Category: Historical Rom-Com

The Governess and the Duke by Lydia Drake

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

The Governess and the Duke (Renegade Dukes #3)The Governess and the Duke by Lydia Drake

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Renegade Dukes, #3

Release Date: December 26, 2023

Years ago, Miss Viola Winslow, fell in love at first sight with her employer’s best friend, James Montagu, the Duke of Huntington, but as the governess of the Duke of Ashworth’s ward, not to mention a woman with secrets, Viola was in no position to make her feelings known, so she hid them and silently loved him from afar. That would have been the end of the story, had her charge been anyone other than the incorrigible Felicity Berridge. Because Felicity loves Viola as much as Viola loves her and she wants Viola to be happy and have her heart’s desire, but in Felicity’s opinion, Viola is taking way too long and clearly needs assistance. And Felicity is up to the task. So begins the convoluted matchmaking scheme of a very wiley fourteen-year-old and her accomplices. Little does she know that her plan is going to stir up more than amorous feelings.

James, the Duke of Huntington has been hiding (and brooding) at his ancestral home, Moorcliff Castle for the past fifteen months, following the humiliating rejection of his marriage proposal to Miss Susannah Fletcher. But all that changes when Viola and Felicity need assistance and become guests at the castle. For the first time, James really “sees” Viola and wonders how he had been so blind the last ten years. It isn’t long before he realizes he is in love with Viola, but convincing her may be a losing battle, luckily for him, he has help and won’t give up easily. But when secrets come out and hard truths are faced, will duty and family honor supersede his heart’s desire?

This was a very fun read, with a dash of angst thrown in to keep it interesting. I liked Viola and James, but in my opinion, Felicity stole the spotlight in this book. The story is filled with secrets, scheming teenage girls, a chatty raven, vile family members, seances, ghosts, some lies, steamyish love scenes, wonderful secondary characters, a bit of angst, martyr-worthy sacrifices, cameos from previous characters, and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. I enjoyed this story, but in complete honesty, I had a hard time with the notion that James and Viola knew each other for ten years, and yet in all that time, he never noticed her and then in just a matter of days, fell head over heels in love with her. Other than that, it was a great story and one I would be happy to recommend to my fellow historical romance readers. This is the third book in the series, and I hope not the last – because I really want to read Felicity’s story!!!

4 stars

*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.*

Snowed in with the Scoundrel by Kat Sterling

On By TracyIn American Historical, American Progressive Era, Christmas, Historical Rom-Com, Novella, Part of a Series, Standalone Title, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Snowed in with the Scoundrel: A Steamy, Ex-Childhood Friends to Lovers Historical RomComSnowed in with the Scoundrel: A Steamy, Ex-Childhood Friends to Lovers Historical RomCom by Kat Sterling

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: December 18, 2023

When budding photographer Imogen “Genie” Radford is very publicly jilted by her fiancé, she decides to take refuge in her family’s cabin, far from the prying eyes of Seattle society. She expects peace and solitude, with time to lick her wounds from both the jilting and a poor showing at a recent photography exhibition, but what she finds is a very naked man in her bed! It only takes a minute to realize that she knows this man – he is her childhood best friend and first love, Tommy Solberg, the son of her family’s former cook and the man she has not seen since the night five years ago when he broke her heart. With recognition comes anger and suspicion, she wants him gone, but under it all she still feels something for him, all the more reason for him to go. However, the weather isn’t cooperating, and no matter how angry she is, she can’t send him out in a storm that would surely kill him.

Tommy can’t believe that this is happening, he needs to get to Seattle as soon as possible, everything he has done since the night he broke her heart has led to this moment and his future depends on it. He isn’t sure how he is going to be able to stay in the same cabin with the only woman he hasn’t been able to forget and a woman he can never have. At first, they avoid each other, and things are awkward, but eventually, they figure it out and soon it’s like they never parted and the need to get back to Seattle doesn’t seem as urgent any longer. But once they cross the line between friends and lovers, he knows that he will have to walk away because just like years ago, he knows he isn’t good enough for her, no matter how much he wishes it wasn’t true. It isn’t until he walks away that he realizes he has made a huge mistake and hopes it isn’t too late to fix it.

This was a lovely story of childhood friends, second chances, and supporting the dreams of one you love. This story is filled with laughter, photography, books, steamy love scenes, lots of snow, second chances, and finally the promise of a happily ever after. The story is a relatively short novella, but Ms. Sterling executes the book perfectly by beautifully filling in the backstory between Genie and Tommy, so the reader completely understands how they met and what drove them apart, as well as what they have each been doing since they last saw each other. I loved this story and devoured the book, reading it in one sitting, and hated reaching the end because I didn’t want it to be over! This was a standalone title by a new to me author and I am hooked and can’t wait to check out her backlist!

*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.*