[Review] Love Is a Rogue, by Lenora Bell

Title: Love is A Rogue
Series: Wallflowers vs. Rogues #1
Author: Lenora Bell
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 384
Publication date: October 27th 2020

Synopsis:

Once upon a time in Mayfair, a group of wallflowers formed a secret society with goals that had absolutely nothing to do with matrimony. Their most troublesome obstacle? Rogues!

They call her Beastly Beatrice.

Wallflower Lady Beatrice Bentley longs to remain in the wilds of Cornwall to complete her etymological dictionary. Too bad her brother's Gothic mansion is under renovation. How can she work with an annoyingly arrogant and too-handsome rogue swinging a hammer nearby?

Rogue. Scoundrel. Call him anything you like as long as you pay him.

Navy man Stamford Wright is leaving England soon, and renovating Thornhill House is just a job. It's not about the duke's bookish sister or her fiery copper hair. Or the etymology lessons the prim-yet-alluring lady insists on giving him. Or the forbidden things he'd love to teach her.

They say never mix business with pleasure. But when Beatrice and Ford aren't arguing, they're kissing.

Sometimes, temptation proves too strong to resist…even if the cost is a heart.

Review:

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

I absolutely loved this book. A hero that’s a carpenter and a heroine who is an etymologist – perfect combination!

One of the things that always makes my heart flutter is acts of service. Because acts of service mean that you’ve been paying attention to your partner (or your friend, or whoever the other person is in this situation) and it just makes me so happy that the characters listen to each other’s needs *swoon*.

This book is a bit of a Beauty and The Beast retelling, since our heroine “was born with palsy of the facial nerve caused by damage from the instruments the doctors used” (in Love is a Rogue, by Lenora Bell) during her birth, which means one side of her face does not move “normaly”, and her smile is lopsided.

Lady Beatrice Bentley, this beautiful, rich lady, who prefers a comfortable blue dress than the somewhat growing and starting to be exaggerated creations of the 1830’s, can’t help but feel the attraction to Stamford Wright, the roguish carpenter working on her brother’s estate.

I loved falling in love with Ford and Beatrice, and seeing their love develop and overcome what would be thought of as a barrier for the time, or if not a barrier, at least a strong detriment for their union.

Beatrice loves words, and she is fascinated with the words that disappear from our language, and the ones that are almost “chosen” to remain, and for Ford this is not an interest, but he becomes fascinated with how happy Beatrice is when she’s talking about writing her dictionary, and how caring he is for her and her love of books. I mean… he built her BOOKSHELVES!

Also, this book is full of feminism, sisterhood, all the things we want to see in this world. As I was reading this book, I found myself mirrored in the women of The Mayfair Ladies Knitting League, with the same wishes and desires: “Why should being female preclude me from being an entrepreneur? I say, smash down the barriers” (Love is A Rogue, by Lenora Bell). One of my favourite quotes from this book is exactly related to women (women as in anyone that identifies as female), and how we see ourselves in the world and society: “We women are all so critical of ourselves. We’re too plump, or too thin. Too tall, or too short. Our hair is too curly, or too straight. We live in a society that rewards conformity to a strict set of physical standards and an even more rigid set of rules for proper behaviour. We have these unpleasant thoughts running round and round in our minds. Wouldn’t it be revolutionary if we decided to love ourselves exactly the way we are?” (in Love is a Rogue, by Lenora Bell). Apologies for the long quote, but I loved it so much, that I remember shedding a tear when I read this. Self-love, and supporting ourselves and others, shouldn’t that be the ultimate goal?

Anyway, this book was also a love dedication to all of us readers, as I’m sure you can understand from the above mentioned love of books and words. As I was reading this book, I found myself highlighting these sentences that put into words a feeling that I’m sure most readers relate to: “But I can’t possibly read all of them [books]. It keeps me up at night sometimes, knowing that I can’t read every book I own. You should see how many books are stacked beside by bed just waiting to be read. And I don’t have the time to read them all” (in Love is A Rogue, by Lenora Bell).

