Tracy’s Reviews – Page 386 – Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

The Rogue of Fifth Avenue by Joanna Shupe

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Uptown Girls #1

Release Date: May 28, 2019

As a fan of the Four Hundred Club, I was excited to learn that this series was going to be about a familiar secondary character from that series, the dashing and brilliant lawyer, Frank Tripp. In the previous series, Frank has been portrayed as a rakish bachelor with a knack for getting the impossible done for his clients. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but I am happy to say I was completed blown away – it was way better than I imagined and that is saying a lot as I had very high hopes…

For the past few months, Frank Tripp has been helping Marion “Mamie” Greene out of tight spots, he tells himself it is just because her father is one of his best clients, but the truth is, she intrigues him like no other woman ever has and even though he knows she can never be his, he can’t seem to walk away.

Mamie leads a bit of a double life, society darling by day and a bit of a Robin Hood at night. She gambles and even steals to raise money for the poorest of the poor in NYC – people who have been refused charity because they refuse to convert religion. Mamie has befriended and aided several families and helps support them with her night-time activities. Activities that are being ruined by the too handsome and arrogant Frank Tripp! She doesn’t know exactly why he hasn’t told her father what she has been doing, but she is tired of him getting in her way. When he catches her picking pockets, he wants answers and asks her to dine with him. She agrees to go, but she plans to keep her secrets and instead learn his.

Frank does have secrets, ones that could ruin him if anyone ever found out. He knows his attraction to Mamie is futile, not only is she practically engaged, but if her father ever learned of his past life, his career would be destroyed. The safe thing to do is to walk away from her, but he just can’t seem to make his feet agree. When her father visits him after their dinner and warns him off, Frank vows to walk away. But when Mamie askes for a favor, he can’t say no.

He agrees to represent one of the women Mamie helps, Mrs. Porter, who has been charged with murdering her husband. This means more time with Mamie and he has to fight to resist his growing attraction. Mamie’s father is pressing her to marry his best friend’s son, an agreement that she has long resigned herself to, but the more time she spends with Frank, the more she longs for a different future. When her sister Florence suggests that she seduce Frank, the idea takes hold and will not let go. They embark on an affair, neither believing they have a future. But when Frank finally decides to stop fighting his attraction and give in to her seduction, he knows that he can never let her go. But when the truth comes out, will Mamie be able to forgive his deceptions or will they both be ruined?

This was such a well written, fast-paced amazing story, filled with wonderful characters, secrets, lies, steamy loves scenes, moments of heartbreak, redemption and acceptance. I. LOVED. IT. If I didn’t have a ton of other books to review, I would re-read it right now and savor every single word. I happily recommend this book and can’t wait for the next book in this series!!!

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

Stealing the Duke’s Heart by Shana Galen
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Anthology

Release Date: May 15, 2018

This book features two previously released novellas and my rating is an average of both

How to Steal a Duke – 4 stars – Dominick Spencer the Duke of Tremayne is on the hunt for a rare book, the Duke’s Book of Knowledge, it is written in 4 parts and he and some schoolmates what to present all four to their retiring professor. Dominick is unaccustomed to failure and when yet another man he hires to find the tome comes up empty-handed, he decides he will find it himself. He goes to the library at the Bibliomania Club and finds a serious lead. Small problem, the book may be in the hands of a mad Earl living in a remote, impenetrable castle in Cornwall. Failure is not an option, so when the answer to his problem basically falls at his feet in the form of a lovely young thief, he will not hesitate to exploit her.

Rosalyn Dasher never imagined she would grow up to be a thief, but when her gentleman father died and left them nearly penniless, their mother moved them from the country to London, they survived, but when medical bills for the youngest brother, drain the family’s funds, Rosalyn and her brothers supplement their income by stealing. When a job goes wrong and Rosalyn finds herself at the mercy of the Duke, she agrees to help him in exchange for the money needed to help her family.

They travel to Cornwall and try to ignore the desire simmering between them, but when the Earl refuses to see them and Rosalyn decides to take matters into her own hands, Dominick realizes that Rosalyn means more than the book, but is it too late??

I enjoyed this book, but really wish it was longer and the ending could have been drawn out a bit more with a more definitive HEA.

Taken by the Duke – 4 stars – Henry Selkirk is the Viscount Bexley, a title he never expected or wanted. His woe only get worse when he is tricked into acting as accountant for Prinny’s birthday and Waterloo celebrations, while planning the events at Vauxhall Gardens, he is ambushed and abducted. When he wakes, he finds himself face to face with the infamous Duke of Vauxhall, who also happens to be his childhood sweetheart, Kate Dunn.

Kate’s life has taken a huge turn since the days she lived next door to Henry Selkirk, they were best friends and falling in love when her family’s fortunes took a downturn and eventually led her into a life of crime. She has never forgotten Henry, but she is no longer the innocent young lady he knew, she is now the crime lord know far and wide as the Duke of Vauxhall and as much as she fondly remembers Henry’s sweet kisses and kindness, she has a business to run and his “improvements” to Vauxhall Gardens are hampering her crew from making money. She reveals herself to him and tells him to cease his changes – he can’t, but maybe they can work together to come up with a compromise…

I liked this story as well, my heart broke for Kate and I adored Henry, but again I wish this story was a bit longer and the ending was not quite so rushed.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read and I would happily recommend it!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an e-book that was provided to me.*

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