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

Joy to the Earl by Elizabeth Cole

On By TracyIn Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), New To Me Author, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Joy to the Earl: A Regency Holiday RomanceJoy to the Earl: A Regency Holiday Romance by Elizabeth Cole

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: November 11, 2025

Widow Joy Whitfield is on her way to spend Christmas with her cousin when her carriage becomes inoperable during a snowstorm, and she is forced to seek shelter at a nearby inn. Unfortunately, due to the weather, there are no rooms available, and she is wondering what she will do when she hears a gentleman offer to give up his room for her. She is grateful until she learns the identity of the man – Douglas Sterling, the man she loved ten years ago before he broke her heart by marrying another woman.

Widower Douglas Sterling, the Earl of Hollis is traveling to his estate to spend the holiday with his young son when a storm hits, and he is trapped at inn to wait out a storm. When he overhears the innkeeper talking about a woman who needs a room, he offers his, only to learn that the woman in question is Joy, a woman he courted years ago, but whom he hurt by marrying another woman without a word to her. He never stopped loving her and regretted not following his heart. Can he convince her to give him another chance?

This was a fast-paced, well-written, second-chance, holiday themed novella with interesting characters. Joy and Douglas were once in love, but Douglas decided to listen to his friends and family and marry someone closer to his social stature. A chance meeting and forced proximity ten years later give them a second chance at their happily ever after. I liked the idea of the story but would have appreciated a bit more information about the breakup and a lot more groveling. Overall, this was a quick, steamyish romance with likable characters and a heartwarming ending that I enjoyed reading and would be happy to recommend.

*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. *

Claiming the Princess by Charis Michaels

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

Claiming the Princess (Hidden Royals #3)Claiming the Princess by Charis Michaels

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Hidden Royals, #3

Release Date: October 28, 2025

After saving Viscount Fernsby, the Prince Regent’s cousin and being named a war hero, Captain Lucas Bannock is offered a reward by the crown. He only wants one thing, the release of Linus Welty, his surrogate father from Vincent Surcouf, Comte d’ Moulac, the French military officer that took him prisoner before killing the rest of Lucas’ crew, to achieve that, he needs to marry Princess Danielle Allard d’Orleans, the exiled French princess that the Comte wants to marry. He is granted her hand in marriage and an estate in Kent, it seems like everything is going according to his plan – that is until he meets her and realizes she has no idea she is a princess, or French or why the Prince Regent would be interested in her or that he would be so attracted to her.

Adopted as a baby by retiring retainers for the King and Queen of England, Danielle “Dani” Allard has been raised with no knowledge of her title or heritage. She lives a modest life in Kent and has strong ties to the community, so she is stunned when her parents tell her that she has been betrothed to Captain Bannock by the Prince Regent. She askes why the prince would be concerned with her but gets no answers and before she can press them for more information, Lucas arrives. Can love grow in a bed of lies and secret agendas or is she doomed to a life of heartache?

This was a well written, interesting story with wonderful characters and lots of emotion. Dani and Lucas share a strange bond, they were both raised by surrogates for vastly different reasons, yet they both have a strong love for their foster parents. My heart broke for Lucas, he is consumed with guilt about the loss of his crew and his foster father and believes he would do anything to save Linus, only to feel more guilt upon meeting Dani. This book was filled with secrets, lies, deception, shocking revelations, a heart of gold hero bent on revenge, found family, surprise reunions, a heroine who can hold her own, lots of cats and finally a hard-won HEA. Overall, I liked this story, Dani and Lucas are easy to root for, but I felt disappointed that there was no epilogue, especially since the siblings were finally reunited. This is the final book in the series and while it could be read as a standalone title, I would recommend reading the series in order for the best reader experience.

*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. *