Another Duke meets his match
932317
I absolutely loved this book. When two people can have a second chance at love it makes the story even better. And the ending was perfect. I highly recommend this book.
4489682
Absolutely enjoyed this short story about a Lady that dresses as a man to gain entrance into a gentleman's club. She was only hoping to find her brother who had been gambling away their inheritance but instead she found Lucien. The characters in this story are just so likable. Julianne, the heroine, is feisty with a backbone sturdier than most men. Lucien is so lovable and sweet when he isn't behaving badly and ravishing Julianne. I enjoyed watching these two find love, amidst a roller coaster ride of emotions: jealousy, angst, love sickness, oh and lust.

Lucien is the son of a Duke, and that Duke's "love of his life", a prostitute. The interactions between Lucien and his family only add to the story and make it all that more adorable. The love scenes are so hot and risque even though Julianne attempts to remain a virgin, un-ruined for a suitable husband. I was able to read this book in one sitting on a rainy afternoon. It's about 100 pages on my nook but seemed to have a lot more meat to it than other novellas I have read. This is a historical romance but some of the speech was very modern at times so I found it easier to read than expected. I recommend this story to all readers looking to fill a rainy afternoon with some sunshine. I read this as a follow up to, Catching Caroline, since Julianne was introduced briefly in that book and I look forward to more by this author.
2131866
Marcus Reece, the Duke of Exeter and his younger twin brother, David, are as different as night and day.  Marcus has always taken his role of Duke very seriously and lives a disciplined life.  David, on the other hand, has always lived a life of scandalous behavior, gambling and drinking too much.  When David is caught with a woman cheating on her husband, Marcus sends David to Brighton until the scandal dies down.  On the way to Brighton, David and his friend, Percy, were racing their carriages and collided with one another throwing David out of his carriage.

Hannah Preston, widow of the local vicar, lives with her four-year-old daughter, Molly, in the town of Middleborough, midway between London and Brighton.  She is packing to move back with her father as a new vicar with soon take over the Vicarage.

She hears the crash and runs to help.  David is taken to her cottage where the local doctor sets his broken leg and suggests that he not be moved for a month.  Hannah agrees to care for him at the Vicarage.  The calm life with Hannah and Molly is good for David as he heals.  He becomes friends with her and offers her a marriage of convenience which she accepts.  She knows that life for her and Molly at her fathers home would be miserable.  After they marry, they journey to London to Marcuss home.  This has given David time to realize that now he will have to give up his life of drinking and whoring and he soon regrets his hasty decision.  He also realizes that Hannah would be a better match with his brother, Marcus.

Shortly after arriving at Marcuss home, David flees leaving a note that he used Marcuss name on the marriage registry showing that Hannah is married to Marcus.  Hannah is shocked and hurt and Marcus is very angry at David once again for his irresponsibility.

Marcus is cold toward Hannah and she is determined to find a way out of the mess while keeping up the charade that she and Marcus are actually husband and wife.  As they get to know one another, they realize that they are both rather stubborn people.  Thinking that Hannah is just someone looking for a rich husband, Marcus is skeptical of her.  However, after getting to know her, he realizes that his first assumptions are wrong and an attraction begins to form between them.

But more trouble arises when it learned that there is a large counterfeiting operation going on and David appears to be right in the middle of it.  This makes more problems for Marcus and worry for the big trouble David could be in.  Thus, he jumps in to see what he can find out about it.

This is a good story of romance, intrigue, and a bit of humor.  Caroline Linden has once again written a very good novel.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley
2768928
A very nice romance with characters caught up in the plots of a controlling older aristocrat.  The importance of keeping the blood line of the aristocracy of Great Britain's peers was never about love in most cases, but only of the blood lines with suitable spouses.  It is a shame that love was never involved, but in some cases love was found in spite of these obstacles and two people were lucky to find love.  This story is about two people who found that they really did love each other.
3520238
I enjoyed this story. It was fun to see them get together and fall in love . The attraction made you fall in love with characters.
1419230
A wonderful story of two vastly different people from opposite ends of the social ladder who find each other and fall in love.
Lord River FitzRoy is the son of a duke, but not the heir. He has the freedom to see and do as he likes. He is carefree, kind and handsome.
Lucia di Rossi is a servant in the theater where her relatives perform. She is treated like a slave and is practically invisible to the Gentleman who visit her cousin the prima ballerina. Until one night two Gentleman made a wager that River couldn't turn her into an actress that could fool an audience.
Rivers sees only a small girl who blends into the crowd but takes the bet anyway.
He takes her to his country home to prepare her to win the bet, but in the process they become friends and then lovers. Lucia knows that she can only have Rivers for a lover and when they return to London their affair will be over. Rivers is falling in love with Lucia and doesn't know how he will let her go, but he knows that his father wants him marry a society lady and have a son. Both his older brothers have only daughters and his father is worried about the future of the Dukedom.

