[Review] Act Your Age, Eve Brown, by Talia Hibbert

Title: Act Your Age, Eve Brown
Series: The Brown Sisters #3
Author: Talia Hibbert
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 400
Publication date: March 9th 2021

Synopsis:

In Act Your Age, Eve Brown the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.

Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong—so she’s given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It's time for Eve to grow up and prove herself—even though she's not entirely sure how…

Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner’s on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry—and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car—supposedly by accident. Yeah, right.

Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she’s infiltrated his work, his kitchen—and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore—and it’s melting Jacob’s frosty exterior.

Review:

We have the final instalment of the Brown Sisters! It was a delight to follow along Evie’s misadventures (even though Dani’s book is still my favourite!).

Eve has had an easy life, but not so easy as it might seem at first sight… She feels very much at drift, and it’s hard for her to fit in – only copying and mirroring social interactions is she able to try and connect with people. But not the right people! Her “friends” keep her around for help, but that’s about it.

When Eve’s family decide for her that she needs to stop living of her trust fund, she feels frustrated as she knows that she doesn’t do that on a whim, or on purpose, things just…don’t work out for her. And Eve realizes that she doesn’t really know who she is, or what she wants. And she ends up LITERALLY hit the person who will help her with that.

Meet Jacob, the owner of a B&B whose goal is to make sure people have a home away from home. When he meets Eve, who sings, and is a bit much, he doesn’t really know how to behave. He’s attracted to her, but at the same she pushes some of his buttons, and in the beginning, it’s slightly hard for him to cope with it.

Their relationship was very cute and adorable, and even though I thought it could have had a bit more interaction with high and lows, I did enjoy it.

On that note, I did feel the end was a bit… quick, I would say? Not the resolution, the “problem”. I get why they behaved the way they did, but I felt that Eve would have been different, she would have pushed Jacob right away, and maybe that would have been worse than what happened, but that’s just what felt a bit off for me.

I liked seeing Eve at the B&B, and discovering what really made her happy, but I would have liked to see some things happening between her and the guest, instead of just being told that Jacob noticed this and it made him and them happy.

Also, I liked seeing all the characters from the previous books, but again, I felt like the reactions that lead to the “problem” was a bit much… The sisters and their respective boyfriends are rational people, and the message they got from Eve didn’t have any HUGE triggers to make them do what they did. The guys say to just call Eve, but the sisters go full on PROTECTIVE MODE for their baby sister Eve (which denotes a bit how they still think of her, even though she is a grown woman – which they admit (isn’t it great when that happens?)!!!

This was such a fun book, with main characters who are Autistic (as I’m not, I will not comment on that depiction, as I don’t feel like I’m in a place where I could or should do it), and secondary characters that just made you laugh and helped the story going.

Talia Hibbert is great at giving her characters particular traits that are very visible with their behaviours, like the fact that Eve absolutely loves music, but we don’t just see her listening to it – she quotes music, sings, and hums, amongst other little things.

Anyway, I loved Eve, loved Jacob, and I can’t wait to read the spin-off series with all the other characters from Skybriar, the little town where his B&B is located.

[Review] Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish, by Grace Burrowes

Title: Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish
Series: Windham #4
Author: Grace Burrowes
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Number of pages: 384
Publication date: September 24th 2019

Synopsis:

All she wants is a little peace...
But Sophie's holiday is about to heat up...

Lady Sophie Windham has maneuvered a few days to herself at the ducal mansion in London before she must join her family for Christmas in Kent. Suddenly trapped in Town by a snowstorm, she finds herself with an abandoned baby and only the assistance of a kind, handsome stranger standing between her and complete disaster.

With his estate in chaos, Vim Charpentier expected complications this holiday season, but he couldn't have predicted that Sophie Windham would be among them. His growing attraction for Sophie is the only thing that warms his spirits. But Sophie's been keeping secrets, and it will take more than a kiss under the mistletoe to make her wishes come true...

Review:

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

I loved this book! I’ve always really enjoyed Christmas/Holidays related books, and this one hit all the right spots.

Sophie is the sensible sister. She doesn’t give problems to anyone. So, when she decides to spend some time at Christmas with friends, her family doesn’t worry. But Sophie has a plan. She wants to spend some of her Christmas alone. But her plans get sidetracked when she is left stranded with someone else’s baby.

