Category: Tracy’s Reviews

A Rogue’s Reckoning by Jane Charles

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Rogue's Reckoning (Revenge of the Wallflowers #27)A Rogue’s Reckoning by Jane Charles

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Revenge of the Wallflowers, #27

Release Date: September 3, 2024

Five years ago, Lord Seth Claxton broke Frances “Franny” Hawthorn’s heart when he suddenly ended their ten-year friendship and told her that if he saw her in London, he would ignore her. Stunned and betrayed, Frances tries to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and move on. She finally makes it to London and finds a way to support herself that does not include marriage, she along with her dear friend Bethany Grey move into a house in Mayfair that is also the location of Athena’s Salon, a literary salon and gambling den owned by Bethany and another friend the Duchess of Ellings. It is also the source of Franny’s freedom, as the ladies have employed her as the manager of the gambling side of the business. She finally feels like her life has meaning and that she can once again be happy. But all that changes when she attends a ball with Bethany and sees HIM. Shocked that he actually wants to rekindle their relationship, Franny decides to teach Seth a lesson, she will let him believe that the past between them is all water under the bridge and that she is willing to be friends again, and then she will destroy him like he did her, she just has to make sure she protects her heart this time.

Lord Seth Claxton met Franny on one of the worst days of his life and she quickly became his best friend and the love of his life. But the closer they grew, the more Seth worried about losing another person he loved and finally he broke things off with her and moved to London to make his fortune. In London Seth opens a gaming club and develops a reputation as a rogue and soon he withdraws from proper society. But a chance meeting at a masked ball makes him realize that walking away from Franny was the biggest mistake of his life and he will do anything to win back her love, even risk his heart. But Franny is not about to make it easy for him, leaving him to wonder if his attempt to save himself from losing her has actually cost him his chance at HEA.

This was a well-written, nicely paced story about friendship, love and second chances served with a healthy helping of revenge. I am not a fan of the revenge trope – I get it, I understand it – I just don’t like it. I felt that Frances was justified in her anger and her hurt but stooping to pretending to forgive him just to further her need for revenge made her appear petty. I would have had more respect for her if she admitted that she still loved him, let go of her need to hurt him and instead forced him to explain why he left her. But I guess that would not have been much of a story, so instead this was a book filled with emotion, anger, angst, deceit, revenge, hope, fear and finally forgiveness and a HEA. This book is part of the author collaboration series “The Revenge of the Wallflowers” and can be read as a standalone title with no issues. While this book was not one, I would read again, it did end nicely and if you like revenge stories – this book would be perfect for you.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Her Secret Vows with the Viking by Sarah Rodi

On By TracyIn Book Publicity, Medieval - Early (410 - 1066), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Standalone Title, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Viking3 Comments

Her Secret Vows with the VikingHer Secret Vows with the Viking by Sarah Rodi

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: August 20, 2024

Lady Ædwen of Eastbury has agreed to marry Lord Werian, the man her father Lord Manvil has chosen for her, in the hopes that her father will keep his word and let her see her daughter. Just over a year ago, Ædwen fell in love with Stefan, a Dane warrior who was injured in battle and left for dead. She nurtured him back to health and learned he had no memories of his life prior to waking up and seeing Ædwen. They grew close and fell in love, exchanging vows in secret and becoming intimate, some of his memories return and he tells her of his life in Demark and the choice his father made to come to England for a better life. But the very next day, he sees her speaking with her father and his lost memories come rushing back, her father killed his father and brothers and tried to kill him. Enraged at what he perceived as deceit by Ædwen he leaves her without a second thought. Never knowing she carried his child. A child her father took from her and a child he used to make her bend to his will. She feels she has no choice and is about to exchange vows when Stefan bursts in the church and declares himself her husband and insisting that she leave with him. She is torn, she doesn’t want to marry Lord Werian, but neither does she want to lose the chance to see her daughter Ellan. In the end the choice is made for her, but Ædwen isn’t willing to reveal all to Stefan, she isn’t sure she can trust him after he abandoned her, but she goes with the hope she will find Ellan, even if there is no chance for them to be happy. Can their love be revived or are they doomed for a life of unhappiness?

Stefan left Ædwen convinced that he had been deceived by yet another woman whom he thought he loved. He makes his way to Wintacaester and proves himself to Canute, the Danish King of England and is named the King’s commander. He is content to in his new life, until he learns he has a child and believes that Ædwen gave up that child and knowingly kept her existence from him. When he further learns she is to remarry, he decides to reclaim her, just to ruin her father’s plans. He hates her, at least he thinks he hates her, but he cannot deny the passion and desire he felt for her is still strong. He tries to get her to confess to him about their child, but it isn’t until they reach the city, and she is attacked that she finally admits the truth and her deep shame for having lost their child. He then revealed that he has Ellan and decides that they will be a family. But without trust, happily ever after seems impossible. Is their love gone or can they find their way back to each other?

This might be my favorite Sarah Rodi book to date! It was a very well written, nicely paced story about second chances and forgiveness. The story is very intense, emotional and surprisingly steamy (not complaining!!!), and filled with secrets, past hurts, betrayal, presumptions, shocking revelations, twists and finally forgiveness and love leading to HEA. Ædwen and Stefan make a lot of mistakes on their road to HEA, but they are both likable, relatable characters who are easy to root for. This book was part of a author collaboration duet but could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems. I am happy to recommend this title to medieval romance lovers or anyone who enjoys a touching second-chance love story.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *