Category: Georgian Era (1714-1837)

The Georgian era is a period in British history 1714 to 1830. The kings were all named George: George I, George II, George III and George IV. The sub-period of the Regency is defined by the Regency of George IV as Prince of Wales during the illness of his father George III. The definition of the Georgian era is often extended to include the short reign of William IV, which ended with his death in 1837.
Preceded by: Restoration
Including: Regency era
Followed by: Victorian era

One Night with an Earl by Tina Gabrielle

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

One Night With an Earl (Daring Ladies, #1)One Night With an Earl by Tina Gabrielle

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Daring Ladies, #1

Release Date: October 19, 2021

After her mother died, Anahit Woodbridge’s father, Baron Woodbridge went into a decline and not only lost the family home but killed himself, leaving Ana to care for her young brother amidst the scandal. Determined to do right by her brother, she reinvents herself as Ana Gardner and takes a job as a chaperone/companion to Lady Penelope, the daughter of the Marquess of Malvern. She knows that she will never marry and have children, but with her thirtieth birthday looming, she decides to lose her virginity and enjoy a single night of passion, so she makes a deal with the madame of London’s most elite brother, The Silver Chalice. When the night arrives, she enters the brothel masked and dressed to seduce, she is immediately drawn to a man, who comes to her rescue when another patron accosts her.

Oliver Bedford, the new Earl of Drake had not planned to be at the Silver Chalice and certainly didn’t intend to spend the night with the masked lady in red, nor did he expect the lady to be a virgin! They spent a glorious night together and part ways, but Oliver knows that one night with his mystery lady will never be enough. The next day he returns and tries to learn her identity without success, much to his disappointment. Later he makes a call on Lady Penelope at his grandmother’s request and doesn’t immediately notice Ana, but she certainly notices him and is appalled to learn that Oliver is the son of the man who ruined her life!

Later when Oliver makes the connection between Ana and the Scarlet Lady, he can’t understand why she is so cold to him and vows to find a way to thaw her. For her part, Ana does begin to thaw when she realizes Oliver is not the same man his father and brother were. They begin a secret affair, but Ana keeps her secrets, knowing the truth will change nothing, and vows to not let herself fall in love. But things get complicated and when the truth is exposed, Ana may lose much more than just her heart.

This was a well-written, fast-paced book with an interesting and engaging story. The book has a bit of everything, steamy love scenes, secrets, lies, intriguing secondary characters, a mixed-race heroine who had endured some racial prejudice in the past, a hero who is just about perfect, a bit of heartache, and finally a very lovely HEA. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series!

*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.*

A Yuletide Kiss, an anthology by Sabrina Jeffries, Madeline Hunter & Mary Jo Putney

On By TracyIn Anthology, Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Yuletide KissA Yuletide Kiss by Madeline Hunter

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: N/A – Anthology

Release Date: September 28, 2021

This new Christmas anthology features three brand new connected novellas by three of the biggest names in Historical Romance. Each of these Regency-era novellas is set at the White Rose Inn where each couple has been stranded by a snowstorm just days before Christmas…

When We Finally Kiss Good Night by Sabrina Jeffries, 4 stars: Fans of the Duke Dynasty series will be thrilled to discover that playwright and friend of the Duke of Thornstock, Konrad Juncker is reunited with Vanessa’s friend Flora Younger, when they are both stranded on a way to the Duke of Armitage’s house party – a party that they didn’t know the other was attending. Years ago these two met in Bath and Flora believed that Konrad was courting her, but when he disappeared without even a goodbye, her heart was broken and her future took a dramatic change. Konrad regrets his actions in Bath, but he has secrets that even now prevent him from offering for Flora and he knows he should stay away from her, but he can’t seem to stop himself. This second chance romance is sweet, but a little slow-moving, however, the love scenes are on the warmer side and the ending is fabulous!

The Unexpected Gift by Madeline Hunter, 3 stars: Jenna Waverly, the owner of the White Rose Inn usually closes her establishment for the Christmas holiday, but this year her plans are drastically changed when a storm brings not only stranded travelers looking for shelter, but also brings an unconscious and very ill man to her door. Lucas Avonwood works for the Home Office, but his trip to the White Rose Inn has nothing to do with his work, this is personal. He was on his way to the inn to find the man who had an affair with his cousin and then stole a broach before disappearing when he took ill and fell off his horse. He awakes to find himself in the very inn he was planning to visit, being tended by a woman who may or may not be party to the scam against his cousin. While I did enjoy reading this novella, I thought of the three novellas in this collection, this story had the hardest job selling the romance, as it featured two strangers meeting and falling in love in literally a matter of days, and while that has been done in books before, for me, it didn’t feel genuine in this story.

When Strangers Meet by Mary Jo Putney, 4.5 stars: It has been 7 years since Kate Macleod has seen her husband, Daniel Faringdon, a husband she met, married, and parted with all on the same day, a man she never expected to see again. But apparently, fate has decided that she is not done with these two. Daniel has returned to England after years away to assume his newly inherited title of Baron Elland, and was just as surprised to see Kate as she was to see him, he wasn’t even aware their marriage in Bombay all those years ago was legal, but now that he does and has been reunited with his wife, he isn’t ready to let her go again. But keeping Kate won’t be easy, especially since she was in the process of having him declared dead so she could remarry! This was a fast-paced, nicely plotted novella with just a bit of kissing and a believable 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.*