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

A Governess Should Never Tempt…A Prizefighter by Emily Windsor

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

A Governess Should Never... Tempt a Prizefighter (The Governess Chronicles, #1)A Governess Should Never… Tempt a Prizefighter by Emily Windsor

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Governess Chronicles, #1

Release Date: November 9, 2020

Matilda Griffin is the daughter of the late Viscount Astwood, a title now held by her cousin and guardian. With mere months before she comes of age, her cousin has decided she will marry and has betrothed her to the vile Earl of Sidlow – a man old enough to be her grandfather and repulsive to boot! To avoid this fate, she applies for the position of governess to Seth Hawkins’ thirteen-year-old daughter Chloe. She knows her cousin has frittered away her father’s fortune and her dowry, so she figures she can hide out until she turns twenty-one and then use her inheritance and travel the world. It is the perfect plan, but that was before she met Seth.

Seth Hawkins is a widower, father and former prizefighter, who has opened a boxing academy that is vastly popular and wildly successful. He has raised his daughter alone for years, but knows she needs a woman’s guidance and is fast losing hope of finding the perfect governess when he meets Matilda, at first, he thinks she is all wrong, but is taken with her honestly and hires her. She is lovely and he is surprised to realize he is attracted to her – after years of guarding his heart and keeping women at arm’s length, Matilda manages to worm her way past his defenses.

As they spend time together, they grow close and Seth begins to imagine a future, but her cousin isn’t willingly to let her go without a fight and if they want any type of future, Seth will have to protect her – but Astwood doesn’t fight fair and Matilda may have to save them both!

I really enjoyed this book, it is well written, fast paced and fun. Matilda and Seth are amazing characters who are incredibly likable and easy to root for. They don’t fight their love or make excuses why they can’t be together and when faced with trouble, they work together – they are just wonderful and the book was a delight to read. The secondary characters were great, the love scenes warm, there is some action, some surprises and a sweet ending complete with an epilogue. If I had any complaint it would be that the book has a lot of boxing cant and British slang, which I will be honest, was a bit hard to understand, but not impossible and didn’t really affect my enjoyment of the story. This is the first book in the series and I really can’t wait for the next installment! I enjoyed this book and would be happy to recommend it.

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

 

Blurb:


“So tell me, Miss Griffin, why should I employ you as governess?”
A question to rouse fear within the breast of any prospective governess but for Matilda, a lady without references, appropriate brown clothing or any experience with children whatsoever, doubly so.
Yet alone in the world except for a brutish guardian and a malodorous betrothed, Matilda must seek her own future, even if that means employment in the household of a rugged ex-prizefighter with sizeable muscles and doubtless minuscule intellect.

“Please continue to enlighten me, Miss Griffin.”
Mr Seth Hawkins, owner of famed Boxing Academy, has reached the point of desperation in his search for a governess.
Yet with no other suitable candidates, could this yellow-clad, bespectacled female who seemed to think him a witless dolt with calloused knuckles and no books, teach his daughter the ways of a lady?

The Lady and the Prizefighter.
One should never judge a man by his well-defined muscles or a lady by her yellow-silk slippers, for beneath both façades lay yearning hearts, shared dreams and a taste for adventure.
With tavern excursions, scandalous kisses in midnight carriages, whifflers, nobblers and dressing as a nefarious footpad on the prowl, the vocation of governess has never been so exciting…

A fun, heart-warming Regency romance, this is the first book in a companion series to the Games of Gentlemen.
This tale contains sensual scenes.

Buy Links:


US ~ UK

A Duchess A Day by Charis Michaels

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Duchess a Day (Awakened by a Kiss, #1)A Duchess a Day by Charis Michaels

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Awakened by a Kiss, #1

Release Date: November 10, 2020

Declan Shaw is rotting in Newgate, charged with a crime he did not commit. He was hired by the palace to escort Miss Knightly Snow to her aunt in the south of France, but Miss Snow disappears and Declan is charged with abduction and foul play, with the threat of murder hanging over his head. He has tried without success and at considerable expense to have the charges dropped, but to no avail. But all that changes when he is visited by Titus Girdleston, the uncle to the Duke of Lusk. He tells Declan that The Duke is betrothed to Lady Helena Lark, but the lady is not thrilled at the prospect of marrying the duke – she has evaded the marriage for the last five years, but has at last agreed to come to London. Girdleston wants Declan to guard her and make sure she doesn’t bolt – the reward if he succeeds is great, enough to settle his debts and care for his father and sisters, not to mention having the charges against him dropped. But if he fails, he will get nothing and quite possibly will be returned to jail. With no opinions, Declan accepts – besides, how hard could watching a young woman and delivering her to her wedding possibly be?

Lady Helena Lark has used many strategies over the years to put off marriage to the duke – she knows he doesn’t want her, but their families want the land that her grandmother left her – the land that contains a summerhouse that she calls home, her apple orchard, a forest and tenants – all of which will be lost if she marries the duke. She is determined to end her betrothal and has the perfect plan – she will find a new duchess for the duke – because if he jilts her, her family will finally let her retire to her forest in peace. When she arrives in town, she is prepared for Girdleston’s spies – but even knowing isn’t enough to stop her immediate fascination with Declan. She has never felt even the slightest attraction to a man before – but she is drawn to Declan and hopes to win him to her side.

Helena waits until everyone is asleep and slips out to the stables to talk to Declan – he tries to resist, but he is just as taken with her as she is with him and cajoles him into helping her. And against his better judgement, he tells her he will help her and then to make matters worse – he kisses her. He is angry with himself and fully intends to resist her and to inform Girdleston of her plan – but he can’t and finds himself falling under her spell. But he has secrets and while he will help her, he can’t afford to lose his heart to her, but will he be able to walk away?

I really loved this story, it was a fun tale with a bit of a Snow White twist – Helena and Declan are both wonderful characters and I loved their interactions and dedication to each other – which never wavered, no matter how dismal things appeared. The story is well written, fast paced, filled with witty banter, schemes, secrets, surprising twists and turns, a couple of warm love scenes, great secondary characters and a very satisfying ending complete with a epilogue, The copy I read was an uncorrected proof, so I assume that the typos and title errors will be corrected by publication and did not factor them into my review rating. This is the first book in the new series and I am hooked – I highly recommend this book and am really looking forward to the next installment.

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