Queue Vim, our hero. I’ll admit right away, I love babies. I find them adorable, and I love holding them. And whenever I see someone who is good with a baby, I just feel happy. And Vim, well, he’s perfect with young Kit. How he helps Sophie without ever mocking her, or making feel like she’s doing something wrong, it’s just perfect.

I really enjoyed the relationship between both the hero and the heroine, and them with Kit. It was adorable, with our characters stuck due to a snow storm, learning about each other, and relating in a way they couldn’t with other people. Sometimes it’s just easier to talk to a stranger than someone who’s known you forever, right?

I also really liked how Sophie’s brothers didn’t try to decide for her, or just beat Vim. They understood that they were in love, but apparently there was some form of impediment, so they decided to do what they could to help them. Great brothers!

All in all, a great romance, with some steamy moments, very romantic, very adorable, and it just made me very happy.

[Review] Hiring Mr.Darcy, by Valerie Bowman

Title: Hiring Mr.Darcy
Series: Austen Hunks #1
Author: Valerie Bowman
Publisher: June Third Enterprises, LLC
Number of pages: 266
Publication date: September 25th 2020

Synopsis:

She ’s hiring…

Meg Knightley is a history professor with a little OCD and a lot of competitive spirit. When her similarly nerdy history professor boyfriend tosses her over for a starlet on the eve of the Jane Austen Festival and Games, she needs a new Mr. Darcy STAT.

He’s the man for the job…

Jeremy Remington left a lucrative tech job to follow his dreams—but getting his custom woodworking business off the ground isn’t cheap. When his best friend’s sister offers good money for little more than acting the gentleman, he jumps at the chance. After all, how hard could it be to fly over to England and wear a cravat for a few days?

Until things get real.

She hired him to play the part of a proper gentleman, so why can’t she stop thinking about what’s underneath his waistcoat?
And when Meg finds out Jeremy has had a crush on her for years, will she toss him out on his ear…or will the job turn into a permanent gig?

Review:

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

Any Pride and Prejudice fans out there? This contemporary romance will fill all your dreams of a modern Mr. Darcy.

I spent the whole time with a mostly happy grin on my face while reading this book, the exception being hen Harrison, Meg’s boyfriend showed up. He never stood for her, defended her, or even made it known how he felt about her being treated unfairly. He didn’t have anything to redeem him. He wasn’t a bad guy… He just wasn’t the right guy.

Meg was supposed to go to the Jane Asuten Festival in Bath, with Harrison. However, he was now going with a Hollywood actress, at the request of the University both him and Meg work at. He didn’t even make a comment about how hard Meg had worked for the competition of the festival, and right away we can tell that Harrison really has no backbone.

Cue my favourite trope, and the reason I was so happy to read this contemporary romance: Meg hires one of her brother’s friends to be her Mr.Darcy at the competition. Sibling’s best friend and fake relationships make my day! Although I should say, they don’t really have a fake relationship, as Meg still has her boyfriend during most of the book, and she makes a point to not cross that line, with a small exception at the end of the book (to be honest, I didn’t really like that, as I didn’t think it was very fair for our hero). The book also has a glow-up/ugly duckling turn swan situation with our hero!

Jeremy, Mr.Darcy at Bath, is a hunk. And most importantly, he’s a kind, funny, loyal gentleman, who can appreciate Meg for whom she really is.

I loved their banter, how they reconnected from their childhood, how Meg was confronted with her own prejudice, and how she evolved as an individual.

This book really is a love story, and it will make you giggle just at the right moments, and in the end you will feel like you’ve had a good time reading it.

[Review] Take A Hint, Dani Brown, by Talia Hibbert

Title: Take A Hint, Dani Brown
Series: The Brown Sisters #2
Author: Talia Hibbert
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 320
Publication date: June 23rd 2020

Synopsis:

Talia Hibbert returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him “rescuing” her from their office building goes viral...

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way around the bedroom.

When brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and ex-rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Now half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out, his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse?

Dani’s plan is simple: fake a relationship in public, seduce Zaf behind the scenes. The trouble is, grumpy Zaf’s secretly a hopeless romantic—and he’s determined to corrupt Dani’s stone-cold realism. Before long, he’s tackling her fears into the dirt. But the former sports star has issues of his own, and the walls around his heart are as thick as his... um, thighs.

