Tag: Amy Rose Bennett

Duke in a Box Anthology by Various Authors

On By TracyIn Anthology, Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Duke in a Box: Twelve Steamy Historical Holiday NovellasDuke in a Box: Twelve Steamy Historical Holiday Novellas by Various Authors

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: N/A, but many of the novellas have ties to their author’s series

Release Date: November 1, 2022 (only available until 12/31/22)

This Anthology is amazing, all 12 novellas are set around Christmas, and all feature either a Duke or a would-be Duke and even a case of mistaken Duke-identity. Below are a few of my favorites from the collection:

Yule Be My Duke by Darcy Burke, 4.5 stars – Cecilia Bromwell and John Rowley, Earl of Cosford and heir to the Duke of Ironbridge met 5 years ago at a house party and it was definitely not love at first sight, in fact, it was quite the opposite and involved snakes, capsized boats, jam-filled boots and a pitcher of lemonade. Now older and hopefully more mature, their parents believe that they will make a perfect match, too bad they are wrong! Or are they? Cecilia hatches a plan to lose John in the woods, but it backfires when they are caught in a snowstorm and end up spending the night together. Are they doomed to an unhappy marriage or will their time together lead to an unexpected HEA? This was a cute story of misconceptions and assumptions, Cecilia did seem a bit petty and immature at first, but she owns up to her past behavior and her transformation is believable. The novella features an Enemies to Lovers trope with steamyish love scenes and a HEA.

Her Duke with Benefits by Jess Michaels, 5 stars – When widow Alice Crandon arrives at the cottage she let for Christmas she never expected to find her childhood friend Leo, the Duke of Greenfield already in residence. Alice wanted to spend this Christmas alone, she is officially out of mourning, but needed a bit of time to herself before returning to society, she loved her husband and isn’t sure how to go on without him. Leo too was looking for some time alone, but when he realized that a scheduling mix-up led to both him and Alice renting the same cottage for the holiday, there is no way he is going to let the opportunity to woo the woman he has always loved pass him by! Alice is surprised to feel desire, but is she ready to open her heart to the possibility of new love, or will her past love hold her heart for eternity? This novella features a Second-Chance at Love trope, with steamy love scenes, a swoon-worthy hero, and a HEA.

Right Place, Wrong Duke by Elisa Braden, 5 stars – When her family learns they are being evicted from their farm by the Duke of Dingwall, widow Lucie Carmichael decides to take matters into her own hands by abducting the dastardly duke and forcing him to reconsider his plans – too bad Lucie’s schemes never work out the way she plans. Silas Northfield might be a younger, fitter, better-looking version of his elder half-brother, but he is not the duke and yet, he can’t be sorry that the lovely Scottish loon mistook him for Dingwall. For too long Silas has felt incomplete but after meeting Lucie, he knows two things for certain, 1 – she needs a keeper, and 2 – he is keeping her. This novella was my favorite and features a Love at First Sight/mistaken identity trope, very steamy love scenes, lovable characters, and a HEA.

My Duchess, My Wife by Sasha Cottman, 5 stars – After nearly 28 years of marriage, four children, scandals galore, and now the challenges of midlife, Ewan and Caroline Radley, the Duke and Duchess of Strathmore are still very much in love, but this holiday season will test them like never before. I love reading stories set after the HEA and this novella is a perfect example of love after the happily ever after. This novella features a mature couple, steamy love scenes, family, and the completely relatable trials of menopause, as well as, an even happier ever after.

I really enjoyed this collection of novellas and can’t recommend it enough, all the stories are well-written and there are a variety of tropes to enjoy. From what I understand, this anthology is only available for a limited time, so grab it while you can!

*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.*

Up All Night with a Good Duke by Amy Rose Bennett

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

Up All Night with a Good Duke (The Byronic Book Club, #1)Up All Night with a Good Duke by Amy Rose Bennett

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Byronic Book Club, #1

Release Date: June 28, 2022

After a disastrous first season that ended in heartbreak, Artemis Jones swore off marriage and set her site on a new goal, opening an academic college for women and she spends the next 10 years pursuing that goal by working as a teacher in a finishing school by day and writing the wildly popular gothic novels by Lydia Lovelace at night, she is close, but still doesn’t have the funds necessary to quit her jobs and open the school. But when she gets a letter begging for help from her dear friend and fellow Byronic Book Club member, Lucy, she quits her job and heads to London. She hopes to help Lucy and secure a wealthy patron to fund her school all while sidestepping her aunt’s attempts to marry her off. But never did she imagine that her first day in the city would have her crossing paths with the first man in ages to capture her interest.

Dominic Winters, the Duke of Dartmoor, is a widower raising his 15-year-old daughter, he knows she needs a mother figure, but with nasty rumors started by his late wife’s family have society calling him the Dastardly Duke and whispering that he killed his wife, he is finding that remarrying is not as simple as he had hoped, not to mention, he can’t seem to forget the intriguing woman who collided with him. Soon their paths cross again and the magic is still there, too bad she isn’t “duchess material” – or is she? When they met yet again, it is at a ball and they share a waltz and a spectacular kiss. Dominic is smitten and so when Artemis proposes a mutually beneficial arrangement, he agrees and wonders if it is possible to change her mind about marriage, but before that can even be considered, a shared foe must be dealt with otherwise, there will be no chance of a HEA for anyone.

What a great start to a new series! This well-written nicely paced love story is sure to become a fan favorite. I loved Artemis and Dominic, they aren’t perfect, but they are perfect for each other. The book has secrets, good friends, a lonely 15-year-old, a nasty villain, steamy love scenes, instant chemistry, and finally a well-deserved HEA. This is the first book in the series and I highly recommend it and am really looking forward to Lucy and Jane’s stories!

*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.*