Category: Top Pick – Highly Recommended

One Night of Passion by Erica Ridley

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

One Night of Passion (Wicked Dukes Club #3)One Night of Passion by Erica Ridley

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Wicked Dukes Club, #3

Release Date: May 14, 2019

Thaddeus Middleton has decided that he is ready to take a wife, so like any respectable gentleman of means, he begins his search at Almack’s. Thad is a romantic at heart and is sure that he will recognize the love of his life at first sight – there will be a sign, a spark, a bolt of lightning – something to let him know that he has found “The One”. But this night what he finds is Miss Priscilla Weatherby – most definitely not “The One”, but he asks her to dance is shocked when she turns him down.

Priscilla has a plan and it does not include marriage – her father and grandfather are adventurers and she longs to join them on their journeys, she hasn’t seen her father in years, but when her mother died he told her that he set up a trust for her – ten thousand pounds will be hers on her 25th birthday if she has not married. But there are conditions, she must not avoid the marriage mart, attend 3 events week, no scandal, she can’t ruin herself and she can tell no one of the trust. Priscilla knows exactly what she will do with the money – join her father in Africa – so she has followed the terms to the letter and perfected the art of attending without participating! But if she was looking for a husband, Thad would be exactly what she would want. He is intelligent, kind and handsome. When the meet again in the park and they chat, she really likes him but refuses to risk her heart and again shuts him down.

Thad wonders if insisting on a love match is just prolonging his loneliness, he misses his cousin Diana and when she comes to visit him, he wonders if he has missed “The One” – he does mention Priscilla to Diana and she is surprised that she was rude to Thad – he says it doesn’t matter, because she is not “The One” – Diana askes how he knows that and he says there was no sign. Diana tells him to try to get to know her before he decides that she is not “The One”, he receives similar advice from his friends at the Wicked Duke. And sets out to befriend Priscilla. When he arrives at her house, the weather clears and he sees a rainbow. He thinks he might have been wrong and decides that he needs to get to know her.

Priscilla is surprised to see Thad, she thought she made it clear that she was not interested, but as she gets to know him, her desires become blurred. And when her father returns unexpectantly and offers to take her with him on his travels, she will have to decide if she should go or if loving Thad is the real adventure.

This was a very sweet story, more emotional than I expected, but a true delight to read. The characters are engaging, the love scenes mild and the ending is wonderful. This is the third book in the Wicked Dukes Club series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone title. I truly enjoyed this story and would be happy to recommend it!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an e-ARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

The Bluestocking by Christi Caldwell

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Top Pick - Highly Recommended7 Comments

The Bluestocking (Wicked Wallflowers, #4)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Wallflowers #4
Publication Date: 5/7/19
Number of Pages: 352

Finally, the Mad Marquess gets his HEA and I’m absolutely thrilled with Gertrude and Stephen as well. They all had their own growth to manage and issues with which they had to come to terms. I usually have to read this author’s work in increments because it is so intensely emotional and gripping. I love that this one wasn’t that way – I read it straight through. Yes, it was every bit as emotional as the other books, but it was a beautiful emotional rather than the gut-wrenching kind.

In the last book, The Governess, the Mad Marquess was going after Broderick Killoran full tilt. He blamed Broderick for the kidnapping of his son and the deaths of his wife and unborn child seven years ago. To avoid hanging, Broderick and his street-sisters all had to agree to never again see Stephen again 0nce they returned him to the Mad Marquess – they couldn’t even accompany him on the coach ride to the Marquess’ home.

Gertrude Killoran has always been the outsider among her street-siblings – she belonged and was loved equally, but she was also on the outside. She was the weak one who was overlooked while others made decisions for her. She can’t do that anymore – she cannot allow an apprehensive and upset Stephen to make that long and lonely trek from the Devil’s Den to his father’s home. So, at the last minute, she slips into the coach and they begin the stressful ride. Along the way, she talks seriously with Stephen and realizes that she cannot leave him to adjust to his new circumstances alone. She’ll do the impossible! She’ll convince the man who despises everything about her and her siblings to allow her to live in his home until Stephen is settled with a suitable governess.

Edwin Warwick, Marquess of Maddock, isn’t really mad but he has every reason to be! He has suffered unspeakable horrors in his life – his home was burned, his wife and unborn child died, and his son August died as well. Then, he learned that August hadn’t died, he had been kidnapped and taken into the street gang run by Mac Diggory. In that seven years, Edwin had been accused of murder, shunned by the ton, and called a madman. He embraced being a madman, he stopped going out in public, drank prodigiously, and stayed angry all the time while nurturing his hate for the remaining members of Diggory’s gang – the Killorans. Now, there is one of those vile, despicable creatures standing in his foyer – and she’s refusing to leave.

With his son standing there, ready to bolt and run, what can he say to the woman? He drags her into his library so he can rant at her in private – but – imagine that – she doesn’t cower from him or show any fear. She stands up to him and makes reasonable arguments for why he should change his mind and let her stay until Stephen is settled and a suitable governess is hired.

I absolutely loved their journey – and it was a journey of three. Stephen had to grow to trust Edwin in order to be happy in his new home and circumstances. Edwin had to learn to be a father again and to trust that Gertrude was helping him and Stephen adjust to each other. Gertrude had to learn to trust Edwin with Stephen and to trust that he wouldn’t go back on his word and harm Broderick or her sisters.

I am in deep admiration for how the author handled all of this book, but especially the final chapters. Her writing is excellent, the characters are deep and well developed and the romance is truly swoon-worthy! Now, I can’t wait for the next book in the series, The Spitfire, featuring Clara Waters and the Earl of Waterson, coming out in September.

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