Suddenly, the easy lay Dani dreamed of is more complex than her thesis. Has her wish backfired? Is her focus being tested? Or is the universe just waiting for her to take a hint?

Review:

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

I know this is the second book in a series, and I haven’t read the first one (yet! I’ve bought today so, it should be read soon!) but I couldn’t resist the premise.

I finished the book at 1 a.m. today. It made me feel all the feels. I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to write a proper review, as I’m still with that “in love” feeling.

This book has a cinnamon roll hero. I mean… I’m totally in love with Zafir Ansari. He’s a Muslim, former rugby player, who reads romance novels. I mean…do I need to say anything else?

I loved how Talia Hibbert was so real. She shows real struggles and real achievements, and she does it in such a caring way.

Danika Brown is a fierce, PhD. student and a university teacher. She is a sexy, confident, and awesome bisexual – except she doesn’t do “feelings”. And Zaf is more in touch with his feelings than most, as he had to deal with mental health issues, and knows how important it is to recognize how we feel, and accept it. So, when these two decide to fake a relationship to help Zaf’s charity, and add benefits to that same relationship, things start to change.

Dani never really had someone (besides her sisters and her best friends) that understood her, and actually cared about her and her work – because that’s a whole package. And the people she knew before, they didn’t get how important that was to her, and at the same she didn’t recognize their feelings (I’m looking at Jo, not at Mateo, to be clear). She did try, when she thought she was in love, and when that went wrong, she decided no long term thing for her, just give her a f*ck buddy, and she’ll be happy. But Zaf is more than that. He’s a friend, and he actually pays attention to her, and when things change between them Dani is scared.

And Zaf gets it. Late, but he does. Zaf is an amazing guy, who has dealt, and continually deals with mental health problems, and he’s created this amazing charity where he teaches young boys to accept and recognize their feelings and their struggles, without toxic masculinity – go Zaf!

I loved the hot, sexy times, but most of all I loved to see their relationship grow, and seeing Dani and Zaf being recognized by their separate works, it’s inspiring. And Dani’s gesture, at the end of the book? If I had already melted for our hero, this made me completely adore our heroine, because she respected his love of romance books, and made a gesture with them for him – not because she had to or he asked her to, but because she wanted to and knew it would make him happy.

Because that’s the goal in a romantic relationship, isn’t it? To be with someone not because you have to, but because you want to, and you are happy to be with them, and do nice things for them, again, not because you have to or feel obliged to do it, but because it gives makes you happy to make them happy.

[Review] How to Love a Duke in Ten Days, by Kerrigan Byrne

Title How to Love a Duke in Ten Days
Series: Devil You Know #1
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Number of pages: 448
Publication date: August 27th 2019

Synopsis:

These men are dark, bold, and brave. And there is only one woman who can bring them to their knees...

Famed and brilliant, Lady Alexandra Lane has always known how to look out for to herself. But nobody would ever expect that she has darkness in her past—one that she pays a blackmailer to keep buried. Now, with her family nearing bankruptcy, Alexandra strikes upon a solution: Get married to one of the empire’s most wealthy eligible bachelors. Even if he does have the reputation of a devil.

Love Takes No Prisoners

Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, is seeking revenge and the first step is securing a bride. Winning a lady’s hand is not so easy, however, for a man known as the Terror of Torcliff. Then, Alexandra enters his life like a bolt of lightning. When she proposes marriage, Piers knows that, like him, trouble haunts her footsteps. But her gentleness, sharp wit, independent nature, and incredible beauty awakens every fierce desire within him. He will do whatever it takes to keep her safe in his arms.

Review:

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

Trigger warning:

at the beginning of the book, the main character, Alexandra, is raped, and to defend herself, she kills her aggressor.

I think there are few HR authors (from time periods I like) out there whom I have not yet read, and Kerrigan Byrne was one of them. After hearing such high praise about this author, and having been given the opportunity to read How To Love A Duke In Ten Days, I couldn’t refuse. And at the end of this book, I said to myself: why did I wait this long?!

This book has such a strong friendship between the heroines of this series. I always love a book where female friendship - well, any friendship, really - is championed. They support each other, they are always there when needed, and they don’t judge. Isn’t that wonderful?

