Category: Standalone Title

A Gentleman’s Offer by Emma Orchard

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

A Gentleman's OfferA Gentleman’s Offer by Emma Orchard

Tracy’s Rating: 2 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone Title

Release Date: March 22, 2025

When Miss Margaret “Meg” Nightingale, the estranged daughter of Baron Nightingale, receives notice from her aunt that her recently betrothed identical twin sister, Maria, has gone missing, she agrees to come to London to take her place until she is found. But Meg is not one to stand idly by and let someone else take charge, she makes it her mission to find Maria. She informs her sister’s betrothed, Sir Dominic De Lacy of the situation and demands that he assist her in finding her sister. She is attracted to Dominic and he to her, but until they find Maria and learn why she bolted, they won’t be able to act on that attraction. When they found Maria and learned why she left should make it easier for them to be together, but finding Maria only makes it harder.

Sir Dominic De Lacy, known to the ton as Beau De Lacy due to his manners and personality, has been a happy-go-lucky bachelor, but when his mother tells him of a promise his late father made to Baron Nightingale, he agrees to marry Maria Nightingale, and after just two supervised meetings, he proposes, and she accepts. He is not really attracted to her, but since he never expected to marry for love, he accepts that this will be a typical arranged marriage and only hopes they will get on better than his own parents did. However, when he sees his betrothed at their engagement ball, he is stunned at his reaction to her and a bit relieved when he learns the truth. He agrees to help Meg find her sister but makes it clear that he won’t be marrying Maria. The more time he spends with Meg, the more he knows that she is the woman he never expected to find and the only Nightingale he will marry.

The blurb for this book, hooked me hard and reeled me in, but sadly, it failed to deliver the story I was expecting. The story has a lot going on including a twin swap, estranged families, secrets, lies, blackmail, slow-burn romance, and finally a HEA for almost everyone. I wanted to love the book, but I found Meg annoying and Dominic a bit too beta for my taste, add to that the ridiculous plot and the very wordy dialogue that caused the story to drag, and unfortunately, this book just didn’t work for me.

*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. *

The Viking’s Princess Bride by Sarah Rodi

On By TracyIn Medieval - Early (410 - 1066), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Viking's Princess BrideThe Viking’s Princess Bride by Sarah Rodi

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: January 21, 2025

Driven by vengeance, Njal Salversson laid siege to Jorvik, the royal seat of the Saxon King Aelfweard, hoping that defeating the king who ordered the slaughter of his family would finally give him peace. He and his men have been fighting for the past two years and now that the king has been defeated, Njal wants to put the past behind him and find a way for the Danes and Saxon to live together in harmony. The first step to achieve that goal is to marry King Aelfweard’s widowed daughter, Princess Cwen. Marriage was not originally part of his plan, but when he met her on the battlefield, she captivated him like no woman ever had. But Njal has been burned before and trust is hard for him to give, especially when he is sure Cwen is hiding something, and his family loyalty is called into question. Can he find true love and peace with his enemy’s daughter or is he setting himself up for more heartache?

Princess Cwen is used to being a pawn for her father, so a second political marriage doesn’t come as s a surprise to her, but her reaction to Njal is unlike anything she as ever experienced. He makes her want things that are impossible. But lying to Njal doesn’t sit well with Cwen and when she finally lets herself admit what she is feeling is love, it makes lying even harder. But her secrets are not her own and could have ramifications that hurt the people she loves. Can she trust Njal with the truth and will he forgive her deception or will the betrayals in his past keep him from accepting her explanations?

This was a wonderful story set in the Early Medieval era of Anglo-Saxon England. I loved Cwen and Njal, they are both amazing characters, who are willing to forsake their own happiness for the sake of their loved ones. This story has a lot going on including love at first sight, enemies-to-lovers, longing, betrayal, secrets, a heaping dose of angst, family loyalty, heartache, lies, forgiveness, a bit of spice and finally a HEA that seemed almost impossible and even includes a very sweet epilogue. I do wish the story had moved a bit faster, but overall, it was a very good read and one I would happily recommend to fans of Medieval romance.

*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. *