Make Mine a Marquess by Tina Gabrielle

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Daring Ladies #3

Release Date: April 23, 2024

After nearly dying in a shipwreck five years ago, Robert Kirkian, the Marquess of Landon is finally back in England and ready to wreak his vengeance on the man he believes orchestrated the fire that should have killed Robert, his could and heir, William, Baron Willard. He returns to his country estate to find his cousin hosting a house party to celebrate his recent betrothal. Robert knows William is in debt and his betrothed is rich and promises to bring a huge dowry to the marriage, but even with the promise of that fortune, it is clear that Willard has been stealing from Landon’s estate and neglecting the tenants and property. Seething, Robert vows to ruin his cousin by finding proof of his treachery and by seducing his fiancée and keeping him from getting her dowry. At least that was the plan before he met Phoebe Dawson.

Miss Phoebe Dawson trusted love once and was left with a broken heart, now she wants nothing to do with love. When Baron Willard proposed it was the perfect solution, she would wed without the danger of falling in love and her parents would benefit from having a titled daughter. Phoebe isn’t thrilled with the betrothal, but it makes her parents happy and will enable her to have a bit more freedom to pursue her charitable endeavors at the home for unwed mothers. She is resigned to her marriage, but when she meets Robert, she begins to have feelings that she thought were long dead. She falls fast and hard for him, but with the truth of his intentions becomes known, she is heartbroken once more. Will Robert see the error of his ways or will his desire for vengeance cost him his chance at happiness.

I liked the idea of this book and loved that Robert had mixed heritage that he fully embraced, but the vengeance plot was a bit over the top. Without spoilers it is hard to explain where the story fell apart for me but suffice it to say it did. I wanted to love the book, but for me it ended up being just an OK read. This is the third book in the series, but the books can all be read as stand alone titles as there is no interconnecting plot.

*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.*

One Night With an Earl by Tina Gabrielle

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Daring Ladies, #1

Release Date: October 19, 2021

After her mother died, Anahit Woodbridge’s father, Baron Woodbridge went into a decline and not only lost the family home but killed himself, leaving Ana to care for her young brother amidst the scandal. Determined to do right by her brother, she reinvents herself as Ana Gardner and takes a job as a chaperone/companion to Lady Penelope, the daughter of the Marquess of Malvern. She knows that she will never marry and have children, but with her thirtieth birthday looming, she decides to lose her virginity and enjoy a single night of passion, so she makes a deal with the madame of London’s most elite brother, The Silver Chalice. When the night arrives, she enters the brothel masked and dressed to seduce, she is immediately drawn to a man, who comes to her rescue when another patron accosts her.

Oliver Bedford, the new Earl of Drake had not planned to be at the Silver Chalice and certainly didn’t intend to spend the night with the masked lady in red, nor did he expect the lady to be a virgin! They spent a glorious night together and part ways, but Oliver knows that one night with his mystery lady will never be enough. The next day he returns and tries to learn her identity without success, much to his disappointment. Later he makes a call on Lady Penelope at his grandmother’s request and doesn’t immediately notice Ana, but she certainly notices him and is appalled to learn that Oliver is the son of the man who ruined her life!

Later when Oliver makes the connection between Ana and the Scarlet Lady, he can’t understand why she is so cold to him and vows to find a way to thaw her. For her part, Ana does begin to thaw when she realizes Oliver is not the same man his father and brother were. They begin a secret affair, but Ana keeps her secrets, knowing the truth will change nothing, and vows to not let herself fall in love. But things get complicated and when the truth is exposed, Ana may lose much more than just her heart.

This was a well-written, fast-paced book with an interesting and engaging story. The book has a bit of everything, steamy love scenes, secrets, lies, intriguing secondary characters, a mixed-race heroine who had endured some racial prejudice in the past, a hero who is just about perfect, a bit of heartache, and finally a very lovely HEA. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series!

*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.*