I really liked these characters, they held nothing back, no secrets and they became truly good friends before they were lovers. A very well written story that was refreshing in that there was no real danger, nobody trying to kill anyone, just a wonderful love story.

I have read the other books in the series and enjoyed them all.
4639791
Well another fun Suzanne Enoch regency romance. The Duke finds a young lady whose angry outbursts surpass his own. I thought the plot was silly but I enjoyed the dialogue.
2165420
This is the third and latest of Guhrkes An American Heiress in London series. This one does tie down the timing of the books: we now know that How to Lose a Duke ends in 1889; How the Marquess took place about a year earlier; and this one begins in 1890. This one ties in closely with the other twoJack Featherstone, the male lead, was introduced in the first book as the brother of Belindas first husband and his successor to the earldom, although his father and brother had between them left very little in the way of income for him. This book opens with Linnet Holland, the heiress to an old Knickerbocker family, returning from a sojourn in Europe with her matchmaking mother and her father, who goes along with his wifes plans but has some other ones in mind and supports his daughter when during her London Season she receives several quite eligible offers from aristocrats (not all even impoverished) but turns them down. Linnet has just about decided to accept an offer from Frederick Van Hausenwho was the one whod raped Edie back before shed negotiated a marriage of convenience with the Duke of Margrave with the understanding that hed go back to Africa and not return to England. In the second book he does come back and persuade Edie to make their marriage a real one, but he also determined to ruin Van Hausen, with a little help from his friendswho include Jack Featherstone. Jack finds out whats going on between Linnet and Van Hausen; first he was attracted to Linnet himself, and then hes afraid it might also let Van Hausen escape ruin, so he meddlesand in the process ruins Linnet. He offers to marry her, but she refuses, and returns to England to see if Belinda can fix her up with someone more suitable. Of course, Jack is her brother-in-law, and although they aren't close she doesnt wish him any harm, and thinks he and Linnet might well make a decent match if she can forgive him for interferingsince she knows that marring Van Hausen would have been a disaster. Lots of sexual tension, though theres only one actual scene in this one. An-other very decent straight romance.
2036009
London, 1878
Devon Sheridan, the Earl of Huntingdon needs an heiress -- yesterday.  When he hears about an American heiress visiting England with her father, he makes a point of meeting Georgina Pierce.  Sheridan also meets with Mr. Pierce, who promises his fortune to the earl as soon as he and Georgina wed.  So sets the tone for a convenient marriage that neither party finds very convenient.
Georgina has already concluded that England is filled with fortune hunters and she wants to marry for love.  When she hears that the Earl of Huntingdon has asked for her hand in marriage, and after only one meeting, she is naturally suspicious.  But the earl seems sincere and Georgina also wants her father to be happy, so she agrees to the arrangement -- a union she quickly discovers isn't due to the earl falling head over heels in love with her.
Lorraine Heath travels from Fortune, Texas to London, England with some of the characters from her beloved "Texas" series and does so seamlessly and skillfully.  Georgina is a forward-thinking woman aware of the fact that most men are attracted only to her money.  Lord Huntington is presented as a devil-may-care rake until he finds out the true story about Georgina's fortune.  Although he would like to claim indifference to his new bride, her fortitude and perseverance toward changing him back into some semblance of a human being, and her voluntary help on his estate, soon start to wear down his anger at what he thought was a betrayal.  Her loving and caring nature toward his two young children also raises her in his esteem; his late wife never seemed to care for them as much as Georgina does.
TO MARRY AN HEIRESS is a tender, warm-hearted romance that progresses naturally from beginning to end.  Georgina is a strong, willful woman unwilling to  accept defeat in her quest for true love.  Lord Huntingdon never stands a chance.
I highly recommend this as a fast-paced tale with many poignant and eye-opening moments for both parties. TO MARRY AN HEIRESS is another treasure to add to your Lorraine Heath keeper shelf.
638643
Jake took one look at this young woman with the muddy face and he could not forget her. The next time Jake saw Lizzy he was a goner. He kissed her and asked how old she was,she said a month from nineteen years of age. He never said how old he was but that did not matter to either one. It was a love connection and this is a very good story with all that happens. You will certainly enjoy this book as well as the first in this series. I am looking forward to the next two books.
4470895
Romance and intrigue with a healthy dose of humor too leads to a fun read.

Lady Elizabeth Wilde is the oldest daughter of The Duke of Sherrington. The Duke is dying and wants her to marry her cousin. He also wants  her to have the annual house party so that her other two sisters will have a chance to find someone. Elizabeth is believes that there may be a suspicious cause to his illness and tries to hire a runner to investigate. She meets Dysart and he agrees to be a guest so he can investigate the case. Their meeting is funny and the chemistry between the two is very evident. It just doesn't seem like the daughter of a Duke can make a match with a runner. Dysart has secrets of his own. He is a very intriguing character.

