Review: Amelia Grey's YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE

 

YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE

Historical Romance

AUTHOR:
Amelia Grey

RELEASE DATE:
March 28, 2023

PUBLISHER:
St. Martin's Paperbacks

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781250850416

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://www.ameliagrey.com/

 

 

Wyatt, the Duke of Wyatthaven, has no interest in curbing his rakish ways or settling down. However, a codicil in his grandmother’s will dictates that he must marry by week’s end or lose his inheritance. Miss Fredericka Hale meets every one of Wyatt’s needs. He promises to help secure guardianship to the children if she will agree to a marriage of convenience. Fredericka proves to be a distraction Wyatt does not need. Can Wyatt help Fredericka keep her nieces and nephew? But at what price?

Miss Fredericka Hale has guardianship of her deceased sister’s three young children. However, her barren cousin now wants custody of them. If Fredericka wants to keep the children, she must marry and quickly. When the Duke of Wyatthaven offers a marriage proposal, she reluctantly agrees. Things do not go as smoothly as Fredericka hoped. Will Fredericka maintain guardianship of her nieces and nephews? Or will Wyatt’s rakehell reputation hinder that from happening?

Wyatt surprised me. I thought he was going to be another self-absorbed and arrogant playboy, who only thought of his own interests. Wyatt is a man born to privilege yet haunted by his days at school. I love how Wyatt uses his sports club activities to help wounded soldiers and hospitals. It shows there is more to him than the front he presents to the world and his peers. What I love the most about Wyatt is how he treated Fredericka’s nieces and nephew. He often reflected on his childhood with his father and school days to best interact with them.

Fredericka took me a while to warm up to. She too is haunted by events of her childhood. I understand Fredericka’s need to make her nieces and nephew behave. She worries that if they seem too unruly that her cousin could take them from her. However, Fredericka comes across too strict and controlling. What I like the most about Fredericka is her willingness to care on her sister’s orphaned children. She would go to extreme lengths to protect and care for them.

YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE is the first book in Amelia Grey’s brand-new historical romance trilogy, SAY I DO. I have to say I greatly enjoyed this book. I practically devoured it. However, a personal situation kept me from finishing the book sooner. Those who like or crave spicy or explicit sex scenes will be disappointed. It often feels like some authors try to cram as many sex scenes as they can into a book. Not so with this story. The only scene is mild, fade-to-blackish, which I found oddly refreshing.

Review: Suzanne Enoch's EVERY DUKE HAS HIS DAY

 EVERY DUKE HAS HIS DAY

Historical Romance

AUTHOR:
Suzanne Enoch

RELEASE DATE:
September 19, 2023

PUBLISHER:
St. Martin’s Press

ISBN / ASIN NUMBER :
9781250842541

RATING: 5

AUTHOR LINK:
http://suzanneenoch.com/

 

 

Michael Bromley, the Duke of Woriton, is a man of science. He prefers to spend his valuable time with his experiments than partaking in Society’s frivolities. Michael reluctantly agrees to look after his aunt’s beloved poodle while she visits a friend. However, an incident at the park finds him with the wrong poodle. Michael never expected to spend time with Society’s current Diamond. Or galivanting around London in search of a dog thief. Can Michael tolerate Bitsy’s presence? Or will opposites attract?

Elizabeth ‘Bitsy’ Dockering is the youngest daughter of a viscount. She enjoys being Society’s Diamond of the Season. Bitsy hopes to find a husband, one who sparks both her heart and interest. However, many of her suitors dislike her ill-mannered pet poodle. Bitsy encounters Michael at the park when they inadvertently swap dogs. When their poodles are dog-napped, she and the duke partner up to find them. Michael is nothing like the swains in her social circle. Can Bitsy and Michael overcome their differences? Will they find the culprit behind the dog-napping?

Michael’s neurodivergence reminds me a little of Sheldon Cooper from ‘The Big Bang Theory’. They both have that frank, straightforwardness that others view as rude or madness. I like how Michael has no interest in following Society’s status quo. He finds his peers’ indulgences pointless and silly. This makes Michael an oddity among his social class. He cares little how they view him. What I adore the most about Michael is his willingness to help others despite his idiosyncrasies. His projects are more to help humankind than recognition and fame.

Bitsy is Michael’s complete opposite. She enjoys spending time with her friends and the entertainment Society has to offer. I adore how Bitsy started to see the man beneath Michael’s aloof and prickly exterior. She realizes there is more to him than what she and their peers believed. What I like the most about Bitsy is how she respects and admires Michael’s intellect. She may not understand his fascination with science; she just knows that is part of his individual charm.

EVERY DUKE HAS HIS DAY is a standalone, historical romance by Suzanne Enoch. I have been a fan of this author for quite a long time. I must admit that I am liking the new direction Enoch is taking with her stories. They have a different feel to them from her previous works. I especially enjoy the light-hearted vibe the story gives me and the humor. I could not help but giggle at some of the characters and poodles’ antics. I also liked the secondary romance in the background. It was an extra bonus!

