Review: Christy Carlyle's "THE DUKE AND LADY SCANDAL"

 

THE DUKE AND LADY SCANDAL
Historical Romance

 

AUTHOR:
Christy Carlyle

RELEASE DATE:
April 01, 2025

PUBLISHER:
Avon and Harper Voyager

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9780063347342

RATING:
4.75

AUTHOR LINK:
https://christycarlyle.com/

 

 

Alexandra “Allie” Prince manages her family-owned antique shop. She yearns to follow in her illustrious family’s footsteps by going on adventures. Allie overhears a plot to steal the Crown Jewels and rushes to tell the authorities. She is delighted when the handsome and gruff detective takes her seriously. Allie decides to assist him with the case. Can she help Benedict catch the culprit? Or will Allie’s impulsiveness hinder the case?

Benedict “Duke” Drake aims to advance high in Scotland Yard. He exhausts himself in trying to catch the illusive criminal “M” without success. When a woman comes to his office about a possible scheme to steal the royal jewels, Benedict must take her seriously. Alexandra Prince is a distraction he does not need in his life. However, Benedict cannot seem to stay away from her. Will Allie derail his plans for advancement?

Alexandra is a young woman living beneath her famous family’s shadow. I understand her frustration of not measuring up to her parents and siblings’ accomplishments. It would weigh on anyone’s mind. I especially like how Allie did not allow that to turn her cynical or jaded. Instead, she thought of ways to stand out on her own merits and achievements.

Benedict is a career-oriented young man. He tends to be obsessed and single-minded when a case falls into his hands. I understand Benedict’s drive to advance. His childhood, plus what happened to his brother, prompted him to his path. What I adore the most about Benedict is how he accepts Allie’s impulsive, straightforward nature. He even admires it since she differs from his seriousness. Benedict listens to everything she says unlike her older siblings.

THE DUKE AND LADY SCANDAL is the first book in Christy Carylyle’s historical romance series, PRINCES OF LONDON. I am new to this author’s works. The premise of the story is what caught my interest. And it did NOT disappoint. I found myself instantly swept up in the characters and the plot. I finished this book in two sittings, even forgoing sleep and watching my C-dramas.

There is one detail that kept me from giving this book a five-star rating. Small little nitpick really. In the story, the author brought up Benedict’s mysterious, titled father. Then nothing. The angle was never explored. Unless, of course, the author plans to save this angle for upcoming books. Then I am cool with it. I already plan on continuing this story! I wonder which sibling Dom and Eve or Helen.

Review: Michelle McLean's The Duchess Takes it All

 

THE DUCHESS TAKES IT ALL
Historical Romance

 

AUTHOR:
Michelle McLean

RELEASE DATE:
November 26, 2024

PUBLISHER:
Entangled Publishing, LLC

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781649376473

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://michellemcleanbooks.com/

 

 

Tamsin Palmer, the widowed Duchess of Clevesly, craves to be accepted by the ton. She is accustomed to being snubbed because of her common blood. Tamsin learns that her late husband has assigned a co-guardian for their young son. The handsome German count is overbearing and vexing; however, Tamsin cannot ignore the chemistry between them. Is a relationship possible for them? Will Tamsin give up her newfound freedom for Christian?

Christian August, Count of Rauchberg, travels to London to fulfill an obligation to his late cousin. He promises his royal uncle to find a suitable wife while there. Christian never expected to encounter a woman quite like Tamsin. She is all wrong for him. However, Christian cannot stop the growing attraction between them. Will family responsibility force him to give Tamsin up? What will Christian give up so he can have her in his life?

I admire Tamsin’s ethics. She yearns to be accepted by the ton. However, there are some aspects of their lifestyle that Tamsin will not follow. What I adore the most about Tamsin is how she goes head-to-head with Christian.  he is done allowing men dictate her life. Tamsin willingly stands up to Christian when his overbearing views clashes with her, especially about the raising of her son.

It took me a while to warm up to Christian (but I eventually did!). He thought his way was the best, and only, way. That annoyed me. I know Christian meant well. What I love the most about Christian is how he disliked witnessing the English nobility ostracizing Tamsin. He understood the stress and pressure that put on a person, having witnessed it before with his mother.

THE DUCHESS TAKES IT ALL is a standalone historical romance by Michelle McLean. This book does loosely tie in with FOUR WEDDINGS AND A DUKE. The characters from that novel make frequent appearances throughout this story. It is not necessary to read FWaAD before this one. However, it is a fun and delightful read.

I like how the author chose a German aristocrat. It is not commonly used as French or Russian. I am not too familiar with German nobility. And since I have German in my ancestry, that angle made it more fun and interesting for me.

Review: Donna Grant's THE BASTARD KING

 

THE BASTARD KING
Fantasy Romance.

 

AUTHOR:
Donna Grant

RELEASE DATE:
October 14, 2024

PUBLISHER:
DL Grant, LLC

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781958353394

RATING:
4

AUTHOR LINK:
https://donnagrant.com/

 

 

Derek is an unknown Dragon King. He does Villette’s bidding in hopes she will free his kin from captivity. Derek encounters Kora in the forest while being chased by soldiers. He reluctantly agrees to help sneak her into Stonemore, Villette’s domain. The city, and Kora, causes Derek to question his loyalty to his benefactor. Will he learn the truth about his background? Who will Derek choose? Kora? Villette? And at what cost?

Kora is the last of her kind on Zora. She intends to finish what her family had started: finding Villette and killing her. Kora stumbles upon Derek in the forest. Something about the man draws her to him. Kora does not trust him, but he knows a way to get into Stonemore. Kora finds herself depending on Derek more than she likes. Will she finally achieve her vengeance? At what cost? And what secrets is Derek keeping from Kora?

Derek rubbed me the wrong way at the start of the story. I did not care for his personality. However, I started to warm up to him as the story progressed. He redeemed himself by his actions with Kora. I understand Derek’s reasons for keeping his secrets from Kora. He and Kora had trust issues. Then there is the fact of her traumatic issues with dragons.

I am still undecided about Kora. I neither liked her nor disliked her. She just did not click for me. Whenever I read her name, the main character of Avatar: The Legend of Korra came to mind. And no, I am not a fan of the cartoon, but my husband and sons are. Why I am somewhat familiar with it. I admire Kora’s determination to finish what her family started. Guilt can be a powerful motivator.

THE BASTARD KING is the first book in Donna Grant’s fantasy-romance duology, THE BASTARD DUOLOGY. Important note to new readers: this takes place in the same world/universe of the author’s DARK KINGS and DRAGON KINGS series. Characters from the prior books do pop up in this story, some are merely mentioned. I recommend starting from the beginning (DARK KINGS) or the first book in the DRAGON KINGS. The latter series introduces Zora, why it was created, etc.

Donna Grant introduces a new race in this book. The hellhound angle just did not work for me. I would have liked it more if Kora was a unicorn or phoenix (especially this one). It would have made more sense on why they had the ability to destroy Star People. That is just me though. I can be nitpicky on such things. However, I did like the fact that hellhounds are like the dragon kings. They can shape shift into human forms.

Again, I skimmed over or skipped the sex scenes. They just felt irrelevant to the story’s pacing.