Category: Victorian Era (1837-1901)

In the history of the United Kingdom, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria’s reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardian period, and its later half overlaps with the first part of the Belle Époque era of continental Europe.
Preceded by: Regency era
Followed by: Edwardian era
Monarch: Victoria

Taming the Savage Duke by Barbara Russell

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Taming the Savage Duke (Victorian Outcasts #1)Taming the Savage Duke by Barbara Russell

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Victorian Outcasts, #1

Release Date: December 12, 2023

Madeline Debenham is just days away from realizing her dream of not only meeting her idol, artist Bridget Blanchet and if Bridget likes her work, she will help Maddie receive a full fellowship to the Royal Women’s Art Academy, which includes a stipend of six thousand pounds per year, which would give her freedom from her domineering mother. But when Lord Hector Wentworth, the younger brother of the Duke of Blackburn, crashes through her bedroom window and ruins her dreams. With her painting destroyed and her hand injured, Maddie is at first angry, but eventually comes to terms with it and even forgives Hector. Hector feels horrible about what happened and offers to help Maddie, he offers marriage, which Maddie declines, and then he promises to help her become independent. She agrees to accept his help and even encourages him to go on the expedition that started this mess. He agrees to go, telling her that when he returns in a year, he will make good on his promises. But sadly, his ship is lost in a storm, just days after leaving and Hector is declared lost. Eight years later, while returning from a visit to the Bahamas with her sister Verity and her mother, Maddie spies a man on a raft in the water and raises the alarm. To her utter shock, it is Hector, and has changed a lot from the sweet, young man she knew. But she can’t help but feel protective of him and promises to help him reacclimate to civilization.

Lord Hector Wentworth’s world has turned upside down, not only has he been shipwrecked on a deserted island for eight long years, where he had to struggle to live, having to find food, and shelter, battle loneliness, and survive against aggressive primates. But being rescued has its own struggles, primarily dealing with the death of his brother and mother, and learning how to function in society. Hector is no longer the starry-eyed young man who was consumed by his love of botany, now he is flinching at noise, feeling chafed by wearing shoes and clothes, and seems to have forgotten even the most basic of manners. So he clings to Maddie like a lifeline, needing her to help him find his way, especially when they return to London and he has to fight to regain his life, title, and sanity.

This was an interesting story with a strong “Castaway” vibe, but thankfully for Hector and Maddie, it has a happier ending. I wanted to love the book, but the first half of the story was so contrived and unbelievable that I almost quit reading, but once they returned to London the story changed and then there was so much going on that I almost lost sight of Maddie and Hector’s romance. The story has great characters, tears, mean mothers, nasty cousins, warmish love scenes, blackmail, racy photos, art thieves, a bit of heartache, and finally a HEA. Overall, the book held my attention and had the makings of a great story, but for me, it was just OK, not bad, but not a keeper. This is the first book in what appears to be a new series, and since this is a new to me author, I will definitely give the next book a try.
*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.*

A Christmastide Kiss by Lana Williams

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A Christmastide Kiss (The Mayfair Literary League, #5)A Christmastide Kiss by Lana Williams

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Mayfair Literary League, #5

Release Date: December 5, 2023

Heiress Frances Melbourne struggles with self-worth issues and crippling shyness. But after meeting Thomas Sinclair last summer at her parent’s house party and realizing too late that her feelings were more than just friendship, she has decided to try and come out of her shell. Sadly, Thomas left for America before Frances gathered the courage to let him know of her feelings, but she hopes by the time he returns, she will have conquered her shyness. This is why she has offered to take the lead on planning a charity ball for a training program for the Whitechapel Workhouse being hosted by the Mayfair Literary League, much to the surprise and delight of her fellow members. She throws herself into planning the ball and all is going well when she is shocked to run into Thomas Sinclair at a rare bookshop. Suddenly she finds herself tongue-tied and stammering, but Thomas is kind and seems genuinely happy to see her. When she mentions the ball, he promises to buy a ticket and she surprises herself by saying he could go as her guest, to which he happily agrees. Soon Thomas is included in many of the events Frances has planned to prepare for the ball and she hopes that his attention means that he too has stronger feelings for her. But when her father increases her dowry and shortly after Thomas declares his desire to court her, all of her doubts resurface and she doesn’t know if Thomas’s feelings for her are for her or her dowry.

Thomas Sinclair has returned from New York for Christmas, but he will have to return after the holidays, and he hopes to get a chance to see Frances, share his feelings, and ask if she would be willing to wait for him, as he hopes to return to England in a year or two with the knowledge he needs to work in banking. But when he sees her again, he is unsure of her feelings and puts off asking her. In addition, he is trying to find the parents of Peter, a young boy he found living on the streets in New York who was from London and had been sent to America by the manager of the workhouse he and his family had been living at. It turns out that it is the same workhouse that Frances is raising money for and he is worried about how she will react to him investigating them, but Frances is appalled at the idea that the workhouse might be selling children and offers to help. They grow closer and when they share a kiss, he is ready to declare himself, but when he does, she turns cold and his own insecurities kick in leaving their chance for a “happily ever after” in doubt.

This was a well-written story about two very nice people falling in love while struggling with self-esteem issues. In addition to the love story between Frances and Thomas, readers will be delighted to catch up with previous characters, will be intrigued by the mystery of how Peter ended up in America and what happened to his family, as well as be titillated by tidbits dropped by Ms. Williams that set up the next installment in the series! I enjoyed this book and would happily recommend this title to historical romance readers who prefer a low/no steam love story set in the Victorian era. This is the fifth book in the series, and it could easily be read as a standalone title, but for the best experience, I recommend at least reading the third book (A Mistaken Identity) before reading this book.

4 stars

*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.*