Tag: Jane Charles

How to Save a Spy by Jane Charles

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Series Crossover, Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

How to Save a Spy (Duke of Lies)How to Save a Spy by Jane Charles

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Duke of Lies #5 / The Devils of Dalson #2

Release Date: March 9, 2026

Rhys McNaught was recruited by the Home Office directly from school and was tasked with spying on the ton to find French spies. But after years of spying for King and country, Rhys wanted out and longed to return to his home on Antigua. Unfortunately, the spy game didn’t pay well and he was in debt, therefore delaying his return home, but fate had other plans for Rhys in the form of Leander Ashby, the Duke of Lionston. The duke offers Rhys a way out of his debt and a chance to get home, eventually, if he will work for The Lion Watch, a private group that collects information. Rhys has no choice but to agree and goes to the Caribbean island of Martinique to gather information about the French activity. He hopes the assignment will be quick and he will be able to complete his mission and finally get home! But things take turn when he returns to his hut to find it overrun with young ladies and learns the sea captain he uses to pass information is dead and the ship is lost. He immediately butts heads with the eldest, Miss Tempest Driscoll, who kicks him out of his house and even worse, she hides his rum! So why does he find her so attractive and irresistible?

Tempest Driscoll is the eldest daughter of a British diplomat based in Dominica. After the death of her stepmother, Tempest had to take over everything. She has been acting as secretary, hostess, governess and steward for her father, so when the opportunity for a quick getaway arose – she jumped at the chance. She and her sisters traveled to her uncle’s home for Christmas and were on their way home when their ship was attacked by the French. They barely escaped and sadly the ship and the crew were lost. They made it to the island and found Rhys’ hut. Tempest insists that she and her sisters need to stay in the hut and banishes Rhys to the jungle, after assuming he was nothing more than a drunk. But soon she realizes her mistake, and they form a friendship with the promise of more. But when the French capture Rhys can she save the man she has come to love?

This was a fast paced, well-written long novella with wonderful characters and lots of adventure that I am delighted to recommend. I absolutely adored Rhys; he is the quintessential heart-of-gold hero, but Tempest took a bit longer for me to warm up to, however, she won me over in the end. This is a quick, low/no steam read with lots of adventure, great secondary characters, witty banter with a happy ending that includes an epilogue. This novella has ties to more than one series but can easily be read as a standalone title with no problems.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

 

Mistress of Wyndview by Jane Charles

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Mistress of Wyndview (The Wynd Brothers #1)Mistress of Wyndview by Jane Charles

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Wynd Brothers #1

Release Date: February 13, 2026

After 15 years, Sterling Wynd, the Earl of Wyndham has returned to his family estate in the Cape Colony of South Africa, and it is the first time in over ten years that he has seen his mother who left England with his father and never returned. Sterling arrives, thinking he would meet with his estate manager and then leave to visit his family’s other holdings and business interests. But nothing goes as planned, starting with his attempt to ignore his mother. Things only get worse from him from there; his estate manager is too busy to see him, his mother seems bent on matchmaking and the widowed daughter of his estate manager, Caroline Sutcliffe, is a distraction he can’t afford. Slowly, Sterling begins to realize he was wrong about his mother and forms a friendship with Caroline that turns into something much deeper. But when trust is broken, will he try to understand, or will he revert to his old ways and walk away with a broken heart?

Caroline Sutcliffe was raised on the estate, leaving briefly seven years ago for a London season, where she met and married Peter Sutcliffe, a soldier who died in the Battle of Dresden not long after they wed. Leaving Caroline a widow and single mother to Olivia. She returned to Wyndham Farm to discover that her father has lost his focus since the death of her mother. He seems only concerned with the vineyards, which were her mother’s passion. With her brother away at school, Caroline picks up the slack and begins to manage the other aspects of the estate and the manor house. Everything is fine until the absentee Earl turns up unannounced. She can’t let him know that her father isn’t doing his job, but keeping secrets from a man she is coming to love is harder than she could ever imagine.

I am a huge fan of Janes Charles, so when I heard she had a new series, I was thrilled. Then I learned that the first book was going to be set in South Africa, and I was all in! The setting was like a breath of fresh air, and I was absolutely enchanted by the imagery. Caroline and Sterling have great chemistry, and they both have both been shaped by their pasts. I liked the book, but I was not a huge fan of Sterling, I found him to be a bit too rigid and judgmental for my taste, I understood that his past played a big part in his personality, but it was still off-putting. I also felt like the story dragged in a few places which made it hard for me to stay invested in the story. But overall, I appreciated the fresh setting, the chemistry, steam and secondary characters. Personally, I think that Ms. Charles did a great job of world building, which created a story that left me wanting more! I am happy to recommend this title, and I will definitely be anticipating the next installment!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *