Book Review: One Night of Scandal

One Night of Scandal by Darcy Burke

I really enjoyed this book! When Jack Barrett catches Lady Viola Fairfax attempting to sneak into a gentlemen's club, he escorts her home. Lady Viola is horrified that anyone saw through her disguise as Tavistock and immediately complies. However, fate throws them together when they decide to investigate the rumour that a peer was behind the attempt on the Prince Regent. But when the tables are turned against them by unknown political enemies and she defends him against accusations that he is a radical, she creates a scandal, there is only one solution: marriage. When these accusations put them both in danger, will she realize that some things are more important than her ideals?
I really liked Lady Viola! She's my kind of girl. Although she is headstrong, she recognizes when her actions are futile and when she can fight back. I really enjoyed that she didn't do anything in order to prove Jack wrong or make her point. Jack is a good person and tries to do what is best for Viola even when she resists. He knows when to capitulate to her. I also liked the pacing of the book as I had a really hard time putting it down towards the end. I feel that had I read the previous books in this series, I would have a much better feel for the characters.

#OneNightofScandal #NetGalley

Christmas Romances

Merry Christmas everyone!  Since it is the holidays, here is a fun list of some of my favourite Christmas Romances.

I love these stories by Grace Burrowes!  For me, the most memorable was Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish because it isn't often that a duke's daughter is abandoned by her maid with an unwanted child.  I read these all several years ago, but still remember them!

Lydia made a youthful mistake and hates that the local doctor is the only one who knows about it.  In the meantime, Dr. Jonas has feelings for Lydia, but she will not allow him to become closer to her.  At this magical time of year, will they learn to forgive and love together?  A novella that is part of the Brothers Sinister series, this comes after The Duchess War.

When a disheveled man comes crashing through the door to collapse at the feet of Violet Winterbottom, she is the only person who understands him.  She doesn't recognize him, but will they heal together?  A novella that is part of the Spindle Cove series, this comes after A Night To Surrender.

Princess Jacqueline of Sensaire has written desires in her diary that she would never reveal to anyone.  In a moment of boredom, Cam Westfall, Earl of Bedwyr, finds and reads her diary only to find that she is his new muse after years of writer's block.  How will Cam overcome the prejudices of the former Queen of Sensaire and Jacqueline find the courage to defy her duty to a cold-blooded marriage?  Read this book to find out!  The last book in the Prince Catcher series.

I really enjoyed this book!  When the Earl of Cleves returns to his childhood home in order to close the house permanently, he is shocked to arrive during a holiday party!  His childhood friend Thea is now the housekeeper and throws a holiday party annually.  She has been waiting for the Earl to return home in order to heal from scars left by the death of his brother and the abandonment of his father.  She engages in a campaign to get him into the holiday spirit.  Will he learn to live with the ghosts of his past or will they overcome him?  Although this is the third book in the Sutherland Sisters series, it also stands alone.

Romance Author: Anna Bradley

The Sutherland Scandals

I was trying to find library books to read on my kobo because I have a long bus ride coming up.  I saw one of her books was available and I'm always looking out for new authors, so I thought I would give Anna Bradley a shot.

A Wicked Way to Win an Earl is a book about the daughter of a scandal, Delia Somerset.  Although she despises the ton, Delia's sister Lily is desperate to escape the tediousness of their home and so accepts an invitation to a house party thrown by the Earl's sisters.  The Earl of Sutherland, Alec, is desperate to keep his brother Robyn away from this scandalous girl, but when he does, they discover that they have marvelous chemistry together and fall in love with each other.

A Season of Ruin is the story of Robyn Sutherland and Lily Somerset.  Lily Somerset is determined to use this season to find a husband who is steady and safe, but when she accidentally stumbles into Robyn's arms and is reported in a gossip column, all her plans are ruined.  When Robyn tries to help her dreams come true, it turns out that what she wants is different than what she needs.  Lily and Robyn clash so many times until they finally give in and get their HEA.

I would suggest reading these two books first since the sequel series are about the Sutherland Sisters and the rest of the Somerset family.  I'm so glad that I found her!  I really like this author!  She writes wonderful 3D characters who have multiple levels.  I kept thinking my kobo was going to overheat from the chemistry and love scenes they are so hot!  I would suggest this author for people who like steamy stories with strong female characters.

Review: Duchess by Design

Duchess by Design by Maya Rodale

The premise is very simple:  The duke of Kingston has come to New York City to find a heiress.  When he runs into a well dressed lady in the lobby of the hotel and sees her entering a room, he believes he has found his heiress.  Miss Adeline Black is a seamstress who wants to create feminine and functional clothing.  When she meets and flirts with the duke on her way to a fitting, she sees it as harmless, but when he finds out who she is and follows her back to her employer's establishment and she is fired because of his carelessness, she assumes that she will never see him again.

This book was amazing! I loved the characters and their very feminist point of views. I also liked that the setting was different because it was set in the Victorian age in New York City. It was really hard to put down because I wanted to see how each situation would resolve. Would she see the Duke again? When? Why? How were they going to resolve their different points of view? The main characters really had wonderful chemistry which resulted in an incredible steamy love scene close to the end. The conversations, including the witty flirty banter, between Adeline and Kingston were also so much fun to read.

I can't wait to read the next one in the series!