Tag Archives: Regency Romance

Checkmate, My Lord (Nexus #2) by Tracey Devlyn-a review

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CHECKMATE, MY LORD (Nexus #2) by Tracey Devlyn-a review

Checkmate, My Lord

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Released February 1, 2013

A desperate mother falls in love with the spymaster she’s sent to betray.

Spymaster Sebastian Danvers, Lord Somerton, has spent the last decade protecting England’s shores against a French invasion. Known for his cold logic and ability to sacrifice anything for the greater good, few can outwit him, and even fewer dare challenge him. Until now.

After being exiled to his country estate, Sebastian is surprised when his beautiful, no-nonsense neighbor turns her seductive wiles on him. But years of intrigue have left him wondering why a respectable widow would risk scandal for a few nights in his bed. Sebastian takes his time unraveling the widow’s secrets, for he quickly realizes she might be the one sacrifice he is unwilling to make

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REVIEW: CHECKMATE, MY LORD is the second storyline in Tracey Devlyn’s regency romance Nexus series set in the historical English countryside of 1804 against the backdrop of the French Revolution and continuing wars in Europe, and the men and women who work as British Secret agents.

Sebastian Danvers (Lord Somerton) returns home to discover that his widowed neighbor- Catherine Ashcroft- has taken it upon herself to aid the people of the ton on his behalf. With their Lord away on government business, much of the ton has fallen into disrepair. As a young mother and widow, Catherine learns more about the people of the ton than the absent Lord could have imagined and by doing so, she has also placed herself in a position to aid the Lord on his return. Sebastian will soon discover that he has feelings for the young widow but there are secrets about her late husband’s murder that Sebastian refuses to divulge and in this, the story begins. Catherine is unable to trust Sebastian and feels betrayed that he has knowledge that he refuses to impart.

Throughout the story, we see an emotionally strong young woman who has had to overcome the loneliness of an absentee husband only to discover that he may have been murdered by someone she has taken into her confidence and befriended.

But I had an issue as the storyline progressed. This fiercely independent, smart and free-thinking woman is told by a stranger that Lord Somerton and his men are responsible for her husband’s death and she willingly agrees (without question) to spy for and steal important documents for this stranger.  Catherine is consumed in her journey to unravel the mystery of her husband’s murder but in doing so places everyone, including her young daughter and Lord Somerton in harms way. When Sebastian refuses to tell her the information, she believes he is responsible for the death of her husband and blindly sets out to retrieve important information of which she has no idea. It seemed completely out of character for the woman to whom we were first introduced.

Lord Somerton’s refusal to reveal information to Catherine sets up a series of lies, betrayals and emotional heartbreak when Catherine believes he is trying to hide his own guilt. In doing so, Catherine is willing to trust complete strangers before she can trust the man in whom she has fallen in love. Sebastian continues to prove that his intentions towards Catherine are those of a man protecting the woman that he loves, but Catherine sees only deceit and refuses to look at the bigger picture-even when evil moves into her home and threatens their lives. 

CHECKMATE, MY LORD is the second storyline, but for a few references to previous events, can be read as a stand-alone without too much difficulty. The story is filled with espionage, deceit, betrayal, romance and love. Catherine and Sebastian are perfect for each once each can get past the fact that their relationship has been built on lies. If you like your historical romance novels with a bit of real history and background story, Checkmate, My Lord and the Nexus series are the perfect read for you.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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A Taste for Scandal by Erin Knightley – a Review

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A Taste for Scandal by Erin Knightley – a Review

A Taste for Scandal by Erin Knightley is her second book in her Sealed with a Kiss series. Below is the description of the book from Erin’s website, which is followed by my review.

Description:
A TEMPTING DIVERSION
Things have always fallen into place for Richard Moore, Earl of Raleigh. His good looks, abundance of charm, and the small matter of being heir to a marquisate make him quite the catch. So when a delectable young woman wants nothing to do with him, he can’t help but seize the irresistible challenge.

AN UNLIKELY COURTSHIP
Jane Bunting knows all about responsibility—she has managed to support herself and her brother with their bakery—but she knows nothing of excitement or passion. When dashing Lord Raleigh crosses the threshold of her shop, she has no idea of the potential danger to her reputation . . . or to her heart.

AN IMPOSSIBLE MATCH
Neither imagined things would go so far—until the night their worlds collide, irrevocably changing both their lives. But when duty calls for Richard, and with everything Jane has worked for suddenly at stake, will their taste for scandal be their downfall?

