Category: Author Collaboration Series

The Guardian Duke by Jane Charles

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Series Crossover, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Guardian Duke: (Wayward Dukes' Alliance Book 21)The Guardian Duke: by Jane Charles

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Wayward Duke’s Alliance, #21  &  The Vicar’s Daughters, Prequel

Release Date: April 22, 2025

Lady Penelope Johanson and Henry Simpson met years ago when Henry was still the Marquess of Broadridge, and his sister was (unbeknownst to him) blackmailing Penelope’s brother the Marquess of Felding. Needless to say, Penelope was not a fan of the Simpson siblings. She did come to realize that Henry was not aware of his sister’s treachery, but that doesn’t mean she likes him.

Now years later, Henry is now the Duke of Eldridge and the guardian of his five unmarried female cousins. Penelope notices that his cousins, they are lovely young ladies but have become wallflowers and Penelope decides to step in to help them. She takes them under her wing, determined to make them shine. Penelope long ago decided that she would not marry, she is happy with her independence and refuses to give up that freedom without love, something she is sure she will never find, but doesn’t anticipate her attraction to Henry. When they are embroiled in scandal, she may have to decide if she is willing to accept ruin or give up on her dream of true love.

Henry Simpson, the Duke of Eldridge was perfectly happy with his bachelor life, but when he takes responsibility for his orphaned cousins, he puts his rakish ways on hold and sets out to launch his cousins in society – too bad he has no idea how to do that and due to their strict upbringing, neither do they. When Lady Penelope starts to involve herself with his cousins, he can’t help but realize how much he desires her, but life with Penelope would not be calm and he has no desire for a managing wife. He seeks advice from the Duke’s Alliance, but unfortunately, when it comes to love – he will have to figure it out himself and hope he can convince Penelope that they are meant to be.

I enjoyed this installment of the Wayward Duke’s Alliance and was delighted to learn that it is also the prequel to a new series featuring Henry’s cousins! As always, the writing is great, and the story moves along nicely. Henry and Penelope are wonderful characters, and it is clear that they are perfect for each other – but as we know, the road to happily ever after is never a smooth ride and these two will have their fair share of bumps on their journey. I do wish there had been a bit of steam in this story or even an epilogue, but overall, it was a fun read, and I am looking forward to the new series.

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

The Viscount’s Forbidden Flirtation by Sarah Rodi

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Check Content Warning/Triggers, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Viscount's Forbidden Flirtation (A Season to Wed, 2)The Viscount’s Forbidden Flirtation by Sarah Rodi

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: A Season to Wed, #2

Release Date: April 1, 2025

French emigree, Miss Seraphine Mounier first meets Ezra Hart, heir to Viscount Hart when she tries to prevent a duel between Erza and her brother Henri, Baron Mounier. She is too late, but thankfully Erza deloped and apologized for the insult he paid to Henri, when he made derogatory statements about the French immigrants in England. This doesn’t pacify Seraphine, and she makes it clear that she doesn’t like Erza and wants nothing to do with him. But their paths keep crossing and the more time she spends with him, the more she softens towards him. Erza needs a noble wife with an impeccable background and there is no way the Viscount would accept her. She tries to distance herself from him, but Erza can’t seem to take a hint and when disaster strikes, he is her hero, and she falls head over heels for a man she can’t have. Too bad falling in love doesn’t guarantee a happy ending.

Ezra Hart is the heir to Viscount Hart, but that is not a right he was born to, and it is conditional. When Ezra was just 10 years old, the Viscount’s son died and he approached Ezra’s parents with a proposition, Ezra would come to live with them as their son and the Viscount will make him his heir and in exchange, he would give Ezra’s father a home and a living. Ezra missed his family, but had no contact with them, and never felt like he belonged with the Viscount. So, when the opportunity to go to school came, he was happy and made some lifelong friends, friends he convinced to go into the military with him when they finished school. He fought for years and now that the war is finally over and he has returned to England, his is trying to come to terms with his life. His experiences in the war skewed his feelings towards the French and while in his cups one night he made some awful comments that ended up published. Words he regrets and after meeting Seraphine, he will do whatever he can to make things right. He would love to make Seraphine his wife, but his inheritance is conditional and without the Viscount’s approval, he has nothing to offer her.

This was a well-written and interesting story with a very unique plot that touches on sensitive issues regarding prejudices and social status. I liked Erza and tried to be understanding of his original opinions of the French immigrants in England, especially as he had just returned from the war. I also tried to give the same empathy to Seraphine who had lived in England most of her life but was still treated like an outsider, yet I had a hard time warming up to her. However, I had a hard time believing she was as ostracized as she claimed, as she and her family were accepted into the highest echelons of society and had no shortage of invitations. Yes, there were a few people who were nasty – but that was more about jealousy than xenophobia. This was a very fresh story, but it did have a lot of etiquette errors – by my count Seraphine was ruined at least three times and seemed to have no concern for her reputation. Overall, I liked the story and thought the author handled the sensitive plot points very well. This is the second book in an author collaboration series but could 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/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *