Posts Tagged: historical romance

Love Letters by the Sea by Erica Ridley

06 Apr, 2022 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Love Letters by the Sea by Erica Ridley

Love Letters by the Sea

on April 12th 2022
Pages: 202
Buy the BookGoodreads
What happens when the proprietress of Siren's Retreat discovers the charming romantic she's been corresponding with is same villain turning her beloved property into a gaming hell?

When not responding to advice column letters, entrepreneurial widow Mrs. Deborah Cartwright runs bright, beautiful Siren’s Retreat, legendary for helping her lovelorn guests find their perfect match. Deborah experienced love years before, and lightning does not strike twice. Although there might be a light flirtation with a certain anonymous letter-writer she’s definitely not falling for, there’s no time for romance. Not whilst a heartless blackguard is in town to wrest her beloved inn out from under her!

Clever, career-minded Mr. Patrick Gretham is the trusted man-of-business for a powerful lord, who is eager to turn this perfectly situated property wasted on lovebirds into a gambling hell the likes of which no one leaves with their fortunes intact. Over Deborah’s dead body! The beautiful proprietress hates everything Patrick stands for and will fight him every step of the way. Except when they find themselves on opposite sides of a plume. Or falling into each other’s embrace…

Review

The last in the Siren’s Retreat series focuses on the proprietress behind the hotel that promises to bring people together. Deborah Cartwright is a widow who is convinced lightning doesn’t strike twice when it comes to love. She and her husband were madly in love and helped others find their soulmates at their retreat. In steps Patrick Gretham who is the man of business for an Earl. He’s dead set on obtaining the property for his boss to ensure his future. In its place a gaming hall will be built. That plan goes off the rails when he meets Deborah. Can he risk his occupation and financial future for love?

A slow burn historical romance, it was clean and sweet. I enjoyed that the main characters are older and one is a widow. It’s nice to see them grow together a partners, working side by side. It’s also fun to see a woman take the reins in an era where she wasn’t given an equal chance due to the entailment of the property to her brother-in-law. I haven’t read the rest of the series, but I’m looking forward to it after this and having read Erica’s Wylde Winchesters series. Endnotes of the ARC also had links to free reads by Erica Ridley, so I’m adding more of her books to my TBR pile. Thanks to Netgalley and Webmotion for the advanced reading copy for review.

Content: clean, off page mention of intimacy, kissing.

Four Weeks of Scandal by Megan Frampton

09 Mar, 2022 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Four Weeks of Scandal

Hazards of Dukes #5

by Megan Frampton

ebook, 384 pages

Expected publication: June 28th 2022

by Avon Books

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If you love the sparkle of Tessa Dare and the wit of Sarah MacLean, then you won’t want to miss this newest historical romance by Megan Frampton, who returns with a delicious story about a will in dispute, a four-week bargain, and a pretend engagement with romantic consequences.

It only takes one moment to cause a scandal…and four weeks to live it down!

Week one: Lovely, lively Octavia Holton arrives in the village, determined to claim her inheritance–the home she grew up in with her late father. Surely he meant for his daughter to have the property, and owning it means she could fix it up, sell it, and use the money to pay off her debts. But when she arrives, she discovers the house is also claimed–by one Gabriel Fallon.

Week two: Gabriel claims his father won the property in a bet, but he can’t bring himself to toss Octavia out on her very delightful derriére, so he makes her a four-week bargain: Together they’ll pretend to be engaged, all the while seeking out any will, letter, or document that proves who gets the ownership.

Weeks three and four: But that means togetherness…a lot of togetherness, and long days–and evenings–in each other’s company. The pair seems destined to “duke it out,” staking their claims…but it’s all too soon that they realize their rivalry might lead to something much more intimate. And suddenly four weeks seems like a long time. And yet not enough.

Review

I’ve read all the other books in this series, so was happy to see Octavia’s story as the latest installment. She’s Ivy’s sister from book one and has taken over the gaming den her older sister started in London. Both girls were forced to start over on their own after their father wagered Ivy in a gambling bet. Octavia has taken over more of the responsibility now that her sister is married, and she’s showed up to their childhood home in hopes to find something of worth to pay of their creditors. She fully expects to take over the home now that her father is dead, but there’s someone there…in the pond. Such a fun start to the book and a memorable introduction to Gabriel. The two strike up a deal which turns into a fake engagement, rather ironic, since they could have indeed been married had Octavia’s sister lost her bet many years ago.