Review:
When I read Erin Knightley’s debut novel, More Than a Stranger, I immediately enjoyed her writing, in what turned out to be a fun read.  Now with the next book in her Sealed with a Kiss series, I feel that though I enjoyed More Than a Stranger, A Taste for Scandal was even better

Richard Moore, who had a big part in More Than a Stranger, as Evie’s brother and Hastings friend, is our hero in this book.  He was one of my favorites then, and does not disappoint.  Richard is a charming & fun loving womanizer, who just wants to have fun, and has no interest in stepping into his father’s Marquisate position at this time.  Richard knows his responsibilities, but for now he just plans on enjoying himself every possible minute. 

Our heroine is Jane Bunting who runs a bakery, with wonderfully delectable treats.  By accident, Richard passes by the bakery and sees someone threatening the person inside, and he runs to her rescue.  Unbeknownst to Richard, there was no threat, as he mistakenly thought Jane’s cousin was an intruder, and during the scuffle, some things inside the bakery were broken.  Jane not knowing that this stranger was the Earl of Raleigh, she calls the police.  Of course, even as he apologizes, Jane totally was not enamored by Richard, who is rarely if ever, ignored by any women.   Later, that evening, after being told my her cousin that she was rude, and the Earl was really trying to help, Jane goes to Richard’s home, where his family is visiting for a bit, and brings him some of her delectable chocolate biscuits to offer her apology. 

Richard is intrigued that Jane shows no interest in him, and he finds her to be attractive and obviously a challenge, since she seems unattainable.  With the help of his sister, Beatrice, they both convince Jane to give them lessons on baking.  LOL  sounds kind of ridiculous that an Earl would want to know how to bake.   But what ensues is a wonderful tale of romance that is against all odds.  First comes friendship between Jane, Richard and Beatrice. Then begins the slow romance between Richard and Jane, that both are convinced is just an attraction, and maybe sex, but no future for either of them.  Into this mix, is a local busybody, who is determined to force Jane out of business.  It is beautiful and heartwarming to watch them begin to fall in love.  Just when their sexual intensity is about to be consummated, Richard is called away for a family emergency, and Jane will face her fears in the days ahead, as the busybody forces her out. 

Richard is faced with something he did not want, to take over for his ill father.  In doing so, he comes to the conclusion that though he loved Jane, he felt his family would not accept her, since she was a commoner.  Richard also felt that Jane herself would not want the responsibilities of being the Lady of the house, as well as the wife of the Marquis.  So with pressure from his mother and father he sets out to choose a wife, to satisfy all. 

What happens to Jane you ask?  She uses her friendship with Beatrice to help her get a job as a bakery chef at Evie’s mansion, with the promise that no one tell Richard, nor Evie for that matter.  The final ¼ of the book is delightful.  Both Jane and Richard come to the conclusion that nothing can happen with their relationship.  But what are sisters for. 🙂  Both Beatrice and Evie plot together to help the two people so much in love, to force them to open their eyes.  It was so much fun to watch, and I enjoyed both Evie and Beatrice doing their scheming.  Knightley does a fabulous job creating wonderful characters. I loved Evie, Hastings, Richard & Beatrice in the first book; adored Richard & Jane in this book.  I do not know who the heroine will be in the third book, but I do hope it’s Beatrice, as she so deserves her own book.

This was a fantastic enjoyable read, and I loved it from start to finish.  Knightley knows how to put fun in her romances, with sexual intensity, and she has you rooting hard for our couple.  Knightley also has a wonderfully refreshing voice.  If you love Historical Romance, or any romance for that matter, you must read this book, it is one of the best fun books I have read this year. Erin Knightley is on my automatic buy.

Reviewed by Barb

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Miss Mistletoe by Erin Knightley – a Review

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Miss Mistletoe by Erin Knightley – a Review

Description:
A Lord’s fortune is forever changed with a kiss on Christmas from a daring young woman…

Finn, Viscount Edgerton, has avoided the London scene to focus solely on digging out from under the pile of debt his father left behind. A decent dowry could make things a hell of a lot easier for the estate, but he hasn’t met the right woman. And he never would have expected her to come in the form of “Miss Mistletoe”—the young woman who stole a kiss at a ball in front of the ton and caused a scandal.

On the eve of her cousin’s wedding, Cece McCrea hardly expects to run into the man who inspired her indiscretion five years ago. This time, she resolves to put aside her childish crush and avoid him altogether. Her will is tested, however, when he pursues her….

