Review - Ensnared by Innocence by Larissa Lyons

Ensnared by Innocence by Larissa Lyons
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The premise of this book, Ensnared by Innocence, was what drew me in. The heroine, Francine, needs to be betrothed for a few months until she reaches her majority and takes control of her inheritance. She asks one of the ton's biggest rakes, Lord Blakely, to pretend to be her fiance for that long. He agrees, but he has a secret - he turns in to a lion.

The story was delightfully bonkers, and for the most part I enjoyed the plot. My biggest issue with this book was the language. The author stated that she tried to keep all terminology, etc. period-appropriate, and it's obvious they did a lot of research toward that goal. My problem is that I'm not reading this book in 1812, I'm reading in 2021 and I don't know what a lot of those words mean. The phrasing really slowed down the pace of the book and made the writing feel "clunky", whereas I think if she had just written what she meant directly it would have came across a little easier.

The introduction of Blakely's brother near the end of the book felt abrupt and a little shoehorned in, and while I appreciate that the author was setting him up for his own book, it was still very unexpected, and I wish the characters had explored that a little more.

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Review - A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman

A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman is a truly fantastic historical romance book. Full of adventure, longing, and wit, it's a book that's just a joy to read from start to finish.

Madeline Montgomery and Gryff Davies' families have been enemies for centuries. Gryff has been antagonizing Maddie since they were children, and now that he's returned from the war, nothing has changed. When Gryff and Maddie stumble across a nefarious plot, however, they'll have to work together, and who ever heard of a Montgomery and a Davies working together?

Honestly this book is great, it was so much fun to read, I couldn't put it down. This is childhood enemies to lovers done perfectly right. There is a ton of action and plot in the book, but it doesn't ever feel like it overpowers the romance, which is really the story. Bateman has set up several other couples as well, and I can't wait to find out whose story we'll get next!

Review - A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor

A Duke in Time is the first book in Janna MacGregor's The Widow Rules series, and it is delightful. Katherine's husband abandoned her immediately following their wedding breakfast, and now he's dead. Upon the reading of his will, Katherine finds out he not only married her, but two other women as well, and spent all of their dowries. Christian, her husband's brother and the Duke of Randford, is determined not to fix any more of his ne'er-do-well brother's messes, but there's something about Katherine he just can't resist.

This book was wonderful, I really loved Katherine's character. She runs a successful textile business and is willing to do what it takes to make it a success. Christian is a former soldier and is trying to find a way to help other soldiers who have come home to nothing. Both of the protagonists are trying to do so much to help other people, and it's so nice that they can get their own HEA. 

I will definitely be reading the next book in this series when it's available! Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy!

Review - One Thing Leads to a Lover by Susanna Craig

 This book is great! I was excited to read One Thing Leads to a Lover after liking the first book in the series, Who's That Earl. The series is called Love and Let Spy, but the first book didn't have a whole lot of spying, so I wasn't expecting much here, either, but was very pleasantly surprised!

Amanda Bartlett is a young widow, and her wishes are constantly overridden by her overbearing mother and the guardian appointed to her sons by her late husband. Her life, as she sees it, is overwhelmingly dull. Until, that is, she finds an old French book by mistake. The book is actually a very important codebook, and Sir Langley Stanhope, a spy codenamed the Magpie, is tasked with getting it back. When the book goes missing, however, Amanda and Langley have to work together to retrieve it. There is a ton of action and, of course, romance.

Overall this was a great book! Craig does a great job of balancing plot and character development, with both progressing side-by-side. There is some on-page intimacy, and it's done very well. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review - The Worst Duke in the World by Lisa Berne

Lisa Berne's The Worst Duke in the World is the latest in her Penhallow Dynasty series, following the illustrious Penhallow family, and it's fantastic! Jane Kent is a long-lost Penhallow relative, and arrives at Surmont Hall where she finds the family she never knew she had. She also meets Anthony Farr, Duke of Radcliffe, who might be the worst duke in the world. His primary interests are his son, his prize-winning pig, and NOT getting remarried, regardless of what his sister has to say.

The way this book is written is terribly clever and endearing; it is almost stream-of-consciousness for whichever character's point of view we are in. Through this, we are able to see just how perfect for each other Jane and Anthony are, long before they realize it themselves. Both are incredibly positive and unique individuals, and often they have the same thoughts about things, which is cute.

