Author: Tracy

Avid reader (and reviewer) of historical romance, historical mystery, fantasy, romantasy and paranormal mystery

The Secret of Flirting by Sabrina Jeffries

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

The Secret of Flirting (Sinful Suitors, #5)The Secret of Flirting by Sabrina Jeffries
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Sinful Suitors, #5

Release Date: March 27, 2018

The first time Gregory Vyse, Baron Fulkham and Monique Servais meet after he sees her in a play, it is definitely not love at first sight, yet neither ever forgets the other.

Three years later Monique is still an actress in Dieppe, France, but due to the decline of her grandmother, she no longer has the lead roles, she wonders how much longer she can care for her grandmother working as an actress. Life has not always been kind to Monique and she doesn’t trust love, from her perspective love equals pain. But just when it seems she will have to do the unthinkable to support her grandmother, she gets a surprise visit from her grand-uncle, Count de Beaumonde comes to see her and makes her an offer that could solve all her problems. Her grandmother is Princess Solange of the royal family of Chanay. Her family disowned her when she married an actor, but now the Count (Solange’s BIL) will take them back to the palace and see to Solange’s care, if Monique will impersonate her cousin Princess Aurore and travel to England for the selection of the new monarch of Belgium – Aurore is the top candidate, but is deathly ill since arriving in France. Monique agrees, she and Aurore look almost identical and she is already familiar with Chanay thanks to her grandmother – what could go wrong?

The first gathering she attends, Monique discovers exactly what could go wrong – Baron Fulkham! Gregory can’t believe his eyes, the actress from Dieppe is impersonating Princess Aurore and as a member of the delegation, he cannot not let this imposter take the throne – but first he wants to know what their scheme is and sets out to unmask Monique.

Monique and Gregory are priceless together, he trying to get her to confess that she is Monique and her maintaining her role. But when her life is put in danger, Gregory doesn’t care who she is, he will protect her. Monique tells Gregory the truth of her ruse and begs him not to reveal the deception. Gregory agrees, but he will find out who is trying to kill the princess.

When Gregory learns that some is looking into his past trying to uncover his secrets and another attempt on Monique’s life is made, Gregory forms a plan. A plan that ends in him marrying Monique, but will she agree?

This is a very fast paced, well written story with wonderful characters, witty dialogue, steamy love scenes, a bit of intrigue, secrets and seemingly no chance for a HEA. But this is Sabrina Jeffries and she is able to make the impossible possible – with a surprising twist!

This is the fifth book in the series, but it is very loosely tied to the previous books and could easily be read as a stand alone title. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to Hart’s story.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to my by NetGalley and the publisher*

Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by Kerrelyn Sparks

On By TracyIn Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon (The Embraced, #3)Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by Kerrelyn Sparks

Series: The Embraced, #3

Release Date: March 27, 2018

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Gwennore is the 3rd “sister” of the Embraced from the Isle of Moon, she is Elven, but this doesn’t stop her sisters from trying to find a match for her.

While avoiding her matchmaking sisters and rude courtiers, she slips away with Luciana’s daughter Eviana to pick flowers. Far away from the others, they become easy prey when a dragon swoops down and snatches Eviana. Gwen is not letting her go without a fight and grabs the dragon as it is flying away. When the dragon shakes her loose, she is caught and saved by another dragon. This is when she learns that she can communicate with dragons, her dragon tells her he will return her and Eviana unharmed, but she must be patient. Gwen asks the dragon’s name and when he doesn’t respond, she names him Puff. The dragon sets her down on the ground near Eviana and tells her to trust the General.

Gwen and Eviana are escorted to the palace by guards and the Queen Freya announces that Eviana is her daughter. When Gwen touches the Queen her gift activates and she learns the Queen is being poisoned and is dying and going mad. The Queen demands that Gwen be arrested and thrown in the dungeon, Gwen calls out to Puff but just then, the most gorgeous man Gwen has ever seen arrives and saves her – General Silas Dravenko

Gwen and Eviana are taken to the nursery and everyone believes that Gwen is Silas’ mistress, she is shown a room and while she is changing she sees the sifter Brody, she lets him in her room and tells him what has happened. Silas enters and tells Brody that he will return them tomorrow, but he begs Gwen to stay and help save the Queen and his people.

Gwen agrees, but is not happy that everyone thinks they are lovers, Silas flirts shamelessly with her and she doesn’t believe that he is sincere as she has always been shunned for her heritage. But as they work together, Gwen begins to believe that he does accept her, but Silas has many secrets and she doesn’t know if she can trust her heart to him. When they learn that the poisoning of the Queen may lead back to the Chameleon, secrets will have to be revealed and Gwen will have to decide if she can forgive Silas for his deception or walk away and return to her sisters.

This is a wonderful story, but before these two get their HEA there will be tons of witty dialogue, excellent secondary characters, lots of secrets, shocking twists, trolls, dragons, shifters, surprise revelations, new villains joining old villains, some tears and a couple of steamy love scenes.

This is the third book in the series and while it can be read as a stand alone, it is best to read the series in order. I knocked off a 1/2 star for modern verbiage – which may or may not be fair – this is a fantasy world but the author portrays it as a medieval type world, so when a heroine wearing a gown, worrying about her reputation being ruined, while in a castle lit by candles spews out phrases like – hitched a ride, jump his bones and I’m pissed – it seems out of place. But please don’t let a little modern verbiage stop you from reading this series – it is fantastic!

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

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