Someone to Honor by Mary Balogh

Someone to Honor (Westcott, #6)Someone to Honor by Mary Balogh
Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: Westcott #6

Release Date: July 2, 2019

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Lt Col. Gilbert “Gil” Bennington returns to England with Harry Westcott. Harry barely survived Waterloo and now almost 2 years later, he is still weak and ill – he asks Gil to stay with him in England until he recovers, Gil agrees and then wishes he hadn’t when Harry’s family shows up. Gil is not a fan of the nobility and has his own reasons for returning to England. The primary reason is to regain custody of his young daughter, who is currently living with his late wife’s parents.

Abigail Westcott is excited to see her brother Harry when the family arrives at their childhood home. She hopes to convince Harry into letting her stay with him after everyone else returns to London. She has no desire to participate in the season and has basically given up on the idea of marriage, as she has never met a man who inspired any desire in her. But all that changes when she meets Gil – and mistakes him for a servant. A half dressed, large, very masculine servant…

After their initial disastrous meeting, they form a truce of sorts and then an unlikely friendship, Gil finds himself telling her thinks he has never told anyone and she finds herself attracted to him in a way that she has never experienced before. When Harry suggests they marry to help Gil regain custody of his daughter, she surprises everyone, including herself, by agreeing.

This book was gentle read, there is really no action, intrigue or drama. There is absolutely nothing at all keeping Abby and Gil from being together and it is impossible for me to tell you when they “fell in love”. But despite that, I did like the story and felt like it was a nice, if somewhat placid, uncomplicated, addition to the series.

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

What Would a Duke Do? By Collette Cameron

What Would a Duke Do?: A Regency Romance (Seductive Scoundrels Book 4)What Would a Duke Do?: A Regency Romance by Collette Cameron

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Seductive Scoundrels #4

Release Date: June 26, 2019

Gabriella Breckensole’s secret crush on Maxwell Woolbright, the eighth Duke of Pennington dies a swift death when she overhears him vowing to ruin her grandfather. From that moment on, Gabriella has avoided the duke whenever possible and has kept the knowledge of what she heard to herself. But unfortunately for her, Maxwell doesn’t seem to take the hint…

After finding his grandfather’s journal, Maxwell believes that Gabriella’s grandfather stole his grandmother’s family home from the duchy by cheating his grandfather, furthermore, he believes this act caused the demise of his grandfather and father. He wants vengeance and has come up with the perfect solution – at least perfect in his mind! He will marry the delightful Gabriella Breckensole and make her grandfather give him Hartfordshire Court as her dowry, in exchange, he will let them live there, that way everybody is happy and the estate is returned to the duchy, all he has to do is convince Gabriella that his way is the right way…

Gabriella cannot believe the gall of Maxwell, how dare he demand that she marry him and then threaten her with her grandparents with complete ruin if she doesn’t? Left with no choice, she agrees, but vows to make him live to regret his highhandedness! When she tells her grandparents of Maxwell’s plan, she learns the awful truth and is given the means to turn the tables on Maxwell, will she take the information and enact vengeance on the man that she once believed she could love? Or will Maxwell realize that Hartfordshire Court isn’t worth the price it will cost him to regain it…Gabriella’s love.

This was a well written, fast paced story with two very strong leads, who will lock horns several times before finding their HEA. The book has scandal, vengeance, secrets, lies, some amusing banter, a likeable albeit misguided hero, a very stubborn feisty heroine, warmish love scenes and very hard won HEA.

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