Review: Michelle McLean's FOUR WEDDINGS AND A DUKE

 

FOUR WEDDINGS AND A DUKE

Historical Romance

AUTHOR:
Michelle McLean

RELEASE DATE:
May 23, 2023

PUBLISHER:
Entangled Publishing, LLC

ISBN / ASIN NUMBER :
9781649373304

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://michellemcleanbooks.com/

 

 Alexander “Alex” Reddington, the Duke of Baeubrooke, is a scholar and botanist. He has no interest in the ton’s social events or activities. All Alex wants to do is work on his botanical projects. He happens to sit next to a fascinating bespectacled wallflower at his cousin’s wedding. Despite Alex’s interest in the woman, duty mandates he marry one of the Wynnburn sisters. He soon learns that his book-loving wallflower is one of them. Will Lavinia interfere with Alex’s botanical research? Or will he discover she is much more important than his plants?

Lavinia Wynnburn is the middle daughter of a rich earl. She is used to being overshadowed by her popular and beautiful sisters. Lavinia prefers spending her time reading than socializing with her peers. She meets Alexander by chance when he seats himself next to her at a wedding. Lavinia knows she is ill-equipped to being a duchess. However, she is surprised and delighted when Alex chooses her. Can Lavinia adapt to her new station in life? Will she be everything Alex needs in a wife and duchess? Or will Lavinia cause even more trouble for Alex?

Alex easily won me over. I like that he is not your normal, run-of-the-mills kind of duke. Alex is an eccentric, who prefers his scholarly pursuits and his plants than intermingling with his peers or their frivolous pastimes. What I adore the most about Alex is how he encouraged Livinia to wear her glasses, despite it being unfashionable. Alex cared more about her ability to see than their peer’s views on what is fashionable.

Lavinia is a woman I easily identified with. I know how wretched it feels being overlooked and/or forgotten by others. It is NOT a pleasant feeling. What I admire the most about Lavinia is how she tried to adapt to her new station in life. She knew that she was in unchartered waters, but that did not stop Lavinia from doing her best. Also, by going outside her comfort zone, Lavinia did learn new and interesting things about herself.

FOUR WEDDINGS AND A DUKE is a standalone historical / regency romance by Michelle McLean. I am new to this author’s works. The book’s title and synopsis caught my attention. It sounded like something I would enjoy. It did NOT disappoint me! I found myself entrenched in the plot and characters. I literally finished this story in two settings. I just did not want to put it down until I finished it.

I hope McLean considers writing a happily-ever-after for Kitty, Georgina, and Nigel. I admit, secretly, I hoped Nigel would have ended up with Georgie, just to continually irk his rival, Alex. I am definitely interested in reading McLean’s backlist.

Review: Mary Burton's THE HOUSE BEYOND THE DUNES

 

THE HOUSE BEYOND THE DUNES

Thriller; Suspense

AUTHOR:
Mary Burton

RELEASE DATE:
September 05, 2023

PUBLISHER:
Montlake

ISBN / ASIN NUMBER :
9781542038676

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK: https://www.maryburton.com/

 

 

Lane McCord wakes up in the hospital, only to discover her new boyfriend died in an unfortunate accident. She cannot remember key points leading to the disastrous fall. Lane hopes to reclaim her missing memories by returning to the cottage. However, she starts receiving mysterious texts containing a missing woman’s diary. Lane realizes there is more to her boyfriend Kyle than he let on. Will Lane discover what exactly happened at the cottage? And who can she trust? The detective who keeps hounding her? Or the handsome carpenter next door?

It took me a while to connect with Lane. Lane spent most of her crummy childhood in foster care. It has taught her not to attract unnecessary attention or scrutiny. What I admire the most about Lane is how she helps teenage girls who were like her. They are the reason she works so hard to earn her PhD.

THE HOUSE BEYOND THE DUNES is a standalone thriller by Mary Burton. I have read a title or two from this author before, so I knew Burton focuses more on the suspense element than romance.

I would say this story had zero romance. I honestly did not know who the heroine would end up with until the end. There were hints that something could develop, but it was not focused on. Personally? I did not mind. The plot gripped me that I forgot I found this title in the romance section of Netgalley.

REVIEW: Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Aubin's NEVERMORE BOOKSTORE

 

NEVERMORE BOOKSTORE

Contemporary Romance

AUTHOR:
Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Aubin

RELEASE DATE:
March 28, 2023

PUBLISHER:
Oliver Heber Books

ISBN/ASIN NUMBER:
9781677518415

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://kerriganbyrne.com/
https://www.cynthiastaubin.com/

 

 

Cadence “Cady” Bloomquist runs a quaint little bookstore in her staid, historical hometown. If she does not find the necessary paperwork, Cady could her precious shop. The only thing keeping the place afloat is her mysterious patron “Fox”. Cady looks forward to their weekly phone chats. When a break-in disrupts their conversation, she finds a sense of security with an enigmatic drifter. Cady feels drawn to him, yet she cannot forget Fox either. Will Cady find a way to save her shop? Or is she doomed to fail in business and romance?

