Reviews

Review: The Princess and the Rogue by Kate Bateman

December 29, 2020January 16, 2021 sophrilreads2 Comments

The Princess and the Rogue by Kate Bateman
(Bow Street Bachelors #3)
Regency Romance

Synopsis
A princess in disguise is forced to live with a rogue in order to protect her from danger in this fun, sexy regency romance.

Bow Street agent Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, doesn’t believe in love―until a passionate kiss with a beautiful stranger in a brothel forces him to reconsider. When the mysterious woman is linked to an intrigue involving a missing Russian princess, however, Seb realizes her air of innocence was too good to be true.

Princess Anastasia Denisova has been hiding in London as plain ‘Anna Brown’. With a dangerous traitor hot on her trail, her best option is to accept Wolff’s offer of protection―and accommodation―at his gambling hell. But living in such close quarters, and aiding Wolff in his Bow Street cases, fans the flames of their mutual attraction. If Anya’s true identity is revealed, does their romance stand a chance? Could a princess ever marry a rogue?

What I thought
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.

We get Seb’s story!!!!

Seb, a confirmed bachelor who refuses to be tied down to any woman of the Ton, decides to visit a brothel that is acclaimed to have the most beautiful girls in the city. His path crosses Anna while she is teaching the “girls” how to read. Seb mistakes Anna as one of the girls working there, after he learns he cannot buy her time for any amount of money he leaves. In the coming days Seb is unable to get Anna off his mind and he has to know who she is.

After Anna escapes from Paris she starts over as a companion to a dowager duchess who just so happens to be Seb’s aunt. When Anna’s past begins to catch up with her, Seb becomes her protector. This is not an easy job for Seb because Anna has a mind of her own and has no problem taking charge of any situation.

I absolutely loved Georgina in the first book and didn’t think that I would like another female character in this series more but I really loved Anna. She was strong and truly cared about those people around her. She is not your typical damsel and I love that about her.

I loved the banter from Benedict and Alex. They can see that Seb is in deep no matter how much he wants to fight it. And they give back to him all that he dished out in the first two books.

I really loved this book! If you are looking for a fun enemies to lovers type book I highly recommend this one.

My Rating: /5

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Reviews

Review: The Peace of Christmas Yet to Come by L.G. Rollins

December 9, 2020January 16, 2021 sophrilreadsLeave a comment

The Peace of Christmas Yet to Come
by L.G. Rollins
(A Dickens of a Christmas Book 3)
Genre: Regency Romance, Proper Romance, Christmas Story
Expected Publication: December 9, 2020

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Synopsis
Miss Martha Cratchit is barely making ends meet. As a woman who once belonged to high society, options to secure a better income are limited. Blessedly, the aging vicar agrees to pay Martha if she will clean the church house for him. He even agrees to keep her employ a secret, allowing her to keep what little standing she has left in society. Hopefully, the coin she earns will be enough to keep her and her two brothers housed and fed. It is a tenuous plan, but it is all she has.

Peter De Ath, Duke of Pembroke, hates everyone and everything; he has no qualms with his reputation as the Silent Duke. He’s been alone nearly all his life and is content to remain so. All he needs is a few minutes a week, alone in the church house, to commune with the one being who won’t judge him for his incurable stutter.

When a wisp of a young woman stumbles upon him in the church house, Peter finds his solitude shattered. Martha, for her part, is far too terrified of the Silent Duke to wish herself anywhere but far away from him. But fleeing isn’t an option; the cost of caring for her ailing grandfather is growing and she’s running out of options. It seems this Christmas may be the one that finally breaks her family apart.

What I thought
I received a copy of this book from the Author, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the third book in the A Dickens of a Christmas trilogy. These books can be read as stand-alones, however, I suggest you read them in order.

This was a perfect ending to this trilogy. I rated all of these books 5 stars but this was my favorite book hands down this book was just perfection. Since this is the third book in this story am going to keep this brief and I will try to not spoil the story.

I love the strong family aspect of this story. Martha is just amazing. She is willing to go what it takes to take care of her family. Also she does not let Hugh just act the way he always has just because he is a duke. She sees so much more in him and pushes him to not hide who he is. Peter is a protective younger brother to Martha and older brother to Tim who really loves his family and I love his interaction with Hugh when he learns Hugh’s secret. It really shows how a lot of our reactions to things are learned. Tim was an amazing boy. He has such a big heart and truly sees the best in people.

Hugh the Silent Duke grew so much from the beginning of this story and it felt natural as the story progressed. I really felt for him. The more we get to know him the more we understand why he acts the way he does. And the more time he spends with Martha the more he sees that he doesn’t have to be the way he is.

Scrooge is our one common character in all three books. As the books progress you begin to see a change in him. And I loved how at the end of the story you get a small look into the future and you see where all of the characters from all three books end up.

