Rosie’s #Bookreview of #RegencyRomance THE EARL AND THE SECRET PAST by Janice Preston

The Earl With The Secret Past by Janice Preston

3.5 stars

The Earl And The Secret Past is a Regency style historical romance and opens with a prologue. Adam is an apprentice architect who has fallen in love with Kitty, the daughter of a peer, but they are too far apart socially for a serious relationship to be permitted, so Adam makes a decision that leaves Kitty broken-hearted.

Fifteen years later Adam is shocked to discover that he is the long lost son of an Earl. In London he meets Kitty again; she is now a widow and Adam wants to re-ignite their relationship, but a lot has happened in those lost years.

I have read quite a few books by this author and I usually like her style of writing, however, with this story I struggled to connect to the characters, which was a shame because the overall story arc worked well. There were a few occasions where very little happened and some of the detail felt a little repetitive.  Also I found Adam’s Scottish dialogue rather annoying; there was too much of it for my taste. So overall, an okay story in this genre, but it wasn’t my favourite novel from this author.

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An unexpected inheritance

An explosive reunion

Hardworking architect Adam Monroe’s world is shaken when he inherits an Earldom! Thrust into the ton, he bumps into widow, Kitty Fenton – his lost love. Years before, he’d refused to elope with Kitty to save her from ruin, and was heartbroken she’d married so soon after he left. Perhaps fate has given him a chance to discover the truth – after all beneath the hurt the sparks of attraction are as strong as ever…

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Rosie’s #Bookreview Of #RegencyRomance THE SCOUNDREL’S BARTERED BRIDE by @VirginiaHeath_

The Scoundrel’s Bartered Bride by Virginia Heath

4.5 stars

The Scoundrel’s Bartered Bride is a Regency style historical romance. Lady Lydia Barton’s family are desperate; they plan a marriage contract for Lydia to pay off their multiple debts. Their only choice is an odious lecher – the Marquess of Kelvedon would certainly have enough money to clear the family debts and, sadly, Lydia’s family care little that he would be a dreadful husband for her.

Owen Wolfe spent seven years in a penal colony for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he owns a high end gambling hall in London, but he began life as a stable-hand. Lydia Barton’s impending nuptials interest him, enough for him to put his own offer of marriage on the table. Now there is a choice: an old man with bad breath and a wandering eye, or an ex-convict.

I liked the dark brooding and mysterious Owen Wolfe; his years spent in the Antipodes were an unusual theme for this genre. I also enjoyed the sub-characters who were part of his ‘new family’; they were a fun and lively mix.

Lydia and Owen’s relationship had several expected highs and lows, but they still managed to add a fresh feel to the story arc with their surprising responses to situations. I liked this and read almost all of it in one sitting; a very easy book with which to escape for a few hours.

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Marriage…to the highest bidder!

Lady Lydia Barton cannot seem to avoid Owen Wolfe since he’s returned after being wrongly transported for stealing her family’s jewels! But Lydia has more pressing problems, like her impending arranged marriage. Until Owen makes her father a counteroffer for her hand. Is Owen purely after her society connections, or dare Lydia hope that the charming stable boy she once loved is still within her ruthless, wealthy new husband?

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Rosie’s #Bookreview Of #RegencyRomance BEAUTY AND THE BROODING LORD by @SarahMRomance

Beauty and the Brooding Lord by Sarah Mallory

4 stars

Beauty And The Brooding Lord is a Regency romance. Serena is fast approaching spinsterhood unless she can find a husband. However, she doesn’t want to marry someone stable and conventional; she is drawn to men of rakish behaviour, although she knows that they may be too much of a risk. What she would really like to do is ‘sample the goods’ before choosing.

Serena arranges an unchaperoned visit to the Vauxhall pleasure gardens with Sir Timothy, but events take a sinister turn. Luckily, Lord Rufus Quinn, known for his rudeness and cold-heart, uses his sense of honour to make a daring rescue and save Serena’s reputation.

I enjoyed the story of Serena and Quinn and how their relationship grew. My only regret was that the ending felt rushed and a little unconvincing, which was a shame as the rest of the story suited the genre well.

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Ruined by a rake

Rescued by the reclusive baron!

Following the death of his fiancée, Lord Quinn swore off all matters of the heart.

But when he happens upon an innocent lady being assaulted, his sense of honor insists he step in and rescue her…even if that means marriage to protect Serena’s reputation!

But his new wife remains distant, a stranger to his bed. Can Quinn help Serena fight her demons, and finally defeat his own?

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Rosie’s #Bookreview Of Regency #Romance A Scandalous Winter Wedding by @MargueriteKaye #fridayreads

A Scandalous Winter Wedding (Mills & Boon Historical) by Marguerite Kaye

4 stars

A Scandalous Winter Wedding is a Regency romance and is part of the Matches Made In Scandal series. This is the story behind the infamous woman known as The Procurer, someone who can make the impossible, possible.

