Category: Barb’s Reviews

Nothing Compares To The Duke by Christy Carlyle

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Nothing Compares to the Duke (The Duke's Den, #3)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Duke’s Den #3
Publication Date: 5/26/20
Number of Pages: 368

Rhys Forester and Arabella Prescott have a history – both a joyous one and a heartbreaking one. They were best friends from the time they were children running their family estates together – getting covered in mud, riding their horses – you name it – they were inseparable. Arabella was the person who knew Rhys better than anyone – knew all of his fears and secrets. Then, Arabella begins to see Rhys in a different light and he thoroughly breaks her heart. He just threw it down and stomped on it. Let’s just say that Arabella hasn’t been particularly forgiving – and I don’t blame her.

Rhys has lead a debauched hedonistic lifestyle for the last five years. He throws wild parties, acts recklessly, and womanizes every night while sleeping his days away. However, he has made his own fortune by investments of many kinds, but particularly as part-owner of the Duke’s Den. Then, his father dies and Rhys becomes the fifth Duke of Claremont – only to learn that the dukedom isn’t as solvent as Rhys had assumed it was. It is devouring all of his funds and he has to figure out what has happened. His father couldn’t have been that much of a profligate – or could he? Rhys heads back to his estate to investigate – but balancing ledgers is not his strong suit and he’s having a very hard time of it.

Arabella has had several very successful seasons and has declined a number of marriage proposals. She has ambitions of her own and they include publishing her own book – and remaining single. She thinks her parents have accepted her wish to become a spinster – until – she discovers that the house party they are planning is strictly to introduce her to several very marriage-minded men. Once she learns the reason for their insistence, she starts looking for ways around them. Who could be better to help her than Rhys? After all, he owes her – big time.

Each has a skill and ability the other needs, so they strike a bargain – they’ll have a fake betrothal to satisfy her parents and she’ll help Rhys with the ledgers and his sister’s debut season. Everybody wins! But, as they spend more and more time together, Rhys begins to realize what a horrible mistake he made years ago. Can he convince Arabella to trust him again? To love him again? Can Arabella learn to forgive Rhys and trust him again?

I really enjoyed this book and truly came to like the main characters. I do have to admit that I didn’t really understand Rhys’s descent into debauchery – I understand that his father wasn’t the best example and they didn’t get along, but I think I just didn’t really get enough information on that to understand it.

I hope you will give this well-written book a try and that you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Happy Reading

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When You Wish Upon A Rogue by Anna Bennett

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

When You Wish Upon a Rogue (Debutante Diaries, #3)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Debutante Diaries #3
Publication Date: 5/26/20
Number of Pages: 320

Sophie Kendall is the last unmarried member of the original group of friends who agreed to keep diaries sharing their experiences of their seasons. Her friends Fiona (First Earl I See Tonight) and Lily (The Duke Is But a Dream) have both found love and marriage, but that doesn’t appear to be an option for Sophie. Her family is on the brink of destitution, and they expect her to marry Charles, a wealthy marquess who has agreed to pay her father’s debts in return for her hand in marriage. The bright spot in her life is the weekly meetings of Debutante Underground, but she knows she’ll have to sacrifice that as well as love in order to save her family.

Henry Reese, Earl of Warshire, is a wretched and troubled man. Plagued with nightmares from deep-seated feelings of guilt and remorse. It seems he was never where he needed to be in order to save the people he loved. He goes for days on end without sleep, and when he does sleep, he has soul-deep nightmares. Then, quite by chance, he meets a young woman who calms the beast in his soul, and that allows him a few hours of good sleep. She left him some of the valerian roots she used to make the tea – and he’s tried it – but the tea doesn’t do it. It had to be something about the woman herself that calms him.

Henry seeks Sophie out and asks her to help him sleep again. She doesn’t buy it at first, but finally agrees – and they set up a regular Friday meeting to help Henry sleep. As they spend time together, they begin to care for each other – but they know their time together will end soon. Sophie’s family is waiting for her and Charles to officially announce their engagement. How can they save her family and still be together? You’ll just have to read the book – but expect lots of lovely romance, some surprising revelations, and a delightful twist before they finally get their HEA.

This is a nicely written book with lovely characters. I particularly liked Henry who was grumpy and curmudgeonly – until he wasn’t. Then he was such a lovely, romantic man – you’ll fall in love with him yourself!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.