Of course, this book is a romance, and the love story is the main element. But in this case, for me, it felt like there was more than ONE love story – there was the love between Beatrice and Ford, but also the love between these women supporting each other’s endeavours, and the love for words, and for your own passions!

All in all, I loved this book. It is romantic, sexy, powerful, all you want in a good book.



P.S. Make sure you read the acknowledgements at the end!

[Review] The Devil of Downtown, by Joanna Shupe

Title The Devil of Downtown
Series: Uptown Girls #3
Author: Joanna Shupe
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 384
Publication date: June 30th 2020

Synopsis:

The final novel in Joanna Shupe's critically acclaimed Uptown Girl series about a beautiful do-gooder who must decide if she can team up with one of New York's brashest criminals without losing something irreplaceable: her heart.

Manhattan kingpin.
Brilliant mastermind.
Gentleman gangster.

He's built a wall around his heart...

Orphaned and abandoned on the Bowery's mean streets, Jack Mulligan survived on strength, cunning, and ambition. Now he rules his territory better than any politician or copper ever could. He didn't get here by being soft. But in uptown do-gooder Justine Greene―the very definition of an iron fist in a velvet glove―Jack may have met his match.

She wears hers on her sleeve...

Justine is devoted to tracking down deadbeat husbands and fighting for fair working conditions. When her mission brings her face-to-face with Jack, she's shocked to find the man behind the criminal empire is considerably more charming and honorable than many "gentlemen" she knows.

Forming an unlikely alliance, they discover an unexpected desire. And when Justine's past catches up with them, Jack may be her only hope of survival. Is she ready to make a deal with the devil...?

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 so much I couldn’t even write the review when I finished as I was so excited I couldn’t keep still enough to actually sit in front of a computer.

When I finished The Devil of Downtown my first thought was… I want to read it again! That’s how much I loved it.

I’ve always loved a bad boy who is good for his love and/or has a heart of gold. Jack Mulligan… doesn’t have a heart of gold, but he does like Justine and he doesn’t want to see her hurt.

Jack Mulligan “rules” downtown New York. His character is based on a real man, Paul Kelly. Here is an image of Paul Jelly [on the left, image from wikipedia], and an image of Vincent Piazza [on the right], who plays Lucky Luciano on the tv series Boardwalk Empire, which the author, Joanna Shupe, has mentioned she used as an inspiration for Jack:

For fans of the series Pecky Blinders, Jack is also quite similar to Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy:

And if Jack Mulligan is the devil of downtown, Justine is the do-gooder, the angel. While he deals in favours, blackmail, and balance of power, she deals in the business of helping people just because they need it.

Justine works at an institution where she helps women whose husbands abandoned them and their children either return, or pay retribution. It’s in her work that she meets Jack, as one of the men employed by him abandoned his wife, and kids. Jack doesn’t like having someone talking to his employers, and he makes a deal with Justine that this man will pay to support his wife and children, if she owes him a favour, which he can collect at any point. She hates not knowing what might happen, but she has no other choice.

Jack respects Justine because she stands her ground, she challenges him – and she is able to do this because she knows Jack does not hurt women or children. She believes he will not break his “code”, but still Jack thinks she is incredible just by behaving like that. You go Justine!

All throughout the book there is this motto that Jack will corrupt Justine, that he’s a spider and will get her stuck in his web without her noticing. And, in a way… that does happen. But Justine realizes what happened and she didn’t like the person she was becoming. It was a heartbreaking scene. Have I mentioned I cried in this book? More than once, actually. But I still loved it!

They had such an amazing chemistry, Jack exudes sexiness, and Justine, whom most people considered plain, was like an avenging angel, and had this sexual energy that just appealed so much to Jack.

I know some people will not be happy with the end… but for me it was perfect. Because they both acknowledge that for them to be together, things have to change, at least slightly.

Although I’m an only child, I really connected with Justine, and understood her very well. And Jack just connected with me in all the right ways.

