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

The Art of Love and Lies by Rebecca Anderson

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The Art of Love and LiesThe Art of Love and Lies by Rebecca Anderson

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Part of the “A Proper Romance” series

Release Date: August 08/2023

Gifted Artist Rosanna Hawkins makes a living by painting “parlor” copies of priceless artwork that her employer sells to upper-middle-class families in Manchester, England, and together they have a successful partnership. Her personal life takes a turn when she meets detective Martin Harrison, who is in charge of security, while touring the Art Treasures Exhibition and finds a kindred spirit and someone she believes she could share a future with. But when her reproductions are connected to stolen masterpieces, everything in her life including her blossoming romance is in jeopardy unless she can convince Martin that she is innocent and garner his help in finding the real thief.

Martin immediately falls for Rosanna, but due to his father’s notorious past, he can’t quite accept her work as legit and when priceless paintings are found to have been replaced with her reproductions, he wants to believe she is innocent, but all evidence point to her being the thief. Will he be able to trust his heart and work with her to find the real thief or will a lifetime of mistrust cost him a chance for HEA?

This is a new-to-me author and apparently, this is part of “A Proper Romance” series, which I have never read, so perhaps I was at a disadvantage right from the start. I thought the writing was good, although a bit wordy, dry, and meandering at times, yet at the same time the mystery was interesting and the author’s writing is descriptive. The romance was very lowkey and while a no-heat romance is fine, I felt like this book could have used a bit of spice to liven things up. Overall it was a good read and I would be willing to read more of this author’s work, but this story was very “art-centric” and that just isn’t my cuppa.

*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 Duke Wager by Eve Pendle

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The Duke Wager: an age gap enemies to lovers historical romance (Dukes vs Doctors Book 1)The Duke Wager  by Eve Pendle

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: August 10, 2023

On Christmas Eve 1875, Miss Tamara “Tam” Patterson’s life is going exactly as she hoped, she has just finished another term at the Ladies College of Banton University and is expecting to complete her studies next year and finally achieve her dream of becoming a doctor, especially since parliament will soon be voting on a bill that will remove the ban on women being medical doctors. But her dreams are shattered when she returns home to learn that her father has lost their fortune and she will have to marry to save her family from ruin.

Atticus “Att” Rabgent, the Duke of Newton has been in love with Tamara since the day he met her five years ago, but things are keeping them apart, his age for one, as he is 15 years her senior, but most predominately is the fact that he laughed when she told him that she planned to become a doctor, never mind that his laugh was in the delight of her spirit, she misunderstood and believed he was laughing at her and making him her enemy. When they meet at the annual Winchester Christmas Eve ball, he immediately knows something is wrong and confronts her. When he learns that she has to marry, he sees his chance to finally win the only woman he has ever loved and offers her a wager she can’t refuse.

This was a quick read as it was a short novella, but what a story! The writing is great and the book is paced perfectly. Tam and Att are clearly perfect for each other and they burn up the pages with their chemistry. This is a standalone title and highly recommended if you enjoy a steamy HEA.
*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.*