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

A Duke of Her Own by Stacy Reid

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Part of a Series, Re-Release / Updated Edition, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Duke Of Her Own (Wedded By Scandal Companion Series Book 1)A Duke Of Her Own by Stacy Reid

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Wedding by Scandal Companion Series, #1 (Previously published in I Like Big Dukes and I Cannot Lie)

Released: December 16, 2023

After a scandal that ruined her reputation and nearly two years of exile, Lady Francie Walcott has finally been called back to London by her mother to marry the elderly Earl of Beresford, in the hopes that the marriage will salvage Francie’s reputation. But before she leaves, she wants to see her neighbor and friend, Alexander Crawford one last time and hopes she will have the courage to ask him for a very special favor. For the last year, Mr. Crawford has been a balm for her loneliness and she has come to care for him. But her past experience has made her wary of trusting her emotions and she fiercely guards her heart, especially since he doesn’t know who she really is or that she is ruined and is most likely not a suitable candidate for marriage (at least by her mother’s standards). But none of that stops her from seeking him out or secretly longing for him.

Alexander Crawford, the Duke of Merrick has been smitten with Francie from almost the first moment he met her when he fled to his father’s lake cottage to grieve his father’s passing. Francie was kind and compassionate, and a friendship blossomed, but it is clear that she is hiding something, but then, so is Alexander. Over the months they have known each other, he has come to believe that Francie is the woman for him and hopes she feels the same. When she tells him of her desire to experience true passion, he is overjoyed and is determined to win her over once and for all. But when her secrets are brought to light, their HEA may be over, before it ever began!

This novella was a delight to read! The story is well written, flows perfectly, and is filled with lots of emotion, secrets, wonderful characters, steamyish love scenes, a little heartache, and finally an ending that was everything I was hoping for! This novella was originally published in the I Like Big Dukes and I Cannot Lie anthology and is the first book in Ms. Reid’s Wedded by Scandal Companion series and has ties to Wicked in His Arms in the Wedded by Scandal series. I loved this novella and am happy to recommend it to Historical Romance lovers or anyone who enjoys a steamyish novella with a happy ending.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

When the Viscount Wanted Me by Lydia Lloyd

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

When the Viscount Wanted Me (The Rake Chronicles #2)When the Viscount Wanted Me by Lydia Lloyd

Tracy’s rating: 3/3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Rake Chronicles, #2

Release Date: January 16, 2024

Hugh “Trem” Aldershot, Lord Tremberly is livid when he overhears the very drunk Earl of Hartley spewing lies about his best friend’s little sister, Lady Henrietta Breminster, and promptly carts the man to the Duke of Edington’s house to clear things up and set the foxed Earl straight! But things do not go as planned when Henrietta intercepts them in the foyer and confirms that the Earl’s ramblings are true, but is clear – she won’t marry him. Trem is shocked and if truth be told a little (OK, a lot) intrigued and realizes that he is seeing Henrietta in a new light – no longer as just John’s little sister, but a fully grown, beautiful woman. But he knows that she is completely off limits and though he might be a rake, there are lines that he won’t cross – until he does! He accepts Henrietta’s choice and vows to help her be rid of the pesky Earl, but close proximity to her proves to be his undoing and the two embark on a steamy affair. But it isn’t long before he realizes she is the woman for him and proposes, she says yes, but almost immediately disappears, leaving Trem no choice but to follow her.

Lady Henrietta Breminster, sister to John Breminster, the Duke of Edington, can’t believe that Hartley is trying to ruin her reputation and belatedly realizes that Justin, Lord Hartley was perhaps not the best choice to teach her about passion. She thought since they were friends, they could share a night of passion without having to worry about being forced to marry. Clearly, she was wrong since he has proposed, been rejected, and is still hellbent on marrying her. Thankfully, Trem has promised to help her and when they ended up engaged, she is thrilled as she has been in love with him for as long as she could remember. But she knows that if she wants a true love match, she will have to share her deepest, darkest secrets with him. But before she confesses all, she wants to know more about her birth mother and takes off without telling him. Which will just be one more bad decision she makes before they finally get their HEA.

Just like the last book, I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I liked Trem quite a bit, but Henrietta was TSTL, seriously, she was selfish, self-centered, impulsive, and lacked common sense. The book does have a deeper emotional undertone, as well as some humorous banter, angry brothers, rakes, a suitor that won’t take no for an answer, secrets, steamy love scenes, emotional growth, great secondary characters and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. I will not deny that Ms. Lloyd has talent and I am sure with time she will refine her writing style to eliminate the excessive dialogue and smooth out the flow of the story to keep it on a steady pace. Hopefully, she will also take some time to learn about the etiquette and protocols of the era she is writing in, as well as, correct titles and formal address. I am not a historical purist by any stretch of the imagination, and I enjoy relatable characters – but relatable through emotion and experience, not because they are 21st-century characters in period dress, because if I wanted 21st-century ideals and morals, I would read contemporary romance. Overall, this was a good story that filled in some of the blanks missing from the first book, while still being its own story and not a retelling of the previous book. This is the second book in the series, and while there is a connection to the first book, this book could easily be read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*