Category: Part of a Series

Snowed in with the Scoundrel by Kat Sterling

On By TracyIn American Historical, American Progressive Era, Christmas, Historical Rom-Com, Novella, Part of a Series, Standalone Title, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Snowed in with the Scoundrel: A Steamy, Ex-Childhood Friends to Lovers Historical RomComSnowed in with the Scoundrel: A Steamy, Ex-Childhood Friends to Lovers Historical RomCom by Kat Sterling

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: December 18, 2023

When budding photographer Imogen “Genie” Radford is very publicly jilted by her fiancé, she decides to take refuge in her family’s cabin, far from the prying eyes of Seattle society. She expects peace and solitude, with time to lick her wounds from both the jilting and a poor showing at a recent photography exhibition, but what she finds is a very naked man in her bed! It only takes a minute to realize that she knows this man – he is her childhood best friend and first love, Tommy Solberg, the son of her family’s former cook and the man she has not seen since the night five years ago when he broke her heart. With recognition comes anger and suspicion, she wants him gone, but under it all she still feels something for him, all the more reason for him to go. However, the weather isn’t cooperating, and no matter how angry she is, she can’t send him out in a storm that would surely kill him.

Tommy can’t believe that this is happening, he needs to get to Seattle as soon as possible, everything he has done since the night he broke her heart has led to this moment and his future depends on it. He isn’t sure how he is going to be able to stay in the same cabin with the only woman he hasn’t been able to forget and a woman he can never have. At first, they avoid each other, and things are awkward, but eventually, they figure it out and soon it’s like they never parted and the need to get back to Seattle doesn’t seem as urgent any longer. But once they cross the line between friends and lovers, he knows that he will have to walk away because just like years ago, he knows he isn’t good enough for her, no matter how much he wishes it wasn’t true. It isn’t until he walks away that he realizes he has made a huge mistake and hopes it isn’t too late to fix it.

This was a lovely story of childhood friends, second chances, and supporting the dreams of one you love. This story is filled with laughter, photography, books, steamy love scenes, lots of snow, second chances, and finally the promise of a happily ever after. The story is a relatively short novella, but Ms. Sterling executes the book perfectly by beautifully filling in the backstory between Genie and Tommy, so the reader completely understands how they met and what drove them apart, as well as what they have each been doing since they last saw each other. I loved this story and devoured the book, reading it in one sitting, and hated reaching the end because I didn’t want it to be over! This was a standalone title by a new to me author and I am hooked and can’t wait to check out her backlist!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Taming the Savage Duke by Barbara Russell

On By TracyIn Movie / Story Retelling, Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Taming the Savage Duke (Victorian Outcasts #1)Taming the Savage Duke by Barbara Russell

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Victorian Outcasts, #1

Release Date: December 12, 2023

Madeline Debenham is just days away from realizing her dream of not only meeting her idol, artist Bridget Blanchet and if Bridget likes her work, she will help Maddie receive a full fellowship to the Royal Women’s Art Academy, which includes a stipend of six thousand pounds per year, which would give her freedom from her domineering mother. But when Lord Hector Wentworth, the younger brother of the Duke of Blackburn, crashes through her bedroom window and ruins her dreams. With her painting destroyed and her hand injured, Maddie is at first angry, but eventually comes to terms with it and even forgives Hector. Hector feels horrible about what happened and offers to help Maddie, he offers marriage, which Maddie declines, and then he promises to help her become independent. She agrees to accept his help and even encourages him to go on the expedition that started this mess. He agrees to go, telling her that when he returns in a year, he will make good on his promises. But sadly, his ship is lost in a storm, just days after leaving and Hector is declared lost. Eight years later, while returning from a visit to the Bahamas with her sister Verity and her mother, Maddie spies a man on a raft in the water and raises the alarm. To her utter shock, it is Hector, and has changed a lot from the sweet, young man she knew. But she can’t help but feel protective of him and promises to help him reacclimate to civilization.

Lord Hector Wentworth’s world has turned upside down, not only has he been shipwrecked on a deserted island for eight long years, where he had to struggle to live, having to find food, and shelter, battle loneliness, and survive against aggressive primates. But being rescued has its own struggles, primarily dealing with the death of his brother and mother, and learning how to function in society. Hector is no longer the starry-eyed young man who was consumed by his love of botany, now he is flinching at noise, feeling chafed by wearing shoes and clothes, and seems to have forgotten even the most basic of manners. So he clings to Maddie like a lifeline, needing her to help him find his way, especially when they return to London and he has to fight to regain his life, title, and sanity.

This was an interesting story with a strong “Castaway” vibe, but thankfully for Hector and Maddie, it has a happier ending. I wanted to love the book, but the first half of the story was so contrived and unbelievable that I almost quit reading, but once they returned to London the story changed and then there was so much going on that I almost lost sight of Maddie and Hector’s romance. The story has great characters, tears, mean mothers, nasty cousins, warmish love scenes, blackmail, racy photos, art thieves, a bit of heartache, and finally a HEA. Overall, the book held my attention and had the makings of a great story, but for me, it was just OK, not bad, but not a keeper. This is the first book in what appears to be a new series, and since this is a new to me author, I will definitely give the next book a try.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*