The sisters of the previous books are also in The Devil of Downtown, but I paid almost no attention to them. They were just plot points to make us understand Justine better, in my opinion.

I just loved this book so much, the essence of New York, and blackmail, and the power, and the sexiness.. It was pretty much perfect.



P.S. for anyone that would like to know more about New York, Jack Mulligan, Justine, and just gilded age history, Joanna Shupe did a life video on facebook, which you can watch HERE.

[Review] Daring And The Duke, by Sarah MacLean

Title Daring And The Duke
Series: The Bareknuckle Bastards #3
Author: Sarah MacLean
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 384
Publication date: June 30th 2020

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the much-anticipated final book in her Bareknuckle Bastards series, featuring a scoundrel duke and the powerful woman who brings him to his knees.

Grace Condry has spent a lifetime running from her past. Betrayed as a child by her only love and raised on the streets, she now hides in plain sight as queen of London’s darkest corners. Grace has a sharp mind and a powerful right hook and has never met an enemy she could not best...until the man she once loved returns.

Single-minded and ruthless, Ewan, Duke of Marwick, has spent a decade searching for the woman he never stopped loving. A long-ago gamble may have lost her forever, but Ewan will go to any lengths to win Grace back…and make her his duchess.

Reconciliation is the last thing Grace desires. Unable to forgive the past, she vows to take her revenge. But revenge requires keeping Ewan close, and soon her enemy seems to be something else altogether—something she can’t resist, even as he threatens the world she's built, the life she's claimed…and the heart she swore he'd never steal again.

Review:

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

I can't express how happy I am to have received this book, and just before my birthday. What a wonderful gift.

If you've read any of Sarah MacLean's books, you know she's great at turning a villain around. And this book is testament to that. Although I'll say, I liked Ewan from the first book, even though I didn't like what he did.

The Bareknuckle Bastards series follows the life of four siblings. Three boys (Devil, Whit, and Ewan) born of the same man, but different women, and a girl with no blood connection to either of them, but family nonetheless. Devil and Whit's stories are the previous books in the series, and this one is the story of the girl. The girl whose name was given by Ewan, the fourth boy. Because she didn't even have that.

Grace loved Devil and Whit as brothers, but with Ewan it was always different. And that's why it hurt so much when Ewan behaved in a way that made the Bareknuckle Bastards run away from him, scared and feeling as betrayed as possible. Their pain prevented them from seeing what was really happening.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it in just a few hours. Sarah MacLean's writing is so compelling, and so sexy! Her characters come to life before your eyes and just amaze you with their behaviours and actions.

Grace is this strong, independent woman. A queen in her turf. Covent Garden was her home, even though she was not born there. She knew it from Ewan's stories, and when the time came, Grace, Devil, and Whit all ran to it. And when Ewan could, the first thing he did was chase Grace and track her down. No, not chase. Search for her. And his heart and mind couldn't take it when his brothers told him she was dead. Because he knew he could feel her. And when he started to believe them, nothing could stand in his path to destruction for they had let the woman he loved die. Which is something Whit and Devil ended up admitting they would have probably done, if their loved ones had died in the same way.

I loved the heart to heart talks between Grace and Ewan, and how their trust starts to rebuild, and how Ewan realizes it has to be Grace's choice. It could not be in any different way.

The one thing I missed in the book was a reunion of the brothers at the end. Ewan told Grace what happened, but I would have liked a talk between the brothers. Devil and Whit learn the truth just as Grace, but if only we had a scene with the brothers being closer, or at least that open door...

The way Ewan suffered broke my heart. And I have to admit I shed a tear or two when Ewan made his confession of what his dreams were: "“You, and me, here [Covent Garden]. With a collection of flame-haired babes.” She closed her eyes. “My brothers. Their children. A family.”".

I am usually not a fan of second-chance romances, but this one... it's golden!

In short, read this book. You won't regret it, and you'll love the Bareknuckle Bastards.

[Review] The Wallflower Wager, by Tessa Dare

Title The Wallflower Wager
Series: Girl Meets Duke #3
Author: Tessa Dare
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 368
Publication date: August 13th 2019

Synopsis:

They call him the Duke of Ruin. To an undaunted wallflower, he's just the beast next door.

Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society—and now he wants to get even.

Loyal and passionate, Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart. When her imposing—and attractive—new neighbor demands she clear out the rescued animals, Penny sets him a challenge. She will part with her precious charges, if he can find them loving homes.

Done, Gabriel says. How hard can it be to find homes for a few kittens?

And a two-legged dog.

And a foul-mouthed parrot.

And a goat, an otter, a hedgehog . . .

Easier said than done, for a cold-blooded bastard who wouldn’t know a loving home from a workhouse. Soon he’s covered in cat hair, knee-deep in adorable, and bewitched by a shyly pretty spinster who defies his every attempt to resist. Now she’s set her mind and heart on saving him. Not if he ruins her first.

Review:

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

Reading a book by Tessa Dare is always a pleasure. There are always funny, romantic moments with her books.

Penny is one of the most adorable characters ever. She’s an animal lover, and a vegetarian – in the 1800’s! She takes care of animals that were hurt, or that no one wanted. She’s one of the most lovable people, she’s caring, and sweet, and a great friend. She’s someone we would all love to have in our lives.

Gabe (Gabriel Duke) is fantastic. He’s ruthless, but, to be honest, it’s one of the things I like about him. Let’s face it, people take advantage of other people, and he just collects what they thought they could always owe. And the ton doesn’t like it. Too bad, if you ask me. Not his problem. Don’t like what he does? Then don’t give him the chance to do so, by not having debts everywhere!

Anyway. Penny lives next door to this handsome Duke of Ruin. And their first meeting is hilarious! Penny has a parrot, the parrot flies away to Gabe’s house, and she follows, and his… pretty much naked. And what a scene! Tessa Dare is one of the best writers for sexy scenes – mind, not necessarily sex scenes, but everything before, after and the sex scene itself. It makes us readers feel as good as the characters.

They strike an unusual friendship with attraction at first sight – not love, attraction. Loves comes later.

Penny has the best of friends, but lately they have their own families, and their free time is limited. And Gabriel decides to help her with her new predicament. Penny’s brother wanted her to leave London, and go back to her family’s estate in Cumberland, and Gabriel doesn’t want her to go, because her presence as a neighbour would help him sell his new house. And Penny doesn’t want to leave her house, and she has a past that she doesn’t want to re-live, which might have happened if she left for Cumberland.

Gabe helps Penny, and he’s ambitious, relentless, and he gets things done. Penny is so assertive about what she wants, she doesn’t leave things to chance. And when she wants Gabriel, and he wants her, things heat up! And wow! They have such sweet, romantic, sexy moments.

Like I mentioned before, there’s something in Penny’s past that could have made her a scared, sad person, but no. She’s such a happy, tender, devoted person. It’s handled beautifully, with the hero feeling angry about what she had to go through, but I really liked that the women got together, and Penny handled it on her own – she’s fierce!

So, read this book! You won’t regret it.

[Review] Ten Kisses to Scandal, by Vivienne Lorret

Title Ten Kisses to Scandal
Series: Misadventures in Matchmaking #2
Author: Vivienne Lorret
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 384
Publication date: December 24th 2018

Synopsis:

The Bourne Matrimonial Agency has one rule—never fall in love with the client. However, they never said anything about kissing a rake…

Briar Bourne’s matchmaking career could be summed up in two words—comic disaster. Unless she can learn about the irresistible forces that draw men and women together, her professional future looks rather bleak. But Briar has an intriguing plan—enlisting London’s most irredeemable rake to teach her everything he knows about attraction. Given his notorious reputation, it’s no surprise that Nicholas Blacklowe, the Earl of Edgemont, requests one thing in exchange for his tutelage. For every lesson, he wants a kiss in return. And what harm could there be in a simple kiss? After all, Briar would never fall for a scoundrel…

Nicholas has no romantic notions about love, and no intention of changing his ways. He’s only helping Briar so that she can find the perfect bride for his jilted cousin. Yet Briar is so clever, so curious, so candid—so blasted tempting—that soon, Nicholas can’t stop wondering what it might be like if he was irresistible to her.

