The Bewildered Bride was the first book I read by Vanessa Riley and it definitely won't be the last. Forces outside their control kept Adam and Ruth aThe Bewildered Bride was the first book I read by Vanessa Riley and it definitely won't be the last. Forces outside their control kept Adam and Ruth apart and it was lovely watching them reunite and fall in love all over again!
Merged review:
The Bewildered Bride was the first book I read by Vanessa Riley and it definitely won't be the last. Forces outside their control kept Adam and Ruth apart and it was lovely watching them reunite and fall in love all over again!...more
I don’t read as many historical romances as I used to but the ones I’ve read recently have been truly excellent. And that includes both Would I Lie toI don’t read as many historical romances as I used to but the ones I’ve read recently have been truly excellent. And that includes both Would I Lie to the Duke and the previous book in the series, My Fake Rake. I will admit, I’m not the biggest fan of books where the hero/heroine are lying about something big that you know will come out and have the potential to wreck everything. That being said, Eva Leigh handles Jess’s false identity and Noel final reaction to it beautifully and realistically. Jess feels like she has the weight of the world on her. She wants to be the one to fix her family’s business and stumbles into a fake identity along the way.
Noel immediately knows that he wants Jess. The attraction between them is burning. But even from their first meeting, it’s Jess’s intelligent mind that draws him like a moth to a flame. Noel, despite being the powerful duke, is not the traditional historical alpha.
"It should have been wrong or strange to issue commands to him. The difference in their true stations was impossibly wide, never to be breached. But having him serve her felt right, in a profound sense that even now she was coming to understand. Because he yielded his power to her, trusting her with it, and even as that yielding filled her with humility, she was emboldened, too. He believed in her. He recognized her power." Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh, Chapter 11
I loved the sexually submissive duke that Noel is and it is so authentic to the relationship between Noel and Jess. They really work together as a couple and, both inside the bedroom and out. Noel is able to let go of the weight and expectations of being a duke and fall into Jess. Jess is able to be in charge in this situation without the pressures of her family business. They are two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly. The relationship between Noel and Jess is really what drives the book and helps me overcome with discomfort with the secret identity plot.
This is an unique spin on the traditional historical romances and I’m so happy with the direction the genre is moving. This is one of the most beautifully crafted historical romances I’ve ever read and I’m just enamored by it and can’t recommend it enough!
Received an ARC from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
I don’t read as many historical romances as I used to but the ones I’ve read recently have been truly excellent. And that includes both Would I Lie to the Duke and the previous book in the series, My Fake Rake. I will admit, I’m not the biggest fan of books where the hero/heroine are lying about something big that you know will come out and have the potential to wreck everything. That being said, Eva Leigh handles Jess’s false identity and Noel final reaction to it beautifully and realistically. Jess feels like she has the weight of the world on her. She wants to be the one to fix her family’s business and stumbles into a fake identity along the way.
Noel immediately knows that he wants Jess. The attraction between them is burning. But even from their first meeting, it’s Jess’s intelligent mind that draws him like a moth to a flame. Noel, despite being the powerful duke, is not the traditional historical alpha.
"It should have been wrong or strange to issue commands to him. The difference in their true stations was impossibly wide, never to be breached. But having him serve her felt right, in a profound sense that even now she was coming to understand. Because he yielded his power to her, trusting her with it, and even as that yielding filled her with humility, she was emboldened, too. He believed in her. He recognized her power." Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh, Chapter 11
I loved the sexually submissive duke that Noel is and it is so authentic to the relationship between Noel and Jess. They really work together as a couple and, both inside the bedroom and out. Noel is able to let go of the weight and expectations of being a duke and fall into Jess. Jess is able to be in charge in this situation without the pressures of her family business. They are two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly. The relationship between Noel and Jess is really what drives the book and helps me overcome with discomfort with the secret identity plot.
This is an unique spin on the traditional historical romances and I’m so happy with the direction the genre is moving. This is one of the most beautifully crafted historical romances I’ve ever read and I’m just enamored by it and can’t recommend it enough!
Received an ARC from publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
Stacy Reid’s historicals are a delightful. She writes with some evocative and imaginative language. Her writing style and imagery reminds me of the swStacy Reid’s historicals are a delightful. She writes with some evocative and imaginative language. Her writing style and imagery reminds me of the sweeping tales from old school romance writers like Virginia Henley but without the craziness and cringe-worthy plots. When The Earl Met His Match is a complex story. Phoebe, the heroine, is headstrong and sometimes acts without thinking, which ends her in trouble and on the doorstep of Hugh, the hero. Hugh is mute and a soon to be Earl who needs to marry. He has been writing with Phoebe but is in for a shock when she shows up unannounced with a serious issue that requires his help and hand in marriage. I’m a fan of marriage stories where the heroine and hero have to work out their issues and attraction to each other while already being bond. Hugh doesn’t want to fall in love and the passionate Phoebe is a risk to that desire. Both are seriously influenced by their past and need to work to overcome that. But when they do give in to their passion and eventual love, it is so beautiful and enduring!
*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
Stacy Reid’s historicals are a delightful. She writes with some evocative and imaginative language. Her writing style and imagery reminds me of the sweeping tales from old school romance writers like Virginia Henley but without the craziness and cringe-worthy plots. When The Earl Met His Match is a complex story. Phoebe, the heroine, is headstrong and sometimes acts without thinking, which ends her in trouble and on the doorstep of Hugh, the hero. Hugh is mute and a soon to be Earl who needs to marry. He has been writing with Phoebe but is in for a shock when she shows up unannounced with a serious issue that requires his help and hand in marriage. I’m a fan of marriage stories where the heroine and hero have to work out their issues and attraction to each other while already being bond. Hugh doesn’t want to fall in love and the passionate Phoebe is a risk to that desire. Both are seriously influenced by their past and need to work to overcome that. But when they do give in to their passion and eventual love, it is so beautiful and enduring!
*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review....more
This is Alexandra Vasti's first traditionally published book and I'm happy to report, it's as delightful as her novellas. Peter is an American who recThis is Alexandra Vasti's first traditionally published book and I'm happy to report, it's as delightful as her novellas. Peter is an American who recently inherited a dukedom and is trying desperately to win custody of his illegitimate half-siblings. Enter Lady Selina, a duke's sister who has a history with Peter but is determined to help him. Her plan is to have Peter make a respectable marriage and show the judge that he will be a good guardian to the children. As Peter and Selina spend more time together, the attraction between them grows. However, Selina has a scandalous secret that could threaten everything if they take things farther. This book features funny scenes and excellent side characters, including Peter's saber wielding younger sister. The passion between Selina and Peter is definitely there and sparks to life. This is a solid story that quickly pulls the reader in and leaves them rooting for the HEA that the characters deserve!...more
Christina Britton is that historical author who's backlist I've been meaning to devour. Every time I get a copy of her new release, I enjoy them and tChristina Britton is that historical author who's backlist I've been meaning to devour. Every time I get a copy of her new release, I enjoy them and then I keep forgetting to go back and read the books I've missed. The Duke's All That might be my favorite of her books so far. It's the last book of her Synneful Spinisters series and follows Seraphina, the bookstore owner. To the reader's surprise, she's married and to her surprise, her husband shows up on Synne. Iain, our hero, recently became a duke after growing up as a servant. And even more recently, he learns that the wife who he thought abandoned him and then died is actually alive. Seraphina's father worked to separate his daughter and her lower class husband, and in doing so, inflicted such trauma that Seraphina and her sisters later ran away. Seraphina's past is rough to read. When Iain comes back into her life and demands a divorce, he and Seraphina, and her parrot, embark on a road trip to Scotland. On the way they fight their passion for each other and face the deceptions that kept them apart. This book made me cry and pulled me in right away. It was an emotional journey and I couldn't put the book down! ...more
This book hit me in the feels. And really fit the whole in my heart that historical romance has occupied for so long. Katrina has really received the This book hit me in the feels. And really fit the whole in my heart that historical romance has occupied for so long. Katrina has really received the short end of the stick. In the introduction, she and Sebastian are flirting and it seems, about to fall in love. However, she ends up compromised and separately, Sebastian leaves, putting their love story on hold. Now, her scandal was reignited (both of these with no fault from her) and suddenly Sebastian is back in her life too. But he’s broke and practically engaged to an heiress. Both are trying to do what’s right for the people important to them, Sebastian, his sisters, and Katrina, her friends who are being hurt by her scandal. In the midst of all of this, they start to fall in love again, even though both are trying to fight it. This book made and cry and multiple times I thought, “things aren’t going to work out for them”. Christina Britton has crafted a beautiful story and I honestly didn’t want to put this book down!...more
This is a tough review to write because I’m still not sure of my feelings on this book. On one hand, the gender and queer rep is fantastic and importaThis is a tough review to write because I’m still not sure of my feelings on this book. On one hand, the gender and queer rep is fantastic and important. On the other, I almost DNFed it multiple times and really only got into the book in the final third of the story. I think this will be a great book if you adore Alexis Hall and their writing style and a bit of a chore if you don’t. I’m squarely in the middle. I’ve read some Alexis Hall books that gripped me from the start and others that I had to force myself to finish. Both Peggy and Orfeo were great characters and the plot of this book was very interesting. It just took me a long while to connect with the story....more
Jess Michaels really nails steamy historical romance and Their Marchioness might be her best yet. Elliot and Merritt are a married couple and Elliot dJess Michaels really nails steamy historical romance and Their Marchioness might be her best yet. Elliot and Merritt are a married couple and Elliot decides to give his wife a gift, a week with her first love, and him. Peter is a playwright who was unable to marry Merritt because of their class differences and his patron is Merritt's husband. But this is the first time they've been reunited. But even more than just the steam and the reunion between Merritt and Peter, there's also an underlining attraction between Peter and Elliot which gets explored. I will always favor MMF over MFM and I loved the exploration of a relationship between of three of them. Also, this adventure with Peter allows Merritt and Elliot to cross the bounds of their arranged marriage and admit their true feelings. And determine how important Peter is to them as well. This book was on the shorter side and a lot of the scenes were very sensual but there were definitely emotional moments as well! ...more
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