Top Pick – Highly Recommended – Page 37 – Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

Her Lessons in Persuasion by Megan Frampton

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: School for Scoundrels, #1

Release Date: January 24, 2023

Barrister Bram Townsend is on his way to his monthly book club meeting with his friends, four fellow orphans from the Devenaugh Home for Destitute Boys, or as they like to call it, The School for Scoundrels. Bram is rehashing his interpretations of their latest book when he notices a woman standing on a parapet of the Blackfriars Bridge, thinking she means to harm herself, he immediately intervenes by grabbing the woman and pulling her down to safety – or so he assumes. But the lovely woman currently sprawled atop him had no qualms about setting him straight, she was in no danger, she was looking at the stars before he so rudely pulled her down. He apologizes for his mistake and insists on seeing her home, even though it will make him late, but it is the right thing to do and Bram always does the right thing! He hails a hackney after she fails to do so on her own, and they chat/argue on the way to her home, where she uses him to hide from her aunt and then shocks both of them by kissing him before running inside. Bram continues on his way, but is out of sorts and intrigued by his mystery woman. Something his friends pick up on right away and tease him mercilessly. He reminds himself that he doesn’t have time for distractions and needs to focus on his new goal of becoming a judge.

Lady Wilhelmina Bettesford can’t believe she kissed a stranger, a drop-dead gorgeous stranger, but still a stranger! She is never impetuous like that, nor is her head turned by a good-looking man. She reminds herself that she just needs to wait out another six months, at which time she will inherit the money left to her by her mother, and then she and her Aunt Flora can purchase a cottage where she can settle into spinsterhood and devote herself to her passion – astronomy. But her world is turned upside down when her father returns from their country estate with a huge surprise – he has fallen in love and married his new steward’s daughter, Alethea, an astonishingly beautiful woman, who is five years younger than Wilhelmina! A woman who is hellbent on seeing Wilhelmina married off as soon as possible, but who despite that is innately likable – much to Wilhelmina’s despair. Wilhelmina is sure she can hold out until her inheritance is in her control – but what she doesn’t count on is Alethea bidding on her mystery man at a fundraiser for the orphanage, or her idea to have Bram pretend to court Wilhelmina to drum up interest in her. She is mortified, but more than anything, she is thrilled to cross paths with him again. But despite the undeniable attraction that is between them, they make it clear that marriage is not an option for either of them and as long as there are no expectations (although kisses are acceptable), they will get along just fine and he will help her fend off any real suitors until she in control of her inheritance and she will help him meet the right people, which will help him in his quest to become a judge. Well, at least that was the plan…

This is a wonderful book, it is well written, nicely paced, and filled with amazing characters that you can’t help but root for! I LOVED this story and it is a perfect example of why I fell in love with Megan Frampton’s writing, it is filled with humor, as well as intelligent, thoughtful characters who are both likable and relatable. There is lots of witty banter, great secondary characters, hilarious inner monologues, believable character growth, Wilhelmina’s list of men she won’t marry, debates, steamyish love scenes, a surprising revelation, and finally a very endearing ending that paves the way for their HEA as well as an epilogue. This is the first book in a new series and it was so good that I can’t wait for the next book! I highly recommend this title, it is a fabulous story that was an absolute pleasure to read.

*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 Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Fifth Avenue Rebels, #4

Release Date: January 24, 2023

A chance encounter during a midnight swim leads to a heated kiss and the promise of a passion unlike anything either has ever experienced, but the timing is wrong and with the morning comes revelations that should kill any attraction. Clearly, when the man of your dreams is engaged to your best friend, he is not for you – or is he?

Andrew Talbot, the Duke of Lockwood is back in New York and still hoping to find a rich bride to save his bankrupt estate, but after a broken engagement and losing two more potential brides, he isn’t optimistic, not to mention he is still reeling from the kiss he shared with the completely unacceptable Miss Eleanor “Nellie” Young, whose reputation for debauchery would make most rakes blush, but Fate keeps throwing them in each other’s paths. And shockingly, Andrew doesn’t mind, in fact, soon he is craving her and despite everything, he wants only her and money has nothing to do with it, so he sets out to prove it and hopefully win her heart and her hand. But even though Fate threw them together, that doesn’t mean winning her will be easy.

Eleanor “Nellie” Young is the only child of mega-rich railroad magnate, Corneilus Young and gleefully snubs her nose at society, she is unapologetic about her affairs, her opinions, and her mother’s humble Irish roots. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her and that includes one snooty English Duke. But Nellie soon learns that Andrew isn’t snooty at all, he is actually quite perfect, handsome, and charming. But she knows that nothing will come of it, he needs an heiress with a spotless reputation, and that is most certainly not her – Heiress? Yes. Spotless reputation? Absolutely not! So even after she realizes she is falling in love with him, she still refuses to consider anything longer than an affair, she cares for him too much to have him suffer because of her reputation and she is sure he will come to regret her and she will be left brokenhearted. So when he presses her for more, she pushes him away and makes it clear, HEA is not for them and that is the end of it. Or is it?

I LOVED this book so much – it is by far the best of the series and definitely has earned a place on my keeper shelf! Andrew and Eleanor are so real and so relatable, that it is hard at times to remember that they are fictional characters. They both have flaws and fears, but they seem to bring out the best in each other, when one is down, the other is there to lift them up, and white-hot passion is always simmering between them, which makes Nellie’s constant rejection frustrating at times, I actually wanted to reach into my kindle, shake her and say, don’t let him go! And Andrew, who knew?!? Still waters really do run deep! This book was just phenomenal, it has a lot of emotion, likable characters, great secondary characters, cameos from previous characters, smoking HOT love scenes (Thank You, Ms. Shupe, I was beginning to think that no one wrote these anymore!), loss, secrets, arrests, witty banter, bar fights, heartache and a truly wonderful ending complete with a HEA and an epilogue. OMG, I never wanted this book to end – I hope Andrew and Nellie pop up in other books and readers get a deeper look into their HEA because it was hard to let them go. This is the fourth book and final book in the series, but it could easily be read as a stand-alone title. I can’t recommend this title highly enough if you are a fan of the Gilded Age, or like historicals that deliver a message along with a romance (without being preachy), or even if you just like steamy historical romances with feisty heroines and sexy dukes – do not miss 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.*

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