Alexandra had a traumatic event in her teenage years at school, and Francesca (Frank) and Cecelia (Cecil) - her friends, and fellow red-heads - helped her hide what happened, and at the same time supported her with her feelings and the fear she - rightfully - developed after such an event. Now that Alexandra had a secret that needed to be kept with their lives, Frank and Cecil wanted to assure her their loyalty, and so the three friends told each other powerful, damaging secrets, so that they would all be connected by something stronger their school years.

Alexandra became a doctor through the Sorbonne, an archaeologist, in reality. She buries herself in work, and her only true connections are with her school friends. One day, she received a note from Francesca, saying she was getting married, and she was needed. The cryptic note was especially odd since the three women had sworn never to get married.

Frank is supposed to marry Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne. When Alexandra gets reaches the station and awaits her friend Cecil, she meets a huge, strong horse - a man to, and the description fits just as well! - and she manages to calm the horse down, and the man, whom she believes to be a man that worked at the stables, is the first man to arouse her in a certain way.

Due to her past, she believes no man can ever be trusted, and they must be feared, but with this man she doesn’t really feel afraid. Even though he was a very large man that could pick her up easily, she feels he’s more of a protector than anything else.

Believing she won’t see him again, Alex and Cecil go to the castle of the Duke of Redmayne, and meet with Frank in their rooms. And out of the window, Alex sees the man from the station, and she assumes that he works at the castle. I’m sure you already know, dear reader, that he was indeed the Duke of Redmayne.

Frank is worried because she believes that someone wants to hurt her, or her friends, and she doesn’t want to marry Redmayne.

Alex is also being threatened in a way - she was being blackmailed. She didn’t know who it was, but they knew what she and her friends had done. And she wanted to protect them at all costs, but her family doesn’t have any more money, so she decides to make a trade: she’ll marry the duke, he’ll protect them, without knowing what had happened at school. Frank and Cecil don’t want her to do that, but she persuades them that Piers is a good man, and she somewhat trusts him. And she wants to be a mother, so she knows she’ll have to overcome her trauma for that to happen.

The book happens is a small time frame - the 10 days, give or take - and that doesn’t really give the characters a lot of time to connect with one another. I did like Piers - even though he was a bit too rough for me personally - but I get that Alexandra liked that part of him, because he could protect her, and at the same time he was a good man and so he wouldn’t overpower her.

I really liked the way Kerrigan Byrne dealt with such an important, difficult, traumatic issue, how she described it and its impact on the life of the characters. It shaped some of it, but the love that develops between Alex and Piers showed that it didn’t have to rule her life.

There’s some mystery, and sometimes a bit too much happening, but it was a great book, a great start with this author, with romance, friendship, strong and interesting characters. What more could I ask for?

[Review] The Determined Lord Hadleigh, by Virginia Heath

Title: The Determined Lord Hadleigh
Series: The King's Elite #4
Author: Virginia Heath
Publisher: Mills & Boon Historical
Number of pages: 288
Publication date: June 27th 2019

Synopsis:

He’s got iron control…

But she might be his undoing!

Part of The King’s Elite: Haunted by Penny Penhurst’s courage on the witness stand, meticulous barrister Lord Hadleigh offers her a housekeeper position at his estate. Despite trying to stay detached, Hadleigh is charmed by her small child and surprised by how much he yearns for this proud woman! Can he break through his own—and Penny’s—barriers to prove he’s a man she can trust…and love?

Review:

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

This this is the final instalment of the King’s Elite. And what a great ending!

In this book, we do not have a spy, but a lawyer (or barrister) instead: Lord Tristan Hadleigh.

We have a saying here in Portugal: “De boas intenções está o inferno cheio”, which means the same as the English saying “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. And in this book, our main character tries to do his best, with his best intentions, but things take some time before they fall in place. As a barrister, Hadleigh tries to uphold the law and the truth, but he also realizes that the law is at serious fault when it comes to women and their rights. And so, due to some of his personal history that I will not divulge so not to spoil the book for you, dear reader, he acts has an anonymous contributor to help the women that need assistance after lawsuits and other legal actions done against their husbands and families.

And that’s what leads us to our main couple. Hadleigh is in court, and a traitor is on trial. His wife and child are left with nothing. He feels somewhat responsible, and tries to help.

But Penny doesn’t want any help. After years of being controlled, this amazing woman wants only her freedom, and she will do what it takes to take care of her little boy, Freddie, and herself.

Penny is a friend of Clarissa, the heroine in the first book, and so she knows about the King’s Elite. And she believes the anonymous helper is her friend. When she finds out that Lord Hadleigh is actually the one helping, she doesn’t get it, and he doesn’t understand why she won’t accept his help.

