Category: Top Pick – Highly Recommended

Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch

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

Every Duke Has His DayEvery Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: N/A

Release Date: September 19, 2023

It was definitely not love at first sight when Elizabeth “Bitsy” Dockering, the youngest daughter of Viscount Mardensea, and Michael Bromley, the Duke of Woriton met. As the undisputed “diamond” of the season, Elizabeth is much sought after and admired, she has several men vying for her hand and is enjoying her reign. While on a walk in the park with her friends and her dog, a poorly behaved black poodle named Galahad, one of her suitors, and her dog tangle which leads to Galahad getting loose and running after another black poodle. The dogs end up in the Serpentine, along with the other dog’s owner. Elizabeth is shocked to learn that the man is none other than the reclusive and possibly mad Duke of Woriton. After exchanging words, the two take their dogs and part ways, thinking they will never see each other again.

Michael Bromley, the Duke of Woriton is brilliant, and he would rather be home working on his experiments than mingling with his peers, but when his beloved aunt leaves her black poodle, Lancelot with him while she is visiting a friend, he ventures out to the park, never expecting to have his life turned upside down by two poodles and a lovely woman! It isn’t until he returns home that he realizes they switched dogs, and for some unexplainable reason, he decides that he must let Elizabeth know immediately. This results in an unexpected waltz and the start of an adventure that will forever change him, when Lancelot and then Galahad are dognapped.

I loved this book, it was such a fun read filled with wonderful characters and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. The story uses a Grumpy meets Sunshine trope, and it is a no-steam, slow-burn romance with lots of emotion, chemistry experiments, lots of dogs, a nasty villain, and a not-so-bad “bad guy”, a sweet secondary romance, laughs, tears, wonderful secondary characters, kisses and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. Overall, I do wish that the ending had been a bit longer and maybe that they didn’t need a third party to ensure their HEA, but those things aside, I loved this book and have given it a place on my very small keeper shelf. This is a standalone title, so if you are looking for a fun, sweet read, this book is for you!

*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.*

A Bride by Morning by Katrina Kendrick

On By TracyIn Other, Part of a Series, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

A Bride by MorningA Bride by Morning by Katrina Kendrick

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Private Arrangements, #3

Release Date: August 3, 2023

Ten years ago Miss Lydia Cecil said goodbye to her dearest friend and the love of her life, Gabriel St. Clair, the younger son of the Earl of Montgomery, as he set out for his first diplomatic posting. Gabriel tells her it will only be for a few years and asks her to promise that she wait for him, as he wants to court her properly before he marries her, it is a promise she is happy to give and a promise she keeps, even when a few years turns into seven and his letters cease. It is a promise she keeps when he finally returns to England after unexpectedly inheriting the earldom upon the untimely death of his father and brother and he refuses to see her or even acknowledge her. Even that will not stop her from loving him, but everyone has their limits and Lydia is close to hers.

Gabriel is no longer the young man Lydia knew, and knowing him now could prove fatal for her. For the last three years, he has watched her from afar, knowing he can never have her. His time abroad may have started in the diplomatic service, but soon he was dragged into the dangerous game of espionage between England and Russia, transitioning from diplomat to assassin and making enemies aplenty. When he was called home to take up the title, Gabriel distanced himself from Lydia, primarily to keep her from learning what a soulless beast he had become but also to keep her safe. But when they meet in a dark garden and she is witness to his past in Russia catching up to him, there is no choice, he will have to marry her to keep her safe. But can he keep her safe from him? And will he be able to walk away from her when the current threat is eliminated?

This was a new-to-me author and WOW – just WOW – How did I never hear about Katrina Kendrick (Elizabeth May) before now? Her writing style has everything that I love; witty banter, great characters, danger, action, steamy love scenes, and a soulmate-type love. I loved this story, Gabriel is a tortured soul and while I felt like he carried the “I can’t be with her” nonsense for way too long, I loved him. Lydia is the perfect heroine, true to her heart and willing to fight for her love, but she has her limits and won’t be a doormat. This is the third book in the series, I haven’t read the other books (clearly, I am going to have to go and check out her backlist!), but I didn’t have any problem following this story. I highly recommend this title, and if you liked Kerrigan Byrne’s Victorian Rebels, you will love this book.

*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.*