When Kirstin Blair reads the details of the latest request for her Procurer’s services, she is shocked to see the name of a man she met six years ago. Someone who has frequently filled her mind.

Cameron Dunbar is desperate for help; his niece has gone missing and the need to keep the details secret have lead him to The Procurer, because of her reputation for outstanding discretion. When Kirstin decides to take this case, she keeps her identity as its founder a secret. To Cameron, she is just a woman he met six years ago, who happens to work for the infamous Procurer. Together they follow clues to the missing girl. But their joint past threatens their business relationship, while Kirstin hides a deeper secret from Cameron.

The series, so far, has hinted at the story behind The Procurer, and now it’s time to tell her tale. This is an ideal conclusion to a string of stories that have taken romance and secrets to some of Europe’s well-known cites.

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A Matches Made in Scandal story: Kirstin Blair has spent seven years trying to forget brooding Cameron Dunbar. Now self-made man Cameron needs her help to recover his missing niece, and Kirstin must face the truth: seeing him again sparks the same irresistible attraction that first brought them together! She must decide… Resist, or give in to temptation and risk Cameron discovering everything she’s fought so hard to protect…

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Rosie’s #Bookreview of Regency #Romance His Rags To Riches Contessa by @MargueriteKaye

His Rags-To-Riches Contessa (Mills & Boon Historical) by Marguerite Kaye

4 stars

This Rags-To-Riches Contessa is a Regency era romance set in Venice.

It opens in the infamous streets of The Rookery of St. Giles’, London; a dangerous place. A woman known as The Procurer has been asked to employ a woman with both acting and card-sharp skills.

Becky Wickes is hiding from the authorities after a public scandal where she was accused of fleecing a minor member of the Royal family. If she’s caught, she’ll be hanged. So when The Procurer offers her the chance of escape, she gladly takes the job.

Luca del Pietro wants Becky to make a man destitute; a man who murdered his father. By day she’ll be pale, shy cousin Rebecca, but by night she’ll be disguised as the mysterious card player, The Queen Of Coins.

The book has a colourful and opulent setting. Luca wants Becky to play cards during the weeks of Carnevale, when Venice is alive with masks, costumes and when gambling is allowed. I really enjoyed all the descriptions of Venice and its society, particularly the waterways, palaces and the idea of rooftop gardens in a city of water. This was a refreshing scenery change to other books I’ve read in this genre. Recommended to readers who enjoy historical romance.

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A Matches Made in Scandal story: To catch his father’s murderer, broodingly arrogant Conte Luca del Pietro requires help from a most unlikely source—Becky Wickes, London’s finest card-sharp. Against the decadence of Carnival, Becky’s innocence and warmth captivates Luca, but as their chemistry burns hotter the stakes in their perilous game are getting higher. For Luca is no longer playing only for justice—but also to win Becky’s heart…

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My Review of #Regency #Romance Lady Cecily and the Mysterious Mr. Gray by @JaniceGPreston

Lady Cecily and the Mysterious Mr. Gray by Janice Preston

4 stars

Lady Cecily And The Mysterious Mr Gray is a Regency romance and book #3 of The Beauchamp Betrothals series.

Thirty year old Lady Cecily attends the marriage of her brother Vernon. He is the second family member to find love in recent months. The wedding atmosphere is beautiful, but makes Cecily feel disheartened about her own future prospects. She fears she will become the spinster aunt; always the companion, but never the one with a family of her own.

Lost in thought, Cecily is unaware of the wedding guest seated next to her in the church. Mr Gray (later to be known as Zach) is the man who recently saved the life of the bride’s brother. They meet later in the gardens, where Gray sees through Cecily’s inner turmoil. Their conversation flows easily and Cecily find herself opening up about her fears.

Zach is half Romany and his social label has moulded the man he has become. Currently he chooses to live freely, putting a troubled past behind him. But he can’t get Cecily out of his head. However, they can never be together unless he claims his true ancestral rights, but first he must fight for Cecily and face past torments.

This book can be read as a stand-alone; however, to get the most from the series I recommend reading them in order. This way, the reader will have a good understanding of the secondary characters, which will improve with the overall experience. I do like this author’s work; there are always some unusual characters or animals which add to the storyline, making it a memorable read.

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Love or family…How can she choose between them?Lady Cecily Beauchamp has always put her family first. Until she falls under the spell of the mysterious Zachary Gray–a man of Romany descent. Knowing her family will forbid their match, Cecily steels herself to do her duty and marry someone else. Only she finds herself irresistibly drawn to Zach as the spark between them ignites a passion neither can deny!

I’m Janice and I’ve been writing emotional, sensual and satisfying Regency romances for Harlequin Mills and Boon (HMB) Historicals since 2014. I love to write books with linked characters, so you’ll often find old friends popping up in my stories!

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Cinderella and the Duke (the Beauchamp Betrothals #1) by @JaniceGPreston @HarlequinBooks

Cinderella and the Duke by Janice Preston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Four point five stars.

