Tag: Gayle Callen

Never Dare a Duke by Gayle Callen

On By TracyIn Book Publicity, Check Content Warning/Triggers, Part of a Series, Re-Release / Updated Edition, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Never Dare a Duke New CoverNever Dare a Duke by Gayle Callen

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Scandal, #2

Release Date: Originally Released in 2008, Rereleasing June 11, 2024

Miss Abigail “Abby” Shaw is the daughter of Leo Shaw, owner of the Morning Journal and has high hopes of one day being a journalist herself, for now she secretly writes for the paper as the literary and drama critic. And this is how she learned that her father’s paper was in trouble. She is desperate to find a way to save the paper and thinks she might have found the answer thanks to her dear friend Lady Gwen. While strolling with Gwen in Hyde Park, she meets Christoper Cabot, the Duke of Madingley and Gwen informs her of his family’s scandalous history but added that the duke himself seems immune to scandal, she also adds that she has been invited to a house party at the duke’s estate and offers to bring Abby. Abby is sure the duke must be hiding something and knowing how much society thrives on scandal, she is determined to find out what he is hiding and write about it in the Morning Journal. But Abby never expected to like the duke and his family so much, nor did she think that the duke would be suspicious of her, making uncovering his secrets even harder. As her feelings deepen choices will have to be made and it seems like they will all lead to heartache.

Christopher “Chris” Cabot, the Duke of Madingley does have a secret, but that scandal was a long time ago and his father made sure that it never hit the scandal sheets. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t affect him deeply or change the entire path of his life. Chris has worked hard to be a better man, to make a difference and to live a life that never gives society any reason to gossip about him. And that has worked for years, but when he arrives at his estate, he learns that his sister and mother are hosting a house party and have invited prospective brides as well as the intriguing Miss Abigail Shaw. He doesn’t trust her a whit and decides to keep her close until he can figure out what she is up to. He just doesn’t count on feeling anything for her or for what he believes is the ultimate betrayal of those feelings.

Another great installment of the Sons of Scandal series! The story is well written, and Chris and Abby have such wonderful chemistry that you can’t help but root for their happily ever after. This story has secrets, a bevy of scheming hope-to-be brides, good friends, more than one romance, sizzling love scenes, blackmail, lies, heartache, betrayal and finally a well-deserved HEA including a lovely epilogue. This is the second book in the trilogy, but it could easily be read as a standalone title. I feel like it needs to be noted that this book is a rereleased title from 2008 and it definitely has “old school” historical romance feel to it – which personally, I LOVE but I also know might it be off-putting to more sensitive readers.

*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. *

Never Trust A Scoundrel by Gaylen Callen

On By TracyIn Part of a Series, Re-Release / Updated Edition, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

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Never Trust a Scoundrel by Gayle Callen

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Scandal, #1

Release Date: March 2008, Updated and Rereleasing May 14, 2024

After learning that her mother gambled away not only their late father’s prized violin, but also their country manor and their London townhouse before leaving with no hint of where she’d gone, Grace Banbury rushes to London to inform Edward, her younger brother. But when she arrives, she finds the house open, bare of any valuables and no servants, she immediately realizes that her brother is gambling too and is desperate to find a way to save them from ruin and restore her brother’s birthright. She gets ready for bed and hears someone entering the house, thinking it is Edward, she runs downstairs in her nightclothes to confront him, but instead of Edward, she finds a handsome stranger who claims the house is his. It is then she learns that her mother wagered with three men and in her desperation to win, lost not only the family homes, and her late husband’s priceless violin, but she also wagered the right to marry her daughter. Grace is horrified and when the winner, Daniel Throckmorten, informs her he is not in the market for a wife, but would take her as his mistress, a new wager is made. She will give Daniel two weeks to seduce her into agreeing to be his mistress, but if he fails, he will return her father’s violin to her. So with his promise not to tell anyone of the wager, which would ruin her, Grace is sure she can beat him, after all, she is not as innocent as he thinks she is, so what could possibly go wrong?

Daniel Throckmorten never had any intention of marrying Grace, he didn’t even what the houses, he wagered with her mother strictly to get the violin, which reminded him of one his father had owned and was lost after his death. He wasn’t even going to contact Grace, but when he meets her, he is intrigued and can’t seem to sever their acquaintanceship quite yet. So, he agrees to their wager, confident that he will win. But he has never met a woman like Grace, and the more time he spends with her, the more he wants, and what started as a “can’t lose” bet, has turned into a battle of the wills, one he is not sure he can win.

I read this book years ago when it was first released and I loved it, it is probably my favorite Gaylen Callen book ever. The story is well-written, nicely paced and is not quite as cut and dry as the blurb leads readers to believe. The story is filled with witty banter, blatant sexual overtures, steamy love scenes, secrets, scandal, stalkers, wonderful secondary characters, familiar faces from previous books, blackmail, healing and finally a very sweet ending with the promise of HEA. This book has an “old-school” historical romance feel to it (which I personally love but acknowledge might not be for everyone), featuring a strong heroine and a scoundrel with a heart of gold as well as lots of steam. I loved it when it first came out and I love it now. Highly recommended!

*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. *