Author: Tracy

Avid reader (and reviewer) of historical romance.

Love is a Rogue by Lenora Bell

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Love Is a Rogue (Wallflowers vs. Rogues, #1)Love Is a Rogue by Lenora Bell

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Wallflowers vs. Rogues, #1

Release Date: October 27, 2020

Lady Beatrice Bentley has been squirreled away at the family estate in Cornwall researching words for her etymological dictionary, but is constantly being distracted by Stamford “Ford” Wright, the carpenter hired by her brother Drew, Duke of Thorndon to make improvements to the estate while he is on his honeymoon. She tries to ignore him, but he is just so handsome – um – annoying! She tells herself to focus, she doesn’t have much time left before she has to return to London for the season – hopefully her last. Her time in society has not been enjoyable and due to complications at her birth, she suffers from palsy that has causes a slight drooping to the right side of her face and got her dubbed Beastly Beatrice. Now all she wants is to just retire to the country, live in solitude and complete her dictionary.

Ford has come to Thornhill to help out his father who was injured, his father is the estate carpenter, but Ford has not followed in his footsteps, Ford is a ship’s carpenter in the Navy. While working at the estate, he has uncovered some disturbing information about this steward and wants to bring the information to the Duke’s attention so his father is not accused of theft. So far, he has had no success in learning when Thorndon is due to return and must return to London soon to report to his ship. So, when the opportunity to speak to Lady Beatrice literally knocks him in the head – he takes it. His interaction with Beatrice doesn’t go as planned and they both are more than a little shocked by the encounter. They part ways assuming they will never cross paths again.

But fate is not done with these two and when she returns to London and learns she has inherited a bookstore from an aunt she never met, she is overjoyed – until she learns that the property is in disrepair and her mother has gone behind her back and put it up for sale! She is visiting with her friends, Viola Beaton and Isobel Mayberry from the Knitting League, when Ford calls for her brother – who still has not returned. The ladies decide to visit the shop and convince Ford to join them to give his professional opinion. While at the shop, Beatrice falls in love with place and decides to keep it, it needs a lot of work – but before she can even begin to form a plan, Foxton, the buyer her mother lined up shows up and makes it clear that he wants the property and will stop at nothing to get it. He makes assures her that no carpenter in London will work for her and she might as well sell to him. Ford recognizes Foxton – he is Ford’s estranged grandfather – the man who disowned Ford’s mother for falling in love and marrying “beneath” her. Ford wants to thwart him and steps up to say he is working as her carpenter and the shop is not for sale – much to Beatrice’s shock.

After trying to hire another carpenter, Beatrice admits defeat and asks Ford to do the work. They form a friendship of sorts and slowly begin to fall in love, but there will be many things keeping them apart – the difference in their social stations, a very determined duchess, a greedy earl and secrets. Their road to HEA is not easy – but it is entertaining!

I really enjoyed this book, it is well written, flows nicely and is just a fun read. I would have to agree with other reviewers that the ending did wrap up too easily and there were a couple of plot points that seemed to have gotten dropped – but overall, it was a highly entertaining read with lots of amusing banter, cameos from characters in previous the series, great secondary characters, a slow burn romance with some warmish love scenes and a HEA complete with an epilogue. It is the first book in a new series and while it does have ties to the School for Dukes series – but you don’t have to read that series to enjoy this book. I am happy to recommend this novel and am really looking forward to Viola & Isobel’s stories!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by NetGalley, Edelweiss and the publisher. All opinions are my own. *

A Rogue to the Rescue by Lana Williams

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

A Rogue to the Rescue (The Rogue Chronicles, #4)A Rogue to the Rescue by Lana Williams

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Rogue Chronicles, #4

Release Date: October 29, 2020

Beatrice Linfield has had a rough couple of months, her father passed away, then she learned that he left her penniless by giving her dowry away and then betrothed left her for another woman! But none of that could hold a candle to her current problem, she traveled to London to find work and start a new life, but once she arrived, she was directed to a registry office to find employment. The clerk took her information and recommended a boarding house. At the boarding house she was drugged and taken to a brothel, where she was being held until the madam “sold” her to the highest bidder. She plans to escape and begs the other girl in the room to go with her, but Mary is terrified that the brothel owner, Mr. Finch will catch them and refuses to go. So, she escapes alone, with nothing but a thin shift and no shoes. Beatrice runs into the street and is ready to collapse when she stumbles upon a gentleman walking alone, terrified, but desperate, she takes his offer for assistance.

Daniel Walker, the brother of Richard, The Earl of Aberland, is walking home from his club when he happens upon a young woman. He asks if he can help and to his horror, she bursts into tears and then faints. He scoops her up and hails a hackney, will no idea who she is or where to take her, he directs the driver to his house. At home he asks his savate (a French boxing technique) instructor cum valet to summon a doctor and help him get her into a bed. The doctor says she has been drugged, but should be fine. When she wakes, he learns her story and is appalled for what happened to her, but impressed by her bravery and resourcefulness. He hires a Bow Street Runner to investigate and arrest the parties involved with her abduction and hopefully save Mary. He wants to help her, but knows her reputation will be ruined if she stays with him. Instead he asks his brother if he and his wife Caroline will take her in.

Beatrice is grateful to Daniel and Lord and Lady Aberland for their help and immediately forms a friendship with Caroline, Lady Aberland. Caroline is expecting a baby and is overjoyed to have Beatrice stay, she introduces her to her sisters and they decide that Beatrice should be introduced into society, to either gain an introduction to someone in need of a companion or governess or even better, find a husband. But Beatrice cannot think about her future while Mary is still captive, the Runner has made no progress with the case, so she asks Daniel to help her try to save Mary.

This was a very well written, intriguing novel with wonderful characters, cameos from previous heroes/heroines, a bit of mystery, action, mild love scenes, nasty villains and a very sweet HEA. I really enjoyed this book, Daniel is the kind of hero every girl wants to meet and Beatrice was strong and brave, yet compassionate and very likeable. I did feel like Daniel and Beatrice both dithered a bit too long about their feelings/relationship and that the book dragged a bit in the middle, but it picks up steam and sprints to the finish. Overall, this was a great book and I am happy to recommend it. This is the fourth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title.

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