THE RAKE AND THE TOMBOY
589302
I enjoyed this quick read and the theatrics of both Lady Olivia and Lord Bainbridge.  Neither wanted to marry, but their meddling mothers have different plans.  Lord Armand Bainbridge is definitely a rake with a string of willing girls in town, settling down is not in his plans.  Lady Olivia Rowley has refused two seasons in London and now her mother has convinced her father that this marriage is in the best interest of their wayward, unladylike, tomboy daughter.  The chemistry between Olivia and Armand is electrically charged with both animosity and eventually sexual attraction. The plot kept me captivated and even had moments where I was laughing out loud. The dialog is witty and the interaction between the characters humorous.  In the end, maybe mothers do know what is best for their children.
1832016
A reformed rake makes the best husband and as usual Jane Lark gave us an exceptional rake who's love of a woman made him put aside pride to possess her soul. Can't help but fall a little in love every time a read one of her novels!
2836147
Im liking the Victorian era more and more  a time of great change in the UK, and many of the heroes and heroines tend to reflect their reactions to all these progressions.  In How to Impress a Marquess, what starts as a fairly typical and lighthearted story soon develops into much more: with hints of feminist ideology, a romance, plenty of growth and a wonderful ending.

Lilith is a bohemian in training  shes got all of the ideology, she wants desperately to make a splash, but shes still got a bit of conventional marriage, family, romance streak.  She is, however, a handful: often heedless to the wishes and feelings of others and far more nave than she is willing to believe of herself.

George is the head of the family, and also Liliths guardian.  Hes spent years being told of his responsibilities, and hes actually rather stilted by the constant focus on duty and appearances. Hes not unkind, just unused to thinking for himself in terms of his own happiness.  When he starts to discover the hidden layers and hurts that lie beneath his wards seeming devil-may-care approach to what others think of her, hes genuinely confused.

Slowly the two start to reveal themselves, the deep recesses that no one is allowed to see. While Lilith truly sees the good in George, and wants him to show his love in her often immature visions, the two are growing closer. George is attracted and concerned about that attraction, worried of what people will think, and unsure about what these new feelings are.  A lovely light story that conceals hidden depths, bringing the heroines youth and inexperience into play as she schools the hero in many aspects, not the least of which is happiness.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
3625394
**SPOILERS**
Although this story had some interesting parts, at the end of the day - I could not like it.  The hero was a rake who had apparently been intimate with a debutante who wound up pregnant and then died at the baby's birth.  We don't actually get to meet Cecilia, but she was beautiful and had a mind to have the Earl of Moncrief for her husband.  Moncrief wouldn't marry her even though he had ruined her - he simply didn't want a wife and she was apparently at fault in the relationship as much as Moncrief was.  However, once the baby girl is born and Cecilia is dead, her parents foist the little girl on Moncrief and Madeline, Moncrief's mother, who is a good woman in her own way -  ensures the child, Julie, is ensconced at one of the family's estates.

While looking for a governess for her granddaughter, Madeline's path crosses with a young woman named Katherine who has come to London in order to find a job as a governess.  Voila!  The match is made and off Katherine goes to the country estate to care for Julie.  Eventually Moncrief visits the estate because his mother is hammering him to become acquainted with Julie. What he finds is Katherine, who now loves Julie as her own, but all Moncrief sees is a beautiful woman that he must have.

I'll cut to the chase here.  Moncrief and Katherine come to an agreement in order to have their physical relationship - in fact, Moncrief pulls the wool over Katharine's eyes and the contract he has drawn up isn't legal.  When Moncrief thinks he has reason to believe that Julie isn't his, he decides to send her away which only serves to further reveal his shallow outlook on matters pertaining to his personal life.  At this point Katherine steals Julie and the story makes a sharp turn which allows both Moncrief and Katherine several months to have their respective outlooks on life morphed into a different direction.  Moncrief's days as a rake ends as he searches for Katherine and Julie.  Katherine has some difficult times, in part because of the nice little package she received as a result of her relationship with Moncrief.  Both have a lot of time to settle in and become more wounded and angry with one another.

