Category: Tracy’s Reviews

A Diamond for a Duke by Collette Cameron

On By TracyIn Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

A Diamond for a DukeA Diamond for a Duke by Collette Cameron
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Release Date: July 24, 2017 (tentative)

Series: Seductive Scoundrels, #1

This sweet novella is based on the Fairytale “The Fairies” aka “Diamonds and Toads”

The heroine, Jemmah is the younger sister of Adelinda and daughter to Belinda. Adelinda and Belinda are outwardly beautiful women, yet they are nasty, selfish women in reality. Belinda favors her older daughter who takes after her in both appearance and personality. Both women are verbally abusive to Jemmah and treat her like a servant. Jemmah believes her mother distains her because she takes after her father. Her father passed away while in the arms of his mistress and soon after, Belinda started taking out her unhappiness on Jemmah and opened the door for Adelinda to treat her the same way. The one bright spot in her life was her friendship with Jules.

Jules is now the Duke of Dandridge, but years ago he was simply the often overlooked second son. He and Jemmah shared a special bond, both never quite fitting into their families. When he left for school, he lost touch with her. He has suffered incredible losses, his father, his brother and his betrothed. When a chance meeting reunites them, he is thrilled and immediately knows that she is the woman he has always been looking for. They share a kiss and Jules asks to call on her.

Knowing her mother would never let Jules court her, especially while Adelinda is unwed, she makes plans to meet him at her Aunt’s house. Later that evening, she is offered the opportunity to act as companion to her Aunt’s mother in law and she will also sponsor Jemmah for the season. She is happy to accept the position and participate in the season. But her mother and sister make a scene and insist that Adelinda should be the one to be sponsored. Aunt Theo steps in and threatens to cut them off if they do not allow Jemmah to be sponsored.

The next day, her mother confronts her and tells her in no uncertain terms that if she doesn’t step down and let Adelinda have the position, Jemmah will no longer be welcome in their home.

Jemmah has a kind and sweet soul, but for the first time in her life, she thinks of herself first and leaves. She meets up with Jules at her aunts house and he informs her he intends to court her.

This was a truly sweet and touching story of two overlooked people finding complete happiness with each other. The book is well written, paced perfectly and while I generally prefer a steamier read, I found I did not miss the lack of love scenes in this book (it was kisses only).

I would be happy to recommend this book and look forward to the next book in the series!

*I was gifted a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review*

The Importance of Being Scandalous by Kimberly Bell

On By TracyIn Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)1 Comment

The Importance of Being ScandalousThe Importance of Being Scandalous by Kimberly Bell
Tracy’s rating: 2 of 5 stars

Series: The Tale of Two Sisters, #1
Release Date: July 25, 2017

This book did not work for me. I usually like the friends to lovers trope, but I was disappointed with this story.

Amelia “Mia” Bishop and Nicholas “Nick” Wakefield have been friends forever – along with Amelia’s sister Julia. The three of them were inseparable as children and for his part, Nick has been in love with Amelia for as long as he can remember, but his family does not approve of hers (this was my first bone of contention – the author never explains why Amelia’s family is shunned – it is implied that there was some scandal and it is also implied that it is because of Julia – but it is never clearly explained to the reader). He leaves for his grand tour without ever telling Amelia of his true feelings. He writes to her everyday that he is away – but never sends the letters.

Amelia misses Nick, but she is content to stay home with her sister Julia. Julia was born with some sort of spinal issue and has a limp – I am not sure why, but it seems that she is part of the reason her family is shunned and she has been kept out of society. Amelia is fine with that as well, but things change when she becomes engaged to an earl.

Nick returns home after two years to find things have drastically changed, first his father is suffering from dementia and his mother doesn’t want Nick’s brother (the heir) to know and he learns that the love of his life is engaged to marry another man.

Nick and Amelia reunite, and she is confused by the feelings she has for him. Nick still hasn’t told her how he feels and is sort of a wuss. He is willing to keep silent and wallow in heartbreak until his friend Jasper “Jas” shows up unannounced. Even with Jas’ prodding, Nick will not tell Amelia how he feels.

Amelia begins to have second thoughts about her engagement and when her fiancé refuses to stand up for her sister, she tries to break things off with him. He threatens to sue her father if she does not marry him and she decides that she must make him break things off with her.

The rest of the story is Amelia with the help of Jas trying to do outrageous things to make the earl dump her.

I really didn’t care for this book, I thought Amelia was immature, Julia was a whack-job, Nick was a wuss and Jas was over the top. The writing was ok – but some of the banter between the sister was just annoying and there was a lot of modern verbiage. The story moved at decent pace and the idea of the story was good – but the execution combined with the fact that the author clearly doesn’t understand nobility titles or correct formal address and didn’t give the reader enough backstory to understand why Amelia’s family was shunned, just ruined the book for me.

*I was provided an eARC of this by NetGalley and the publisher and am voluntarily leaving a review*