Gabriel is a kindhearted scholar who will do just about anything for anyone. Octavia a headstrong, impulsive and sometimes selfish woman who has moments of personal growth. Overall, they felt a bit mismatched in commitment and the sacrifices they are willing to make along the way. Gabriel’s actions also do not match his character, he comes across as two completely different people at times during their physical relationship. I was more endeared to him than to Octavia, who I liked in the previous books of the series. It was so fun to see Sebastian make a re-appearance in this, book 5. Perfect dialogue between him and Gabriel. I do wish we could see more of how things go between the two main characters after the end and epilogue since they have just barely expressed their mutual feelings to one another. Such a good series, read them all! Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Content: adult

Book Review- Lydia by Wanda Luce

14 Sep, 2011 by in lydia, regency, walnut springs press, wnada luce 1 comment

Lydia
by Wanda Luce
Paperback, 358 pages
Published June 16th 2011

by Walnut Springs Press
ISBN 13978935217978
Source: publisher
4 stars

At six and twenty, the impoverished Lydia Hathaway has endured bleak years of heartbreak, longing for a love that never came. Her deceased father’s foolhardiness has left her family bankrupt, and Lydia is eventually left no alternative but to take a position as the companion and governess to Susan Ashcroft of Danbury Park in Surrey. During the first days at her post, Lydia pines bitterly for a life she believes forever lost. Anxious for peace, she rambles one morning across the muddy wilds of the Ashcroft estate where she has a most unimaginable encounter with the notorious Lord Connor Denton. As their paths continue to cross, Lydia falls ever deeper in love with the charming rogue while battling against his growing assault on her heart. In spite of his forward attentions, she considers his behavior toward her as nothing less than idle flirtation. And why should she think otherwise? As the wealthy son of an earl, Lord Denton may choose from among the most beautiful women of England’s first circles–none to which Lydia claims inclusion. In spite of her indignation over Lord Denton’s rakish maneuvering, she anguishes beneath the reality that he is forever beyond her reach. Tormented in a relentless battle to suppress a love she cannot overcome, Lydia resolves to leave the Ashcrofts and Danbury Park forever. After all, she is nothing to Denton–isn’t she?

I make no attempt to hide that I am a huge Jane Austen fan so when I got this one in the mail I had to read it right away. Lydia feels like a cross between Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility and is written in the language and style of the Regency Era. The landscape includes sweeping vistas of English countryside, old historic broken down castles, a bookstore with leather bound tomes and docks harboring slave ships. Everything about Lydia immerses you in the period it is written. It feels authentic and weaves historical fact and figures into the storyline without being dry. The language is flowery, at times slow paced, but with Lord Denton around to stir things up you’ll want to keep reading. He’s the perfect mix of gorgeous gentleman and fiery politician with a romantic side and witty sense of humor. He’s also way out of reach for Lydia as he’s in the highest social circles and she has been reduced to a governess after her father’s death. The two literally run into each other in the countryside as Lydia is returning from one of her adventurous jaunts in the woods. From then on you’ll be pining for them to run into each other even more. It also helps that Lydia has Charles around a resident at the Ashcroft’s. Brotherly kindness, absolute loyalty and endearing compliments make him a strong male character as well.

I easily lost myself in this one. It took me less than 24 hours to finish and I would recommend it to adults as a clean Regency romance. My only hesitation with it was that the ending seemed rushed and too neatly tied up. At times the main heroine’s self depricating and longing thoughts also seemed to drone on a little bit. I personally would have liked the book better without the Epilogue because I feel it tipped it out of something I would let my teen read into better suited for an adult. But overall, if you are a sucker for anything Jane Austen you will be a huge fan of Lydia. It would make a great movie and I’m hoping to see the author Wanda Luce release more books along the same vein. She makes history and social progress interesting as she mixes it with just the right sprinkle of romance. Thanks so much to Walnut Springs for another great release! Learn more at Wanda Luce’s website.