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 Heiress Swap by Maddison Michaels

On By TracyIn America's Gilded Age (1870-1900), Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Heiress SwapThe Heiress Swap by Maddison Michaels

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: N/A

Release Date: July 25, 2023

Yvette “Evie” Jenkins was orphaned young and was raised by her maternal Aunt Beth, but upon her death six years ago, she was taken in by her father’s extremely rich family and brought to America. As she is illegitimate, the Thornton-Jones give her the position of companion to their daughter Aimee. Evie has been treated well and for the most part, is happy, but now Aimee’s parents want her cousin to go to London and find a husband while having Evie train for the position of secretary at her uncle Thomas’ company in London. She has no desire to be a secretary, but her options are limited thanks to her birth, but when Aimee suggests that they switch places, she refuses. But Aimee is relentless and convinces Evie that everybody wins with her plan – for 6 weeks Evie will politely decline any and all suitors and will get to visit museums and pursue her passion for history and paleontology and Aimee will learn her father’s business from the ground up and prove to him that she is worthy to run his company one day. Finally, Evie agrees and even looks forward to her adventure. Until she meets the nephew of her hostess, Alexander “Alex” Trenton, the Duke of Hargrave. Needless to say, it was not love at first sight!

When his cousin Samuel Ellingsworth, the Earl of Brexton begins to exalt the virtues of his mother’s houseguest, an American heiress, Alex is immediately on guard, Sam falls in love at the drop of a hat and Alex doesn’t want him to be hurt. Alex doesn’t trust women, after his experience with his mother and then with his faithless ex- fiancée (who was also an American heiress) he believes women are universally fleckless and fickle, willing to tell you what you want to hear to manipulate you – he is sure Evie (who they believe is Aimee) is cut from the same mold and plans to prove it. But instead, he discovers they have a lot in common and finds himself beginning to like her. Soon deeper feelings are involved, but old fears, new threats, and the truth may end any chance they have for HEA.

I thought this was a well-written, nicely-paced story, but I really didn’t care for Alex. I completely understand that he was hurt before, first by his mother and then by his fiancée, but he took it over the top in my opinion. And his reaction to finding out the truth of Evie’s deception, while somewhat understandable, again was too much, especially given all that had passed between them. For me, it felt like Alex didn’t grovel nearly enough and not at all until he learned who she really was. I also felt that Evie caved much too quickly and everything just conveniently fell into place. In the end, I loved the idea of the story but had a hard time with the execution, so while this was not a keeper for me, it kept me entertained and left me wanting to read Aimee’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.*

Appointment in Bath by Mimi Matthews

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Appointment in Bath (Somerset Stories, #4)Appointment in Bath by Mimi Matthews

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Somerset Stories, #4

Release Date: June 27, 2023

Miss Margaret “Meg” Burton-Smythe was thinking that things can’t get much worse when she finds herself on the cold, muddy ground after being thrown from her horse for the first time ever, but it does get worse because who should come to her rescue but the gorgeous son of her neighbor, Ivo Beresford, the middle son of the Earl and Countess of Allendale who are her father’s sworn enemies. But Ivo doesn’t seem to care that their families are basically the 19th-century equivalent of the Montagues and Capulets, nor does he seem to mind that she has a stammer, red hair, and freckles. He outrageously suggests that they become friends and meet each day to ride together! Meg has been lonely since her governess, Miss Adams left to marry, and soon finds herself falling under Ivo’s spell and gaining a bit of courage in the process. She begins standing up to her bully of a father and asserting herself with the servants. She is sure that Ivo only thinks of her as a friend, something that she tries to remind herself of. But it isn’t until Ivo invites her to his home for an impromptu night of dancing, that she realizes how foolish she has been to believe that they could ever have a future together.

When Ivo Beresford returned to England after two years on the continent enjoying his grand tour, he has big plans but falling in love with his treacherous neighbor’s daughter was not one of them! But fall he does and he arrogantly thinks that he can get everyone to put aside years of hatred and just accept that Meg is nothing like her father. But when he invites her to a party at his home, without warning his family, his arrogance might just cost him the love of a lifetime. Can he convince her that what he feels is more than friendship and that nothing, including his dream of building a railroad, means more to him than she does?

This is a well-written, sweet, slow-burning romance that warms the heart and runs concurrently with the previous book. If you have not read the entire series, this book will give you more insight into Ivo’s parent’s love story and gives Meg’s father, the villain in that book, a chance to slightly redeem himself. As to Meg and Ivo, they both do a lot of growing up in this story, but Meg is hands down the star of this book. The book is a no-steam, gentle read, with secret meetings, a heroine who finally finds her voice, sweet kisses, a bit of heartache, startling truths, interfering siblings, stone-clapper bridges, and attempts at being cordial, leading to a very sweet ending and the promise of HEA. This is the fourth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title. Even though I prefer books with some steam, I really loved this book and didn’t miss the love scenes. I do wish the book had ended with a wedding, rather than the promise of one, but hopefully, it means that we will get three weddings in the next book. I am happy to recommend this title and can’t wait for James’ 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.*