Category: Tracy’s Reviews

Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt

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

Duke of Desire (Maiden Lane, #12)Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt

Series: Maiden Lane, #12

Release Date: October 17, 2017

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Raphael, the Duke of Dyemore is one of the most tortured heroes I have ever read, but beneath the scars and the pain is a man with a huge capacity for love. His mission is to destroy the Lords of Chaos, the depraved group of men that was lead by his father until his recent death. Raphael fled England and his father and went to live with his mother’s family in Corsica at the age of twelve and hasn’t returned since. But now that his father is gone and Raphael is the new Duke, he is home to take his rightful place and to bring down the LoC.

Lady Iris Jordan is kidnapped from her carriage on her way home from Alf & Hugh’s wedding and kept captive by the LoC as revenge against Hugh (the Duke of Kyle) for his attack on them in the previous book (The Duke of Pleasure, Maiden Lane #11). So when Iris is taken to the revel and announces that they have taken the wrong woman, a very naked man in a wolf mask claims her as his prize. The leader of the LoC grants the wolf the right to woman, but tells him to kill her in the morning.

When Iris is thrown into the wolf’s carriage, she frantically looks for a weapon while he is speaking to his men, finding a gun she shoots the wolf as he enters the carriage. This is when she learns that the wolf is actually Raphael, the mysterious scarred man she met and danced with at a ball a few months ago and rather than planning on ravishing her, he was trying to save her.

Raphael had planned to send Iris to London, but now that he is wounded and he realizes that she is not married to Hugh, he decides the best way to keep her safe is to marry her himself. At first Iris resists, but then agrees that marriage is necessary. They marry in a brief ceremony before Raphael passes out from his wounds. Iris spends the next couple of days nursing Raphael and trying to learn more about her new husband’s past – she thinks she has an idea of what happened, but no one, especially Raphael is willing to give her the whole story. Iris wants answers and she wants a true marriage with Raphael. Her first marriage was not happy and she has no desire to repeat that fiasco with Raphael, but much to her dismay, he intends to keep her close, but in name only.

When the LoC come calling and learn that Iris is not only alive, but married to Raphael, he knows he must get her to London. They set out almost immediately and Iris decides to use the time to make her new husband come around to her way of thinking. But Raphael is firm in his convictions and Iris wonders if the problem is her – even as she ponders this, she makes a discovery that makes it clear that desire is not the problem. She goes to confront Raphael and stumbles upon an ambush. When the attack is over they spend the night together and Iris believes that they have turned a page and will be able to have a real marriage, but the next morning Raphael is more remote than ever.

They return to London and slowly grow closer until Raphael finally tells her the truth of his scars and the reason he is out to bring down the LoC. Iris is horrified by Raphael’s tale (an rightly so) but it only makes her realize how much she cares for him and how much he needs that love and acceptance. They share an incredible night of passion and finally consummate their marriage, Iris believes that they are finally going to have a real marriage but the next morning Raphael is more remote than ever and tells her that their night will never be repeated.

When the LoC kidnap Iris again and force a confrontation with Raphael, he knows that he loves her and will do whatever he can to make her happy, even if that means letting her go.

This was an amazing story, it was well written, flowed perfectly, had some truly horrific, dark moments, some steamy love scenes, lots of secrets, lots of pain and sorrow, some sweet moments and finally a well deserved HEA. I loved this book and would have no problem recommending it, but I would strongly suggest that you read the Duke of Sin (book 10) and the Duke of Pleasure (book 11) before reading this installment.

I am sorry to see this series end but I can’t wait to see what Elizabeth Hoyt comes up with next!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an eARC*

The Highlander is all That by Sabrina York

On By TracyIn Blog Tour, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

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THE HIGHLANDER IS ALL THAT by Sabrina York
SMP Swerve
Publication Date: October 10, 2017
ISBN: 9781250147363; Price: $3.99

Description:

Elizabeth St. Claire has always been hard to please. Dreaming solely of Highlander men her whole life, no prancing London Lord can stand a chance at winning her heart…

… But perhaps a Scotsman can.

Elizabeth watches intrigued as the Highlander of her dreams, a Scotsman named Hamish Robb, arrives to oversee her season at the behest of her cousin, the Duke of Caithness. Elizabeth doesn’t hide her feelings for the striking Scot. But Hamish, determined to obey his order to protect the St. Claire sisters, steadfastly rejects her every seducing lure.

Believing that the debutante Elizabeth deserves a better, wealthier man, Hamish continues to turn away from her affection, even though he doesn’t exactly want to. Can this Highlander Scot resist the tempting seductress’ attempts to win his heart?

