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 (Not) to Hate a Duke by Jennifer Haymore

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

How (Not) to Hate a DukeHow (Not) to Hate a Duke by Jennifer Haymore

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone Title (with characters from Earls Rush In)

Release Date: February 19. 2024

Heiress Georgiana Milford is tired of the social whirl and fending off fortune hunters and is impatiently awaiting the arrival of her older sister who has been in Nova Scotia for 9 long years, so when her dearest friend Charlotte suggests that she join her and her husband at a house party for a couple weeks, she happily agrees. But her happiness is extinguished by the arrival of her family’s country neighbor and archenemy, Theophilus “Theo” St. Clair, the new Duke of Desborough, and an unfortunate encounter with a hawthorn bush. After that fiasco, she can’t wait to get to the country, but when she arrives she is in a for surprise, the duke is also a guest. She wants to leave, but Charlotte convinces her to stay and begs her to give the duke a chance, swearing that she has known him for years and that he is nothing like his vile father. She promises to try and is shocked to realize that she has misjudged Theo, and after getting to know him, begins to fall for him. But what future could they possibly have? Her father hates him and Theo has done nothing to improve his image in her father’s eyes. Is happily ever after possible or will she have to sacrifice one love for another?

Theo St. Clair inherited a nightmare from his father, the former duke aka the Duke of Despots. The estate is in disrepair, the fields are fallow, the tenants leaving, the villagers and his staff don’t trust him and to make matters worse, his neighbor Thomas Milford is spreading rumors about him and undermining all of his attempts to make improvements. Theo is at his wits end with the estate and when he is called to London to deal with his younger brother Sebastian’s gambling debts, things just get worse when he encounters Georgiana Milford in Hyde Park and is blamed for the damage done to her gown. He tries to make it up to her by offering the use of his carriage to get home without anyone seeing her, but his offer is met with contempt. Thankfully, Charlotte, the wife of his best friend Lord Trevelyan is there and manages to smooth things over. Later when Trevelyan suggests he take a break from his troubles and join them at the Merrick’s house party, he jumps at the chance. But when he arrives and finds that Georgiana is a guest, he wants to leave, but Trevelyan convinces him to give Georgiana a chance, telling him that if he can prove to her that his intentions for the estate are honest, then maybe she can get her father to back down. But the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes that she is the only Milford he wants to impress. They declare their love, but when her parents arrive, it is clear that her father will never approve of him. He can’t lose her, but neither can he make her choose between him and her family. Will love find a way or was it doomed from the start?

This was a well-written, nicely done Enemies to Lovers story that gives readers a new twist on an old trope. The book is filled with wonderful characters, misconceptions, great secondary characters, spelunking, steamy love scenes, heartbreaking revelations, painful choices, true love, and finally a hard-earned HEA complete with an epilogue. I liked this book, but to be honest, I wasn’t a fan of Georgiana at the start of the book, she was very closed-minded and judgmental, but once she was able to put aside her preconceived notions about Theo, she became his fiercest defender and redeemed herself. Aside from that, this was a very entertaining and steamy read that was a fresh take on an old trope and a book that I am happy to recommend. Although this is touted as a standalone title, it is worth mentioning that it features characters from another one of Ms. Haymore’s standalone titles “Earls Rush In”.

*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.*

The Allure of Lord Devlin by Bronwen Evans

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

The Allure Of Lord Devlin: A Love versus Honor Regency Romance (The Bachelorette Series Book 3)The Allure Of Lord Devlin: A Love versus Honor Regency Romance by Bronwen Evans

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Bachelorette Series, #3

Release Date: February 1, 2024

Lady Dharma Dexter attends her stepmother Charlotte’s husband-hunting house party and regrets the decision almost immediately, especially when her best friend’s brother is in attendance and in need of a wealthy bride, willing to ignore the whispers of treason attached to his late father’s name. Not that she wants Warwick Sneddon, the Marquis of Devlin for herself, but she doesn’t want Charlotte to marry him either. A late-night encounter with Devlin has her admitting, that she does want him, but unless he can give her his heart, she couldn’t even consider him as a husband. But when Devlin decides that Dharma is exactly the bride he needs and turns on the charm, Dharma’s defenses begin to crumble and she agrees to let him court her, but then he disappears without a word and when he returns months later, there is a new woman on his arm. Dharma is hurt and angry, but when Devlin finally explains, Dharma is more determined than ever to marry Devlin and will do whatever is necessary to help him clear his father’s name. But even if they succeed in clearing his name, will she be able to win his heart?

Thanks to Charlotte, the new Duchess of Sinclair, Warwick Sneddon, the Marquis of Devlin is no longer quite so desperate for money, but the Devlin title is still tainted by nasty rumors about his father and his possible involvement in treason during the war. Even though it has been ten years, those rumors have destroyed their family, his younger brothers left England to make their own way, and his mother and sister have been shunned by the ton, ruining his sister Rosemary’s chances for a good match. But now she has a suitor, one whose father will never approve of the union. Now that he has finally convinced Dharma to consider marriage, he needs to settle this matter once and for all, but when his investigation leads to an attempt on his life, he feels like he is getting close. After a very enjoyable interlude with Dharma, he gets a message that a widow in Scotland has information that will clear his father’s name, but he must leave immediately and after the attempts on his life, he doesn’t want to draw any attention to Dharma, so he leaves without letting her know and doesn’t communicate with her while he is away. Will he find the answers he needs to restore his family’s honor only to lose his chance for the love of a lifetime?

This was a well-written, fast-moving, very intense story with amazing characters and enough twists and turns to keep you reading well past your bedtime! I loved Dharma and Devlin together and was rooting for their HEA, which was put into question more than once! This book is filled with intrigue, seduction, forced betrothals, a bit of angst, tears, heartache, steamy love scenes, secrets, friends turned enemies, lies, life-or-death moments, redemption, regret, and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue that is sure to leave you smiling. This is the third book in the series but it could easily be read as a standalone title. This was a great book, one that I had a hard time putting this book down once I started reading it. I am happy to recommend this book and will be keeping my fingers crossed that Ms. Evans decides to write stories for Devlin’s brothers!

*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.*