Month: February 2025

Kiss Me, Kitty by Shana Galen – A Duke by Any Other Name Anthology

On By TracyIn Anthology, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Movie / Story Retelling, Novella, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Series Crossover, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Duke By Any Other Name: A Historical Romance AnthologyA Duke By Any Other Name: A Historical Romance Anthology by Shana Galen

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: A Duke by Any Other Name Anthology

Release Date: February 14, 2025

NOTE: I only read Shana Galen’s contribution “Kiss Me, Kitty”, so my general rating of 4.5 stars for the book is based on that story.

When Edmund Peters learns that his family’s neighbor, the Viscount Featherswallow is trying to marry off his eldest daughter, Miss Katherine “Kitty” Featherswallow, he rushes to London to stake his claim before she is betrothed to another. Edmund has loved Kitty for years, but it never seemed like the right time to tell her, but now that her father has decided that she must marry before her younger sister, he knows he has to speak up or risk losing her. And knowing Kitty as he does, he knows he has his work cut out for him, but he also knows she is worth the effort.

With her younger sister Bianca, being endangered by fortune hunters, their sends her to the country and makes it known that Bianca cannot wed until Kitty is married. Bianca and Kitty are as different as night and day, Bianca is petite, soft-spoken and kind, Kitty is not, she is tall, voluptuous and aggressive. Most men are terrified of her and she is fine with that, but when Edmund arrives and makes it clear that he wants to marry her, it terrifies her. And despite her feelings for him, she doesn’t believe that he could really love her. Will she take a chance or will she let her fears ruin her chance for true love?

This was a very cute short story twist on the “Taming of the Shrew” is part of the “A Duke by Any Other Name” Anthology. Kitty and Edmund have been friends for most of their lives and it is clear that their relationship was established long before this story begins, so despite being a short story, it doesn’t feel rushed or incomplete. This story is tied to the Twenty-One days with the Lyon novella and if you are reading both, I would recommend reading that book first. Overall, this was a cute story that was a quick, fun read and one I would be happy to recommend.

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

21 Days with the Lyon by Shana Galen

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)1 Comment

21 Days with the Lyon: The Lyon's Den Connected World

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Lyons Den Connected World
Publication Date: 2/12/24
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 141

The besieged heiress and the lost gentleman. 😊 Bianca Featherswallow has a huge dowry which makes her a prime target for young lordlings with pockets-to-let. She’s managed to thwart three abductions so far – but sooner or later one will succeed. What is a concerned father to do? Why, take her to The Lyon’s Den for the matchmaking services of Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon. To their surprise, Mrs. Dove-Lyon already has the perfect match in mind for Bianca, but he is the pig-headed and stubborn sort who likes to feel he’s made his own choices rather than being prodded into it. So, with a plan to give them twenty-one days to get to know each other, Bianca will have to use her feminine wiles to convince him that he wants to marry her.

Theophile “Theo” Filliol is mired deep in grief and self-loathing. Because of that, he has been gambling and drinking at the Lyon’s Den and is deeply in debt – a debt he cannot pay. His lack of self-worth and his self-loathing are so ingrained that he hesitates to take up Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s offer to wipe his debt clean if he will protect a young heiress who has been besieged by not-so-honorable suitors. Protect the girl for 21 days and his debt is clear.

I loved these characters and was cheering for them to overcome their deep grief and emotional issues to find love and their own HEA. Can they heal each other? Can Theo learn to forgive himself? It is a lovely story of emotional growth and understanding.

We also meet Bianca’s sister Kitty in this story and she is a lively termagant. If you love her, you can find her story in the anthology A Duke By Any Other Name. While this book was more serious than frivolous, I found a few spots of humor – most notably Bianca’s attempts at seduction and Theo’s reactions to them. I also found the character names a tad humorous and kept chortling at the idea of them using hyphenated names – Featherswallow-Filliol. 😊 I also had to wonder why the father didn’t just drastically reduce the dowry until he saw a suitor he could agree to – but then – we wouldn’t have this lovely story.

I always enjoy this author’s stories and this was certainly no exception.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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