Month: December 2020

Forever Your Duke by Erica Ridley

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

Forever Your Duke (12 Dukes of Christmas,#12)Forever Your Duke by Erica Ridley

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: 12 Dukes of Christmas, #12

Release Date: December 18, 2020

Miss Cynthia Louise Finch has long given up hope of marriage, after 6 seasons of playing by the ton’s rules and no offers of marriage, she decided enough is enough and stopped trying to please the ton. In the years that have followed Cynthia Louise has had fun and in the process is no longer considered “eligible parti”. But that has stopped her from being invited to the Duke of Nottingvale’s annual Christmastide House Party. This year, the word is out that the duke will be choosing his bride from the invited guests. Cynthia Louise at the ripe old age of 30 will be chaperoning her cousin Lady Gertrude with the hope that Gertie and the duke will make a match.

Alexander Borland, the Duke of Nottingvale is perfect – literally – he follows all the rules, he is a perfect gentleman and host. And regardless of his personal feelings, he will choose the most suitable lady at his house party to be his duchess. And she won’t be the spinster Cynthia Louise – who is fascinating and fun and completely unsuitable. Why with so many perfect choices he shouldn’t even be giving Cynthia Louise any thought at all. But when she offers to help him choose the best possible bride from all the candidates, he jumps at the chance to spend more time with her. But only to find a bride – that isn’t her and maybe to steal a kiss or two and maybe to break a rule or two – but that is it – because no matter how much he likes her – she won’t do – definitely not – because there is not a chance in hell that this imperfect spinster could ever be his perfect match – right?

This was a well written, sweet novella with a not-so-subtle nod to the ‘Grinch that Stole Christmas’. The story is fun with lots of witty banter, naughty ditties, a heroine who has embraced her inner hoyden and a duke that needs to lighten up, a puppy named Max, skiing, arrow injuries, lots of perfect debutantes, a lame proposal, some kissing and finally a very lovely declaration scene followed by the promise of HEA. Since this is the last book in the series, I do wish there had been a more in-depth epilogue set a bit later and catching the reader up with all the “Dukes of Christmas” – but even without that, this was a sweet, low heat romance with very likable characters and happy ending.

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

A Scandalous Portrait by Callie Hutton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)2 Comments

A Scandalous Portrait (Rose Room Rogues, #)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Rose Room Rogues #1
Publication Date: 12/15/20
Number of Pages: 195

I loved this delightful introduction to the Rose Room Rogues series. The characters are delightful and you’ll feel as if you’ve become good friends before the book is finished. As always with this author, the writing is excellent, the plot is tight and well-executed, and the epilogue is the perfect ending for the book.

The Rose Room is the most exclusive gambling hell in London – maybe even all of England – and it is owned by three brothers. Sebastian Rose (Hunt), the Earl of Huntington, isn’t exactly a silent partner, but he isn’t involved in the day-to-day running of the hell since that would reflect upon his title. Driscoll Rose is a mathematical genius who keeps the books and does the hiring for the club. Dante Rose is a by-blow who was fully acknowledged by his father and was raised alongside Hunt and Driscoll. Dante was always laid-back, cool, calm, and collected. He handled those delicate situations that were about to turn sour. Oh – and lest I forget – all three were also agents for the Crown.

Hunt has decided it is time for him to take a wife and set up his nursery, so he’s attending ton events in order to ‘inspect’ the current crop of debutantes on the marriage mart. His requirements are simple – right – she must be refined, biddable, and scandal-free. Her not being a chore to bed would also be desirable. He cannot bring scandal to his title or his lineage. However, all of the debutantes with whom he’s danced or spoken bore him to tears – he has not seen one with whom he thought he could spend the rest of his life.

Lady Diana Pemberton is the daughter of the Marquess of Rockingham. To Hunt, she’s also known as Lady Trouble because from their childhood forward, he’s always been rescuing her from one scrape or another. She has only just returned to London after being banished to Italy for a year because of a scandal in which she was involved. The scandal wasn’t her fault – but, being a female, she is the one who took the brunt of the censure. She’s an independent woman who has her own fortune and her own home separate from her father who lives days away in northern England. Lady Diana is everything that Hunt doesn’t want in a wife.

While attending a ball, Hunt is dismayed to see Lady Diana heading directly for him. Uh Oh! Lady Trouble needs rescuing again – he just knows it. Yes, that is it exactly – and when she tells him her tale, he can’t help but agree to assist her. Then, helping her leads to a case the Crown assigns him and they are thrown together more and more. She even saves him – but that causes consequences he’s happy with, but she isn’t sure she is.

I loved seeing Hunt come to realize that what he thought he wanted and what he really needed were two different things. Then, I loved watching him convince Diana that is what she wanted as well. Their growth together was a lovely thing to see and they really did suit each other perfectly.

I definitely recommend this lovely read and hope you will love it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.