It’s a very clever plot point, that shows how good actions may have a different and unpredictable outcome. They get to know each other, and they both learn to trust and make (healthy, reasonable) compromises for what they really want in life, and of each other.

It had some funny moments, with the gossip between the ladies, and it was great to revisit old characters.

I loved the chemistry Penny and Tristan had, and how adorable Freddie was. And even more: how great Tristan was with Freddie, it just melts your heart.

One of the best books I’ve read this year. A great ending to a great series.



P.S. The epilogue was awesome – you will love the reunion and… a few things more.

[Review] The Disgraceful Lord Gray, by Virginia Heath

Title The Disgraceful Lord Gray
Series: The King's Elite #3
Author: Virginia Heath
Publisher: Mills & Boon Historical
Number of pages: 288
Publication date: March 21st 2019

Synopsis:

A spy on a mission… Until he meets this heiress!

Part of The King’s Elite. Miss Theodora Cranford’s learned to keep her impetuous nature locked away. She won’t be deceived by another man who can’t see past her fortune. She wants an honourable, sensible sort – not a self-assured scoundrel like her new neighbour, Lord Gray. Although she’s sure there’s more to him than meets the eye… But after that first captivating kiss, she's certainly left wanting more!

Review:

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

For those of you that follow Virginia Heath on social media, you know that she has an adorable, yet somewhat mischievous dog, named Trevor. In this (awesome) book, we have a version of Trevor, Trefor! He is adorable, and helps us readers love our hero so much more.

Lord Gray is a spy, which means his relationship with Miss Theodora Cranford starts with lies. This might put some people off, but it worked very well for me.

Gray is funny, and encouraging, and a hard worker. He doesn’t want to compromise his mission, but he also doesn’t want to lie to Thea. And he finds a way to tell her about himself, and makes it easy for her to fall in love with him, without manipulating her or lie – except when it comes to the reason he uses to justify his presence in the house next door.

Theodora Cranford, Thea to her friends and family, is a fiery redhead that has been trying to control her temper and her impulses for too long. She believes she has a good reason to do so, but with Gray’s help (and Trefor!) she begins to loosen up, and it helps her to enjoy life more.

Gray works with his stiff boss, Lord Fennimore, who has his little story in the background as well. It is quite entertaining to see a grumpy, older gentleman, change his way of living.

The book also has an element of mystery/crime, which keeps us wondering about a mysterious boss that is ordering hits, and that is the focus of Gray and Fennimore’s mission.

I loved the friendship that developed between our main characters, and how charming they both were. I was rooting for them from beginning to end.

[Review] The Devilish Lord Will, by Jennifer Ashley

Title: The Devilish Lord Will
Series: Mackenzies & McBrides #10
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Publisher: JA / AG Publishing
Number of pages: 315
Publication date: January 15th 2019

Synopsis:

Scotland 1747

When Josette needs help finding a trove of gold believed lost in the Highlands, she turns to Will Mackenzie, the most cunning, devious, and clever man she knows. But trusting Will with her secrets is akin to trusting the devil himself.

They've worked together in the past, pretending to be man and wife to ferret out information, and the venture did not end well. Will is dangerous, and so is his life, and danger is not what Josette needs.

But she knows the real reason she's avoided him is because he's Will Mackenzie, the golden-eyed, red-haired, unpredictable man with warm hands that bring her to life. Will has more secrets than Josette ever can fathom, and the most dangerous thing of all is that he's already stolen her heart.

Review:

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

I love Jennifer Ashley. I've read some of her historical romances, some of her mysteries and I keep finding myself entertained for hours.

First of all, I have to admit this wasn't the first book I read in 2019. I started the year with a book that just wasn't doing it for me. And so, when The Devilish Lord Will arrived in my inbox, I almost jumped with happiness - better times were coming!

As usual, I was not disappointed. This book is full of adventure, and romance, and family and friends, and courage, so much courage.

Josette (Josie) and Will have a great chemistry, it worked so well with the story line of the book. Both characters are stubborn, and they both what's best for one another - of course will know what that is, right?

It was fun to see different personas for Will and Josie, and at the same time, never lose track of who they really are. It's difficult to sometimes not lose ourselves in the variations we create, but Jennifer Ashley managed to showcase this experience wonderfully.

