My review for Amelia Grey's SINCERELY, THE DUKE

  SINCERELY, THE DUKE

Historical Romance

 

 

 

AUTHOR:
Amelia Grey

RELEASE DATE:
March 26, 2024

PUBLISHER:
St. Martin’s Press

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781250850430

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://ameliagrey.com/

 

 

Roderick “Rick” Cosworth, the Duke of Stonerick, co-runs a sporting club that donates its proceeds to charitable organizations. A re-occurring fever reminds him of his mortality and his obligations to his dukedom. Rick randomly chooses a bride from a list of candidates his mother drafted. He promises to help Edwina find suitable husbands for her sisters in exchange for an heir. Rick suspects she is withholding something from him. Will Rick learn Edwina’s secrets? And can he trust her with the truth about his health?

Miss Edwina Fine promises her late father she will find husbands for herself and her sisters. Fate answers her prayers. She receives a marriage proposal from a wealthy duke through the mail. Rick is nothing than what Edwina expected. She hopes he nor the Ton learn about her being a triplet. Can Edwina trust Rick with the secret of her birth? Or will she learn that all her fears and reservations are groundless? And can Edwina keep her deathbed promise to her father?

Rick is a man after my own heart. There are times, and moments, when I too have trouble tolerating people. Plus, I am not a fan of large crowds (just ask my husband during holiday shopping). So, I related with him on that score. What I adore the most about Rick is how he does not put stock in superstitions. He finds most of them laughable or foolish.

Edwina took me a while to warm up too. I can understand her trepidation about being a triplet. She grew up in a time when multiple births (more than two) were rare. They did happen but scarcely did the babes survive. Edwina was taught from a young age to fear people learning about her birth. What I like the most about Edwina is her devotion to completing her father’s deathbed wish. Some people would humor the dead. She took it seriously, to the point she disregarded her sisters’ desires.

SINCERELY, THE DUKE is the second book in Amelia Grey’s historical romance series, SAY I DO. The story can easily stand alone. However, the first book (YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE) explains the reasons behind the sports club Rick and his two ducal friends co-founded. Wyatt and Fredericka, the couple from the prior story, do make a small appearance. I like how the author does not boggle the story or its pacing down with unnecessary sex scenes. The only such scene is not steamy, spicy nor long. Sometimes I feel authors go over-the-top with such scenes.

I cannot wait for Hurst’s book! I wonder how the author plans to continue the letter complimentary closing theme with his book title. Also, I wonder if Eileen will get a book. I sense a story brewing there; one I would be interested in reading.

My review for Amalie Howard's ANY DUKE IN A STORM

 

ANY DUKE IN A STORM
Historical Romance

 

 

 

AUTHOR:
Amalie Howard

RELEASE DATE:
January 09, 2024

PUBLISHER:
Sourcebooks Casablanca

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781728276762

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://amaliehoward.com/

 

 

Lady Lisbeth Medford is a British spy on special assignment to the American government. She needs to infiltrate a particular smuggling ring, so she can bring its ringleader to justice. To accomplish this, Lisbeth poses as a bloodthirsty female ship captain. During a reckless escape, she finds Raphael Saint on her frigate. The man vexes her, but Lisbeth knows he is her best chance on capturing the elusive Prince of Smugglers. Can Lisbeth resist the temptation of tossing Raphael overboard? Or will he hinder her mission?

 

Raphael Saint is a discredited French duke turned smuggler. He concocted a plan to catch the one responsible for his father’s disgrace and death. When his shipmates mutiny, Raphael finds himself without a boat and incarcerated in an island prison. To elude his nemesis, he offers to be a sailing master on the only ship leaving port. Raphael suspects there is more to his captain than what she lets on. Will Raphael finally get retribution for his late father? Or is there more at stake?

 

Lisbeth did not disappoint me! She is a hard as nails woman who manages to carve a place for herself in a male-dominated profession. Lisbeth proves continuously that she can hold her own, even against men. And I adore her for that! What I like the most about Lisbeth is her mentality about physical entanglements. She must care or trust a person before being intimate with them, no matter their sex.

 

I now consider Raphael one of my literary husbandoes (yes, I am aware the term is often used for anime). Everything about him made me want to swoon, especially his incorrigible demeanor. He made the story so much fun to read! I adore Raphael’s interactions with Lisbeth/Beth. He purposely provoked her at every turn just to get a rise out of her. What I love the most about Raphael is his ability to see the “true” Lisbeth. He saw the woman beneath the hard-as-nails character she played.

 

ANY DUKE IN A STORM is the third book in Amalie Howard’s historical- romance series, DARING DUKES. Unfortunately, I have not read the first two books in this series. However, the story can easily stand alone for there is no on-going plot. The couples from those books are mentioned. Valentine and Bronwyn, the couple from THE DUKE IN QUESTION, do play a small role near the end. I want Narina to grow up quick, so she can put Thorin in place. She is a little spitfire.

 

I have forgotten how much I love and enjoy stories that take place on the ocean. The pirate/smuggler theme never bores me. I practically devoured every page of this book, even foregoing sleep and other duties to read more.