Category: Tracy’s Reviews

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*

The Duke Meets His Match by Tina Gabrielle

On By TracyIn Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Duke Meets His MatchThe Duke Meets His Match by Tina Gabrielle

Release Date: July 10, 2017
Series: Infamous Somertons, #3

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This is the story of Chloe Somerton, youngest daughter of Jonathan Miller (infamous art forger) and Michael Keswick, Duke of Cameron.

Chloe has secrets, but since her sisters have married and raised their standing, Chloe is determined to marry a man with wealth and title. She has set her cap on young Henry, the new Earl of Sefton, the only impediment to her success is Henry’s self imposed guardian, Michael.

Michael recognizes Chloe from years ago and knows part of her shameful secret, there is no way he is going to allow her to get her hooks in Henry. Michael owes Henry’s father a debt that he can never repay, he saved Michael’s life at Waterloo at the cost of his own. Michael not only suffers from survivors guilt, but he also has “war sickness” (PTSD).

Michael confronts Chloe and warns her away from Henry, but Chloe surprises him when she shows up at his house and tells him that she will not back down. Michael is taken by Chloe and if circumstances were different, he would claim her as his own. He has flashbacks to the war and loses his grasp on reality when he is caught up in one, because of this, he believes he is unfit to be a husband. But he wants Chloe and because of her past, he thinks she would make a perfect mistress.

Events unfold and Michael and Chloe grow closer and eventually embark on an affair. Chloe still wants to marry and Michael is still convinced that he cannot. But when Chloe helps him by getting him to talk about his war experiences, he has hope for the first time that he might be able to have a normal life – with Chloe.

When they are caught in a compromising position by Henry, things spiral out of control and Michael decides that he was right all along, he is unfit.

He breaks things off with Chloe and leaves her broken-hearted. When she decides to leave London, it seems like there will be no HEA for our lovers.

I really liked this story, it is well written, has some steamy love scenes, has some heart breaking moments and a very well done (and hard earned) HEA.

I would be happy to recommend this book, it is third in the Infamous Somertons series, but it could easily be read as a stand alone title.

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