for years, but now that he is gone, and his elder brothers have found a loophole in the late earl’s will and have gleefully cut him off. Rowan doesn’t know what to do, he has not made enough of a name for himself to have his art support him and has no other form of income. When he learns that the very rich Lady Sophie has begun saying yes to suitors, he wonders if she is the answer to his problems. Will a little help from her aunt, Rowan sets out to woo and win her. But to his surprise, it is Sophie who wins him and not because of her fortune!

Sophie is terrified of Rowan and what he makes her feel, she resists him at every turn, but he doesn’t give up and worms his way in to her heart. But when the truth of his courtship comes out can he convince her his love is true? Or will her past prevent her from accepting love?

I liked this story, but I didn’t love it and I don’t think I would read it again. There is a lot going on in a very short novella and some plot points just didn’t work for me. The biggest being Sophie’s fear of love, she is in her fourth season – so roughly, 22 years old and her parents died 15 years ago – so she was around 7 years old – but she understood the dynamics of her parents relationship?? Sorry, that is just too much of a stretch for me. The writing is good and the love scenes are steamy, but with so many plots and sub-plots, it does feel a little rushed and I would be hard-pressed to tell you why they are in love. I wish this book had been a bit longer and the characters given more time together to develop their relationship.

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

The Lady’s Lover by Deb Marlowe

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Lady's Lover (Half Moon House Series Book 4)The Lady’s Lover by Deb Marlowe
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Half Moon House, #4

Release Date: May 6, 2019

The Marquess of Marstoke has escaped from Newgate and is once again reeking havoc for the Prince Regent. The Prince wants Hestia Wright stop him once and for all and insists that she works with one of his most trusted men. Hestia is not happy with this turn of events, but agrees. Hestia has a long and ugly history with Marstoke and she will do whatever is necessary to stop him, even work with the Prince’s man. She returns to the Half Moon House to plan. Half Moon House is a home that Hestia has set up to take in women and help them start a new life – most of the women are from brothels and all have been touched by Marstoke’s evil in some way. After her own abuse at his hands and having no one to help her after, the house and it’s inhabitants are precious to her.

John Everett, Earl of Stoneacre is the man the Prince has assigned to help Hestia. They have worked together before and he both admires and desires her. He knows that Hestia has made her disinterest clear and that his family would never accept the former “Queen of Courtesans in Great Britain and Beyond” as a bride – a fact made clear by the choice of young women his mother the Marchioness of Woodbury keeps throwing in his direction, but there is something about Hestia and Stoneacre is not ready to give up.

They come up with a plan to learn where Marstoke is hiding. They visit a brothel and Hestia puts on a grand show, but when she kisses Stoneacre to avoid discovery – she knows everything between them is changing – can she trust this man with her true self?

Their journey to capture Marstoke and to their own HEA is wrought with peril, betrayal, secrets, pain and more than one twist. The book is well written and is paced well. The characters are wonderful, the love scenes steamy, the suspense builds slowly and then explodes in a jaw dropping final confrontation. The ending is sweet and the author offers instant access to an epilogue if you sign up for her newsletter. There are a couple of minor formal address errors and even though the author gives enough backstory that you will not feel completely lost, but I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if I had read the series in order. That said, if you have been following this series, you will definitely want to read this book, but, if like me, this is your first foray into the Half Moon House, I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series for maximum understanding and enjoyment.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an e-ARC that was provided to me.*