Month: May 2025

Hazardous to a Duke’s Heart by Sabrina Jeffries

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

Hazardous to a Duke’s Heart: Lords of Hazard, Book 1 by Sabrina Jeffries

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Lords of Hazard, #1

Release Date: April 29, 2025

At the age of 18, Lord Jonathan “Jon” Leighton, the third son of the Duke of Falconridge set out on his Grand Tour with his tutor/mentor, Dr. Issac Morris, but while in France, war breaks out and he and Morris are captured by Napoleon’s soldiers and held as prisoners for 11 long years. On the day of their release, Morris lays dying from an injury sustained while attempting an escape with Jon and two of his friends, 3 years ago, an escape that was ruined when they were betrayed. He begs Jon to make sure his daughter Victoria is taken care of, as it is clear he will not be returning to England. Morris’ death lays heavy on Jon, he blames himself, believing Morris only tried to escape because of Jon. Jon returns to England to learn that he is now the Duke of Falconridge and Victoria “Tory” Morris is his sister Chloe’s governess. Jon is stunned by Tory and knows that if she ever knew that it was his fault her father died, she would want nothing to do with him, so it would be best if he married her off as soon as possible. He tells her that her father left her some money for a dowry and convinces his mother to sponsor her “come out”. It should be simple, but he wants her for himself and is having trouble keeping track of his lies, while trying to learn his new duties and tracking down the person who betrayed him and his friends in France, oh and there is the small fact that Tory doesn’t want to marry.

Victoria “Tory” Morris began working the Duchess after her mother died and knows that her time is coming to an end as Chloe is in her second season and has no need for a governess. She is shocked (and a bit suspicious) when Jon tells her of the “dowry” her father left for her, but she doesn’t want to marry, what she wants is to open a school for women artists. Tory is an artist and specializes in sculpture. Tells Jon of her dream and is surprised when he says he will consider giving her the money, IF she attends the rest of the season and tries to find a husband. She agrees if he will take sculpture lessons with her. He agrees and she presses him for information about her father; not sure she believes his stories. But Tory has secrets of her own and her reason for not wanting to marry is due to much more than just wanting to pursue her art. She falls hard for Jon, but he is keeping things from her, and she isn’t sure she can trust him with her heart. But can she live without him?

This was a good start to a new series, steeped with history and enlightening readers of the challenges and hardships of the English détenus held in France during the Napoleonic wars. But is much more than an history lesson, it is a charming romance filled with wonderful characters, lies, secrets, heartache, betrayal, witty banter, a slightly ditzy duchess, great secondary characters, warmish love scenes, surprises that ends with an HEA and includes an epilogue. I had this book in audiobook format and thought the narrator (Beverley A. Crick) did a very good job, although she did make Jon sound like an old man – but overall, her voices were great, and her reading cadence was paced perfectly. I really enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend this book. In fact, I am already looking forward to the next installment!

*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. *

The Lady Makes Her Mark by Susanna Craig

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

The Lady Makes Her Mark (Goode's Guide to Misconduct #3)The Lady Makes Her Mark by Susanna Craig

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Goode’s Guide to Misconduct, #3

Release Date: May 27, 2025

When Constantina Cooper, the artist for “Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses”, receives an anonymous letter demanding her attendance of a staff meeting in an unknown hand, she is sure that she has been found out and knows it is time to move on. She goes to the meeting on the off chance that Lady Stalbridge, the magazine’s editor, has hired a new secretary. But that hope is crushed almost immediately when Lady Stalbridge arrives just as bewildered as everyone else. Certain that she is the reason for the odd letters, she bolts and plans to leave London, that plan is also crushed when she collides with a carriage and is knocked unconscious. When she wakes, she is the home of the Earl of Ryland – a man she regularly features in her “What Miss C. Saw” aka “the Unfashionable Plates” cartoons for the magazine. The earl knows who she is and is in the process of leaving London, so she feigns amnesia to enlist his help. But she never expected to fall in love with him or his family, but as a penniless nobody, she has nothing to offer him except the possibility of danger thanks to her family. A possibility that soon becomes reality and may separate them forever.

Alistair Haythorne, the Earl of Ryland is broke and has rented out his London townhouse, so he is in the process of packing up to retire to his country estate with his sisters when a commotion outside draws his attention. He immediately recognizes Constantina and summons help for her. He knows her connection to the magazine and contacts Lady Stalbridge, who informs him that she believes Constantina might be in danger – thus triggering Alistair’s protective instincts. He offers to take her with him and to protect her until she regains her memory. He has always been attracted to her and intrigued by her, but he doesn’t have the luxury of indulging his own desires. His father left the estate in debt and with seven sisters to provide for, he will have to marry for money, which makes his feelings for Constantina inconvenient. An inconvenience that becomes almost unbearable when he asks his aunt to find him a rich bride and she hires Constantina to paint his portrait. Forced to spend time with her, his feelings deepen and soon he doesn’t know how he can live without her. But when her life is in danger, he knows there is no way he can let her walk away.

This installment of Goode’s Guide to Misconduct is a well-written, nicely paced story with very likable characters and a bit of intrigue. This book has a lot going on but manages to stay on track remains primarily a romance with some mystery to keep things interesting. The book held my interest with an artistic heroine with a mysterious background, an impoverished hero with a heart of gold, wonderful secondary characters, a road trip, faked amnesia, lurking danger, warm love scenes, shocking revelations and finally a seemingly impossible HEA. I enjoyed this story and would happily recommend it to my fellow HR readers. This is the 3rd book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems.

*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. *