Review:
As we are in the month of December, and this is the season to be jolly, I thought I would write a short and quick review on a wonderful regency romance novella by Erin Knightley; which is perfect for the Christmas season….Miss Mistletoe. This story is in between Knightley’s first book, More than a Stranger, and her new release, A Taste for Scandal.  All three books are part of her Sealed With a Kiss series. 

Miss Mistletoe was an enjoyable fun read. It is Christmas time, and Evie and Hastings, our couple from the first book, are getting married. Finn is sitting the night before with Hastings and Richard teasing him about their cousin Cece’s infatuation with him, and the famous kiss under the Mistletoe years ago. Cece will be at the wedding, and Finn plans to avoid her at all costs. 

Cece leaves her father home, since he is blind, and he does not want to travel, as she goes to the wedding. She spots Finn, and hides from him in embarrassment from those early days when she was a teenager.  Of course, as in romance, they are both pushed together, since they both were alone, and they were a matching pair.  To Finn’s surprise, Cece totally ignored him, and he found himself attracted to the now grown up Cece. This was such a cute and adorable fun romance.  Despite her trying to avoid Finn, as they are pushed together often, Cece finds herself falling in love with Finn, as he does with her, but she runs back home, after the wedding, refusing to become serious.  She is loyal to her father, and will never leave him to marry and move to Finn’s home. 

But this is a Christmas story, and this is romance.  Somehow, someway, they will find each other.  I love this series, and this cute novella was just the thing to hold me off until A Taste for Scandal comes out.  Erin Knightley has such a wonderful and refreshing voice. I do not read a lot of Regency/Historical romance, but Erin is winning me over fast.

Reviewed by Barb

 

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More Than a Stranger by Erin Knightley – a Review

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More Than a Stranger by Erin Knightley – a Review

More Than a Stranger is Erin Knightley’s debut novel and her first in her Sealed With a Kiss series.

Our heroine in this wonderful historical romance novel, is Evie Moore, and we meet her as a young child who worships her brother, Richard, who is now heading off to Eton. When Evie gets letters from her brother, he constantly talks about his new friend Hastings. 

Benedict Hastings is our hero, and Richard’s best friend.  He learns all about Evie, as she writes a letter to him to tell him to back off being her brother’s best friend, since she is already that.  This starts a wonderful friendship of letters between young Evie and Hastings.  Over the years, though they have never met, the letters built a great friendship of trust, which led both of them to care very much for each other.  Then out of the blue, when Hastings graduated, he cut off Evie totally, with no reason, and she was heartbroken.

A few years later, Evie, now a young lady, has decided she wants to work with horses, as has no intention of finding a suitable mate.  Her mother is determined for her to go to London for the coming out ball, which Evie no longer wants anything to do with. 

Hastings visits Richard, without telling him too much of where he has been.  Just that he needs a break and Richard offers him to come with him to his family home. Under the assumption that the family is in London during the season, Hastings accepts.  Then to his shock, as he arrives he sees a girl run up to Richard and realizes that he is looking at the girl he loved from afar, Evie.   But Hastings as he introduces himself to Evie,  lies,  as he does not want her to know who he is.  He calls himself Mr. Benedict, and with Richard’s help, he keeps his true identity a secret, not wanting to hurt her, or for her to learn the real reason he disappeared.  

When Hastings left school, he was recruited by the English government to do undercover work, which even Richard did not know.  Hence, his separation from his family and Evie. Though this is not really a mystery, there is some element of danger, as Hastings/Benedict left some baggage behind that will come to haunt him near the end.

But More than a Stranger is a wonderful charming romance.  Evie having sworn off men, having had her heart broken by Hastings, finds herself intrigued and enamored by the charming Benedict.   Benedict, trying hard not to allow himself to hurt Evie, finds himself falling deeper in love with her, as she is more then he could ever have imagined. 

To watch their relationship grow, despite both not wanting this to develop, and Evie not knowing who he really was, was wonderfully done by Knightley.  I loved Evie, who was not only beautiful, but vivacious, and extremely likeable.  You can’t help but love Benedict despite his lie to Evie.

Knightley did such a wonderful job creating such likeable characters all the way around.  Evie’s sister Beatrice, and Richard were great characters too.  The amazing thing about this story was the sexual attraction between Evie and Benedict, and you felt that chemistry throughout, without even one sex scene.  It was so beautifully done, as we watch them both fall in love all over again. Did Evie find out who Benedict really was? What is the danger that is following Benedict from his past? Is there a future for the awesome couple?  You need to read this book to find the answers. 