Eventually they come back together, but not without some manipulation by the powers that be - that would be Moncrief and Madeline's solicitor who managed to figure out where Katherine was living.  At this point, both parties are stubborn beyond belief.  The rest of the book, with the exception of the very last few pages, are taken up with minor battles between the two. I didn't like this part so much but mostly I didn't care for the explicit sexual scenes off and on throughout the book.  Absolutely no friendly relationship - more like antagonists for most of the book. Who wants to read about all the sex between two such people.  I skimmed over those parts.  I also found Katherine's continual analyzing of her relationship with Moncrief to be a little overboard.  Had there been anything new to savor in her stance with Moncrief, I might have enjoyed those private thoughts.  But, no - they primarily dealt with the same old tired issues.  Moncrief was a shallow person as it related to his interpersonal relationship with Julie and Katherine. However, in his business dealings relative to children working in factories and educating the workers at his factories, he was ahead of his time and all that he should be.  The wounds and issues from his past left their marks on his soul and to me, he was not a likeable person.  Having both Moncrief and Katherine awaken to one another and begin to trust one another was left until the very end of the book.
1514978
What does a stressed out Rake need?  He needs a woman who will choose to be his and who knows that he has chosen her.  They will both need to know that they are choosing this pairing against ALL others.
2767056
This book is about Miss Sidonie  Forsyth and Mr Jonas Merrick. Sidonie travels to an out of the way castle that's the home of a reclusive rake. She goes here in her sister's place to offer herself to Jonas for sexual favors to pay off her sister's gambling debts.  Sidonie is a younger sister and is a virgin.  Jonas is the son of a Viscount but his cousin proved that Jonas is a bastard and the title was taken from Jonas by his cousin after the Viscount's death.  Also Jonas has horrible scars on his face and he lives as a recluse. So the story begins.  I loved this book. It is a tumultuous love story that is full of emotions.  It has sexual scenes, but the reader feels all the changing emotions ,. I highly recommend this book.
3551682
4.5 Stars

How do you get rid of an unwanted fiance? Being rude to his family members isn't working, wearing trousers and racing in the park isn't working, even spending the night dressed scandalously in a gaming hell isn't working. Amelia Bishop is running out of ways to chase off her unwanted fiance after he shows his true feelings about her disabled and beloved younger sister. No matter what she does hes determined to have her for his wifeeven if he has to blackmail her. As a last resort Amelia turns to her childhood friend Nicholas Wakefield, between them they must be able to cause an engagement-ending scandal.

Ignore my terrible blurb! Have you ever watched the film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? This reminded me of the historical romance version of that, only instead of falling in love with Matthew McConaughey, she falls for her best-friend, who has been in love with her for years, and together they try and get rid of the odious fiance after said fiance threatens her family. Okay, maybe its nothing like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Anyway, don't let my bad book descriptions put you off, ignore them and go out and read this book,  I highly recommend it. It managed to be sweet, touching and funny all at once.

What stole the show for me though wasn't the main characters and their romance, although it was adorable. It wasn't even the heroines shenanigans, which were hilarious, have you read Sarah Macleans Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake? It reminded me a little of that. For me, it was Julia, Amelias vivacious, disabled, slightly younger sister, and Jasper, Nicholas exuberant and rakeish best friend that stole the show. Amelia and Nicholas were cute, but they were fairly sensible characters so having Jasper and Julia in the background really added the book some much needed humour and irreverence.

This was a great historical romance and my first book by Kimberly Bell, Im feeling very pleased with myself that I decided to take a chance and give this book a try. I am now impatiently waiting the next book in the series which will be about my favourite characters Julia and Jasper.
2884373
It is character that always pushes a book from "nice read" to "memorable" for me and This Rake of Mine has characters in spades. Mad Jack and Miranda are a terrific couple and the supporting cast is interesting and well used to advance the main story.  I loved the initial set up of how the fact that the hero and heroine's pasts crossed created both of their present conditions. I will be looking forward to Elizabeth Boyle's next book.
3164599
I first read this book under a different title, "A Countess Below Stairs", a title I prefer over "The Secret Countess". However, whatever the title, this is a lovely book. The main characters, Rupert and Anna, are both struggling with their situations after the First World War. Anna, a Russian countess, has emigrated to England after the Russian Revolution and must go to work to support her family, while Rupert has become Earl of Westerholme after his brother's death in the war. The book's secondary characters, mainly compromised of the Mersham Hall family and servants, are just as well-developed and add some funny and at times dramatic moments. Fans of both "Upstairs Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey" fans will enjoy this sweetly romantic tale.
2296609
Short and sweet! And a heroine that doesn't fall for the evil sisters tricks and a rake that is open to being happy.  I enjoyed it!
1006340
I love reading historical romance and Julia London doesn't disappoint.  The plotline is much like Sense and Sensibility with the girls getting kicked out of their home by the male heir.  In this version Honor, the eldest, doesn't just gracefully remove herself from the scene.  Oh no, she consorts with a rake (as they all do in good historical romances) to have him help her turn things around.

