My Fair Viscount by Jess Michaels

My Fair Viscount (The Scandal Sheet, #4)My Fair Viscount by Jess Michaels

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Scandal Sheets #4

Release Date: July 9, 2019

David Shaw is the new Viscount Shaw and totally unprepared for the role. He was raised in the seedier parts of London by his mother after being abandoned by his father. But now his cousin Richard Shaw has found him and insists that he take his position in society, in fact, he has hired a comportment tutor to prepare him.

Rose Higgins teaches comportment to young ladies and is surprised to learn that her new student is a man – a very attractive man. She declines the job, but Richard makes her an outrageous financial offer and promises no one will learn that she was involved with David. The money is too much to pass up and she finally consents.

When Richard introduces them, two things are very clear, one – they are attracted to one another and two – David wants no part of learning to “fit in”.

The book is short and moves along relatively quickly, David and Rose are likeable leads and did have a believable chemistry between them, but there is not a lot of substance to this story, the love scenes felt somewhat gratuitous and there were things that just didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t hate this book, but I would not read this novella again.

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

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.*