Category: Regency Era (1811-1820)

The Regency in Great Britain was a period when King George III was deemed unfit to rule and his son ruled as his proxy as Prince Regent. On the death of George III in 1820, the Prince Regent became George IV. The term Regency can refer to various stretches of time; some are longer than the decade of the formal Regency which lasted from 1811–1820.
Preceded by: Georgian era
Followed by: Victorian era
Monarch: George III, George IV, William IV

Second Chance Prince by Sara Bennett

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

Second Chance Prince (Romancing the Dukes, #3)Second Chance Prince by Sara Bennett

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5/3 of 5 stars

Series: Romancing the Dukes #3

Release Date: May 19, 2026

Roberta Ashton was raised as Lady Roberta Ashton, daughter of the Duke of Grantham, but learned after his death that her parents’ marriage was not valid and she and her sisters were deemed as illegitimate. Thankfully, her half-brother Gabriel didn’t turn his back on them and insisted that they still had the privileges due to them as daughters of a duke. She met Prince Nikolai of Holtswig years ago when he was introduced as a possible suitor for her sister Olivia, and was instantly smitten, thankfully her sister married someone else, but he returned home soon afterwards. Now during her come out season the prince returns and they meet again at a ball, while they are catching up their conversation is interrupted when someone tries to kill the prince! The next day she is shocked when her brother’s friend Freddie Hart, a government agent approaches her and asks her to pretend to be engaged to the prince so the English government will be able to guard him without insulting his countrymen. She agrees, never believing she would actually marry him, even though she is still smitten with him. But when plans go awry and her life is turned upside down, will she find her HEA?

Prince Nikolai “Niki” of Holtswig has recently inherited his grandfather’s throne, but he is aware that not all of his countrymen are happy with his ideas for his country’s future. But he ever imagined anyone with try to kill him! When an attempt is made and it is suggested that he betroth himself to an English lady, he immediately asks Freddie to approach Roberta Ashton. Though he courted her sister, he had always been drawn to Roberta and thinks she would be the perfect lady to play his faux fiancée. When their charade becomes real, he is thrilled, as he knows he loves her, but not everyone is happy with their marriage and with so many suscepts it is hard to know who he can really trust. Will he be able to figure it out in time or will he lose everything including the woman he loves?

I really didn’t like the first two books in this series and was hoping the third time would be the charm – it wasn’t. I think I am just too picky – I know this is a work of fiction and I am willing to accept a certain amount of creative license, but in this series, it is like the author didn’t even try to make the story realistic to the era. I am not going to rehash all the title and protocol errors – but even if I was willing to overlook those errors, I thought the fake engagement plot was weak and slow moving. Overall, I do like the author’s writing style and enjoyed getting to know Roberta and Nikolai, the love scenes were warm without being graphic, the mystery was very well done and the book ends with a happy ending. So, while not my cuppa, I am sure many readers would find this book enjoyable.

2.5 stars

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

 

The Last Lady B by Eloisa James

On By TracyIn First Person Narrative, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Paranormal / Fantasy, Regency Era (1811-1820), Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Last Lady BThe Last Lady B by Eloisa James

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: May 12, 2026

Lady Genevieve “Evie” Hughes, becomes the fourth wife of the much older Lord Burnsby to secure her younger sister’s future. They marry and she moves to her new home in the Scottish Highlands, a remote and possibly haunted abbey, populated with eccentric characters, including an outspoken aunt, a socially exiled stepdaughter, and her husband’s long-standing mistress. Amid the abbey’s wintry halls and ghostly rumors, Evie finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Sir Godric Everly, a sharp-witted solicitor who openly dislikes her husband. As secrets unravel and the shadows of the past close in, Evie must navigate a web of deceit, multiple wills, and a mysterious death that leaves her widowed and free to choose her own path—though matters of the heart and reputation prove just as complicated as the spectral mysteries.

In a social media post, author Elosia James promised that this book was something new and different, and she didn’t lie, this book was nothing like her previous books. This was a quirky, entertaining romance that balances humor, intrigue, and a dash of macabre. While the first-person perspective gives Evie’s voice a fresh, curious edge, I personally found the narrative style difficult to connect with—it often limited my emotional engagement, especially with Godric, whose inner thoughts remain somewhat obscure. The slow burn romance was a bit frustrating for me, as the main characters didn’t come together until very late in the story. I also want to note that the blurb is somewhat deceptive: although it suggests Evie is widowed early on, she is not actually widowed until late in the book, which significantly shapes the pacing and development of the plot. However, I did appreciate that there was no actual adultery on Evie’s part, which made it easier for me to enjoy her journey toward self-discovery. The secondary characters add a sense of found family, and the gothic elements are more playful than chilling. Though the pacing felt uneven with major plot developments occurring late—the book’s charm lies in its witty dialogue, eccentric characters, and the heroine’s growth. Overall, this was a lighter, character-driven historical romance with a twist of mystery and a touch of absurdity which made for an engaging read, but I definitely didn’t care for the first-person narrative style and I don’t think I would read the book again.

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