Cinderella And The Duke is a Regency romance from Mills & Boon / Harlequin. The book is set in 1812, with dual locations of Buckinghamshire and London.

Thirty year old Rosalind Allen has complicated family relations. She has run away, with her crippled brother, to the safety of a house on the Foxbourne Manor estate, and sent her step-sister, Nell, to London to prepare for her first social season, hopefully in time to find a husband before Nell’s obnoxious guardian, Sir Peter Tadlow, can marry her off in a deal to pay off his gambling debts. Forever the ‘poor relatives’, Ros and Freddie lack the social standing to prevent Tadlow taking advantage of his guardian role.

Ros meets Antony Lascelles, the new owner of neighbouring Halsdon Manor, and Leo Beauchamp, the widowed Duke of Cheriton, who is visiting his cousin with friends who wish to buy horses from Ros’ family friend and landlord.

To protect herself and her siblings, Ros calls herself Mrs Pryce and makes it known that she is a widow. Leo too, prefers some anonymity whilst in the shires, using the name of one of his lesser titles. This way he hopes to prevent endless introductions to marriageable young ladies.

Ros and Leo meet at first by accident and then again when they rescue a young runaway child. Ros becomes quite attached to the child, who becomes an excuse for the pair to continue meeting and their friendship grows.

Messages from London have both Ros and Leo urgently heading to the capital. Ros must take the place of Nell’s chaperone for the season and Leo must attend to his family. But when they meet in society, long kept secrets come to the fore. Will they be able to trust each other? Will the gap in their social standing keep them apart?

A very well written story which I enjoyed, both settings worked well and the characters were easy to fall in love with. I enjoyed the part played by Hector the Wolfhound too. Definitely a book I would recommend for readers of this genre.

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Book Description

Falling for a duke in disguise!

Never welcomed into society circles, Rosalind Allen gave up her marriage prospects long ago–life has taught her she’ll only get hurt. So she’s shocked when an encounter with a mysterious stranger makes her long to reconsider…

Little does Rosalind know that her mystery man is Leo Beauchamp, Duke of Cheriton, traveling in disguise to evade the ladies of the ton! Impoverished Rosalind is the first woman to captivate Leo–but can he persuade this wary Cinderella to trust him with her heart?

About the author

I grew up in Wembley, North London, with a love of reading, writing stories and animals. After leaving school at eighteen, I moved to Devon and any thoughts of writing became lost in the hectic rush of life as a farmer’s wife, with two children and many animals to care for. When my children left home for university, I discovered a love of history and of the Regency period in particular and began to write seriously for the first time since my teens.
Real life then got in the way and I didn’t write again until 2009. I joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2012 and my first Regency romance was accepted for publication by Harlequin Mills & Boon in late 2013.
I now live in the West Midlands with my second husband and two cats and I continue to write Regency romances for Harlequin Mills & Boon.

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A Warriner To Rescue Her by @VirginiaHeath_ Regency #Romance series @HarlequinBooks

A Warriner to Rescue Her by Virginia Heath
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Warriner To Rescue Her is book #2 in the Wild Warriners Regency Romance series. This is the story of Captain James (Jamie) Warriner; injured in the Napoleonic war, James now lives on the family estate in Retford, Nottinghamshire.

When out riding one day he is forced to rescue a damsel stuck in an apple tree. Voluptuous Cassandra (Cassie) Reeves, daughter of the Rev Reeves, is new to the area. On a whim she had climbed the tree looking for apples for her horse.

Unaware of the reputation of the Warriners, Cassie visits them, next day, to apologise. She is warmly welcomed by Letty, Jamie’s sister-in-law, whilst Jamie hides his curiosity in harsh rebuffs. However, a subsequent visit with her “fire and brimstone” Reverend father is received much less favourably and Jamie finds himself hastily evicting the clergyman. Local gossip paints the Warriner family in a very bleak way, and the Reverend is quick to listen and judge Cassie’s new friends.

I really enjoyed this book. Jamie and Cassie both had secrets to overcome before their friendship could finally blossom. I’m glad the horses had star roles too; it added another layer to the budding romance. Another well written and enticing read in this winning series. Recommended to all those who enjoy romance with a Regency theme.

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Book Description

Tempted by the damsel in distress!

Captain James Warriner is startled to find a curvaceous beauty caught up a tree in his orchard! Despite his shattered leg, he rescues Miss Cassandra Reeves, then is determined to have nothing more to do with the enticing vicar’s daughter.

Except when Cassie seeks Jamie out to apologize, they find themselves persuaded to work together on her storybook. Secret liaisons with the dashing soldier make Cassie wish Jamie would rescue her once more…by making her his wife!

About the author

I live on the outskirts of London with my understanding husband and two, less understanding, teenagers.
After spending years teaching history, I decided to follow my dream of writing for Harlequin.
Now I spend my days happily writing regency romances, creating heroes that I fall in love with and heroines who inspire me.
When I’m not doing that, I like to travel to far off places, shop for things that I do not need or read romances written by other people.

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