[Review] A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby, by Vanessa Riley

Title A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby
Series: Rogues and Remarkable Women #1
Author: Vanessa Riley
Publisher: Zebra
Number of pages: 320
Publication date: June 30th 2020

Synopsis:

Created by a shrewd countess, The Widow’s Grace is a secret society with a mission: to help ill-treated widows regain their status, their families, and even find true love again—or perhaps for the very first time...

When headstrong West Indian heiress Patience Jordan questioned her English husband's mysterious suicide, she lost everything: her newborn son, Lionel, her fortune—and her freedom. Falsely imprisoned, she risks her life to be near her child—until The Widow's Grace gets her hired as her own son’s nanny. But working for his unsuspecting new guardian, Busick Strathmore, Duke of Repington, has perils of its own. Especially when Patience discovers his military strictness belies an ex-rake of unswerving honor—and unexpected passion...

A wounded military hero, Busick is determined to resolve his dead cousin’s dangerous financial dealings for Lionel’s sake. But his investigation is a minor skirmish compared to dealing with the forthright, courageous, and alluring Patience. Somehow, she's breaking his rules, and sweeping past his defenses. Soon, between formidable enemies and obstacles, they form a fragile trust—but will it be enough to save the future they long to dare together?

Review:

I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.

This was my first book by Vanessa Riley and I was super excited to read this book, as it is a diverse historical romance, and I’ll admit right away: most authors I read are not diverse and/or do not write diverse stories/characters. However, I’m trying to improve myself and this was my first eARC of a historical romance that featured more diversity.

The heroine, Patience, is from an island in Demerara (currently Guyana, South America), and the hero, Busick Strathmore, Duke of Repington is a war-hero from England.

I really, really, really wanted to like this book. But I found it tasking to finish it, and it just didn’t really work for me.

First of all, the book is written in the 1st person AND in the 3rd person, which makes it confusing, and honestly, it started to give me headaches with its changing the whole time.

Patience, although I can understand her struggle, and her reasons, was just a bit annoying sometimes, and in the end I just didn’t like her.

Busick was okay, not a great hero either. He’s an amputee, a war hero, a very strict, very protective, very organized man. My favourite part about him was the love he had for his ward, Lionel – Patience’s baby.

For me… we don’t actually see a romance develop between the main characters, we are simply told they started to fall in love, and there is no chemistry between them.

The mystery in the whole book just was too much, and yet left questions unanswered at the end.

I liked and respect that the author explored difficult themes (such as war wounds, mental health, the injustices in England during the 19th, particularly regarding women, and even more regarding POC, amongst other) but for me it wasn't enough to make me enjoy the book, sadly. I did enjoy the female friendships, and the best part for me was Lionel (the baby), and moments he was with his family.

[Review] Never If Not Now, by Madeline Hunter

Title Never If Not Now
Series: Midsummer Knights #7
Author: Madeline Hunter
Publisher: Barrowburgh Publishing
Number of pages: 147
Publication date: July 7th 2020

Synopsis:

A Midsummer Knights Romance: A Tournament World of Chivalry, Intrigue, and Passion

Summer, 1193.

They call him the Devil’s Blade and say that the fires of hell burn in him when he wields his sword.

It might be midsummer when Zander arrives at the tournament, but there is winter in his soul. Battle hardened and war weary, he intends to amass spoils, win the champion’s prize, and find a wealthy wife. Then he discovers that Elinor of York has accompanied her father to the tourney. He desired her as a youth, and soon learns that he still does. But whatever he will ever have of her will have to be seized in secret, before the tournament ends.

Elinor was born a lady but the last years have impoverished her. She now sews for coin, and takes care of her lame, aging father, a knight who blames Zander for his diminished fortunes and health. She should ignore the handsome knight whom she teased when they were young, but his magnetism draws her closer. He is not for her—he is her father’s enemy and she has no dowry. Yet he evokes sweet memories and deep emotions and a heart-wrenching dilemma— Can she keep her father from issuing the challenge that will leave one of the men she loves dead?

Review:

I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.

I can’t remember the last time I’ve read a Medieval Romance, and I know Madeline Hunter’s medieval were quite good, so I was excited to read this one.

However, it did not reach the expectations. It felt… rushed, and very neatly tided with a bow to finish off.

