Author: Tracy

Avid reader (and reviewer) of historical romance.

Stealing the Duke’s Heart by Shana Galen

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

Stealing the Duke's HeartStealing the Duke’s Heart by Shana Galen
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Anthology

Release Date: May 15, 2018

This book features two previously released novellas and my rating is an average of both

How to Steal a Duke – 4 stars – Dominick Spencer the Duke of Tremayne is on the hunt for a rare book, the Duke’s Book of Knowledge, it is written in 4 parts and he and some schoolmates what to present all four to their retiring professor. Dominick is unaccustomed to failure and when yet another man he hires to find the tome comes up empty-handed, he decides he will find it himself. He goes to the library at the Bibliomania Club and finds a serious lead. Small problem, the book may be in the hands of a mad Earl living in a remote, impenetrable castle in Cornwall. Failure is not an option, so when the answer to his problem basically falls at his feet in the form of a lovely young thief, he will not hesitate to exploit her.

Rosalyn Dasher never imagined she would grow up to be a thief, but when her gentleman father died and left them nearly penniless, their mother moved them from the country to London, they survived, but when medical bills for the youngest brother, drain the family’s funds, Rosalyn and her brothers supplement their income by stealing. When a job goes wrong and Rosalyn finds herself at the mercy of the Duke, she agrees to help him in exchange for the money needed to help her family.

They travel to Cornwall and try to ignore the desire simmering between them, but when the Earl refuses to see them and Rosalyn decides to take matters into her own hands, Dominick realizes that Rosalyn means more than the book, but is it too late??

I enjoyed this book, but really wish it was longer and the ending could have been drawn out a bit more with a more definitive HEA.

Taken by the Duke – 4 stars – Henry Selkirk is the Viscount Bexley, a title he never expected or wanted. His woe only get worse when he is tricked into acting as accountant for Prinny’s birthday and Waterloo celebrations, while planning the events at Vauxhall Gardens, he is ambushed and abducted. When he wakes, he finds himself face to face with the infamous Duke of Vauxhall, who also happens to be his childhood sweetheart, Kate Dunn.

Kate’s life has taken a huge turn since the days she lived next door to Henry Selkirk, they were best friends and falling in love when her family’s fortunes took a downturn and eventually led her into a life of crime. She has never forgotten Henry, but she is no longer the innocent young lady he knew, she is now the crime lord know far and wide as the Duke of Vauxhall and as much as she fondly remembers Henry’s sweet kisses and kindness, she has a business to run and his “improvements” to Vauxhall Gardens are hampering her crew from making money. She reveals herself to him and tells him to cease his changes – he can’t, but maybe they can work together to come up with a compromise…

I liked this story as well, my heart broke for Kate and I adored Henry, but again I wish this story was a bit longer and the ending was not quite so rushed.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read and I would happily recommend it!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an e-book that was provided to me.*

A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

A Study in Scandal (Scandalous)A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Scandals, #3.5

Release Date: February 16, 2016

After 7 years of keeping her secret, Lady Samantha Lennox is finally going to confess to her father that it was her and not Sebastian Vale that stole the money from him. The Earl of Stratford is a cold, ruthless man with an obsession for perfection, his family is terrified of him. But Samantha will not be the reason that Sebastian cannot marry the love of his life. Her father takes the news oddly well and does not rage or punish her, when a few days pass with no repercussions, she thinks that maybe she got lucky. But the morning of the third day she learns that that was wishful thinking, the earl says that he has decided that she should marry and has decided on Lord Phillip, the second son of the Marquess of Dorre – a cruel, debauched and brutal man. Even her mother is horrified and tries to intervene – a rarity – but her father has decided and expects Samantha to obey.

Samantha runs away to London, thinking her brother will help her – but when she arrives, she is almost kidnapped and then pushed into the river – if not for the quick actions of a stranger, she would have died.

Lord George Churchill-Gray, Gray to his friends is a younger son of the Duke of Rowlands and an up and coming artist. He is on his way to buy some pigments, when he sees Samantha – he is drawn to her, but keeps walking, when he turns for one last look, he realizes she is in distress and goes to help. When one of the men drags her away, he acts and gives chase – only to find her in the river. He saves her and she says she can’t remember who she is. He takes her back to his rented rooms and hands her over the care of his landlady. He doesn’t really believe she has amnesia, but still feels protective of her. When he offers help, she says she must go home. He takes her to the coaching inn the next day, but when she sees her father, she runs again. Gray again offers to help and she gives him the barest of details and only tells him her first name. He brings her back to the house and they settle into a routine and form a friendship.

Soon, Samantha wants more and thanks to the maid Jenny, she knows what she wants thanks to the 50 ways to sin pamphlets that Jenny has loaned her. When Gray’s art is selected for the Royal Academy’s exhibit and he takes her to a private viewing, they go to a pub afterwards to celebrate. She dances and drinks and then boldly tells Gray that she wants him. They make love and Gray forms a new plan – a plan to keep Samantha with him always. But when her father finally finds her, will he force her to marry Lord Phillip and ruin Gray or will true love win the day??

This was an absolutely delightful novella, well written and paced perfectly. I loved Samantha and Gray and believed they were in love. The secondary characters are wonderful, the love scenes warm, the interaction between Samantha and Gray is sweet and the ending is perfect. This is part of the Scandals Series, but it could be read as a stand alone title – although, fair warning once you read this, you are going to want to read the other books!!