Posts Tagged: Netgalley

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 Book • Goodreads
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.

The Return of the Duke by Lorraine Heath

05 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.

Return of the Duke

Once Upon a Dukedom #3

by Lorraine Heath 

Hardcover, 304 pages

Expected publication: July 26th 2022

by Avon Books

ISBN: 0063243202 

Amazon (ad) * Goodreads

In the thrilling third book in New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath’s Once Upon a Dukedom series, the dashing son of a disgraced duke teams up with a sultry beauty to thwart an assassination plot against Queen Victoria.

When his father, the Duke of Wolfford, is hanged for an assassination attempt on Queen Victoria, Marcus Stanwick is stripped of everything. Vowing to return honor to his family, he seeks to expose the others involved in the treasonous plot and bring them to justice. His search forces him to turn to a woman he despises for her unforgiveable betrayal–a woman known as the heartless harlot.

Harboring secrets, Esme Lancaster has her own reasons for wanting to discover who’s behind the conspiracy that’s still afoot. She doesn’t trust Marcus but can’t deny the handsome devil makes her wonder if she does indeed possess a heart, one he could very easily steal.

As their hunt for the truth leads them into danger, Marcus finds Esme isn’t cold and calculating as he’d assumed but fire and brimstone, with courage and determination to match his own. Soon, they’re unable to deny their growing desire for each other. But giving into temptation comes at a cost, and they must decide if love is worth the risk of losing their one chance for redemption.

Review

Lorraine Heath is one of my all-time favorite go to authors for historical romance. Her Dutchess Hunt series installment number three starts with Wolff, Marcus Stanwick coming out of the shadows to confront his father’s mistress Esme. Living in hiding, he is out to clear his and his family’s names as accessories to treason. Esme is not at all what he is bargaining for. She’s younger than he thought, and the chemistry at their meeting in undeniable. Beneath the surface of her outward facade is much more than meets the eye. The two work together well as a team. There were a few stale moments with their informant “O,” but overall, I tore through this book. It’s good to see Marcus come out of his hardened shell.

Readers will also lean about the relationship between Queen Victoria and her personal guardsman as well as early spy trinkets in the final chapters/ epilogue. Victorian Romance with a twist! I cannot wait for the other characters to tell their stories and the Chessmen. Bring on more books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a free advanced reading copy of this book for review purposes.

A Daring Pursuit by Kate Bateman

08 Mar, 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.

five-stars

A Daring Pursuit

Ruthless Rivals #2

by Kate Bateman 

Mass Market Paperback

 320 pages

Expected publication: May 24th 2022

by St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads * Amazon (ad)

The Davies and Montgomery families have been locked in an ancient feud. But it’s a thin line between love and hate in Kate Bateman’s A Daring Pursuit.

TWO ENEMIES
Carys Davies is doing everything in her power to avoid marriage. Staying single is the only way to hide the secret that could ruin her—and her family—if it was revealed. For the past two seasons she’s scandalized the ton with her outrageous outfits and brazen ways in a futile bid to deter potential suitors. Outwardly confident and carefree, inside she’s disillusioned with both men and love. There’s only one person who’s never bought her act—the only man who makes her heart race: Tristan Montgomery, one of her family’s greatest rivals.

ONE SCANDALOUS BARGAIN
Wickedly proper architect Tristan needs a respectable woman to wed, but he’s never stopped wanting bold, red-headed Carys. When she mockingly challenges him to show her what she’s missing by not getting married, Tristan shocks them both by accepting her indecent proposal: one week of clandestine meetings, after which they’ll go their separate ways. But kissing each other is almost as much fun as arguing, and their affair burns hotter than either of them expects. When they find themselves embroiled in a treasonous plot, can they trust each other with their hearts, their secrets…and their lives? 

Review

The Davies and Montgomery families are at it again! I didn’t think I could love this one more than book one, but I was wrong! Gryff and Meg are married and the multi-generational feud continues on in an enemies to more take two. The banter between Tristan and Carys is witty, funny and perfect. The two of them talking to each other while the reader has insight to their thoughts and things unspoken make for an entertaining read. Carys is fire in her second London season, turning heads with her outrageous outfits. She’s been spurned and is convinced she’d rather not marry. Tristan is her sworn enemy for life, but the two strike up a deal, and they are both in so much trouble!

So far my favorite read of the year. Carys is sassy and smart, Tristan cool, calm and collected…until he isn’t. Cary’s brothers are over protective without being heavy handed and defend her to the end. The last few scenes steal the book. Tristan’s elderly aunts are hilarious. Welsh and English lands and custom clash with humor more often than not. I will be looking for the next in the series and thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reading proof. So good~

Content: adult