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

Mr. Notorious and the Nefarious November by Shana Galen

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Standalone Title, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

Mr. Notorious and the Nefarious November (The Rake Review #11)Mr. Notorious and the Nefarious November by Shana Galen

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Rake Review, #11

Release Date: November 1, 2024

Years ago, Beatrice Haddington made a decision that cost her the love of life and brought her years of heartache when she rejected Munro Notley’s proposal and married his best friend. She rejected Munro because he was a rake and she was sure he would break her heart by being unfaithful, instead she married Soloman Barnet, who was also a rake, but swore he would change for her. He didn’t and to make matters worse, Munro left England. But now she is a widow, and he is back for their mutual niece’s wedding. When he makes it clear that he still wants to marry her, she immediately declines, still sure he is a rake and will only break her heart. He swears he has changed, and she offers him a way to prove it. If he can resist five temptations to prove he has changed, then she will marry him.

Six years ago, Munro Notley fell in love for the first time in his life and bared his heart and soul to Beatrice the night before her wedding, begging her to runaway with him. She refused and he was unable to see the woman he loved with another man, he left England and if the gossip was to be believed continued his rakish lifestyle on the continent. When his brother orders him home for his niece’s wedding, he can’t refuse. He knows Beatrice is now a widow and dreads seeing her again, causing him to drink more than he is used to. In his inebriated state, he stumbles into the ladies retiring room and comes face to face with the only woman he has ever loved and proceeds to say way too much and even renews his offer of marriage. But Beatrice isn’t having it, and instead offers him an alternative – she will test him and if he can resist the temptations, she will give him a reward for each test he passes and if he passes all five, she will marry him. And so, the games begin!

I loved this second chance romance and was rooting for Munro right from the start. My heart broke for him and while I could understand Beatrice’s reservations, I did think she was a little unfair to Munro and let her fears control her for too long. This is a story is a lovely second chance romance filled with healing, trust, steamyish love scenes, delightful banter, great secondary characters, a wonderful cinnamon roll hero and finally a sweet ending and the beginning of their hard-won HEA. This is part of an author collaboration series but could easily be read as a standalone title.

*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. *

Review: A Lark’s Release: A Regency Cozy by Lynn Messina

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

A Lark's Release: A Regency Cozy (Verity Lark Mysteries Book 4)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Verity Lark Mystery #4
Publication Date: 10/25/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 351

This book starts right at the close of the last Beatrice Hyde-Clare mystery. It recaps bits of that story from Verity’s perspective and continues with the current Verity mystery. If you are a fan of both series, you are aware that the two series have become intertwined. I don’t know if it will stay that way or not, but, for the moment, it is kind of fun. I just don’t want them to become so intertwined they are basically one series.

Verity isn’t sleeping since ‘Her Outrageousness’ proved Verity’s innocence and got her released from Newgate prison. Now, someone is trying to send her back to prison for antiquities theft. Then, there is a murder, and . . . Who could possibly have that much cold hatred for her? Who has she offended so much? Surely it isn’t against her personally, so it must be something to do with her Twaddle newspaper column. Or not. The murder for which she was sent to Newgate was because of her past – could this be from her past as well? It seems attacks are coming at her from all directions. Will one of them succeed?

With the able help of master spy Lord Colson Hardwicke and her two childhood friends, Delphine and Freddy, the mystery is unraveled and they are all shocked at what they learn. Who would have thought?

I always enjoy reading this author’s books and this was an excellent addition. We learned a little more of Verity’s past and we saw what I hope is a fair-sized shift in Verity’s relationship with Colson. Verity is growing more and more well-rounded in each book and I am enjoying watching her cope with the mysteries while she grows and comes to grips with her past. Another thing I truly enjoy is the many personas she adopts to ferret out information for her Twaddle stories and her stories written as Robert Lark. Those characters and how Verity uses them will keep you smiling.

This was a quick, entertaining read with wonderful, charismatic characters and a mystery that will have you scratching your head. I am usually good at figuring out the villain(s), but this time – well – it eluded me. I hope you will enjoy reading this book as much as I did.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.