The Bachelor by Sabrina Jeffries

The Bachelor (Duke Dynasty, #2)The Bachelor by Sabrina Jeffries

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Duke Dynasty, #2

Release Date: February 25, 2020

Lady Gwyn Drake has a history with Lionel Malet that goes back much further than their recent encounter when he tried to abduct a heiress. He is blackmailing her and if she doesn’t pay, he says he will tell the press about the affair they had ten years ago and ruin her. Gwyn never told anyone about the one night she spent in his bed or the consequences and will do anything to keep her secrets. Thinking she can intimidate him, she pulls a gun, but is quickly disarmed and would have been in trouble if she wasn’t saved from him by Major Joshua Wolfe. A man she has long been attracted to and who clearly doesn’t feel the same, or so she thinks.

Joshua is the current Duke of Armitage’s cousin and acting estate gamekeeper. Joshua was gravely wounded in battle years ago and is desperate to return to active duty. His letters to the War Office have been ignored, so when Gwyn’s brother the Duke of Thornstock asks him to act as her bodyguard in London, he agrees and hopes that he can finally get some answers from the War Office and keep his attraction to Gwyn a secret. He feels unworthy of her, even though he is the grandson of a duke and a war hero.

He is not sure what is going on with Gwyn and Malet, but he thinks there is more than what Thorn and Gwyn have told him and when there is an attempt to sabotage their coach, he is sure of it. He is determined to get answers and keep Gwyn at arm’s length – but she won’t make it easy!

I thought this was a great addition to the series. Gwyn and Joshua are both a little broken and both have trust issues, they are clearly perfect for each other, but neither is going to make the journey to HEA a smooth ride! The book has some amusing dialogue, a lot of secrets, a bit of intrigue, some steamyish love scenes, a great supporting cast of characters, a nasty villain and finally HEA. I did feel like the book dragged a bit towards the end and I was disappointed that Gwyn never actually says “I love you” to Joshua – it is implied, but for me – it’s not the same. This is the second book in the series, but there is also a linked novella in the anthology Seduction on a Snowy Night that is Heywood and Cass’s story and the events in that book are closely linked to this story – so while this book is easily read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the novella “A Perfect Match” if you want a bit more backstory. Overall, I am happy to recommend this book and I look forward to the next installment.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

Seduction on a Snowy Night by Madeline Hunter, Sabrina Jeffries & Mary Jo Putney

Seduction on a Snowy NightSeduction on a Snowy Night by Madeline Hunter
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Duke Dynasty / Redeemed Rogues

Release Date: September 24, 2019

This is a delightful anthology with a Christmas theme and if you follow these authors you will recognize many of the characters from previous books!!

A Christmas Abduction by Madeline Hunter – 4.5 stars – Adam Prescott, Baron Thornhill is on his way to celebrate Christmas with his cousin Nigel, the Marquess of Haverdale and if all goes according to plan, he may be announcing his betrothal to a wealthy debutante. But all does not go according to plan and when Adam tries to help a young woman he thinks is being assaulted, he finds himself abducted at gunpoint. Caroline “Caro” Dunham is trying to keep what is left of her family and their legacy together, so when she learns that her younger sister Amelia has been compromised and pregnant at the hands of well-known rake, she does what any older sister would do, she abducted the scoundrel and will make him marry her! This was a cute story that was paced nicely, has a little bit of steam and a HEA

A Perfect Match by Sabrina Jeffries – 5 stars – Cassandra “Cass” Isles has been tricked before by fortune hunters and is extremely distrustful of the men on the marriage mart, so much so that she lets everyone believe she is a poor relation. She has also made it her mission to protect her cousin Kitty, who is sweet and kind, but not quite as savvy as Cass. Currently she is attending a ball and is trying to put off one of Kitty’s suitors, Capt. Lionel Malet, Cass is sure he is a fortune hunter and will do her best to keep Kitty away from him. While searching for Kitty, she stumbles upon Col. Lord Heywood Wilde, son of the late Duke of Armitage and younger brother to the new duke – he is also a close friend of Kitty’s brother Douglas. Heywood says he must speak with Kitty on an urgent matter and asks Cass to locate her for him. Heywood is attracted to Cass, but the woman he wants to marry is Kitty – the heiress. This was an excellent story with a lot of depth for a novella. It was also the steamiest of the three offerings. If you have been reading the “Duke Dynasty” series, you will recognize most of the characters and enjoy catching up!

One Wicked Winter Night by Mary Jo Putney – 4 stars – Lady Diana Lawrence is the black sheep of her family, she left England 7 years ago after a doomed love affair and spent years traveling, finally ending up in India. But a letter from her niece Rory has Diana returning to England, she believes that at 30, she is a spinster and the man she loved is probably long ago married with children and she is in no danger of meeting up with him. Anthony Raines, the Duke of Castleton is bullied by his sisters to attend the Masked ball at Vance’s townhouse and is mesmerized by the woman who performed an Indian dance – he approaches her and they share a dance and a kiss, which causes both of them a bit of shock when they realize who it is they are kissing! Anthony wants answers as to why she left him after he proposed and she just wants to forget and carry on with her life. When she tells him to leave her alone and never call again, Anthony is forced to resort to abduction to get the woman he loves to talk to him. This was a great second chance romance, but it did feel a little rushed, had very mild love scenes and the issue keeping them apart was resolved way to easily, but the ending was wonderful.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*