Tag: #ScoundrelsOfMayfair

The Trouble with Earls by Anna Campbell

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

The Trouble with Earls (Scoundrels of Mayfair, #2)The Trouble with Earls by Anna Campbell

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Scoundrels of Mayfair, #2

Release Date: October 13, 2022

As the youngest, and in her opinion, the least attractive of the three Frain sisters, Lady Viola Frain is content to read and fade into the background, she certainly doesn’t expect nor does she want to have men falling at her feet, but that is exactly what happened. While reading under a tree in the garden, a man falls from the tree and lands in a heap at her feet. Make that a gorgeous, slightly drunk man who flirts outrageously with her.

Tobias “Toby” Sutton, the Earl of Renfrew, had tagged along with a friend to visit the Frain sisters but realized too late that a lady he is trying to avoid was in attendance – thus his foray into the foliage. He is immediately attracted to Viola and enjoys chatting with her, but when the other ladies find them, he makes a quick escape but manages to secure a dance at an upcoming ball as he is leaving. Now he can’t seem to get the pretty bluestocking out of his mind and pushes the boundaries to spend more time with her. But when a turn in the garden ends with them betrothed, he knows she is too good for the likes of him and worries that he is going to ruin her life. Will they find their way to HEA or is heartache inevitable?

OK – I am going to go fangirl gushy – Sorry, Not Sorry – OMG – I loved this book so much, I loved Viola’s positivity and her no-nonsense approach to problems, and I loved Toby’s gentle heart and his desire to make her happy. I loved that they boosted each other’s esteem and didn’t shy away from their problems. The book is well-written and nicely paced with a bit of everything: instant attraction, a tormented hero, a gloomy castle, great secondary characters, steamy love scenes, wonderful dialogue, leads that face their problems head-on, a lovely declaration scene leading to their HEA and an absolutely stunning epilogue set nearly 25 years later! This is the second book in the series, but this book could easily be read as a standalone title. I highly recommend this story, I can’t even remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much, it is definitely a keeper!

*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.*

The Worst Lord in London by Anna Campbell

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

The Worst Lord in London (Scoundrels of Mayfair, #1)The Worst Lord in London by Anna Campbell

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Scoundrels of Mayfair, #1

Release Date: May 31, 2022

If you read “Two Secret Sins” in the Scandal in Mayfair series, then like me, you might have been wondering about the mysterious woman who joined Lord Shelburn in the race – Well, wonder no more! And if you didn’t read that book, don’t worry, you can read this one without reading that one – but be warned, this book will have spoilers for “Two Secret Sins”

When Kate Starr was only 16 years old she fell in love forever. The object of her undying affection didn’t even speak to her that night, but he danced with her sister and by doing so, won Kate’s heart. Now 14 years later, Kate is the owner of Starr Cotton Mills, she is independent, successful, rich, and very much alone. She has agreed to enter a marriage of convenience with another factory owner that was set up by her cousin’s husband and they travel to London to sign the settlements. She and her cousins have just arrived at The Angel coaching inn to find the place in an uproar. Then she sees the love of her life atop a racing carriage, looking at her and when he asks her to join him, she doesn’t think twice and takes off with him!

Leighton Anstey, the Earl of Shelburn is intrigued by the lovely woman who impulsively agrees to be his partner in the race and wonders if he can lure her into a tryst. Leighton is a rake through and through with no intentions of settling down anytime soon and Kate is too tempting to pass up. He suggests a brief affair and to his surprise, she agrees! But once he learns of their past connection and her girlish crush, he warns her that he is not the man she believes and tells her to guard her heart. Kate assures him that she is not looking for forever and the two embark on not only a steamy affair but begin a true friendship.

Things are going well, but Kate knows her heart is already lost and decides to leave before she makes a fool of herself, besides that, she knows that her cousins must be frantic and she still needs to work things out with her almost betrothed. She sneaks out and never expects to see Leighton again. But when Leighton wakes to find her gone – will he let her go without a fight or will he be grateful that she understood the terms of their tryst and move on to the next affair?

This was a well-written, nicely paced story with wonderful characters and more emotion than I was expecting! The book is steamy and satisfying, with great secondary characters, a sinister plot twist, a hero who claims he is not a knight in shining armor (but who really is), and finally a very sweet HEA. This book is the first book in a new series and is loosely connected to the previous series, I loved this story and happily recommend this title to fans of historical romances.