Category: Novella

A Cup of Cheer by Deb Marlowe

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

A Cup of Cheer (A Series of Unconventional Courtships Book 4)A Cup of Cheer by Deb Marlowe

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: A Series of Unconventional Courtships, #4

Release Date: December 10, 2020

Alexander Edgerton, the Earl of Chester has spent years pursuing pleasure and thinking only of himself, but when he fails to collect his ward, Charles Edgerton (his late cousin’s son) on time and the boy goes missing, Chester knows he needs to change. Unsure where Charlie has gotten to, Chester seeks help from his grandmother, but knowing she is going to read him the riot act, he stops in the local tavern for a cup of cheer, to fortify himself. More than a little tipsy, he sets out for his grandmother’s cottage and gets way more than he bargained for! Knocked down by the very boy he is looking for, he barely has a moment to register when he is confronted by what surely must be a goddess and passes out.

Life has not been easy for Miss Julia Deering, her mother died when she was young and she was raised by her brilliant but preoccupied father. Her father was a scholar who taught and tutored young men, he didn’t skimp in Julia’s education, but fell short in many other ways. As a result, when he died, she was left to the mercy of his colleagues – thankfully, she was able to escape to Half Moon Street and Harriet quickly found her a position with the dowager Countess of Chester. Julia is shocked at her reaction to Chester – never has she been attracted to a man, but Chester is everything she never knew she wanted and want him she does!

Together these two form a friendship and soon begin to long for more, but before they can even think of a future, Chester needs to deal with his past and Julia needs to learn to trust again. Hopefully, with a bit of matchmaking help from Charlie and the Countess, they will be able to get their HEA!

I thought this was a nice, feel-good read with wonderful characters and a very sweet HEA. The book is a long novella and is paced well, but I wish I had more backstory on Chester from the beginning since it is pretty late in the book that the reader learns what set him on the path of selfish pleasure. The romance is subtle and the love scenes are kisses only, so if you prefer low/no heat romance – you are in for a treat! This is the fourth book in the series and there is a mention of the previous couples and a cameo with Whiddon (the last man standing), but you can absolutely read this installment as a standalone title with no issues at all. I enjoyed this book and would happily recommend it!

Enchanting the Duke by Lana Williams

On By TracyIn Christmas, Novella, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)1 Comment

Enchanting the DukeEnchanting the Duke by Lana Williams

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Seven Curses of London, #11

Release Date: December 17. 2020

Douglas Slade, the Duke of Rothbury has entered into a marriage of convenience with heiress Miss Eleanor Taylor, he needed her fortune and finds her pleasing, but expects that nothing in his well-ordered life will change. He was raised by his grandfather, who drummed into him that the estate always comes first and that his duty is to the dukedom, not himself. He has taken those lessons very seriously, so much so that he is known as the Dour Duke. But what he doesn’t know is that Eleanor has had a tendre for him for quite some time and she hopes that her marriage to Douglas will transform from a business arrangement to a love match.

After a few months of marriage, Eleanor is beginning to lose hope that Douglas will fall in love with her and it has begun to affect her usual cheery personality, she has even heard whispers of people calling her the Dour Duchess. She doesn’t know what to do, Douglas is polite but distant, he barely spends time with her and is always busy with the estate. She is ready to give up when they are invited to a house party at the home of the Duke and Duchess of Burbridge. She is surprised that Douglas agrees to go and hope is rekindled when they have to share a room.

Things are going well and Douglas is actually starting to loosen up a bit, and Eleanor is falling deeper in love. Douglas believes his grandfather might have been wrong and starts to envision a life with Eleanor as his partner – but a conversation with a friend of his father’s reminds him of the consequences of falling in love and causes him to close himself off completely. Eleanor has no idea what changed, but she is heartbroken and decides that she has to give up her dream of a love match. But will Douglas realize his mistake before he loses her forever?

This was a well written, fast-paced novella with really wonderful characters. I just loved this book, Eleanor and Douglas are perfect for each other and I loved watching them come together, the love scenes were a bit spicier than Ms. Williams normally writes (not complaining!) and the conflict was well done and the resolution believable. This is part of a series, but it can read as a standalone with no problems – however, if you have read the entire series, you are in for a real treat as the epilogue features the entire series cast and gives the reader a glimpse into their HEAs!