Tag: Jane Charles

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. *

 

Rake in Disguise by Jane Charles

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Series Crossover, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Rake in Disguise (Wicked Widows' League)Rake in Disguise by Jane Charles

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Widows League #33 & Observations of a Wallflower #6

Release Date: September 16, 2025

Lady Blythe Clay nee Claxton has endured a lot since marrying Lieutenant John Clay, a man her father the Duke of Arscott did not approve of, but she believed they loved each other and eventually her father would come around. When the war started, Blythe followed John to France and has been done her best to be a good wife, but now after four years of marriage, John has realized that her father is never going to support them and has decided that he is done with Blythe and sells her in a public wife auction! Blythe is beyond mortified by the auction and isn’t sure what to expect when Dr. Orlando Valentine buys her. She has seen him before associating with the camp followers and thinks he is a rake. But she is surprised when he rents her a room at a local inn and treats her with respect. They become friends and soon deeper feelings develop, but Orlando will not dishonor her by committing adultery. After the battle of Waterloo, Blythe goes looking for Orlando and learns that her husband was killed. She is overwhelmed by the news and when she sees Orlando treating the injured, she knows she is not good enough for him and that is it time for her to return home. She leaves him a letter and hopes he will seek her out in England. But it will be almost three years before they meet again, can they rekindle the feelings they once had, or has too much time passed for a second chance?

Dr. Orlando Valentine fell in love with Blythe before he ever met her but kept his distance when he learned she was married. When he sees her being auctioned, he steps in and saves her. He takes her to the tent he shares with his sister Isabella but quickly realizes that she can’t stay there. He finds a room at an inn for her and visits her each night, so the innkeeper thinks they are married. Their friendship grows and he falls fast and hard for her and believes she cares for him too, but when she disappears without a word after Waterloo and he learns she is now a widow, he thinks she realized that she was too good for him and left. He doesn’t try to find her, thinking she wants nothing to do with him, but when their paths cross years later, Orlando decides he wants answers and won’t let her walk away again.

What a sweet, second chance romance this was! Blythe and Orlando are both characters that I knew and liked from previous Jane Charles books, and I was so happy to learn that this would be their love story! The book is basically written in two parts, before Waterloo and then three years later in England, and finally gives readers who have been following both families, some long awaited answers about Orlando’s love life! The story is packed with emotion, secrets, betrayal, hope, friendship, insecurities, warm love scenes, acceptance and finally a long-awaited HEA complete with a very sweet epilogue! I loved this book and would highly recommend it to my fellow HR readers, especially those who have been following the Valentine and Claxton family sagas!

*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. *