Honor is feisty and immature and spoiled but likable despite those flaws. George Easton (wasn't that the name of one of Jane Austen's minor male characters?) while supposedly a rake is also adorable and charming and they are really cute together as a stubborn and high-society couple.
2494482
Absolutely lovely. It was not cheesy or ridiculous. I especially liked that it was not the stereotypical "reforming of a rake" or having to drag the man to the alter!
3792079
4.25 Stars
Sexual Content: Subtle
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content: None
Violent Content: None

Hampshire/London England 1875

Devon Ravenel inherits an earldom. With that he inherits responsibilities...responsibilities for the debt, for the servants, for the tenants, for the late earl's three sisters and the late earl's widow Kathleen. Devon's first reaction is to kick everyone out of the estate and to sell off all he can to pay off the debt. He has never had to be in charge of anything except myself before and he didn't want to change now.

When Devon meets the late earl's younger sisters and argues with Kathleen, he slowly changes his mind. Maybe he can do this. Maybe he can do something worthwhile. Anyway, he is beginning to enjoy arguing with Kathleen... she does not back away from him, she stands her ground and gives her opinion which most women during that period did not.

Kathleen had only been married to the late earl for three days before his accident and she had heard rumors of the rake Devon Ravenel. She was not going to let him sell everything and destroyed the estate which had been in the family for hundreds of years. She fought him on every decision tooth and nail.

Soon the arguing turned to passion...can she trust this rake not to destroy her heart like he wanted to destroyed everything else?

Devon seem to turn from a rake to a gentlemen easily, but his brother's transformation to me was one of the best parts of the book. What a joy for the reader.

Never read Lisa Kleypas before but I really love how she incorporated all the characters into the story to make it so much more that just one-sided.

-- LINDA

All books reviewed by Once Upon a Romance are furnished by the publisher or publicist for a fair and honest review.
2907582
An interesting look into English Victorian society and how people lived by strict rules of conduct, both inside and outside of the home.  The husband certainly ruled the household during that era, and propriety and class distinction must be observed at all times. (Charlotte and her younger sister flouted those rules, but deviously).  The actual mystery of who the Cater Street hangman might be seems somewhat obvious from clues the author dropped throughout the novel, but it was still a well written story with interesting character development.  Charlotte is something of a rebel, and the fact that she and detective Pitt developed a romance despite a difference in social standing puts her in the category of Plucky Heroine Who Solves Crimes.  Will have to read more books about Charlotte and Pitt.
230858
Taking a job as Girl Friday to interior design Max, Tilly comes into contact frequently with his good friend Jack, the most desirable man in town, with the reputation of a playboy whose bedpost has been chopped down with all the notches it has received. Warned off Jack by Max, her friend Erin, and Max's teenage daughter Lou, Tilly has no intention of falling for Jack. But the thoughtful, reliable man she comes to see as a friend, doesn't seem to fit the image the village has of him. The confusing messages keep Tilly wondering about Jack and his intentions, as she navigates her busy days helping Lou with fashion and boys, gluing Swarovski crystals to ceilings for crazed clients of Max, and avoiding Jack's many manic conquests, who are suspicious of her friendship with him.
Another great story from bestselling U.K. author Jill Mansell, Rumor Has It brings us quirky English village life at its very best, with interesting characters, gossip, and romantic machinations. Definitely put this on your summer reading and book club lists for a book that will make you laugh out loud often, while you worry and commiserate with Tilly about her situation with Jack.
1659181
AramintheaTheaCollins is a well-respected young ladys companion, a woman who now works for her living when her family lost both its wealth and respectability. She is a rather timid and sad personalityshe reminds me of Jane Austens Fanny Price from Mansfield Parkwho accepts the unexpected proposal of Noah, a duke, when her charge becomes engaged to another. For some reason, I didn't really like Thea but I think this has more to do with whats going on in my own life than a flaw in the plot. Shes a true lady of her time, willing and grateful for a well-matched marriage proposal, especially since she has a very painful secret that has forced her into her situation.
Noah Winters, the Duke of Anselm, is a serious man but he is surprisingly affectionate and, when he asks Thea to be his wife, he is eager to make the best of it. But on their wedding night, he makes an unexpected discovery that could well turn into disaster.
But Thea and Noah make the best of it despite some domestic astonishments along the way. Their marriage is sweet and their love for each other slow to grow, but this is appropriate since it is almost an arranged marriage between virtual strangers.
I liked Noah more than Thea; he seemed genuine in his desire to make the marriage succeed, in his attentions to Thea, while Thea seemed mostly cranky (especially in the mornings), but it turns out to be a nice way for them to get to know one another and establish a routine.
A ladys reputation in Regency England was everythingit still is, reallyand Theas past threatens their future. But to his credit, Noah rises above it all as a true gentleman and protector of his wife and family.
As in almost every Grace Burrowes story, she explores the dynamics of family expertly and humorously. We meet Noahs three sistersthe Furies, as they are lovingly calledPrudence, Penelope, and Patienceas well as their loving husbands in both lighthearted and serious conversation.
Noah and Thea share a loving marriage but the sex scenes in this novel are brief, few and far between, and sometimes even off screen. Noah is very passionate and affectionate for such a proper and not nice (his words) duke. He turns out to be just what Thea needsa champion and a protector.
The twist toward the end is a dramatic shocker and is well executed in Burrowes deft manner.
This book signals the return of Burrowes to the setting of Regency Englandshe recently wrote her first contemporary seriesand is the first in the True Gentleman series (an apt title considering Noah, the dashing but unassuming hero).
A sweet yet complex love story, beautifully told as always, by one of my favorite romance authors.
2254660
New York City in the late 1930s was a cornucopia of people hoping to find themselves, all while trying to make a buck. Gone was the excess of the Jazz Age; in its place was a much stricter world order: "it was as if America launched the Depression just to teach Manhattan a lesson."