The beginning was good, and it told the connection between our main characters well, but it felt like they just picked up where they left all those years ago, as if nothing had changed.

The conflict was quite good, until it was resolved. So many repetitions about bravery, and cowardice, and then everything was just done with words…?

When I reached the end of the book, I just thought… “that’s it?” and I was quite disappointed, even for a novella...

Sadly, this was not a memorable story… The main characters, Zander and Elionor just didn’t click for me, and the conflict wasn’t really viable, in my opinion. It didn’t work.

[Review] The Irish Heiress, by Kaitlin O'Riley

Title The Irish Heiress
Series: Hamilton Cousins #2
Author: Kaitlin O'Riley
Publisher: Zebra
Number of pages: 352
Publication date: July 30th 2019

Synopsis:

The Hamilton sisters have found true love to rival any novels sold in their famous London bookshops. And the story continues, as each of their offspring discovers the perfect partner...

Quiet and intuitive, Lady Mara Reeves has always felt more at home amid the green hills of her native Ireland than in London's stifling ballrooms. Determined to remain single, she's adept at gently rebuffing any suitor who comes her way. So why is she so drawn to Foster Sheridan, Earl of Sterling? It's a connection unlike anything she's ever known, yet complicated by one scandalous fact: the man she believes to be her destiny is already married.

Trapped in a loveless union with a woman who refuses to divorce him, Foster is resigned to loneliness until he meets the exquisite Mara. Her wants her as a wife, not a mistress, but he can't resist her unconventional offer. Their passion is intense, as is the risk. For even as Foster follows Mara home to Ireland, their pasts will lead them toward danger that only the deepest love can overcome.

Review:

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.

This book just wasn’t right for me. I wanted to try this author but this book wasn’t a good idea.

It says clearly in the synopsis that this book deals with the hero and heroine cheating the hero’s wife. She was a broken person, for sure, but I still don’t like the idea of Mara and Foster cheating.

To be honest, I wasn’t even a fan of Mara and Foster. I loved Mara’s family, but Mara herself spent most of the time crying, and she was a bit annoying. Foster was… he didn’t act. He only acted when it was convenient for him, and then told himself that it wasn’t just for him, it was for his wife, Rose, too. Well, it might have been true, but it didn’t feel like it.

To be completely honest, I liked Rose – aka the “villain” – more than our heroes. She was broken hearted, which made her cruel. I am in no way excusing her actions – she was a horrible woman, but life made her that way. She could have been happier – not happy, happier – if she had chosen too, but she walled in her sadness, and everything and everyone she missed. She was miserable. And yet, she was so much more interesting than the main characters.

The writing didn’t captivate me, and the story, which sounded quite interesting, just didn’t live up to the expectation.

[Review] More Than a Rogue, by Sophie Barnes

Title: More Than a Rogue
Series: The Crawfords #2
Author: Sophie Barnes
Publisher: Independently Published
Number of pages: 280
Publication date: June 25th 2019

Synopsis:

All she wanted was a kiss…

What she got, was fiery passion…

Emily Howard knows she is destined to be a spinster. She has accepted this fate, but that doesn't stop her from wanting to experience kissing. What she doesn't expect, is for Griffin Crawford, the handsomest man in the world, to do the honors. Or for all her female relations to discover her in his embrace. Naturally, marriage is instantly mentioned, but since Emily knows this is not what Griffin wants, she tries to escape him, her family and the ensuing scandal.

When Emily flees the Camberly ball in the wake of their kiss, Griffin goes in pursuit. He will not allow his sister-in-law's determined friend to risk her safety for any reason. And risk it she will if she means to return to her countryside home by herself. But the longer he remains in her company, the more he is tempted to kiss her again. If only he could risk falling in love and remain in England forever.

Review:

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.

This is the second book I’ve read written by Sophie Barnes and… I think her books just aren’t for me.

It took me forever to read the book and, honestly, having finished it yesterday, I barely remember anything from it.

I didn’t connect with the characters, I wasn’t a fan of either Emily or Griffin. The book just didn’t do it for me. It was all about miscommunication, and jealousy, and insecurities.

Instead of being invested in the characters, I found myself wanting to slap them.

The writing was good, the problem for me was the plot and characters.

Sadly, it didn’t do it for me.