Month: July 2024

The Wallflower Wager by Lana Williams

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Book Publicity, Novella, Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Wallflower Wager (Revenge of the Wallflowers, #20)The Wallflower Wager by Lana Williams

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Revenge of the Wallflowers, #20  & The Mayfair Literary League

Release Date: July 16, 2024

Wallflower Lady Prudence “Prue” Davies is no stranger to rogues, so when one literally falls at her feet, she knows better than to be charmed by a handsome face. But Silas Hayward, Viscount Windstead, seems different and he clearly loves his grandmother, so maybe she is wrong about him! But that illusion is shattered when she learns he is taking part in the “Wallflower Wager”, a bet made between rogues, the winner will be the first man to dance with 12 different wallflowers at 12 different balls. With her mind set, Prue sets out to unite the wallflowers and teach the rogues a lesson, but that was before she fell for Silas and realizes their only chance of being together would be if he wins. Can she have it all? Or will she have to choose between love and honor?

Silas Hayward, Viscount Windstead, needs money to save his family from financial ruin and his options for gaining that money are limited. He has an idea for a windmill design that he is sure could be successful, but he needs money to make a prototype – thus his participation in the wager. If that fails, he will have to marry an heiress and put his dreams and his heart on the back burner in order to help his family. He had all but resigned himself to a loveless marriage when he meets Prue and is smitten. But when his best chance at an investor is shot down, he realizes how much he cares about Prue and decides it is better to cut ties with her and do his duty. Even if it breaks his heart, but as any romance reader knows, love will find a way and Silas just has to trust his heart but is that a risk he is willing to take?

This was a very sweet novella with ties to the Mayfair Literary League. I really like Prue and Silas; they are both extremely likable and I love how they encouraged and boosted each other. Their road to HEA isn’t easy, but they are clearly “meant to be” and you can’t help but root for them. This book is the twentieth (yes, 20th) book in the Revenge of the Wallflowers series and can easily be read as a standalone title. I really liked this book and would happily recommend it to historical romance readers.

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

The Dead Sang Off Key by J.L. Buck – Review

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

The Dead Sang Off Key (Viscount Ware Mystery Book 4)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Viscount Ware Mystery #4
Publication Date: 7/9/24
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 291

Excitement abounds in this latest addition to the Viscount Ware Mystery series. With a disappearing dead body, smugglers, French spies, blackmail, a disgruntled magistrate, and a love interest in danger, Lucien has his hands full. Luckily, his fellow agent, Andrew Sherbourne, supports him every step of the way. Of course, Lady Anne is front and center – in the mystery and in Lucien’s heart.

When summoned to Whitehall, Lucien is told that the French spies they have been chasing have kidnapped the seventeen-year-old daughter of a Spanish diplomat so they can blackmail him into spying for them. Lucien and Sherbourne hardly have a clue where to begin since the kidnapping happened over a month ago.

Lady Anne Ashburn and her father are near the seashore mourning the death of her mother who passed away several months previous. When her father is suddenly called back to London to attend to parliamentary business, Anne stays behind. What can a young, unmarried lady do in a small coastal town when she is in mourning and cannot make social calls or attend any functions? Well, she can walk the beach and maybe explore the Singing Cave – and she does. She also finds the body of a young dark-haired girl in that cave. Except the body has disappeared by the time she returns with a constable who then treats her very dismissively. Where did the body go? She certainly didn’t get up and walk away.

Can the body Lady Anne found be the missing Spanish girl Lucien is looking for? They’ll have to find the body and ensure an identification, but Lucien is sure they are the same. Then, they’ll have to turn the area upside down to find out what happened to her.

With an investigation that must be handled softly to assure the French are unaware of the finding of the body, it is difficult to proceed. Then, there is a town that doesn’t want to talk for fear of prosecution for smuggling, a Magistrate who doesn’t want to cooperate, and a grieving father to console. How can they ever find the man who is behind such a heinous act? Oh, they can find the street-tuffs who abducted the girl, but they aren’t the ring leaders and that is who they have to find.

Luckily, Lucien, Sherbourne, and Lady Anne are just the ones to solve it all and take the French spies down. Arrogance can bring a villain down and it certainly did in this case. To me, the vilest villain was the one who got no real punishment, but to tell would be a spoiler. SIGH! So, if you are looking for an exciting, fast-paced, nail-biting, adventure, this is the book for you. Happy Reading!

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