Author: Tracy

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

Courtly Scandals by Erin Kane Spock

On By TracyIn Elizabethan Era (1558-1603), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Courtly Scandals (Courtly Love, #2)Courtly Scandals by Erin Kane Spock

Series: Courtly Love, #2

Release Date: March 19, 2018

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars!

The Elizabethan era is by far my favorite HR sub-genre, unfortunately Elizabethan era books are few and far between, so I was delighted to see this book listed on NetGalley and while I had never read anything by this author, I was excited to dive into the glittery, treacherous world of Queen Elizabeth’s court and I am happy to say Ms. Spock did not disappoint!

This a complex tale of the fictional Mary Montgomery and Sir Charles Fitzjohn, set among the very real members of Queen Elizabeth’s court. Mary was introduced in the first book Courtly Pleasures (which I haven’t read, but will be soon!) as a member of Frances LeSieur’s household. Mary has been invited to stay for the Christmastide festivities by her dear friend Anne, Countess of Oxford, to whom she was a companion for many years until she was sent home ruined and heartbroken, thanks to Anne’s husband Edward, Earl of Oxford. But even with the shadow of Oxford hanging over her, Mary looks forward to spending time with Anne and enjoying all the revelry the court has to offer before she returns to her duties with the LeSieurs.

She meets Charles the first night due to the interference of her friend Blanche Parry, they immediately feel a connection and even though Mary believes she is not fit to marry, she is delighted to flirt and dally with Sir Charles. She knows that nothing can come of the flirtation, but she is determined to squeeze every minute of joy she can get out of her time at court.

Charles is a guardsman to the Queen and a bastard by birth, in this era illegitimate children had many limitations, Charles is luckier than most, his father raised him and gave him his name, but that doesn’t change the fact that he cannot own land or marry without special permission. Something he never gave a second thought about until he met Mary.

When Mary unwittingly becomes the center of scandal, Charles will do anything to help her clear her name. But for Mary, things go from bad to worse and any dreams of a happy life seemly disappear. She begins to realize for the first time that she does have choices and support comes from the most unlikely of sources. And when she is at her lowest, she is given opportunities that exceed any hopes and dreams she has ever had.

Can these two find a happy ever after? Or will secrets and vicious gossip tear them apart forever?

I loved this book, it is well written, flows perfectly, has steamy love scenes, lots of intrigue, a delightful blend of fact and fiction, secrets, forbidden desires and finally a very sweet HEA with a epilogue! This is the second book in the series, but I had no problems reading this book as a stand alone (although, I will be going back and reading the first book!!!) The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars is because there was a bit more modern verbiage than I would have liked and a few typos (which may be corrected by publication). But even with those very minor issues, I highly recommend this book and will be looking forward to reading more by this author!!

*I am voluntarily reviewing an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*

Earl of St. Seville by Christina McKnight

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

Earl of St. Seville (Wicked Earls' Club #11)Earl of St. Seville by Christina McKnight
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Earls’ Club, #11

Release Date: March 20, 2018

Sinclair Chambers, Earl of St. Seville aka Sin is “rescued” by James Lane, Earl of Desmond when James sees Sin being attacked in an alley. He brings Sin back to his carriage and learns that he is the son of an old friend. He insists on bringing him home and having his injuries tended. Sin just wants to return to his rented rooms and await his meeting with Coventry at the Wicked Earls’ Club.

He goes with the earl and while waiting for the doctor, a beautiful young woman comes in the room, when she asks who he is and his purpose in her home, he flees. But it will not be the last time he sees the lovely Lady Patience Lane.

Patience’s mother was the famed pugilist Ivory Bess before marrying the earl, she died too young because of complications related to her fighting. Patience has made it her life’s work to inform and warn others of the dangers of fighting, to the point where she is almost a social outcast. She meets Sin again when he defends her at a ball against Lord Holstrom. Holstrom is the man Sin is in London to meet. He hopes Holstrom will set up prize fights for him so he can earn money to save his family and the people of his estate from destitution.

Patience waits for Sin outside his rooms, she wants to thank him for defending her. He is gracious and kind to her and when they part ways, she follows him. She is horrified to see him fighting and knows he will lose. Despite her quest, she knows a lot about fighting from time spent with her mother and at one time she even considered fighting herself. But watching her mother die turned her away from the sport. After the fight, Patience goes to Sin and takes him back to his rooms. She learns why he is fighting and makes a deal with him, she will train him, but in return he must abide by her rules and give up fighting. He agrees, but still intends to follow through with his plan.

Patience teaches Sin the art of fighting, but when she realizes he has not been honest, she is heartbroken. Can Sin win back the woman he now knows means the world to him and still save his people? Can Patience forgive him and let go of her past pain? Will her brothers ever get invited to the Wicked Earls Club?

I have read this author before and not really cared for her writing, in fact, I swore never to read her work again, so when I realized that I would be reading her WEC for our blog, I was not really thrilled, but recently I read an anthology and I really liked her contribution, so I decided to read this book with an open mind and I am grateful that I did, because Sinclair Chambers is probably one of the best heroes I have ever read, I really loved him. This book has a few typos, some misused words, a title error, no steam and a fair dash of angst, but I loved it, Patience and Sinclair are characters that will not be easy to move on from, they are perfectly imperfect and I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It is the eleventh book in the Wicked Earls’ Club series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone (as they all can).

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