Roman “Fox” Fawkes is a reclusive hermit. He desperately wants to escape his mental demons. Fox’s only link to the normal world is the bookshop’s proprietress Cady. He knows that he is wrong for her, but he cannot help but be drawn to her. When Cady’s safety is jeopardized, he willingly leaves his secluded hideout to protect her. He poses as a drifter and helps her around the shop while devising a trap for her assailant. However, being around Cady reminds Fox why they cannot have a future. Can Fox resist the temptation Cady poses? Or will his presence cause even more trouble for her?

Fox is my favorite type of hero – the wounded/tortured type that I come to expect from Kerrigan Byrne. I love that he recognizes Cady’s inner beauty and goodness. He does not follow or agree with media and society’s ideals on beauty.

Cady is a sweetheart! I am glad to see that both Byrne and St. Aubin broke out of the typical heroine mold. Cady is on the fleshier side, which I heartily approve of. We need more plus size heroines in romance books. She has not had the best life, but she makes do with her limitations. I love how Cady recognizes a kindred spirit in Fox. She knows that not all scars are on the outside but inside as well.

What I like the most about both Cady and Fox are that they are not “picture-perfect” characters. They have their flaws and health issues, just like everybody else, which made them more relatable to me.

NEVERMORE BOOKSTORE is the first book in Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Aubin’s contemporary-romance comedy series, TOWNSEND HARBOR. I am new to Cynthia St. Aubin but not Kerrigan Byrne. I adore Byrne’s historicals, so this is a new jaunt for me… And it did not disappoint.

I enjoyed the story. Yeah, it is different, genre-wise, than what I am used to reading by Kerrigan Byrne (a good different). The story does touch on some heavy subjects – the heroine’s chronic pain issues and the hero’s PTSD – but there are plenty of humorous scenes that lighten the severity. What I adore the most about the story is the two side characters – Myrtle and Vee. They made the story enjoyable. Those two provided the right amount (and necessary) comedic relief. Their antics and quips had me giggling. I hope we see more of them in future books. It is a MUST.

Review: Laura Lee Guhrke’s BOOKSHOP CINDERELLA

 

BOOKSHOP CINDERELLA

Historical Romance

AUTHOR: Laura Lee Guhrke

RELEASE DATE: June 20^th, 2023

PUBLISHER: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

ISBN/ASIN NUMBER: 9781538722626

RATING: 4.5

AUTHOR LINK: https://lauraleeguhrke.com/

 

 

Maximillian “Max” Shaw, the Duke of Westbourne, plans to remarry. He has already selected the ideal woman to be his future duchess. Max agrees to collect the research material his cousin commissioned from a certain bookshop proprietress. When his drunken comrades disparage the shop’s owner, Max bets he can transform the dowdy bibliophile into the Season’s diamond. He never factored in losing his heart to the woman. Can Max and Evie bridge the differences in the social classes?

Evangeline “Evie” Harlow owns and operates a small bookshop she inherited from her father. She also does research for authors and nobles to supplement her income. Evie feels oddly discontent with her current life. She reluctantly agrees to the Duke of Westbourne’s outlandish proposition. Evie has no interest in joining high society, but she intends to enjoy her brief ‘holiday’. She never anticipated the attraction brewing between her and Max. Will Evie’s insecurities stand in the way of her future happiness?

What is there NOT to like about Max? The man proved to be a sweetheart. I adore the fact that Max cannot resist helping a woman in need. High-born or low-born, it makes no difference to him. He does get harped on by his friends and family, but that does not stop him. I also like how Max wields his ducal title and authority. He mostly uses it for other people’s benefits than his own. What I adore the most about Max is how he noticed Evie’s true potential. Where others saw her outward appearance, he acknowledged the beauty within.

Evie is the reason why I picked up this book. Something about a bibliophile-type Cinderella sounded really good to me. I love Evie’s persistence. She refused to give up on her father’s bookstore, especially in an era when women had restricted roles and rights. Evie found clever ways to keep her business afloat. What I like the most about Evie is that she is a woman beset by insecurities. It makes her so much more relatable. She is in no way perfect. Sometimes her insecurities interfere with Evie’s dreams and wishes.

BOOKSHOP CINDERELLA is the first book in Laura Lee Guhrke’s historical romance series, SCANDAL AT THE SAVOY. I am new to this author’s works. I have seen Guhrke’s name mentioned here or there in Romancelandia for this genre. The story’s premise is what initially snagged my interest… and it did NOT disappoint. The author’s writing style really sucked me in. I could not wait for the time I allotted myself to reading (aka with no interruptions from my family and doggos). I will be checking out Guhrke’s backlist.