Category: Part of a Series

The Heiress Swap by Maddison Michaels

On By TracyIn America's Gilded Age (1870-1900), Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Heiress SwapThe Heiress Swap by Maddison Michaels

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: N/A

Release Date: July 25, 2023

Yvette “Evie” Jenkins was orphaned young and was raised by her maternal Aunt Beth, but upon her death six years ago, she was taken in by her father’s extremely rich family and brought to America. As she is illegitimate, the Thornton-Jones give her the position of companion to their daughter Aimee. Evie has been treated well and for the most part, is happy, but now Aimee’s parents want her cousin to go to London and find a husband while having Evie train for the position of secretary at her uncle Thomas’ company in London. She has no desire to be a secretary, but her options are limited thanks to her birth, but when Aimee suggests that they switch places, she refuses. But Aimee is relentless and convinces Evie that everybody wins with her plan – for 6 weeks Evie will politely decline any and all suitors and will get to visit museums and pursue her passion for history and paleontology and Aimee will learn her father’s business from the ground up and prove to him that she is worthy to run his company one day. Finally, Evie agrees and even looks forward to her adventure. Until she meets the nephew of her hostess, Alexander “Alex” Trenton, the Duke of Hargrave. Needless to say, it was not love at first sight!

When his cousin Samuel Ellingsworth, the Earl of Brexton begins to exalt the virtues of his mother’s houseguest, an American heiress, Alex is immediately on guard, Sam falls in love at the drop of a hat and Alex doesn’t want him to be hurt. Alex doesn’t trust women, after his experience with his mother and then with his faithless ex- fiancée (who was also an American heiress) he believes women are universally fleckless and fickle, willing to tell you what you want to hear to manipulate you – he is sure Evie (who they believe is Aimee) is cut from the same mold and plans to prove it. But instead, he discovers they have a lot in common and finds himself beginning to like her. Soon deeper feelings are involved, but old fears, new threats, and the truth may end any chance they have for HEA.

I thought this was a well-written, nicely-paced story, but I really didn’t care for Alex. I completely understand that he was hurt before, first by his mother and then by his fiancée, but he took it over the top in my opinion. And his reaction to finding out the truth of Evie’s deception, while somewhat understandable, again was too much, especially given all that had passed between them. For me, it felt like Alex didn’t grovel nearly enough and not at all until he learned who she really was. I also felt that Evie caved much too quickly and everything just conveniently fell into place. In the end, I loved the idea of the story but had a hard time with the execution, so while this was not a keeper for me, it kept me entertained and left me wanting to read Aimee’s story!

*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.*

How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

How to Tame a Wild Rogue (The Palace of Rogues, #6)How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Palace of Rogues, #6

Release Date: July 25, 23

Daphne Worth is the daughter of a bankrupt viscount, and approaching 30. She should be married by now, but the love of her youth jilted her and Daphne just doesn’t want to risk her heart again. Instead, she has devoted herself to managing her family’s financial misfortune and had recently taken a job as a travel companion to a distant relative to add funds to their coffers, but when her employer’s husband decides that Daphne should be doing more to earn her wages, she decides enough is enough and makes a break for it – right into the arms of a pirate! She shuns his help until she is almost robbed in the street, then she accepts his escort to the boardinghouse and even plays along when Lorcan announces they are wed. But when she learns that the owner of the boardinghouse known as The Grand Palace on the Thames, is none other than Delilah, the former Lady Derring, and a friend from years ago, she is mortified by her current circumstances, but with nowhere else to go, she continues the charade and soon finds herself falling for the last man that she should ever want, her faux husband!

When Privateer Lorcan St. Leger left his ship in search of shelter as a wicked storm rolled into London, the last thing was expecting to do was to catch a young woman climbing out of a window, but that is exactly what happened and how he met Miss Daphne Worth. He offers to help her, but she refuses, so he lets her go but follows her. He once again saves her and this time, she accepts his offer to escort her to The Grand Palace on the Thames, as he too is going there. But when they arrive, they learn there is only a suite left and the patronesses will not allow an unmarried couple to share it. Luckily for them, Lorcan has no problem lying and says he and Daphne are married. It is supposed to be a ruse, but the longer they are together, it becomes clear that they belong together, but will Lorcan be able to overcome the reasons he claims are keeping them apart?

This was a great read, that was well-written and perfectly paced. The story is filled with witty banter, wonderful characters, old friends, secrets, lies, missing ships, a slow-burning romance, couples that are already in love, a hero to sigh for, a heroine to root for, great secondary characters, steamyish love scenes and finally an ending that is just perfect, followed by an epilogue that was even more perfect!! I loved this book, but it wasn’t flawless since most of the titles are wrong, which is my biggest HR peeve – but I almost didn’t even care because the story was that amazing! I have not read the previous books, but I had no problem following the story and will definitely be reading them! I highly recommend this story and will be looking forward to the next installment!

*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.*