Category: Top Pick – Highly Recommended

Why Do Earls Fall in Love by Deb Marlowe

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

Why Do Earls Fall in Love? (A Series of Unconventional Courtships, #5)Why Do Earls Fall in Love? by Deb Marlowe

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: A Series of Unconventional Courtships, #5

Release Date: July 27, 2021

Miss Charlotte Mayne is in London for one reason and that is to find a husband. She and her maiden aunt have scraped up enough money for one season and she hopes to find a man who will be willing to support her and her younger siblings. But things are not progressing as she would have hoped, especially since her nasty cousin seems bent on ruining any chances she may have. She meets Gabriel Harris, Earl of Whiddon when she escapes to the terrace during a ball. Gabriel is smoking a vile-smelling cigar and she rightly guesses it is to keep people away. They strike up a conversation and she learns that he never wants to marry, but that doesn’t stop her from enjoying his company.

After that meeting, Gabriel watches out for her and on more than one occasion sees her cousin sabotaging her, so he steps in and dances with her, which seems to open the door for other suitors. He knows he should keep his distance, but he can’t seem to stay away and when they are caught in a compromising position, he proposes a marriage in name only.

Charlotte agrees, to a point, she wants more but is willing to wait for it. Slowly, she weaves herself into his life, first by setting his house to rights, despite his reasons for keeping it barely habitable, and then by getting him to share some of his tightly held secrets, including his ongoing mission to right the wrongs done by his father. At first, Gabriel tries to resist, but soon he can no longer deny his feelings and it seems like these two will find their HEA, but when an old advisory teams up with Charlotte’s cousin, their blossoming love will be tested.

What a great story! Of all the books in this series, I think this is my favorite, I just loved Charlotte and Gabriel and their road to HEA was filled with emotion, betrayal, secrets, lies, cameos from previous characters, truly evil villains, steamyish love scenes, and a little bit of heartache all wrapped up in a well-written, fast-paced story. This is the fifth book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title.

*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.*

Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas

On By TracyIn Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Devil in Disguise (The Ravenels, #7)Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Ravenels, #7

Release Date: July 27, 2021

When Lady Merritt Sterling, the widowed daughter of the Earl of Westcliff and owner of the Sterling Enterprises Shipping Company meets her client Keir MacRae, the Scottish owner of whisky distillery – sparks fly and the sensible, responsible and proper Merritt throws caution to the wind and embarks on a heated affair with the handsome, Scotsman. They both know that nothing can ever come of their relationship, but neither can seem to walk away. Things between them get so intense that Merritt begins to formulate ideas for them to stay together, but before anything can be decided, Keir is almost killed in an explosion, and forgets who Merritt is! But this is just the beginning of the shocks, surprises, and revelations in store for them!

This book is a well-written, brilliantly executed story that held me in thrall from the first page until the last. I know this is supposed to be a Ravenels story, but it definitely had more of a Wallflowers vibe – especially with Sebastian, Evie, Marcus, and Lillian having such large roles in the book. This book has caused a lot of uproar within the Kleypas fan base, with many people very upset with the direction Ms. Kleypas decided to go – for me, as long as the timeline gets corrected, I had no problem with Keir’s parentage – (I read an uncorrected proof that states Keir is 33, which if you read the Wallflower books, you will know the timeline doesn’t match statements made in this book). I really loved this book, it has wonderful characters, steamy love scenes, surprises, heartache, intrigue, soulmate-type love, lots of cameos, a bit of angst, and a nail-biting ending before they finally get their HEA! This is the seventh book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title with no issues. I really enjoyed this story and sincerely hope that it leads to a Wallflower Progeny spinoff!

*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.*