Into this world springs young Katey Kontent, an ambitious young woman trying to rise above her humble beginnings in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. On New Year's Eve 1937, Katey and her roommate, Eve Ross, are having a night out on the town, seeing how far $3 and a smile will take them. In a little jazz venue in the Village aptly named The Hot Spot, the pair meet Tinker Grey, a handsome, suave and obviously well-bred young banker who has been stood up by his brother. He seemed comfortable with his wealth while trying to obscure it at the same time. Perhaps this night out in the Village was his venturing beyond his rigid ken.

The threesome hit it off and decide to ring in the new year together. It's very clear from the start that both girls are taken with the dashing Tinker, but hard to decipher where his interest lies. Almost immediately and for the first time, there's tension and a twinge of competition between Eve and Katey. Eve, an Indiana farm girl, is a breed well known in New York:  "Bred with just the right amount of fresh air, roughhousing, and ignorance, these primitive blondes set out from the cornfields looking like starlight with limbs." Katey, with her humble job in the typing pool and her Russian upbringing, couldn't compete with that, no matter how strong her attraction to Tinker.

Tinker, Eve and Katey continue to spend time together, even venturing as far uptown as the famed restaurant, 21, in Tinker's sporty little coupe, only to run into reminders of his posh life everywhere. While dining, they run into his godmother, wealthy widow Anne Grandyn, who exhibits quite a hold over young Tinker. Who he was and who they were was all over this city --- there was no escaping it. After leaving the restaurant, their car is hit by a milk truck. Tinker and Katey receive only minor injuries, but Eve is not so fortunate and sustains a severely broken leg and a disfiguring gash across her face. She's never really the same again. Katey observes that both Eve and Tinker "lost something essential of themselves in that car crash."

Because of the accident, and to keep Eve from having to return to her parents in Indiana, Tinker moves her in to his Central Park West apartment to convalesce. As the pair grow closer, Katey feels nudged out of their little circle; although hurt, she realizes she must step aside and try to find her own way in a big, nameless city. As the newsman at the local stand points out to Katey, "That's the problem with being born in New York.... You've got no New York to run away to."

Amor Towles's artfully crafted novel illustrates a New York for both the "haves" and "have-nots." It's like The Great Gatsby: The Next Generation. RULES OF CIVILITY, like the code of conduct written by a young George Washington from which the novel takes its name, is a carefully observed and beautifully written portrait of a distinct moment in time. These characters are hurdling toward their own destiny, much like, as Katey observes, one of Newton's laws of physics, wherein "bodies in motion will hew to their trajectory unless they meet an external force.... It was perfectly likely that some force could present itself to set Tinker and Eve off their current course; but there was no way it was going to be me."

  --- Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller