Tracy’s Reviews – Page 392 – Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

Lord Bredon and the Bachelor’s Bible by Mia Marlowe

Series: The House of Lovell, #2

Release Date: April 30, 2019

Years ago when she was Miss Anne Spillwell and he was Edward Lovell, Viscount Bredon – they were in love and planned to spend the rest of their lives together. But his father didn’t approve and told Edward to take his Grand Tour and when he returned, if they were still in love, he would let them marry. Edward left and was heartbroken when he learned Anne married Sir Erasmus Howard not long after he left.

Years later, Edward is now the Earl of Chatham and needs a rich wife to repair the finances of his estate. Thanks to the pamphlet circulating around town called the “Bachelor’s Bible”, Edward knows the richest heiress on the marriage mart is Miss Martha Finch, daughter of Baron Finch. He doesn’t want to marry for money, but really sees no other option, his one chance at love was lost years ago, so now he must consider everyone depending on him rather than his own feelings. But fate isn’t done with Edward and Anne…

Lady Anne Howard is now a widow and since her dower portion is being shared with her late husband’s mother, she has done what she can to cut expenses – including agreeing to sponsor Miss Martha Finch. At one of their first outings, she runs right into the man she loved and lost and can’t help but feel hurt that he is considering marriage to Martha. But when Edward sees Anne again, his world shifts and he desperately tries to find a way to save his estate and have Anne in his life again.

However, Anne won’t consider being his mistress and has secrets that she has never shared with anyone, nor does she want to. She tries to keep Edward at arm’s length, but acknowledges that he is exactly the type of suitor Martha’s parents want for her. The more Edward sees of Anne, the more he wants her and only her. Meanwhile, Anne is busy fending off the ineligible would be suitor, Reginald Dickey, the acknowledged, but illegitimate, untitled son of a duke, who is as captivated by Martha as she is of him. It looks like no one is going to get their heart’s desire and more than one person is going to end up heartbroken. But where there is a will there is a way and when secrets are exposed, Edward will do anything to keep the woman he loves safe.

This was a good story, but it did seem to drag a bit for the better part of the book and the last 20% or so was so chocked full of events that I could barely keep up with what was going on. Personally, I would have liked a steadier pace throughout the book with some of the ending elements dispersed sooner rather than EVERYTHING happening at once. I also felt like the writing style was completely different from any Mia Marlowe book I have ever read (and I have read them all), it was just odd, nothing was familiar, not the dialogue style, turn of phrase or pacing. I did like all the characters, the mystery was pretty good, Anne’s secrets were heart-wrenching, Edward’s love was epic and Martha, Dickey and Caroline added much needed comic relief. This is the second book in the series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone title.

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

Never a Bride by Megan Frampton

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Duke’s Daughters, #4

Release Date: April 30, 2019

Lady Della Howlett is the disgraced eldest daughter of the Duke of Marymount, years ago she ran off with her dance master and had a child. When her lover ran off, she was taken in by Sarah Wattings and she planned to never return to her family – but her sisters had other ideas and convinced her to return to London. She is not welcomed by her parents, but her sisters and their husbands helped her and Sarah buy a house and now she wants nothing more than to reunite Sarah with her husband Henry. When she learns that the captain of the last ship Henry was on is in town, she wastes no time finding him.

Griffin Davies, Viscount Stanbury is in a dockside pub when Della stalks in wielding a hatpin and demanding answers – when he saves her from an ugly confrontation, she learns he is the man she is looking for – but before she can get answers – he is arrested and taken away. Griffin is in a bit a trouble over his actions on his last voyage – but when his old friend Robson shows up and gets him out, he learns that his life is about to change – he walked away from his life of privilege years ago and hasn’t been back since – but much has changed and he learns that he is the heir presumptive to the Duke of Northam and that the duke, his cousin Fredrick is ill and expects Griffin to take up the duties of the dukedom immediately – it is overwhelming and when Della shows up at the Duke’s home the next day – Griffin strikes a bargain with her.

Griffin will help her find Henry, but he wants her to pretend to be his betrothed to keep the marriage-mined Mamas and title hungry debutantes away from him – she tells him that she is not welcomed in society, but that just makes him want her more. They strike an agreement and Della is a little surprised to find herself attracted to the arrogant man – she thought she was done with men, but since you can’t be ruined twice, she suggests they add an affair to their bargain and so it begins…

I thought this was a 5 star read right up until the last 3 chapters, then I wanted to smack Della and tell Griffin to grow a set – I was enjoying the story immensely, it was well written, flowed nicely, it was amusing and there was great chemistry between them and then it devolved into some weird Dom/Sub thing. Don’t get me wrong, I like strong, resilient, independent heroines – but Della came off as a little hypocritical – she can’t have anyone help her – but she can help others? Combine that with the fact Griffin never met her daughter, the incorrect formal address and the unresolved legal problem Griffin had at the beginning and the rating for this book dropped. I also have to wonder – where did Griffin get his title? His father was the Duke’s brother – so his title would be his honorific of Lord Firstname and Griffin would just be plain Mr. Davies – so where did the title of Viscount come from?? Even as the heir presumptive, he wouldn’t have a courtesy title – it is little things like this that just niggle at my brain and demand answers – did he have the title bestowed by the Queen for something? No idea and I guess I’ll never know – SIGH. This is the fourth book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone and if you have been following the series – you will definitely want to read this one!

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

Share this:

Share this: