Author: Tracy

Avid reader (and reviewer) of historical romance.

His Unlikely Duchess by Amanda McCabe – Blog Tour

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

His Unlikely Duchess

His Unlikely Duchess

His Unlikely Duchess Cover

Money can buy her marriage

But will it lead to love?

Miss Lily Wilkins hopes her American money will compensate for her lack of etiquette, as she needs a prestigious marriage to save her sisters’ prospects. Raised to believe wealth was her greatest attribute, she’s stunned when her unconventional ways catch the eye of the notorious Duke of Lennox. He’s far from the safe, sensible match she’d planned on—but Lily might just discover he’s the one she needs!

Purchase Links:

UK ~ US 

Author Bio:

Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen–a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject…)
She’s never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Santa Fe with a Poodle, a cat, a wonderful husband, and a very and far too many books and royal memorabilia collections.
When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network–even though she doesn’t cook.

 

Social Media Links:

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Tracy’s Review:

 

His Unlikely Duchess (Dollar Duchesses Book 1)His Unlikely Duchess by Amanda McCabe

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Dollar Duchesses, #1

Release Date: January 1, 2021

When Stella Wilkins gets an invitation to come to England and introduce her daughters to society, nothing will stop her from finding titled husbands for her girls. American heiress Lily Wilkins never aspired to marry a duke, but her mother takes them to England for the season and she meets newly returned Aidan, the Duke of Lennox, she is immediately smitten.

Aidan left England after having his heart bruised by a girl he hoped to marry, but who favored his brother’s title. He spent years exploring the world and after his brother’s untimely death, is finally back to assume his responsibilities to the dukedom. But with a changing world and empty coffers, Aidan will need to marry an heiress to fulfill his obligations and Lily Wilkins is perfect. She is lovely, kind, and smart, but is it fair to marry her and saddle her with a crumbling estate?

Together Lily and Aidan will have much to learn about each other and their new responsibilities before they can claim their HEA, but will their budding attraction blossom into love or will insecurities, doubts and specters from the past nip their budding attraction or will love to find a way to blossom?

This was a well written, slow-paced love story with wonderful characters. The romance is definitely understated with very mild love scenes. The story is not overly dramatic or angsty – but there is a lack of communication, as well as insecurities, jealousy, and doubt that keep our lovers from finding a quick HEA. I did enjoy the book and would happily recommend it!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. *

Earl of Kendal by Madeline Martin

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

Earl of Kendal (Wicked Earls' Club)Earl of Kendal by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Earls’ Club, #24

Release Date: January 19, 2021

When Lady Sophia Stopford learns that her father means to marry her off to one of his friends, she knows that she will have to take matters into her own hands and save herself from an unwanted marriage. Aware that she will have to escape and establish herself somewhere else, she will have to figure out a way to support herself as her funds are limited. She is running out of time and still has no idea what she can do, but when she is overheard calling Lord Kendal boring, it leads to a very enlightening conversation and finally gives her an idea – she will go to Scotland and set up a whisky business!

Adolphus Merrick, the Earl of Kendal is being blackmailed by a man who has the power to destroy Kendal’s sister – the very man who once saved her. Kendal is the co-owner of Mercy’s Door – a gaming hell he runs with his sister, Marguerite. Years ago, Marguerite was ruined and a young Kendal was able to save her thanks to the help of Lord Gullsville – Lady Sophia’s father. Due to his help, Kendal has repeatedly forgiven the earl’s debts, but now he wants Kendal to save find Sophia and marry her – if he refuses, Gullsville will tell the ton of Marguerite’s ruin. The problem is Gullsville doesn’t know where Sophia has gone, just that she has taken her late aunt’s widow’s weeds and the jewelry she inherited. Gullsville might not know where his daughter is, but Kendal has a pretty good idea and has no one but himself to blame for glamorizing whisky smuggling. He is not happy, but to save his sister, he agrees to find Sophia and marry her.

His plan seems straightforward, find Sophia, marry her, and return to England with no one the wiser of her escapades – but the lady doesn’t like that plan and refuses to comply – leading Kendal on a wild chase through Scotland and making him burn to not only find her but to win her heart!

This was a well-written, fun romp with wonderful characters and steamy love scenes. If you like strong heroines, rejoice, because Sophia is certainly no simpering maiden looking for a man to save her! But even she is not immune to Kendal’s rakish good looks and his commanding personality. Together they will have to learn to trust and love, but it will not be a smooth journey, there will be lies, a heroine who refuses to stay put, steamy love scenes, a villain who gets what is coming to him, and a truly delightful HEA complete with a “Wicked Earl” reunion in the epilogue. This is part of the ongoing Wicked Earl’s Club series, but it can absolutely 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.*