An Inconvenient Duke
By: Anna Harrington
Release Date: February 25, 2020
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Author Website: https://www.annaharringtonbooks.com/
5 Stars
Anna Harrington ushers in her new Lord's of the Armory series with An Inconvenient Duke, delivering a story busting at the seams with intrigue and romance that will keep readers blushing and thinking in their seats!
Returning war hero General Marcus Braddock found himself at loose ends when he returned home to deal with his new title of Duke of Hampton and the questions he could not ask regarding his sister's death in his absence. As a hero Marcus presented just the right amount of angst to not appear broken and an appealing vigor and confidence to bring on genuine giddy excitement from both his heroine and readers alike. His wit was charming and showcased his natural sexiness. Danielle Williams, his deceased sister's best friend, brought an unexpected interest in a life that had dulled for Marcus. The intelligent and sharp banter between this couple was done exceedingly well by this author and made this work move quickly. Danielle was thoughtfully devised by this writer who was able to not only empower this heroine but also adhere to the social restraints women were held to at the time. Being a heroine is hard enough to carry off but one in a historical romance ups the challenge in staying true to women's roles in history. Anna Harrington bordered on brilliant in creating a portrayal In Danielle who could appeal to reader’s modern sensibilities even while creating an accurate depiction of an upper class woman in Regency England.
Espionage interwoven with romance complimented each other in the fast paced plot of this work with expertise. Ms. Harrington excels in her subtle inclusion of history in her stories making her audience's experiences ones that feel authentic to the historic period being shown as she effortlessly blends this information into her story giving her work dimension. With a true understanding of history and human nature this writer presents characters that are based in facts as well as emotionally interesting. She has a remarkable ability to join her leads, emphasizing strengths and weaknesses for perfect matches. In a whirlwind of steamy and clever Anna Harrington managed to create a story in An Inconvenient Duke that was an entertaining page-turner to the very end.
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. *
How to Catch an Errant Earl
By: Amy Rose Bennett
Release Date: April 28, 2020
Publisher: Berkley
Author Website: http://amyrosebennett.com/
5 Stars
How to Catch an Errant Earl, book two in The Disreputable Debutantes, makes wicked proper as only Amy Rose Bennett can!
This author brought to her work two vastly different characters yet their shared traits of innate goodness and underestimating their personal value bonded them in a unique way. Gabriel Holmes Fitzgerald, the Earl of Langdale very much personified the role of "rake" with his unrepentant escapades and lack of commitment to anything but his next bout of decadence. With adept writing this author was able allow his honor to breakthrough while still maintaining glimmers of his incorrigible behavior for a captivating hero. Arabella Jardine while having dabbled in naughty actions was wrongly labeled as a woman of loose morals. Her bluestocking tendencies and her parent’s poor choices further isolated her. Ms. Bennett did an admirable job of showing the struggles of an intellectual woman in Regency England in her portrayal of Arabella in a realistic and poignant manner making her character one that modern readers will easily form a kinship with even as their historic sensibilities are appeased. The unease and emotional grappling between Gabriel and Arabella felt real and the sparks that ignited between this couple were spicy but never gratuitous. Their angst and fears were brought to the pages with a clarity and logic that defied the turmoil of their feelings.
Finding the perfect balance of edgy and risqué without disparaging her characters in the eyes of her audience is a strength of this writer. Amy Rose Bennett's stories are full of details and wonderfully descriptive, from her portrayal’s feelings to the historic period they are living in. She creates very real characters that while derived from the past feel close enough to engage directly with her readers in the present with their emotional experiences and timeless behaviors. This author's writing is fluid, never lagging and ever evolving, engaging her audience's interest throughout her work. Her attention to details is exemplary and she goes to great lengths to bring an understanding of the times she is showing and the rational of her characters choices and concerns without detracting from her story. Amy Rose Bennett's How to Catch an Errant Earl adds another quality historical romance to her growing list of engaging works!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. *
*While part of a series this book can be read as a standalone. *
Lauren Smith
Never Tempt a Scot
Website: https://laurensmithbooks.com/
Publisher: Lauren Smith
Release Date: June 15, 2020
5 Stars
Never one to shy away from the darker side of history Lauren Smith has turned out an adventure full of lusty turmoil and challenges in book twelve of her League of Rogues series, Never Tempt a Scot!
