Category: Novella

The Duke’s Bride by Erica Ridley

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

The Duke's Bride (12 Dukes of Christmas #6)The Duke’s Bride by Erica Ridley

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: 12 Dukes of Christmas, #6

Release Date: November 12, 2019

Jack Skeffington, widower, father of twins, wine connoisseur and smuggler is meeting with his ship captain, Capt. Redmire, trying to find a new smuggling route, when his ten year old son Fredrick bursts in the room upset that his sister Annie is beating him and his friends at hoops, Jack sends him off and picks up where he left off, after he maps the new route, the meeting is interrupted again, this time by his daughter Annie. Once he takes care of her, Redmire tells him that he needs a wife. Jack is clear, he had a wife, he loved her and lost her, he will not do that again and his children won’t accept another woman in their lives. But he will consider a governess.

Desiree le Duc is the sister to blacksmiths Sebastian “Beau” and Lucien le Duc and has many times been called the most beautiful woman in Cressmouth. Desiree and her siblings fled the French revolution after losing their parents and their lands, they settled in Cressmouth 18 years ago with an English family friend, who they lovingly call Uncle Jasper. She is content, but her brothers long to return to France and reclaim their stolen heritage. They have worked hard to pay off the lease on the property so they can leave Uncle Jasper taken care of and they are close to their goal – Lucien says another year at most. So when Jack offers an outrageous amount of money to be a temporary governess to his twins, she jumps at the chance.

Jack is attracted to Desiree, but he knows an affair is out of the question and he can’t offer her anything more, so he ignores the desire simmering in him and resolves to be friends with her – a friend he most definitely won’t be kissing.

Desiree fits right into their family and has to fight her own feelings, she can’t let herself fall in love with Jack or the twins since her time in Cressmouth is limited. But despite the best of intentions, that is exactly what happens and when she asks Jack to be her lover, she wonders how she will be able to walk away.

Jack finally admits he has fallen in love with her and knows that she wants to return to France, so he “helps” her brothers by paying them a huge payout for their help in the last smuggling run. He will let her go if that is her true desire, but he hopes she will choose to stay.
When her brothers announce that they will be returning to France immediately, Desire is torn, between helping her brothers win their heart’s desire and seizing her own.
This was a very well written novella with wonderful characters, amusing banter, steamyish love scenes, second chances and dreams coming true. This is the sixth book in the series, but it is easily read as a standalone with no issues.

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

 

Too Wicked To Want by Tammy Andresen

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

Too Wicked to Want: Regency Romance (Chronicles of a Bluestocking Book 2)Barbara rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: Chronicles of A Bluestocking #3
Publication Date: 11/12/19
Number of Pages: 145
*** 3.5 Stars Rounded Up ***

The series theme is that the ladies are ‘ruined’ bluestockings and they have decided to ‘study’ and research rogues in order to write a paper that will warn other young ladies what to look out for and what situations to avoid, etc. In this book, the lady is ‘ruined’ because she has an inattentive/uncaring father that ruined them financially.

Luke Harding, Marquess of Harding, eschews almost all ton events. His time and efforts are all devoted to the running of his estates and the care of his tenants and holdings. However, he has had to make an exception because he was falsely accused of ‘ruining’ a young lady at a previous event – when he wasn’t even there. So, he is putting in an appearance at the current event in order for the ton to see that he is not in hiding and to assume, therefore, that he is not guilty. Yet, there is a young woman across the room, hiding behind a palm, intently watching his every move. Evidently, there is another young woman out to maneuver him into a forced marriage. Well – that won’t be happening.

Lady Annabelle (Annie) Marks never plans to marry – not that she’d ever get an offer with no dowry. It is her plan to help her friends write their papers on rogues and to study sea creatures. She has been writing and publishing scientific papers under an assumed name and has been saving her money so that she can build a cottage where she and her friends can all live. Her father has promised her that he’ll give her a small strip of land by the sea – and that is where she plans to build the cottage. Of course, her father is flighty and fickle and will likely sell the land to the first person who asks.

Annie has chosen Luke Harding as the rogue she will study for their paper. She’s been standing behind a fern watching him all evening, but he isn’t doing anything particularly ‘roguish’. When he comes over and confronts her and they talk, she begins to wonder if maybe he isn’t really a rogue at all.

Both of our characters have issues stemming from fathers who are definitely not what a father should be. They are drawn together, but each fights the attraction. Luke was the one with more serious issues and it took him longer to realize that he could have a loving home and family despite the upbringing he had.

While this is part of a series, it can totally be read as a standalone.

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