Category: Tracy’s Reviews

a Good Duke is Hard to Find by Christina Britton

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

A Good Duke is Hard to Find (Isle of Synne, #1)A Good Duke is Hard to Find by Christina Britton

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Isle of Synne, #1

Release Date: June 30, 2020

To say that Miss Lenora Hartley has been unlucky in love would be an understatement, she has been engaged three times and is still unwed! After being jilted at the altar by groom number three, she decides to escape London and her father’s attempts to find her another suitor. She goes with her dearest friend Margery Kitteridge to the Isle of Synne to visit Margery’s grandmother, Viscountess Tesh. But Synne may not offer the respite she is seeking, as it stirs up memories of her first betrothed, who tragically died and with those memories comes guilt for her part in his death.

Finally back in England after making his fortune in America, Peter Ashford has waited thirteen years for this day, the day when he repays a debt and begins to enact his plan for vengeance against those he believes wronged him and caused the death of his mother. But Lady Tesh refuses his money and insists that he honor a promise he made to his dying mother – a promise to stay with Lady Tesh for a month. He refuses and while rushing out, almost plows over Lenora. He returns to the inn and relays what transpired to his good friend and business partner Quincy Nesbitt. Quincy convinces him to stay and honor the promise.

Peter and Quincy return to Lady Tesh’s and Peter bargains with her – he will stay and will attend dinners, balls and escort her – much to his annoyance. But on the bright side, he learns the lovely woman he ran into earlier – the one he hasn’t stopped thinking of, is also staying with Lady Tesh, along with his cousin, Margery. There is no denying the attraction between Peter and Lenora, but Peter won’t let anything in the way of his vengeance. Peter is the heir to the Duke of Dane, the man he holds responsible for his mother’s death. He has sworn that he will never marry and that title will die him and that he will destroy everything the Duke held dear. Lenora has her own issues to deal with including the new fiancé that her father has sent, with the clear message: accept her father’s choice or be disowned!

I thought the story was well written, but it did drag a bit and I found Peter’s single-mindedness to be a little annoying – but honestly, the vengeance trope is not my favorite as it never seems to make sense to me. I did like that this story took place outside of London and that there was a local legend woven in to the story. The book has a lot of emotion, vengeance, wonderful secondary characters, slightly warm love scenes, a bit of twist at the end and finally HEA. This was the first book in a new series and it looks like Quincy is next up, I really loved Quincy in this book so I am looking forward to his story!

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

Faye’s Sacrifice by Madeline Martin

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Faye's Sacrifice (Borderland Rebels, #1)

Faye’s Sacrifice by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Borderland Rebels, #1

Release Date: June 23, 2020


If you loved Madeline Martin’s Borderland Ladies Series and were sad to see it end – You can now rejoice because she has started a new spinoff series featuring Drake Fletcher and his sisters!!!

After the death of her English father, Faye Fletcher learned several hard truths, foremost is that love is not forever and can’t be trusted. She carefully guards her heart and other than her family, she refuses to love anyone. Thanks to her brother Drake, Faye along with her mother and two sisters; Clara and Kinsey now have a good life and a nice home. Life is comfortable but she wants to contribute and as a beautiful woman, she also learned that she can use her “wiles” to benefit her family, she flirts and charms the local merchants into giving her deals. But her comfortable life is shattered when her Scottish grandfather demands that she marry Ewan Sutherland, she refuses and he kidnaps her!

Ewan Sutherland is the chieftain of the Sutherland clan. A widower, he needs an heir and is negotiating a betrothal with Blair of the Gordan clan when the Ross chieftain approaches him and wants him to honor an agreement, he made years ago with Ewan’s father, an agreement that would see Ewan wed to Ross’ granddaughter. He vaguely remembers Faye and recalls being fond of her. He agrees to meet and is shocked when he learns that Faye has run away. He finds her and promises that he will not force her to marry him and will even help return her to her family. But when Ross finds them, he tells Faye she is free to go but threatens to take her kind and gentle sister Clara. Faye will not let that happen and agrees to marry Ewan as long as the Ross promises to leave her sisters alone.

Ewan learns from his cousin Moiré that his first wife, Lara, killed herself because Ewan didn’t love her and he vows to not repeat that mistake! Faye marries Ewan and learns that she enjoys the physical side of marriage – but Ewan wants more, he wants her heart. Faye likes Ewan, but she can’t let herself love him and falls back on her “wiles” to keep her heart safe. But Ewan is hard to resist and she finds herself falling for him. But before they get their HEA they will have to confront not only their own past hurts, but will have survive a shocking betrayal!

This was a well-written, fast paced story with wonderful characters, steamy love scenes, betrayal, misunderstandings, murder, multiple villains, surprising twists and turns and finally a well deserved HEA complete with an epilogue. I thought this was a great start to the series and while Ewan is no James (Anice’s Bargain) Ms. Martin set the bar high because he is an amazing hero and I can’t wait to see where this series goes from here!!

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