Category: Novella

Only a Duke Would Dare by Collette Cameron

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

Only a Duke Would Dare: A Regency Romance (Seductive Scoundrels Book 2)Only a Duke Would Dare: A Regency Romance by Collette Cameron
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Seductive Scoundrels, # 2

Release Date: October 17, 2018

Theadosia Brentwood is cutting through the cemetery when she comes upon the very drunk and distraught Duke of Sutcliffe. She hasn’t seen Victor in 3 1/2 year, not since he left after his father’s suicide. When she hears his tortured voice asking his father, why? Her compassionate nature compels her to answer him. She approaches and tells him the reason his father killed himself – cancer. Victor is startled by the beauty standing before him, he thanks her for telling him and steals a kiss when she helps him up. Thea has always had a tender for Victor, but he father would never approve (he is the rector of the parish church) and Victor is far above her station. They quickly break apart when they hear voices approaching. Her father and his new curate, Mr. Leadford. To distract her father, she tells him that Victor has offered to donate the funds for the new organ and for choir robes. She looks at Victor, hoping he will not give her away – he doesn’t and asks her father if he will officiate his wedding in August. Thea is crushed, he is betrothed! But when her father asks about his bride, Victor tells him, he hasn’t found her yet! He invites the Brentwoods and Mr. Leadford to dinner and takes his leave.

He sees Thea again the next day and asks her to meet him the next morning. He speaks to his mother and asks her to plan a ball to find a bride. When his father died, his will states that Victor must marry by his 27th birthday or he will lose all the unentailed properties, including Ridgewood Court where his mother resides. He plans to marry and leave his bride with his mother and return to his rakish life in London, he briefly considers Thea as a bride, but is sure she would not agree to that type of marriage.

They meet each day and the longer he spends in her company, the more he wants her, even if that means giving up his wild ways. When her father announces at the dinner party that Thea will be marrying Mr. Leadford, Victor knows that he will never let that happen.

But when the truth comes out, Thea may have no choice and will be forced to choose between her family and her love.

This was a delightful novella, that is well written and perfectly paced. The characters are likable, there are twists and turns, secrets, friendship, passion and a seemingly impossible HEA. The steam level is low, but the love scenes are perfect for the story.

*I am voluntarily reviewing an uncorrected eARC that was provided to me*

My Duke’s Desire by Tammy Andresen

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820)2 Comments

My Duke's Desire (Wicked Lords of London Book 4)My Duke’s Desire by Tammy Andresen

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Lords of London #4
Publication Date: 10/2/18

This is a delightfully entertaining novella. The writing is excellent and the story moves you right along to a happy ending. While it is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. If you have read the other books in the series, you get to visit with Ryker and Tricia from the first book, My Duke’s Seduction.

Theodore Riley (Theo), the Duke of Waverly, has been acting like an irresponsible, spoiled little rich kid for the last two years. He doesn’t see it that way. In his version, he has been off ‘finding himself’ and building the family’s overseas holdings. His family understood the need for him to have a little space to come to grips with inheriting the dukedom after his father died. They agreed to his six-month trip to Barbados to establish a shipping business there. While he was gone, his brothers-in-law would manage his estates for him. Two years later, his brothers-in-law are worn to a frazzle from managing their own estates and his as well. His sisters are tired of their husbands being used by their irresponsible brother and his mother is just plain tired of his irresponsible behavior. So, Theo’s mother sends him an ultimatum requiring him to return home and assume his responsibilities himself. His mother has even invited a prospective bride for him to meet! NEVER!

Lady Violette Chase is a lovely, charming young woman who knows too much about shouldering responsibility. Her father loved his family and was always there with them, but he had absolutely no idea of how to manage his Earldom. That is why their family is now in desperate straits and Violette must marry in order to save them. She will do anything to save her family – even give herself to an arranged marriage. She’s been running the estate since her father died and has made some changes that will save it eventually, but not soon enough. Her fifteen-year-old brother isn’t old enough to be responsible for the estate and has never been taught anything about how to run it. So, Violette hopes that she’ll marry someone who will not only financially save the family but will also mentor her brother.

Violette’s mother has traded on here social connections, gathered up what money she can and has set up ‘visits’ with three prospective grooms. They must be successful with one of them for their family to survive. As Violette and her mother travel toward their first visit, they encounter a traveler with an injured horse. They provide him with transportation to the next village where they’ll be stopping for the night. Much to Violette’s chagrin, her mother charges him for the ride and he also pays for their rooms and meals at the inn. Violette feels an attraction to Mr. Riley and wishes he could be on prospective groom list.

Theo hates the cold, rainy weather in England. He cannot wait to get back to Barbados. He’ll get home, deal with his family and leave – all in short order. Then, his horse is injured and he starts walking. Luckily for him, a carriage stops and provides him with transportation – for a price. There is a very lovely young lady in the carriage and he can tell she’s embarrassed by her mother charging him for his ride. He is certainly attracted to her, but she is a lady and he’s returning to Barbados, so nothing can come of it. He didn’t even use his title when he introduced himself – just Mr. Theodore Riley.

The fun begins when Violette and her mother arrive at the home they are to visit first – and discover that Mr. Riley and the Duke of Waverly are one and the same. It is fun to watch Theo finally begin to grow up – but it pretty much took beating him on the head with a hammer to get him there. Sometimes, you have to lose something – or almost lose something – before you see its value.

This was a lovely read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”