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

Every Bit A Rogue by Adrienne Basso

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Every Bit a Rogue (The Ellinghams, #4)Every Bit a Rogue by Adrienne Basso

Tracy rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Ellinghams, #4

Release Date: February 25, 2020

Emma Ellingham knows heartbreak and unrequited love, years ago she confessed her love to Sebastian Dodd, the Earl of Tinsdale, who told her he loved her too, as a sister. When Sebastian fell in love and married another, Emma was devastated, she closed off her heart and concentrated on her art, but even that seems to have deserted her. So when Jon Burwell, Viscount Kendall is jilted at the altar, Emma knows his pain and feels empathetic but she doesn’t really give him another thought for almost a year, when their paths cross again.

While exploring her brother in laws property, Emma finds a path she has not taken before, one that leads to an unfamiliar building, her curiosity gets the best of her and she approaches, she knocks and enters, she finds two men working on a machine, one of them is Jon, but it is not Jon that captures her attention – it is his machine, for the first time in years Emma feels the overwhelming desire to draw, she is overjoyed, but her joy is short lived when Jon asks her to leave. She returns home and sketches from memory, but really wants to see the machine again. She returns to the workshop and lets herself in and begins to draw, Jon finds her and sends her away, refusing to let her draw his machine. She leaves, promising not to return until she is invited. But, she hasn’t given up, she will find a way!

Jon is finally beginning to get over Dianna, the woman he loved, the one who left him at the altar and ran off with another man. He has poured all the passion he felt for her into his invention – a threshing machine. His experience with Dianna left him hurt and unable to really trust anyone, which is why he denied Emma. He is in the village when he runs into Dianna, literally. He is shocked to see her and tries to be polite, she is married and her husband inherited a barony with a nearby estate. Jon is not happy to learn she will be living close by and even more upset when Dianna’s husband joins them and is nasty to her. Despite everything she did to him, he still feels outraged on her behalf and has to stop himself from defending her. He is returning home when it begins to rain and he finds Emma lost in the woods. The rain intensifies and they take shelter in his workshop, they share a drink and he tells her of seeing Dianna in the village, she moves to comfort him and trips, he catches her and they share a kiss. She is surprised by the feelings it invokes – but they agree it was a mistake. They fall asleep and Emma wakes at dawn – she bolts, hoping to return home before anyone knows she is gone.

Jon is home getting ready to go see Emma when her brother in law arrives – he thinks it is about Emma, but is stunned to learn that Dianna’s husband had been killed the night before and servants at the house named him as the murderer!! To save Jon, Emma confesses to being with him all night. Her confession saves him, but to save their reputations, they must wed. Can they find happiness or will their past experiences with love keep them from trying to find love again?

This was a well written, well-paced story with likable characters, cameos from previous couples in the series, a murder, steamy love scenes and a HEA complete with an epilogue. I was loving this book right up to about the 85% mark and then it tanked for me. I didn’t care for Emma’s deception, I wasn’t thrilled with resolution of the murder and I was really not happy with the “punishment” the villain got. This is the fourth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone title. I enjoyed the book even though the ending was not what I was hoping for and I would be happy to recommend it.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

A Duke is Never Enough by Darcy Burke

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A Duke is Never Enough (The Spitfire Society #2)A Duke is Never Enough by Darcy Burke

Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: The Spitfire Society, #2

Release Date: February 25, 2020

Marcus Raleigh, the Marquess of Ripley is no stranger to scandal, an unrepentant rake he doesn’t really care what society thinks of him and his sexual escapades, but when it becomes clear that his cousin is running an investment scam and is cheating people, he will not stand by and let his family name be dragged through the mud. He confronts his cousin in Hyde Park and a physical altercation ensues which leaves him with a cut when his cousin throws a rock at him before running away and if that was not bad enough, the entire scene is witnessed by many members of the ton. Angry that he let his emotions get the better of him, Marcus rides away and finds a secluded place to collect himself and tend his wound. But his solace is interrupted by the arrival of a woman, a woman who tends his wound and flirts, yet will not give him her name. Intrigued by her, he vows to find her, she just laughs and rides away.

Phoebe Lennox is a spinster by choice, she jilted her fiancé at the altar on their wedding day and has reveled in her ruination, thanks to a fortune left to her by her aunt, Phoebe has the means to live as an independent woman. She defies accepted societal protocols and has moved out of her parents home and lives alone. After her experience with her former betrothed, Phoebe has pretty much sworn off men and has no desire to marry. So much to her surprise, her interaction with Marcus in the park sparked something in her – something she thought was long dead – desire. She tells herself that she is better off without a man and especially a man with a reputation like Marcus’ , but even telling herself all this isn’t enough to douse her interest in him, so it is a good thing she didn’t tell him who she is, because nothing good could come from it.

But Marcus is resourceful and finds her by showing his friend Colton a drawing he did of her and learns her name and where she lives. He walks to her neighborhood and by chance spots her entering her house. He surprises her by paying a call and flirting outrageously with her. She is impressed that he found her, but shuts him down when he suggests a kiss. He is not deterred and proposes a wager – that she will ask him for a kiss – if he loses he will donate to her favorite charity. She agrees and is sure she will win. Later Marcus meets with a runner to find his wayward cousin and hopes that he can be found before he scams anyone else. He then turns his attention to planning a masked ball for his friend Graham and his soon-to-be bride, a ball he hopes will give him the opportunity to explore his attraction to Miss Phoebe Lennox.

He and Phoebe embark on a friendship, which transitions to lovers and just when it seems like things might be heading in a more permanent direction and HEA could be in their future, Marcus’ cousin turns up dead and Marcus is the prime suspect. Marcus believes he knows who the killer is and will not fight his arrest to protect them. But Marcus’ misguided attempt to be noble may very well cost him not only his HEA but it could cost his him life!

This was a very well written, fast paced, entertaining story with likeable characters, steamy love scenes and an ending that was more than a little surprising. I loved Marcus, he really is a rake with a heart of gold. I had a harder time warming up to Phoebe’s character, she seemed like a 21st century woman transported back in time to Regency England – I am not picking on Ms. Burke, this kind of characterization is unfortunately is becoming the norm in this genre, sigh. Also I can’t help but wonder – Where’s the Duke?? Overall, I enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to reading Jane’s story!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me.*