One Night to Remember by Erica Ridley

One Night to Remember (Wicked Dukes Club #5)One Night to Remember by Erica Ridley
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Dukes Club, #5

Release Date: June 11, 2019

Lady Felicity Sutton grew up poor, she along with her brother (now the Duke of Colehaven) worked in a smithy as children and were often hungry and homeless. She got lucky, her brother inherited a wealthy dukedom and she no longer has to work or worry. But it isn’t enough, she never wants to know poverty again and wants to do something to aid the impoverished children of London. To do that, she must marry and marry well. She had certain requirements for her would be husband and is willing to make personal sacrifices to ensure she marries a man who can provide financial stability and fund her dream of a foundation to help the poorest of children.

Felicity has decided this is the season she will marry and stop tinkering with her brother’s carriages. She has found the perfect suitor, Lord Raymore, the marquess is older, but has a substantial fortune and already fights tirelessly in the House of Lords to help the poor, especially children. He is exactly the right man, so she will show him that she is the perfect woman to be his marchioness. But when she learns her brother is entering his racing carriage in a race, she can’t resist suggesting modifications. Cole agrees and tells her he will not be racing himself, he has hired Giles Langford, a well-know coach smith and racer, known as the Curricle King to race in his stead.

Giles is surprised and impressed by Felicity. She is lovely and talented, but this race is important, winning will help his business and afford him the opportunity to apprentice more of the poverty stricken children in his neighborhood. As they work together, they learn more about each other and the attraction grows, leading to kisses and deeper feelings. Giles knows he is far below Felicity’s station, but can’t stop himself for dreaming of the impossible – a lifetime with her.

Felicity is falling hard for Giles, but she can’t give up on her dream and Giles has neither the money or the political power to help her realize that dream. She is torn and has to decide if her dream is worth the cost of losing the love of a lifetime.

This was well written, fast paced, sweet story, with wonderful leads, warm love scenes and delightful secondary characters. Both Felicity and Giles are likeable and the chemistry between them is undeniable. I enjoyed their journey to HEA and would be happy to recommend the book, but I admit, I did find the ending a bit unbelievable/implausible.

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

One Night of Passion by Erica Ridley

One Night of Passion (Wicked Dukes Club #3)One Night of Passion by Erica Ridley

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Wicked Dukes Club, #3

Release Date: May 14, 2019

Thaddeus Middleton has decided that he is ready to take a wife, so like any respectable gentleman of means, he begins his search at Almack’s. Thad is a romantic at heart and is sure that he will recognize the love of his life at first sight – there will be a sign, a spark, a bolt of lightning – something to let him know that he has found “The One”. But this night what he finds is Miss Priscilla Weatherby – most definitely not “The One”, but he asks her to dance is shocked when she turns him down.

Priscilla has a plan and it does not include marriage – her father and grandfather are adventurers and she longs to join them on their journeys, she hasn’t seen her father in years, but when her mother died he told her that he set up a trust for her – ten thousand pounds will be hers on her 25th birthday if she has not married. But there are conditions, she must not avoid the marriage mart, attend 3 events week, no scandal, she can’t ruin herself and she can tell no one of the trust. Priscilla knows exactly what she will do with the money – join her father in Africa – so she has followed the terms to the letter and perfected the art of attending without participating! But if she was looking for a husband, Thad would be exactly what she would want. He is intelligent, kind and handsome. When the meet again in the park and they chat, she really likes him but refuses to risk her heart and again shuts him down.

Thad wonders if insisting on a love match is just prolonging his loneliness, he misses his cousin Diana and when she comes to visit him, he wonders if he has missed “The One” – he does mention Priscilla to Diana and she is surprised that she was rude to Thad – he says it doesn’t matter, because she is not “The One” – Diana askes how he knows that and he says there was no sign. Diana tells him to try to get to know her before he decides that she is not “The One”, he receives similar advice from his friends at the Wicked Duke. And sets out to befriend Priscilla. When he arrives at her house, the weather clears and he sees a rainbow. He thinks he might have been wrong and decides that he needs to get to know her.

Priscilla is surprised to see Thad, she thought she made it clear that she was not interested, but as she gets to know him, her desires become blurred. And when her father returns unexpectantly and offers to take her with him on his travels, she will have to decide if she should go or if loving Thad is the real adventure.

This was a very sweet story, more emotional than I expected, but a true delight to read. The characters are engaging, the love scenes mild and the ending is wonderful. This is the third book in the Wicked Dukes Club series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone title. I truly enjoyed this story and would be happy to recommend it!

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