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

When A Duchess Says I Do by Grace Burrowes

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820)4 Comments

When a Duchess Says I Do (Rogues to Riches #2)When a Duchess Says I Do by Grace Burrowes

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Rogues to Riches #2
Publication Date: 4/2/19
Number of Pages: 384

I thoroughly enjoyed this read that is populated with wonderfully complex, likable and very relatable characters. The writing, of course, is excellent and the plot is well delivered. I had a hard time buying the actual scenario of the plot, but I enjoyed the story anyway.

Duncan Wentworth is the sweetest, most honorable, really, really good man I have read in a long while. He’s totally selfless and helps his family and friends no matter the circumstances, yet he is totally unaware of the high esteem in which they all hold him. He just sees himself as a poor relation. His cousin Quinn, Duke of Walden, has sent Quinn to the Brightwell estate to set it to rights. Brightwell has fallen into disarray since the last duke died and Quinn wants to give it to Duncan – who doesn’t want it. So, Duncan isn’t happy, but he’ll do his very best to do what Quinn wants. Little does he know that things will soon take a turn toward the bright side.

Matilda Wakefield, Duchess of Bosendorf, is a widow who has spent most of her life traveling around the continent with her art dealer father. She’d always wanted a home – a permanent address – and that was why she had married her German duke. Now that he is gone, she is living in London with her father. Well – she had spent all of her life thinking her father was an art dealer, but now she isn’t so sure. She found evidence that he might be a spy for a foreign government – and – her want-to-be fiancé, Colonel Lord Parker, saw her with the document. She can’t take a chance on Parker turning her father in as a traitor, so she takes off with basically nothing except the incriminating document – including no money.

After being on the run for months – just barely surviving, emaciated and half-starved, she ends up on the grounds of Brightwell – just in time to rescue a very handsome man from two poachers. She doesn’t dare tell him who she is or anything about herself, but the offer of a warm fire and a warm meal entice her to at least go to the house with him for a short time.

Duncan knows there is more to the woman that she is admitting. He recognizes the signs and knows that she is afraid and needs help. Something he is only too willing to give. She doesn’t trust him or anyone else – and plans to leave as soon as she can – but, that leaving seems to keep stretching out. They grow closer and closer – and then the villain strikes. Can Duncan save Matilda? If he can, it won’t be easy.

I adored the supporting characters. My favorite was Stephen Wentworth and I cannot wait for him to get his book. He was a genius and a lovely young man who was constantly chafing against his physical limitations and I will absolutely love seeing him get his HEA.

While Matilda’s husband was deceased, she was not the Dowager Duchess. For her to be the Dowager, she would have had to have had a son, grandson, step-son who was the new Duke and also had a wife – otherwise, she was still just the Duchess. This book was also an example of perhaps the author getting stuck on a particular letter for names – we have Walden, Wakefield, and Wentworth.

I certainly enjoyed the story and I hope you will as well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

The Lieutenant and the Lady by Collette Cameron

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews3 Comments

The Lieutenant and the Lady (The Blue Rose Regency Romances: The Culpepper Misses Book 5)The Lieutenant and the Lady by Collette Cameron
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Culpepper Misses, #5

Release Date: March 26, 2019

Blaire Culpepper’s worst nightmare has come true, the man she loves, who she thought returned her feelings is courting another woman.

Lieutenant Julian Drake loves Blaire Culpepper, but he felt he had nothing to offer her, when his brother passed away and Julian inherited the estate, he thought he would finally be able to declare himself and ask for her hand. But when Daphne, his brother’s betrothed tells him she is pregnant with his brother’s child, Julian feels honor bound to marry her and give his brother’s child the name and inheritance that should have been theirs. He sees Blaire and tries to talk to her, but Daphne and her mother intrude and are rude to Blaire. Later he seeks her out and tries to explain, he tells her that he has not actually proposed to Daphne, but he most likely will. Blaire wishes him well and decides that she will go to the family estate to lick her wounds.

But it appears fate is not ready to let the would be lovers walk away just yet, on the way to the country, Blaire comes across an accident and stops to offer aid. The carriage passengers turn out to be Julian, Daphne and her mother. Julian is unconscious and in need of immediate attention, so Blaire takes them to the nearest inn and when the doctor arrives, she agrees to stay and nurse Julian. She learns from Daphne that they were on their way to his county house to marry – a blow that Blaire was not expecting.

Julian wakes and has no memory, the doctor assures him that it is not uncommon for someone with a head injury to suffer memory loss and is sure that it will return. He remembers nothing, so when Daphne tells him they were going to marry, he tells her they will have to wait until his memory returns. Blaire nurses him and the more time he spends with her, the more he wonders why he would ever consider marrying Daphne.

Little by little, his memory returns and he is sure that Blaire is the woman he should marry, but before they can even consider a HEA, there will be several obstacles for them to overcome as well as some shocking revelations and some unexpected twists and turns.

I think this might be my favorite story in the series, it is well written, flows nicely, has a lot of twists and turns, secrets, lies, deception, heartache and some sweet kisses (no steam). The ending was wonderful and even though this is the fifth book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone title.

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