Ten lessons. Ten kisses. And a million ways to fall hopelessly, scandalously in love.

Review:

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

I absolutely loved this book! While reading it, I had a happy grin on my face the whole time. It just made me laugh and tingle, and it gave me butterflies – what more could I ask for?

Briar is so adorable! She’s a romantic and, yes, she is also a bit naïve but she is so sweet! Some heroines can be a bit annoying when they are too unaware of the world, but Briar is so lovely, she made it so easy to like her, I just adored her. She has suffered her fair share, but we only know how everything has affected her almost at the end of the book, which was fine by me.

Nicholas was… so sexy! I mean… don’t ask me for a physical description because (with the exception of his nose), I probably can’t give you one. Why? Because characters in my mind, even the ones heavily described, don’t actually have a defined face..? There’s always somewhat of a blur. So no, it’s not their face/body that makes them sexy (it helps, of course!), it’s how they act, and how they can make you feel like all their attention is on you, in a good way. And that’s how I felt Nicholas was about Briar. He has other great qualities, naturally: he’s very loyal and protective of his family (like Briar), he’s been hurt before (haven’t we all? and almost every single book character?), and he’s a rake. But, who would have guessed? He’s a rake with a good heart.

Their chemistry was, at the same time, so strong and so subtle. The teasing, and the friendship, the alone moments… Everything made my senses as a reader tingle and be on the lookout for another wonderful scene.

The secondary characters help set the scene: Briar and her family have a matchmaking agency. Her friend Temperance and her brother Daniel, are looking for fiances. And their cousin is… Nicholas, Lord Edgemont. I don’t want to give too much of the story away because it’s their adventures that keep us readers paying attention. Suffice to say, Briar needs help with her matchmaking skills, and Nicholas is more than happy to help – in exchange for a little something, as one would expect.

The one thing – and, let’s be honest, it’s a small thing – that could have made this book even better, was to make the ending a bit more climatic. And I think this was lacking a bit because what was preventing the happy ending was such a small thing that seemed almost… not credible. I really liked Nicholas’ dedication to try and talk to Briar, and I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that she didn’t even give him a bit of credit – I know, she felt hurt and deceived, but after her time spent with Nicholas, I hoped she knew better. But, alas, miscommunication got in the way.

In the end, it was a great book, with only a small thing to point out. Can’t wait to read the next book in this incredible series.

[Review] A Daring Arrangement, by Joanna Shupe

Title A Daring Arrangement
Series: The Four Hundred #1
Author: Joanna Shupe
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 384
Publication date: October 31st 2017

Synopsis:

Set in New York City’s Gilded Age, Joanna Shupe’s Avon debut introduces an English beauty with a wicked scheme to win the man she loves—and the American scoundrel who ruins her best laid plans…

Lady Honora Parker must get engaged as soon as possible, and only a particular type of man will do. Nora seeks a mate so abhorrent, so completely unacceptable, that her father will reject the match—leaving her free to marry the artist she desires. Who then is the most appalling man in Manhattan? The wealthy, devilishly handsome financier, Julius Hatcher, of course….

Julius is intrigued by Nora’s ruse and decides to play along. But to Nora’s horror, Julius transforms himself into the perfect fiancé, charming the very people she hoped he would offend. It seems Julius has a secret plan all his own—one that will solve a dark mystery from his past, and perhaps turn him into the kind of man Nora could truly love.

Review:

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

I haven't read a book that made me feel this good in a long time! I feel all giddy and happy inside! Just like the characters at the end of the book! Julius is probably one of my new favourite heros! And Nora is so brave and exciting! They match each other so well.

I think it was such a good book that's going to give me a book hungover. I'm so drowsy from reading it that I just feel like I'm in the clouds. I don't even know what to write, I just want everyone to read it and enjoy it as much as I did!