Category: Top Pick – Highly Recommended

When You Wish Upon A Duke by Charis Michaels

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

When You Wish Upon a Duke (Awakened by a Kiss, #2)When You Wish Upon a Duke by Charis Michaels

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Awakened by a Kiss, #2

Release Date: August 24, 2021

Jason “North” Beckett, former spy and the new Duke of Northumberland is in desperate need of a woman – but not just any woman, no, he needs Isobel Tinker, the manager of Everland Travel. His cousin Reggie has gotten himself kidnapped by Icelandic pirates and Jason has learned through his contacts in the foreign office that Miss Tinker is not only fluent in Icelandic, but she is very familiar with the country itself after residing there for quite some time years ago.

Isobel Tinker is the daughter of the world-famous actress Georgina Tinker and spent most of her youth touring Europe – with and without her mother. Seven years ago while in Iceland, Isobel’s happy-go-lucky life took a sharp turn into reality and left her alone and broken in heart and soul. With the help of her Aunt and Uncle, she returned to England and vowed to never leave her shores again. So when the Oh-too-handsome duke tries to hire her, she has no problem shutting him down. But when he makes her an offer she can’t refuse, neither of them will be prepared for the adventure that awaits them!

This is the second fairytale-inspired story in the series and it is just as fun and entertaining as the first book. For this story, the author has taken her inspiration from Peter Pan and has styled Isobel as a Regency-era Tinker Bell. While set in the Regency era, the author has taken a lot of creative license with what is considered proper etiquette for the period – something she explains in her author notes and honestly didn’t bother me at all. I loved this story, it is filled with witty banter, a duke that doesn’t want to be a duke, pirates, a bit of heartache, barely-warm love scenes, great secondary characters, a heroine who can save herself, and a hero who is fine with that, some incredible imagery and finally a HEA that is anything but typical. As mentioned there is a fair amount of creative license that might bother some readers, as well as title/formal address errors (that bother me, LOL), but overall this is a fun read and I would happily recommend this title. It is the second book in the series, but the books are easily read as standalone titles.

*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.*

Taming the Scot by Eliza Knight

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Taming the Scot (Scots of Honor, #3)Taming the Scot by Eliza Knight

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Scots of Honor, #3

Release Date: August 24, 2021

When Captain Euan Irvine learns upon his grandfather’s death that the old man changed the terms of his will, he is upset, but it isn’t until he learns what the changes are that he gets really angry and wants no part of it! But with so many tenants and six sisters to care for, Euan knows he can’t let them down and will have to dance to his grandfather’s twisted tune – meaning, the first grandson to enter into a loving marriage and produce an heir, will inherit everything – the two barony titles, all the properties, and title of Chief of the Irvine clan. He has never had a problem attracting women and figures this will be no different – but his sisters disagree and say wooing a bride is not the same as seducing a lover and suggest he hire a governess to help him with proper etiquette and to their surprise, he agrees.

Bronwen Holmes is by no means an appropriate etiquette governess, but when the gaming hell owner AKA Prince demands that she make good on her parents’ debt – a debt that he had them killed for – she has no choice but to beg her cousin Emilia for help. Emilia has an idea, she shows Bronwen the advert for a governess in the highlands and suggests that Bronwen take that job, even offering to book her passage on one of Andrewson Shipping, her employer’s ships. Unsure but out of options, Bronwen heads for the highlands.

Bronwen’s first meeting with Euan is hilarious and completely priceless. She basically hires herself for the position and leaves Euan wondering what just happened, but he decides to go along with it. It is not long before Euan and his sisters realize that Bronwen is not who or what she claims to be, but after getting a letter from his friend Lorne Gordon, the Duke of Sutherland and husband of Jaime the owner of Andrewson Shipping, and learning that she is in some sort of danger, he decides to play along with her charade. The problem is, the more time he spends with her, the more time he wants and soon he is sure that she is the answer to his inheritance problem. But Bronwen has secrets and even after confessing her deception, being accepted, and even knowing that he is the only man she will ever love, she is still not sure she is the right woman for Euan.

This was a well-written, fast-paced book with more than one twist that will keep you saying NO WAY and OMG, until the very end! Of the three books in the series so far, this one is my favorite, I just loved the instant connection between Bronwen and Euan, and his sisters are wonderful secondary characters who add so much to this book without outshining the leads. This book has a little bit of everything; mystery, witty banter, laugh-out-loud moments, secrets, steamy love scenes, great secondary characters, cameos from previous characters, a bit of angst, a truly evil villain, more than one surprising twist, and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue! This is the third book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title with no issues. I loved this book and am happy to recommend it!

*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.*