I see myself reading these over and over again. I highly feel that you should pick up the first one if you like clean Regency Romances.

My Rating: /5

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New Releases

Waiting On Wednesday: The Peace of Christmas Yet to Come by L.G. Rollins

December 2, 2020January 16, 2021 sophrilreadsLeave a comment

Waiting On Wednesday was a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. Each Wednesday you got to highlight a book that you were really looking forward to. Unfortunately, the original creator is no longer able to host the meme and it has now linked up with Can’t Wait Wednesday over at Wishful Endings.

This week I’ve chosen:

The Peace of Christmas Yet to Come
by L.G. Rollins
(A Dickens of a Christmas Book 3)
Genre: Regency Romance, Proper Romance, Christmas Story
Expected Publication: December 9, 2020

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Miss Martha Cratchit is barely making ends meet. As a woman who once belonged to high society, options to secure a better income are limited. Blessedly, the aging vicar agrees to pay Martha if she will clean the church house for him. He even agrees to keep her employ a secret, allowing her to keep what little standing she has left in society. Hopefully, the coin she earns will be enough to keep her and her two brothers housed and fed. It is a tenuous plan, but it is all she has.

Peter De Ath, Duke of Pembroke, hates everyone and everything; he has no qualms with his reputation as the Silent Duke. He’s been alone nearly all his life and is content to remain so. All he needs is a few minutes a week, alone in the church house, to commune with the one being who won’t judge him for his incurable stutter.

When a wisp of a young woman stumbles upon him in the church house, Peter finds his solitude shattered. Martha, for her part, is far too terrified of the Silent Duke to wish herself anywhere but far away from him. But fleeing isn’t an option; the cost of caring for her ailing grandfather is growing and she’s running out of options. It seems this Christmas may be the one that finally breaks her family apart.

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Reviews

Review: The Joy of Christmas Present by L.G. Rollins

November 22, 2020 sophrilreadsLeave a comment

The Joy of Christmas Present by L.G. Rollins
(A Dickens of a Christmas Book 1)
Regency Romance, Proper Romance, Christmas Story

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Synopsis
Helena Spencer will never forgive the Earl of Chapman for snubbing her so publicly. It wasn’t her idea that they get married, after all. She was practically a bystander to the whole debacle, yet she alone bore the brunt of society’s judgment. Snubbed by an earl? She’d likely never recover. But then she finds herself at the same holiday house party with Lord Chapman. What a way to ruin Christmas.

After his father’s sudden death, Lord Chapman had little choice but to step into a life he hardly felt ready for. He quickly learned that everyone had opinions about how an earl’s life should look, even the aging relative who tried to marry him off to a woman he’d never even met. Now he had to spend Christmas at a house party with his mother and sisters? What a wretched way to spend the festive season.

With their shared history, Helena and Lord Chapman are unlikely friends. But when circumstances continue to throw them together, Helena presses the earl to help repair the damage he inflicted on her reputation by aiding her attempt to snag a husband from among the gentlemen at the party. The only trouble? Lord Chapman is falling for Helena’s charms himself. Would that she allow the gentleman that wins her heart to be him.

What I thought
I received a copy of this book from the Author, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another amazing book by L. G. Rollins! Really she is an amazing author. Once again I was sucked in and I found it very hard to put down. This is the second book in her A Dickens of a Christmas trilogy. The first book focuses on Christmas Past, the second on Christmas Present, and the third on Christmas Future. These books can all be read as a standalone so no worries if you have not picked up the first one yet. You can start with this one and you would not have missed a thing. These books are not a retelling of a Christmas Carol but use key elements from the original story to build the basis of this story. The tie-in of these threes book is Mr. Scrooge, he plays a different role in each book.

I loved watching these characters grow and come into their own. Helena and Fred both have so much on their plates and grow into their own as the story progresses. Fred does some really dumb things, but his heart is always in the right place. I loved how Emily, Christina, and Eleanor all banded together to help Helena. You can not go wrong with a strong female friendship in the midst of scandal and gossip.

This book gave me everything that I needed when I read it and I can not wait until the next book comes out!

My Rating: /5

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New Releases

Waiting On Wednesday: The Princess and the Rogue by Kate Bateman

November 11, 2020January 17, 2021 sophrilreads2 Comments

This week I’ve chosen:

The Princess and the Rogue by Kate Bateman
(Bow Street Bachelors #3)
Genre: Regency Romance
Expected Publication: December 29, 2020

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A princess in disguise is forced to live with a rogue in order to protect her from danger in this fun, sexy regency romance.

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Reviews

Review: A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore

November 5, 2020January 17, 2021 sophrilreads2 Comments

A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore
(A League of Extraordinary Women #2)
Regency Romance

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Synopsis
A lady must have money and an army of her own if she is to win a revolution – but first, she must pit her wits against the wiles of an irresistible rogue bent on wrecking her plans…and her heart.

