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

Unmask Me If You Can by Shana Galen

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

Unmask Me If You Can (The Survivors, #4)Unmask Me If You Can by Shana Galen
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Survivors, #4

Release Date: November 6, 2018

Lord Jasper Grantham, the son of the Marquess of Strathern is a member of the Survivors Club known as the Bounty Hunter. Jasper was badly maimed during the war, he wears a mask to hide his external scars, but lives in the shadows to hide his internal ones. Jasper has a knack for finding things and currently his mission is to find Viscount Carlisle’s runaway daughter and bring her home. This should be a straightforward mission, he will find her, bring her home to her family and then slink back into the shadows.

Olivia Carlisle ran away years ago rather than be forced to marry the man that raped her. She and her young son Richard have been living in seclusion, which is exactly what Olivia wants. But when Richard finds an unconscious man on the path to their cottage, Olivia can’t leave him to die. She nurses him back to health and isn’t really surprised to learn he has been sent to find her. She is skittish around men and forces herself to be brave while tending Jasper. But Jasper is unlike any man she has ever met and she is shock to realize she desires him. Slowly they grow close, each sharing more with the other than they have ever shared. Jasper is patient and kind with both Olivia and her son Richard (who is absolutely delightful in this book). He learns the reason she ran away and vows to protect her.

Olivia is dismayed to learn her mother is dying, but it isn’t until she discovers that Jasper’s attack may not have been a random event, that she agrees to return to London. Jasper swears he will keep them safe and will do whatever he can to ensure that the Duke of Withernsea can’t harm her or Richard. Slowly, Olivia begins to trust Jasper and finds that she craves his touch, which shocks her, she thought that Withernsea had ruined any possibility of her ever wanting intimacy.

They return to London and Olivia is welcomed home with open arms, her father swears he will find a way to break the betrothal with Withernsea and will keep him away from her. Her father sends Jasper away and then keeps them apart, each believing the other has forsaken them. But when Jasper finds a way to see her, they learn the truth, Olivia has been betrayed. But things will get worse before they get better and Jasper will have to come out of the shadows if he wants to keep Olivia in his life.

This was an amazing story, Jasper and Olivia are wonderful characters who are both dealing with painful and traumatic pasts, but rather than being a dark, depressing read, this book truly showcases the healing power of love. The book is well written, fast paced and will hold you in thrall from the first page until the final word. There are secrets, lies, betrayal, some shocking twists, a very evil villain, steamy love scenes and several laugh out loud moments thanks to Richard. I loved this book and highly recommend it, while it is the fourth book in the Survivors series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone title with no problem.

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

Kiss Me at Christmas by Valerie Bowman #BlogTour

On By TracyIn Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

Kiss Me at Christmas cover
Not every leading lady finds love, gets married and sustains a domestic life. What about the ladies who were never swept off their feet? Do they take matters into their own hands? In the delightful addition to Valerie Bowman’s Regency-set Playful Brides series, Regina has written off the prospect of marriage, but she still would very much like a pleasurable distraction in her life. KISS ME AT CHRISTMAS (St. Martin’s Paperbacks, October 30, 2018, $7.99), connects a headstrong spinster and a noble Bow Street Runner tasked with protecting her during Christmas time in London.
Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf abhors Christmas. Caroling and holiday cheer only remind him of a dark time. When a close friend calls on him for help, Daffin is happy to capitalize on the distraction. But when he learns the lovely Lady Regina is the one in danger, he’s to become bodyguard to the captivating woman… Regina has one mission: to find a night of passion in the arms of a gentleman. Considered firmly on the shelf, Regina has given up on marriage—but that doesn’t mean she wants to be denied the pleasure married ladies experience. Daffin has long captured her attention…and when a threat calls him to her side, the sparks between them ignite. But how can a hired bodyguard find his way into Regina’s reserved heart?
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Valerie Bowman
VALERIE BOWMAN grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of historical romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her mini-schnauzer, Huckleberry. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS. She is the author of the Secret Brides series and the Playful Brides series.

Tracy’s Review:

Kiss Me at Christmas (Playful Brides, #10)Kiss Me at Christmas by Valerie Bowman

Series: Playful Brides, #10

Release: October 30, 2018

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lady Regina Haversham is turning 30 and with the prospect of an unwanted marriage looming, she decides that she wants to make her own choice of who she gives her virginity to and she has selected the perfect man for the job, Bow Street Runner, Daffin Oakleaf. She met him over the summer when he helped her cousin Mark investigate the murder of their cousin John. They flirted and she has not been able to forget him and has been following his exploits in the Times. Her mind made up, she goes to see him at Bow Street.

Daffin Oakleaf hates Christmas, he keeps busy during the season to ward off the bad memories Christmas brings. He is shocked to learn that Lady Regina is calling on him and agrees to see her. He is floored by her bumbling proposal and refuses. She is horrified, she not only did she embarrass herself, she inadvertently insulted him. Humiliated, she returns home, grateful that their paths will not cross again. But as she leaves her carriage is almost run off the road – this is the second incident and she knows she has to tell Mark and Nicole.

She tells Nicole about her meeting and the incident with the carriage – Nicole hatches a plan. When Mark learns of the threats, he says he will cancel his trip, but Nicole suggests that he hire Daffin to protect them. Mark thinks this is a wonderful idea and rushes out to hire him.

After a briefly awkward reunion, Regina apologizes and Daffin is gracious and perhaps a bit flirty. They talk and start to get to know each other better, some kisses ensue and they grow closer, even while trying to uncover the threat that is clearly against Regina. When Daffin is shot while with Regina, they decide they will return to the country estate with her uncle to wait for Mark’s return,

The more time they spend together, the more they share and the more they realize all they have in common and all that stands between them. Daffin doesn’t tell Regina everything about his past and that past comes back to torment them.

This was a nice story with likable leads, characters from the previous books, secrets, relatives with good intentions, unwanted suitors, kidnapping, steamy love scenes, a baffling mystery and finally a hard won HEA. So why not 5 stars? Well, the threat against Regina was a bit far fetched and ultimately the person responsible gets away with no punishment at all, there were also some title errors and way too many “Merry Christmases” for a book set in England. But this was a really good read and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment!

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