Tag: Jennifer Haymore

How (Not) to Hate a Duke by Jennifer Haymore

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

How (Not) to Hate a DukeHow (Not) to Hate a Duke by Jennifer Haymore

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone Title (with characters from Earls Rush In)

Release Date: February 19. 2024

Heiress Georgiana Milford is tired of the social whirl and fending off fortune hunters and is impatiently awaiting the arrival of her older sister who has been in Nova Scotia for 9 long years, so when her dearest friend Charlotte suggests that she join her and her husband at a house party for a couple weeks, she happily agrees. But her happiness is extinguished by the arrival of her family’s country neighbor and archenemy, Theophilus “Theo” St. Clair, the new Duke of Desborough, and an unfortunate encounter with a hawthorn bush. After that fiasco, she can’t wait to get to the country, but when she arrives she is in a for surprise, the duke is also a guest. She wants to leave, but Charlotte convinces her to stay and begs her to give the duke a chance, swearing that she has known him for years and that he is nothing like his vile father. She promises to try and is shocked to realize that she has misjudged Theo, and after getting to know him, begins to fall for him. But what future could they possibly have? Her father hates him and Theo has done nothing to improve his image in her father’s eyes. Is happily ever after possible or will she have to sacrifice one love for another?

Theo St. Clair inherited a nightmare from his father, the former duke aka the Duke of Despots. The estate is in disrepair, the fields are fallow, the tenants leaving, the villagers and his staff don’t trust him and to make matters worse, his neighbor Thomas Milford is spreading rumors about him and undermining all of his attempts to make improvements. Theo is at his wits end with the estate and when he is called to London to deal with his younger brother Sebastian’s gambling debts, things just get worse when he encounters Georgiana Milford in Hyde Park and is blamed for the damage done to her gown. He tries to make it up to her by offering the use of his carriage to get home without anyone seeing her, but his offer is met with contempt. Thankfully, Charlotte, the wife of his best friend Lord Trevelyan is there and manages to smooth things over. Later when Trevelyan suggests he take a break from his troubles and join them at the Merrick’s house party, he jumps at the chance. But when he arrives and finds that Georgiana is a guest, he wants to leave, but Trevelyan convinces him to give Georgiana a chance, telling him that if he can prove to her that his intentions for the estate are honest, then maybe she can get her father to back down. But the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes that she is the only Milford he wants to impress. They declare their love, but when her parents arrive, it is clear that her father will never approve of him. He can’t lose her, but neither can he make her choose between him and her family. Will love find a way or was it doomed from the start?

This was a well-written, nicely done Enemies to Lovers story that gives readers a new twist on an old trope. The book is filled with wonderful characters, misconceptions, great secondary characters, spelunking, steamy love scenes, heartbreaking revelations, painful choices, true love, and finally a hard-earned HEA complete with an epilogue. I liked this book, but to be honest, I wasn’t a fan of Georgiana at the start of the book, she was very closed-minded and judgmental, but once she was able to put aside her preconceived notions about Theo, she became his fiercest defender and redeemed herself. Aside from that, this was a very entertaining and steamy read that was a fresh take on an old trope and a book that I am happy to recommend. Although this is touted as a standalone title, it is worth mentioning that it features characters from another one of Ms. Haymore’s standalone titles “Earls Rush In”.

*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.*

A Lady’s Rules For Ruin by Jennifer Haymore

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

A Lady's Rules For Ruin

Barbara’s rating: 3.5 Rounded Up
Series: The Lions and the Lillies #2
Publication Date: 11/28/23
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 333

This was a lovely story of two people who had nothing against love and marriage, they just didn’t want it for themselves. I really liked both of the main characters, Frances and Evan, and I adored Evan’s brothers, Jasper, Bobby, and Mark. What I didn’t like – nor understand – was Frances’s family. This could have been a 5-star read without the way her family behaved. Why would your sisters, to whom you are close – especially your twin – stand by and allow you to be imprisoned and forced to marry someone you don’t even like? These sisters are all married and autonomous and certainly have the power to raise a ruckus if nothing else – but they do nothing. Well, nothing except ‘argue’ her case with her captor who happens to be her brother, Charles. No, Charles doesn’t even gain anything from his actions. I just failed to comprehend that whole plot point and it all felt very contrived. The same ending could have happened if the sisters (one or all) had gone to the hero with the information. He could have still rescued her – but her sisters would have remained likable rather than disliked (at least by me).

Miss Frances Cherrington’s brother Charles stepped in to protect his sisters from most of his father’s debacles from the time he was a young man and then took control when his father passed. Charles desperately wanted to rebuild the family’s reputation and coffers. He insisted that his sisters become all that was prim and proper and that they married well. That worked for all of her sisters – and even Charles himself – all of them found love and married for love. It did not, however, work for Frances. Frances’s family never really saw or understood who she was and they all tried to force her into a mold she just didn’t fit. After several seasons of haranguing from her family – especially this season – Frances decided that ruination would be the way for her to go. After all, if she was ruined, she wouldn’t be marriageable, and she could forge her future in her own way. However, when she deliberately ruined herself, she set in motion several reactions that had not occurred to her. Oops!

Ethan, the Earl of Winthrop, had always been drawn to Miss Frances Cherrington but never pursued anything with her – especially after he received some extremely disconcerting news. Part of that disconcerting news was discovering the existence of illegitimate half-brothers – whom he then decided to acknowledge and raise in his household.

I loved Ethan and Frances together because each of them was so much more than either of them expected – and they really were perfect for each other. Their relationship just grew as they spent time together, there wasn’t any great angst and woe-is-me. I loved that part. There were some great romantic adventures – even featuring row boats – and you could feel the attraction between the two. The love and respect were growing – and yet the storm clouds were brewing in the form of her brother Charles. It was a very near thing. I loved that there was a nice epilogue set six months in the future because it showed the continuing love and growth of their relationship.

I enjoyed the read, but I did not like any of Frances’s siblings, though I think I was supposed to feel more understanding for the sisters than I did. I don’t think I’d read the book a second time, but I will be looking forward to the third book in the series.

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

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