Lady Lucie is fuming. She and her band of Oxford suffragists have finally scraped together enough capital to control one of London’s major publishing houses, with one purpose: to use it in a coup against Parliament. But who could have predicted that the one person standing between her and success is her old nemesis, Lord Ballentine? Or that he would be willing to hand over the reins for an outrageous price—a night in her bed.

Lucie tempts Tristan like no other woman, burning him up with her fierceness and determination every time they clash. But as their battle of wills and words fans the flames of long-smouldering devotion, the silver-tongued seducer runs the risk of becoming caught in his own snare.

As Lucie tries to out-manoeuvre Tristan in the boardroom and the bedchamber, she soon discovers there’s truth in what the poets say: all is fair in love and war…

What I thought
I really liked Bringing Down the Duke so I was very excited when I heard this one was coming out but what I did not expect was to love this book so much more. There is just something about Evie Dunmore’s writing that just pulls me in.

A Rouge of One’s Own is a Regency romance centered around the suffragette movement. This story is a hate to love romance, which is one of my favorite tropes. Big bonus this book can be read as a stand-alone so you do not have to go back and read the first one before you pick this one up.

I really like how the friendships in this book are just as if not more important than the romance. These ladies band together through everything and no matter how a situation looks. Sorry, I can’t say more there I don’t want to spoil something that happens.

Lucie may come from a well-to-do family but for the most part, she has been disowned by her father. He does not condone her fighting for women’s rights and as a result, she lost her family. I love the strength that Lucie shoes when it comes to her family and standing firm for what she believes. This is all during a time when women really do not have a say in their futures. Lucie learns that you can love and be loved and not lose everything.

Tristan. I loved his character so much! Tristan had intense family issues and was sent away when he was a teenager. He is only back because his older brother has died and he is needed to fill the heir position. Yes, that sounds cold the way I put it but the whole situation is cold.

The banter in this story will make you laugh, the romance will make you swoon. If anything you have read has sparked any interest at all please pick this one up.

My Rating: /5

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Reviews

Review: The Hope of Christmas Past by L.G. Rollins

October 11, 2020January 18, 2021 sophrilreads2 Comments

The Hope of Christmas Past by L.G. Rollins
(A Dickens of a Christmas Book 1)
Regency Romance, Proper Romance, Christmas Story

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Synopsis
With so much at stake this Christmas Season, love will only get in the way.

Belle Young has waited three years for Lord Wilkins to return from his travels abroad—and a full seven years since he first promised to marry her and carry her away from her aunt’s oppressive home. What better time of year for their reunion than Christmas? Belle is certain Lord Wilkins means to make good on his word—that is, until she’s introduced to the vibrant young woman who followed him home from America, at his invitation. Shocked and confused, Belle is determined to remind Lord Wilkins of his promise to her. After all, she needs this marriage. It’s either that or spend the rest of her life as a nobody, an unwanted ward of her aunt, alone and wholly unloved.

Mr. James Radcliff has never minded his lack of title or high standing among society. He is quite content with his status as gentleman and cousin to the exuberant Lord Wilkins. But then he learns that his cousin is not actually the son of the late earl; if the information ever got out, James would find himself Earl and his cousin would be thrust from society. It may not be what most men would do, but James is determined to find the only proof of his cousin’s illegitimacy —and destroy it.

The Hope of Christmas Past is the first in A Dickens of a Christmas series. It is a clean and wholesome Regency Christmas romance; a story of goodness amidst adversity, holiday cheer, and, hope. Each book in this series is a stand-alone and can be read apart or enjoyed in proper order.

What I thought
I received a copy of this book from the Author, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is just something about the way this author’s writing that draws me in and makes me have all the feelings. I love reading her books and I am lucky that I have the privilege of being on her ARC team. All of her books make me feel a full range of emotions and I just love reading them.

From the very beginning of this story I was sucked in and I found it very hard to put down. This story is not a retelling of a Christmas Carol but uses key elements from the original story to build the basis of this story. There is a cameo of Mr. Scrooge in this story.

My absolute favorite character in this story is James. He is beyond your typical good guy. He is willing to put those he cares about before himself. James comes into information that could give him the title of Earl and he would never have to worry about money again. However, he does not want any harm to come to his cousin in any way and does everything in his power to make sure that any proof is destroyed. He is just a wonderful character and I wanted everything to work out for him.

Fezzi is such a character than even though his actions makes you want to not like him there is just something in the way that he is written and makes it just so you can’t.

Belle’s character grows so much in this story. Belle has so much to lose if she does not hold Fezzi to his promise. As the story progresses she grows so much. So as not to spoil this story I am just going to say that she learns what the phrase “Always a Lady” really means in the end.

I loved this story so much and I will suggest this for anyone who loves a good Regency romance.

My Rating: /5

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