The Lady’s Physician by Jane Charles

The Lady's Physician (Sinclair Brothers Book 1)The Lady’s Physician by Jane Charles

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Sinclair Brothers, #1

Release Date: May 28, 2024

Dr. Xavier Sinclair is feeling out of sorts and questioning his life’s work after his attempts to cure his sister’s amnesia failed. And to make matters worse, the suggestions of her friend Lady Olivia Westbrook did cure her, a woman who has no formal training and whose ideas were the complete opposite of everything he believes! He is pondering his choices when he runs into an old friend from medical school, Dr. Orlando Valentine. After speaking to him, Xavier decides that he should begin practicing medicine again, rather than just researching and asks Dr. Valentine if he can shadow him for a while to reacclimate himself to treating patients. But his first house call with Dr. Valentine brings him face to face with the last woman he ever wanted to see again – Lady Olivia. But working with Olivia is eye-opening and when they successfully solve the attempted abduction of a viscountess and a mysterious illness affecting the children of Westbrook House, Xavier begins to think that Olivia would be a perfect wife for him. Too bad she keeps rejecting him! Will he be about to convince her that they are meant to be?

Lady Olivia Westbrook and her twin sister Lady Victoria have opened Westbrook House, a home for orphans and women with no place else to turn. She runs the day to day of the house while her sister runs the business side. It is satisfying work, but at what cost? She knows marriage would most likely mean that she would have to give up her work and that is something she could never do – so she has set herself on a shelf. But when Dr. Sinclair once again crosses her path, her life takes a turn that she never expected, when she begins working with a man who she admired until he dismissed her ideas for treating his sister. But Dr. Sinclair has changed and when an epidemic of whooping cough hits the Westbrook House, he proves that he is the man she once believed him to be and she falls hard. But when he asks her to marry him, she knows that it is out of obligation, and she won’t tie herself to a man that doesn’t love her.

This was such a great start to a new series! I loved Xavier, and for an intelligent man, he was so delightfully clueless! Olivia was also a great character, a little too stubborn and unbending at times, but she has a huge heart and truly means well. They make a great team and work together so well, but they can’t seem to talk about their feelings, which leads to quite a bit of angst. This book has a bit of everything, mystery, attempted abduction, secrets, kisses, a mysterious illness, nasty gossip, rejected proposals, and finally a HEA that didn’t seem possible as well as a very sweet epilogue! I loved this story and can’t wait for the next book!!!

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

The Wicked Wallflower by Tracy Sumner

The Wicked Wallflower (The Duchess Society, #3)The Wicked Wallflower by Tracy Sumner

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Duchess Society, #3

Release Date: April 21, 2022

Lady Pippa Darlington, the sister of Roan, the Duke of Leighton, has no desire to marry into the ton, and after an unfortunate incident involving an earl and a glass of ratafia, she had “lessons” from the Duchess Society. But rather than look for a husband, she has been laying low and playing the wallflower to glean information the Duchess Society – unbeknownst to them. And when her snooping lands her in trouble, her rescuer is the only man she has ever wanted and the man who is determined to keep her at an arm’s length – Xander Macauley. A Self-made man from the slums of London, who also happens to be a good friend and business partner of her brother. But Pippa is nothing if not fearless and just as determined to attain her heart’s desire. Bit by bit, she worms her way into Xander’s life and his heart, and if love is a battlefield, then Pippa is a major general and she is going to win this war!

Xander Macauley has wanted Pippa for years, but as his friend’s little sister he has deemed her off limits, too bad she never got the memo. Try as he might to ignore her, he can’t and has stopped trying. They embark on a passionate affair and emotions become involved, but his self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy keep him from imagining a HEA for them. Will he realize his mistake before it is too late and his headstrong lady closes her heart for good?

This was a great addition to the series, Pippa and Xander are a great couple and very easy to root for. The story was a little slow to start, but once it kicks into gear, it is a roller coaster ride to the end. This book has a slow burn romance, age-gap, forbidden passion, great secondary characters, “help” from previous characters, steamy love scenes, a hero with a soft-heart under a hard exterior, a heroine who isn’t afraid to go after what she wants, a soulmate type of love and finally after some negotiating, a very sweet HEA that includes a heart-melting epilogue. This is the third book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title. I am happy to recommend this title to fans of slow-burn to smoking-hot historical romances that lead to HEA.

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