Category: Top Pick – Highly Recommended

A Wicked Bargain for the Duke by Megan Frampton

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

A Wicked Bargain for the Duke (Hazards of Dukes, #3)A Wicked Bargain for the Duke by Megan Frampton
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Hazards of Dukes, #3

Release Date: April 27, 2021

Thaddeus Dutton, the new Duke of Hasford takes his responsibilities seriously, so after inheriting a dukedom he never expected (or wanted), he gives 100% into being the best duke he can be and decides that he must marry and father an heir as soon as possible. He makes a list of attributes his future duchess must possess and finds the perfect bride at the first event he attends – the Earl of Scudamore’s eldest daughter, Lady Jane Capel.

When it becomes clear to Lady Lavinia Capel that the duke has set his sites on Jane, she knows she will have to convince the duke to look elsewhere for a wife. Jane is madly in love with their neighbor and is too timid to rebuff the duke’s attentions, that combined with their mother’s determination to wed Jane to the duke, will see her unhappily married unless Lavinia intervenes. But when her attempt to get the duke alone to set him straight goes horribly wrong, Lavinia finds herself engaged to the duke – much to the dismay of everyone involved!

Determined to make the best of things, Thaddeus forms a plan and proposes a bargain – they will stay together long enough to have an heir, and then they will live separate lives. Furthermore, he thinks they should not get too involved in each other’s lives and limit their interaction to the bedroom – for the purpose of procreation and definitely not let their emotions become engaged. Lavinia had no desire to marry, she writes novels and had planned to live an independent life, but there is no way she can get out of the marriage without destroying Jane’s chances for happiness, so she agrees to Thaddeus’ terms. She forms her own plan, keeps her writing secret since Thaddeus didn’t seem to approve, and tries to keep herself from falling for her husband. But you know what they say – the best-laid plans…

I was a little wary about requesting this title after reading the previous book in the series and being very disappointed, but thankfully this book was everything I could have hoped for and more – much more! It is clear to the reader that Thaddeus and Lavinia are perfect for each other from the start and their interactions are fun, sexy and a delight to read. The book is filled with witty banter, steamyish love scenes, wonderful characters, laugh-out-loud moments, secrets, a bit of angst, a little miscommunication, and an absolutely wonderful ending! I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend the title – it is the third book in the series, but it can definitely be read and enjoyed as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. *

What The Devil Knows by C.S. Harris – Blog Tour

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Blog Tour, Historical Mystery, Regency Era (1811-1820), Top Pick - Highly RecommendedLeave a comment
Releases April 6, 2021

About The Book

Sebastian St. Cyr thought a notorious killer had been brought to justice until a shocking series of gruesome new murders stuns the city in this thrilling historical mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Who Speaks for the Damned.

It’s October 1814. The war with France is finally over and Europe’s diplomats are convening in Vienna for a conference that will put their world back together. With peace finally at hand, London suddenly finds itself in the grip of a series of heinous murders eerily similar to the Ratcliffe Highway murders of three years before. 

In 1811, two entire families were viciously murdered in their homes. A suspect–a young seaman named John Williams–was arrested. But before he could be brought to trial, Williams hanged himself in his cell. The murders ceased, and London slowly began to breathe easier. But when the lead investigator, Sir Edwin Pym, is killed in the same brutal way three years later and others possibly connected to the original case meet violent ends, the city is paralyzed with terror once more. 

Was the wrong man arrested for the murders? Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy turns to his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for assistance. Pym’s colleagues are convinced his manner of death is a coincidence, but Sebastian has his doubts. The more he looks into the three-year-old murders, the more certain he becomes that the hapless John Williams was not the real killer. Which begs the question–who was and why are they dead set on killing again?

Barbara’s Review – 5 STARS

Long before Victorian London had Jack the Ripper, Regency London had the Ratcliffe Highway murders.  Two families, seven people including a 3-month-old baby were brutally murdered.  The culprit was caught and he hung himself in his jail cell.  Three years later there is another murder that is the same as those from Ratcliffe Highway – and then another, and then another.  Did they get the wrong murderer three years ago?  Did that murderer have a partner who is now killing again?  Is it a copyist who is doing the murders?  Sebastian has a very dangerous task ahead of him, but he must sort out all of the players and their various roles from three-years ago and now. 

When the body of Sir Edward Pym is found in a filthy alley where his throat had been cut and his head bashed in, Sir Henry Lovejoy, a Bow Street Magistrate, immediately seeks the aid of his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin.  Edward Pym was one of the magistrates responsible for the solution to the Ratcliffe Highway murders.  As Devlin investigates, he discovers that there was another recent murder that was committed in the same manner.  Devlin is pretty sure that the current murders are related to those of three-years ago – and after Mr. Nathan Cockerwell, another magistrate, is found murdered in the same manner, Devlin is positive they have to be connected.

There are many factions at work and some very powerful people want things their own way.  Are they involved in both sets of crime?  With so many undercurrents and factions involved, it is like a bowl of spaghetti for Devlin to unravel.  So many innocent victims – so many guilty victims – what a tangled web. 

Many other things are going on in Devlin’s life as well – some are tangentially related to the case and some are not.  Devlin gets some new information on his missing mother’s whereabouts; Hero and Simon are in danger when someone breaks into their home; Jarvis makes a huge announcement; There is a new addition (or two) to the St. Cyr family.  I’m very curious to see what is going to happen with Mrs. Victoria Hart-Davis and I wonder if Jarvis will survive it. 

This is a really exciting read and I couldn’t put it down.  The writing, as always was excellently done, the pacing was perfect and the mystery was riveting.  Just when you think you are sure you know what happened – a new fact drops in your lap or the investigation heads off in a different direction.

I definitely recommend this book – and this series – and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About The Author

C.S. Harris is the USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty-five novels, including the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series; as C. S. Graham, a thriller series coauthored by former intelligence officer Steven Harris; and seven award-winning historical romances written under the name Candice Proctor.

Photo By: Samantha Brown