Author: Tracy

Avid reader (and reviewer) of historical romance.

Some Like It Scandalous by Maya Rodale

On By TracyIn America's Gilded Age (1870-1900), American Historical, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Some Like It Scandalous (The Gilded Age Girls Club, #2)Some Like It Scandalous by Maya Rodale

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Gilded Age Girls Club, #2

Release Date: June 18, 2019

I really loved this book – Daisy and Theo are such an amazing couple and I LOVED their banter.
Daisy Swan has never been considered pretty, unlike her gorgeous mother and sister, but she is smart and believes in herself. She has also hated Theodore Prescott the Third since she was 13 years old and he gave her the nickname Ugly Duck Daisy, on that day she decided three things, she will never marry, she will find a way to cut ties with society and she will hate Theo until the day she dies.

12 years later at 25 Daisy is still not pretty, but she is in college and hopes to get a degree in chemistry, be declared a spinster and start a cosmetics company. Her plans are progressing nicely until her mother demands that she marry and not just anyone – Theo the Worst (as Daisy likes to call him) – her mother explains that her father is up to something that is sure to cause a huge scandal and Daisy needs to be married to protect herself. NO – Daisy refuses to even consider the idea and needs to get away – she runs outside and enters the park.

Up the street, Theo has been called into his father’s library, his latest scandal is the final straw for Prescott the Second. He demands that Theo marry Daisy or he will cut him off – NO! He refuses and also ends up in the park – only to find Daisy – they exchange words and when it begins to rain they take shelter in a gazebo – she asks what they will do, she thinks they should get engaged to shut up their parents and then find a way out – he refuses to even consider the idea. That is until he learns that his father has suspended his club membership. Theo decides that he has had enough, he wants to be his own man and will need Daisy to help. They agree to pretend to be agreeable and form a truce to reach their common goal of not marrying each other.

Their first outing together is an eye opener for Theo, he never really considered what his cruel words years ago did to Daisy. He apologizes, but she still doesn’t like him. But when he learns of her dream to start her own company, he offers to help – Theo knows women and has a gift with words, together, they will be successful. Reluctantly, Daisy agrees to a partnership and begins to respect Theo and Lord Forgive her, even like him. Somewhere between bickering and kissing, they fall in love and just when it looks like they might actually marry, her father’s scandal breaks and everything begins to unravel – can Theo forgive her lies by omission? Or will they bend to their parents wishes once more?

What a great book! It is well written (I had an uncorrected arc, that did have some little errors, but I am assuming those will be corrected by publication), the story is unique and fast paced – the banter between them is priceless, there are laugh out loud moments, steamy love scenes, moments of triumph and moments of devastation, but through it all, even when they hated each other, Theo and Daisy stuck together and earned their HEA. This is the second book in the series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone, I loved it and am happy to recommend it!!

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

The Summer of Wine and Scandal by Shana Galen

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

The Summer of Wine and Scandal: A NovellaThe Summer of Wine and Scandal: A Novella by Shana Galen

Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: originally published in the Anthology “A Gentleman for All Seasons”

Release Date: June 29, 2016

Peregrine Lochley, the youngest son of Viscount Lochley meets Miss Caroline “Caro” Martin when she helps him free his carriage from the mud. Lochley feels awful for letting her do the work and impulsively invites her and her family to dinner. She asks if his hosts will mind and he assures her it will not be a problem, she is not so sure…

Caro has secrets, there is much speculation about the village about what happened to her 4 years ago after the town’s fair, most people think she was sent away to give birth to a child, but the truth of her time away is much more heartbreaking. She is ruined and her family is avoided and have not been invited to any events since she returned. She knows that once Lochley learns of her scandal, the invitation to dinner will be recalled. But to her complete shock, it isn’t! They go to dinner and she learns that Lochley is known for his ability to pick wine, in fact, he will be judging the wine tasting at the upcoming fair. An event that her family’s vineyard will be entered in. When talk turns wine, Lochley goes to his room to retrieve a bottle and is shocked to find Caro wandering the halls, turns out the host’s sister is a bit of a matchmaker and set them up, but Caro believes the worst of Lochley and thinks he is trying to seduce her and gives him an earful.

Days later their paths meet again and this time she helps him find his way back to his friend’s estate, when they arrive, he kisses her and to her surprise, she likes it – too much. But this begins a friendship of sorts and he meets her again and again. Lochley is falling for her, but when a chance meeting in Tunbridge Wells has him learning the truth of her scandal, he is taken aback and is not sure he can accept the truth. It will take some wise words from his friend Gage and some soul searching, before he comes to a decision, but is it too late? Did his initial reaction hurt Caro too deeply for her to believe his feelings are sincere?

I thought this was a well written, fast paced novella about overcoming the past and learning to forgive yourself. It is filled with a lot of emotion, forgiveness, heartache, acceptance and sweet kisses. I liked Lochley and Caro, but I am not a big fan of the story’s ending, if felt incomplete and a bit unfinished. Overall this was a good story and completely different than your typical Regency but be warned, there are some trigger issues (attempted rape, survivor shame) that might upset some readers.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eBook that was provided to me.*