Brodie Kincaide was charm personified with good looks and a sexy brogue to match. When a charismatic hero falls into the less than flattering expectations of his times it can sometimes be hard not to let modern sensibilities take over. This writer found a way to balance out Brodie as a historical hero while accurately portraying his less than exemplary behavior as period acceptable for his sex and class. Lydia was heartbreakingly sweet and resigned as she was constantly dismissed by most of her family and society. This writer adroitly showed Lydia's depth in her insightful demeanor and her firm and unrepentant questioning of her circumstances and other's abuses. This pair was joined in conflict and misunderstandings for some intense interactions and conscience jolting. Ms. Smith did an excellent job of conveying the internal struggle for this couple as their physical attraction contradicted their very real circumstances of revenge and abduction.
Full of pertinent facts Ms. Smith managed to find a way to keep her history real yet keep her audience engaged and fully committed to her characters and their fate in this work. This author mixes action with sensitivity for fast paced stories that engage the heart. Lauren Smith is reliably adventurous in Never Tempt a Scot with lots of moral dilemmas and drama thrown in for yet another fabulous wicked rogue tale!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
*While part of a series this work can be read as a stand alone.*
Who’s That Earl
By: Susanna Craig
Release Date: August 18, 2020
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Author Website: http://www.susannacraig.com/
4 Stars
Susanna Craig brings to readers a charming and clever story in Who's That Earl.
A second chance romance with a touch of mystery this author gave her leads some interesting hurdles to overcome. Jane stood out as a heroine in that while having had her share of misfortunes she was not a victim but triumphant in her ability to overcome the obstacles thrown at her in a period appropriate way. Thomas was exactly how one might picture a career soldier and spy in his demeanor. His astute observations and his willingness to take on responsibilities showed him to be a man of integrity as well as his loyalty to his connection to Jane. This couple had a strong bond made fragile with time yet it endured and it was believably reignited when they were reunited. As secrets unfolded this story picked up and by the end it was hard not to be captivated by this pair and buy into their love for each other.
With subtle historical details this work's time period felt organically authentic. Ms. Craig's focus on her character's relationship using the time period they were depicted in as a back-drop kept her story from falling into the trap of being a retelling of history versus a historical romance. At times this work lagged but this author's prose was as lovely as the story she was telling and enabled her to keep interest in her work to its conclusion. Susanna Craig brings another thoughtful and richly detailed historical romance to her readers in Who's That Earl.
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
If A Lady Lingers
By: Anna Harrington
Release Date: October 19, 2020
Publisher: Anna Harrington
Author Website: https://www.annaharringtonbooks.com/
5 Stars
Anna Harrington brings all her lovely skills writing to the pages of If A Lady Lingers for a quality novella!
Outlandish and charming, always ready with a smile and kind gesture Hugh Whitby won over everyone he tried to. With seemingly effortless ease Hugh inserted himself into Daisy Daring's life knowing from the first moment he met her that she was his forever. Dutiful and efficient Daisy took on the role of caring for her family. A woman talented in a field exclusively male she took no recognition for her work and struggled with the inability to openly acknowledge her successes. This was not a conventional couple yet they were appealing and the fact that they were not conventional added to their appeal! Theirs was a courtship of sweetness and respect shared by two genuine people with big hearts. While Ms. Harrington brought her usual poignant perspective to this story it was her inclusion of prominent humor that was the highlight of this work. Hugh's disarming cheer and optimism were infectious and set the tone for this book despite it's more serious content.