Author Bio
Sabrina York is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than twenty hot, humorous written works. Her stories range from sweet and sexy to scorching erotic romance. Visit her webpage to check out her books, excerpts and contests, and download a free teaser book filled with excerpts and reviews for her work.

Author Links
Website: http://sabrinayork.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SabrinaYorkBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sabrina_york

Buy Links
http://smpromance.com/historical/the-highlander-is-all-that/

York_TheHighlanderIsAllThat

Excerpt:

The Highlander is All That by Sabrina York
Ach. This was going to be difficult, Hamish thought as the disgruntled butler and young footman—who carried their bags—led them up the sprawling staircase to their rooms, which, for some reason, were at the far end of the east wing, a portion of the mansion that was apparently very rarely used.
And by difficult, he did not refer to the mission the duke had given them. Not even to an unwanted visit to London.
But her.
He hadn’t expected to be this attracted to one of his charges, and it had hit him like an anvil.
It had been all he could do to maintain a placid demeanor. To not stare.
But damn, she was beautiful.
They all were, the St. Claire sisters. Anne was tall and willowy with serene brown eyes, and Victoria sparkled like a diamond. Even wee Mary was a beauty.
But Elizabeth?
She took his breath away.
Small and elegant with a spritely smile and bouncing black curls, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.
It was a damn shame he was here to help find her a husband.
It was a damn shame she was the duke’s cousin.
It was a damn shame he wasn’t rich.
He had nothing to offer a girl like her. He had no business even thinking about her like that.
But damn, she was beautiful.
“Well, what do you think?” Ranald asked after the butler had unceremoniously shown them to their rooms. They stood by his window and stared out at the gray London sky.
“Hmm?”
“How long do you think it will be before we can go back home?”
Hamish made a face. “The season is three months.”
“But if we get them all married off, our work is done. I say, having had a look at them, it shouldna take long.” He fingered the hem of the curtain. “That one is quite a stunner.”
Something in Hamish’s gut clenched. He had nothing to offer Elizabeth, but Ranald did. His friend had a title and the majority share in the business they ran with some of their friends. While the duke might balk at having Hamish wed his cousin, Ranald would be welcomed with open arms.
The thought made him want to pummel something.
Probably Ranald.
“They’re all lovely,” he grumbled.
“Aye. But Anne is exquisite.”
Anne?
Anne?
Relief gushed through him. He had no idea why. “Och. Aye. That she is.”
“Of course, they are all verra lovely.”
“Aye.”
“We’ll probably have to be beating off suitors with a bat.”
They grinned at each other. Whacking Englishmen was always a pleasant proposition.

Tracy’s Review:

The Highlander Is All That (Untamed Highlanders, #3.5)The Highlander Is All That by Sabrina York
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the much awaited follow up to the novella “The Scot Says I Do” in Say Yes to the Scot: A Highland Wedding Box Set in which we met the St. Claire sisters. This book not only brings back her Untamed Highlanders, but also several of the characters from her Noble Passions series.

The primary hero/heroine in this book are Elizabeth St. Claire and Hamish Robb, but there is a very strong secondary romance between Anne St. Claire and Ranald Gunn, Baron of Bower, as well as secondary-secondary romances for the two younger sisters, Victoria and Mary.

Elizabeth and her sisters are cousins to the Duke of Caithness and he has generously financed their season and given them dowries, but since his wife Lana is expecting their first child, he sends Hamish and Ranald to London to watch over them in his stead. Their chaperone Lady Esmerelda, is disappointed that the duke is not going join them, but decides that having two handsome highlanders around could be used to their advantage. Lady Esmerelda is on a mission and nothing will stop her from finding husbands for the St. Claire girls!

Elizabeth already has a suitor when the book opens, Lord Twiggenberry (OMG – I still crack up over that name), and as much as she knows he would be a good match, she really doesn’t like him (or the pomade he uses), she hopes for a love match and preferably with a Scotsman, so when she meets Hamish for the first time – it is like an answer to all her prayers. Hamish is equally taken with Elizabeth, but doesn’t feel like he has anything to offer her and tries to quash his desire for her.

The story that ensues is a very amusing tale complete with kidnappings, runaway marriages, an Almack’s patroness with wandering hands, stinky suitors and a second chance at love. Yup, this story has something for everyone – laugh out loud moments, heart wrenching moments, steamy moments, lots of cameos and finally several HEAs!

This book could easily be read as a stand alone title but once you read it, you are going to want to read the Untamed Highlander and the Noble Passion series just to find out what you missed!!

I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to next generation of highland heroines!

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