This book happens after the Jacobite rebellion, and when the English think all the Mackenzies are dead. We know they aren't and, we readers, want Kilmorgan, their ancestral home, back on its feet almost as much - if not more- than the characters.

And so, it's great joy that we follow Will and Josie's adventure looking for French Gold, for a way to bring Kilmorgan back to its former glory, and to help families that were broken apart but, most importantly, to find each other and stay together.

A book full of adventure and romance that keeps us readers happy for hours and leaves us wanting for more.

[Review] Kiss Me at Christmas, by Valerie Bowman

Title Kiss Me at Christmas
Series: Playful Brides #10
Author: Valerie Bowman
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Number of pages: 299
Publication date: October 30th 2018

Synopsis:

A spirited lady facing spinsterhood. A common man with a noble mission. And a surprise that just might be waiting for them under the mistletoe...

Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf abhors Christmas. Carol singing and holiday cheer only remind him of a dark time. When a close friend calls on him for help, Daffin is happy to capitalize on the distraction. But when he learns the lovely Lady Regina is the one in danger, he’s to become bodyguard to the captivating woman...

Regina has one mission: to find a night of passion in the arms of a gentleman. Considered firmly on the shelf, Regina has given up on marriage—but that doesn’t mean she wants to be denied the pleasure married ladies experience. Daffin has long captured her attention…and when a threat calls him to her side, the sparks between them ignite. But how can a hired bodyguard find his way into Regina’s noble heart?

Review:

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

I have to admit first and foremost, I love Christmas stories. So, just for that it gains a few points. Not that it needed the extra points – it’s a great story on its own.

Daffin Oakleaf is a Bow Street Runner, which makes him a bit of an unconventional hero. I loved learning about his past, who he really is, and why he abhorred Christmas. He’s a good man, with a troubled past, which does not stop him from helping others – on the contrary. That’s how he met Regina, in a previous book (which I have not yet read).

Regina wants to do something for herself, and since she liked Daffin, she decides he is the one to whom she will lose her virginity – if he’ll take her. Regina is strong willed, amazing woman who respects herself. And her uncle has chosen a man whom she is to marry (a bad choice, of course), so decides she deserves at least a little adventure – and to be cherished before that happens. And since sparks had flown with Daffin in a previous book, he was the one.

And even when her proposal doesn’t really work, it’s okay. Because it allows us to see their romance build up, becoming more than just a fling. All in a Christmas ambience.

It does have some mystery and an action-driven plot, so it’s a book that will make you want to discover what is happening as soon as possible, so it will be hard to put it down.

I really enjoyed this book full of romance and action. Definitely a recommendation for all lovers of romances.

[Review] An Earl Like You, by Caroline Linden

Title An Earl Like You
Series: The Wagers of Sin #2
Author: Caroline Linden
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 384
Publication date: August 28th 2018

Synopsis:

When you gamble at love...

When Hugh Deveraux discovers his newly inherited earldom is bankrupt, he sets about rebuilding the family fortune—in the gaming hells of London. But the most daring wager he takes isn't at cards. A wealthy tradesman makes a tantalizing offer: marry the man's spinster daughter, and Hugh's debts will be paid and his fortune made. The only catch is that she must never know about their agreement.

You risk losing your heart...

Heiress Eliza Cross has given up hope of marriage until she meets the impossibly handsome Earl of Hastings, her father's new business partner. The earl is everything a gentleman should be, and is boldly attentive to her. It doesn't take long for Eliza to lose her heart and marry him. But when Eliza discovers that there is more to the man she loves—and to her marriage—her trust is shattered. And it will take all of Hugh's power to prove that now his words of love are real.

Review:

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

This story is somewhat a marriage of convenience – at least for one of the parties involved.

I really liked Eliza, she was the sweetest. In the beginning, she wore pink glasses when looking at the world, but I have to admit I loved her innocence. Hugh, on the other hand, has no other choice but to see the world as it really is – and I think that’s one of the reasons why we readers can forgive him for acting the way he does.

It was so romantic to see them develop their feelings for each other, and being so protective as well. Both main characters are so lovable that we just root for their happy ending from beginning to end, even with families imposing and trying to keep them apart. The book has a bit of mystery and lies in the middle, which helps the story flow and keeps the readers interested.

I read it just a few hours, that’s how much it kept me interested!