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, as well as an exciting ending.  More Than a Stranger is a wonderful start to a new series, and a wonderful new author in Erin Knightley.  Can’t wait to read A Taste for Scandal, which is the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

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Racing With the Wind by Regan Walker – a Review

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Racing With the Wind by Regan Walker – a Review

Racing with the Wind by Regan Walker is the first book in her Agents of the Crown Trilogy.

Description:
The intrepid daughter of an earl leaves Regency London for the Parisian court of Louis XVIII, where she finds adventure, mystery, and above all, love.

THE NIGHTHAWK
Hugh Redgrave, marquess of Ormond, was warned. Prinny had dubbed Lady Mary Campbell “the Swan,” but no ordinary man could clip her wings. She was a bluestocking hellion, an ill-advised match by every account. Luckily, he sought no bride. His work lay on the continent, where he’d become legend by stealing war secrets from Boney. And yet, his memories of Lady Mary riding her stallion were a thorn in his mind. He was the son of a duke and in the service of the Prince Regent…and he would not be whole until he had won her hand.

THE SWAN
It was unheard of for a Regency debutante to postpone her first season, yet Lady Mary had done just that. Far more interested in politics than a husband, she had no time for foolishness or frippery. Already she had assisted her statesman uncle in Paris, and she swore to return to the court of Louis XVIII no matter the danger. Like her black stallion, Midnight, she would always run free. Only the truest heart would race beside her.

Review:
Racing with the Wind takes place in England and France.  Napoleon (Boney) has been overthrown in France and Lady Mary’s uncle Adrian, Lord Baynes, is an integral part of the Prince Regent’s (Prinny’s) diplomatic force that travels abroad to ensure England’s place in world affairs.  Lady Mary’s father died when she was a child and her uncle has been more of a father figure than an uncle.   And she is more than interested in the political climate than she is in attending balls and galas in order to find a husband.  She does give in and attends a gathering where Hugh Redgrave catches her eye, and she catches his.  And, they both have reputations.  She as a hellion who won’t be told what to do, and he as a rake.

Hugh, who also works for the Prince Regent, goes to see Lord Baynes and is fascinated to see a woman riding a black stallion astride and in breeches…… Lady Mary.  Hugh meets with Lord Baynes and is invited to join then for lunch.  When Mary enters the room, she is surprised to see Marquess Redgrave sitting at their table.  They all make polite conversation, which grates on the Lady’s nerves, so she steers the conversation to politics.  Hugh is totally taken aback to see that Lady Mary is very knowledgeable in the political climate of England and France and is even more surprised to learn that she has accompanied her uncle to Paris on a diplomatic mission and was actually involved.  And, somehow, he knows his life will never be the same.

Once Lady Mary and her uncle Adrian arrive in France, she is caught up in political intrigue and the social scene in Paris.  Unbeknownst to her, Hugh Redgrave is in Paris as well.  Once she sees him, things start to happen quickly.  Mary is instrumental in helping gather information against those that would want Napoleon reinstated as ruler of France.  And Hugh is bound and determined to help keep Lady Mary safe.  Little did he know what a job that would be.

This was a wonderfully written story.  There is political intrigue, romance and a bit of mystery.  The descriptions of England and France were refreshing and not overdone.  And what a wonderful character Lady Mary was to read about.  She was determined to be her own person in a time where that sort of thing was frowned upon, but she never wavered from her convictions.  And Hugh Redgrave was the perfect companion for her. 

I have to say that if it were left up to me to read this book based on the description, I probably would not have picked it.  Thank God the author sent it and I had agreed to review it.  The story is intriguing from the beginning and it only grows from there.  There were times when I wasn’t sure who was the good guy and who was the bad guy and times when I could not turn the pages fast enough.  This book grabbed me and didn’t let go.  I loved this book so much that I contacted the author when I found out that it was book 1 in a trilogy and had to know when the next came out.  She was very gracious and humored me.  The next book in the trilogy, AGAINST THE WIND, should be out sometime around the end of this year, to be followed up by WIND RAVEN some time next year.  The next books are definitely on my MUST READ list.  I don’t really know what genre this series would fall in.  Historical romance, mystery…………  But I do know what category it falls in:  GREAT READ!!!

 Reviewed by Vickie    

Copy provided by Author

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