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

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.

All About Genevieve by Shana Galen

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

All About Genevieve (Misfortunes Favorites #3)Barbara’s rating: 3.4
Series: Misfortunes Favorites #3
Publication Date: 7/18/24
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 316

The Misfortunes Favorites series covers the lives of three boys who were cursed by an evil witch at thirteen. Did they do wrong? Yes, they did. They stole a barrel of whisky from the witch and then broke it by accident. That whisky was the witch’s only income as she was very, very poor. The curse said they would lose all they held dear in their thirtieth year. The witch’s sister did all she could to soften the impact of the curse, but, unlike her sister, she wasn’t a very powerful witch and wasn’t able to do much. Each book in the series covers the story of one of those boys, what he lost, and what he found. This last book covers not only what was lost and what was found, but offers a way to undo the curse totally. What will the men do? What choice will they make?

Emory (Rory) Lumley, is the younger son of a Duke, and probably lost the most from the curse. While the other two lost material things, Rory lost his wife and newborn son – on his thirtieth birthday. So, Rory and I were tracking along pretty well together – because I believe we share several personality traits – and then we get toward the end of the book when the three men have to make a choice that will end the curse. I empathized with Rory, I really did – but – when the words ‘impossible choice’ were uttered, he lost me and my empathy. That is really sad too because he had been my favorite from the first book, and I just couldn’t wait for his book. Even the lovely epilogue didn’t make up for, nor redeem Rory in my eyes.

Genevieve Brooking is a very caring no-nonsense governess who was quickly hired to care for Rory’s daughter Frances after she was abruptly and unceremoniously given back into his care. I loved Genevieve from the moment she first graced the page and at the end, I thought she deserved someone better than Rory. Genevieve had been a governess for fourteen years and always handled the children in her care with compassion, love, concern, care, and a no-nonsense attitude. That combination was just exactly what Frances Lumley needed and she blossomed under Genevieve’s care. That combination was exactly what Rory needed also, and he too blossomed.

This was an excellently written story with vivid descriptions of the peaceful settings around Rory’s home and delightful tales of Frances’s shenanigans. I loved Genevieve and her mother – both were strong, relatable ladies any of us would love to meet. I also loved seeing King, Violet, Henry, and Kate again. What I didn’t like and could not get past, even with the lovely epilogue, was Rory’s ‘impossible’ decision.  I absolutely did not like the way he handled that whole thing and would love to tell you why, but I don’t want to include a spoiler. So, I’m glad to have read this book and finished the series, but I wouldn’t read this one a second time.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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