Anna Harrington on a regular basis features women in roles at odds with their place in historical society. While their capability is not in question she never downplays the struggles these women faced from a historical context leading to some interesting quandaries that are unique to her work. This author's writing is filled with lots of historical research that she builds into her story without making her facts overbearing. In If A Lady Lingers Anna Harrington created an exceptionally lovable couple in Hugh and Daisy, and their story will leave anyone lucky enough to come across it awash in happy feelings!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
*While this work is connected to a series it can be read as a stand alone.*
An Unexpected Earl
By: Anna Harrington
Release Date: February 23, 2021
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Author Website: https://www.annaharringtonbooks.com/
5 Stars
Intrigue and dark plotting round out An Unexpected Earl with liberal doses of romance for a well designed read from the talented Anna Harrington in book two of her Lords of the Armory series!
Brandon Pearce came from nothing to inherit the power and prestige of an Earldom. At heart he was a loyal Brigadier who found that the trappings of his new title meant little without the ethics he carried as a war hero and loyal friend. Amelia Howard saw the harsh world through kindness and unfortunately paid a heavy price for this. Through tragic circumstances Amelia became a strong woman who no longer took things at face value. Childhood sweethearts and best friends, the strong relationship that this pair built when they were younger proved to be a substantial foundation for their reunion as adults. Despite the changes that took place in their years apart they still clung to their fundamental characters and in some respects it was as if they had never been separated, especially where their hearts laid. The witty repartee between Brandon and Amelia was fun and just as often conveyed the unspoken desire that simmered between this couple. This author is adept at flowing between playful and serious in her characters' interactions.
A tremendous amount of research goes into this author's work for robust and vivid explorations of the past. Her historical details are accurate, fascinating and a perfect backdrop for her characters to explore their relationships. With Anna Harrington you don’t just wish you could revisit the past because it feels like she has transported you there. Even as her strong eye for detail draws you in it is her sensitive portrayals that standout as exceptional and keep bringing her audience back. Often a struggle with historical romance writers is bringing to their readers heroine's that modern women can relate to without compromising their situation in history. Of note this author does a fantastic job of devising strong female characters even while finding ways to highlight this trait in historic context. Anna Harrington's An Unexpected Earl is a romantic adventure that will not only keep readers on their toes but curl them in delight!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. *
*While part of a series this book can be read as a stand alone.*
An Extraordinary Lord
By: Anna Harrington
Release Date: June 29, 2021
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Author Website: https://www.annaharringtonbooks.com/
5 Stars
Anna Harrington's Lords of the Armory series just keeps getting better and that is no easy feat!
In An Extraordinary Lord Ms. Harrington takes readers further into the intrigue of a treasonous secret society called Scepter leaving the saving of England in the hands of a few brave men and women. From the start of this story there was little rest for readers as clues and action mixed with heated attraction. Setting off a series of events, an unexpected encounter between Lord Merritt Rivers and Veronica Chase drove this story and sealed their fate.
Well matched, this couple kept up their interest in each other and their audience as their interactions required them to traverse places ranging from rookeries to the ballrooms of Regency England. Merritt was a man carrying tremendous guilt and lack of closure from a horrific past event. Veronica was a fighter and fought with her demons from her past. As this couple navigated their personal issues and their attraction this work moved quickly. The wit and verbal foreplay in this story was rapier sharp!
Anna Harrington’s stories always have thoughtful exchanges that move her plots like the pieces of a chessboard, she is always one step ahead of her audience building up the suspense and anticipation. In true Anna Harrington fashion her research was impeccable as it seamlessly blended into a captivating story. Period appropriate issues involving women and the showcasing of strong women continue to take a prominent role in this writer's work. Don’t expect a tame walk in the park with the Lords of the Armory in An Extraordinary Lord, there is danger lurking behind every chapter and a kiss to make it better, well done Anna Harrington, a recommended Jenerated Review read!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. *
*While part of a series this book can be read as a stand alone.*
How the Duke Saved Christmas
By: Anna Harrington
Release Date: November 2, 2021
Publisher: Rose Garden Books
Author Website: https://www.annaharringtonbooks.com/
5 Stars
Anna Harrington brings the perfect tale to start off the holidays in How the Duke Saved Christmas!
