Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: The Marriage Game #4
Publication Date: First Published 1/1/14 – new release 8/23/22
Period: Regency Europe
Number of Pages: 301

This was a scrumptiously feel-good book. Yes, there was a villain, and yes, there were exciting coach chases over the alps, but, all-in-all it just felt good. It seems every male and female who met fell in love. While there were several mentioned romances, the two featured ones were: the main one between Gervais (Earl of Huntley) and Lady Caroline (Caro) Martindale; and the secondary one between Lady Horatia and John Whitton, the Earl of Devon.

Lady Caroline left England five years ago to live with her aunt, Lady Horatia, in Italy. She’s spent that time trying to heal after the horrendous events that caused her to leave England. She enjoys her life with her aunt and she adores Italy. Unfortunately, she has become the focus of Duca di Venier, and his attentions are most unwelcome. His family is ultra-powerful in the area and she’s heard some very dark stories about him. Leaving Venice is the only answer – even if it does have to be with her Godmother’s nephew.

All of Gervais’s friends have been bitten by the love bug and married and he’s been pursued by every marriageable lady in England. The only way to escape is to take his Grand Tour and visit his Aunt Horatia for a while. The houseguest he finds there is beautiful, intriguing, and totally uninterested in him. How can that be – all the ladies love him?

I just loved Gervais – he had the most wonderfully generous heart and a protective streak a mile wide. Almost as soon as he saw Lady Caro he was smitten and would do whatever he had to do to protect her. Of course, he couldn’t tell her he intended to marry her – he’ll have to quietly woo her and convince her. However, he has to save her first. Can they escape the Duca before he swoops in to kidnap Caro? Can Gervais convince Caro to stay with him and have a happy marriage?

While Gervais and Caro are careening through the alps, Horatia is trying to lead the Duca on a false trail – where she meets the most enigmatic man. He’s so very handsome, and so very determined to marry her. He intrigues her. He vexes her. He entices her. Oh! My!

I can definitely recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the characters were absolutely wonderful.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: The Lords of London #3
Publication Date: 2/22/22
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 320

A heartwarming story of redemption and acceptance that will turn you into a thorough believer in love at first sight. I loved that there weren’t any ‘grand epiphany’ moments, just a steady movement from an exciting first meeting through a most delightful HEA. When I learned who the male lead was, I wondered how the author was going to redeem him. You see, he was the villain in When a Marquis Chooses a Bride from the Worthingtons series. He was a misguided villain, but a villain nonetheless. However, he’s spent the last four years changing himself from the useless fribble he was to a caring, honorable man who is absolutely nothing like the man who existed four years ago. All of that has occurred off-page between the previous book and this one. So, redemption has already occurred – we are only dealing with forgiveness and making amends – and falling in love.

Nathanael (Nate), Viscount Fotherby, has spent the last four years living on his country estate because of a vile thing he did. He has used those years to learn and grow as a human. He has spent the time learning to manage his estates, learning to appreciate and care for those who are dependent on him – especially his tenants and neighbors, and learning that he really wasn’t who he thought he was. He was who his father had made him into and now that he’s been on his own all this time, he’s realized what it is to actually appreciate others – no matter their rank – to be useful, and to help others whenever he can. Helping a neighbor is what has brought him back to London and it is how he came to be in the time and place to help rescue a young woman who was being threatened by thugs. She was the most arresting woman he’s ever seen and he’d surely like to see her again. He doesn’t even learn her name.

Miss Henrietta Stern is very much a forward-thinking young lady. She is about to begin her second season but hasn’t seen anyone at all who piques her interest. Well, she hadn’t until that handsome man came to her aid as she was trying to rescue a baby. There was just something about him and she just really wishes she had learned his name.

Nate and Henrietta meet and are attracted before they learn that she is the sister of the woman he had abducted. Henrietta has heard all of the tales and descriptions of that dandified fribble and the man she met seems nothing like that at all. They can work out their differences, but can they get her family – especially her sister – to forgive?

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing these two come to care for each other and work together to bring about their own HEA. The story is well-written, well-plotted, and excellently delivered. I hope you will give it a try and that you will love it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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