Category: Top Pick – Highly Recommended

A December with a Duke by Collette Cameron

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

A December with a Duke: A Regency Romance (Seductive Scoundrels Book 3)A December with a Duke: A Regency Romance by Collette Cameron
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Seductive Scoundrels, #3

Release Date: December 14, 2018

Given the subject matter in this book, I was expecting a completely dark and depressing read. I was pleasantly surprised to find that while there are some very sad, very dark moments, overall the novella was sweet and uplifting.

Everleigh Chatterton is a widow with no desire to remarry. Two years with Arnold was more than enough to show her that men are not to be trusted. Everleigh is stunningly gorgeous and has had to fend off unwanted attentions for years. She was raped by her husband’s son and only married because she found herself with child. She gives birth to Meredith and loses her a short time later. She is completely devastated by the loss and as a result, she hates marriage, men and December.

She is attending Thea’s house party and notices the Duke of Sheffield looking at her, she made her position clear to him when they attended Thea’s wedding – not interested! But when a child wanders into the room and is looking for her Papa, Everleigh’s heart goes out to her. The child is taken with her immediately and she soon learns Sheffield is her “Papa”.

Griffin, the Duke of Sheffield hears Sarah and is shocked to see her in Everleigh’s arms – Sarah doesn’t like strangers and is prone to tantrums. He is further shocked when Everleigh offers to help settle her for the night. Griffin agrees and wonders if Everleigh is really the ice queen that she resembles – she mentions her daughter and that tomorrow is the anniversary of her passing. After settling Sarah, they return to the party. Everleigh is amazed that she told him about her daughter and that he doesn’t terrify or make her feel repulsed, as she usually does around men. He tells her about Sarah, she is the child of his friends from India – they passed away and Sarah was left alone, he took her in and plans to raise her as his own.

Over the next few days, they spend a lot of time together, she likes him, but she worries that she could never be what he needs, she is not even sure she could bear the touch of man and with her former sister in law causing problems, she wonders if she would be more trouble than she is worth. Griffin has no such reservations, Everleigh is everything he has ever dreamed of in a woman and he wants to marry her.

It will take some coaxing, kisses and a very cute little orphan, but Griffin is ready to do whatever is necessary to win her – even let her go.

I loved this story, it is inspiring and very emotional, I loved Griffin and never ever doubted that he was in love with Everleigh. Everleigh had a lot to overcome and I loved that she was willing to trust Griffin with her heart. This novella is part of a series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me*

The Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl

On By TracyIn Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)1 Comment

The Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl (The Lady Travelers Society, #3)The Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl by Victoria Alexander
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Lady Travelers Society, #3

Release Date: November 20, 2018

Sidney Gordon Honeywell is the author of the wildly successful series “Tales of a Lady Adventurer in Egypt”, a fictional depiction of her grandmother’s adventures. Sidney never claimed the stories were true or that she was the heroine – but somehow that is what everyone believes and her publisher believed it was best to continue the ruse. But now the Earl of Brenton has been sending letters to the Times denouncing her as a fraud. More unfortunately, Effie, Poppy & Gwen have been replying to the letters – as Sidney. The Earl has issued a challenge, go with his nephew to Egypt and prove she is who she claims to be.

Harold “Harry” Armstrong is the new and unexpected Earl of Brenton, but before that, he was an avid adventurer in Egypt – He doesn’t like Sidney’s stories – they are not accurate and are too flowery – he might be a little miffed that he has written a book that has been repeatedly rejected, but mostly he feels guilty, when he was last in Egypt, his friend and cohort Walter died and he is angry that Sidney is getting undeserved attention and Walter was forgotten. He issued the challenge, if he wins, she will be exposed and ruined, if he wins Cadwallenders’ Daily Messenger (Sidney’s publisher) will publish his book.

Sidney is upset and the ladies try to calm her – they will go with her to Egypt, as chaperones and Mr. Cadwellender has agreed to finance the trip and send a reporter with them to document the journey- it is a dream come true for Sidney to go to Egypt, but how will she keep up the deception? The ladies promise to “help”.

Harry already regrets his challenge but it is too late to back out and save face. He poses as Harry Armstrong, the nephew of the Earl and awaits the arrive of “Mrs. Gordon” who he is sure is an older woman – the ladies are introduced along with Daniel Corbin, the reporter and Harry is drawn to Sidney. He is sure she is a fraud, but she is a lovely, intelligent fraud. He tries to get to know her better and has competition from Corbin and interference from the ladies. But finally he gets her alone, he likes her and thinks that she might be the “one”. But now he has to find a way out of the hole he dug without ruining her or humiliating himself.

Sidney likes Harry as well, but she has to be on her guard, he has the power to destroy her, so while she is attracted to him, she tries to keep him at arm’s length – how is she going to be able to keep this up?

They arrive in Cairo and Harry is certain that she is a fraud, but he no longer wants to expose her – well at least not to the public. He is not quite sure what he wants from her, until someone from his past askes for a favor and Sidney helps him – then he knows, she is the one and only woman for him. Before he can tell her, she is swept away by her own adventure. When she returns, she makes a discovery and needs Harry’s help, which is his not overly happy about, but agrees to.

Their adventure will bring them more than one shocking discovery, betrayal and startling revelations, but will it bring them together or push them apart? This was an absolutely delightful read, it is well written (I cannot even imagine the research that went into this book!), fast paced, amusing and light without being fluffy, Harry and Sidney are both likeable leads, Poppy, Gwen & Effie are fantastic secondary characters, the story has warm love scenes, the requisite dead husband named Charles, a bit of intrigue, a bit of deception, lost treasure and finally a sweet and satisfying HEA ending. This is the third book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a stand alone title with no problem whatsoever! I absolutely loved this book and am happy to recommend!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*

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