Lady Clara Marshall lived in relative isolation after a tragic accident that left her with a limited ability to walk. While her outer scars healed her emotional scars festered keeping her locked in a place filled with pain and self denial of the potential life still held for her. Michael Stanton the Duke of Wakefield seemed to have always been in love with Clara, she was his "match" until she called things off and refused to deal with him leaving his heart in limbo and directionless.
When circumstances literally delivered Clara to Michael's doorstep it seemed like fate was not through with this couple. Long pent up emotions flared, setting off a long dormant but not extinguished simmering heat between them. Clara's stubbornness set in and her refusal to not reach for happiness was well met by Michael's perseverance to ensure she found happiness. Armed with small children, dedicated staff, Clara's brother Anthony and a love that would not die Michael set forth to give Clara the HEA that was always meant for them.
This was a lovely story of two lonely hearts reunited, where love never died but instead lingered waiting to bloom. Ms. Harrington did a wonderful job of sorting through Clara's often misguided sensibilities without writing off her feelings as trivial. With perceptive writing this author found a way to make Clara's vulnerability the catalyst for finding her strength. Michael was the kind of hero who knew his way around grand gestures but it was his small day-to-day expressions that showed the depth of his caring and undying devotion, making him irresistible to Clara and readers alike. Filled with charming secondary characters this story was beautifully rounded out balancing past pain with the joy of the present and the hope of the future.
As to be expected Anna Harrington continues to give new life to history in her stories using detailed and fascinating facts as the backdrop for her engaging portrayals. This writer does a wonderful job of merging facts with fiction for standout reads. The historical notes at the end of her story are not only a great bonus but show how much research this author puts into her work. Anna Harrington's How the Duke Saved Christmas is a present to her readers that they will cherish for years to come!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. *
A Relentless Rake
By: Anna Harrington
Release Date: March 29, 2022
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Author Website: https://www.annaharringtonbooks.com/
5 Stars
Evil machinations pushed the limits of trust and integrity for both Alexander Sinclair, Earl of St James and school teacher Olivia Everett as they were confronted with clandestine schemes and deadly espionage in Anna Harrington's A Relentless Rake!
Alex and Olivia were as intriguing as the plot they were unwittingly pulled into sharing feisty exchanges and action packed encounters. This couple's outer appearances belied an abundance of secrets that burdened them both. As past mistakes and the expectations of others mounted this pair fought to maintain a hold on their tenuous growing feelings for each other. With a shared need for forgiveness and unconditional trust Alex and Olivia's attraction was as poignant as it was steamy. There was a kindness and sweetness to this couple, even in their most difficult moments, that was beautifully expressed by Ms. Harrington. That being said this author did a great job of sneaking in Alex's rakish charm with superb precision bringing this pair's attraction to the next level.
Anna Harrington can always be counted on to write well-rounded books focusing not only on the personal relationships of her couples but giving brutally honest glimpses into history. Showing the vast class distinctions that existed in Regency England, with special focus on the struggles of women in all strata of that society, she gives amazingly insightful looks into the world she is depicting. It is always refreshing to read her work and see how this author can not only elevate but empower her heroines even while putting accurate obstacles in their way for the period they lived in. Of equal importance her heroes are progressive in their views of women without seeming out of place for their time.