I really enjoyed this book. It was very low-conflict, which is so relaxing to read at times. If you are looking for a feel-good, everybody-wins romance, this is the book for you! I would definitely recommend it, and look forward to the next book in the series.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review - Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh

Eva Leigh's Union of the Rakes series continues in Would I Lie to the Duke, which features Noel, the Duke of Rotherby and Jessica McGale. Jess is desperate to save her family business, so she masquerades as an aristocratic widow to gain entrance to an investors event to try to gain funding. There, she meets Noel, who is jaded with having sycophants follow him around all the time. Jess' no-nonsense attitude is a breath of fresh air and he is instantly drawn to her sharp intellect. Jess is also attracted to him, but knows that while she is deceiving him they can never have anything real together.

After reading the first book in this series, My Fake Rake, I was very eager to read Rotherby's story. This book was good, but also very unexpected. Jess and Noel were both very well-written, and the story moved quickly. Leigh added a lot of subtle nods to current trends (the Bazaar was very reminiscent of Shark Tank, and one of the prospective businesses was a communications organization making use of sparrows - called "Chirp") which was amusing.

Overall I would recommend this book, and am looking forward to the next book in the series. The group of gentleman - the Union of the Rakes - is such a great idea, and I love reading about how this group of men from very different walks of life are so supportive of each other over such a long time.

Thank you to Avon/HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my review!

Review - My Favorite Duke by Bianca Blythe

Bianca Blythe's My Favorite Duke is the second book in her Duke Hunter's Club series. The book focuses on Lady Juliet and the Duke of Ainsworth, Lucas. Juliet is betrothed to the Duke of Sherwood and couldn't be happier, except that he never attends events and she hasn't seen him in almost a year. Lucas poses as a bumbling botanist to hide his true vocation as an agent of the crown as well as a duke. When Juliet decides to sneak to the Duke of Sherwood's castle to investigate some untoward rumors she's heard, she is waylaid by Lucas, and she has to rethink who is, in fact, her favorite duke.

I really wanted to like this book, unfortunately it just didn't really work for me. The author had some really good ideas and all the bones of a great story were there, it just seemed like a lot of scenes were rushed, or not enough description was given to really become invested in the action. I couldn't really sympathize with either of the main characters, it seemed like the actions they took weren't considered (or the reader wasn't informed of their considerations). At one point Lucas tells Juliet that he loves her, and she says "we can be friends" brightly. Then he left. What did he feel about that, what did she feel about that? It's never explained, and was honestly a little frustrating. Again, the plot was solid with a lot of twists and turns, I just felt the characters needed to be fleshed out more so that we would be invested in the action.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy of this novel in exchange for my review.

Review - The Princess and the Rogue by Kate Bateman

Full of intrigue, The Princess and the Rogue is the third and final installment of Kate Bateman's Bow Street Bachelor's series, and the first of her books I've read. Not having read the first two books in the series, I was a little apprehensive that there might be references I'd miss or not be able to follow some of the plot. However, I'm very happy to say that The Princess and the Rogue works well as a standalone book. There are appearances by the main characters of the previous books, but their backstory is explained enough that it doesn't break the immersion of the book.

This was a very enjoyable book. The story starts out with a wonderful introduction to the heroine, Princess Anastasia Denisova, Anya, of Russia, on the run from an abusive would-be-fiance. You get the measure of her character right away, and can't stop rooting for her throughout the book. She ends up working as a companion to a dowager duchess in London and things are going well until the not-fiance turns up. The dowager convinces her great-nephew, Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, agent of Bow Street, and owner of a gambling club to protect her, without disclosing her true identity as a princess.

Bateman does a great job in developing both of these characters, and setting up their romance. The climax of the book was utterly engaging, and I couldn't put the book down for at least the last 50 pages. Even knowing that Sebastien and Anya are going to get their happily-ever-after, it was still hard to see how it could be possible at times.

There were a lot of really interesting references to Russian traditions and customs, which was very intriguing and not something that is typical in a Regency romance. It was obvious that a lot of research went in to this book.

I would recommend The Princess and the Rogue, and will likely be reading more of Kate Bateman in the future as a result of reading this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy!

Review - Never Kiss a Duke by Megan Frampton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first book in Megan Frampton's Hazards of Dukes series, Never Kiss a Duke, centers on ex-duke Sebastian de Silva and gambling-house owner Miss Ivy.

The first page of the book starts with Sebastian, Duke of Hasford, learning that he is in fact, not the Duke, and is in fact illegitimate. I was hooked from there! His friends take him out to the up-and-coming gambling house, Miss Ivy's to console him. Ivy, the proprietress, was raised among the aristocracy but lost everything, and (literally) gambled everything to ensure the survival of herself and her younger sister. Now she is running a successful gambling club, and hires Sebastian to help implement new ideas to increase the profits of the club.

This was the first book of Frampton's that I've read, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was very pleasantly surprised. She does an excellent job navigating Sebastian's journey from Duke to common man; the growth that he goes through feels organic and not without missteps. Ivy didn't feel quite as fleshed out as a character but was relatable and likable nonetheless.

The ending of Never Kiss a Duke felt a bit rushed, and the transition of the main characters from attraction to lust to love felt a little lacking, but otherwise it was a great read. There are so many colorful side characters as well that I can't wait to return to this world.

Would recommend!

Review - The Laird Takes a Bride by Lisa Berne

The Laird Takes a Bride by Lisa Berne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Laird Takes a Bride, the second Penhallow Dynasty novel by author Lisa Berne, is vastly different than the first novel in the series, You May Kiss the Bride, in the best way. From the beginning, I was hooked on the characters of Fiona Douglass and Alasdair Penhallow, and couldn't wait to see how they got to their happily-ever-after.

It was another long, kind of winding story, similar to the first, however the characters felt much more fleshed out and three-dimensional, which made all the difference. Berne gave the reader perspectives from both protagonists both together and apart, which was great at developing them into real people.

An archaic clan law stipulates that Alasdair Penhallow, the laird, must wed one of the unmarried daughters of the clans. Fiona Douglass is one of those daughters, and has no interest in marrying the laird. A series of events take place (along with some truly well-written banter by Berne) that lead to Fiona being the only choice available, so reluctantly they wed.

What follows is a series of ups and downs in their relationship that will leave your head spinning, culminating in a very satisfying happily-ever-after. Would recommend.

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Review: You May Kiss the Bride - Lisa Berne

You May Kiss the Bride by Lisa Berne
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

You May Kiss the Bride is the first in Lisa Berne's Penhallow Dynasty series. The story focuses on Gabriel Penhallow, a very wealthy and prominent gentleman in search of a bride, and Livia Stuart, the orphaned country girl he accidentally gets engaged to.

The plot of this novel is very long and rambling, and seems to get lost completely at times. Overall summed up: guy reluctantly gets married, girl agrees. Unfortunately I could not bring myself to like either of the main characters. Gabriel seemed for the majority of the book to be nothing more than a puppet of his overbearing grandmother, and it never felt like the reader got a good sense of who he was as a person outside of interactions with Livia. Livia, the heroine, started out plucky and courageous, eager to stand up for herself, but it felt like a quarter of the way into the book she became a whipped puppy who only lashed out occasionally, and blended into the woodwork the rest of the time.

I will be continuing the Penhallow Dynasty series, and am hopeful that the subsequent books are a little better.

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Review - The Lord I Left by Scarlett Peckham

The Lord I Left by Scarlett Peckham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the third book in her Secrets of Charlotte Street series, Scarlett Peckham tells the story of a minister who preaches to prostitutes and a woman who aspires to be a whipping governess - a most unlikely duo, but somehow Peckham weaves a tale that is both believable and full of emotion.

The most striking thing about this novel was how real the characters felt while you were reading. Lord Lieutenant Henry Evesham, a Methodist evangelical, who had appeared as an antagonist in the previous book in the series (The Earl I Ruined), is in this novel humanized as a man who is constantly struggling between faith and earthly desires. Both from his point of view (full of parenthetical asides that add needed levity to an otherwise heavy book) and from snippets of his journal, we see him grappling with himself and his faith in a way that feels fully authentic. The heroine, Alice Hull, who is a housekeeper at the highly secretive Charlotte Street whipping club, also deals with her own issues of lost faith and balancing one’s own desires with doing what one believes to be the right thing.

