Category: Tracy’s Reviews

Once Dishonored by Mary Jo Putney

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

Once Dishonored (Rogues Redeemed, #5)Once Dishonored by Mary Jo Putney

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Rogues Redeemed, #5

Release Date: September 29, 2020

Lucas Manderville, Baron Foxton is back from the dead and trying to reacclimate himself into society, but by escaping his parole while a prisoner of war has brought his honor into question and made him a bit of a pariah. He is floating on the edges of the ballroom when a beautiful woman in black arrives and the whispers start. Feeling a kinship to her, he asks her to dance and realizes that he knows her or rather knew her years ago when he was getting ready to ship out with the navy.

Kendra Douglas, formerly Kendra Hawthorne, Lady Denshire is a divorcee and out for justice. Her ex-husband George, Lord Denshire told vile lies about her to gain a divorce and has taken her son from her all because her grandfather left her fortune in her hands and she refused to give him free reign. She wants to clear her name and get her son back, but has no idea where to begin. Dancing with Lucas opens a world of opportunities and when he offers to help her, it is a godsend!

While they are trying to clear her name, he too will have to face his past and come to terms with his actions. As they work together and shocking secrets are uncovered and memories are recovered, they grow closer, but thanks to her divorce decree, Kendra cannot remarry while Denshire lives, so HEA many not come for years – if ever.

This was a great slow burn, friends to lovers romance, with wonderful lead characters and lots of cameos from the Lost Lords and Rogues Redeemed and their wives. The book has a bit of everything, lies, scandal, intrigue, surprising twists and turns, familiar faces, grudges, forgiveness, a dash of paranormal, warm love scenes and a wonderful and sweet ending. And if that wasn’t enough, I found the author’s notes about Regency divorce and POW parole absolutely fascinating. This is the fifth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title. I really enjoyed this installment and am happy to recommend this title.

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

Sleeping with the Enemy by Jackie Barbosa

On By TracyIn American Historical, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

Sleeping with the Enemy (Lords of Lancashire, #4)Sleeping with the Enemy by Jackie Barbosa

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Lords of Lancashire, #4

Release Date: Septemeber 15, 2020

The last thing American widow Laura Farnsworth expects to find in the shrubs on the side of the is a new love, but that is exactly what she finds! Laura and her son Daniel are traveling back to their farm when she spots a man in red in the brush, they stop to help and think he is dead – but shockingly he is alive, and though he is weak and clearly English, she takes him home with her and hopes he survives.

It is days before Lt. Col. Geoffrey Langston (brother to Viscount Langston) and currently stationed in Fort York wakes in shock to learn the battle is over and he was found on the American side of the battlefield! Geoffrey cannot remember what happened to him and isn’t even sure if he was in the battle – his last memory is the day before the battle. He plans to turn himself over to the Americans as a POW, but promises to help Laura with the apple harvest as a thank you for helping him recover. But soon two things happen that will change everything – first he learns that a traitor tipped off the Americans and he is not sure how that pertains to him, but it would seem that he was caught out by the traitor and almost killed, so returning to Fort York would be dangerous without his memory and surrendering to the Americans will mean the traitor goes free. The second thing is he and Laura fall in love and marry. He is sure that by now the army has deemed him missing and presumed dead and wonders if that might just be for the best.

When word reaches his family in England, they refuse to believe he is dead and a close friend to the family (his sister’s brother-in-law) Thomas and his wife Sabine travel to Canada and then New York to search for him. They find him, but unwittingly lead the army right to him and he is arrested for treason. He will be taken back to England to stand trial – but Laura isn’t about to lose another husband and insists on going with him. Can they clear his name and have a HEA or will the traitor finally succeed in killing him?

I really enjoyed this book, it is well written, face paced and definitely not your run-of-the-mill Historical Romance. The book has so much going on and none of it will happen in London ballrooms, it is set primarily in northern New York and London. The book is filled with intrigue, treason, betrayal, a hero with amnesia, cameos from the other Langston siblings and their families, steamy love scenes, twists and turns, surprises and finally a wonderful ending complete with an epilogue. This is the fourth book in the series, but it is easily read as a standalone title. I am happy to recommend this book and hope you love it as much as I did!

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