Category: Debut Novel

The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour

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The Lady He Lost (The Lucky Ladies of London, #1)The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Lucky Ladies of London, #1

Release Date: April 2, 2024

Upon the death of her parents, Jane Bishop and her brother Edmund were taken in by her widowed uncle Bertie and his young daughter Cecily. One summer while visiting with another uncle, Jane met Eleazar “Eli” Willams and fell in love, but at only sixteen, she kept her feelings to herself. A couple of years later, Eli broke her heart when he proposed to her cousin Cecily and then again when he was lost at sea and presumed dead. Jane decided that love was not for her and set out to find a way to support herself without a husband and along with her dearest friend Della, form a Lady’s Only Gambling Club. The hope is that they make enough money to support themselves independently yet ensuring that no one is gambling so much they ruin themselves. It seems like she finally has her life on track when the impossible happens – Eli returns for the dead, with secrets and seems intent on rekindling their friendship. There is no way Jane can risk her heart again, and hardens her resolve to ignore him, but when Eli offers to help her make her dream of a gambling club come true, everything changes. But will all her dreams come true, or will Eli’s secrets break her heart all over again?

Eli made a huge mistake when he followed Jane’s cousin Cecily into the garden and it cost him his freedom, as he was honor-bound to offer for her when they were discovered kissing by her father. Their engagement was announced, and Eli joined the navy to earn a living. Three years later, he is a Lieutenant in Her Majesty’s Navy when his ship is destroyed, and he is lost at sea and presumed dead. In reality, he was saved and taken prisoner by pirates, and it took almost a year and a half to escape. He returned to England to find he had been declared dead, his savings given to his younger brother, his fiancée married to another and Jane hostile. He tries to make amends with Jane, but without disclosing the entire truth, which could put him and others in danger, she refuses to soften. But all that changes with a rain-soaked kiss, giving him hope that he will finally be with the woman he has always loved. But when has the path to HEA ever been easy?

This was a new to me author and I thought it was a good debut effort. I liked the writing style, but I did find it a bit wordy and the first two-thirds of the book dragged for me. However, the final third of the book was paced nicely and wrapped everything up quite neatly. I wasn’t a big fan of Jane until about halfway through the book when she finally fell off her high horse and pulled the stick out of her – well, you know. I loved Eli and found the majority of the secondary characters to be completely delightful – I am seriously hoping for Della’s story – she is a piece of work that is sure to lead some hapless man on a merry chase. Overall, the book was good, it was original, the idea fresh, and the story was filled with wonderful characters, secrets, betrayal, heartache, some laugh out loud moments, warm love scenes, big plans, disappointment, hope and a satisfying ending but sadly no epilogue, although, the last chapter does set them on the road to HEA, so it’s all good. This is billed as the first book in a new series, and I am definitely looking forward to 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 Earl’s Debt by Constance Remillard

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The Earl's DebtThe Earl’s Debt by Constance Remillard

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Worthy Peers, #1

Release Date: February 5, 2024

John Malcolm Malvern, the Earl of Sedrich needs a rich bride to save his indebted estate which is sinking further into debt each day thanks to his wastrel brother James, but so far he has had no luck. Malcolm was once in love and had his heart crushed, leaving him wary of deeper emotions, so when he meets Anne Merritt, a refreshing young woman at a ball, he is surprised at his initial reaction to her, he finds himself drawn to her, something that hasn’t happened in a very long time. He chats with her and is completely charmed, so much so, that he wonders if she could be the bride he has been looking for. Even when he learns that she is penniless, he can’t seem to walk away, and when his situation changes and his need for a bride becomes urgent, it seems like he may be able to have the bride of his choice after all. But when his brother shows up with his own bride in tow, things get heated and his budding relationship with Anne is put into jeopardy.

Miss Anne Merritt, the penniless ward of Lord Armitage, had no expectations that this ball would be different from any other, but she was wrong, she meets a handsome stranger and gives him advice on finding a bride. Later he charms her German governess/companion, they share a dance and then cigarette before parting ways. Anne wishes she could be the bride he is looking for, but not only is she penniless, has no dowry and she owes her guardian quite a bit of money, as he paid her father’s debts when he died. She longs for a family but has accepted that she will probably never marry, so when her uncle announces that he has found her a husband, she is shocked and dismayed when she learns that her betrothed is old enough to be her grandfather and has already buried four wives. She rebels, but it does nothing but anger her guardian and gets her locked in her room to await her betrothed. But when her guardian sends her to meet her groom, she is shocked to be delivered to Malcolm. Will this be the start of the life she has always wanted or will it end in heartache?

This was a very good debut novel by a new to me author. The story is interesting and while the plot is not a new one, the author does give her readers a fresh take on the “marriage of convenience” trope. The book features a strong, somewhat outspoken heroine, a once-bitten, twice-shy hero, secret identities, deception, good friends, evil villains, an Aunt who is calling the shots, warmish love scenes, a few triggers, a few tears, a duel, and finally a well deserved HEA complete with an epilogue. This was a good book for a debut novel and the writing does show promise, but I did feel like there was a lot going on and at times it became a bit too much. It also tended to get somewhat wordy, but I am sure as this author continues to write, she will find her stride and only get better. I was impressed by the author’s notes where she details her research and admits where she took a bit of creative license. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my fellow HR readers, but would suggest that you check out the author’s content warning as the story does contain a few scenes that might be troubling/upsetting to some readers.

3.5 stars

*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.*