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

Second Duke’s the Charm by Kate Bateman

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

Second Duke's the Charm (Her Majesty's Rebels #1)Second Duke’s the Charm by Kate Bateman

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Her Majesty’s Rebels, #1

Release Date: December 26, 2023

At 19, Tess Townsend was the belle of the season and could have had her pick of any man, but instead, she was forced to marry the Duke of Wansford, a man old enough to be her grandfather. Tess is horrified and miserable at the thought of wedding the duke, but what choice does she have, especially when her father locks her up in their home until the day of her wedding? However, fate seems to have a different plan for Tess when her groom dies on their wedding night, leaving her a widow. For the first time in her life, Tess is independent, and she makes good use of her freedom, starting by improving the ducal estate while waiting for the solicitors to find the heir. Then along with Ellie Law and Lady Dorothea “Daisy” Hamilton, her two best friends from Miss Honoria Burnett’s Ladies Academy, she starts an investigation business, King & Co., and to avoid scandal, they invent a fictitious man named Charles King to head the company and act as his agents. Two years later, she is happy with her life, but longs to experience passion, and decides to attend a scandalous party on her way back to London, in hopes of finding someone to share a kiss with. And she does, sharing a dance and then a toe-curling kiss that would have led to more if they had not been interrupted. Shocked by her behavior, Tess flees without learning the man’s name. She returns to London and is meeting with Ellie and Daisy at their investigation offices when a cloaked woman enters asking to see Mr. King. The woman turns out to be Queen Charlotte and she wants to hire them to catch a blackmailer, a job they are more than happy to accept. Tess and her friends are excited to work on this case, because if they are successful, not only will it pay well, but should bring more business, additionally, Tess is hoping that working the case will keep her mind so busy she will finally be able to forget her mystery lover. But fate isn’t quite done with Tess…

Justin Thornton is a very successful shipping magnate and as it turns out the new Duke of Wansford, after several other heirs died in rapid succession. Justin has no desire to take up the dukedom, but it isn’t a choice, it is his, whether he wants it or not. The solicitor suggests for him to go to London and take up his responsibilities, meet with the widowed Duchess of Wansford, and find a bride. Reluctantly he agrees and is in for the shock of his life, when the duchess turns out to be not only his mysterious Lady in Red, but Tess Townsend, a lovely debutante he saw two years ago who instantly caught his attention, but whom he never approached because he felt he had nothing to offer. Instantly Justin knows that she is the answer to all his duke-related problems, he just needs to set some boundaries to make sure they don’t do anything stupid, like fall in love.

This is a great start to a new series by Kate Bateman, featuring wonderful characters, an investigation agency, and good friends. I liked Tess and Justin, they were both strong leads, but they aren’t perfect, they both have trust issues and will have to work to get their HEA. This story is filled with emotion, secrets, blackmail, assassination attempts, instant attraction, steamy love scenes, cute puppies, good friends, misassumptions, a grand gesture that doesn’t go as planned, and finally a hard-won HEA complete with an epilogue. I enjoyed this story and will be anxiously looking forward to the next installment.

*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 Scandalous Vixen by Tracy Sumner

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

The Scandalous Vixen (The Duchess Society, #2)The Scandalous Vixen by Tracy Sumner

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Duchess Society, #2

Release Date: January 06, 2022

Roan Darlington, the Duke of Leighton fell hard for shipping heiress Helena Astley years ago on a Dorset beach, but when he finally talks to her, he botches it badly and will spend the next ten years trying to rectify his mistake, but his reputation for being quick to temper and a profligate rake does nothing to further his cause. But Roan is nothing if not persistent and is finally able to coerce her into joining him and his friends at his country estate for Christmas, by promising that his friend’s wives, who run the “Duchess Society” will tutor Helena’s younger half-sister, Theodosia in ton etiquette alongside his younger sister, Philippa. He proposes a faux engagement, that she can break when she returns to London. He just hopes that spending time with her will finally satisfy his burning desire for her once and for all!

Dubbed Lady Hell by the ton, Helena Astley is a successful businesswoman with a thriving shipping empire and an independence that sets her apart from most unmarried women in London. For years Helena has simultaneously hated and desired Roan, but she has no desire to give up her independence or her fortune for any man, least of all a womanizing rake like him. But when he offers her a chance to help her younger sister, it is all the excuse she needs to finally give into the temptation he has always poised without seeming desperate. Helena is no fool, she knows that despite their “engagement” ruse she could never be anything more than a fling to Roan, but even that knowledge doesn’t stop her from agreeing to join his house party. But when a kiss, ten years in the making, spirals out of control, Helena finds herself married to Roan. But can these two find their way to HEA or will they let their insecurities keep them from surrendering to what is clearly the love of a lifetime?

This was a well-written, nicely-paced story with very likable and relatable characters. This story is filled with witty banter, insecurities, great secondary characters, steamyish love scenes, good friends, and a happily ever after, complete with an epilogue that nicely sets up the next book. Overall, I liked both Roan and Helena and enjoyed their love story, but I am not sure why it took ten years for them to get together since they clearly had many interactions over the years. I also found it a bit hard to believe that Roan was pining for her all those years, considering the sheer number of women he slept with during that time. Those things aside, this was a very enjoyable, quick read that I am happy to recommend to lovers of steamyish historical romance. This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title.

4 stars

*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.*