I love historical romances and have been reading them for thirty years. This is a great romance with fun characters and situations. The chemistry between the characters is immediate. You will enjoy seeing them get their happily ever after.
1601923
The tortured, scarred Marquess, Gavin,  meets his match in the fireball Lady's companion, Dillian.

Dillian and her cousin, the Lady Blache, find themselves whisked away to a manor that is falling apart.  The Marquess wants to be left alone.  He is brooding and not sociable.  He doesn't like the looks or screams of women when they see his face, scarred in a duel over a woman years ago.

The last think he needs or wants is two women to interrupt his solitude.  Of course, sparks fly between Dillian and Gavin.  Neither really wants the relationship but find a mutual benefit in pursuing a physical relationship.  Only, they realize that they want more than just an insubstantial relationship.

There are many cute and fun moments in the book.  I particularly liked the character of Michael, Gavin's younger brother.  He is the comic relief in the story.

I received a copy of the book to review in exchange for my honest opinion.  This is not a clean read, there are sexual situations.
215671
Sacha masquerades for her vain, selfish cousin Deirdre and visits her cousin's unofficial fianc, Talbot, the Duke of Silchester. The Duke has been injured in a hunting accident and besides suffering some metal shards in his body he has been left temporarily blind. Deirdre is interested only in parties, balls, clothing and such and is actually in love another man. It is too inconvenient for her to travel to Scotland where the Duke was visiting his grandmother. Since she cannot risk losing the very eligible Duke, Deirdre sends her poor vicar raised cousin in her place! They are very similar in looks and size and besides - it is only a week and the Duke is currently blind!

Sacha charms the Duke's grandmother and loves the Scottish moors and castle when she visits. She reads to Talbot and lifts his spirits. She makes him eat and drink healthful foods and describes the beautiful (borrowed) clothes she wears. The Duke is enchanted with her as he never had been the few times they met in London. One night they share a sweet passionate kiss. Talbot has one more operation to endure and then the hated bandages will come off his eyes. "Will I lose you if I am blind?" he asks and Sacha who loves him by now says "no, I will always stay and take care of you". The Duke then asks her to enter a "Marriage by Consent" or "Irregular Marriage" where they agree in front of a witness that they are married and it is so! (I believe I have read of this in medieval novels as "hand-fasting.")

Sacha does so; all the while believing she will give him up to her cousin! Before the operation, Talbot makes the marriage real by making love to her. (OK, in a Cartland book it is a rather long diatribe on divine light and love ....) Perhaps Talbot is not fooled as we thought? What will he do when Sacha leaves to meet Deirdre as previously planned? Sweet book with a rather unique and surprise ending --
2267657
Gordon Waybrook has been assigned by the Shillings Agency to protect Princess Isabelle VanGuard. He's not to happy about the assignment until he sees who he's protecting. What will happen between the Alpha protector and the desirable princess? Gordon is a complex hero. He's haunted by the deaths of his fellow warriors. He's not ready to commit to a permanent relationship, but he's attracted to Belle and lets her know his desires. She feels the same and they make love. Their passionate relationship leads to problems that threaten their chance at happiness. I was hooked. I wanted them to be together. Isabelle is a strong woman who has grown up knowing that her country came first. I cheered when she took a chance with Gordon. The secondary characters were an interesting bunch. Her mother had meddling down to an art form. She made me laugh. Diane Alberts wrote an engaging story that had me alternately sighing and fanning myself. Seducing the Princess is a very sensual romance.
2181914
This series continues on with the focus on Lady Beaujolais and Benedict, the Duke of Yardley's stories.  Would you accept a marriage proposal from a man (in this case a Duke) that you have never met?  That is how this story begins.

Benedict messed up and now he feels challenged to come up to the task of being acceptable to the lady who had the nerve to turn down his proposal.  Did he miss his chance with her? Would they suit if they knew each other?  Their friends think so and concoct a plan so that they meet without knowing each other's true identity.  Sooner or later they will discover that they have been tricked.  Will they turn away from each other?  You will find out as you follow along with their journey.

The story has the added plus of bringing in some of the characters from the previous series, which I loved, and is also where we first met Lady Beaujolais (one of the very beautiful triplets).

This wonderfully entertaining read will be very difficult to put down.  It is a sweet romance with a great mix of humor, suspense and excitement resulting in a very enjoyable and satisfying read.  I'm looking forward to Elizabeth's next installment in this series.  Another great story!  Highly recommended!
1960081
Only a duke can make the harem girl respectable. Since Lucien had always been her friend, of course he would do it. Then came the complications. Well done.
870663
Good writing as always from this author. I give it a 3 because of the lack of interaction between the Duke and his love interest. Developing that relationship would have been of more interest to me. Still, an enjoyable read.