Consistently Ms. Harrington's exchanges are thoughtful, often showing her characters' vulnerabilities, humanizing them and making them relatable to her audience despite their placement in time periods other than the ones her readers live in. You would be hard pressed to find a storyteller as talented and entertaining as Anna Harrington in any time frame. A Relentless Rake brings the past to the present embracing its readers in a romantic grand adventure impossible not to be caught up in!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. *
*While part of a series this book can be read as a stand alone.*
A Remarkable Rogue
By: Anna Harrington
Release Date: July 26, 2022
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Author Website: https://www.annaharringtonbooks.com/
5 Stars
Anna Harrington brings all the riveting intrigue, suspense and love readers have come to expect in book 5 of her Lords of the Armory series, A Remarkable Rogue, for a great read!
Quiet and solitary Captain Nathaniel Reed kept to himself cloaked in mystery and bound by his tragic past. Filled with pain he got through life but did not live it. Lady Sydney Rowland found solace in her escape from a painful past even while she isolated herself and kept her emotions well contained in an effort not to be hurt.
Both Nate and Sydney longed for love even as they cut themselves off from receiving it. This writer did a great job of conveying how well suited this couple were for each other in spite of their reluctance to take a chance with each other. Between their shared stubbornness and deadly secrets Nate and Sydney were their own worse enemies in an arena full of formidable ones. This pair's fears were ones that most readers would be able to relate to, both the real ones and the imagined ones, making this couple extremely interesting and accessible. Nate and Sydney's steamy attraction was unmistakable and often poignant adding another element to this pair being a good fit.
The overarching plot of Scepter's dark machinations to overthrow the English monarchy was done expertly and with no shortage of action and suspense. Ms. Harrington's storytelling shines in her Lords of the Armory series. Filled with memorable heroes and villains every installment in this series is well written and intriguing.
There are authors you follow and there are authors you love, Anna Harrington is an author to love. With a keen sense of history and an intuitive understanding of the human heart Ms. Harrington presents a combination impossible to resist to her readers. It cannot be emphasized enough that this writer is able to effortlessly bring history to her modern readers without compromising the integrity of the period she is depicting with current sensibilities. She portrays strong women even while showing the confines and trials of the time they lived in for realistic stories while still managing to display all the charm and tingles readers would expect from a romance. A Remarkable Rogue is just what every romance lover craves told in Anna Harrington's signature fabulous storytelling!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. *
*While part of a series this book can be read as a stand alone.*
The Duke Gets Even
By: Joanna Shupe
Release Date: January 24, 2023
Publisher: Avon
Author Website: https://joannashupe.com/
4.5 Stars
This work started off with an unconventional first encounter and took off from there. Andrew Talbot, the eighth Duke of Lockwood was in need of a wife and was willing to put in the work to insure that his family legacy passed on to the next generation. In possession of abundant charm and good looks it would seem that finding a wife would come easy to him yet he continuously ran into hurdles in achieving his goal. Eleanor "Nellie" Young seemingly could care less about what society thought of her and proudly flouted her independence in a time where women were scorned for doing so.
Steamy encounters and sharp dialog rounded out this work for a read easy to get caught up in. What made for interesting dynamics in this story was that both Lockwood and Nellie carried burdens that leveled their playing field. Nellie's defiant approach to her life and reckless behavior coupled with the fear of committing her heart ultimately made Nellie her own worst enemy. This author did a great job of evolving Nellie and fleshing out her issues. Lockwood's mounting desperation brought about by his father's poor choices and limited time made his dependence on the whims of others that much more difficult. Despite his struggles in obtaining a wife it was hard not to be smitten by Lockwood. As a pair this couple had a lot to deal with beyond their physical attraction keeping this story moving quickly.
One of the things that stands out when reading Joanna Shupe is her strong independent women that stand up against their assigned roles in the society they live in. With works full of history and its constraints this author faces her stories fearlessly. The Duke Gets Even brings another one of a kind Joanna Shupe romance to delight her readers with her forward thinking twist on history!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
*While this book can be read as a standalone reading the previous books in this series first would enhance the overall reading experience.*