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

The Brazen Bluestocking by Tracy Sumner

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

The Brazen Bluestocking (The Duchess Society, #1)The Brazen Bluestocking by Tracy Sumner

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Duchess Society, #1

Release Date: September 16, 2021

Lady Hildegard “Hilde” Templeton has been tasked with bringing Lady Matilda Delacour-Baynham’s fiance up to snuff and if she does, she is sure that Lady Matilida’s father, the Earl of Hastings will hire The Duchess Society to advise his four other daughters on their journey to wedded bliss – a commission she sorely needs, as she has a lot of responsibilities and not a lot of money. She is sure she can get Tobias Streeter; a shipping magnate who is of Romani blood, and if gossip is to be believed, all-around bounder ready for the ton. But meeting him in person shocks her to her core – she has never had such an instant attraction to a man, granted Tobias is the most attractive man she has ever seen, but this is more than that. She reminds herself that she needs to focus on the prize and ignore whatever it is simmering between them. Easier said than done, especially when she learns the “Rogue King of Limehouse Basin” is a very nice man who among other things rescues orphans and cats.

Tobias Streeter is the illegitimate son of a Romani woman and a Viscount, life has not been easy but Tobias has made a fortune and is ready to follow his dream of working with famed Architect John Nash, but for that, he needs more than money, he needs connections to the ton and has found the perfect woman in Lady Matilda, as theirs will be a white marriage and he won’t have to change his lifestyle or worry about love. But that was before he met Lady Hildegard Templeton and she turned his world upside down and to make matters worse, as if his inconvenient attraction to her wasn’t bad enough, it appears that someone is trying to kill him. Soon he has choices to make, but a lifetime of fearing love makes it hard to accept that is what he is feeling or what he deserves. It isn’t until the real possibility that he could lose Hilde forever comes up that he finally knows what he has to do, but is it too late?

This was a very interesting story with very well-drawn characters and a somewhat unusual storyline. I really liked Hilde and Tobias, but their fears and seemingly contrived misunderstandings/misinterpretations dragged on a bit too long for my liking. There is also the fact that he was engaged to someone when the story opens, so there is also a bit of a cheating vibe – yes, his engagement was a business deal and his fiancee didn’t care if he had other women, but to me – cheating is cheating AND his fiancee was her client – so no, just no. That said, they never really crossed a line that made me want to stop reading and in the end, everything is as it should be. So if you are looking for a fresh story with great characters, true love, lots of interesting secondary characters, a soulmate type love, orphans, misgendered cats, steamy love scenes, abductions, grand gestures imagined but don’t happen, surprising twists and finally a HEA that began to seem impossible, then this is the book for you! This is the first book in the series, but there is a prequel novella that features her business partner, so you might want to read that first, but it isn’t strictly necessary to enjoy this story. So after some bumps in my reading journey, I ended up loving this book and can’t wait to read the next one!

*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.*

Desperately Seeking Seduction by Heather Boyd

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

Desperately Seeking SeductionDesperately Seeking Seduction by Heather Boyd

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Scandalous Brides, #2

Release Date: April 18, 2023

After the death of his father, the Duke of Ravenswood, Lord Stratford Sweet is on his way home to Ravensworth Palace to meet with his brothers and figure out the state of the dukedom. He is already running late (as usual) when his valet is injured and he is forced to take on a replacement, Dane Winston. A man who seems oddly familiar, but for the life of him, Stratford cannot figure out why. When they finally arrive at Ravensworth Palace, he leaves Winston to settle in and finds his brothers, Algernon, the new duke, Lord Nash, the spare, and Lord Jasper, the rake and only a year older than Stratford. It is then that he learns that the dukedom is mired in debt and that his brothers have promised Algernon their personal fortunes to help bail him out. While giving up his newly inherited estate is hard, he will gladly give it up to help his eldest brother, it is the shock of learning about his father’s mismanagement that is harder to accept and something the brothers want to keep under wraps as long as possible, especially from the family. But even this information pales in comparison to learning that his new valet is not the man he assumed he was because she is not a man at all!

Dane Winston has spent her life living a lie, first to protect her mother and then to protect herself. Her mother lied to her father, telling him she gave birth to a boy and forced Dane to play the part of their son but when her lie is exposed her mother takes Dane and they run for their lives, sadly her mother is killed when their coach goes off a bridge, but Dane swims to safety and never looks back. She works in an inn and is thrilled to be given the temporary position of valet to Lord Stratford Sweet, but all too soon he sees through her disguise and opens a whole new world to her. Dane plans to enjoy the short time they have, knowing it can’t last, but when her past catches up with her, will she run or trust Stratford, the man she has fallen in love with to keep her safe? And even if he can, is there any way they can share a future that won’t ruin them?

This is actually the second book I have read recently that used this unusual plot device and surprisingly, the two books couldn’t have been more different! And while they were both enjoyable reads, I felt that this one was a bit easier to believe the ruse because she wasn’t living with her family, she keeps to herself and lives a very small, lonely life – that is until she meets Stratford. The story is filled with lies, secrets, wonderful characters, steamy love scenes, surprising revelations, shocking twists, and finally a very interesting and satisfying HEA! This is the second book in the series, but I believe each title can be read as a standalone title with no problems at all. I enjoyed this story and will be looking forward to the next installment.

*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.*

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