Month: December 2020

Lady Lucinda’s Lords by Jane Charles

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

Lady Lucinda's Lords (12 Days of Christmas, #10)Lady Lucinda’s Lords by Jane Charles
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: 12 Days of Christmas, #10

Release Date: December 10, 2020

After four seasons, Lady Lucinda Claxton’s father, the Duke of Arscott is tired of waiting for Lucinda to find a husband and decides to move things along. With the help of his mother, the dowager Duchess, he invites 10 men to their country estate to vie for Lucinda’s hand.

Lucinda is not pleased to learn that her father and grandmother have decided to host a house party in an attempt to find her a husband, she is even less pleased when she reads the list of lords who will be attending – all of whom she knows and none of whom impress. She resigns herself to the party and promises to try and give each man a chance. But things start going wrong even before the guests arrive. Most of their servants are exposed to the measles and have to quarantine – leaving the house severely short-handed.

The lords arrive and the dowager is frank with them as to why they were invited, then proceeds to lay down the “rules” of how Lucinda will give them all a chance to win her hand (think The Bachelor – Regency Edition). Lucinda has little hope that she will find a husband, until she meets Caleb Copeland – an American who was not invited, but escorted his maiden aunts who are guests of the dowager.

Caleb is interested in Lucinda, but is sure that her father would never consider him worthy as he is a mere mister. Since he has nothing to offer her, he tries to keep his distance from the party goers by lending a helping hand to the understaffed household. But Lucinda keeps finding him and insists on assisting – much to the disgruntlement of the “leaping lords” as Caleb calls them. Can Lucinda convince Caleb that he is all she wants and a title isn’t important? Or will he leave his heart in England when he returns to America?

This was a fun, quick read with ties to Scot to the Heart series. The book was well written, with a bit of humor, a little drama, sweet (kissing only) love scenes and a nice ending. The novella is part of the 12 Days of Christmas Collaboration and has ties to another series, but really can be read as a standalone title and I hope the author plans to write more books featuring Lucinda and Caleb’s many siblings!

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

Courting Trouble by Kerrigan Byrne

On By TracyIn Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Courting Trouble (Goode Girls #2)Courting Trouble by Kerrigan Byrne
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Goode Girls, #2

Release Date: December 8, 2020

This book picks up where A Dark and Stormy Knight (renamed Seducing a Stranger) ended, with Honoria “Nora” Mosby, Viscountess Woodhaven lying in a pool of blood after being shot by her deranged husband while saving her sister Prudence. As she lay barely clinging to consciousness, she begs Pru to take her to Dr. Titus Conleith.

Titus and Nora have a long history and this would not be the first time he has saved her life. But they parted ways years ago when she brutally broke his heart and married William Mosby. Now she is back in his life and widowed, he plans to stitch her up and send her on her way, but with her husband’s enemies come looking for something William stole from them; Nora isn’t safe anywhere but with Titus. He tells himself he no longer wants her and will simply keep her at arm’s length. But nothing between Nora and Titus has ever been simple and when their passion ignites once more it seems like this might finally be the time for them, but reality slaps Nora in the face and once again she willingly sacrifices her happiness for the ones she loves. But will Titus let her push him away again?

This was a very well written, emotional story that kept me hooked until the last page! I love how the author picked up at the end of the previous book, but took us back in time to when they first met and let us peek at their young love and their tragic heartbreak. She then brings us back to the present along with a lot of familiar faces from the Victorian Rebel series, as well as introducing some new characters. The book is not a light, fluffy read, no, it is gritty and raw and at times heartbreaking, but it is also passionate, steamy, exciting and intriguing. I loved Titus, he is every thing you could want in a hero and then some, his love for Nora is unconditional and so strong – even when he wanted to hate her, she was his love and always would be. And after reading A Dark & Stormy Knight, I wasn’t sure I would like Nora, but after reading her backstory, I realized I completely misjudged her in that book and she truly was nothing like I thought. This is the second book in the series and can be read as a standalone, but I would strongly recommend reading the books in order for the best reading experience.

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