Category: Novella

Discovering the Duke by Madeline Martin

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Discovering the DukeBarbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Matchmaker of Mayfair #1
Publication Date: 11/10/20
Number of Pages: 99

This was a lovely, fast-paced, well-written romance between two people who each had flaws to work through. Both sets of flaws had to do with their upbringing, she didn’t trust men to be faithful and he submerged himself in order to please others. I enjoyed watching them get to know each other, and most importantly, trust each other. It was a lovely romance which was first published in the Dukes by the Dozen anthology, but it has been updated just a bit since then.

Julia Sinclair, the Duchess of Stedton, married in order to get out of her deceitful father’s house. Not that she didn’t care for William, she did. However, when she awakens after a rather awkward wedding night and finds William has left, to go see to Maribel, well – that just doesn’t work for her at all and she plans to inform him of that fact as soon as she sees him again – hopefully at the house party they are both to attend. She’ll tell him that she’ll provide the required heir, then she’s going to retire to the country because she won’t live as her mother did.

William Sinclair, the Duke of Stedton, married Julia because he wanted her very much. He was smitten from the first time he laid eyes on her. He hated to have to rush off to his country estate to care for his father’s horse Maribel, but she was his last link to his father and he had to see to her welfare when she fell ill. He left Julia a note – surely she’d understand.

William was expecting a warm welcome from his new wife when he arrived at the house party, so he was shocked when she told him she’d be leaving him as soon as she bore the required heir.

I loved watching William woo his new wife and seeing Julia learn to trust him. That was not an easily won battle and both of them had to face past demons to get to their HEA.

The reason I didn’t give it a 5-star rating – as I usually do with this author – is that I found his leaving to be implausible. I know it is a novella and there wasn’t a lot of room for explanations, but I find it hard to believe that a newlywed would just up and take off for an extended stay without more than a note to his new wife.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Snowbound with the Viscount by Shana Galen

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Snowbound with the ViscountBarb’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone Novella
Publication Date: 11/10/20
Number of Pages: 85

In this delightfully lovely tale, we attend a house party that is to end just a couple of days before Christmas. Since the weather has been miserably rainy and uncooperative, the guests are looking forward to heading home for Christmas. However, just as it is time to leave – the weather turns, snow covers the grounds, and keeps the guests in residence.

Holly Farthing and Adam Ivy had been friends since they were children because Adam was close friends with Holly’s brother. She was immediately as smitten as a six-year-old girl can be with a nine-year-old boy. However, as her brother’s friend, nothing ever came of her devotion. Then, during her first season, she met and fell in love with the man she married. That all ended with the death of her husband, and now she’s just lonely and Christmas is a difficult time for her. When her best friend invites her to a house party, she decides to attend because she knows Adam Ivy will be attending. After all, her affection for him is still there and she’d like to see where it could go – if he doesn’t still think of her as a ‘little sister’.

Adam had always liked Holly – as much as a nine-year-old boy could like a six-year-old girl. Even during her come out he was drawn to her and always made an opportunity to speak to her – then – she fell in love and married – and he went on his way in life. He hopes to see her at the house party because she is best friends with the hostess, but he knows Holly will probably be bringing along a betrothed. She is entirely too beautiful and delightful not to be betrothed by now.

Holly and Adam dance around each other for the entire house party – never really approaching – just watching from afar. Until almost the end when Holly makes her move – and WOW – who would have thought. Then, an unfortunate event occurs and forces them to become even closer. Can a fake betrothal become a real one? After what Holly learns, can she trust any man again?

I absolutely loved both Holly and Adam. I loved that Holly knew what she wanted and, even though she was very shy, she went after it. I loved how Adam appreciated Holly and I loved how their HEA grew.

I hope you’ll read this novella and enjoy it as much as I did. I thought it was a great story and just the right length. I do wish it had an epilogue though – somehow I never feel ‘finished’ with a book until the wedding has taken place. So, a short epilogue taking place sometime after the wedding would have made it just perfect for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.