Tag: Lauren Smith

His Wicked Secret by Lauren Smith

On By BarbaraIn Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820)2 Comments

His Wicked Secret (League of Rogues #8)His Wicked Secret by Lauren Smith

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: League of Rogues #8
Publication Date: 6/11/18

Sweet, sweet Jonathan has waited so very long (and so have we) to finally get his HEA. Lady Audrey has lead the poor boy on a merry chase and finally – she catches him. Audrey, the young lady everybody views as a spoiled society miss – wants to be a spy – and Jonathan, the handsome young man who is unsure of his place in society – wants to protect her.

As always, Ms. Smith’s writing is superb, the plot is well planned and well executed and the romance is just sizzling — not to mention characters that you can’t help but love. One of the things I loved about the book was that there was basically a recap of the beginning of the Earl of Pembroke (Wicked Earls Club) except it was told from Audrey and Jonathan’s perspective rather than Gillian and James’ perspective.

We’ve known for several books now that Audrey and Jonathan would end up together because it was love at first sight. However, because of his background, Jonathan has never felt that he was good enough for her – so he keeps pushing her away. Jonathan is the younger brother of Godric St. Laurent, Duke of Essex (Book 1). Jonathan was raised as a servant even though he was a legitimate son of the old duke. Wonderful stories there – you should go back and read them all if you haven’t. The bottom line is that Jonathan has never felt that he fit into society and that he wasn’t worthy of Audrey – simply because of the way he was raised.

Our story begins with Jonathan rescuing Audrey from a Hellfire club while James rescues Gillian. They end up fighting their way out, but luckily, she isn’t unmasked so that nobody knows who she is. Jonathan takes Audrey back to his home after he rescues her and she asks him to teach her to fight, to defend herself.

Audrey is a matchmaker and she leaves for her sister’s house party with Gillian in tow. Audrey is encouraging the romance between Gillian and James. Then, Jonathan shows up at the house party. As they spend time together she comes to trust Jonathan more and more as he begins to instruct her in methods of defending herself. He sure doesn’t know how well those lessons will come in hand when Audrey gets her opportunity for a spy mission.

Audrey is again leading Jonathan on a merry chase – but this might be the last for both of them. They have been betrayed and both will need rescue. Luckily, the League is always there.

There is a special treat at the end of the book for those who purchase the book from the author’s website. There is an additional novella, Bewitching the Earl, and it is also an excellent read!

You could read this as a stand-alone novella, but I don’t know why you’d want to. The other books in the series are delightful so why not love them too.

Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages…
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview

“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

Earl of Pembroke By Lauren Smith

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

Earl of Pembroke (Wicked Earls' Club, #10)Earl of Pembroke by Lauren Smith

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Earls Club #10
Publication Date: 3/13/18

Goodness, gracious me! This delightful novella makes the heart go pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat – thrum, thrum. I think this might be the sweetest and most romantic book I have read in a long while. Lauren Smith’s writing and turn-of-phrase are delightful, the characters are so well defined that you want to claim them as personal friends and the romance was just sigh worthy. James may be a member of the Wicked Earls Club, but he certainly does not personify its reputation – he is honorable to a fault. The only reason he is a member is so he can retreat into its dark and silent rooms when his responsibilities begin to weigh him down.

We met Gillian Beaumont in several earlier books in the League of Rogues series and I liked her then, but she just shines in this one. She is beautiful, brave, intelligent, level-headed and absolutely devoted to her friend and employer Audrey Sheridan. Gillian is the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Morrey. Her father had loved both her and her mother, but he failed to provide for them in his will. So, when he died, she had to take care of her mother and chose to enter into service as a lady’s maid. She has half-siblings, but she’s never met them and is sure they don’t know of her and wouldn’t want to meet her if they did. She has met the most wonderful man, his kisses thrill her and he makes her dream. She knows that is all it can ever be – but dream she does.

James Fordyce, The Earl of Pembroke is handsome, charming, and has a heart of gold. He adores his ailing mother and does all in his power to care for her. Family means the world to him. He’s met, and kissed the most intriguing lady – and now she has disappeared. He has to find her, but how. While he is puzzling over her, he starts to put some pieces to the puzzle together and realizes she is in danger and he needs to rescue her from the hellfire club known as the Unholy Sinners of Hell.

After the exciting rescue, the book focuses on the romance between the two. He pursues, but she knows they cannot be a couple. When Audrey tricks her into attending a house party that James is attending, they have a wonderful week – and a painful one.

Their HEA is wonderful. Would you like an example of some of the sweet and romantic things James says?

“But beauty is not merely that of one’s face and form. It extends far deeper, into the mind and soul. That beauty grows with time rather than fades.”

“There has only ever been joy for me when I’m with you. When you’re here, it’s like feeling the sun on my face after a cold winter”

See – I told you pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat, thrum, thrum, thrum.

I highly recommend this delightful novella and all of the other books in the League of Rogues series.

Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages…
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview

“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”