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

How the Wallflower Wins a Duke by Lucy Morris

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

How the Wallflower Wins a DukeHow the Wallflower Wins a Duke by Lucy Morris

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: July 23, 2024

After a humiliating experience during her first season, Miss Marina Fletcher, the daughter of a wealthy architect, has decided that marriage is not for her and has instead decided to dedicate her life to her true love; music. But her plan might be sidetracked when her very talented father, along with his greatest rival and their families, are invited by the Duchess of Framlingham to attend a house party, so she can get to know them better before deciding who to hire to design the family’s country estate, especially after meeting her son, the Duke. He is the most handsome man she has ever met and it is clear his mother wants him to marry, the problem is the Duke isn’t ready to marry and wants to travel, but his mother is relentless and soon Marina agrees to a fake betrothal with the Duke, that gives them both the freedom to pursue their own desires, it seems perfect, until it isn’t.

Brook Wyndham, the Duke of Framlingham, was never meant to be the duke, mocked by the ton as the Spare Heir Duke, he has been labeled a rake and a reckless gambler, but these smears to his reputation are lies. Brook joined the army at a young age and served in the wars, never planning on returning to his family. But when tragedy takes not only his father, but also his brother, he steps up to do his duty and lets the ton think the worst of him to spare his mother the humiliation. But he draws the line at marriage, Brook just wants to be free and longs to travel; to find himself, and his mother’s matchmaking attempts are getting annoying. He is ready to tell her off when he meets Marina. Though she is not classically beautiful, he is intrigued by her and forms a friendship with her. Then he comes up with an idea that will let them both have what they want, they will get engaged and have a long engagement, during which time, he will travel the world and she will pursue her musical ambitions without society’s censure. It is perfect, but that was before their feelings were involved and now Brook will have to decide if “finding” himself is worth losing the love of a lifetime.

I have read and enjoyed this author’s Viking romances and was eager to read her first Regency era romance. Sadly, this book didn’t captivate me as much as her previous books. The writing is good, but the story is not as smooth as her other offerings have been and I never really connected with her characters. The story has a lot of plot strings that honestly don’t really fit with the story and did nothing to advance the romance. Overall, it was a good read that I liked, but not a book I would read again.

*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. *

Unwrapping the Duke by Jane Charles

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Part of a Series, Re-Release / Updated Edition, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Unwrapping the Duke (Wayward Dukes' Alliance #15)Unwrapping the Duke by Jane Charles

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Wayward Dukes Alliance, #15

Release Date: July 9, 2024 (previously published in All I Want for Christmas is a Wayward Duke Anthology)

Once upon a time Leopold Tilson, the Duke of Claybrook fell in love with Lady Bethany Grey – the best friend of Tessa, the woman he was courting. When he and Tessa agreed they would never suit, Leo turned his attention to Bethany and things seemed promising – until she pushed him into the Serpentine. When he demanded to know what he had done, she told him to call on her, but a family emergency prevented him from doing so, and by the time he returned, she refused to see him. Leaving him heartbroken and confused, even two and a half years later. But when a trip to visit family during Christmas ends with Leo wrapped in a rug and left for dead in the middle of the road, it might just be the best thing that ever happened to him.

Lady Bethany Grey has avoided Leo like the plague, especially after he never called on her to find out why she was so upset. She was going to skip Christmas with her family because she learned that he would be there. But she decides at the last minute to close her club and join the family, she will just ignore Leo as she has for the last couple of years. But when she finds him unconscious and wrapped in a rug laying in the middle of road she cannot ignore him. Forced proximity gives them a chance to sort out the past and a call from an old friend makes it impossible to pretend that they can keep their situation secret. It is clear that they will have to marry, but Bethany wonders if her heart can withstand the pain of unrequited love?

This was a well-written, nicely paced sweet second-chance romance novella. Leo and Bethany are a wonderful couple who through misunderstanding almost missed their chance at HEA, thankfully fate saw fit to give these two stubborn people a second chance. The book is filled with witty banter, an underdressed duke, long-sought answers and finally a long-awaited HEA. This was a fun, quick read that is technically a Christmas novella – but really isn’t. I enjoyed this story and would happily recommend it. This story was originally published in the “All I Want for Christmas is a Wayward Duke” anthology and has ties to the Trent Family, the Tilson Family and the Wicked Widows League & the Wayward Dukes Alliance series.
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*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.