Category: Historical Rom-Com

Our Dear Miss H is on the Case by Violet Marsh

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

Our Dear Miss H. Is on the CaseOur Dear Miss H. Is on the Case by Violet Marsh

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5/3 of 5 stars

Series: Unnamed, #2

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Miss Georgina Harrington is a talented archeologist and runs a successful antiquity appraisal business, but as a woman, she is not able to take credit for her work and has her cousin, Lord Percy Pendergrast to act as the face of her achievements. When she makes an extraordinary find of a golden helmet on her father’s lands, she gives to Percy to share with the Antiquarians of England Society. But when Percy disappears along with her helmet, she will need help to find him and her treasure. In London with her half-brother, she visits the Black Swan Coffeehouse – one of Percy’s haunts, in hopes that his friends have heard from him. But what she finds is an unusual group of people, including Alexander Lovett, Marquess of Heathford and heir to the Duke of Falcondale, the man that her brother has decided she must wed. They haven’t seen Percy, but are more than willing to help her, especially Alexander. But when they begin looking, they uncover much more than they were expecting, including an attraction that neither of them wants to admit to and a plot that could topple the monarchy!

Alexander Lovett was born with a clubfoot and has endured unimaginable pain enduring “treatments” his father insisted on putting him through, but despite the torture he has borne, his father still treats him with distain. His father is so obsessed with Alexander’s perceived disability that he has found a bride for him with impeccable lineage. This presents Alexander with problem, because he is falling in love with Georgina but has vowed to never do anything his father demands and that includes marrying Georgina. But the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes that she is the key to his happiness, and he can’t let her go, but can he convince her that they are perfect for each other.

This was an interesting somewhat farfetched story that started out well but devolved into the absurd. I tried to just ignore the ridiculousness and just enjoy the story, but it was just too much and moved too slow. I did enjoy the secondary characters, and felt a lot of empathy for Alexander, but the romance was lacking, and the plot was difficult to believe. Overall, this story didn’t work for me – don’t get me started on the chickens – but I am looking forward to the next book and hope that it is a bit more realistic and romantic.

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

A Gentleman’s Offer by Emma Orchard

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

A Gentleman's OfferA Gentleman’s Offer by Emma Orchard

Tracy’s Rating: 2 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone Title

Release Date: March 22, 2025

When Miss Margaret “Meg” Nightingale, the estranged daughter of Baron Nightingale, receives notice from her aunt that her recently betrothed identical twin sister, Maria, has gone missing, she agrees to come to London to take her place until she is found. But Meg is not one to stand idly by and let someone else take charge, she makes it her mission to find Maria. She informs her sister’s betrothed, Sir Dominic De Lacy of the situation and demands that he assist her in finding her sister. She is attracted to Dominic and he to her, but until they find Maria and learn why she bolted, they won’t be able to act on that attraction. When they found Maria and learned why she left should make it easier for them to be together, but finding Maria only makes it harder.

Sir Dominic De Lacy, known to the ton as Beau De Lacy due to his manners and personality, has been a happy-go-lucky bachelor, but when his mother tells him of a promise his late father made to Baron Nightingale, he agrees to marry Maria Nightingale, and after just two supervised meetings, he proposes, and she accepts. He is not really attracted to her, but since he never expected to marry for love, he accepts that this will be a typical arranged marriage and only hopes they will get on better than his own parents did. However, when he sees his betrothed at their engagement ball, he is stunned at his reaction to her and a bit relieved when he learns the truth. He agrees to help Meg find her sister but makes it clear that he won’t be marrying Maria. The more time he spends with Meg, the more he knows that she is the woman he never expected to find and the only Nightingale he will marry.

The blurb for this book, hooked me hard and reeled me in, but sadly, it failed to deliver the story I was expecting. The story has a lot going on including a twin swap, estranged families, secrets, lies, blackmail, slow-burn romance, and finally a HEA for almost everyone. I wanted to love the book, but I found Meg annoying and Dominic a bit too beta for my taste, add to that the ridiculous plot and the very wordy dialogue that caused the story to drag, and unfortunately, this book just didn’t work for me.

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