Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

An Earl Like You by Caroline Linden

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

An Earl Like You (The Wagers of Sin, #2)An Earl Like You by Caroline Linden

Barb’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Wagers of Sin #2
Publication Date: 8/28/18

This is a wonderful addition to Linden’s ‘The Wages of Sin’ series. It is intelligently written, uniquely plotted and the characters are all well developed and relatable. We originally met the heroine in the first book of the series, My Once and Future Duke. She is one of the nicest and sweetest heroines I’ve read in a while and I really, really liked her. Her father loves her beyond reason and is obsessed with providing her with the life HE thinks she should have and he’s not above blackmail and deception to see that she gets it. Her father could have easily been the villain of the book given what he did, but our author wrote him beautifully and made him redeemable while leaving his actions unforgivable. While the book is part of a series, you can read it without having read the first book – but I don’t know why in the world you’d ever want to do that – the first book is great too.

Elizabeth (Eliza) Cross’s mother died in childbirth when Eliza was only three years old. From that point on, Eliza was the center of her father’s world. He is a speculator (neither gentry nor aristocrat) and one of the richest men in England. His dream for his sweet baby girl is for her to marry an aristocrat and he will (and does) go to any lengths to make that happen. It doesn’t matter that all Eliza wants is someone who sees her and loves her and not her father’s money. Frankly, she’s given up on finding that and has made herself very happy tending the gardens, helping out in the parish and playing with and loving the dog (Willie) she rescued when he was just a puppy. Eliza is sweet, honest, and open, but she isn’t weak. She knows that she is no great beauty, but she has spent her life trying to become the lady her Papa wants her to be, so she is poised and graceful, but without the arrogance and entitlement that so many young ladies of the ton have. Her father just knows that if any man spent any time around her at all they would fall in love with her — he just has to choose the right man and assure that those two spend time together.

Hugh Deveraux, Earl of Hastings, has had a huge shock. When his father died and Hugh inherited, he discovered that the estate wasn’t just broke, it was 80,000 pounds in debt. Everything was gone – nothing for his sisters’ dowries and nothing for his mother’s jointure. He can’t tell his family that the man they loved, practically worshiped, left them destitute, so he turns to what he is best at to try to keep them afloat – he plays cards at the Vega Club. He’s done pretty well keeping them afloat and managing to pay enough of the debts to keep the creditors at bay. However, now his sister is getting betrothed and he must come up with a dowry for her. Imagine his surprise when Edward Cross makes him an offer that he (literally) cannot refuse. Hugh is to court and then marry Cross’s daughter without her ever finding out about the bargain.

Hugh and Eliza’s first meeting is so delightfully funny. Willie, the dog, is a handful and does not like baths. When Hugh first comes to the Cross’s home Eliza is dressed in an old dress and she’s chasing Willie through the house to dry him after his bath. She literally falls at Hugh’s feet. He is not impressed.

Eliza is surprised and very pleased when her father’s new business partner begins to show up at their home or runs into them at the theater or balls. She is amazed that he seems to like her – to really see who she is. So, when he asks to court her and finally asks her to marry him – she can only shout YES!

I loved watching Hugh and his family come to truly love Eliza – but I always knew it was going to blow up in a big way. Eliza had made a number of comments to Hugh and others about honesty and being honest and forthright, so he knew how she felt about it. He knew he should tell her, but he just couldn’t and then he convinced himself she’d never find out. She did, of course, and in the worst possible way. I love that she was straight-forward and confronted everybody involved and didn’t cut anyone – especially her father —  any slack. It is a delightful love story in many ways. So, I hope you’ll read it and enjoy it as much as I did.

Please check out my reviews at:
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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.”

The Illegitimate Duke by Sophie Barnes

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

The Illegitimate Duke (Diamonds in the Rough, #3)The Illegitimate Duke by Sophie Barnes

Barbara’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Diamonds In The Rough #3
Publication Date: 8/28/18

Danger, suspense, and romance abound in this great addition to Sophie Barnes’ Diamonds In The Rough series. I loved the earlier tales about this ‘fish out of water’ family and was afraid this was to be the last book, so I was delighted to learn that there is at least one more book coming. The characters are interesting and unique, the villain finally gets his punishment and the romance is delightful.

Florian Lowell is the most brilliant physician in England. He is always learning from the medical sciences in other lands and incorporating them into his practice. Other physicians decry some of his modern practices – probably out of jealousy – but Florian gets results. He really just wants to be left alone to practice medicine, but the world just won’t leave him be. Florian has deeply held secrets – secrets that would ruin him, his family and anyone who is closely associated with him. To add to the stress of his secret, his uncle (his mother’s brother), the Duke of Redding, has petitioned the King to make Florian his legal heir, there is a typhus epidemic in London, and the most beguiling woman he has ever met is plaguing him at every turn.

Juliette Matthews is the youngest sister of the Duke of Huntley. She has always had a delicate constitution and has, therefore, always been protected and coddled. She chafes at that. She is stronger than they think and she wants to do something with her life. She was raised in the slums of St. Giles and has no patience for the ton’s habits of making morning calls and attending balls. Earlier in the year, her older sister, Amelia, used her yearly allowance to purchase a building and set up a school for underprivileged children and now Juliette wants to do something similar. She wants to donate her yearly allowance to St. Agatha Hospital and to become a member of the hospital’s board. The fact that a board membership would bring her into regular contact with Florian Lowell is just icing on the cake.

I loved the romance between Florian and Juliette. He was so honorable and selfless that you just had to love him. He fiercely fought his attraction to Juliette – for her sake, not his. He knew that an association with him could put her in physical danger and also ruin her family. Then, you have Juliette who is so open and honest – she doesn’t hide the truth from herself or Florian. She is attracted to him and she lets him know it. How in the world can he fight against such innocent and open honesty?

I loved learning more about the medical practices during that period and Florian’s implementing some of the more creative practices from around the world. Typhus was a horrible disease and could have wiped out all of London if Florian hadn’t acted quickly and decisively. Juliette’s ideas and money contributed greatly to containing and stopping the spread of the disease. (Be sure to read the Author’s Notes in the back – they are great – very informative.)

The suspense is palpable. When Florian’s enemy threatens Juliette, he will do anything and everything to protect and save her – and she feels the same about him.

I would have loved to learn more about the street urchin that escaped from the quarantine in St. Giles. How many other people did he come into contact with? Was he found dead on the streets somewhere? Was he somehow found and treated? It just felt like a thread that wasn’t wrapped up.

Other things I wondered – What happened to the house where Juliette contracted typhus? Florian had the coach burned – would the house have been burned as well? Why wouldn’t Florian have treated Juliette in that same house since it was already contaminated instead of taking her to his uninfected home? Another thing was the conversation between Huntley and Florian as they were removing Juliette – From what I’ve seen of Huntley so far, I don’t buy that conversation. At that particular moment, he wouldn’t have cared one whit about what would happen with her reputation, his only concern would have been her survival. He’d think about her reputation later.

It seems strange to me that someone so young (23 or so) would CHOOSE to be the Dowager Duchess of Tremaine. Actually, her name would have been Viola Tremaine since peers use the title name as their last name. Anyway – she doesn’t automatically have to be the dowager. She has no children. She could just continue to be the Duchess of Tremaine until the day she dies – or remarries. Should the new heir have a wife that wife would also be the Duchess of Tremaine. One would be the 4th Duchess of Tremaine and the other would be the 5th Duchess of Tremaine (or whatever the appropriate number is).

Anyway, it is a great read – don’t let my ‘wonderings’ make you think that I didn’t thoroughly and absolutely love it – because I did love it.

Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages…
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
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.”