Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

The Duke’s Fallen Angel by Amy Jarecki

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837)2 Comments

The Duke's Fallen Angel: Prelude to the Devilish Dukes SeriesThe Duke’s Fallen Angel: Prelude to the Devilish Dukes Series by Amy Jarecki

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Prelude to the Devilish Dukes Series
Publication Date: 10/9/18

I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book. The writing is so smooth, full and robust that it just magically flows like a fine wine from scene to scene. Be sure to start reading early in the day because once you start, you won’t want to put it down. The characters are fully relatable, the villain is vile and the action and chase scenes are heart-stopping. It is just the kind of book I like – filled with excitement, drama, and romance!

Drake Alexander Thomas Chadwick, Duke of Ravenscar is twenty-five years old, seventh in line to the throne of England, rich, powerful, and handsome. What are his greatest passions? Theater, opera, ballet and Shakespeare and he’s in the process of opening his own theater, Chadwick House, to showcase those arts. He’s so determined that he’s even put up his mother’s home as collateral for the building expenses. Now, he is almost ready to open and he has secured the most magnificent French ballerina, Marie Taglioni, to star in his opening program, La Sylphide. He saw her perform this program in France and was mesmerized by her and he just can’t wait to introduce her and the ballet to England. The success of his theater and his fortune are riding on her tiny, talented, pointed toes.

When the troop finally arrives from France, Drake is flabbergasted to learn that Marie Taglioni did not accompany them and instead sent her understudy. Anger doesn’t even begin to describe how Drake feels as he rushes over to the theater to demand explanations and vent his temper. What is he going to do now – he has an understudy – an understudy!!! Yet, when he demands that the troop perform for him right then – in their traveling clothes – no matter how tired they are – he is absolutely stunned. This tiny slip of a girl is the most amazing dancer he has ever seen – so maybe his theater is saved after all.

Five years ago, when she was just fourteen, Britannia (Bria) LeClair learned that she was a foundling. Oh! How that hurt. The people she thought were her mother and father had just died of smallpox and her ‘uncle’ inherited everything. He promptly showed her her baptismal record and then told her she had to leave – no money – nothing. She had a few coins in her pocket and a precious keepsake she’d found after the LeClair’s died. That keepsake – a miniature portrait and a handkerchief contained in a lovely wooden box with her name on its top – could it have belonged to a relative? Her mother?

When she left her home, she made her way to Paris and the Paris Opera Ballet School where she begged the director for a spot in the school. He didn’t even want to see her, but she was persistent and finally convinced him. Ballet has been her life for the five years since then. She’s worked harder and longer hours than anyone else in the school and has finally worked her way up the being the understudy to Marie Taglioni. Now, she is so excited to be going to England to star as the lead in La Sylphide. She absolutely MUST be successful in this role in order to secure her future and she can also search for the lady in the miniature portrait. She couldn’t find her in France, so maybe she is in England.

The opening performance was phenomenal – London had never seen anything like it and Bria was the toast of the town. Every performance was sold out. Her admirers were legion, but she would NEVER, EVER be anyone’s mistress. Yes, she knew that all performers were seen as promiscuous, but she wouldn’t be one of them. As she and Drake spent more time together and got to know each other better their attraction grew and grew. They both fought it because they knew that there was only one relationship that could be between a Duke and a ballerina and Bria wouldn’t be a part of that.

As they come to care for each other more and more, strange things begin to happen to Bria. Someone trashing her room and her dressing room, strange accidents that aren’t accidents. Drake will do anything to keep Bria safe, but it won’t be easy because the villain is cunning. You’ll probably figure out who the villain is and who her parents were early on, but it will still keep you guessing about what will happen next – right up to the exciting ending.

All-in-all, it was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

My Duke’s Desire by Tammy Andresen

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820)2 Comments

My Duke's Desire (Wicked Lords of London Book 4)My Duke’s Desire by Tammy Andresen

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Lords of London #4
Publication Date: 10/2/18

This is a delightfully entertaining novella. The writing is excellent and the story moves you right along to a happy ending. While it is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. If you have read the other books in the series, you get to visit with Ryker and Tricia from the first book, My Duke’s Seduction.

Theodore Riley (Theo), the Duke of Waverly, has been acting like an irresponsible, spoiled little rich kid for the last two years. He doesn’t see it that way. In his version, he has been off ‘finding himself’ and building the family’s overseas holdings. His family understood the need for him to have a little space to come to grips with inheriting the dukedom after his father died. They agreed to his six-month trip to Barbados to establish a shipping business there. While he was gone, his brothers-in-law would manage his estates for him. Two years later, his brothers-in-law are worn to a frazzle from managing their own estates and his as well. His sisters are tired of their husbands being used by their irresponsible brother and his mother is just plain tired of his irresponsible behavior. So, Theo’s mother sends him an ultimatum requiring him to return home and assume his responsibilities himself. His mother has even invited a prospective bride for him to meet! NEVER!

Lady Violette Chase is a lovely, charming young woman who knows too much about shouldering responsibility. Her father loved his family and was always there with them, but he had absolutely no idea of how to manage his Earldom. That is why their family is now in desperate straits and Violette must marry in order to save them. She will do anything to save her family – even give herself to an arranged marriage. She’s been running the estate since her father died and has made some changes that will save it eventually, but not soon enough. Her fifteen-year-old brother isn’t old enough to be responsible for the estate and has never been taught anything about how to run it. So, Violette hopes that she’ll marry someone who will not only financially save the family but will also mentor her brother.

Violette’s mother has traded on here social connections, gathered up what money she can and has set up ‘visits’ with three prospective grooms. They must be successful with one of them for their family to survive. As Violette and her mother travel toward their first visit, they encounter a traveler with an injured horse. They provide him with transportation to the next village where they’ll be stopping for the night. Much to Violette’s chagrin, her mother charges him for the ride and he also pays for their rooms and meals at the inn. Violette feels an attraction to Mr. Riley and wishes he could be on prospective groom list.

Theo hates the cold, rainy weather in England. He cannot wait to get back to Barbados. He’ll get home, deal with his family and leave – all in short order. Then, his horse is injured and he starts walking. Luckily for him, a carriage stops and provides him with transportation – for a price. There is a very lovely young lady in the carriage and he can tell she’s embarrassed by her mother charging him for his ride. He is certainly attracted to her, but she is a lady and he’s returning to Barbados, so nothing can come of it. He didn’t even use his title when he introduced himself – just Mr. Theodore Riley.

The fun begins when Violette and her mother arrive at the home they are to visit first – and discover that Mr. Riley and the Duke of Waverly are one and the same. It is fun to watch Theo finally begin to grow up – but it pretty much took beating him on the head with a hammer to get him there. Sometimes, you have to lose something – or almost lose something – before you see its value.

This was a lovely read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Please check out my reviews at:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview

“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”