His Scandalous Lessons by Katrina Kendrick

His Scandalous LessonsHis Scandalous Lessons by Katrina Kendrick

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Private Arrangements, #1

Release Date: June 2015; Re-released August 2023

Anne Sheffield has finally decided to take charge of her life, her father is an MP and an awful man who uses her photographic memory to store information about his enemies, so he can blackmail them. He completely controls her life and has betrothed her to an equally awful man, the Duke of Kendal. But no more, she is done being her father’s puppet and she cannot even contemplate being married to Kendal. She carefully plans her escape from her father’s house and makes her way to the home of his archnemesis and known rake – Richard Grey. She makes a deal with Richard, he will tutor her in the ways of seduction so she can find a different man to marry and in return she will provide him with information to convince his political opponents to vote with him on a bill he is trying to get passed in Parliament. She was sure her scheme would work, but she never counted on falling for Richard or the lengths her father would go to keep her under his control.

Richard Grey is the brother of the Earl of Kent and a powerful political figure, as well as a well-known ladies’ man. When Anne comes to him in the middle of the night for help, he can’t believe that she is the same woman he has seen many times before, a woman who seems more interested in bonnets than politics, but it is clear that she is not the woman the ton thinks she is. Richard agrees to teach her how to attract a man, but never dreams he will be that man or meeting Anne will endanger his own family.

OMG – I loved this story; it ran parallel to his brother’s story – A Touch Wicked and teases readers with future stories regarding more than one secondary character. The book is well written, nicely paced, delightfully steamy and has just enough drama and angst to keep it interesting without becoming too dark. I loved Richard and Anne together and was on the edge of my seat more than once as their love story twisted and turned. This book is part of a series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title – but be warned, once you read this book you are going to want to read them all! *This book was originally published in 2018 and was re-released in 2023*

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

The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George – Release Day Blitz

The Stranger I Wed (The Doves of New York, #1)The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Doves of New York, #1

Release Date: April 23, 2024

When Cora Dove, the eldest of Charles Hathaway’s three illegitimate daughters, receives a letter from her father’s mother, filled with regrets and a promise of inheritance for her and her sisters, she is overjoyed and ventures to the home of her father. But her father changes the terms, making the money his mother promised to the girls a dowry that is contingent on his approval of their grooms and forbids them to marry anyone in the Northeast who might socialize with his legitimate family. But Cora will not be deterred, she sets her sites on England and the peerage and with the help of Camille, the Duchess of Hereford, she hopes to find the perfect match. She has no dreams of finding Prince Charming and living happily ever after, she just hopes she can find a man that is willing to agree to her terms of a paper marriage that will be dissolved in a few years without revealing any of her secrets.

Leopold Brendon, the Earl of Devonworth, needs a rich bride, thanks to his younger brother’s obscene gambling debts. Enter Cora Dove, the American heiress seems to be the answers to all his problems, and after a bit of negotiating, they agree on terms, she will live with him for two years and if they are not able to divorce, she will agree to bear his heir before separating. He has been in love before and has no desire to repeat the experience, so Cora is perfect for him. But once they begin to spend time together, it is clear that they are perfect for each other and could be a powerful political couple and well as passionate lovers. But they both have secrets and once they begin to come out, danger, betrayal, and heartache is sure to follow. Will they find a way to HEA or was their love doomed from the start?

As with all Harper St. George’s books, this story was well written and filled with likable characters. Cora and Leo are wonderful characters, both intent on keeping their marriage strictly in name only, each with their own reasons, but their attraction is strong and soon feelings are involved. My only qualm is that the story moved slow – I would not go as far as to say it dragged, but I did start feeling impatient with the progression of the romance. The story is a slow-burn, low heat romance with secrets, lies, previous betrayal, great secondary characters, interesting historical events, cameos from previous characters, lots of emotion, wonderful chemistry, a bit of danger and finally a well-deserved HEA. This book is the start of a new series and has ties to the previous series. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to Eliza’s story.

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