Category: Tracy’s Reviews

How to Tempt a Duke by Madeline Martin

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

How to Tempt a DukeHow to Tempt a Duke by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Unknown

Release Date: December 1, 2019 (for eBook)

Because living the humiliation wasn’t enough, Lady Eleanor Murray reads the words in the Lady Observer that truly place her firmly on the shelf – Ice Queen. Seemingly thrown over by Hugh, Lord Ledsey, the only man who had ever seriously courted her, she thinks she is out of options. But to her surprise, her mother the Countess of Westix has another idea. She makes it clear that their funds will not allow for another season, she explains the financial mess her father left and that that her brother Evander left to seek fortune not adventure as many believe, but Evander has been gone for years with no word and there is a real possibility that he is dead and they will be dependent on his heir. That is unacceptable and the countess has come up with a plan. Eleanor will take lessons from a courtesan, lesson that will teach her how to “thaw” and attract a husband. She encourages Eleanor to take advantage of this opportunity, starting tonight!

Charles Pemberton, the new Duke of Somersville is finally back in London, but it is with a heavy heart he returns. While he was traveling and exploring, his father passed away and Charles was not able to return in time to say good bye, instead he returned to find his father’s final words to him in a letter, they were not words of love, or praise or even of regret of time lost, no, the final words are a reminder of a promise. Charles father was a member of the Adventure Club and found many treasures and artifacts, but one item always eluded him – the Coeur de Feu – a ruby with what appears to be a flame at its core – thus the name Heart of Fire. When Charles set out on his own adventures his father made him promise to find the ruby for him. But travel beckoned and his promise while not forgotten, didn’t seem urgent. But now Charles is faced with his failure and vows anew to find the Coeur de Feu. His father says the clues need to find it are encoded into the Adventure Club’s journals and he leaves Charles the “key” to decode. But after using the flat metal sheet with cutouts on every journal, he realizes his quest will not be as simple as he believed. Feeling down, his spirits are lifted when he receives a note from his dear childhood friend Charlotte “Lottie” Rossington, grew up together, her father was the vicar at the church near his country estate and he and Lottie became fast friends and grew as close as siblings. He has not seen her in years, so when she has demands he come to her home, he is happy to oblige.

But Lottie is not the sweet, innocent vicar’s daughter and little sister he remembers, not even close. He is dismayed to learn in his absence, she was ruined and left without options when her father died. She explains that she tried to earn an honest living, but soon accepted the “protection” of a gentleman and began her life as a courtesan. But she is excited that she may have found a way to leave that life behind, she has been offered a good sum to teach a young lady how to unbend a little, learn to flirt and be welcoming. She needs Charles help with the lessons. She also explains who the young lady is – Lady Eleanor Murray – daughter of the Earl of Westix – his father’s former friend and partner in the Adventure Club. His first instinct is to say no, but he realizes Eleanor might have access to journals that he needs AND he will be helping Lottie. He agrees, but he is not prepared for the impact Eleanor will have on him. And so it begins…

This was an absolutely amazing story that will keep you turning pages and wishing you could read faster, yet not wanting the story to end. Eleanor and Charles are wonderful leads, each feel they have something to prove and each feels like they have failed. While Charles initial motives are decidedly one sided, he soon sees the treasure Eleanor is and is thankful that she has been overlooked and will do whatever is needed to win her heart. With help from Lottie and Charles, Eleanor begins to come into her own, she begins to embrace the passion burning in her heart and begins to like the person she is. I loved watching these two dance around each other at first and then begin to fall in love and develop a relationship that has a deep bond in friendship as well as a healthy dose of lust. This book has something for everyone, steamy love scenes, secrets, lies, betrayal, surprising twists, even more surprising revelations, a laugh out loud wedding scene, treasure and a very satisfying epilogue. I highly recommend this story and can’t wait for the next installment!

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

To Bed the Bride by Karen Ranney

On By TracyIn Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)2 Comments

To Bed the Bride (All for Love, #3)To Bed the Bride by Karen Ranney

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: All for Love #3

Release Date: November 26, 2019

Be warned, the ending of this review might be spoilerish!

Eleanor Craig inherited the Hearthmere Estate and world famous stables in Scotland when she was only 11, her father’s will states that she is to live on the estate and grants an allowance to her uncle if he agrees to move to the estate until she reaches her majority. Eleanor loves the estate and longs to carry on her father’s legacy, but when her uncle dies the year before her 18th birthday, her aunt moves her two children Daphne and Jeremy along with Eleanor to London, where she quickly marries, Mr. Hamilton Richards, a very rich man. Her aunt makes a deal with Eleanor’s solicitor, instead of living in Scotland, Eleanor will spend one month a year at the estate and live with her Aunt Deborah and her family. Eleanor would rather be in Scotland, but family was very important to her father, so she goes along with her aunt’s wishes.

Finally her visit to Scotland arrives, but this year, she will only have 2 weeks, she is recently engaged to Michael Herridge, the Earl of Westcott and he demands she cut her visit short. Eleanor isn’t sure why Michael chose her, but her family is ecstatic and for the first time since she began living with them, she feels loved and important. She hopes that Michael will want to live part of the year in Hearthmere, but doesn’t count on it and therefore is determined to make this visit memorable. And memorable it will be, she is out riding when her horse is surrounded by sheep and she has words with the “shepherd”– the very handsome and arrogant shepherd. The next day she is awoken with news of a gift – the shepherd has given her a puppy. Determined to return the dog, she tries to find him and when she does a few days later, returns the puppy, who she named Bruce. She has tea with him and learns his name is Logan McKnight and he is not a shepherd. She ends up enjoying her time with him and when she leaves, he gives her a sweet, chaste kiss. But duty calls Logan back to London and he leaves Bruce with her once more, he also gives her his London address and asks her to write with news of the puppy. She sees his carriage departing and wonders who it is, she is shocked to learn Bruce is back and that despite planning on writing to Logan and putting him in his place, she is not unhappy about this turn of events.

She returns to London with Bruce, her fiancé is not happy about it and makes her keep the dog out of his sight. She is beginning to have doubts about marrying Michael, but will not upset her family, but that doesn’t stop her from thinking about Logan. She thinks of him so much that when she sees him at a political dinner hosted by her step-uncle Hamilton, she thinks she is imagining him. But he is very real and clearly upset to see her. Logan is an up and coming MP in the Commons and is attending the dinner thinking that Hamilton might be a campaign supporter, he is shocked to see Eleanor, who he hasn’t stopped thing of since he left and upset that she is engaged to Michael, who he dislikes immensely. He keeps the fact that they have met secret, but when he departs (after pissing off Hamilton and Michael) he arranges to see Eleanor later.

They meet the next day in the park and their friendship grows by leaps and bounds, at the same time, her relationship with Michael begins to turn ugly. Logan knows that seeing her each day is only drawing out the enviable heartache and tells her he can’t see her anymore. She agrees, but is heartbroken. Weeks pass and when Michael demands she get rid of Bruce, she writes to Logan and begs for help, which he offers without pause. But he tells her, he can’t see her, she tempts him into dishonor. She tries to abide by his wishes, but when things turn ugly with Michael, she breaks her vow and goes to Logan. But misunderstanding and unspoken words will tear them apart and may well keep them apart forever.

(Warning this might be spoilerish)

I thought this was a good story, I can’t give it 5 stars because in my mind Eleanor cheats on her fiancé, I just can’t like that, regardless of her feelings or intentions, she didn’t break with Michael before she started a physical relationship with Logan and cheating is cheating. Otherwise, I loved the story, I loved the slow progression of their relationship, the secondary characters (esp. his housekeeper Mrs. Campbell) were great, her family and fiancé were cringe-worthy villains whose treatment of her actually shocked me, Bruce was adorable and I thought the ending was great – I personally would have liked an epilogue or at least one more chapter since the end did seem a little to abrupt. But overall, it was a good story and even with the “sort of” cheating, I would recommend this book. It is the third book in the series, but they are all standalone titles and can be read in any order.

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