Tag: Shana Galen

How the Lady was Won by Shana Galen

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

How the Lady Was Won (The Survivors, #7)How the Lady Was Won by Shana Galen

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Survivors, #7

Release Date: February 11, 2020

Lady Daphne has not seen or heard from her husband, Colin FitzRoy in seven years, as he went off to war shortly after their very lackluster wedding night, even though he has been back in England for over a year. She was angry and hurt by his desertion and is not thrilled that her mother the Duchess of Warcliffe has harassed him into helping her out of her current spot of trouble.

Colin FitzRoy is known as the Pretender in the Survivors, he is able to blend in anywhere, a trait he is using to its full advantage as he watches his wife at a ball. Daphne is a lovely woman and is revered in the ton as one of the three “suns”, a trio of very popular and influential women. She is dangerous to his peace of mind, so Colin’s plan is to solve Daphne’s problem as quickly as possible and then disappear again. It isn’t that he dislikes his wife, in fact the problem is that he does and that she makes him feel things, she stirs up feelings that he doesn’t was to think about or feel. So the sooner he can help her, the better. But Daphne isn’t going to make it easy and when you throw in a duchess hell-bent on seeing her daughter settled, a Scotsman on the hunt for a wife, fellow survivors insisting on discussing feelings, an aging pug, a very nasty villain and a sassy street urchin, it is clear that Colin’s life is never going to be the same.

This was a well written, fast paced, fun read. I loved Daphne and Colin, they were both likable and intelligent, I loved that even though Colin’s first impulse was to bolt, he tried to consider Daphne’s feelings, even though “feelings” clearly terrified him. It was amusing watching Colin convince himself that he wasn’t in love. And Daphne was a delightful heroine, she is not perfect, but she is forgiving, patient and kind. I love that she didn’t give up on Colin, but neither did she turn into a doormat or waste away pining for him, and while she was angry and hurt, she didn’t become petty and hurtful in return. I also liked that she wasn’t stupid enough to think that she didn’t need Colin’s help, but it was her problem, she owned it and while she would accept help, she wasn’t going to let him push her aside to take care of it. This was a great book with witty dialogue, steamy love scenes, great secondary characters, kidnapping, a heroine who can hold her own and finally a very HEA. This is the seventh book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone title. I loved this book and I happily recommend this entire series.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me*

A Duke A Dozen by Shana Galen

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

A Duke a Dozen (The Survivors, #6)My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Survivors #6
Publication Date: 9/3/19
Number of Pages: 249

The Survivors are the twelve remaining members of a suicide squad formed to help defeat Napoleon at any cost. Eighteen members of that squad didn’t return and those who did have vowed to assure they aren’t forgotten. They also still protect each other.

Phineas Leopold Duncombe (Phin) is, unexpectedly, the ninth Duke of Mayne. He should never have been a duke. He never wanted to be a duke. He still doesn’t want to be a duke but knows he has no choice. Although the mantle chaffs a bit, he fully intends to do his duty to the estate and his tenants. Phin had four older brothers, there was certainly no reason for him to suspect that he’d ever be a duke – but here he is. This dukedom is doomed – cursed – because each of his brothers died because of some stupid, totally preventable accident. His sisters seem to be the only safe ones – he has two of those – one who hasn’t made her come out and one who is married with two daughters and a son.

Annabel, Lady Longstowe, was married off at barely eighteen to a cold, cruel man who was old enough to be her grandfather. He abused her in every way possible until he finally did her the favor of dying. After all of those years of sexual, mental and physical abuse, she didn’t know what to do with herself and made a couple of mistakes in the friends she chose. Even though she wasn’t promiscuous or wanton, she earned the nickname – the Wanton Widow and was ostracized from society. If she goes out, women avoid her and gossip about her while the men ogle her. One of the cruelest things her husband ever did to her was taking her baby daughter away and not telling her what he’d done with her. Annabel has looked for the baby – who would now be twenty – for years and has been totally unsuccessful. She needs help – powerful help.

Phin’s brother Richard died only a few weeks ago and he’s still trying to come to grips with it. He’d spent weeks shadowing Richard trying to keep him from suffering a freak accident like his other brothers – the one night he wasn’t there – the unthinkable happened. Phin is floundering a bit and decides to go to the home of the Wanton Widow to see what happened on his brother’s last night alive. At least, that is what he told himself when he showed up at her door. She quickly put him in his place and he left with his tail between his legs assuming he’d never see or hear from her again.

Annabel quickly realizes that the powerful help she needs might have just walked out her door. She decides that she’ll approach him, offer him anything – including herself if he’ll help her find her daughter.

I loved Phin. He is one of the most honorable, loving, sweetest heroes I read in a while. I also liked Annabel and could feel her pain. As a bonus, we also get an additional romance that is lovely.

I could have easily said this was a 5-star book had it not been for the glaring inaccuracy that the villain/plot was based upon. The sad thing is – it could so easily have been fixed with just five minutes worth of research. There is absolutely no way that Phin’s title could have been inherited by the one mentioned in the story.

It is definitely a good read – lighthearted, romantic, exciting – I enjoyed the story.

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