Overall this is another excellent book by Scarlett Peckham. As in the previous two books in the series, this novel is especially angst-ridden, and it is a hard-won battle for the protagonists to get to their happy-ever-after. In the end, though, the struggle (and the read) is worth it! Can’t wait to see what this author does next!


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Review - The Taming of a Scottish Princess by Karen Hawkins

The Taming of a Scottish Princess by Karen Hawkins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Karen Hawkins wraps up her four-book Hurst Amulet series with this anticlimactic entry, The Taming of a Scottish Princess. The story features Michael Hurst, adventurer, and his personal assistant, Jane Smythe-Houghton. The imprisonment of Michael and Jane in Egypt was the catalyst for the series, sending his siblings on quests to acquire an artifact to secure his release, so that he could continue his quest for the long-lost Hurst Amulet. Throughout the other three books, chapters were headed with excerpts from Michael’s letters and personal diary, so that readers had a feel for his character and relationship with his assistant Jane before their introduction in this book.

Unfortunately, the snippets of Michael’s letters were more revealing, and seemingly at odds with his actual persona and own internal dialogue. The picture painted of this exciting world-traveler didn’t align at all with the hero of this book. Earlier excerpts showed him to be devoted to his family and in awe of the wonders of the world, but when he is given a chance to actually interact with his family he does so with near-contempt, and treats the people who share their world and make his travels possible with disdain. Jane, previously described as industrious and level-headed, comes across as impulsive and lacking in true depth.

Interactions between the hero and heroine felt forced, which was very disappointing, since the established frame of their relationship should have lead to an epic romance. Instead it felt predictable and unsatisfying. Too much remained unaddressed, and it felt like there should have been more conversations, rather than banter.

The driving plot of the series, the Hurst Amulet, turned out to be little more than a McGuffin, and the storyline was concluded within a single chapter. The “adventure” never really felt very dangerous or that there was very much at stake. The unanswered questions from previous books were never addressed, and instead new characters with inconsequential problems were introduced.

In all, a disappointingly lackluster conclusion to a series that started with a great premise.


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Review - A Most Dangerous Profession by Karen Hawkins

A Most Dangerous Profession by Karen Hawkins
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A Most Dangerous Profession, Karen Hawkins’ third book in the Hurst Amulet series, is something of a disappointment. The characters are forgettable and little happens to further the overall plot of the series.

The hero and heroine of the novel are Robert Hurst and Moira MacAllister Hurst, former lovers and spies who also happen to be married, though they’ve not seen each other for years. Together they must find a mysterious onyx box that is tied into the mystery of the lost Hurst amulet. Each have their own motivations for wanting the box, however Moira’s brutal employer has kidnapped their daughter, who Robert knows nothing about. They must work together despite their past grievances to secure the box from a ruthless collector with unscrupulous morals.

This book was not up to the caliber of Hawkins’ other works. The circumstances of the protagonists were glaringly similar to the previous book in the series - former lovers separated by time who both still harbor strong feelings for one another. This would not be quite so tedious had the very last book in the series had the same premise. The characters show promise of being well-rounded, however through their internal monologues they come across as very one-dimensional. The interesting questions about their characters are never answered, either internally or to each other. The romance feels forced - other than a physical attraction there seems little to draw them together besides their child, which the hero didn’t even know existed until the beginning of the book. The exciting parts of their relationship (both being spies, political intrigue, etc) were either not touched upon or barely glossed over in recollections. We never learn what it is that Robert actually does for the Home Office, or why Moira was pretending to be a Russian princess.

The book is decidedly plot-driven, rather than character-driven; however the plot falls flat as well. The urgency to retrieve the box feels contrived, especially since months have passed since the Hursts’ brother Michael was imprisoned. Many questions were left unanswered - why does the hidden antagonist of both this and the previous book seek the box? Why did the Egyptian sulfi who held Michael? Hopefully these questions will be answered in the final installment.

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Review - A Date at the Altar by Cathy Maxwell

A Date at the Altar by Cathy Maxwell


Cathy Maxwell’s final book in her Marrying the Duke series, A Date at the Altar, is wonderful. Maxwell’s masterful ability to create compelling characters and tell a heartbreakingly beautiful story is fully on display here.

