Month: June 2025

Eliza and the Duke by Harper St. George

On By TracyIn America's Gilded Age (1870-1900), Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Eliza and the Duke (The Doves of New York, #2)Eliza and the Duke by Harper St. George

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Doves of New York, #2

Release Date: June 24, 2025

In order to claim an enormous inheritance, Eliza Dove must marry and marry well, and it appears that she has succeeded as she is betrothed to Viscount Mainwaring and has plans to marry when he returns from the Continent. Until then, she just has to play the part of a gently breed heiress and stay out of trouble – too bad trouble is a call that Eliza always takes. And trouble this time comes in the form of Simon Cavell, the manager of The Montague Club and prize fighter. But in Eliza’s defense, she didn’t mean to meet Simon, she just wanted a peek of the Club and happened to find him in the servant’s hall. He had just returned from a fight and clearly needed help; help she was more than willing to give. While tending his injuries, she learns an interesting tidbit about her erstwhile fiancé and decides that she too needs an adventure and who better to give it to her than Simon aka The Duke? What they never planned on was falling hopelessly in love, with “hopelessly” being the operative word – since there is no way her father would ever approve of Simon, and if she marries without her father’s approval, she will lose her inheritance.

Simon Cavell was born and raised in White Chapel and has worked hard and fought ever harder to get away from that life. But walking away hasn’t been easy and even though it seems he’s out, his former boss Brody still has control over him, making it impossible for him to plan for a future. A future that he knows he can never hope to have with Eliza. But Fate has other plans for him and despite Simon’s intent to stay as far away from Eliza as he can, their paths keep crossing and she refuses to let him ignore her. Finally, when their HEA seems possible, it becomes clear that his past isn’t quite done with him.

I really enjoyed this story, Eliza and Simon are wonderful characters and felt their connection immediately. They were both of them were raised outside of high society, and they each have their secrets, but it is clear they are meant to be. This book has a lot of emotion, danger, secrets, lots of longing, some steamy love scenes, sacrifices, more danger and finally, a hard-won HEA complete with an epilogue (as well as some very interesting author notes). That said, the story did drag a little bit in the middle, but it finishes in a spectacular fashion and sets up an intriguing introduction to the next book featuring Jenny Dove and Lord David, that has me counting the days until it is released! Overall, a very good read and definitely recommended. This is the second 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. *

What Happens in the Highlands by Anna Bradley

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

What Happens in the Highlands (Cairncross Castle, #1)What Happens in the Highlands by Anna Bradley

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Cairncross Castle, #1

Release Date: June 24, 2025

After the death of their father, Catriona “Cat”, Freya and Sorcha MacLeod are left to deal with the onslaught of treasure hunters trying to find the stash they believe Rory hid in Castle Cairncross. The way they dealt with the first invaders cost them severely, with the villagers turning on them, whispering of witchcraft and making their lives miserable. But it isn’t until a stranger follows Cat home from the village and is accidently poisoned that they agree they can no longer protect themselves from the rumors and may have to abandon their home. But when the stranger wakes and tells Catriona his story, she agrees to consider the possibility that the treasure is real.

Hamish Muir, the Marquess of Ballantyne, traveled to Castle Cairncross to reclaim the treasure his father told him of before his death. Originally, he sent his cousins to get the treasure, but they were thwarted by the sisters. So he has come himself and does a bit of reconnaissance before and learns from the villagers that the sisters are rumored to be witches and are recluses, barely ever leaving the castle since Rory’s death. Hamish sees Cat in the village and follows her home – admittedly a bad idea, but he is out of options. When they tussle and he is touched by a poisonous plant, he is lucky that Cat is knowledgeable about herbs and healing. When he recovers, he realizes that he might be wrong about the sisters. Cat agrees to help him find the treasure and they go through Rory’s papers, leading them to believe that Rory, Archie Muir (Hamish’s father), Malcolm Ross & Angus Dunn most likely found Bonnie Prince Charlie’s lost fortune and made a pact and that Rory as the last living member of the pact was most likely retrieving the treasure when he was shot. Hamish sends for his best friends Callum Ross & Keir Dunn – Malcolm and Angus’ sons to protect Freya and Sorcha, so he and Cat can find the treasure. But he never expected to fall for her and knows that if she ever learns that he started the treasure frenzy, there will be no chance for a HEA.

I was so excited for this book – I love a good treasure hunt / road trip romance, and this story seemed to check all the boxes, but unfortunately, it didn’t really work for me. It wasn’t bad, Cat and Hamish are both likable and relatable, but it was slow moving and lacked that true treasure hunt thrill. It does pick up a little at the end and the story ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, but it didn’t leave me excited for the next book. Overall, it was an OK read with great characters, and I am not sorry I read it, but it is not a book I would read again.

*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. *