Category: Novella

For The Love of the Baron by Callie Hutton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), NovellaLeave a comment

For the Love of the Baron (The Noble Hearts Series Book 3)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Noble Hearts #3
Publication Date: 7/23/18
Number of Pages: 142

What an enjoyable read this was! I loved the characters, the romance and the set-up for the next book in the series. The writing is excellent and the mystery was good, but the villain was sort of out of the blue.

Jonathan (Lord Stanley) thinks Marigold Smith is a fribble and she is very, very annoying. He’s not sure why he thinks that – after all, he hardly knows her. She is always surrounded by fawning men, she’s laughing, smiling, and flirting – of course, she’s a fribble. It annoys him to no end that she has the audacity to join his Gentlemen and Ladies Literary Society of London. How could a fribble like her even have a thought in her head?

Marigold sees no reason to let the condescending, demeaning men of the world know that she is smarter than the lot of them. Jonathan, Lord Stanley seems to be the worst of the lot as he practically sneers at her. Marigold loves the sciences and particularly anatomy – although that is generally a taboo subject for ladies.

When Jonathan and Marigold both latch onto a journal that each wants to buy at an estate sale, sparks fly. Neither will let go! The wrangling begins – then there is the theft, the murders and the threat of more. Somehow, the journal loses some of its importance as they begin to solve all of the puzzles before them.

I enjoyed watching Marigold and Jonathan realize that they’d always admired each other and work their way toward their HEA.

One thing though – there were a number of references to ‘police’, Metropolitan Police – even Scotland Yard – none of those things existed in 1822. The best there was, was the Bow Street Runners – which the author also mentioned.

Definitely an enjoyable read.

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

Lady No Says Yes by Jess Michaels

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

Lady No Says Yes (The Scandal Sheet Book 3)Lady No Says Yes by Jess Michaels
Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Scandal Sheet, #3

Release Date: May 7, 2019

Lady Sophie aka Lady No is starting her fourth season and the Scandal Sheet wonders if this will be the season that Lady No will finally say yes. Sophie’s aunt and guardian Lady Louisa challenges her to make this the season she says yes. Sophie has a deep-seated fear of love, she was young when her parents died, but vividly remembers their relationship. She is terrified of loosing herself and as a result, she holds everyone at bay, never letting anyone close enough to touch her heart. She is also a very wealthy heiress and doesn’t believe that any man would want her, just her fortune.

Rowan Sinclair is the youngest son of the late Earl of Terrington and the earl’s second wife. He has a reputation as a rake and a wastrel, but the truth is, he is an artist. His father has been supporting him by giving him an allowance for years, but now that he is gone, and his elder brothers have found a loophole in the late earl’s will and have gleefully cut him off. Rowan doesn’t know what to do, he has not made enough of a name for himself to have his art support him and has no other form of income. When he learns that the very rich Lady Sophie has begun saying yes to suitors, he wonders if she is the answer to his problems. Will a little help from her aunt, Rowan sets out to woo and win her. But to his surprise, it is Sophie who wins him and not because of her fortune!

Sophie is terrified of Rowan and what he makes her feel, she resists him at every turn, but he doesn’t give up and worms his way in to her heart. But when the truth of his courtship comes out can he convince her his love is true? Or will her past prevent her from accepting love?

I liked this story, but I didn’t love it and I don’t think I would read it again. There is a lot going on in a very short novella and some plot points just didn’t work for me. The biggest being Sophie’s fear of love, she is in her fourth season – so roughly, 22 years old and her parents died 15 years ago – so she was around 7 years old – but she understood the dynamics of her parents relationship?? Sorry, that is just too much of a stretch for me. The writing is good and the love scenes are steamy, but with so many plots and sub-plots, it does feel a little rushed and I would be hard-pressed to tell you why they are in love. I wish this book had been a bit longer and the characters given more time together to develop their relationship.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an e-ARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*