Category: Novella

Lady Lucinda’s Lords by Jane Charles

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

Lady Lucinda's Lords (12 Days of Christmas, #10)Lady Lucinda’s Lords by Jane Charles
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: 12 Days of Christmas, #10

Release Date: December 10, 2020

After four seasons, Lady Lucinda Claxton’s father, the Duke of Arscott is tired of waiting for Lucinda to find a husband and decides to move things along. With the help of his mother, the dowager Duchess, he invites 10 men to their country estate to vie for Lucinda’s hand.

Lucinda is not pleased to learn that her father and grandmother have decided to host a house party in an attempt to find her a husband, she is even less pleased when she reads the list of lords who will be attending – all of whom she knows and none of whom impress. She resigns herself to the party and promises to try and give each man a chance. But things start going wrong even before the guests arrive. Most of their servants are exposed to the measles and have to quarantine – leaving the house severely short-handed.

The lords arrive and the dowager is frank with them as to why they were invited, then proceeds to lay down the “rules” of how Lucinda will give them all a chance to win her hand (think The Bachelor – Regency Edition). Lucinda has little hope that she will find a husband, until she meets Caleb Copeland – an American who was not invited, but escorted his maiden aunts who are guests of the dowager.

Caleb is interested in Lucinda, but is sure that her father would never consider him worthy as he is a mere mister. Since he has nothing to offer her, he tries to keep his distance from the party goers by lending a helping hand to the understaffed household. But Lucinda keeps finding him and insists on assisting – much to the disgruntlement of the “leaping lords” as Caleb calls them. Can Lucinda convince Caleb that he is all she wants and a title isn’t important? Or will he leave his heart in England when he returns to America?

This was a fun, quick read with ties to Scot to the Heart series. The book was well written, with a bit of humor, a little drama, sweet (kissing only) love scenes and a nice ending. The novella is part of the 12 Days of Christmas Collaboration and has ties to another series, but really can be read as a standalone title and I hope the author plans to write more books featuring Lucinda and Caleb’s many siblings!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher.*

A Lass For Christmas by Jane Charles featured in the anthology “A Scandalous Christmas” by Various Authors

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

A Scandalous ChristmasA Lass for Christmas by Jane Charles, featured in A Scandalous Christmas by Various Authors

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Tenacious Trents #4 & Several Anthologies

Release Date for Anthology: November 24, 2020

I first read this novella years ago when it debuted in the Tenacious Trent series, since then it has been featured in several anthologies and even after all this time – I love this story and was delighted to see that it was included in this anthology.

Lady Madeline Trent and her mother, Rose have stopped to visit her brother Matthew and his new wife on their way to Danby Castle for Christmas and she couldn’t be more delighted. After a disastrous first season and then a missed season due to mourning, she is finally looking forward to meeting a gentleman and starting her own life. But those dreams are shattered when she overhears Matthew and her brother Jordan talking to Rose (their 2nd stepmother). They tell her that they have learned that they have learned that their father’s second wife and daughter, are not dead as everyone thought and they believe Adele and Julia are back in England. This means that the Earl’s marriage to Rose was not valid and Madeline is illegitimate! Overwhelmed by the news, Madeline needs to think and decides to sneak out and go for a walk. She ventures out and gets lost, she sees lights and comes upon a manor house – nearly freezing, she makes her way to the house, but doesn’t realize she is walking across a frozen pond and breaks through the ice.

Lachlan Grant, the Marquess of Brachton is at his estate in England, he inherited the English title from his uncle, but in his heart, he is a Scot and he plans find a Scottish bride. His plan to leave is thwarted by a snowstorm and forces him to delay his departure until the snow stops. He is enjoying a drink with his friend/valet Dougal when he spots a woman walking on his lawn and to his horror, sees her fall through the ice. He races out to save her, she is barely conscious when he finally gets her into the house and he has no choice but to undress her and try to get her warm – he asks her name and she tells him it is Mad before passing out – he thinks she is trying to say Maddie. The next day the misunderstanding grows when she tells him she was traveling with Jordan Trent – a friend of his – but doesn’t mention she is his sister. Lachlan assumes she is Jordan’s mistress and decides to seduce her away from him.

This is a well written, nicely paced novella with very likable characters, warm love scenes and a surprisingly in-depth emotional story. This novella is part of the Tenacious Trent series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and received from the publisher. All opinions are my own.*