The book features the twice-jilted Duke of Baynton, Gavin Whitridge, and struggling actress/playwright Sarah Pettijohn. Though they have continuously been at loggerheads, they enter into an agreement which is mutually beneficial, only to find so much more.

In this book Maxwell turns traditional tropes on their heads - the hero is earnest, open, and an innocent, while the heroine is distrusting and emotionally scarred. Together they must conquer seemingly insurmountable circumstances in order to find their happiness.

One of the best things about this book, and in fact most of Cathy Maxwell’s books, are the characters. She has an uncommon talent of creating protagonists that are fleshed-out, realistic, and worth caring about. While the setting and circumstances are far removed from modern sensibilities, the emotions and questions raised are not. The driving question of this book asks what is worth sacrificing for love, be it be hopes, honor, duty, soul.

This book is eminently worth reading, and reading again.

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Review - Scandal in Scotland by Karen Hawkins

Scandal in Scotland by Karen Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Scandal in Scotland, Karen Hawkins’ second installment in the Hurst Amulet series, is a fast-paced adventure that begins where the previous book, One Night in Scotland, ended. This story follows Captain William Hurst, merchant sea captain, and Marcail Beauchamp, an acclaimed actress. The two estranged lovers are thrust together after years apart when Marcail is blackmailed into stealing an artifact from William, who needs it to ensure his brother’s release from imprisonment in Egypt. William pursues Marcail and the artifact is lost, and together they must race across England and Scotland to get it back.

Hawkins competently weaves a story of young love lost and regained, illuminating the difference maturity can make on opinions and emotions. Hawkins has a masterful control of dialogue, making every interaction feel organic and authentic.

The driving force in this series, the search for Hurst amulet and the mysterious onyx box that is somehow connected to it, is only lightly touched upon in this book. This is understandable given the occupations and natures of the protagonists, but beyond a brief revelation that plot was not much furthered. Hopefully that will be remedied in the final two installments of the series.

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Review - One Night in Scotland by Karen Hawkins

The first book in Karen Hawkins’ Hurst Amulet series, One Night in Scotland, sets the tone for the upcoming novels and promises an exciting adventure with the younger Hurst siblings. This first entry centers on Miss Mary Hurst, whose Egyptologist and adventurer brother is being held prisoner until he returns a rare artifact. Mary sets out to recover the artifact to send it on its way to free him. The artifact is in the keeping of one of her brother’s colleagues, Lord Angus Hay, Earl of Erroll. Angus refuses to believe Mary is who she says and in turn imprisons her in his castle. Mary, not one to be so easily cowed, sets out to prove her identity, or barring that, to refuse to be ignored.

Hawkins does a masterful job of creating lovable, realistic characters with believable motivations and actions. These together build what a relationship that feels more organic and genuine than in many other books. The protagonists share interests and ambitions, and together have meaningful conversations as well as healthy disagreements. Of course, there is a healthy dose of lust as well, but it is presented in a way to add to admiration and authentic regard, rather than the only commonality between the hero and heroine.

Overall this is a very enjoyable, fast paced read. The ending felt a bit rushed with some loose ends left hanging, but hopefully future books will see those taken care of.

Review - The Laird Who Loved Me by Karen Hawkins

In the conclusion to the MacLean Curse series, Karen Hawkins masterfully weaves a tale of desire and yearning, tempered with resentment and doubt. Laird Alexander MacLean and Miss Caitlyn Hurst meet again after a brief but disastrous London flirtation at a house party. The two headstrong protagonists challenge each other to a quest with stakes that will change their lives forever.

Hawkins does an exceptional job of personifying her characters; the struggles, both internal and external that they face feel realistic and utterly believable. These characters are humans, with both strengths and very real flaws. Indeed, it is their shortcomings that make Alexander and Caitlyn so compelling to follow.

This book, while able to be read on it’s own, ties in heavily with the previous book in the series, Sleepless in Scotland, where Caitlyn’s actions have serious repercussions for both her sister and MacLean’s brother.

Overall, a fun, fast-paced read with believable characters and an exciting premise. Would definitely recommend.