Tag: Shana Galen

My Fair Katie by Shana Galen

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews1 Comment

My Fair Katie (Misfortunes Favorites #2)My Fair Katie by Shana Galen

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Misfortune’s Favorites,#2

Release Date: April 12, 2024

Years ago, when he was only 13, Henry Lewis, the Duke of Carlisle and his two closest friends did something stupid, on a bet they stole whiskey from an old crone and while running away broke the cask and were cursed by the old woman. She said on their 30th birthday they will lose all their love, just as she had thanks to them. Now on the eve of his thirtieth, that curse has finally come to fruition. Because now, after months – no, years – of compulsive gambling, he has lost everything. The final straw was on his thirtieth birthday, in a last-ditch effort to win back the family estate he lost to the Marquess of Shrewsbury, he managed to lose the only thing of value he had left, his London townhouse. Now homeless, he leaves London and seeks refuge with his mother, who lives in the Dower House of their country estate – which thankfully was left to her and out of Henry’s reach. His mother suggests he learn why the Marquess seems to have a vendetta against him and recommends speaking to his daughter, Lady Katherine Malfort, who happens to be living at Carlisle Hall – their former country estate.

Lady Katherine “Katie” is being punished by her father for trying to run away to Paris to study painting. Hidden away most of her life due to a port-wine birthmark on her face, Katie believes herself to be hideous and led a lonely life, only finding joy in her painting. But when she went behind her father’s back to go to Paris, she was sent to the crumbling Carlisle estate and forbidden to paint or even draw. In an effort to alleviate the boredom, she befriends Henry’s mom, the Duchess, and gets to know the tenants. Appalled by the conditions of the tenant’s homes, she blames Hugh for neglecting them and when he asks for her help to find out why her father hates him, first she his angry, but surprised that her birthmark doesn’t seem to disgust him, eventually she grudgingly agrees to help, but it will come at a price, he must help the tenants. But being around Henry is dangerous, she knows she is falling for him, but she doesn’t know if he feels the same for her and he seems convinced that all his problems are due to the crone who “cursed him” and not his own gambling. Can there be a HEA for them, or will his demons and her father destroy any chance for happiness?

I really liked this story; it is rare to come across a historical romance that features a hero with an addiction that is not drugs or drink. Henry’s gambling addiction and his journey to recovery was well done and heartbreaking, especially the toll his addiction cost others. I am completely invested in this series and can’t wait for Rory’s story and hopefully the final confrontation with the woman they so grievously wronged, will they be able to lift the curse or is their fate sealed? I can’t wait to find out! This story has a lot going on, but it never felt busy or off point. I loved seeing Katie gain confidence but could still feel how a lifetime of being treated poorly affected her. This is the second book in the series and would recommend reading the books in order for the best reader experience. Overall, this was a great book, and I am happy to recommend the series and will be anxiously awaiting the final book!

*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 King and Vi by Shana Galen

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)3 Comments

The King and Vi (Misfortunes Favorites #1)

Barbara’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Misfortunes Favorites #1
Publication Date: 1/24/24
Period: Regency – London
Number of Pages: 312

Once upon a time, there was George Oxley (King), Marquess of Kingston, heir to the Duke of Avebury. For all of his thirteen years, King had craved the love and attention of his father. That, however, would never happen because his father was a self-centered, uncaring, disinterested, selfish man who never gave a thought to anything other than himself. His craving for his father’s attention led him to all sorts of exploits and his friends Henry and Rory were right there with him. That is how they came to the attention of an evil witch – and how they became cursed – and how they lost everything that mattered to them when the curse kicked in on their thirtieth birthdays. Or, did they really lose the important stuff?

On King’s thirtieth birthday, he and his friends had a wild celebration and ended the evening in a brawl in The Silver Unicorn, a public house in Seven Dials. The following morning, he was awakened from his stupor by a loud knocking at the door of his bed chamber – and there were other noises in the background. He learns his father has been convicted of treason; King is likely to be stripped of everything as well because his father’s blood taints him; and his creditors are stripping his townhouse of everything that isn’t nailed down – and some stuff that is. He just walks out of the house and leaves them all to it – but – he is stopped by a petite, termagant of a woman who demands he pay her for the damage to her pub. He tells her he has nothing to pay with and somehow ends up going back to the pub with her. How did that happen?

Violet Baker is a pragmatic young woman who has had to learn to be tough to survive in Seven Dials, keep her young brothers safe, and manage her public house. When those drunken sots decided to have a brawl in her place, they didn’t care if they were ruining not only her livelihood but the safety of herself and her brothers. Well, she would just take the bill directly to the mighty Marquess. She couldn’t believe he could not pay the few pounds she demanded he owed her. Humpf, she’d just watch him until he could pay it.

Goodness, I loved Violet and King together. He, who had always craved love, and she, who was afraid of love, seemed an unlikely pair. The chemistry though, is strong and you can feel it radiating off the page. Then, there is Georgie (six) and Joshua (thirteen), they are Violet’s brothers are some of the loveliest characters you’ll ever read. Violet’s jaw drops as she sees how her brothers react to King – and he to them. WOW!

This was a delightful read filled with witches, curses, traitors, loss, loyalty, triumph over evil, and a well-deserved HEA. I didn’t expect to love it because – witches – and spoiled, self-centered, entitled, lazy, rich dude – but – I did love it. Now, I can hardly wait for the next book in the series. Will it be Harry or Rory? Who will have the second clue to counteracting the curse? After all the books are done, will they be so happy they don’t care about breaking the curse? Goodness, we’ll have to wait for the next books to find out.

View all my reviews